Friday the 26th

Acts 16:

⁶Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

Have you ever found yourself trying to do something, and it just not working out for you? Have you ever felt like you needed to be somewhere but circumstance after circumstance arises, and you just never make it? Maybe you need to quit trying to force something to happen, stop, and re-evaluate your position, and recognize that although that path might look advantageous, there is a reason that the Lord is keeping you from making that happen! Here we see Paul traveling far and wide preaching the Word, yet often he had to redirect his steps. He had to reflect, pray, and find the path that the Lord wanted him to follow. All too often today we want to forge ahead. We are taught that if we see something and we want it we go get it no matter the cost. When we forge ahead forcing, things to happen, we find that even if we succeed it is a pirique victory at best…..the victory turns out not to be worth the cost. We hang our heads and wonder why. Often the answer is as simple as we failed to ask God to direct our steps. There is a plan for each and everyone of us. The Lord moves us through our lives placing us just where we need to be, not only to accomplish what we are supposed to, but also to be in the right spot to help others achieve their goals. What we find is that people show up to help us in our time of need, and we just happen to be the answer to someone’s prayer, even if we never realize it. That is why it is so important to slow down and spend time with the Lord checking to see if we in fact are on the right course. When we kick down doors, force our way in, and create destinations, we not only rob ourselves of the opportunity to serve the Lord as he needs us to, we very well might not be where the Lord needs us to be to help someone else execute their part of God’s plan. Where I work, the owner has a saying….”the right thing, to the right place, at the right time” that is what we do……I love that mentality, because that is God’s mentality towards His people. He puts His people where He needs them, at the exact moment they need to be there. Let us each recognize that we don’t have to force our way through life. Spend time in prayer, in His word, and listen for the gentle direction He gives us daily. We each have a place to be, and make no doubt about it, we will move through this day and impact those around us. The question we are left with is are we following the Lord’s path, and listening to the Holy Spirit, or are we blazing our own trail?

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

http://www.thenewcovenantchurch.com/

<))))><

Thursday the 25th

Acts 15:

¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

 

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hours I first believed. We LOVE tests don’t we? We really love tests that we know we can excel at and others might struggle! Sadly this is how many approach their faith. You have to do this, you have to do that…..as a result many never get on the path. The yoke is just too intimidating, it is just to heavy. Paul summed it up well, it is through the grace of the Lord that we are saved. Everything else is secondary. Your path to salvation has already started, you were placed at the beginning. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you are given a gift that no money can buy. There is no entrance fee, there is no jacket required, all that you needed was freely given to you. All you have to do is realize it is there! You want the grace of the Lord, it is yours, you already have it, you want the forgiveness, the love, the hope and the peace? You have it you are carrying it around with you everyday. Have you ever put on a suit or a jacket that you have not worn in a while? You reach into the pocket and you find a twenty dollar bill. You think wow, sweet I did not even know it was there……well folks that is what a lot of us are doing with our faith. We carry it around with us everyday,  we just need to put our hand in our pockets and pull it out! We need to utilize it, we need to exercise it. Just like the cash sitting in your pocket unused and forgotten, your new life is waiting for you to discover it. What you want, what you need, it is there sitting idle. It was yours before you were born, reach into that pocket and pull it out! Do not allow this world to bully you into believing that you are not good enough, or that you do not meet the mark. Remember that Christ came for the wicked, not the righteous.  Your journey to salvation has already started, all you have to do is accept what is already given, and discover what you have had all along. The grace of the Lord is all we need. As he has told us His grace is enough!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 24th

2Corinthians 4:7

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

 

