Well, it has certainly been a while since I've written here. I have honestly become so 'preoccupied' with FACEBOOK that I have allowed that to become my journal....not that I write much there!
At any rate, alot of things have pretty much been the same over the last few weeks. I suppose that the big event that I have going on right now is waiting to hear from Dillards. I was called last week to come in for a 'preliminary' interview. I went on Thursday and felt like all went well. However, that was Thursday and today is Tuesday! I really have tried to have a peace about it and trust that God is in control--because I KNOW He is!! After going to Flute Choir and Handbells yesterday, I really began to second guess what I should do. I questioned how much I really want to eliminate my involvement with that;do I want to give up my piano students--and now I have another potential student who is waiting to find out if I will still teach or will I take Dillards. I have prayed that God would give me some strong clarity as to what I am supposed to do. I don't need or want any of this "I am accepting where I am and now lets get complicated with lots of options". I have just prayed for REAL CLARITY.

I trust that God will work out whatever He sees to be right and that all the little details will work themselves out.

MATTHEW 16-18

• Jesus uses unlikely means to provide
• Hard times are inevitable but we shouldn't make it worse
• Don't treat 'child-like belivers' (new Christians) arrogantly.
• If a fellow believer hurts - go and tell him. If he listens then I have a friend. If he doesn't listen, take one or two more as a witness - then if he won't listen start over.
• If we have been forgiven, we should show mercy and forgive!

MATTHEW 13-15

• Like Peter, if we keep our eyes on Jesus we can do the impossible
• Do I make a big who saying theright things - but the heart isn't in it?
• Do I act like I am worshipping but don't mean it?
• Do I just use God as a cover for teaching what suits my fancy?

MATTHEW 10-12

• Great irony - Proclaiming so much love - Experiencing so much hate
• Don't be bluffed into silence by threats from bullies. There's nothing they can do to my soul - my core being
• Save my fear for God who holds my entire life - body and soul in HIS hands
• Am I tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Go to Jesus - Get away with Him. He will show how to take a real rest. Walk with Him and learn the rhythms of grace.
• God would prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.

MATTHEW 7-9

• The way to life - to God is vigourous and requires total attention
• Who needs a doctor? The healthy or the sick? I'm after mercy not religion
• I should be about inviting outsiders not to codle insiders

From the challenge to read 3 chapters nightly:
Matthew 1-3

• Following instruction led them to where they would find Jesus
• Following instruction led to safety and protection

Matthew 4-6

• Jesus faced temptation and commanded the tempter to leave
• Listening to Jesus produces real results
• We're blessed at the end of our rope
• With less of me there is more of God
• I am blessed when I am content with who I am am - no more - no less - Then I OWN WHAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT
• When people attack it means God is too close for comfort for them
• Work things out with others before trying to make right with God
• I should make the first move
• Don't lay down smoke screens with pious talk
• Let enemies bring out my best
• GROW UP - I am a Kingdom subject - Live like it
• Live generously and graciously toward others
• When praying - shift focus from me to God and I will begin to sense His grace
• In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what I do
• God forgave - so should I
• Don't get worked up about tomorrow - God will help me deal when the time comes.

I listened
I responded
I wait

Following Jesus will lead me to find Jesus
Following instructions will lead to safety and protection
Listening to Jesus produces real results
I am blessed at the end of my rope with less of me and more of God
Give my entire attention to what God is doing NOW.
Don't get worked up about tomorrow
God will help me deal with that when the time comes.

How do I answer the voice I hear. I have heard over and over, today especially, about FORGIVENESS. The words have come from two different pastors and directly addressing 'forgiveness' . Each in their own way implied that 'God may be telling you the name of someone that you need to forgive'....But each time as the name came to me, I tried to justify why I deserved to "NOT" forgive. I am praying right now that SOMEHOW something really significant comes my way that makes it completely for certain that I need to follow through with this forgiveness.

The situation is sooooooooooooo difficult in that I have not done this just once before but numerous times. How many is the 70 x 7 or whatever the formula is?

At what point is there true acceptance of forgiveness and change?

It's Wednesday and Tom is recouperating from having had surgery on a hernia on Monday. He is in pretty intense pain right now. This is his first experience with surgery of any kind, anthesia etc. So the entire event has been interesting. The surgery was scheduled in July because we don't have Adult Choir rehearsals during the month so he doesn't have to feel pressure to be at church. The office staff has been good to let him off for a few days. The worst part of it all of course to me is the expense but we trust that God will provide.

Its Friday, again...the end of another week. Mid July! Where has the year gone?? Just a few things that have happened this week.

• Monday has come and gone and my memory has faded
• Tuesday and Thursday were Therapy days and my PT thinks I am doing great
• Tom also had an appt with a surgeon about removal of an umbilical hernia. That will take place on Monday AM.
• Wednesday was church and there was an interesting event that happened there. Carter, the asso. pastor had the Bible study and made mention that there was ONLY ONE SPOT open on the Peru Mission trip...Tom poked me and said "YOU KNOW you wanna go" (since I am passionate about trying to speak Spanish). I reminded him that financially it would be an impossibility (especially NOW that we found out we have to pay the hosp $1000 deduct before the surgery :-() But I took the chance and went to the pastor telling him of my deep desire to go and how I am very communicable in Spanish etc. He saw my passion, put his hand on my shoulder and said "YOU ARE GOING--we will work this out!" Praise God I will pray that it really does work out.
• Thursday I called my mom to ask for her Apt. # to mail her birthday present and in the conversation I decided to mention about the Peru trip - SHE IS A PRAYER WARRIOR and I knew I could count on her to pray...When I told her, she said "Are you serious, I have cold chills because when I saw your church newsletter and it mentioned Peru, I said Diane is going on this!" What great confirmation! I am going to trust God for his provision. As my mom said "Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills~!"
• Friday will be our day to grocery shop, go to the $ Tree and fill up the propane tank!

it has been an interesting 24 hrs. we left hartwell on fri. morn and drove to Gville to get Laura loaded up out of her apt. I pretty much was the door and dog keeper! She hired a couple of Mexican guys to help wit the big stuff and we got it all done by abt 2PM. we dropped the rodeo and trailor off at her dads then headed to Zaxbys for lunch. after lunch we had an amazing tour of the new Newspring campus in Gviile. Jared and jennifer were finalizing their work and since they were there they showed us around. God has truly blessed that church and we are so blessed that our children are involved! We also Praise God that we can participate on Sunday night. God is good.