Christmas Song

A festive and rejoicing heart is filled with quiet love

I am set aright and set apart as I set my mind on things above

Shadows flee as I set one foot in front of another in this light

For Christmas cheer and Christmas glory drive away the night

This Christmas I am here with friends and family and wife

Confronted with how much I’m blessed to have this blessed life

And so my tongue declares this love, my lips will sing out praise

On the mysterious marvelous birth of the Ancient of Days

So ring you bells within my heart cry out on Christmas Day

Declare that life and light has come to show us all the Way

We sing of mercy and of grace that gave to us His Son

This Christmas points us to the place where God’s  good will is done.

For we have seen a great light, we received Emmanuel

We have embraced the incarnate in hands of dust so frail

As He was born to give new birth, he gives new wine and song

He is the great gift giver of eternal life ‘ere long.

Who was and is and is to come and evermore shall be

Our God took on flesh and bone to become like you and me.

He came to destroy Satan’s works He came our souls to save

So Christmas is a special time to enjoy the gift He gave.

So ring you bells within my heart cry out on Christmas Day

Declare that life and light has come to show us all the Way

We sing of mercy and of grace that gave to us His Son

This Christmas points us to the place where God’s  good will is done.

December 25, 2019

Anthony Foster

Christ our Treasure

The Poor in Spirit become rich

The barren will bear fruit,

And humble hearts are lifted up

As Christ annoints the Destitute

Beyond all earthly pleasure

To bask in blessings beyond measure

These are lavished on the lowliest

When Christ becomes their treasure

Bridge

Christ confers the riches of His grace

To those charged with controversy

He outpours the riches of His glory

To the Least of these Vessels of Mercy

If Christ did not spare His life

Then all things He will freely give

We have a sure inheritance

When in Christ alone we live.

Beyond all earthly pleasure

To bask in blessings beyond measure

These are lavished on the lowliest

When Christ becomes their treasure

Eph 3:16

December 19, 2019

Anthony Foster

I Call Him Friend

We worship the King who is Ancient of Days
We bask in His splendor, His glory we praise
The star-wheels and atoms are in His control
This is my friend the lover of my soul
His plenteous providence our hope secures
His care and His mercy forever endures
His covenant kindness shall heal and console
This is my friend, the lover of my soul.

I call Him friend, for He will never leave me
He gave His life my soul to defend
His wounds are faithful, but never shall He grieve me
For He is steadfast to the very end
His care is constant,  so I call Him friend

We are but dust for from dust we were formed
Yet he placed in us glory and we are transformed
His sufficient grace makes bereft sinners whole
This is my friend, the lover of my soul
Forever His power and wisdom be praised
His ransomed redeemed children's hearts are ablaze
Conformed to Christ's likeness- we pursue this goal
This is my friend, the lover of my soul

I call Him friend, for He will never leave me
He gave His life my soul to defend
His wounds are faithful, but never shall He grieve me
For He is steadfast to the very end
His care is constant,  so I call Him friend

Bridge
In wrath and in wisdom He judges the earth
Till every nation will honor his worth
The heavens He'll cause to roll up like a scroll
This is my friend, the lover of my soul

We hallow your Name as in heaven so bright
We show to the world One in Whom we delight.
We rest 'neath His wings, lest life takes its toll
This is my friend the lover of my soul.
This is the love that prevails over all
This is the magnificent cure for the fall
The heavenly hosts His great glory extol
This is my friend, the lover of my soul

I call Him friend, for He will never leave me
He gave His life my soul to defend
His wounds are faithful, but never shall He grieve me
For He is steadfast to the very end
His care is constant,  so I call Him friend

December 18, 2019
Anthony Foster

Singer of Joy (Penny a Song)

If I had a penny for every song that invades my pondering pages

I’d be a rich man before very long for they flow like a river that rages

Like waves of an ocean they break on my shores 'til a welcome harbor they find

And with them the richest treasures outpour and unfold in my hungering mind

If I had a penny for each song in the night  that has gleamed in my darkened heart

Like a starry host up in heaven so bright to illumine  my soul with their art

And there in the darkness of that lonely place in my heart there is born a romance

If I will but listen my soul will be tuned and the music will  call me to dance

You give me a penny and I’ll cut it loose For a song’s not a song till it’s sung

I can still keep it stored in my heart if I choose to sing with a spiritual tongue

For ev-er-y song that’s receiv-ed affords truest  treasures  that you may not see

The songs form a circle  twixt me and my Lord for He is the songsmith in me

If I had a penny for ev-ery song that sings with the hosts’ harmonies

That treasure could cover up unrighteous wrongs For the Songsmith’s truth shall set us free

His song is an anthem that cancels our fears  and gives a song we can enjoy.

He is the Master of musical spheres for he is the Singer of Joy

Ephesians 5:19; Zephaniah 3:17; Job 38:6-7;

December 13, 2019

Anthony Foster

  

Righteous Sun

The silent night was unlike any other- alone with damned distress

Darkness was oppressive in its fervor-and in that silent night there was no rest.

With only futile thoughts to guide me-all forsaken, fearful, and forlorn

My soul laid bare, no cover there to hide me- face to face with every cause to mourn.

