What or Who Are You Celebrating?

October 31, 2023October 30, 2023 / Mark Brady / 3 Comments

As you know, today, Halloween is celebrated. What is considered by most as an innocent day for children to dress up as their favorite character. For others, it’s the pinnacle night of offering worship to Satan.

I grew up trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. I followed my parents’ beliefs that it was just for fun. The worst thing that happened was rumors of people placing needles or razorblades in fruit and candy bars. I checked every candy bar I got and found no blades. I left the fruit for my sister to test.

Also, while growing up, my father and I watched horror movies on late Saturday nights. There is a kind of fun being scared. That is why haunted houses are so popular. We even watched movies that portrayed demonic activity. My dad was reassuring by telling me, “This stuff is not real.” I believed him until I was a young adult and heard firsthand a couple in my church describe a night when fire came out of their fireplace and then went back in without burning anything in their living room.

I fell off of the ottoman I was sitting on. Everyone turned to me and asked, “Are you okay?” As I climbed back on, I asked, “You mean this stuff is real?” It’s not that my father lied; he didn’t know. That day, I vowed to stop watching anything that had satanic overtones. It’s not fun. It’s not entertainment. The devil wants us to think he is not real.

Just last week, April and I were watching a popular miniseries on Netflix. We stopped after the second episode. I told April I sensed an underlying evilness, and we then prayed over ourselves and our house that nothing would attach to us or try to take residence. Yes, this stuff is real. There are evil spirits in this world.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12 (NIV)

After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Corinthians 2:11 (MSG)

When I was a youth minister many years ago, I had a counseling session with someone who told me that thirteen people went into the woods the previous Halloween, but only 12 came out. One person volunteered to be sacrificed to Satan on an altar. I later asked a local police officer about it. He confirmed they found a rock altar and a dead body upon it. Because of confidentiality rules, he knew he could not ask me who I spoke with.

Please, do not be ignorant of the devil or his ways. What he means to be an open door into your life may be something you consider innocent, fun, or cute. He is real and wants to use you to get back at God. He mocks God. He takes what God has created and twists it or perverts it. You should pray and ask God to show you the truth. Ask him to reveal to you any ways that the devil may be using to have power over your life.

Can We Talk?

October 27, 2023October 26, 2023 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Joan Rivers (a comedian who started in the 60s appearing in nightclubs) catchphrase was, “Can we talk?” I think she wanted people to enter into meaningful dialog about current issues. She must have known the power of communication.

I have said this before, “Communication brings understanding. Understanding brings acceptance. And in the case of a close relationship, acceptance brings love.” When you take the time to listen to someone else, you will begin to understand where they have been and what they have been through, leading to why they act the way they do.

Communication started with God, Adam, and Eve. He talked with them in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 3:8) It is essential to this day to talk to God at any time. He can guide you and give you insight and wisdom into any matter you face. You can ask God anything because He has all the answers. I have often asked him, “How do I …” and He has answered me in many ways.

Talking to people is good, too. It is important to keep a good line of communication open, especially if you are in a relationship with them, whether it is a working one, a neighbor, a friend, or a spouse. Even if one of you isn’t speaking to the other, take the time and effort to find out why. Of course, this may be difficult, depending on the issue, but stay calm and hear the other person out. They may actually be right.

Good conversations can be uplifting, encouraging, and downright fun. They may take time, but spending time with people is a gift. As my father taught me, be generous.

(Photo by StockSnap via Pixabay)

The List

October 24, 2023October 24, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I like lists. I like making lists. Grocery list, shopping list, packing list, prayer list, and even to-do list. I don’t like being on lists unless it’s Santa’s “Good” list, but I’m probably on his “Naughty” list. These days, I rely on lists, especially when grocery shopping. But I still tend to forget things and have been known not to pick up something on my list!

Lists can be good. They can be valuable tools. They can help us get things done or go on vacation and not have that sinking feeling that we forgot to pack something. My packing list allows me to checkmark what to take, if I need to buy it, and when it is packed.

