From the Secret Place

From the secret place of the Most High

Love came down and now draws nigh

To draw us to His Holy place

To work in us a faith by grace.

The God shaped void we ponder

Our restless souls shall wander

As  goes the void so goes our peace

Until we find our rest in Thee

Deepest love

Highest Praise

Mystery  reveals

God's Wisest ways

Wrapped up in an infant child

Love and justice reconciled

Emmanuel we place our trust

In the God who is with us.

From beyond the vale of time

The seed that will become  the Vine

Ancient of Days in a manger lies

Now men  know the God who cries.

Deepest love

Highest Praise

Mystery  reveals

God's Wisest ways

Wrapped up in an infant child

Love and justice reconciled

Emmanuel we place our trust

In the God who is with us.

Anthony Foster

December 18, 2002

Meditation

My Savior’s Name

May the heavenly hosts all envy me

Because of the song I sing so free

Redeeming  love I shall proclaim

Emmanuel is my savior’s name

God is with us every one

Who will receive the blessed son

His way  His path and His time

Is all of His and none of mine

For if the promise you receive

You are transformed as you believe

Believing you are made to be

One who with His will  you agree.

Changed transformed and reconciled

O be conformed to this Holy child

To see His image shine in you

Born in a heart made clean and new

The reason he came’s for the sake of His name

And to be our Emmanuel

For God so loved the word that he gave his only son

Now our God is for us

So we’ll join the chorus

To sing of the great things He’s done.

For though he was equal with God

Equality he did not grasp

He put off his glory

To tell us this story

That fulfills more than we know to ask.

For when he put on human flesh

And came to earth to dwell

He has made us a way

On that first christmas day

So we’ll go – all the world to tell

Anthony Foster

December 15, 2003

What does the Lord Require?

Humble and Holy

Unseen in a stable, the one who is able

To transform the world now sleeps

While the world hurries on through another new dawn

A silent vigil he keeps

Until the day when he’ll give life away

And he’ll lay down to sleep death’s sleep

Till his next wakening

From that sleep quickening

His eternal glory to reclaim and keep.

Born to this world so he could die

So he could take up His life and arise

With healing in his wings

So all heaven sings

Of this most humble  and holy of offerings.

Humble and Holy

Simple and lowly

Born the serpent’s head to crush

Modest and meek

Alone and unique

Indescribable one in you we trust

Born to this world so he could live

As a servant he came- his life to give

Eternal life he brings

So all heaven sings

Of this most humble  and holy of offerings.

Anthony Foster

December 16, 2003

Christmas Song

King of Heaven

King of Heaven, King of matchless worth

King of Heaven, come now to this earth

King of Heaven, we bow before your throne

King of Heaven, we worship You alone.

In your throne room, by grace we enter in

To boldly stand there on grace we must depend

High and glorious, good and gracious King

Eceive our praises,  a holy offering.

We your servants now known as your friends

King of Heaven, e boldly enter in.

You considered loss to be a prize

To your kingdom We seek to turn our eyes

King of Heaven please extend your reign

King whose every loss has been our gain

As in heaven on earth your will be done

For the glory set before you has been won.

For you were High and lifted up

Because you were brought low

You chose to drink redemption’s cup

So all the world may know.

King of Heaven please accept our crowns

At your feet we humbly cast them down

King of Heaven, King of matchless worth

King of Heaven, come now to this earth

December 26, 2004

Anthony Foster

Promises Present

Christmas is a Promise
Christmas is a promise that God made long ago
It hasn't much to do with feasts or Santa Claus or snow
So in this Christmas season as we decorate the tree
Let us think about another one- the tree called Calvary.
For Christmas is a promise that God abides within
And Christmas is a promise that we are cleansed from Sin.
God for me and God to me, God in me and God through me
For now and all eternity God's promise sets us free!
As we shop for Christmas presents think of God's gift to man
God wrapped himself in human flesh so we could understand
The lights so brightly shining remind us God is Light
that he now shines within our hearts and lights the darkest night!
For Christmas is a promise that God abides within
And Christmas is a promise that we are cleansed from Sin.
God for me and God to me, God in me and God through me
For now and all eternity God's promise sets us free!
December 1985
Anthony Foster

Christmas Past

Visitation

I have made the Lord who is my refuge

My dwelling place for all eternity

He shelters me from life's deluge

And He has made his home in me

Now is the time appointed

No longer waiting, anticipating

God has sent His annointed

Sign of all times, way of all ways

Light of the world and ancient of days

The annointed one has now come

Hope has begun- the Lord has sent His son!

Now is the time appointed

No longer waiting, anticipating

God has sent his annointed

Sign of all times, way of all ways

Light of the world and ancient of days

The annointed one has now come

hope has begun- the Lord has sent His son!

