Why are You Waiting Oh Pilgrim

When the trials that you're going through seem to never end 

And each day brings complication to the dark you're in 

There is no resolution, there is no workaround 

There is no  solution and you find your hands are bound

Why are you waiting oh pilgrim

Why are you holding your peace

Cry out to Jesus the Savior

Come and secure your release

When your circumstance overwhelms you and consumes you

And your last best final effort frustrates, just dooms you

When you are finally, totally out of control

And your security fails -who will  protect your soul?

Why are you borrowing trouble?

Why do you still hesitate?

Procrastination is futile

Repent before its too late

Why are you waiting oh pilgrim

Why are you holding your peace

Cry out to Jesus the Savior

Come and secure your release

Why are you waiting oh pilgrim

Why are you waiting oh pilgrim

Why are you waiting oh pilgrim

Anthony Foster
July 16, 2021 

I Know My Lord And Savior Loves Me

I know my Lord and Savior loves me

Even though I’m broken to the core

My Shepherd He will guide and lead me

I will live with him forevermore.

A broken pot, He fills and heals me

Until His glories overflow

And with His Spirit saves and seals me

Though my cracks and fissures still may show

Now to live is Christ and to die is gain

But for now I’ll work out what He works in

So I’ll follow Jesus while I still remain

With a focused hatred for my sin

Compassion is the mark that love leaves

And mercy  makes the sinner whole

Justice  vindicates one who believes

And when practiced purifies the soul

So I’ll walk humbly on the road to glory

I’ll stand boldly at the throne of grace

For my Savior’s writing all my story

With a love that time cannot erase.

Now to live is Christ and to die is gain

But for now I’ll work out what He works in

So I’ll follow Jesus while I still remain

With a focused hatred for my sin

For My loving Savior is my friend.

Yes my loving Savior is my friend.

Anthony Foster

July 15, 2021

Centered in Your Word

You are the Lord who reveals your Word

You are the Word that put on flesh

Your Word we heed as it is heard

Your living Word is ever fresh

You are the God who speaks through thunder

You are the God who speaks through fire

Your Word is filling us with wonder

Your Word fulfills our deep desire

Through but a Word  we were created

You speak and even dead are raised

You speak and we’re illuminated

You are not silent, Lord be praised!

You are the God who speaks through thunder

You are the God who speaks through fire

Your still small voice tears us asunder

Into your Word we will inquire.

Bridge

Into your Word We will enter 

In Your Holy Word we are centered 

Oh lamp and a light- Give us insight 

Your Word  we will remember

We are centered in Your Word, centered in Your Word

You are the God who speaks through thunder

You are the God who speaks through fire

You do not leave us here to wonder

You have declared what you require

July 13, 2021

Anthony Foster

Lord, Lead Me

Step of Faith

Christ is our guide into the great unknown
Though we’re going without knowing we are never alone
There’s no leap of faith we’re required to take
We tread on the Rock for our salvation’s sake.

Straight is the path and narrow the way

That navigates truth in a world of decay

The path to destruction is easy and wide

But its dire destination holds our soul’s suicide

Lord lead me beside peaceful streams

Lead me beyond my wildest dreams

Guide my steps by your word

Help me heed what I’ve heard

There’s a glorious destiny for those He redeems

We will walk by faith and never by sight

Led by my Shepherd  into the great light

That lamp to my feet and the light to my path

Will lead me to home and will save me from wrath.

So Spirit take me into the unknown

Where I’ll come to stand boldly before heaven’s throne

Guide me from here inside me until I’ve died

For then in your presence for ‘er I‘ll abide

Lord lead me beside peaceful streams

Lead me beyond my wildest dreams

Guide my steps by your word

Help me heed what I’ve heard

There’s a glorious destiny for those He redeems

Psalm 119:105, 133; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 23:2; Psalm 73:24; Psalm 48:14

July 7, 2021

Anthony Foster

Let the Walls Come Down

Let the walls come down-All your loss and gains

Love is not enough-But the Good Lord attains.

He is more than love-He is wisdom and grace

He is power perfected-In the weakest case.

Tho sin separated-Between God and You

It’s nailed to the cross-Isolation is through

The partition is open The veil’s torn asunder

There is no separation just worship and wonder.

Let the walls come down Throw open the gate

Now the door is in Christ Let His light infiltrate

The great gates of heaven were once closed to men

But the door now is Jesus-so come enter in…

July 6, 2021

Anthony Foster

A Way in the Wilderness

Everybody in this world is a wanderer

And everybody in this world is seeking a home

Everybody in this world knows real pain and suffering

And delusions are buffering the pain as they roam.

