Close Gifts

December 12, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

red-cross Mary held him close enough to hear him breath. To feel his chest move in and out. To see every radiant color of his eyes. Her heart melted when he smiled. Just think what an honor it must have been to be that close to God. To hold God in your hands.

Jesus said, “For the Father and I are one.” (John 10:30) Mary held God. Today, God can hold you.

When it hurts, when you’re scared, when you’re confused, run into God’s arms. Because God gave us His son, His son gave us God.

Jesus is Lord!!

December 4, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

A young lady in my church, who hides behind a recliner to talk to her parent’s bible study group stands up with boldness in front of her class. The 15 year old shared with them why God should be allowed back into schools. She revealed students have a right to proclaim “Jesus is Lord”. She stood there in the power of the Holy Spirit as He enabled her. In her own might it would never happen, but she loves God and wants to be used by Him.

We are in full blown Christmas mode right now. This is the easiest time of the year to share “Jesus is Lord”. After all, Jesus is the reason for this season. People are hungry for truth and Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. All, who know “Jesus is Lord”, should be watching for opportunities to share their faith. Ready to give an answer to those searching. The Holy Spirit has been drawing them to God. Now we need to be asking the Holy Spirit to help us to be ready and bold, like the young lady in my church.

This holiday season give more than an earthly gift. Give the gift God gave us. His son Jesus. Share with all, why Jesus is the answer to their needs. Give a gift that hopefully no one returns.

“You missed Christmas, Jack”

November 26, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

empty-manger You know it’s the season, you feel the rush. You’re reminded the clock is ticking, but you say, “Hush.” So much to get done, so many people to see. Only a few days till Christmas, can it really be? There’s family and friends, and co-workers too, so many to buy for, what do you do?

One way or another December 25^th will arrive. One way or another you will survive. This Christmas will come and go, but at what cost? This Christmas may go by, but what will be lost? Will you take time to pause, or sit? Or will your heart take a huge hit?

Will you unwrap the greatest gift that has ever been given? The gift from God, the gift from heaven? The gift of his son to set free your heart? The forgiveness of sin on Jesus’ part? Enjoy your friends, and family too, but don’t miss the real reason for Christmas, so here’s what you do. Stop the craziness, resist the pressure, take in Jesus, He is a permanent treasure. Don’t be like Jack from the movie, “The Family Man”. Enjoy this Christmas by having a Jesus plan.

Is it 10:00?

October 8, 2016 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“Betty, what are you doing?” asked the caregiver.

“I have to get dressed. I have a 10:00 appointment.”

“Its 2:00 Betty.”

“Morning, or afternoon?”

“Morning.”

She helped Betty get back into her hospital bed. Betty tried this again two more times.

“But I have an appointment at 10:00. I need to get dressed.”

“Betty, you don’t have an appointment today at 10.”

“Yes I do.”

“Here, let me help you get comfortable in your bed.”

Betty went to be with Jesus at 10:24 AM.

This is a true story. Betty was my great aunt. I wrote about her on her 97^th birthday this past January. I once told her that she has lived so long her friends, already in heaven, might think she passed and went the other direction. In another conversation, “Your place, that Jesus promises to make for us in heaven, must really be something, because it has taken a long time to get it ready.”

We all have an appointment to keep one day. When we too will stand before God. I hope you’re ready like my aunt was.

“I love you Aunt Betty! I’m going to miss you, but I’m glad you are home.”

Betty

To Know

September 4, 2016 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

To know unconditional love;
is to know God.
To know real forgiveness;
is to know Jesus.
To know perfect direction;
is to know the Holy Spirit.

To know pure laughter;
is to know true friends.
To know great joy;
is to know a child.
To know time;
is to know an elderly person.

To know gratitude;
is to feed the hungry.
To know security;
is to clothe the naked.
To know health;
is to visit the sick.

To know peace;
is to know contentment.
To know lasting hope;
is to know faith.
To know wisdom;
is to know the Word of God.

How Close Are You Following?

