LIVING A LIFE OF "YES!" (Mark 1:35-38)

•If we want to accomplish God’s call on our lives we need the margin to do it.

•Margin is the space between our current pace and our limits.

•Limits are defined by God, pace is defined by you.

•Margin gives us the opportunity for disruption (happened to Jesus all the time).

•The closer you get to your limits the more you lose focus on what you’re doing.

•Thin margin is created by an inability to say “no.”

•PROBLEM - Saying YES when we should have said NO leads to Exhaustion (burnout & boredom).

•Why? Because we’re operating out of GUILT.

•When you operate out of guilt you have no grace to do the thing you said “yes” to.

•SOLUTION - Saying YES when we should say YES leads to Energy.

•Why? Because you’re operating out of GRATITUDE.

•When you operate out of gratitude you have the grace to do the thing you said “yes” to.

•Why don’t we say “no?”

•1) We want to help them - this is a matter of TRUST.

•We don’t truly trust God to provide another way.

•God created the church to handle those who are not a part of our “yes.”

•Your “no” to them is God’s “yes” to open up another opportunity for them.

•DANGER - If you say “yes” when you should have said “no,” that person will keep coming back.

•You become miniature providences to them, which leads us and them into idolatry.

•Don’t stand in the way of someone else’s “yes.”

•2) We don’t want to hurt them - this is a matter of FEAR.

•We don’t want them to think negatively of us.

•We want their acceptance and approval.

•Jesus shows us a better way.

•He lived a life of “yes” to His Heavenly Father. How can we do that:

•1) Prioritize what’s urgent over what’s vital.

•Urgent things are about accomplishing tasks - checklist-type stuff.

•Vital things are about sustaining life - being healthy, having a good marriage, mature kids, etc.

•Relationships are never urgent - they are vital.

•2) Know your circles - Christ’s was God, John, the 3, the 12, the 70, the Jews in His area…..

•My circles - God, Tori, kids, family, friends / co-workers, etc.

•3) Start Early (vs 35A) - proactivity makes you productive / procrastination makes you poor. This isn't just about waking up early.

•A reactive person will always live someone else’s “yes.”

•Starting early gives us margin to be disrupted by those in our circles.

•** A dad who spends an hour reading the Bible after work while the kids have to wait for him is not good.

•4) Get alone (vs 35b)- this helps you focus with no outside distraction.

•Learn to enjoy time alone. “Come apart with God or you’ll come apart.”

•5) Pray (vs 35) - two-way communication - be in the habit of actively listening.

•6) Don’t be easily found (vs 36) - the disciples had to “search” for Him.

•When you’re doing something vital, don’t be easily disturbed.

•7) Be lead by the call of God, not the needs of people (vs 37-38) - this is the key!

•The power of vision - lid on the jigsaw puzzle.

•ex: Nehemiah - “I am carrying on a great work and I cannot come down.”

•BALANCING TRUTH:

•8) Accept your assignment (Mark 6:31-34) - When you have margin you can be impositioned because you're operating out of gratitude.

•ex: plane ride to Arizona - I needed a nap but got none. I felt more energetic than ever.