It was a year of changing

It was a year of changing
With many a time a place and person too
Twas quite a time for chasing
And dreaming too

To see the world as wild and free
And open to what You were a bringing me
All the while a singing
And hoping

Adventure at every corner
A testing of faith
Of following
And finding

A year of wondering
When and where
Praying and saying
Why

And now a season of waiting
And waiting for what
Will have to wait and see

Your will
A working
A changing
In Me

Yet still
It's work
A painful thing
A precious thing
Tis sure

Of trusting
Your way
O'er mine

Divine it is
And yet
Hard

To rest
In this hope
Knowing
You hold the rope

What shall a day
A week, a month, a year
Bring

You alone
Can only
Know

Yet still
I remain
In quiet
Expectation

Hoping
And praying
It will bring me
Nearer to You

-Joshua Lee Foist

Of Absence and Minded

Of absence and minded
I oft have been
Lost in a series
Of thoughts
That torrent
Within

And how become
This game of words
These silent thrills
Of longing and belonging
A facade chasing after
Its own god

Yet in all the shroud
Of clouded dreams
And reality
Hope remained

You remain
Forever unchanged
By the muck of this

The silence awakes
In me a feeling of awe
And wonder

Wonder of what lies beyond
To know that this desire
Will one day
Be fulfilled
Fully

In you
No one else
Will ever do

From beginning to end
You fashioned and formed it
To be very good

And as it should
For nothing made by you
Would dare to be any less
Nor could it

Yet I a mere man
Oft lost in my own self
Remiss of this
Paradise lost

At what cost
To be found again
The plan and purpose
Still more than
Ere imagined

You have made a way
So whether in this life
Or not to be found

Your presence enough
Your life to fill
All the wake
Of time and space

You are there
In the pain
And doubt

Into it you bring
Peace that surpasses
Understanding

A love withstanding
All things
Twas this
That brought
Hope

To a soul
Slipping into
The void of time
Wondering if ever
To return

And beyond
The absence of
Mind and madness
You have filled this wound
With your heart

