Another semester starts this week. Break goes by sooo fast! I'm taking 6 credits of Marriage and Family Counseling, lecture and lab. It's going to be a lot of work!

There's a guy at school and everytime he sees me he says "baby you're a star!" Some people have a little too much fun calling me Star. And then there's the songs. "You're a shining star..." "Twinkle twinkle little star..." Need we go on?!

Well ya gotta give in at some point. There, now I got my very own hollywood star. See ya in hollywood! LOL :)

What If

(Nichole Nordeman)

What if you’re right?

And he was just another nice guy

What if you’re right?

What if it’s true?

They say the cross will only make a fool of you

And what if it’s true?

What if he takes his place in history

With all the prophets and the kings

Who taught us love and came in peace

But then the story ends

What then?

But what if you’re wrong?

What if there’s more?

What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?

What if you jump?

And just close your eyes?

What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?

What if He’s more than enough?

What if it’s love?

What if you dig

Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends

What if you dig?

What if you find

A thousand more unanswered questions down inside

That’s all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic

And begin to poke the holes

What if the crown of thorns is no more

Than folklore that must be told and retold?

You’ve been running as fast as you can

You’ve been looking for a place you can land for so long

But what if you’re wrong?

©2005 Birdwing Music / Birdboy Songs (ASCAP), admin. by EMI CMG Publishing

I love this song. I find myself asking "what if....?" After I"ve run out of what to say to someone I love so much. When that person knows it all anyway, so what could I say? I can ask, what if?

You don't believe in Jesus who loves you so much. But what if you're wrong? About it all.... Why is it so hard to believe? Because everyone has let you down, and you believe He did to? Or is it more so what you believe He didn't do. But what if you're wrong? Wrong about how it works. It's easier to believe that He doesn't exist than to face the question of whether He did or did not let you down. But what if you did ask? What if you faced Him? What if you told Him how you felt? Maybe you'd find that He's hand has been reaching for you all along. What did you expect His hand to look like? Maybe it's what you didn't see. Or what you didn't think would be the way He'd come to your rescue or comfort you. Maybe if it wasn't for Him, you wouldn't be here right now. What if?

p.s. Ok, I'm really not trying to make every entry a song. But a song can just say it all. And I haven't written my own songs in a while (really need to get back to writing!)...

Heavenly Father,

Help me to not get discouraged by the choices made by those I love. Help to remember that while You have given us free will, You can and do still speak to human hearts and You can influence their thought patterns and help them to see right and wrong. Your Word says that a person makes many plans in his/her heart but only Your purposes will prevail. Father, I pray that Your purposes will be the only ones that prevail in my life and in the lives of those I love. Help me to be an example in word and deed. Father I know that if I have a judgmental and condemning spirit then Your light will not be seen in me. You ask us to speak the truth in love not in jugment, not in anger, not in bitterness, not in condemnation. Help me to speak truth in Your love and to show Your mercy to everyone, for none of us deserve it, including me! Father, while it's so tempting to pray "change my circumstances" and "change this and this person," my prayer today instead is change me and change my attitude. Make me more into Your child who reflects You. I know that nothing speaks louder than the way that I live my own life. Father help me to live my life in a way that honors and glorifies You.

In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen.

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you are in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you. . .That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” --Isaiah 43:1-4

O Child, you’ve never known

How I really feel

Cause you’ve never been shown

O child, you’ve never known

That my love is real

Cause you’ve never been shown

I’m about to show you for myself

So listen baby,You don’t need nobody else - cause

You are mine, you are loved

You have always been thought of

When you hurt

I feel it every time

You are mine, you are loved

And I’m never giving up

Till I’ve dried all the tears you cry

Long before you took a breath

I took your pain upon my chest

I knew your name, I heard you call

It was worth it all

It was worth it all

You are worth it all

O child, it wasn’t fair

How they walked away

Left you standing there

O child, I saw your tears

Was with you everyday

Through the lonely years

I’m about to bring back what was lost

So listen baby,You don’t need nobody else - cause

No matter where you go

I’ll come and find you

You are precious to me…My everything

No matter what they’ve done I will repair you

You’re a masterpiece to me…Only I can see

That underneath the hurt and the pain

Is a picture of me

O Child, where did you go

Please don’t walk away

I love you so

So here I come to say

© 2005 New Spring, a div. of Zomba Enterprises (ASCAP) / Schnickelfritz Music Publishing (ASCAP). All rights for the US on behalf of Schnickelfritz Music Publishing (ASCAP) administered by Zomba Enterprises, Inc.

