Be intentional.

"Instead of waiting for the time to get started to simply appear one day, we need to be intentional with scheduling it.' 

~ Lysa Terkeurst's "Best Yes" page-a-day calendar

My Post-October 15th Personal Policy

I LOVE FRIDAY NIGHTS!!!!!  There.  I said it.  Friday nights have become my I'm-not-making-any-plans night.  Why?  Because the first 10 days of October drove me to tears.  After working all day (in an intense office setting), I had something every single evening and on the weekends.  It honestly about did me in.  Maybe over-scheduling is not your thing...but I just wanted to quiet my heart.  Quiet my life.  During those ten days, I did some real soul searching and what I found was an empty, sad version of me.  Me.  The girl nicknamed "Fun Angie."  I was drained.  

Around mid-October, I decided it was time to say, "No" to some things that were not my very best YES.  I do worry about people being disappointed when I am unable to help them.  I prayerfully set that aside.  My faux yes to something that should be a big fat NO is not beneficial to me and my spirit...nor will it typically cause me to a fountain to the person (or people) I am serving and/or ministering too.

When I started saying, "No" to those ho-hum things, I had more time and energy to say YES to those God-assigned homework assignments.  The first being a tutoring club.  I get the opportunity to work one-on-one with a sweet little hamster-loving 5th grader.  

I signed-up to make a meal for my dear friends.  

I visited my friend in the hospital.

I bought yarn to knit a baby gift.

I, also, got to take time for things that I like to do.  During the October 1st through the 10th stretch when I was all out of sorts, I did not do a single thing that my soul wanted to do.  I'm not neglecting that anymore.

It's not selfish.  In one circle, you will hear that it's all about God and others...and yes, it is...however when I neglect me, it really does effect the other two.  I'm done being that girl.

I'm done yes-ing away my life.  

I realize my not yes-ing is going to cause people to bawk and probably have dizzy spells.  But I can't.  I can't be everyone else's superhero and lose me.  

Sooo back to my Friday evenings...  My post-October 15th Personal Policy regarding Friday evenings is as such:

1. I skip the gym.   It's Friday.  Ain't nobody got time for that!
2. I let my crockpot slave away all day making soup.
3. I allow myself an evening of leisure.
4. I try to go to bed at my normal worknight time.  
5. I mentally put a gigantic "X" through Friday evenings on my hacienda because I respect them.

My Fridays are stressful.  I stay late at work to print out payroll stuff so my Mondays are not as stressful.  I wrap up the week's work and try to mentally prepare for the upcoming week.  Even thought I plan for the following week, when I skip out the door, I do not give sewer another thought until Monday morning when my alarm clock chimes at 5:25 a.m.  It's beautiful.

I wish the bawkers of my new-found no license would ask ME why I'm saying no.  Why don't we ask why?  Why don't we search out what the reason is behind the why so we can be a blessing to others?  This is what I've been praying...

Lord, Thank you for assignments you give me.  Help me to know Your peace for the ones I should accept; help me know the ones I should decline.  Fill the assignment-asker with patience and understanding when I do decline.  Open up another assignment-taker's heart so that they may fill in on their assignments.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

I love that I am sitting in my living room at my computer blogging.  The last couple of weeks I've been posting from my phone.  It's not the same. 

Happy weekend-ing!!!!

My Best Yes

Today I was afforded an opportunity to put in to practice the lessons learned from my Lysa TerKeurst study, The Best Yes.

I am involved in my church's ladies Bible study.  We meet on the first Monday of the month.

I, also, am involved in a book club that meets on the second Monday of the month.

Typically these two meetings do not collide. 

This month {hands making a grenade exploding motion} was not the case.

Last week Bible study got cancelled due to the ridiculous winter weather.  Cancelled and moved back 7 days....thus colliding with my book club.

Not only was there this but tonight my dear friend decided that she was ready to return to the gym thus commencing her return to working-out with your truly.  I must admit I have missed her terribly.  As stated by my bestie Sara, I am a social work-out kinda gal...and also very loyal.  Need someone to be committed to joining you at the gym, I'm your gal!

You see....all the way back in March, my other gym sidekick just up and left me at the gym alone.  Not even so much as "See ya.  I am outta here."  One day we were working-out and laughing and enjoying gabbing and the next BAM!!! she was gone.

The fact that I persevered and still went to the gym alone, says much about my dedication to working-out.

I digress.

So this friend wanted to resume working-out tonight...of ALL nights. 

Book club + the gym + Bible study...not to mention supper and running home to get my Bible study material.  I was completely stressed out by these three good things...and then it hit me...like a sucker punch to the stomach {which I have never felt and / or had to endure}.  I should practice my best yes.  What were the four areas to analyze this decision?  I paused and prayed and knew...I knew I had to say "No" to book club.  In the puzzle of my Monday, book club did not fit.

I am so thankful the Lord gifted Lysa TerKeurst to write practical & applicable Biblical truths in a way that they are easily understood and remembered.