The balance between doing hard things and just plain busyness

Well, I was telling Cara about this the other day, but I have been thinking much about this and thought I would post on it.

I started this summer off so determined not to waste my summer that I am starting to do just the opposite. I think I have taken on too much. Where now, instead of doing a few things well, I'm doing many things and not doing them the best I could. bottom line: Busyness does not equal fruitfulness

As I read an article by CJ Mahaney today, he said:

• Busyness does not mean I am diligent
• Busyness does not mean I am faithful
• Busyness does not mean I am fruitful

If I'm 'busy', but whatever I'm busy with is not fruitful, then I am wasting my time.

For example. I have not been faithful to reply to the DHT questions. I have been faithful to read the chapters and post the questions. I but I basically read the chapter and then checked it off my list of things to do for the week. So, I haven't really benefited from the study and there hasn't been any fruit.

I think I am going through too many books right now. I'm trying to read throuhg 9 different books(several of them are some type of group study) and instead of growing through these things, it's turning into a very non-productive and unfruitful thing.

If you can't already tell, I'm the type of girl that wants to do everything and wants to be involved in everything. I want to take everything and I want to make everything work. I want to grow spiritually. But, I'm slowly learning that doing a 'hard thing' is not always being busy and being involved in everything. I'm learning that doing a hard thing is to discern when I should participate in something and when I'm just going through the motions with another thing I signed up for or took on.

There is a difference in between doing hard things and just doing too much.

So, I'm going to be praying on what God wants me to focus on. I may have to narrow a few things down, or maybe just push something off until the future. If I don't, I don't think I'm going to be serving God like I could be. I want to to be balanced for the rest of this summer and throught this upcoming school year. As it's only going to get fuller with work and school.

I will continue to post the weekly DHT study questions, but I'm starting to feel led to drop that study for now so I can pursue excellence in other things. I will restart my weekly accountablity posts, as long as someone is growing from them.

Lastly, I would like to see if any of you have thoughts on this topic. Have any of you had this same struggle? How did you narrow things down? After you narrowed things down to what you felt more led to do, did you see more growth? Does anyone have any verses to share that reminds them of this topic?

I apperciate your thoughts and I hope you all undertstand,
Emily Joy

Anybody home?

If you read this blog regularly (at least once a month) please comment on this post. Just an "I'm here" would work. There's nothing wrong with a small group, but it would be nice to know who's benefiting from this blog (I know I have).

If you have a minute, answer these questions (I know, more questions! But it would be helpful to know, I think):
1. Which have encouraged you most/been most helpful - the weekly accountability, book studies, or "random" posts?
2. Would you be willing to post occasionally, with prayer requests, praises, comments on sermons, or something similar?
(or)
3. Do you feel like you are too busy to be able to keep up with a blog like this?

Thanks!

DHT Chapter 2 questions

Hey everyone! Sorry for not replying to the last set of questions yet! I hope to do those soon, when a have some time to go through them Here are the questions for Chapter 2:

In this chapter, Alex and Brett tell the story of their journey from being bored teens to being Supreme Court interns, campaign workers, and blog hosts. But before they had new experiences they had new ideas—big ideas like:
• Our generation is getting robbed!
• There has to be more to the teen years than goofing off.
• Ordinary teens can make a big difference in the world.
• Young people can handle big responsibilities.
• With big dreams come big challenges.
• What teens working together can accomplish is amazing!
They close the chapter by inviting readers to join them in an uprising “against a cultural
mind-set that twists the purpose and potential of the teen years and threatens to cripple our generation.”

1) Looking back, do you see a season, a book, or an event that changed what you believe or how you live? If so, talk about it. How are you different
now?

2) One teen told Alex and Brett, “Everyone I know at school is shackled by low expectations.” Could you say the same thing? If so, talk about why.

3)Have you ever found yourself responsible for a task that seemed too big for you to succeed at? If so, what happened? Did that experience turn out to be a bad thing or a good thing in your life?

4) Did you identify with the story of shy Heidi Bentley (pages 19-22)? If so, talk about it.

5) History shows that youth movements against God-established authority have generally not amounted to much. How do the authors set their message apart from such movements?

