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.

This was a good weekend. We celebrated the 4th just hanging out during the day. Then that night we went to a BIG party at a friend from church. There were probably 700 people around the lake and by the time fireworks began another Hundred or more boats. Yes- BOATS in the cove watching. It was amazing!
Now I am at the coffee shop and will begin to read but needed to do this first. As I write I am listening to my newly reloaded mp3 player with Getty music and also Peter Penrose. They are both great!

O God help us as we feel called to defend our place of service.
How long will we feel a war is at hand?
Keep us reminded that our conflicts are not of flesh and blood, but a spiritual conflict.
Keep us focused on what we were called to do-

the service, duty and responsibility.
Remind us that when we enlisted we just wanted to serve.

We didn't necessarily want a desk job

nor did we want to be on the front line of battle.

We just wanted to stand for the Truth we believed and convictions to which we had passion.
The war is not Iraq or Afghanistan but Worship!

The service is not just for political powers or a country

but for a God who gave His all for my freedom.
The mandate is not from flowery words set forth from a group or committee of men and women

but from the Holy Inspired Word of God!
We stand under his flag, the cross, which represents

the cost and purpose for which we serve.
When we think a silenced war is about to erupt again, remind us that an enemy like a roaring lion is trying to win

a battle that has already been won.
Remind us that one day,

our commander in chief,

God himself will reward us for

faithfulness, courage and diligence...

until then
WE SERVE.

Diane Barden

7/3/08

Do as God commands.
Do exactly what God says.
This was the word of the Lord to Moses. He followed and God led him exactly where he needed to go. Do I require a ring of fire at night to follow God or cam I just trust Him because I believe who he is in my life?