Currently I am sitting on the hotel computer in Seattle, about to take off and meet up with a group of friends that I love dearly, to together embark on perhaps the most incredible week of our lives together. Israel.

There is such a story about Israel and why it means so much to me that I will have to write about later–maybe when I get home…but in short, I have relatives living there now, cousins to my grandma Starr. The beautiful woman that she is, she moved to the US as an 18 year old girl, and through doing that, left the majority of her immediate family and cousins back in her homeland (at the time, Casablanca..where later her family moved to Israel and throughout Europe).

I am hoping to meet some of my long lost cousins (Lord-willing), but if not now–maybe a time when my family can come too. Along with Grandma

So tomorrow morning at 7:30a.m. we will be flying out from the Seatac Airport to land in New York, followed by  a 7.5 hr lay over (yay…I’m sure lots of stupid videos will be made at this point), where we will then fly to Tel Av iv. I can hardly wait to go to the land that God loves..meet more people that he cherishes dearly, and learn about a culture that I have not learned of before.

Please pray that I go open-handed, not expecting much, but willing in all things. That I spend this time soaking in all that God puts before my eyes, so that for years I can meditate and learn from the experiences. I am sooo excited, and humbled that I am able to go on this trip..not only that, but get to lead worship in a land that is so beautiful because of the people AND the history.

Blessings, grace, and love.

Holly =)

Like I said earlier, words will not suffice for what happened on Sunday night in Kent. All I know, is that Jesus was there…and when Jesus shows up…the party always gets better.

So to be quite honest, I was not very excited about going to Kent for Valentines Day to do a concert for a bunch of single people (I am single too, so I am not bashing single people at all). I was just really tired mentally from all the hard core focusing I’ve been doing to start my new album, and would have loved and preferred to just stay home and hang out with family..maybe play board games or bake a cake…maybe spend a couple countless hours just talking about whatever. However, that was not the plan put in place.

Here’s a recap:

We got to the venue, met up with Jeremie (electric player) and his wife, Jill..sound-checked, met all the event staff (who are inCREDIBLE people!), ate dinner, hung out for a while, then the show began. Before anything started though…the funniest, most unfortunate event happened. I was backstage, waiting for my cue to hit the stage, when I realized I couldn’t get the door opened! I was freaking out! Somehow magically the door locked me back there, and the guys were about to start the first song! Without me! Great.. I could only imagine what would happen if I didn’t show up on cue. I was frantic. What was I to do? I was stuck! Would I have to knock!? Would I have to scream so someone could hear me? As soon as I started getting it through my head that this was going to be embarrasing…I realized that I had been pushing instead of pulling. Oops..lol. So with the ball of nerves going crazy in my stomach, I began to pray. I think I was two words in when I heard my cue to go on. “Here we go, Jesus… help me calm down!” was all I could think as I ran on–hoping that smiling and waving would hide how flustered I was…lol. =) Thankfully as soon as I got out there and in place, I felt like oxygen flooded my lungs and I was able to breathe. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and found myself crying in front of a bunch of people who couldn’t have blessed me more that night. I know I was the one delivering the music…but after I was done singing, they poured out Jesus’ love all over me by praying over me right there. Not only that, they promised to continue praying as God continues to move in my life. If there is one thing you should know about me, it is the fact that there is nothing more that I could ask for from anyone.. than prayer. To be standing there while they prayed, and then receive their promise to continue praying, absolutely broke me down. I was so humbled. After we said our formal goodbye from stage, I went back to my merch table, to yet again be blessed individually by the people and hearing how the message of “simply loving” that I spoke about that night, impacted their life. As well as hearing how “I Love You Anyway” is considered the single person’s anthem! =)

I still can’t believe what happened on Sunday…If I had followed my desire to stay home for Valentine’s day, I don’t know what would have happend. However, I am really thankful that I was in Kent…singing for a bunch of single people, talking about love… Love that changes my life. Jesus is so alive..and I’m very thankful that he doesn’t let my stubbornness keep him from showing me His GREAT LOVE.

