faith

My Favorite Phrase

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment
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Life brings its own set of challenges. Keeping on top of everything or ahead of it all is a full-time job. But what if God gives you a command or challenge to carry out? Do you blindly obey with all the faith you have? Do you say, “Okay, God, but help me.”? Or do you debate why He should probably choose someone else?

Earlier this year, April and I went to Texas on a mini vacation. The hotel we stayed at, of course, had a swimming pool. I talked April into joining me. The water was warm, but the air was a little cool, so as we entered the shallow end, we kneeled so the water would rise to our necks. We were having a good time when I suggested to April we go to the other side. She agreed and climbed onto my back as I swam to the deep end until she could grab the edge. April trusted me to get her to the other side even though she couldn’t swim. She remained calm and didn’t put up a fight or resist. She went for it.

A dear friend from one of my past churches I used to attend in another state told me God asked her to bake pies and to take them to her neighbors. It was a way for her to get to know them and to have an opportunity to share the gospel. Some of those neighbors lived on the other side of the street. She obeyed.

What is God asking you to do? Jesus once told his disciples, “Let us go to the other side.” They did.

35-38 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” Mark 4:35-40 (MSG)

The above is a popular portion of scripture preached a lot about faith. And it is good. I mean, Jesus told them they were going to the other side, so they should have known they weren’t going to drown. My favorite part is what happened next in Chapter 5. Jesus set a man free from the possession of a demon named Legion, for there were many demons in him. As a result, a whole town heard of Jesus and had an opportunity to accept Him.

So, if God is asking you to do something, obey. Don’t argue, don’t resist, believe and go, even if you can’t swim. He will calm the storms that may try to prevent you from reaching the other side, but have faith. For what is on the other side most likely has eternal dividends.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

It’s Inside You. Use It.

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Imagine yourself sitting at a table participating in a dinner party. Everyone is having side conversations while eating. You hear this gentle roar with the clinking of silverware on the plates. Waiters are moving about refilling drinks and ensuring everyone has what they need to enjoy their meal.

Suddenly, you hear a commotion and see people pushing back from a table and others jumping up. Still, a few gathered fine cloth napkins, and two kneeled on the floor. You’re not sure what happened.

6 We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. 7 If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. 8 Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully. Rom. 12:6-8 (NIV)

You now figured out what had happened. One of the dinner participants spilled their water. Almost immediately, you witness individuals reacting according to how they are gifted.

Those who serve gathered the napkins, and other servers got on the floor to soak up the water. A giver took an unused glass of water and cheerfully gave it to the now-embarrassed diner. Another diner, with the gift of prophecy, turned and said to the person next to them, “I knew that was going to happen.” Then, one with the gift of teaching turned to the one who spilled their water and gently suggested that they put their drinking glass behind their plate when they finished drinking a drink. Placing it near the table’s edge was an accident waiting to happen.

After people turned away from the incident, one encourager quietly moved in and encouraged the red-faced guest to forget about it and return to eating and having a good time. The head waiter came over to ensure the mess was cleaned up and then leaned in, showing mercy, and said, “Don’t worry about it. We all have done it at one time or another.” After the dinner, the main speaker went to the podium and, before giving her speech, said, “Let us all move our waters toward the middle of the tables as I move mine away from my speech.” Some laughed. She was a natural leader.

If you were at that dinner party, what would you have done? When you read this story, what was your natural reaction? Your first thought? Your answer to that question is a natural indicator of how you are wired. Or to your natural gifting.

That gift is from God. So I ask, “Are you using your gift?” More importantly, “Are you using it for the One who gave it to you?” I hope so, and I highly encourage you to. It would be a shame not to use a gift because gifts are made to be given away.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

Another Trip Around Needed?

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments
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Are you tired of sand in your britches? Do you long for an exit out of your desert? Do you honestly recall how you got there in the first place? Could it be because you did not take God at his word? You struggled to believe what He whispered into your spirit by his Spirit? So you didn’t obey in faith?

