Just Say No - November - Want In? (my version of No Shave November)

Have you ever had a time in your life when there was an overall theme that kept coming up?  It may be in a conversation, it may be at church, it may be in what you are reading or listening to.. but it all is telling you the same thing and you really don't want to hear it.

Well, this is my theme lately (and honestly, I've been trying to ignore it) - JUST SAY NO.  You know the old campaign to stay away from drugs.. well, same wording.. different application.  It first came up in our small group several weeks ago and from my husband (which makes matters worse).  He wasn't talking to me specifically, but to our group. Our pastor asked us how we can be more like Jesus and live our lives to be more like him.  My husband's response.. JUST SAY NO... to ourselves, selfishness, what we want, etc. and focus everything on the LORD and what HE says and what HE wants.

Then I read this blog post.. Just Say No.. which is a great read and something I can't get out of my head. This verse.. Proverbs 26:11  --" As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" and her saying... "A NO helps you grow" keeps resonating within me.

So here I am today.. I am setting aside this week as my JUST SAY NO week (Monday - Friday)  in November.  It is a take off on No Shave November.  I think I will find this to be just as freeing as not shaving (although I think that is gross).

Here are somethings I am just saying NO to:

1) Spending any money.. not a dime.  I realize that I spend my free time shopping.  Things are so tight with our money right now.. it is definitely something I need to say NO to.  So, no stopping at Sonic, no trips to Target, Hobby Lobby etc.  No eating out. (all my weaknesses when it comes to money).

2) Speaking unkind words.  I don't really yell, but I can snap harsh words with the best of them.  So, I will control my tongue.  You know the old saying.. if you don't have anything nice to say-- don't say anything at all.

3) Eating extra calories.  I realize that I love food.  I love how it tastes. I love to cook. I love how other people enjoy it, but I need to say no!  I have to eat to live.. I don't need to live to eat!

Let us follow Paul and his example: Philippians 3:17-21
¹⁷ Join together in following my (Paul's) example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

So here I start.. want to join in?  What do you need to say NO to this week?