<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146</id><updated>2025-01-18T22:50:32.834-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Work Week With Christ</title><subtitle type='html'>I will post scripture passages with insight, and inspiration for the work week. Start your day off with the good news.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default?redirect=false'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default?start-index=26&amp;max-results=25&amp;redirect=false'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>509</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-7291670229236831745</id><published>2013-05-21T06:00:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2013-05-21T06:00:08.599-07:00</updated><title type='text'>hatred and protection</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;John 17:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;14&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;I have given them your word and the world has hated them,&amp;nbsp;for they   are not of the world any more than I am of the world.&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;15&amp;nbsp;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;We have been given the Word, and the world has hated us. That statement has never been more true than it is today, and if you are reading this, then most likely you are   defender of that Word. The world wants the Word gone. The Word is truth, the Word is conviction for the world, the Word goes against what we are taught. The world has no use for the Word. All one has to do is look around today and see just how hard they are   working to scrub the Word from everyday life. Yet Christ, knowing the hardships that lie ahead, for Him, and for us, did not ask to be removed, He did not ask for His Father to cut this life short. No&amp;#8230;..He asked His Father to protect us from the evil one.   That is just what He has done, offered His protection. There has never been any promise of an easy life when you choose to follow Christ. I would go as far as to say that if you find yourself at a point where you are not struggling spiritually, then it is   not that you have &amp;#8220;arrived&amp;#8221; it is that you have started to become stagnant. &lt;o:p&gt;  &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;We have been given the Word, we have been trusted to go out and despite the hate, despite the resistance, despite the best laid plans of the devil, we have to share that   word. We will be hated, for the world hates change, and we are not of this world. SO fight the fight of faith, know that if you are getting pushed it is because you are moving forward, if you experience resistance, it is because you are not standing still.   Remember that we are protected, we are loved, and we have a job to do. The lukewarm Christian will tell you to sit back and let it pass, but I would ask&amp;#8230;.aren&amp;#8217;t we glad Christ did not take that approach?  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Peace to all and love in faith,  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;hetford  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/7291670229236831745/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/hatred-and-protection.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7291670229236831745'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7291670229236831745'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/hatred-and-protection.html' title='hatred and protection'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-5342981143249934767</id><published>2013-05-14T05:39:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2013-05-14T05:40:01.898-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Complete Joy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;John 15:9-11&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;9&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;#8220;As the Father has loved   me,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;so have I loved   you. Now remain in my love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;10&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;If   you keep my commands,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;you   will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father&amp;#8217;s commands and remain in his love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;11&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;woj&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:red&quot;&gt;I   have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;As I read this this morning, I am reminded of the simplicity of Christ. Keep my commands. What were Christ&amp;#8217;s commands? Love God, love each other. That simple true message is so often lost   in this crazy hectic world. We get so caught up in the flash, the new, the job, and the world&amp;#8230;.we make this life so much more complicated than it has to&amp;#8230;.no, not has to, but &amp;#8230; than it is supposed to be! Imagine today if you resolve to live a life of love,   just for today. Just to try it out. If everything we did was out of love of God, or love of neighbor. Nothing else mattered, nothing else came first. There was only God, and love. We would find that we were living well within Christ&amp;#8217;s commandments, and do   you have any idea what the result would be? We would truly understand the remainder of this passage. His joy would be in us, and our joy would be complete. Let that resonate for a moment. Our joy would be complete. When is the last time your joy was complete?   Has it ever been complete? Think of the feeling of actually being full, mentally, spiritually, complete and utter joy. Happy to be alive, happy to serve God, happy to serve those around you. JOYFUL! No your bills will still be there, the hardships will still   be there, the irritating people in your life will still wake up this morning and come looking for you. However, none of that would matter because you would know true joy. The bills will go away, one way or another, they are not forever, the hardships will   be seen for what they are, an opportunity for Christ to work in your life, instead of you working so hard to fix what you cannot, and the irritating people, well I can promise, they will not be irritating, because when we approach people with love, even those   we would call unlovable become softened. &amp;nbsp;You see, Christ has had the answer all along, of course, Christ has been the answer all along. Resolve to keep His commands today, just today, one day, give it a try, maybe you make the day, maybe today can turn into   a week, a month, a year&amp;#8230;.think of that a year full of joy! Commands of the world are sure to bring disappointment, but the joy that can only be found, and made complete in Christ, that has the possibility to last an eternity. So today, lead with love, and   see where the Lord will take you. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Peace to all, and love in faith,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:black&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/5342981143249934767/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/complete-joy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5342981143249934767'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5342981143249934767'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/complete-joy.html' title='Complete Joy'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-6508782139637200562</id><published>2013-05-13T06:43:00.003-07:00</published><updated>2013-05-13T06:55:07.826-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Who is leaving whom?</title><content type='html'>&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;
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  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 7&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 8&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;39&quot; Name=&quot;toc 9&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;35&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;caption&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;10&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Title&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;1&quot; Name=&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;11&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Subtitle&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;22&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Strong&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;20&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Emphasis&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;59&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Table Grid&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Placeholder Text&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;1&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;No Spacing&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Revision&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;34&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;List Paragraph&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;29&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Quote&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;30&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Intense Quote&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 1&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 2&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 3&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 4&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 5&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;60&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;61&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light List Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;62&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;63&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;64&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Shading 2 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;65&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 1 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;66&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium List 2 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;67&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;68&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;69&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;70&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Dark List Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;71&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;72&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;73&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; Name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 6&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;19&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Subtle Emphasis&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;21&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Intense Emphasis&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;31&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Subtle Reference&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;32&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
   UnhideWhenUsed=&quot;false&quot; QFormat=&quot;true&quot; Name=&quot;Intense Reference&quot;/&gt;
  &lt;w:LsdException Locked=&quot;false&quot; Priority=&quot;33&quot; SemiHidden=&quot;false&quot;
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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;&quot;&gt;
&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;John 16:30-33&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Now we know that
you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we
believe that you came from God.&quot; Jesus answered them, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;&quot;&gt;&quot;Do
you now believe?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;&quot;&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has
come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me
alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome
the world.&quot;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;&quot;&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;&quot;&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;&quot;&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;&quot;&gt;Listen to the words Jesus spoke, read them again,
&lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;there will come a time you will leave me alone&lt;/span&gt;…….&lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;yet I am not alone&lt;/span&gt;……..&lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;I have
said these things so that you may have peace in me&lt;/span&gt;. &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Jesus is doing far more than telling His
followers what is to come for Him. He is giving them a model to live out their
lives in the coming days, weeks and years. Has He not told us that the Father
is with Him, and those with Christ are also with the Father? He offers us the
peace, He offers His followers that day peace in knowing that they will never truly
be alone. We all know that feeling don’t we? The feeling of being alone? That crushing,
deep thump in the bottom of your stomach. That moment you look around and
realize that your world is about to fall apart, and you have no idea how to fix
it, or who can help, the situation is hopeless, helpless, and done for. That is
the moment Christ was about to face. His mortal world was about to come to an
end, in a way that makes most of our darkest hours seem much lighter by
comparison. It is in our dark times, in or troubled times, in the times when
the world has abandoned us, just as Christ’s disciples are about to abandon
Him, we must realize we too are not alone. Christ is with us….and Christ has
overcome the world, He has defeated death, He has not left us, even when every
other person has ran out, Christ remains. Why is that truth so important to
remember? It is tough times for many of us, debt is at an all-time high, work
is hard to find, bills are due, the kids need shoes, summer is around the
corner, free time will have to be filled, everyone wants something, and you
only have so much to give….and I bet if you are honest with yourself, you have
looked around and said “I am all alone in this”. That is the lie that the devil
wants you to believe, it is the lie that the world will foster and feed you to increase
your dependence on it, it is the lie we allow to take hold in our hearts,
because we have forgotten the light, in our time of darkness. We are never
alone, and if we will rely on the One that has brought us this far, if we will
listen to His call, instead of the call of the world, if we will stand with
Him, instead of running head long into the brick wall alone, He will show us
the way through, or around, or under, He has told us we will have troubles.
