The Purpose of Christmas

December 12, 2025November 15, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When December rolls around, it’s easy to get swept up in the glittering lights, festive music, and the rush of holiday shopping. While these traditions bring joy and togetherness, the true meaning of Christmas runs much deeper—it’s about love, hope, and the gift of presence over presents.

At its heart, Christmas is a celebration of light breaking into darkness. For Christians, it marks the birth of Jesus Christ, a moment that symbolizes God’s love and the promise of redemption. But even beyond faith traditions, the season carries a universal message: kindness, generosity, and connection matter more than material things.

Christmas invites us to show love in tangible ways—through compassion, forgiveness, and time spent with those who matter most. It’s a reminder that relationships are the real treasures of life.

The story of Christmas is one of hope against all odds. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or global uncertainty, the season whispers that brighter days are ahead.

Gift-giving is beautiful when it reflects thoughtfulness rather than obligation. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are not bought—they’re shared moments, heartfelt words, or acts of service.

Amid the noise, Christmas offers a chance to slow down, reflect on the year, and realign with what truly matters. It’s a season to let go of grudges and embrace peace.

The true meaning of Christmas isn’t meant to fade when the decorations come down. Carrying its spirit into everyday life—through kindness, gratitude, and empathy—can transform not just the season, but the entire year.

In the end, Christmas is less about what’s under the tree and more about who’s around it. It’s about hearts opening, hands giving, and hope shining brightly, and of course, God’s love in motion that forgives the sins of the world through Jesus.

(I have been experimenting with AI. A good portion of this blog post was written via AI.)

Heroes of the Faith

October 3, 2025October 3, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, Elijah, and many more. They could all be counted as “Heroes of the Faith.” But today, I would have to add another name to that list. A true woman of God, Margie McQueen. I sat and cried, and laughed a little, as we celebrated her life today. A life lived so well that she had to have heard Jesus say, “Well done, Margie, and welcome home.”

How do I know she heard those words? There is no doubt that Margie loved God and people. Many spoke loving words about how she had touched their lives and the lives of their families. She was a prayer warrior to say the least. She was a prophetess as God would show her things while in prayer, sometimes well before they came to pass. Many times, in a church service, she would be used of God to exhort, comfort, and encourage the flock. She definitely had and operated in the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are still operating in our days if we will only listen and be willing to be used of God. (1 Corinthians Chapters 12 & 14)

As others shared their favorite “Margie” moments, I couldn’t help but remember my own. When I was thirteen, the Carbondale Assembly of God church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hired me to mow the lawn. Margie was the pastor’s wife at the time. The property sat on ten acres and had a lot of grass, and Oklahoma summers can get extremely hot.

The pastor’s parsonage’s kitchen window faced the big front lawn of the church. I would be mowing and sweating. Margie would see me, and at times, would bring out the best chocolate shakes I have ever had, and probably ever will! They were so delicious and refreshing and full of love. In full confession, after the first shake, whether I knew if she was home or not, or watching me or not, when I was close to that kitchen window, I wiped my brow and acted as if I couldn’t make it in the heat unless I had a chocolate shake. Sometimes it worked, but not every time.

Thank you again, Margie, for the chocolate shakes, but more importantly for the love. And for showing all of us who were watching how to be a servant of the living God. Your daughter, Jeanie, said you liked to sparkle. Perhaps tonight, if I am outside, I will look up and smile as you do in heaven.

If God assigns me to mow grass in heaven, I’m going to ask to mow your lawn, Margie, and look for you smiling in your kitchen window. I know I thanked you for the shakes back then, but I don’t recall saying this when you were among us. “I love you, too, Margie.”

Are You Being Goaded?

September 30, 2025September 27, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

People come to God in different ways. I had a coworker who was seeking God. He traveled to the Grand Canyon and declared, “There must be a God!” Sitting on the rim, he accepted God’s gift of salvation, had his sins forgiven, and began his walk with God. Others may be moved by a situation or circumstance that takes place in life.

