A202516

September 9, 2025August 4, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mat. 25:34-40 (NIV)

April and I like being benevolent. A word meaning: kind and with positive intentions. So when the need went out yesterday in church to help buy children back-to-school clothes, supplies, and perhaps something they wanted, we knew we had to respond.

April turned to me and asked, “Do you want to help?” “Of course,” I replied. Then she asked, “Do we have enough extra money right now?” I said, “God will provide.”

As we started shopping for the individual April had selected, it seemed daunting to buy clothes for a young man whom we had never met. So, I started praying. Asking God, who knows this child, to lead us and guide us with questions like, “What are 14-year-olds wearing these days?” I mean, you want them to look nice but be cool as well. When I took hold of the pair of shoes, I started crying. Here is a young man, just starting high school and wondering, “Will I fit in?” “What am I going to wear?” My heart broke. A kid should never have to worry about what they will wear or what they will eat, or where they will sleep tonight.

I don’t write about these things to say, “Look at us. Look how generous we are.” We are only able to do these things because of God! The reason is to say:

Trust God that He will meet your needs.
Open your eyes to the needs of others.
Live within your means, so you can help.
And remember that when you do it for the least of these, you do it for Jesus.

The young man that we got to help is more than a number. More than “A202516.” We pray that he knows God and will learn by seeing Him in action how loving and caring He really is. And that He is a good, good God. We pray that when he grows up and someday hears the cry go out that a child has a need, he will remember how someone answered that cry for him, and then do the same.

Was That an Angel?

June 27, 2025June 19, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed.” The writer of Hebrews encourages us to show hospitality. “Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!” (Heb. 13:2)

Many years ago, I was the best man at a friend’s wedding. I’m sure there were many better men than me there, but that was the title and role I was asked to serve. Having a small amount of authority at the event, it was brought to my attention that a man was seen stuffing cake into a napkin and placing it inside his pocket. I approached the gentleman and started the interrogation. “Friend of the bride or groom?” I asked. The man put his head down and said he would leave quietly.

As I convinced him he was okay to stay, I soon learned he was homeless and hungry. The wedding and reception were ending, and I asked him to stay put while I completed my duties. He did.

I told him he could spend the night in my apartment. On the way there, we stopped at a Burger King. He ate as if it was his first time eating in months, and perhaps it was for a hot meal. After getting home, I realized he needed his clothes washed and a shower. I offered both to him, and he accepted. Then I found out that those were his only clothes, so we went into my closet, and he picked out a shirt and a pair of pants. The only problem was he was much taller than me. So, after he went to bed, I let out the hem as much as possible.

I slept on the sofa, and the next morning, I fixed him a hearty breakfast and packed a lunch. I invited him to my church, but instead, he asked to be dropped off in town. I did. Later, I started crying as Matthew 25:36 came flooding into my mind.

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

Ever since that night, I have wondered if I indeed entertained an angel. Never once did I fear for my life while that man was in my presence. Instead, I felt good for helping someone in need.

Being able to help someone with resources means living within your means. That way, you can meet someone else’s needs. One of the reasons April and I got the upstairs of our home remodeled was so we could offer a safe, warm place to one who needs to feel full, comfortable, and secure.

He Knows (cont.)

January 20, 2023January 13, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

²⁵“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke the words above. He was trying to teach the people in his day and us today not to worry. A lot of people do worry today. They live in fear of many things. Will their job last? And if they lost their job, how would they pay their bills? As an adult, I went through unemployment twice. It’s not easy, and it’s not fun at all! It’s hard not to fall into the temptation to worry.

It’s understandable with inflation, supply chain issues, and the war in Ukraine. We just came through the Coronavirus, and our nation is divided. But can any of us control these things? Or other items not listed?

This is why we need to place all of our trust in God. He can control all things even when He allows humankind free will. He does know what we have need of and wants to make sure we have those things and more. He is a good Father who loves us so much and wants to give us good gifts. He wants to see all of our needs met so that we have enough and am able to bless others out of our abundance.

The key to this life of trusting God is seeking him first. Pursuing the things of God, especially his character. His most remarkable character is love. Everything God did and everything God does is out of love. It is out of this love that He knows.

The Tiny Sermon

October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April works hard at a manufacturing facility. They build things that use extremely tiny parts, tiny screws, etc. Since I am retired, I willingly keep the house, including doing the laundry. If you wash the clothes in your household, you also know that you find things inside the washing machine from time to time.

The other day, I found a small screw. Actually, the one pictured here. At first, I was upset. This washing machine terrorist could easily get through one of the holes in the machine that the water drains through. Who knows what kind of damage that could cause? This is not the first time I have found one, either. I have asked April several times to check her pockets before putting things in the dirty clothes basket. Often, she doesn’t do this. Her favorite item to overlook is tissues. Yep, they make a mess!

So, while I was angry, thinking about how I would complain, chew her out, or make an issue out of it, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Don’t say a word.” I think it is part of my Heaven Training Program to become a “quiet man.” (See the previous post but not right now. After you finish reading this one.) I know my high standard of perfection, and my unreachable expectations come from my parents. I know they meant well, as do I, but there is a way to point things out where people hear you but don’t feel bad. You know, like God does.

God loves us enough not to leave us the way we are.

God disciplines those He loves. (Prov. 3:12)

I want April to learn about life here in America. That simple mistakes can have expensive consequences. If I leave this world before her, I wouldn’t want her to suffer when a little carefulness can spare her hardship. I know God would help her, though, and bless her as she lives a life pleasing him and as she honors him. I think my parents had the same desire for me.

I’ve decided to keep the tiny screw and perhaps even put it in a case and display it where I can be reminded as often as needed till I learn to apply the message of that little sermon. Many people take notes while the minister is preaching, but how many reviews those notes afterward? I am thankful for the tiny sermon. I’m glad God still speaks in small ways. Now, if I could only get April to leave money in her pockets.