Wed the 31st

Matthew : 26 ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

 

Woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man……Judas betrayed Christ for some coin in his pocket. I do not mean to harp on this subject, but in light of this week I can’t help but feel compelled to reflect more on our relationship with Christ, than His relationship with us! A lot of times in life we have to make a choice of which side of the fence do we come down on. As Christians we are taught to offer compassion, and to offer that compassion…we often have to get down on the level of the person or situation so that we might truly understand the need, or problem. However the danger in that comes in the form of sympathy. Sympathy causes us to pick up the cause of the very person we set out to help. When we allow our hearts to be ruled by sympathy we find it very easy to adjust our moral compass. We change sides because we allow sympathy to distort our view. What does this have to do with Judas? Judas, on some level, had to of allowed himself to become sympathetic to the Jewish point of view. Be it for personal gain, notoriety, or immunity….we will never know the full story in this lifetime….but  when all was said and done, something in Judas made him believe that it would be easier, and more beneficial to side with the Jews. Even greedy men have morals, and no one follows a man for years, then betrays him for money if he still believes in him. So why do I bring this up? Because this is how we betray Christ on a much smaller scale today. We shrink form the hard tasks, we allow ourselves to become sympathetic to the world’s view, we find personal gain or notoriety, and as a result we sell out Christ a little bit at a time. As Christ told us, we are either with Him, or against Him. We cannot allow ourselves to have our bond with the Lord become compromised because of a sympathetic ear to the world. We can be empathetic all day long, We can try to understand, we can work to see opposing viewpoints, and search for common ground, but what we can not do is betray Christ by siding with the world in the name of peace. Debate is good, and Christ told the Disciples that they should not fear when they have to speak in front of the authorities, for the Holy Spirit will fill their mouth with the words they need. He will do the same for us. There is no amount of material things that could tempt a heart bound to the Lord, but a heart that has become sympathetic…..well thirty pieces of silver just might do the trick. In a few short days Christ will hang on the cross, He will suffer such human stress that his skin will weep blood tinged sweat, He will be beaten, He will be spat upon, He will live through such brutality that it is not imaginable. He has done that for you, not us, not the world, but on a very deep, personal, and individual level, He gives His life blood. Do not betray that love, do not allow the world to turn you sympathetic to their cause.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 30th

John 13: ³⁷Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

 ³⁸Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

 

Will you really lay your life down for me? What a question. For as we know, there is no greater love than for one to lay his life down for his brother. Yet here we find Jesus telling Peter that not only will he not lay his life down, he will actually deny Christ 3 times. This event does come to pass, and Peter does deny the Christ. Out of fear for his life Peter acts like he does not know Christ at all!  Now we know that in the end Peter does give His life for Christ, hanging upside down on a cross until dead; but this does give us a chance to see Peter as ourselves. Don’t we have a good relationship with Christ? Don’t we follow him, and try and model our lives after him?? But do we deny Him? Are there times in our life when it is easier to act like we just do not know Him? Sadly that answer is yes. Take heart though! God’s plan will be fulfilled! It is what we do once we realize the denial that counts. Do we correct it? Do we let that become our first step off the path? What happened in Peter’s life that made him go from denying Christ to an unabashed, unashamed, boldly speaking disciple once again? Christ came to him, and gave him the Holy Spirit…... That same Spirit that lives inside of you! Peter’s denial was a low point in his spiritual life, and we all have those moments. The question is do we define the moment, or does the moment define us? Do we shrink form the challenge, or do we allow the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak? Do we trust our worldly instinct to cower and hide when we find ourselves in a low spot, or do we turn that weakness over to God and allow Him to be at His strongest?  If Christ can take His cross and march it to His human death for each one of us, I believe we each can take our smaller and lighter cross and carry it proudly through our lives. Will we drop it? Occasionally yes, I am sure we will, Jesus himself fell under the weight of His cross. Yet we cannot allow that low spot to become our resting point. No, we will have an eternity of rest with the Lord, until that time, may we each recognize our low spots, our denials, and our transgressions for what they are,….they are not our end, but a new opportunity…. a chance for the Holy Spirit to direct us, Christ to protect us, and the Almighty God to give us the strength that we will need for our journey. 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

