Control

November 19, 2024November 2, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Accepting God’s gift of salvation is easy. “Even a caveman can do it.” (A line from a famous commercial some years ago.) What’s not so simple is giving God control of your life. It seems a lot of people still want to make significant decisions on their own. Then, when they find themselves in trouble, they wonder why.

After graduating college and landing a drafting job with the local electric company, I felt I was set for life. After all, as I was starting my career there, my uncle retired from the same company. But God had other plans. I was offered a youth pastor’s position in a small church 1,582 miles away. The problem? They couldn’t afford to pay me. Crazy right? Who in their right mind would take such a position? Believe me, I heard a lot of opinions from others who I knew were concerned for me. My father’s thoughts were the loudest, though.

After a lot of prayer, I did what God called me to. I was scared, but I felt assured that He knew what He was doing. It turns out He did, and all of my needs were met.

That experience taught me to seek God whenever making decisions about things like where to live, where to work, and where to spend money above and beyond living costs. Oh, don’t forget who to marry. These are the areas of life that most don’t even think to ask God about. Somehow, they feel these decisions are theirs. And some go as far as to tell God, “Hands off!”

Of course, God allows this because He gives us free will. But I can only wonder how much it aches his heart when the decisions people make hurt them. God wants the best for us, and He has the ability to see beyond the edge of the map. He knows in advance what decisions are good ones and which ones aren’t.

I would have to say that letting God have complete control of my life has allowed me to have a wonderful life and one of the most incredible adventures anyone could ever live.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Eph. 1:11-12 (MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this. Prov. 3:5-12 (MSG)

Cease striving and know that I am God; Ps. 46:10a (LSB)

Misty Eyed

November 15, 2024October 29, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“Where do you want to eat lunch?” asked Charlie. “I don’t care,” said his wife. They wound up at a taco place all the way across town from where they live. While in the middle of their meal, several people jumped up and started looking out the windows. Charlie got up to see what they were looking at. A homeless man and woman were fighting. The man left and the woman started crying and walking toward the restaurant with her bike.

Another couple, Justin and Emily, ran out the door to the woman. Her name was Misty. She was in hysterics. “He stole all of my money,” she said. They started calming her down and invited her inside the restaurant. Justin went to get her some food and a drink. Emily talked to her.

Charlie and his wife wanted to help. Later, Justin went back up to the counter. He was trying to purchase Misty a gift card so she could get more food later. Charlie said he would pay for it, but he learned the machine wasn’t working. So he told Justin he would go down the street to a convenience store to get a gift card. That way, Misty could buy food and drinks later.

When Charlie returned, he gave the card to Misty. She started crying. Charlie hugged her and then said, “God wanted to love on you today. You see, my wife and I could have gone anywhere to eat lunch, but we came here, and we live all the way on the other side of town. God wanted to show you that He knows you and cares about you and what you are going through.”

Justin led them in a prayer for Misty. Charlie hugged Misty again, even though she smelled as if she could use a shower. Emily continued making out a list of items Misty could use to make life a little easier.

On the way home, Charlie asked his wife why she didn’t join in ministering to Misty. She said, “I didn’t know what to say, and you all were handling it.” Charlie paused and then said, “Just being there says a lot. And you could have also hugged Misty. A lot of homeless people miss the feeling, the connection of a human touch. You go to Bible studies, but today was an opportunity to apply it.”

Look around in life. See the needs. Have compassion and do whatever you can to alleviate the need. That’s what the word “compassion” means in the Greek language, and that is what Jesus did.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Mat. 9:36 (NKJV)

Your Home, God’s Home?

November 8, 2024October 18, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

^8-9Then God said:

“Here’s what I want you to do:
    Climb into the hills and cut some timber.
Bring it down and rebuild the Temple.
    Do it just for me. Honor me.
You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves,
    but nothing has come of it.
The little you have brought to my Temple
    I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it.

^9-11“And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That’s why. Because of your stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a meager crop. I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought, drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing—not man or woman, not animal or crop—is going to thrive.” Hag. 1:8-11 (MSG)

While I was reading the verses above, the Holy Spirit prompted me to include them in a blog post. So here they are. “Why?” you might be asking yourself. I observe people. I listen when they talk about their lives, and many times, I hear what is consuming their time and consuming them.

A lot of people are focusing on their own lives. They are building new homes or moving into bigger ones. Purchasing the latest car or trying to acquire a higher-paying job. Others may be in pursuit of a relationship.