December 24,1998

Anthony Foster

Living Word

Where soul and spirit coincide

There the Living Word shall pierce

There where the joints and marrow hide

From fury ever fiery and fierce

This two edged sword

This living Word

Cleaves the bones of sin

The cry is heard

And the Living Word

Raises up his seed again

As you were in the beginning

It is now unto the end

Oh living and abiding Word

Your life is the light of men

Oh living and abiding Word

Through you we are born again.

Discern now my intentions

Search me and know my heart

My thoughts and my inventions

Rend them and tear them apart

In heaven and on earth,

The unseen and all we see

Whether thrones or dominions

Every ruler or authority

All things were created through the Word

and for him all things exist.

And he is before all things,

and in the Word all things consist.

This two edged sword

This living Word

Cleaves the bones of sin

The cry is heard

And the Living Word

Raises up seed again

As you were in the beginning

It is now unto the end

Oh living and abiding Word

Your life is the light of men

Oh living and abiding Word

Through you we are born again.

Anthony Foster

1 Peter 1:23

Hebrews 4:12

Colossians 1

August 1, 2012

Refuge

There is a city on a hill

A place for us to rest

Erected there from living stones

Built on a rock that stands the test

A firm foundation from a stone

That once was cast away

Smitten and stricken by our sin

But now is exalted and raised

The stricken rock poured forth its grace

The smitten stone now flows

For by the wounding we are healed

Joy comes through a flood of woes

For he bore our sins in his Body

This rock of offense  was reviled

And cast out from the holy city

So that we might be reconciled

In a city of refuge

A place of mercy and of grace

For He is our rock of refuge

And justice shall reign in this place

Protection for the weary

Asylum for the weak

Who know their neediness of hope

Opened for those who seek

He takes us to his wounded side

And guards us from our sin

The penitent pilgrim he forgives

For he knows the hearts of men

He redeems all our transgressions

He restores us from our shame

He removes the fear of even death

And gives us a new name.

In a city of refuge

The lost are found, the wounded healed

For He is our refuge

In the shade of this rock is light revealed

And now in safety we abide

Our security made sure

In the smitten stone we now reside

In the cleft of the rock secure

Within the cleft sin’s rod has left

A place for us to hide

And in the wounds we find our home

If we will come inside.

In a city of refuge

The lost are found, the wounded healed

For He is our refuge

In the shade of this rock is light revealed

And now in safety we abide

Our security made sure

In the smitten stone we now reside

In the cleft of the rock secure

Anthony Foster

July 31, 2012

Marked by Mercy

We are set apart and given a name

A peculiar people defined by a cross

A paradox in a world that seeks fame

While we’re called to count all things as loss

Called to serve the least of these

And in mercy to find rest

Then righteous fruit will yield its peace

And the heart of Christ is blessed

May mercy ever mark me

Let compassion be complete

We will touch the heart of Jesus

When we fall upon, when we call upon our mercy seat.

To  reach into God’s foolish scheme

To find wisdom yet unknown

To see this all surpassing dream

As more important than our own

To turn our eyes to heaven above

And find glory where’er you are

To seek there the face of Love

And healing in the scars

May mercy ever mark me

Let compassion be complete

We will touch the heart of Jesus

When we fall upon, when we call upon our mercy seat.

Anthony Foster

July 26, 2012

Jesus Saves

With all you’ve got,  these words repeat

"Draw us back to mercy’s cure"

Our Jesus Saves

Now we are not- lost in our conceit

For all we lack, we stand secure

For Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,

sin is black, judgment’s sure

but Jesus saves

Jesus saves Jesus saves

We the blood bought fall at His feet

Though doubts attack and sin may lure

Still Jesus saves

Our holy lot to be made complete

Reckon the fact that renders us pure

King Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,

sin is black, judgment’s sure

and Jesus saves

Jesus saves Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,

sin is black, judgment’s sure

and Jesus saves

Jesus saves Jesus saves

Anthony Foster

Remembering Adrian Rogers

July 26, 2012

Speak

Speak forth Your voice

And the mountains will crumble

In its echo we rejoice

We hear its righteous rumble

The thunder of Your Word

Makes men tremble where it’s heard

And we are humbled

Hearts are humbled hearts are stirred.

Lord speak your servants hear you

Life is in every word that You say

Speak and your word will transform us

Speak Lord and we will obey

Speak forth your Word

And the righteous will tremble

Its echo is heard

In the heart of Your temple

Your glory is declared

And exalted is Your Name

And we will worship

Hearts are stirred

We will never be the same.

Lord speak your servants hear you

Life is in every word that You say

Speak and your word will transform us

Speak Lord and we will obey

Anthony Foster

July 15, 2012

Stones of Remembrance

We ponder the past

And your works we recall

We meditate daily

On our Jericho’s walls

Delivered from dangers

Your strong hand still guides

We praise You for good things

Your love has denied

Out of the midst of our Jordan

We have gathered memorial stones

Erected a  true testimony

Of the miracles that we have known

Stones to mark your faithfulness

Stones to establish your fame

Stones to direct our attentions

To the glory of your Mighty name

We will tell it to our generations

The remembrances we will rehearse

Declaring the day of salvation

And deliverance from the curse.

