O Church Arise

These are two songs resonating in my heart this morning. They really capture the essence of what the Lord has been teaching me over the past few months. More and more He is teaching me of His glory in redemptive history.  If you have never read through the entire scriptures, I challenge you to do so! This is my first time reading through the entire Bible and the Lord has radically changed my heart in seeing more of the fullness of His character. Joshua and I are working through Revelation together as we close out our study of the Old Testament in the next few months and it is overwhelming to see the parallels and consistency of God's plan and promises.

The two main stirrings in my heart right now from the word are a love for His church and a longing for His return. Truly He is coming again for His bride, the church. I've tasted a small shadow of this in Joshua's return from India. Joshua promised to me that, Lord willing, he would return for his bride! He was committed and passionate about coming home to me at the proper time! He longed to return just as much as I longed for his return. There was great trial leading up to the day he landed in Charleston, over a month of serious illness that burdened my heart and intensified my longing to see him face to face. Even so with Christ, the days will only get harder as the age comes to an end, causing our hearts to long for His coming to rule and reign! O the joy of that day when our faith had become sight, embracing, finally together!! May my soul meditate on that moment and thus long more deeply for the return of Christ for His bride! He is our True Husband!

O Church Arise

O Church Arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

By Faith

By faith we see the hand of God
In the light of creation's grand design
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness
Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth
With the power of His promise in their hearts
Of a holy city built by God's own hand
A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day
When the longed-for Messiah would appear
With the power to break the chains of sin and death
And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go
In the power of the Spirit to the lost
To deliver captives and to preach good news
In every corner of the earth

We will stand...

By faith this mountain shall be moved
And the power of the gospel shall prevail
For we know in Christ all things are possible
For all who call upon His name

We will stand...