Road Construction

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

At the entrance to my subdivision there is road construction. I can only exit and enter by going one way while they upgrade the infrastructure, water, electric, and sewer that runs along the road, or under it. Then, they will put down a new road, with new lane stripes and new signs. They say it will take 6 months to complete. It has already been two and a half.

If that wasn’t enough to endure, they have torn up a major highway interchange just blocks from the road I mentioned above. It is reported to take two years to finish. The officials say, “Go slow. Proceed with caution. Be patient. It will be worth it in the end.”

As I have shared in previous posts, I married a Filipino woman in 2019. Soon after the wedding, we worked with an immigration attorney to get the process started to bring my wife to America. I lived in the Philippines for several months until I needed an eye procedure. We discussed the situation and felt it was best if I came back to America to have it done here. Thinking her immigration process wouldn’t take that long and she would follow me here shortly. It seemed as if they had missed placed her file and then shortly after they started working on her case, Covid hit.

At the time of this writing, my wife is still not here with me. There have been lots of conversations with God about the process and questions of, “Why is it taking so long?” Walking with God in life is definitely a journey. As we are now getting toward the end of the immigration process I can look back and see with greater understanding. I can see how God has updated power lines in our lives making sure that in the future we look to him for uninterrupted power to live by. He has put in a new sewer system to remove the waste and potentially toxic aspects of our personalities away safely and quickly. My wife compares my temper to passing gas. She says, “It stinks at first, but it doesn’t last long.” She has learned to let me vent and then we can return to our regularly scheduled life already in progress.

If God didn’t take the time to pour new pavement in our lives we would be traveling with him on dirt, and when the storms come get bogged down in mud. Yuk! If he only put down stones travel would be easier but it would be a bumpy and rough ride. Not enjoyable at all. But God has used the time, while waiting for her immigration to be completed, to put down nice smooth pavement. When the final touches are completed my wife and I will be able to come and go quickly in any direction with ease. We will be able to see the lanes we should stay in so we avoid head on collisions and harm.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

Yes, walking with God is difficult at times, and it is hard to see what He is doing, because some improvements are below the surface. At times it’s hard to understand why it is taking so long, but He would say, “Go slow. Proceed with caution. Be patient. It will be worth it in the end.”

“Life” – The Ride

March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I love riding roller coasters. The thrill, the excitement, the rush they provide is satisfying. Being surprised by sudden twists and turns, dips, and loops. Corkscrews are always a nice touch. One thing I have noticed designers give their coasters big names. Such as, The Texas Giant, Millennium Force, The Beast, Nitro, Magnum XL-200, Intimidator 305, Goliath, and Cyclone in the famous Coney Island, to name a few.

Life, at times, feels like a roller coaster. Up one minute, down the next. Cheering with exhilaration, or screaming with terror. Laughing one second and potentially tearing up in the next turn. Life can change drastically in a moment. A life is born, or a life can end. One can meet their new spouse, or get handed divorce papers. A job can be gained, or one can be terminated, in a moment.

Life moves, in a constant motion. Never pausing, chilling out, or taking a rest. It’s impossible to stay in a good moment very long. Dealing with this moving force can be overwhelming at times. There is no way, once the ride goes over the first hill, you can ask the operator to stop and let you off. Sad, but true, some riders get off the ride by taking matters into their own hands and prematurely end it, causing, “an unfinished life!” I think this is due to not knowing the Operator, and trusting Him.

Coasters are designed to keep riders safe, and getting them to the end. Yes, freak accidents do occur at times, just like in life. There are no guarantees, and there is no posted sign that discourages getting on the ride due to things like height, or lack of, your health, pregnancy, or recovering from a recent surgery.

The key to surviving a coaster and life is trusting the Operator. Accepting His love, his Son, and His Spirit to ride next to you. On my honeymoon, my wife and I went to an amusement park. I made the mistake of asking her to ride next to me. I didn’t get hurt from the ride, but my arm was bleeding from her digging in her finger nails, and my ear was ringing from her screams, “Take me home!” The Operator will rejoice with you in the highs, and comfort you during the lows. He, God, can keep you calm with the many twists and turns that comes with life.