And so make
A brand new start
For this thy glorious art
Redemption's work
In me

-Joshua Lee Foist

Draw me near to the place

Draw me near to the place
Where once I knew
Your love so true

Bring me out
Of the coma
My mind

Can oft escape
I am yours
Bring me back

For in you
Nothing
I lack

I was made
In your image
Perfect

Yet still I
Get lost
In the lie

Never enough
Never satisfied
Never

Truth tells
A different
Story

I am enough
Made of
The greatest stuff

Formed in
Your hand
And perfectly planned

So with your power
And will restore
My heart

To the place of you
Where I can taste
And see

That you
Are good
My first love

My every thought
Is in your hand
Not a thing

Outside
Your will
May depart

For I am
Apart
Of

Your
Glorious
Work of art

-Joshua Lee Foist

When was it last

When was it last

That I gazed upon 

Your loveliness

For all my wandering 

Heart pondering

Still you wait

Patiently you wait

For me to lose myself

And find you

For I all the while

Without a clue 

Am lost in this

Remiss in the hours

Of which I have missed

Longing ever for belonging

Yet with you

There is nothing

For me to do

Thy will before

My waking breath

Was life beyond death

A joy unquenched

By the drought 

Of life's disappointments

For here the roots go deep

In the soil of thy saving grace

To drink deep of thee

Tis no great gift than you

Oh to wade within

Thy quiet waters

To rest in thy gentle embrace

For all life's troubles 

Are but bubbles

Waiting to burst 

Upon the break

Of this wonder

When all awakes

To this life anew

Thy strife is lost

In joy becoming

The great waltz

Of mere existence 

Breaks its form

To fashion free

Upon thy glorious symphony

And loud and wondrous be

Thy bridal ceremony 

For at last

Hath come home

To thy King

And won his hand

For all eternity 

The Lord of all creation

Is mine as I am His

-Joshua Lee Foist

The Sunlit Skies Rise

The sunlit skies rise

On Australian seas

As ere the light

Doth beckon

The morn to break

Though still the tide

Of nodded eyelids wake

The sleep in dreams

That they forsake

For come the day

Here undisturbed 

Twill not be doddled 

By the twilight talk

For soon to dock

Down under way

And landed craft

Wheel at Sydney bay

Till perchance another day

When winds would whisk

The island breeze away

To farther shores

Where four scores 

A week to stay 

And then return

At Sydney bay

-Joshua Lee Foist

As I Call to You

As I call to you

Upon the morn of day

What can express

This gracious gift

Of life and breath

And deliverance

From death 

Though I am oft

In contempt

And discontent

My will is not

Thy will I ought

To do

Though I have not

The means to see

Nor ears to hear

For fear grips me

Peace come dwell

As promised in prayer

And thanks for this

And all tis bliss

Thy bounty beyond 

Imagining give me

The desire and will

You require

Before I retire

For all my days 

This one thing I ask

That I may praise

With fullness of heart

And grace and forgiveness 

Be part in me

So may thy kingdom work

And all within around

Be done

And humble I 

To testify what grace

And goodness

You have brought

Tis not of my own

Doing

But sure and only

Of my God and King

Oh Ruler of everything

-Joshua Lee Foist

In This Hour I Wait

In this hour I wait
And my mind stands fixed
In debate

You patiently wait
Steadfast and true
You are

And once more surrender
You cause me to remember
Your grace and mercy

Tis all I ever need
In the trial I feed
On thy joy inexpressible

My hope remains
For though my desires
Wane

Yet still I endure
The momentary pain
You remain

Persecution increase
Your joy your peace
Undending

So fill me
Renew me
Conform me

To walk in the way of truth
Thy words my guide
In thee will I abide

So ere the storms that come
So sweetly sleep
Within the bowels below 

For thy peace
Hath calmed the storm
And called me out

Upon the water
To walk in faith
With thee

-Joshua Lee Foist

Open My Eyes To Thee

Open my eyes to thee
If ere you call me
Upon the sea
Who meet me
In my misory

How can it be
I who am broken
Yet loved
Beyond
Comprehension

Teach me to return
For all my heart to yearn
To learn and seek
For thy words to speak

And of Him who was sent
To be the scent of Him
Where ere my feet may fall
To walk in step with His call

To the world beyond
To the present places
And thy tender graces
To carry me

Not for me
But thy will
In me
May it ever be

To glory in you
And have thy work
Flow through
In every breath

Breathe in me
Thy life that will
Endure beyond
The trial and strife

More than ere'd distant desires
So fuel the fires of my heart
That they may start
With you

And all of you
That this joy beyond
May oft and only be
To express thy righteousness

And in my brokeness
May thy light shine through
So whether in drought
Or in plenty

May I bow
In reverance
And thanksgiving
For all you have given
Both in past and present

And in hope
To know you shall
Remain faithful
And so shall I rest

This life in not toiled in vain
If oft and always to rise
In your Name
And fall for your Name

In life and in death
It will all be
For gain

So come
What ere
Thy will may bring
And teach my heart
To sing

As I ride
Upon the wings
Of thy reckoning

Till all of life
Tis beckoning
Come to the feast
Of the Lamb

-Joshua Lee Foist

Of Long Have Been Departed

Of long have been departed
This heart have broken
And been in a wake
Of doubt and fear

Yet still you are there
Though death depart me
And friends regard me
As cold and bold I find
My conflict within

Thy word remains
No condemnation now
I fear not for thou art with me
Yet grieve I the change
And know this season

Purposed it too
Whether die today
That more I may
Live for you

This I pray
May I always
Do

Your love is true
Betray my heart
You will not

Broken I am
So let thy love
And light shine in
And through the pores
Of my soul

No more to live in fear
But faith become more
My prayer acceptance
And reliance full
Upon you

Resting in thy promises
Sure for though waver oft
I in sin and shame
You always reclaim
My heart and know it
By name

How come I by
Such love as this
An unbridled kiss
Betrayed

But you always
Have stayed
And given all
That I may know
What love

Was always intended
To be
Free and boundless
Pure
And sure of all
Intentions

So pain me
To keep me
Upon the narrow path
That nothing else

I desire but you
And thy words
Are true
Give me oft
And only
Thyself

And in this
I shall be satistfied
And content
In all other things

-Joshua Lee Foist

Content my soul to be

Content my soul to be
Constantly desiring of thee
Displace all the me
For which I should cling

