The Best Day of My Life

September 2, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

070315_26 I used to think the best day of my life was the day I retired. I no longer have to work.
Then I thought the best day of my life was the day my granddaughter was born. I experienced such joy.
The day my daughter was born was a great day too. She smiled, my heart melted.
The day my son was born, wow, I beamed as he held my finger when I took his hand.
My wedding day was awesome. This beautiful woman accepted me, and said, “I do.”
Graduating college was a good day. A little more meaningful than finishing high school.

Those were good days of my life, but the best day, was the day I accepted God’s free gift of salvation through his son, Jesus. For it was God who got me to those great days, and through them, and all of the ones that weren’t so great.

In reality though, the best day of my life will be my last one. The day I die. (Don’t worry, I’m not rushing it.) You see, on that day, because I gave my life to God, and have done my best to live according to his word, and have asked for forgiveness for the times I didn’t, when I die, I will enter into heaven. No more pain. No more hurts, disappointments, or tears. That, will be the best day of my life!

Where Are You Going?

August 19, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20170819_205542 “Recalculating.” Seems to be her favorite word. I get frustrated with her at times. Ladies, please don’t get mad, but a man doesn’t like to be told what to do by a woman. It’s not our fault, it’s just the way we are wired. So I recently put my GPS in the back seat, and it felt natural. At times, I still try to get where I think I am supposed to be going, on my own.

That happened this year. My plans were taking me in a completely different direction. If I had not felt in my spirit “Recalculating”, I would not currently be going where God needs me to be. Yes, God uses GPS. “God’s Positioning System”

It’s important to seek God’s will for your life. You were created for a reason and a purpose. If you submit to God’s GPS you will be happy and not frustrated when you arrive at your final destination. I hope and pray your final destination, is heaven.

Satan Spray

July 29, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

The other day someone said something that irked me to no end! Even several hours later I was still upset. Then I realized, Satan was using what was said to hurt me. I decided to get out my “Satan Spray”. I started singing songs of praise and worship. Next thing I knew, he was gone. I guess he doesn’t like hearing songs that lift up the name of Jesus. Either that, or he doesn’t know the words.

Jam 4:7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. (AMP)

Keep in mind Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. YOU! He will use anyone, at any time, to bring harm to you, God’s own creation. The contents of your “Satan Spray” could include quoting scriptures, prayer, listening to a sermon, etc. The key to “Satan Spray” is this: Use often, and don’t use it sparingly, because Jesus purchased enough through His death and resurrection to last for eternity.

Does God Blink?

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

eyes When there are people in your life who seem to enjoy making you hurt, miserable, or angry you begin to wonder if God indeed has His eye on you or, if He blinked for a moment? You think to yourself how could He let this happen to me over and over again? Where is His revenge on these people? I gave it to Him as he instructs us to.

The truth is, He never takes His eyes off of us. Not even for a split second to blink. Pro 2:8 He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

Another truth is you don’t know what is going on in that person’s life that you don’t see. God has never liked it when someone willfully hurts one of His own. To the ones who do He has some very harsh words:

Mic 2:1-3 Doom to those who plot evil, who go to bed dreaming up crimes! As soon as it’s morning, they’re off, full of energy, doing what they’ve planned. They covet fields and grab them, find homes and take them. They bully the neighbor and his family, see people only for what they can get out of them. GOD has had enough. He says, “I have some plans of my own: Disaster because of this interbreeding evil! Your necks are on the line. You’re not walking away from this. It’s doomsday for you.

If you feel you are being treated unfairly, take heart. God sees, and knows, and He will deal justly with those who are not just. If you are one of those hurting others, beware! God sees you too, and He will avenge the innocent. If you are the innocent, pray God’s judgement will turn the heart of the guilty to God.

Sight Unseen

July 16, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

052012_47JB Would you buy a house sight unseen? Probably not. On the other hand, have things or people always been as they appear? Most likely no. So why is seeing so important? Why is one state, I traveled through today, called the “Show me state”? We put so much infaces on seeing before believing, that when it comes to God we want the same thing.

I asked a coworker some years ago this question, “What would it take for you to believe God was real?” He thought long and hard and finally could not give me an answer. Possibly in his mind anything God would do for him, would still trigger doubt, and disbelief. Knowing how He made us, I think that is why God asks us to accept Him by “faith”. Faith, is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

It can be difficult, somethimes, to believe in God. Especially when life is tough, but given the chance, and time God has proven Himself to me over and over. He also promises to prepare a home for me in heaven. I’ll accept that home, “sight unseen”!

