Monday the 31st

Ecclesiastes 9: 7& 9   ⁷ Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. ⁹ Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun.

 

When life is hard to understand, when I don’t know where to turn, when life has kicked me in the gut and I want to shout “why!!?” This is the verse that comes to mind. Right now is what counts. Today, this moment, this very breath that we draw….. right now. That is what counts. I think of how much time I have wasted on tomorrow, how much energy I have expended on yesterday, thinking about the “what if’s” the “could of’s” the “should of’s”, all or the “why didn’t  I’s”……….. I think of the relationships that have suffered, and how much love I have held onto waiting for the prize, waiting for the right time, waiting for the hurt to pass. I think of these times, and I see that this life has been approved by God. He made it, He gave it to me. It is not mine, and He will take it from me when the time comes…..and I can promise you that time will not fit into my schedule or the schedule of anyone that I love! Death waits for no man, it is a phrase we hear often, but guess what….life does not wait either. It is going on today whether we want to participate or not. Life will continue on today, despite our hurts, our fears, and our loss. We find ourselves left with two choices. We can live this life that God has given us. We can reach out through our pain, and our disappointment, and we can seize life by the throat, or we can slink back into our own little world, and be a shell of the person that we are destined to be. We are given one life. Will it be full of love, or remorse? Will it overflow with joy, or will it be a life of dwelling on the pain. This life we live, and the lives of those around us are but temporary. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow might never get here…..let our lives be defined by how we live today. We will face pain that we do not understand, but let us understand that God is in control, not us. We will be dealt disappointment, but let us remember that God works for the good in the lives of those who love Him. Life will not make sense, but let us lean, especially in our times of trial, on the One who has seen the end. This is our life, this is our day, this is our hour, our moment. Let us trust in God, and live the life He meant for us to have.

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Thursday the 27th

Acts 9:  ¹⁹ ….Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All 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?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

There is a reason why God used Paul. It was for people like me, perhaps like yourself. You see Paul was not always Paul, he was at one time Saul. While Paul was a great man who gave his entire life to spreading the Word of God, Saul……well he gave his entire life to killing the Word of God, and anyone who would profess the be a follower of Christ. What Saul was, Paul was not. As a matter of fact they were the polar opposite of each other. I need that, maybe you do to. I need to see that Christ can impact your life on such a deep level that you can make the change that you thought was impossible……better yet, you can make the change that others thought was impossible. That my friends is the power of Jesus Christ, that is the power of the truth…..it is the power of our souls. I was not the best person in the world before Christ entered my life. No I was not out hunting down Christians, but I was sure not making great choices, I was not a great father, a great husband….really I was not even that good of a friend. A lot of bad choices, and a lot of encouraging others to come along for the ride. I would be the first to say that I was too far gone, and God really does not need, or want a guy like me…..He sure could not forgive me. How could he? I could not forgive myself. Oh but just like Paul….or should I say Saul, Christ showed up, and He made it quite clear that not only did he forgive me, but He needed me. Not someone else, but ME. He needed me not because I was perfect, but specifically because I was not. There are people out there that need to see the change is not just a possibility, it is an assured fact. They needed to see that a weak willed, misguided, off the path guy, while incapable of change on his own, can transform with the love of Christ. SO God needed, Saul, He needs me, and He needs you. Not because of your perfection, but your lack of it. He uses the weak to conquer the strong, and the foolish to baffle the wise. You might think you can’t change, but Christ knows you can. You might think you can’t be forgiven, but Christ knows your faults, and transgressions, and has more than enough forgiveness for you. You might think you are just a simple human, but the Lord KNOWS you are so much more.  We all can change, and with the Lord, it is a sure thing.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Tuesday the 25th

Mark 3:27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man.