We are little more than jars of clay. We are fragile, we wear out, we crack, and have imperfections. Yet we hold such immense treasure inside of us, we have the limitless possibilities that comes with salvation stuffed into this frail body that we will eventually leave. While we each look forward to our life with Christ, I often wonder who will pick up the pieces of our lives when we are gone? Who will take care of all of the stuff that we have crammed into our jars along the way, that now is useless to us and left behind? Maybe a better question is what will others find to use when they look to see what we have left? It is not a question that many people look at, but one that certainly deserves our attention. What are you filling your jar of life with? The light of the Lord cannot shine through credit cards, inflated egos, and all of the brass rings that so many of us strive to reach, and make our own. These things only serve to dim the light and clutter our jars. I would even go as far as to say that we should not place these items directly in our jars, we should stack them up outside. Sure someone might take something, or maybe they will fade, but the truth of the matter is these things are all temporary, and space is limited! You realize that right? Your jar can only hold so much. What takes up the space is up to you. I don’t know about you, but when that jar breaks when my light has gone on to the next chapter, I don’t want people sifting through debt, useless trinkets, and meaningless trophies that only served to make my life here look good. I want them to find the love that I left behind, the family that loves others fearlessly because I loved so deeply, I want them to find the glory of God that protected me throughout my journey here, I want them to pick up and use every ounce mercy that I left, because I will no longer need it. These are the things worth putting in your jar, these are the things that magnify the light of the Lord, and these are the things that when your jar does break, and you move on in your journey, others can come behind, pick up and put in their jar to continue on building the kingdom, building their lives, and filling their jar with worth while things to leave behind for those that come behind them. I can promise you, we will take nothing into this world that we did not bring into it, so take the time to look at what is going into your jar.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 23rd

Acts 14: 1-2

¹At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. ²But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

 

We live in turbulent times to sat the least. The struggles the Paul and Barnabas faced we also face today. While we might come from different perspectives, and “denominations” our faith is the same, the faith in Christ crucified is what holds us together. However there will always be those that will try to poison our minds, and the minds of those around us. Just like Paul and Barnabas, we find that the enemy is not always outside of the gate, but standing right next to us. The attack does not come as most battles are waged. This attack comes on the whispers of doubt, they start with well my God wouldn’t, or the God I believe in……the damage is not sudden like the point of a sword, but it is dull and grows like a cancer, slowly spreading until the entire body is rotten. The brothers had to struggle against that cancer, and it is a cancer that is alive today. We have but one God to worship, He has but one Son. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He might be your God, or My God but at the end of the day He is THE God. We should heed the reminder, and cleave to what we know to be truth. We do not bend God to fit into our will, we must bend our lives to fit into the will of God. The former is the most employed way that people will pervert the Word of God, the latter is the path to salvation. We must be on the look out for those that would distort and manipulate the Word of God so that it will justify turning off the path.  There will always be people who will try to convince you that “their way” is the right way. There is but ONE WAY, and that is the way of the Lord, there is a great reference book out there for those that might have questions….it is called the Bible, it is filled with guidelines for not “a way” but for the way THE WAY……the Way of Christ. Don’t depend on anyone else’s way, don’t look to someone else’s God. Look to your God, the one who has known you before you were born. Don’t allow yourself to be poisoned, suit yourself up with the full armor of God.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Friday the 19th

Acts 10:27-29

 

²⁷Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. ²⁹So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

 

This whole account of Peter being called to Cornelius is very telling, and there is much that can be taken from all that transpired, but this passage always strikes me. Peter walks right into the middle of a place where he has been taught he does not belong…….. not just does not belong, but a place where it is illegal for him to go! He not only went, but went without even really knowing why he was going. It makes me question how often do we miss opportunities? How often do we stay planted when we feel the urge to move. We do this because of the unknown. We feel drawn to do something but the “what ifs” and the “what about” get to us, and we don’t move. All too often we decide not to do something because we find ourselves in the same situation that Peter found himself in. The world, the “laws” tell us that we should not do that. When we are called to move, we have to move. Fearlessly, and with the full faith that God is protecting us, and watching over us. There is seldom a day where I do not think of Romans 8:28 “God works for the good in the lives of the people who love Him, and have been called to His purpose.”  We cannot let ourselves become paralyzed by the virus of mediocrity, we cannot allow ourselves to be held fast by traditions of man that keep the full glory of God from being revealed to the world. No matter the situation, no matter how impossible it might seem, if the Lord calls us we have to follow. Set your feet on the path of the Lord, it all starts with one step forward!

