Oh Lord Your Face I Seek (Lament at the Death of a Friend)

My heart and soul cry out to you

My Father tell me what to do

Life has surely been unkind

No sense of peace no peace of mind

Death’s clutches have left me forlorn

I do not mourn as the world mourns

Yet I am languishing in grief

Oh Father help my unbelief

My God have you forsaken me?

I fear where You have taken me

My spirit is willing , flesh is weak

But You oh Lord, Your face I seek.

Bridge (key change)

Lift up my head and set me free

From my downcast spirit’s misery

This darkness overwhelms my soul

Lord Jesus come and take control

This burden’s heavy so it seems

Your easy yoke has weighty beams

Each step falters on the narrow way

Lord help me carry on I pray

My God help me discern Your will

Now with Your Spirit come and fill

My doubting heart my confused mind

Help me- your perfect will to find.

My God have you forsaken me?

I fear where You have taken me

My spirit is willing , flesh is weak

But You oh Lord, Your face I seek.

November 30, 2023

Anthony Foster

Grace is Greater

My Sin was a burden too great to carry

And great the despair of my soul

But grace in the depths of the sea would bury

My sin not in part but  the whole

Grace creates and begets the faith to believe

By grace the dead spirits are raised

Were forgiven and saved  by the grace we receive

By grace we are truly amazed

Grace is greater, greater, far greater 

than the abundance of our sin

Grace is greater, greater, far greater 

Than the enemy without and within

Grace is greater yes greater, far greater

And all our desires it exceeds

Grace is greater yes greater, far greater

Sufficient for all of our needs

Grace is greater than our evil deeds

It overcomes the depraved

And grace is sufficient to meet every need

Tis only by grace we are saved

In grace there is pardon and power

grace opens our hearts to receive

No man knows death’s momentous hour

Oh sinner repent and believe

Bridge

The marvels of grace astound us

That sinners can know Gods embrace

To know that His arms draw around us

Devastated and humbled by grace

Grace is greater, greater, far greater 

than the abundance of our sin

Grace is greater, greater, far greater 

Than the enemy without and within

Grace is greater yes greater, far greater

And all our desires it exceeds

Grace is greater yes greater, far greater

Sufficient for all of our needs

November 29, 2023

Anthony Foster

I Will Surely Boast in Christ Alone

I will surely boast in Christ alone
No other source of goodness can be known
Resting in his favor now I trust
For my Father has declared me just
i am bought with a price I am not my own

What abominations would have been wrought 

Except by grace my soul was bought

From sins slave market where I was bound

But grace has sought me till I was found

And to his Kingdom I have now been brought

So I will surely boast in Christ alone

This is the greatest treasure that is known

To know and understand

Who it is by which I stand

Who makes me boldly come before His throne

So I will surely boast in Christ alone

Now there but for the grace of God go I

Still to Sin’s presence I must needs die

Alive in Christ,  there are mysteries anew

In what he spares me from and leads me to

And sufficient grace is the only answer why

So I will surely boast in Christ alone

This is the greatest treasure that is known

To know and understand

Who it is by which I stand

Who makes me boldly come before His throne

So I will surely boast in Christ alone

Jeremiah 9:24; 1 Cor 1:31; Psalm 44:8

November 29, 2023

Anthony Foster

Lord Be Magnified

Lord Jesus Take our pride away

We  have no sufficiency

We’re bankrupt sheep who’ve lost our way

Sin-sick, helpless and unworthy

But unto the hills our eyes we raise

And we feel thanksgiving rise

For You are worthy  to be praised

Oh Lord be magnified

With grateful hearts  we lift our eyes

For from You all blessings flow

You're our providence and our great prize

Your great goodness  we would show

So Our thank offering now we lift

In Gratitude for all you provide

You are benefactor and the Gift

Oh Lord be magnified

Bridge

In our weakness or our might

Lord be magnified

In our poverty or our  wealth

Lord be magnified

Whether abased or we abound

Lord be magnified

In our Heart and soul and mind and strength

Lord be magnified

In our life and in our death 

Lord be magnified

To the lowly and the meek

Your spread your grace abroad

Your greatness perfects the weak

And your sufficiency we laud

We lean upon a cross-shaped crutch

So you are are glorified

In You there are blessings overmuch

Oh Lord be magnified

Oh Lord be magnified

Oh Lord be magnified

November 28, 2023

Anthony Foster

Hold Fast to Your Hope

God has a purpose that never shall change

A plan that will never fail

The Lord guaranteed with an oath that remains

For His promises always prevail

So be encouraged all of you refugees

There’s a hope that forever will last

Every one who for shelter to  Christ Jesus flees

He will hold to you as you hold fast

And nothing shall separate us

From the Love of Christ Jesus our King

Though troubles may inundate us

To Jesus the Savior we’ll cling.

Nothing shall separate us

Of the blessed hope we shall sing

He ‘s promised to take us unto Himself 

So to Jesus the Savior we cling

Concerning His promise  God is not slack

But rather is longsuffering

He is not willing that we should turn back

Who have become living offerings

Repentance shall come to All his own

For He grants this to all who believe

The powerful blood of  Christ Jesus alone

Secures the salvation that we shall receive

Bridge

So press on to make it your own, 

With all of your might hold fast to the goal

He is our Hope since He made us his own.

For by Christ you’ve been taken hold 

Now nothing shall separate us

From the Love of Christ Jesus our King

Though troubles may inundate us

To Jesus the Savior we’ll cling.

Nothing shall separate us

Of the blessed hope we shall sing

He ‘s promised to take us unto Himself 

So to Jesus the Savior we cling

Philippians 3:12, Hebrews 6:17–18; John 14:3; Romans 8

November 26, 2023

Anthony Foster

The Mercy Tree

Upon a hill called Calvary
A ransom was paid for you and me
The Righteousness of God for all to see
Hope is hanging there upon the mercy tree

The redeemer of those who will receive

An atonement was made for those who believe

The greatest love that could ever be

When He took our place on the mercy tree

Oh the Son of GOD was crucified

The Creator gave up His life and died

The Savior would fulfill His destiny

And a cross of wood became the mercy tree

So we look upon that rugged cross

Where Christ despised the shame and bore the cost

Come meet me there  and be set free

In the shadow of the mercy tree.

Come meet me there  and be set free

In the shadow of the mercy tree.

1 Cor 2:2; Romans 5:6-10; Mark 10:45; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 1:16-17

November 25, 2023

Anthony Foster

Oh Refuge and My Rock of Hope

Oh refuge and my rock of hope

Upon you I will stand

You wrote my name upon the palm

Of your almighty hand

My Safety and my hideaway

My Shelter from the cold

A fortress strong for my defense

Safe haven and stronghold

Oh refuge and my rock of hope

My trust and surety

Within the cleft where I am placed

I apprehend glory

Oh citadel of confidence

The bastion  where I hide

Behind the shield of faith I dwell

And my soul is fortified

For our weapons of warfare

Are the power Your grace affords

We shall overcome the enemy

For the battle is the Lord’s

We shall overcome the enemy

For the battle is the Lord’s

Oh refuge and my rock of hope

Your battlements protect

They safeguard me against the foe

And Satan’s darts deflect

You place in me real courage

So me faith will never  fail

Though demons rage, against this  rock

Hell’s gates shall not prevail

For our weapons of warfare

Are the power Your grace affords

We shall overcome the enemy

For the battle is the Lord’s

We shall overcome the enemy

For the battle is the Lord’s

November 23, 2023

Anthony Foster