Perfect

October 23, 2019 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Charlie 234 Perfection, is a difficult thing to achieve, for those who even try, but somehow, Jesus managed to pull it off. His accomplishment has always intrigued me. Many times I have wondered, If Jesus can do it, then why can’t I? I now have my answer.

As I have studied the life and ministry of Christ, there are some consistent points he focused on:

Jesus was in constant communication with his Father, who just so happened to be God.
Jesus kept the will of his Father in the front of his mind.
Jesus only did what he had seen his Father do.

This kind of focused life got Jesus killed.

Ouch! But God knew that would happen and was used by God to have a perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The very goal of sending your only Son to earth.

So if I achieved perfection, even for an hour, or a day, would it kill me? No, but would it kill me to try? If I prayed more I would know every day the will of God, and hopefully do what I knew my heavenly Father would do in all situations and in all conversations. Dying to myself won’t forgive anyone of sin, but perhaps, it might lead others to Jesus, who can.

God, I Promise I will …, If You Will …

June 1, 2019June 1, 2019 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Power After living here four months, it finally happened! I got very sick this past week from being an American and being careless with the water here in the Philippines. While I was lying in my hospital bed, there was a series of thoughts like, “Is God punishing me? Am I not praying enough? What lesson is God wanting me to learn? Should I be praying more?” Then there are those who try to bargain with God like, “God, I will go to church, if you get me out of this.”

Then, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “No.”

The truth is, we live in a world of sin, pain, grief, hurt, and disease. But we are so superstitious, or think we control God by what “we” do. Bad things happen to good people. Why does God allow it? Only He knows. “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree.” (Isaiah 55:8 MSG)

I like what Mitch Teemley (https://mitchteemley.com) posted this week in his blog: “Faith doesn’t do miracles, God does.”

Did I still pray for healing? Yes, and I did get better and got to come home. Accepting God, and believing in him means trusting him, 100%. Accepting his will is best.

Devoted to Devotions?

April 19, 2019April 16, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 70 How many times have you beat yourself up for not doing your devotions? Me? I used to constantly be black and blue! I didn’t like it. Am I not serious about serving God? I used to ask myself. I wanted to make God happy with me, so why did I constantly feel as though I was disappointing him?

It took a while, okay years, but one day I realized being devoted to devotions was not the same as being devoted to God. I begin to walk in freedom, because now I was devoted to God, and I knew I could talk to him anytime I wanted to. I could worship, read his word, and praise him throughout the entire day, and not just at a particular time of day. There may be those that like having a set time each day, but that didn’t work for me. Some people, I’m afraid, do their devotions, but then forget what they read or said to God as soon as they are done. They experienced time gone by, but fail to experience God.

Just like I can’t make you mad, I can’t make God have an emotional response to me as well. We choose our reactions to others and God chooses his reactions to us. I’m sure it’s an easy choice for him though when we talk to him and are mindful of him all day long. God, no doubt, wants to hang out with his children and listen to them, and have them listen to him. God has a lot to say.

^“Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today.” (1 Kings 8:61 AMP)

The Only One

February 13, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Charlie 1 The only one, you need to ask, is the One who already knows what you have need of. “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mat. 6:8 NIV)