 

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Thursday the 18th

Acts 9: 21-22

 

²¹All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" ²²Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

 

 

People just don’t get it sometimes….When Saul accepted the Lord into his life, he his life took a 180 degree turn from where it was heading. While he still looked like the same person on the outside, he was very different on the inside. He talked with the same voice, but what he talked about changed, He still went to the same locations, but his purpose had changed, Saul was very different , but in a sense still very much the same man. As a result the Jews did not get him, they could not fathom the strength, power and glory that Christ had shown through Paul……but that is exactly how He works! The rejected stone will become the capstone, the weak will defy the strong, and the common man will baffle the wise. Why is this important to understand? It is important, because this is your story, this is my story as well. When Christ shows up in your life it is a life changing event, that lasts a lifetime…..and beyond. The question that you spend a lifetime answering, is will you be strong like Saul was? Saul did not care what others said about him. Paul lost friends, he lost his position, he had people so confused that they were prepared to kill him. Yet he did not waver. The more that Saul pushed ahead, the more that the Lord blessed him with. Scripture says that Saul grew more and more powerful. That is not to say that Saul became stronger. Paul became powerful because he allowed the power of Christ to shine through him. On the road to Damascus Saul realized just how weak he was and just how powerful the Lord is. Paul allowed Christ to work through him, and when we do that there is no other alternative than to become more powerful. That is the strength, and power that is offered to each one of us, does it come with a worldly cost? Yes, yes it does, just like Saul you will lose friends, you will lose a lot that the world will no longer want to give you. Let them have it. Take the path that Saul chose. Chose to once and for all leave your old life behind, you don’t need it! Make the turn, and place Christ in the drivers seat, let the world talk, let the world plot, and plan, It is of no matter. If you want the peace that Saul had, if you want the security, the joy, and the power that Saul had, then make the choice to confuse the world, baffle them just as Saul did. You might look, talk, and walk the same, but let the world figure out that while the outside is the same….. inside is a very, very different person.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 17th

Acts 8:36

 ³⁶As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

 

Why shouldn’t He be baptized…..right now?  Why shouldn’t we seize the moment and live for God…..right now, Why shouldn’t you take that chance that God has placed in your life and step out in faith……right now. What I love about this scripture is the sense of urgency that the eunuch had. It was not well let’s wait until we get to town, or maybe this weekend I can schedule some time. The only thought eunuch had was why not right now? God works in our lives constantly, sometimes we can see it, other times we cannot. Make no mistake about it though, when the Lord comes  into our lives and presents opportunities, it is right now. He does not say hey next year, or next month I need you to. He shows up and says NOW. Go, leave your people and follow the path I have laid, or go to this town, and preach the word, maybe it is go help a friend in need….The Lord might give you an idea of what is to come, but it is always followed with but right now, I need you to……..Often though we find ourselves more like Jonah, instead of Moses. We have other ideas, we have other plans, we think there are other things we need to do THEN we will get to what God is pointing us at. We need to approach life the way the eunuch approached baptism, why not right now? We need to quit looking at all of the reasons we are telling ourselves later, and start saying NOW! I am just as guilty as anyone about this, it is all to easy to set some of the things the Lord is pulling us to off to the side, while we take care of “more pressing issues”. We wonder why we feel like we are spinning our wheels, we can’t figure out why we keep running the race only to find that we are running in a circle, we shake our fists and shout why?! If we stop and think about it, we might be surprised to find that our problem is that we are working on the worlds issues, not the Lord’s. Why not right now? Everyday we work for a paycheck, but are we spending time working on our soul? Everyday we look at our plans for our life, but are we stopping to see if those plans line up with God’s? Everyday we work to advance our agenda, but what about the Lord’s? What about right now? Is the Lord pulling you towards something? Have you taken the time to look? Maybe you know exactly what it is, but you have other things going on……Why not right now?

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 16th

Acts 8: 18-19

 

¹⁸When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.

 

