{"id":1684,"date":"2011-09-21T01:00:48","date_gmt":"2011-09-21T05:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=1684"},"modified":"2011-09-21T00:53:58","modified_gmt":"2011-09-21T04:53:58","slug":"when-to-say-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/09\/when-to-say-yes.html","title":{"rendered":"When to say “Yes”"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weekend was more than exciting for me and the three choirs who gathered for our annual choir retreat. \u00a0Special Gathering is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our choirs go into churches helping to teach that a person who is developmentally disabled can have a genuine relationship with the Lord.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>While we were at Word of Life retreat center, even the drivers and volunteers experienced a blessing from the Lord as they joined in the worship and study. \u00a0For me, it was especially thrilling. \u00a0Perhaps it was even life changing.<\/p>\n

During this time, I realized something about myself. \u00a0I’ve loved directing the Special Gathering choirs more than almost anything I do. \u00a0I even say that the choirs are my hobby because they are too much fun to be work. \u00a0This Saturday, I realized that not only do I love being a choir director; but God helps me to draw from the choir members things which they may not know they can give. \u00a0Sure, that is the job of every director but I didn’t actually realize that God was working in this way with me. \u00a0It came as a bit of a shock.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We often talk about the importance of learning when to say, “No.” \u00a0But there doesn’t seem to be many rules about when to say, “Yes.” \u00a0I’ve been asked to consider whether I would be willing to take over all the Special Gathering choirs. \u00a0It will mean extra work but I’ve been excited about the prospect of doing this. \u00a0The question has been, should I say, “Yes”? \u00a0What are the markers that make a right decision easier to make.<\/p>\n

I think God taught me how to establish clear markers in decision making during this retreat. \u00a0Here are some of the things I learned.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Do you feel God’s pleasure when you are doing this activity?<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Are others blessed as much as you are?<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Can you see spiritual growth in others when you engage in this activity?<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Can you see spiritual growth in your own life when you engage in this activity?<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Are you given spiritual insight or revelation from the Lord when you are actively working in this arena?<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0Does God speak to others when you are doing this?<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0Do you sense that others take pleasure in helping you to perform this mission?<\/p>\n

8. \u00a0Are you able to draw others into the circle of influence that this activity produces?<\/p>\n

9. \u00a0Does this activity give you energy or do you feel drained from the effort?<\/p>\n

If you can answer “yes” to most or all of these questions, God is probably in a positive decision. \u00a0Most of us won’t be asked to be choir directors; but all of us will face a decision what will demand an answer. \u00a0Perhaps these Yes Markers will help us to be able to know God’s will and purpose in our lives.<\/p>\n

Is there something that you do that helps you to feel God’s pleasure? \u00a0Have you included it into your repertoire<\/span> of activities? \u00a0If not, why not?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weekend was more than exciting for me and the three choirs who gathered for our annual choir retreat. \u00a0Special Gathering is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our choirs go into churches helping to teach that a person who is developmentally disabled can have a genuine relationship with the Lord. While we were…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,4,41],"tags":[690,21,688,696,275,7,18,699,715,701,694,689],"class_list":["post-1684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-decision-making","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-discipleship","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen to say "Yes" - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/09\/when-to-say-yes.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When to say "Yes" - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This weekend was more than exciting for me and the three choirs who gathered for our annual choir retreat. \u00a0Special Gathering is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our choirs go into churches helping to teach that a person who is developmentally disabled can have a genuine relationship with the Lord. 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