I’m thankful for repentance, that I get to dump my true heart, my honest heart, on the altar (at all times and in all places) and let the Savior do the rest.
Estoy agradecido por el arrepentimiento, por poder arrojar mi corazón verdadero, corazón honesto, en el altar (en todo momento y en todo lugar) y dejar que el Salvador haga todo lo demás.
*** If you know anyone around Phoenix or Gilbert, AZ, Palo Alto, CA, or Los Angeles, CA and would like to share These travel dates with friends, in community groups, or on social media I would be so thankful! Here are my upcoming travel dates:
Arizona Oct 22-24
Palo Alto Oct 30-31
Los Angeles Nov 13-15
I can take 1-2 more shoots in each location.
The other night, a good friend laughed saying 90% of her problems stem from missed expectations. That night, in my scripture study, I read the story of Abinadi and all I saw were what could have been unmet expectations.
As a background, King Noah was not a good guy. He had many wives and concubines, caused his people to commit sin, and taxed them practically to death to maintain his lifestyle according to "the desires of his own heart."
Abinadi, a good guy, lived in King Noah's pueblo and the Lord sent Abinadi to tell everyone to believe in Christ and repent (of course).
Abinadi preached the greatest message of all time, and naturally, they wanted to kill him. Two years passed and Abinadi again, this time in disguise, returned. They captured him and took him to King Noah to be killed. But King Noah and the priests first questioned him, specifically asking about scriptures they, as priests, did not understand. Abinadi must have spent hours conveying the most beautiful and brilliant message about the Savior, quoting Isaiah and Jesus in a masterful testimony. He reminded everyone that Jesus Christ would live and die for every one of us. That He loves us! That He helps us! That He knows our pain and heartache and answers prayers and will give us power and bring us home — only to be sent to the dungeon for three days. When the priests brought Abinadi back King Noah said, "We have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death."
Abinadi was burned alive.
I wonder what went through Abinadi’s mind!
I wonder if he asked himself what he did wrong, if he felt guilty no one listened. I wonder if he felt like God should have chosen someone else for the job. I wonder if he felt he failed.
I don’t think he thought that. So why do I?
My self talk would have immediately spiraled downward, "That didn't go as planned. I followed the spirit! I did what I was told! I was full of power! Did I misunderstand the revelation? Does Jesus love me? What went wrong?"
But when you and I read that story, we see - we know - everything went right.
Abinadi’s last words were: "Oh God, receive my soul."
“No matter what happens to me let God prevail. The Savior has not forgotten me. Let God prevail. He's in charge; I am His. Let God prevail. He will fight my battles. Let God Prevail.“
What does Abinadi (and Alma who was converted then had to run for his life to hide from the guards who hunted him!) teach me? When it all seems to be going wrong, it might actually be going right; and it’s one more opportunity for me to prove that no matter what, more than I want anything else, I first want God to prevail in my life.
Problems do not always mean things are wrong or broken. A situation can be hard, insane even, and still there could be nothing more right.
La otra noche, una buena amiga se rió diciendo que el 90% de sus problemas surgen de expectativas perdidas. Esa noche, en mi estudio de las Escrituras, leí la historia de Abinadí y todo lo que vi fueron lo que podrían haber sido expectativas incumplidas.
Como trasfondo, el rey Noé no era un buen tipo. Tuvo muchas esposas y concubinas, hizo que su pueblo cometiera pecado, y los gravó para mantener su estilo de vida según "los deseos de su propio corazón".
Abinadí, un buen tipo, vivía en el pueblo del rey Noé. El Señor envió a Abinadí para decirle a todos que creyeran en Cristo y se arrepintieran (claro).
Abinadí predicó el mensaje más grande de todos los tiempos y, naturalmente, querían matarlo. Pasaron dos años y Abinadí de nuevo, esta vez disfrazado, volvió a predicar. Lo capturan y lo llevan al rey Noé para que lo maten. Pero primero el rey Noé y los sacerdotes lo interrogan, específicamente sobre las escrituras que se supone que ellos mismos conocen como sacerdotes. Abinadí debe haber pasado horas transmitiendo el mensaje más hermoso y brillante sobre el Salvador, citando a Isaías y a Jesús en un testimonio magistral. Cuando terminó, lo enviaron al calabozo durante tres días. El rey lo trajo de regreso y dijo: "Hemos hallado una acusación contra ti, y eres digno de muerte".
Abinadí fue quemado vivo.
