this blog is to show how beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to explain the thoughts and emotions about the photographs.
my name is jessica and i do photography. i want people to know the passion i have for what i do. i want people to see that there is more than the obvious to whatever you look at.
beauty comes from the one and only creator, God.
all this is for God's glory and not mine.
[this was taken in mexico on a mission trip in june]
there is something very special about this picture that i took. as you can tell theres a dad and his daughter standing together.
it seems like a normal picture right?
wrong.
this little girl is mentally challenged and does not have that much longer to live.
as i looked up and towards the father when taking the pic he had so much pride and joy in his eyes that it just broke my heart. even though his daughter is special needs, he doesnt have any money to help her, and they live in poverty that still doesnt stop his love for his daughter.
God is like that.
God doesnt care if you are special needs, black, white, red, brown, yellow, fat, skinny, tall, short, smart, stupid, ugly, even beautiful. God has so much joy for you as His child.
just like that father has that pride and joy with his daughter, God is so proud of you that He only made one of you that is unique and beautiful.
God is like a father who just saw his son or daughter for the first time and is too happy for words.
God loves you and wants to be close to you and be your father.
will you let Him be your heavenly father?
God is waiting for you, his child, to come running back into His loving and caring arms.
[this was taken 10-23-07 for the national pro-life silence day]
pro-life silence day is a day where people choose to give up their voices for all of the 4,000 babies that die each day from abortion.
i chose to be silent because i believe that abortion is murder.
for 24 hours my mouth was duct taped shut and my heart and mind were open to listen to what God was telling me. during the 24 hours there were emotions that i have not felt in a very long time. at first i felt persecuted and mocked by the strangers who did not know what was going on. i began having doubts about this whole thing and wondered if it was the right thing to do. i prayed and meditated on Gods word to regain affirmation that this was Gods will and not mine.
that was only the morning.
as the morning turned into afternoon, God began revealing His plan to me little by little. people came up to me and encouraged me by telling me that they support the cause. i felt in touch with God then satan came and started bringing me down again. there was so much frustration in me that i just wanted to yell and just talk. for a split moment i almost gave up. then i remembered that God is on my side and so are the people that i love. i kept praying and meditating.
that was only the afternoon.
as the sun started going down my heart and mind started relaxing. because i knew that there were only a few more hours left until the day was done. i went to go worship with a group of people and i knew it was alright for me to sing praises to the one who had created me. when i started singing my heart filled with joy and peace allowing me to fully worship God thanking Him for laying on my heart this issue. people knew that i was passionate about life and they began saying to others how i spoke to them by being silent. i felt satisfied that i fulfilled Gods plan for me that day. right as midnight hit the first thing i said was "that was intense". because i wrestled all day long with my emotions and physical wants and desires but God in the end won.
that was the end of the day.
God gives hope, courage, healing, peace, forgiveness, and life to those who seek Him and want a change.
babies are a gift from God.
abortion is murder and murder is a sin and against the law.
she knows that someone is going to be there when she wakes up.
as adults we dont look very angelic when we are sleeping.
we always worry about tomorrow and the future.
sometimes we have that fear that no one is going to be there when we wake up, but for some of us its true.
how cool would it be to just give everything up to God and not have to have a care in the world? that would be so amazing! but its hard to give everything up and rely on God fully. its like i would give something up to Him but later on take it back as though i cant live without it.
the truth is that God is bigger than any of us and our problems. He can take care of whatever worries that we have. but as humans we think we can handle things on our own. and that God doesnt need to worry about us when there are starving people out there.
i want to be like that baby sleeping safe and sound without worries. but i know that i have to spiritually work on that to even get close to being like a baby.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
this is the verse we all should take in and run with it.
will you read the verse and not understand it or will you read it and live it?
have you ever witnessed a huge storm ahead of you when you are driving and you can see the pouring down of the rain?
it kind of scares me to know that in less than 5 minutes i would be driving through the storm. so i start planning precautions and i know exactly what to do when something like that happens. but what happens when a spiritual storm hits? what do i do? do i know exactly what to do as if i were driving in the rain? the answers are i have no clue and i dont know what to do.
although spiritual storms are not physically seen but is emotionally damaging. this is the time when you wrestle with God and end up in a valley of desperation.
i have heard ways to get through the storm over and over again i hear what they say but i dont act upon it.
here are some of the things that i have been told to do:
1. pray. -excuse: "sometimes i just dont feel like praying because it takes to long and i just dont want to wait." -the truth: prayer works even though it may take a while. and patience is a virtue.
