calendar

i received a moleskin planner/calendar for Christmas. it is very helpful. i have mixed feelings towards it though. i don't like living too busy of a life, but i have to face it because that is how life will be for me during certain stages--such as now. too busy=greater distractions. i think. so, sometimes i find myself always looking at it. it helps me stay on top of things and not forget about certain events. but i feel as if i am looking at it too often to know what is next or to plan the next thing. i wish i didn't have to plan times to meet with friends. it would be more like--if i see them we should enjoy that time. drop something for a while right then and spend some time with that person or persons. BUT everyone has schedules. everyone is busy. it's yuck. on the other hand, if i didn't plan to meet with people those friendships would start slipping. but it's all natural. people will enter and leave your life all the time.

today in sunday school we talked about living in freedom, not in slavery under the old law, but a living in freedom in slavery under the new law--loving your neighbor. we were studying galatians 5:13-15. then we looked at luke 10:25-37, which includes "the most important commandment" and the "parable of the good samaritan". sometimes we look at that parable correctly, if you will. at the end of the passage Jesus asks, "'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?'. The the expert in the law replied, 'The one who showed him mercy'. Then Jesus said, 'Yes, now go and do the same'." we tend to think the neighbor is the guy who was just robbed and needed some help, but it is really those who have shown and given mercy. we must humble ourselves to receive mercy. then, it is our responsibility to love those that have given us mercy. i'm still processing all of this. it was a very great discussion.

prayer requests:

direction for summer job/living

the busy-ness that hasn't quite come yet this summer--to be ready for it.

two guys (athletes) here at MNU that just had surgery on their broken legs this past week.

direction for lost churches across the world.

hope everyone is having a great!

maresalee.