Monday the 29th

John 12: ⁷"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

 

As we get this week started, the final days before the death and resurrection of Christ, I want to bring up one of the things that always seems to hit me this time of year. Christ knew he was going to die, He knew and He never wavered. He understood that His life would offer freedom for the world. So He never wavered. I can’t help but think how we are in the same situation. We might not know when or how, but we all know that we will die. Yet how often do we waver? How amazing that Christ lived a sinless life, and we struggle to live a sinless day! Christ marched to his demise without dodging, or shying away (and we know from Gethsemane, that He was not Crazy about the idea!) Yet we tend to live each day, all too often, looking for how we can do less, not how much more we can do. As we go through this final week of Christ’s human life we see His strength, His humility, His honor, and His greatness. Christ did many amazing things during His time on earth, He taught great concepts, and preformed many miraculous healings. But it is during this week we see His true strength, a strength that can be found inside of each one of us….yes inside of you too. We have that strength specifically because of the sacrifice made by Christ. Just like Christ we know we too will meet our earthly demise. We have a choice to make…..we can choose death, or we can choose life. We can look to the last week of Christ’s life, and draw on the strength He showed. We can choose to allow ourselves to be tossed around with the current direction of the wind, or we can decide to chart our course, and walk with Christ daily. As we go through this week resolve to draw on the strength of Christ, allow His love, and direction to fill your heart. Resolve to live your life knowing that while death might await many, it does not wait for you! The power of Christ is alive in you today, tomorrow, and forever, Let us each live our lives accordingly.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Friday the 26th

John 10: ³⁷Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. ³⁸But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

 

Here again we see Christ setting out a great example. Do as I do. You don’t believe what I say? Fine, believe what I do. How different is that from what we see today? We have political leaders, bosses, co workers, maybe family members, and even in some cases Church leaders, who all live a life of do as I say and not as I do……in other words, “I will tell you how to live, but don’t expect me to follow it.” That is no model for the Christian life, believe me I know. I spent quiet a bit of my life telling people what they need to be doing, but never following it myself. Guess what happens? People quit listening. One thing that cannot be refuted, one that that cannot be challenged, is how we live our lives, not by what we say, but by what we do. We can memorize bible verses, we can write great speeches, and sermons. Unless we back that up with actions it means very little. If we are to be taken for brothers, and sisters of Christ….if we want the world to see us as children of God, then we must do the hard task of walking the walk. That means putting our selfish needs aside, and working for the good of those around us, it means turning off the T.V. and praying as a family, it means that maybe that Sunday game is not as important as the poor who need food, or the lost that need witnessing. Christ came to serve, not to be served, He came to heal, not to destroy. He came to save the world not himself. As Christ committed his life into His Fathers hands, let us strive to commit our into the hands of Christ. AS Christ set about doing the work of His Father, let us set out to continue the work of Christ. People will have no choice but to believe when they see that your words, are backed up with actions. People might think you love the Lord because of what you say, let them KNOW that you do by the way you live out your life.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Thursday the 25th

