My heart is so thankful as I look over these images. I feel something new and fresh coming for me, my work and life in general. I don't want to look over the hard things, the dark places, because from them comes the most beauty. The darkness only makes the light shine brighter to our eyes. It was an incredible journey to base this 1:1 workshop with Southern Grace Photography on this beautiful passage of Scripture. I had already decided upon the theme "beauty from ashes" when I felt a need to change our last location to these ruins. Then, I found the passage to base the whole story upon - it was like God took a hold of my heart and said, "Yes daughter, I am in control. I have something in store more beautiful that you can fathom." I cried when I read about rebuilding the ruins in this passage. This old church had been burned down time, and time again - yet they rebuilt it several times. I feel that way sometimes too. No matter what I do things fall apart. But God is the builder and sustainer. He works wonders for HIS name and not my own. It also poured terribly on our way to the ruins, but God stopped the rain just long enough for us. It was dark and stormy - but I feel it is even more poetic; it is a sign to obey even when it doesn't make sense. This, my friends, is my heart.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives...to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who grieve in Zion -to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."
(Isaiah 61)

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Beauty From Ashes | Charleston Film Photography

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