Saul, from the Bible, was highly educated. He had heard Jesus’ claims and teachings, as it was always a popular topic of discussion. Why? Because Jesus promoted living a life of love. This went against the culture of the day, and to this day! Saul was there when Stephen was martyred. He heard Stephen’s speech and saw his face as it glowed there at the end of his life, and it messed with him severely! Saul was goaded. (Acts 6:8 – 7:60)

Saul eventually accepted Jesus Christ. During his conversion:

And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance]. Acts 9:5 (AMPC)

Goad means – provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

More recently, Jimmy Kimmel got teary-eyed when he talked about Erika Kirk forgiving the man who killed her husband. Jimmy, too, is highly educated. He lives a very different life from the one Charlie did, and Erika Kirk still does. I believe Jimmy Kimmel is starting to feel some goads. Erika’s willingness to forgive is messing with his mind. He doesn’t understand how she can do that because it’s the way of love.

Acts of selfless love penetrate one’s mind and spirit.

I guarantee you, there are a lot of individuals walking all around us who are struggling with the message and lifestyle of Jesus Christ and of those who follow him. The Holy Spirit is drawing them quietly to God. That is one of his duties. He convicts men of their sins and shows them they need forgiveness in order to have real life.

If you are related to an individual going through this, or you work with, or live near, pray for them. Pray they will stop fighting against the goads and surrender their will to God’s. Their future and where they spend eternity depend on it. If it is you, then do the right thing and live.

Here’s the Problem

September 23, 2025August 14, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

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. 1 John 4:8

That scripture also indicates that if you don’t know God, then you will struggle to trust him. If you are having difficulty trusting him, then you will be prone to lean upon your own understanding.

^5-12Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. Prov. 3:5-12 (MSG)

It’s that first step of faith that we are unsure of. Like a child just learning to walk. They want to walk, in truth, they want to run, because running can put a smile on your face. Unless, of course, you are running from danger. But our faith journey starts with one step, and when we see we are still standing, we are then willing to take the next one.

The same goes with God! You have to take that first step. In fact, you already have. You had faith that He existed and that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins. So now take the second step and trust him with something that is going on in your life. Then the third, and soon you will not simply find yourself walking with God but running! Usually, the runner is extremely confident in where they are going. But for us, we run with God and we are confident in Him!

That is why Paul said:

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 2 Tim. 4:7 (NET)

In order to run, you have to first walk. In order to walk, you have to have knowledge that you can trust. To gain knowledge of God, you have to get to know him. You do that by reading his word and talking to him, and learning to love. Then you attend a church that teaches the word of God and promotes that you have a deep personal relationship with him. Doing so will put a smile on your face.

New To Love

September 2, 2025July 30, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

The other day, I met a man who was holding a cute little girl. I soon found out it was her one-year-old birthday. She looked around at everybody taking it all in, but you could see in her eyes that she didn’t know what to make of it.

As I spoke to the man, I learned that he and his wife are foster parents. He shared with me that over the years, they had taken in eighteen children, and the little girl he was holding was number nineteen. I know some people become foster parents to receive state money, but you can tell this couple does it because they genuinely love children.

As I talked to the little girl, wishing her a “Happy Birthday,” and all, I got a sense that this small child came from a home where love did not exist. I imagined she heard a lot of shouting and hateful words. She had probably cried more tears than one her age should have. I was moved as I began to realize this little one was “new to love.” For the first time in her life, she was going to be loved on and feel what it is like to know God’s love. I was happy for her.

Some people go a long time before they feel “loved.” Some may go for a lifetime without knowing it. If they haven’t experienced God’s love, they can. By accepting his Son, Jesus, into their life, they have all of their wrongdoing forgiven. You begin trusting God with all aspects of your life, and when He does things for you that blow your mind, you feel loved.

Seeing God love on people is one of the things that will get me to tear up quickly. It’s amazing. I got the experience last week to do a favor for a lady in the grocery store. She couldn’t reach an item that she wanted. Now, I’m not that tall, but I was tall enough that day to help her. The funny thing is, I changed how I normally shop in that store, allowing me to be at the right place at the right time. I saw her in the parking lot and I stopped to let her know that God wanted to love on her when she needed help. She said she was aware of that and felt his love.

Whether new to love, real love, God’s love, or not, being loved and feeling love is a wonderful thing. I think that is why it is the foundation of all that God does, and of who He is. It is also why his word emphasizes love so much for those who follow after him.

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with 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. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 1 John 4:7-10 (MSG)

We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rules!

August 19, 2025July 18, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When I was a little boy, I didn’t understand why the school cafeteria always served fish sticks on Fridays. As I got older, I learned it was because people who followed the Catholic faith couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. I don’t mean any disrespect, but what in the world does that “rule” have to do with accepting Jesus Christ and having your sins forgiven?

