Everything?

March 13, 2019March 11, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 56 If you have tried everything, does that list include Jesus?

Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. (John 14:6 MSG)

No One Ever Treated Me That Way

March 9, 2019March 8, 2019 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

tricycle

I am a middle aged man, and have been driving a tricycle in Baliuag, Philippines for many years, but today, today I experienced something for the first time. I’m not sure what to call it, but it felt good. You see, this couple, I picked up for fare, while on their way to their destination wanted to stop at 7 Eleven and get something to drink. Just before the man entered the store he stopped, turned to me, and asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

I didn’t know how to respond, and before I could think about it, I responded with a, “Yes. Whatever you are getting.” When he returned he handed me a large bottle of a soft drink. In fact, my drink was larger than his. I was shocked, stunned, and didn’t know what to think or say. “Thank you,” I finally said.

As I dropped them off at their final destination, the man asked me, “How much?” I wanted to say, “No charge,” but the truth is I really needed the money for my family. He said, “I’ll decide how much.”, and he handed me a lot more than the fare should have been. I watched with stunned feelings as the nice couple walked away. His last words still echoing in my head, “Sir, I bless you today, because God blesses me. He loves me, and he loves you too!” Perhaps I should get to know such a loving God.

We never know who we will encounter each day. It is important to be lead by the Holy Spirit to know what to say, or do, when He prompts us to, and then to be obedient. James 3:10 refers to curses and blessing coming out of the same mouth and how this shouldn’t be, but also be aware that the same hands can hurt, or give blessings. Let’s bless others with our mouths, and with our hands.

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.

My Rights

February 27, 2019February 26, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

20171209_162330 “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

Above is the “Miranda Rights”, which you have heard on TV or in a movie. In heaven, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, these rights will go something like this:

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in the court room of heaven by Satan. You have a right to an attorney. You cannot afford the One True Attorney, but He, Jesus, will be appointed for you.”

Jesus, has already paid the full penalty, death, for your wrong doing. Case dismissed. You are free to go.

Enough?

February 23, 2019February 22, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

charlie 3 When is enough, enough? Have you had it with an individual, or a workplace? What about a country? You scream so loud on the inside you’re surprised that dogs don’t howl! Why do people, work rules, or a countries procedures have to be ridiculous? If they made sense, or had a justifiable reason behind them, then fine, so be it. For someone to say, “But that’s the rule,” or “that’s the way it is,” over and over doesn’t help either. It hurts, beating your head against the wall repeatedly, trying to find a sliver of logic to it all when the truth is, there is none!

I imagine there will come a day, when God says to his Son, “Enough.” God is patient, and long suffering, but He too can only take so much. He did it in the days of Noah, and with Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus will know what his Father is saying is, “Go, and bring my people home. Deliver them from the sin, the injustices, from the insanity, from those who “think” they are in control, the hypocritical, from those that oppress, and from the work of the evil one.” Jesus will stand up and make his way to earth, and the trumpet will sound.

“But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36 MSG)

Be encouraged. The way this world is going where right is wrong, and wrong has become right, it won’t be long before God will say, “Enough!”

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.