Stones to mark your faithfulness

Stones to establish your fame

Stones to direct our attentions

To the glory of your Mighty name

Anthony Foster

July 15, 2012

Friend of the Fatherless

I wrote this last year as I was anticipating becoming a father for the first time...

                      

You were born in the fields of the fatherless

Cut down at the root and left there alone.

Jesus came as a friend to the fatherless

Picked you up and brought you home.

Life is hard in the fields of the fatherless

For its  wounds cause the spirit to groan

Jesus comes as the friend to the fatherless

He knows the plans he has for His own

Now our friend,  faithful friend of the fatherless

Walks the ground where so many seeds were sown

And the cut off the cast out the distressed

Are gathered up to be never disowned

So child come in from the fields of the fatherless

Enter in to be nurtured and known

You’ve been called and chosen for blessedness

For in this new work, God’s glory is shown.

June 24, 2011

Anthony Foster

Hide Us In Your Holiness

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of cloud envelop us

And Hide us in your holiness

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of fire consume us, Lord

And Hide us in your holiness…

Your holy mountain we would climb

But we’re out of synch and out of time

Cause the mountain was leveled at your cross

Now you’ve redefined all gain and  loss

The mountain was cast into the sea

Now the most Holy place is in you and in me

And we live in His presence by His sacrifice

Freely and fully because we are In Christ…

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of cloud envelop us

And Hide us in your holiness

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of fire consume us, Lord

And Hide us in your holiness…

Our eyes are unveiled  with passion ablaze

Our rags  all exchanged for garments of praise

We are His chosen treasures-the apple of His eye

Steal our hearts, steel our hearts is our heartcry!

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of cloud envelop us

And Hide us in your holiness

Hide us in your Holiness Lord

Hide us in your holiness

Like a pillar of fire consume us, Lord

And Hide us in your holiness…

Anthony Foster March 2002

Higher Ground Egg Drop Challenge-

You know the drill. Drop an egg from a second story level in a contraption you design to protect it from breaking. Here is our daughter's entry, which was a total success! It weighed in under 150 grams total weight (200 was the limit) You had to be able to see the egg, and other restrictions applied to keep students from googling the most common solutions. You usually don't see this problem until later grades, but we had it in the gifted and talented class at grade 3.

Mercy Hill Worship

Here's a pic from Mercy Hill joint worship where our missional communities came together- I had the joy of leading worship not only with my daughter participating, but my brother Neil backed me up on guitar... we've led worship together before but not recently...cooler still, the cross on the wall in the background and the communion table were fashioned years ago by my Dad when he was a deacon at the host church. Sweet.

Crystal Blue

Crystal blue, crystal blue
Are the precious pools I gaze into
To see reflected in their glance
The soul of a child who longs to dance.

And when I look I think I see
Glistening hope looking back at me
A spark of courage flashing bright
Shining with crystal blazing light.

But what’s behind those crystal eyes-
Behind this heart that God made wise?
I pray I might have strength to dare
To hope to see Christ’s healing there!

Crystal blue, crystal blue
These eyes that hold me in their view
What mysteries beyond them lie?
For I have never seen them cry.

They speak to me of bravery
And compassion rises up in me
They seem to seek to trust e’re long
To find a refuge and a home.

Crystal blue, crystal clue
Eyes of this child show me what is true
So the lines of your Spirit we can read
And we can learn to meet your need.

Anthony Foster
June 15, 2011

Amazing Graces

I have just been perusing an old blog written by an amazing family that was used of God to protect and guard our daughter when she was at a critical point on her journey to our forever family. They could not legally mention her name, but the Lord led me to their site anyway.

I don't know if they will ever know the miraculous story of our daughter and how it got so much worse before it got so much better. I do know that Jesus knows and knows perfectly how many prayers were instigated during this long process and how perfectly He had it all planned, firstly to His Glory and secondly for our good both individually and as a forever family.It amazes me that as they were praying on their blog for our daughter, I can now document the steps that God was moving us through as we were navigating the "system" ourselves in pursuit of adoption as an "adopt only" family. And it turns me to jelly. I am undone.

Writing on the walls-From Hebrews 12

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or efainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For hthe Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, jin which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to kthe Father of spirits land live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, mthat we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields othe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

This passage is the source of great comfort as we walk in the way. If we will let it we will be touched in that place where bone and marrow meet and be changed in our attitudes today. Even for those who did not receive discipline from their earthly fathers, there is hope in knowing that the Father of Lights sends down his good teaching and even punishment when we go astray. He loves us that much. I am praying I will not falter in my teaching of the young life God has entrusted to our parentage, and that she will grow to glorify the Savior she loves in all that she attempts in this world.