But in that silent night there came a rising

When I cried out what does this weeping mean?

A mercy so severe broke my horizons

When the righteous sun arose with healing wings…

Bridge-

Stars were like the glistening water-Moon was all aglow

Faith was firing up its altar-All its glorious light to show

Something new was born afresh-Where nothing was before

Covering this spiritual flesh-And kindling my core

And oer my sin my lamentation sings-oer my sin my lamentation sings

Oer my sin my lamentation sings-oer my sin my lamentation sings

For in that silent night there came a rising

Against Abba alone are all my sins!

Then mercy so severe broke my horizon

When the righteous sun arose with healing wings

A still small voice became a shout-Trickles became a flood

What came within emerged without-And holy wounds cried blood.

A leaven that was black as coal Washed from eyes that were blind

And cleansing that still fires my soul Then purged my heart and mind

For in that silent night there came a rising

The gifts of real repentance oer me sing

A mercy so severe broke my horizon

When the righteous sun arose with healing wings

December 13, 2019

Anthony Foster

Valley of Shadows

We all must walk this lonesome road

But You have walked this way before

And you go with me through the woes

And so I’ll not fear death anymore

We all must past through death’s valley

But here in shadowlands we  thrive

Because mere shadows pass away

When you light the path it comes alive

In the valley of shadow Death’s sting abaits

Christ leads the way If we’ll but wait

For we need not go on alone

Through places we have never known

We have a guide to lead us home.

And though the road goes deep and low

Our sovereign sojourner will guide

He knows the path, the snares he knows

And he stores up the tears we’ve cried

Bridge

Though evil may surround me

Temptation won't confound me

With my shepherds arms around me

My keeper will keep

Me in the darkness deep

For His presence will astound me.

In the valley of shadow Death’s sting abaits

Christ leads the way If we’ll but wait

For we need not go on alone

Through places we have never known

We have a guide to lead us home.

Psalm 23

December 8, 2019

Anthony Foster

The Gift of Tears

Lord what I have come to desire Is a most uncommon gift

I pray to be purged by your fire Your Spirit my hard heart to sift

Surface in me the secret place Where I have hid away

Reveal it all by your great grace And sear my soul I pray

Sharp sudden pains of repentance Are what I desire most.

Lord fortify my remembrance For my iniquities are an unholy host

The holiness found in forgiveness,  The sanctifying pain

Are the beginning of true righteousness Where loss becomes real gain.

The gift of tears, the gift of tears

Your fire cleanses as it sears

And if repentance requires suffering

May my mourning become an offering.

I am no greater than my King.

Lord give the gift of repentance My pride, Lord devastate

Let humility become my sentence as You make the crooked straight

The gift of tears is what I need, for mourning is required

Oh Holy Spirit intercede and purge me with Your refiner’s fire

Cleanse me from besetting sin And forgive me Lord,  I pray

Search and try me without, within- Let this be my judgment day.

Against you alone have I sinned And you alone can forgive

Your kindness  is where it begins So by grace through faith I will live.

The gift of tears, the gift of tears

Your fire cleanses as it sears

And if repentance requires suffering

May my mourning become an offering.

Till sackcloth and ashes yield to wings.

2 Corinthians 7:10; John 16:8; Psalm 51:4; Ephesians 2:8-9

December 7, 2019

Anthony Foster

It Is Accomplished

Tetelestai, tetelestai

It is finished was the cry

Jesus came to us to die

For lost souls like you and I

in full the debt is paid  and propitiation made

Christ perfected Righteousness when the serpents skull was crushed

Divine Justice was satisfied In the moment Jesus died

Atonement in the blood Christ shed For sins remission the lamb bled

Sins were forgiven once for all

The veil was torn,  so fell the wall

Then our redemption was complete

Accomplished at this mercy seat

Tetelestai, tetelestai

It is finished was the cry

Jesus came to us to die

For lost souls like you and I

The savior conquered death When he breathed that final breath

Salvation was secured by the death that Christ endured

For this purpose Jesus came- He destroyed the Devils game

Reconciliation was achieved For those who have believed

Sins were forgiven once for all

The veil was torn,  so fell the wall

Then our redemption was complete

Accomplished at this mercy seat

Tetelestai, tetelestai

It is finished was the cry

Jesus came to us to die

For lost souls like you and I

Tetelestai, tetelestai

It is finished was the cry

Jesus came to us to die

For lost souls like you and I

December 7, 2019

Mark 15:37,  John 19:28 and 19:30

Anthony Foster

Overseer of My Soul

Oh, Overseer of my soul

Watch over me tonight

Guard my heart and still my mind

Secrets remain within your sight

Darkness must flee from your light

Oh, Overseer of my soul

Watch over me today

Like a watchman alert me

To this world’s wicked way

Watch over me I pray

Your eye roves all throughout the earth

For you know what a heart is worth

You seek a man whose heart is yours

To strongly uphold and assure

Oh rest your eye on me while life endures!

Oh Overseer of My soul

My sentry and defense

Oh watchman keep my heart secure

Until my journey ends
For the journey never ends

Oh Overseer of My soul

My end of days you see

Vouchsafe me as I run this race,

As I live the mystery
As I live the mystery

December 7, 2019

Anthony Foster