5, 4, 3, 2, 1

December 31, 2021December 27, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

The ball drops in Times Square, of New York City. As this blog is posted at 6:00PM CST, it will drop five hours from now. When it reaches the bottom it will be a new year; 2022! I’ve mentioned before how much I like “new”. New is fresh and clean, at least for a while. How long will it take for me to put a spot, or blemish on the New Year coming? Knowing me, not long.

But life isn’t always about counting down to a celebration. In real life, when the ball drops it can mean a lost job, the unexpected death of a family member, a bad medical report, the end of marriage, or some other unexpected, unpleasant event.

I have also mentioned before how I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. I, like so many others, break them in the first week. But there is something I want to change in me. That is how I react to people, things, and even unexpected ball drops. I want to operate in one, or multiple “fruits of the Spirit”. You know them;

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23.

My favorite part of verse 23 is this, “against such things, there is no law.” I take this as to mean that this fruit is from God, and no one can affect them, change them, or remove them! With God’s help, I can renew my mind and my first reaction to anything said, or done will be one of these fruits. Fruit, as we know, provides nutrients that are good for us, and others. Fruit tends to be sweet, delicious, and full of flavor. When this type of change comes about, all will be better for it.

So come on 2022! I’m ready to change!

Happy New Year!

Were You There?

December 27, 2021December 27, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

“There has to be aliens, or other beings on the other planets! Why else would they be there?” I thought for a second, and fortunately the Holy Spirit whispered in my soul, “How do you know that the other planets aren’t just weights and balances that keep earth in its place? Like a machine that fills the universe?” My co-worker pondered what I was told to say. Then she yielded, “I don’t know.” The debate ended.

In that exchange I was mindful of when God questioned Job. He said to him,

“Where were you when I created the earth?
    Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!
    Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
    and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
    and all the angels shouted praise?

“And have you ever ordered Morning, ‘Get up!’
    told Dawn, ‘Get to work!’
So you could seize Earth like a blanket
    and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?
As the sun brings everything to light,
    brings out all the colors and shapes,
The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked—
    they’re caught in the very act! Job 38:4-7, 12-15(MSG)

You see man, who can’t fathom an all-powerful being has to make up his own explanation as to how things came about. Some have said there was a big bang! I simply ask, “If that is so, and it isn’t, then who lit the fuse?” I don’t have a “big bang” theory, I have knowledge of a big God! No man was there when God created the heavens and earth. No one but God decided how big, or how little things should be. He, and He alone put all things in order. He has told us so in his word, the Bible. I believe in God, and therefore what He says! Even Charles Darwin doubted his own theory! Read chapters 6 and 9 in his book, “The Origins of Species”.

So as the New Year approaches, I challenge you to start thinking new. Your old way probably, if you would admit it, isn’t working for you. When you are alone, and lying in bed trying to go to sleep, your mind questions your own theories. You spot holes in what you hope is truth. Read God’s word. There, you will learn everything about life that you absolutely need to know for now. Everything else will be revealed when we die, so don’t waste your time now writing your own theories. Believe in God. And trust in him. He’s got this!

My First Christmas in America

December 24, 2021December 22, 2021 / Mark Brady / 6 Comments

by April Joy Brady (Mark’s wife)

This is my first Christmas in America. My previous ones have been in my home country of the Philippines. People’s attitudes here toward Christmas are a lot different than there. It seems as if some of the people are forgetting the real reason for Christmas. Some even go as far as to remove “Christ” from the word Christmas with “X-mas”. It makes me wonder if they have removed Christ from their hearts as well. I’m not trying to be judging, it would be difficult not to be that way growing up here in America, with constantly being bombarded with TV ads and popular culture.

This season here seems to be more about parties, gifts, and where to spend the holiday. When in the Philippines, where resources don’t flow so freely, Christmas tends to be much simpler, and we are happy to get to see family and share a simple meal, and laugh. There is a lot of laughter back home. I imagine Jesus’s first Christmas was simple as well. Mary and Joseph adoring their new born son, lying still in a feeding trough with some hay, and perhaps an animal’s covering over him. A far cry from a beautiful wooden crib from Ashley Furniture with blankets from Macys!

I think I have been blessed to have my previous life and Christmas’ in the Philippines. I hope in the years to come I do not stray too far from my roots, especially when it comes to the attitude of what Christmas really is, or supposed to be about.

