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.
a time to reflect and give thanks for those you love and for what God has blessed you with.
so many of us are blessed to have a loving family, a roof over our heads, and our lives. but we take for granted all the things that God has given to us. we dont even take time to actually thank Christ for all He did for us. He saved us from the torment of hell by dying on the cross and resurrecting three days later. He did the impossible . and we dont even take the time of day to thank Him for that.
here is the sad truth.
those who have nothing, literally little or nothing, are more thankful to be alive than those who have everything they ever wanted.
think about it: homeless people, orphans, third world countries, refugees, nursing home patient have something we will NEVER be able to get in a short time, and that is thankfulness.
its time to stop wanting more and more things and its time to start thanking Christ our Lord and Savior for what He has blessed us with.
are we blinded by the world and our own selfish desires? and block out who God is and what God has and is going to do?
I am in summer school and taking Christian Doctrine and something just hit me when i was reading "know the truth" by bruce milne.
God is in control.
yes. i know its simple and slightly "cliche" but God totally opened my mind about the presidential race right now.
God already knows who is going to be president. voting is important dont get me wrong. but i hear people say all the time that if a certain candidate become president they are leaving the country.
well if God already knows who is going to be in office next what gives us the right to complain?
we may not like who will be in office but GOD IS IN CONTROL.
God has a plan.
God appointed whomever is going to be office to do what HE wants.
NOTHING is a surprise to HIM NOTHING!
not even 9/11 caught HIM off guard. or lets go back further, the titanic.
God's hand is in all of this.
GOD is a SOVEREIGN GOD.
get on your knees and pray about who God wants you to vote for.
DONT go with your feelings.
GO to GOD about it.
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
if you say you love God and you say that you are a Christian then get in the Word and find out what it is that God is trying to tell you. if those who actually do go out of the country to get away from the next president, that is telling God that HE messed up and that HE made a mistake.
have you ever felt like you couldnt move on in life?
have you ever felt like no one could ever understand what you were going through?
have you ever tried to find answers on your own?
have you ever gone through a time when you thought there is no way out?
have you ever felt as though God turned away on you?
well i have...
i am coming to you taking off the mask i hide behind and tell you that i am not perfect and that i have had plenty of moments where i didnt even think God cared about me...
but thats not true....
i found that out the hard way that after all was said and done then i realized God was right with me...
he NEVER left me...
nor will he ever leave you...
here is one of my favorite songs by point of grace...
you will never walk alone by point of grace
Along life's road There will be sunshine and rain Roses and thorns, laughter and pain And 'cross the miles You will face mountains so steep Deserts so long and valleys so deep Sometimes the Journey's gentle Sometimes the cold winds blow But I want you to remember I want you to know
(Chorus) (Chorus) You will never walk alone As long as you have faith Jesus will be right beside you all the way And you may feel you're far from home But home is where He is And He'll be there down every road You will never walk alone
never, no never
The path will wind And you will find wonders and fears Labors of love and a few falling tears Across the years There will be some twists and turns Mistakes to make and lessons to learn Sometimes the journey's gentle Sometimes the cold winds blow But I want you to remember wherever you may go
(Repeat Chorus)
Jesus knows your joy, Jesus knows your need He will go the distance with you faithfully
[taken around christmas time...one of the shut-ins my dad and i visit every year.]
lately i have been struggling with growing up. i do not want to grow up, it is very scary to me.
i also dont like change. which probably has to do a lot with not wanting to grow up because everything and everyone will change.
but i was surfing on itunes a few days ago and came across a band called "the weepies" i heard a demo and they sounded great. so i bought their cd.
yesterday i was listening to the first song on the cd and its called "cant go back now".
although the tune was catchy, my mind caught onto the lyrics.
i dont know if it was Gods timing for me to hear that song or if it was just pure luck.
i am going for God on this one.
the title says it all "cant go back now", its true...i cant go back to being a young teen i cant go back to being a child...i have to "walk on".
although life may get hard...we cant stop...we have to keep moving on...and i will be right there with you in troubled times.
"cant go back now"...the weepies
Yesterday, when you were young, Everything you needed done was done for you. Now you do it on your own But you find you're all alone, What can you do?
You and me walk on Cause you can't go back now.
You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step, The night will have no stars and you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get
But you and me walk on Cause you can't go back now And yeah, yeah, go where you want to go Be what you want to be, If you ever turn around, you'll see me.