IN GRACE,

holly

Here’s a couple pics from Sunday  night! Enjoy! (it was an acoustic set, about 100 single people gathered! Sry there aren’t any audience pictures..I am pretty sure we have some somewhere, but I am not exactly sure which camera has them..we had several cameras going that night. lol. These are just the pics I received.) =)

YESS!!! To be heard late spring/early summer. Keep an ear out. I cannot wait..the CD Release Party is gonna be off the wall! ;D We’re goin absolutely crazy this time… well, you get what i’m sayin a time of celebration for the last two years…and a time to get excited about what’s coming up. All I gotta say…is I don’t want you to miss this!! more details coming soon. No date yet, just wanted to letcha know what will be comin down the pike soon..and share my excitement!

well…

Have a super day!

-h*

Hey Friends–

Just wanted to stop in and letcha know that I am off to Nashville again tomorrow morning for the week. It’s a really quick trip, as I will be back on Friday, just in time to catch Luke (my younger brother) play in his basketball game that night at Grandview! Love it. I really enjoy watching him play. Anyway… I will be heading to Nashville tomorrow to go do some more songwriting and prep for the beginning process of creating a new CD for you all to enjoy…hopefully! =)

There have been so many life lessons that I have learned over the last two years, and I am so excited to share some of those experiences with you guys. The ups and downs, turning points, and breaking points of my life. In short, I have been “Learning how to die..” as Jon Foreman would say. A good thing! But as you can imagine, there have been many moments where all I can do, is sit down.. and write a melody.  Those melodies will be coming  your way soon, Lord-willing.

Thank you all for the prayers…please keep it up! It means more to me than anything.. I notice them daily!

Thanks again and again for all the love and support. You guys mean so much to me. I pray for you daily.

In Grace,
Holly

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Hey friends..

So what in the heck am I doing right now??

To be practical in my answer, I have been writing songs like crazy– traveling to Nashville to write songs, and eagerly planning all the details for the upcoming days and the summer schedule, along with planning my next new album (Lord willing the plans that are being made continue). It’s been very exciting, challenging, and interesting….absolutely!

On a deeper level, however….I have been praying my guts out. Seeking wisdom like I never have before, and been on my knees every waking minute. Well..it feels like it anyway.

I am in the heat of transition for my future in musical endeavors…and it has tended to feel pretty heavy on my shoulders lately, because of my desperation to listen and obey the voice of my Father who is so patiently using me still and working within my stubbornness even so. I have been slamming my face against the wall because of the hypocrisy I see in my life– How every minute I desire with such passion to do what God wants…but then within that very same moment I hear his voice and turn from it and listen to my own stubbornness to do what I feel like. And at the same time, I am steadily learning about God’s GRACE…and it’s shredding me up. In a good way. In the most beautiful way, actually. I don’t know how to describe it though… I’m just at this point where I am dead speechless to how God of the universe sees ME. ME…the one who is a jerk to people that aren’t quick enough to answer my question. ME–the one who so easily tries to run away from Him on a daily basis. ME–the one who has no patience, but quick to judge. I am these things, all of them are within me. (If I tried to tell you they weren’t, or you tried to believe they were not..then I would be living a lie, speaking a lie.) However…Jesus. That’s it. JESUS. HIS LOVE! He died in MY place for all MY wretchedness, so that I could freely have life and have it to the full! Because He stood MY place on the cross, now God looks at me and sees me pure and blameless. Without sin. THIS is grace. This is LOVE. I can’t get around it. It’s what He sees when He looks at me now..not my sin, or the fact that I am destined to hell because of my natural state of being a sinner.(SIN leads to DEATH..we were naturally born sinners..**ex: onion seed grows to become an onion naturally..so does a sinner lead to death/hell) He died to change that destiny of death for me. WOWWW!! What a GIFT! GRACE!!

Right now, all I know..is that Jesus’ LOVE is the only thing that changes my life. It changed my life, and is still changing it. He loved me enough to DIE on the cross, for MY sin. In MY place. It aint no lovey dovey “take me to the movies” love..he DIED. THIS love, is the love I want to have for you. THIS LOVE, is the love we are called to. Loving others like Jesus did–for the good of their life.