Christ was never one to bluff, that is not something He was just saying. He
knew the troubles that were to come for those that followed Him, and He knew of
the troubles you were to face, and are facing at this very moment. He wants you
to have peace! Peace in Him! He wants you to walk with Him, and let Him direct
your steps, just as He left His Father direct His. No, no matter how dark it
might seem, you are not alone, unless you choose to be. You are not lost,
unless you choose to be, you are not at the end of your rope, you are simply at
the beginning of His. Grab hold, and pull. He will sustain, He will endure, He
will fortify you with the strength, and the insight. He never asked to be the
co-pilot. Let Him fly the plane. We spend so much of our lives chasing something,
Chase Christ, and you will find you are never alone, and He is always within
reach.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;&quot;&gt;Peace to all, and love in faith,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;&quot;&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;&quot;&gt;Brian &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;/div&gt;
</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/6508782139637200562/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/who-is-leaving-whom.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/6508782139637200562'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/6508782139637200562'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2013/05/who-is-leaving-whom.html' title='Who is leaving whom?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-8168470605949935265</id><published>2012-12-03T06:02:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-03T06:02:40.298-08:00</updated><title type='text'>tis the season</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:maroon&quot;&gt;1Th 3:12-13&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,  &lt;span style=&quot;color:teal&quot;&gt;13&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;We all want our hearts to be found blameless in holiness before the Father, do we not? SO how do we go about doing that? &amp;nbsp;Do we run around and point out everyone&amp;#8217;s flaws? Do we tell everyone we meet how much of a   sinner they are, and condemn them to hell? Maybe we can be found blameless of we make it a point every day to remind each other how much of a failure we are when it comes to being a Christian&amp;#8230;. While I am sure we can all think of people who are convinced that   one, if not all of these are the correct answer, and if we are honest with ourselves, maybe we even think a point or two might be correct, we would all benefit from reading the verse again. Paul is praying that the Lord increases and abound in love. Love for   one another, and for all. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Interesting, so that answer seems to be that we start from a point of love. When I think of Christ, I am reminded just how loving we are called to be. I cannot think of one time where someone in need, someone that   we hurting, someone that was lost, came to Christ, and Christ turned them away. I can&amp;#8217;t think of one time where he condemned them, and told them that there was no hope for them. No Christ showed me a picture of what it meant to change someone&amp;#8217;s life by loving   them. Loving them when the world would have us believe, no one else would, could, or really should love that person. Christ did not admonish, scold, or beat down those in need, He opened His arms, and loved the sin out of them. Just as He did, and continues   to do for me (I need all of that I can get), and he does for you. The harsh stuff, if you go back and read, was saved for the people who spoke of love and forgiveness, yet practiced the opposite, it was saved for the hypocrite, the self-righteous, and those   who would try and use religion as a means to an end. This is how we are called to live, love the lost, forgive the repentant, and live for the Lord.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;The Christmas season is kicking off, and for some it is in full swing already. Paul&amp;#8217;s prayer for the Thessalonians, is my prayer for each of you. May the Lord fill your hearts with love for one another, and for everyone.   I pray that this holiday season if a start of a new season for you. I pray that we can see that the way to the hearts of those around us is through loving them&amp;#8230;..loving them at the very moment that they might think they deserve it the least. That my friends   is loving with grace. That is the love that is given to us from God. That is the love that this season is all about, it is my prayer that that type of love overflows from all of us this season, so that we might brightly shine the light of the Lord onto this   dark world, and drowned out the shadows in our lives, and the lives of those around us, so that we might all be found blameless in holiness before God. Remember, love covers a multitude of sins.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;hetford  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVE4cwUUKw0RkbSkQPR3Mp-mxFRu5mHmg9lTUGFPZiIhyeemzCzeCsvSYVOWFYwCYe3hkvZMmFxWx_82eMRRQTQohQ-s8f925Fa4DeUdcOwYCAEqBQiYAfoHICyCBxasNnOBgFppgMAM/s1600/image001-760299.png&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVE4cwUUKw0RkbSkQPR3Mp-mxFRu5mHmg9lTUGFPZiIhyeemzCzeCsvSYVOWFYwCYe3hkvZMmFxWx_82eMRRQTQohQ-s8f925Fa4DeUdcOwYCAEqBQiYAfoHICyCBxasNnOBgFppgMAM/s320/image001-760299.png&quot;  border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; id=&quot;BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5817719432729341314&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Verdana&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/8168470605949935265/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/12/tis-season.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/8168470605949935265'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/8168470605949935265'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/12/tis-season.html' title='tis the season'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVE4cwUUKw0RkbSkQPR3Mp-mxFRu5mHmg9lTUGFPZiIhyeemzCzeCsvSYVOWFYwCYe3hkvZMmFxWx_82eMRRQTQohQ-s8f925Fa4DeUdcOwYCAEqBQiYAfoHICyCBxasNnOBgFppgMAM/s72-c/image001-760299.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-2059357114533876570</id><published>2012-11-28T06:35:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-28T06:35:14.863-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Wanna bet?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:maroon&quot;&gt;John 18:33-34 &lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, &amp;quot;Are you the King of the Jews?&amp;quot;  &lt;span style=&quot;color:teal&quot;&gt;34&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; Jesus answered, &lt;span style=&quot;color:red&quot;&gt;&amp;quot;Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?&amp;quot;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;I read this scripture this morning, and something struck me, that I had not thought of before. Christ was not just asking Pilate if he thought Jesus was a king, or if Pilate had just heard about Him. No, Christ was   asking Pilate &amp;#8220;have you been saved?&amp;#8221; It might be easy to miss, just as it is today. You see Christ was asking Pilate are you calling me King, or do you just say that because that is what everyone else says? Pilate&amp;#8230;..do you believe, or are you just saying what   is easy to say? I would imagine that is a question we will all be asked at some point, and I am fairly sure Christ will be asking. It makes me think of our lives, how we live them, what we do, what we say. DO we proclaim Christ is King because we believe it,   or because that is the easy thing to do? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;In today&amp;#8217;s world there are many that might call Christ King, but just as Christ suspected of Pilate, they only profess what they have heard. In short, they are living out Pascal&amp;#8217;s wager. For those of you that are   not familiar, Pascal was a 17&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; century philosopher and mathematician. &amp;nbsp;One of the things he is known for was the argument that even if you do not believe in God, you should live as if you do, because the cost of living a life without belief &amp;nbsp;is   worse than a life lived as if you do believe. In other words, take a gamble, and take the side with the better payout. This is exactly what we do when we say we believe in Christ, yet knowingly and willingly live a life contradictory to that. &amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;It is an interesting idea though isn&amp;#8217;t it? Want the salvation, the grace, the forgiveness, and the love that comes with Christ? Fake it. Just say the words, and all is good. Do your good deeds, give your money, go   to church, and life here and in the next will be great. SO if you say it, and you act like it in your deeds, then what is the difference? How will you know, how will the Lord know, how will anyone else ever figure it out? It comes down to defining moments.   One very much like Pilate is about to come to in this passage. If Pilate believed Christ was King, would he have washed his hands? Or would he have stood with Christ and proclaimed to the masses, we cannot kill this man He is the Son of God. We encounter moments   like this all of the time, it is where the rubber meets the road, where life happens, when it is time to put up or shut up. However you would like to term it, we find ourselves in situations where we too much choose to show grace, love, mercy, forgiveness&amp;#8230;.what   will we do? How will we respond? Will our lives emulate the life of our Savior? Will we show the world the power of Christ by showing His traits through us? Or will we cave? Will we crumble under the pressure of the world and turn our backs?  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Maybe that is where you find yourself today. Perhaps you do want to live that life, but you know that you have in the past turned your back. You know that you have professed to be a Christian, but lived a life that   is anything but. Here is the good news! It is not too late to change that. Even Peter denied Christ, yet Christ never denied Him. We make these choices every day, and you need to understand that even when we fall short, there is still the next decision to   make. Another opportunity, another chance. The promises of God do not have an expiration date. There is not a number of times we can fall, there is not a limit on the number of times we can fail. The salvation is found in the rising. We will stumble, we will   fall, what counts is that we get back up. Do not lay on the ground with the rest of the world defeated, simply raising your hand next time &amp;nbsp;someone is looking for a Christ follower. Christ fell three times on the way to that wicked hill. Each time He rose,   ready to carry out His task well beyond the limits of His human body. So it is with us, do not resign yourself to live out life as a &amp;#8220;safe bet&amp;#8221;. Live your life out loud. Live your life looking for those moment to test yourself, and show your Faith. You might   stumble, but the world will know you believe, it will know where you stand, and it will know, that in the end, there is but One King!  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;hetford  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Verdana&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/2059357114533876570/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/wanna-bet.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2059357114533876570'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2059357114533876570'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/wanna-bet.html' title='Wanna bet?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-3510706041215673844</id><published>2012-11-21T06:24:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-21T06:26:42.268-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Trust in Peace</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:maroon&quot;&gt;John 14:27&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;  &lt;span style=&quot;color:red&quot;&gt;Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Peace I leave, my peace I give.. Peace&amp;#8230;.peace like none we have known, and none that we can bestow or receive from another human. It is not the weak peace offering that we offer to each other. As if any of us can   truly grant peace to another individual. The peace we offer is one that is only temporary at best. It might keep one issue at bay, or quell one fear or the other, but I have yet to meet the man, woman, or child that can give all-encompassing life sustaining   peace. Look how Christ conveyed this offering. HE left it, and He offered it. It is here, it is yours for the taking, yet Christ leaves it very open, even to those who are closest to Him. Here it is, take it if you will. That my friends is true peace, a promise   that is freely given, and yours to freely take. No strings, no gimmicks, no fine print. If you would like peace, then simply take it.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Christ furthers his point by saying not as the world gives, yes When Christ gives anything it is on a much larger scale that anything the world can give, but not just that. When the world gives, the world decides   how long you get to keep it. With Christ, the choice to take it is yours, the choice to keep it is yours as well. The Lord does not give as the world gives. So do not be troubled, and do not be afraid. There is always a hard part isn&amp;#8217;t there?&amp;nbsp; You see now   we are tasked with the hardest part, trust Him. That is hard to do sometimes isn&amp;#8217;t it? If we are honest it is hard to do a lot of the times. We have been taught to NOT trust, or as I like to think of it &amp;#8220;trust, but verify&amp;#8221; which is a really nice way of saying   &amp;#8220;I don&amp;#8217;t trust you&amp;#8221; Yet here is Christ telling us&amp;#8230;.you need it? I have it. You can have it, here I give it to you&amp;#8230;.now trust me. While it seems too good to be true&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.it is true, if it seems like the deal of a lifetime&amp;#8230;..well&amp;#8230;.it is.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;The peace is yours to take, and it is yours to wrap yourself in, yet without the trust, it will not do much good. So what do we do? We trust, we take that leap, we make that choice. Let me ask you something, we have   all done something in our lives at least once where we had to depend on someone else, right? What was that for you? &amp;nbsp;I am not talking about something little, I mean we trusted someone with something so big, that our lives would have been changed had that person   not come through for us&amp;#8230;.and they did. They came through just like they said they would. Remember how that feels? Have you trusted Christ with anything near as important as that? Better yet, had you trusted that friend in your moment of need, then at the last   second rushed in, and tried to do it yourself, or handle the situation on your own, how would that have turned out? not well, right? You would not have been where you needed to be, because you did not trust your friend to be where they were supposed to be.   As a result the outcome would have been very different. What is keeping you from trusting Christ? How is it we are willing to trust another human, who even on their best day might cave and not follow through, yet we deny Christ the opportunity to do what he   has PROMISED He will do for us? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;It comes down to putting yourself out there, extending the trust to Christ that He will be where He needs to be, when He needs to be there. He has made the promise, will you allow Him to keep it? He has given the   gift, will you accept it? Give Him your trust, and see if your life does not change for the better, just as promised. Tell Him just as you did that friend, I need you. I can&amp;#8217;t do this without you. You said you would be there, you said I should not be afraid,   you promised me peace. Without you in this, I am done for. Christ will be there, He will give you the peace, the assurance, the strength, and the power to do what needs to be done, and then He will take care of the rest of it. Give Him the opportunity, give   Him the chance, He died for it you know&amp;#8230;.just for the chance to save your life, if you thought that deal you trusted your friend with was life changing, I can promise you it pales in comparison to what changes will take place if you trust in Christ. &amp;nbsp;Do not   live in fear, or uncertainty. Choose to accept this promise of peace, and trust&amp;#8230;. so that you do not need to be afraid.