 

Christ is pointing out the obvious here, Evil does not combat evil, nor does good destroy good. If anything turns on itself then it is powerless to the outside, because of the turmoil on the inside.  What is often missed here is just what is meant by entering the house and plundering the strong man’s property. While many might see this as, us being the strong man and the devil being the plunderer, when we look at the story as a whole we see that what Christ is saying is He has come into the world (entered the house) and tied up the strong man (the Devil) and Christ is actively plundering the Devil’s property (freeing people of this world from the devil).  The important piece of information here is that Jesus has tied up the strong man! By His life, death, and resurrection, Christ has defeated sin, and death. We are no longer bound to the chains of this world nor the will of the devil…….however we forget that sometimes don’t we? Christ has declared victory over evil, so that we all might live in the light of His love; but just like a mafia boss that has been incarcerated, the devil is still sending out his minions. He is always looking for a way out of the ties that bind him. So just like the kid who pokes a stick at the cat in a cage, we too allow the devil to tempt us. We feel powerless to stop, we say things like I had no choice, I could not help it, there was no other way. These phrases loosen the binds that Christ paid such a high price to tie. We do have a choice, we have far more power than we realize. We forget that the battle is over and Christ has won. The devil is just looking to win a skirmish or two, and he is hoping that you will provide him with a big win today. Let us not forget that in Christ we find our refuge, and our strength. He has bound the strong man, and is actively using us to plunder the devil’s playground.   Christ has used people just like us to continue His work here on Earth, and make no mistake about it. The strong man is still bound, we can fearlessly carry out the Lord’s work, we can march victoriously through our lives knowing that Christ has made us, the unworthy, worthy.  We have been adopted into His family, and this house is now ours. Claim it!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Friday the 21st

Hebrews 9: ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp stand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place

 

The moment that Christ left His earthly body behind on the cross, it is recorded that the inner curtain in the tabernacle ripped from the ceiling to the floor. Before that happened only the appointed could go behind the curtain. The death of Christ marked the beginning of the New covenant, the end of Christ’s life marked the beginning of our new one. No longer would we be dependant on one person to make the sacrifices, and offerings on our behalf to God. No longer would we be separated from God, by a piece of fabric. Now, today, the only thing that keeps us from God, is ourselves. Christ will forever stand up, for and between us. He is our direct line to His Father. The perfect Priest, is our adopted brother. So what keeps us from utilizing this great gift we have been given? Guilt, shame, fear, doubt, and a healthy dose of self loathing will forever separate us if we fail to realize that the Lord just does not care about our past, He is far more concerned with our future. If you want to be a better spouse, parent, boss, employee, sibling…..whatever the case, you have to first be a better you. To do that you have to rip your own curtain that you have spent your life sewing. You will find Christ on the other side of that curtain, you will see that He has been waiting. Walk past the remnants of your curtain and accept the Lord fully into your heart, not as a part time, see you on Sunday then I have to run friend. Forge a partnership, and allow the battle to begin. That is what life is you know? A battle fought daily between the scourge of sin, and the righteousness of the Lord. Yeah, I know, it sounds a little dramatic, but it does not make it any less real. The curtain has been torn, so that we might have the ultimate ally in our fight. We have been adopted into a new family, one that will not let us down like so many people we know, one who will stand for us in our times of need, and shout for joy with us in our times of triumph. It is a family that will fill us with the peace, forgiveness, and the direction needed to improve not just our lives, but the lives of every person we come in contact with. Folks, God ripped the inner curtain, and invited us all in to the Most Holy Place. Do not allow this world to hang another curtain in it’s place. Accept the invitation, you are welcome, you are loved, and you are needed. Step in, and see the spectacular life that awaits.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Wednesday the 19th

Psalm 51:6 KJV  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 

I use the KJV this morning because it stays very close to the Hebrew text David points out that the LORD desires truth in the inward parts.  Inward parts in Hebrew being ṭûchâh as in being covered, or figuratively (as used here) the inmost thought. So the LORD wants truth at the core of our very being, at our very center He wants truth. Have you ever been driving down the road, let's say you are making a trip back home, or over to a friends in a different town, maybe your commute home takes you along the same route day in and day out. Have you ever looked around and thought wait a minute, how did I get here. I don't remember covering this much distance. You see, while the outward you has held true to driving, the inner most you has been far away from the car. It has been off going over the days events, planning for tomorrow, the weekend, the trip you want to take…..inside you have been lost, but to anyone who passed you, you would look like you knew exactly what you were doing. It is a very dangerous moment in time, while you are driving, and our lives are no different. 