As I am preparing for this next phase in my ministry, please pray for my family and I. I have already been facing some challenges that show me very evidently that we live in a world that tries to please itself, and does not seek to be this type of love at all. It’s like it has never even been mentioned. The road God is calling me to is one that is narrow, and it keeps getting even more narrow. The hope I have and am certain of though, is more beautiful than anything in the world, so I want to continue on. It does seem to get hard sometimes to distinguish between a rabbit’s trail off the road, and the actual road itself, however..and this is where I need more prayer! I have this feeling that not many feet have walked this road.. It is not paved, and is hard to see sometimes. But my hope is in the One that I know is at the end of the road, the One that keeps taking me by the shoulders and turning me around to show me that ONLY by His guidance and faithfulness to NEVER leave me, have I stayed on the right road.
I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO SHARE NEW MUSIC WITH YOU ALL!!!! =)

Grace and peace to you, my friends and family.

When Farm Kids Get Bored..good thing we grow onions, or I'd be too busy building to sing! =) haha!

In Christ,

Holly =)

“The deeper you go, the more compressed you feel..be patient.”

Last night before I headed off to sleep, I was brought to John 2. In John 2, it is the account of  when Jesus went to a wedding at Cana in Galilee, where he revealed the first of his signs, and manifested his glory by taking 6 empty stone water jars, filling them with water, and turning it into wine–of the choicest wine at the party yet (they had run out).

I caught myself chewing on this piece of scripture for a while last night before dozing off, and then woke up this morning thinking about it more. Here’s verse 6-12 to get a quick summary for you.

(after Jesus arrived at the wedding party and being told that the wine had run out..)

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him. “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This the first of the signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

I couldn’t get my  mind off the fact that the servants filled the jars with water. I imagine back then that the water wasn’t as clean as it is today…so I’m envisioning 6 jars filled to the brim with dirty water. Yuck, if you ask me. The fact that the servants trusted their master to do as Jesus said, caught my attention. They filled jars with WATER. Dirty(?) water.. nothing significant. And was asked to take it to the master of the feast. It seems, as I read, that the water did not turn to wine before they drew the water out.. so the servants had to trust that the master would not be frustrated that they would bring him water.However, after they had trusted and obeyed the instruction to take what was simple/insignificant and give it to the “man in charge” the “big guy” the “master”… they witnessed Jesus’ first miracle performed while living on earth. I am sure they were honored to be the ones to draw the dirty water and present it to the “king” after they saw what happened to it! Yes? =) I know I would be.

I believe that this year (although I do believe it began last year), God is not only excited to (in an outpouring) show us who HE is, but asking us to bring our dirty water to the king. To lay down our fears and anxieties, and bring to him what we think is insignificant. He wants to take what seems simple, and turn it into the finest wine.

Again, I also see in this story, the significance of how Jesus takes the “weak to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) Jesus continually, over and over, repeats and repeats–how he uses our WEAKNESSES to draw us to him. He uses WEAKNESS to display His power and glory. Friends..take your weaknesses to JESUS!! He wants to show you his glory and power, but without surrendering your SELF (perhaps the desire we get to make people think we are someone better than what we really are–), you give Jesus little room to work. I do this all the time, so I am not outside of this..It’s so easy to get centered on ME these days.. the “I” factor.. itunes, myspace, facebook..etc. even Wii (with 2 i’s! haha..lol) fact of the matter is..it’s not about US. It’s about HIM (JESUS) and if we don’t surrender our SELVES, then who are you worshipping? Jesus? or yourself?  “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will be also.”  (Matthew 6:21) I’m not bashing on the online sites at all..just that we gotta strip ourselves from making those things the most important in our life… the constant desire to let people know who “I” am..(side note..but we are fooling ourselves to try and define who I am is.. the true “I Am” is JESUS!..and we don’t behold that understanding) back to what I was saying, though…

Who do you treasure?

