MY DELIGHT IS IN HER

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,

and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, 

until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, 

and her salvation as a burning torch. 

The nations shall see your righteousness, 

and all the kings your glory, 

and you shall be called by a new name 

that the mouth of the LORD will give.

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of your God. 

You shall no more be termed Forsaken, 

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, 

but you shall be called My Delight Is In Her, 

and your land married. 

For as a young man marries a young woman, 

so shall your sons marry you, 

and as the bridgegroom rejoices over the bride, 

so shall your God rejoice over you.

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; 

all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. 

You who put the LORD in remembrance, 

take no rest, and give him no rest 

until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.

The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: 

"I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, 

and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; 

but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, 

and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary." 

Go through, go through the gates; 

prepare the way for the people; 

build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; 

lift up a signal over the peoples.

Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: 

Say to the daughter of Zion, 

"Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, 

and his recompense before him." 

And they shall be called The Holy People, 

The Redeemed of the LORD; 

and you shall be called Sought Out, 

A City Not Forsaken. 

Isaiah 62. 

{Photos captured yesterday with my friend Amy.}

MR & MRS

Yesterday, my cousin married a best friend of mine. 

Their vows were like a cooling, rustling sea-breeze to those of us in the audience who had forgotten how refreshing authentic, God-breathed marriage is to the soul's deepest. A lost wonder, rare to be seen. They are now tethered to a beautiful story written in a flowing cursive that makes Thomas Jefferson's penmanship look sloppy. I know all of heaven rejoiced when their hearts joined to sing, 'I do.' I was delegated to capture the breathless behind my lens:

ALWAYS GOLD

Cotton seastorm scratching our backs, Louisiana happy crayfish piled red, sun to burn us brown, pine sap between fingers, lilacs in fourteen shades to sleep beneath, freak storm flooding our city to dance in, the chase of moon over meadow, laughter contractions and baby Chuck, bonfire smoke spilling between us, stories unraveling from spoken souls, corner boulevard, pores cleansed with Cajun garlic, dandelion fields and mud trails to run, mulch, manure, and mowed grass sweetly tinting soft air, a taste of His glory on the tip of my tongue, an ache to consume, what Sherlock taught us between the lines, the midst of angels, the dew green to cry on, the neighborhood sprinklers to laugh in, open field of half-cut logs to lift the cross, pot of twist and shout, new friends, old faces, the power of love, beauty stored; this is a reawakening. 

m

WHEN JOH WRITES, THE WORDS ARE MUSIC

take me back where You found me first.

my body, my soul, my mind, immersed.

steal my heart, chase my soul.

when i'm dry, will You take hold?

with words, my mouth stumbles.

my heart's brokenness humbles.

i can't look at Your face.

but, i can't look away.

my spirit, drawn in.

my life rings again.

blessed am i.

blessed am i.

and You're worthy.

my words leave.

You're overwhelming.

my heart's pounding.

it's not enough to give my life.

the fear is nothing will suffice.

then i remember, You use the weak.

Your beauty, Love, do i choose to seek.

i descend from the mountain, from You.

and i'm filled to overflowing, i'm new.

blessed am i.

blessed am i.

{Photo and lyrics by my precious friend, Joh.}

LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE

BENEATH THE CHESHIRE SMILE

{PC: Brianna Rae}

IT'S MOTHER'S DAY

Thanks for putting up with me, Mom

I love you.