Day Fourteen Dark Night of the Soul- 31:01:03

This night is heavy and the shadows deep Darkness obscures our sight yet takes us home For grace is deeper still and it shall reap Me as it's harvest e're the night is gone This cup shan't pass for I am grace's seed To drink its dregs must be by grace e're long.

Oh guiding night oh night more holy than all others Oh night more lovely than the blinding dawn Oh night unite beloved with her lover Oh night that sees the beloved then transformed Night's path is narrow and so few have tread it Yet shall guides us to where we have not gone.

Soar I on wings of love to heights unbounded Soar I on wings of love I have not known This present sense of wrongness is my blessing This ministry of absence grace has shown On Christ I focus and feelings may follow Though winter's in my heart I'm not alone.

Anthony Foster January 31, 2003

 

Day Thirteen Heart of the Matter-30:01:03

All of me- all God wants is All All of you- will you answer the call? To worship Him in Spirit Our hearts filled with delight Authentic in devotion Love Him with all our might

All of me- all God wants is All All of you- will you answer the call? To worship Hm in Truth To take Him at His Word Align our lives with His commands For faith comes from what we've heard

Kneel, confess and sing Or In his honor stand Bring an offering Testify or raise your hands Shout for joy or hide your face Dance or pray your praise. The heart of the matter will set you apart The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Kneel, confess and sing Or In his honor stand Bring an offering Testify or raise your hands Shout for joy or hide your face Dance or pray your praise The heart of the matter will set you apart The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Anthony Foster January 30, 2003

 

Day Twelve -Close to You-29:01:03

I am longing, I am thirsting, I am yearning, I am hungering This is what I say: Your love means more than life to me This is what I pray Yet I'm only as close to you as I want to be

Oh my first love, you're my best love More than anything Below or above Lord I crave you I desire you I am satisfied then want more of you!

All my time, All my desire Consume me Lord in your Holy fire

First priority Holy goal Total focus of my soul! This is what I say: Your love means more than life to me This is what I pray Yet I'm only as close to you as I want to be..

Anthony Foster January 29, 2003

 

Day 12 Draw Close-29:01:03

God hasn't moved- he is still where He's always been and will always be there So if you feel distant just draw close to Him And He will draw close to you once again.

So return from your way And draw near Him today ³Come unto me² is still His call. For He knows we are dust And he wants us to trust In His love as our all in all.

Draw close to God, he will draw close to You Embraced in His arms you will sense love anew Draw close to God and you will come to see You can be as close to God as you want to be.

So return from your way And draw near Him today ³Come unto me² is still His call. For He knows we are dust And he wants us to trust In His love as our all in all.

Anthony Foster January 29, 2003 James 4:8b

 

Day Eleven Constant Conversation -28:01:03

Your word within my heart is like a burning fire Shut up in my bones it sings like a choir The still small voice and the shout that rings clear Speak Lord your servant who you call friend hears

My unspoken groanings you still understand You answer on the tablet of my heart with your hand You tell me your passions and my dreams are filled You hear my cries even when my tongue lies still

Your name speaks peace to me My breath speaks praise to you.There's this constant conversation in my heart. Your words ring in my mind And I respond in kind In this constant conversation of which I am a part.

I'll pray without ceasing, I'll pray all the time I listen for answers or sayings sublime I will meditate day and night on what you've said I'll treasure your words more than my daily bread.

I would share your secrets as precious and true I would be transformed, think your thoughts after you I want to hear from you and be heard in return Our friendship will blossom if I do what I learn

Your word instructs and guides Your word reveals and resides In the intimacy of my secret place In my songs and in My prayers All my secret thoughts and cares Are voiced for you're pleased to hear my case.

Your name speaks peace to me My breath speaks praise to you. There's this constant conversation in my heart. Your words ring in my mind And I respond in kind In this constant conversation of which I am a part.

Anthony Foster January 28, 2003 Jeremiah 20:9

 

Day Ten The Heart of Worship--27:01:03

Our rock, Our Shield and Our defender Devastate us with love and mercy.The Heart of Worship is surrender All that we are and all we can be

Offer yourself in consecration Take up your cross today. Yield to the Spirit your limitations Submit to His more excellent way.

Live in His blessing on the altar In freedom power and peace An instrument of Righteousness Bound there, you will find release.

For all men shall one day surrender To chaos or to Christ The only way to live at all Is as a living sacrifice.

As righteous tools our lives we render Unto Him who sets us free.The Heart of Worship is surrender All that we are and all we can be

Anthony Foster January 27, 2003

 

Day Nine Smile on Me-26:01:03

I would worship you, Lord With a love supreme I would touch your heart Lord That would be my dream.

I would worship you Lord With a trust complete I would trust your promises Your love and mercies sweet.

Smile on me your servant Smile on me your child Smile on me Lord Jesus And make me know you've smiled!

I would worship you Lord Wholeheartedly obey Obeying I would understand I will do what you say.

I would worship you Lord Continually I'll praise And even though you have no need It pleases you always.

I would worship you Lord By enjoying You Being who you made me Doing what I was born to doŠ

Smile on me your servant Smile on me your child Smile on me Lord Jesus And make me know you've smiled!

Anthony Foster January 26, 2003

 

Day Eight As Unto Thee--25:01:03

The grieving God revealed to mortals Love, compassion, and pity The Jealous God in anger sorrows. Anger fuels his sympathy The Happy God delights in singing Gladness satisfies His heart. He gets pleasure from His laughing Enjoys rejoicing in His art.

What common task I do might please Him Lord of Heaven can I tell? Great things I would do for you Lord Help me do the small things well.

Wonder of wonders that I may Please this Holy God some how Bringing pleasure in some way Delighted in all he'll allow. So unto even the least of these If I do it unto them As unto the Lord to please I have done it unto Him.

Anthony Foster January 25, 2003

 

Day Eight For Your Pleasure--25:01:03

Who am I that I might please you Who am I Lord most high? Who am I that you delight in me I am one of your people forgiven and free.

You pleasure in your people You seek the ones who'll worship you In spirit and in truth Hearts that would be close to you.

For Your Pleasure For Your Pleasure We're vessels of clay but we have this treasure Hidden in us is grace beyond measure His image within us can bring to Him pleasure!

So when I eat and when I drink I'll do as unto you What I do and what I think For you said that this is true.

I will continually worship I will continually praise From the sunrise til the sunset All my nights and all my days From my waking till I sleep In the heights and in the deep At all times and in all ways

I'll be a sacrifice of praise For you have created, created all things And for your pleasure they dance and sing So if my lips fail to cry out Even the rocks and hills will shout!

For Your Pleasure For Your Pleasure We're vessels of clay but we have this treasure Hidden in us is grace beyond measure His image within us can bring to Him pleasure!

Anthony Foster January 25, 2003

 

Holy Sacrifice-25:01:03

Reckon the realities

Of all of our God's mercies

Then reject the reign of sin

And the lies that draw you in

Render to the Lord instead

Body, soul, and heart and head.

As instruments of righteousness

Presented to Him as you confess

Offer a living sacrifice

Pleasing now to God in Christ

This is worship that makes sense

A spiritual act as evidence

Not to the world to be conformed

Renew your mind and be transformed.

Then you will yourself be the proof

Of His mercies and His Truth

Good and pleasing, perfect too

Is the plan He has for you.

Romans 6:13, 12:1-2

Anthony Foster January 25, 2003

From the personal weblog of Anthony Foster @http://anthonyfoster.com/blog/