gifts

No Plain ‘O Blessing

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

April was feeling homesick and was desiring to go to the Philippines for the Memorial Day Weekend. I said, “Baby, that’s too far and expensive for a weekend trip. How about we drive to Plano, TX., and you can eat at Jollibee?” She thought for a moment and said, “That will do.” Jollibee is the Philippines’ national fast food chain.

We drove straight there from our home. It took three hours and thirty-nine minutes of driving time.

After the first meal, we went to our hotel one block away (I’m a great planner). While checking in, I asked for a room on the top floor so it would be quieter by not having someone walking above us. I’m a light sleeper sometimes.

The man looked at his computer and said, “I’ll do ya one better. I’ll put you on the third floor at the end of the hall in a suite with no extra charge.” I was very surprised. When April saw the room, she couldn’t stop smiling. “What’s with you?” I asked. “I have never stayed in a suite at a hotel before. She loved it.

Later that evening, we were reliving the highlights of the day, and she brought up the man putting us in the suite and that I hadn’t even asked for it. I thought momentarily and then reminded her that we are blessed and highly favored as God’s children who strive daily to walk with God.

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Ps. 84:11 (AMPC)

Getting something extra for free always feels good. We thanked God for adding some sprinkles on top of our day. He also kept us safe as we traveled, and we had a great Memorial Day getaway. God loves to give good gifts to his children even when you don’t ask!

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Mat. 7:11 (KJV)

Walk with God every day. Walk upright. Always do the right thing no matter the cost, and do it with love.

and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:2 (NIV)

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

What I Really Want for Christmas

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Getting ready for Christmas can be tiring!  There are so many things to do, places to go, and people to see.  It’s great to have the opportunity to see people.  In fact, receiving a Christmas card each year is the only time I get to hear from some people.

I just laughed, because it dawned on me that Christmas is the only time God gets to hear from some people too!  Okay, it’s actually not funny at all.  Someone asked me what I wanted for Christmas the other day.  They suggested we go share a meal at one of my favorite local restaurants, but what I really want for Christmas is to be with them on Christmas day.  I can’t go into details as to why I can’t be with them, because I don’t want to change the names in order protect the guilty.

After all, Christmas is really only about people, or should be.  You see it was God loving his people, and wanting to be with them so bad that He was willing to give his only son to become a sacrifice for us. For the things that “we”, not him have done wrong.  God wants to be with people.  He loves us so much, and hates it when we suffer, and struggle in life.  When we hurt, feel so alone and don’t know what to do, or where to turn. You see, we are all on God’s Christmas list.  Even those of us who accepted his Christmas gift to us a long time ago.  We drift away from him from time to time.

So what do you say?  Can you join me in giving God what He wants for Christmas?  Spend some time with him?  Talk to him?  Give him an opportunity to reply to your heart.  I know this, you will be glad you did.  It might even turn out to be the best Christmas Party you go to all season!

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Looking For Jesus (Part 7)

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You.  If you have read the previous parts of this series, you have seen, most of those who played a part in the birth and early days of Jesus, were people God found to have good morals.  They were set apart from the majority of those around them in the world at that time.

Perhaps as you read those post, you thought, “I’m not righteous.  I’m not in right standing with God.”  Maybe you even had the thought, “God would never choose me, or even want me.”  Guess what?  That thought was a lie from hell, yes the devil.  He wants you to believe you have no value, no worth, to God, or even to others.  NOT TRUE! See yourself, as God sees you. Everyone, yes even you, has something to give, to offer to another person.  It’s no accident you are reading this post, or that you have read the previous 6.  Christmas will be here in a few days.

I heard a commercial on TV this morning say, “We need to rescue Christmas, for others.”  The truth of the matter is this:

We needed Christmas to rescue us!

You see Jesus IS the reason for the season.  It’s more than a cliché, and so much more than a Christmas card.  It is truth.  Without the birth of Jesus, we would be born, sin, and be destined to eternal damnation, for God is Holy, and cannot have sin in his presence.  That’s why God gave us the greatest gift, his only son.  And so we have Christmas, to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

It’s sad, how so many have lost focus of why we have Christmas, and they rush around trying to buy some happiness for those on their “nice” list, or family.  A friend of mine, who has believed the lies of the devil, and has walked away from any relationship with God in order to do his own thing, which he calls, “party” texted me the other day, “You can’t say, ‘Merry Christmas anymore’.”  I texted back, “I can, and will never stop.”  I mean come on, without Jesus there’s no “merry”, no hope, no joy, and certainly no real, agape, unselfish love, as Jesus demonstrated through his life and death on the cross.

Merry Christmas!

Okay, so now you know you have value.  Surly there is something you can do for someone else.  Even if it’s sit and listen to an elderly person retell their favorite stories, because that is the only thing they can still do, talk.  God loves you so much.  He wants you to have the kind of life He designed for you.  Living in a garden and not in a dump!

