...thoughts expressed here are not necessarily final.

November 28, 2005

Meditations from over the Atlantic

I'm looking in wonder at a beautiful site. I'll admit I have mixed emotions:

1. As the tops of the cumulo-nimbus clouds are turning sunset colored and speckled with radiant light, the grey blue ocean peeks through. I realize Earnie cannot see this and I am sad.

2. Then I realize I have no camera and cannot record the sight to share later, I am frustrated.

3. When I realize that I had just been meditating and writing a song based on the greatness of God in Psalm 145, I am a bit shaken by my other responses. Earnie is the person who would say- forget about recording the moment- live in it and enjoy it to the glory of God.

4. Now I am thinking: for most of the history of the world, man could not see such a sight- it was reserved for God and His heavenly hosts alone. That thought will etch this memory in my mind. His glorious works in the firmament- what a blessed thing to glimpse.

Deeply Graced

When the storms of life surround me
When upward fly the sparks
In the shelter of your wings you’ll hide me
And place on me Love’s mark.

In your refuge I would stay e’re long
As I learn your ways You’ll make me strong
And I will sing a heavenly song in this place
For I am deeply graced.

I’ll confess my sins for now I believe
I can be forgiven if your grace I receive
For it’s not for any good I can achieve in this place
But that I am deeply graced.

When the devastation of my loss
Numbs me to my core
When the mountain looms, I’ll seek the cross
Where your mercy You outpour.
I will wait on You and in your time
You will deliver me
My circumstance is redefined
When your grace I see

Deeply graced to persevere
Grace to be grateful in the face of my fear
My weakness with your power replace
Lord I am deeply graced.

Anthony Foster
November 30, 2005.

Strength and honor and power flow

Strength and honor and power flow
Flow from the name of Jesus
All the good we’ll ever know
Flows from the name of Jesus
Love and mercy and righteousness
Are found in the name that we confess
Peace to rest and grace to bless
Flow from the name of Jesus.

We name the name above all names
We name the name above all names
We name the name and declare His fame
Proclaiming the name of Jesus.

Love joy, peace, and patience flow
Flow from the name of Jesus
Kindness and goodness and self control
All flow from the name of Jesus.
Faithfulness, gentleness is our pursuit
The things of this world we shall refute
There is no law against the Spirit’s fruit
They flow from the name of Jesus.

We name the name above all names
We name the name above all names
We name the name and declare His fame
Proclaiming the name of Jesus.

November 29, 2005
Anthony Foster

The road is long and the winds are strong
As we head headlong into the storm
We can barely see around the bend on our journey
This is the life to which we’re born.

And the road will seldom rise to greet us
The miles will make us wise or defeat us
Before our eyes the world cheats us from our due

Though this world is no friend to grace
As we sojourn in this place we’re not alone
As through this world we roam
As we bear this heavy load
Reaping fields we have not sown
Give us guidance and wisdom to walk this road
And grace to take us home.

The road is rough and we don’t know enough
To finish the trek alone
For the bridge is out and all about
There are dangers yet unknown

And the road will seldom rise to greet us
The miles will make us wise or defeat us
Before our eyes the world cheats us from our due

Though this world is no friend to grace
As we sojourn in this place we’re not alone
As through this world we roam
As we bear this heavy load
Reaping fields we have not sown
Give us guidance and wisdom to walk this road
And grace to take us home.

November 29, 2005
Anthony Foster

I will worship, I will praise continually
Never ceasing, I will pray continually
Moment by moment time after time
I will seek and I will find
And you’ll be on my mind- continually

Night by night and day by day- continually
I will find another way continually
I’ll start each day anew
Lifting prayer and praise to You
Finding fresh ways to express what’s true
Continually…
Continually…
Continually…

May my worship never cease Continually…
All I hold I will release, Continually…
To be an instrument of peace,
Continually… Continually, Continually…
Continually…Continually…
Continually…

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

Lord help us repent show us our bent
Help us to learn
What to confess and we shall be blessed. H
Help us return
Lord help us to see in the darkness the light of eternity
Help us to see!

That it’s not by our works, it’s all of your grace
For to live and move and breathe in this place
Must be by You and to You and through You alone.
That it’s not of our choice, It’s all of your plan
Today and tomorrow is held in your hand
Lord teach us to trust, though we are but dust
Inhabit our praise
As we stand amazed!

Lord sear our hearts with Your fire
Show us what you require
Lord help us to start to walk in your light
Looking neither left nor right
Lord help us to see

That it’s not of our choice and not of our plan
We’re living our lives in the palm of your hand
Give us the grace to understand Your marvelous ways
As we stand amazed!

Anthony Foster
November 28, 2005

I will look to your word where you chose to declare
Your infinite majesty beyond compare
Where you confirm your works and define your ways
I will meditate on them and respond in praise
I will look to your word and I will linger there
I’ll think higher thoughts than I would have ever dared
Yet I will receive the Truths you have revealed
As I meditate on them my Spirit shall yield.
I will go deep to the place where you dwell
Here in the light where you have rent the veil
And so will I know all that’s waiting for me
Meditating on Truth that is setting me free.
I will consider your every command
I’ll wrestle with sayings hard to understand
And you will work out what you’re working in me
As I meditate on You, You change what I’ll be.

