A psalm to bless you

Psalm 112:1-10 (NLT)

1 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Next time I'm having a Coke

I came across this mission statement from Coca-Cola
“The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches.”
Isn’t that a fantastic mission?

Jesus has a mission for the Church (All True Believers) which could be written in the same terms, but with different meaning. We Christians exist to benefit and refresh spiritually everyone we touch. Jesus did.

John 4:9-14 (NLT)
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

John 7:37-39 (NLT)
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Next time I’m enjoying a Coke Zero I’m going to be refreshed and think of someone I can refresh and benefit spiritually.

Bob Lipsys, Australia

I've been washing my nets for too long

This week a verse from a Godfrey Birtill song has been calling me forward into God’s destiny. It is like a wakeup call, a call from Jesus saying “take your boat off the shore into the deep”. Ah the deep, where Jesus is.

Washing your nets – getting all those work demands under control - gets rather tedious and keeps one too busy to launch out with Jesus. In this state I end up on the shore basically living in unbelief. I find myself at these times living by my own resources rather than by faith. How dull! The excitement level is so low.

But wow. When I’m out of my depth with Jesus facing the impossible challenges He brings, with the wind of the Holy Spirit in my face, faith wells up into ecstasy.

It is time to do what I see.
Bob Lipsys, Australia

Breakout (I've Been Washing My Nets) Verse 1
By Godfrey Birtill © Thankyou Music

I've been washing my nets for too long
On the shores of unbelief
Listening through hours of meetings
Now it's time to do what I see
To put out into deeper water
Sail away on the winds of faith
I see there's a massive harvest
The nets will almost break.