1 John 4: ⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

I have to admit that I tend to forget this on some mornings. I wake up get the day started and start worrying. Worried if I can accomplish all I need to, worry if I will get the raise I asked for, if my kids will be alright…..I catch myself halfway through the morning, and realize that I have wasted a huge amount of time worrying, and lost a lot of time getting done what I was worried about doing! It is then that this scripture comes to mind. The people who speak against me, the gauntlets that are thrown down in my path…..these things are nothing to waste my time worrying about. Why you might ask? Because the One in me is greater then the one who is in the world. In my darkest hour, up against my fiercest adversary, or facing my toughest tasks, I have no need to do anything other than put one foot in front of the other, The Good Lord will clear my path…….if I will let Him! See, for the devil to win he does not need you to turn back, he needs you to quit moving forward. He does not depend on you losing faith, he depends on you giving him the opportunity of doubt. The devil does not need a doorway to walk through, all he needs is a cracked window. There is nothing to big for my God, there is no obstacle that can’t be cleared, no foe that cannot be overcome. Christ does not have to travel far when you call on Him. He is inside of you each and every day. The Holy Trinity will guide you, protect you, and clear the path of your life. We have already overcome those that would oppose us, for we have the One in us that is greater than anyone or anything in the world. So make it a point to start your day off with the Lord. Remember each and every morning that you are a child of the most high God. The world has already been overcome, we are saved, we are strong, and we are forgiven. With that knowledge step out into the world knowing that the world does not stand a chance.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 24th

John 8: ³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

 

The truth shall set you free. This is a term we hear a lot. While it is a true saying by itself, when taken in context we really get the full understanding of what it is to be free. To know the truth, to have that truth in your life, we have to hold to the teachings of Christ. We have to acknowledge, and trust in God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. When we do that, it does not just make us  free from this world, or from death, but the truth that is found will set you free from sin. It is a truth that once found, must be held onto at any cost. That is what we do with the truth, we uphold it, we stand up for it, and we protect it at all cost. We have to keep that truth close to us, and hold it in our hearts where it can never be tarnished. It reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They can be found in Daniel Chapter 3. These men stood before Nebuchadnezzar and refused to bow to his god. These men knew the true God, and they would not be moved. They were so committed that they were willing to give their very lives instead of denying the one true God. God was watching, and God was with them, and when thrown into the furnace they were saved, not just saved as in they did not burn, but in their time of need a fourth man showed up, not on the out side of the furnace, the man did not tap the king on the shoulder and ask why he was burning the men…..no He showed up in the furnace right along side the men in the flames, a man that Nebuchadnezzar himself said looked like the Son of God. That is how the Lord works when you hold His truth in your heart! He is not some cold spectator idly watching as His plan unfolds. He gets involved, He is a God of action, and it is no surprise that His Son was busy saving people from the flames back then, just as He is still doing today. The truth will set you free. Do you feel chained down by this world? Do you think that you are stuck where you are at, destined to trudge through life? Maybe your life is pretty good right now, but you still feel like something is missing…….I urge you to let the truth set you free. Don’t just read the Word of God, don’t just say “sure I believe in the Christ”. Allow that truth to open up and blossom in your heart, allow the flood gates of the Lord to open up and overflow into your life with the truth. The Lord will show up in your life, He will work on your behalf to improve your life, and move you through your current season. If you want to be free of the chains that bind you down, if you want to experience the fullness of all this life has to offer, then I urge you to seek the truth, not the truth of this world, but the true truth, the one truth, the way, the truth, and the life, that is Jesus Christ. Then you will know the truth, and the truth WILL set you free. Amen

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 23rd

John 9  ²⁷They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

 

When they have lifted up the son of man, then they will know……if we read the text literally it brings to mind the crucifixion of Christ, when he was lifted up onto the cross. When we read the text surrounding the event in Luke 23 the centurion says surly this is a righteous man. Mark 15 gets to the heart of the matter and recorded that what was spoken was “truly this man was the son of God” Matthew 27 echoes the same words form Mark. It brings to mind the account in Numbers 21 where the Israelites were saved from their sin by seeing the bronze serpent raised on the pole by Moses. So what is the point? All too often we are so lost in our own sin that we do not realize that salvation is right in front of us!  We think we are heading down the right path, we make excuses for our behavior, and our vices instead of lifting our gaze to the cross of Christ and accepting the true salvation that is so freely, and unselfishly offered. As we approach the end of this Lenten season, as we draw ever closer to the passion week; let us use this time as a period of self evaluation. Let us search for the truth, and the life that is inside of us, let us lift our hearts and our gaze to the cross of Christ, and allow Him to purge us of our sins, forgive us of our transgressions, and unite us with Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. Do not allow yourself to become like the Israelites lost in their sin. They could not bring themselves to raise their eyes, they could not bring themselves to trust in the Lord. Free yourself, and live the life of abundance that the Lord has planned for you. Lift your soul to the cross of Christ.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Wed the 17th

