From the journal . . . . November 1987

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness, and confidence forever.

Lord, I read here the fruit of righteousness is peace and the service is quietness and confidence.  Lord, this world is noisy. Our culture has become so open-minded that confidence in ‘the perfect lifestyle’ or ‘life purpose’ is not strong. The theory being “people are different” or “different strokes for different folks”.  We don’t dare stand up and say: “One God for all people,” no matter how true it is. Lord, I want to be bold for the truth, with confidence and quietness.  I need Your Holy Spirit to do that, which You make available.  Therefore, I have hope that my quietness and confidence can be very loud and effective.  Lord, that’s great!

And I Believe God Said:

Yes! You don’t have to be loud and knowledgeable, nor pushy or ‘never lagging in good works’.  You don’t have to recite scripture word-perfect.  What will speak to others more loudly than your words, is your confident attitude of complete trust in Me as your Lord and Savior.*  Bible reading, study, and prayer build you up.*  It deepens your trust in Me and that is what will win others.  That’s what will testify.  Don’t be afraid to go among them.  Don’t worry about impressing them with your works or knowledge.  It’s through your trust in Me that your testimony speaks loudest. Your study time is not what is keeping you close to Me.  It’s my spirit.

 I want to go with you to be with My people.* Don’t be afraid if we lack study time.  I am teaching you some ‘on the job’ training. It’s time to leave the classroom.

1 The 4:11-12 ¹¹ Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. ¹² Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you  He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears.^[a]
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

My children were in school by this time, and I had more freedom. I wondered what the Lord had in store for me!  He did say, “Time to leave the classroom!!” One of the many things I love about the Lord is, He is not deterred from His own good purposes.   Less than a year later I was going through chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer.  Not quite what I had envisioned with leaving the classroom.  Funny to me, that He knew He would get me back into a different kind of classroom!  McCarver Elementary School!!