i can't wait to have the time to read this book by lysa terkeurst (who btw GREW UP IN TALLAHASSEE and we went to the same church growing up. i think i knew her. i am sure she remembers me. ha.) but i have read a couple of excerpts from this book and lots of GREAT quotes (so it is almost like i have read it, right?)
i have been thinking about how everything just FELL INTO PLACE for me to work at raa this year. and how MUCH i am enjoying it. it is overwhelming. exhausting. at times frustrating. but gloriously invigorating. it was a wise decision. though it really wasn't much of a decision as it was A HUGE OPEN DOOR that i couldn't ignore. God has a way of treating me like the village idiot (praise Him for His wisdom.) SHUTTING doors that i try to walk through that aren't for me AND SWINGING WIDE THE DOORS that i am to walk through. and sometimes even kicking me through those WIDE OPEN DOORS...
“The one who obeys God’s instruction for today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow.” {Lysa TerKeurst, The Best Yes}
i don't feel like i have been particularly faithful in the area of obedience. but perhaps the few and far between times that i have obeyed His instructions (and the times when He has blatantly shut doors in my face and i haven't complained TOOOOO loudly) have led me to a more keen awareness of His direction... or maybe He is just still treating me like the village idiot and putting me exactly where i am supposed to be for this season.
and i am certainly trying out a new word these days to other things... i simply have to say "NO" to a lot of other "good things". like writing skits for our children's pastor at church. who i dearly love. but i just had to say NO. or to being a life group leader. again, a NO. or drama ministry which is opening up at our church. again, a NO for me. or to really great photography opportunities. or weekly Bible studies with great people. or even just afternoon coffee dates with friends (though i have managed a couple of those.)
“Find that courageous yes. Fight for that confident no.” {Lysa TerKeurst, The Best Yes}
and i am getting better at that "confident NO." slowly. but surely. and part of me rejoices every time i say it and know that i have said it so that i have the energy, time, and sanity to be able to have the BEST YES. i don't want to miss the important moments (or the little moments that might not seem important but are of ) maxx's senior year. or rosie's freshman year. or my 25th year of marriage...
“A Best Yes is you playing your part.
If you know it
and believe it,
you’ll live it.”
{Lysa TerKeurst}
i truly feel like i am "playing my part" by teaching at raa (and since i'm teaching theater classes that is even more poignant considering the "playing my part" line.) so even though i am not blogging a lot these days... or cleaning my house... or saying a lot of other "yeses"... i am playing my part. i know it. and believe it.
and here are a couple of other GREAT quotes from the book (that i haven't read)...
“My imperfections will never override God’s promises. God’s promises are not dependent on my ability to always choose well, but rather on His ability to use well.”
(whew, isn't it good to know that God's promises are NOT dependent on my ability to choose well. cause i have a LONG history of NOT choosing well, but Him using well...)