Monday, June 21, 2021

Oh Father



Oh my maker by your love I have become your child
My inheritance is in heaven above  because we are reconciled
So may I honor You my Father by the honorable life I live
In you , through you and to you, Abba honor to you I give

The LORD is merciful and gracious, 
slow to anger, and His mercy runs deep 
He will not always chide His child:
And his anger He will not Keep.
He has not dealt with us after our sins; 
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 
For as great as the heaven is high o’er the earth, 
To those  that fear him is his great mercy 

Oh Father, Father in heaven, I will hallow your great Name
I want to show Your image in me-to your glory and your fame
Father almighty- who provides, and protects, and begets
On you my Abba Father, my mind is stayed and set.

As far as the east is from the west, 
so far has he removed our sins 
Like as a father pities his children, 
so the LORD pities them that fear Him
For he knows our very frame; 
He remembers that we are dust. 
As for man, his days are as grass: 
As a flower of the field, so he must trust 

Key Change
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; 
And the place thereof shall know it no more. 
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting 
To everlasting upon them that fear the LORD 
His righteousness is unto the children's children; 
To such as keep his covenant, and obey
And to those that remember  and do
His commandments, they will walk His way

Oh my maker by your love I have become your child
My inheritance is in heaven above  because we are reconciled
So may I honor You my Father by the honorable life I live
In you , through you and to you, Abba honor to you I give


Psalm 103:8-18, KJV
Father's Day 2021
Anthony Foster

Pardon and Power


Pardon and power
Flows to us hour by hour
Forgiveness and mercy
Grace to enable victory.
Pardon and power
A release and a strong tower
No castle for a prisoner’s keep
But strength for the weary and weak

The grace of God is with me
To work the work of faith
I’ll see the day As I obey
Perfected by the gift of Grace

Pardon and Power
Like an everlasting flower
Enabling obedience
Grace for the sinner who repents
Pardon and Power
Like a long refreshing shower
This strength  our God has supplied
That He might be glorified

The grace of God is with me
To work the work of faith
I’ll see the day As I obey
Perfected by the gift of Grace

1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Peter 4:11; 
2 Thessalonians 1:11–12; Ephesians 2:8
Anthony Foster 
June  20, 2021

Friday, June 18, 2021

Tremble at Your Word


I tremble, tremble, tremble
That You call me to resemble
Your One Beloved Son
At this thought I am undone.
I feel precarious in this place
I am daunted by your grace
Your Word is like a two edged sword
As it cuts I am restored.

Lord I tremble at your Word,
Tremble, Tremble.
My soul is sifted and is stirred-And I tremble.
A broken spirit A contrite heart
You’ll not despise, You’ll not depart
Lord I tremble at your Word,
Tremble, Tremble.
I’ve undone by what I’ve heard-And I tremble.

Help me now to walk upright
Oh to become Your delight
Holy Lord how far I feel
I am far from your ideal
My failings make me humble
I’m so sure I will stumble
So help my trembling heart
Strength and courage to impart

Lord I tremble at your Word,
Tremble, Tremble.
My soul is sifted and is stirred-And I tremble.
A broken spirit A contrite heart
You’ll not despise, You’ll not depart
Lord I tremble at your Word,
Tremble, Tremble.
I’ve undone by what I’ve heard-And I tremble.

Psalm 51:17
Isaiah 66:2
Anthony Foster
June 17, 2021

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Come, Broken Sinner



Come, broken sinner, bow your self down
Kneel with your need  right where you are bound
You who are thirsty, come drink your fill
Come find your purpose in the flow of God’s will
This is the glory and this is the song
Sing of the light that saw creation’s dawn
Come to the fountain, and fall on your face
Immerse yourself in the river of grace.

Oh the fountain of mercy flows fast and free
The source of the fountain is from eternity
Your works are futile in heaven’s sight
But abominations are changed in its light

So all those in darkness, all those who thirst
Fill all your vessels until they burst
Flood all your dreams and quench all your pride
Drink of it deeply  till your heart’s satisfied
Come broken sinner, get down on your knees
This is the posture with which God is pleased
This is His glory that you come to this place
To be born of water and the Spirit of Grace

So bring all your sin and bring all your thirst
All you have to offer is to see it immersed
Drink of the fountain, now come taste and see
You can be forgiven, be cleansed and set free.

