No... nope... nada...

All you people pleasers, raise your hand! 

I know there are a ton of you out there... I had my hand raised too...

Now, question for all you people pleasers - how often do you say the small, two letter word of "no"? 

Yeah, I dont say it too often either...

Its hard - isnt it?  I know when I say "NO", I feel like I'm letting someone down.  So I'll do everything I can do to not say that word... sometimes that means putting more important things on the back burner, or stretching myself so thin, that I think I can snap.

And I'll admit, I have gotten a TAD, wee bit better at saying no, but I still leave with the guilt of saying no... like the world will end if I say no to someone's request.  "Oh no, Rebecca just said NO?" - Visualize walls crumbling, earth shaking, buildings tumbling, lives lost..... umm...dont think any of that has happened... & I think I may have spent way too many hours in front of some Bruce Willis movies...

Sunday, in the youth group, we were looking at the verses in Mark 6:6-13 where Jesus is sending out the twelve disciples.  He gave them instruction, what to take with them (which was pretty much nothing), told them what to wear, & how long to stay in a home....the disciples reactions was,

They went out & preached that people should repent.  They drove out many demons & anointed many sick people with oil & healed them -Mark 6:12-13

The question was asked, "Why did the disciples go?" & someone said, "Do you say no to Jesus when he asks?"... everyone kinda chuckled & said, "Oh, of course not"...

Except I was slammed in the heart....

I have said NO to Jesus... way too often... way too easily...without much guilt at all

How messed up is that?  How BACKWARDS is that?  I have a hard time telling others no, but to the one person who would only ask me to do things for MY benefit, I'll say no easily?....

Let me tell you... I walked away learning a lesson that God spoke to me on that small, two letter word...

May I say that word less & less to Jesus....