 

 

Isaiah 49:  ⁹ to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.  ¹⁰ They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.  ¹¹ I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.

Come out, and be free! What a glorious, compassionate God we serve! God is working on our behalf at all times just by reading this short passage we can see that God will protect us, feed us, give us much needed life giving water, and make our roads easier to travel. With God working in our lives we truly are unstoppable. To acknowledge that fact is to open the doors in your life for blessing, Even Christ Himself relied on His Father. In John 5: 19 Jesus tells us that he does nothing on His own, only what He sees His father doing. Christ lives His life following the will of His Father. So we live modeling our lives in much the same fashion. We can do nothing….ok well nothing of great lasting importance without God in our hearts, and Christ by our sides. We spend much of our time questioning why we can’t get our lives in order, or why we can never seem to get our road straight and level……maybe we should put the shovel and level down, and let God run the equipment, while we get busy walking! The Lord has promised us time and time again that He will always be there for us, yet we still question, we read time and time again how Christ depended on His Fathers love, and guidance, to withstand the evil in this world, yet we wonder why we so often fall to temptation. Continuing in Isaiah 49 the Lord goes as far as to say, even though a mother might forget her child, HE will never forget us. He will always be there for us, He always works for the good in the lives of those who love him….why not let Him? As He will never forget you, resolve to never forget him. He is the one who will turn mountains to roads, He is the one who will provide pasture on what was a barren hill, He is the one who will lead you to water….. …………….Come out and be free!

 

I will be out the rest of the week, and will not, have much computer access, so Have a blessed weekend, hug your kids, and Happy St. Patrick’s day!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Tuesday the 16th

Ezekiel 47:  ⁵ He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.

 

The account of the river flowing from the temple in the book Ezekiel gives us an illustration of just how important we are to the plan of the Lord. To paraphrase the account, Ezekiel is shown the Temple, and there is a small stream of water leaving form the temple, and running under the Temple wall out to the east. The person showing him this measures off a thousand cubits, and has Ezekiel measure as he crosses the stream, at this point it is up to his ankles, at another thousand it is to his knee, then at another thousand it is impassable by foot, he would have to swim, that stream, had become a river, giving life to all the surrounding area of the river. I find it of no coincidence that the further away form the temple they go the deeper and the wider the river….Obviously the water is the life giving force of the Lord, but we make up that river as well. Yes it all starts at church, we go we recharge our batteries, we feast on the word of God, and fill our souls. The stream leaving the Church is small at that point because we are so close to God, we are at the starting point, all we have to do is look in any direction, and we can see reaffirmations of the greatness of the Lord. It is when we leave, as we go out into the world that our work becomes important. God is not just at church, He is everywhere, his boundaries know no limits, but it is up to us to spread His word, and build His kingdom. The further we get from church the more we must bind together, so that we form a deep wide river, full of the love, and knowledge of the Lord. We spread out and become the life giving force that God uses to complete his work.  All to often though our river runs backwards, starting off as a trickle at a distance then widening the closer we get to Church. We are like the lame man waiting by the pool found in John 5. We stay close waiting for someone to come by and help us. As a result we often end up with a mass of crippled souls loitering around the church. It is through Christ we live, it is through Christ we are healed, it is through Christ we are given our directive, to pick up our mat and walk. Go out and spread the word of God, become part of the river, and bring life to a desolate world. Each and everyone of us carries the power of God within us, the Holy Spirit directs our steps, the opportunities we can create, and the wonders that we can achieve are limitless when done for the honor, and glory of God. Not just me, not that guy sitting next to you, but you too……yes you! We all have a vital role to play, we each add to the volume of the river that is flowing our from the temple. It is my prayer that we can all unite, and form a river that will feed the world, and bring the life giving water of the Lord to all who seek it. Mat we each find the strength, the faith, and the desire to jump into the river and increase the glory of God, so that we might fully experience the life that He has planned for each of us.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Monday the 15th