I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself
And you and me walk on Yeah you and me walk on Cause you can't go back now Walk on, walk on, walk on You can't go back now
the point i am making is that one cannot be cured by medical help.
many children, teenagers, and adults die from lack of love.
whether through abuse, neglect, or loneliness.
this is not something that medicine can cure. only we can.
maybe if we take a moment and take a look around us, we could see strangers and even those we love suffering from lack of love.
well what if we take it to another step. what if we actually go up and talk to that person who is walking alone, or sitting by his or herself, or crying? maybe we could be that person who gives them hope for tomorrow, we may also save their life.
could we try and take lack of love out of those things that kill?
i am sick and tired of seeing this up there with diseases.
will you help in making some ones day brighter?
are you willing to put yourself in a vulnerable situation?
i am.
so lets get out of our self centered world and step out into the real world.
i am going to give you random facts about me so you can get to know me a little bit better! enjoy!
-i am a christian, you know the ones that actually act like christ-followers. i cannot pretend that God is not there because of what has happened in my past and where i am now thats not just luck thats a GOD thing.
-i am a major people pleaser. i will do whatever it takes to keep someone happy. sometimes it can be the death of me.
-i love having intellectual conversations. i can sit for hours and talk to someone with intellectual insight on certain topics.
-i am 100% against abortion.
-i cannot live with out music.
-i am passionate about helping those in need. such as the homeless, mentally challenged children and adults, physically disabled children and adults, and those who are hurting on the inside.
-i love children. i have a heart for them.
-i love serving God, like i love doing missions.
-singing, photography, and art are what i am good and talented at.
-i cant stand seeing someone sad so i have to make them happy.
-i love making people laugh.
-i am a very polite person.
-i do what i say.
-i can be shy when i am in certain situations.
-i like to be that shoulder people can cry on.
-i do text a lot.
-the only change i can accept is my hair color.
-i stand up for what i believe in and what is right. even though it may get me into trouble.
-i get myself in the middle of other people situation to try to stop it but only make it worse.
-i can never stay mad at someone.
-i am protective of my friends and family.
-i sleep with a stuffed animal froggy. i cannot go to sleep without him.
-i love broadway shows.
-i listen to jazz to mellow me out.
-i love cold weather.
-i like sushi.
-i choose to follow where God leads me today and for the rest of my life.
-i like to star gaze.
-if i could go back in time i would be a teen in the 80's.
-i dont really like talking on the phone.
-i am very outspoken.
-my face turns red when i get embarrassed.
-math, to me, is a sin.
-i like to snuggle.
-skittles are my favorite candy.
-i like to listen to music in my car.
-i dont like shopping.
-i like to go out and drive by myself.
-i like my eyes and my smile.
-i love playing board games.
-my sister taught me how to play speed well.
-i have reading glasses.
-i can be a real neat freak.
-i am a band drop-out as well as choir.
-i get distracted easily.
-i do not like reading.
-i was a tom-boy when i was little.
-i dont talk about my problems right away.
-i like hugs.
-smiling is my favorite thing to do.
-i sleep on my tummy.
-i dont like orange juice.
i hope you enjoyed!! if you have any questions feel free to send me an e-mail!
this is something that will not get out of my mind even though i try really hard to make it go away.
i dont really like listening to christmas music any time before christmas season but a song kept popping in my head every time i would look at this photo.
the song is called "light a candle" by avalon.
just read the lyrics and contemplate on what it means because i am not going to say what it means this time because i really want you to think for yourself and get an understanding of what is written with what is taken.
light a candle by avalon
light a candle for the old man who sits staring at a frosty windowpane
light a candle for the woman who is lonely and every Christmas is the same
for the children who need more then presents can bring
light a candle light the dark light the world light a heart or two light a candle for me I'll light a candle for you
light a candle for the homeless and the hungry and little shelter from the cold
light a candle for the broken and forgotten may the season warm the soul
can we open our hearts to shine through the dark
light a candle light the dark light the world light a heart or two light a candle for me I'll light a candle for you
and in this special time of year may peace on earth surround the sphere and teach us that there's a better way to live every (every) thing that burns we must somehow learn that loves the greatest gift that we could ever give.....
light a candle light the dark (light the world) light the world light a heart or two light a candle for me i'll light a candle for you (I will) light a candle (oh, I will) light the dark ( because everybody needs a light) light the world (ohhh) light a heart or two light a candle for me (you know I will) I'll light a candle for you(you can light a candle) light candle for me I'll light a candle for you (i will) light a light a candle for me I'll light a candle for you
[taken on march 27 2008 at a robbie seay band concert.]
i am wanting to inform you about a few changes that are going to be happening in my blog.
the first thing is most of my posts are going to consist of explaining the photo through music. i have already done that for a few of my blogs. but there will be a few blogs that will be like my regular ones.
if you have any problems with what i am doing please let me know.
the second change that may come would be bringing more of my life into the blog so you the audience can get a closer look at who i am.
again if you have a problem with that please let me know.
i hope these changes will be for the better.
we just have to keep in mind that God is in control of this blog.
not me.
so here is my e-mail address for you to send me your thoughts and ideas to.
for some reason God is putting on my heart to write about child abuse and the severity of it.
as christians, no, actually as human beings we need to watch for signs of abuse. when you suspect that someone is being abused you need to say something. if you dont no one will and that person whether boy girl, gay straight, child or adult they all have the right to live. they all are special and they all need to know God. they do not need to die from abuse.
its going to be hard but i urge you to watch carefully for those human beings being treated badly.
open your eyes.
do something about it.
help them.
love them.
show Christ to them.
they need you.