The servants took what seemed weak, to the master.. and watched it turn into wine–and then be applauded for it. They didn’t deserve the applause, and they knew it.. but that is the beauty of our life as followers of Christ. We simply GET to be the “funnel” Jesus uses to display his power…and then receive undeserved appreciation by the world (which–if we don’t give the glory back to Jesus, we can easily turn into loving ourselves again. HE’S doing it, we’re watching and worshiping and thanking Him for using us..because we deserve DEATH because of the nature of SIN we were born of..but his death on the cross so graciously SAVED US!!) =)

Listen to the still small voice. If he’s asking you to bring him the dirty water, fill those jars to the brim, and bring them to him. We gotta keep our heart in check this year, friends. He wants a WILLING vessel, and that’s all. He can use ANYTHING to do what he wills, but what JOY we get from opening our lives up to him to flow through us.

It’s all about Jesus. Don’t underestimate the power of what seems insignificant or weak. That old shack down the road could be the home of the next Billy Graham.I’m not kidding, it’s the way Jesus works! Knowledge and self approval are not ideal for Jesus.

Now let’s go make a New Year’s resloution!

Love ya’ll. =)

-H*

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So I was back in our laundry room, needle and thread in hand(sewing a button back on my jacket,lol), when all of a sudden, I heard my brother begin reading a paper he wrote for school aloud to my mom. I couldn’t help but overhear..(is that eavesdropping..? cause he was speaking sorta loud, lol) He astonishes me every time I hear more about what God is teaching him. As I listened, I began to see that my little brother had received some insight and wisdom that I had not fully comprehended yet..but actually found myself praying to Jesus recently that he would help me understand more deeply, biblically what he means when he talks about righteousness.

Little did I know, my little bro would be vessel God used in my life to help turn this page. Watch out, God will and can use anyone, and anything..to teach you what He wants you to know. He doesn’t need things to be perfect, old enough, straight enough.

Check out what he wrote:

In this life that we live, we all are in some way seeking
righteousness. Some people take the path of finding righteousness by
exposing unrighteousness in others and holding tight to even the
smallest ounce of righteousness they have in themselves. And when that
ounce is gone, they are left with just blaming others for their
wrongs, never seeing inside themselves. They go on a long and
loathsome journey of finding righteousness until one day they realize
they never will, because they themselves are unrighteous…
On the other hand we have those who have been down the previous path
and begin to take another way. This is the way which focuses on
finding the righteousness in others, however small that may be. They
find those hurting and comfort them with words of divinity and
salvation, saying little more than a prayer and you will be in heaven.
They take these people and put them on a path of confusion where
boundaries are borderless and grace will cover you if you sin. They
are so worried about keeping the faith in these people, that they make
true faith seem easy. They allow the people to stay in their frivolity
as long as they still have at least some righteousness in them, such
as, going to church, having a bible by their bed, or being a friend to
the weak. As long as some righteousness exists, faith abounds.
Yet neither of these two are on the path of righteousness. Both have
led the religious person away from the church either saying Christians
are judgemental or Christians are the same as everyone else. Where is
that church God says is his holy temple? Is it hidden within
persecution? Is it within the cracks of immorality? Where do we find
righteousness?
Righteousness is not something any human being posesses. We should
neither look for it in others or ourselves, because we will never find
it. What appears to be righteousness in these fleshly bodies is just
a mere pot, ready to be broken, releasing all that it held. And then
we wonder if God is real because he let our righteousness excape. The
only thing that posesses righteousness in the world is God. And
believers and non believers are both a pitiful example of both, so
where are you looking? Who are you looking for?
A third path that we take is that of after we have found
righteousness. Once we have found righteousness we are filled with an
indescribable amount of wisdom and truth, yet we are reluctant to
reveal those truths. We hold our truth inside and soon develop a
double character inside ourselves, one that knows righteousness, and

