And so the year is almost past

And so the year is almost past
Still before we have seen its last
May we reflect awhile
On that which we remember
That for which we regret
And that for which we are thankful

So often the year begins rather slow
As our thoughts which feel rather low
All we had hoped for and already
We wish this year would just go

Oh, think we
That we could just watch the time go
And never have to think so
To watch it from a distance
Seems little work at all
But would it truly be worthwhile
If lived from such a view
I think it would not do

How quickly and easily we forget
We fight for all that pleases
For the moment
And then when the dust clears
And we see what all our
Energy and sweat has brought
It is all forgot

Such a waste we make
When we live in haste
We think little of our life
Much less the rest
With whom we share it

Are we so cold
So selfish
We cannot share such a moment
Can we not embrace
Indulge another
With love and grace
Is it so much to ask

I pray that each day
Somehow
We may love each one
Not as they ought
But as He would have us
To love
For truly His was the greatest gift
To give all for those
Who cared so very little for Him
Too comfortable were they
In their lives of sin

They would rather a thing
To call their god
Than He who created such
a thing
For all the world
He gave everything
Still they are too much overcome
With what they can get
That they forget
The meaning of life
All their fears and strife
For what are they worth
When all return
To the earth

Still His light shines
Though dim to some
It remains
Until the last stroke
Of time
Till then there's hope
It cries out
In the streets
On every corner
To them who would listen

I am here
Do not fear
I've come to give you life
I bring hope to them that have none
And peace to those who long for such
Release from all strife
And terrors of night
I have conquered all
That you may
So live such a life
Of meaning and purpose
Oh do not teary long
I will not always be
As you now see me

One day
When we are face to face
Either you shall find such
Sweet and heavenly grace
Or you will find the terror
That will never leave
This place

Oh, do not teary
This life is short
Do not make such sport of it
May you benefit
From such wisdom as I give
Listen and give ear to me
That you may find
Eternity
And be free indeed

So as you look back
On this year that is past
May you look forward
To the joy that will last
That has come from ages past
And into all eternity
He will come
With strength and power and might
How glorious is the sight
Of the King of Kings
Who salvation brings
To them who believe
Who deny all others
And follow

Each day is worthwhile
When lived for such a reason
Each season
Whether sparse or rich
Has its worth
When it is bound
In Him
Who can save
All
From their
Sin

May this be
Your resolve
Your resolution
For the year ahead
To seek after
Him who came
To give life
And such a life
Of abundance
Tis the very air
Of which we breathe
So very sweet
Which is breathed
In the hope to share
The love of Him
Who did bear it all
For both weak and small
That they may find life
In Him
And so too
Be saved
From sin

So may our purpose be
As we
Look to the year ahead
May it be fed
On His word
Enriched
In His spirit
Which breathes
Life into
Each soul
That rests on Him
That seeks after
Him who
Knew no sin
To become
Our righteousness

-Joshua Lee Foist

On Change

It was happier then
That time
So much hope
Longing for what might come
A great horizon
Spread out before us
Who could tell
For nothing
Could hold us back

So was it then
It was our time
To live

And how we lived
So simply
With never a care
Life came with ease
When once we where there
No great troubles
To talk of
Only life
And love

So were we then...

Yet we were young
And unafraid
We had not embarked
From where we stayed
Here was safe
In this company of friends
Such was contentment
In our days

But now the days have changed
The colors have started to fade
Where once there were rich reds
Now distant grays

The light of life seems to have strayed
Were we wrong when young
To have played
Was it a waste
To be so

So innocent
And full of hope
Nothing could harm us
We were young

Yet were we blind....

Change brings character to mind
Something more there
To find
I wonder if
Twas all worthwhile
Those days
That led to this one

In spring we imagine
In summer we discover
In autumn we despair
In winter we reflect

Must it always be so
Must we always the
Autumn of November
And the winter
To remember

Yea,
We cannot wish them away
No,
They too are here to stay
But perhaps
Amidst the colors that stray
There is still hope
Within the seasons to come

Who can say
How long the leaf
May last
Before it too
Is past

But while its
Still today
Somehow
May we strive
To make some thing
Of it
Whether for a time we
Ponder and sit
Let us still make the
Most of it

Here's still time
To enjoy
To embrace
To long
And chase
Some heavenly
Grace

Yes still
Tis here
There's hope
For a new year
Cast not all
To fear
For it too
Will fade

But when fear may come
May we look to the one
Who brings courage too
And so, may we always
Pursue so diligently
Such a virtue

-Joshua Lee Foist

Love, How long I had sought thee

Love
How long I had sought thee
Twas my desire that I might too
Love so perfectly

But it was not to be
Too much was I concerned
With what I could get with it

Cared I little for it in truth
Only but to feel
To feel love
That was all I thought
I desired
But it was not love

Such a thing was a material thing
And no joy did it bring
Each time it's cost was great
And yet it did not satisfy

I continued to seek it
So determined was I to have it
At any price I would pay
But each time
It did betray
This counterfeit
How it deceived
It bribed
But it did not
Fill my need