Isaiah 65: ¹⁷ "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

 

The Lord delights in healing us. He saves us from ourselves, and He saves our families as well. Notice when the Lord intervenes, when the Lord takes an interest, When He makes a change….it is permanent, it is for keeps. Isaiah reads that the former will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. When Christ, the man who knew no sin, became sin so that all might be saved, it marked a turning point. The Lord showed up, and saved us from ourselves. He overcame death so that we all might live. Gone is our past, forgotten are our sins, never to return. Our faith in Christ will heal all of our wounds, and replenish our souls. Much like the officers son that was saved from death in John Chapter 4. Christ bridges the gap for us, and gives us the golden ladder to ascend to our heavenly Father. Have you buried your past? Have you accepted the invitation to this new world….this new life? The Lord is waiting full of forgiveness, waiting for the chance to welcome you in. It is more than just making it to church, it is more than just going through the motions. It is a permanent, forever, life changing, for keeps kind of deal. It is allowing the Lord to work in your life, and save you from death, restoring your soul, your life, your hope and your joy. The price for admission has been paid, the invitation has been sent out, and there is no jacket required. As we start this week, resolve to fully accept the invitation extended. Step into your new life, the one the Lord has planned for you. Embrace it, and let the past be just that….the past, gone, forgotten, never to return.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Friday the 12th

Hosea 6: ⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

 

We spend so much time going through the motions don’t we? We do things because we are supposed to, or because we want to be nice, or thought of well. These same actions spill over into our spiritual life as well. Christ reiterates this in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector

 He shares in Luke 18. The Pharisee is so confidant in his place that he gives thanks for not being like the rest of humanity, while the tax collector would not even approach the temple area, he stood off with his eyes cast down. It all comes down to being honest with yourself, and accepting the love of Christ into your life. I think of it like this many people put on a good show, they give the right “sacrifices” in life, or they do what is expected, yet their heart is not right with God. On the outside they look put together, but on the inside they are lost souls. We cannot hide anything form the Lord He knows us and has known us better than we know ourselves since before we were born. So why the front? In this very material world we live in, it is easy to get caught up in appearances, but we must remember that the Lord does not care about appearances, or position. The Savior of the world came into human life in a barn, in the presence of common people, and common farm animals. I don’t think he is spending a lot of time looking at what you have amassed, or who’s name you can drop. The world cares about your pocket book, God cares about your heart, and soul. Have you ever noticed that no matter what you do to please the world you never feel fulfilled? Of course not! This life is not about the world it is about your relationship with the Lord. It took me a long time to figure that out, and really embrace it. Often I feel just like that tax collector, not worthy to approach God. I used to think well maybe I can cut a deal…if I go to church, or help the homeless, or make a donation……when all the while all He wanted form me was acknowledgement, and faithfulness. You see, the Lord knows us, he sees through the show, the smoke and the mirrors. He is not impressed. Rend your hearts to the Lord, live for Him. The world will not understand, but that is nothing new. It has never been about you and the world, it is only about you and the Lord.

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<))))><

 

 

 

Thursday the 11th

Luke 11:  ²¹"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. ²²But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.