July 2, 2016July 2, 2016 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Disciple Ducks Yes, I know they are ducks, and the one I labeled Jesus is in reality a female, but “Work with me people!”

Growing up hearing the story of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus had always bewildered me. I would often think, how could he do such a thing? A few years ago, while reading in my quiet time, God shined light upon my curious mind and helped me understand.

Basically it came down to this: Judas Iscariot did not get close to Jesus. He was a disciple, he heard the teachings, and saw the miracles just like the other disciples, but there was a difference; he never totally accepted who Jesus was as the Son of God. He never fell in love with Jesus Christ, because he was too far away from him to really get to know him.

Are we the same as Judas Iscariot today? How close do you follow Jesus? His teachings, or are you, and I guilty of only following the ones we like, or are easy? How little would it take for us to betray Jesus, to turn and walk the other way? A winning lottery ticket? A promotion? A really hot person to date, or a trophy wife? (She probably only came in third.)

The one sure way “not” to betray Jesus is to get close to him, and stay there. To know him personally, and deeply. To fall in love with him, want to serve him, and follow him no matter what is thrown in front of us, to tempt us, to betray him. Some of the other disciples went on to die for Jesus, and for the life he showed us how to live. Judas Iscariot died for himself.

It Isn’t Finished

April 5, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When I was a youth minister in Massachusetts the local ministers from various churches would gather for a pre-Easter service. Seven ministers would get up one by one and share the last seven phrases that Jesus said from the cross. I always wanted to be asked to share number 6, “It is finished”, but I was never asked to, so today I will.

Saying the words, “It is finished” can bring relief. The pain, the distress, the task at hand, or the conflict is over. No more of whatever was causing such discomfort. Those words certainly said a lot for the one who spoke them that day, for he was going down a “dead end!” But was “it” really finished? Sure the work Jesus came here to earth to do was, but I believe our work was just beginning.

Jesus showed us how to live, pray, “be”, love, overcome, deal with evil, trust our heavenly father, face fear and even die. When He said, “It is finished” He might as well gone on to say, “You are just beginning. Now go and show others there is a better way to live. Don’t just tell them, but show them the love of my Father as I have shown you. Convince them that in believing in my death and resurrection there is so much hope it will last for eternity.” For us, it isn’t finished, yet.

Today I Saw Jesus

September 17, 2014 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I work in downtown Chicago. Just walking from the train station to my building I see a lot of humanity. The best and the worst of mankind, but today, today I saw Jesus.

I had run out of my house this morning to catch my train and did not take time to eat breakfast. As a result I stopped by a fast food establishment to pick something up. I saw a woman who appeared to be taking her time in ordering breakfast. The line was getting long. I didn’t know until later that she was ordering something that she usually doesn’t and she wanted to make sure the person behind the counter got it right. I got my order in, grabbed it, filled my drink and hurried out the door, and that is when I saw Jesus.

I saw the woman who had taken so much time ordering, who had held up the line, giving a homeless man his breakfast. She saw me watching, and the next thing I know we were talking. I told her that was very cool. She then said, “If a man is hungry how can you not feed him?” As she went on to share with me the words of Jesus, “Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me–you did it to me.” (Mat. 25:40 MSG), I sensed the Holy Spirit, the presence of God. If Yoda, from “Star Wars”, was a Christian he might say about her, “The Holy Spirit is strong with this one!” It is an awesome feeling to sense God’s presence oozing out of a person who is so filled up with God it can’t help but come out!

I know Jesus would have fed the homeless man too, and he would have also fed his soul. If you look around at humanity you will see there are a lot of people who need to be fed. Here I am talking about their soul’s need to be fed. They need to hear hope. They need to know there is One who knows them, sees them, and not only loves them, but gave his own son for them. They are starving. There is a spiritual famine in this world today. That is why there are so many conflicts going on all over the world. The worse thing is some don’t even know they are hungry. They have ignored the spiritual hunger pains so long they don’t even realize why they hurt inside. Be Jesus today. Be Jesus every day. Feed the multitudes.