An ale at eve

An ale at eve

With a friend 

Of old times

And new

The brew is familiar

And the place too

Yet here I wonder

How to be

Presently I wonder

How to be here

But not caught up

Within

The room is full

Of countless known

And where do I stand

Thy truth beside 

May it always with me

No more a mystery 

May thy light be shown

In this place 

And thy light of truth

And grace flow from

My lips as silver

Prudence prepare me

For what's ahead

By you may I be fed

-Joshua Lee Foist

When life it seemed a simpler thing

When life it seemed a simpler thing

And now to be a dream to dream

Desire drifts away and hours 

Into endless day

Away away oh such futile thoughts 

The life of man as vapor drops

That dry in the sunlit sand

If even to drink

Upon that ocean of dew

To drift down that green

And ease through the earth

In a backward birth

Seems better

Than waiting

And no action taking

When energy subsides 

Into weary regret

The thing of which was lost

And we'll have none of it

Our pride denied

And humility

Spent

Repent

Our ways 

And long for praise

Oh savior

Hear a restless soul

Who yearns to be

Made whole again

The breath recedes

The sigh fades 

And eyelids gaze

O'er the gray haze 

Where might the color 

Return

Where my the joy

Learn

Return

To that which 

Already is known

The failure - It seems

The nightmare of dreams 

Is conscious again 

And there is no waking

From it

So here 

And now

Upon the sea

Give way to hope

And let it be free

To wash its course

And welcome 

Me

For mine was lost 

And found may be

But strength I've lost

To draw it home

Oh savior

Thou art life

So fill this void

I have naught 

But hope in thee

Thou art sure 

Thou art true 

Died that I 

Might live 

Anew

So life

Of life

Renew

And draw me

Near to you

For dark the hour

And distant

The day

That dawns

The break of spring

When winter seems

The only thing

So warm these bones

And fill these veins 

Thy scars revive 

Thy blood my

Life 

-Joshua Lee Foist

Distant Twilight

Distant
       Twilight
             Till all
                   Remains
             Have run
       Their course

And I
     Sit upon
           The sandy shore
                   Looking out
                        To that distant
                                Horizon of hope
                           Where might
                      Thou lead me
               What path must
          I walk
    To left     Or right
            I cannot
        Be Sure

So where to begin
       And where to go
             I cannot simply
                  Sit idly by

                         So faith
                             Carry me
                                  And give me
                                       Purpose
                                               Hope
                                                  For that
                                                      Inevitable truth

                                                Guide me
                                            Restore me
                                        To thy peace
                                       
                                            Fill me
                                                Grant me
                                                    Thy joy

                                               Yet
                                                  As
                                                      I

                                                          Wonder
                                                      May my
                                                  Thoughts

                                                      Rise to thee
                                                          I pray my
                                                             Doubts
                                                                Would not
                                                                     Plague me
                        
                                                                           But draw me
                                                                                Near to you
                                                                                     May my contentment
                                                                                             Be here with thee

                                                                                     For I cannot hope
                                                                                 To find my way
                                                  Alone

                                                       Thy truth
                                                           Hath shown
                                                               I am thy own

                                                                    And none can
                                                                         Take me from
                                                                       Thee

                                                                          So carry me
                                                                             Through the desert
                                                                                 And the tempest
                                                                                       
                                                                                      That here I may find
                                                                                          Peace and be still
                                                                                                Commit my plans
                                                                                                     To thee
                       
                                                                                               And persevere
                                                                                          Till thou shalt
                                                                                       Reveal thy

                                                                                           Way

                                                                                             And calm
                                                                                           My fears
                                                                                             And open
                                                                                                  My heart
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                      To
                                                                                                     You

                                                                                                            - Joshua Lee Foist

Spring out oh field of open dreams

Spring out oh field of open dreams
Let not thy fears or acceptance of years
Be thy guide upon the narrow path

For narrow the path that starts the course
But broad the way that leads after it
So distant the glimmer of early morn
Then extravagant the array of dawn turned day

The open horizon most glorious
And abundantly full of possibility
So grant me this great agility
To climb the heights most willingly

And unfraid be my countenance of courage
That charges on ahead knowing
Its by faith alone I tread
And all my hope is fed

So no more for fear of failure
Or what others may say
My one hope and thought I pray

