God

Crossroads

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Are you stuck? Lost? Find yourself in the middle of nowhere or at an intersection, and you have no idea which way to go? It happens to all of us at one time or another. Life was going good as if on cruise control and then one day you woke up and thought, “What am I doing?” Or you may be at a juncture in your life you didn’t expect. Like after getting divorced, losing a job, or the death of a family member.

Newsflash: You do not have to navigate life alone! There is one who is ready and able to help you, guide you, point the way, and give you the encouragement and strength to get there. And his name is JESUS!

The word of God has scriptures that say He will lead us:

The very steps we take come from God;
    otherwise how would we know where we’re going? Prov. 20:24 (MSG)

By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will. Ps. 119:105 (MSG)

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. Ps. 37:23 (AMP)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The Standard

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I got spoiled and took it for granted. I love Chinese food! When I lived in the Chicago suburbs and worked in downtown Chicago, I had several excellent Chinese restaurants around me. Within a five-mile radius of my home I had five alone that were good! I didn’t realize how good I had it until I moved back to my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, after retiring from AT&T.

April and I tried another place today for lunch. I was excited, and my hopes were high. Let’s just say I tried to like it, but the taste fell far below what I wanted. I have analyzed the situation and realized the bar was set high when I lived in Illinois. There was one place where the head cook was known as “Grandma.” I would walk in and ask, “Is Grandma back there cooking?” If the answer was “Yes,” then I knew it was going to be good. In fact, when Grandma retired, the quality went downhill, and I stopped eating there. Grandma had set “The Standard.”

There are many “religions” around the world, and those who follow them will say they are satisfied with their choice of following that “religion.” My choice is Christianity, where I don’t follow a “religion” but rather have a “relationship” with the Creator of the universe, God Himself.

“Religions” usually come with a set of rules and spiritual practices that one must follow in order to achieve some kind of spirituality with the hopes of being “good enough” to make it into heaven. In my relationship with God, as long as my sins have been forgiven via his Son, Jesus, and the attitude of love resides in my heart, I am promised by God himself to live with him in heaven for eternity. In my opinion, what I have learned about other “religions” seems lifeless, burdensome, and demanding. God has set The Standard when it comes to being spiritual and Jesus Christ set the bar!

Jesus Christ is the only One who taught, walked, and lived out a life of perfection and love but then died and rose again to be with his Father in heaven. No other priest or teacher did that. Not Buddha, Muhammad, or any other person. They’re still dead!

As I watched today several customers come in to eat or pick up their orders, I asked myself, “If the food here isn’t that good, then how can this place be so busy?” Then the answer hit me. “Duh! Their standard of good quality Chinese food is low. They haven’t partaken of the best!” The same goes for the masses who have not accepted Jesus Christ into their life. Asking for forgiveness for their sins and then walking in a loving “relationship” with God.

Consider a “relationship” with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. That is why He died a horrible death for you on the cross! Even if you were the only person on Earth and you sinned and did something wrong, Jesus would have gone through the pain and agony of dying for you. That is how much He loves you.

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good;
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Ps. 34:8 (AMP)

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Perfect Grace

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Have you ever had to live with a perfectionist? I have. They’re the worst! They expect you to do everything as they do, perfectly! (According to them.) The pressure of trying to remember, anticipate, expect, to be proactive while doing it all perfectly is unbearable. One can be so nervous trying not to mess up that they actually do. You feel horrible when getting yelled at and chewed out for making the silliest, most minor mistakes that, in the realm of the universe, don’t matter.

The worst part of growing up with a perfectionist is turning into one when you get older!

You know you don’t want to treat people the way you were treated, but you struggle not to point out or comment when another person does things wrong, in your opinion. They’re right, it’s not fair!

Some people live with a mindset that since God is perfect, and He is, He is just waiting for them to mess up so He can beat them over the head. They fear his wrath and judgment. They might even feel “unworthy” of his love. The truth is, we should “respect” his wrath and judgment but not “fear” it. You see, because He is love, He is just and faithful to forgive us of our sins if we confess them.

If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1:8-10 (MSG)

God freely gives us grace. Knowing that his grace is available and that you can live in it, is a beautiful thing. There is no fear or nervousness about messing up. Not that you can go out and live however you want to, though. That would be trampling on the cross and minimizing the horrible death that Jesus went through for you and me.

