Life’s Speed Bumps

September 23, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

speedbump My daughter once said, “Squirrels are God’s little speed bumps.” I’m not saying I agree. I realized something this past week as I talked to some people. They were telling me of the trouble they are currently having in their lives. I felt bad for them. Then I thought it seems as if there is always so much drama in their lives that they don’t have time to focus on the important things in their life. Maybe another way to say it is this; they are so busy putting out fires, they never spend time preventing them.

I once told a friend concerning my failed marriage, “I was so busy repairing I never got time to build.” A good marriage is something important in life. Teaching your children how to live life right is important as well. But of course the most important thing in life is deciding where you want to spend eternity. Yes, it is your decision.

So where does all this trouble come from? Circumstances; sure. Most likely as a result of poor decisions. But consider another source; the devil. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy. That means steal your time, destroy relationships, and includes killing your soul. Then Jesus said, “But I have come so that you may have life. Abundant life.” He doesn’t want you to live life on earth suffering. Jesus wants to help you with living life. He can and will once you accept him as God’s son and invite him to be the Lord of your life. Once you do that read about him, study him in the Bible. He will help you get over life’s speed bumps more smoothly.

Something’s Fishy

September 17, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I went fishing with my father this past week. In a few hours we caught 50 sand bass. As we were catching them we discussed how many there must be in the lake, and how random they must be swimming in order to find our lures. Catching them seemed too easy.

The next day I was reading from Habakkuk 2 (yes that is a real book of the Bible found in the old testament) where it talked about fish “swimming without direction, swimming, but not getting anywhere.” It made me wonder about people and the lives they live. Is there purpose in their lives? Is there purpose in your life? Direction? I hope so.

God made each of us for a reason and a purpose. If you don’t know yours then ask Him. Seek his will for your life. He has a reason for gifting you the way he did. No one can do what you can.

Do You Trust Me?

September 10, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Trust. It’s hard to trust someone else, and sometimes even ourselves. God, throughout the centuries has asked people to trust Him. Some did, others didn’t, but most did so with some fear and trepidation. Another thing that is difficult is change. Either change a job, a living location, but the hardest thing to change is yourself. Putting the two things together will just about overwhelm you!

Whenever God calls you to change an area of your life, take it from me, it is best to blindly believe, and then obey. Will you know how it will all work out? Probably not. Will you know ahead of time how you will make it? No! But the point is; God does. That is where the trust comes into play.

One thing I have learned, the hard way, is God loves obedience. When you figure out a direction God wants you to go, and then you go when the time is right He blesses you like nothing you have experienced before. So when God asks you that question, say, “Yes”.

The Best Day of My Life

September 2, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

070315_26 I used to think the best day of my life was the day I retired. I no longer have to work.
Then I thought the best day of my life was the day my granddaughter was born. I experienced such joy.
The day my daughter was born was a great day too. She smiled, my heart melted.
The day my son was born, wow, I beamed as he held my finger when I took his hand.
My wedding day was awesome. This beautiful woman accepted me, and said, “I do.”
Graduating college was a good day. A little more meaningful than finishing high school.

Those were good days of my life, but the best day, was the day I accepted God’s free gift of salvation through his son, Jesus. For it was God who got me to those great days, and through them, and all of the ones that weren’t so great.

In reality though, the best day of my life will be my last one. The day I die. (Don’t worry, I’m not rushing it.) You see, on that day, because I gave my life to God, and have done my best to live according to his word, and have asked for forgiveness for the times I didn’t, when I die, I will enter into heaven. No more pain. No more hurts, disappointments, or tears. That, will be the best day of my life!

Amazing Love

August 26, 2017August 23, 2017 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

c2gpic2 I would turn all the lights green when I drive. I would make people act right when I am in their presence. I would make them drive according to the rules of the road too. Nothing would ever go wrong in my life. This is what I would do if I had the powers of God.

Funny thing really. God has the power to do what I would and more. But God doesn’t use His power for selfish reasons. He never has, never does, and never will. He uses His power to bless us. To provide a perfectly balanced in the solar system place to live called, “Earth”. He provides food, and water. The things we need, and occasionally He spoils us, and blesses us with something we want.

Why does God do this? Because He loves us. He loves you. If you could see how much He loves you, how much He cares. God’s love cannot be measured, weighed, or exhausted. So what’s keeping you from believing it? Or a better question, what’s keeping you from accepting it? God’s love is available despite you. You can’t out do it, hide from it, or stop it. Really, there is no other word for God’s love except, “Amazing”!