That thou mayst guide
And in thee alone
May I abide

For my plans
Thy will and way
Shall ne'er to stray

So be my courage
And charge
Through all
The great
Divide

-Joshua Lee Foist

Where might thou lead me

Where might thou lead me
Deny in me that which is fleeting
Desires I find in thee
May they fill more and more

Open my eyes to see
The bountiful spread
Of thy joyous feast

Fill my heart with longing
For all my belonging
Lies here in thee

Where ere my appetites
Have been too small
A scrap of nurishment

Show me how to love
That which long
I have corrupted
Into that which
Was not intended

May thy good be found
In full and surrender I
My control to thee

So fill this gaunt being
In me that long hath
Filled upon the scraps
And never known

The taste of banquet halls
Where thy tables never
Empty of substance
For thy host is there

Oh great lamb
Once slain
So now regain
In me again

The joy of thee
For of thee I feed
And of thee my one
Greatest need
Found fulfilled

-Joshua Lee Foist

Now to uncertainty, of that which was, and now may be

Now to uncertainty, of that which was, and now may be
A cool wind hath chilled me to the bone
And awhile I was alone lost inside of me
Where distant melodies soothe

A weeping heart
That knows not the emotion to display
While others are busily away
About their preparation

And what to say
That battle long hath spent
And must not resent
No I must learn to love
Repent

Yet where shall I
Retire these thoughts
These dreams
These hopes

Where might my work
Be welcomed again
To where should I go
For all round the wind
Begins to blow

And I an uncharted sea
Of misory and meloncholy
For I know not what to say
But pray and hope

Tis all I know
For thou hast brought me
Here for a season
And then again

Shall this restless wanderer
Again find a peaceful shore
Be where it be
For when the search

No more shall find
I wading the waters
Blind and cold

Thy hand to guide
My wounded pride
Confide my cares
To thee

O Lord of my youth
I pray be my guide
For discouragement
Would long

So to take me
And thrash me
'Gainst these rocks

But thy foundation
Is sure and though I know
Not the cost didst bear
For my sake

May I yet still
Ne'er cease to doubt
Thy faithfulness

Whether in the green
Or valley bring
Thy manna
Enough to fill

And more
Thy bread of life
Tis all to feed
This hungry soul

A thousand years
Eternity
For trials
An ephemoral
Nightmare

And then
Reconciled
Restored

When at last
To taste the air
Of that peaceful
Shore

No more waiting
For thy glory
Revealed
And ravishing joy
Fade despair
And doubt
No more

For here lies home
Ahead for miles and miles
The ceaseless sands extend
No guardian here need defend

For its freedom
Long ago twas gained
And ruby red now
The joyous stain
Once of pain

Now the lamb once slain
Restored and walks
The peaceful shores

And extends his banquet
Halls to all who would
Come to join
In the feast

Where at last
Thy travels come
An end

And thou art always
Before thy one
And only
Dearest friend

-Joshua Lee Foist

Now I retire once more to my restless mind

Now I retire once more to my restless mind
And find I need more to repent
Of oft my discontent
For why I am
This way

As spring comes
And winter winds blow
The ice that chills
And warmth that melts away

The restless resentment
That oft may lodge in me
May it soften and soothe
And courage in me prove

To find my joy in you
Who know my every need
Before I plead
That thou should grant it me

Oh joy may I rest secure in thee
Sweet savior and not be lost
In fleeting fantasy
Or hope of requisite romanticy

The truth is far more compelling
And jarring though not acquired in taste
It transforms that which is waste
And gives it confidence

For in its acceptance
Find repentance and forgiveness
Full to shed the doubts and deceit
That oft may trip its feet

And in acceptance all
That ere may it seek
For there at last surrender
Doth bring a welcome change

And rest to find amidst the weary way
For long the road upon the day
When at last to find
A lodge along the path

For peace
Grants much release
From all that may
Be built upon
A heavy heart

So melt away
All the doubt
And fear
And come

Draw me near
To thee
And rest
Upon thee

Oh comfort
Secure
To trust in thee
Alone

Life
And breath
Are here
And full
Complete

No more
The clouds
Of longing
Linger

Thy voice
Calms the winds
That whistle within
And welcome
Home

This heart
That long hath sought
Though knew the way not

And at last did find
When thy gate keeper
Didst draw this one near

No more rejected
But by thee perfected
And made whole

-Joshua Lee Foist