Notes from Ash Wednesday Worship

Lent is a time of self-reflection

• We discover who God is
• We discover who we are
• We need to love ourselves better

What WE left at the feet of Jesus so that resurrection can happen in our lives

Envy

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; envy is like cancer in the bones. –Proverbs 14:30

As iron is eaten by rust, so is love consumed by envy. –Norwegian Proverb

When envy dies, love and gratitude is resurrected.

People Pleasing

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. –Galatians 1:10

I can’t tell you the key to success. But the key to failure is trying to please everyone. –Ed Sheeran

2 problems with people pleasing

1. It’s impossible
2. It’s not desirable

2 things we have to realize

1. Not everyone is going to love you. 
2. Those who do love you will never love you exactly the way you want them to love you.

2 disadvantages of people pleasing

1. We carry a huge weight of unrealistic expectations on our shoulders
2. Our worth is based on performance and not grace

When people-pleasing dies, God-glorifying is resurrected.

Negativity

External negativity

If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. –Titus 3:10

Internal negativity

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. –Philippians 4:8

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. –Martha Washington

When negativity dies, positivity and possibilities are resurrected. 

Comparison

We can compare ourselves to others we perceive are below us and above us.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. –Galatians 6:4

There is nothing noble in being superior to others; true nobility is being superior to your former self. –Hemingway

3 Reasons Why Not to Compare to Others

1. Damages your self-esteem

Comparison is the death of joy. –Mark Twain

2. You are comparing against inaccurate information

Let's face it: What people present to the outside world is usually an edited version of their reality. 

We compare our ordinary, everyday against other’s highlight reel.

3. It generally doesn’t help you move forward

If you really want to live a life that feels fulfilling you need to dedicate your time and energy to your own values. To get your focus in the right place ask yourself the following questions: 

What kind of person do you want to be? 

What kind of relationships do you want to have? 

What do you want people to remember about you?

Don’t compare yourself to who other’s are today. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

Don’t try to be a second rate version of somebody else. Be the first rate version of yourself.

When comparison dies, grace and growth are resurrected.