Simon the sorcerer is not too different than many people. They see the amazing effect that the Lord has in peoples lives, they see the change in the people when the Holy Spirit fills their lives, and they want it. They will do anything to get it, and the first place many people reach is their pocketbook. They think, if I can give enough money, if I can but enough stuff and give it away, there has to be something, someway to get my hands on that peace, and happiness……..and there is, but it is not an external thing, there is no amount of money that can buy it, there is no deed that can be done that will secure this gift. It is free, just like anyone offering a gift, the Lord has that life you so badly desire, He is holding it out in the palm of his hand, He is full of the same excitement, hope, and love that we all feel when we offer a gift. All you have to do is accept it! Open your heart, and let the Lord into your life. It is the best gift, the most liberating, the most fulfilling, the most complete gift that you can be given, and it is yours for the taking. Once you do take it, once you let the Lord in, then just like what Simon wanted to do so badly, you cannot wait to do….you share it. I would say it is one of the first feelings a person has once they receive the Lord into their lives, they are filled with so much joy, they want everyone around them to have it. Where are you at today, have you received this gift that is freely given? Have you allowed Christ into your life? Have you flung the doors of your heart open, and proclaimed to the world that Jesus is your rock that you will stand on?  Have you seen the amazing transformation that the Lord has had on others, and you desire the same? Then call on the Lord, invite Him in and let Him go to work. If you desire to share in the kingdom building, if you want to see the spectacular life that God has planned for you, then open your heart, and fully receive the gift that is offered. There is no cover charge, all it takes to start is one word. YES.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Friday the 12th

Acts 7:59

⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

 

Stephen did not cry out, Jesus it’s over, or thanks for the memories. He said “Jesus receive my spirit….Stephen had somewhere else to go. His time here was over but His life was just beginning. I was just talking to a friend of mine about this subject yesterday, and look where scripture finds me the very next day…….I will try to keep this short. Reading about Stephen’s death should remind us all of a very important fact. We all are going to lose this life. We don’t  know when, we don’t know how, but you can rest assured that it will happen. This life is not the prize. Yet we often live like it is. We spend a lot of our time getting ready for our retirement. The first speech I heard about retirement was when I was about 18 years old. A fella came in and told us all about how we had to be prepared to retire. Who we needed to be able to take care of, how we should invest our money, how we should plan for the next 20 – 30 years very carefully so that when we quit working we will be ready, and so will those that are in our life. We are told that if we plan right the we will still be able to take care of those around us, and live the life we want……but what about our real retirement? The one where we don’t quit working….the one where we leave this earth. Are we planning as carefully for that retirement? Have we invested our time in those around us so that when we leave they are prepared? I dare say that most of us don’t have a very good retirement plan. I say this because if we did funerals would be a very different event for us. What do we normally hear at funerals? How will I live without them….why did they have to be taken….why did they have to go like that? These are faithless questions. If we invest in our retirement, our funeral should be a celebration. We all suffer the pain of losing someone, and I am not diminishing that one bit, We all hurt, but if we have invested the time with our families, if we have invested our time with those around us, if we have spent our lives making sure that once we were gone people would be ready……..wait a second……I think we already have a model for that…..Christ spent his time with His disciples doing what? Preparing them for when He would leave. Every lesson, every story, every action instilled more faith in those around Him, and prepared them for the time when He would no longer walk with them. I don’t bring this up to be morbid or try to depress anyone on this Friday morning, but in my humble opinion death is not something to mourn, not for the righteous, not for those that have given their hearts to the Lord. We have no control over how we will go, your righteousness does not predicate your demise….I am sure that Stephen would have rather gone in his sleep! We don’t get to pick when…matter of fact know this, until it is your time to go, until you have done what you were sent to do, there is not a person in this world that can take your life…and when it is your time to go….well, there is not a doctor in the world that can save it. So I ask you, how is your retirement plan? We strive to live our lives like Christ, but are we preparing those around us, as He did? How are we investing out time and energy. A family that is left with nothing but a strong faith in the Lord, is better off than a family that is left with a huge bank account, but no Faith! We have places to go, and we don’t know when we will leave…..start planning your retirement today!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Thursday the 11th

Acts 7:58

58 (They) dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

 Saul (Paul) is a testament to just how much a person’s life can change when they let Christ into their life. Imagine Saul standing there watching as each stone was thrown, standing by watching the sin, as people gave him their cloaks to hold. Just because He did not actively throw that stone, is he any less responsible? Just because he might have been following the same train of thought as the larger group does that make it right? How often have you been asked to hold peoples cloaks while they carried out the devils work? Indifference is not righteousness, not by a long shot. Jumping in and going along with the group as an observer is no different that being an active participant on many levels. How often have you said “well, I can’t make a difference anyway”? A quick look at Paul’s life reminds us that we do not have to live that way, we do not have to accept what the world puts in front of us, and we are not bound by any mold that the world pours for us. We are children of the Most High God, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords,  there is no limit to what we can achieve…..but it all starts with that first step, that decision to no longer be a coat rack for the world, the choice to speak up even when the world tells us to sit down and shut up. It starts with the choice to honor God with our lives, and not the world. There are things going on in our world, the one we live in daily, the one that we have influence in. Are we holding the cloaks or are we getting involved? We don’t need group think, we need God think, God did not create us to be spectators, he meant for us to be key players on the field of life. No matter what you have done, no matter what you have witnessed, just like Paul, each one of us has the potential to become what God has planned, but we too need to see the light. Quit holding the cloaks today, step into the fray, and make a difference.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 10th

