Confessing Sin

February 20, 2019February 16, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

charlie 3 I am guilty of expecting perfection of others. I know, it’s wrong. When someone disappoints me and I express it, they are instantly hurt to the core. I hate it when I do it, because I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially the ones I love.

I am trying, by asking God to help me replace expectation with mercy. Then, when one makes a mistake, I will express mercy, and they will feel love. Our Heavenly Father does this very thing for us.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36 NIV)

When Others Say, “What?”

February 8, 2019February 9, 2019 / Mark Brady / 3 Comments

way Whenever you sense God leading you into a new direction, and more questions rise than answers, it can be difficult to say, “Yes” to him. If you share the plan with some others, their lack of knowledge of the power of God can cause them to react in a negative way. Don’t be offended. Don’t let them discourage you. If by now you have walked with God and you know his voice than by all means head it. No matter how crazy it may seem.

Their reactions come from not knowing God’s voice for themselves, or their fears, projected on you, probably stem from a lack of trust, perhaps from young faith. Never-the-less be obedient to God, and let your success be a testimony to them of God’s mighty hand.

My pastor, Joel Budd, of RiverGate Church in Tulsa, OK., has taught me a couple of things regarding this:

Be wise in who you share what with. You do not have to tell everyone what God has directed you to do.
Come up with short phrases to share the plan, or mission. For instance, when I recently moved to the Philippines, I told people I was getting married. Yet I believe there is a whole lot more God wants me to do while I am here than to only cultivate a young marriage.

Following God, no matter what, and letting the results speak for themselves, is wisdom. A healthy fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)

“Joseph, call Clarence.”

February 2, 2019January 30, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

its time Yes, that quote is from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Why am I referencing it? Well, for the last two weeks I have been working many hours a day to prepare for a major move in my life, and I have witnessed God’s mighty hand all along the way.

For instance, I rented my house in ten minutes. My fiancé found us an apartment in one hour that met all of our requirements and came in way under budget. I lost my wallet on a city street and after walking away one and half blocks I realized it. I hurried back to find it on the ground, undisturbed. As this adventure with God has begun, I have seen one miracle after another. I would hear the Holy Spirit whisper who to talk to and when. I made the right calls at the right time that expedited my needs being met, but my favorite testimony is this:

I was stacking my belongings in my storage unit. I had a ladder so I could place items all the way up to the ceiling. I climbed up the ladder with a sofa cushion and was trying to put it in a spot up high. I couldn’t reach it, so I placed one foot over on a pile of furniture, thinking it was stable. It wasn’t! I fell from about six feet up and landed, on my back, on the storage unit’s concrete floor. The fall scared me. I laid there expecting pain, blood, a broken bone, something, but there was none of that. I got up and kept working. Even the next day I had no pain from the fall.

The funny thing was, when I recounted the incident, it felt as if someone had caught me and laid me on the concrete floor. If that’s true then I think in heaven the conversation went something like this:

“Excuse me God, but it’s almost that time on earth when Mark is about to make that bone head move in the storage unit,” said Joseph

“Yes, it is isn’t it?” replied God “Whose turn is it to go down there to help one of my children?”

“Clarence sir.”

“Joseph, call Clarence”

Now I don’t know if the angel’s name was Clarence, and I doubt my blunder got him his wings. But I do know this, living for God, and allowing him to guide, direct and be active in our lives really does make for a wonderful life. I wouldn’t want to live life any other way. If you have not accepted God’s gift, Jesus, his son to forgive you of your sins then do it. Begin right now experiencing what I have learned, and lived for a long time. And thanks to God I have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

INVITE!

January 12, 2019January 11, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

There is something powerful about an invitation! Receiving one can strike a number of emotions within us. It all depends on what we are being invited to, and who is giving the invitation.

Invited to join a pyramid scheme, doesn’t invoke a good reaction. Being asked to come over for dinner, feels good. It says, “I, or we want to spend time with you. You’re valued.” A personal phone call, “I want to hear your voice and catch up.” Invited to join a company, “I see potential in you and I want you to help us grow the business and financially meet your needs as well.” You’re invited to our wedding! “Come and help us celebrate an important event in our life.”

There are lots of types of invitations, but some can have eternal results. There are three ultimate invitations:

Jesus invites us to rest. Wow! “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. (Mat 11:28 MSG)

Jesus invites us to follow him, what an honor. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” (Mar 1:17 MSG)

Jesus invites us to accept him. “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. (Joh 15:4 MSG)

I hope, when Jesus invites you to accept him, if you haven’t, you will. There is one more invitation that you can make and it will change your life! That is inviting Jesus to participate in your life. To talk, comfort and spend time with you. To lead, teach, guide and help you discern the best decisions for your life. Invitations, can be life changing!

Are You an Answer to Prayer?

