God’s Original Plan: A Garden Life

August 14, 2026June 12, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Colorful flower garden next to a fenced landfill full of trash and tires — Image generated via AI.

The Bible opens not with a city, a battlefield, or a courtroom, but a garden, a place of delight, order, and relationship. “The Lord God planted a garden in Eden… and there He put the man whom He had formed.” Genesis 2:8

God didn’t just place humanity in a garden; He designed humanity for a garden.
A garden is:

Order — not chaos
Beauty — not decay
Provision — not scarcity
Presence — not distance

Eden was the physical picture of what God wanted spiritually: A life where He walks with us (Genesis 3:8), speaks with us, and fills our world with meaning.

Humanity’s Choice: Trading the Garden for a Dump

When Adam and Eve chose sin, they didn’t just break a rule; they moved neighborhoods. They stepped out of God’s cultivated beauty and into the spiritual equivalent of a landfill. Sin always does that. It takes what is ordered and turns it into clutter. It takes what is beautiful and turns it into debris. It takes what is alive and turns it into rot. Isaiah describes humanity’s condition this way:

“Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” Isaiah 59:2

Paul says it even more bluntly:

“Their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21

In other words, we traded God’s garden for our garbage. And we’ve been trying to decorate the dump ever since.

The Dump We Live in Today

Every time we choose:

Bitterness over forgiveness
Lust over purity
Pride over humility
Self-reliance over surrender

…we add another layer of trash to the soul.

Jesus described the human heart apart from Him as a place full of “dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27). That’s not just a dump—that’s a spiritual landfill with a warning sign.

God’s Redemption Plan: Turning Dumps Back Into Gardens

The miracle of the gospel is not that God tolerates us in our mess. It’s that He restores what we ruined. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come to: “Give them beauty for ashes.” (Isaiah 61:3) Ashes are what’s left after something has burned down. A dump is what’s left after something has been thrown away. But God specializes in resurrection, renewal, and replanting. Jesus didn’t just save us from sin—He saves us into a garden again. He calls it:

Abundant life (John 10:10)
New creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Fruitfulness (Galatians 5:22–23)

Notice the language:
Life.
Creation.
Fruit.
Growth.
Garden words.

God is restoring Eden in the human heart.

The Bible ends the same way it begins, with a garden. Revelation 22 describes:

A river of life
The tree of life
Healing leaves
God dwelling with His people again

Eden restored, the dump demolished, and the garden made eternal.

The Question for Us Today

God still invites us to live in His garden—spiritually, emotionally, relationally. But we still have the same choice Adam and Eve had. Will we live in the garden God planted, or the dump we built?

The Warnings

August 7, 2026June 6, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Concrete storm shelter with open metal door showing emergency supplies, tornado funnel cloud in stormy sky in background — Image generated via AI.

A tornado siren cuts through the air with a single message: “Pay attention. Take shelter. Your life depends on this.” The gospel of Jesus Christ carries a message just as urgent, yet people often respond to it very differently. Below is a devotional that draws that comparison with depth, scripture, and a call to the heart.

When the sirens sound and when the Savior calls. Takeaway: People respond to tornado sirens with urgency because they believe danger is real. The gospel announces an even greater reality, eternal rescue through Jesus, yet many respond with delay, distraction, or disbelief. Scripture shows why and how God invites us to respond differently.

The siren: a warning meant to save. When tornado sirens go off in Tulsa or anywhere across the Midwest, people don’t debate the meaning; they move. Some run to the shelter. Some grab their kids and head to the safest room. Some check the sky, the radar, the news. A few ignore it, but even they know the risk, and a real Okie goes outside to see the tornado and perhaps then posts it on social media. The siren is not meant to scare; it’s meant to save. Scripture echoes this principle:

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 22:3

The warning is mercy. The call is protection. The response reveals belief. The gospel is a rescue call many treat casually. The gospel is God’s rescue siren. His announcement that danger is real, but salvation is available.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

Yet people respond in very different ways. Immediate repentance, like those who run to shelter the moment the siren sounds. Curiosity — like checking the radar but not moving yet. Delay — “I’ll deal with this later.” Disbelief — “I don’t think the storm is real.” Distraction — hearing the warning but being too busy to respond. Jesus described this same range of responses in the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1–23). The seed is the same; the hearts differ.

