peace

Dreaming in Living Color

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via AI.

For the last couple of weeks, I have had some really wild, dramatic, and sometimes unnerving dreams. Not nightmares per se, but ones that caused me to say when I woke up, “Boy, am I glad that was a dream!”

Last night’s dream took the cake.

“They’re poisoning you. Your mother and sister are adding poison to your food. I think they are trying to trick you out of signing over your inheritance from Uncle Bill to them, including his mansion,” said a person who was also being held captive. I started trying my best to eat only a little, but to move the food around on my plate to make it look as if I had eaten most of it.

“I want my phone now,” I insisted. “Ha! No problem,” said my mother. “Your sister drained the battery.” She handed me the phone. I dialed “911.” Well, the joke’s on you. Phones keep a reserved amount of power for emergency calls.” I put the phone on speaker. “911, what’s your emergency?” I started explaining the situation as my sister took off. “You can run, but you can’t hide,” I told her.

I got out of the house and ran across the street to my uncle’s mansion. The next thing I knew, Uncle Bill’s brothers and sisters began to arrive. Then people from the community started coming in and snooping. “We always wanted to see the inside!” one proclaimed. Another exclaimed, “We’re looking for the stash of diamonds he had.

More and more people came pouring in. I would get one group out only to watch another one enter. I shut the doors, but they opened them anyway and came in. It was a wild scene. Loud and the people had on extravagant outfits. I finally yelled out, “Turn out the lights!”

That’s when I woke up with my heart racing, and I immediately proclaimed, “Boy, am I glad that was a dream!” Knowing God has the answers to every question, I asked him, “God, what do these dreams mean?” Sadly, I did not get an immediate answer, but I did get a sense that some live in constant drama and chaos, as in my recent dreams. Like they have so much going on in their life that they have no control over, and their heart pounds as they try their best to keep a lid on life.

But one who is in a relationship with God doesn’t have to live that way. I’m not going to tell you that life with God is easy or perfect, but it’s reassuring knowing that One who can control everything is doing life with you, and you can live in peace. The devil specializes in keeping your life in turmoil if you let him.

That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. John 14:27 (MSG)

May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! 2 Thes. 3:16 (MSG)

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. Jam. 4:7-10 (MSG)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

That Girl Can Sleep!

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April has a hidden talent that few know about. She can fall asleep within three minutes, and it doesn’t seem to matter where she is, either. Needless to say, I am envious! I suffer from OMS these days. “Old Man Syndrome.” That means if I wake up in the middle of the night, I am usually awake for hours before I can attempt to go back to sleep.

The other day, April fell asleep in the car while I was driving us home in heavy traffic. I was thinking, “How in the world can she sleep?” I don’t make a good passenger. I find it difficult to trust others and their driving skills. And sleep while they are driving? Forget it!

Then it hit me: April trusted me and my ability to drive. She knows I am going to get her home safely. She felt safe and secure.

Isn’t that how we should feel when we are walking with God through life? We pray and then trust Him to address our needs and act on our behalf. Doing what is best for us. If we do that, we can “rest” and perhaps find the sleep we need that otherwise escapes us.

Nothing and no one is holy like God,
    no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
    not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
    He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
    while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
    while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
    while the mother of many is bereft. 1 Sam. 2:2-5 (MSG)

“Trusting God” isn’t simply a statement of faith but a way to live. It will show, too, if your life reflects your speech. Many know the right things to say or scriptures to quote, but few will act them out daily.

Look at Luke 8:22-23 (MSG): “One day he and his disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’

Getting to his feet, he told the wind, ‘Silence!’ and the waves, ‘Quiet down!’ They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.”

This passage has been preached so many times! It is usually pointed out that the disciples who walked with Jesus should have known they weren’t going to die. If Jesus had said, “Let’s cross the lake,” then they would have made it to the other side.