Acts 5: 11

 

¹¹Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."

 

There will always be people out there who will speak out against you. If they cannot find something in your past to drag up, then they will just make something up that suits their need. A lie always spreads quickly. I hear people question that if they are following the Lord, if they have given their lives to Christ, then why is their life still so difficult. Our lives here on earth have never been promised to be easy. We will face tragedy, pain, heartache….all types of trials will be found along our path. A great many of these will be carried out by the hands of others. It is our life beyond this one that we are working for. Our reassurance, our life raft, our sustenance, comes from the rock of Jesus Christ. Lies being spread about you? Yes it will happen, people working to tear you down, absolutely, do not let these things wear you out, don’t waste your precious time on them. We are each given 12 hours of daylight, that day is lit by the light of Christ. The relationship that counts, is the one you have with Christ. He is well aware of the trials you are going through, and He is looking to see how you will handle them. Will you get down with the pigs, wallow in the mud, and focus on your problems, or will you walk by these distractions, and focus on your God? Will you stoop to the level of the world, and spread lies in return about those who hurt you? Or will you rise to the challenge of the day, and realize that God works for the good in the lives of those who love Him, and trust that He is working in your life right now to bring you into a better season. Hardships will arise, it is your choice how you handle them, I for one will trust in my heavenly Father. I will rely on His Son, and my brother to guide me, sustain me, and protect me, come what may.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 9th

Acts 5:8

 

⁸Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
      "Yes," she said, "that is the price."    

 

 

When this story is read so many people hear that money was held back, and that was the sin. While that was the action that started it off, it was not the action that led to their demise. It was the lie that stopped that stopped their hearts. It is the same situation that we find ourselves in time and time again. How often do we say well, I am not lying……I just did not tell the whole truth……that is what happened to Ananias and Sapphira…they did not lie…….they just told a modified version of the truth………a lie, just by another name. In all aspects of our life there is only one way to give, totally. We give all we have. Why? Because that is what Christ gave each one of us. When we offer anything to the Lord, the only thing worthy to give is 100%. By giving less than what they had, then lying about it Ananias, and Sapphira said here God this is what you are worth to me…..less than everything I have.  They were saying “hey, I am going to talk about being a Christian, I am going to talk about giving everything I have, but when it comes to doing it….well what you don’t know won’t hurt you” This is the attitude that many of us go through life with. We lie to ourselves, and we lie to the Lord by saying “Lord, I want everything that you have to give, all of the hope, all of the love, all of the forgiveness, but I am only going to give what I see fit back to you”. We treat people in our lives the same way, we want it all from them, but hold back when it is our time to give….all the while telling them this is all that I have to give. I cannot stress this enough, this life is not the prize, the finish line is not found in the grave. Think of it like this. We start off our life with a bag full of goodness. It is brimming with all types of blessings form the Lord, as we live our life, we hand out what we have in our bag. You find along the way that the more you give, the more the Lord puts back in the bag. If you are thinking that you need to get a bigger bag you are missing the point…... You don’t monitor the bag to make sure you still have something left, you just keep reaching in and giving all that you have. It is my hope and prayer that we can all find a way to give enough so that the day we stand before the Lord, there is not one thing left in our bag. I want to be able to hold it upside down and shake it, and tell the Lord, I have given all that I had Lord, because you were all that I ever needed.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Friday the 5th

John 1: 40

⁴⁰Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). ⁴²And he brought him to Jesus.   Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter^[j]).

