My Lord and Savior

Christ, You are my Lord and Savior

My sovereign and King

To love you is to obey you

In great and little things.

Christ, You are my Lord and Savior

I was dead in sin and strife

From that dark tomb You saved me

Broke my chains and gave me  life 

Hallelujah, I serve a risen savior

Hallelujah, I serve a peerless Lord

Hallelujah, You have bestowed your favor

And your precious blood outpoured

Christ, you are my Lord and Savior

Now I magnify your name

Without you I am nothing

My life would have no aim

Christ you are my Lord and Savior

My life is  placed in You

In You is life abundant

The Beloved, Faithful and True

Halellujah, I serve a risen Savior

Hallelujah, I serve a peerless Lord

Hallelujah, You have bestowed your favor

And your precious blood outpoured

September 12, 2024

Anthony Foster

Beyond Our Dreams

When I look back on the past I stand amazed to see

How the future was so vast- I had no clue

But the Lord had a future and a hope laid out for me

And I didn’t need to know all He would do

Now I think the Lord will spare us from knowing what He knows

How the dangers toils and snares are realized

For in going without knowing the greater blessings grow 

Into glories that are now hidden from our eyes

So how it goes nobody knows 

But by faith we trust the nature of our King

God plants the seeds and where it leads

Is to a living sacrificial offering.

When the Lord said “follow me” I had no idea what that meant

But faith is grown each moment we obey

And going without knowing is the stuff of confidence 

As each step we take leads to a better way.

Beyond the limits of our vision A new horizon dwells

If we walk into the future  by faith and not by sight

Far beyond our plans our Father writes the tales our chapters tell

And the journey’s destination is far greater in God’s light

And how it goes only Heaven knows 

But by faith we trust the nature of our King

God plants the seeds and where it leads

Is to a living sacrificial offering.

And so a new horizon beckons just beyond our sight

And the one who holds the future calls us on into the light

For the river of believing grows stronger as it streams

As God takes us to a place beyond our dreams

For he gives the faith to follow a path brighter than it seems

As God takes us to a place beyond our dreams

September 11, 2024

Anthony Foster

Autumn Skies

The moon is waning on a clear September night

The birds have gone to roost, the deer retreat out of sight

The fresh air fills with laughter of the sweet cicada song

The bullfrogs fill the bass line as the owls come sing along

And it’s a good night-It’s a blessed sight

To see the dusk encroach upon the autumn skies

As the sun sets-There are no regrets

Just a blessed sense of undeserved grace

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

The sun is rising on a foggy valley dew once more

And the beams are making rainbows shining through my door

Then the rooster makes his prideful presence known

As the mockingbird responds with a song that’s all his own

And it’s a good day-As I watch and pray

To see the dawn encroach upon the autumn skies

At the sun rise-It lights up my eyes

With a vision of this undeserved grace

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

Bridge

The skies are so blue

They could rend your heart in two

With a joy that fills the chambers of my soul

While the autumn breeze

Puts my mind at ease

And I rest in the assurance that my God is in control

And it’s a good time-To hear creation rhyme

Sounds like new reasons to be glad to be alive

As the days roll-God will bless my  soul

With a blessed sense of undeserved grace

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

I am so blessed to be in this blessed place

September 10, 2024

Anthony Foster

The Ragged Edge

They call me rev’rend and I am not

Not worthy of being revered

I may be diff’rent but not a lot

I hold the world too near and dear.

Each day makes that exceedingly clear.

But I’ve got a real reason to sing

In spite of who I was and am

In spite of having nothing to bring

I am declared a righteous man

Called to do so much more than I can.

Don’t want to live beneath my priv’lege

I want to live up to my call

Oh, to live upon the ragged edge

Where Jesus Christ is all in all.

Oh, to live upon the ragged edge

Where Jesus Christ is all in all.

I am a man of mere flesh and bone

I’m merely human, but possessed

By a Rightousness that’s not my own

By alien merit I am blessed

Now Life will be  a trust and a test

I will lift my eyes unto the hills

My help comes from my God alone

He does whatsoever thing He wills

Now He has come to make God known

The lamb Who sits upon the throne

Don’t want to live beneath my priv’lege

I want to live up to my call

Oh, to live upon the ragged edge

Where Jesus Christ is all in all.

Oh, to live upon the ragged edge

Where Jesus Christ is all in all.

September 10, 2024

Anthony Foster

Deeper in Debt to Grace

There is no payback, no penalty

No resource that can replace

The benefits accrued to me

I go deeper in debt to grace

I cannot repay this debt

Everything I have God owns

His provisions have not failed me yet

Grace is all He’s ever shown

I give honor where honor is due

I am bankrupt in any case

I go deeper with every deed I do  

Deeper in debt to grace

I will cast myself on grace headlong 

I won’t presume but I will rely

I will sing salvation’s song

I will have faith in its sure supply

Bridge

I will pay my vows and my vows consist

Of the promise that on grace I will rely

When God’s mercy flows I will not resist

I will call for help from the Most High

Deeper and deeper in debt

I will lift salvation’s cup

It is empty to the dregs and yet

I know that God will fill it up

Oh to Grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be

I’m not the giver I am the getter

Of grace forever full and free

I give honor where honor is due

I am bankrupt in any case

I go deeper every deed I do  

Deeper in debt to grace

Deeper in debt to grace

September 9, 2024

Anthony Foster

My Worst

Lord, I bring you my worst

This is the best I can do

Lay down what is accursed

And cast all my need upon You

And you will not snuff out the wick

That smoulders in the night

Even my sin, even my conflict

Are then precious in your sight

Bridge

I am damaged wares

But my heart you will restore

When I lay it down-You will lift me up

All my burdens and my cares

And so much more, so much more

Lord I bring you my worst

Lay it all down at your feet

I will come to you first

Not wait until defeat is complete

The bent reed you will not break

Nor the devastated- forsake

An impossible way you will make

For our good and for your name’s sake

For our good and for your name’s sake

Isaiah 42:3; Psalm 55:22

September 7, 2024

Anthony Foster