On the other side of the coin are those that are consumed while trying to make ends meet. Wondering how they are going to pay the electric bill or feed their family.

There is nothing wrong with trying to do the best you can in life. There are no issues with wanting bigger and better things, but when your pursuit becomes all you can think about, it becomes wrong. On the other hand, worrying about how your needs will be met can be bad, too.

If the things in life become more important than your relationship or trust in God, then they are wrong. That is what the scriptures above are talking about. You see, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want to be ignored or take a backseat to anyone or anything else. Nor should he. Don’t be surprised if God backs off from your life. Not to hurt you but to turn your face back to him.

Keeping our focus on our relationship with God should be our number one priority in life. Doing so helps us with the other things in life that compete for our attention. A right-side relationship with God puts the other things in our lives in perspective. Keeping our temples pure and holy pleases God, and then he will be happy to dwell among us.

24/7/365

October 29, 2024October 7, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April and I were discussing one of her friends recently. They were going through something. Sorry, I don’t recall what it was. I suggested April do something for them. She didn’t respond. I enquired. Finally, she admitted that she didn’t want to do that for her friend. After a few minutes, she asked, “Am I a bad friend?” I thought for a moment, trying to find some words of wisdom. Then I responded, “You’re a friend. You’re just not a good friend.”

Maybe you are a good friend to others. Perhaps you give them as much time as you can when they call and are upset. You provide them with a ride to the airport no matter the time of day. When they are sick, you stop by their house to give them a helping hand or to provide a meal. In other words, you are always there for them. They know they can count on you.

A few days later, I was sitting at a traffic light. I looked up and saw the billboard pictured here in this post. It made me think of Jesus. Then I thought of the above conversation with April. One of Jesus’ characteristics is that he says he is a “friend” who never leaves you.

There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24 (RSV)

But Jesus is one part of three. They are one yet individual, and together, they take complete care of you.

God.

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deu. 31:6 (MSG)

And nothing you can do can separate you from the love of God.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Rom. 8:38 (MSG)

The Holy Spirit is there to comfort you and to give you power when you are ministering to others. He can give you words to say when you have no idea what should come out of your mouth. He also has a list of supernatural gifts that he gives out to whoever he wants.

Being in a relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is the best. They are our God, our friend, and our comforter. Jesus isn’t “just” a friend but a good friend. They are always there for me. I love doing life with them. They are with me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

Wall Drug

October 25, 2024October 25, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

If you have ever traveled Interstate 90 in the state of South Dakota, you don’t have to go far before you start seeing billboard after billboard advertising Wall Drug. You see so many, you start thinking, This must be the most incredible place on Earth! Spoiler alert: It’s not, but it is a fun place to stop and see.

The billboards tell you how far before you get there. They promise you what you can experience and how wonderful it will be. What started as a place for travelers to stop and get a free glass of ice-cold water has turned into one huge tourist stop.

If you have been traveling through life and have yet to accept God’s Son, Jesus Christ, into your life, I would dare say if you looked back, you would see signs, billboard after billboard, about Jesus. You would have had several opportunities to stop and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. You would learn that He offered “living water” that refreshes your soul. You would see the promises He makes about helping you, guiding, providing, healing, and more for you. You would know that wherever you go in this world, He would always be there with you.

You might be thinking, “I’ve never seen signs or billboards!” You have. You didn’t realize it. A friend invited you to attend a church service with them, and you said, “No, that’s okay.” Someone shared Jesus with you and how He has helped them. You probably dismissed their testimony by saying, “Well, that’s good for you, but Jesus doesn’t fit into my plan.” Perhaps you experienced some misfortune and had a minister come alongside and minister God’s love and concern for you, and days after, you forgot about how good God’s love felt.

The devil will try to convince you that you don’t need to stop. That you are fine doing life your way. The truth is that your way leads to destruction.

You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead. Prov. 14:12 (CEV)

There are a lot of billboards along the road of life that are viding for your attention. This is why you need God’s help to provide you with wisdom so you don’t make any unnecessary stops or detours. Be a smart traveler. Don’t go it alone. Choose today to walk with the one who has your best interest in mind and has prepared the ultimate destination for eternity.

As if You’re Holding the Map

October 8, 2024September 4, 2024 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Have you ever sat and listened to someone share with you what is exciting news to them, but it triggered an odd feeling inside you? Something seemed off, not right.