I will enjoy the time spent with my husband and the gifts he has bought for me as well as the other gifts from friends and coworkers, but in my heart I will be in Bethlehem, humming, “Away in the Manger”.

Merry Christmas everyone. May Christ fill your hearts with his love.

April

In the Beginning

December 21, 2021December 20, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

God spoke: “Light!”
    And light appeared.
God saw that light was good
    and separated light from dark.
God named the light Day,
    he named the dark Night.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day One.”

Genesis 1:1-5 (MSG)

In the End

Because of sin, God saw that the earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. It needed light!

God gave his only Son: “Light!”
    And light appeared.
God saw that Light was good
    and separated Light from dark.
God named the light, Jesus,
    he named the dark, satan.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day One of the end.

Light, Jesus dispels darkness. Over takes it. Walk into any room and flip on the switch and immediately darkness is gone. This Christmas, accept the fact that hope remains and any darkness, trouble, depression. pain, or discomfort can be eased or dispelled by the power Jesus has over darkness, over satan, because He is the light of the world, here at Christmas time and forevermore.

Plan “A”

December 17, 2021December 16, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

“I know! Let’s confuse the wise, by doing the unexpected.”

“What do you mean?”

“Their looking for a king, and we’ll provide one, but not in the manner they are expecting.”

“So what are you thinking?”

“A baby. A baby born to a virgin.”

“Oh, like that won’t mess with their heads!”

“So who is going to be the baby?”

“You.”

So when the proper time came about, God sent an angel to announce part of his plan to Mary, and God’s plan was launched.

²⁸Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”

²⁹Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. ³⁰But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. ³¹You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. ³²He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit.”

³⁴Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”

³⁵Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶What’s more, your aged aunt, Elizabeth, has also become pregnant with a son. The ‘barren one’ is now in her sixth month. ³⁷Not one promise from God is empty of power. Nothing is impossible with God!”

³⁸Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38 (TPT)

Fast forward; we know God’s plan worked. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) He stayed in constant communication with his heavenly Father, and despite his own will completed the plan. It’s a good thing too, because there never was a plan “B”.

Why would God do such an incredible selfless thing for you and me? There is only one reason; LOVE. God is love, and He loves us so much that he spared no expense to rescue us from our own selves and our eternal demise. We celebrate God’s love by celebrating Christmas. The event that if believed and accepted gives us life.

Merry Christmas

What I Really Want for Christmas

December 14, 2021December 13, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Getting ready for Christmas can be tiring! There are so many things to do, places to go, and people to see. It’s great to have the opportunity to see people. In fact, receiving a Christmas card each year is the only time I get to hear from some people.

I just laughed, because it dawned on me that Christmas is the only time God gets to hear from some people too! Okay, it’s actually not funny at all. Someone asked me what I wanted for Christmas the other day. They suggested we go share a meal at one of my favorite local restaurants, but what I really want for Christmas is to be with them on Christmas day. I can’t go into details as to why I can’t be with them, because I don’t want to change the names in order protect the guilty.

After all, Christmas is really only about people, or should be. You see it was God loving his people, and wanting to be with them so bad that He was willing to give his only son to become a sacrifice for us. For the things that “we”, not him have done wrong. God wants to be with people. He loves us so much, and hates it when we suffer, and struggle in life. When we hurt, feel so alone and don’t know what to do, or where to turn. You see, we are all on God’s Christmas list. Even those of us who accepted his Christmas gift to us a long time ago. We drift away from him from time to time.

So what do you say? Can you join me in giving God what He wants for Christmas? Spend some time with him? Talk to him? Give him an opportunity to reply to your heart. I know this, you will be glad you did. It might even turn out to be the best Christmas Party you go to all season!

Joy to the World

December 10, 2021December 6, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I notice things. Annoying to April, but I think it helps me as a writer. Regardless, this holiday season I have noticed the word, “joy” everywhere. On buttons worn by Walmart employees, in TV commercials, in print, and placed on products. It almost seems as if after the last two years we have had experienced people are desperate for some “joy” in their lives!