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;God Bless,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;hetford C.T.B.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/3510706041215673844/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/trust-in-peace.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3510706041215673844'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3510706041215673844'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/trust-in-peace.html' title='Trust in Peace'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-4126413538299204135</id><published>2012-11-20T05:50:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-20T05:55:15.953-08:00</updated><title type='text'>another year gone</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: maroon; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Psalm 46:1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;I turn 42 today. As I usually do on my birthday, I take a quick reassessment of where I have been, where I am going, and just how I wound up where I am today. One thing is for sure, this Psalm has held true for me   my entire life. I should explain that my whole life was not anything like it is today. I have ran as far and as fast as I could from God for a good part of my young life. I thought we had an understanding, He hosed me on my family life, so I would hose Him   on my commitment. The older I get, the more I understand the “very present help” part of this verse. It is a very big reason why I am where I am, and doing what I do. You see, I ran out on God, but He never ran out on me. He never left my side. No matter how   dark the shadows were that I ran into, He followed. No matter how base the environment was, He followed me in, He sent His Son to walk with me, to keep me on my feet, to keep me sane, in the insane world I was living in. I see that now, looking back. I walked   away from things I should not have, I managed to live, even after I was sure my heart was dead. I know it could not of been an easy task, He enlisted the help of a woman to drag me kicking and screaming out of the shadows, and into the light. Today looking   back, I am thankful that all 4 of them, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Leslie Thetford, stuck by me. It has been a long road, with many pot holes, many off road excursions, and a lot of joy, pain, laughter and tears. One thing is for sure though, If this   Psalm were not true, I would not be here today. God has sheltered me, strengthened me, and bailed me out of more jams that I can recount. He sent a wonderful woman into my life, that is hard as nails, and as soft as silk all at the same time. He blessed me   with two girls that keep my heart soft, and my mind sharp. He has given me more than I deserve, and continues to do that every day. &amp;nbsp;God has been there for me, and had blessed me, it is my prayer that you allow Him to do the same for you.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;If you have found yourself in a place today, and you think you are alone, beaten down, and have nowhere to turn, I would challenge you to be still, quiet your heart, and listen. God is with you, a lot of times, we   just think we don’t need or want Him…..at least not right now….. He is faithful, and He is working for you as we speak, give Him the chance to show you just what is possible. Let Him show you what the impossible looks like, for everything is possible through   Him. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 14.0pt;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 14.0pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;hetford&amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/4126413538299204135/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/another-year-gone.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/4126413538299204135'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/4126413538299204135'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/another-year-gone.html' title='another year gone'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-9052667577986354664</id><published>2012-11-15T12:27:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-15T12:39:19.620-08:00</updated><title type='text'>tired, or tireless? </title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: maroon; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Luke 17:7&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;  &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&quot;Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, &#39;Come at once and recline at table&#39;?&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;color: teal;&quot;&gt;8&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;Will he not rather say to him, &#39;Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink&#39;?&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;color: teal;&quot;&gt;9&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Gods work is never done. He works tirelessly, and endlessly on our behalf. Christ is just another version of the same story. There is always something else, one more prayer to answer, one more soul to find, one more   life to touch. They will never stop working for the good in our lives. So when we look in the mirror what life do we see for ourselves? &amp;nbsp;I know if I am honest with myself, my life often is spent looking for the stopping point. As a matter of fact, that is   how I plan a lot of my endeavors….I find the completion point, and mark it. &amp;nbsp;But what if we dared to live differently? What if we decided to live as large of a life as God has planned for us? How would we do that? Remove the end point! In truth there is no   end to our story. God did not say go live and then die, He gave us His Son to ensure that we had the chance to live a life eternally with Him. This means that our work too……is never done. We serve a great God, and there is so much to be done that we could   fill every hour of every day, and still not finish the list.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Now I can hear you already, Oh great another person ranting about how we do not do enough for God. WRONG! If you are looking at serving God as some chore, then you have missed the beauty of the gift that has been   given to us! That is what it is, a gift. We have been tasked with bringing the good news to the world. We have been asked to live a life in the model of Christ. That my friends is not a chore, it is an honor. I would say that if you are looking at what needs   to be done, and looking at where the end point is, then you are not working for God, you are working for yourself. Even noticed that anything you do alone seems to be drudgery? The task is long, and drawn out, and you can’t wait to be finished. I will tell   you the truth, that is were a lot of us make our mistake. The tasks we were given were never meant to be tackled alone. We have a Spiritual army at our disposal. The Holy Trinity is waiting in the wings, hoping, and begging for you to “put them in the game”.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Oh it is true, as servants of Christ our work is never done, and there is nothing that we can do to “win the favor” of God. The favor we think we need to be given, has already been freely given, before we ever asked.   It is up to us to seize it, to remove that little red pin on our map of life, and commit to work endlessly for our God. Not because of what we will get, but because of what we have already been given. You have heard the saying there ain’t no rest of the wicked?   &amp;nbsp;That was a misprint. The correct phrase is there ain’t no rest for the redeemed. To fully live the life that God has in store for us, we must commit to fully live! We have to pull the pin, and attack life. Forget about when is the end, the question is what   is next? When we turn off that lie in our head that tells us that we have done enough. Then we start to then a life of abundant joy pursuing God’s work. &amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Think it is not worth it? Are you thinking it might be too much work? Maybe you are just not equipped……I want you to think about Christ. What if He had thought that!? Did He not go and pray the night before His death   for His Father to take the cup from Him? He KNEW what was ahead, He KNEW the daunting task, He KNEW it was going to be a lot of work. Yet how did He finish&amp;nbsp; that prayer? Not by my will, but by yours. He was ready to serve His master, His Lord, His Father,   until the very end, until the last breath, with every fiber of His being. He was a true servant. Folks we are going to serve someone. As a line from one of my favorite songs goes. It might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, but we are going to have to   serve someone. &amp;nbsp;Wanna sit back and enjoy the comfy life? Go right ahead that will serve someone juuuust fine. Want to explode your life? Want to see your life and those around you transform from the ordinary to the extraordinary? Serve the Lord, as vigorously   as He has served, and continues to serve us! Think I am kidding? I dare you to try it. you Give the Lord 2 weeks of all out service, jump right into the deep end with Him. Amazing things await.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;God Bless,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/9052667577986354664/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/tired-or-tireless.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/9052667577986354664'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/9052667577986354664'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/tired-or-tireless.html' title='tired, or tireless? '/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-7744889735299516239</id><published>2012-11-14T05:55:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-14T05:55:26.259-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Are we thankful?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;color:maroon&quot;&gt;Luk 17:15&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;  &lt;span style=&quot;color:teal&quot;&gt;16&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; and he fell on his face at Jesus&#39; feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.  &lt;span style=&quot;color:teal&quot;&gt;17&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; Then Jesus answered, &lt;span style=&quot;color:red&quot;&gt;  &amp;quot;Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color:teal&quot;&gt;18&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;  &lt;span style=&quot;color:red&quot;&gt;Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?&amp;quot;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Where are the nine? Christ had just healed 10, only one showed up to give thanks. This brings up an interesting issue. Jesus pointed out that only one returned&amp;nbsp; and gave praise. This is easy to overlook, but the key   is that only one returned. We don&amp;#8217;t think much about the other nine do we? Do you think they went off and never thought of Jesus again? Highly doubtful. I can see them continuing along their way, talking about the &amp;#8220;great man&amp;#8221; that healed them, perhaps they   came across some other people that had heard of Christ, do you think they would not have told the story of how Christ healed them? Of course they would have! They were healed! Christ points out that only one returned to give thanks. It makes me think of life   today. How often is the Lord blessing our lives?&amp;nbsp; How often does He move on our behalf, and yet we do not return to give thanks. Much like the other nine we too run off into the world with our prayers answered. We might share our experience, we might tell   people about how lucky we are, but are we returning? Are we going back to the Lord on a personal level and giving Him the thanks and credit?  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;If you know me even a little, you know I am big on personal responsibility. This is what I am reminded of when I read this scripture. The debt we often overlook. We are blessed, but we do not give back that blessing.   Christ gave His life, God gave His Son&amp;#8230;..we were given eternal life, and true freedom, are we thankful? Oh I know, I know, yes we are thankful on some level, but are we returning? Are we showing back up for the Lord in even a fraction of the way He has shown   up for us? It is easy to say thank you, it is easy to tip a hat to the Lord, it is easy to speak the words. The challenge comes in the returning. Taking the time to get back to Christ. Taking the time to set the world aside, and be thankful.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Think of the last time you gave your child something, if you do not have a child then think of the last time you asked your parents for something. When it was given, or received, was it just an empty hand filled,   then a quick thanks&amp;#8230;.you know the kind I am talking about, just a quick afterthought. A nicety, a good manner instilled by generations before us. That is not thanks, that is being pleasant. When we are thankful for something it overwhelms us doesn&amp;#8217;t it? It   floods our hearts with gratitude, and joy. SO much so that we first want to find that person, and shower them not just with thanks, but with a true out pouring of love, and thankfulness. Then what is the very next thing? When we are thankful, truly thankful,   what is the first thing we want to do?&amp;nbsp; We say Ohhh I have to do something for them. Folks, that is the return. That is what Christ is looking for. Yes be thankful, yes, say the words, but we have to remember to return that thanks. The best way we can do that   is by living that thanks out loud. I am sure that all 10 of those healed were thankful, if they were to see Christ again, I bet they would say, &amp;#8220;hey, thanks for the hook up, that was awesome&amp;#8221; however, the one that returned, you can bet he was changed forever.   He was truly thankful, he returned, he made the trip, he put forth the effort. &lt;o:p&gt;  &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Let us challenge ourselves to be the 1 out of 10. This week, let us be on the lookout for God&amp;#8217;s blessing, and when we find it, let us be thankful. Let us shout form the rooftops, and let us allow it to change our   lives the way the Lord intended. A blessing is only a blessing, if we allow it to be.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;In Christ,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:14.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;hetford C.T.B.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/7744889735299516239/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/are-we-thankful.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7744889735299516239'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7744889735299516239'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/are-we-thankful.html' title='Are we thankful?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-436916319720530811</id><published>2012-11-13T05:49:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-11-13T05:53:20.415-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Why change?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: maroon; font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Titus 2:6&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.  &lt;span style=&quot;color: teal;&quot;&gt;7&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,  &lt;span style=&quot;color: teal;&quot;&gt;8&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Why Why Why? It is the age old question….if we are so free, so saved, then why must we work so hard to be so different. In today’s world there is not a lot of difference between those   of us that go to Church, and those of us that don’t. This is what Paul was warning about here. You see, God loves each of us, there is no doubt of that, each of us have the free, open ended invitation to salvation, yet we must choose it. Once chosen, we truly   are a new being, a new person, a new creation…..not just for God to see, but for the world to see. From the moment we give our lives to Christ, to the day we draw our last breath, we strive to be more like Christ. Here we find the answer to the question why.   