What Faith Can Do

I am now going through my third week of this semester and am still optimistic! I know it has still only just begun, but by this time in past semesters I was already starting to get discouraged. This semester is already turning out to be one of the craziest yet. I have been staying up until two or three in the morning every day doing homework. It can be very difficult to keep myself awake so late. So throughout the night I am constantly standing up, walking around and sitting back down just to keep myself awake and focused. I can't help but think that in the past I would not have endured staying up so late . . . I would not have been able to handle it. I probably would have quit at first sight of so much work. I thank God for the strength He is giving me!

My literature class has proved to be a challenge in keeping up, but I am still enjoying it . . . reading pieces of literature I have not yet read. My photography class is a joy. It is a lot of reading as well, but nothing I can't handle. My teacher has told me several times that I have a good eye for composition and take very nice photos. That is such an encouragement to me.

I had gotten into the math class that I was on the waiting list for. Today was my first day and when I arrived I discovered I had already missed a quiz and it was test day today. Sadly, I had to drop the class because I have not done math in a year so there was no way I could take that test. I sat there for a little while trying to do the test, but I got nowhere. It was for the best any way because I want to have a full opportunity to get the highest grade possible . . . if I stayed I would have missed points from the things I already missed.

Today on my way to class I was listening to one of my favorite songs by Kutless . . . it's called "What Faith Can Do". That song has been such an encouragement to me because so often I fall, but I have to learn to get back up and keep trying. One of the lines says "Impossible is not a word, it's just a reason for someone not to try." Whenever I feel like giving up I think of that line. Here are the full lyrics to the song . . .

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise from the ashes
And make a new beginning.
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger -- stronger than you know.
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining.
You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling.
I've seen miracles just happen,
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new.
That's what faith can do.

It doesn't matter what you've heard
impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try.
Everybody is scared to death
When they decide to take that first step out on the water
It'll be alright.
Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling.
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do.

Overcome the odds -- you don't have a chance
When the world tells you that you can't
It'll tell you that you can!

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling.
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise.

New Beginning

I have just completed my first week of school, which went GREAT by the way. I am only taking two classes due to enrolling too late and all the classes being full, but it will still be wonderful. I have two instructors that I actually like . . . at least so far. My American Literature class is going to be insane because of all the reading I am going to have to do, but I welcome it! My instructor said he is trying to keep our reading under 100 pages a week, so we'll see how that goes. My photography class is going so much better than my first attempt at taking the class. I am understanding all the technical stuff so much better now that I am more acquainted with my camera and how it works. I have already done my first photo assignment, which was to shoot the Half Henge. I go tomorrow to take my re-shoot.

Today I was thinking about how that one of my biggest problems that causes me to get discouraged about school is the fact that I have been there for two years already and have not gotten anywhere! However . . . I was not as serious about school as I should have been. I started out in the lowest classes possible, so I had that against me, but most of it is my fault. I would often start a semester full-time then would drop classes . . . or I would "take it easy" some semesters with only taking 1-2 classes. Today, I did some research to find out how many credits I would need to get my associate degree. I found out it could be anywhere from 60-67 credits. I believe I have around 6-10 credits completed that will go towards my degree, and I'll have a few more from this semester. I am planning on taking classes in the summer every year now too. So, I did some math and found out that I should be able to finish in TWO years. That's how long I have already been at this, and how long it should take to earn an associate degree . . . but instead of getting discouraged, I will see this as a new beginning! A new beginning in which I can stay positive and enthusiastic. I won't look back, just look forward!