Who Do You Say I Am?

February 26, 2021February 23, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Some time ago I met a lady at work, and the first thing she started informing me was she was the best one, on our shift, doing the job. She wanted me to know that her “rate per hour” never dipped below 500, and even on the day she poked herself in the eye she maintained her excellence. For reference, the average rate per hour is around 270. I must confess, her boasting was a turn off. Later I thought, if you are that great at your job then why haven’t I heard about you from others?

The second time I encountered this same woman she was bragging to some other coworkers, in the break room, of her greatness in doing her job. The third time I crossed her path she was wearing a shirt that proclaimed, “The Boss”. The very next day she wore a T-shirt stating, “World’s Best Mom”.

It got me to thinking, perhaps she is extremely insecure in who she truly is, and tries to command respect by telling everyone who she wants to be?

After thinking about this for a while I heard in my mind a question Jesus once asked;

“But you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked.
Mat. 16:15 (TPT)

Jesus knew who he was, and didn’t go bragging about it to anyone, or ware a tunic stating it. In fact, God declared who Jesus was when he rose up from the water after being baptized. God said, “This is my Son, whom I am well pleased.”

It’s important to know who Jesus is. He’s a healer, a brother that never leaves you, a calming source in any storm, but most important, he’s a savior whose death on the cross saves your soul from hell, if you accept who he is and ask him to forgive you for your sins, wrong doing. Your eternal life depends on this because one day you will stand before Jesus, and He will ask you, “Who do you say I am?”

This Side of Heaven

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I was “Two Way Journaling” this morning, a spiritual practice I don’t do enough of. It’s writing out your conversation to God, and then waiting to hear in your spirit what God would say to you. I was thanking him for using me to be his “Man on the street” if you will. In other words, it seems as if whenever I am out in public I come across a soul that needs encouragement, acceptance, love, or to be introduced to God.

It humbles me knowing that God would work with me, or I should say through me for I don’t do life in a perfect manner all the time. I think one reason He does reach people through people is to put a physical dimension to the encounter the person is having, for after all, we are made in God’s image, and I strive to be made in his nature.

I often think about those God directed me to, and I wonder, how is their relationship with God now? Are they closer to accepting Truth? Have they learned to take God’s hand and overcome with him their struggles? Below is a comment from one of my faithful readers of this blog, and what she said about a woman God directed her to in a coffee shop. (You can also get to her blog posts by clicking on the link.)

From seekingdivineperspective:

“Thanks for taking the time to write, Mark, and especially for praying. We’ll probably never know this side of heaven what happened to that young woman, but God knows, and I hope we will meet her when we all get there.”

There are a few times we do get to know how things turn out, but those are seldom. For instance; did the lady at a Quick Trip get reacquainted with God and go back to the church her grandmother took her to, or is she still living with the guy she was with that day, hoping for real love? Will a woman at work accept God and his love and allow him to comfort her in the loss of her mother? Did the gentleman I talked to while sitting on a cold sidewalk give God a chance to restore his life and his relationship with his wife and kids?

So it’s important to not hurry out there to run our errands and then hurry back home, or to just go to work and only do what is expected of you,

but while living life, look for opportunities to give life.

For as Life Church declares all the time,

“Whoever finds God, finds life.”

You may not know the results, this side of heaven, but something will happen, and one day, when you get to that side of heaven, you will know, and if the results were good you will probably tear up, and give thanks to God for using you, and be thankful for the work God did in the life of the other person.

Heaven or Hell?

October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

My friend and I were riding the commuter train, from Chicago, home after a long day. Somehow, the conversation turned to God and each of us shared our beliefs on what happens to us when we die.

He said he was convinced, after we die, we are reincarnated.

Then I shared my belief that if we have accepted Jesus Christ, as God’s son, and have invited him to forgive us of our sin, wrong doing, then when we die we spend eternity in heaven. If we don’t accept Jesus Christ, then we spend eternity in hell.

We were able to listen to each other, with respect, but then I told my friend this; “If you are right, then I have nothing to be concerned about. If I am correct, you may have a long time to regret it.

We exited the train, and before heading to our cars, he said, “You sure have given me something to think about.” I hope and pray he has now accepted Jesus, but on that day, he wasn’t ready.

You have to choose one or the other. There is no way around it. There are no excuses for not selecting. You can’t say it is impossible to know, for God reveals himself to everyone.

Romans 1:19-25 (TPT)

¹⁹In reality, the truth of God is known instinctively, for God has embedded this knowledge inside every human heart. ²⁰Opposition to truth cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance because from the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as his eternal power and transcendence. He has made his wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible. So then, this leaves everyone without excuse.

²¹Throughout human history the fingerprints of God were upon them,yet they refused to honor him as God or even be thankful for his kindness. Instead, they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like. This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness. ²²Although claiming to be super-intelligent, they were in fact shallow fools. ²³For only a fool would trade the unfading splendor of the immortal God to worship the fading image of other humans, idols made to look like people, animals, birds, and even creeping reptiles!