Christ was not like the rest of the world. He was very different. His actions matched His teachings. Not like the rulers, and priests of His time, who practiced one thing yet preached another. Christ was in fact a living example of His Fathers word. &amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Today we are called to try and walk in the same path. Will we be as successful as Christ? I can promise you, we will fall short. However we must push on, as Paul would say, we must run   the race to win the prize. Most of all, we must work to live a life that shows the differences between a life of Christ, and a life of this world. The world is watching, our neighbor is watching, our friends are watching. Will we live the life Christ has called   us to, or will we praise the Lord form one side of our mouth, and chase the world with the other? I am in no way saying this is easy, I am in no way saying this all happens overnight. It is a lifelong process, and that is what makes it hard.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Today we will find ourselves at work, in school, and many other social occasions, will re remember these words? Will we strive today, to live better than yesterday? Can we promise to tell   one less lie, take one less short cut, to say one more (maybe it is just one) prayer, to give God thanks one extra time today? I wish I could tell you that you give your life to Christ, and, your life becomes a bed of roses. That would be a lie. It is all   about that next step. Some days we take a giant leap ahead, and some days we might only move an inch forward. The point is to keep moving forward. Continue to reach for the goals in this scripture, continue to press towards the finish line. God knows you can   do it, Christ died to make sure we have the chance…..the world is watching….let’s give them a picture of what Christ’s life, love, and forgiveness looks like.  &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 14.0pt;&quot;&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;rian  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 14.0pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;T&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;hetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Verdana&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;&quot;&gt;To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Verdana&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;&quot;&gt;~ Ralph Waldo Emerson&amp;nbsp;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0HWu1oI7OX57yR90_Kr1rr46RK3aUxmThiL0R46Wb1LZOVO8tmHCeaKI0sLs6S85OG__t-6SwE_zSbXvNSJRp5snxEIESSagibF88jnGKF0XjZKCm4E58JQwm3uIHwHFxlokKGwv7DQ/s1600/image001-748481.png&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; id=&quot;BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5810294242683901090&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0HWu1oI7OX57yR90_Kr1rr46RK3aUxmThiL0R46Wb1LZOVO8tmHCeaKI0sLs6S85OG__t-6SwE_zSbXvNSJRp5snxEIESSagibF88jnGKF0XjZKCm4E58JQwm3uIHwHFxlokKGwv7DQ/s320/image001-748481.png&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Verdana&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/436916319720530811/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/why-change.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/436916319720530811'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/436916319720530811'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/11/why-change.html' title='Why change?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0HWu1oI7OX57yR90_Kr1rr46RK3aUxmThiL0R46Wb1LZOVO8tmHCeaKI0sLs6S85OG__t-6SwE_zSbXvNSJRp5snxEIESSagibF88jnGKF0XjZKCm4E58JQwm3uIHwHFxlokKGwv7DQ/s72-c/image001-748481.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-2630077874264183937</id><published>2012-01-31T08:31:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-31T08:31:59.310-08:00</updated><title type='text'>You the Lord and Who?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Pro 11:14&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. &amp;nbsp;ESV&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I don&amp;#8217;t need to go to church, I don&amp;#8217;t need to read the Bible, I don&amp;#8217;t need anyone to help, I can do anything all by myself. Do you know anyone like that? Maybe to some degree you are like that&amp;#8230;actually if we are honest with ourselves I think we can say that on some level we all are guilty of feeling this way. We have Jesus, and that is all we need. &amp;nbsp;Get out of my way because here I come. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;While it is true the with Christ in your life there is nothing that you need that He will not provide&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;but read that statement again, there is nothing that you need that He will not provide. &amp;nbsp;One of the things that we overlook is the fact the Christ is constantly working in our lives. HE works out in the open where we can see, but He also works behind the curtain, where we have no idea what is going on. One of the most important things the Lord does for us, is to move people in and out of our lives, at a time when we need them, and they need us. Think of it as a huge clock, each wheel, arm, cog, and axel totally dependent on the other. There is not one piece in that clock that can fail to work, there is not one piece that can reach its full potential on its own. &amp;nbsp;This is how the Lord keeps us from failing. We stay together, we stay in sync, and we stay safe.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;When we come to the highly popular idea that we do not need to go to church (I used to be one of those guys) we are setting ourselves up for failure. Church is not a place to go to hear a book report, punch your attendance card, then head back out into the world. It is a place of safety, it is a place where you can recharge your batteries, and most importantly find guidance, strength, and true friendship. Church is a building where we can find the living body of Christ inside. To say we do not need it is to rob ourselves of one of the safety nets that the Lord has provided us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;To say that you do not need to read the bible, is the equivalent of saying I know how to build a space shuttle, so I do not need the directions. Christ told us He would send the great counselor after He left the world, and He did just that. He sent the Holy Spirit, to reside in each of us. You will never hear the counsel more clearly that when you are reading the Word of God. Within the word you will find the counsel you long for, the direction you need, and the conviction to carry on, even when the rest of the world tells you to stop. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Most importantly, when we say we can do this all by ourselves, we would do well to remember God himself saw, and stated that it was not good for us to be alone. You can read throughout the Bible and see many examples where God specifically brought people together to go out and spread His word. Why do you think that is? We are not meant to walk alone, even with the Lord at our side, we need earthly help. The encouragement that can only come from a friend, the intimacy that can only come from a spouse, the guidance that can only come from a mentor, the call to righteousness that can only come from an enemy. We cannot walk this world alone, and this is what this scripture is reminding us of. Alone we will fall, but with God, &amp;nbsp;Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the love and support of friends family, and a solid Church body at our side, we surround ourselves with the safety that can only come in numbers.&amp;nbsp; To borrow a phrase from our lovely Government we truly become too big to fail! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/2630077874264183937/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/you-lord-and-who.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2630077874264183937'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2630077874264183937'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/you-lord-and-who.html' title='You the Lord and Who?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-7868605653632730997</id><published>2012-01-20T06:10:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-20T06:10:23.017-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Straight not easy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Isaiah 45:2&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;The KJV reads &amp;#8220;I will make the crooked places straight&amp;#8221; to read this passages it is easy to see that the Lord is promising to make the high places reachable, the crooked places straight, break down barriers, and cut through excuses. Many people read this and think, &amp;#8220;oh yeah, I am in!&amp;#8221; I follow the Lord, and the Lord will make my life easy&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;..sorry to be the one to break it to those people, but that is not what was just promised in this passage. Another idea taken out of context is the idea that the Lord just promised me to take me where I want to go on this easy new road&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.yeah&amp;#8230;..here again&amp;#8230;.no so much! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;There is no doubt that the Lord will make the way clear by leveling and straightening the road, but He did not promise that He was going to remove all of the obstacles along the way. He said He would break down barriers, and cut through bars, those would be things that we might not be able to do on our own, however the day to day stuff, the interactions with others, the hard choices we make, the difficult times, and seasons of doubt. Those are all still there, and they are all still ours. Furthermore, often once the path does become clear, it becomes very evident that where the path leads, is nowhere near where we wanted to go.&amp;nbsp; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I say these things not to discourage, but to encourage you. You see God is with you, He is working right now on your behalf, but you have to have faith that if He has left something in your path, then it is something that you can deal with, overcome, and destroy.&amp;nbsp; If you see where you are heading and it is not where you wanted or expected to go, you have to realize that what you thought would bring you happiness, will be eclipsed by the true joy that the Lord has in store for you. To give you some examples. I am a pretty fit guy. I try to eat pretty healthy, go to the gym regularly, and lead a generally healthy lifestyle. I expect that I will have a pretty healthy life to come&amp;#8230;..nope, wrong answer, despite my best efforts I have found that I still have health issues, ones that will require even more effort on my part. Not exactly what I had planned. I have a friend that started off with a degree in psych, and is now a lawyer for a non-profit, a friend that went to school for engineering, and is now a Minister. You see God made the road straight, but it is still a though road, and the destination changes to where He needs you, not where you want to go. 8 years ago, I would have laughed had you told me that I would be writing this today. Yet, as it stands now, I can&amp;#8217;t imagine doing anything else. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;All of this is to simply say that we cannot afford to live on our timeline, by our rules, heading to our destination. God will straighten the path, and clear the &amp;#8220;impossible barriers&amp;#8221; but then we must walk by faith. Knowing that anything left in our path, we can handle, any difficulty we come up against is nothing more than The Lord leaving the light work to us. When our lives don&amp;#8217;t go the way we planned, it is not the Lord making it difficult, it is the devil trying to knock us off the path. Living by faith, is not just saying &amp;#8220;oh sure I believe in the Christ. You see&amp;#8230;..even the devil believes in Jesus Christ. Living by faith is not just saying I trust in God, as we continue to fight against His will. Living in faith is standing in front of the Goliaths of the world with nothing but a sling. It is walking square into the difficulties in our life knowing that not only will we survive, but we will be victorious. He has brought the high places down, He has straightened the crooked places, and broken down doors, and cut the bars&amp;#8230;now all we have to do is walk in faith, and if we can&amp;#8217;t walk, then we crawl, and if we can&amp;#8217;t crawl, then Christ himself will lift us up and carry us. Know this, God did not go through the trouble of straightening the road, only to make this life harder on you. He did not send His Son to die for us, only to turn around and say that you are not worth the trouble. You are important, you are loved, you are needed, and you are stronger, faster, and more worthy than what you give yourself credit for. Take on the hardships that come, walk through the season of doubt. Know that even though you might not have seen yourself going in the direction that path might lead&amp;#8230;.that is exactly where the Lord needs you&amp;#8230;..and yes, yes you can do it. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/7868605653632730997/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/straight-not-easy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7868605653632730997'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7868605653632730997'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/straight-not-easy.html' title='Straight not easy'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-7685099381935378471</id><published>2012-01-04T13:40:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-04T13:40:40.647-08:00</updated><title type='text'>If It Is Not Good</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;1Thessalonians 5: 16-18 &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:8.0pt;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;16&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Rejoice always, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:8.0pt;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;17&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;pray without ceasing,&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:7.0pt;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;18 &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Give thanks, and rejoice? Pray without ceasing? I know I can hear some of you now&amp;#8230;.really Brian? Do you know the year I have had? Do you know the struggles, the disappointments, the tragedy, and the fix I am in right now? You are saying that I should still give thanks? I should still rejoice? I am telling you unequivocally, yes give thanks. At the moment when you think you have nothing to give thanks, is the moment you should realize there is someone (most likely in the same town, if not neighborhood) who would love to trade places with you. In all things, at all times, give thanks and rejoice. Think of the years that Joseph spent in jail (for a crime he did not really commit no less), think of Noah and the doves that came back with nothing to show. What about Paul in Prison? Time and time again throughout the Bible we see people in dire positions. Things are not looking good, as a matter of fact most of the time they are looking pretty grim. Yet we do not see despair, we do not see isolation, we do not see &amp;nbsp;then throwing in the towel, or starting up a pity party. No, we read of them praying, singing songs of praise and worship, we see them giving thanks for their lives, even though it is not the way they want it to be right then&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.and there it is, the bottom line, and the brass tack. All of them had a couple of things in common, they were not where they wanted to be, but they had faith that it was not where they would end up. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works for the good in the lives of those who love Him. Do you know what that means? If it is not good, then God is not done. That my friends is a cause for eternal optimism. What can&amp;#8217;t we endure for a short while?