This Christmas, look for Jesus.  He has already found you, and is waiting for you to open your arms to welcome him into your life.  He opened his on the cross to welcome you into eternal life, if you only believe.  Don’t be concerned about how your life may change if you stop listening to the devil who hates you, and wants to destroy you to get back at God.  Get to know God through his word, and talk to him, just like you would talk to me.

Know I just prayed for you.  This current year, 2020 has truly opened up people’s eyes to the fight between good and evil, and to how precious life is.  A new year is coming soon, and it could be the greatest year of your life.  Look for Jesus to save you, and to deliver you out from your current struggles that weigh you down.

This Christmas, open God’s gift first.  His son Jesus, and throw away the box others try so hard to put, or keep him in.

Thank you so much for reading this blog.  I was just a kid from Oklahoma who accepted God’s gift, Jesus into his heart at an early age, and then has tried his best to live according to the word of God, the Bible.  Then to say, “Here I am Lord, use me.”  I trust He has, by speaking words of life into your heart.

Blessings,
Mark

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Looking For Jesus (Part 5)

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The shepherds.  The evening started as normal as any other.  The shepherds had done their duty of setting their night watches over their sheep.  Then, out of nowhere, an angel stood among them, and said, “Don’t be afraid.  I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 (MSG)

Soon after, they no doubt, took a selfie of them with the angel to post on Biblebook, then decided to go over to Bethlehem as quick as they could to see for themselves what God had revealed to them.  Sure enough, seeing was believing, and they told everyone what the angel had said to them.

They left looking for Jesus.  Not believing, at first, what God had revealed to them, but after seeing Jesus they praised and worshipped him.

There are several truths here:

  1. God shows up with good news when least expected.  On the normal days.
  2. God can show up when you are going about your regular duties.
  3. There are times when his presence will catch you off guard.  When you are not looking for Him.
  4. God will use the least expected to do his work.
  5. Jesus’ birth was meant for everybody, worldwide.
  6. Some people have to see Jesus to believe, but it was still faith that got the shepherds to go to Bethlehem in the first place.

And the greatest truth in this post:

All, everyone, even you, will praise and worship Jesus when he is seen.  In that moment, everything you or they have heard, all their life, about God, and his son Jesus will be confirmed.

In everyday life, do what you need to do, but always be looking for Jesus to show up, to give you a message, forgiveness, an answer to prayer, or a gift.  And most important, be willing to share what Jesus gives you with others.

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Looking For Jesus (Part 2)

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Joseph.  A good man, in fact, a righteous man.  “Righteous”, a $12 dollar word which means, in right standing with God.  A smart man, reasonable in his dealing with people.  How do I know this?  Simple.  By reading the scriptures.

You see, when Mary told him she was pregnant, he of course was shocked and bewildered.  How could she do this to him?  And before they were to get married.  Did she truly love him, or was she marrying him for some other reason?  Men seem to have a hard time trusting women ever since the fall of Adam and Eve.  Due to the curse of sin men and women have had issues relating.

Back to him being a good man, he decided to end the engagement privately hoping it would save Mary and her family public embarrassment, but people talk and would have found out anyway.  Especially when Mary would start showing from her pregnancy.  But then:

20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).

24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus. Mat. 1:20-25 (MSG)

Because Joseph was a God fearing man, he obeyed, and he too begin looking for Jesus.  Can you imagine what he was going through?  A new husband to a woman who has found favor with the God of the universe and is now carrying His son.  I’m sure Joseph had more questions than answers.  What do I do with him? Do I teach him how to be a carpenter, like me? Teach him about wood and nails? Many people have questions when they accept Jesus, and that’s okay, but Joseph accepted Jesus, and he accepted God’s plan.

Look for Jesus.  You will find him, because He has already found you. Don’t get hung up on the details. Don’t try to figure out God’s plan with your mind, because you never will fully understand it, but trust me, it’s all about love. Love for the people of the world. Love for you.

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Fashionably Late

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red-crossI have always said, “I would rather be one mile behind God than one inch in front of him!”  But recently, I feel as though I am trying to catch my breath doing my best to keep up with him.  It’s as if I am running late to the party, God has been inviting me to all year.  I just didn’t see it.  He was orchestrating a new season in my life, and I didn’t even notice him hanging the decorations.

God wants to bless his children.  He desires to give them good gifts.  Our responsibility is to be in a place in life to receive them.  In step with God, desiring God, and no matter what happens around us continuing to focus on God.  Not getting caught up in the everyday sludge that tries to pull us down and overcome us.

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven.”  (Jam 1:17 MSG)

Watch your door step.  It’s the season of gift giving.  God could be trying to give you a gift.  Don’t allow it to be taken by the devil’s porch piracy program!

Copyright © 2018 Mark Brady, All rights reserved