Are You an Answer to Prayer?

January 5, 2019January 4, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

triple Twice now, in my life, it has come to my attention that I have been the answer to someone’s prayers. A very humbling experience. The first time there was a new church in Massachusetts praying for a youth minister. They focused on this need one particular night in September. They had no idea how they could do this, because the church was so small they couldn’t afford to pay, but yet they had several youth in the church. Note; despite the facts they prayed. They believed God would hear, and God would answer.

One year later I arrived as their new youth minister who agreed to work with no salary. I went because I knew God would bless my obedience and somehow meet my needs, and that he did. A few months after working in the church I got into a discussion about how I came to be there. One of the church elders told me about the prayer meeting. I pressed to know the actual date. When he recalled and shared the date I realized that was the very night God called me into the ministry. During the following year God got me ready for the ministry.

The second time is more recent. I have been divorced for 23 years or so. A long time. For the most part, I have been content with my situation. I had even said I didn’t want to be married again, that I was okay. Then in the past year, something begin to change. I started hearing several testimonials of success from online dating. Something I did not believe in. Also I started meeting women who had come to America from the Philippines and were happily married. They shared their stories, and encouraged me to try.

One Friday afternoon I found myself filling out a profile on a Filipino dating site. I submitted it and my matches came up. As soon as I saw April’s cute face my heart was captivated. I read her profile and was hopeful. Could she be real? I wondered. I found her on Facebook and sent her a message. I never expected to hear from her but two hours later I did.

We begin texting a lot. Every chance we could. Then, I called her. She was so shy but cute. Eventually, we took one giant step and video called. Wow! She’s real, and I haven’t been talking to a man in Yemen. As the conversations continued, our hearts became knitted. I decided it was time to go meet her and her family in person.

I traveled the 7000 plus miles. After being there several days I learned that April and her family had been praying for years for a man to marry her. I have come to accept that I am the answer. The only way to be the answer to someone’s prayer is by yielding to God’s will. To be willing to go, do, and say as he directs. I’m not special, just willing. There may be a people group in a foreign country praying for you, or a manager praying for a dedicated worker. Whatever the case may be, I hope you look beyond your own desires and accept God’s desires for your life.

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.

In the Hospital

May 1, 2016May 1, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I’m writing this week’s blog from the hospital. It’s okay, because I’m not the one admitted, although some would argue that I should be, or is that, “committed”? Anyway, I am a proud grandpa of my first grandchild. Eleanor (Ellie) was born Thursday evening, but her birth was a journey in itself.

At first, after mom was induced, she refused to come out. Come on, who could blame her? Water bed, room service, carried around everywhere, not a bad life. Then she must have heard a loud voice say they were going to come in and get her using entrance “C”. She probably thought that didn’t sound like a good idea, because she instantly said goodbye to her room of the last 8 months and 1 week and looked for that glowing exit sign.

She came out, but brought the cord that connected her to life for the past months with her wrapped around her neck. Instantly it was cut and they rushed her into the NICU. They first said she would be in the hospital for several days, but it looks like this morning, three days after being born she will get to go home.

From the time my daughter was told to head for the hospital immediately during a routine baby checkup till today many prayers have been prayed, and God heard them, and God responded. He answered the prayer that mom and baby be okay through this ordeal. He answered the prayer that she would exit my daughter’s body naturally. He answered a lot of prayers that she would pull through the darkness of night. He answered the prayers that she wouldn’t die, and there was one point in her first night they had to resuscitate her. He answered the prayers that she grow stronger by the hour, and that her color would stop making her look like a new form of Smurfs.

My point today is simply this: God hears, God cares, and God answers. You may not get the answer you wanted and I certainly cannot explain why, but this I do know; God’s ways are higher than our ways. That is why it takes faith. Not just faith for the answered prayers, but faith for trust in God when they are not answered. Remember this though: If you are going to pray for rain then at least grab an umbrella before you leave the house.

If God Only Answered One Prayer

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

One thing I just learned is don’t writ 072912TB 230 e a blog about contentment. This past week I had the hardest time remaining content! Every morning I would wake, and get mad because I’m not getting to live the life I really want to. I felt bad about this, because I just wrote in my blog how important it is to be content with the life you have.

While I was riding the commuter train I was praying and I begin to run down my list of, “God it sure would be nice if you would answer this prayer request concerning one, two, three, and four.” Then the thought hit me, “What if God promised to answer only one of those request? Which request would I pick?” As I picked one in my mind I then realized this, “Does that make the other request not important? Could I do without them? Should I not really be praying about those things?”

The truth is we are to bring ALL of our request to God. “Phi 4:6 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” (MSG)

This verse coming to my mind helped me get through the rest of the week. It’s okay for me to tell God the desires of my heart. The real miracle is when my desires align with God’s desires for my life. “God, until then, help me not to lose focus of you.”

Another thought: “When you are intently focused on your life, others who desperately need to know God might walk right by you unnoticed.”