My First Christmas in America

December 24, 2021December 22, 2021 / Mark Brady / 6 Comments

by April Joy Brady (Mark’s wife)

This is my first Christmas in America. My previous ones have been in my home country of the Philippines. People’s attitudes here toward Christmas are a lot different than there. It seems as if some of the people are forgetting the real reason for Christmas. Some even go as far as to remove “Christ” from the word Christmas with “X-mas”. It makes me wonder if they have removed Christ from their hearts as well. I’m not trying to be judging, it would be difficult not to be that way growing up here in America, with constantly being bombarded with TV ads and popular culture.

This season here seems to be more about parties, gifts, and where to spend the holiday. When in the Philippines, where resources don’t flow so freely, Christmas tends to be much simpler, and we are happy to get to see family and share a simple meal, and laugh. There is a lot of laughter back home. I imagine Jesus’s first Christmas was simple as well. Mary and Joseph adoring their new born son, lying still in a feeding trough with some hay, and perhaps an animal’s covering over him. A far cry from a beautiful wooden crib from Ashley Furniture with blankets from Macys!

I think I have been blessed to have my previous life and Christmas’ in the Philippines. I hope in the years to come I do not stray too far from my roots, especially when it comes to the attitude of what Christmas really is, or supposed to be about.

I will enjoy the time spent with my husband and the gifts he has bought for me as well as the other gifts from friends and coworkers, but in my heart I will be in Bethlehem, humming, “Away in the Manger”.

Merry Christmas everyone. May Christ fill your hearts with his love.

April

Looking For Jesus (Part 5)

December 15, 2020December 8, 2020 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

The shepherds. The evening started as normal as any other. The shepherds had done their duty of setting their night watches over their sheep. Then, out of nowhere, an angel stood among them, and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 (MSG)

Soon after, they no doubt, took a selfie of them with the angel to post on Biblebook, then decided to go over to Bethlehem as quick as they could to see for themselves what God had revealed to them. Sure enough, seeing was believing, and they told everyone what the angel had said to them.

They left looking for Jesus. Not believing, at first, what God had revealed to them, but after seeing Jesus they praised and worshipped him.

There are several truths here:

God shows up with good news when least expected. On the normal days.
God can show up when you are going about your regular duties.
There are times when his presence will catch you off guard. When you are not looking for Him.
God will use the least expected to do his work.
Jesus’ birth was meant for everybody, worldwide.
Some people have to see Jesus to believe, but it was still faith that got the shepherds to go to Bethlehem in the first place.

And the greatest truth in this post:

All, everyone, even you, will praise and worship Jesus when he is seen. In that moment, everything you or they have heard, all their life, about God, and his son Jesus will be confirmed.

In everyday life, do what you need to do, but always be looking for Jesus to show up, to give you a message, forgiveness, an answer to prayer, or a gift. And most important, be willing to share what Jesus gives you with others.

Looking For Jesus (Part 4)

December 11, 2020December 3, 2020 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

King Herod. He was not looking for Jesus, at first. But after the wise men came to him asking, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” King Herod became interested. In fact, the scriptures say, “he was alarmed, and all of Jerusalem with him.” They must have liked things the way they were.

This is one of the main reasons why people don’t look for Jesus. They like things the way they are.

King Herod gathered all the chief priest and experts in the law. They knew the scriptures, the Old Testament and told the king exactly where Jesus would be born. He then schemed to use the wise men to be his spies, and after finding the Christ child to report back. Even as a child, Jesus threatened the status quo. When the wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem they were warned not to return to the king, so they went back home via a different route.

An angel warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt so he did. Soon after King Herod saw he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He then sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under.

So now King Herod was looking for Jesus, but only because he was influenced by Satan. The devil did not, and still doesn’t know God’s plans, but because he was once in heaven he knew the name of Jesus. Satan, the devil used Herod to apply a shotgun approach to kill Jesus before he could grow up and do the will of God, and that was to defeat sin and death.

Satan will never win over God. And he doesn’t know what God is doing in your life either. Life with God is so much better than without him. When you surrender your life to God, and ask him to lead you and guide you, I assure you, life will be so much better. This season, look for Jesus for the right reasons. You will soon be glad you did.