2. get in the word of God. -excuse: "im to lazy and just dont want to because i happen to find something better to do." -the truth: God can reveal himself by digging in to the word of God. it may not be the first thing on your mind to do but He will show the way to living a pure life.
if we get into a habit of doing this it should be easier to get through the storm. it will become a routine when we see that a storm is approaching we can automatically switch into the gear of prayer and quiet time.
i am learning this as well.
so what will you do when a storm comes your way? will you take this advice and run with it or just be stuck in a rut till the storm passes?
-i did not take this pic, because i am in the pic!-
anyway these are my suite mates and my roomate!
from left to right starting from the top!
amna, erica, sheena, me, raquel, sarah, and molly!
amna and erica are roomates, sheena and i roomates we hosted raquel for the week, then sarah and molly are roomates!
God has blessed me with amazing girls to live with. God is an awesome God. i cant wait till what the school year brings for us and our relationship. i love them all!
hbu is amazing. God is doing amazing things in my life. thank you all for those who prayed for me!
as i watched him walk on the beach he was so careful about where he stepped. normally little kids would just run or step on anything. but he was being very cautious and safe. how many of us walk keeping in mind that we could step on something that could hurt us? i am guessing not very many of us do.
those of us who dont watch where we are going we become disoriented a little because we thought nothing would be in our way. but then again those of us who watch where we walk just feel stupid by the fact we just tripped over something that we just saw.
isnt that what its like in our walk with christ?
if we follow where God is leading us we will be cautious in what we do we will end up safe and sound. although we may mess up and feel stupid because we knew what was going to happen even before we did it. but if we do not follow Gods way then we will end up angry at ourselves because nothing went right and is still not going right. nothing will get fixed unless you fix your eyes on God. you will keep going in the same pattern of the life you live until you want what God wants.
[as you can tell i did not take these but this is something special i am going to do, so please be patient with me.]
i want to thank my family for giving me a new life. the first pictures are of my siblings and i and the second on is the one of my parents and i.
chris, thank you so much for being my big brother and for actually caring so much about me that you wanted me in the family. thank you so much for everything you have ever done for me. thank you for all the times i have spent with you. i love you so much!
brian, thank you for always spending time with me. thank you for being my brother and for loving me. thank you for everything. thank you for all the wonderful times i had losing at monopoly! (for 10 years!) i love you!
jojo, thank you so much for being like my second mom. thank you for always taking care of me and spending time with me. thank you for getting away all the bad thoughts in my head when i was little. thank you for being someone i can look up to. thank you for loving me. i love you jojo!!
robbie, thank you for being my brother who had the courage to pick on me! thank you for not getting jealous when you were no longer the baby! thank you most of all for caring for me and allowing me to be your little sister. thank you for letting me spend time with you. i love you!
the next picture is where the emotions are gonna come flowing out!
dad, thank you for being the best dad in the world. i know at times you cant tell that i love you but i really do! thank you for wanting me and for taking care of me. thank you for taking me fishing and on daddy daughter dates. those were always so important to me. thank you so much for all that you have done for me! i love you daddy!
mom, thank you for being the best mom in the world. thank you for adopting me. thank you for giving me a new life. thank you for all the time of snuggling with you. thank you for loving me. you saved me from hell. thank you. thank you for not giving up on me when times got rough. thank you so much for giving me hope. i love you mommy!
harley, thank you for being the best dog ever and my best friend!
sorry i had to add the last one in!
there is so much for to say but at this moment i really cant get them out in words.
my family, i want to thank every single one of you for getting me ready for this time in my life. thank you for all of your support and prayers. i love you all!
[i took this picture a while back in my back yard.]
-sorry this is something personal to me. i will get back to my regular posts soon.-
its time to face the fact that i am leaving my life i know behind. i know i am only going to college but still, i dont want to leave all i know behind.
there are so many things i wish i could say but everytime i try i get emotional.
so i tryed my best to find the song that would explain my feelings the best.
-i am taking things on a different level now. this song is by the black eyed peas, and there is so much truth in this song that i have nothing else to add. i hope that you will actualyl get this and understand why this song goes with this picture. if you have any questions please ask me.-
"Where Is The Love?"
