www.lifest.com for details!
-Holly

What a great week! To recap everything that happened over the last few days, I’m gonna give you a quick-look at the schedule.

Thursday: Flew into San Antonio, TX…really late.

Friday: Set-up/sound-check/Spent the day hanging with the tech team and pastors of Northwest Hills United Methodist Church (venue)

Saturday: CONCERT! all i can say..is WOW. thank  you, Father.

Sunday: Led worship for their 3 morning services, 16 COMPASSION KIDS WERE SPONSORED!!!!!! YAAAY!!! went on a walk, followed by leading worship and speaking at the NWHUMC youth group. GREAT bunch of kids… =) they taught me a new game, called “ninja’s” I believe… ha!

Monday: had the day to be a tourist..went and saw the Alamo (amazing) and ate on the Riverwalk.. which was beautiful. Ended the night out on the porch of our host home with the band, bonding. Immediately followed by meeting their neighbor, Lady Doc they call her.. She is a Jewish lady who escaped the gas chambers of the holocaust as a 17 year old girl. VERY inspiring story. After she heard about my trip to Israel, she wanted to connect with my mom and I! It was a pleasant, beautiful, moving, and amazing night hearing her stories and relating to what I saw in Israel….so good to meet her.

Tuesday (today): flew out of San Antonio…and here I am now, driving in the car back from Seattle, to the greatest little town of Quincy.

All in all, I must say that this trip to Texas was blessed in a way that makes God’s provision and presence in our lives that much more real. I met great people such as Pastor David (both of them!), Pastor Mike (my Israeli buddy!), and Pastor Chris (an incredible youth Pastor, and encourager). I cannot say how much the Pastoral staff of this chuch was filled with the joy and love of Christ. It was so real to me…REAL.

Anyway, as for the concerts and worship sets, the band and I had a BLAST! God kept on showing us how HE is in control of every aspect, and how sometimes it takes some intervention of technical difficulties to get our attention, and get us to slow down as a team to get back to what this is all about on a deeper level. God did a work within the heart of my band and I this week that I am eternally grateful for. It was a moment where we all came together and realized this deeper level of love for one another (as ministers, brothers and sisters, and friends) corporately as a group, as well as individually. SO with that in mind, God has been laying this hard on my heart to speak up about…..

yes..I am Holly Starr….

but I must know and realize that my arms are held up to do what I am doing, by a close team of people who ride alongside me, content in not getting perhaps the appreciation or attention they so deserve. God is shaping our team together in a way that I cannot honestly say I had any part in how we fit together. I see literally the active work of the body needing, loving, and enjoying the provision each others individual gifts to come together and share this passion for Christ. For the Word of God. It is so beautiful.
Anyway… I could talk about this all day long, but I just really wanted to let you all know how much the people around me that hold my arms up and help this all be possible, mean to me. When you say a prayer for me, pray for them, too. They are putting as much or more time and energy into their role in this whole thing, and I appreciate it more than they will ever know. For some reason, God just chose me to be the one out front. Why? I can’t tell you that. But as I am in this position, I need to remember constantly how my part alone is so small. When we allow others to help us out, the power of the body is SO GREAT.

As I continue to learn the importance of delegating and appreciating, join me in praying for ways that we can involve others in our lives. I believe so strongly that joining TOGETHER in ministry as opposed to individually, is like comparing a thread, to a leather belt. Oh the strength, joy, and love in Christ we can have together.

THANK YOU TEXAS (UMC!)

WE LOVE YOU

MISS YOU

and so appreciate your light of love.

=)

-holly and the band

(b-rob, drew, clark, adam, jeremie, dylan, & my beautiful mom!)

This morning as I was getting ready for the day, I found myself mulling over Matthew 6:31-34
“..do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

First of all, DO NOT WORRY..wow. Another way to say that, is DO NOT BE ANXIOUS… hm.. that in itself is powerful to me. I don’t know how many times I’ve allowed myself to have a sleepless night because I can’t get over myself and all the thoughts spinning in my head about what God wants from me, along with the other daily struggles and worries. Here in this passage, God is commanding us to not worry. And not only that…but TODAY, don’t worry. Its apparent we will go through trials–we just have to remember, that when worry starts creeping its way into our mind, to reject it and move on…holding onto the hope God promises. HE IS OUR PROVIDER. HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED. =)

Secondly, take a look at where Jesus says in the above passage “..and your FATHER knows you need them all…” One of the major lessons I learned while going to Israel, was how Father-centered Jesus was. He was constantly pointing TO the Father, not TO himself, the man Jesus. He is Jesus in God, so of course He was in a sense pointing to himself, but lets look a little less deep today. He was about the FATHER. He did NOTHING without the consent of the FATHER, and did everything here on earth to point everyone TO the FATHER. This stuck out in a huge way to me this morning…

Thirdly, do not be anxious about tomorrow, WOW. That is powerful. It’s a blessing to us to listen to Jesus’ words.. write that on your arm.. and don’t forget it.