Concrete Angel by Martina McBride
She walks to school with the lunch she packed Nobody knows what she's holdin' back Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday She hides the bruises with linen and lace
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask It's hard to see the pain behind the mask Bearing the burden of a secret storm Sometimes she wishes she was never born
Through the wind and the rain She stands hard as a stone In a world that she can't rise above But her dreams give her wings And she flies to a place where she's loved Concrete angel
Somebody cries in the middle of the night The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate When morning comes it'll be too late
[Repeat Chorus]
A statue stands in a shaded place An angel girl with an upturned face A name is written on a polished rock A broken heart that the world forgot
because when i was a child things were so simple. go outside and play only go in to eat then go right back outside.
the children of today stay inside play their "wii" go outside to get something out of the car then back inside to play video games that do nothing for them.
same with the christian life.
i am sick and tired of this generations view on christianity.
oh wait, the reason why i dont like it is because no one cares about other peoples salvation. they would rather watch church on television than get off their behinds and go to church and get involved.
when i was a child i went to church i was involved i was striving to know God.
but i dont see that much anymore. i dont see people striving to be like Christ.
what happened?
is it because of the "wii" games? internet? cellphones? money? movies? music?
whatever the reason is, God has been put second in your life.
why dont we go back to the times when life was simple and witnessing was so easy?
as the world keeps moving forward and changing God is the same as yesterday today tomorrow and forever.
"therefore women please stop obsessive dysfunctional wicked love"
i made that out of those word blocks that you can make sentences out of.
if you think about it, what it says is true.
a lot of women and men do not know how to love. they think love is about having sex.
well thats NOT true.
love is when a mother and father have their first child.
love is watching a parent hold on to their mentally/physically challenged child when they know that the child does not have much longer to live.
love is taking care of the homeless and broken.
love is adopting a child.
love is giving someone a hug when he or she is crying.
love is more than words can say.
love is more than just a feeling.
love is more than you and i could ever imagine.
love is God sending his son Jesus to die on the cross to save our sins so that we may not die but have eternal life.
love is the nail pierced hands.
love is the blood stained cross.
love is the empty tomb.
love is what people long for.
so will you stop this wicked nasty sexual love?
and get back to the REAL meaning of love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
"4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
[this was taken in june/july of last year on mission trip.]
so i have been debating on whether or not to post this one. because the lyrics to this song that i want to share may or may not offend people. but i feel like it is time now that i put this up. but first let me share what God has laid on my heart to share.
here we have a torn and tattered shoe, not two shoes, just ONE. will we ever have enough love to buy a new pair of shoes for someone? or will we just walk on by not caring?
as christians we are supposed to care for those who are in need.
Matthew 25:40 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
so have you acted like a REAL christian or have you forgotten that this world is so messed up and needs help?
i could not agree more with these lyrics. a lot of people rather comfort themselves than comfort someone who is simply crying. i do not know whether to laugh or cry at how blind people are to the pain and destruction of this world. when will people wake up and realize something needs to be done? actually the real question is when will people start to CARE?
Land of Confusion by Genesis
I must've dreamed a thousand dreams Been haunted by a million screams But I can hear the marching feet They're moving into the street.
Now did you read the news today They say the dangers gone away But I can see the fires still alight There burning into the night.
Theres too many men Too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Cant you see This is a land of confusion.
This is the world we live in And these are the hands were given Use them and lets start trying To make it a place worth living in.
Ooh superman where are you now When every things gone wrong somehow The men of steel, the men of power Are losing control by the hour.
This is the time This is the place So we look for the future But theres not much love to go round Tell me why, this is a land of confusion.
This is the world we live in And these are the hands were given Use them and lets start trying To make it a place worth living in.
I remember long ago - Ooh when the sun was shining Yes and the stars were bright All through the night And the sound of your laughter As I held you tight So long ago -
I wont be coming home tonight My generation will put it right Were not just making promises That we know, well never keep.
Too many men Theres too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Cant you see This is a land of confusion.
Now this is the world we live in And these are the hands were given Use them and lets start trying To make it a place worth fighting for.
