Heartfelt Connections

March 6, 2026February 21, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Have you ever had anyone say via text, voicemail, or Messenger, “I miss you”? I have. It rattled me. I didn’t get it at first because it had only been 45 minutes since I last saw her. Yeah, I was thinking as a man does, with his mind and not his heart. When I did grasp the deep emotional value of those words, I realized she was really saying, “I love you.”

That happened many years ago, and the relationship ran its course, but the words and the feeling never faded from my mind. Today, I look for opportunities to say those words to April. When I do speak or text them, I know a warm glow is sparked within her heart, and I’m sure a smile grows upon her face. I only say them when I mean them, too.

But what about when it comes to our relationship with God? Do we miss Him? Do we miss spending time in His word? If you are honest, probably not as much as we should. Is that because we can’t see God? Or maybe it’s because we don’t feel close to Him to begin with? I get the impression that some people’s relationship with God is merely utilitarian. Meaning, it’s about what God can do for them.

This makes me sad because God is more than that! He is a loving, caring being who is always there and loves us perfectly. Perhaps occasionally, we need to tell God, “I miss you.” When we do, I know it will put a smile on his face. And it will strengthen a heartfelt connection between you two.

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jer. 29:12-14a (AMPC)

Through the night my soul longs for you.
Deep from within me my spirit reaches out to you. Isa. 26:9 (MSG)

Eating Out

March 18, 2025March 8, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April and I like to try a different restaurant whenever we can. Picking one that April has never been to so she can get a taste of American establishments and also so she can make suggestions if out with her friends. It can be kind of fun and exciting but disappointing as well.

Recently, we have started praying and seeking God concerning going to a different church. Unlike trying a new place to eat, I don’t like going to a new place and meeting new people. A lot of people feel the same way, I think, and they stay in their current church.

Where you attend a church service is essential. It is a source of spiritual food. One part of the spiritual nutrition pyramid. Some of the others would be praying and reading your Bible. Part of a balanced diet in your relationship with God. Hopefully, the minister seeks God every week to see what he should be feeding his flock from the whole word of God.

April and I have discovered the use of modern technology to check out churches. There is one church near our house that we were considering. The other day, we found their services online and proceeded to watch. The minister wasn’t very engaging and seemed to talk about whatever Bible verse popped into his head. It seemed as if he had no outline and central subject to his sermon. I looked at April and said, “I’m not getting spiritually fed. Are you?” She agreed this wasn’t the place for us.

Now, there certainly isn’t anything wrong with the messages from our current church, except they are a bit basic. We like the pastor and what the church practices. We understand why the sermons are for new Christians; the church leads a lot of people to God. Perhaps we are hungry for more. The other issue is the people aren’t all that friendly. They come in late and rush out as soon as the service is over, so it is hard to make connections. We tried last summer to join a home group, but the leader never called us. I guess he liked his home group the way it was. I don’t know to him! (A Filipino phrase April taught me.)

Where you attend church is very important. You should find a place where you get a good balanced diet of the word of God and how to apply it to your life so you can grow spiritually and in your relationship with God. You should find a place with people similar to you (like precious faith) so you can connect with them and do life together. Supporting each other. Rejoicing when they rejoice and weeping when they weep. Don’t get so comfortable, like in an old pair of jeans, where you are going, that you don’t notice if you are getting fat on the word or if you are starving.

¹From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours. ²May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
2 Ptr. 1:1-2 (NET)

Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.
Rom 12:15 (MSG)

LOOK!

October 19, 2019October 18, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 126 Recently, a mother shared with me one of her two year old’s newest habit. She said, “Everywhere we go, he announces to anyone, ‘Look, this is my mother!’” I laughed as I pictured her adorable son smiling and making that bold declaration.

A bit later, after I had walked away, it hit me; what if we made that same kind of declaration of our Heavenly Father? “Look, this is my Heavenly Father, God!” Then after the introduction we go on to share his nature, his love, and the many blessings he has bestowed upon us.

The key to doing this is always being aware of God, his presence, everywhere we go. Also, it helps to be happy being associated with God.

I’m no longer afraid to be seen in public with him.

There was a time I was more concerned about what others may think, if they knew I had those kind of connections, but now, I don’t care, and in fact, I want everyone to know. The two scriptures below sum it all up for me:

It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Romans 1:16-17 The Message (MSG)

“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 The Message (MSG)