Why People Respond to Tornado Sirens but Not the Gospel

People trust the sirens because they’ve seen storms destroy. They believe the threat is real. They know the shelter works. But with the gospel, the danger is invisible. The consequences feel distant. The world offers distractions. Pride whispers, “I’m fine on my own.” Scripture explains this spiritual blindness:

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers…” 2 Corinthians 4:4

And yet, God keeps calling because He loves. He gives a person lots of opportunities to accept Him. Jesus doesn’t just warn, He welcomes. When a tornado siren sounds, it offers no comfort, no companionship, no hope, only warning. But Jesus offers warning and welcome.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

He is not just the shelter; He is the Savior inside the shelter, arms open, ready to receive. The gospel is not a threat; it’s an invitation. The gospel is not God shouting, “Danger!” It is God whispering, “Come home.” Salvation is not fear-based; it is love-based. Repentance is not punishment; it is freedom. Faith is not blind; it is trusting the One who sees the storm clearly. Jesus said:

“I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” John 10:9

The siren warns you. The Savior welcomes you.

A Prayer: Lord, give us ears to hear Your call not with fear, but with faith. Help us respond to the gospel with the same urgency we show when earthly storms approach. Thank You for being our refuge, our shelter, and our Savior. Amen.

What a Mess!

July 31, 2026June 1, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Man experiencing green glowing pain leaking from chest and dripping onto floor — Image generated via AI.

Reuben’s voice rang out without warning. No one addressed him, and no one asked. He just started telling us men in the circle about what was going on in his life.

Reuben mentioned his divorce and how it had been a three-year struggle. He talked about his job and how they demanded more out of him. Then, he spoke of his new apartment and how much stuff he needed.

He mentioned his son and daughter, informing us that that very evening, his son was in a rollover accident but was okay. Reuben talked about all of the bad things that had happened to his daughter as well. And then he started divulging his finances and what little he had. He also told us that his income tax refund was nine weeks overdue, and that there were problems with it, and now the IRS wanted to verify it was really him.

I started noticing a pattern. Every time one of the men tried to suggest something that would help him, Reuben would find a way to dismiss it or say why it wouldn’t work. When another one asked him what he specifically needed for his apartment, he would only list what items he had.

It was about then that I realized that Reuben was experiencing a lot of pain, and the only item he actually needed was to be heard. He wanted someone to care about what he was going through. I glanced over while the group was praying for him, and he was wiping tears. The saddest part of this whole story is that Reuben doesn’t seem to realize that, as a child of God, life doesn’t have to be this way. He doesn’t know that Satan is the one who is keeping him down by stirring up “drama” and “chaos” in his life. Reuben should know that with God, he can take control over his life in the name of Jesus Christ. He just needs to do it and believe it, and then walk it out.

There are hurting people all around us. Not all of them start leaking pain, like Reuben in our group, but if you take the time to dig a little, you may discover they are hurting and need to be heard. The great thing is you don’t even have to know what to say because most of the time they simply want someone to listen and know.

Proverbs 18:13 — “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 — God comforts us so we can comfort others.

God is listening and He knows how to help the broken-hearted.

Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear… I will strengthen you and help you.”

Psalm 56:8 — God keeps track of your tears.

John 16:33 — “In this world you will have trouble… but take heart!”

1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

(The above is a true story, but the name was changed to protect the hurting.)
Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Price Check!

May 29, 2026May 5, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Self-checkout kiosk with touchscreen, card reader, and groceries at checkout station in grocery store — Image generated via AI.

It’s a phrase we usually hear echoing through a grocery store, a tiny interruption in the hum of everyday life. Someone at the register pauses, lifts an item, and calls out for clarity. “What’s the cost of this thing I’m about to take home?”

But lately, I’ve been thinking about how often we move through our days without doing our own internal price checks. We pick up habits, commitments, relationships, beliefs, and expectations the way we toss items into a shopping cart—quickly, automatically, sometimes because they were on the endcap display of our culture or upbringing. And only later do we realize we never asked the most important question:

What is this costing me?

The spiritual “receipt” we rarely look at.

Every choice has a price, not in a punitive way, but in a simple, energetic exchange.