Have a great day! Sunshine is out! Thank you, Father! =)

-Holly

As I have been rambling about my new cd coming out this year, God has brought the importance of prayer to the forefront of my mind. Therefore, as I journey into a new chapter of my life, I didn’t want to leave you guys out of joining me in prayer for all that God will be doing in the coming months and years. There is a burden on my heart to begin focusing my devotions and prayers to seek clarity in the calling that God has placed on my heart and mind, as well as the importance of being fully prepared for what is to change– Preparation meaning a willing, pliable heart that God can stretch, and one that will go with the eb and flow of what HE wants to do, not what I want to do…staying focused on his faithfulness–And preparation meaning continued and increasing physical health and ablility to do what it is He wants. I don’t want to miss out on opportunities to serve with ALL of me because I am unwilling, stubborn, or physically sick.

SO– as much that is coming down the pike in the next few months, I beg and ask you to join me in prayer for wisdom, discernment, clarity, health, and willingness. Knowing and remembering at all times that God is sovereign! Being able to rejoice in God when things seem to look horrible around me.. That I can continually be grounded by the Rock that does NOT move. And laslty, that I grow in love, faithfulness, and perseverance.

If you would like to join my family, my band, and I…we are starting a fast (giving something up that is noticeably difficult for the sake of remembering to pray and seek for God’s help and wisdom concerning the specific need). The fast begins today, and will cease on April 23, or however long you feel led. We have chosen to release ourselves from all social networking/phones/Internet after 5:00pm (pacific time) and together remind eachother to pray at 11:00am wherever we are, in whatever we are doing, as a rememberance that we are a team, or in you and my case, we are a body in this world together..we NEED eachother desperately..and nothing we do (any of us!) should happen without the consent and guidance of the Father.

So all in all, if you feel called..please join us in prayer, fasting or not, as we all are going through major changes right now. I strongly believe that not only am I as a musician, but you, (if you haven’t already)as well will be coming upon some changes in your life–therefore I want you to know that I and have been praying for you. You have blessed me so much more than you know.

Let’s pray! Thanks everyone!

Rememeber…Love is above all

Holly

So I’m trying out my blog app on my iPhone..maybe this will help me write shorter blogs because my mind has to go slower…lol

Also..I am in the middle of updating some features on my sites (not so much what you see, but the organization of it on my side) and wanted to ask everyone if you could (and have Facebook) to add my Facebook page along with or instead of my profile. I will definitely be on my profile still–but it is time for me to figure out the ‘page’ life. If I get over a certain number of friends on my profile, people will be cut off, and simply I don’t want to make anyone feel rejected! so… Add my page if you would–

www.Facebook.com/hollystarrmusiconline

Thanks everyone! I’m reorganizing a bit and would so appreciate the help. Spreading the word would be much helpful and appreciated too. If you link this blog that might be a great way to help. No pressure though. Thanks a bazillion!

Holly

website

twitter!!!

(Just posted a recent blog from this week in Nashville below the videos)

Hey Everybody! Here is Part 2 of all the pictures from Israel. Of course I took thousands of pictures…but I didn’t want to keep you all day! lol. Check out Part 1 for the video of videos I took while in Israel. Enjoy! -Holly

www.twitter.com/hollystarrmusic

Sorry for the delay on putting this up on here on the blogsite. I just figured out how to do the embedding thing. =) Learning is so relieving. lol!

-holly

www.twitter.com/hollystarrmusic

Tags: Holly Starr, hollystarrmusic, Israel

It is relatively late over here in Nashville, depending on who you are I guess..lol…but I’m waiting in the hotel lobby for my mom to finish printing off our plane tickets to head for home in Quincy tomorrow. SO… I thought I’d pop in and leave a little update about this week in Nashville and what’s been happening since I got home from Israel.

First of all…my life has changed.

Second of all…within what I first said…of those changes has come a passion for a place I cannot understand. Israel. A heads up–don’t be suprised if I, on random occasion, bring up Israel in my updates. I can’t tell you what I feel in my heart and mind about that place. All I seem to want to do now is think about Israel. Please pray for me for that! I am kinda clueless at this point what it all means..but I definitely left a huge piece of my heart there, and it feels like I am so far away from it. I don’t know what God intends to come from it all…but it’s okay…because He keeps reminding me that sometimes (a lot of times) it’s better for me to just be patient and wait for the understanding, than try to figure out what’s happening according to my emotional desire to understand.

Annyyywayyy….