April shared with me an event happening soon for a friend. As she told me the whole story, I started sensing a disturbance in the force. I mean, I felt sick in my spirit. In a moment, I saw what her friend was about to experience if they continued going down the road they were on. I could see the stops along her journey. Painville. Lied to Junction. Can’t Trust Street. It’s as if I was the one holding the map looking ahead.

In the days since, as I have been praying for them, I have felt so sick and have been grieving for them. They’re a nice person and don’t deserve what they are about to get.

April even shared that they quit talking to another friend because that friend raised all the “Red Flags” that are a part of their venture. April’s friend wants to be loved so badly that they are willing to accept Satan’s substitute instead of waiting patiently for the one God has for them.

There are two things I have observed in life: 1) You can never talk anyone out of getting married. 2) You can never talk anyone out of getting divorced. Once they have made up their mind to do this thing, they will begin to tell themselves they are doing the right thing even if it is not true! Yes, they will lie to themselves.

So what can one do? Yes, you can pray for them. You can intercede like crazy, but the better thing to do is join up with at least one other person and pray together.

I knew of a young woman who wanted to get married so bad she was willing to fly to Malaysia and meet the guy who was promising her the world. The challenge was this: she couldn’t pay for the flight herself or for her stay there while getting to know him. He said he would pay.

The problem was Malaysia is the second worst country for sex trafficking. Her father was okay with her going because he was greedy and wanted a portion of the money she would make in the high-paying job her boyfriend promised her. What happens is that when the woman clears immigration, the boyfriend demands the passport as collateral until the trip is paid back, which never happens. I knew in my spirit if she went, we would never hear from her again. So, a friend of mine and I prayed long and hard. After a few weeks, the whole deal broke down, and she didn’t go. Today, she is married to a lovely man, has a young son, and is living a good life.

I knew in my spirit the evil forces were defeated because two people prayed in unison.

“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” Mat. 18:20 (MSG)

Care Package

October 4, 2024September 2, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

I have a cousin who seems to suffer a lot in life. I know they believe in God, but I’m not sure if they live a life pleasing to God. Living by God’s commandments and in a relationship as God designed them to be. As well, and I’ll explain why this is important later, I don’t know if they handle their finances the way God instructs us to. If my observations and instincts are correct, then I can see why they have a difficult existence.

I have said before that living a life pleasing to God doesn’t guarantee your life will be problem-free, but living it with God on your side certainly helps. When God smiles upon you, He protects you.

1 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion.

⁸God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.” ^9-10Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose! Job 1 (MSG)

When it comes to finances, God asks us to give back ten percent of our income. God says if we do this, He will open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon us. But here is the part that is even more important and powerful. God says He will shut the mouth of the devourer. That means He will stop Satan from eating away at our lives. Our homes, our finances, our health, and our relationships!

¹⁰Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. Mal. 3:10-11 (AMPC)

God really does care for us, for you! He doesn’t demand you live the way that is best for you, but He hopes that you will choose to. He wants you to be one of his favorite children in his family. (I’m not sure if God actually has favorites because He loves us all, but some probably put a smile on his face more than others.)

Even people like my cousin I mentioned earlier, God wants them to accept him so He can love on them even more, send them a personalized care package, stop the destruction and pain in their life, and pour out blessings upon them like no one has ever seen.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

What They Need

September 27, 2024August 21, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I once visited a third-world country. Most of the people who lived there were extremely poor. Every day was a struggle for them to find food to feed their families. Jobs were difficult to come by, and “good” paying jobs were out of reach for most. In talking to one lady who had made it to America, she shared with me that she made more in two weeks than she did in six months there.

While I was there, I attended one of the local churches. The minister spoke both the languages of the country and English. I’m not sure what his motivation was, but he began to go around the room asking the parishioners how much they would commit to paying each week. I felt terrible for them as they squirmed and were not making eye contact with their pastor. As the people threw out an amount, one of the pastor’s family members recorded their responses.

Later that day, the pastor asked me what I thought of the service. Now I squirmed and finally asked. “You want me to be honest?” “Yes,” he replied. I said, “Well, I felt awful for the congregation. You put them on the spot. Of course, they were going to say they would commit to giving a certain amount every week. What they give is between them and God. They live difficult lives. They don’t need “rules” to live by, that’s guilt and “religion.” What they need is to hear about how much God loves them, knows what they are going through, and cares about them so much. What they need is a stronger “relationship” with God. One they can rely on and survive the week to come.”

The pastor stared at the floor and then struggled to admit he had made a mistake. I suggested he apologize to his flock and strive each week to hear God’s encouraging word for them.