 

It is easy to find comfort in sin. We fall into a rhythm and one day spills into the next, we feel strong, we feel secure, and we feel in many respects safe. The devil does not mess with you much when you are batting for his team. This is not a new behavior, this is not something that we came up with because the world is so corrupt and morally bankrupt today. No, Christ dealt with it in His time here on earth, and the Lord directly speaks about people becoming stuck in their sin in Jeremiah 7. This scripture in Luke shows us the true strength of the Lord. While we might feel strong in our sin, we might feel protected….when the Lord shows up in our lives, He shatters all evil in our house. He is the broom and the disinfectant that has the power to overcome any evil. He will strip away all of the chains of sin that all of this time you thought were armor. When that happens….when you surrender to the Creator of all things, you will find the armor that you so proudly wore was made of tin. Your comfort in sin was a façade from the devil….your security was only worldly security. The possessions that you wanted to protect were only trinkets all along. Your true source of strength, your true armor, your breastplate, your shield, your sword, and your helmet have been laid at your feet. Will you suit up for battle? Will you accept this true strength from the Lord, and protect not just yourself, but your brother? The Lord will come into your life and destroy your sin, He will clean your house, but it is up to you to protect, and fight for what has been given. To not do so only leaves a clean house for the return of sin. It is easy to live in sin, you can justify it, you can rationalize it, you can even try to defend it, but when Christ comes to call, you will be left with a choice, and it is a choice you will have to make everyday for the rest of your life. The Lord is knocking, will you let the cleaning begin?  

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

 

 

Wed. the 10th

Deuteronomy 4: ⁶ Observe (the laws from God given to Moses) them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."

 

Christ reinforces this teaching when He tells us that He came to fulfill the laws, not abolish them. However today we really are not held up as wise or understanding for following these laws are we? The world tends to call us foolish, or misguided. I was reading an article yesterday where the belief of the author was that Christian teachings belong in the same section as mythology! How did we get to this point? It is my belief that we are our own worst enemies. We want Christianity to be seen as wise and understanding, yet are we following the laws that we have been given? How can people take Christianity seriously when many of us trample on the very fabric of the faith? How do we do this? We don’t follow the laws. We don’t love our God, or our neighbor, and all to often we don’t love ourselves. We lie to cover our tracks, we tear others down to build ourselves up…you get the idea. Yes we are imperfect, and we all fall short of the Glory of God, but how short are we falling, and how hard are we working to make that distance as short as possible? We have been given these laws by God, we have been given His Son, as a one time sacrifice to fulfill the laws and the prophets.  If we are to be wise and understanding we must learn to love unequivocally, we must take these laws and live  them as an example, we must encourage our brothers and sisters to do the same. We must strive to unite at the cross of Christ, and resolve to live a life of love, the same love that God shows to us daily. When we do this, when we unite instead of fight with each other, when we build each other up in the name of the Lord, instead of tearing each other down, when we accept each other as one true family instead of strangers in a pew on Sunday morning….once again we will be seen as wise and understanding, and the glory of God will radiate across this planet for all nations to see.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

 

Tuesday the 9th

Romans 8: ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

No matter what we do or where we go we take the love of God that is in Jesus Christ with us……it is easy to read this over quickly, and pass it off as “yeah, God loves me” but if we reflect on what this is telling us for just a  few moments, we realize that in every moment of our life God loves us, when we do the right thing, when we stumble and make mistakes, and most importantly, when we find that not only have we wandered off the path, but we can’t seem to find our way back. At no time during our struggles, and strife, has the Lord given up on us, He has never quit loving us, He has never quit searching us out to bring us home. We can run all we want to, but we take the love of the Lord with us. Nothing can separate us. I know you might think, (and there was a time in my life when I had the same thought), “ohhhh you just don’t know…You don’t know where I have been, you don’t know what I have done. You are right I don’t know, but I do know this, the Lord was with you, no matter how dark of a time, His love was a shining light within you. He has been with you through out your life, and He will continue to be there, His love knows no boundaries. Nothing can separate you from that love. He is with you always, because He knew where your path was leading, He knows about the dark times, for those times were and will continue to be times, not of suffering, but opportunities to rely, and trust in that unconditional love. Nothing can take the Love of the Lord form us, but we can choose not to acknowledge it, nothing can cut us off from God, but we can turn our backs. God does not leave us, we abandon Him. Resolve to drop the cloak of isolation, acknowledge that love that has been with you always, it will be your rock, your light, and your lifeline. If He is for us who can be against us? Grasp that never ending unconditional love, and see that you truly are more than a conqueror, you are and will always be victorious with the love of the Lord!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