Peace has a price.
Growth has a price.
Avoidance has a price.
Authenticity has a price.
Even joy has a price—usually the willingness to be present enough to notice it.

The trouble is, we often pay without noticing the transaction. We trade our time for approval. We trade our boundaries for temporary comfort. We trade our intuition for someone else’s expectations. And then we wonder why we feel spiritually overdrawn.

Take a moment and imagine your life as a checkout lane. Everything you’ve said yes to—every role, every responsibility, every belief—sits on the conveyor belt.

If a cosmic cashier held up each one and asked, “Price check!”, what would you say?

That grudge you’ve been carrying—what’s it costing you?
That dream you keep postponing—what’s the price of waiting?
That version of yourself you’ve outgrown—how much energy does it drain to keep wearing it?
That peace you crave—what small, brave choices would it require?

Sometimes the price is worth it. Sometimes it’s not. The point isn’t to judge yourself. The point is to notice.

When you start doing regular price checks, something shifts.
You stop sleepwalking through your choices.
You stop paying for things you don’t actually want.
You stop assuming everything in your cart belongs to you.

You begin to ask:
Is this aligned with who God is shaping me to be?
Is this nourishing my soul or depleting it?
Is this what God wants for me?

And the beautiful thing is, you can always put something back.
You can always choose differently.
You can always walk out of the store lighter than you walked in.

Here’s the quiet truth:
Your life is the sum of what you’re willing to pay. Can you afford it? Will you eventually have to get a loan from God? Or have him wipe out the debt via his Son, Jesus? This is not something to rush by or to take lightly.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or spiritually cluttered, pause for a moment. Lift the thought, the habit, the relationship, the belief—and whisper to yourself: Price check.

Don’t Jump

April 14, 2026March 26, 2026 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

I was attending a retreat many years ago. I was a young man at the time and preparing to enter the ministry. During our free time on Saturday afternoon, I went for a hike. The trail took me to the top of a cliff that overlooked some woods below and, further out, the lake.

As I was admiring the beauty of it all, I suddenly heard a voice in my head that said, “If you have so much faith in God and trust him so much, then take a step off this cliff. God will save you” Honestly, it scared me. I wanted to do it to prove I believed in God and by how much.

I inched forward, making my way closer to the edge, and I raised one foot off the ground. I hesitated, but I almost did it. Then I thought that’s nuts! I felt bad as I made my way back down to the retreat center, as if I had failed God.

When I entered my cabin, I saw my friend, Brian. He noticed the strange look on my face and asked, “What’s wrong?” I didn’t want to admit what I had done, but he kept insisting I share with him, so I told him what had happened. Then he told me one of the most profound statements (Steve) I have ever heard. He said, “Mark, God does the supernatural only when the supernatural is needed!” I have never forgotten those words. In short, I would have gotten hurt if not killed, and I’m sure that would have pleased the devil a lot.

Brian’s words are true, and you can see that when you read the Bible. Like when the Israelites walked across the Red Sea on dry ground to escape Pharaoh. (Exo. 14:29) Or when Phillip was transported to another city after baptizing the eunuch. (Acts 8:39) And don’t forget when Jesus calmed the storm by speaking to it. (Mark 4:35-41)

Those were just a few of the supernatural things God did in the Bible. Also, Jesus warns us not to tempt God. In other words, don’t purposely put yourself in a situation tempting God or “testing” God to do something.

The scripture “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” is found in Deuteronomy 6:16. In the context of the New Testament, this verse is referenced in Mathew 4:7, where Jesus responds to the devil during His temptation, emphasizing the importance of not testing God. This principle is crucial for believers, as it teaches that true faith does not require testing or proving God’s existence but rather trusting in His divine authority and promises. (Source: Bible Hub.)

God will take care of you. Consider Psalms 91. Trust him but also use wisdom and common sense when walking with your God.

A Time for Life

January 9, 2026November 30, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Today, April and her Filipina Bible study group are surprising one of their members. It is her 45^th birthday. They have gathered at our house until everyone is here, and then they will go to her house all at one time. I must say, since marrying a Filipino, I have witnessed how sincerely honest and excited they are when it comes to celebrating life together. One member of the group had a brother in the Philippines who passed away this past week. The group mourned with her and shared words of comfort and support.