There is one list I definitely want to be on. I want to ensure my name is among the many names listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life! If your name is written in this book, Jesus will remind his Heavenly Father that you accepted him and asked for forgiveness of your sins, and you will enter into Heaven. What’s interesting is every single person’s name is initially written in this book. It is only by an individual’s choice to have their name “blotted” out. That is done by not accepting Jesus. Accept Jesus. Be included in the list of names written in the Book of Life.

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Rev. 3:5 (NIV)

I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire. Rev. 20:11-15 (MSG)

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.
Rev. 21:27 (MSG)

The Beast you saw once was, is no longer, and is about to ascend from the Abyss and head straight for Hell. Earth dwellers whose names weren’t written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be dazzled when they see the Beast that once was, is no longer, and is to come.
Rev. 17:7-8 (MSG)

Don’t Miss It

October 20, 2023October 18, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Not every follower of Jesus recognizes them, at least in the moment. For instance, yesterday, I needed to return a package to Amazon. I was supposed to do it before picking April up from work. I didn’t. So I asked her if she minded us doing it together on the way home. She agreed. We walked into a grocery store that accepts Amazon packages. As I talked to the service rep, the conversation turned when she asked April if she was Filipino.

It turned out April had actually heard of this person but had never met her. During the conversation, an invitation was made for the Amazon rep to join April’s women’s Bible study group. After returning to the car, I turned to April and said, “Do you realize God set up that meeting?” She hadn’t.

This morning, I was driving April to work. It was 4:40 AM. As we passed a vehicle with no lights on at the roadside, a man was waving his arms frantically. Traveling at 65 mph, I had microseconds to decide what to do. I wanted to pull over, slam on the brakes, and perhaps back up to see if I could help him. I didn’t for many reasons. But I did call 911 and reported the man needed assistance of some kind. On the way back home, I saw there were two police cars on the scene helping him.

The incident reminded me of the story of “The Good Samaritan” in the Bible. Although there are some differences between his story and mine, our thoughts were probably similar. Do I get involved? Is it safe to stop to help him? Don’t worry. Someone else will help. The commonality is this: noticing you are in a moment where you can do good for someone and demonstrate God’s love toward them. Doing so can help them and perhaps allow you to share God’s plan for redemption.

“God moments” can happen fast and at any time. It requires us to be observant and mindful of these instances and then do our best to accomplish the will of God. Responding to such a moment may take some of your time and possibly some of your other resources. Honestly, though, those things belong to God. If recognizing a “God moment” is challenging, ask Him to help you see them. I’m sure He will. It is always pleasing to the soul when you are involved, and it is neat to know that God used you to help someone He has been loving on.

Luke 10 30-37 (MSG)

^30-32Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

^33-35“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

³⁶“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

³⁷“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

If They Knew

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Once upon a time, there was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.

Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, “Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.”

But Abraham said, “Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.”

The rich man said, “Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.”

Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.”

“I know, Father Abraham,” he said, “but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.”

Abraham replied, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.”

As a young man, I heard our pastor preach many sermons described as “hell fire and brimstone!” He held nothing back, ensuring everyone knew what the Bible said about hell. How awful it would be there if we did not simply accept Jesus Christ as God’s Son and ask him to forgive us for our sins. I knew I didn’t want to be there!

The above story was initially told by Jesus himself. It is recorded in Luke 16:19-31, and the version I pulled from was The Message. It makes me wonder, though, if someone did come back to life and had been in hell as their sentence from how they lived their life and told everyone about hell, would people believe them? Would you?

You probably won’t ever hear of someone coming back from hell. But you do have the Bible, which is full of truth. Some of those truths are:

All have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

After you die, you will stand before God and give an account of how you lived your life on earth.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Unless you are “born again,” meaning you accepted Jesus Christ, you cannot enter heaven.
(John 3:3)

Accept Jesus. Ask him to forgive you of your sins and live forever in heaven. If the living knew what the dead knew, the whole world would follow Jesus the Christ!

The Cheapest Dream in Town

October 13, 2023October 12, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Playing Powerball is popular in America. The jackpots grow these days to outrageous dollar amounts. Most people hope to win it. There was one such winner last night from California. They won $1.73 Billion. That’s, of course, if they take the annuity option, and yes, they have to pay federal and state taxes first. Otherwise, they can take a one-time lump sum, which would pay out much less but still more than most Americans can earn in their lifetime.

