God Wins.

I get a lil bit defensive of my God when I hear people giving undeserved and disillusioned power to the opposing team, Satan and his army. Yes, believe me, I am prolly, more so than most, aware of the powerful spiritual battle that takes place all around us...and within us, even; but I also believe that we take away from God's supreme power and the freedom of choice that he has so lovingly given us, when we blame Satan and his crew for every bad thing; or when we sign his name to something he cannot take credit for.

Yes, Satan has influence...but his power comes only through what we allow him to hold over us. Christ has already claimed and proven his victory over evil. God has already won. He has supreme power and as his children, we have complete access to this victorious living. And we have the power of choice. Stating that you need to live in fear of evil spirits attaching to you does not line up with God's truth. Evil has no authority over us. We have authority in Christ. We give Satan his ammunition, WE give him his access to our thoughts...our beliefs...WE give him as much influence as he has. And we open that influence wide when we choose to believe his power reigns without our consent.

This is why it is so vital to take every thought captive. Test for truth. Battle for Truth. Because Truth has already overcome. God has already won. And through His victory, he has enabled us to be victorious as well.

Color, Outside The Lines

I've known for a long time, now, that I'm different...that I'm not exactly what you'd label as "mainstream normal". When I was 5 years old I remember laying in bed half the night pondering the intricacies of societal injustices and ways to combat their existence. I also was aware enough to recognize that most 5 year old's most likely did not fall asleep to the same thoughts. It's a few years later, and I haven't changed in this way...I've only added to my processing and visionary mindset.

What I have changed, is my view of myself. Where I was considered myself to be "weird" and attempted to smooth myself out into more of a "normal pattern"...I now embrace my differences as uniquely God-given. I have had a lot of people, even friends exhort me into being more "rational"...more "practical"...more, of what they were. Much criticism comes when people don't understand or feel threatened...when their box is pushed into a different shape or the thought itself threatens to dent their perfection that they have created for themselves and hold as truth. But I am not here to please man. I am living this life out in order to please only One. And for my God, I will live what he created and intended me to be...how he formed me to think...to see this world...to pursue the passions only He has so permanently burned on my heart.

I will follow him...his form and pattern...because in this plan, alone, is where I will find him in abundance and be filled with his all for my life. It is in this obedience, where he will be most glorified, through my life. For he intended the color to spill out over the "lines" when he made me...and I'm okay with that.

Photojournalism 4 Justice

My passions are finally coming together...

Vision:

To travel the world, joining forces with local organizations that are fighting human trafficking and other injustices, through photojournalism. The vision is to capture the injustices that plague nations in order to tell people's stories and raise awareness through photography and journalism. The integration of social work...I wish to, then, focus efforts in enhancing communities and providing job skills through photography and writing in order to decrease poverty and subsequent human trafficking or forced prostitution. The vision is to teach these skills not only to those in need, but also community leaders, churches, etc., in order to empower communities from within. Injustice needs a face. Human trafficking victims and survivors need a face. And America needs to see and hear. That is the vision. These are my goals.

Logistics:

I am opening this vision up to anyone who has similar visions and passions, to join me...if not in the field or traveling to the desolation, then, perhaps through donations. I am wishing to collect digital cameras...old, new...just have to be digital so that I can transfer the pictures that people take and place them on the computer (website) or print them from the computer to be sold. Pencils and pens...so that they can write out their stories, which is also very therapeutic. Notebooks/paper...to write in.....camcorders that you don't use anymore! I am working on saving for and buying my own camera accessories, so if you have any lenses, etc., that you are looking to sell...hook me up with the info! (Anything that is compatible with a Canon DSL) Also...I welcome any ideas that you may have that could better serve this mission, not only in preparation, but also in implementation.

Time-Frame:

Obviously...this is more of a long term vision/goal. I am currently thinking about embarking on this vision from a year from now. However, this will require a lot of planning and provision, so the faster I can collect the supplies that I need, the faster I can focus on the other details and connect with various organizations with a solid plan and materials in place.

Please consider partnering with me in this vision in order to combat the injustices that plague every nation of this world.