faith

Problem or Opportunity?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 777I ordered an item from Kohl’s.  I was looking forward to its arrival as it was going to be a gift for someone I love, a lot!  (My wife!  Who were you thinking of?  By the way, don’t tell her because she doesn’t know.)  Can you feel my disappointment when it didn’t arrive on the promised date(s)?  I tracked it, and learned it couldn’t be delivered for some reason, not disclosed to me.  So the item was sent back.

Was I mad?  No, but not happy about the situation either.  I like things to go smooth, and I am allergic to “problems”.  I looked on Kohl’s website to see what could be done when the bill arrives, but the package doesn’t.  I found an 800 number.  I called and John answered. (Name changed to protect the loved.)  John listened and then looked to see what he needed to do to resolve the “problem”.  While he was working, I mentioned living in the Philippines.  John said, “That’s where I am right now.”  Yes, Kohl’s has a call center in Manila.

When John informed me of his whereabouts, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me.  I said, “John, can I put you on my prayer list?”  He agreed that was okay, but asked why..  I answered by saying, “John, I sense you have an issue going on in your life right now that bothers you, or is hurting you.”  “I do,” John said.  I continued, “God knows it, and He wants you to know how much He loves you.  He loves you so much John, that He allowed me to have a “problem”, so you would have an “opportunity”, to know He sees you and how much He loves you.  My missing package was no accident!”  John was receptive.

If we, who believe in God, will stop complaining about “problems”, and look for “opportunities” for God to show his mighty hand, it would change our attitude, and a result of a changed attitude is it could change the life of someone else and change the world.  Isn’t that what Jesus called us to do?

NOTE:  Did you happen to notice Kohl’s very own tag line?  “Expect great things”.  What a statement of faith!

Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

What If, “What If,” Never Happens?

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment
Charlie 24

WHAT IF’S: It’s sad, but so many live in fear.  What makes it worse is, they don’t think they do.  They deny it.  You talk about being deceived by the devil.  They believe his lies instead of the Truth.  They roll play, “Well what if…” this happens, or that happens?  Do you want to know the truth?  Many times, those “What if’s” never happen!  They only steal your time thinking about them, and worrying about them.  Even worse, living bound up by those fears hurts others, especially those who know the Truth, who know Jesus, who have themselves been set free.  The battle is fear vs faith. Terror vs trust.  Fear and terror may never happen, but faith and trust always do!

You can annihilate the “What if’s” with “God if’s”

GOD, IF’S:  When something in life comes up, and you don’t know what is going to happen, or how things are going to turn out, instead of worry and fear, instead of “Well, what if?”, you can simply pray, “God, if you will take care of this for me.”  Or, “God, if you will walk with me through this.”

Living like this will calm your mind, calm your spirit man down to where you can walk, and live in peace.  How else would one walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil?  This is how you can sit, and relax enough to eat, at a table, in the presence of your enemies. (Psalms 23)

The battle is in the mind.  You must learn to rethink how you look at things and situations.

Look at things from God’s point of view!

Asking God will break the chains of fear, and will set you free.  You will feel better because now, you will breathe like you have never drawn a breath before.  You will skip down the sidewalk, because of the joy you now feel.  Because of the Light in your life instead of darkness.  Okay, perhaps you won’t actually skip, but you will want to.

“God, I thank you personally, that we have an alternative we can choose from.  In you, and in your strength, we can flip the environment.  Just knowing we don’t have to live in bondage is liberating in itself.  I love you God, and I know you love me, and everyone, especially those who have read this battle plan to defeat the devil.  You’re so awesome.  Thanks!”

Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

My Last Stop

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

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Living in the Philippines, for the last six months, has taught me a lot!  More than I could have ever imagined.  I have observed, and recorded in my mind the people, their lives, their world.  I foresee, one of these days, the residents here showing up in a story somewhere.

I have tried my best to settle in, and get comfortable, which is difficult when you are a pampered American.  I have done what I could to fit in, but looking so different than them, some wouldn’t let me.  Like today, at the time of this writing, I was cursed and the old woman made a spitting motion at my feet three times.  I’m not saying I know racism in its fullest now, like some do in America, but I have experienced a taste of it, and it doesn’t taste too good.  On the flip side, I have made friends, who call out my name whenever they see me out on the streets.  That’s a good feeling no matter where you live!

As I made this place home, there were days I was jolted when the realization hit me, Mark, this is not your home.  You’re an alien, a sojourner.  Just passing through, for a specific time and purpose.  For that matter, America is not my home either.  I’m an alien there as well, just passing through for a specific time and purpose.

So where is my residence?

“So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19 (ASV)

After I accepted Jesus, my forwarding address was in heaven, God’s kingdom.  As a residence of that land, I have full rights to everything the kingdom of God offers.  I’m an heir to the King of Kings.  I fit in.  Everyone is accepted, no matter how weird they are on earth.  Racism doesn’t exist!  With nothing but love there, I am making heaven, my last stop.

Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

The Anointed

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 287 2

Question: “What is the anointing? What does it mean to be anointed?”

Answer: The origin of anointing was from a practice of shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep, and when they got near the sheep’s head, they could burrow into the sheep’s ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep’s head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep’s ears because the insects would slide off. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.

The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are chrio, which means “to smear or rub with oil” and, by implication, “to consecrate for office or religious service”; and aleipho, which means “to anoint.” In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14). A person was anointed for a special purpose—to be a king, to be a prophet, to be a builder, etc.  The enemy, Satan, does not like it when people get anointed, take it seriously, and get busy accomplishing a thing for God.

In modern times, those who activate their anointing, and operate in its power and purpose, attract attention.  Recently, a friend was telling me about his day, and how four specific people reacted to the anointing God has upon his life.  The more we talked about these 4 individuals we labeled each according to their response to his anointing:

Touch the Anointed:  In the morning, while sitting in a coffee shop, a young boy came in.  After the youth looked around, he sat at the very table of my friend without an invitation to, and interacted with him.  The owner said he had seen the boy once before, but he had never sat with a stranger, and interact with them.  The young boy just wanted to sit for a while, in the presence of one, who sits in the presence of God.

Resent the Anointed:  Later in the day, while at work, my friend said he kept getting strange and somewhat evil looks from his boss.  Let’s just say, his boss has chosen a lifestyle that is not pleasing to God.  No doubt sensing the anointing, my friend walks around with, forces him to see or feel something his own spirit man cries out for, but the reality is this, he’s not willing to let go of the shortcut to love Satan has presented him with.

Distract the Anointed:  On his way home, he passed a young woman on the sidewalk, only to hear a noise as he did.  When he turned he saw she had fallen.  He took a step back to help her up.  His flesh noticed she was fairly nice looking.  When she reached up she took hold of his forearm and held onto it for a while, even after getting up.  He didn’t allow her appearance, distract his purpose, for God.

Arrest the Anointed:  That same night, he crossed the road in the middle of a block only to be stopped by a policeman.  He thought for sure he was going to get taken in to the station.  He gave the officer what ID he could, and that seemed to satisfy.  He was told he was free to go.  What God has taught him, in the last year, about giving up his rights kept his mouth shut, for he knew he had done nothing wrong, which in turn, kept him out of jail, and possibly would have stopped what God is doing through him to minister to others.

In one day, my friend’s anointing attracted attention.  Note: Not one of those four individuals were invited!  God’s touch is strong upon him.  It drew one who was curious, one who was resenting, another, who wanted to distract him, knowingly or not, and the last, wanted to stop him.  The only one successful, was the young boy, for his motive was pure.

Guard your anointing.  Value it.  God anoints your head with oil to keep those who want to harm you from succeeding.  The only way they win, is if you assist them, but that doesn’t keep them from trying.

Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Light

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Charlie 27You can’t grow up with the greatest fisherman, and not learn something about the business of fishing.  One Friday night, Dad and I were in the creek catching crawdads.  I was holding the lantern.  While I was looking around the rocks for bait, I felt something touch my left leg.  It was a snake.  I froze.

Then I called out to my father, “Dad, I have a snake next to my left leg.”

“Okay, just a minute,” he said.

After he picked up a couple of more, prize brown bass winning bait, he slipped in behind me and grabbed the snake by the tail and slung it!  The next morning, I was telling my mother about the adventure when she said, “Son, did your father happen to mention, snakes are drawn to light?  That’s why he wanted you to carry the lantern.”

Another thing I have learned about light is this, it attracts flying insects.  Pest.  If you have a fly in your house, and you are having trouble getting it, turn out every light except one, and it will come to you.  That’s when you kill it.

As a devoted servant of God, we are the light of the world.  If your light is shining bright enough, you will attract snakes, vipers, and pest!  It is important to know how to respond to them:

  • Learn to identify them quick, for what they are. They might, at first, even be a friend.
  • Know they are there to disrupt you, or hinder you, from accomplishing what God has called you to do.
  • Do not be afraid of them! They are antagonist.  “Every great story has one.” (Rev. Joel Budd)
  • Speak out loud, and declare you are doing the work of God.

 

“Then I gave them my report: “Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up. Come—let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.” I told them how God was supporting me and how the king was backing me up.

They said, “We’re with you. Let’s get started.” They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work.

When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they laughed at us, mocking, “Ha! What do you think you’re doing? Do you think you can cross the king?”

I shot back, ‘The God-of-Heaven will make sure we succeed. We’re his servants and we’re going to work, rebuilding. You can keep your nose out of it. You get no say in this—Jerusalem’s none of your business!’”  Nehemiah 2:17-20 (The Message)

You are anointed for whatever God has laid on your heart to do.  Now go do it with excellence.  Don’t you dare diminish your light, so as not to draw vipers, who only want to hurt you, or flies, who are there to annoy you.  Also, don’t forget, you can call out to your Father in heaven anytime, to help you deal with a snake.

Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.