Don’t attempt to ride life alone. Accept God’s offer to join you. The admission price was paid for by His son, Jesus when He died on the cross for you. One thing I can promise you is “Life” – The Ride is much better with God.

Grumpy Old Man?

February 23, 2021February 20, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I believe I have expressed how much I dislike “injustice” before, but it seems like I am becoming more vocal when I see it. Either out loud, or under my breath. I don’t like how it makes me feel, and if I am not careful, I go on way too long about it. This is a pattern I’m not too fond of.

The other day, and I wish I could remember the source, I was involved in my devotional time and I came across the phrase, “a gentle and quiet spirit”. It keeps resonating in my head. Kind of like a “LSS” (Last Song Syndrome). You know, the last song in your head that you keep singing over and over. It seems I can’t get away from thinking about it, so I determined, this must be something God is calling me to.

Now, raising awareness of an injustice is needed and getting loud about it is important for it can draw attention to the situation and cause others to stop, look and decide to join you in your fight to alleviate it, but in everyday life, how you call out something that isn’t fair and or even mention it at all, is important. That’s where I have been failing in recent days.

Not using the right words, the correct volume or the Godly wisdom to get my point across.

So mush so, I could be labeled as a “Grumpy Old Man”! I don’t want to be known that way. When I hear that phrase, I think of the old man in the Disney movie, “Up”. And now that I think about it, there was a movie titled, “Grumpy Old Men”.

So I am now in the process of transforming my mind. Training it to “capture” every thought of negative, grumpy, stinking, old criticism and renewing it to handle what I see that bothers me in a “gentle and quiet” way. I may actually find that technique gets more people to hear what I am saying.

“Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.” Rom. 12:2 (ICB)

Which Way Do I Go?

February 16, 2021February 15, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Direction. We seek it a lot, especially for those who have a strong and thriving relationship with God. We want to go in the correct direction and not waste time or resources. I sure messed up the other night. I live in a city that doesn’t receive huge amounts of snow that often and as a result the city doesn’t have the equipment to remove it as say, Chicago does. So when the meteorologist were predicting 6, 8 to 10 inches of snow, and hyped it up, I left where I was sooner than I needed to in order to get home safe.

I realize now I could have asked God for direction on when to leave, but I didn’t. I acted out of fear instead. At times, it’s hard not to. There is something innate about us that wants to be moving. This inward motivation makes it difficult to sit and wait, and when it comes to waiting on God for direction it is even harder. Do we not trust Him? We should! We have His word we can go to and read of His promise to guide us:

^1–2I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.
But then I realize that our true help and protection
come only from the Lord,
our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.
³He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.
God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.
⁴He will never slumber nor sleep;
he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.
⁵Jehovah himself will watch over you;
he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.
⁶He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.
⁷He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity
as he continually watches over you.
⁸You will be guarded by God himself.
You will be safe when you leave your home
and safely you will return.
He will protect you now,
and he’ll protect you forevermore! Psalms 121 (TPT)

I was having a conversation this morning, with a friend, about this very topic. He has been asking God for direction when it comes to finding his spouse. There are a few potential mates and he has been trying to discern God’s will on the matter. As we continued to speak, it became obvious to both of us that he needs to stay in “neutral” right now. If you think about the gear shift on a car from neutral you can go forward or backwards, but you can move in an instant. Your only other option is “Park”.

A parked car doesn’t need to be steered,

because it isn’t going anywhere!

So I challenge you, if you find yourself needing direction, guidance from God, be patient and be willing to sit in neutral for a while. Keep your foot on the brake. You are ready to move, and you will, when the time and direction is right, therefore not wasting either time or resources, and when it comes to matters of love, possibly not suffering another heartbreak.

Drive thru God

January 29, 2021January 28, 2021 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up:

“Would you mind if I said something to you?
    Under the circumstances it’s hard to keep quiet.
You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words
    that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit.
Your words have put stumbling people on their feet,
    put fresh hope in people about to collapse.
But now you’re the one in trouble—you’re hurting!
    You’ve been hit hard and you’re reeling from the blow.
But shouldn’t your devout life give you confidence now?
    Shouldn’t your exemplary life give you hope? Job 4:1-6 (MSG)

Do you find it difficult to encourage yourself, even with the very words you have used with others? I do. At times it seems impossible to find hope and peace when you look at your own life. Funny, how sure you are of the power of the words you spoke to another, but when it comes to applying them to your situation, not so much. They seem empty.