Luke 16:14–15
Psalm 147:11
Anthony Foster

June 16, 2021 

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Faithful Friend


Well it blows my mind but it soothes my soul
He will be my stay when I go out of control
He was there in the beginning, He’ll be there in the end
I can say “ Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
The omnipotent and Holy One
I will lean on Him till the day is done
On His grace and mercy  I can depend
And say “Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend

Once I hated God and I had no part
But he still pursued me and broke my heart
Now when others forsake me He is my godsend
Because Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
Once my friend was my enemy
I was so lost in my fantasy
When His love broke through I could not pretend
Yeah, Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend

So if God is for me who against me stands?
I am held fast forever within His hands
He’ll be my companion till the bitter end
Yeah, Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
The creator and maker of this earth
The whole universe still declares His worth
I’m amazed such a love would condescend
Yet Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend

He reached down to me from heaven above
My God died for me with the greatest love
Why he laid down His life I can’t comprehend
Still, Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
Well it blows my mind but it soothes my soul
He will be my stay when I get out of control 
He was there in the beginning, He’ll be there in the end
I can say “ Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend
Almighty God is my faithful friend

Anthony Foster
June 8, 2021

Monday, June 7, 2021

Spirit of Grace



Spirit of Grace make us Holy
Make us to trust in Christ solely
Our hearts sanctify
Our flesh purify
We stand at the throne of grace boldly

Spirit of Grace  now reform us
To the likeness of the Son conform us
Work in us faith 
through the Gospel of grace
With Christ’s righteousness now transform us

Oh Holy Spirit of Grace
Convict us with your kind embrace
Lead us to repent
Our sins to lament
Cleanse us and our guilt erase

Spirit of Grace  our salvation
Our God of all consolation
Your power will suffice 
To point us to Christ
Our hope is His revelation!

Oh Holy Spirit of Grace
Empower us with your embrace
Renew our minds
Our souls refine
Till we see Christ face to face

Hebrews 10:29
June 7, 2021
Anthony Foster

 

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Look Upon Me With Eyes of Mercy

 



O most gracious God and loving Father,
Who knows when I lay down and when I rise
I beseech you Lord as you behold my heart  
To look upon me now with mercy’s eyes.
So, Lord I pray, sanctify  unto me  
The peace that passes understanding’s bounds
That I may have the grace to walk before thee,
To do Your work wherever it is found

Oh look upon me with eyes of mercy, 
This wretched sinner make into a saint
You are near to all who call upon Thee
Strengthen me lest my faith shall faint.

Hasten, Father, the coming of your namesake  
Make me mindful of my final end, 
And of the reckoning that I am then to make
Of how on grace alone  I did depend
And in the meanwhile help me to be careful  
to follow Christ  and walk within His light
So in the regeneration I’ll be prayerful
To walk be faith alone and not by sight
 
Oh look upon me with eyes of mercy, 
This wretched sinner make into a saint
You are near to all who call upon Thee
Strengthen me lest my faith shall faint.

Oh that with Christ, that I may have a portion  
In the resurrection of the just, 
When this mortal life is ended  
To meet the mercy in which I place my trust
All that’s required and necessary for me,  
I humbly beg and crave now from thy hand
These graces, and all other blessings,  
now by your mercy I can rise and stand .
Oh look upon me with eyes of mercy, 
This wretched sinner make into a saint
You are near to all who call upon Thee
Strengthen me lest my faith shall faint.

Anthony Foster
based on a Puritan prayer by Lewis Bayly
June 6, 2021


Monday, May 31, 2021

Lamentation Tonight



I cry out to you within my soul
For life is taking its terrible toll
I am burdened and in pain
My loss surely doesn’t seem like gain
How it came to this I do not know
I am overtaken by this blow
Trouble overwhelms my heart
And the deadly dangers won’t depart

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
I need the way for you to show
Me in my mourning how to dance
Help me Lord I need You so

Oh this lamentation and this grief
From the searing pain  I need relief
Heal my broken, battered mind
Make obvious what I need to find.
Help me see beyond the tempter’s lies
Help me see hope through tear stained eyes
Help me in my unbelief
Give your gift of grace here in my grief

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
Me in my mourning how to dance
I need the way for you to show
Help me Lord I need You so

Bridge
My heart and flesh cry out
Wavering in the depths of doubt
My God You are my only need
Pour out your presence now I plead

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
I need the way for you to show
Me in my mourning how to dance
Help me Lord I need You so
Help me Lord I need You so
Help me Lord I need You so

May 31, 2021
Anthony Foster



 

Friday, May 28, 2021

The Beautiful and Terrible (Fear NOT)

 



The expected and the unexpected give cause to rejoice
They raise a Hallelujah as they lift  our voice
A pure raw jubilation arises in the heart
And gratitude and adoration play in counterpart
There are just as many, even more lamenting loss
Pain that wrenches in the gut over the countless cost
And for all of the questions, answers will not attain
As screams are heard in heaven there is One who feels the pain

Chorus
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
For I am your God; so take your stand
I will strengthen you, and help you, do not be afraid
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The beautiful and terrible are both part of the plan.

