1 Kings

Love this reading today. In addition to Solomon's "don't cut the baby in half" decision and other memorable Sunday School lessons, I discovered one of the funniest verses thus far: 1 Kings 18:27, which, in my translation (the Contemporary English Version) reads: "At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. 'Pray louder,' he said. 'Baal must be a god. Maybe he's day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.'"

Just totally random, and makes me appreciate the fact that my God is ALWAYS awake, and ALWAYS listening. And He is ALWAYS in control, both in good times and in bad (1 Kings 20:28).

If you have a moment, look up 1 Kings 19 and read chapters 9 through 13. I find this passage to be incredibly beautiful. One of my favorites so far...

1 Kings 3:8

1 Kings 6:30

1 Kings 8:36

1 Kings 9:3

1 Kings 17:13

Oh, and the graphic design today is inspired by a fantastic sermon I heard today at church, which included an allegory about the yellow brick road and a certain pair of ruby red sparkly shoes. *Thanks, Dean.* It's awesome to hear a sermon that references both zombies and the Wizard of Oz... and also inspires you to live your life for God. You can hear more at www.cleburnebible.org.

2 Samuel 18-24

2 Samuel 18:22

2 Samuel 19:2

2 Samuel 19:30

2 Samuel 19:33

2 Samuel 22:3

2 Samuel 22:11

2 Samuel 22:20

2 Samuel 22:33

2 Samuel 23:4

2 Samuel 23:5

1 Samuel 26-31, 2 Samuel 1-17

Came across two of my new favorite verses in my reading today: 1 Samuel 30:23 (a great reminder for a fashion girl like me), and 2 Samuel 14:14.

1 Samuel 30:23

2 Samuel 3:36

2 Samuel 5:8

2 Samuel 5:24

2 Samuel 6:2

2 Samuel 6:5

2 Samuel 6:21

2 Samuel 7:1

2 Samuel 7:22

2 Samuel 11:1

2 Samuel 12:3

2 Samuel 12:23

2 Samuel 13:20

2 Samuel 14:14

2 Samuel 15:21

2 Samuel 17:28

Hallelujah - He is Risen!

Happy Easter Sunday, everyone! I hope that you celebrate Christ today in everything that you do, and that you take the time to thank Him for everything He has done for you... and everything He has done for us.

For me, it has been a rugged couple of months, punctuated by so much happiness and abundant blessings. Exactly 5 years ago today, I flew to New York City for the first time in my entire life, traveling with my dear Aunt Joy, and my mom, Hope. Joy had encouraged me to apply to a photography school in Manhattan, and we were going to check it out. She paid for the entire trip. 

Five years later, I am a professional photographer, and this is my Aunt's first Easter in Heaven.

And so these days I live my life like this verse from Matthew: "afraid yet filled with joy..." for the days that are to come, and for the purpose of the cross.

John 20:1

John 20:2

John 20:2

John 20:4

John 20:8

John 20:9

John 20:12

John 20:15

John 20:17

John 20:17

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

- Matthew 28:1-10

Jeremiah 29:11

No pictures and no reading this week... it's been an overwhelming season in my life, and this week all I can do is hit repeat on the verse in my head: Jeremiah 29:11.

”For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”