Words

April 23, 2024March 30, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“I have a dream…” “One small step…” “We the people…” “In the beginning…” “Here’s Johnny!”

Words. They are so powerful. They can build up, inspire, offer hope, and make us laugh, or they can tear down, destroy, and invoke fear. It all depends on what words and in what order they are spoken. We use our tongues to form the words that give us speech. The Bible says the tongue has the power to wield life or death.

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Say the wrong words to a child, and you can destroy their self-esteem. Or the wrong words spoken in a relationship, and it can come to an end. But the right words can do wonderful things.

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

There may be times, when you are having a conversation with a friend and realize they are about to make a mistake or a wrong decision in their life. It can be difficult to speak up, but I have learned that if you ask for an invitation to speak into their life first, then they can’t get upset if they do not like what you say to them. Hopefully, they will recognize that you are speaking to them words of life because you care for them.

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

We all should be mindful of the power of words at all times and in all situations. Being slow to speak is a great discipline.

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:19-21 (MSG)

Post-it

February 18, 2022February 12, 2022 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Post-it notes are great! I depend on them and use them all the time for several different things. Not only are they good for jogging your memory, which I need a lot, but I have also used them as bookmarks amongst other things.

Another thing they are good for is to post a message in front of you that you see every day! I know some will post messages to encourage themselves every morning, or to help them remember just how important they are to God, and if He loves them, then they should love themselves as well. Others might write out scriptures to memorize.

Lately, as I have mentioned before, I am trying to renew my mind so it will change how I react to people with one or more of the fruits of the Spirit. A Post-it wasn’t going to be big enough, so I used the magnetic letters on our refrigerator. Messages to ourselves should be posted where we go often, hence the refrigerator! We only have two sets of letters, so April and I had to get creative on how to list most of the 9 fruits. The last one in the list is “patience”.

It’s working. I see and am reminded of the different fruits and I do think of them when I have the occasion to operate in them, which when dealing with people is often. So let me encourage you to take the time to post in front of you the words, the message you need to see as much as it takes until they become a part of you, and live within you. Words, written or spoken are powerful, even the ones on Post-its!

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Initial Words

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“What’s that symbol tattooed on your back?” I asked the girl I worked with. I knew, I thought, what it was, but had not seen one that elaborate. “It’s a pentagram,” she replied. “I’m a Pagan.” “Oh, well I don’t judge,” were my initial words. She said, “I know.” I wasn’t exactly sure why she said that, but she did.

Because of my cautious and prayerfully planned out approach to the inquisition, I found out later it’s what I “didn’t say” that allowed for an ongoing conversation concerning her beliefs and spiritual practices vs. my own to take place.

Now, you may find it odd knowing a Christian is even talking to a Pagan, but I ask you, “Why?” Jesus was misunderstood for talking to tax collectors, or prostitutes, and he about gave the so called “religious leaders” of his day, a heart attack if he dined with them.

Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Mat. 9:10-13 (MSG)

Why venture outside of your comfort zone, and talk with those who choose to live a different lifestyle than you?

Because they need to know, see, and hear the love of Jesus as much as anyone else, perhaps more!

They need to feel what is authentic and that might help them reject, cast off, Satan’s cheap substitutes or imitations of what is real.

So what was it that I “didn’t” say to the self-proclaimed Pagan? After hearing what she was, I didn’t say, “Oh, I’ll be praying for you.” She explained hearing those words infuriates her, and she refuses to listen to anything else a person who says that has to say. She said it immediately makes her feel as if her choice is wrong.

Say a prayer before engaging one that you know is living a life less than what God intended. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your tongue, as you dare, or take a risk to speak words of life to them. Your initial words may be the only ones they hear, but hopefully they’ll stick around to hear more, and perhaps even dine with you.

Put It in Writing

June 19, 2019January 7, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Sad, but in today’s world, a handshake is not enough to do business. A man’s words, out of his mouth, does not always line up, with the words out of his heart. This caused suspicion, and at times, a lack of trust. Therefore, it became necessary to put it in writing.

God’s words, out of his mouth, always line up with the words out of his heart. There is no reason for suspicion, or for any lack of trust when it comes to God, but in case you still have doubts, know that He put it all in writing. The “Holy Bible” Every promise, law, instruction for a good life and his plan for you to have eternal life.

As the once face of “Men’s Warehouse”, George Zimmer, in an old, raspy voice used to say, “I guarantee it!”

There is something reassuring about knowing God was not afraid of his own words. So much so, He put his words in writing! You can stake your life on God’s words. I guarantee it!

Words Unsaid

December 1, 2018November 29, 2018 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20181129_173114 I was looking for my leftover Christmas cards when I came across a Father’s Day card that never got sent this year, because he passed the previous month. It caused me to pause and think about words unsaid.

“People matter,” you’ve heard it said, but do you act like it? Do you take the time for the ones who mean the most to you? Do you tell them how much you love and or appreciate them? I know, it’s hard when life seems to move at Mach 2, but it’s important. And the thing is, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or cost anything at all.

“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.” (Phi 1:3 MSG)

In the season of giving, give words!

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

words

Words

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

Post-it

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Initial Words

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Mat. 9:10-13 (MSG)

Because they need to know, see, and hear the love of Jesus as much as anyone else, perhaps more!

Put It in Writing

As the once face of “Men’s Warehouse”, George Zimmer, in an old, raspy voice used to say, “I guarantee it!”

Words Unsaid

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Mat. 9:10-13 (MSG)

Because they need to know, see, and hear the love of Jesus as much as anyone else, perhaps more!

As the once face of “Men’s Warehouse”, George Zimmer, in an old, raspy voice used to say, “I guarantee it!”

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)