Jesus Loves Me- a song from the Journey

I am so glad that my father above
tells us in his word of his wonderful love
Glorious truth in the Bible I see.
This is the dear word the clear word - my ear's heard that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves me and you know I love him.
Love brought him to me my soul to redeem
It was for love that he died on the tree.
When I am hurting and burdened I'm certain that Jesus loves me.

If I forget or wander away,
still he will love me should ever I stray.
Back to his loving arms I will flee,
f I will turn and I learn, I'll return, for Jesus loves me

There is a song I can always sing,
when in his glory I worship my king
This is my song for all eternity-
It will amaze me and raise me for praise be! My Jesus loves me.

Anthony Foster 1991

See How love Survives

See How Love Survives

You can see how Love survives- in our hearts and in our lives
Through the power of the risen Savior you can see how Love survives...

In those who know their need of Him and the peace of mind they know
You can see those who were in despair who now have been consoled.
In the meek and in the humble and in men who strive for peace
How the power of His Spirit has given them release!

You can see how Love survives- in our hearts and in our lives
Through the power of the risen Savior you can see how Love survives...

It's expressed in acts of mercy though unnoticed every day
In the lives of conflict He's resolved and the pain He takes away
You can see the vict'ry of His Love- how it overpowers hate
How despite the trials of this world He gives cause to celebrate!

You can see how Love survives- in our hearts and in our lives
Through the power of the risen Savior you can see how Love survives...
You can see how Love survives- in our hearts and in our lives
Through the power of the risen Savior you can see how Love survives...

Anthony Foster 1984

This is my favorite song of this era. It expresses the personal victory that Christ worked in my life- he was faithfully completing what he had started and we foungd the joy of fellowship at First Evangelical Church in Memphis- how well we were fed there!

Pure and Undefiled

These following songs were written during the process of adoption. I felt compelled to NOT publish them during that time as we needed to protect our daughter who was then ward of the state, and to guard from peering eyes. I will be talking more about the process and the experience this side of the finalization, hopefully to encourage others who are on that journey, as well as those who might not have otherwise considered it. Soli Deo Gloria!

James 1:27
New International Version (NIV)
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Friend of the Fatherless

(This is a call to a generation to step up to the challenge of becoming agents of redemption in the lives of children who have been thrown on the garbage heap of our culture. There but for the grace of God go we all.)

You were born in the fields of the fatherless
Cut down at the root and left there alone.
Jesus came as a friend to the fatherless
Picked you up and brought you home.

Life is hard in the fields of the fatherless
For its wounds cause the spirit to groan
Jesus comes as the friend to the fatherless
He knows the plans he has for His own

Now our friend, faithful friend of the fatherless
Walks the ground where so many seeds were sown
And the cut off the cast out the distressed
Are gathered up to be never disowned

So child come in from the fields of the fatherless
Enter in to be nurtured and known
You’ve been called and chosen for blessedness
For in this new work, God’s glory is shown.

June 24, 2011
Anthony Foster

Abba

This was previously found on this blog last year, but is appropriate here, I think...

Now I know Abba’s tender arms
An embrace for a fatherless child
A nurturing place where I’m kept from harm
With my father I’m reconciled
Beloved children reconciled.

Crying out Abba Father
At the cross we lay our pain
You turn our loss into gain
We cry out for the souls of men
Crying out for your presence again

We need Your presence to live in
Forgiveness is given
Your power to use
Your wisdom to choose
We shall cry out
Cast away all doubt
Cast ourselves upon your grace
Abba Father, Abba Father
Let us see your face
Fill our hearts and fill this place

We need
Your strength to endure
Your love true and pure
Your interceding prayers
Your mercy and your care
We are crying out
Our prayer becomes a shout
We cast ourselves on you alone
Crying abba Father, Abba Father
Abba Father make your glory known
As we stand boldly before your throne

Grafted In

(This thought is the basis of our journey- the very clear teaching that we as believers are chosen and grafted into the life of the True VIne. Adoption is at the core of who we are.)

Romans 11:17-24

Grafted in to the root of an olive tree
Though once barren, its roots run deep
Chosen child, given a new identity
A new name that you will keep.

So the master gardener takes his time
And discerns which plants to choose
Our soil is rich and so he binds
Your branch until we fuse

By his cuts He exposes our secret place
With our bark stripped back to reveal
Our very core ready to embrace
Your wound till our union can heal

We are the stock, you are the scion
We are the root that you will rely on
And we will bear more beautiful fruit
As your partake of the life of our root.

And so like flames united thus
Our flames burn bright and true
The gardener will prune us
Till our life runs through you.

June 24, 2011
Anthony Foster

My Prayer

(I still tear up when I read what I wrote over 6 months ago, for it still rings even truer today.)

I pray the Lord will give you grace
To understand what’s taking place
I pray that you will come to show
The joys a child was meant to know.