²⁴This is why God lifted off his restraining hand and let them have full expression of their sinful and shameful desires. They were given over to moral depravity, dishonoring their bodies by sexual perversion among themselves— ²⁵all because they traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God made rather than the God who made all things—glory and praises to him for eternity of eternities! Amen!

Choose God before it is too late. He has already chosen you, and He loves you more than you will ever know.

Inside the Lines

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 62 I bet they flunked out of Kindergarten for not coloring inside the lines! Are they important? Do they love their car that much? I bet they live life outside the lines too. I mean, they can’t even park their car inside the straight lines provided free of charge.

There seems to be a lot of people these days who only care about themselves. In fact, I think there is a whole generation of people called, “Me llennials.” Just kidding, sort of. These people do what they want, when they want, with little thought of anyone else, as if they are entitled or something.

The only problem with this lifestyle choice is they will have to give account of how they lived. Yes, it’s true, we have free will, but when we all stand before God, will we say, “But God, I…” Some may try, but I have this funny feeling when we see him in all his Glory, we will fall to our knees, and weep, for the words we chose to say, and the things we decided it was okay to do.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12 (AMP)

I have a funny feeling, in that moment, before God, we will have all truth, and it will be in that moment, we will know. I can imagine, for the ones who rejected God, and didn’t choose to live within the lines He provided, free of charge, He will not say a word, but point to a door that will be an exit out of heaven and an entrance into hell. But for the ones who did their best to live a pleasing life to him, accepting his Son, Jesus, He will offer his hand to help us up, and say the most loving words we will ever here.

If the Dead Could Speak, Would You Listen?

October 26, 2019October 25, 2019 / Mark Brady / 4 Comments

Charlie 666 If death somehow gave us truths we didn’t have or didn’t believe while living what would we do with it? Most, would probably want to come back to life to tell those they love and others what they now know. One thing is for sure, when a person dies, they know in an instant there is a God, and there is judgement for how they lived and best, or worst of all, that there is indeed a heaven, and a hell.

Jesus told a true story about such a request from a dead man:

“There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.

“Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’

“The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’

“Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’

“‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’

“Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 (MSG)

Jesus told the people straight up, believe me, believe the Word of God (Bible), believe the many ministers, evangelist, missionaries, family members, friends, co-workers, and yes, bloggers that I have sent to tell you the Good News of the Gospel while you are living. That is; accept Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, wrong doing. After you die, and see these truths for yourself, it will be too late for you to choose God. You say, it’s too hard to believe in something, or someone you can’t see, yet you believe in gravity, and the wind! It takes faith, and God gave everyone a measure of faith to get you started. Please act on it. Don’t live, or should I say die, to regret your decision.

One last thing; “Thank you,” to everyone who reads this blog regularly, or once in a while. Each post starts with prayer, asking God what He wants to say to you. I do my best to transmit his words to your hearts. I pray for you as I write, “Words, inspiring you to grow in God”.

My Last Stop

August 3, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

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Living in the Philippines, for the last six months, has taught me a lot! More than I could have ever imagined. I have observed, and recorded in my mind the people, their lives, their world. I foresee, one of these days, the residents here showing up in a story somewhere.

I have tried my best to settle in, and get comfortable, which is difficult when you are a pampered American. I have done what I could to fit in, but looking so different than them, some wouldn’t let me. Like today, at the time of this writing, I was cursed and the old woman made a spitting motion at my feet three times. I’m not saying I know racism in its fullest now, like some do in America, but I have experienced a taste of it, and it doesn’t taste too good. On the flip side, I have made friends, who call out my name whenever they see me out on the streets. That’s a good feeling no matter where you live!

As I made this place home, there were days I was jolted when the realization hit me, Mark, this is not your home. You’re an alien, a sojourner. Just passing through, for a specific time and purpose. For that matter, America is not my home either. I’m an alien there as well, just passing through for a specific time and purpose.

So where is my residence?

“So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19 (ASV)

After I accepted Jesus, my forwarding address was in heaven, God’s kingdom. As a residence of that land, I have full rights to everything the kingdom of God offers. I’m an heir to the King of Kings. I fit in. Everyone is accepted, no matter how weird they are on earth. Racism doesn’t exist! With nothing but love there, I am making heaven, my last stop.

The Account of Your Life

July 27, 2019July 17, 2019 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Charlie 89 The truth about the bottom line of your life is this:

Whether you choose of your own will, to accept God now, or after you die, is up to you. God has given you that freewill! When you die:

You will stand before Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10
You will confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Philippians 2:11
Then God will open a book. This one will be a “Life Ledger” giving an account of how you spent your time on earth. Revelation 20:12

Did you reject God, and only live for yourself? Or did you live for God, and help others? Possibly you accepted God, but never learned to love. You thought, “I don’t sin too much!” Then there will be those who do well for others, but never accepted God. The level of punishment in hell will be based on the bottom line of your “Life Ledger”. Or, the amount of reward in heaven will be based on the bottom line of your “Life Ledger”. If your wrong doing (sin) here on earth has been paid for, by Jesus’ death on the cross, then the only thing left to your account is good.