Was my quest in vain
Was there ever to be found
Such a love as I had desired

And then one night
I saw a star
Shining bright
Brighter and greater
Than any other light

There was something in it
That made one believe
Something wonderful
Something good
Must come of it

And it was not long after
That I came upon a company
Of wise men
They told me of this star
And what hope was found in it
They told of a great King
Who was to come
This light showed the way
To God's own son

So I joined their company
In search for such a king
Perhaps He would
Bring the love
For which I had so longed

Yet when at last I found this one
I was overcome
Could this be
Such a great king
In such a state
Where there should have been
Great gatherings of those in
Power and wealth
Instead came shepherds
And common folk

Still somehow
Though humble a place
I saw in such a face
The hope of salvation
To come
Indeed here lay
God's own son
And such love too
Was shown here
I could not express
Still I knew at last
I had found the one
Whom perfect love
Did know

It was He
Who would give it
To all that would receive
To them that would believe
He would give this love
With His life
He would pay the dept
And restore to us
The love and joy
For which we
So earnestly longed
To know
It was found in this one
In God's only son

-Joshua Lee Foist

I Asked For Patience and Perseverance

I asked for patience and perseverance
And then was greatly troubled
Nothing seemed to happen
It was as if nothing I desired
Was given to me
Where was patience and perseverance
This was not what I had desired
Was it
Was this what I was meant to feel

I felt like a great vacuum
Inside of me had sucked all life
All hope all longing and desire
All was gone
I could hardly breathe
When at last I did
It took great trouble and pain

All my energy was invested
But nothing was gained
Only sorrow and loneliness
Surely this could not be
I desired joy
How could I rejoice in this
What satisfaction was there in this

I felt betrayed
By that which I had so much
Trusted in
Perhaps indeed this was my sin
I had let it draw me in
It had preyed upon my weakness
As a poison it slowly and steadily
Stripped me of all joy
My strength was leaving me
I had nothing to defend it
All was lost

And then
Through the shadow
I saw a very dim light
Barely visible
Yet I could feel it
Its source of life
Its power

For an instant
I longed to be near it
For it to fill me
To fill these cold veins
And heal this scarred
Soul
Oh, that it would take control
That it would breathe
New life
Into this body

And then, as if it had known my thoughts
I began to feel its touch
As one who consumed
And pricked with chills
So was it's touch
But it was warm
Consuming
Satisfying
I longed to remain in it
Wishing it would never leave
Not knowing how I was so
Privy to its power
Yet pleading it would
Never cease
Indeed here
Was peace

At last
I started to see
That what I had so pleaded
And prayed had not abandoned
Or strayed
This was the very thing
For which I had hoped
Such patience and perseverance
Had brought with it
Such hope....and JOY

I was revived
It was as if at last
I was able to breathe
And draw in such
Deepness and fullness
Of life and being
Such purpose
Was realized
In this One
Who had come

As my thoughts
Reflected back
On where I had been
I saw such sorrow
Had been wrought
From sin
And yet
It was this One
Who had bought me
With the Life
Of His only Son

Somehow I am still much amazed
How was I ever found to be
Worthy of such a life as this
Now can I only praise
And gaze upon
That which is so lovely
No shame is found
In this
No sin
In such infatuation
Such fullness
Such bliss
Always
Satisfied
Always
Faithful
To its own
Tis such love
That has brought
Sinners home

-Joshua Lee Foist

How long has it been

How long has it been
Since we last were as kin
What drew me from you
What was so great a thing that
I should pursue
Anything but you

Twas sin in me I knew
Though at that time
I would not confess
Only did I find loneliness
And it did not satisfy
It was a lie

So ran I to the wind
With my inheritance I ran
As a thief as fast as he can
I fled from my friend
I betrayed
When I should have stayed
Instead I sought another
To give me what I thought
I desired

But no joy did I truly find
Only this one cost
I was truly lost
Drunk on this poison
How it gripped me inside
It tortured it lied

It told me all I wanted to hear
But somehow doubt and fear
They too were near
I was tightly bound
In it's grip
I could not break free
I had succumb
To this serpent

And in the deepest darkness
I cried
Save me
If ever I needed thee
Tis now
Release me
For I have run
To that which was sin
I drank deep
And called it kin
And it took me in
It robbed me
Of all dignity

And I am abandoned
Stripped bare and bleeding
Left for dead
No one will look upon me
Only to spit
Or jeer

Will you take me in
For once were we kin
And then my sin
I am nothing
Defiled and despised
There is no one else
But you
Would you take me in

And as I draw my last
breath to cry
I see one
Who is more disfigured
Than I
For me
Did he die
When I ran to my sin
With all my lusts
I rushed in
To crucify
He who truly
Loved

Yet He did it willingly
That I might know
The depth of His mercy
And forgiveness
No one else
Can love
As this
For only He
Brings joy
And satisfies
All loneliness

So now I cast
All others aside
And look to Him
Who died
And rose
He gave all for my sin
And now through
His stripes
Am I healed
In his blood
Am I sealed
Now we are
Kin
Only He
And He alone
Can save
All
From sin