one that expels anger on all those unrighteous. We become discouraged

with the fact that there are so many around us who are unrighteous yet
we refuse to do anything about it, because we do not know how to
express this righteousness even if we wanted to. Read your word. Are
you not pitting off a work God is trying to do in you? Let your
actions speak louder than your words. We do not need big speeches,
great stories or extravagant facts. We need Jesus. We need our savior.
As human God has made us in the image of him so when we are ready we
can be a reflection of him! All we need to do is to live like Christ.
To pick up our cross daily and love. Not through scorning and
persecuting or encouraging in immorality, but in actions and in truth.
That others may see Jesus in us and go away saying that we are
christians not because we are judgemental, not because we are like the
world, but because we are different. We are an example of love
and acceptance to anyone.
We must always remember to not search or righteousness for just
ourselves, but for everyone. Because if we become okay with just searching for ourselves, we will begin to not care about helping other. And then when we have stopped looking for just our own righteousness, the judgmental, the popular, the critic, the lost, the saved, and the weak
at heart, will bow down and pray as the church. The sinners will
praise together because together they found righteousness,
righteousness from God.

Love you little bro.. It is so exciting to see what God is unfolding in your life.

~h*

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That’s the recap of the last two-ish/(+thxgiving) weeks.

Ritzville was a great time! I started out on Novembe 18th singing at the Rose Garden convelescant center, followed by speaking at the community youth group, Stayin Alive–which was so fun! You kids are crazy fun. =) thanks for hangin with me!

Thanksgiving was great. I went to my aunt’s house in Moses Lake, Wa, and ate way too much!! Sadly, the norm for Thanksgiving…lol. I got delegated for pies this year..and for those of you who don’t know…I love to bake. So a day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Eve was so much FUN!!

That weekend, the 28th, I found myself back in Ritzville to do a full concert with the guys, and was so blessed by all the people who came. I heard many stories of kids and how they are now finding the love of Jesus to be what it is. Really, truly real and good. I honestly had a hard time before the show that night—God has been speaking to me a lot lately about trusting him, and that day was just that. I woke up and it was just “one of those days” where you felt out of everything. But God reminded me that He is with me the same then as he was the day before–and that I should not worry, because He is still on the throne. He isn’t leaving! So the show started, and I can honestly tell you that it was probably the most exciting show for me yet. I felt tired and weak, so the entire set I was constantly being reminded of God’s grace…and how he really doesn’t need my energy or ability to get the message across. So as I dwelt on that alone, I was able to relax and have FUN! It was exactly that.

Sunday, the 29th, I officially turned 19…with a fire in my heart for another year as a teen. I am so excited for this year… I can’t write down how this fire feels in my heart. But it’s there. And I’m excited. =) ah!!!

That morning I led worship at Zion Philedelpia Church in Ritzville, an acoustic set, which was a lot of fun! We’ve been bringin out the cajon (it’s a small box that you sit on top of, and you drum on it! so fun!) a lot lately, and I love it! Such a fun new aspect for acoustic sets.

Over the next week, I found myself in Spokane with my mom and brother Clark, and some new friends. They invited us to come to their church’s prayer service on Tuesday (Covenant Church Spokane), so we did. As I met their pastor, he was not afraid to ask me to lead worship during the service, starting in 5 minutes! ah! lol =) like I said, God has been teaching me to trust Him and His grace. He doesn’t need me to feel prepared. He just wants a willing heart. He just wants a willing heart. It was AWESOME. The following day we ended up staying and being random in Spokane until going back to the church that night for the Wednesday night service. After sneacking in the back because I was late, the pastor spotted me from the pulpit and mid-service asked for 3 worship songs! oh boy…God was definitely stretching me this week!! But man…I can’t tell you how much I appreciated both the opportunities. I learned way more than I ever could have if I wasn’t asked on the spot! Trust. God likes to teach us his truth in somewhat extreme, scary ways sometimes, Huh? But in the end…as long as we are rooted in willingness to trust and obey…it always ends up WAY better than the fear that we began with. It was amazing.

After another day in Spokane for a doctor’s appointment my mom had, we came home to get final preparations for this last Saturday’s acoustic concert in Wenatchee for Antioch Adoption Agency’s Fundraiser. Back out with the cajon, guitar, and keyboard…my new drummin friend Rob, Adam (acoustic), and I jammed out a 40min set for the wonderful people who came to support Antioch. WOW!! Is all I have to say. WOW. IN-CREDIBLE people! After the 5pm set, we headed up to Cashmere to watch Luke (my little brother) play basketball! We lost =( but it was so fun! I love watchin him and the team play. I have grown up watching his team play together since they were in 3rd grade…and it’s just too weird seeing them all on varsity now. CRAZY!