The good news is, you’re not the first. The bad news is you may have to make another trip around Mt. Sinai. God is waiting for that sand to do its job. To irritate you about your current situation so much that you give in. Until you are willing to surrender to his will. To take him at his word and go where He wants you to go. To do what He wants you to do. To say what He wants you to say.

Obedience to God opens doors. It defeats your enemies. It opens the door for God to meet your needs. Why? Because obedience pleases God! I think He gets excited and says to himself, “Oh, this is going to be fun!”

The better news is you don’t have to be prepared first before you start. You only have to be willing. He will train you and equip you either before you go or as you go, but regardless, if you lean on him, you will know what to do in every situation. If you can’t see the answer, then ask God for it.

There have been many times God has asked me to go, do, say. And I didn’t think I could, but I did it. In his strength, not mine. And when I obeyed, it always worked out. God proved himself faithful over and over. Stop ignoring what God has made you to do. Stop believing the lie that living life on your terms is going to bring you true happiness. Go with God. Go, do, and say. If you do, you will never look back with regret!

This blog was inspired by reading Psalms 106 from The Message translation.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

He’s Got the Whole World

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We used to sing the song in Sunday School. “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” As I continue to read from the book of Psalms, it is clear that the Psalmists knew God was in control of the world despite what they saw. It’s a comforting thought if you believe it.

When you intently believe something, you should live your life accordingly. Yes, watching the evening news can be upsetting. The media thrives, and gets ratings by feeding on your fears! They predict doom and gloom is coming. But the truth is, Jesus is coming! He is coming to rapture, take those who call him “Lord of their lives” home. Then, the world will get what it thinks it wants.

Psalm 104 from The Message

1-14 O my soul, bless God!

God, my God, how great you are!
    beautifully, gloriously robed,
Dressed up in sunshine,
    and all heaven stretched out for your tent.
You built your palace on the ocean deeps,
    made a chariot out of clouds and took off on wind-wings.
You commandeered winds as messengers,
    appointed fire and flame as ambassadors.
You set earth on a firm foundation
    so that nothing can shake it, ever.
You blanketed earth with ocean,
    covered the mountains with deep waters;
Then you roared and the water ran away—
    your thunder crash put it to flight.
Mountains pushed up, valleys spread out
    in the places you assigned them.
You set boundaries between earth and sea;
    never again will earth be flooded.
You started the springs and rivers,
    sent them flowing among the hills.
All the wild animals now drink their fill,
    wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Along the riverbanks the birds build nests,
    ravens make their voices heard.
You water the mountains from your heavenly reservoirs;
    earth is supplied with plenty of water.
You make grass grow for the livestock,
    hay for the animals that plow the ground.

14-23 Oh yes, God brings grain from the land,
    wine to make people happy,
Their faces glowing with health,
    a people well-fed and hearty.
God’s trees are well-watered—
    the Lebanon cedars he planted.
Birds build their nests in those trees;
    look—the stork at home in the treetop.
Mountain goats climb about the cliffs;
    badgers burrow among the rocks.
The moon keeps track of the seasons,
    the sun is in charge of each day.
When it’s dark and night takes over,
    all the forest creatures come out.
The young lions roar for their prey,
    clamoring to God for their supper.
When the sun comes up, they vanish,
    lazily stretched out in their dens.
Meanwhile, men and women go out to work,
    busy at their jobs until evening.

24 What a wildly wonderful world, God!
    You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
    made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

Made in China

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On his wedding night, a young man started checking out his Chinese wife from head to toe. “What are you looking for?” asked his bride. “I’m looking to see if you were stamped, ‘Made in China.’”

I was reading Psalms 101 this week, and I came across the following scripture:

I reject made-in-Canaan gods.  vs. 3 (MSG)

It made me think about where people get their gods and why. The prominent gods or idols are substances that alter your mood. April and I heard a news report that had to do with Taylor Swift. April commented, “People idolize her.” She’s right. They do. But there are other things, too. Work, relationships, focusing on good causes. Basically, idolatry is anything or anyone that comes before God.