If April had been in that boat, she would have been asleep as well, along with Jesus! Let your request be made known to God. Lay them on the altar and then walk away, leaving them there. Then, walk with boldness and the confidence that things will work out.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Where is God?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Creation of Life Hands by Leonardo Da Vinci

The other day, a friend called and was catching me up on their life. He told me he had been dating a pretty girl and asked if I would like to see a photo of her. I said, “Sure.” As I looked at her, he shared that they were no longer seeing each other, and he repeated the hurtful words she said to him. Then he asked me, “Does she look like a devil to you?” I wasn’t sure how to respond when it came to me. “I don’t see God in her.”

Have you ever studied the face of a convicted, ruthless serial killer? Their eyes usually seem so dark and lifeless. This girl didn’t appear to be a killer, but there seemed to be an absence of life and love. Knowing my friend’s past and where he usually meets women, let’s say, not at a church social, I know this young lady is searching for Truth, life, and love from God, but she doesn’t know that is where she will find what will satisfy her. She has past hurts and disappointments and is looking for what she thinks she needs from a man. It’s a sad story for many.

The weekend before I wrote this post, I heard from a writer friend who still lives in the town I moved from in Illinois. I would run into her at church and occasionally at a neighborhood grocery store. It always felt good to see her, and as I texted her, I realized why. Whenever I saw her, I felt peace and sensed the presence of God. In her face, you could see life and the love of God.

I know this inner peace and love of God is what drew people, strangers, to Jesus. And perhaps their curiosity about a man, the weather, and even demons obeyed. Not to mention his power over sickness and death. So, I have to ask, “What do people feel or see when they encounter you?” Are you loving and full of life and hope? Or are you all business or more concerned about your rights and getting your way? I hope they see God and, therefore, know where God is because, whether they realize it or not, they are looking for Him.

19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

21 Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Gal. 2:20 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

To Know

/ Mark Brady / 4 Comments
Image by Jupi Lu from Pixabay

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.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Where Storms Go to Die

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I was watching the weather the other day. They were showing what was happening across the entire United States. There was one storm system on the East Coast that would be exiting during the day. I thought to myself, I wonder where storms go to die?

I mean, what happens to them after they leave America? Do they stay together and go to Iceland? Europe? Perhaps somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, they simply dissipate. I really do not know and have never enquired. I know things like land mass or warm ocean water can feed a storm.

What about the storms that come up in your life? Are there conditions that feed them? I mean, do certain things cause these storms to take place? Last year, and I will admit for selfish reasons, April and I made a decision and acted upon it. That single decision brewed a storm that we are okay from now but still paying for.

Once we realized what we had done, we humbled ourselves, repented, and cried out to God for help. His love and grace are indeed amazing. It’s as if He stood up and said, “Peace be still,” and showed us a path to exit from underneath the dark clouds, and the storm went off to die.

What are you facing in your life? Is it one of the scariest storms you have ever encountered? I live in Tornado Alley. Sometimes, we get storms that set off the sirens telling us to take cover. The part of those storms that makes the hair on the back of my head stand up is the sound of the wind. After the average storm passes, I check to see if there is any damage. I might find a limb and some leaves or trash, but no real damage.

What I am saying is there may be a lot of wind blowing in your life. Cry out to God to calm the storm. To keep you safe and to minimize any damage. Then trust Him. God is faithful, and He is good all the time. I have learned it doesn’t really matter where storms go to die. It’s reassuring to know they do!

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Ps. 107:29 (NIV)

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all; Ps. 34:17-19 (NIV)

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:8-9 (NIV)

God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble. Nahum 1:7 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Do You Have Phobophobia?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay

It turns out people can have a fear of anything. Most seem to have a fear of something. Me? Arachnophobia. A common one is the fear of spiders. It is so bad the other day I tried to kill a thick, black mark on the back of where some curtains were cut off! I suspect April suffers from Zuigerphobia. The fear of vacuum cleaners. Oh, Phobophobia is the fear of phobias.

A phobia of some things, like snakes, might keep you from getting hurt. Honestly, though, so does a healthy respect. You see, some fears can cause some people to seize up. The fear can definitely control their behavior. Fear is not of God, and God is love.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

The one fear some have that I want to focus on is the fear of the quiet. You can spot the people who suffer from this phobia because they are always in motion. They must be somewhere with others or have people at their home, but you will seldom find them alone.

