Real Life

February 28, 2025February 18, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Have you ever read something or heard something and had a new thought? Something that has never crossed your mind before? That happened to me today. Now, I have listened to or read Psalms 23 many times. Most of you probably have as well.

The line: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” got a new thought today.

The part that got my attention was the “shadow of death.” It is not actually “death” but its shadow. Shadows may appear scary, but they are not as frightening as the thing that is casting the shadow. Then, and this is big, there can only be a shadow if there is light! Jesus said of himself that he is light. In fact, the light of the world.

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

No wonder one doesn’t have to fear evil when they go through a valley or time in their life that can be filled with uncertainty because “thou (Jesus) art with me!” It’s comforting to know that Jesus, our shepherd, walks with us in life. He leads us and guides us like beside “still” waters so we can quench our thirst. Or to tables so we can eat relaxed, even in the presence of our enemies. If you miss what is going on here, it’s this: if you can trust Jesus with your life, you can live life even though things around you are not as good as you would desire them to be.

You will be comforted; you will be anointed so the smallest parasites of life can’t harm you. In fact, although life may be unstable around you, you will be blessed beyond anything you can imagine. Goodness and mercy will follow you wherever you go, and then, at the end of it all, you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

It’s not a bad gig for simply placing your trust in Jesus. You’ve got nothing to lose and real life to gain. The kind of life God intended for you all along.

It’s Inside You. Use It.

October 10, 2023October 10, 2023 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Imagine yourself sitting at a table participating in a dinner party. Everyone is having side conversations while eating. You hear this gentle roar with the clinking of silverware on the plates. Waiters are moving about refilling drinks and ensuring everyone has what they need to enjoy their meal.

Suddenly, you hear a commotion and see people pushing back from a table and others jumping up. Still, a few gathered fine cloth napkins, and two kneeled on the floor. You’re not sure what happened.

⁶We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. ⁷If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. ⁸Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully. Rom. 12:6-8 (NIV)

You now figured out what had happened. One of the dinner participants spilled their water. Almost immediately, you witness individuals reacting according to how they are gifted.

Those who serve gathered the napkins, and other servers got on the floor to soak up the water. A giver took an unused glass of water and cheerfully gave it to the now-embarrassed diner. Another diner, with the gift of prophecy, turned and said to the person next to them, “I knew that was going to happen.” Then, one with the gift of teaching turned to the one who spilled their water and gently suggested that they put their drinking glass behind their plate when they finished drinking a drink. Placing it near the table’s edge was an accident waiting to happen.

After people turned away from the incident, one encourager quietly moved in and encouraged the red-faced guest to forget about it and return to eating and having a good time. The head waiter came over to ensure the mess was cleaned up and then leaned in, showing mercy, and said, “Don’t worry about it. We all have done it at one time or another.” After the dinner, the main speaker went to the podium and, before giving her speech, said, “Let us all move our waters toward the middle of the tables as I move mine away from my speech.” Some laughed. She was a natural leader.

If you were at that dinner party, what would you have done? When you read this story, what was your natural reaction? Your first thought? Your answer to that question is a natural indicator of how you are wired. Or to your natural gifting.

That gift is from God. So I ask, “Are you using your gift?” More importantly, “Are you using it for the One who gave it to you?” I hope so, and I highly encourage you to. It would be a shame not to use a gift because gifts are made to be given away.

Growing Up

August 9, 2022August 9, 2022 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“Mark, if you could find a way to invest as little as $25 a month, you would see your investment grow and grow over time. Yes, stocks do go up and down, but over a, say thirty-year time frame, they increase.” I did. I started my Roth IRA account by only depositing $25 a month, and twenty-nine years later, he was right. By the time I needed to use the money, it had grown beyond my wildest dream.

I eventually increased my deposit to $50 and later doubled it to $100 monthly. And I think I recall making a one-time deposit of a few thousand dollars, but the point is, it grew.

The other day I was thinking about my growth in God, and I was a little frustrated that by now, I had not matured to me to a higher level. Quickly the Holy Spirit comforted me and showed me an image similar to the one in this post. I thought about the picture and realized that over time I have grown, and given more time, I will grow and mature in God even more.

Therefore, I must not quit and should not beat myself up when I stumble or fail. I should continue to fight the good fight of faith with God’s grace and help. The growth will come if you are consistent with your investment. When it comes to God, that means spending time in His word and talking to him on a regular basis. It’s listening to good sound Biblical teachings and being around others who can share what they have learned and experienced.

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Phi. 1:6 (MSG)

Because He Is

October 16, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 12 God, I worship you, and praise your name, because you are:

Love

Patient

Kind

Merciful

Good

Long Suffering

Forgiving

Creative

You Want the Best for Me

You Endure

You Never Fail

Worthy

Deserving

God

Father God, it’s my privilege to know you, love you back, and worship your Holy name. I can’t even begin to fathom where I would be in life without you, God. Possibly, I would have everything the world says I should in order to claim a successful, rich, and happy life, but I know without you, I would be bankrupt! I would have nothing. Thank you, God, for everything that matters.

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)