Bring me to thy light

Bring me to thy light
And all for which
I do delight

Cast me from this shadow
Of sin and obsession
For my false profession

May faith find me
Renewed by thy
Unchanging presence

For all I have
Oft upheld
As my own

I do so surrender
To thy throne
And claim thee

As my own
For my price
Hath paid

My life tis saved
And this not of myself
Thy death and life

Have proved
Thy love
Unmoved

From me
The least of these
And greatest of failures

Forgiven
For all my
Waywardness

So create in me
A new self
Surrender

All of once I knew
That I may oft
And only

Desire you
And you
Above all others

For whether
Any other
This life may find

Thy love alone
Divine
No other can give

So by thy power
And truth
May I live

Free of all other
Oppression
Thee alone

My one
And great
Profession

-Joshua Lee Foist

Once more to wade and wander

Once more to wade and wander
Upon the uncharted sea
Of my own melancholy
Exposed for what it
Dare could be

Oh hope
That trials
Within me
And doubt
Disdain

Would have me
In its vain conceit
I bear thee no more
For though the light
Through that open door

Tis a thing most glorious
And which I do so much abhor
Tis more of guilt than guile
For while I here gaze

My inward soul doth praise
At last to see the light of rest
And endless days
To know the truth
And always

For too long
Have I sung
This tiresome
Song

Dependent I
On all others
Whether sisters
Or brothers

Save not on that which
Is most safe and true
The only one I do
So much depend

Ah so then
To crucify
My old obsessions
And have thee
At thy word

So teach me this
That I myself deny
And trust thee alone

Fill my faith
And grow within
Let not doubt
Weed its way in

So as I
Depart
And cast
Away

May my only gaze
Be upon you
All days

For I have no other hope
Then thou alone
Who cannot fail
So in thy truth

May I only sail
The shores of that
Isle of salvation
My one and only
Destination

-Joshua Lee Foist

For where do I place my affections

For where do I place my affections

Remind me of my obsessions

I am all confessions

But what of thee

Thou art unchanging

My heart is broken

It bleeds a little at a time

Yet you alone know 

More than I could ere believe

Thou hast gone farther still

Thy love tis more than this

Forgive me of my Judis kiss

I must move on

I must surrender

Dare I remember

And live in memory

Alone I am not

Though all too oft

I can myself deceive 

In thee alone may I

Believe fill the void 

I do avoid to admit 

Thy love alone enough

Let me not forget 

This hope I have remains

Yet drive me from 

This fit if it is not

Within your plan

My heart is in your hand

And though I may not

Understand I must believe

Thy ways are true

Thou and thou alone

Wilt do and no one

Ere beside

-Joshua Lee Foist

What now for love and comfort

What now for love and comfort
Thou has found me
Content in my own
Desires

What for oh love
Tis not thee I seek
But my own self
To be satisfied

And thee objectified
Tis but folly
And facade
A demigod

Of my own creation
My approximation
Of thy authentic kind
Yet where oh love

Can one find
Such a love
Unselfish
As thee

Oh love
For all my
Complacency
Love why

Do thou remain
Unchanged
So faithful
When all I know

Tis folly
Of my own
Choosing
And all

Confusing
Succumb to my own
Deceit oh love
Break me of this

For thy tender kiss
I dare reminisce
Save even this
Tis loneliness

To give without
Expectation
Thou hast
No reservation

Oh love
Show me how
To love as thee
For I am all

Complacency
To love for love's sake
And not my own
So love

Be in me
As thou
Has taught
And catch me

In thy gaze
And hold me fast
For only this love
Will surely last

So keep me
From all
Foolish
Ventures

And humble me
That I unselfishly
May so love
The least of these

As thou so graciously
Hath loved me
For who I am
And not as I should be

-Joshua Lee Foist