And give everything
To my hope and King
I have no other assurance
Than He

For though I oft
Proud and inwardly
Sinking also in
My sin

He hath paid it
He hath purified
The soul beyond
Control

His life
Become
My own

His heart
Replaced
The stone
In me

The Rock
Upon which
My new foundation
Stand

Cannot be shaken
Amidst the drought
And storms about

He will not fail
He shall pravail
And so may I
Remain

In gladness
In joy
Acceptance
Employ

In me
A servants
Heart

To see outside
The world within
And beyond

To all the world
Around
The lost so
Desperate

To be found
To give
An ear

To listen
A prayer
A pause

To lean in
There and not
Mar the moment

With my own
Melodies
For love
In silence

Does much
And I desire
To make much
Of it

If this to please
My Lord alone
I desire such Love
For my own

Oh God
In my broken
Estate

Give me
Strength to follow
Faithfully

Yet still
When faultering
As I do

Most daily
Yet still awake
My soul to rise

And look up
Mine eyes
To see

Your glory
Lies on the
Wings of
The dawn

You have done this
It is complete

So now grant me
The faith to see
That I may
Also turn
To Thee

-Joshua Lee Foist

The Divined Valentine

Now within this mirror we see
That of which we hope to see
And that of which we may
Yet be

Yet still amidst it's plain reflection
Truth reveals a poor estate
We are far worse than we think
And more loved than ever
We imagine

Who could love us
Such as this
Who could rejoice
Over us
As this

Only He
The master creator
He who knows us
Deeper than we
Ourselves

And it is plain
When He calls
Us by name
To come

His words are peace
And kind in their release
From worry and pain

All the facades
Of this life to gain
Are worthless

To that gracious
Refrain:
Do not fear

Oh, sweet child
I am here
And I love you

Because you are
My own
And most precious

No matter what ills
This life may come
And what pits
You may befall

Within and without
Beyond doubt
I am here

I am with you
And I will guide you
In the course
You should take

Though you may at times forsake
Never shall I leave you
Never shall I fail you
I am faithful

And always I shall remain
So in this day
Of celebration

Feast on me
Who am love
Itself

There is no
Greater than I
And I do

So desire
For you
To trust
In Me

-Joshua Lee Foist

Upon This Fair Flight

Upon this fair flight

The fight of faith

In purpose

Amidst the trial

O'ercome

Thy will

Be done

Now to sit

And gaze

Upon the wing

And glory

Shines as

Setting sun

Upon the wait

And here rejoice

In thy great gift

Beyond here lies

The wondrous 

Surprise

And first meeting

My heart tis beating

Faster still

Faster till

Wheel turned

Wheel runs

Way to wind

Away and air

To climb

The time

In flight

Delight

Of what

Ahead

Beyond

Yet presently

In thought and 

Prayer I trust

Will meet me

There till then

And still

My every joy

Is here

No fear

What ere

May come

Thy will be

Done 

-Joshua Lee Foist

Wherefore my soul shall wander

Wherefore my soul shall wander
Where doth my mind stray to ponder
Fear catch it in it's gaze
And long it amaze

Fly from me oh fleeting thing
Save me from myself
Oh from the lies
That creep within

And lonely in my sin
They seek to do me in
And poison the pure
And true

I long for you
Though so dull
I remain
And without
Control

Thy hope
Reclaim in me
No more for folly
So catch me
In my calamity

Cleanse me of myself seeking
That only thy joy may fill
Draw me deep within

For all my desires
May they be proved pure
With thy cleansing fire

I long for the day
Of when the battle
Shall cease

And at last
The prince of peace
Shall reclaim
This barren land

So open my heart
And reclaim in me
That which is lost

No matter the cost
That I be lost
And found
In thee

-Joshua Lee Foist

Beneath the shadows of my sin

Beneath the shadows of my sin

I scarce begin to think

This all there is

That dawn should break

The spell that hells

Within my heart

So here I remain

And wallow in my pain 

My pride to gain 

That grace abstain 

Yet sorrow aches

While thee alone

My soul forsakes

I've Martha'd my mind

In cycles of perfection

For all this grand baffet

Will pass away

And what becomes my joy

And grief my heart

When scarce it hear

The master urge me

To Mary my way

At His feet 

That humility should

My pride defeat

What love Devine 

Would have me in my scorn

While all the while am I 

Caught up in myself 

And judgement

Takes top shelf

Of all my bottled

Mess

Forgive me

Of my idle tongue 

And thoughts

That hung thee

Upon the tree 

I scare can gaze

Upon the cursed corpse

For know I it shouldst

Been mine

Did hang upon it there 

Yet my sorrowed despair 

Did rather take upon

Thyself 

That I should be

Made free

Thy misery 

A mystery to me

That majesty

Should stoop

To call me it's

Own

And in death

Should call me

Home as son

Betrothed and bride

Safe through 

All eternity

To abide

By His side

-Joshua Lee Foist

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