In the above portion of scripture, Job’s friend, Eliphaz (it’s ok, I don’t know how to pronounce it either) was trying to remind him of what he has done to help others. What he has said that encouraged, lifted up, and gave them hope. Then he asked two very good questions. “Shouldn’t your devout life give you confidence now? Shouldn’t your exemplary life give you hope?”

The answer is, “YES!” It should, and will if you allow it. God hasn’t changed, just your current situation has. I struggled with this myself as I have described in recent post. Yes, I knew better, and after giving it a lot of thought I think I have figured out partly why. Time.

We live in such an instant gratification world that we expect everything to get resolved fast. I mean, we have fast food, Prime same day delivery, one hour photos, why not “Fast God”? Would it be asking too much for God to open up a drive thru?

Time seems to do a work in us. Someone once said, “Time heals all wounds.” Not sure about that. It does seem to make us take survey of our lives though. I think there are some things we go through when God gives us the time we need to know the bottom line is, we need him to do his best work in the situation. I know the end of Job’s story and that is what happened in his life. God did a work in the heart of Job by allowing tragedy to strike.

God really does work all things to his glory.

“That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Rom. 8:26-28 (MSG)

What Does Your Sign Say?

January 26, 2021January 27, 2021 / Mark Brady / 4 Comments

She’s 19 years old. Engaged to the man of her dreams, so she thinks, but the longer our conversation went it became obvious to me she’s marrying this guy to escape her mother’s prison. She’s not happy, not satisfied, and not fulfilled. I tried to, in a gentle way, point out the flaws in her plans,

but I had forgotten;

19 year olds know everything.

I was asked how my weekend went, and I replied, ”Good. I enjoyed it. How was yours?” “Oh, not so good,” said my friend. I was surprised. On the outside his life looks as if it is going well. Apparently it’s not. Who knew? Later I offered to get together and be a sounding post if he wanted to vent, or share. He said he appreciated that.

It seems, as if most of my life, others have shared with me what is going on in their lives. Especially when it is not going well. I was perplexed by this phenomenon for several years until one day I was told that it seems as if I have a shepard’s heart. I should have known for many people have asked me if I was a pastor. The truth is, I was supposed to be. I was on the path to becoming one when I took a wrong turn in that fork in the road of life.

I could have taken the road on the right, and kept going, but I didn’t, and, well, the consequences took me out of ministry, but it didn’t change my heart. I repented, and tried to get back on track, but it didn’t happen, but I digress.

I ask you today, “What message are you giving others?” When someone meets you what are you saying to them? Are you open to listening? Does your sign tell them that you are only interested in your plans and goals?

There are people all around us that need hope, light in their dark world, they might just need someone to listen, to know someone cares, or more importantly, they might need God.

I try to imitate the life of Christ, and one thing I noticed is this; he took time for people. I hope you do too. I hope the message on your sign says, “Welcome.”

A New Chapter

January 22, 2021January 21, 2021 / Mark Brady / 3 Comments

America. She changed today. Maybe the reality is, she changed a long time ago from the innocent days I once knew, but this truth is obvious today. I grew up in Oklahoma, in a middle class family that somehow, always seem to have enough and then some. I watched as my parents made good decisions and choices who worked hard for what they wanted. “The American Dream”. I believed in this dream and I too sought it out. I wanted to own my own house, well after paying 30 years of payments. I desired a good job, a loving wife, 2.5 kids, one of each sex, and to be a happy family.

The truth is, it took me 35 years to buy the house that will be mine in 26 and 1/2 years. I have two kids, one of each sex, who don’t talk to me, and, their mother divorced me after she made a huge mistake, but convinced everyone our marriage failed solely due to me. As a result, my biological family doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, so you could say I don’t have the happy family I desired. Many Christmas days have been spent filling the empty stocking with tears.

After years of checking the “Divorced” box on forms I met and then married a Filipino woman. I thought perhaps now I would get the happy family I desired. You know what? There are cynical, greedy, lying family members in all cultures, but the woman I married is the exception to a few members of her own family. I have written about it a few times; my wife lives out God’s definition of love.