I have read the Bible several times and from different versions, and I have never seen that “rule” in the Word of God. And for that matter, I have never seen that we had to go to a man to confess our sins, but rather we could go to God himself. And nowhere did I read that when we pray, we have to face East. (Some people, directionally challenged, might find that one difficult.)

Again, I don’t mean any disrespect, but isn’t it obvious that these and other “rules” are man-made? I kind of get it, some feel they need to “do” something to “earn” their way into heaven. As if they can be “good” enough to deserve heaven. The truth is, they can never be “good” enough or “do” enough to get into heaven. There is only one way into heaven, and I stated earlier that is by asking Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins, wrongdoings, and to ask Him into your life, thus foregoing the “rules” and starting a “relationship” with God.

I have heard that “religion” (rules) is man’s way to God, but God’s way to man is through his Son, Jesus (relationship).

Some may say, “Wait a minute, Christianity is full of rules.” No, it’s not. Christianity is a lifestyle. A way to live that is based in love. Loving God first and then loving others as you love yourself. Christianity is freedom. Walking with God and talking to him anytime you want to. Just like He intended, and the way things started out with Adam and Eve.

If you haven’t tried living life God’s way, then what are you waiting for? What are you afraid will happen? You are only delaying real life, true living, so forget the “rules” and start walking with God. You’ll love it, you’ll love Him, and you will love others.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Mat. 22:37-40 (MSG)

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
Acts 5:29 (NLT)

First Place Trophy?

August 1, 2025June 30, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

One man bragged that he had a trophy wife. His buddy said, “Yeah, but she came in sixth place!”

I know a man, and the second time I had a conversation with him, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Watch out for this man. Don’t get too close to him and guard what you say to him.” He started sharing with me his religious trophies. In other words, what he thought he had done “for God,” but in reality, he did them for himself. There was one such trophy that shocked me when he shared it. He seemed proud of it, too, which bothered me. It was something that didn’t seem right, for one who claims to be a Christ follower, to be a part of.

I’m sorry I can’t reveal more about what he told me because it is possible that some who read these blogs know him and I have always strived not to expose people for what they are, but to make a point. Who this man is isn’t important, but his being “religious” is!

Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. Jam. 1:26-27 (MSG)

Focusing on the part of the above verse that is labeled as “Real religion” is really about “love.” God’s love. Simply loving on people. Bob Goff wrote a book about it titled “Love Does.” I’ve had the opportunity to hear Bob speak in person. One story he shared I can’t forget.

He said he was picked up at the airport in a limo. On his way to his hotel, he asked the young driver, “Have you ever ridden back here?” “No,” said the chauffeur. Bob says he thought for a moment and then said, “Why don’t you pull over and get back here and I’ll drive for you.” “What?” exclaimed the driver. “Of course, if we do this, you have to let me wear the hat!” They exchanged places. The young man had never been shown or felt such love.

Doing something out of the ordinary for someone else gets their attention. They sit up and start paying attention to why this person is different than anyone they have ever met. Many times, they will even ask, “Why are you doing this?” Or, “Why are you different?” Jesus dined with tax collectors, and they were considered bad people. He became friends with a woman caught in adultery. He understood and didn’t condemn when a woman went against her culture to touch the hem of his garment.

Those people didn’t see “religion,” they saw “love in motion.” Jesus never dragged out his trophies of all the miracles he had performed and showed them off. He never had the disciples stop and polish them either. Jesus simply loved, and talked about his heavenly Father and a better way to live.

Would You Take 5 Minutes?

July 8, 2025July 9, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Have you noticed how every store and company lately is asking you to take a few minutes to fill out their survey? They sometimes entice you by saying your name will be entered for a “chance” to win a prize. I have often wondered if anyone “ever” wins. One definition of the word “survey” is to investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking them questions.

I don’t think I am brave enough to send a survey to April, but if I did, I might get her to take five minutes and fill it out if I offered her the “chance” to go on a shopping spree. The survey would probably look something like this:

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is “Not satisfied at all,” and 10 is “Very satisfied,” rate Mark on the following issues. Please circle your response.

“How is Mark doing with helping out around the house?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How is Mark doing with seeing your needs?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How is Mark doing with loving you?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How likely are you to want to stay in this marriage with Mark?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How likely are you to tell a friend about how Mark is doing?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“Is there anything you would like Mark to do better?”
Comment: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

“Please list anything you would like Mark to change.”
Comment: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

“May we contact you concerning your responses?”

