“Now Serving Number 5”

February 8, 2022February 7, 2022 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

You hear the announcement, and yes, you look down at the number on the tag you pulled out of the dispenser when you walked in, even though you already know it wasn’t your number they called. You might as well be holding number “2275”.

Sad, but at least in America we are so impatient. We are spoiled. We are used to getting things now. Unfortunately, there are times when we take that attitude toward waiting for things from God. We make our needs known to God, and then we have to wait for the answer. Depending on the situation it can be extremely difficult. We wonder, “Did He even hear me?”

When we don’t see the answer we expect, and by the time we feel we need it, we can develop an attitude, toward others and even toward God. The truth is how do you know God isn’t working on it? What do you think He is doing? Here is what Oswald Chambers says:

“We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.”

I like how Chambers worded this issue. When we “ask” God, then our next step is to “trust” God. Know, be confident that He has heard you and that He “is” working things out in the way that is “best” for you. Keep in mind, God isn’t working on one request at a time, but on every request of everyone around the world who ask, all at the same time. He doesn’t take care of one request and then call the next number of whoever is line. Yes God is that omnipotent and powerful, but also so loving that He puts on every job a personal touch designed just for you. And that my friend is called, “Love”!

You Have to do Something!

November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

God sent **ONE** angel to defeat the entire Assyrian army.

Whenever we are in a rough spot, and our backs are up against the wall, there is something innate within that forces us to want to find our own way out. We will do just about anything, and it seems the more desperate the situation the more radicle our action will be. Most people seem to have a fight mentality when we are in a corner.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 32, we read that Jerusalem was threatened by the Assyrian army, a horrible group of men, who had no respect for mankind, and they had no fear of God. This army would first send tablets into a town they were set on over taking. These tablets showed detail pictures of how they were planning on torturing their captives in savage ways, which struck ultimate fear in their hearts. The people of Jerusalem knew for sure life was all over. There was only one thing they could do,

pray.

King Hezekiah, joined by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, responded by praying, calling up to heaven. God answered by sending an angel who wiped out everyone in the Assyrian camp, both warriors and officers. Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, tail between his legs. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him. 2 Chr. 32:20-21 (MSG)

You pray. You commit the situation to God and then you wait. That’s right. There are times when you have to trust God, like in Psalms 46:10a

“Be still, and know that I am God…”

It’s hard not to do anything. My wife has been stuck in the Philippines for several months now. She is done with the immigration process and only needs her interview at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. It’s difficult to be separated for so long. It hurts!. I have tried everything I could think of, but nothing has happened. I surrendered it to God, I’m being still. Another version of this verse says, “Stop striving…” That is what I have had to do.

In 2 Chr. 32 above, it says they prayed, and God answered, and sent one angel who wiped out the entire army. God may need to send more than one angel to deal with the U.S. government, (kidding) but I do know the answer to my prayer is on the way.

Whatever situation you may be facing, painful, dreadful, frightening, or whatever, pray. Give it to God and then be still and watch him answer as He sees fit to do so.

You May Not Like It

November 10, 2020January 7, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“I’ve been crying out to God, for an answer to my current marriage situation,” said the lady I had just met earlier that day. I have never understood, exactly why, but people feel comfortable opening up to me, even after moments of talking. Sometimes I wonder if I am wearing a sign that says, “Will listen to you for food.” I’ve been told I have the heart of a shepherd, a pastor. If that’s the case, my congregation doesn’t meet under one roof, but where ever I happen to be in this world.

She went on to share that after 16 years of being married her husband had a moment of indiscretion. Perhaps the stress of 2020 has caused a lot of people to do things they wouldn’t dare do before. I encouraged her to speak out loud and demand the demonic forces, that are trying to tear her home apart, to get out, in the name of Jesus. Then flip the environment and invite God’s presence into the home. I instructed her to speak the fruit of the spirit over her family. Love, joy, peace, etc. I told her it was her home, her family, her life and not to give up hope. She smiled through teary eyes and agreed to take action.

I went back to my task which brought us together in the first place. It’s a task I don’t like, but it is an answer to one of my prayers. I was reflecting upon the encounter, and praying for her, and the family. It was in that moment I sensed God speak to me and say,

“I brought you here as a result of your prayers, but I also brought you here as a result of her prayers.”

You see, God delights in using his servants to do his business. God is in the people business because He loves us so much. We, believers in God, are co-laborers with Jesus.

“He [Jesus] came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;
    he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
    recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
    to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.” Luke 4:16-21 (MSG)

We are all called of God to do the same as Jesus did. To be in the business of people. To be there to see them, listen to them, and then to speak life giving words that can set them free, or say a prayer that can heal them. Sometimes, a home needs to be healed, or a marriage.