After our wedding, I was with her for seven months in the Philippines, until I needed a medical procedure, so I left her there thinking immigration wouldn’t take that long and she would come to America on my heels. There was some delay in the process, but as we were reaching the finish line Covid hit. Another year without her, another moist Christmas day. A lot of crying out to God, and asking, “Why?” The big three set in: Discouragement, Disappointment and yes, even Depression. As I crawled through those dark days way down, deep inside me, was a mustard seed of faith that was whispering, “God knows what He is doing.” In full disclosure, my mind was asking, “Are you sure?”

January 7^th, we received an email stating my wife has her long awaited interview with the U.S. embassy in Manila. LIGHT pierced our darkness. I wanted to wait to share this until she was actually here, but someone needs to read these words now. We are hoping we will be together by Valentine’s Day. What a time to reunite our love for each other and for our God who loves us beyond belief.

When my wife is in our home in Oklahoma a new chapter of our lives together will begin. Unfortunately, she will never know the “America” I grew up in. Today, those with money want more, and those who “think” they have power want total control. I sense days may be coming that perhaps will not be comfortable. Standing up for what is true, for what is right could prove to be difficult. There will most likely be a separation of those who have a solid relationship with God from those who were pretending, because in the America I grew up in, it was popular to say you were a “Christian”, but not anymore.

Yes a new chapter will be starting soon in my life, but also a new chapter in the life of America. Our country’s slogan, printed on our currency, may no longer be, “In God We Trust”. Sometimes I wonder who is really holding the pen, writing each chapter. As for my life, I want God to, because whether I understand his ways or not, He does know what He is doing!

Isaiah 55:8-11(MSG)

^8-11“I don’t think the way you think.
    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
        God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
    and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
    and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
    producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
    not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

Peace of Mind

January 15, 2021January 11, 2021 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

One doesn’t have to look around very far, or watch the news very long to see there is a lack of peace in our world. And social media, these days, should come with a pain scale.

When I try to watch the news I find myself yelling at the so called “leaders” of our country. You know, just because they control the media doesn’t mean they are speaking truth. I don’t like how I feel when that happens, or when I witness unrest.

I don’t think I am alone when I say, what I desire most, right now, is peace. Last year, 2020, kept us on edge. “What’s going to happen?” “What do I need to do?” “How can I stay safe?” “Where can I find toilet paper?” “How do I keep those I love healthy?”

When Jesus found himself in a storm, he simply said, “Peace be still.” Is that all it takes? Well, sort of. It’s a start. It’s declaring, I’m not going to get caught up in all of the unrest. I don’t have to state my position or opinions on social media. I can turn on the TV in time to get my weather update and then turn it off again, and make an effort to stay away from world news.

Jesus offered us peace by trusting in him.

“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 (TPT)

Instead, I can commit to fill my mind, my time, my world with things I enjoy. With things that build up, instead of teardown. With activities, words, relationships that inspire, or bring peace. It’s my world after all. I do have a say so, and so do you. Take control of your own life, when and where you can. You will find more peace that way, and feel better too.

Peace out!

Hemmed In

January 12, 2021January 13, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Your back is up against the wall. You have found yourself in a corner, or down an ally with no apparent way out. Your mind is limited on how to resolve your situation. You cannot see any reasonable way out. Your resources are gone. Your bank account, savings, or 401 has been depleted.

Now what?

Such was the story of a woman in the Bible. She is one of my favorite heroes, for she was a woman of great faith who despite what she saw with her natural eyes she believed, “My situation doesn’t have to be this way.” She knew when to tie a knot and hang on. She was hemmed in, her back was up against the wall.

Yes, I’m talking about the woman with the issue of blood. She suffered from a physical aliment that lasted for 12 whole years. She spent every dime she had visiting multiple doctors trying to find a cure. What’s even worse, those who knew her, called her, “Unclean”. I’m sure they assumed God was punishing her for some sin in her life. You think the thought, “I want to die!” never entered her mine? Or, how many times did she question God, “Why? Why God is this happening to me?”

People, who haven’t earned the right to put on a robe,
judge anyway.