I pray that you will learn to trust
These feeble, frail, children of dust
I pray that faith will fill your mind
And true security you’ll find.

I pray that you will choose to live
Up to the privilege God gives.
I pray that we might bless your heart
And you’ll know the peace that Christ imparts.

I pray that if you need to grieve
Release and comfort you’ll receive
That God will grant you perfect rest
And we will live to see you blessed.

But most of all I pray we’ll be
A healthy, happy family
A place of refuge on this earth
A home of hearts that know Christ’s worth.

For favor and blessing, forgiveness and grace
Love and acceptance and care
Discipline and a sheltering place
An inheritance for you to share
This is my prayer, this is my prayer!

Anthony Foster
June 14, 2011

Chosen One

(It has always been our firm conviction that we would adopt out of abundance, not to fill a void. The paradox is that as true as that was, now that the branch is grafted and fused, there WOULD be a void without her. We have been changed by this process.)

The joy of one flesh and bone
Has been proven and prepared
A Great Love overflows our home
And we know it was meant to be shared.

You are our chosen one, our chosen one
So chosen child see what our Lord has done
He has blessed our happy family
By bringing you to us
And like every blessing we have known
You’ll become both a test and a trust.

I pray we will not fail you
I pray we will be strong
To courageously sing over you
Unconditional lovesongs
You’ll be free to be imperfect
And you’ll know you are beloved
And our Lord will meet your very need
When all we have is not enough.

You are our chosen one, our chosen one
So chosen child see what our Lord has done
He has blessed our happy family
By bringing you to us
And like every blessing we have known
You’ll become both a test and a trust.

Anthony Foster
June 14, 2011

Forever Family

(Theses posts can now be shared post-adoption)

We were given a vision to pursue
We’ve been searching now for so long.
We’ve walked away time and time again
When the prospects were all wrong

For God knew your needs and God knew our hearts
He planted the seeds that’s how true love starts
Now He’s brought us together and we’ll never be the same
He makes a forever family and Foster is our name.

The Lord gave a sense that it was right-
Sweet assurances of His plan;
Encouragement in little lovenotes
To remind us how this path began.

We prayed He’d make it obvious
When we sought you as our choice
So when we give our hearts to you
Your angels would rejoice.

Forever family
Forever Family
So we become all we can be
A Forever Family
Forever family
Forever Family
Dad and Mom and you make three
A Forever Family

Abba Father connects us
And calls us as His own
In His goodness He protects us
And we are never alone…

Anthony Foster
June 14, 2011

Blog? What's a blog?

Yes, this is an indication of how life has changed in the Foster abode. Facebook has dwindled to nothingness as well. It's also a function of the past year where we were not allowed to share the common occurances in our own household because our daughter was a ward of the state and we had no leeway in the matter. It will take some intentionality to get back to communicating appropriately! That being said,

Everything is fairly routine, as much as is possible with us. We didn't travel much for Christmas and that was a boon. We did make one trip to Owensboro to see friends who moved there recently (and pick up the University of Kentucky basketball tickets they provided.) It was ostensibly a trip for our daughter to reconnect with her former foster parents who will, we anticipate, continue to be friends of the family. The reunion went well at a local restaurant. It was especially good for our daughter to see her foster sis (the foster parents’ biological daughter) who is in college majoring in elementary education, and who has a very good relationship with our daughter. our daughter got to see some of her old friends at her old church the next day.

My mom is enjoying having a granddaughter at long last. We are still struggling with the Lord's will on whether to build near her, expand, or buy a new home. We are getting cramped where we are and have cut back and given away a lot. Being crsmped makes for great bonding opportunities, though!

Earnie had wisdom tooth surgery this week so daddy is pulling double duty till we can get her healed. She had a vein nicked and has a large hematoma that the doc thinks will give more trouble than the surgery. She has been laid up for a couple of days but at least the political news has been occupying her mind. Our daughter has been a big help- this is one of her gifts- she loves helping. If we can get her to see that the mundane chores are "helping" as well we will be on a roll.

Sadly, we cannot travel to our niece's funeral today. BK was our Down's Syndrome child, a real joy and blessing to us all. She died this week at age 54, far beyond what is the life expectancy for such children. She was loved and well cared for all her days, and loved the Lord so now she is whole and healthy with the Lord. Please lift her parents up in prayer.

I’d like to share the jist of a note we received in reply to a thank you we sent. This was from a worker at a SNAP event where few very children attended (their workers didn't come through) in March. We were at the point of giving up and walking away when she came up and started a conversation with us. She told us yesterday that the Lord should get the credit for the adoption because He whispered to her at that event that she should tell us specifically about our daughter, who at that time was not even in the system or available for adoption because of a recently failed adoption attempt.

We already knew where credit is due, but it's just another sweet note of affirmation. Though not required (grace never is), it is appreciated and counted as another blessing! It has been a confounding number of events and circumstances that only have a design to them if you look from heaven's perspective. Walking by faith and not by sight is absolutely mandatory.