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. 1:14 (NIV)

For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].
John 1:16 (AMP)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The First Eternity

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Have you ever realized that there was an eternity before what we have now on Earth? Think about this: when God placed man in the Garden of Eden, it was perfect. There was no sickness, no hurt, no pain, no Washington D.C. (um-hum), and no death. I believe God intended for life always to be that way. Walking and talking with man and woman each day.

Then, Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, and darkness entered the world, ending perfection.

Hundreds of years later, Light once again came to the world, and the hope of a perfect eternity was now obtainable by believing that Jesus is God’s Son and accepting his gift of salvation for the forgiveness of our sins.

God never intended for people to hurt or for them to deal with sickness and disease. He didn’t want them to suffer in any way, shape or form. God didn’t want anyone to feel hunger, the pain of war, or the sting of a broken family. He never wanted to comfort a parent having to bury a child. God only wanted his best for his children.

Not living with God is choosing to live in a dump! Darkness dumps on you, most likely every week, if not every day! Your Facebook posts constantly share the pain and heartache that you deal with on a regular basis. I’m not saying you shouldn’t post those things with us because it reminds me to pray for you. And I’m not saying life with God is perfect on this side of heaven, but it is definitely better than living in a dump!

Accept God. Learn to live his ways by studying the Bible, his manuscript for living life. Walk and talk with him daily. Ask lots of questions, for He is the only one who has the correct answers. You will enjoy the victories along the way until you reach the second eternity.

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Proverbs 21:21- Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Romains 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Here Comes the Judge

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When I lived in the Chicago area, I was called to serve jury duty several times. Usually, the parties would settle out of court, and I would receive my $18 and be free to go. But one case went to trial, and I was selected to be on the jury. The case was frivolous and should have never been allowed to clutter up the court system for five years.

The outcome doesn’t really matter, but the judge’s name caught my attention, “Willie B. Wright.” In case you don’t see it, let me spell it out: “Will he be right?” An excellent name for a judge on Earth.

The other night, I was at a social gathering and having a discussion with a man who turned out to be a fellow follower of Christ. He apologized when he wanted to go to the bar and get another drink. He said, “God’s working on me with this!” I immediately replied, “Do I look like a judge? There are plenty of things God is working with me on.”

Many people are judging others these days, especially on social media. Who do they think they are? What I don’t like is when someone gets mad at me and accuses me of judging them. I understand it’s their defense mechanism when they feel uncomfortable or guilty. But there is a huge difference between judging and discerning the fruit of someone’s life.

A judge’s role is to make sure the person on trial gets a fair hearing according to the law. To maintain order in the court, give instructions to the jury, and after the jury has reached a decision, determine the proper punishment if needed.

Exposing the fruit of someone’s life does not determine punishment for how they are living their life. So, it is not “judging” them. In fact, the Bible tells us to.

15-20 “Be on your guard against false religious teachers, who come to you dressed up as sheep but are really greedy wolves. You can tell them by their fruit. Do you pick a bunch of grapes from a thorn-bush or figs from a clump of thistles? Every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree is incapable of producing bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. The tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and burnt. So you may know men by their fruit.” Mat. 7:16-20 (JBP)
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Mat. 7:1-5 (NIV)

The ultimate Judge is our Holy God. For only He knows the heart of a man.

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Jam. 4:12 (NIV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

This is How I Fight My Battles

/ Mark Brady / 3 Comments
Image by André Santana Design André Santana from Pixabay

It’s challenging to turn over to God a situation in our lives that we are deeply concerned about or even worried. We often feel as though we need to keep one hand on it, as if God needs our help. Some battles are so insurmountable. What could we do to overcome them anyway?

Last year, April and I faced a huge financial mess. We wound up one month away from being forced to sell our house to make ends meet. This house has been a special gift to me from God, so selling it would have been extremely painful. I’m sitting in the house tonight writing this post.

I have to confess it was one of the most trying times I have ever faced. I remember crying out to God, begging Him to answer my prayers and deliver us from evil. You talk about, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death!” Have you ever noticed it’s the “shadow of death” and not “death?” God didn’t make Ed McMahon show up with a giant check from Publishers Clearing House, and He didn’t give me the winning numbers for the current lottery. (Not that I make a habit of playing, anyway!)