I would go out on a limb and guess that what you need is to hear the same message. God knows you, and He loves you so much! He cares about what you are facing, and He wants you to trust him to work on your behalf. That is accomplished by having a great “relationship” with God. That is what you need. That is all that you need.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Mat. 11:28-30 (MSG)

My Oscar Moment

September 24, 2024August 21, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Do you ever daydream? I do. I have ever since I can remember. Especially in elementary school, when I was bored with the lessons I should have been learning. I found it entertaining to “play” or “dream” in my mind.

As I was writing my novel, “Kill the Preacher Man,” I would sometimes share with others what the book was about. Several would comment that it sounded like a movie. I then started daydreaming about winning an Oscar and what I would say in my acceptance speech. That dialog changed after meeting April and telling her about the book.

“I would like to thank the academy for this honor and, of course, God and my lovely wife, April. When I first met April, I told her about my novel and that some had said it should be a movie. I told her, ‘Who knows? Maybe it would be up for an Oscar?’ She replied, ‘Would I be able to attend the ceremony, and do you think Keanu Reeves would be there?’ I replied, ‘Yes. You can go, and Mr. Reeves would probably be there.’ After a brief pause, she said, ‘Okay, Mark. I will marry you!’” (True story!)

The below description is from the back cover of the book:

“Kill The Preacher Man” is a modern-day novel about 30-year-old Jeremiah Crowley, whose gift of faith and healing launches a revival in America. Like Jesus, signs and wonders follow him when he ministers. A Chicago news reporter, Caroline Roberts, is dispatched to investigate why a church meeting is causing a traffic jam. Her coverage of the incident propels her to disprove this modern-day Jesus. When that attempt failed, her disdain for God reached a boiling point, erupting in her putting out a contract on his life. Will she succeed in killing the preacher man, stopping the revival, and stopping God?

Awards and accolades are great. They can serve us with encouragement and as a testament to help others to keep working on achieving their dreams. God will give those who endured tests and temptations and came through it victoriously a “Crown of Life.”

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Jam. 1:12 (AMPC)

Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life. Rev. 2:10 (AMPC)

But when it is all said and done, we will lay those crowns at the feet of Jesus. For without his sacrifice on the cross to die for our sins, resisting temptation would not even be possible.

¹⁰The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,

¹¹Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created. Rev. 4:10-11 (AMPC)

Jesus alone is worthy, and in praise and thankfulness to Him and in acknowledgment of Him, the saints cast the symbols of their victory at Jesus’ feet. Any awards and accolades received on earth are temporal. They will be consumed by fire in the end, so we should all focus on receiving “The crown of life.”

“Kill the Preacher Man” can only be purchased via Books | brady, mark a. (bradymarka.com)

Devoted to God

September 20, 2024August 17, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

1 ^1-3Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy—seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants—the most influential man in all the East!

^4-5His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking. When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, “Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly.” Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they’d sinned.

^6-7One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, “What have you been up to?”

Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.”

⁸God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”

^9-10Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose! Job 1:1-10 (MSG)

The portion of these verses that jumped out at me was, “You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!”

I have mentioned it several times in many posts, but if you missed it, let me do it again. When a man is devoted to God and living for Him, typically, he has a good life. God blesses him, and even when something may try to defeat him, God comes through and takes care of the issue for him.

April has a friend who announced last week that they are getting married. I only heard a part of the conversation while I was working on our house. But as I was listening, I started getting a bad feeling in my spirit. It was the gift of “discernment,” telling me that their fiancé was not the right person for them.

Today, April shared with me more about what she heard from another friend about their friend’s fiancé. Can you say, “Red Flags?” It’s sad that the friend would “settle” for Satan’s substitute rather than wait for the person that God has for them. If this friend would commit all their ways to God and delight themselves in Him, I would dare say that God would bring the right person into their life soon, knowing the desires of their heart. If they get married, they are setting themselves up for a lot of pain and heartache.

One can never go wrong living for God. Putting Him first in your life and asking Him to lead you and guide you. He will. I know because His word is full of scriptures that say he will.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

True delight in Him causes us to take our sights off of what we want in order to long for what He desires. The command to delight in God appears amidst this list that King David penned in the Psalms as the antidote for his fretting people:

Know the fate of evildoers (Psalm 37:2)
Trust in the Lord (37:3)
Do good (37:3)
Befriend faithfulness (37:3)
Delight yourself in the LORD (37:4)
Commit your way to Him (37:5)
Rest in, and wait patiently for, The Lord (37:7)

Source: http://www.biblestudytools.com