¡Me pregunto qué pensó Abinadí! Si fuera yo, habría pensado: "Eso no salió como estaba planeado. ¡Seguí el espíritu! ¡Hice lo que me dijeron! ¡Estaba lleno de poder! ¡¿Hice algo mal?! ¿Olvidé algo? ¿Entendí mal la revelación? ¡¿Jesús me ama ?! ¡¿Qué salió mal?!"
Pero cuando usted y yo leemos esa historia, vemos y sabemos que todo salió bien. ¡No había nada más que Abinadí pudiera haber hecho!
Garantizado, Abinadí estaba más lleno de fe y arrepentimiento que yo, sus últimas palabras fueron: "Oh Dios, recibe mi alma". Me pregunto si pensó, no importa lo que me pase. Deja que Dios prevalezca. El Salvador no me ha olvidado. Deja que Dios prevalezca. Él está a cargo; Soy su. Deja que Dios prevalezca. Él peleará mis batallas. Deja que Dios prevalezca.
Y eso es solo Abinadí. ¡Todavía está Alma, el sacerdote que sintió el Espíritu Santo y se convirtió! ¿Cuáles eran sus expectativas? ¡Estoy siguiendo a este profeta! ¡Sentí el espíritu! ¡Dios me dijo que esto estaba bien! Pero tuvo que correr y esconderse para salvar su vida mientras el rey lo perseguía diciendo que "estaba incitando al pueblo a rebelarse contra él".
Ser fiel y arrepentido no es el camino fácil. Pero con un pequeño cambio de paradigma, cuando todo parece que va mal, en realidad podría ir bien.
There are not many words to describe the way things are transpiring around here - we are mostly trying hard to follow our feelings.
I believe in that practice fiercely: following tender impressions.
But it can be scary because it means I take a step into the dark, or begin at zero, or…who knows what else?! Sometimes it feels like I’ll fall into a dark pit and a monster will eat me! On the other side of softening and submitting, of listening, is an elaborate pile of unknowns!
Sometimes what we cannot see feels like darkness. But that’s only because we haven’t given time the opportunity to shed light on it yet! Who knows but all your favorite colors are up ahead on high beams, shining blinding light you cannot see only because you haven’t stepped into it yet?!!
A month or so ago Annie was bouncing all over “Pa” (my dad) and I asked, “Dad, was I like that when I was little? Was I exactly like her?” (Because in my mind she and I are (mostly) exactly the same…)
My dad responded, “You were always taking care of people; you were the healer.”
In that instant he vocalized (and I learned!) my heart’s greatest desire! All I want is to be an instrument that is used to fill people with light and confidence.
When I die, I want to know I followed every impression, left nothing on the table, left no one behind, reached everyone I was sent to reach, on this, my personal journey through mortality.
I want to be an instrument in the hands of Light.
Here is where our recent changes come into play:
First, we do not have more answers than we do! We ride on faith daily for guidance and assistance. We practice asking, waiting, thinking, working through scenarios, praying, and waiting some more. We listen to the tiny impressions, thoughts, and feelings that come. And we receive answers.
****If you have questions, find a quiet place to pray, to talk, to converse and commune with heaven. Be open about all of your worries, your plans, your thoughts, your goalsdreamshopesfearswishes everything!!!
Then write down your impressions and thoughts and feelings.
Your answers will come, I promise! We are living it and it’s true.
Second, we had a plan, but then something unexpected (a miracle!) occurred so I need to wait for that to work itself out before I start blabbing anymore about plan details ;)
Third, we are moving eventually, so my blog and brand will change, but the idea has become sweet to me! I am ecstatic to evolve with everything this business and I become together.
Next, photography has been a spiritual journey and I want to be true to that.
So,
I feel “brightness” in announcing that my blog will mostly be composed of my spiritual thoughts, stories, experiences, and prayers, including specific things I learn from study. I will be sharing openly my thoughts about my life and what comes of the impressions I follow.
Ultimately, I want to share light - in all its forms. I get to do that through pictures and (very lacking) words (encompassed in big feelings.)
I want you to know you can find answers and help and guidance from Heaven!
I want you to be filled with light and confidence.
If you are aching, I want you to feel love, compassion, mercy, grace, and healing.
I hope you find those things here.
All my love, forever,
Christina
TRAVEL SHOOTS are about to begin around the bend of the new year! Contact me to book your DREAM shoot (I’m serious. Even your husband will say, “that was fun!!”
Bay Area! Nor Cal. Everywhere in CA. Everywhere period :) also SEATTLE, I’ll be back in March! East coast, NYC, North Carolina!! “Dream big and after you’ve done that, dream bigger” 🥰Howard Schultz -Starbucks CEO