Sunday morning we packed up and headed to Moses Lake to Journey Church, located within the Fairchild Cinema! It is fun havin church at the movies! The projection screen is inSANE! =) lol. HUGE! After meeting up with friends and the people of the church there, Pastor Ed Burns and I talked about comin back in February to do a concert for the Moses Lake community! I’ll have more details on this soon. =) I CAN’T WAIT!!!! Moses Lake is about 45 minutes from Quincy, but I have a heart for that community for sure. I can’t wait!!

Sunday afternoon I came home…and laid down. It was so nice. I laid on the couch and thanked God for such an incredible weekend…but also thanked Him for our couch. I couldn’t think of anything I liked more at that point than just laying there, doing nothing but breathing in the comfort of kickin my feet up. The busier I get, the more valuable a couch becomes. Again, something amazing. =) It was soo good!!

Now here I am, Monday night..well, more like Tuesday morning (it’s 12:29am at the moment), so inspired for the next 6 weeks of my life. I have decided to spend some serious time in prayer for all that is goin on in my life right now… prayer for WISDOM, discernment + understanding..clarity of vision and excitement for what lies ahead. Inspiration from Him. Seeking a healthy balance.

If you have it on your heart to pray for me, I so appreciate it. Please, I beg you not to stop, but to continue. I believe the road ahead of me is gonna be even more suprising than I can imagine. I see a strong call on this generation, and interestingly God has put me in this place right now where I have opportunity for my voice to be heard. I recognize that, and although it scares me sometimes, I pray and am trusting that I will continue to draw my words and actions only from the life of Jesus.

This Thurday I am heading back to Spokane for the TOBYMAC/RelientK concert at the Arena! Love TMAC…He has an incredible incredible heart that truly seeks after Jesus, and I have been so blessed by what he is doing acrosst the world.

New dates will be posted soon on the website (www.hollystarrmusic.com) ! Some dates are cookin now! (WA, TX, WI, IL(?), NY) Exciting! If you are interested in hookin up something for your community while I’m out on the road, please do send an email to gailgrigg@gmail.com! Even if you think it might seem impossible, please don’t hesitate. I would rather try and have the possibility for success or failure, before not trying at all! Lord willing, I would LOVE to come be a part of what is going on in your community. I mean it–please, please don’t hesitate.

Happy holidays, my friends! =)

I pray for you all, that you are seeking His wisdom, discernment, and understanding. That LOVE truly is the greatest in your heart…and that the light shines through you in such a way that darkness has no room or desire to stay in your home, community, or within your groups of friends.

all my love.

-h*

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*check out the bible study cirriculum my music video for “I Love You Anyway” is featured in! “DEEP:Forgiveness”

So yesterday for lunch Mom and I decided to have chili. It was fantastic. To be more specific..chili on a baked potato. Oh yummy goodness. I’m planning to have leftovers today =) cook a new potato, of course.

Little did I know..the meal would be in conjunction to what I have been reading and studying most recently in Acts about the account of the early church. Acts 4:32-37 has really been impressed on my mind recently, and this is why. Here it is:

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

I encourage you to go read more about what is going on in the beginning of Acts to understand more fully what is happening.

So I was just pulling out my chair to sit down and eat, when a new thought entered my mind. Mom and I had just spent the last hour or so chopping veggies and sizzling meat for this spicy chili recipe, so naturally I was thanking God for the finished product. Or whatever you call it. It was done, I was excited to eat it. =)

So If you didn’t know, I’m a farmers daughter. I have watched the process of planting seeds, water crops, and harvesting the fields since before I even started having memories! It has taught me so much, I would have to have a whole other blog for that. =) But yesterday, it all came crashing together in a new, exciting way. All because of a potatoe, and chili.