What He did do was give me a plan. A plan to eventually, after several months, help us recover from a near financial disaster.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

This is how I fight my battles,
It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You.

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God. Ps. 42:5 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

That Girl Can Sleep!

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April has a hidden talent that few know about. She can fall asleep within three minutes, and it doesn’t seem to matter where she is, either. Needless to say, I am envious! I suffer from OMS these days. “Old Man Syndrome.” That means if I wake up in the middle of the night, I am usually awake for hours before I can attempt to go back to sleep.

The other day, April fell asleep in the car while I was driving us home in heavy traffic. I was thinking, “How in the world can she sleep?” I don’t make a good passenger. I find it difficult to trust others and their driving skills. And sleep while they are driving? Forget it!

Then it hit me: April trusted me and my ability to drive. She knows I am going to get her home safely. She felt safe and secure.

Isn’t that how we should feel when we are walking with God through life? We pray and then trust Him to address our needs and act on our behalf. Doing what is best for us. If we do that, we can “rest” and perhaps find the sleep we need that otherwise escapes us.

Nothing and no one is holy like God,
    no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
    not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
    He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
    while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
    while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
    while the mother of many is bereft. 1 Sam. 2:2-5 (MSG)

“Trusting God” isn’t simply a statement of faith but a way to live. It will show, too, if your life reflects your speech. Many know the right things to say or scriptures to quote, but few will act them out daily.

Look at Luke 8:22-23 (MSG): “One day he and his disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’

Getting to his feet, he told the wind, ‘Silence!’ and the waves, ‘Quiet down!’ They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.”

This passage has been preached so many times! It is usually pointed out that the disciples who walked with Jesus should have known they weren’t going to die. If Jesus had said, “Let’s cross the lake,” then they would have made it to the other side.

If April had been in that boat, she would have been asleep as well, along with Jesus! Let your request be made known to God. Lay them on the altar and then walk away, leaving them there. Then, walk with boldness and the confidence that things will work out.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

God is Funny

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Some may think that God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Others might say, “Oh yeah? Look at some of the creatures on Earth.” I would say He is. I mean, we are created in His image, and we laugh because of something funny.

When April and I first met, we argued about who was funnier. She finally conceded that I was although she has her moments! Well, the other day, I was playing a game on my phone titled “4 Pics 1 Word.” I play it when I have some downtime, like when waiting for April to get off work. Another reason I play it is to try to keep my mind sharp. I think it is slipping some, which bothers me. I have often prided myself on having problem-solving skills and not overlooking things. This is not funny, but last weekend, I was looking toward the south, hoping to see the Northern Lights. I didn’t and I do know my directions very well.

The game shows you four pictures and several scrambled letters that contain the word that links the pics together. (See the above picture of the game at level 1.) It sounds easy, but there are challenging levels. The goal is to figure out the word by looking at the four pictures. I was on a “Super Hard Level,” and I was struggling. I tried off and on for hours to figure it out but couldn’t. I refused to pay for help with my game coins, too. The four photos were of firewood stacked up, a wind generator, an old minor, and a large library.

I was about to go to bed defeated for the day when I suddenly heard in my spirit, “Why don’t you ask me?” I laughed and replied, “God, you don’t play games.” Now, I have written several times about asking God anything because He is a know-it-all. And I mean that with deep respect. So, after a moment, I said, “Okay, God. What is the word?” Immediately, I heard, “Resource.” I tried it, and it worked. That was the word. I started laughing so hard and said, “God, you are so funny!”

Here again, I am telling you that God loves you and me so much. He sincerely cares about us and what matters to us. He wants to help us with our lives. Usually, He is dealing with matters of health, emotions, and finances. God is our “Resource” for life. Did you see what I did there? LOL. I hope you have the kind of relationship with God, the Creator of the universe, as I do. He is a living God and not a statue or teacher who has lived, taught and has since passed away. You can talk to Him, and He will answer. And once in a while, He might be that friend that you phone for help with a game.

Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). Jer. 33:3 (AMPC)

Side note:
An example of God’s humor is the instance in which the Israelites were using the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm in taking it to battle, and the Philistines ended up capturing it and placing it in their temple before their idol of Dagon. They came into the temple the next day and found Dagon flat on his face before the ark. They set him back up. The next morning, there he was again, but this time he had his hands and head cut off as a symbol of his powerlessness before the God of the ark (1 Samuel 5:1-5). God’s putting Dagon in a position of submission to His ark is a comical picture.
(Source: https://www.gotquestions.org)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Even Graveyards Grow Flowers!

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Image by Frank Meitzke from Pixabay

My father loved to tell jokes. He was almost like a standup comedian who didn’t go on tour. But whenever someone came over to visit, he was on. He had his material down pat. There was one joke that I thought was so corny, and I hated it so much that I swore it would die with him! And don’t ask me to tell you which one. I won’t!

One joke in his repertoire was, “Why do they put fences around graveyards? Because people are just dying to get in.” Graveyards are not places we typically think of going to unless we want to rest in peace. They generally are quiet places unless the undertaker has a crew there mowing or digging a fresh hole.

Perhaps people don’t like visiting graveyards because they find them depressing. That may be due to the fact it reminds them of death and raises the question, “Is there life after death?” Personally, I don’t mind cemeteries. The reason is because “death” or the thought of dying doesn’t bother me. I am ready to stand before God and give an account of how I have lived my life. I shared that with a boss one time, and he almost literally fell out of his chair! I guess he didn’t have the same peace of mind as I do.

The only way I can be so confident about dying is I know how I am living. I have accepted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. I live without condemnation of my sins because Jesus paid the price for them when He died for me (and you) on the cross. He was perfect and without sin; therefore, He was an acceptable sacrifice to God. I do my best to live for God, according to His word, the Bible. I also do my best to follow His commandments and principles. Life is not perfect, but it isn’t bad six feet above.

If life isn’t working out for you on your terms, try God’s. Gain the peace of mind of knowing there is life after death, eternal life, and that you will live in peace with God. Then, go visit a graveyard, smell the roses, and perhaps pick a flower or two to take home.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:1 (ESV)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:1 (ESV)

Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! 1 Thes. 4:17 (AMPC)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Speak to Your Storm

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Image by Nature Nomad from Pixabay

April 27, 2024:  I live in “Tornado Alley.” The nickname is given to this part of America due to the fact that, historically, there are more tornados here than in any other part. If you have ever seen footage of the aftermath, then you know they can leave quite a trail of devastation, hurt, pain, and lost lives.

You know your life, home, car, and other belongings are at risk of being lost whenever you hear the tornado sirens go off. I have never actually seen one, but I have seen the atmosphere right before one strikes. There is this scary, aqua-green color in the skies. The clouds rotate above your head, and then there is a quietness right before the beast comes to life and roars. Most people have an intense fear of tornados. I respect them and take the proper safety measures.

On the night of April 27, Oklahoma had 24 tornados. One, an EF3 (winds between 158 – 206 mph), was headed for where I live. It had been on the ground for several minutes and got within 35 miles. When I saw this tornado’s forecasted track via a local weather station, I started praying, and then I spoke to the storm! I commanded it to stop and go away in the name of Jesus! After all, from reading the Bible, I learned that Jesus could control the weather, and he said that we, too, can do these things and more. So why not exercise my faith and take dominion over the earth?

The next thing I heard the weatherman announce was the storm front was moving in on that one tornado. When it did, it stole its energy, and the tornado dissipated. Thank you, God!

We have that kind of power in the name of Jesus. And I’m sure I wasn’t the only one putting into practice a principle that we have been given. Also, that was not my first time doing that. I have seen it work several times since moving back to this area.

I would then challenge, if we can speak to a physical storm, then why not speak to other kinds of storms that blow up in our lives? Cancer? A rocky marriage? Unemployment? Why not? Satan wants to use anything he can to destroy or devour us. He wants us never to have or to lose faith in God. If he can achieve this, he wins. Another fact is April, and I faithfully tithe. One of the promises from God Himself is that He will stop the devourer on our behalf. The Bible is true and should be read and believed. There may be parts you have trouble with or don’t understand, but there is no reason to throw away the whole book. You can seek wisdom and understanding from trusted teachers of the word of God.

Below are the scriptures I stand on because they are true:

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mar. 4:39 (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:12-14 (NIV)

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Mal. 3:10-11 (KJV)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen. 1:26 (ASV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved