Reflecting on Today through photography

Art students at a Christian school in Minnesota (Avail Academy) had the opportunity to interact in-depth with December's Today devotions by reading the devotions, taking photos that reflected the theme, and writing reflections of their own. We pray that you'll be blessed by their photography and reflections below.

Susan VanGeest, their art teacher added "Using photography, students seek and capture the beauty around them as a way to open their eyes to the abundance of God's beauty."

As you read these reflections, I hope you are encouraged by how young people in our Today community are engaging with God’s Word. I hope their reflections and faith inspire you as you interact with God’s Word this year.

"Hidden Treasure"
Read Dec 1 devotional

When I look at my dog’s face, specifically his eyes, I do not see wisdom. But when I think about it, God created everything, including my dog, uniquely and specifically. God created hundreds of intricate systems in this dog! Treasure can be found in the most strange and funny places. God created each whisker and piece of fur you can see in the picture. At the moment this photo was taken, my dog’s brain was causing his eyes to move without him having to even think about it. His heart was pumping blood throughout his body, and his lungs were making him breathe, all by God’s design. This dog is a hidden treasure.

"General Revelation & Awe"
Read Dec 9 devotional

My mom and I were at our cabin early in the morning & took this picture. We were enjoying creation. I was with her fishing and she was reading the bible. I like how this photo shows God's creation shining on his word: the story of the creation and the creation in the background. The spine of the bible is leading towards the sun and it shows how God's creation is connected to his word. This is one of my favorite spots in nature. I love being out on the dock or on the lake. It is so much fun to sit out in the early morning or late evening and just watch the sun, its reflection in the lake and the amazing color palette it creates. Today’s devotional talks about finding the beauty in all things. The dock is where I find God's creation the most beautiful, but everyone is different. You can find what you think is beautiful everywhere.

"What Your Right Hand is Doing"
Read Dec 10 devotional

This picture, titled “What Your Right Hand is Doing” is quoting the scripture found in Mathew 6:3 “For when you give, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” My picture depicts my sister’s bandaged hand hiding her entire face, with only one eye visible. The posing and hyper zoom of this picture calls attention to the texture of the bandaids, and the striking eye. I wanted my audience to see these things first, as the bandaids symbolize pain, and the frayed nature of the bandages allude to dirtiness or strain. As for the eye, it's the first thing that draws the eye.

In this picture, the eye symbolizes what isn’t there, the rest of the face. In this picture it’s covered by the hand. In Bone Carriers the dirty, unseen work is servant work, exactly the thing Jesus calls us to. In my picture, the dirty, hurt hand hides the servant behind the service.

"Still"
Read Dec 16 devotional

Just as the noise and busyness we fill our lives with disrupts our peace & stillness, so the ripples of the water disrupt the perfect reflection of the trees. Animals, boats, and people will come and interrupt the stillness . But even when the water is not perfectly calm, eventually it always settles and becomes still again. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Just be still; let the waters calm in your life and take time to think about the still beauty of God’s presence.