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt; Time is something we created. There is not an eighth day where it is written that God created the 24 hour day. I am convinced that it is one of the biggest hindrances to our relationship with Christ. You see our time is nothing to Him. As a result it seems like we are always &amp;#8220;waiting an eternity&amp;#8221; when it is really just a blink of an eye. &amp;nbsp;The storm you weather now is worthy of thanks. For it is that storm that will draw you closer to the Lord. Now I am not by any means saying that God makes bad things happen to us so we will love Him more. That would make the Lord a pretty petty God. However bad things happen in life, by our choosing, by our actions, the actions of others, sometimes we really can&amp;#8217;t see why. If you survive it in one piece will largely depend on if you believe this is the end or not. I remember when I was a kid, and a F was the &amp;#8220;end of the world&amp;#8221; then later when a girl dumped me, that was &amp;#8220;the end of the world&amp;#8221; later in life the loss of a job, or a missed promotion was &amp;#8220;the end&amp;#8221; Until one day it finally clicked, this can&amp;#8217;t be the end, because this is not good. That tells me two things, it is going to get better, and no matter how much this hurts, it will not last a lifetime. That my friends is worthy of thanks. And you can bet I was praying through the whole time, then praying some more after just, to say thanks again. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Oh yeah, I know it is easy to say, but hard to do, it is hard to find the voice to give thanks when the boot of life seems to be crushing your windpipe &amp;#8230;.but let me ask you this, what have you ever received in life for free that was worth having? &amp;nbsp;Your home?&amp;nbsp; Your spouse? Your job? Life takes a lot of hard work, so why would we think that our spiritual life would be a walk in the park? The closer you get to the Lord, the harder the devil will work to pull you away. &amp;nbsp;I offer up this challenge, your next hardship, perhaps that is right now, give thanks, give thanks that it is not worse, give thanks that it is short lived, you pick what to be thankful for, but give thanks, then pray, offer up your troubles, give Christ the chance to show up, let Him know that you depend on Him, and then here is the hard part&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230; rejoice. If for no other reason than you know that the end of this storm must be coming. Make it a point to rejoice. Yes I do know how hard that can be. I have been there and done it&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;and I want you to know, it will work. God is not a liar, Christ will not leave you, the Holy Spirit will not subside. If it is not good, He is not done, and that is a huge reason to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/7685099381935378471/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/if-it-is-not-good.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7685099381935378471'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7685099381935378471'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/if-it-is-not-good.html' title='If It Is Not Good'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-5593049313098774636</id><published>2012-01-03T10:54:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-03T10:54:36.417-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Expectations</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;1Johnn 3:1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;We are all called children of God, we are assured of that throughout the Bible. Let us not confuse being children of God, with being perfect like the Son of God. &amp;nbsp;AS we surface form the Christmas season, and embark on a new year, we should take time to really look at where we want to go this year. It is the time of the resolutions that will last all year&amp;#8230;or maybe a month&amp;#8230;or maybe a week&amp;#8230;..or maybe they have already died. When we look at things we want to change about ourselves, and the world around us this year let us make it a point to resolve things that we see to be imperfections, not necessarily what the world tell us are imperfections. We would do well to remember this verse. We are children of God, and the world does not know us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;It is important to remember this verse because what the world sees and what we know to be true often tend to be different things. The world tells us that we are fat, and that it is the upmost important thing to get skinny so that we might be accepted. However God loves fat people, just as much as he loves skinny people. The world tells us that to be successful we must become rich, but here again God loves the rich, as much as the poor. The world tells us that being popular, and outgoing is important, yet we know that the meek shall inherit the earth. As we ponder the coming year we would do ourselves, and the Lord the most justice by resolving to change what the Lord tells us is important, and not worrying too much what the world sees. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;You see the Lord does not care if you are fat or thin, yet he does hate the sin of lying. The Lord does not care if you are successful in the business world, but He cares deeply in the success of your relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. God is not too concerned with how outgoing you are, He Himself used a man with a stutter &amp;nbsp;to free a nation. He does care how outgoing you allow the Holy Spirit to become in your life. You tell the world these truths, and you will be laughed at, but you see their expectations are not the same as yours, for they do not know you, and they did not know Christ when He came. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;When Christ came to Earth it was expected that He would be a King in every sense of the word. It was expected that He would arrive in style, with His birth shouted from the rooftops, and His entrance into this world marked with a festival of epic proportions. Yet He entered this world in much of the opposite fashion, so the world could not see Him. Much in the same way this year, the world expects you, me, all of us to rally to the call of the same old lame resolutions&amp;#8230;the perfect image, the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect life, they will expect you to resolve to be the perfect worldly person that they think you should be. As always we have a choice to make, will this be a year of conforming to the world, or to God? Will we strive to make this life better for now, or will we work to make our lives and the lives of those around us better for eternity? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;My resolution this year is to make it through the Bible twice. Of course when I share my resolution with some folks they ask why&amp;#8230;or my favorite&amp;#8230;for what? That is ok though, they do not know me, the One who does, knows all too well why, and for what. As you kick off this year, what shall you resolve to do? Will it be to make simple changes that effects your life today and tomorrow, possibly the year? Will it be the ones the world expects? Or will you step out in faith, will you make it a year that your resolution can impact eternity? Many will not understand, and they will not expect it, but that will be ok, the world does not know us, because they did not know Him. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/5593049313098774636/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/expectations.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5593049313098774636'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5593049313098774636'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2012/01/expectations.html' title='Expectations'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-2196564985768126797</id><published>2011-12-20T09:31:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T09:33:36.326-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Gift</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;WordSection1&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;color:black;&quot;&gt;Luke 2:10 -11&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;color:black;&quot;&gt;  10 &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;And the angel said to them, &quot;Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;The gift, the miracle, the undeserved answer to our prayers. The Christmas season is here, and 5 days from now we will join in unison to give thanks for the gift of life that was given to us by God. I have to share with you…..it happened today…..it happens every year, and I never know when it will show up…….but this morning there it was. Today I find myself filled with the Christmas spirit. I feel the overwhelming undeniable feeling of joy, and the need to tell people in my life how thankful I am for God, For His Son, and for having them in my life. It is truly a season of JOY! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Each and every year I promise myself that I am going to hang on to this feeling. I am determined to be this thankful, this joyful, this over the top happy to be alive, and have the chance to reach out to everyone I come across……I think I made it to about the end of February last year…….yeah, pretty dismal I know, but next year I know I will be making a run for it again! It does beg the question, how long do we stay grateful for the gift. Oh I know, don’t get me wrong here, I know most people are thankful throughout the year, but being thankful, and being full of joyful thanks, is not the same thing is it? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Let’s say you wanted a Porsche, fully loaded, free and clear, yours, tax title and licenses, you want it, you dream about it….and one day you open your door, and there it is! You are excited, you are joyful, you think you are the luckiest person on the face of the planet. Matter of fact the first month you have it you run in and pull people out of stores, movies, and work, just to come look at it, next month you are still pretty excited, matter of fact the first several months you remain on cloud nine…..then it happens, you jump in one day, crank the engine over, and it is just a Porsche. When people ask what you drive, you get a little gleam in your eye, you are thankful, but you simply respond, Porsche. We humans are bad about this, we get used to having something, and we go from appreciation, to more of an expectation mindset. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Christ (and I don’t have to tell you this) is not a Porsche. There is not one thing on this earth that can compare to the magnificence of the Lord, there is nothing that comes close to His power, His glory, or His presence, yet somehow, someway, in the middle of life, with all the hustle, and bustle, all of the trials and tribulations that come with just living this crazy life, it happens. Oh we don’t like to talk about it, we don’t like to admit it, we don’t like to say it out loud, and like it less when someone else does, but Christ becomes that Porsche. We are thankful, we know we should….but. We really want to…..but. We have the time….but……well we just are not as happy, or as joyful, or as thankful as that first day our Savior entered our lives!&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;That is what is so great about this Season. It is a chance to rekindle that fire into a blaze! It is an opportunity for us to recognize just how awesome of a gift that we have been given, and we get that gift not once a year, or once in a lifetime, but that gift walks with us each and every day. I am extending a challenge to each person that reads this. For at least the next five days, commit to be joyfully thankful. Write a letter, or an e-mail to someone who deserves thanks, but most likely does not get it. Tell the people you come in contact with just how great it is to have them in your life. Share the good news with those who have not heard it, and revel in the happiness with those who have. Make the next five days a reason for those who know you to take pause. Let them see what joyful thankfulness looks like. Then five days from now, see if you can make it another five, try to carry it into the new year. Write letters, make phone calls, drag people out of the stores, movies, and work, shake hands, pat backs. Let the world know to “fear not, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people” &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Georgia&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;Merry Christmas to all, and may God bless each of you this Christmas Season!&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;  style=&quot;font-size:7;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;  style=&quot;font-size:7;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;  style=&quot;font-size:7;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color:blue&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/2196564985768126797/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/gift.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2196564985768126797'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2196564985768126797'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/gift.html' title='The Gift'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-3740363320591450309</id><published>2011-12-20T08:06:00.003-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:06:49.523-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Two Way Street</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Romans 8:32&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I know that we hear all of the time from our friends, our loved ones, our co-workers, &amp;#8220;hey, I am here for you&amp;#8221; . &amp;#8220;whatever you need, just let me know&amp;#8221;&amp;nbsp; &amp;#8220;whatever I have is yours&amp;#8221;&amp;#8230;.however most of the time this old saying holds true. We will be friends through thick and thin&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;but when it gets thick&amp;#8230;.I am going to thin out! That is the way most of our relationships go. As a result we become jaded, we become untrusting, we start to think that the only person that is willing to give 100% for us&amp;#8230;.is us. It is no surprise that we take those feelings and throw them right on to the Lord. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;The Lord will not help me, I am all alone, God does not care. All of these feelings have little to do with what the Lord is doing in our life, and a lot to do with the fact that this is the expectation that we have experienced from the world, so we project it onto God. Romans 8 is a great chapter, we all know verse 28 that reads that God works for the good in the lives of those who love Him. This verse (32) is even more to the point. God loves each one of us so much that He gave His only Son. He did not spare Him, He did not hold anything back. He gave the most important thing any of us could think of&amp;#8230;.His own Son. Do you really think God would make that kind of commitment, then turn and walk away? Bring that thought into your own life. Think of something you have worked on, something that you have poured your heart and soul into. Did you reach a point where you just said forget it, before it was completed? Highly doubtful. Now what if it was something that you felt so committed to that you leveraged your house, your car, and all of your savings? Would you just throw in the towel when it got hard, or looked difficult? No, of course not, you have gone all in, you will give whatever is needed to make sure it works. Now think if you had to give one of your children. The only way you could see this thing through would be for you to give up one of your own&amp;#8230;..would you quit? Would you be willing to walk away? If it was something that you loved so much that you killed one of your own children, what would it take to make you stop giving to that cause? NOTHING.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;That is where God is at in your relationship. There is nothing that can separate you for God loving you, there is nothing that can come between you and Christ&amp;#8230;..except yourself. You see all too often, God does not run out on us, we run out on Him. God gave His Son. What did we give? What do we continue to give? Have you ever given any thought to the idea that God has not quit giving, we have just quit accepting? You might think &amp;#8220;whaaat?