Say NO to Many Things and YES to the Main Thing by Rose McCormick Brandon

In one of his Every Day with Jesus devotionals, Selwyn Hughes wrote that he "has learned to say no to many things in order to say yes to the main thing."

As a young, zealous Christian I said yes to almost everything. Name a Christian activity and I've probably been involved in it at some point in my life. Besides what I considered ministry, my three children each had sports, music and other activities that required my attendance. I did these things, not out of obligation, but sincerely and with a desire for others to discover this amazing life in Jesus.

In spite of my lofty motives, eventually, over-commitment left me exhausted . . . at the end of my rope.

In what's known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." (The Message)

Forced to reconsider my involvements, I took the summer off from my job (I forgot to mention that I also worked). Over two leisurely months, I found myself learning to enjoy life again, breathing deeply, re-discovering the magic of creation.

While lounging on the beach and sitting at nightly campfires, I decided to prune my over-busy calendar when I returned home. Like Selwyn Hughes, I began to say no to many unimportant things (unimportant for me) so that I could say yes to God's focus for my life.

I still found myself tending to become over-busy, unwilling to disappoint people by saying no, and some projects appealed to me so much I wanted to say yes. Pruning my calendar wasn't an easy one-time experience. I've had to do it many times.

As summer approaches and activities wind down, could this be a good time for you to reconsider what your fall schedule should look like?

We can't do our best at anything if we try to do everything.

"Lord, help me to become quiet enough to hear from you about the main focus of my life. Let my thoughts drift in you and find joy in the miracles that surround me. As I prune excess from my life, I lean on your wisdom for guidance."

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Rose McCormick Brandon is the author of One Good Work Makes all the Difference and Promises of Home - Stories of Canada's British Home Children. Visit her website at http://writingfromtheheart.webs.com

Weird and Wonderful You by Rose McCormick Brandon

At an especially difficult period of my life, I learned a valuable lesson. The lesson came to me in stages. Part of my learning came from personality evaluations, especially the one by Myers-Briggs. I discovered a tweaked version of Myers-Briggs in "Creative Writing" by Kathryn Lindskoog. She took the original test questions and appropriated them to writers.

Taking that test helped me to better understand who I am and accept some of the things I don't like about myself. I don't mean that I accept my tendency to sinful habits. What I mean is that we're born with characteristics that tend not to change. For example, having a shy, sensitive nature is like being born with brown eyes or curly hair - these traits are unlikely to change.

Too often, we view our in-born traits as weaknesses.
One important thing I learned from taking a personality test was this: I am a bona-fide introvert. This means that I get my energy from quietness. The majority of personalities energize from interaction with others. While I'm not too bad at socializing and love good conversation, this introvert label helped me to better understand a few quirky things about myself.

I used to feel apologetic about my need for time alone. I didn't know that I was born with this need even though I was aware of it even as a small child.

Even now, when I read of those who write books while raising half a dozen children or run organizations while keeping up a full calendar of other activities, I sometimes feel inferior. But, only for a moment. I couldn't tolerate that life.

The same God who etched our finger tips in unique patterns; the One who gave each of us vocal chords that produce sound waves that no one else can produce, eyes, teeth, ear lobes and numerous other features that no other living being on the planet possesses, has also gifted us with differing personalities.
Man-made tests show only a few personality variations but God sees them as plentiful as the stars.

God helps us to understand ourselves and to accept the things about us that we can't change.

The Lord loves weird and wonderful you. Be yourself for His glory!

I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . (Psalm 139:14)

Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge that I'm part of your amazing creation - me, in all my weirdness; me, in the depths of my heart where no one can see but you.
Rose McCormick Brandon's book, One Good Word Makes all the Difference is available here.