They don’t want to be alone because that can lead to them having to think about the current situation they are dealing with and how they got there based on the good or bad decisions they have made. Usually, their current situation is not favorable. They find themselves lacking contentment or peace.

Unfortunately, when a person is alone, they tend to turn to mind-altering substances to assist them in leaving their life on the side for a while. If they are not careful, they will become addicted to the substance.

Knowing Jesus can be the cure for addictions, loneliness, and the fear of the quiet. He can help you turn your life around, heal you of your fears, and give you confidence, contentment, and peace to go with it. You’ve tried everything else to no avail. Try Jesus. If you don’t think you need him, then you probably have Redeemedphobia!

For fun, I am including a list of phobias. My favorite was:
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: Fear of long words

  • Ablutophobia: Fear of bathing
  • Achluophobia: Fear of darkness
  • Acrophobia: Fear of heights
  • Aerophobia: Fear of flying
  • Algophobia: Fear of pain
  • Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces or crowds
  • Aichmophobia: Fear of needles or pointed objects
  • Amaxophobia: Fear of riding in a car
  • Androphobia: Fear of men
  • Anemophobia: Fear of air
  • Anginophobia: Fear of angina or choking
  • Angrophobia: Fear of anger
  • Anthrophobia: Fear of flowers
  • Anthropophobia: Fear of people or society
  • Aphenphosmphobia: Fear of being touched
  • Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter
  • Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
  • Arithmophobia: Fear of numbers
  • Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning
  • Astrophobia: Fear of outer space
  • Ataxophobia: Fear of disorder or untidiness
  • Atelophobia: Fear of imperfection
  • Atychiphobia: Fear of failure
  • Automatonophobia: Fear of human-like figures
  • Autophobia: Fear of being alone
  • Bacteriophobia: Fear of bacteria
  • Barophobia: Fear of gravity
  • Bathmophobia: Fear of stairs or steep slopes
  • Batrachophobia: Fear of amphibians
  • Belonephobia: Fear of pins and needles
  • Bibliophobia: Fear of books
  • Botanophobia: Fear of plants
  • Cacophobia: Fear of ugliness
  • Catagelophobia: Fear of being ridiculed
  • Catoptrophobia: Fear of mirrors
  • Chionophobia: Fear of snow
  • Chrometophobia: Fear of spending money
  • Chromophobia: Fear of colors
  • Chronomentrophobia: Fear of clocks
  • Chronophobia: Fear of time
  • Cibophobia: Fear of food
  • Claustrophobia: Fear of confined spaces
  • Climacophobia: Fear of climbing
  • Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns
  • Cyberphobia: Fear of computers
  • Cynophobia: Fear of dogs
  • Daemonophobia: Fear of demons
  • Decidophobia: Fear of making decisions
  • Dendrophobia: Fear of trees
  • Dentophobia: Fear of dentists
  • Domatophobia: Fear of houses
  • Dystychiphobia: Fear of accidents
  • Ecophobia: Fear of the home
  • Elurophobia: Fear of cats
  • Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting
  • Entomophobia: Fear of insects
  • Ephebiphobia: Fear of teenagers
  • Erotophobia: Fear of sex
  • Equinophobia: Fear of horses
  • Gamophobia: Fear of marriage
  • Genuphobia: Fear of knees
  • Glossophobia: Fear of speaking in public
  • Gynophobia: Fear of women
  • Haphephobia: Fear of touch
  • Heliophobia: Fear of the sun
  • Hemophobia: Fear of blood
  • Herpetophobia: Fear of reptiles
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: Fear of long words
  • Hydrophobia: Fear of water
  • Hypochondria: Fear of illness
  • Iatrophobia: Fear of doctors
  • Insectophobia: Fear of insects
  • Koinoniphobia: Fear of rooms
  • Koumpounophobia: Fear of buttons
  • Leukophobia: Fear of the color white
  • Lilapsophobia: Fear of tornadoes and hurricanes
  • Lockiophobia: Fear of childbirth
  • Mageirocophobia: Fear of cooking
  • Megalophobia: Fear of large things
  • Melanophobia: Fear of the color black
  • Microphobia: Fear of small things
  • Mysophobia: Fear of dirt and germs
  • Necrophobia: Fear of death or dead things
  • Noctiphobia: Fear of the night
  • Nomophobia: Fear of being without your mobile phone
  • Nosocomephobia: Fear of hospitals
  • Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark
  • Obesophobia: Fear of gaining weight
  • Octophobia: Fear of the figure 8
  • Ombrophobia: Fear of rain
  • Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes
  • Ornithophobia: Fear of birds
  • Osmophobia: Fear of smells
  • Ostraconophobia: Fear of shellfish
  • Papyrophobia: Fear of paper
  • Pathophobia: Fear of disease
  • Pedophobia: Fear of children
  • Philematophobia: Fear of kissing
  • Philophobia: Fear of love
  • Phobophobia: Fear of phobias
  • Podophobia: Fear of feet
  • Porphyrophobia: Fear of the color purple
  • Pteridophobia: Fear of ferns
  • Pteromerhanophobia: Fear of flying
  • Pyrophobia: Fear of fire
  • Samhainophobia: Fear of Halloween
  • Scolionophobia: Fear of school
  • Scoptophobia: Fear of being stared at
  • Selenophobia: Fear of the moon
  • Sociophobia: Fear of social evaluation
  • Somniphobia: Fear of sleep
  • Tachophobia: Fear of speed
  • Technophobia: Fear of technology
  • Thalassophobia: Fear of the ocean
  • Trichophobia: Fear of hair
  • Tonitrophobia: Fear of thunder
  • Trypanophobia: Fear of needles/injections
  • Trypophobia: Fear of holes
  • Venustraphobia: Fear of beautiful women
  • Verminophobia: Fear of germs
  • Xenophobia: Fear of strangers or foreigners
  • Zoophobia: Fear of animals
  • Zuigerphobia: Fear of vacuum cleaners

