Gratitude thoughts from Brian Walsh

In a culture of perpetual dissatisfaction,

…a culture where you are what you have made yourself,
…a culture of ceaseless craving
……for new experiences,
……for consumer goods,
……for power,
……for sex,
……for wealth,
……for status,
…a culture of hyperactive frenzy and anxiety,
…a culture of paralysis and numbness,
……in this culture,
……gratitude can set us free.

Gratitude receives life as a gift,
…not a self-made accomplishment.

Gratitude is rooted in deep satisfaction,
…not held captive to dissatisfaction.

Gratitude replaces isolation
…with community.

Gratitude replaces competition
…with friendship.

Gratitude meets an economy of ‘more’
…with the audacious experience of ‘enough.’

Gratitude abandons aggression
…for gentleness.

Gratitude shakes off arrogance,
…for humility.

If the peace of Christ rules in our hearts,
…if we know the power of forgiveness,
…if we have been renewed in Christ,
…if love binds our lives together,
…then we will be thankful.

If the word of Christ dwells in us richly,
…if the word of Christ takes up residence deep in our lives,
…if that word begins to bear fruit in us,
…if wisdom begins to shape our imaginations,
…then we will sing songs of profound gratitude.

If we have come to Christ,
…if we give our whole lives to Christ,
…if we submit every dimension of our lives to his loving rule,
…if we do everything in the name of Christ,
……then our whole lives will be a thanks offering,
……our whole lives will give thanks to God our Father.

Christian ministry is not a duty,
…it is an act of gratitude.

You can find the rest of Brian's stuff here.

A Blessing in the Advent Season

A shoot will come out of the stump of Jesse,
and a branch will grow from its roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. (Isaiah 11.1-4a)

My friends, it is Advent, and the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Let us pray that we will bear the fruit of repentance in our lives.
Let us pray that we will be people of righteousness, justice and faithfulness.
Let us pray that we will not judge by what the eye sees or decide by what the ears hears.
Indeed, let us pray that we will have eyes to see and ears to hear the good news.
Let us pray that we will have eyes that will see beyond our stereotypes,
…ears that will listen closely to the stories of our neighbours,
…eyes to see each others gifts,
…ears to hear each others joys and sorrows.
Let us pray that we will have the eyes to see a shoot that shall come out of the charred stump of Jesse, out of the charred stump of our own lives.
Let us pray, Amen, come soon Lord Jesus.

Some quality thoughts by Brian Walsh on Empire Remixed.
Here's the complete post...focused on judgmentalism.