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There’s One More

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

When I was a kid, we would open all presents under the tree on Christmas day. My father was in charge of supervising the cleanup. Making sure that only the paper wrapped around the gifts and used bows were thrown away. He was concerned that part of someone’s gift would get thrown out. After a thorough inspection, would he include boxes.

That’s it. The gift-giving portion of Christmas would be completed. The floor was clean, and the entire Christmas tree skirt was once again visible. But before everyone was dispursed to carrying away their haul, one of my parents would announce, “Hey, I think we forgot one. There’s one more.” Again, the seasonal excitement and anticipation would rumble in your stomach. “What? Another one? Where is it? There’s nothing left under the tree.”

One year my sister and I were told to go to the garage. There, waiting for us, were brand new bikes. Another year, my father brought into the living room a big square box and placed it in front of me. I said, “This isn’t mine!” My mother quickly put me on the witness stand and asked, “How do you know?” No way was I going to confess to unwrapping it after I found it in their bedroom days before. I suppose my writing creativity kicked in, and I quickly replied, “Because it’s so big!” I was good at peeking. I liked the challenge of not getting caught. I would use an Exacto knife and then put the exact length of tape back over the ones I sliced.

God knew our greatest need was a savior, so He sent us his son, Jesus. The best Christmas gift of all time! No one had an opportunity to peek, but God gave plenty of advanced notice as to what He would do. And those that were on a “need-to-know” basis knew.

Jesus came. He grew up and ministered truth, light, salvation, healing, and deliverance, showing us a better way to live. Then, He humbled himself and died on the cross. He died for three days and then showed He even had power over death and hell. He then ministered for a few more days, but as He was about to leave, He told his disciples, “Oh, there’s one more.”

Jesus promised us that He would send us the Holy Spirit when He left. The Holy Spirit would give us the power to minister. Jesus had the Spirit on him. When He was baptized, the Holy Spirit lit upon him when He came out of the water. Jesus knew we also needed God’s Spirit in our lives and ministries.

I love having the Holy Spirit on me. I don’t know how I would live or minister without Him! Not a bad gift to learn about that was one more.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NET)

After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. Mat. 3:16

Christmas may be over, but if you have never been filled with the Holy Spirit look for Him as another gift. Seek Him out and ask to be filled with him. You will be surprised what a difference He makes in your life.

Oh, in case you were wondering, my big gift was a black and white TV with knobs and an antenna telescoped out from the inside. No coaxial connection and no remote, but I loved it. I had it for several years and actually sold it in a garage sale.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Distracted?

/ 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.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

My First Christmas in America

/ Mark Brady / 6 Comments

by April Joy Brady (Mark’s wife)

This is my first Christmas in America.  My previous ones have been in my home country of the Philippines.  People’s attitudes here toward Christmas are a lot different than there.  It seems as if some of the people are forgetting the real reason for Christmas.  Some even go as far as to remove “Christ” from the word Christmas with “X-mas”.  It makes me wonder if they have removed Christ from their hearts as well.  I’m not trying to be judging, it would be difficult not to be that way growing up here in America, with constantly being bombarded with TV ads and popular culture.

This season here seems to be more about parties, gifts, and where to spend the holiday.  When in the Philippines, where resources don’t flow so freely, Christmas tends to be much simpler, and we are happy to get to see family and share a simple meal, and laugh.  There is a lot of laughter back home.  I imagine Jesus’s first Christmas was simple as well.  Mary and Joseph adoring their new born son, lying still in a feeding trough with some hay, and perhaps an animal’s covering over him.  A far cry from a beautiful wooden crib from Ashley Furniture with blankets from Macys!

I think I have been blessed to have my previous life and Christmas’ in the Philippines.  I hope in the years to come I do not stray too far from my roots, especially when it comes to the attitude of what Christmas really is, or supposed to be about.

I will enjoy the time spent with my husband and the gifts he has bought for me as well as the other gifts from friends and coworkers, but in my heart I will be in Bethlehem, humming, “Away in the Manger”.

Merry Christmas everyone.  May Christ fill your hearts with his love.

April

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Do You Need a Tune Up?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

You know, perhaps the hard way, that every once in a while you have to take your car in for a tune up, or for maintenance.  New tires for traveling, new spark plugs so you don’t lose that fire, or the oil changed because it is dirty.

In a relationship with God, there are times when you need a tune up as well.  Most likely more often than your car.  You cannot simply start your relationship with God, and then simply turn on the cruise control.  You can’t take your foot off of the gas pedal and coast either.  You won’t make it over the next mountain if you do that.  It doesn’t work that way.  If you try, you will get stuck, or worse, breakdown.  Have you ever noticed that breakdowns don’t occur at good times?

Your local, or TV minister don’t tell you to pray, and read your Bible just for the heck of it!  They know that is the easiest way to stay finely tuned in your relationship with God.  Or one could say, in tune with God.  Walking in perfect step, harmony with him at his pace.

So above all, guard the affections of your heart,
    for they affect all that you are.
    Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being,
    for from there flows the wellspring of life. Pro. 4:23 (TPT)

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

“Happy?  Pappy?”

/ 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.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

It’s a Spirit

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

A lot is changing in the world, and fast too.  I don’t like what I am seeing either.  I know there has always been evil in the world, but it seems like it is taking a predominate place in our society.  Some other people see it too, and have shared their observations via social media.  We are entering, if not there already, in the end times.

It amazes me how people can believe a lie and go to their grave proclaiming it.  It astonishes me how a group of people can have a hold of the media, and only their words are heard over the airwaves.  It bewilders me how individuals can hear or read something and blindly believe it, just because it was on TV, radio, or social media.

Think for yourselves people!

Is ignoring a lie easier than standing up for truth?

I understand the pressure of being the minority in a group that has a difference of opinion from the others.  Jesus understood this kind of pressure as well.  His life example and teaching went against the power figures of his day.  Yes, it is true, they killed him, but the truth he gave lived on, and empowered by the Holy Spirit was spread by a very small band of believers.  What is also true, is they stayed on point and eventually changed a large portion of the world.

Although we hear words coming from people, most of the time we are battling a spirit, an evil spirit.  Here is what God says on this subject:

10 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! 12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. 13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.

14 Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. 15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.

16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! 17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Eph. 6:10-18 (TPT)

So take heart, and stand for what is true no matter what.  Your solid stance for what is true may convince others to listen to the life giving words coming from your mouth.  They might believe in Jesus and find salvation that will put them on the right side of the battle, and even if they die on earth they will live forever in heaven.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.