 

I was talking with a friend about yesterday’s scripture that I had selected, and among many things, we talked about how with the Lord in your life anything really is possible, and how Peter met Christ. That got me to thinking (which can be a dangerous thing sometimes) Yes, the Lord uses us to accomplish amazing things in His name, there is no limit to His greatness…..so that begs the question, well why am I not famous, why am I not preaching in front of thousands of people, or why has God not used me in such a way that I can see the impact I have made……..whenever that question is asked I always think of Andrew, or as I and most people remember him……Peter’s brother. While Andrew did go out and accomplish great things after the earthly death of Christ (He brought the gospel to the Ukraine, and is their patron saint for one), the single most important thing he did, and what he is known for in the Bible, he brought his brother Simon to meet Christ. You see, while we all might strive to do great things in our life to advance the kingdom of the Lord, often it is the things we don’t put much thought into that can have the greatest impact. Andrew brought Simon Peter to Christ, something he put no thought into. We would all do the same thing ….but look at the impact it had on Christianity, look at the relationship that developed between Christ, and Peter, without Andrew bringing his brother, things would have been very different. That is the role that many of us play, for some it might be the greatest thing they accomplish…..I could think of worse things to be known for than bringing someone to meet Christ…..So often we miss the opportunity given to us, because we are so focused on what we think we are supposed to be doing. All the while all the Lord really needs us to do is bring our brother. It is the little things, the off the cuff comment, the missed chance to witness, the poor treatment of an unknown person, these things are the missed opportunities for God. You might never be known to the world, that might not be your role, perhaps the single most important thing you do for Christ could be something as simple as raising your children up in the Word. Maybe it is a chance encounter that brings someone to Christ, we just never know what God has placed in our path. That is why it is all important. When you think God is not using you, when you think you have not accomplished anything, when you feel like you are unimportant….think of Andrew. History might not record your name, but know it is etched into the heart of the Lord. You might not think twice about helping someone out, or encouraging someone, or doing any number of things that you do everyday, but take notice of them all, they all matter. It might just be that one little thing is your part to play in this huge production we call life!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

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Thursday the 4th

Acts 4:13

¹³When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

 

Normal everyday people, that had an extraordinary gift. Was it public speaking? Maybe the power of the written word…….no that was not their gift. These men came form a humble background, they were fishermen. They were just two common fellas that had one truth that they were compelled to share with the world. That truth, that gift, that source of power, authority,  and brilliance, was Jesus Christ. Think about that. People of unassuming, uneducated backgrounds, through the power of Jesus Christ, were transformed into men who the world took notice of. Noting held them back because Christ was with them to help propel them forward. The Holy Spirit gave them the knowledge that they needed when they needed it, just as Christ promised them. Folks, this is a testament to your life! This shows that it is not the height of your education that matters, it is the depth of your faith that counts! These men lived a life that shows all of us the power of Christ! The world might tell you that you are not smart enough, they might say that you don’t have the right piece of paper to hang on the wall, you don’t have enough experience, you don’t know the right people, or run in the right circles of influence… the world always has a reason to put you down, kick you and rough your up, but know this……..when the Lord is ready to move a person of faith……..there is no ocean to deep, wall to high, or obstacle to big for the Lord to overcome. Ordinary men have been changing the world for a long time. Noah was not a ship builder, Daniel was not a lion tamer,  Peter did not know how to levitate on water…..yet with the Lord firmly in their life they all took the world by storm in their day! Where do you find yourself today? Will you allow yourself to continue to listen to the world? Will you continue to believe the lies that the world tells you when they say you are not good enough? Or will you reach deep inside of your being, and open the door of your soul to Christ? No one is ordinary to the Lord, your credentials do not matter to God. The only thing you are scored on is your faith, and it is that very faith in Christ that can give you strength, courage, knowledge, peace, safety, or a sword, whenever you need it. You are extraordinary in the eyes of the Lord, so live your life as such.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 3rd

Acts 3:6

 

 ⁶Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

 

