Some Assembly Required : week 5

Jennie Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Honor Roll

Tool : humility

Proverbs 29:23

"Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors."

**Pride destroys intimacy, but humility unlocks rich relationships.**

Humility is an every day action.

Bring humility into every interaction.

Humility needs to be constant.

Pride focuses on self.

Pride leads to shame, destruction, shifting confidence from God to self.

Pride keeps us from intimacy with Him and with others.

Luke 18:9-14

Parable Jesus told about a prideful man vs a humble man.

8 Ways to Practice Humility

Health

Your relationships can't be healthier than you are.

Humility comes from a healthy spirit.

Understanding

Assuming the best.

Where are they coming from?

Empathy is key.

Meek

Humility and meekness are interchangeable.

Meek : strength under control.

Not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

Preferring the other person's needs above your own.

Intentional 

Be intentionally humble to be steered in the right direction.

Keeping your hands on the wheel...drift happens...but you never drift in your intended direction. 

Fight for humility.

Listen

Start with how you listen to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6MSG 'listen for God's voice'

Ask better questions and actually listen to the answers.

Be in the moment and listen - distractions are all around.

Be engaged in conversation.

Insight

Humbly helping others understand us better.

People don't read minds.

Explaining : 'this is what happens when'

Take A Towel

Taking the position of a servant.

Gold Cord : The Story of A Fellowship by Amy Wilson Carmichael

Be someone who loves to serve and give.

John 13 - Jesus gets on His knees and takes a towel and washes His disciples feet.

It shouldn't matter that it's not reciprocated.

Mark 10:25 'He came to serve.'

Yield

To give way to arguments, demands, or pressure.

Assess the situation.

Be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.

Yielding in relating to others.

Before telling others what you think.

Analyze, extrapolate, prioritize + navigate.

It's better to yield humbly than to rush in and have to be humbled.

James 4:6 "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

If we're practicing humility, we can be confident God will give us His grace.

Grace, grace!

Some Assembly Required : week 4

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Stick and Slide

Tool : gratitude

Proverbs 11:27

The moment things "stop" working in a relationship, don't throw it out.

Those who study the mind say we have a negativity bias.

Bad things "weigh" more than positive experiences in your mind.

The bad reviews outweigh the good.

"Your brain is like velcro for negative experiences, but teflon for positive ones." Rick Hanson

1. You see more of what you search for.

What you look for, you'll find.

Your brain is always trying to help you out and trigger habits.

If you're looking to be hurt, you'll see more hurt.

What happens to you in the midst of the search should concern you. 

You're going to look like what you look for!

You'll become characterized by what you become preoccupied with.

Assuming the worst, you'll be right that they are [the worst], but you'll be the worst too!

The sins we struggle with are always uglier on other people.

You can't yell, "calm down" and expect calm results.

You can never be a victim and a victor at the same time!

You need to learn when to stick (velcro) and when to slide (teflon).

1 Peter 4:18 love will cover a multitude of sins

Healed people can heal people!

Proverbs 15:15 a miserable heart means a miserable life, a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

Questions 

What kind thing has someone done that you haven't thanked them for?

What new way can you express gratitude for something they've always done?

What fresh way can you say thank you?

What blessing has someone done that you've never expressed gratitude for?

Who helps me that I take for granted?

Benefit finders and fault forgetters!!

2. The greatest gift you can give is your presence.

If the phone is in view the quality of the interaction goes down [polyconciousness] 

When you express gratitude they'll be grateful.

Appreciation 

You'll be changed along the way.

It's impossible to be grateful and miserable at the same time.

5 times a week say something positive.

Dr Gottman 5:1 ratio (5 positive interactions : 1 negative)

Start with God - in your gratitude!!