 

God wants the very same thing from us that the DMV wants from us when we are driving. Our complete attention. That starts form the inside and radiates out. It is very easy to go through life as a quiet Christian. You know what I am talking about, they go to church, they make it to Bible study, they support the Church, but that is all going on, on the outside. Inside they are as far away as possible, worried about their status in the Church, worried about their clothes, preoccupied with events after the event… maybe even worried about if they are doing a good enough job, and putting on a good enough show. They are road hypnotized on the highway of life. Look what David reveals to us in the second part, in the hidden parts you shall make me to know wisdom.  If you want to become wise in the Lord, you have to start with the inside and work outward. If you want to know God, you must first know yourself. You have to be honest, you have to do some housekeeping of the soul. When you make room, and let the truth flourish in your heart, then the Lord will flood you with the wisdom you are so thirsty for. If you want to be a better driver, you must first learn to stay alert at all times, and keep your body, and your mind synced together. If you want to find the wisdom of the Lord, you have to be truthful form the inside out, so that your soul is synced with your body. From truth flows wisdom, from wisdom, flows love, and from true, wise,  love,  God is unstoppable.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Tuesday the 18th

Hebrews 4: ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

This is a point that many forget about Jesus. He forgives, and He saves. SO often I hear, I am not worth of the grace of God, or how could I be forgiven for what I have done, my favorite is “you just don’t know how much I have done, or how bad I have been.” The thought is that while Jesus might be the bridge for many people, some people are just beyond reach. Guess what? Most of us are out of reach, unworthy, and have pretty spotty backgrounds. While your story might be different, it is still very much the same. You see we are not dealing with a mediator who has never lived, or has no experience in the temptations of this world….yes even the temptations that you might face. The Christ Jesus has walked the proverbial mile in our shoes. He knows what it is to be offered the world, He knows the feeling of temptation, and the worldly sting of walking away from “easy money”. HE knows these things and He understands them. He also is aware of every imperfection that you have, and do you know what? He loves you anyway, He cheers for you anyway, He encourages you in spite of your flaws, and He will go to His Father on your behalf, each and everyday if needed, and He will stand between you and God as a bridge of forgiveness. You see Christ has felt the temptation, and He has paid the price for us falling for those temptations. That is why we can confidently approach God’s throne of grace. You see, the world wants you to believe that you are not good enough, the devil depends on you doubting the love of God. You see doubt will keep you from even trying. If you were dying of thirst would you hesitate to ask a man with a glass of water for a drink? Of course not! You would not care what that man might think of you, you just know you need some water! Why the would it be any different with your soul? Christ has filled in the gap, He understands, and He is holding that glass of water that will replenish your dehydrated soul. As sure as the sun will set, we are all dying, our bodies will not last forever. However there is a place you can go, a place full of forgiveness, love, grace, peace, and eternal life. You can have all of it, just ask. Go before God and know that His love is larger than any transgression, it is larger than the life of His own Son. The Lord is quite aware of what we are all going through, and He would love to take the burden away. Do not hesitate in your search, for He will not hesitate with His love.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Monday the 17th

Hebrews 3:7

¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

 