This song is from FFH's new album, which I am crazy about! And why not? It's all about God's amazing love for you and me! I always listen for a song that reminds of how much God loves my dear friends who do not know Him.

This song goes along with my last post about how my dear friend who can't see his worth. This song is God saying to him (and he knows who he is!!): "_____, this is how I see YOU. This is why I sent my Son to give His life for YOU. I wish YOU could see yourself as I, your Heavenly Daddy, sees YOU. YOU, ______, have so much worth because I love YOU, and I will always love YOU!!"

“Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life nourishing words. I’m making a covenant commitment with you.”-- Isaiah 55:1-3

If you could only see yourself through my eyes

You would finally get a glimpse of

You would probably be surprised to find

You’re good enough

If you could only see yourself through my eyes

You would surely be convinced of

You would probably be amazed to find

You’re worth my love

But I wait for you

To ask me the truth

You’ve been searching everywhere

To find that you’re still thirstyI

f you would only drink of me

You’d find that

You would be satisfied

If you could see it through my eyes

If you could only see the world through my eyes

You would finally see the difference

Between what is real and what is disguise

You would, I know

But I wait for you

To ask me the truth

I see you’ve been trying

To become someone you’re not

I see you’ve been crying

Cause somewhere you forgot

That I wait for you

To ask me the truth

© 2005 New Spring, a div. of Zomba Enterprises (ASCAP) / Schnickelfritz Music Publishing (ASCAP). All rights for the US on behalf of Schnickelfritz Music Publishing (ASCAP) administered by Zomba Enterprises, Inc. / Mark Vogel Publishing Designee

My friend, when everything is hopeless, we must believe anyway and make a conscious decision to live not on the basis of what we can see neither we nor any man can do but on what God says He can and will do. With God ALL things are possible (not some or even most but ALL!!!). Let us never underestimate the power that He holds. Sure we have free will. But God can and believe me He does work in human hearts!

Today, maybe this means very little to you. Maybe you've tried the God-thing and it just didn't work. Maybe you're saying sure this verse sounds great, but I just haven't found it to be true in my life. Maybe you're saying, God's not working on your heart, and you don't want Him to. Think about a heart that you'd love for Him/someone to work on. Maybe it's a broken relationship. Maybe someone really hurt you. Maybe there's someone that you are really longing to be reconciled with. That's what this verse is all about. Is there something in your life that seemed pretty hopeless that now you are seeing small signs of "hope" with? That's God...He's working. He's been working all along. We often miss Him because He does not always work the way we think He should. And His timing is often not our own timing. Take a good look, do you see His hand? Maybe you can't right now. Maybe now is a time God is calling you into a season of trust and faith. I've been praying for a few years now for some seemingly "impossible" situations......Situations that involve human beings with real circumstances and free wills of their own. But I have seen God work. And I didn't at first. It took so much patience. It took so much prayer. It took waiting on God's timing. But as I drew close to Him in faith, and as I alwayed Him to change my heart first before my circumstances and that of which I was praying for, as I was obedient and patient He slowly showed me little signs of hope. Patiently, we must wait....

Are you standing at ‘Wits’ End Corner’
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in battle alone?
Remember – at Wits’ End Corner
Is just where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at Wits’ End Corner,
Blinded with wearying pain,
Felling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed and dumb?
Remember – to Wits’ End Corner
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at Wits’ End Corner,
Your work before you spread,
All lying, begun, unfinished
And pressing on heart and head,

Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember – at Wits’ End Corner
The burden Bearer stands

Are you standing at Wits’ End Corner
Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching,
Pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus,
Won’ring if you’ve been true?
He whispers – at Wits’ End Corner
I’ll win them as I won you.

Are you standing at Wits’ End Corner
Then you’re just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at Wits’ End Corner
Is the ‘God Who is able’ proved.

-author unknown to me
(Psalm 34:19; 107:27)

Trust Him today. He can be your very Best Friend if you give Him a chance. Christianity isn't a cure all. And God isn't going to wave a magic wand and make everything perfect in your life. It just doesn't work that way. But there is never a day you have to walk down this road alone. And there is no situation that is hopeless and out of His control. He'll be there no matter what. Sometimes He'll just be that friend that you want to vent everything out to at the end of the day, or that faithful friend who just sits with you, while neither of you say a word. Today He'll hold you. Will you let Him? He'll kiss those tears. He's already gathered them all in a bottle. He loves you so much. You are His precious little one, created in His image.