The Bible says a few things about life. Like how it goes and how we should do it together. Sadly, though, it seems as if in today’s times, people are narcissistic and selfish. It’s all about them. And if you are involved in their life, it’s as if they say, “What can you do for me?” I know that below are more scriptures than I normally share, but God really does know best how to do life with others.

3 To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:
²A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,
³A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,
⁴A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,
⁷A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,
⁸A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecc. 3:1-8 (AMPC)

12 ^1-2So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

³I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

^4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

^6-8If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

* * *

^9-10Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

^14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

^17-19Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

^20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Rom. 12 (MSG)

“Glad You’re Doing Okay”

November 7, 2025October 17, 2025 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I received an email the other night from an old friend. I had not seen them in several years. They said they had been thinking about me and wanted to know if I was okay. We exchanged emails and got caught up, somewhat.

I learned a little bit about their life since I last saw them. It was basic information. Their spouse is okay, their child is now nine, they aren’t working, and why. Stuff like that. Sadly, I got the overwhelming impression that they weren’t happy. In fact, they made the statement that their life was boring.

I shared how much I was enjoying my retirement years, that April liked her job, about the new church we started attending this year, and our involvement there. I also shared that I had finished remodeling the house and that we had new furniture that April had picked out, and how she had done a great job. I did mention how I didn’t like getting old, though.

I wasn’t exaggerating or embellishing, but just telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God. In their final reply, they wrote, “I’m glad you’re doing okay.”

Their comment got me thinking. Was I bragging? Was I trying to impress them? Why was my life doing okay?

I know in my heart that despite body aches and pains, some hiccups in life, some frustrations in our marriage, and working hard to pay off the bills, our life isn’t bad. Why? Because April and I have accepted Jesus Christ and have had our sins forgiven, and know that he is still forgiving us of our new ones. We both read God’s word, the Bible, regularly, and we tithe faithfully. We are committed to our local church and do what we can to help there, which has allowed us to develop relationships with real people who believe like we do. We also do what we can to share God and His amazing love with others as the Holy Spirit leads and gives us boldness to speak up. That is why we are doing okay!

I do realize some may say, “I do all those things and yet my life isn’t okay.” I honestly don’t have an answer as to why that is for some. But I know that April and I both invited God into our lives at a young age and have tried our best to surrender our free will to him. Perhaps that has something to do with it as well. God tends to bless obedience, and I know that faith pleases him.

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Heb. 11:6 (AMPC)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jer. 29:11 (AMPC)

⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. ⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Prov. 3:5-6 (AMPC)

If there were such a thing as a “recipe” for living a life pleasing to God, then this may be it. April and I enjoy our lives. We feel blessed because we are. It’s like living in a garden, and after all, in the beginning, isn’t that what God intended?

Are You Wearing a Costume?

October 31, 2025October 18, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Today is Halloween. A day where children, and some adults, put on a costume and either go Trick-or-Treating or to a party. Although for some, it is a very real day of worshipping Satan. I have written about that before, but I won’t here.

I think throughout time, people have enjoyed wearing a costume and, at least for one night, being someone they are not on a daily basis. They pretend. But what if they are wearing a costume all the time? Not of their favorite superhero, monster, or movie star, etc., but one that conceals who they really are or what they are facing.

Believe it or not, people may not be wearing a costume, but they may very well be wearing a mask! Hiding something. Perhaps the pain of life failures, a bad marriage, or maybe a secret sin. They don’t want to reveal their weaknesses or struggles. This is no way to live. And this isn’t what God wanted for us.

He wanted us to have life, an abundant life! That is why He sent us His Son, Jesus. (John 10:10) Jesus not only can forgive us of our sins but can be with us when we face difficulties. The Holy Spirit can comfort us when we are sad or suffering a loss. He can also guide us by still small whispers into our spirit. And of course, we can enter into the presence of God at any time through our prayers and praise to him.

There is no need to hide behind a mask. No need to be ashamed of our past lives. If you have accepted God’s gift of salvation, then you become a new person. Then the only thing you will be wearing is a robe of righteousness.

Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. 2 Cor. 5:17-20 (MSG)

Dreaming in Living Color

October 7, 2025September 17, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

For the last couple of weeks, I have had some really wild, dramatic, and sometimes unnerving dreams. Not nightmares per se, but ones that caused me to say when I woke up, “Boy, am I glad that was a dream!”

Last night’s dream took the cake.

“They’re poisoning you. Your mother and sister are adding poison to your food. I think they are trying to trick you out of signing over your inheritance from Uncle Bill to them, including his mansion,” said a person who was also being held captive. I started trying my best to eat only a little, but to move the food around on my plate to make it look as if I had eaten most of it.

“I want my phone now,” I insisted. “Ha! No problem,” said my mother. “Your sister drained the battery.” She handed me the phone. I dialed “911.” Well, the joke’s on you. Phones keep a reserved amount of power for emergency calls.” I put the phone on speaker. “911, what’s your emergency?” I started explaining the situation as my sister took off. “You can run, but you can’t hide,” I told her.

I got out of the house and ran across the street to my uncle’s mansion. The next thing I knew, Uncle Bill’s brothers and sisters began to arrive. Then people from the community started coming in and snooping. “We always wanted to see the inside!” one proclaimed. Another exclaimed, “We’re looking for the stash of diamonds he had.

More and more people came pouring in. I would get one group out only to watch another one enter. I shut the doors, but they opened them anyway and came in. It was a wild scene. Loud and the people had on extravagant outfits. I finally yelled out, “Turn out the lights!”

That’s when I woke up with my heart racing, and I immediately proclaimed, “Boy, am I glad that was a dream!” Knowing God has the answers to every question, I asked him, “God, what do these dreams mean?” Sadly, I did not get an immediate answer, but I did get a sense that some live in constant drama and chaos, as in my recent dreams. Like they have so much going on in their life that they have no control over, and their heart pounds as they try their best to keep a lid on life.

But one who is in a relationship with God doesn’t have to live that way. I’m not going to tell you that life with God is easy or perfect, but it’s reassuring knowing that One who can control everything is doing life with you, and you can live in peace. The devil specializes in keeping your life in turmoil if you let him.

That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. John 14:27 (MSG)

May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! 2 Thes. 3:16 (MSG)

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. Jam. 4:7-10 (MSG)

Heroes of the Faith

October 3, 2025October 3, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, Elijah, and many more. They could all be counted as “Heroes of the Faith.” But today, I would have to add another name to that list. A true woman of God, Margie McQueen. I sat and cried, and laughed a little, as we celebrated her life today. A life lived so well that she had to have heard Jesus say, “Well done, Margie, and welcome home.”

How do I know she heard those words? There is no doubt that Margie loved God and people. Many spoke loving words about how she had touched their lives and the lives of their families. She was a prayer warrior to say the least. She was a prophetess as God would show her things while in prayer, sometimes well before they came to pass. Many times, in a church service, she would be used of God to exhort, comfort, and encourage the flock. She definitely had and operated in the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are still operating in our days if we will only listen and be willing to be used of God. (1 Corinthians Chapters 12 & 14)

As others shared their favorite “Margie” moments, I couldn’t help but remember my own. When I was thirteen, the Carbondale Assembly of God church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hired me to mow the lawn. Margie was the pastor’s wife at the time. The property sat on ten acres and had a lot of grass, and Oklahoma summers can get extremely hot.

The pastor’s parsonage’s kitchen window faced the big front lawn of the church. I would be mowing and sweating. Margie would see me, and at times, would bring out the best chocolate shakes I have ever had, and probably ever will! They were so delicious and refreshing and full of love. In full confession, after the first shake, whether I knew if she was home or not, or watching me or not, when I was close to that kitchen window, I wiped my brow and acted as if I couldn’t make it in the heat unless I had a chocolate shake. Sometimes it worked, but not every time.

Thank you again, Margie, for the chocolate shakes, but more importantly for the love. And for showing all of us who were watching how to be a servant of the living God. Your daughter, Jeanie, said you liked to sparkle. Perhaps tonight, if I am outside, I will look up and smile as you do in heaven.

If God assigns me to mow grass in heaven, I’m going to ask to mow your lawn, Margie, and look for you smiling in your kitchen window. I know I thanked you for the shakes back then, but I don’t recall saying this when you were among us. “I love you, too, Margie.”