Paul is talking directly to me on this one. Today is the day, not tomorrow, next week next month, or next year. Today we should encourage each other, and the next day that carries the name today….we should encourage each other. Oh how easy it is to say well tomorrow I will witness more, later in the week I will take the time to encourage my friend who is struggling, because I am just too busy today. Next month, I will give more, next year I will do more…..always tomorrow, and never today. Paul warns against us becoming hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Now the Greek word used is apate meaning delusion From the Greek word: Apatao; delusion: - deceit (-ful, -fulness), deceivableness (-ving). I point this out because when we stop encouraging each other daily, we do become delusional, or as a lot of people call it today…….reasonable. If we quit encouraging each other daily, suddenly lying starts to become something that we can’t avoid in today’s society, tearing each other down is “just how it is today”,  the stealing, cheating, look the other way attitude sets in, and what starts out being a little white lie every now and then easily turns into lying to get your way, or stealing as much as you can get…..you get the idea, when we lose sight of the Lord, the worldly views of society start to make perfect sense. The deceitfulness of sin hardens our heart. So we must engage each day. I can promise you there is someone out there that needs to hear form you today. There is a person in your life that is hoping that you call, you stop by, or you drop a line to give the encouraging, replenishing, soul reviving, life fueling, high octane, love of the Lord…….but will we? Will we follow through? Will we take Paul’s challenge and encourage each other daily? You know Bob Marley was shot once, and he was right back out there on stage. When he was asked why he did not take anytime off to recover he said: The people out there trying to make this world worse never take a day off, so why should I?” Today, today is the day, and Bob is right, we can’t take a day off. I can promise you the Devil sure does not, not does his agents. Keep your hearts soft with the Love of the Lord, and make it a point to encourage at least one person today, then challenge them to do the same.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Wednesday the 12th

Hebrews 2:15

¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

 

I love that phrase, “held in slavery by their fear of death” Don’t we all know far to well just what that phrase means? On the surface one might say that sure, I used to be afraid of death, maybe some today still live with that fear, but it is much more than just no longer existing on this earth that works on us. We are afraid….because we are a slave to death. We take risk that we do not need to in an effort to “immortalize” ourselves here on Earth, we dance with sin or right up to the edge because “we only go around once”……but we are now new creations, we are dead to sin, and alive in Christ. The scoreboard has been turned off, the dead end sign ripped down, and the destination of our lives has forever been moved well away from our Earthly boundary.

We are freed from death, let that resonate in your ears, and taste the sweetness of it on your tongue as it rolls from your mouth. Free from death. No longer do we have to struggle to buy the bigger house, for our room is already prepared, no longer do we have to fear our bank accounts running dry for our treasures are stored up with our Father. No longer do we have to fear dying an unknown death, for our Father has written our name in the book of life. We are free, free to live a life basking in the glory of God.  Free to climb that obstacle in front of us without the fear of failure, for we know that God does not have failures for children. Free  to run faster, jump further, and fly higher, than we ever dared, because with the Gospel of truth laced to our feet we know no limits.  Yes, we are freed from the slavery of death, but not only are we free at the time of death, we have been freed to live a life without fear. My daughter has a wallpaper on her phone that reads that God’s will always turns out for the good in the end, if it is not good right now, then it must not be the end.  Seize your new life, enjoy your life fully, free from fear, and free from death! Let the world see what true freedom looks like!

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Monday the 10th

Hebrews 2:7-8 ⁷ You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor  ⁸ and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.

