The Watered Soul

Finding Refreshment in the Word

The Friday Five: Building Our No Lists, Slowing Down, & Letting Go of Normal

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Can I tell you a little secret about myself I am not a fan of the this two little word—N O. I avoid at all cost. If I think the answer is likely no, I will not even bother asking so you can imagine I have missed out on a multitude of opportunities because I feared rejection. Yet I’m learning more and more of the valuable of learning to express no to others. Elisa Pulliam’s takes the say no list a little further and advises us to be more watchful of our inner dialogue and develop our own little Do Not Play List in her article Do Not Do.

Another read that captured my attention was Jesus, Church and risking rejection at God’s Girl. I especially like these lines,

“Risking rejection doesn’t always have a happy ending. Sometimes the happy ending is the rejection. Because you realize the world didn’t end.”

There is comfort in being around those we share similarities but we often find ourselves thrown in unfamiliar situations, which can lead to times of great growth. Andrea at Arise 2 Write encouraged me to not to cling so tight to my comfort zone in Normal or Not.

Speaking on not taking the normal path, I like Susannah’s boldness to step outside of the normal trend of blogging sponsorship and walk along a new path in her post How Do YOU Fell About the Sponsorship Trend. I’m always impressed with how well she seems to do with gathering a community of supporters.

I could relate all too well with how Samantha describe her morning rush started in Slowing Down in Our Fast-Paced Culture. It speaks to my desire to live more intentional.

And I just can’t close out this week’s without sharing this one! Do you remember when you were in grade school and you got passed a little note? Jennifer at Ripplespeak does just that in pssst…passing you a note.  This sweet sister has such a beautiful way with words that it leaves you feeling as if your heart has been hugged.  I love this line.

There is something quietly and genuinely significant about you
already.
There’d  be a sad,  dark hole in this living canvas
without you.  – Jennifer @ Ripplespeak

The Friday Five Fellowship

Want to you join me in sharing your favorite reads or writes? Simply link up below or share in the comments below.

Comments

  1. Cynthia says

    Hi Wanda!
    I hope you are doing well! As always, I enjoyed your post and am on my way to check-out the sites you listed. I think rejection is a part of walking with Christ. But, rejection is okay, as long as our hearts and souls are riding on the wings of Christ’s love. Well, I have several orders to fill and wan to spend the weekend creating new items for my shop. Many blessings to you and thank you, for the link-up.!
    Cynthia recently posted..God Has Smiled on All of Us~My Profile

    • Wanda says

      Hi Cynthia, you are right. I really shouldn’t feel that way about rejection. It’s one of those places that needs healing and growth. Glad to hear your letting your creative juices flow. Wishing you much abundance my friend.

  3. Ceil says

    Hi Wanda! So happy to join you today! And that quote from Jennifer is so powerful. Wow. I’ll need to check that out.

    Have a blessed weekend. Hope it’s a restful one for you.
    Ceil
    Ceil recently posted..America’s PastimeMy Profile

  5. Ella says

    Hi Wanda,
    These are wonderful sites! Thank you so much for sharing~ The lady at the post office and I were talking about No today-in regards to the Olympics. How many went to try to see their dreams come true, but didn’t want their families to attend-due to the chance of things going wrong. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
    ATB

    • Wanda says

      Hi Ella, it’s sad that they didn’t feel safe enough to have their love ones travel with them as they went to pursue their dreams but it’s the state of the world in which we live. Hope you are staying warm. We got a small dusting of snow yesterday.

  6. elisa says

    Thanks so much for the shout out about my post on finding your NO. It always cool to see where God brings our words and how He uses them to encourage others!

  7. Alison Hector says

    Hey Wanda! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. As usual, I enjoy your picks for the week. Samantha is very much on point re: slowing down and taking responsibility for the choices that leave us overwhelmed and our schedules overcrowded. I am very guilty of that. I’m choosing to attempt to do less and be more. Pray for me!
    Alison Hector recently posted..Got Superpowers?My Profile

  9. Jennifer Richardson says

    Thank you for sharing my words, friend…..what a beautiful thing to do:)
    And thanks for all the bounty you share;
    I love the line about rejection and sometimes it’s a happy ending in itself
    because you see how your world didn’t end:)
    Truth.
    I so appreciate your heart for truth and for sharing it bold and fierce and beautiful.
    You’re a gem.
    -Jennifer
    Jennifer Richardson recently posted..a little love story…My Profile

  10. Sharon says

    Hi Wanda! I’ll be checking out the Friday Five over the next few days. Been a busy few days. But I always appreciate the chance to link up here, and to hear what you and others in Blog Land have to say. You’re always a blessed encouragement to me. Thank you for that.

    GOD BLESS!
    Sharon recently posted..I AM A WEIRDOMy Profile

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