Perspective

My friend "e" has offered some interesting Lent perspectives on her blog. I asked if I could share them with you guys and she said yes. Find one here and the other here. I also found this on a website offered by a community (small group of about 12 in London)that really pushes the worship envelope! This entry offers an interesting perspective that ties in with what Ken's been presenting lately to us. Go here and see a really cool slide show that I wish we could use at Wellspring but I can't figure out how to load!!

Posted by Steve Paynter on Mon 20 Mar 2006 - link

If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you more blessed than million's of people in the world.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

We are hugely blessed.
We need to remember it and keep our lives in perspective and our hearts open to God.
Jesus too has something to say about who are the truly blessed. Matt.5.
They are those who know their need of God.
Those who mourn for what is not right in them and in our world.
Those who are teachable, and hunger and thirst for a better justice and righteousness.
Those who leave behind a preoccupation with self and look outward beyond themsleves to see God at work in our world and its trouble.
To see the beauty, mercy and grace of God in the unexpected places of life and follow Jesus there.

Our lenten response (fast) could be as follows:

Fast from discontent.
Feast on gratitude.

Fast from worry.
Feast on God's providence.

Fast from complaining.
Feast on appreciation.

Fast from unrelenting pressure.
Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from self concern.
Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety.
Feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement.
Feast on hope.

Fast from endless noise.
Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm.
Feast on prayer that sustains.

Which one of these is for you? Or write your own.