Love to you,

Anthony

Early morning, 6 AM December 16, 2011- A-Day. Gotcha Day. Adoption Day.

We can’t call it Foster day, even though we are the Fosters. This is the day we have been awaiting for months, or as Alyvia put it, ALL OUR LIFE. We knew early on that Alyvia would one day be our child and that we would be a forever family, but the waiting has been arduous. We DO understand that the state has to be careful with these arrangements. We DO know that there are many dangers, toils, and snares for at risk children in the world we live in. We thank the Lord that there was a protective system in place that rescued our little girl from peril, but at times it seems that extracting her from that system has become the larger task.

Yet we would do it again, ten thousand times over for the sake of the love that has been built and is building strong bonds and a future and a hope for her success in life. That is our prayer, every day. It will remain so for as long as we live.

What has changed? Everything, and yet not the essential elements of our family’s one-flesh relationship. The love we shared has now opened up to receive another, one whose main need intersected with our main strength to result in a calling to intercede in her life. This is the basic cycle of blessedness designed into the universe God created: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.

Here is what we wrote to each other on Alyvia’s whiteboard last evening:

Adoption Day is here, Thank you, Lord!- Mama

¬¬I can't wait tille Adoption Day, I cant believe my Adoption is on my Birthday. I’m so happy I’m finally getting adopted, I’v been waiting all my life for this. THANK YOU LORD JESUS- Alyvia

We are three of God’s children becoming one family
We are three separate branches becoming one tree
Two with a strong root, and one grafted in
Together we’ll bear much fruit, and so we BEGIN!- Daddy

We are the FOSTER’s!

Ephesians 2:13

Christ is all and in all
Christ alone can purify
This alone the clarion call
To live is Christ, ‘tis gain to die.

I was lost and gone astray
But now I walk within your way
Brought near by the blood of Christ
Brought near by the blood of Christ
The only hope that can suffice
Brought near by the blood of Christ

Christ is all and in all
Christ alone can purify
This alone the clarion call
To live is Christ, ‘tis gain to die.

This I pray Lord this I pray
Ever in your presence I would stay
Brought near by the blood of Christ
Brought near by the blood of Christ
The finished work in a final sacrifice
Brought near by the blood of Christ

Anthony Foster
November 30, 1011

Jesus Has a Grace for That

I know life is hard but the Gospel is easy
I know there is pain in this place
There are trials, and struggles, and heartaches
And suffering that we must face.

No matter the challenge, no matter the cost
There is power and victory to be had
So whether you’re drowning or hopeless or lost
Jesus has a grace for that.
Jesus has a grace for that
Jesus has a grace for that

Greater than I thought . . . more than I expected
…everything that I could say
Beyond all I hoped for. . . everything I've needed
… but still I continue to pray.

Satan is crushed by the gospel’s Good News
No matter the strength of the lion that pursues
Greater is He that dwells within me
And so now ours is the victory.
Jesus has a grace for that
Jesus has a grace for that

Greater than I thought . . . more than I expected
…everything that I could say
Beyond all I hoped for. . . everything I've needed
… but still I continue to pray.

Anthony Foster
November 1, 2011

Lifted

I lift up my eyes to fix them on your throne
I lift up my eyes- set my sights on you alone.
You lift up my heart from the depths of the grave
You lift up my heart for you are mighty to save.

I lift up my hands so ready to believe
I lift up my hands reaching out to receive
You lift up my soul, on the rock set my feet
You lift up my soul from depths of defeat

I lift my eyes to the hills there where my help comes from
I lift my eyes to the hills there where my help comes from

I lift up my hands and release all my plans
To receive the best blessings of all
I lift up my hands and lay down my demands
As on your great name I call.

For I am so needy to be like a child
Protected and nurtured and no more beguiled
So I lift my hands to receive and to give
The praise that is due you while yet I still live.

I lift my eyes to the hills there where my help comes from
I lift my eyes to the hills there where my help comes from

Anthony Foster
November 28, 2011

Crush the Serpent's Skull

Redux on some lyrics, in a new context...

The bruising of his heel has crushed the serpent’s skull
And all that will be left is and empty voided hull
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null

We will take the bread
and we will drink the cup
And it will be our sustinance
so we shall drink it up
So eat his body drink his blood
From the slaughtered lamb that stood.
This living holy water pours
And so the victory is ours.
And so the victory is ours.

The bruising of his heel has crushed the serpent’s skull
And all that will be left is and empty voided hull
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null

In simple profound gratitude
This blessing we receive
The very blood and life of Christ
Is ours if we believe
This mortal vail is shattered
And now death becomes the means
Unto the end of life itself
Much more than it may seem
This act of warfare on the principalities.

The bruising of his heel has crushed the serpent’s skull
And all that will be left is and empty voided hull
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null

Anthony Foster
October 1, 2011

Narnia at SBTS

Great time at the fall festival...