This side of the Fall emotions play in paradox
Powerful and plaintive till we end up in a box
Some in celebration, Some in deep despair
The beautiful and terrible dance in polar prayer
For some a sorrow mixed with joy is their reality
Divergent feelings come to play in heady harmony
Both pathos and poignancy  a paradox  complete
As pure emotions juxtapose before the mercy seat

Bridge
Rejoice with those who rejoice and  weep with those who weep
To do them both as unto God  may be faith’s greatest leap
For only wind beneath our wings can help us thus to fly
The breath of GOD shall carry us to places left untried.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
For I am your God; so take your stand
I will strengthen you, and help you, do not be afraid
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The beautiful and terrible are both part of the plan.

James 4:9
Deuteronomy 32:39
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 45:7
Anthony Foster
May 28, 2021

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

The Good Hand of God


Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand
Power once veiled is now revealed
No one can snatch us out of His hand
For his hand is a  shelter if we will but yield

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
for I am your God; I will strengthen you, 
I will help and uphold you -do not be afraid
In  my righteous right hand is refuge

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

The hand by which earths foundations were laid
Gives a touch that both comforts and calms
With the hand laid upon you by which you were made
See your name now engraved on His palms

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

Anthony Foster
Nehemiah 2:8
Isaiah 41:10
Proverbs 21:1
May 25, 2021

Monday, May 24, 2021

As the World Turns



Turning, turning
For grace I am yearning
For my heart and yours to agree
Turning, turning
My heart is learning
Repentance is setting me free.

As the world turns, I will turn too
When it turns away, Lord I’ll turn to you
When the world turns away
Or stops turning some day
I will go on with you

So I’ll reckon what’s right
And I’ll walk in the light
And deliverance from darkness I find
For as sure as I live
God will surely forgive
Once the gift of repentance is mine

Bridge
If my sins I would just confess
Forgiveness will be my reward
For it delights God’s heart to bless
When our hearts are in one accord

The penitent soul
That comes under control
Of the consoling Spirit of Grace
Will give praise and arise
There’ll be no compromise
For our author will finish our Faith

As the world turns, I will turn too
When it turns away, Lord I’ll turn to you
When the world turns away
Or stops turning some day
I will go on with you

Anthony Foster
May 23, 2021

Jesus, Jesus



Jesus, Jesus, God who frees us
How does your Kingdom grow?
With mouths that tell
The gates of Hell shall not prevail
Against the seed we sow.

And so we will go
We will go.
We will take good seed to sow
The world’s fields to plow
And await your rains
To raise new grains
New voices to sing
And see the harvest you will bring.

Jesus Jesus -God who sees us
Whose eyes search to and fro
To seek the ones who your will have done
To strengthen them as they run
And support them as they go. 

And so we will go
We will go.
We will take good seed to sow
The world’s fields to plow
And await your rains
To raise new grains
New voices to sing
And see the harvest you will bring.

May 23, 2021
Anthony Foster

He Will Hold You



When the ground gives way-And there’s no place to stand
Find your sure mainstay In the palm of His hand
Through the stormy blast-Though the earth may quake
He will hold you fast For his own name’s sake

And He will hold you
HE will hold you
He will keep you from harm
He will hold you
God will hold you
Hold you in his loving arms

Trials and troubles come Sorrow makes you weep
When the day is done He will be your keep
Every loss and pain Will serve to remind
Loss can be our gain If grace we will find

Bridge
So trust your heartache-Trust your crisis and pain
To the one who can break-Every burdening chain
Come to Him for refuge-And a hiding place
A rock in the deluge-A tower of grace

And He will hold you
HE will hold you
He will keep you from harm
He will hold you
God will hold you
Hold you in his loving arms

May 17, 2021
Anthony Foster

In the Belly of the Beast



The valley of the shadow
Casts its darkness on us all
And temptation’s something we all know
This side of the Fall.
The valley of the shadow of death
Is not just about the grave
The wages of sin will take your breath
But Jesus Christ will save

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

God calls us out of darkness 
Into His marvelous light
And then he equips us
To enter in the fight
And so this light we carry
To see the darkness flee
the shadow may surround us
But we have the victory

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

Anthony Foster
May 22, 2021

 

Gaze



One day we will sing around
The throne of God in heaven
A never ending Song we will sing 
One day we will sing around
The throne of God in heaven
And purest praise shall be our offering

May our gaze, may our gaze
Be upward, be upward in praise
You are our Rock and our provider
We would lift you higher and higher
Enfolded in Your  sheltering wing 

So gaze upon His Glory
And see it shed abroad
Until it fills the whole earth
And all glorify our GOD.

May our gaze, may our gaze
Be upward, be upward in praise
You are our Rock and our provider
We would lift you higher and higher
Enfolded in Your  sheltering wing 

May 23, 2021

Anthony Foster 

Lord of all our consolation



Lord of all our consolation
We will declare your Great Name
You the author of salvation
We shall go and  spread your fame
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Lord of all our lamentation
We declare your rule and reign
Sovereign over all creation
Grant us peace within our pain.
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Lord of every tribe and nation
Your good news we shall proclaim
We exult in celebration
You are age to age the same
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Anthony Foster
May 23, 2021