Do not grow weary

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be out out of joint bu t rather be healed."

Hebrews 12:11-12

nothing left to lose

Nothing left to lose- Mat Kearney


Something's in the air tonight
The sky's alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something's about to break

And I found myself in a bitter fight
While I've held your hand through the darkest night
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon

[bridge]
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen

[chorus]
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose


Right when I doubt myself the most, God picks me up and reminds me how much He loves me. I was so close to shutting down in life, it was then that my prayers were answered, one after another. He even answered the unspoken prayers in my heart that only He knows. God is so good. I often times forget this because I equate His goodness with my emotional state or my circumstances. God is constantly coming in to save our day because ultimately He came in to this world and saved us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

• But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Let's stop trying to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. I want to be free.

faith

Why are we surprised when life is hard? As if it is supposed to be easy. Why do we expect a life with God to always be peachy, is that what He promised? No. He promised a life of purpose not a life of comfort. I love what Oswald Chamber says "the life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting." Life has its ups and downs, we can't always stay in the high moments, otherwise we will get comfortable. So instead of pursuing a peachy perfect life, lets pursue love. And guess what? I have learned that love is not peachy and perfect, loving people is hard, but it is worth it. :)

Now the hard part, actually living up to these words.

"...let us not love with word, but in action and truth." 1 John

Post Art Gallery Thoughts

My art gallery reception truly was a gift.
Not only was I able to see old friends and new friends together in the same room.
I was able to see my family drive through traffic on a Friday night just to support me.
For those who don't know, it has truly been a battle for me to remain a photojournalism major.
There has been a lot of pressure from family to choose a more "practical" career.
There has been many arguments and tense moments in my family over this issue.
It has been hard for me to explain to them why I have this passion for photography and why I want to pursue it despite the odds that are against me.

This is why my art gallery reception was bigger than just a party. It was a night when I showed my family who I am. They got to see a different side of me that I have not been able to reveal to them. I gave a speech to a crowd full of my loved ones from different seasons of my life. In my speech I stated that my passion for photography stems from my passion for God and His love for people. I want to photograph people because each person has value and in a sense I want to go deeper with the people I photograph. I want to know them for more than just their face value. I talked about a homeless man I met over winter break. I asked him if I could take a picture of him, and in disbelief he said "No, you don't want a picture of me... I am nobody." His response is a perfect picture of the wall we have each built up. We are scared to let people know us and to remember us because that means we must let them in. We have to face who we really are. I took his picture and said yes I do want a picture of YOU. Just you. He gave the sweetest smile in that portrait and I know that I saw a glimpse of God's heart in that moment.

A famous photographer, Berenice Abbott said: "Photography helps people to see better."

This is true. This is my purpose as a photographer and as a Christian. To point people to the light.