Southern Seminary's FALL FESTIVAL 2011 from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

Victory Song

We will take the bread
and we will drink the cup
And it will be our sustenance
So we shall drink it up
So eat his body drink his blood.
From the slaughtered lamb that stood,
This living holy water pours-
And so the victory is ours!

Victory, victory
Yes Grace shall have the victory
For mercy overflows
To every one who knows
The triumph of the cross, the final victory!

The bruising of his heel has crushed the serpent’s skull
And all that will be left is and empty voided hull
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null

When we remember we must recall
Not just his death but his all in all
From the garden to the grave
The promised seed must save
Through the promised covenant his blood He gave.
Death has passed us by
There is no more death to die
For he bore our Sin and so our sins forgave

The true tree of life has risen
From earth’s devastating dust
Into Him we are ingrafted
And in Him we place our trust.

So we will take the bread
and we will drink the cup
And it will be our sustinance
so we shall drink it up
So eat his body drink his blood
From the slaughtered lamb that stood.
This living holy water pours
And so the victory is ours

Victory, victory
Yes Grace shall have the victory
For mercy overflows
To every one who knows
The triumph of the cross, the final victory!

Anthony Foster
September 27, 2011

Victory Song

We will take the bread
and we will drink the cup
And it will be our sustinance
so we shall drink it up
So eat his body drink his blood
From the slaughtered lamb that stood.
This living holy water pours
And so the victory is ours

Victory, victory
Yes Grace shall have the victory
For mercy overflows
To every one who knows
The triumph of the cross, the final victory!

The bruising of his heel has crushed the serpent’s skull
And all that will be left is and empty voided hull
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null
The power of the cursed one will then at last be null

When we remember we must recall
Not just his death but his all in all
From the garden to the grave
The promised seed must save
Through the promised covenant his blood He gave.
Death has passed us by
There is no more death to die
For he bore our Sin and so our sins forgave

The true tree of life has risen
From earth’s devastating dust
Into Him we are ingrafted
And in Him we place our trust.

So we will take the bread
and we will drink the cup
And it will be our sustinance
so we shall drink it up
So eat his body drink his blood
From the slaughtered lamb that stood.
This living holy water pours
And so the victory is ours

Victory, victory
Yes Grace shall have the victory
For mercy overflows
To every one who knows
The triumph of the cross, the final victory!

Anthony Foster
September 27, 2011

For the Glory and the Joy

Even with our quickened eyes
We fail to see the depths of grace
But as we turn our eyes to Christ
Clouds will part as we apprehend your face
We apprehend
What we can’t comprehend
And glory fills this place
Thundering radiance fires our bones
As the weight of glory is made known

For the joy set before you
For the glory to be gained
For the Father to restore you
To the place from which you came
Founder and perfecter
Author and finisher
For Father’s glory you stayed true
For the joy set before you
You endured the cross, and suffered loss
Took our blame, despised the shame
Now you are seated at the right hand of God
Given a name above every other name
We bow low to the earth
And seek to worship all you are worth
Grace and compassion are your throne
And so we worship you alone
You are worthy, you are worthy.
Of the glory and the joy of your throne.

Col 3:13
Anthony Foster
September 23, 2011

Days of Deep Wonder

These are the days of deep wonder
Days of obedience
Deep days of sin torn asunder
Today is the day of recompense
The power to rend our hearts
In the hands of a faithful friend
And though mystery may break us
He is faithful to the end.

Bring the days of the frequent vision
Send each trembling heart on mission
Heneni is our cry
Make our ears tingle and brighten our eye

Help us to cast off all distractions
Help us focus on your grace
Help us understand your mercy
As we seek your holy face.
All that you have spared us from
And all that you have planned
All work together for the glory
Even angels fail to understand.

Your favor is applied
As you draw us to your side
In your presence, father we are undone
Here rests a grace that can’t be won.

Here in the days of deep wonder
The days of hearts crucified
The ultimate circumcision
In a cross where our savior has died
Cut off and broken for our sin
You despised the shame and took the blame
The deep places now arise from within
And we shall never be the same

Your likeness we pursue
And our minds are renewed
In the shelter of your wings
Glory unto glory sings.

Anthony Foster
September 23, 2011

Abba

Now I know Abba’s tender arms
An embrace for a fatherless child
A nurturing place where I’m kept from harm
With my father I’m reconciled
Beloved children reconciled.

Crying out Abba Father
At the cross we lay our pain
You turn our loss into gain
We cry out for the souls of men
Crying out for your presence again

We need Your presence to live in
Forgiveness is given
Your power to use
Your wisdom to choose
We shall cry out
Cast away all doubt
Cast ourselves upon your grace
Abba Father, Abba Father
Let us see your face
Fill our hearts and fill this place

We need
Your strength to endure
Your love true and pure
Your interceding prayers
Your mercy and your care
We are crying out
Our prayer becomes a shout
We cast ourselves on you alone
Crying abba Father, Abba Father
Abba Father make your glory known
As we stand boldly before your throne

Anthony Foster
September 22, 2011

Where Faith Becomes Sight

Oh to the deep places I would flee
Escape the darkness and bask in your light
Hid in the rock carved out for me
I’ll seek the place where faith becomes sight.

