The Rider on the White Horse

Revelation 19:11-18
¹¹I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."^a]">[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, ¹⁸so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."

Just the imagery of this passage puts me in awe. I came to this passage while watching a 30 Seconds to Mars video. I know, very random. I actually think they intended to do that. The song is Kings and Queens. I had listened to the lyrics of this song, but I had never put it together what they were talking about. After I watched the video, it totally hit me when they a random white horse is galloping in the frame. I immediately thought of Revelation 19.

We ('we' meaning believers) are the "armies of heaven". The video reminded me that anybody can be in this army because Jesus saved us all. We make the decision to be in this army. But I really love how 30STM depicts the army (even if that's not what they intended). We are all in a modern world and choosing to live the way we want. We can live for ourselves or something greater than what we can imagine. We can choose to go to the motions of a God that isn't visible to the human eye and have faith. Believing in something more than this life isn't crazy to me. It gives me hope that I can look forward to a richer life. "We are the kings and queens of promise" and we are to stand up to the throne and claim what we know in our hearts. Passivity is not in our nature.

Try watching the Kings and Queens video on YouTube by 30 Seconds to Mars. I would like to hear if you see the relation between the video and the passage.

Merry Christmas!

Love, Emily

Luke 15:11-32 The Prodigal Son

Luke 15: 11-32

I love the story of the prodigal son. It's my favorite parable. For some reason it's been on my mind lately and I'm not completely sure why. I know I just love the concept of running to our heavenly Father filled with guilt and He just embraces us with loving arms.
As I read it again, I really feel the emphasis of celebration. Being alive is a celebration.
Okay, have you ever had that moment when it all just clicks? I just had that.
I think I've been concentrating so much on what I'm doing wrong and it's just bringing me down. I need to remember that the Lord cherishes me. He celebrates me. He celebrates every single one of us. He doesn't focus on what I'm doing wrong, He just wants me to be happy and live my life happily. We have the most gracious God. It's insane. I still don't think I fully understand the love of our God. I can't grasp it. I want to live with love and show others love, but it just seems so impossible. I want to fully understand His love so I can be submerged in it and flood others with that love.
1 John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I want to be made complete in His love.
God is love.

His love never fails

"You make all things work together for my good"

I've been battling in my mind why things work the way they do, why certain afflictions come into our lives and what they will bring upon us. I could go two ways: trust God or handle them myself. I have already gotten past this issue of trusting God, but how do I know what is from Him and what isn't? I want to listen to Him and I want to seek Him, but sometimes I wonder where He is. I know He's always with me, but what more can I do to be confident in Him?
He does everything for my own good. That makes me so happy. He makes me happy. I need to be happy. He is living. He has conquered! He loves me. A love that I can't really describe.
What I've realized is to get closer to Him and hearing Him is loving what He is doing. Loving His will and living it to the fullest. Trusting Him with my life means actually dying. He doesn't want me to be unhappy. He knows the future and He knows me better than anyone ever will and even better than I do.
This could go on forever, but it's as simple as this- He does things for good not for bad. He loves us more than we could ever imagine. He wants us to love Him. I feel so much comfort in this. I know I am not stuck in this body that I believe I am, but I am the new body that He is molding me to be. I don't need to worry, I just need to live. He loves us! That gives me something to smile about. :)

Beautiful Bride, I will fight for you

Beautified diversity
Functioning as one body
Every part encouraged by the other
No one independent of another
You're irreplaceable, indispensable
You're incredible
You're incredible

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Strengthen your arms now
Train your fingers for battle
Urgency's here now
Train your fingers for battle
Fighting this violence
With your feet wrapped in peace
Sad tears and silence
Now screams of joy
Victory

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

We're not gonna fall and forget
How far You went to pick us up
If one part's hurt the whole body's sick
If one part mourns we all mourn with Him
Rejoice, we'll sing with you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Beautiful Bride by Flyleaf

I have just decided to start this blog up because since I have started to make a serious step to walk with God, I don't want to forget what God is doing, in what I feel, the most important days of my life.
Another reason I felt compelled to start this is because I will listen to a song like Beautiful Bride and I am just so moved and I want to share how it is moving me. Or I'll have an epiphany and I want to tell the world! So I figured a blog is close enough...
Beautiful bride. Wow, this song hits me. We have such an amazing God that we can come to Him intimately and passionately. Why not fight for Him and rejoice in Him? The last couples days I have seen how much my "feelings" can effect my relationship with Him. But I have seen that this is when He wants us to reach out and cry to Him. This is when we can rely on Him and put all our faith in Him.
"Unite and fight ALL DIVISION". He cares about everything and only He truly understands. I have seen how much the devil wants to tear me apart and break down the relationships that mean most to me, but you can shove it in his face. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13. I, by myself, have the ability to be taken down, and to be destroyed. BUT I know when I am putting my trust in Him and giving Him the ultimate control I can not be moved. I will prosper from obstacles the devil tries to throw my way.
I love knowing He is with me. He loves us so much! Okay, something else that God is showing me. Love is the ultimate armor. He gives us so much love, and once you fully understand His love, you can't keep it in. And it's not meant to be held in. He wants us to share it. He wants us to flood His people with His eternal love. I see me second guessing myself though. I see me not believing I can love as He does. It's just so simple though, just love. Love, love, love. It's so difficult sometime, actually a lot of time. "...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:2. This verse has really allowed me to see that He will transform your mind. You will know how to love.
He is incredible.