It’s our nature to be prone to put something before ourselves other than God first. I think it is because we feel we need to see something or someone rather than have faith. We tend to put our trust in ourselves or others rather than in God. It’s like we have to have something tangible or feel like we are helping ourselves. It all comes down to trust and faith in a loving God even though we can’t see him. It’s more special when we witness his power and might in our lives because we can’t see him.

The very first commandment God gave us was:

No other gods, only me. Exo. 20:3 (MSG)

God knew that anything but him would only hurt, disappoint, and let us down. His love never fails. So where is your god made? Cast aside your false gods and accept the one and only true God. Get to know and fall in love with him as much as He is with you.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

When It’s Hard

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Life is tough on a good day, but it is downright brutal when things aren’t going as they should! You know what I am talking about. When your boss is riding you. Making demands and requests of you that are near impossible. Or when you have a co-worker, you can only hope they will get sucked into the shredder one day. Don’t get onto me; you laughed because everybody has at least one at work.

What if it’s your spouse or some other family member? Or a neighbor? Not to mention dealing with the dilly-o that makes driving downright dangerous. Perhaps you have more bills than money. All of it, or any of it can get you down.

Do you have the urge to take the next exit ramp of life? Well, don’t do that. I assure you, there is hope. As long as you are alive, there is hope.

If you already know God, and have a relationship with him, then turn to Him. He knows what you wake up to every day. And He cares because of His incredible love for you. Turn to His word, the Bible. I am currently reading “The Message.” It is a modern-day language translation of the original text.

I also highly suggest your read from the book of Psalms. Within the pages are countless words of people calling out to God. They remind Him of His greatness and His unending love for His people. There are encouraging passages about what God does to those who make life hard on you. God doesn’t like it when those who love Him are hurting.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Ps. 5:11-12 (NIV)

There is only one catch; you must believe it. Then you have to ask for His help and then trust that He will. The solution may not be what you wanted or expected, but it will work out if you let God do what He does best, and that is, be God! And when the answer has come, be sure to thank Him. He deserves the recognition and praise. You may find yourself walking through “the valley of the shadow of death” right now but know this; it is only the shadow of death. It’s not death! You will make it. You will live.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

What If, “What If,” Never Happens?

/ Mark Brady / 5 Comments

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!”

Psalm 91 The Message

91 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!”

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Eleven Days

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Photo by: Anna

By now, most of us have probably heard one minister or another tells us that the distance from the Red Sea to the Promise Land was an eleven-day walk. So the Israelites could have gone from captivity and slavery to a land flowing with milk and honey after a few days of walking. What happened? You might be asking. “Fear.” The majority of them listened to the ten spies who reported why they couldn’t take the land God was giving them instead of the two men of God full of faith. The ten assumed they were being called to battle. They failed to understand the battle is the Lord’s!

The result of listening to men who struggled with fear instead of God was walking in the desert for forty years. This is so difficult for me to understand, They had just witnessed God separating the Red Sea, and they walked to the other side on dry ground, and then, if that wasn’t enough to prove God’s mighty power, they watched as He closed the Red Sea drowning, eradicating their enemy! Faith should have been the last thing they lacked.

I know I have not walked in their sandals, but I would like to think I would have agreed with the men of faith who reported they could do it. It seems that many people will listen to men instead of God. No, they may not wander in a desert as a result, but they certainly do miss out on everything God has for them.

It seems as if some, who do not know God personally, have more respect for Him and his power than some believers do! I guarantee Israel’s enemies were scared. Imagine the testimony to all who are watching your life, whether you realize it or not, when they see God’s mighty hand at work in you. Have you ever thought about the fact that percentage-wise, there are only a handful of ministries in the world that are affecting the world for God’s glory? That is because those leaders dared to believe God instead of men!

