Jesse.

I am probably the luckiest person in the world. This summer I get to do hair for nonstop photoshoots and then I'm able to hang around and shoot behind the scenes and have fun. 

This shoot was a collab with Anna Peters (aka, the one in the striped dress in this post) and our model is  Jesse. Anna shoots primarily film so her photos won't be released for around 2 weeks but I'll be sure to post a link! These are a mix between pics I shot and ones Anna shot as digital test shots.

///

test shots of me while drinking some tea.

    

///

I take advantage of test shots obviously:

///

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of our love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 

 Ephesians 4:1-4

MY SOUL MAGNIFIES:paths.

Hahaa the thumbnails for videos just make my day.

///

Welcome to my first vlog!

About this project

You can also find me here

and on tumblr

///

2 Cortinthians 6-9

6 For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[b] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

scribbly notes on Ephesians 2:8-10

So today after work I headed to a local coffee/meeting place/building in which to gather and eat or drink and did some daily reading and journaling but my brain is all over the place today so this is incredibly fragmented...I still think there are some amazing things (I love Ephesians) to share so here we go :)

///

"God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things he planned for us long ago."

Ephesians 2:8-10

[Also read - Romans 3:28 // 2 Timothy 1:9 // Titus 3:5]

"No action or work we do can help us obtain salvation; God's intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service." (NLT Study Bible)

Accepting Jesus as your savior is so much more than praying a prayer and reading your bible. It is fully embracing the Word of God (the Bible), His teachings, and also striving to be like him. The bible is a mirror where we get to see God and also see ourselves. It is incredible reading something that was written so many years ago and seeing how it applies to your life directly. With that being said, our salvation is the ultimate gift that we can use to serve others. By walking with Him everyday and being an example, we are lights in the world. When living in truth and by the Holy Spirit, we are guided and led to live better. 

[we are SAVED to SERVE]

How do we respond to salvation? [when we feel unworthy, etc.]

- When you get a gift you don't say, "Thank you! What do I owe you?" You say, "Thank you!" Yet we feel obligated as Christians (insecure and unable to comprehend His love for us) to try to work our way to God (or work to win his approval/grace/forgiveness. We already have that gift, and it's not to be won). 

- Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and JOY.

- When I feel unable to comprehend God's love for me I'm not alone. It is quite impossible to understand how someone could have unending, relentless love for someone like me who has done to most stupid things and has pushed him out of my life for years and years. But the best thing ever is that he DOES love me no matter what. 

- We need to not only listen to the word of God but fully hear it and embrace it. Read the word and study it not because it's what you're "supposed to do" but because you really want to learn about God. The Bible is a gift in which we get to become closer to God and learn about ourselves. 

///

Jesus Your name

Is more than a name

It’s given me hope

It’s given me life

Jesus Your name be lifted high

No other name but Jesus saves

Higher // Worth Dying For

///

All about this project:

///

Summertime generally propels me into wanting to do something grand. Perhaps I'm trying to make up for all those summers when I was young that I stayed inside playing and didn't go on a wondrous trip hiking or something (my family just wasn't into that growing up). 

Last year, I did summer of 5/7/5 which was an everyday haiku project. Much less threatening than anything that takes an actual amount of dedication considering one (and when I say "one" I mean "I") can spill out a haiku in a matter of minutes. 

Back to this project: I started saying "Yes" to pretty much everything recently (no, not that...). I have spent the last couple years with often crippling anxiety that left me afraid to leave the apartment or do anything different or see anyone new. Luckily I was "busy" so most people believed that simple explanation of why I couldn't go to their birthday celebration or out to lunch.

There has also been a whole lot of static in my head the last few (10) years that I found very unhealthy ways to get rid of. All that stuff will come up soon enough. Luckily though I found writing, photography, and music which held me over for a while or at least took the edge off.

So firstly, this project is about words. Words I haven't spoken for years about struggle, about darkness, about fear. Words that make amazing songs that if you listen to you'll probably know more about me than my closest friends. Words that other people write and words that I write to get some of that stuff out of our heads. This is also about the Good News and those words that are forever changing my life. 

Secondly, this project is about pictures. I completed a 365 project, I attempted a 52-week (and just gave up due to a lack of drive behind it) and I love my camera (named Amera). If you're curious I'll put it out there right now, I shoot with a Canon XSi and a 50mm f/1.4. I have a Canon Powershot ELPH 300HS that I use for video. If I could be invisible and shoot I would be the happiest person in the world. I love anything candid and photojournalist-y (I'm aware I'm just making up words now) mostly because I feel incredibly awkward posing people. I'll be posting pictures from shoots over the summer that various friends (mostly Anna Peters and Conner Allen) put together where I tag along, usually prancing through the fields and holding lots of gear and laughing a ton. 

Thirdly, this project is about that wonderful melody that plays in my head. It won't be a huge part of this project, but I just know from experience that I can't go long without speaking/sharing music. 

This project is mostly about God. I am overwhelmed by a relentless love that has taken over my heart. I want to share that more than anything.

So, "all the noise everyone else is making" is just a small reminded to myself that it's okay to make noise. 

I can be found on youtube and tumblr as well as here (obviously). 

///

What I'll be doing:

///

Before this post just gets incredibly long (not that it hasn't already), here's what I'm doing:

1. Hopefully posting vlogs about topics to do with growing in your relationship with Christ and just as a person. Mostly, this is me learning to talk about God and how He is the ultimate source of my hope and peace while also learning how to talk after so many years of being silent. This is also bible-study 2.0 for myself.

2. Giving you an inside look into my daily-reading and journaling about God.

3. Posting pictures from the aforementioned photo-adventures with Anna and Conner.

4. Sharing words/lyrics/songs.

5. Giving shoutouts to amazing people who I want to recognize. 

///

What You Can Do!

(Yes really, YOU)

///

Believe it or not, I am not the ultimate source of brillant ideas (crazy I know) so I would love it for you, my audience, to give me ideas on what to discuss or write about. Challenge my relationship with Christ (I'm probably not going to have the answers but I would love to try!). You can email me at madisonlmc@hotmail.com, facebook me, comment on these posts, comment on youtube, message me on tumblr, whatever floats your boat is good with me. You can ask questions, leave comments, be overly nosey, all is welcome!

You can also ask me things. I'm pretty much open about everything in my life now past and present and if you're curious, go for it. If anyone who stumbles across this needs some help or advice, I can give it my best (if you email it's super anonymous too just fyi) or point you in some good directions. Asking for help has literally been the best thing I have ever done and there is everything right in wanting help or wanting to ask for it. 

///

Saying YES

///

Going back to the whole "saying yes" thing for a second, I really am not kidding. My schedule is crazy full with work and church/church activities and photo-adventures and so on and I will keep on packing it until I can't any longer. It is really incredible what happens when you just fully embrace the way that you're going to fail and embarrass yourself and just go for it. So this summer especially, I am consciously going for the "YES" attitude and not holding back.

This summer I want to push myself in all ways possible, and this is how I'll keep track. 

///

Thank you for joining me on this crazy ride, and don't hesitate to contact me! I want some feedback :)

///

I have decided I have resolved to wait upon you Lord. My rock and redeemer shield and reward, I'll wait upon you Lord.
You'll Come // Hillsong United 

Siri.

Just some behind the scenes shooting with Anna Peters. 

///

"Be transformed by the renewal of your mind." 

Romans 12:2

///