When the lottery topic came up in my old workplace, one man often reminded us, saying, “Playing the lottery is the cheapest dream in town!” He was right. And I have to admit I have played before and have joined those who dreamed of how they would spend it. I would first get out of all my dept. Then, I would give an offering to my local church and help some family members if needed. From there, I would carefully seek the Lord on what to do with it. (NOTE: I said “offering” to the church instead of a “tithe” because I would not have labored for the money. In other words, playing the lottery isn’t my job.)

Some people play because they are desperate to change their current life. Whether they are deep in debt for several reasons, need a life-saving surgery, or any otherwise impossible situation. They hoped their financial woes would end overnight. Others might play to make a large purchase of something they want but don’t need.

I have heard when someone wins a large sum of cash, they trade one set of problems for another. Like out of the blue, they have millions of friends and issues with family members who don’t get enough of the money to suit them. I heard from a trusted source that one wealthy and famous ex-TV host gets hundreds of requests daily for financial help.

“According to Ohman, most lottery winners spend all their winnings and end up in a worse financial position than before they won.”

That is sad to learn about most lottery winners. So what is one to do? For those who believe in God, it is better to put your trust in the Lord. He knows what you have need of and will provide it.

³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat. 6:31-33 (KJV)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov. 3:5 (KJV)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps. 55:17 (KJV)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Prov. 3:9-10 (NIV)

It’s Inside You. Use It.

October 10, 2023October 10, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Imagine yourself sitting at a table participating in a dinner party. Everyone is having side conversations while eating. You hear this gentle roar with the clinking of silverware on the plates. Waiters are moving about refilling drinks and ensuring everyone has what they need to enjoy their meal.

Suddenly, you hear a commotion and see people pushing back from a table and others jumping up. Still, a few gathered fine cloth napkins, and two kneeled on the floor. You’re not sure what happened.

⁶We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. ⁷If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. ⁸Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully. Rom. 12:6-8 (NIV)

You now figured out what had happened. One of the dinner participants spilled their water. Almost immediately, you witness individuals reacting according to how they are gifted.

Those who serve gathered the napkins, and other servers got on the floor to soak up the water. A giver took an unused glass of water and cheerfully gave it to the now-embarrassed diner. Another diner, with the gift of prophecy, turned and said to the person next to them, “I knew that was going to happen.” Then, one with the gift of teaching turned to the one who spilled their water and gently suggested that they put their drinking glass behind their plate when they finished drinking a drink. Placing it near the table’s edge was an accident waiting to happen.

After people turned away from the incident, one encourager quietly moved in and encouraged the red-faced guest to forget about it and return to eating and having a good time. The head waiter came over to ensure the mess was cleaned up and then leaned in, showing mercy, and said, “Don’t worry about it. We all have done it at one time or another.” After the dinner, the main speaker went to the podium and, before giving her speech, said, “Let us all move our waters toward the middle of the tables as I move mine away from my speech.” Some laughed. She was a natural leader.

If you were at that dinner party, what would you have done? When you read this story, what was your natural reaction? Your first thought? Your answer to that question is a natural indicator of how you are wired. Or to your natural gifting.

That gift is from God. So I ask, “Are you using your gift?” More importantly, “Are you using it for the One who gave it to you?” I hope so, and I highly encourage you to. It would be a shame not to use a gift because gifts are made to be given away.

In the Nick of Time!

October 6, 2023October 4, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Excerpts from Psalms 107 (MSG)

Oh, thank God—he’s so good!
    His love never runs out.
All of you set free by God, tell the world!
    Tell how he freed you from oppression,

Some of you wandered for years in the desert,
    looking but not finding a good place to live,
Half-starved and parched with thirst,
    staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion.
Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.
    He got you out in the nick of time;

He put your feet on a wonderful road
    that took you straight to a good place to live.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

He poured great drafts of water down parched throats;
    the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.

