you are

You are the daughter of a God who created the sky in all of its colors, oceans in all of their depths, and mountains in all of their majesty. The daughter of a king who’s given you life, breath, a beating heart, and a dancing soul. The daughter of a person who understands the importance of 2 AM conversations, cups of coffee, good stories, and favorite people. The daughter of a creator who destroys, but only to build.

You are a Daughter of Power. A Daughter of Might. A Daughter of Beauty, and a Daughter of Unbearable Sorrows. But don’t forget the simplest—you are a Daughter of the One who keeps his grand promises. So remember that you are a Daughter of Hope.

Collection of the Beautiful | Summer Collection

P H O T O S: 

Photo by Katie Marie.

L I N K S:

"Life" by Erin Hanson [poem]

Stewart Edmonson's paintings [gallery]

The Chainsmokers-"Inside Out" [song]

"How to Start Embracing Your Imperfections" by Alyssa J Freitas [article]

"Darkened Cities" by Thierry Cohen [photo essay]

"Leaving Anxiety Behind" by yours truly [article]

Photography by Mario Guti [gallery]

Delicious Strawberry Lemonade from Ashley at Cook Nourish Bliss [recipe]

"10 Happiness Boosts" by Grace Anne [list]

"Prospect II" by Akos Major [gallery]

Handmade Jewelry by CopperCricketStudio [etsy]

Wolves at the Gate - "Fountain" [song]

Man & Camera by Luke Gram [gallery]

"Independent Poetry Collections You Should be Reading" by Emily Reese [article]

Collection of the Beautiful | Autumn Collection

Collection of the Beautiful | Winter Collection

Shadow

“Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 17:8 ESV

So close. Breathing the same air, resting in his shadow. David rose out of his sin and into God’s favor. He grew with God, wrapping himself around God’s heart like ivy. This man knew how God’s heart beat, how he worked. David knew God.

Their bond created an expectancy that went both ways. God expected David to strive to “hold fast to God’s paths”—to work for his favor. Meanwhile, David demanded love and protection.

It’s shocking at first, David’s frankness. His blatant expectancy. Yet if you pause to think through why he felt he could ask anything of God, it begins to make sense.

I was talking with a coworker about my discovery of David’s expectancy. He had a very simple answer to why David could demand God’s protection. Faith.

When my coworker said that, I’m pretty sure I just stared at him for a second. Because it made so much sense. He quoted Hebrews 11:1 to me:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV)

At that moment, everything fell into place.

At some point as a kid, I learned that I could ask God for whatever I wanted. But then, after pursuing that like a kid would and treating God like some version of Santa Claus, I learned something else.

Humans are selfish, and God does not appease selfishness.

But there’s a difference between selfishness and self-interest. Selfishness is centered on getting what we want. Self-interest leads back to God. (I highly recommend reading the article “C.S. Lewis on Selfishness vs. Self-Interest” by Art Lindsley. It’s an excellent read.)

Therefore, certain things we can expect of God. We have a God who is for us, and I think we forget that too often. He has a good, good plan—and it involves us.

God is there for me. He’s supposed to be. We’re supposed to be close. I’m supposed to be confident that he’ll keep me safe.

So being expectant of God maybe shouldn’t be such a foreign concept to me.

Just a thought.

(Photo by the dear Katie Marie.)

Hope

It started with sin.

A blatant tear in our world’s perfection. Yet stitch by stitch, sacrifice by sacrifice, hope was built.

And then he came, the King, babbling and drooling and crying. Tentatively, we hoped. And then we tasted a small bit of heaven, and fire was in our hearts. He forgave our sins, healing our souls and our bodies.

We watched with wide eyes and open hearts. He taught, his words perfect and empowering.

But then the vote was cast, and his final moments were spent draped on the cross.

The tears spilled from our eyes, and sobs tumbled from our mouths. But still, trembling, we hoped. We clung to his promises.

And he pulled through. Hope lasted three days, until he came back for us. Our separation was eradicated.

Even though we can’t see him, can’t feel him, we still hope. Because one day, the burden of our sin will fall away. One day, our hope will be met, and all will be at peace. 

Innocence

Waltzing
A blend of pastels
And your brown hair.

Fingers
Extending through the air
As you embrace the world.

Laughing
Freckles wrinkling in on each other,
Your body trembling with joy.

Toes
Dipping into the clear stream
As your hand caresses mine.

Smiling
Your lips hovering so close to mine
Yet still maintaining your innocence.

Heart
Mine is beating too fast,
And your eyes are too wide.

Blushing
And then we both pull away,
Yet our fingers still brush.

Core

i realized something tonight.
it's a little strange that it even has to be a realization because it's something that should be obvious.
but for me, it was different. it required sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea and what was probably a worrisome look on my face.
but it clicked.

i don't have to be sad.

now, that doesn't mean i thought i had to be sad. but it's been such a core part of who i am over the past few years that it's normal. being sad is part of my daily routine. and, strangely, it's welcomed.
but you know, maybe it's (definitely) unhealthy. and it's not something God wants for me.

and i got that tonight. this pressure was lifted off my chest, and i smiled.
life is just one long journey of discovery. it's unlearning all the presuppositions you formed when you were a kid. it's finding out things you probably should've learned in the eighth grade. it's realizing that you can decide to try to be happy. it may take you until you're almost twenty to figure that out. but you will, one day.

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see.

-"Blackbird," The Beatles

and you'll feel free. you'll be able to dance without your heart weighing you down. your smile will light up your eyes again. it will not happen over night. but it will happen.

so here's to being not-sad and free.