Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.
Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever
concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God. (Charles Oswald)
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
One of the hardest things about being a child of God, is not knowing.
Not knowing what God is up to.
Not knowing his perfect will for you.
Not understanding why he hasn’t healed yet.
Not understanding why you still struggle with fear and fret.
Not believing you are on the right path.
Not believing he will provide you more cash.
Not seeing how he can help you, by keeping you in your current job.
Not seeing how you can overcome Satan at all.
Not sure you can continue with your family the way it is.
Not sure you are at the right church with all its religious biz.
Not feeling comforted and sure God is there.
Not feeling with all that is hurting you that God even cares.
With all the things you don’t know, understand, believe, see, be sure of and feel,
you must count on faith to get you through, for that is God’s deal.
We read in Heb. 11:1 that faith is confidence in what we hope for,
and assurance about what we do not see. Know this is God’s core.
There are times we have to close our eyes, hang on to Him and believe.
Trust His ways are higher than ours, and he will get us through, even when we can’t see!
God honours those who live by faith, and He rewards obedience too.
By trusting God, and surrendering to Him, he will always do, what is best for you!
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Moods are typically reactionary.
Modes are purposeful.
Moods can be because of others.
Modes are, typically for others.
Mood: |
Mode: |
|
cranky |
gracious |
|
happy |
generous |
|
sad |
kind |
|
agitated |
thoughtful |
| disgusted |
appreciative |
| tired |
serving |
Moving from a mood to a mode is difficult at times, but often necessary in order to stop hurting others. I have found asking for God’s help with this practice is required. Growing in love with God, and then with others is also required.
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
If someone asked you that question, most of you would say something like, “Of course not! How dare you!” Or, “I go to church, and I give money too”, but whenever you stand at the bottom of a “life mountain”, and you stretch your neck to see the top of it, you start thinking, “this is impossible!” It’s almost as if you are saying, “This is too big for God!”
Doubting God’s power is like doubting God even exist! If you are going to choose, to believe in him, then you must also believe in his character of being all powerful, all knowing, having a mighty hand, and a heart full of love toward his children. Otherwise, you are a part time atheist.
A full time believer knows God loves the word “impossible”! Just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean God doesn’t. He never looks at us, shrugs his shoulders and say, “Boy. You got me on this one.” Or, “Good luck. Let me know how it turns out for ya.” No. He looks at us, smiles, and says, “Thanks for trusting me enough to let me handle this for you. I’ve got this.” Full belief, delivers rest.
So believe fully, and walk with your God in confidence, but know, it’s okay to hold his hand.
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Keep Recognizing JesusThe wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went.
He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “…why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
© 2019 My Utmost For His Highest
Sad, but in today’s world, a handshake is not enough to do business. A man’s words, out of his mouth, does not always line up, with the words out of his heart. This caused suspicion, and at times, a lack of trust. Therefore, it became necessary to put it in writing.
God’s words, out of his mouth, always line up with the words out of his heart. There is no reason for suspicion, or for any lack of trust when it comes to God, but in case you still have doubts, know that He put it all in writing. The “Holy Bible” Every promise, law, instruction for a good life and his plan for you to have eternal life.
There is something reassuring about knowing God was not afraid of his own words. So much so, He put his words in writing! You can stake your life on God’s words. I guarantee it!
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash
The rains pour down, the grass grows tall,
the sun comes out, and the lawnmower won’t start at all.
I need to get to work, but the car is making a funny sound,
I take it in to the shop and he said, “No issue can be found.”
The kid gets sick, so to the doctor we must go,
I tried to pick up the prescription, but the store says, “No.”
No money on my card, but I just got paid,
I call the bank, they research, “Oh, sorry, a mistake was made.”
I wake up to find water on the kitchen floor,
Great! The refrigerator gone out, and the frozen foods leaked out the door.
The neighbor’s kid was outside playing baseball,
a home run hit, ball through my window, it’s now in my hall.
The alarm doesn’t ring, I guess the power went out,
I’m late for work, and my boss yells and shouts.
My spouse fell and tore their work clothes too,
how are we going to replace with all these bills due?
Why is my life such a chaotic mess?
I’m so tired of all this distress!
Is this life? For better or for worse?
I can’t take it any longer, so put me in a hearse!
Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy, so he’s behind it all,
Jesus came to give abundant life. To restore things after “The Fall”.
Adam and Eve, thought they could do life on their own,
they disobeyed God, life became hard, and so they moan.
Accepting Jesus isn’t a magic pill, to make the chaos all go away,
but you can devote yourself to Him, and with you He will stay.
All the chaos is just one big distraction, keeping you from God,
Speak to it, in the name of Jesus, “Peace be still”, even if it feels odd.
God tells us to take dominion over the earth, to rule with him in this life.
We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, so you won’t even need a knife.
Use the power He gives you, in His name. Drive out evil spirits that disrupt,
Call forth peace, joy, and love to come into your life. These things are not corrupt!
You can live life now, the way God first intended, rich and full,
you don’t have to put up with the chaos, which is nothing, but Satan’s bull!
It’s up to you. A life of peace, or a life of crises,
Give your life to Jesus, and you can overcome, Satan’s devices.
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Mike Breaux, shared a powerful message the other day. Here is only a small portion of it:
This world is dark, and getting darker! Our world needs light. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” (Mat. 5:14) Even if you only have a little light, it may be a lot more than the person next to you. Share the Light of the world. Share Jesus!
(Video property of Willow Creek Community Church)
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved
I read something this past week, and well, it bothered me.
It is becoming increasingly clear that one is being forced to stand up for the One they believe in, or for what they believe in. Moral issues are being thrown in our faces. There is open talk about what some call right, and what others call wrong. Used to, you could stay quiet and say, “What they do behind closed doors is their business.” Today, the doors are being ripped off their hinges and the whole world can now see what individuals believe.
What bothered me was some people’s response to this “In your face” attitude, and so I pondered, what would Jesus’ response to this be? You don’t have to look very long in the word of God to find the answer:
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Mat. 9:10-13 (MSG)
The truth is; God gives man freewill, so who are we not to? Are we greater than God? If you see something on TV or on Facebook, you don’t agree with or like, and can’t find something “graceful” to say then just scroll on. I do that whenever I see post about dogs and cats. “Change the channel” if you will.
Is Jesus on Facebook? No, but we who claim to be His followers are.
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
God is with me in the special moments, but I would rather have him in the regular ones. There are more of them!
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
brady, mark a. 