This is the world we live in And these are the names were given Stand up and lets start showing Just where our lives are going to.
[taken december 26 2007 at lupe tortilla of my niece.]
have you ever felt like you cant see whats going on around you and you feel like everything is backwards?
(if you say no, then something is wrong with you.) =]
as i was standing there with my camera i see my niece sitting backwards on that cow. so i walked up to her and she asked me if i could help her down and so i did. then the question came to mind "who put her on there backwards?"
the point i am trying to make is life can get too hectic to realize where you are and how you got there.
it even happens to me too, like i will get caught up in the world and ending up having a moment where reality will sink in and i would be left with the question "how did i get here?"
i found that when i spend time with God and focus on him and let him guide me where i should go, then i know how i got to where i would be.
so if i am not focusing on God everything goes wrong and everything is backwards and confusing.
so what is it like for you?
if you are confused and lost, try going to God and focusing on him.
he will pick you up and help you if you ask him to.
everything is so much clearer when i let God be God and guide me where i should go.
i just pray that you would do the same thing.
getting caught up in the world is a dangerous thing.
[i took this a while back but cropped it to where my eye was showing.]
i am going to do something different.
yes, i have done somethings like this before but this time this is a worship song.
please please contemplate on the lyrics and listen to the music.
please come with a prayerful heart mind and soul.
the more i seek you by kari jobe
The more i seek you, the more i find you The more i find you, the more I love you
C:I wanna sit at your feet drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming (From Top)
[taken december 25, 2007 at my house, its my moms piano.]
this is my moms favorite instrument, a baby grand piano.
every time i see and hear my mom playing the piano i feel like everything is right with the world because i can tell she is totally worshiping God with all that she has when she is playing and beautiful music comes from this simple yet complex instrument.
but most of us think that singing is the only way possible to worship.
why is that?
is it because we are able to tell that person is truly worshiping by the way they express their emotions when they sing?
worshiping is not just about singing.
it is about doing what God placed in you to be passionate about.
God wants us to worship him with the gift that he placed in us.
God gave some people the gift of musical ability, some the gift of teaching, some with the gift of acting, and there are so many other talents that are out there that God gave to us.
God wants to be glorified by them.
but we have to be careful.
we can sometimes get caught up in knowing that we are good at what we do and end up glorifying ourselves instead of giving the glory to God.
when we are giving the glory to God nothing else matters, we become unaware of our selfish desires and actually praise God for all he has done for us.
i get goosebumps when i am truly worshiping and i know that i am because i can not fake the goosebumps and i can not deny the presence of God surrounding me.
do not be afraid to truly worship.
allow the holy spirit to fill you up.
praise the one who as made you.
God made us to worship him with the talents he placed in us.
what will you do?
will you give yourself all the glory?
or
will you praise God with your whole heart like my mom does when playing the piano?
God is just totally awesome like it blows my mind!
God forgives sin and loves and cares deeply for his children and grants news mercies every single day!
how can someone not believe in God when this photo shows the awesomeness of God!?
who else can take the sun and as it sets to change it different colors and reflect it off of the lake? NO ONE!
God is just so awesome! not only did he send his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save us from our sins and give us eternal life in heaven with him for all who believe, he also gave us another day to live. another chance at redemption. another day to glorify him. another day to accept and listen to his awesome and mighty word. another day to grow closer to him. another day to see what he has created. another day to realize how awesome and powerful he is.
God is so awesome i cannot even begin to explain.
God is my Heavenly Father and i love him with all my heart mind and soul.
do you?
do you even believe?
if not, why not?
if you would like to know more read the book or rent the video called "The Case for Christ" by lee strobel, you will not regret it!
notice the shadow from the ball it is there because of the way that the sun hit the ball.
i know that everyone knows that and it is simple first grade stuff but please stay with me here.
if the sun had not been shining on the ball then there would have been no shadow and of course no photo either.
lets compare the shadow of the ball to our walk with God.
if we do not get into God's word and do not spend time with him then how can people tell that we believe in the Son of God?
they cant.
but if we stay in God's word and dig deeper into it and allow God to use it in our lives; people can tell that we have something so amazing that they would want to know more.
we do not actually cast a shadow so that people can tell that we are christians. its through our attitudes and actions.
i love being able to allow God to shine through me and use me for his glory.
God does not want us to sit around and wait. he wants us to get into his word and go out and make disciples of all nations! and the only way that we can do that is by learning and having a close relationship with God. if we do not have that then no one can tell that you believe in the one who came to save us by sending his only son Jesus to die upon a cross and raise to life again so that we may live eternally in heaven.
would you rather be like a basketball with no light shining on it?
or
would you rather be like the basketball and give off the shadow showing the world that you are in love with the one and only Savior Jesus Christ.
