AnthonyFosterPhD

Are perhaps not what you would think. This journey in the last year especially, has necessarily taken us away on weekends in terms of visiting new places and training, which has disconnected us from the body of Christ in serious ways. I have had to step back from any teaching commitements and have been unable to sustain consistency in most other commitments in any meaningful way. It is a somewhat lonely road. On top of this, the necessity for secrecy required by the fact that adoptive children are wards of the state can be a challenge. We cannot, for instance share details of the joys, pictures, specific challenges and such with our friends in any detail. So there is an isolation that creeps in on that level for the good of the child. We pray that our friends will continue to lift us up and and one day soon we will be able to joy in the sharing of what is up in our lives. All that being said, we are experiencing blessing on a level that was unforeseen as well, and getting to know ABB...

The Lord is merciful to me Amazing mercies now I see Grateful tears now fill my eyes Stunned by this glorious surprise Oh great grace, flow over me Deliver me and set me free Thank God for what His love denies Saved by this glorious surprise. As we play out the story Our lives are rearranged From glory unto glory We see our lives are changed And as we are transformed The old man in us dies And Christ in us is formed As the glory of this truth we realize Though I am poor and I am weak His grace sufficient I will seek His clarion call bids me arise Moved by this glorious surprise Though I am a frail child of dust On future grace I choose to trust On this great hope my soul relies Drawn by this glorious surprise As we play out the story Our lives are rearranged From glory unto glory We see our lives are changed And as we are transformed The old man in us dies And Christ in us is formed As the glory of this truth we realize To my poor finite mind give rest Make me a man who knows he’s bles...

You were born in the fields of the fatherless Cut down at the root and left there alone. Jesus came as a friend to the fatherless Picked you up and brought you home. Life is hard in the fields of the fatherless For its wounds cause the spirit to groan Jesus comes as the friend to the fatherless He knows the plans he has for His own Now our friend, faithful friend of the fatherless Walks the ground where so many seeds were sown And the cut off the cast out the distressed Are gathered up to be never disowned So child come in from the fields of the fatherless Enter in to be nurtured and known You’ve been called and chosen for blessedness For in this new work, God’s glory is shown. June 24, 2011 Anthony Foster

We all know loss, we all know what it costs To follow our own way To suffer when we go astray. There are times when it is not our fault Beyond our control comes the assault To devastate our life The world and the devil know how to dish strife! But when you’ve been betrayed Bereft, abandoned and afraid There is a Savior who will do what it takes There is a Savior who will never forsake. From the ruined and wrecked The good true tower He’ll erect From broken pieces of shattered dreams He restores, reconciles, and redeems. From ashes of hope left in the void Remnants of promises now destroyed By sin and rebellion, evil and pain Given to Jesus our loss becomes gain. He takes broken pieces as a sweet offering And beauty from ashes Christ brings. Anthony Foster June 15, 2011

Click here for the full message. Eight Similarities Between Godʼs Adoption of Us and Our Adoption of Children 1. Adoption was (for God) and is (for us) costly. 2. Adoption did (for God) and does (for us) involve the legal status of the child. 3. Adoption was blessed and is blessed with Godʼs pouring out a Spirit of sonship. 4. Adoption was (for God) and is (for us) marked by moral transformation through the Spirit. 5. Adoption brought us, and brings our children, the rights of being heirs of the Father. 6. Adoption was (for God) and is (for us) seriously planned. 7. Adoption was (for God) and often is now (for us) from very bad situations. 8. Adoption meant (for all Christans) and means (for Christian parents) that we suffer now and experience glory later.

Out of the fullness of one flesh Out of the joy of our hearts Love overflows this vessel This marriage of which we’re a part. As covenant keepers He keeps us There is no void that we are trying to fill We share the acceptance and we share the trust There is only abundance and only His will. For we are partakers of blessing All covenant children of grace Adopted as heirs now confessing Sheer joy at being embraced There is room at our table So come on inside For God makes us able To protect and provide. For you now have a place A forever family An inheritance of grace A new identity For there’s always a risk in loving But there’s more risk in standing alone Come join us as children of promise We were orphans but now we are home. For we were all orphans and widows Before we were found we were lost Our dancing was founded in mourning And we sing as we’re counting a cost There is room at our table So come on inside For God makes us able To protect and provide. For you now have a place A for...

At the close of my first school the scholars were all required to get speeches to recite the last day of the school. I had learned very well and had not got as far as baker in my spelling book and could read a little in my First Reader. So it was decided that I should have a speech. They had some little trouble to find one to suit me and a good deal more in learning it to me. I must make a bow before I began and one when I closed and must speak out loud. Now a little fellow who will do just as you tell him is a funny thing. So I made up my mind to speak it according to directions. You can see now how I am going to get into it. After a number of scholars had spoken, I was called upon to speak. I took my place upon the floor but felt a little nervous when the people all looked at me. They all seemed perfectly composed until I made my first bow, when a little blushing smile ran over the audience and the faces before me continued to redden while I spoke which reached its height when I made...