They want it bad, so they declare it, they proclaim it, and they even wear it. People want “joy”, they need “joy”. But saying it, wishing for it, doesn’t make “joy” appear. Not real joy anyway. Real, lasting “joy” can only be found in Jesus Christ. By giving your life to him and recognizing that He gave his life to you. To die for you, as a sacrifice for every little thing you have ever done wrong in your life, otherwise known as “sin”. Real joy is:

J = Jesus
O = others
Y = you

You accept Jesus, make him the most important person in your life, read the book his father wrote, and learn to take on his nature, then “joy” begins. The next step in finding real “joy” is putting others before yourself.

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.
Mat. 22:37-39 (MSG)

This is the formula for finding “joy”, not just at Christmas time, but all year round. Serving others brings “joy” as well. Another way to find “joy” is to marry it. You see I was divorced for 24 years. I was content with that, well most of the time, but I longed for joy. My first marriage had its good moments, but I always felt in my heart that it could be better. And now I know I was right. You see my second wife’s name is, “April Joy”. I have said it before, but when I am doing my part, to love her as Christ loves the church, then she fills my life with so much “joy” words cannot describe. She knows the formula for “joy”, and she is so full of the love of God in her life. That love oozes out and covers others.

Yes, it’s Christmas, and certainly “Joy to the World” indeed, but if you want real “joy” that can last a lifetime then pursue Jesus, love others, and love yourself.

The Little Drummer Boy

December 7, 2021December 6, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

“Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum! That line has become synonymous with the Christmas season as part of the beloved carol “The Little Drummer Boy.” The song is believed to have been written by Katherine K. Davis, and it was first recorded in 1951. The lyrics are in the first person, and the speaker is a little drummer boy at the manger scene who had nothing to give baby Jesus but his drum solo. The song is sweet, reverent, and imaginative, but, no, the little drummer boy is not in the Bible.”
Source: gotquestions.org

This Christmas song was not one of my favorites, at all. That is, until I heard a version of it by, “White Heart”. I found the song dull and boring before, but not anymore.

A few days have gone by since that Facebook post, but then yesterday, as April and I were out running errands and a particular Christmas song came on the radio, it dawned on me, I haven’t paused yet to reflect the true meaning of Christmas. I haven’t stopped long enough to prepare my heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Back to the little drummer boy; whether just a made up story or not, taking time to give Jesus what you have is a valuable lesson to reflect on. He had nothing to give, but his talent of playing drums. If it was true, I can see him standing there in perfect single formation, playing that drum with all of his heart! Playing an anthem fit for a king, and in this case the King of Kings.

Only God

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“God, you want me to do what?” What in the world does a kid from Oklahoma know about hosting a writer’s conference? I mean, I have been to a few, but put one on? One thing I have learned, the hard way, is simply be obedient and do what God is telling you to do, whether you know how, or not! Truth is, sometimes it’s better if you don’t know what you are doing, because then you are more likely to rely on God.

So, for the last several months my neighbor, Janice Buswell and I have come together, fasted and prayed, listened to the voice of God, developed a writer’s conference, built a website, and formed a company. I give you, “Experience Writing”.

At the conference, Janice Buswell, Jane Rubietta, Tara Lynn Thompson, yours truly, and the legendary, Jared Buswell will share what the writing experience can be, could be, and should be. Through our combined journeys we will share the truth concerning publishing. There are a lot of people who will tell you how to write, what to write to be successful, and what they feel is the only path to getting published, but each writer needs to discover their own story, and find the personal method to put that story on paper and present it to the world, who is just waiting to read it.

If you are a writer, or have ever thought about getting that story in your spirit out then you should consider attending the Experience Writing Conference. All the important information is included in the website:

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

Month: December 2021

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23.

Were You There?

My First Christmas in America

In the Beginning

In the End

Plan “A”

So when the proper time came about, God sent an angel to announce part of his plan to Mary, and God’s plan was launched.

²⁸Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”

³⁴Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”

³⁸Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38 (TPT)

Merry Christmas

What I Really Want for Christmas

Joy to the World

J = Jesus
O = others
Y = you

The Little Drummer Boy

Only God

expwriting.com

As Jared Buswell would say, “It’s going to be epic!”

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23.

In the End

So when the proper time came about, God sent an angel to announce part of his plan to Mary, and God’s plan was launched.

28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”

34 Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”

38 Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38 (TPT)

Merry Christmas

J = JesusO = othersY = you

As Jared Buswell would say, “It’s going to be epic!”

²⁸Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”

³⁴Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”

³⁸Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38 (TPT)

J = Jesus
O = others
Y = you