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Monday the 8th

James 5: ¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

 

Pray, pray, pray, The prayer of a righteous man is powerful. We have a direct line to God. We have the ability to reach out and tap the Lord on the shoulder, and say hey, Lord, I need your help…..so why don’t we do it more often? Sick? Ask for health. Sinned, ask for forgiveness. Lost?  Ask for guidance. Maybe you have a friend in need, or a community, or a nation…..one person can make a difference, and the person who petitions the Lord, and seeks His guidance, can be unstoppable. What happens when we pray? Just like Paul in prison, we are freed. We loosen the chains of this world, and turn it over to the Lord. Are you worried how the day will unfold, how people will think of you….worried for your family, your friends, the direction of your life? Why allow these things to eat up your time, and tear away at your joy? Place these worries at the feet of Christ, get on about the day that the Lord has planned for you. It is a day full of joy, a day full of opportunity, it is a new beginning to the remainder of your journey. Be powerful, be effective, realize that while you might stand tall in this world, your height reaches to the heavens when you are on your knees in prayer. Start your day with an altitude adjustment. Start on a knee, and see how far you will rise, you will find that it is much higher than you can stand.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

Friday the 5th

Philippians 1: ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

 

To tweak a favorite country song of mine…..the road goes on forever, and the journey never ends. Once God starts to work in your life, that work does not stop. It is a lifelong construction job. You know I can think back to when I first really was set on fire with the Lord, man it seemed like everyday was a new revelation. I could feel the Lord with me each and every morning, and all throughout the day. I can also think of times when I felt pretty alone, like maybe the Lord had other things to do that day…or week…or month…than hang out and work on me………As I studied, and prayed, and spent time in prayer, I realized our relationship with Christ is a lot like that of a really good friend, or brother. Have you ever been on a long road trip with a good friend? Sometimes hours will pass and not a word is spoken, when someone finally does say something the other physically jumps because the silence was so comfortable….During that time of silence was your friend not there with you still? Were they not still watching the road for things that were coming up? Did they not continue to glance at the speedometer to make sure that you were not going to fast, and get a ticket? Without a word they always seem to be able to put on the right music to make the trip a little more enjoyable……That is how the Lord works sometimes. You might not realize it, but He is there, working away in the passenger seat. Watching your life unfold, looking out for wrong turns, and potholes, ready to grab the wheel and help you miss the obstacles. He works to keep your life on an even keel, without saying a word he reaches out and conducts a symphony of music around you full of love, peace, hope, and faith. That carries on until you go to Him, or He comes back to us…….The good work has begun in you, and he will carry it on, even if you don’t know he is there sometimes……. the road goes on forever, and the journey never ends.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Thursday the 4th

Micah 7: ⁸ Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

 

 