Everybody in this world knows losses and sorrow

Everybody in this world will pursue some lies

A test and a trust waits in every tomorrow

And the trouble we borrow adds to the disguise

But there is a way in this wilderness that’s heaven bound

And wandering in the wilderness is the best way to be found

For there’s a God who’s in pursuit of His chosen ones

In the trouble there is triumph for His daughters and His sons.

Everybody in this world is perpetually dying

There are many kinds of deaths  that a pilgrim can die

So precious to the Lord are the tears we are crying

But in dying to our selves there’s no reason to cry.

He finds us in a desert land, and in the howling waste 

In the wilderness he encircles and cares for us in that place 

As the apple of his eye we’re kept

And every tear that we have wept 

Is precious to the One who on us sheds His grace

We lose our life to find it, for He raises the dead

In the wilderness we’re not abandoned, never alone

For those starving for affection our hunger is fed

There is a way home, pilgrim, For Christ is now our home.

He finds us in a desert land, and in the howling waste 

In the wilderness he encircles and cares for us in that place 

As the apple of his eye we’re kept

And every tear that we have wept 

Is precious to the One who on us sheds His grace

Psalm 56:8 ; Psalm 116:15

July 4, 2021

Anthony Foster

Incline Our Hearts

A Heart Beating Against the Walls of It's TIme

Incline our hearts, oh Lord, Lord open up our eyes 

to see You as fully as we can  You are the greatest prize.

Incline our hearts, oh Lord, To seek to know You more.

Captivate our senses till Your  great Name we adore

Source of every pleasure

Goodness without measure

You are the  greatest treasure

Reveal yourself to us

Show to us your light

Bring blind eyes new sight

Set our search aright

As we learn to trust

Give us a passion to pursue

More and more and more of You!

Incline our hearts Oh Lord That we might apprehend

As much of glory we can bear But will never comprehend.

Incline our hearts to You,  To walk in all Your ways 

To keep Your commandments May we heed what you say

Key Change

Source of every pleasure

Goodness without measure

You are the  greatest treasure

Reveal yourself to us

Show to us your light

Bring blind eyes new sight

Set our search aright

As we learn to trust

Give us a passion to pursue

More and more and more of You!

Incline our hearts oh Lord

Refine our hearts oh Lord

Incline our hearts oh Lord

Give us a passion to pursue

More and more and more of You!

1 Kings 8:58

Psalm 119:36

Anthony Foster

July 2, 2021

For Those Who Take Refuge in You

Lord in my desperation and my deep deep need

For your abundant mercy and grace I plead

For I am very weak, so refuge I will seek

Now to your hiding place I pray that you will lead

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue

You will be our shelter and you will be our shield

In the day of trouble  on this mortal battlefield

Help us to appropriate the covering you provide

For those who would take refuge you welcome us inside 

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue

Bridge

How abundant is your goodness, 

Which you have worked by your grace

Yet we run for other sanctuaries

And another hiding place…but there’s no hiding place

Key Change

I will run for cover ‘neath the shelter of your wings

I will run for cover and drink from your wellsprings

There is no condemnation for the one who in You dwells

In the refuge You become our True Beth-el

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue

For those who take refuge in You

You provide a stronghold and rescue (repeat)

Psalm 31:19; Psalm 34:22; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 2:12; Nahum 1:7

June 27, 2021

Anthony Foster

Chainbreaker

Christ left His Father’s throne to come to us in grace

He put on flesh and the fires of suffering He faced

He is the second Adam who came to Adam’s dust

He came to rescue every one who would in Him trust

My spirit lay in darkness in a tomb of fantasy

Dead to the truth, dead to the light, dead to eternity

He is the resurrection, He is creation’s  source

And now he bleeds for sin-sick souls that repent in remorse

Now there’s holy jubilation in God’s presence

There is holy jubilation in my heart

To every contrite sinner who comes and who repents

The chainbreaker will give a brand new start

Out of the tomb He called me, out of the tomb I rose

Born as a new creation arrayed in righteous clothes

And so among death’s darkness the living have no place

Called from the tomb we now cast off the chains broken by grace

Now there’s holy jubilation in God’s presence

There is holy jubilation in my heart

To every contrite sinner  who comes and who repents

The chainbreaker will give a brand new start

Bridge

Chains of death once had bound

Me in a helpless hopeless state

I was surely lost but now I’m found

Set free, set apart, and set straight

Now there’s holy jubilation in God’s presence

There is holy jubilation in my heart

To every contrite sinner  who comes and who repents

The chainbreaker will give a brand new start

Anthony Foster

June 24, 2021

Oh Father

A Mighty Prayer

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

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

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 

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

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

 

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