Moving the Holy

October 28, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20171026_142958 Moving the Holy is moving the heart of God. One thing that moves his heart is obedience. Whenever I didn’t obey as a child my unholy backside got moved! When God speaks and directs you through his Spirit, you have two choices, obey or not. It may be extremely painful and difficult to obey, but you should do it anyway. You may feel silly, do it anyway. The other, who may be a recipient of what God told you to do may not understand, do it anyway. If God’s direction causes you to sacrifice something, well then it moves the heart of God even more. GOD IS HOLY!

Rev 4:8 The Four Animals were winged, each with six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night and day, never taking a break: Holy, holy, holy Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong, THE WAS, THE IS, THE COMING. (MSG)

The more difficult it is to obey, the greater the victory will be on the other side. There is no higher feeling than knowing you made God glad. Your obedience may bless another, but honestly, you will be blessed beyond belief! Obedience exercises your faith, which causes it to grow, which causes it to mature.

One Man’s Sin

October 7, 2017October 7, 2017 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

As we saw this past week, in a very visual way, one man’s sin, hurts another human being. It doesn’t have to be a mass killing either. It can be a lie, but when found out another is hurt for they got deceived. A cheating spouse, a wayward leader. Someone else will get hurt.

Unfortunately, as long as there is sin in this world, there will be hurt. There is sin in the world because of evil spirits that rule over this world. When Adam and Eve sinned (disobeyed God) it opened up the door for evil to come over us.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

But there is hope! For those who have accepted God’s free gift of having their sin’s forgiven, by accepting that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. There will come a day when God’s Spirit rules over a new earth, and that will cause peace, and no more pain, and no more tears.

My heart ache’s for those that were affected this week by one’s man sin, but I do not get discouraged, or want to give up, because I know, without a doubt, God’s word is true, and one day there will be peace.

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.

It Hurts!

May 27, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

HURT You listen as they describe their current pain, despair, nightmare of a life. They go on and on without the slightest glimmer of hope on their face, or in their voice. They want relief, they want out, they want something so different then what they have. Like a blind man looking for his glasses, their searching is in vain.

You’ve heard it before, from them and from others you care so much about. Will this be the time they listen to you? Have they reached the end of their rope? Have they had enough? Maybe, maybe this will be the time they here you share the life they could have if they would only accept the free gift of Jesus Christ. How His death provides life. How His taking on the whole worlds sin and sorrow deliveres eternal joy, happiness, and peace, if we just say, “Yes” to His offer.

It hurts, when we hear them say, “Thanks, but it’s not for me.” It doesn’t make sense. It’s hard for us to understand. Irwin McManis put it like this, “People would rather live a bad life “they” purchased, than a great life that is free.”

Keep praying and trusting God for those you care about.

Why?

April 15, 2017April 15, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Cross nailed He laid as still as he could. Any movement reminded him of the flogging his back took. The soldier placed the nail with the tip pressing his palm. He saw the other soldier rear back with the hammer. He turned his head. Bam! The nail drove through his flesh pinning him to the cross. That nail represented the times I took something that wasn’t mine.

The same thing took place on the other side. Bam! That nail represented the sinful times I touched something I had no business touching. Bam! The nail in his feet represented the times I have gone somewhere I had no business being. The thorny crown shoved down into his head represented the evil thoughts I failed to bring into captivity. The beatings he suffered should have been mine. The spit that landed on him, represented the disgrace that was meant for me.

Everything Jesus went through, the trial, lies, pain, agony, and torture was for me. The 39 lashes that shredded his back open and bled was so I could be healed. He chose to go through that for me. He chose to go through all that for you. Why? Because He knew, He was the only who could. Because He knows pure love, and how to show it.

He also knew how to defeat death, and on the third day, He proved it.

THANK YOU, JESUS.

False Accusations

January 21, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

False-stamp Being accused of something is difficult to handle, but when those accusations are false it really hurts. Each assault can cut really deep. What makes these accusations even worse is when the truth is staring the accusers in the face, and yet they choose to ignore it.