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

Eyes to see your Glory

Give me eyes to see your Glory
Give me lips your goodness to taste
Give me ears to hear your story
Give me feet to stand in your grace

Give me means to seek your glory
Give me words to declare your fame
Give me ways by which to hallow
And Magnify Your name.

For we are bearers of your image
So we can see what you’ve made known
So Lord to us reveal your glory
Let us be changed by what You’ve shown.

Give me gratefulness to thank you
Give me meekness, Lord to live
Give me mercy to say what’s true
Give me all I need to give

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

Darkness is falling all around
Falling fast and deep
So seek the Lord where He may be found
While the wicked world shall sleep

For the night is almost over
The day is within sight
So put away the deeds of darkness
And put on the armor of light.

Protected preserved and shielded
In an armor that cannot be pierced by night
A shield a helmet and buckler
A sword and a spear for the fight
Preserved and protected by armor
Bearing witness of the victory in our sight

For the night is almost over
The day is within sight
So put away the deeds of darkness
And put on the armor of light.

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

This Christmas time over all the eareth
We’ll celebrate the savior’s birth
We’ll sing the praises of a life made new
This Christmas time may God bless you

Into a world darkened by sin
God sent His son so we can begin
To light our world as He told us to
This Christmas time may God bless you.

We serve the Lord who has no need
Yet in us he delights
If we would glory in His name
And on His purpose set our sights
We celebrate the Lord of Love
Who’s as faithful as He ‘s true
This Christmastime as we bless God
May God bless you!

Each day we’ll seek our treasure
As we declare His worth
As we seek to do His pleasure
May His Kingdom come on earth!
For joy without measure’s found
In our dear savior’s birth.

To Him we will to whom give all glory to
This Christmas time as we bless God may God bless you!

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

He came to walk this trail of tears to free me from my sin.
To make us wise beyond our years and make us whole again
His love makes all the difference it casts out every fear
At Christmas may you see it all begin!

The trail of tears began in a place called Bethlehem
And many miles would come before its end
There in a stable’s trough filled with hay from yonder loft
He began a journey to Jerusalem.

For the baby in the hay,
He would grow up and one day
Would die that all the world would be set free.
And this trail of tears he walked for you and me

When at his journey’s end He would not seek to defend
Though he had ten thousand angels at his call.
He chose to suffer loss and he chose a rugged cross
To lay down his life and give his all in all.

Anthony Foster
November 30, 2005

For the glory of the Father he chose to bleed and die
There could be no other and no other reason why.
Glory is all bound up in vessels like you and I
For God’s glory and our good he was lifted high
For God’s glory and our good he came to die!

The light that filled those skies
Amidst the angels cries
Was His reflected glory in the night
For the light of this poor earth
Came with this baby’s birth
And so we sing this song of Christmas light

He was born that he might live
Then he died so he might give
The means by which the Father could forgive.
He came to earth to die and set us free.

From a virgin’s womb
From the cradle to the tomb
To be raised and exalted as our king
To shed this blood we plead
Evermore to intercede
A perfect priest and perfect offering

His birth we celebrate
And our lives we consecrate
So all this darkened world may see his light
Now we will declare the worth
Of the lowly savior’s birth
The hope of the world is born this night
And so we sing this song of Christmas light!

November 30, 2005
Anthony Foster

Come see the newborn King
Come bring an offering
Though you have nothing
Nothing you can bring
With our empty hands
Pure praises we can sing.

Come seek the blessed child
Here in a place defiled
Come and be reconciled
To this baby born to us will be our King.

He is the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace.
The mourner’s joy, the prisoner’s release.
Oh come and see his kingdom come
For it shall never cease!
It will grow until it fills the earth with its increase!

Come see the newborn King
Come bring an offering
Though you have nothing
Nothing you can bring
With our empty hands
Pure praises we can sing.

Come seek the blessed child
Here in a place defiled
Come and be reconciled
To this baby born to us will be our King.

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005

Come to the stable come if you are wise
Come for He is able to give sight unto our eyes
This baby is no fable- he is deity disguised.
In Him you will find the highest prize.

In this life all things are not as they appear
Be careful what you cast away and what you hold as dear
Be careful what you flee from and to what you will draw near
Cling to Christ and He will make it clear.
As we all draw near.

You can feel it in the air
Hear the heavens and earth declare
The joy that this Son is born today
So sing glory to God on High
His star is in the sky
The kingdom has come
Let earth receive her King!

So come and lift your voice
And with the angels rejoice
Emmanuel comes with healing in His wings
Come and worship the King

In this life all things are not as they appear
Be careful what you cast away and what you hold as dear
Be careful what you flee from and to what you will draw near
Cling to Christ and He will make it clear.
As we all draw near.

Anthony Foster
November 29, 2005