My heart and soul cries out to you oh Lord
My shepherd and redeemer on you I call
The mists have gathered on my moors
And of the next step I’m unsure.
Come guide me lest I slip and fall.

Take me to the place where faith becomes sight
Open up my eyes so I can see the obvious light
Empower the obedience of faith by your grace
All our desires are set right
In that place where faith becomes sight

Before that one day when we see face to face
We still can see clearly in your glorious light
If we will bind your Word to us while we live in this place
We will have wisdom to do what is right

You will not abandon me
You will part the veil so I can see
Reveal the warp and the woof of your will
Calm my storming heart and peace instill.
Take me to the place where faith becomes sight
Open up my eyes so I can see the obvious light
Empower the obedience of faith by your grace
All our desires are set right
In that place where faith becomes sight

Anthony Foster
September 22, 2011

Higher Passion

Every thing of who we are
Every thing of how we live
How we move and how we breathe
A picture of Christ gives.
Trust his timing trust his plan
Trust when you don’t understand
Love the Lord with all your heart
To love each other we must start

Knowing Jesus and making Him known
Living full throttle for Christ alone
As highest passion fills our eyes
This thought alone our heart occupies

A higher passion- on which all other passions are based
A higher ground- on which our sure foundation is placed
A higher calling- a narrow and bright way
A dawn where the broad shadows have no sway.

Anthony Foster
September 22, 2011

Be fruitful and multiply

Multiply our joy
Multiply our peace
Multiply our patience
And our faithfulness increase

For the fruit we bear
The gifts we share
All come down from above
So Lord we pray
Each and every day
That You will increase our love.

May our kindness grow
May our goodness show
May our gentleness find gain
May our self control
Like righteousness roll
Down upon our lives again

This is our pursuit
For each and every fruit
That the Spirit in us births
Will meet many needs
And bear many seeds
That can sprout and grow in worth

Anthony Foster
September 25, 2011

Freight Train

Bringing peace beyond all knowledge
Powering over this terrain
Over mountains and through valleys
Coming like a mighty train

A miracle like a freight train –a special delivery.
Miracle like a freight train bearing down on me
Runaway runaway grace poured out on me

Unstoppable, it’s roaring
through the landscape of my mind
Undeterrable, its running
right on schedule-on God’s time

A miracle like a freight train –a special delivery.
Miracle like a freight train bearing down on me
Runaway runaway grace poured out on me

It rumbles through my comforts
Ease is crushed beneath its wheels
Pleasure takes on a new meaning
In the light this miracle reveals

A miracle like a freight train – take me where I cannot see.
Miracle like a freight train bearing down on me
A miracle like a freight train –sent down from eternity
Miracle like a freight train bearing down on me
Runaway runaway grace poured out on me

Anthony Foster
August 30, 2011

Strongest of All

Sing this song to the Lord
Sing this song to the Lord
He has triumphed gloriously
He has cast our sin into the deepest sea
Raised us from the pit and made us sons
Given us the power to overcome
Separated us from that by which we’re bound
Now in the strong man Jesus we are found.

March on my soul in might
March on my soul in might
Destroy the gates tear down the walls
For our Lord is stronger than all
Our Lord is strongest of all.

Breaker King, great is your majesty
Burn in the heart that is set free
You consume our stubble with your fire
Place in us a pure and holy desire
Stronger than the desires of this age
Strong man give us strength to rage
With a holy anger without sin
See compassion’s fires begin.

March on my soul in might
March on my soul in might
Destroy the gates tear down the walls
For our Lord is stronger than all
Our Lord is strongest of all.

Anthony Foster
September 15, 2011

Cling

Separated, isolated
behind walls rising within
We were chained and devastated
By a lousy load of sin

For we made the ties that bound us
There was darkness where you found us
That does not have a name
It left us broken and ashamed

You were forsaken when you bore our sin
In your own body on the tree
That we being dead to sin
Could live eternally

To be the righteousness of God
For all the world to see our God
In your suffering, grace is now revealed
And by your wounds we are healed

You were hated when you came
And yet you bore our scorn
Despised the shame and took our blame
So we could be reborn

And by your cross love is revealed
By your stripes our wounds are healed
And your death became the final offering
And so to you Jesus, we will cling.

Christ has triumphed gloriously
Cast our sins into the deepest sea
To remember them against us no more
You give the power to forgive
You give the power now to live
You give the reason our souls can sing
And so to Jesus we shall cling.

Anthony Foster
September 15, 2011