I don’t need to send April a survey. Over the last five, no wait, six years, I have noticed that when I am doing a good job, she sings around the house. She is more relaxed. She gets funny and goofy, which I love.

The other day, she was throwing items into our shopping cart as if they were basketballs. Then, when she wanted to verify that the item she wanted to purchase was the correct one, she opened the package in the store and said, “This is America. I can do this!” (You don’t open items in stores in the Philippines.) Both actions made me laugh.

So, today, I got it right. I loved on April enough to cause her to sing. It’s almost as if when I hugged her or squeezed her, joy came oozing out.

His anger lasts only a moment.
But his kindness lasts for a lifetime.
Crying may last for a night.
But joy comes (oozing out) in the morning.
Ps. 30:5 (ICB) [words in parentheses, mine.]

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16

Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
James 5:13b

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:2

Life, When Not on Stage

June 13, 2025June 3, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Most people share their “happy moments” on Facebook. Smiles and friendly hugs. Love and happiness. But what do snapshots of their lives look like when they are not intending to post on Facebook? When they are not on stage?

I tend to be a private individual unless being open helps me minister to someone. But other than those times, I would rather keep my struggles, weaknesses, and bad thoughts to myself! Our pastor admitted last Sunday that he hates getting behind people who walk slowly. And that he had just spent several days the previous week at the Magic Kingdom. Probably the capital of people who walk slowly. He said he doesn’t wish them harm but like a virus to come upon them that would prevent them from being there.

I get it. I used to fuss in my head about senior citizens being at the grocery store after I got off work. I just wanted to run in, grab what I needed, and get out, but “No,” I had to deal with them in front of me. I used to think you had all day to be here. Why now? Now that I am counted among them, I understand how hard it is to get out of bed, get dressed, and get motivated to leave the house.

And that’s the kindest of my evil thoughts. I have worse ones than that. And sometimes those thoughts lead to bad actions that I certainly wouldn’t want posted on social media.

Whenever we encounter a situation that we don’t like, a bell will go off, and our first thought is to respond out of our flesh. But if we can pause just long enough, a second bell will go off, and we can choose to act in a spirit of love, demonstrating one of the fruits of the Spirit. Or multiple ones, in my case! The challenge then becomes reducing the amount of time between the bells going off.

The truth is this: we are always on stage before God. He sees our actions, hears our words, and knows our darkest thoughts. We should strive to always walk in love and by the Spirit. In my case, if I did, fewer people would get hurt. Knowing how difficult that is, I pray and ask God all the time to help me represent him well.

²and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Eph. 5:2 (NET)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23 (NET)

“You Give Love a Bad Name”

June 6, 2025May 26, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

You live life however you want to. It’s all about you. You are the only one that matters. Your opinions are always right. You build yourself up while putting others down. It’s your way or no way.

Have you ever met someone like that? I hope you aren’t married to one. It’s bad enough when you have one in your family. If you must deal with someone who lives like that, then you know firsthand how difficult it is. You also know how many times they have hurt you. I’m sorry if you have.

To make matters worse, they will lie about you and spread lies. Truth is whatever “they” believe. They tend not to have any true friends. And the ultimate insult is when they go to church and claim to have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. They give love a bad name!

I have known a few. Most people probably do, too. I have thought about one of them, in particular, standing before God. I wonder if He will say, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Now, I’m not judging them, but it is biblical to judge the fruit of their life. And I gotta say, it’s sour!

When one accepts Jesus into their life, it should change them. They should trust him to help them deal with whatever demons are slow to come out of them. There may be reasons, valid ones, as to why they are full of hate, but after inviting Jesus to rule and reign in their life, they need to let those things go.

“Christian” means follower of Christ. If you claim to be a Christian, then you should strive to be like him, full of love. Loving people as you love yourself after loving God first. Reading his word, the Bible, learning what truth really is, and walking it out daily.

If you are one of these types of individuals, then I pray for God to help you and let him do a work in you. You can overcome anything going on now and anything that happened in your past that might be causing you to be resentful or, perhaps, jealous of others and their lives.

Don’t be a person who gives love a bad name. Be known as one who, no matter what, loves. And one who walks this planet with the presence of God about them, demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit. If you do, you will probably find others wanting to be around you instead of avoiding you. He’s got this because He’s got you. Give love a good name.

¹⁶You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Mat. 7:16-20 (NLT)

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (NIV)

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Mat. 7:21-23 (ESV)