Source: verywellmind

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady

Just Try It

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Photo by: Ingo Joseph

While growing up, I had an aunt that had something for us to eat that I had never put in my mouth before, seemingly every time we went to her house! I think everyone did. I would try my best to resist, but her argument was logical. “How do you know you don’t like it if you have never tried it?” “Because it looks and smells disgusting!” I usually wanted to reply but didn’t. She would insist, “Just try it!”

Some scriptures in the Bible can be a little difficult to understand. I came across one many years ago:

 O taste and see that the Lord is good Psa. 34:8a (KJV)

One Sunday morning, we were standing during the worship service. I looked down and noticed a cute infant in front of me. Then I witnessed the child put a set of keys in its mouth. He made a funny face and immediately took the keys out of his mouth. All of a sudden, Psalms 34:8 went through my mind. I got it. I understand now. Like a child puts things in their mouth to know if it is good or not, we can try God to see that He is good.

There is the fruit of the Spirit which is the same as that of God. Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is also the nature of God. His character. You only know if the fruit is good or sour by putting it in your mouth, by tasting it. You can try God and see that He is good and that his nature is good.

It seems as if a lot of people are trying to deal with life and its issues by any other means than having a relationship with God. I was watching a movie recently where people were placing rocks on their abdomens believing and expecting these dead things to help them. Now that takes a lot of faith! I would rather try a living God that knows me and loves me. How do you know you don’t like God? Have you tried Him? Have you tried living according to the word of God? Couldn’t you use more love, joy, peace, etc., in your life?

Modern translations like “The Message” can help us understand certain scriptures. That is one of the values of them. Take Psalms 34:8, for instance:

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
    how good God is.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Joy to the World

/ Mark Brady / 3 Comments

Tis the season to be jolly. You know the rest of that line from the song, but are you? Are you jolly? Do you have “joy”? It’s the happiest time of the year. At least, it’s supposed to be. There could be many people for countless reasons that are not “joyful” right now. Financial hard times, relationship issues, living in a war zone, dealing with losing a loved one, etc. So if you can raise your hand, it’s okay, no one is looking around, and say, “Yeah, I don’t have “joy” right now,” then what do you do?

If you can be counted as one lacking joy right now, you can turn to God. Doing so is more than a cliché.