This week in Nashville, I spent recording the vocals for the new project/album that will be coming out, Lord-willing, this year. Release date and all-that-jazz will be announced at a later date. All I can say, is that deep change has not only occurred in my spiritual life, but that the music God has been giving me to write has been growing as well, and with that, change is just around the corner. I really ask for your prayer for this time in my ministry/career, as vision and planning is beginning for the next phase.

God has placed some incredible people in my path recently, and I am very thankful and excited to bring them on-board to help my family and I make wise decisions for the next steps in the music world. What I have learned through all this…is truly, truly. Like He says in the Word–>God provides, my friends…don’t worry. If He is asking, just trust and obey. He will equip you.

Something Mom has always told me that has been very profound to me throughout this entirely sudden change in my life, is this:

“It’s something like this, Holly…God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.”

Love you all much more than you know.

-Holly

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own  understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6

www.twitter.com/hollystarrmusic

www.facebook.com/hollystarrmusic

www.myspace.com/hollystarrmusic

www.hollystarrmusic.com

I’m not done with my Israel blogs, promise! I am in the middle of creating a video for you guys to watch as a recap of the trip in it’s entirety, and it is taking me some time. Please hang in there with me, I will let you know as soon as I get it finished. =) I think I took a total of 400 videos while in Israel, (oops?) so I’m trying to make the vid a recap that is thorough but not 3 days long to watch =)

Thanks for being so patient, everyone. It’s huge for me to be able to share this trip with you, so I don’t want to leave anything out that had a part in changing my life. If I haven’t said this yet…lol…Israel changed my life.

=)

Thank you, Father.

BE BACK SOON!!!!!!

….(Israeli trip continued)….

Sea of Galilee, the view from Capernaum =) Jesus saw this regularly…crazy.

Gideon Springs (Judges 6,7.. Where Gideon put out the fleece (6:36) to be confident God was calling him to battle and defeat the Midianites. This was the spring (7:4) that by how Gideon’s men drank the water, God would and did direct Gideon to the 300 men that would go to battle with him). The army went from 32,000 men to 300 men after a series of events God did to help Gideon choose the men.

Golan Heights by Kunietra, in Syria. 1967’s 6 Day War. The dogleg road in distance (click picture to enlarge..looks like a saddle on the ground, behind the group of trees ) was designed to stop/slow the 100 tanks from getting in…Israel had only 3 tanks and defeated them!! As the opposing tanks could only come in one at a time because of the road’s curve, they would approach the gate slowly which allowed Israel enough time to blow them up one at a time! 3 tanks vs. 100 tanks. When God is planning, numbers don’t matter!

below is the artist impression of how the sanctuary of Pan looked here.

Cesarea Philippi (Pan–Banias..see pics below) MATTHEW 16:13

Where Jesus told Peter “on this rock (in other words, ABOVE/GREATER/HIGHER than this rock..) I will build my church” found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke –Where Jesus asks Peter, “Who do people say I am?”

This place (Cesarea Philippi) was intense and crazy to see…The way of sacrifice made at this place, makes my stomach turn.

Off to Tel Dan..(Judges 18)

the streams were so clean..it was so quiet and peaceful.

The sad part, however…is that no matter how far back you go in history, the human tendency to slowly allow corruption into our lives, doesn’t change. A lot of the remains we saw throughout the trip were remains of places where the people of God ran from the fact that He is the ONLY God, the ONE God (sounds familiar, eh?)..and in His place, adopted the gods of other nations. One of the major lessons I learned while in Israel was something that stuck with me after being here at Tel Dan. Almost every ancient city that has been excavated has a city wall that surrounds their land. There are a few entrances into the city, but only one main gate. Anthony, our trip leader, warned us at the beginning of our time in Israel that it is imperative that we “guard our gate” referring to the gate of our heart. As we entered into each of the ancient cities and learned of what the city gate entrances stood for back then, it was easy to understand how if only ONE person made it through the gate that should not be there, the entire city could be destroyed.

ONE PERSON.

That’s all it takes. The people of Dan did not “guard their gate”, but slowly compromised one person at a time, and allowed pagan worship and sacrifice into their life. As Israelites, they ran from the authority God placed on their lives, and they gave into their fleshly desires..desires that they could see with their eyes (ex: the ladies (and men, too, of course) from the other tribes were looking pretty good!) and I don’t say all that to joke around. I am so very serious. Even the smallest bit of compromise can and will lead away from what God has for us…blessing–(which is ultimately what He likes to do for us and exactly what your heart is trying to desire, too..). SO… Are we going to allow ourselves to slowly rot with the self-absorbed culture around us, or are we willing to “guard our gate” at the highest cost? How little does the sin have to be, to constitute itself not worthy of it’s charater?

If it’s small, it’s still there, and still growing. As 1+1=2…don’t forget:

1+1=2.

a little + a little = more and more..

(to be continued…)

=)