Boxed In?

July 8, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20170708_220718 One thing that makes moving successful is having enough, and right size boxes for your stuff. Moving works best when you have the time to put the right things in the right size boxes and number them, and then keep a running list of what is in each one.

When it comes to moving spiritually, what size box do you try to put God in? Do you cram Him in a small one, because He is only a “small” part of your life? Or does the God you serve fit in a refrigerator box? How do you list the contents of the box you put God in? That probably depends on what you think of God and His power. Maybe it is limited by your experience with Him so far.

We’re human. Our mind has limits, but when it comes to God we shouldn’t limit Him at all. We should never put Him, and His abilities in a box. Instead of saying, “Why can’t God…?” we should say, “My God can…” When you start living with this kind of thinking about God you will begin to find your life outside the box.

Thorns and Thistles

July 1, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

080512 169 Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is life so hard?” You strive to do good, get ahead, but at times it seems the more you press forward the further behind you get. In your finances, at work, or in relationships. The truth is, it’s not your fault. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden part of the punishment was life would be harder. They received their sentence before they were evicted from the home God wanted for them. See the scripture below:

Gen 3:18 The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, (MSG)

All the more reason we need God to lift us out of the weeds and thorns of life that desire to choke, and overcome us. If you’re tired of weed whacking then stop, and ask God for help. He will, and He can. Consider the fact His way was for us to live in a garden. My neighbor once saw me planting flowers several years ago. She said, “You don’t know what you are doing!” My reply, “I know, but I’m having a great time.” God, the master gardener, knows what He is doing. Turn your life over to Him then trust and obey. That’s the only way to live life in the garden.

Good Words

June 23, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

I recently read this devotion by Max Lucado, and was moved by the truth and power of the words. I decided the best thing to do was to share it with others.

Quarry the Deep Qualities of God

Don’t equate the presence of God with a good mood or a pleasant temperament. God is near whether you’re happy or not. But do quarry from your Bible a list of the deep qualities of God, and press them to your heart. My list reads like this:

· He is still sovereign.
· He still knows my name.
· Angels still respond to His call.
· God is still faithful.
· He is not caught off guard.
· He uses everything for His glory and my ultimate good.

Lay hold of the unchanging character of God. Pray your pain out. Pound the table. Even Jesus offered up prayers with what Hebrews 5:7 describes as “loud cries and tears.” Your family may be gone. Your supporters may have left. But God has not budged! His promise still stands, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”

To read more from Max, or to sign up for his devotions click on the link below:

Max Lucado

How Satan Gets In

June 17, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Sieve Jesus warned Peter (Simon) Satan wanted to get inside him and tempt him. Satan wanted to see if Peter’s life was rattled, shaken would his belief in God remain.

Luke 22:31 “Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat.” (MSG)

So how does Satan get inside our hearts in the first place?

Perhaps when a family member hurts us. – Resentment
Maybe when a neighbor gets a new car. – Jealousy
Could be when difficult financial times fall upon us. – Fear
When your boss rides you, even though you work very hard. – Hatred
It could be after the loss of a loved one. – Grief, or sorrow
Through a battle with a serious illness. – Desperation
If a child goes astray with their life, or departs from God – Hopelessness
You feel there is no one out there who really loves you, understands you. – Loneliness
A situation or person ticks you off – Anger

These are only a few examples of how our lives can be shaken, sifted. If this is happening to you will God remain? I hope so. One way to make sure is to do an evaluation of what is in your heart. Clean it out and then keep the door to your heart and soul SHUT! And it wouldn’t hurt to lock it either.

Recognize quickly when Satan tries to sneak into your heart, because he will, even if the door is barely cracked.

Hereeeeee’s God

June 10, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Ya know, sometimes God words things just right. Good enough to convey His point clearly, so I give you God. He will be quoting His original writing from Amos chapter 5, verses 7 – 14.

7) Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.

8) Do you realize where you are? You’re in a cosmos star-flung with constellations by God, A world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night. God dips water from the ocean and gives the land a drink. GOD, God-revealed, does all this.

9) And he can destroy it as easily as make it. He can turn this vast wonder into total waste

10) People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular.

11) But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You’re never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You’re never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you’ve planted.

12) I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down.

13) Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath.

14) Seek good and not evil– and live! You talk about GOD, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.