The enemy does love to gloat doesn’t he? How we respond to that will greatly affect how we continue on in life. We do not always win the skirmish, we all stumble, and we all suffer a defeat now and then. As soon as we do, you can bet that there will be people who come out of the wood work to shout it to the world. Those who sit on the side lines waiting, or take an active role in our defeat cannot wait to declare victory. They will kick you when you are down, and tell the world about it….they will gloat. How do we react? It is very common to want to go crawl in a hole, you want to go lick your wounds, and forget that it happened. You were defeated, and now you have defeated yourself. We allow the world to dictate our fate. Here in this scripture we see the attitude we should all project. I failed,…..so what? Yes, you beat me this time……who cares? Yes, I have been trampled on…..it does not matter! Why? Because through the power of God I will rise again! It might be dark, but the Lord will turn on the light! I might be lost for the moment, but the Lord will take my hand, pull me up, and set me on the path! He will redeem me, He will replenish me, and He will sustain me.  We must commit ourselves to the war of life not the battle of today! A person who will not quit cannot be defeated. A person who pushes through the pain of defeat, will find themselves ahead of the pack. The person who relies on God to give them the inner strength will find an inexhaustible supply of energy. Do not allow yourself to give up on the war because you have lost a battle. Take your strength from the Lord, rely on Him to fortify, and recharge your soul. You might be down, but you will rise…..it might be dark, but the Lord will cast enough light to illuminate the world. When your enemy knows that you will always rise again, they do not have time to gloat….they are too busy getting ready for the next battle. God does not give up on us, let us use His strength, and perseverance to mount the next attack.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

Wed. the 3rd

2Chronicles  20:17  You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you."

 

Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed? Maybe you feel that way right now. It seems as though each day brings another obstacle, another army is circling up outside you city walls, another task to add to the list of impossible tasks that must be done. Sometimes we just look at all that has us surrounded and we are ready to throw in the towel. There is no way we can fight this battle, there is no way we can win……..That is just what the devil wants you to believe. I have news for you….good news indeed. You do not have to fight that battle, you do not have to wage that war. The Lord is with you always, and He will fight for you. Go out, show up on the battle field of life, but show up with your faith in God lighting the path. Do that, and be prepared to be amazed. The Lord will fight your battles, He will wage the war right before your eyes, and you will be victorious through the power of Almighty God. There is no problem to big, no army too well armed to be a problem for the Lord to handle. Let the creator of all things have control of your troubles. Stand firm, and hold your position, the Lord will lever the obstacles in your path. He did it for Jehoshaphat, He did it for David, and Joshua, and Paul, and countless others in the Bible. I have seen Him do it for me, and for others in my life each and every day. We do not serve a uncaring God. We serve a loving, forgiving, all encompassing God. HE does care, He does love you, and He will not only protect you, but He will step in and take an active role on your life. He will bless you not curse you, prosper you, not destroy you. You do not need to fight all of those battles, let your faith lead you, and let the Lord heal you, protect you, and fight for you. The Lord will be with you!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

<))))><

 

 

 

Monday the 1st

Acts 17:

 ¹³When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. ¹⁴The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea.

 

Sometimes in life people will just not let up on you. You might be doing everything you can to lead a good life, spread the truth, and build the kingdom of the Lord, but you just can’t seem to shake the negative people in your life, the people who are trying to drag you down, those who would try to undermine your goals……Paul knew better than most about being drug down. He had a unique perspective, he once was the leader in hunting down the Christians, and now he finds himself constantly on the run. We should not be surprised to find ourselves in the same situation in our lives. We have something in common with Paul other than just the constant pursuit…..We have people looking out for us, just like they were looking out for Paul. Every time Paul found himself in a tight spot, someone showed up to get him to safety. That is how God uses us. You might think, oh no Brian, not me, when the chips are down, there is no one around to help me out….You know I used to think like that too. However, what I found was that I was not open to being helped! People were always trying to help me out, but I would not accept the help….did not want it….did not need it….I could get by just fine on my own. How wrong I was! We hear of people being in their darkest hour of need, and out of nowhere someone appears to help them out. That is God at work! But we have to accept the help! We have to realize that we are not bullet proof. You might be able to carry a lot of weight, but you could carry more if you would open your hand and accept the help that is right in front of you! God brings us together to advance His plan. You have help, you are not alone, you are never alone. When the heat gets turned up, and life if running you down, don’t miss the help that is being offered. The Lord will move you, hide you, or stack enough people behind you that you can stand up to anything. The help is there, reach out and take it!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

The New Covenant Church

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

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