What are you facing? What challenges are you dealing with? Can you identify with this woman? I too am facing a situation today as I write these words that I honestly cannot see how the situation is going to end. My emotions got on a roller coaster today, and I did not enjoy the ride at all. Then I saw one of my friends, Jeff Lossau, posted a new blog. (https://jefflossau.com/) As I read God’s words, from Psalms 34, I cried.

⁴Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress
and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears!
⁵Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come.
Your faces will glisten with glory.
You’ll never wear that shame-face again.
⁶When I had nothing, desperate and defeated,
I cried out to the Lord and he heard me,
bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most.
⁷The angel of the Lord stooped down to listen as I prayed,
encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape.
He will do this for everyone who fears God.
⁸Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God.
Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives
to all who turn to hide themselves in him.
⁹Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy!
For all who fear him will feast with plenty.
¹⁰Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry,
but those who passionately pursue the Lord
will never lack any good thing.
¹¹Come, children of God, and listen to me.
I’ll share the lesson I’ve learned of fearing the Lord.
^12–13Do you want to live a long, good life,
enjoying the beauty that fills each day?
Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words
to come from your mouth.
¹⁴Keep turning your back on every sin,
and make “peace” your life motto.
Practice being at peace with everyone.
¹⁵The Lord sees all we do;
he watches over his friends day and night.
His godly ones receive the answers they seek
whenever they cry out to him.
¹⁶But the Lord has made up his mind to oppose evildoers
and to wipe out even the memory of them
from the face of the earth.
¹⁷Yet when holy lovers of God cry out
to him with all their hearts,
the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them
from all their troubles.
¹⁸The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain,
and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.
¹⁹Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones,
the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated
by what they face.
²⁰God will be your bodyguard to protect you
when trouble is near.
Not one bone will be broken.
²¹But the wicked commit slow suicide.
For they hate and persecute the lovers of God.
Make no mistake about it,
God will hold them guilty and punish them;
they will pay the penalty!
²²But the Lord has paid for the freedom of his servants,
and he will freely pardon those who love him.
He will declare them free and innocent
when they turn to hide themselves in him. (from, The Passion Translation)

The woman with the issue of blood risked everything, and went into a crowd. She pushed her way through it until she was where Jesus would pass by. She even violated her society’s rules, because she knew with what little faith she had left, if she could just touch the hem of his garment she would be healed. She no doubt had heard the testimonies of his healing power. She did, He passed by, and she bowed to touch the hem of his garment, and she was healed instantly. In a single moment, that she never could have foreseen, her issue went away, and so can yours! (Mark 5:25-34)

THEN, you can proclaim the first part of Psalms 34:

¹Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me!
My lips are full of perpetual praise.
²I’m boasting of you and all your works,
so let all who are discouraged take heart.
³Join me, everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together.
Let’s make him famous!
Let’s make his name glorious to all.

The woman made God famous, and I’m willing to endure what my wife and I are going through, for someone else, so I can make God famous.

How about you?

Let There Be

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I love it that God spoke the world into existence, and it started with him saying, “Let there be light.” Before he said those words the earth was there, and it was dark and shapeless, but the Holy Spirit was hovering above.

I think a lot of people are going through a very difficult time right now. One might say, dark and shapeless, but know this, the Spirit of God is hovering above. Keeping an eye on you, so you are not alone in the darkness although it may feel like it.

What if, in your darkness, someone said,
“Let there be light”?

Your healing could be separated from the darkness. Your employment situation could be brighter. Your long awaited spouse steps out of the shadows into full sight. Whatever it is, in the time it takes for God to say, “Let there be light”, your whole situation can change. So what is God waiting on? When the moment is right. When you are right, or when the other person is ready, or the employment connection is made.

In the meantime, we wait, as patiently as we can, knowing that while life is dark the Holy Spirit is hovering overhead. Remember, light dispels darkness immediately, in an instant. Light over powers darkness. It cast it aside.

After God spoke light into existence he looked at it said, “It is good.” When God speaks into your life, your situation, your darkness afterwards he will say, “It is good.” And it will be. Your darkness will be over. It will be gone, and you see your new day dawning. You will breathe in and out like you never have before for the weight of the darkness will have lifted. If you place your hope and trust in God I promise you will see the end of the doom and gloom.

brady, mark a.