DHT questions for chapter one

“We believe our generation is ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming.” With that statement, the authors set the stage for a discussion about doing things differently. Then they identify the unique angle of Do Hard Things: instead of being a book where adults tell teens how to change, it’s a conversation
among teens who are ready to lead the way. Alex and Brett talk briefly about their background and reasons for writing the book. They want teens to rebel against low expectations and reclaim the full potential of their teen years.

1)As you read the inside flaps of the book and the first chapter, how did you react to the authors’ talk about change, hard things, and “rebelution”?

2) Usually we try to look to older (hopefully wiser) people for life advice. Do you see any risks when teenagers—in this case, two nineteen year olds—try to persuade other young people to change how they think? On the other hand, what might be some advantages to the authors’ age?

3)“We don’t think ‘average teenagers’ exist,” write the twins. Do you feel average? If so, why? Does that ever feel like a good thing? If not, what is it that makes you feel not average?

4) The fictional Dundress monks were well intentioned but unhappy Christians who believed that more misery must mean more holiness. Have you ever thought that? Where do you think that kind of thinking comes from?

5) In what ways do you think popular culture misrepresents what the teen years are for? Can you think of one thing that would change if you and your friends believed—really believed—that low expectations were ripping
you off?

Mexico!

I, along with 35 others, leave for Mexico in just a few hours...I've got so many emotions going through me right now its insane! I don't know what I'm feeling exactly...apprehensive, excited, anxious, joyful, prayerful, nervous, happy, unsure...I'm just a bundle of nerves lol, some good, some not so good...but I know that God will be faithful to keep me safe, and to use me for his divine purpose this week.
Please pray for us this week if you think about it:
1. That God would use us in any way that He wants (and that I would have a good attitude about it!)
2. That God would keep us safe and healthy (and that I wouldn't be(too)homesick)
3. The plane would not crash (!!!!!!!!!!)
4. Our luggage would not be lost (yes, I'm paranoid)
5. That I will be able to speak clearly and interpret (currently I understand more than I speak...pray I won't get frustrated if I cannot understand things)

Please pray for the entire E-team and not just me...The Bakitas(3), Cables(2), Davis'(3), DeCostes(2), Grafs(4), Herlihys(2), Jakubisins(4), Stephanie Jilek, Jones'(3), Me, Morales'(2), Morrisons(2), Pearsons(2), Juan Perez, Mike Seaver, Shedore(3)

Anyway, I should probably try to sleep since I will get my first experience with jet lag later today. We will probably get to the Ranch after 11pm tonight. Also, I'm not sure if my phone will be working or not but please feel free to text me! I would love to hear from you guys! Love you all and I will see you on Sunday the 28th(or sometime soon after that!)!

Don't let them despise you

I found this on the Rebelution blog. Check it out and answer these questions in a comment or in a blog post!

• Piper shares seven negative characteristics of youth — disrespect, rebellion, self-absorption, cliquishness, conformity to peer pressure, indifference to serious issues, and a fixation on fun as the only thing that satisfies. Are any of these qualities pronounced in your life?
• Piper makes it clear that we must not be indifferent to what adults think, but neither should we see adult opinions as supreme. Which of these two errors is a greater temptation for you?
• Ultimately, we must look to God’s standards to guide our behavior. Are you growing (by grace through faith) in obedience to God’s standards “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity?”

I'm going to answer in a comment sometime soon :-)

Emily

Glad we have at least a little interest in a study of Do Hard Things again. I'm looking forward to it. I hope everyone feels welcomed to jump in at any time! The more the better!!

I'll plan on posting questions every weekend(Fri, Sat. or Sun.). You all can read through Chapter one this week and the questions for chapter one will be coming next weekend.

Let me know if you have any better ideas or suggestions on how to handle this.

Also, anyway I can be praying for you all?

Emily

Anyone interested?

Hey everyone!

I had an idea for this summer. I know the Do Hard Things conference was over a year ago and I have to say that 'Do Hard Things' message is starting to fade for me. I can't say that I am still as passionate about this as I originally was. I still love the Rebelution and all, but I haven't been as involved and motivated as I used to be.

Anyways, I thought is would be neat to do a weekly online study of the Do Hard things books. I think it might be a nice refresher for everyone. I read the book over a year ago and haven't really picked it up since. Would anyone else be interested in going through the book with me? I was thinking that we could go through one chapter a week and go through the questions for that chapter.

If there is interest, then I will start posting questions next week! Let me know what you all think!

Emily