Last night, on my train ride home, my thoughts turned to Jesus. One week people were singing his praises, and the following week amidst false accusations some of those same individuals were screaming for his death. The thing we must realize is this; he was, and still is, the Son of God. He is Truth, and being such, he had the capability to prove his innocence, but he chose not to. If he had of, we would not have salvation, and the hope of living in heaven for eternity.

I guess I can find comfort in knowing that if it wasn’t for individuals refusing to believe the Truth, who was standing right in front of them, I wouldn’t have salvation. Another thing I can find comfort in is knowing that God sees all truth, and one day will reveal truth to all.

1Co 3:13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. (AMP)

Choose to Live

November 20, 2016November 20, 2016 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

20161119_112851 A young man hid in the bushes. When he judged the train was too close to stop in time he ran out and dove onto the tracks.

I was riding that train on my way to work this past week. I have been commuting in and out of Chicago for 23 years, but this was the first time I have actually been on the train that struck a pedestrian. They ruled it a suicide immediately.

While the investigation was proceeding I thought about this person and wondered, how bad was his life that he decided he had no more hope? What was going on? Satan won a victory that morning. John 10:10 tells us, “Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy.” Anything God has created, or made, including mankind, Satan wants to get rid of it.

Pastor Robert Morris, of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas once said, “As long as you are alive, you have hope.” If you are hurting, if the pain is more than you think you can bare, then please talk to someone. Please, I beg you. There are numerous organizations that are set up to help in all kinds of ways, but you must contact them. Depression, and mental illness is not something that shows up on the outside. Most people may not ever know, until you speak up. And if someone speaks up to you, I pray you will love and care about them enough to listen intently, and help them. Life, can be a beautiful thing. Choose it.

They Walk Among Us

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Jessica, while at a red light, feels moisture drip upon her cheeks. She can’t believe the hurt has reached her eyes. Roger, holds his head in the stream of water showering upon him while he mumbles words. A prayer perhaps? He hopes the sound of the falling water conceals his pain, his desperation. Cassandra stares at the dark ceiling, instead of sleeping, longing for an answer. An answer that would change her life. Manuel walks aimlessly, at times looking up, hoping any minute now God would heal him.

Just stories lines, or glimpses of real life? Perhaps they feel real because you have been there, or you are there now. No matter where you are, or what you are going through, know this; YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not the only one who has ever walked the path you are on, even though it feels like it. There are others, who are there now, or who have found the exit.

Where are these people? Who are they? Include in your prayers to God to lead you to them. They might be in your church, or they might be your neighbor, or across the aisle at work, but the truth is they walk among us. They can help you. They can listen to you. They can pray for you, or with you. But in order for that to happen they have to know. They have to know what you are going through. Take a chance on being honest when someone ask you how you are. And if you are one who hears a story of real life going on dare to listen int 051312_01-3jb ently. Believe with them for God to deliver them, answer them, or heal them. Life is hard, but it is even harder by yourself.

If you struggle finding someone, or trusting someone enough to open up with the truth, you are still not alone. There is no where you can go to escape the eye of God, or His love. Have faith, have hope for your exit may be within the next mile.

Boo-boos

June 14, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

My son was playing when he fell and landed on one of his toys which hurt him. boo-boos He started whimpering as he climbed up on the sofa next to his mother. He laid on his back, pulled his legs up and said, “Mommy, kiss my butt.” Yes. We had taught him when he gets a boo-boo mommy and daddy can kiss it and make it all better.

Last Friday morning I read an email from my daughter. Her pain was so great I could feel it leap from the phone and into my heart. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms, kiss her cheek and tell her, “It will be okay.” When our children become young adults it seems as if their boo-boos cut deeper, and hurt worse than when they were toddlers. Because we are separated by many miles I couldn’t be there in person to hold her in my arms, but my concern for her and the situation is there none-the-less.

Jesus sees our struggles, our pain, our hurts, and even our boo-boos. Hebrews 5:2 says, “(Jesus) should be able to deal gently with their failings, since he knows what it’s like from his own experience.” Hebrews 5:8 “Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.” (MSG)

We can go to Jesus at any time with anything, but definitely turn to him when you get hurt. Turning to anything, or anyone else just isn’t the same. Jesus knows how to guide you, heal you, or teach you to make it all better.