Here we find Peter coming upon a cripple man, a man that has physical limitations, and is looking for the world to help him out. Instead of looking for a way to better this his life, this man is content to sit and let others come to him. When he sees Peter, he is expecting money….a quick fix, something that might make him feel better for a short time, but will not serve him well in the long run. What does Peter tell the man? I don’t have any money, but you can have what I do have to give! See God is not a banker, the Lord is not into giving quick fixes, or band-aid solutions. The Lord is into transformations. The Lord focuses on the eternal, not the temporal. How many of us approach our lives like the beggar? How many of us treat our spiritual life like some type of barter town? Just like the beggar we too are crippled, we too are faced with a choice. We can sit on the ground, and hope that someone comes by and fixes us for a short while, or we can search out the eternal fix, we can find the compass that will take us home, the light that will cast away the shadows of this dark world. No, Jesus will not finance your love of this world, but he will freely give you the keys to the kingdom! If you want to start fixing your life, then start with fixing your heart. Quit begging from crumbs, and start feasting on the promises of the Lord. It’s a funny thing I have noticed, people that are happy, people that have their life together, they don’t spend their day looking for a way to fix their life. They spend their day looking for where the Lord is leading them……and it is no surprise that path they follow is smoother (not perfect), and straighter (though not always easier). God uses each one of us as a testament to His Love, and His grace. Which are you looking for today? The quick fix, or the eternal gift? Shut out the world, and listen to your heart, don’t search for silver or gold. Take firm hold of the truth found in Jesus Christ. Place that in your heart first, search out His will. You might be surprised to find that all you have been worried about, all that you have been searching for, the Lord is more than happy to handle. Leave the begging lifestyle of this world behind you, resolve to let the Lord work for you, allow yourself to receive what is freely given. The Lord will take care of the rest.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 2nd

Acts 2:39

 

³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

 

For all the Lord our God will call. God calls out to people daily. Who hears it, and what is done with it is a very different story. I want to highlight the first part of this passage “this promise is for you, and your children” You have an invitation to be part of the Holy Family, a part of a group of people that make up the body of Christ, this invitation is not just for you, but for everyone in your family……I have talked to people who, while they go to church, they feel like they are just there because that is what they do….always have…always will. Third seat second row on the left, that is their spot. Folks, those people are not accepting the invitation as it is extended. They suffer, and their family suffers. Why? Because this promise, the promise of the Holy Spirit, the promise of forgiveness of sins…it is meant to be shared, it is meant to be modeled, and it is meant to be a Monday thru Monday event. It is meant as a group activity, starting with each one of us. The Lord made this promise to all that would be called, are you taking God up on that invitation? Do you extend that invitation to all in your house? Do you find that your house is a house that celebrates all that God has done, or is it a house where everyone is wanting more of the world? This is a huge part of utilizing that invitation.  Take God up on His promise. Bring that promise into your house. Place the Lord at the center of your home, and you will see that the Holy Spirit will work, not just in you, but in your entire family. Allow your house to accept the forgiveness, and the love that comes form the promise of God, and watch as that love spreads throughout your house. God has called you, and He has called your family, will you hear it? Will you allow it in…not just yourself, but inside of your home, your family, your world? God made the promise, Christ fulfilled it, now it is up to each of us to accept it,  to utilize it, and to pass it along. This promise is for you, what you do with it……well that is up to you.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Monday the 1st

John 21:25

²⁵Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

 

Jesus is still doing amazing things all around us every day. The books continue to be written. They are written by people like you and me, and likewise the things that Jesus accomplishes now, depend on you and me as well. That is our purpose here in this world. We are to carry on in the name of Christ so that all might come to know His name. Just like the disciples that left out of the upstairs room so many years ago, they went out and set the world on fire, it is now up to us…..up to you. You play a huge role in God’s plan. Whether your role is up front leading or in the background making sure it all comes together, the Lord needs you so that His Word will continue to live. Christ enters into the heart and lives of every person that will call on His name. He will transform your life so that you might go out and transform others. Christ’s blessing is not something to be kept to yourself, just like the candle Christ spoke of, you do not put it under a bowl, you set it out so that all might see the light, and come see the truth. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. How many hear about that, how many will be touched by that is up to you. John is right when he says that the world does not have room for the books that would be written, because Christ cannot be contained by this world, nor can you. Unleash the power of the Lord that is inside of you this week, Start the next chapter, find your place in the history of the Lord, and go to work. There is room for all of us, and you might not believe it, but if you don’t show up…..you will be missed. Christ continues to work in this world, He does it through me and through you. Resolve to write your book….the book that Christ calls your life.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

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