What's wrong with the world, mama People livin' like they ain't got no mamas I think the whole world addicted to the drama Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism But we still got terrorists here livin' In the USA, the big CIA The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK But if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate And to discriminate only generates hate And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah Madness is what you demonstrate And that's exactly how anger works and operates Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight Take control of your mind and meditate Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all
People killin', people dyin' Children hurt and you hear them cryin' Can you practice what you preach And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questionin' Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love) Where is the love (The love) Where is the love The love, the love
It just ain't the same, always unchanged New days are strange, is the world insane If love and peace is so strong Why are there pieces of love that don't belong Nations droppin' bombs Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug If you never know truth then you never know love Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know) Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know) Where's the love, y'all
People killin', people dyin' Children hurt and you hear them cryin' Can you practice what you preach And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questionin' Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love) Where is the love (The love) Where is the love (The love) Where is the love (The love) Where is the love, the love, the love?
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder Most of us only care about money makin' Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction Wrong information always shown by the media Negative images is the main criteria Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity Whatever happened to the fairness in equality Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found Now ask yourself
Where is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love?
Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questionin' Where is the love?
Sing wit me y'all: One world, one world (We only got) One world, one world (That's all we got) One world, one world And something's wrong wit it (Yeah) Something's wrong wit it (Yeah) Something's wrong wit the wo-wo-world, yeah We only got (One world, one world) That's all we got (One world, one world)
The Rules: 1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. 2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (**if you’re a non-blogger, you can email them!) 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
8 Random Facts or Habits about me: 1. i can not go to sleep without my stuffed animal frog, his name is froggy. 2. i listen to celtic music when i have a hard time going to sleep. 3. i have had more than 5 flat tires all within a few months. 4. i have never won monopoly. 5. my favorite movie of all time is "girl of the limberlost". 6. i have over 15 hoodies in my closet. 7. i have broken my retainters more than the average person. 8. i secretly want to be a comedian. This is the bonus fact: i am really in like with michael jacksons music!
okay now that, that is over i can tag someone else.
i tag...ummm...i dont know who to tage, so if you are reading this then i guess you just got tagged by me!
seeing a beautiful baby boy being born reminded me of how much we as christians are still like babies.
as we accept Jesus into our hearts for the first time we become baby christians. once your a baby christian you grow spiritually within your relationship with Christ. but for some of us we dont want to grow. we still want to be spoon fed and are not willing to take that giant step from baby christian to an adult christian. the baby's foot represents our walk with Christ. we have to take baby steps to learn how to walk then from there you learn how to run. thats just like walking with Christ, you just cant get up and run you have to learn to walk and getting into that habbit of wanting to walk faster and then even running with God.
this is my best friends baby. and it took me until he was born to realize that i still have not grown much from a baby christian.
you choose whether you want to grow or still stay a baby christian.
[this was taken on the way back from new york when i went in may/june]
can you even imagine how heaven is going to look like when the clouds look so beautiful?
it is hard to think that God made us more beautiful than these clouds. i mean come on, how many of us, meaning girls, think that we could be more beautiful than the clouds better yet even slightly beautiful.
this is a reminder of how beautiful Gods creation is, including us.
never forget that we are beautiful because God made us in His liking and in His image.
[i took this picture in new york when i was there in may/june]
this may seem like an ordinary picture of a grave yard. but there is something more that is deeper than anyone could see.
when you look at a tree you dont think its dead you know it is alive and growing. but when you look at a tombstone you dont think it is alive or growing, its dead, and sort of creepy.
the tree in the picture reminds me that since i am not enslaved to sin any more that means when i die on earth that is not the end of my life. its just the beginning. the tree is blocking the tombstone, meaning i can not die to this earth because Jesus has paved the way to have everlasting life. i know that i will not die and stay dead, instead i will die to stay alive.
would you rather die and stay dead, or would you rather die to live.
how many times in your life have you ever seen such an amazing example of how we as "children" are dependent on our parents.
as a child you would depend on adult to take care of you because you cant do it on your own. then you get older and there is no one that can take care of you anymore. you take care of others.
but as "children" of God we can always depend on Him taking care of us. we dont need to go looking for that someone to take care of us and nurture us. because God is there to take care of us. He is our father, meaning He will not let anything harm us.
would you rather be the person who always takes care of people and has no one to take care of you, or would you want to be the person that God is watching over and is taking care of you while giving you strenghth to take care of others?
[this was taken on the mission trip i went on a month ago.]
this simple, ordinary little girl has something deep inside of her that enables her to be so content with her life and the poverty she lives with every single day.
she is an inspiration to me. she has that one thing in life that so many of us long to have.
she has joy.
many of us do not know the difference between joyfulness and happiness.
