License Suspended!

June 29, 2014 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

This past Tuesday I went to one of my favorite little Mexican establishments only to be greeted by a large fluorescent green sign stuck on the outside of the door that read, “License Suspended”. Not a good thing to see when you go there once a week to get lunch. Most likely they were shut down for unsafe food handling. What I was most upset about though is I was one punch away from receiving a “free” lunch! (See image of punch card.)

This got me to thinking. If God did Lunch_Punch a surprised visit into my life would He declare me “unclean”? If I had a license to be a Christian would He suspend it? What would He write on His report? Unsafe handling of thoughts? Ignored those in need? Quality of material coming in is below standard?

The truth is, God doesn’t have to do surprise inspections, but He is always watching everything going on at all times in my life. I should always be living my life aware God is always watching everything coming into my life, and everything going out. The reward of living this way would not be a free lunch, but a free eternity of life!

A Simple Misunderstanding

June 23, 2014June 24, 2014 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I went yesterday to meet up with a friend of mine. He is always early when we agree to meet somewhere, so when our appointed time to meet came and went I knew something was wrong. I called him and he said, “Oh, I didn’t think we were meeting.” We both laughed about it and summed it up as, “a simple misunderstanding!” We were both okay with the situation, but what happens when people aren’t okay with misunderstandings? There can be hurt feelings, anger, blame, and these things can lead up to gaps in one’s relationship with the other person.

Even worse, what if someone misunderstands God? What if that misunderstanding causes a gap between them and Him? It’s probably not misunderstanding His word, but more of misinterpreting His word. They misinterpret what He is truly trying to do in their life. Will they dare stand before Him and say, “I’m sorry God. I guess we had a simple misunderstanding.” (Would someone dare say to Him, “Oh, you mean that whole hell thing is real?”) It will be interesting to see what happens if either scenario takes place in heaven. Seek for God’s true meaning in His word. Pray and ask Him for understanding. Don’t allow your selfish desires keep you from understanding God, and if you have ask Him to help close that gap between you and Him.

Father’s Day 2014

June 17, 2014June 19, 2014 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Today is the special day we celebrate, or reflect on our fathers. I have one friend who just lost hers, and a couple of cousins that lost their father recently as well. This will no doubt be a rough day for them. I still have my father living although he is 697 miles away. I will be talking to him via a phone conversation. I have two kids who live 949 miles away, so no backyard BBQ with family today. Although I do have a nice looking steak ready to grill!

I think back; have I honored my father by the way I have chosen to live my life? Does he think about me and smile? Does he laugh remembering that particularly funny thing I did or said? Or have my past choices brought about pain, and disappointment? Most likely some of both.

Then I think about my heavenly Father. Have I honored him? Do I honor Him? Do my life choices bless Him? Do I make Him smile when I get it right? I had to make a hard life choice just the other day. After I made the right choice I looked up and asked Him, “Are you happy, because I’m not!” By the next morning I knew in my heart I had made the right choice, and I quickly apologized for smarting off to God. I know He understood, because He no doubt saw the pain in my heart. God and I are good again. Although I am not always 100% faithful to Him, He is always 100% there for me. Last night at church they showed a picture of a small child’s hand in the grip of their father’s hand. The photo made me think of my hand in God’s. It is so comforting to know that despite my actions He never lets go. Happy Heavenly Father’s Day God! I’m glad you are 0 miles away.