Has God instructed you to go or do something that looks impossible for a mortal man? Remember this:

Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” Mat. 19:26 (NET)

If He has, go for it. Follow God every step as He leads you into the land He desires to give you. Put your foot in the exact same spot where God’s foot just left. Don’t look to the left or the right. Don’t expect your journey to take place the same way God did it for someone else either. Cover your ears if you have to so you aren’t tempted to listen to negative thoughts.

When I was accepting my first position as a youth minister at a church that said they couldn’t pay me a salary, my father told me I was crazy and forbade me to go. I was twenty-one and hadn’t lived under his roof for three years. I listened to my heavenly Father, who told me to go. I listened to the CEO of heaven instead, and without a salary from the church, my needs were met.

Are you eleven days from your promised land?

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Following God

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I have written about this subject several times over the years, but I still find it challenging. We want to be in God’s perfect will and follow God with all our might. We want to be where He wants us and do what He wants us to do. Many times, where that is and what that does not only benefit us, but He has orchestrated it to help others. To answer their prayers. God is so cool like that.

There are times when one must step out in faith. Must put down a deposit and lay out real money before the confirmation comes forth. That is when the difficulty of following him gets real. Real Scary, that is!

When reading the Bible, you come across several stories of individuals in similar situations. Whether they were asked to go to war with only 300 men or give birth to God’s Son, it was challenging for them.

To overcome this fear is to Know God. To know of his faithfulness to us. To know his word and the outcome of those testimonies in the Bible. Another way is to pray about the direction we are sensing in our lives with others. It is helpful to find people of like precious faith. That is one of the benefits of attending a local church. Also, there is nothing wrong with asking God to confirm his will and direction.

We can lean on his scriptures of promises. Like, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your path straight.” And “I know the plans I have for you.” Then sit back and watch God work. Observe how he puts people in your path at the right moment to assist you or to say an encouraging word. Notice how as you take practical steps, things will work out and be easy to accomplish.

So, take heart. You are not alone in this. Others are walking with God like you are. You may feel you are wobbling like a toddler learning to walk but keep putting one step in front of the other. Keep trusting and keep believing. You will get there. If you sit and wait for it all to work out before you take a step, you will most likely never reach the goal. I have often written that a parked car cannot be steered.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Catch The Boat

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But it has never rained before, just like Jesus has never returned for his church before. As in the days of Noah, it is difficult for people to believe when they hear the truth. It takes faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Can you imagine the ridicule Noah had to endure every single day when people realized he was building a boat? And not a little fishing boat but a small cruise ship. Big enough for more than just his family, for all who believed.

Noah’s ark was a type of salvation. God provided a way to save humankind from destruction if they believed the message. God did not tolerate man living for themselves, so he allowed them to destroy themselves. The same goes for today. God has sent out his message to all that He gave his son, Jesus, to us to forgive us of our sins if we believe.

Last week, April and I had the privilege of seeing and entering the full-size replica of Noah’s ark. We went in two by two. It is located in Williamstown, Kentucky. The size of the boat was impressive. Inside, you get to see how Noah and his family lived and how they fed and watered the animals and removed their waste.

The exhibit did a great job answering the questions of man. How did Noah get all of the animals there? How could they all fit? Etc. Noah was a man of great faith! He did not care about what others thought of him. He knew it was better to be obedient to God and that God loves and honors obedience.

Even today, God still rewards obedience. If He is asking you to do something, you may not understand or know how to get it done, it is best to try anyway. Do what you can with his help. Ask Him constantly for guidance, direction, and wisdom in the matter. As Noah did, you will succeed in the task He asks of you.

Believe me, God will once again say, “Enough of mankind doing their own thing,” He will dispatch his son, Jesus, to come back to earth to gather his people. Then, the end will come. If you are still on earth when that time begins, you will regret not listening to God’s message through countless ministers, friends, and family members. You may think people who believe in God are crazy, but they aren’t. They accept the truth and act on what they believe.

“God, please help people believe in you and your Son. Help them accept the truth concerning salvation by accepting your Son into their life and believe the impending end times.”

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.