January 5, 2019January 4, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

triple Twice now, in my life, it has come to my attention that I have been the answer to someone’s prayers. A very humbling experience. The first time there was a new church in Massachusetts praying for a youth minister. They focused on this need one particular night in September. They had no idea how they could do this, because the church was so small they couldn’t afford to pay, but yet they had several youth in the church. Note; despite the facts they prayed. They believed God would hear, and God would answer.

One year later I arrived as their new youth minister who agreed to work with no salary. I went because I knew God would bless my obedience and somehow meet my needs, and that he did. A few months after working in the church I got into a discussion about how I came to be there. One of the church elders told me about the prayer meeting. I pressed to know the actual date. When he recalled and shared the date I realized that was the very night God called me into the ministry. During the following year God got me ready for the ministry.

The second time is more recent. I have been divorced for 23 years or so. A long time. For the most part, I have been content with my situation. I had even said I didn’t want to be married again, that I was okay. Then in the past year, something begin to change. I started hearing several testimonials of success from online dating. Something I did not believe in. Also I started meeting women who had come to America from the Philippines and were happily married. They shared their stories, and encouraged me to try.

One Friday afternoon I found myself filling out a profile on a Filipino dating site. I submitted it and my matches came up. As soon as I saw April’s cute face my heart was captivated. I read her profile and was hopeful. Could she be real? I wondered. I found her on Facebook and sent her a message. I never expected to hear from her but two hours later I did.

We begin texting a lot. Every chance we could. Then, I called her. She was so shy but cute. Eventually, we took one giant step and video called. Wow! She’s real, and I haven’t been talking to a man in Yemen. As the conversations continued, our hearts became knitted. I decided it was time to go meet her and her family in person.

I traveled the 7000 plus miles. After being there several days I learned that April and her family had been praying for years for a man to marry her. I have come to accept that I am the answer. The only way to be the answer to someone’s prayer is by yielding to God’s will. To be willing to go, do, and say as he directs. I’m not special, just willing. There may be a people group in a foreign country praying for you, or a manager praying for a dedicated worker. Whatever the case may be, I hope you look beyond your own desires and accept God’s desires for your life.

Do You Have a Pulpit?

January 2, 2019January 1, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

…I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! (Phi 1:20 MSG)

Jollibee

December 21, 2018December 22, 2018 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20181220_215148 On a recent trip to the Philippines, I saw a lot of life I had never seen before. I experienced several new things as food, phrases, and culture. One thing that I couldn’t help but notice was the local rival to McDonalds, Jollibee. It has what McDonalds has as well a local favorite, chicken with rice and gravy.

Something that really stood out were the people. One, there were a lot of them. Two, as in America, there were different classes of them, but the lowest class seemed to be living in a darkness like I had never seen. Their eyes were so dim, as if the light was about to go out of their lives. They certainly have nothing to “bee jollie” about.

I looked at some and managed to do or say something that brought a small smile to their faces, but soon, the reality of their world would return, and the smiles faded. In those moments, what I really wanted was the time and the ability to share in their local language, Tagalog the hope of Jesus Christ that is within me. Just knowing Jesus is there with me in this life brings joy. He gives me a reason to “bee jollie”.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Ps. 42:11 NIV)

Cleaning up Life

December 12, 2018November 30, 2018 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

20181130_231402 I was going through my father’s papers the other day. I had to keep some of them, but most of them were old records about his life that were no longer of value, so I shredded them. While going through that process I thought about a man’s life, and the summation of it all. Is the end result a bag of shredded documents? I hope not.

Our lives, our legacies should live on after we are said and done. The love we showed others should still be echoing off the walls of their hearts. The kind deeds we expressed should still be bringing smiles to the ones who received them. Love, is the only thing that will endure to the end. Knowing this, it becomes paramount that we learn how to love unconditionally. The only way to do that is to fall in love with the One who is love, and that is God.

“The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love–so you can’t know him if you don’t love.” (1Jo 4:8 MSG)

Fashionably Late

December 8, 2018November 30, 2018 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

red-cross I 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!

Drawn by Love

November 28, 2018November 27, 2018 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Jesus 1 I once had a neighbor, who on the way to the hardware mega store asked, “Why are you so different?” I had helped them with several needs after they had moved into their new home. He asked, I told him. The truth appealed to him and his wife, and they accepted Jesus.

Do people in your world know you believe in God? Can they tell you have accepted Jesus Christ and you live your life for him? Do they think you are a Jesus freak, or a normal person who happens to love God, a lot?

Jesus hung out with people, who the Pharisees judged as “sinners”. Jesus called them people who needed his love. This means that even though Jesus spoke about his Father in heaven, and believing in him, the people still wanted to be around him. They were drawn to him, because he showed love. Jesus met them where they were. He didn’t change his actions or message when in the presence of people of the world, but turned up the love!

Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways. I’m not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. (Joh 17:15-16 MSG)

We would be wise to follow Jesus’ example. People will be drawn to us because of our love, and then they will be interested in hearing our message of Jesus.