-Joshua Lee Foist

I am too much overcome with thee

I am too much overcome with thee
It seems to be no mystery
Yet still find I misery
For all my hope rests on thee
It should not be

I have lost my love
For the one above
All others
There is no one
To compare
To such depth of love
All longing is fulfilled
In that one
Who gave all
For those who denied
For these He died
Still I am mesmerized
At times amidst such extravagance
I still lack confidence
In Him who can only love

So lost am I in my own desires
Such worthless treasures I require
Yet these fade and still sorrow
Evades such joy (I once knew)
Such longing did I pursue
Yet where are You
Oh where can You be found

And then I turn to find
Always here You are
Tis blindness hath faded You
From my view
Still always You are here
I cannot escape Your love
No, you remain
When all others have fled
You remain instead

What undeserved love is this
I know not how to repay it
For I a thief
Have stolen away
A mere counterfeit
And it has come to nothing
I wallow in my despair
Yet still steadfast
You are here
To seek and repair
Such brokenness
I cannot fathom
You are my only hope

So may I seek that which is good
As I should long for such things
May I deny all other worthless things
Only this can satisfy all longings
Whether a broken love can ever be found
In you its purpose is bound
If all this life
All have I You
It will surely do
And more
It will be true
For only need I
You
You are all that I require
No earthly portion
Could ever compare
So give up I
My despair
And seek only that
Which is most fair
This is my prayer

It is enough
I am overcome
With thoughts of this one
And at last
Have I found
My one desire
Tis lost in love
For You
All things have become new
And now tis only You
That I pursue

-Joshua Lee Foist

Be still oh beating heart within me

Be still oh beating heart within me
That beats so often for itself
So little does it care of anyone else
But be soft, be still, as best you may
That I may pause to reflect and pray this day

What noise is this in my head
By which all doubts and fears are fed
Your cries so loud within me
They torture me in this shroud
Oh that I could break free and meet with thee

Will you loose my chains
Will you guide me through this maze
How these past nights and days
I wander, though as I do
I pray that I might meet with you

Always you, may it ever be
May I cast aside all other things
That keep me from your love
For nothing else is there which satisfies
Nothing else is so steadfast

You keep this course with me
Though I cannot see where it leads
Only to rest in your arms when my strength is gone
And to carry on, where ere this journey may lead
So, with all speed may we steady on

For what can hold us back
When fear is calmed as the storms at sea
We will pass through this mystery
Together we shall eagerly behold
That which once we could not see
Now transcends all time and space

We have found company in this place
But to rest in His unchanging grace
Tis all we need
As we cast all other things aside
For in Him alone we abide

-Joshua Lee Foist

So here I stand and wonder

So here I stand and wonder
Is all of life a plunder
Are we slowly sinking under
Far down as we go - we go
Who can know what there is beneath
What earth or water in the deep

All grows pale
So dark and cold
We sink lower still
Our hearts chill
As we are pulled farther down below

Oh this desolate place
Where breath is all that warms our face
There is nothing else to cling too
But hand, and heart, and you

Surely, we will get through
Surely, we will pass through
To the sea where everything must be
Where hope and longing and harmony
There is warmth in that ocean
It soothes like a potion
We long with devotion
To go to that place

Without a trace of where we've been
Always longing to be in
The midst of it
Surrounded in this place
What sweet heavenly grace
We see much
How our hearts burn
And our thoughts turn
To that which we most desire

So let we retire
Here awhile
Let all become quiet
And may we have peace
So sweet and pleasant
May calm our every nerve

With one breath
We breathe as one
We unite
What joy
Delight
At last

-Joshua Lee Foist

And What of November

And What of November
Will we ere remember
When the days are done
And the mind is numb
Will we remember it's sum
Or do we look to none but the days ahead

And what of them when they too are dead
What of them will be said
Must we always look ahead
And forget on what ground we tread

What is such a day
Do we keep it at bay
Or do we simply lose it to tomorrow
And away, we look on to the next day

Always moving
Never looking back
To reflect or perfect
We move without a thought in retrospect

Tis all the days while we are young
We neglect the sum
For we care not much for any one
Simply what ere may seem fun
We think none
Then all are done
Still too we are dumb

In time, it will catch us
We will not always our youth
For time is its proof
Its test of our wit
Oh had we the strength to handle it

Oh that we'd have lingered
A moment here
I fear we might have learned a thing
But what use now do these cold hands bring
Is there worth in them for any thing

Perhaps still there is but chance to will
If we will but linger still
While we but have a little strength to bear
Tis all we have while there's still time

Looking on it does
To see how we have come along
To see if we have learned how
when we are weak to become strong

Only in faith outside of ourselves
Do we find such hope to carry on
May we seek it always
While still here it remains
Or else we lose it all
When it is gone

So leave we the days that we remember
Those days of November
That once were here
And now are gone
May we reflect on them too
Before they fade from view
For once have we November
And then only we remember
For then all is gone

-Joshua Lee Foist