Will you talk to Him today? Maybe you don't know where to start. Just start talking! Maybe you feel you've messed up so much there's no way you could even approach him. He says come just as you are. You are never too far away to come back home. Today, He will lead you until you are back in His arms again. Today, He holds out His hand as you stand at wits end corner wondering what lies ahead for you. He's waiting. Will you come?

"Some things are loved because they are worthy," and some things are worthy because they are loved. That is us in Christ. We are worthy because of His love." --author unknown to me

I'm trying to be a good Christian friend to my dear friend who has fallen away from Christ. The other night when we were talking he told me that he wasn't worthy of my love and friendship. He's told me on many occasions over the years that he wasn't worthy of me. I wish I had that quote when we talked. I said something along similar lines to him. The truth is I am no better than him. ALL of us have fallen short of the glory of God. We have ALL gone astray. No one is guilt-free. God doesn't measure our sin, we do that! We say this sin is worse than that one. God sees sin, no matter what. All sin separates us from him. Some sin in its nature has deeper consequences, but all sin is sin and has the greatest consequence of all: a life without God. I am a sinner saved by grace. I accepted forgiveness. I have HIs love. And so in His love I'm made worthy.

I make mistakes daily! I'm always falling down and getting back up again. I'm not perfect. None of us are, whether we are Christians or not. I am definitately not "worthy" in and of myself. I am worthy because I am loved by the most wonderful person in all the universe: Jesus Christ. Anything good in me is His love pouring out of me because His spirit lives in me. I make different choices in my life because I have chosen to live for Him. I don't always make the right choice on a day to day basis. But I have made the biggest choice of all: I've accepted Him as my Savior. And when I mess up now, His grace covers my sin--love, His love, covers a multitude of sin!

Maybe you are reading my blog today , and you want to know more about this love that I am talking about. Maybe you do not feel worthy. Maybe you've been carriying around guilt and shame that has become more than you can bear. Maybe you are tired of the voices that say that you'll never be good enough. Maybe you are tired of crying yourself to sleep at night. Maybe you are alone, and are even contemplating ending your life. I think you are precious. You are made in the image of your Heavenly FAther who loves you so much. Read a beautiful letter all about his love for you at : www.thefathersloveletter.com God loves you so much, and He knows everything you are going through. And you don't have to go through another day alone. He'll be with you. He will be your strength and hope.

Maybe you are reading my blog today, and you were raised in the Christian church just like my friend. Maybe you've heard all this before, believed it, and even shared these things with others! Somewhere down the road life happened. Reality sunk in. You saw how ugly and how difficult this world is. And you wonder, where was God when my mom died? Where was God when my step-dad abused me? Where was God when all those kids teased me at school. Why wasn't He there then? Why did He make me go through all that. OR maybe you've heard so much about God and you're sick of it. You've been so hurt by His people. After all, they are just a bunch of hypocrites. Unfortunately, God has been misrepresented by the very ones who are supposed to be representing Him! And He has been painted as the one who has left you abandoned you. Maybe you were told that you didn't "pray hard enough." OR Maybe you were told that there was some sin in your life. Whatever you've heard, you've been painted a picture of a God who was not there for you. But that's not the truth. And that's not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is a God who is constantly pursuing you because He loves you so much.so much that HE sacrificed His own son so that you may forever be His child. Our world is corrupted and fallen and unfortunately bad things happen to good people. People make their own choices: free will. And diseases, death--these are all part of a fallen world. While God sometimes does directly intervene, sometimes He just walks by our side and comforts us. He's there for us. And if it seems that life isn't "going are way"...God has given us the best thing of all: the promise of heaven. While we are here on earth, He'll be there. Maybe you don't feel Him today..You can't see him.....will you trust His heart?

My prayer is that you would accept God's precious gift of love. A brand new start is yours today, and a personal relationship with God. Meeting God is as simple as receiveing Jesus into your life. Ask Him to meet You where you are. If you are not sure that you've accepted Him and you want to, then make this your prayer today, accept Christ into your heart and life and receive His presence and the promise of heaven:

Dear Lord Jesus, I need You...I need Your grace to forgive me and I need your love to change me. Thank You fo Your amazing love. Thank You for giving me eternal life. Above all, thank you for dying on the cross for me. I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Now I am a Christian, which means You are living in me. I beling to You. I will live my life for You and I will love You forever. Amen.

If you've prayed this prayer or you're not sure/confused/have questions, drop me a note! I want you to live a beautiful life that's full and rich and I want you to find that strength for all your days. I wish you the very best in this new year. Remember, You are worthy because You are loved. So loved.