You may not like it, where God has you at the moment, but look around, He has you there for a purpose, his!

Naked Prayer

July 28, 2020January 7, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Last week, I mentioned crying out to God, but today I want to share a little more about prayer. Oh, and “Naked Prayer” is bearing your soul to God, so there is nothing left unseen. He knows it anyway, but it’s as if He wants you to reveal it and give, or surrender it to him, like a child, who doesn’t know to hide their heart truth.

In John 10:10, where it says, “Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy…” the Greek word for “kill” doesn’t mean, “take your life”, but it actually indicates you “giving your life, or surrendering something to the devil.” That means you give up hope. It indicates you are giving up on God, and when you are convinced God is not going to answer your prayer then Satan can sweep in and gain a stronghold into your life.

“Prayers don’t expire,” says Robert Madu

Your prayers don’t have an expiration date on them, or have a statute of limitations with God. He can answer your prayer anytime He wants to, and He knows when the answer will work out best for you. Also, there could be a good reason, to God, for not answering your prayer, and that is when faith is the most difficult.

A miracle, is still a miracle, no matter how long it takes.

Perhaps God knew if he answered a couple of my prayers before now, I would not have meditated on this subject and have written these words to hopefully help you, or encourage you. The truth is; I don’t know, but that is where my faith and trust in him comes into play. I am confident that God knows best, He has heard me, and will work in my life, and through my life, regardless of an answer to my request. For that I say, “Thank you, God, and thank you for loving me.”

Protest Hell

June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

060920 2 Throughout this whole COVID-19 ordeal, I have been sad as the numbers climbed, but the impact did not land on my front porch, until now. Ten days ago, my friend, Chris called and informed me he caught the disease from work. Chris is 65. Today, I called to see how he was doing, but he did not answer the phone. About an hour later I received a text message letting me know he was now in the ICU.

I prayed for Chris and his wife, who also has it, but I felt as if I needed more people to agree with me in prayer on his behalf. We needed to pray and protest hell! You see, sickness, death, hate, and disease is of the devil. There is power when people gather, agree, and pray. Picture hundreds, or thousands marching against the gates of hell, pushing back evil.

^“Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer my heavenly Father will do it for you.” Matthew 18:19 The Passion Translation (TPT)

I posted in Facebook the need, and right away people started telling me they were praying. At first, three, then 20, and at last check over 90 people have said, “I will stand with you Mark, in the gap for your friend Chris.” I even heard from people 8000 miles away.

My heart was touched, and to be honest, my eyes started leaking at the out pouring of concern, and love. This is the kind of action we need to take right now for our world as well. I would say, not one of those who said they would pray, knows Chris, but they took time to pray anyway.

I didn’t know George Floyd, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, or the others who have died when they shouldn’t have. I didn’t know the five police officers ambushed in Dallas either.

My point is this; we, who do know God, should be praying more now than ever for all people affected by the recent events and for our country. This cannot be the story of America. We don’t have to know them first, like those praying for Chris don’t know him, but prayed anyway, expecting results.

Thank you to all who have prayed for Chris, or will after reading this post. People of God cannot give up hope, grow weary, get discouraged, or turn to fear, because we know God is bigger than all things, and he is more powerful than evil.

It Was Bigger Than Me!

February 15, 2020 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 021520 Big companies have a big pool of customers, and a bigger database of files. Welcome to the computer age where you can automate systems to handle this big work load. Sounds good, but what if one of the employees pushes the wrong button?

From my own experience I’ll tell you what happens. A mess! A big mess.

I discovered this today as I called a big company who sent me an email saying my bill was past due. “What?” “How can that be?” “I pay my bills!” According to the first person I spoke to I owed several hundred dollars. Not something you want to hear.

The first guy passed me off to another department and after being on hold for a while the second guy came back with an answer and a resolution. Evidence pointed to an employee, a year earlier, pushing a button that shouldn’t have ever been pushed. The company informed me I did not owe the money.

I asked the second guy, “How did you figure this all out?” He said, “When I first started looking at it, I realized this was bigger than me! I asked for help.”

His phrase got my attention, and I thought, some people, including me, don’t recognize quick enough how big a situation in our life is. Before you know it, things can get out of control and start causing a lot of pain. The point is this; we should take “everything” to God in prayer from the very first indication of life being out of order.

“Oh what needless pain we bare, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Ask for help from God at the beginning, you know, the first moment you sense something is wrong. You don’t always have to be the hero. It’s okay to say, “This is bigger than me.”

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

prayer