Isaiah ch61v1-3

yesterday's passage from Isaiah...just a bit of encouragement for our mission & purpose:

v1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me:

to preach good news to the poor

to bind up the brokenhearted

to proclaim freedom for the captives

release from darkness for the prisoners

v2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God

to comfort all who mourn

v3 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

a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair...

that's what we're for...to give these things wholeheartedly in the name and authority of the Living God...i know i haven't quite been living up to it recently, but i'm still being worked on...there's convictions i'm feeling and i'm still working through them...

i'm relatively new in my church (only been attending since December or so and a member for only a few months) so i haven't really learned to trust anyone enough that i'd ask them to be an accountability partner for me...plus, i don't trust in my own discernment or feel strong enough in my own walk to be a partner to another...

yet...

hope is a beautiful thing...



P.S....the part in v3 that says "provide for those who grieve in Zion (emphasis mine)"?...i like to think of that as validation that America's stance towards Israel is on the right track...

P.P.S....Point Harbor Community Church is running a "Summer Refreshment" series with Steve Van Winkle from Montana...i'll be asking for recordings of his sermons so i can offer them up in an abbreviated online form and litter them throughout with thoughts and expoundings by yours truly...