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa. 16:11 (MEV)

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
Prov. 17:22 (MSG)

“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
John 16:23-24 (MSG)

God knows what joy in our hearts does for us. A lack of joy can lead to depression, which doesn’t help anyone. You can go to God and tell him why you don’t have joy. Then you can ask him to help you with your lack of happiness and even ask him to change your situation. Reading God’s word can help you find hope and joy. The book of Psalms is full of hope from the Lord.

If you are one walking around with an abundance of joy, look around and be willing to share your joy with someone else. One thing that helps others is when you do something for them that is unexpected, or something is done for someone else anonymously.

May you find joy in your life. Not just in this season but the whole year through. And remember, you can have Jesus’ joy as your own.

I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
John 15:11 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

They Lost It!

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I know there are several people who absolutely LOVE Christmas. If it was more socially accepted they would leave the tree and the decorations up all year and they would probably go as far as to leave the lights on the house, lit! I know one particular person who has been posting on Facebook a countdown of how many days till Christmas. I think she started it on January 1st.

One Christmas lover does leave ornaments out in various rooms around the house. I heard that one day a friend who wanted to play a joke removed one of the ornaments that were displayed in the guest bathroom. They hung on to it for a few weeks expecting to get a call that would be accompanied by an accusation. The call never came.

Apparently, when the missing ornament was discovered the one who seriously loves Christmas went on a rampage trying to find out what happened to it or who took it. I guess they got quite upset over the ordeal. One family member tried their best to find or order a replacement in order to restore peace in the home but learned the ornament was no longer being made.

It happens. A person’s “joy” can be taken, or even stolen if they let it. It doesn’t take much at times. What we should do is calmly evaluate the situation and realize “no one got hurt”, “it’s only a thing”, and recognize that though it may bother you or hurt it’s not the end of the world. That it was simply an item and not a person. It certainly isn’t worth hurting a relationship over!

My brothers, you will have many kinds of troubles. But when these things happen, you should be very happy (joyful). 3 You know that these things are testing your faith. And this will give you patience. James 1:2-3 (ICB)
[The “joyful” in the parenthesis was inserted by me.]

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Neh. 8:10

The person who took the ornament eventually gave it back and though the Christmas lover laughed and said they were okay they ended the friendship. They lost more than an ornament for a time, they lost a friend. Sad end to the story especially when the ornament (pictured) shared “joy” and was an emblem of love and happiness expressed at Christmas.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Irreconcilable Differences

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Being in a relationship can be challenging at times for a variety of reasons. When married couples find that changing, or compromising is harder than they think it is worth it they many times end up in divorce court claiming, “Irreconcilable Differences”.

I had to look up what those two words mean.

Definition of Irreconcilable Differences

Noun

  1. Differences of opinion or will that cannot be brought into harmony, or cannot be brought into an agreement through compromise.
  2. A relationship that has become relentlessly hostile.

One could make the case that God and Satan declared, “Irreconcilable Differences”! That God and Satan have a relationship that has become relentlessly hostile! Although there is one definite distinction; God had the final say-so when it came to the final judgment of their case. When Satan insisted on being a “god”, in his own eyes, and having the angels worship him God said, “No way! There is only one true God and it is me, and He was not about to compromise.

To this day Satan is working day and night trying hard to appeal God’s final judgment. He is even trying to use people to win his case. He tells them lies, half-truths that convince them of things like there is no God, there is no punishment for sin, or that there is no eternity. In other words, as he told Eve in the Garden of Eden, “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) People believe him when he tells them, “There is more to life than what you currently have now, and you deserve more. You’ve earned it.”

It’s sad when they buy into his deception. If they are not set free with the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ then they will stand before God when they die and He will declare with them as well, “Irreconcilable Differences” and they will be forever divorced, separated from the presence of God, and that is called, “hell”!

Please, accept Jesus Christ into your life before it is too late. Ask for forgiveness of your sins, and wrongdoing. Read God’s word, “The Bible”. Learn about the love of God and come into harmony with Him. When all truth is revealed, and it will be, you will be glad you did.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.