I couldn’t stop my mind from thinking about how cool it was to sit, staring at this bowl of food..and think about ALL the MANY hearts and hands that made my chili possible. Peppers, beans, meat, spices, tomoatoes, onions (! thanks, Dad! lol), potato…and the salad we chopped up, with more peppers, cucumbers–vinegar AND oil (vinagarette dressing..!). Man. So MUCH was together in one bowl! Not just chili…but a representation of all the hands that labored to get it there. So many people, so many farmers–grew and sold exactly what they know how to do, and that alone. For example, my dad only grows corn and onions. He doesn’t grow all the ingredients for chili. It would simply be too much! =)

Anyway…this is hugely related to Acts 4:32-37, I believe. If we continue to use the gifts that God has given us (most of the time we will not see the bigger picture) then chili can be made! If we all think our gifts are insignificant and go do other things…things we are not called to–yes, you will be apart of something. BUT…chili cannot be made to it’s full potential without the spices! It just doesn’t taste the same.

Anyway…just some random thoughts. It goes so much deeper than this, but stays so simple as this. =) Let’s be the church, use our gifts, have faith in the picture we cannot see, and go forward! not looking back. There are many other recipes to be made with the single gift you’ve been given.

Have a great day!

~Holly

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…nope….I am not upset because my LITTLE brother is two feet taller (or so it seems) than me, nor that I hear occasionally that people think he is older… I am NOT bitter! No. No, I am not. Really… just because he can reach the top shelf in the kitchen cupboard without having to drrraaag a chair to stand on to reach all the way…or because he can see the movie screen no matter who is sitting in front of him…did i mention that he only has to take 50 steps to my 200?!! No. I am not bitter not to say I haven’t been before, however. lol.

over the last year i have been in this process of noticing how every detail in my life is there for a God-given purpose. it has been an amazing trail of thoughts and revelations that have taught me so much about what a caring, loving, God of justice, that we have. but what has been so significant in this process to me, is the realization that we tend to forget or ignore the little, small things. like clipped fingernails. or the screws that hold the door handle on the door. the TINY things. God is in them ALL. SO…as i have begun to make a point to try and recognize some of these things, i have gotten naturally off on these crazy tangent thoughts about my life–which has been good, but also somewhat ridiculous! but friends..our Jesus is definitely NOT boring. he is not bland, but he created humor…so i’m guessing his jokes and humorous ideas blow ours outta the water! he IS the creator of EVERYTHING..! why discount humor? =)

Anyway…!…one day I caught myself thinking about my height. So I said, “Okay, God…you have a purpose for everything, and that purpose is to glorify you in some way..so what does my height have to do with anything?! why not just one more inch?! =) Totally being silly. I really could care less about my height, I was just processing thoughts.

So.. off but on subject still…if you didn’t know, I walk a lot. It’s really really relaxing and slows me down to think and process everything God has been doing in my life. It’s my “quiet place”…I guess you could say. I really like to walk on the treadmill probably as much as outside… because I can read my bible at the same time. Anyway, I found myself walking on the treadmill this particular day, Bible and commentary staring back at me..and all of a sudden it was like a brick hit me on the head, and I started laughing. It was like Jesus was standing right next to me, saying, “Holly! You have to be how tall you are, or you wouldn’t be able to read while walking! Not everyone has the ability to do that (he smiles..)!” Immediately I was reminded that Luke just told me he didn’t understand how I could walk and read at the same time…he gets too dizzy. Perhaps it’s because he knew that with my lifestyle, and because he knows how I think (he created me)..he knows that not only would I want to stay healthy, but also have serious quiet time to digest his word outside of my regular daily processes of thought.. He knew that I would struggle with giving up my work out time to sit on my bedroom floor and read for an hour..so graciously he combined the two. GRACIOUSLY. Without the correct distance between my eyes and the pages of the Bible perched on the treadmill stand, I would get too dizzy and therefore have to suffice with headphones and music or bible on audio (which is great, don’t get me wrong..I’m just an advocate for studying the raw written words..reading them out.)

All in all.. my height has a divine purpose. I’m so glad. =)

-enjoy today, it’s been blessed!

Holly

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