HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Spent this morning Worshiping the Lord today in Church. Ok not a terribly pc phrase, but that's what I did. This morning's Christmas Service was great it really helped me to put politics and life in brilliant perspective. The great thing about Wycliffe is that it reflects the community of Park quite well with a mixture of people and nationalities.
The Service made me ask myself why bother? Why do it? Why spend time being a Governor? Why Campaigning? Why being a Street Pastor? It is good to question your own motivation sometimes, especially when I have had a couple of knock backs recently.
So after spending a lovely afternoon with the McKenzie tribe, I apologise to my sister for mucking up her Facebook status, I was reminded. It is to be found in a bit of the Bible, a book of the Old Testament, Isaiah in fact.
Its not about me it is about the coming of Jesus, which we celebrated this morning at church.
I am sure that my political opponents will seek to use this against me and those that support me might be uncomfortable but it is still inspiring and I share it with you to see what you can make out of it.
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
