Break Me of Me

Break me of me

And my oh so fond

Obsession

For all I do

In this my

Confession

Make my desires

Be to thy glorious 

Affections

Who looks long

With eyes of love

Upon my imperfections 

Pursuing me

When I am full

Of discontent 

Carry me

And fill me

For I am undone

Void of desires 

Ere are passing

In thy presence

Erelasting the days

May be with hands

Raised to thee

My heart restore 

Anew emplore

That thy life 

May fill my veins 

Pure thy joy 

Restore 

Prepare my mind

And fixed be

On thee 

Repent and ere

Relent my will

Thy will be done

In me my heart

Now fill the more 

To ponder

And adore

No more of me

Thy ways

For all that life

Shall give

Tis a gift

And oh to joy 

This heart of mine

Employ divine

Thy light to shine 

Stain the dark

With thy lark of love

And spark a flame

In me that in

The darkest shadows

Bright the broken

Hearted night

That once more

Dawn again 

And conquer sin

And death shall be

No more

-Joshua Lee Foist

May not my status lie

May not my status lie
In what others think
Save in thy own
Great pleasure

May I ere
To treasure thee
More as thou
Dost me

For where
I may flee
No where else
Can I

That you
Are not
Nor death
To save

For thy life
Already
Gave

And here
Is love
The kind
I all too oft
Fear

To give
To live
In such
A way

Each and every
Day thou grants
So fond of
Acknowledgement

My life is hidden
With thee
And it need be
No mystery

So may my waking
And dying breath
Ever be

Oft and only
For thee
No matter
What trial

Or joy may be
Thou art
The only life
I know

That will never
Cease to bring
Me sweet
And fullest

Peace
To fill
My doubting
Mind

Hope beyond
All mankind
Thou art
And more

-Joshua Lee Foist

As Shadows Descend

As shadows descend

Forgiveness amend

My heart that resentment 

Hath sought and love

I've forgot

I've wronged and been wronged

Yet where is my acceptance 

Where has my desire

Acquired a taste for bitterness 

I long for the sweet refreshment of truth

To rest in it's comfort, surity, and proof 

Yet what must I lose for all this regain

Release from me this bondage of blame

Name in me that which I will not

Remove the cords which bind me

And free me of myself

Death I become that I may live 

Not for myself 

But thy love transfused

Deep in my veins

Hope here remains

While faith be my shield

To thee alone must I yield

And repent of my ways

No matter the cost

Your love alone is priceless 

And no other hope have I

Than this

So break me of my idle mind

Sever me from my idol kind

That I may seek thee alone

And love and forgive

As thy breath doth give 

My life is thine

And none other will do

So grant me a grace

To others love too

Seeking in kindness

Humility and peace

These wrongs I release 

Forgiveness always

To reconcile the wrong

And joy be our song

Renewed we in love

As you have restored 

So may we live on

Our lives be a story

Of your forgiveness 

And grace

-Joshua Lee Foist

As to return

As to return
I once more
To this place

Wherefore all
My wandering
Seems a disgrace

Yet still
Embrace I
All that you

Have brought
Me through
What love

Is this
That steals
This kiss

Remiss
And sacrifice
All for me

So change in me
And humble be
My heart

For that which
Is hard pressed
Upon me

Bring me
To thy side
Always in thee

May I abide
And fear be
Fleeting

That all my
Hope repeating
My heart

Still beating
You in grief
In sorrow

Today
Tomorrow
No other

Shall I borrow
For thy grace
Enough

So now
Love within
Defend

And depend
I all on thee
And courage

Come
That I may
In thee

Be one
In mind
And spirit

And share
This love
That you

Alone
Have brought
In me

So now
We change
Though once

A child
Was I
Now I

A man
And mirror
Within mirror

Shade within shade
This hope that will not
Fade in passing

Reminds of where
We begin
And where we

Shall one day be
Face to face
And fully

Know
As we are
Known

-Joshua Lee Foist

Reminiscing as I Do

Reminiscing as I do
Upon the morning scene
Reflecting on the things
That had been

And that which may yet be
For in my naivety
How oft I thought of my will
Than thine alone

So as to that which lies
Yet ahead
So guide me
In thy grace

To seek thy face
In all things
Thy faith secure
Shall guide me

For all my desires
Become thy own
Thy divine power
Shower over me

And lead me
In thy pathes
Of righteousness
Till that day

When all shall
Be made new
And at last
I shall be
With you

-Joshua Lee Foist

Surrendering all to that which shall never fade

Surrendering all to that which shall never fade
For all my hope is stayed upon Him
And all fleeting fantasies
Find their fancies no more

For all that I do adore
May it lie with thee
And thee alone
Evermore

This much is sure
None other
Shall I seek
Though I am weak

Thy joy untamed
My hope beyond lies
In you who know me
Full well

Strip me of my idolatry
For acceptance
May it only be in you
Who remain true

For all as I
Are but fallen
And broken

Thy love alone
Be my living hope
This joy I know
Shall not fade

But increasing
All the more
As I reach
The other shore

Where thy
Celestial lands
Begin and sorrows
Are at their end

For here come
My savior friend
Brother and king

The hope of everything
For which my soul
Doth sing
Tis here

-Joshua Lee Foist

How do I let you go

How do I let you go

When you're everywhere

I go

I try to forget you

But all the more I miss you

It haunts me inside

God forgive me

If my motives are wrong

Guide me to your truth

In you alone I long

Yet here in my heart

I do not know

How to let go

Where to begin

Or start over

Where do you go

When it seems

There's nowhere

To go

Where do you hide

For you alone

Inside

Know me for who 

I am the good the bad

It all

And love me

In my brokenness 

And repetitious lies

Oh open my eyes

May your truth

Be my guide

Nothing else

To confide 

Always by

Yourside

What ere the doubt

May come

Cannot o'ercome

Your love 

So catch me

In my guise of woe

And bring me to

Your heart

Nothing I have

Tis gain but only

In your name alone

All others are

Counterfeit

And I will none

Of it

-Joshua Lee Foist