Where Are You Going?

August 19, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20170819_205542 “Recalculating.” Seems to be her favorite word. I get frustrated with her at times. Ladies, please don’t get mad, but a man doesn’t like to be told what to do by a woman. It’s not our fault, it’s just the way we are wired. So I recently put my GPS in the back seat, and it felt natural. At times, I still try to get where I think I am supposed to be going, on my own.

That happened this year. My plans were taking me in a completely different direction. If I had not felt in my spirit “Recalculating”, I would not currently be going where God needs me to be. Yes, God uses GPS. “God’s Positioning System”

It’s important to seek God’s will for your life. You were created for a reason and a purpose. If you submit to God’s GPS you will be happy and not frustrated when you arrive at your final destination. I hope and pray your final destination, is heaven.

Does God Blink?

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

eyes When there are people in your life who seem to enjoy making you hurt, miserable, or angry you begin to wonder if God indeed has His eye on you or, if He blinked for a moment? You think to yourself how could He let this happen to me over and over again? Where is His revenge on these people? I gave it to Him as he instructs us to.

The truth is, He never takes His eyes off of us. Not even for a split second to blink. Pro 2:8 He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

Another truth is you don’t know what is going on in that person’s life that you don’t see. God has never liked it when someone willfully hurts one of His own. To the ones who do He has some very harsh words:

Mic 2:1-3 Doom to those who plot evil, who go to bed dreaming up crimes! As soon as it’s morning, they’re off, full of energy, doing what they’ve planned. They covet fields and grab them, find homes and take them. They bully the neighbor and his family, see people only for what they can get out of them. GOD has had enough. He says, “I have some plans of my own: Disaster because of this interbreeding evil! Your necks are on the line. You’re not walking away from this. It’s doomsday for you.

If you feel you are being treated unfairly, take heart. God sees, and knows, and He will deal justly with those who are not just. If you are one of those hurting others, beware! God sees you too, and He will avenge the innocent. If you are the innocent, pray God’s judgement will turn the heart of the guilty to God.

Sight Unseen

July 16, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

052012_47JB Would you buy a house sight unseen? Probably not. On the other hand, have things or people always been as they appear? Most likely no. So why is seeing so important? Why is one state, I traveled through today, called the “Show me state”? We put so much infaces on seeing before believing, that when it comes to God we want the same thing.

I asked a coworker some years ago this question, “What would it take for you to believe God was real?” He thought long and hard and finally could not give me an answer. Possibly in his mind anything God would do for him, would still trigger doubt, and disbelief. Knowing how He made us, I think that is why God asks us to accept Him by “faith”. Faith, is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

It can be difficult, somethimes, to believe in God. Especially when life is tough, but given the chance, and time God has proven Himself to me over and over. He also promises to prepare a home for me in heaven. I’ll accept that home, “sight unseen”!

Boxed In?

July 8, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20170708_220718 One thing that makes moving successful is having enough, and right size boxes for your stuff. Moving works best when you have the time to put the right things in the right size boxes and number them, and then keep a running list of what is in each one.

When it comes to moving spiritually, what size box do you try to put God in? Do you cram Him in a small one, because He is only a “small” part of your life? Or does the God you serve fit in a refrigerator box? How do you list the contents of the box you put God in? That probably depends on what you think of God and His power. Maybe it is limited by your experience with Him so far.

We’re human. Our mind has limits, but when it comes to God we shouldn’t limit Him at all. We should never put Him, and His abilities in a box. Instead of saying, “Why can’t God…?” we should say, “My God can…” When you start living with this kind of thinking about God you will begin to find your life outside the box.

Thorns and Thistles

July 1, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

080512 169 Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is life so hard?” You strive to do good, get ahead, but at times it seems the more you press forward the further behind you get. In your finances, at work, or in relationships. The truth is, it’s not your fault. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden part of the punishment was life would be harder. They received their sentence before they were evicted from the home God wanted for them. See the scripture below:

Gen 3:18 The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, (MSG)

All the more reason we need God to lift us out of the weeds and thorns of life that desire to choke, and overcome us. If you’re tired of weed whacking then stop, and ask God for help. He will, and He can. Consider the fact His way was for us to live in a garden. My neighbor once saw me planting flowers several years ago. She said, “You don’t know what you are doing!” My reply, “I know, but I’m having a great time.” God, the master gardener, knows what He is doing. Turn your life over to Him then trust and obey. That’s the only way to live life in the garden.