Remember Christ This Christmas

As Christmas approaches, we get all wrapped up in busy schedules, parties, diet postponements, friends and family, shopping, etc. But, why does the world pause for this holiday? How could a birthday be celebrated throughout the world if it wasn't a significant birth? This was the baby who's birth was anticipated for thousands of years. This baby was brought into the world for the purpose of shedding His blood on the cross to pay for our sins, so that we could spend eternity with God.  Christmas is a celebration of God's fulfilled promise -- the savior of all men who call on Jesus' name. It is a beautiful thing!

I know that for me, I find myself thinking about how I can gain something from the Christmas season (fun, food, friends, etc.). This is wrong. The purpose of Chistmas is to give, not receive. That's what God did when He gave His own Son, who's life was charactarized by giving. Jesus gave up heaven (literally) and being served by angels, and He became the lowest form of man: a servant.

I love this song. It paints such vivid pictures of what Jesus came to earth for.

"Mary Did You Know"[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

So, when you see things like this that make Christmas festive and even more beautiful, remember the reason we are celebrating in the first place. Remember Christ this Christmas, because that is who it's all about!

Merry Christmas y'all!

~Bethany Truth





Portraits {Mary-Kathryn}

On Wednesday, I went to a workshop put on by friend and wedding photographer, Jessica Shae (http://www.jessicashaeblog.com/). I love Jessica's work, so when I heard that she was doing a one-day workshop, I told her to sign me up! We had tons of fun!

First, we went to Jessica's house and talked about starting and running a business, Photoshop and Lightroom, etc. Then, we went to Chick-fil-A. : )   After that, we went on a photo shoot, which is what these pictures are from. We were assigned to someone to do a portrait session with. I got Mary-Kathryn! I had never met Mary-Kathryn before the workshop, and I was so excited that I got to do her photos. She is fun and likes bold colors. We both share a love for Kohls!!! She has such a sweet personality, and I look forward to keeping in touch with her!

Jessica also took pictures of each one of us. : D  Next, we went to a library and edited our photos. Then, we watched Jessica do an "engagement" shoot. The couple was already married, but Jessica decided to set it up like an engagement shoot so that we could see how she interacts with a couple that is in love. ; )Then we went to Chipotle, then to a frozen yogurt place.

All that to say, I had a great time and I got some great pictures of Mary-Kathryn. Thanks for being such an awesome model, Mary-Kathryn! And, thank you Jessica for investing in the lives of up-and-coming photographers! And, thanks, fellow students for making it a fun day!!!

~Bethany Truth