Week 31/52 - Love Alone is Worth the Fight

I'm trying to find where my place is 
I'm looking for my own oasis 
so close I can taste this 
the fear that love alone erases 

so I'm back to the basics 
I figure it's time I face this 
time to take my own advice 

love alone is worth the fight 
love alone is worth the fight 

and I never thought it'd come to this 
but it seems like I'm finally feeling numb to this 
the funny thing about a name is 
you forget what the reason you were playing the game is 

love alone is worth the fight 

love alone is worth the fight

I came upon this song through an interesting set of circumstances and it fit perfectly not only with the picture, but with something I'm learning right now.  There's so much chaos that I could focus on and pros and cons and fear and trust and pain and joy; it can be such a game of politics, popularity, insecurity and pride.  But honestly, the bottom line is - love alone IS worth the fight.  And I have access to a kind of love that is bigger, stronger, and more constant than anything the rest of the world could offer me: Christ.  He didn't have to save me, but He did.  He doesn't have to love me, but He does.  Not only is that kind of love worth fighting the world's despair for, but it's also the kind of love that will keep me fighting for others too.  

God is love.  I never want to forget that. 

Week 30/52 - From the Inside Out

a thousand times I've failed
still your mercy remains
and should I stumble again
still I'm caught in your grace

everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

my heart and my soul, I give You control
consume me from the inside out Lord
let justice and praise, become my embrace
to love You from the inside out

The phrase "Your light will shine in all else fades" played in my head immediately when I was editing this photo.  There's such truth in it.  I remember so many times when everywhere I turned there was darkness...BUT.  There was a light at the end of the tunnel, and when I turned to face God in His glory I was blinded by the reminder that He was my only escape from the darkness.  He was enough.  And the kind of love that resulted from that realization consumed me from the inside out.  Even in listening to this song again weeks later and writing up this post, chills ran through me as I listened to the words and was overcome again with a desire to just give Him control.  

Challenge-wise, I have much to catch up on.  I have some photos that I've shot and been waiting to post so those will probably be used up in the next week or so, and then I'll hopefully be caught up - and start shooting some new stuff again.  So many things stewing around in my head!

Week 29/52 - Broken Hallelujah

I can barely stand right now

everything is crashing down

and I wonder where You are 

I try to find the words to pray 

I don't always know what to say

but You're the one that can hear my heart

even though I don't know what your plan is
I know You're making beauty from these ashes

I've seen joy and I've seen pain 

on my knees I call Your name

here's my broken hallelujah

with nothing left to hold onto

I raise my empty hands to You

here's my broken hallelujah

 Amidst the craziness of this past couple weeks of traveling, I haven't taken many photos.  This one is from my last night at home in Alaska and the snow showed up just in time for me to take some quick photos of my dear friend Anna.  So here you go (: Much more creativity and effort to be coming in the near future, although I am going to be on the road again with scanty access to internet.  Such an adventure!