&amp;#8221; no way, no how have I quit taking anything offered by God. What about the love of your spouse? Do you accept that every day, or are there many days that it is taken for granted to the point that it is just an expectation? What about your family, your job (or the time given to you while you do not have one), your friends, those that come in contact with you every day? What do we do with these things? Anything? anything at all? Do we accept these gifts that are given daily, or do we just expect them to be there? As a result, we do not truly accept them, we set them on a shelf to collect dust, and miss the spectacular gift that has been given to us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Now let me ask you this. If you have children (and if not think of when you were a kid) what do you do when you give your child gifts and the do not use them, or they waste them, or they take them for granted? Don&amp;#8217;t you want to find a way to get them to use what has been given before you give more? Why give them another bike, when the one they have is not used? Why give them a new glove, when they will not even go outside to play ball? Starting to see the point? There is nothing that God will not give you, if you need it. There is no length that the Lord will not go to make sure you are taken care of. He is all in, He has invested His most precious asset. He has made the full commitment. Now it is up to each of us to utilize what we have been given. We have to accept the gifts given each day, we have to make the most of every day. I can promise you that you have been given a gift today&amp;#8230;.what will you do with it? Will you set it to the side while you wait for the &amp;#8220;good&amp;#8221; gift? The one you have been praying for, the one that YOU really want? Or will you choose to take each gift and celebrate it, cherish it, and make the most out of it? Yeah I know if we do that with every little gift we are given we will be pretty tired, and we will be pretty busy&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.and we will realize that we are pretty blessed. God does not hold back, so make it a point to not hold back on God. He will flood your life, but you have to turn on the spigot. He Gave the first gift, He gave the big gift. Will it go to use, or go on the shelf? There is nothing God will not give, can we say the same about what we are willing to give back to God? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/3740363320591450309/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/two-way-street.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3740363320591450309'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3740363320591450309'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/two-way-street.html' title='Two Way Street'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-8950773769219533273</id><published>2011-12-20T08:06:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:06:22.252-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Whatever You Wish</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:maroon&#39;&gt;John 15:7-8&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;7&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:red&#39;&gt;If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;8&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:red&#39;&gt;By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;This is a tricky verse, that is why included the verse after it for clarity. SO often we read the first verse, and when I say read, I mean skim over. The problem with doing that is many people read this verse, and are left with a feeling of less than more. We tend to miss the first part (if you abide in me, and my words abide in you) and really hone in on the second (ask whatever you wish, and it will be done). &amp;nbsp;I bring this up because I believe this Christmas season there will be many disappointed &amp;#8220;Christians&amp;#8221; . When we take care of the first verse, the next verse takes care of itself. Am I not making sense? Let me point to it this way. Could you imagine Christ during prayer bargaining with His Father? &amp;#8220;Father, I know you love me, and I have been working very hard down here in Your name, so how about you hook me up with a new house, you know I don&amp;#8217;t own one now, and it would be great to have a home base to do your work&amp;#8221;.&amp;nbsp; Maybe He would have asked for God to &amp;#8220;give&amp;#8221; Him that new flashy tunic that just came in, or the new sandals with the sole that allows the bottom of your foot to breath&amp;#8230;..of course just saying those things out loud is laughable, It would be hard, if not impossible to picture Jesus like that. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, are we not all like that to some degree this time of year? I hope I get, I really want, you know what I need? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Don&amp;#8217;t get me wrong here, I do enjoy getting gifts, just as much as, and in some cases more than the guy next to me (he got socks). What we have to be careful of is that we do not start to confuse love of any kind with the newest shiniest thing. We have to make sure that while we all have worldly desires, those desires are taking a back seat to God&amp;#8217;s. What is more important, that your father gave you a car for graduation, but missed it, or that he gave you a 10 dollar watch, but was there to hug you and tell you how proud he was of you? Do you want your spouse to hand you that perfect gift on Christmas morning, or would you rather them have nothing to give, but that look of love and desire that they had for you the first year you were together? I guess what I am getting at is that the fancy wrapper, and the cost of the gift is what the world wants us to pay attention to; but the love, the intent, the true gift is found in the one that has given. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;The Jews were waiting for that flashy gift to show up. They are still waiting today. They wanted a king, we were given a commoner. They were looking for a savior from the Romans, we were given a Savior from death. You see the gift God gave the world might not of looked like much. There was no golden palaces, no expensive linens, no grandeur surrounding this gift from God. This simple gift however would change the world, He would in fact change our lives, and eternity. &amp;nbsp;The gift did not look like much, but the love, the intent, the desire behind that gift was beyond comprehension. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;You see that is the difference between asking for a worldly gifts, and wishing for Godly desires. It is hard to glorify the Father when we are more worried about glorifying ourselves. It is hard to bear fruit if you are not watered with the life giving Word of God, It is hard to be a disciple of Christ, when we are disciples for ourselves. &amp;nbsp;When we align ourselves with the Word of God, when we work to live our lives chasing after the Lord, our desires turn from what do I get to what can I give. When we abide in the Lord, we will begin to see more worth in the gift giver than the gift itself. Oh don&amp;#8217;t get me wrong, we all have lists (an Orvis reel with a 8 &amp;#8211; 9 ft. graphite fly rod if anyone is asking) &amp;nbsp;but what we must remember is hopefully in the end we have given more than we were given, and no matter what shows up&amp;#8230;.if anything at all. We know we are loved, we know that the true gift has already been given, and it is one that while it might not of looked like much, turned out to be one of immeasurable worth. Christ did not ask for much, but always had what He needed. He was always ready to give, even when love was returned with hate. Jesus did not ask for new sandals, He asked for love. Love for Him, and for us to love each other. As we enter into this season, that is my wish for all of us. May we feel the love of the Lord, may we seek to love those around us, even if it is not returned. Way we all have a blessed Christmas season. &amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/8950773769219533273/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/whatever-you-wish.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/8950773769219533273'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/8950773769219533273'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/whatever-you-wish.html' title='Whatever You Wish'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-398197584250437950</id><published>2011-12-20T08:05:00.003-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:05:55.469-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Why?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Isaiah 48:10&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Times are tough, there is little doubt about that. People are hurting, and they are feeling alone. I hear, now more than ever, the one question that resonates. Why? Why me, why now, why does it have to be hard, why can&amp;#8217;t it just come easy? When I hear that question, I often think of this verse. I talked to a fella that works with various metals, and I asked him just what it means to &amp;#8220;purify&amp;#8221; silver. He told me that if you purify it, you have taken all of the slag out. The junk, the stuff that is just filler, and fluff, but not silver. When you get all of that out, then you have purified the silver. I asked him just how he goes about doing that. He told me that you put the silver in a smelter, and crank up the heat, as the silver gets hotter, it pushes out the impurities, and they rise to the top. He then takes a tool and pulls the slag off the top. He continues to add heat and pull off the slag. I asked him how he knew when he got all of the slag out. was there a temperature that must be reached, was it a specific time that it had to be done for, just how do you know. &amp;nbsp;His answer pretty much sums up what the Lord is telling us here. The man looked at me and said &amp;#8220;I know when I am down to pure silver because when I look into the smelter, I see my reflection&amp;#8221;. Wow, with enough heat, and enough time spent pulling the junk out he can see his reflection. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;That my friends is what the Lord is doing. Now as it is pointed out we are not put through the same fire as silver. Humans don&amp;#8217;t keep well when exposed to high heat. However we have a different furnace. It is the furnace of affliction. Yeah, I know&amp;#8230;..no one likes to hear about the furnace of affliction. I do not particularly like it myself. It is hot, it is uncomfortable, and typically I end up losing some stuff that I was fairly sure I needed. However, in the end, when the Lord gets all of our slag out, guess what? He can see Himself. Now that is worth the work; and knowing that God is working to get all of the junk out of us, should also remind us that we are not alone. The Lord is standing over that furnace, pulling out the slag as it comes to the top. Have you ever stood over a furnace, or smelter? Have you ever splashed a little slag onto you while pulling it off the top? It is not easy work. It takes time, it takes sacrifice, and it takes having to put up with a little pain. Yet there the Lord is, diligently working to get the slag out. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I often think how frustrated God must be with me sometimes. I can just see Him, standing over the furnace of my life, sifting out the slag&amp;#8230;.almost done, getting clear, starting to shimmer&amp;#8230;.then bam! Another round of slag pushes up to the top. I can almost hear Him exclaim &amp;#8220;good night! How much junk does this guy have to burn out?&amp;#8221; Really? More? Yet He does not tire. He does not throw up His arms, and say just forget it, let&amp;#8217;s pour this one out, and get a new one. No, He does not. He patiently stands over the furnace, waiting for the next round. Knowing that as long as I am willing to put in the work, sooner or later, that last bit of slag will float up to the top, and he will pull it off to reveal His reflection. He will look at me, and see Himself, He will look at my heart, and see the heart of His Son. At that moment, both the Lord, and I will know that every hardship, every bit of pain, grief, turmoil, disappointment, and every set back, was needed to bring me to this moment. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Take heart, and stand fast, this current season of pain, will give way to a season of joy. The pain will turn to happiness, and the disappointment, will turn to elation. You are simply in the process of pushing out some slag, and make no mistake about it&amp;#8230;.the Lord is right there ready to snatch it up, looking to see how much of Himself he can see in the reflection. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/398197584250437950/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/why.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/398197584250437950'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/398197584250437950'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/why.html' title='Why?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-5987657806295899631</id><published>2011-12-20T08:05:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:05:24.627-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Nov 15th</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;1 John 4:12&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Did you read the paper today? Maybe you listened to the radio on the way in, or you caught the news on the T.V. before you started your day. Pretty amazing stuff. We have people rallying against people who make too much money, we have people going to individuals houses, and calling them out. We have Politicians picking the personal life of their opponents apart, trying everything, and every angle to tear down the person. It is a pretty amazing sight. I am sure with a little thought you can come up with countless other instances in the news&amp;#8230;.maybe in your own life, where you see one person attacking another. What does any of that have to do with this scripture? Well first many of these people will be found in a Church this Sunday, and second I have yet to see an act of love generated from any of the actions listed above. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;You see, if we are to make a difference in this world, if we are to &amp;#8220;fix&amp;#8221; things, if we are going to spread the love and light of the Lord&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;We are going to have to understand the difference between the issues, and the person. We are going to have to understand that tough love is not the same as defamation, and assault (and no that does not just mean physical assault). When did it become OK to go out of our way to hurt someone &amp;#8220;just to prove a point&amp;#8221; when did there become an acceptable amount of pain that we are allowed to inflict? We are allowing our world to turn into a cesspool, and I say we are allowing, because even if you sit back and say &amp;#8220;well I am not doing any of that&amp;#8221; Just what exactly are we doing (myself included) to stop it? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;It hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. You see, I am part of the problem, I don&amp;#8217;t want to be, and honestly I am not sure how I became involved, but looking back, I am fairly sure it had to do with me wanting to fit it. SO what do I mean? Well we did not just wake up and say &amp;#8220;hey, starting today it is going to be OK to hurt people, or attack them&amp;#8221; No, it started much more innocently than that. The devil is not one just to bang in the door, he is much better at just creeping in. Looking back, I see that I am not much different that a lot of people. It used to be that I had a lot for problems with many issues, but then the problem quit being with the issues, and became more about the person. It is a theme that I hear repeated often. Oh, so and so is for this, and did you know that they filed for bankruptcy, and they cheated on their spouse, and they lied on their taxes, and they&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.wow! Now it seems like we are less interested in showing what is wrong with the issue, and a lot more interested in tearing the other person down. Worse yet, I don&amp;#8217;t hear much about trying to help fix any of the problems that I have just been so eager to share with whoever will listen. &amp;nbsp;How about you? Are you guilty of the same thing? Do you see any love in any of that statement? DO you find a shimmer of the love that God holds for that person in my wonderful assessment? Sadly, neither do I. It brings me to the very upsetting revelation that I am missing the mark. To use my favorite archery term&amp;#8230;.I am sinning. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal style=&#39;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;text-autospace:none&#39;&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;We have got to make it a point to start leading with love, even when we are encountered with people who lead with hate. Even when we find it so easy to drill down on the short comings of the person, instead of sticking with the issue, or trying to find a way to help instead of just continuing the process of degradation. It is up to each one of us to re direct the conversation, to stand up for the person, while point out the shortcomings of the issue. We must act in love, and we must start today. We live in a world where many people would love to see the name of God removed, and eradicated. Looking at the way I have behaved in a few instances&amp;#8230;.who can blame them? No one has seen God, and if people cannot see Him, and His Son in us then what are we doing here? Were we not called to spread the good news? Looking at the news, I don&amp;#8217;t see much good news being professed. Listening to the water cooler talk I hear little good news, and more talk of isolation, despair, and struggle. How can God work to produce a perfect work in us, if we are working hard to go in the opposite direction? How can God light the world, if we refuse to light our hearts? Jesus hung on a cross, and his last act was to show love those that killed Him, He met hatred with forgiveness. Yet I have a hard time forgiving my neighbor? I have a hard time not talking negative about them? It would seem that I have some work to do, and I don&amp;#8217;t believe I am alone on this. Hopefully, I can work to get my heart to look like Christ&amp;#8217;s&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/5987657806295899631/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/nov-15th.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5987657806295899631'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/5987657806295899631'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/nov-15th.html' title='Nov 15th'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-6941885880240096987</id><published>2011-12-20T08:04:00.003-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:04:46.165-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Following Your Heart?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Proverbs 16:9&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Have you ever spent time planning something then for no real unexplained reason you end up going a different direction? We have all had that happen. You see the heart wants what the heart wants, but The Lord will step in to keep us from straying too far off the path. He nudges, He prompts, He sends the spirit to guide. We plan, we plot, we spend our time looking towards where we want to go, not necessarily where we need to go. We are only human, not perfect, nowhere near if we are to be honest. So everything we want, everything we desire, is not always the best for us, or for the Lord. Yet we want it anyway. What &amp;nbsp;God we serve!&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I often hear the question, if the Lord can guide, if He can establish, then why not just line us out? You know why don&amp;#8217;t we wake up in the morning, and right in the middle of our prayer, God breaks in directly, and says &amp;#8220;OK, today this is what I need from you. I need you to go here, do this, and then go see this person&amp;#8221; , Or maybe &amp;#8220;today, I need you to work on this&amp;#8221; Why can&amp;#8217;t it just be that simple? Well, there are a couple of points to that question. First, where would the love come in? If we did it because we were told to, what would be the point? We are not down here doing anything that God can&amp;#8217;t do for himself. Do you really think God needs us to go feed the homeless? Did He not feed an entire nation when they were homeless? Does He need us to go care for the sick? Did Christ himself not heal with a touch, or with a simple command? No, please never confuse &amp;#8220;doing God&amp;#8217;s work&amp;#8221; with doing something in the name of God, because if you don&amp;#8217;t He can&amp;#8217;t&amp;#8221;. We do these things so we can be living examples of God&amp;#8217;s love, and that is a task that must be chosen to do. Just as each one of us were chosen by the Lord. Christ Told us, &amp;#8220;You did not choose me, but I chose you&amp;#8221; He chose us, and He chose to love us. If He did it because He &amp;#8220;had to&amp;#8221; then the love would not be present, it would be nothing more than a function. A check mark on a list. That is not love, that is something else entirely. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Secondly, what if I were to tell you that God does break into your day (and sometimes your prayers) and nudges you in the direction of His plan? He does, but as this scripture points out, sometimes we are busy following our plans, and we do not see His. Want to know what the Lord wants you to work on today? See what comes into your life. For some reason no matter what time I leave, I typically run into traffic at some point on the way in to work. I only have a 15 minute drive&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;traffic&amp;#8230;.at 6:45&amp;#8230;.really?&amp;nbsp; Yeah, that is no surprise, I need to work on my patience, and I find it no surprise I am provided with opportunities to work on that. Another good example is who the Lord brings into my life daily. It never fails, I typically have to deal with a few people who really have the unique ability to grind on my nerves. Yeah&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;sometimes I really need to work on seeing people for who they are, instead of just how they affect me&amp;#8230;.you might say I can be a little selfish. You know, I talked to a friend of mine the other day, and we were talking about this very subject. He looked at me and proceeded to tell me that he does not have those types of people in his life&amp;#8230;..I said never? He said he could not think of one person that would meet that description. I am left with no other alternative than to believe the my friend must of lined that issue out, and is now on to other things. How about the people that need help, the people that are hurting, the opportunities that come up to make a difference, but overlap the football game, or the night out on the town? &amp;nbsp;You see, we ask for God&amp;#8217;s guidance, but I tell you&amp;#8230;..He is offering guidance every day&amp;#8230;..but we have to choose to follow. We have to make a choice between our heart&amp;#8217;s earthly desire, and the desire to follow the steps the Lord has lined up for us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I will leave you with this thought. If your brother or sister called and asked something of you would you go do it? What if it got in the way of your plans? Would you still go? What if by doing this thing you knew you could show them how much you loved them. Wouldn&amp;#8217;t you do it? What if it was your Dad, or your Mom? They asked you to do something, maybe they did not even ask (you know how parents can be) maybe they just dropped a hint, or you picked up on something they said. Wouldn&amp;#8217;t you make it a point to do it? Even if you had to change your plans? Of course you would, you love them, and you want them to know it, you want an opportunity to show them. SO you put your plans to the side, and you work on theirs. God, Christ, The Holy Spirit&amp;#8230;.are they not our family as well? Honestly, don&amp;#8217;t they love you more than your own parents, your siblings? Then, how can we not lay down our plans, and follow the steps the Lord has laid out for us? Oh we will always want what the heart wants, but we choose what we will go after. Every day, sometimes every hour. We make a choice. Will we close our eyes and blindly follow our hearts desire, or will we live with our eyes open, looking for the things the Lord beings into our life? Will we choose us or Him. It really comes down to a simple question&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;who do you love?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/6941885880240096987/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/following-your-heart.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/6941885880240096987'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/6941885880240096987'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/following-your-heart.html' title='Following Your Heart?'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-3206236546516964494</id><published>2011-12-20T08:04:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:04:06.596-08:00</updated><title type='text'>We Are The Body</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;John 20:14 &lt;span style=&#39;color:black&#39;&gt;At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;The tomb is empty, and the Christ is gone. This has to be the lowest point in Mary, and the disciples lives. Could you imagine the despair, the utter feeling of being totally lost they must have felt? Yet Mary turns, and there is Jesus. Folks, that is the way life is every single day and twice on Sunday. Every day Christ is at our side, yet so often we never turn to see Him. We get lost in the moment, lost in the pain, and disappointment of the day. We get wrapped up in the deals, the bargains, the hectic schedule, and we pick up so much speed that it feels like either the wheels are going to fall off, or we will be crushed by the weight of the day. At that moment, we need to turn to the Lord. The knee jerk human, worldly reaction is to reach out, grab another gear, and hope it all holds together for another day, that is not the way we were built. We were made to live, laugh, and love, not stress, cry, then die. Each day we should find some time to turn and see that Jesus is walking with us. We should remind ourselves that even at our lowest point we are not alone. Jesus is there to take the burden, the confusion, the pain, and the frustration. He never asked you to carry it, nor did His Father, all they have ever asked is that you live for them, and allow them to carry all of your weight. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;There is more to this verse though, a little bit of symbolism I believe. You see Mary turned, and saw Jesus, but she did not see, nor understand that this was Jesus at first. &amp;nbsp;Now there are a number of reasons why this could have happened, perhaps Jesus did not want her to see that is was Him immediately, in this case I believe it is more of typical grief. Jesus was dead, Mary saw Him die, She could not get her head around the fact that He was actually standing in front of her. So at first she thought that He was the gardener. And here I find the symbolism. &amp;nbsp;If it were just the gardener standing there, and that gardener was a believer, then would that not mean that there was in fact a part of Christ standing there? When someone is at their lowest point, and they turn and see you, should they not see Jesus staring back at them? Should they not feel the love, compassion, and help, that we expect, and enjoy from the Lord? Are we not told that we are the Church, we are the living breathing body of Christ? Are we not the living examples of Christ here on Earth? I think you know the answer to those questions. Which means that it does not matter if you are just a gardener, or the President, CFO, CEO, COO, VP, &amp;nbsp;or any fancy initials you want to hang after your name, we all carry the same prefix J.C&amp;#8230;..Jesus Christ. We are here for each other, to help out, to carry the load, to build up the broken, and tear down the walls that hinder. Today Mary might turn and instead of Jesus she might see you, or perhaps today is the day that you turn and see the outstretched hand of another. Give the help that is needed, and take the help that is offered. With God above, the Spirit within, Jesus at our side, and the living breathing body of Christ around us, we should never feel alone, or left behind. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/3206236546516964494/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/we-are-body.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3206236546516964494'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3206236546516964494'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/we-are-body.html' title='We Are The Body'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-7655602280116980992</id><published>2011-12-20T08:03:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:03:19.410-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Just For You</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Matthew 9: 9&lt;span style=&#39;color:black&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp;As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector&amp;#8217;s booth.&amp;nbsp;&amp;#8220;Follow me,&amp;#8221;&amp;nbsp;he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;There are a couple of passages that reflect this same simplicity Jesus says, and people do. Hey you, get up and follow me&amp;#8230;..and Matthew gets up and goes. Pretty simple huh? I mean it seems easy enough, Why not right? Christ shows up in your life, and you move&amp;#8230;.What? it&amp;#8217;s not that easy? There is more to it than that? Life is more complicated today? There are more grey areas, life is not so black and white like it was back then? I might be inclined to go along with those thoughts, but Matthew was a tax collector. If you want to see a picture of someone living in the grey area, look at the life of a tax collector in the day of Jesus. These guys were crooks, by way of the law, they taxed more than they were supposed to and they kept the profits. It was common knowledge, no one liked the tax man (some things never change). Matthew was living a life that would rival Bernie Madoff! The difference is Matthew most likely never would have been caught, and prosecuted! Think about it, Matthew had a pretty good gig going on by worldly standards. He took what he wanted, lived as he pleased, did not want for anything. Matthew must of had a nice house, he threw a dinner party and a ton of folks showed up. If they had Maserati&amp;#8217;s back then, you can bet Matthew would have had one. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Yet, Matthew was called, and Matthew moved! That tells me one thing. Out of all the stuff that Matthew had, he still felt like he was missing something. He knew there was more to be had. I often wonder about the next few days after Matthew decided to follow Jesus. I can see him sort of looking around thinking, &amp;#8220;wow, this cat does not have anything!&amp;#8221; What am I doing here, why did I give up everything that I had? I am sure that all of those questions were answered as soon as Jesus raised that little dead girl. Oh, I can here Matthew say to himself, this guy gives life to those that are dead&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;OK, I am in! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;That is the simplicity of Christ. Get out past the religion, the &amp;#8220;right music&amp;#8221; the &amp;#8220;right rituals&amp;#8221; &amp;#8220; the right prayers&amp;#8221; the &amp;#8220;right church&amp;#8221; get down to the brass tacks, and you will see plain and simple, Jesus brings life where there was only death. That is what makes the choice so simple. It is that very thing that makes men and women leave their lives of comfort, and travel to faraway lands to tell the world this truth. It is why people turn from their old worldly lives, and follow Jesus when He calls. They realize that Christ brings them life&amp;#8230;..Christ brings you life. It is this simple truth, Christ died for you, that can change a life, a family, a community, a country, and yes the entire world we live in. There is something more out there for you. I don&amp;#8217;t care who you are, or where you are at in your journey with God. That empty feeling, that little empty feeling that shows up usually when you are at the height of your game. The celebration that falls a little short, the joy that somehow still feels a little lacking. That is the feeling of knowing there is more out there. That is the feeling of the call of Christ to do a little more than last time (even if last time was nothing). It is the feeling of making sure you make that simple choice, and follow when Christ calls. I am sure that Matthew knew exactly what feeling I am talking about. I would be willing to bet he had been living with that feeling for quite a while.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Knowing that Christ brought us life, and continues to guide us through that life. Knowing that He offers that life to you each and every day, and each and every day, He calls you to make that choice, and fill that empty feeling with the Love of Christ. There is always more to do, there is always something better out there, that something better is what Christ is calling you for. He is not calling me to it, He has me doing something else. He is not calling your neighbor to it, He has them tied up on another task. He is calling you. The work He has done, He did for you. The work He continues to do, He is doing for you. The call that you hear&amp;#8230;.yes, it is for you. Will you go as willingly as Matthew did? Even if it means that you might have to give up some of what you have to get what you are being called to? Christ is calling you today, will you follow? It really is just that easy. You don&amp;#8217;t have to be perfect, you just have to be willing. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/7655602280116980992/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/just-for-you.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7655602280116980992'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/7655602280116980992'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/just-for-you.html' title='Just For You'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-3607242831789509469</id><published>2011-12-20T08:02:00.003-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:02:38.123-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Rings and Things</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Romans 8:29 &lt;span style=&#39;color:black&#39;&gt;For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;I have not been wearing my wedding ring here lately. My joint has been killing me right where my ring hits, so I am taking a break from wearing it. Now does that mean I get to take a break from my marriage? Since I do not have that little chunk of silver on my finger does that make my vows worthless, does it mean that since I am not waving the married flag, it does not count? Better question, when I do wear it, am I now somehow magically bound by the mysterious powers of the metal that encircles my finger, and now I am unable to do any wrong? I think we all know the answer to that. That ring means nothing. It is nothing more than a way to convey a status to the world of what my intentions are, not necessarily how I am living. What I do with it off, or on is up to me. The outward appearance has nothing to do with the internal. I am what I was led to be, married. Ring, or no ring, it all still counts, and people will know my marital status, not by the ring, but by my actions. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Folks, we are not called to admire Christ, we are not called to be His cheerleaders&amp;#8230;..he does not need them! No, God made us in His, and His Sons image, and we are called to be Christ like. We are called to emulate Him, not just admire. However, just like my wedding ring, many folks today seem to think that just because we wear the right ring, have the correct bumper sticker, go to the right Church, drink or eat the right things, or sing the right songs then we are Christ like. &amp;nbsp;I know many people who are flying the Jesus flag, yet just like the guy with the cowboy hat that has never been on a horse&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;they are all hat, and no cattle. We have fallen it to the trap of being more worried about how we are perceived than worried about how we are LIVING like Christ. This is not some lengthy admonishment about how we terrible of a job we are doing. It is more of a desperate plea for us to each stop and look at our lives. You see, Christ never really cared what others thought about Him. He cleaved to the one and only truth. The Truth of His Father. He did not care where He preached that Word. In a boat, in a Synagogue, by a lake, on a hill, or in the house of a sinner. He did not care if those around Him were Samarian, Jew, or Roman. He showed love for His Father, and Love for each and every person around Him. Here is where we find the key. It is not a matter of where we are at, or what we are wearing. It does not matter if we find ourselves surrounded by Christians, or Atheists. We must be what we were called to be&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230; conformed to the image of Christ.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Does that mean that I have to have an Ichthus (Jesus Fish) sticker on my car? Do I have to belong to the Church that is deemed the &amp;#8220;right&amp;#8221; one in my circle? No. If I shout Jesus from the rooftops, and say I believe, will that mean that I am &amp;#8220;in&amp;#8221;. Nope, even the devil believes in Christ&amp;#8230;matter of fact I would bet that the devil believes in Christ more than a lot of people today. Saying you are married does not make you married, saying you are sober does not cure the alcoholic, calling a dog&amp;#8217;s tail a leg, does not mean that a dog has 5 legs. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;We have been given a gift, we have been shown the greatest amount of love that anyone could be shown. When we least deserved it, we were given what we did not deserve on our best day! In return all we can do is try to live the life that the Lord has planned for us, and that life is one that looks as close to Christ&amp;#8217;s as we can get. No, it is not easy, yes, we will have days that we will fail miserably at it. But it is not that ring or the bumper sticker that will define your walk with Christ. It will be defined, and a testimony to all around you, when they see you struggle, but continue on, when you fall, and get back up, when you falter, and reach out to the Lord for stability. When we return love for hate, compassion, for scorn. When we are seen nailing our lives to the Cross of Christ, standing on the rock, dirt under our fingernails from clawing our way back up, torn shirts from navigating the thorn bushes, and holes in the knees of our pants from praying for the help, guidance, grace, peace and strength needed to make it another day. A ring will not make you married, and a bumper sticker will not make you a Christian. Both take a lifetime of selflessness, just like the life that Christ led.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/3607242831789509469/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/rings-and-things.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3607242831789509469'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/3607242831789509469'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/rings-and-things.html' title='Rings and Things'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-4067563539669133623</id><published>2011-12-20T08:02:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:02:08.123-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Oh Yes You Can</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Romans 3:3 &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God&amp;#8217;s faithfulness?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;So you can&amp;#8217;t do it huh? God does not deliver for you, He does not listen to you, you are not important enough. You cannot dream that big, those things don&amp;#8217;t happen to me, there is no way I can be that lucky&amp;#8230;.it&amp;#8217;s always the other guy. I hear these, or versions of these statements often. Who are you listening to? Who has told you to water down your dreams. Who has convinced you that you cannot win? Who in your life right now, or in your past has robbed you of undiluted faith? Their unbelief, has fueled your unbelief. One of the hardest things in life to learn, and believe, is just because a &amp;#8220;smart&amp;#8221; person says it&amp;#8230;well&amp;#8230;.that does not make it true. Their lack of faith does not mean that there are no faithful! We get in this habit of believing what others say, more than what we know. We start to defer to friends, self-help books, and the latest fad to try and find our worth, and our compass. We start to believe the lie that somehow the person with the better background, the better college receipt, the better wife, car, family, whatever you want to measure, is better, or more deserving that we are. Has God promised to be more faithful to&amp;nbsp; them? Have they cut a deal with the Lord to have more, or have it easier? Maybe they are right, and you are just not that smart! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;I want to be very clear on this, God is not a deal maker. He made one deal and one deal only, He allowed us to kill His Son, so that His Son might stand in for our sins. As a result that deal made us all sons and daughters to God, and siblings to Christ. That is the deal, not another one has been made, nor is there another on to come. God&amp;#8217;s faithfulness extends to each and every one of us. Not more to one, and less to another, but exactly what we need and how much we need to accomplish His goals for us. Folks His goals are big, His plans are monumental, and His faith, and belief in you goes well beyond what any mere human might think of you. Could you imagine if Christ let His faithfulness be dictated by those around Him? I can see it now, Jesus walking down the streets of Jerusalem, kicking rocks and dust, head down, murmuring to Himself, &amp;#8220;geez, the Pharisees don&amp;#8217;t believe me, the Romans don&amp;#8217;t believe me, very few of the Jewish people believe in me&amp;#8221;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8221;Maybe they are right&amp;#8221;, &amp;#8220;Maybe I can&amp;#8217;t change the world&amp;#8221;. &amp;#8220;Maybe my Dad just does not know what He is talking about&amp;#8221;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;.. WHAAAAAT???? Could you imagine? No&amp;#8230;.honestly no, I cannot imagine that ever happening. So why do we think it is ok for us to think like that, why would we allow someone&amp;#8217;s unfaithfulness nullify God&amp;#8217;s? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;We have to believe in ourselves, and the best way to do that is to believe in God&amp;#8217;s faithfulness to us. It is hard to just believe in ourselves, You hear that all the time&amp;#8230;.&amp;#8221;come on, just believe in yourself and you can do it&amp;#8221;. But if you will believe in the promises God has made to you, then it becomes quiet clear that no one can dilute your dreams, no one can hold you back. You are not trapped, you are not restrained. God&amp;#8230;.the God&amp;#8230;.you know THE ONE&amp;#8230;.He says you can. He says you are worth it. He says that with Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit in your life there is no dream that He sets into motion that you cannot accomplish. Do not allow the unfaithful around you to nullify God&amp;#8217;s faithfulness! Shrug off the I can&amp;#8217;t, and the I will nevers&amp;#8217;&amp;#8230;God says you can, the Lord says you will, listen to the Lord. He will tell you time and time again, &amp;#8220;yes my child, you can&amp;#8221;. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/4067563539669133623/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-yes-you-can.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/4067563539669133623'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/4067563539669133623'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-yes-you-can.html' title='Oh Yes You Can'/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267956841390769146.post-2985687692770907639</id><published>2011-12-20T08:01:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T08:01:34.007-08:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=WordSection1&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Luke 6:12 -13 &lt;span style=&#39;color:black&#39;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;12&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;Christ spent the night praying, and I would think that is anyone had the ear of God that night, His Son did. Christ did not just pray a little, He spent the night praying. Anyone that has taken part in a prayer vigil knows praying all night take some focus, it takes commitment, and it takes determination. After a night of prayer, Christ goes out and chose twelve men to be His apostles. Not ten, not eleven, but twelve, and one of those twelve was who? Judas. The man that would betray Jesus, was handpicked the morning after a night of prayer. If that is not proof positive that we will have difficult people in our lives I do not know what is! &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;We can read where that Jesus experienced all things human. It is one of the aspects that makes Him able to identify with us so well. I would think that this must have been one of the harder things to experience. Not just betrayal, but betrayal at the hands of one you love. It is a stark reminder that God&amp;#8217;s plan does not always mean &amp;#8220;our plan&amp;#8221; , we can pray for protection, we can pray for an easy life, we can pray for smooth waters, we can pray night and day endlessly, but that will not change the fact that we will be hurt, we will be betrayed, the waters will get rough. So am I&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;saying that we should not pray? Of course not! Prayer is vital in our relationship with the Lord. Christ Knew what was in store for Him, and He did not falter in His praying! &lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;What we must understand is, that sometimes prayers are answered in the middle of our pain. The sweet healing power of the Love of Christ might just show up in the middle of a torrential downpour. An entire world was set free at the pinnacle of one Man&amp;#8217;s pain. Your prayers are always answered, but sometimes we have to struggle through the pain to get to the blessing. This is our &amp;#8220;big game&amp;#8221; the world cup, the world series, the super bowl, and the masters all rolled into one. We pray for a win, but honestly we pray for strength. We pray for the fortitude to endure the challenges that we are to face. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:black&#39;&gt;What have you obtained in this life that yourself or someone else did not have to sacrifice for? If it was easy to get, was it satisfying to obtain? Your job, your family, your friends, even your hobbies, are they any sweeter when they come without struggle? Why would we want or expect our relationship with Christ to be any different? For every step you take in prayer, you can bet the devil will be there to try and knock you back. Praying does not guarantee us a life of ease. It guarantees us an open line of communication with God. It allows us to cry out and let the Lord know that we cannot do it on our own. God is God, not Santa Clause (although some pictures it is hard to tell the difference) His plan might take us through dark storms, disappointing outcomes, and less than satisfying relationships, but I want you to remember something. God works for the good in the lives of the people that love Him, and have been called to His purpose. It might not seem like it right now, but know this; If it is not good right now, that just means that God is not done. Do not slack on your praying, increase it. Just because you find that you have a traitor in your midst does not mean that your prayers have not been answered, it might just be that God is about to do something huge in your life. Life is tough, and at times it might seem unfair, but know that God is a just God, He is faithful, and He is moving right now to change your life, and you know what&amp;#8230;.He is going to work in that traitors life as well. It might just be that traitor is doing some praying himself, that might just be what brought them to you. &amp;nbsp;Remember that light at the end of the tunnel&amp;#8230;&amp;#8230;it might be you. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;God Bless,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;Brian Thetford&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ridgefellowship.com/&quot;&gt;The Ridge Fellowship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;color:blue&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.psalm22.net/&quot;&gt;Psalm22&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style=&#39;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;&#39;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/&quot;&gt;The Workweek With Christ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/feeds/2985687692770907639/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/luke-612-13-12-of-those-days-jesus-went.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2985687692770907639'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4267956841390769146/posts/default/2985687692770907639'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com/2011/12/luke-612-13-12-of-those-days-jesus-went.html' title=''/><author><name>Brian Thetford</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/12188716120462926055</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='27' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbsD_n7hWC6KT3MtzPBHXnAaZmg5DYWCmP_9U_XSWf4Rls8zPr7cAmDV_KiH01-pBuYkOAlmXDRuQfY2lgw6dhQyMhL7fL6U0rEiCzRKC09d7iZO6R0TNX-yAnYHYKg/s220/brian.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>