I was driving down the road the other day, and ended up behind a large truck. It was going rather slow, and as usual, I was in a hurry. When the road opened up to two lanes going my direction I swung out and proceeded to pass this truck that was sucking up my time. However As soon as I got out in to the next lane I realized that the truck was actually being towed. The truck was not under it’s own power, but I could not see it. It just goes to show that things are not always what they seem. Our lives in this world are very much like that. God has made us a little lower than angels. We are crowned with glory and honor, and everything is subject to us…..but it sure does not seem that way does it.  Yet it does not change the fat that God has made it so. I often read where Jesus told His Disciples that if you had faith the size of a mustard seed you could tell a mountain to go into the sea, and it would. We have the ability, but we just cannot see it. We all say the same thing when we read that….”yeah, that would be cool, if it could only happen” We pray for rain, but leave the umbrella at home.  We are set to live an eternal life, but are still very focused on this very short one. Everything is subject to us, but often we find it hard to be subjects to ourselves.  Faith my friends is the answer, and the key. We have been given the keys to the kingdom, but for some reason we refuse to unlock the door. Now is the time to open your heart, and your life to Christ. Don’t just crack the door to peer outside, throw open the door and let the Lord flood your life. You want to change your life? Change it. You want to start from scratch on a new life, then do it. If you want that mountain in your life to move then tell it to move! We are given the tools that we need the day we were born. We wake up each morning, and go to sleep each night with them. Utilize them during your twelve hours of daylight.  The Trinity surrounds you, protects you, paves the way for you, and will sustain you. It might not seem like you have much control, but I tell you the truth, God left nothing not subject to you. Draw on your faith, foster it, nurture it, develop it, and utilize it. Faith the size of a Mustard seed…..something so small, yet it will grow into something larger than life. 

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Tuesday the 4th

1 Thessalonians 4:  ¹ As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

 

Do so more and more. Don’t just live your life, continue to improve your life. I learned to fly fish over the New Year holiday. Or should I say I started learning how to fly fish. There is quite a bit to the sport come to find out. As I waded out for the first time, and threw out the first couple of casts, I could not help but notice the peace, the serenity that comes from being out “amongst them” as a buddy of mine would say. As I looked over my shoulder I saw all of the people lining the bridge lines sunk in the water, just waiting for something to happen. I could not help but think that fishing is a lot like Christianity. I was standing immersed in the stream, searching out the best spot, picking out the fly, working to make each cast lifelike, and when that first trout hit, it was all worth it. That is what Paul was telling the Thessalonians, don’t just stand on the bridge and fish for the Lord, get out amongst Him! Sure you will catch fish on the bridge, but the wait can be long and tedious. There you sit, line sunk just waiting for a fish to swim by. It is how a lot of people approach their spiritual life. They are out fishing for God, but they are waiting on Him to do the work. They are waiting on Him to swim by and bless their life. There is nothing wrong with bridge fishing, it gets the job done, however I urge you all to go pick up some spiritual fly gear. Don’t be content to wait for God to come to you, go out and find Him.  Yes it is more work, the rocks are slippery, the water is cold, and your line might get tangled up a time or two, but when you find the spot….the spot no one on the bridge can get to, you find that the Lord is immersed in your life, and yours is immersed in the Lord’s. The strikes are sweeter, the fish are bigger, and all of the work that you put in is quickly forgotten. Yes, the Lord blesses the bridge fisherman, and the fly fisherman the same, but it is the fly fisherman who will find the Lord more often, not because of more love, not because of more favor, but because when you seek you will find, when you knock the door will be open, when you ask, it will be given. Get off the bridge this year, wade into the waters of the Lord. Don’t just live your life to please God, but live it immersed in God. I can promise you this, you will catch bigger fish when you take your fishing to the next level, and fly fishing is the top level. You have to think like a fish, you have to go where the fish are, and you have to work to make that fly come to life. Just the same you will find the Lord a lot more often if you invest the time, energy, and effort to get out there and follow Him. I guess in fishing and in life, you just have to get out there amongst them.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com

 

Monday the 3rd

Happy New Year!! Here is a story I shared yesterday. It is one that is fitting for the New Year. While we are all out making resolutions, remember to make one for your soul.

 

 

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives.  He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies.  He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much.  He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends.  However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He loved his 2nd wife, too.  She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon.  He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!" Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here!  I'm going to remarry when you die!"

The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave."

The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.

"The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"
 

We all have 4 wives in our lives. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure. It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than wait until we're on our death bed to lament.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

<((((><

 

www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com