The Entitlement Trap - January 24, 2011

What a great time of fellowship, conversation, and truth being shared at our last meeting! We were able to write thank you notes to many deserving people/companies, share an amazing meal that was supplied by a very generous Small Group, and hear some wonderful words of wisdom from Jennifer Williams.

If you missed the meeting, Jennifer spoke to us on The Entitlement Trap! Here are the notes that she passed out...such a great reminder for all of us!!:

"It's the age of entitlement in America. We want it all now, blame others if we can't get it and don't appreciate what we already have." (a Seattle newspaper)

How to Know if You've Fallen into the Entitlement Trap...Warning Signs

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1) What good desires have become demands or expectations in my life?

Are these expectations realistic?

2) When things go wrong, do you tend to blame someone other than yourself? Do you struggle with anger toward other people when things don't go your way?

3) When I struggle with self-pity, what kind of thoughts am I having? Am I focused on myself and how life seems unfair? Am I forgetting all the good in my life and focusing on all the bad?

4) Does my conversation tend to be mostly negative or positive? Do I struggle with gossip, complaining, negativity/pessimism, competitiveness, creating drama, envy/jealousy?

5) How often do I take time to appreciate and thank others?

How to Get Out of the Entitlement Trap...Solutions

1) Remember to be thankful for all the good in our lives that we don't deserve.

2) Think of the One who really didn't deserve what He got - Jesus Christ!

"He came to serve, not to be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage [by their sin]" (Mark 10:45, the Message translation).

***But He wanted to die in our place so that we could have what we don't deserve - Him, Heaven, Hope...

3) Don't look at life for what you can get out of it, but what you can give to others.

Think more about GIVING than GETTING.

***Look for ways to serve others and put others' needs before your own.

***Make a habit of thanking people.

4) Sometimes we do suffer, and it's not our fault. But as a general rule, remember that you CAN'T (usually) control what others do to you, but you CAN control how you respond to whatever happens. I'm not responsible for what others do to me. I am responsible for taking responsibility for how I respond. If you do do something wrong or make a bad decision, take responsibility for it. When something goes wrong, consider how you may have contributed to it.

Thank you, Jennifer, for this great lesson and reminder!!

We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night, February 14th, for our Valentine's Day meeting!!! We have some fun things planned and hope you all can make it!!