Some of you were locked in a dark cell,
    cruelly confined behind bars,
Punished for defying God’s Word,
    for turning your back on the High God’s counsel—
A hard sentence, and your hearts so heavy,
    and not a soul in sight to help.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
    he got you out in the nick of time.

He led you out of your dark, dark cell,
    broke open the jail and led you out.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves;

Some of you were sick because you’d lived a bad life,
    your bodies feeling the effects of your sin;
You couldn’t stand the sight of food,
    so miserable you thought you’d be better off dead.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
    he got you out in the nick of time.
He spoke the word that healed you,
    that pulled you back from the brink of death.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves;

Offer thanksgiving sacrifices,
tell the world what he’s done—sing it out!

If you are really wise, you’ll think this over—
it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.

Tell Them What They Want to Hear

October 3, 2023October 2, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Have you ever experienced someone who only tells people what they think those people want to hear? If they are talking to you, it may take a while to pick up on it, especially if you believe people. I find it easier to detect when I hear them talking to other people.

This year, I came across one of these individuals. We entered into an agreement that required them to pay money to me. The other thing about this type of person is they “always” have “life” happen to them. (I kept it “G” rated by saying “life”) But if you knew the truth, you would know that what they say didn’t happen to them. In other words, they lied.

It amazes me how those who lie think we must be stupid and believe every word from their mouths. I often will let them dig a hole deeper and deeper by not commenting on the lie. When I suspect a problem, it is better to ask God to protect me and help me discern the lies. He is so faithful to answer that prayer.

Sad, but the one who is lying starts believing their own lies. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to live that way. How can they take advantage of, well, everyone and live with themselves? How did it turn out with the one who wronged me? On paper, they still owe us money. A lot. And although the deficit is still there, God has blessed us financially. He has brought three separate checks into our lives.

I will say this: After I knew we were being used and lied to, I sensed God wanted us to help the person out, within reason. Why? Because He knew He would take care of us, but He also knew the individual would wonder why and sit down and listen to a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was able to show them how much God loves them. The point is this: only God’s kind of love can change a person. Because God’s love doesn’t tell them what they want to hear, but it tells them what they “need” to hear.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
1 Cor. 13:7-8a (Phillips)

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

Month: October 2023

What or Who Are You Celebrating?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12 (NIV)

After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Corinthians 2:11 (MSG)

Can We Talk?

The List

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Rev. 3:5 (NIV)

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.
Rev. 21:27 (MSG)

Don’t Miss It

If They Knew

All have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

After you die, you will stand before God and give an account of how you lived your life on earth.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Unless you are “born again,” meaning you accepted Jesus Christ, you cannot enter heaven.
(John 3:3)

Accept Jesus. Ask him to forgive you of your sins and live forever in heaven. If the living knew what the dead knew, the whole world would follow Jesus the Christ!

The Cheapest Dream in Town

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov. 3:5 (KJV)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps. 55:17 (KJV)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Prov. 3:9-10 (NIV)

It’s Inside You. Use It.

In the Nick of Time!

Tell Them What They Want to Hear

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
1 Cor. 13:7-8a (Phillips)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12 (NIV)

After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Corinthians 2:11 (MSG)

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Rev. 3:5 (NIV)

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.Rev. 21:27 (MSG)

All have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

After you die, you will stand before God and give an account of how you lived your life on earth.(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Unless you are “born again,” meaning you accepted Jesus Christ, you cannot enter heaven.(John 3:3)

Accept Jesus. Ask him to forgive you of your sins and live forever in heaven. If the living knew what the dead knew, the whole world would follow Jesus the Christ!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.Prov. 3:5 (KJV)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.Ps. 55:17 (KJV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.Prov. 3:9-10 (NIV)

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.1 Cor. 13:7-8a (Phillips)

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.
Rev. 21:27 (MSG)

After you die, you will stand before God and give an account of how you lived your life on earth.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Unless you are “born again,” meaning you accepted Jesus Christ, you cannot enter heaven.
(John 3:3)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov. 3:5 (KJV)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps. 55:17 (KJV)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Prov. 3:9-10 (NIV)

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
1 Cor. 13:7-8a (Phillips)