Distracted?

July 15, 2022July 9, 2022 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Have you seen the latest trending show on Netflix? Played the new version of the hottest video game on the market? What level are you up to of the newest game on your phone? Are you wearing the current fashions? Do you know what happened to the big Hollywood star?

I am Life and Light in abundance. As you spend time “soaking” in My Presence, you are energized and lightened. Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders. By gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life. This time alone with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you.
Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. Opposition comes in many forms: your own desire to linger in bed; the evil one’s determination to distract you from Me; the pressure of family, friends, and your own inner critic to spend your time more productively. As you grow in your desire to please Me above all else, you gain strength to resist these opponents. Delight yourself in Me, for I am the deepest Desire of your heart.
July 1 – “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young

The enemy, the devil, the hater of God, will do anything and everything to distract us! He strives to get us to exit the presence of God. If the pressure of staying up with and knowing the latest doesn’t tempt us, he will often try to insert “drama” into your life.

After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Cor. 2:11 (MSG)

So if you feel left out at the water cooler because you don’t know, haven’t watched, haven’t played, or haven’t heard – rejoice! Perhaps you don’t know because it didn’t come up when hanging out with God, talking to Jesus, or being led by the Holy Spirit.

Diabolical

September 14, 2021September 17, 2021 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

In pouring through the case file I came across a photo of the woman, we were after, and her young son. As I studied the photograph I saw he was holding a large, light blue teddy bear. The photo was old because the bear was almost as big as he was back then, but now he is much older. “That’s it!” I thought. “We’ve got her now.”

A few hours later, we were in place. The woman was hiding out in an old abandoned warehouse. She had been on the run for a few years now. She made no purchases herself or appeared in public. She had help, a support network to keep her whereabouts secret. That is until one of those with her turned against her and disclosed her location to one of my associates.

I walked up to the front of the warehouse carrying the bear. The same one her son used to have. I walked away and then we announced over a bullhorn that we had her son. A few minutes later the door to the warehouse opened and someone, other than her, reached through it and grabbed the bear. About fifteen minutes later the woman gave herself up.

This peaceful capture of a fugitive worked because we hit her where she was weak. We realized she probably struggled every day with the guilt of leaving her son behind in order to live a life of crime, and to stay hidden so she could be what she thought was free. But what kind of freedom is it to never be able to show your face in public, or hug your son?

Okay, in full disclosure, I borrowed the above plot, with a little bit of tweaking from a well written, popular TV drama on Netflix. I did so to make a couple of points:

Satan knows where you are weak, and he will do anything to attack you in that place. He does not play fair at all. His operation is completely diabolical. He hates God, and to him, you are nothing but a pawn in the battle over souls. The devil lies, steals, and cheats to build his kingdom. God uses love to build his kingdom. And He gave as well. He gave us his only Son to die for us, so we could live.
True freedom is in Christ Jesus. Having your sins forgiven, your wrong doing wiped away by the action of Jesus on the cross. You see, when your sins are forgiven there is nothing the devil can use to attack you. You don’t live with guilt, or regret. You have the word of God that can be used against the devil to resist temptation as well. But wait, there’s more! You have the power of all of heaven on your side to help fight the battle and to stand firm.

Stop the sneaky attacks of Satan once and for all. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and enter into a realm of living in freedom. Bask in the love of God and share this Truth with others, so they too can experience God, experience life the way God intended it to be.

“Happy? Pappy?”

March 26, 2021March 23, 2021 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Technology, computers were supposed to make our lives easier. Give us more time to sit back and enjoy life, friends and family. Can anyone say that is the case in their life? Doesn’t it seem as if there is always somewhere we have to be and something we have to do? Are you caught up on the latest hot shows? Then there is the constant ringing, dinging, buzzing of our cell phones. Here’s the latest news, latest text from friends, family and work. Do you ever want to roll the car window down and chuck it? Then there are the calls you don’t want. “Spam Risk” my phone now alerts me. And if I want to extend my car’s warranty, I’ll call you!

We deal with this manic life day in and day out. It begs the question, “What, or who are we living for?” What is at the end of it all? And when you get there, will you be happy? Will you look back at it all and be satisfied? Will you be able to say your life was one that was well lived?

Paul, the apostle from the Bible, didn’t have to be connected all the time, but I’m sure there were things that brought on similar feelings and situations we face today. Yet he was able to put things in proper perspective. Here are his own words, spoken at the end of his life:

^“You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.” 2 Tim. 4:6-8 (MSG)

Paul lived his life for God. The man was sold out to his commitment to be God’s servant. He went where God wanted him to go. He did what God wanted him to do, and he said whatever God asked of him to say. The beatings he suffered made his determination more fervent. The many mishaps as he traveled to spread the gospel speared him on to reach his destinations. Paul looked at the results of his devoted life to God and was happy at the end. Satisfied.

If your life isn’t truly and honestly fulfilling, know that it can be. Living for God, by God’s word will bring such peace and happiness to anyone’s life when placed in the proper perspective. Is it easy, no, but is it worth it, yes! I challenge you to try it. Start today, for your connected life to the world may delay you , or worse, prevent you from ever obtaining true happiness.