word of God

Hidden Word Search

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

You’ve seen the games. The ones where there is a themed list of words to find inside a rectangle of individual letters that are spaced out. Like in the included photo. Sometimes it can be challenging. Especially when the word is running backwards, or at an angle.

Another place to do a word search is in the Bible. God’s word. There are a lot of differences, though. God’s words are not hidden. They are right there between the front cover and the back one. Unlike the game, His words are not running backwards or at an angle, but there is a common theme throughout, and that is His love for us. Even in the Old Testament, He helped the Israelites defeat their enemies. He did so because they were wicked individuals who practiced ungodly things like human sacrifices. The reason God wanted them all gone is so they would not influence his children and lead them astray, because He loved them so much.

The same goes for us today. God may not destroy an individual because our battles are not with flesh and blood but with principalities that rule over the area you live in. (Eph. 6:10). But with that said, He doesn’t want you to become entangled with those who may lead you astray.

We must find a way to make reading God’s word a spiritual practice as an active part of our lives! His words to you are not hidden, and when you read something you don’t understand, ask me. I’m kidding, but you can do an internet search for a commentary on that portion of the scriptures.

A guy in my church, who has read the Bible all of his life, says he still comes across areas that are difficult for him to fully understand. He said last Sunday that he has been asking “Copilot” and that so far, it has provided answers or insight that have agreed with his spirit.

I go to “Bing.com” a lot and type in the search bar what I want to know. For instance, the other day I typed in “What did Jesus mean when he said, ‘greater judgement’ in Mark 12:40?” The answer was insightful and answered my question.

So, read God’s word, the Bible, regularly. Search out the truths that you can apply to your life. He wants you to be informed so the majority is easy to understand, and the truths are not hidden. The parts of the Bible that one may find difficult, I assure you, have nothing to do with you going to heaven or not.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. 2 Tim. 3:16 (ICB)

God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than a sword sharpened on both sides. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined. It cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. And God’s word judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Heb. 4:12 (ICB)

Your word is like a lamp for my feet
    and a light for my way. Ps. 119:105 (ICB)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Breaking News!

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment
Image generated via AI.

I have started seeing fantastic news on Facebook lately. It usually starts with, “BREAKING NEWS from Branson, MO.” This gets my attention. Sometimes, my heart will even start racing. The first one I read talked about a couple living in a remote attic space above the local Walmart. The article went on to explain how they survived there for two years without being detected. It shared how they obtained their food and other necessary supplies. They were finally caught by an HVAC technician who entered the space to work on one of the air units. I believed it.

Now, though, I’m beginning to not believe any of the articles that start like that, because the last one I saw said that McDonald’s is now offering funeral services. “McFuneral’s.”

Sadly, in today’s world, you can’t believe everything you hear, read, or see. With the invention of A.I., just about any image can be created and made to look real. In the old days, newspapers verified their stories to protect their reputation. They wanted people to know that what they printed could be trusted.

The Bible warns us in Matthew 24:23 that some will say, “Here is the Messiah!” or, “There he is!” That we are not to believe and chase after such rumors. Worse, some may be yelling with excitement in their voice, that the Bible says this or that, like “BREAKING NEWS!” You might hear this and have your heart start racing.

So how do we discern the truth? Easy. By knowing the truth for ourselves! It is critical, more now than ever, to know what the word of God says. In the past, some churches proclaimed that the Bible was too difficult to understand, so leave it to those who have been trained. But with the modern language translations we have available, even free, there is no excuse.

Someone, perhaps even a friend, may proclaim, “The word of God says this.” Your brain can work fast, and you can say, “No, actually, it doesn’t.” If you didn’t know for yourself, you could easily be misled. That is one of the main reasons I show the scriptures in these posts, or at least give the reference.

Be wise. Be cautious and be suspicious of anyone who tries to tell you what the Bible says. I used to have a friend who, when we talked, always challenged me to list my sources when I mentioned something. It was a little obnoxious, but in reality, wise. He wanted to know if he could trust what I said.

Be careful, friends. Study God’s word and show thyself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

You Could be a Winner!

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Photo by: Engin Akyurt

$100.00 to the first 50 people that “like” and “comment” on this post to show my appreciation to my readers!*

Do I have your attention? Did you think, even for a moment, this could be an easy way to get $100? Scams are everywhere lately. Most of the ones I get come as text messages requiring me to click on a link and render my payment method to fix my account. I got one this past week that said my October payment for a subscription couldn’t be processed. My heart leaped for a moment, and I almost clicked on the link.

Many scams are written with fear built-in or hope to hit it rich without working hard for it. They remind me of how satan talks to us. He will tell us perhaps a half-truth but not the whole truth. He will dangle something we desperately want in front of us and make it seem so easy to obtain. Like he said to Eve in the Garden of Eden, Then he lied to her by saying, “You will not surely die.” (Gen. 3:4) He even tried to tempt Jesus.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Mat. 4:1-11 (NIV)

The devil tried three separate times and ways to get Jesus to stumble. Some say he tempted him in the big three: the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. It’s important to note how Jesus overcame satan;

  1. Jesus knew the word of God.
  2. Jesus did not respond with his knowledge and reasoning but quoted scripture. Doing so is so powerful!
  3. Jesus resisted the devil, and he fled. (James 4:7)

Whether it’s a scam or the devil’s temptation, do not act out of fear or as a quick way to alleviate a desperate desire or need. Think about it, and check to see if it aligns with God’s word. That will require you to know what is written in the Bible, which will require you to read it. Remember this:

If it’s too good to be true, it usually is!

The tester wants you to pass. The tempter wants you to fail!

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (MEV)

*(This was only an example of this post meant to get your attention, and no money will actually be paid out. Sorry, but I do appreciate everyone who reads this post.)

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.