Then God will look in the Lambs Book of Life to see if your name is indeed recorded in it, or if it has been blotted out. Revelation 20:15

Think about “blotted out”. That indicates your name was in the book to begin with! Then who took it out? YOU! If your name has not been blotted out, you will be allowed to enter heaven. Otherwise, you will be sent to hell. You will be in either place for eternity. As my cousin once said, “Eternity? That’s like, a very long time!” In fact, “time” will cease because wherever we are, we won’t need it.

So take an account of your life now. Today, before it is too late. What’s your bottom line?

As It Is In Heaven

May 22, 2019May 20, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

(representation of an evil spirit only)

This one was bad. You don’t want the little ones, but you definitely don’t want one of these. It probably registered an 8.7 on the wrecking scale. What God had spent 25 years in the making was about to end in 25 minutes.

Loud, explosive words of hurt and hate spewing from the mouths of Mr. Proud, and Mrs. Stubborn! Satan, no doubt, was in the shadows of darkness cheering with every foul, and fateful word spewed. He probably was ringing his hands, anticipating, the final blow that would end it all. He must have been pleased with his demolition plans, for he loves to kill, steal, and destroy.

Fast forward to today. The couple is still together, and in fact, their love is stronger than ever. How did they do it? They didn’t, Love did. God, knowing their darkest hour had arrived, hearing their invitation for his help, must have dispatched an army of angels to defeat his enemy, and theirs. The couple didn’t know how to stop the eruption of anger and fear, but they knew how to pray, or in this case, scream, out of desperation. What they may not have known, is they were fighting forces unseen.

“In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.” (Eph. 6:10-12 PHILLIPS)

Everywhere people live, there are ruling spirits doing the work of the devil. One such spirit, here in the Philippines, is the spirit of control. It seems to be more prevalent in women, but it is certainly seen in men as well. The way to defeat this spirit is with God’s help, but also by repenting of this spirit in your own life. I have to on a regular basis. One should stop fighting people, especially those they love, and ask God what evil, ruling, spirits are over their land? Once you know, claim your authority, you have in Jesus, and speak to the ruling spirits and tell them, in the name of Jesus Christ, to flee. Then watch how the people around you will change, and live in peace. “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

House Rules

March 23, 2019March 19, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 58 It can be challenging, trying to blend two cultures, but it can also be fun. For instance, I grew up in America where my mother and father had a lot of people over to play card games, eat, and laugh. I thought it was pretty cool. Something I have tried to emulate as an adult.

In the last week, I have been teaching my Filipino wife, American games and card games. Today, I taught her a new card game and while going over the rules, I mentioned they can change depending on whose house you are playing at. It’s called, “House Rules”. Meaning, if you are at one friend’s house, then you play the game according to how they play it there. Sometimes you may not agree with how they play the game, but you are at their house, so it is their rules, that rules the game.

That got me thinking about how we are in God’s house. Not in church, but on his earth. “for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” (Psalms 50:12 NIV) He has made things simple. You can live on his earth, according to your rules, if you want to, but if you want to live forever in his heaven you must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and accept him into your life. To do so otherwise means you spend eternity, dying forever, in hell. It’s his rule, which, should, rule your life.

If you haven’t, consider accepting God’s rule of your life. Doing so helps you get through it, hopefully, with lots of love, friends, family and laughter.

IR

March 2, 2019February 26, 2019 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Charlie 7 I got remarried yesterday evening, after being divorced for twenty-three years. I no longer have to check that dreaded little box, “Divorced”. I married a wonderful woman of God who is a Filipino. The only problem is, I’m an American, and she is not allowed to enter the United States without a Visa, which could take a year or longer to arrive. When she said, “I do,” she became an “IR”. Instant Relative. This status gives her priority over everyone else trying to enter America by any other means. Work Visa, Student Visa, Fiancé Visa, etc. It also gives her access to a “Green Card” and two weeks after she arrives in America she will get her Social Security card. Being an “IR” has instant privileges.

When one accepts God’s free gift of salvation, through his Son Jesus, they instantly become an “IR”. They become a son or daughter to the God of the universe. You will walk around, with a smile on your face, knowing whose you are, that you belong to God, and He is your Abba Father. (Daddy God) That status brings instant privileges as well. Like having access to the throne of God. Being able to walk with him and talk about anything. God will guide you, Jesus will be with you, and the Holy Spirit will comfort you. You have a free Attorney, Jesus, to defend you against Satan’s accusations. Also, there will be free of charge, to you, accommodations in heaven that have no check out date or time, and who could argue with the blessing of eternal life? Yes, being a child of God is good!

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? (Mat. 7:11 MSG)

There are so many reasons to accept Jesus, mainly, because He first loved us. If you are not currently, my prayer is that you will become an “IR” with God.