Life is Short
“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
Psalm 103:15-16
The above scripture depicts how insignificant our life is in the big scheme of things. We are here for only a season, and all that will be left of us is the legacy that we leave behind. All our worldly and material possessions that we have accumulated will be gone, and all that will be left is the little things that our children and grandchildren will remember of us. Our future generations will only recognize our names, and will have no further knowledge of our existence on this earth. Our place in this world could be compared to the analogy of placing our hand in a bucket of water and removing it; after the water stills and the ripples subside there is nothing left. Therefore we need to live our lives, not with the desire to accumulate great wealth as we cannot take this with us, but need to concentrate our lives to leave a legacy that will carry on after we are gone. Our efforts need to be to do what is right and good, and to be remembered by our families, friends and everyone as being an example of someone who made a difference in the lives of others. This is the way that we need to be remembered, and our legacy should be reflective of this. Our children need to see us practice this in our everyday lives. Through this they will see that we value other people greater than we value ourselves, which is God’s plan. Our children have seen the legacy that their grandfathers and grandmothers have left, and they are aware that they are creating their own legacies to leave for their children and grandchildren. The type of person we are defines our life and our character, and our actions and daily values need to be something that others will want to duplicate.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Establishing a Foundation
“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”
Proverbs 21:13
It is essential that the lives of any parents be grounded on the word of God. Our gifts, our acts of kindness, our love for others will get God’s attention, and it will also get the attention of our children. They will begin to see how they can also affect the lives of people around them. It will start the blessings flowing in their own lives. It will change them. I am witnessing this in our family each and every day. Our youngest son, as mentioned previously has been called into the ministry. This calling has been in his heart for some time as we have talked over the years, and he has been very interested in ways to help others. He has shown a passion over the years to want to help, encourage and meet the needs of people around him. Our daughter has always had such a talent as an encourager to others, and is now devoting much of her time and talent to be a sounding board and encourager to the people in her church. She is so gifted in this regard and God is using her to affect the lives of others. Our oldest son has always been a perfect example of someone who is living his life for God, and has such a talent to make everybody he comes into contact with feel good about themselves. He has made such a lasting impression with the people in our community and our church that they are constantly asking about him even though he moved out of the area many years ago. He still has this ability and I can see this in his life today. All of our children have been able to embrace God’s command that they are to love others as God loves them, and are putting this commandment to practice in their everyday lives. By putting God first in your family you are establishing a foundation for your children that will last forever.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”
Proverbs 21:13
It is essential that the lives of any parents be grounded on the word of God. Our gifts, our acts of kindness, our love for others will get God’s attention, and it will also get the attention of our children. They will begin to see how they can also affect the lives of people around them. It will start the blessings flowing in their own lives. It will change them. I am witnessing this in our family each and every day. Our youngest son, as mentioned previously has been called into the ministry. This calling has been in his heart for some time as we have talked over the years, and he has been very interested in ways to help others. He has shown a passion over the years to want to help, encourage and meet the needs of people around him. Our daughter has always had such a talent as an encourager to others, and is now devoting much of her time and talent to be a sounding board and encourager to the people in her church. She is so gifted in this regard and God is using her to affect the lives of others. Our oldest son has always been a perfect example of someone who is living his life for God, and has such a talent to make everybody he comes into contact with feel good about themselves. He has made such a lasting impression with the people in our community and our church that they are constantly asking about him even though he moved out of the area many years ago. He still has this ability and I can see this in his life today. All of our children have been able to embrace God’s command that they are to love others as God loves them, and are putting this commandment to practice in their everyday lives. By putting God first in your family you are establishing a foundation for your children that will last forever.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Conflicts in Marriage
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
I consider marriage to be one of the most sacred arrangements that any person will ever enter into. God gives us much advice throughout the Bible about marriage and the sacred contract that He considers it to be. Marriage is to be a place of sharing dreams, visions and raising a family with godly moral values, where God is always present. This does not mean that all marriages will not have some degree of conflict and disagreements, but the most important thing to remember is that you are husband and wife, and that you have committed yourselves to your mates for the rest of your life. This is God’s plan for marriage, as it is a permanent arrangement, with very little room for divorce. Your spouse must be the most important thing in your life, and you must be dedicated to serving each other. Any disagreement or conflict must not come between the true love you have for each other, and must not be allowed to grow and become larger than it deserves. Resolve any conflict and put it behind you as early as possible, and do not let it resurface again in your life. Remember there are two sides to every problem. Try to identify your own contribution to the problem and seek forgiveness. Marriage is a process that requires forgiveness and understanding by both parties. It is important to not hide the conflict and let it grow to larger proportions, but work together and resolve the problem early on so that it does not grow bigger and continue to be a burden for you. Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
I consider marriage to be one of the most sacred arrangements that any person will ever enter into. God gives us much advice throughout the Bible about marriage and the sacred contract that He considers it to be. Marriage is to be a place of sharing dreams, visions and raising a family with godly moral values, where God is always present. This does not mean that all marriages will not have some degree of conflict and disagreements, but the most important thing to remember is that you are husband and wife, and that you have committed yourselves to your mates for the rest of your life. This is God’s plan for marriage, as it is a permanent arrangement, with very little room for divorce. Your spouse must be the most important thing in your life, and you must be dedicated to serving each other. Any disagreement or conflict must not come between the true love you have for each other, and must not be allowed to grow and become larger than it deserves. Resolve any conflict and put it behind you as early as possible, and do not let it resurface again in your life. Remember there are two sides to every problem. Try to identify your own contribution to the problem and seek forgiveness. Marriage is a process that requires forgiveness and understanding by both parties. It is important to not hide the conflict and let it grow to larger proportions, but work together and resolve the problem early on so that it does not grow bigger and continue to be a burden for you. Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
My Daily Devotional
We Can Make A Difference
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
2nd Timothy 1:3-5
This is a very personal scripture for me as I can relate to this very much. My grandmother was very dear to me as I was growing up, and taught me so much about how I was to live my life. She was my comforter, and someone I always went to for anything that ever bothered me, as I was growing up. She lived her life for Jesus, and ingrained this in me throughout my teen aged years. She always had all the answers for anything I ever questioned, and was always there to comfort me, anytime I needed someone to reassure me in any way. I believe grandparents are great bridge-builders, as she possessed the strength, faith, courage and ability to pass these attributes on to me. Today, I feel my children still benefit from my grandmothers faith, because they can see these attributes which she instilled in me, and which I am passing on to them, and hopefully they will pass on to my grandchildren. In a sense, it seems strange that grandparents can have such a far reaching influence. After all, even though they can be separated in age from their grandchildren by 40-70 years, yet they have the ability to bridge that generation gap—sometimes even better than parents can. I am sure that each of you has been influenced in a positive way by someone in your family that has instilled in you godly family values, in my case it was my grandmother. This is a treasure you must never forget, as you must apply these teachings to your family, and let these traits be passed down to your children, as you can make a difference to future generations.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
2nd Timothy 1:3-5
This is a very personal scripture for me as I can relate to this very much. My grandmother was very dear to me as I was growing up, and taught me so much about how I was to live my life. She was my comforter, and someone I always went to for anything that ever bothered me, as I was growing up. She lived her life for Jesus, and ingrained this in me throughout my teen aged years. She always had all the answers for anything I ever questioned, and was always there to comfort me, anytime I needed someone to reassure me in any way. I believe grandparents are great bridge-builders, as she possessed the strength, faith, courage and ability to pass these attributes on to me. Today, I feel my children still benefit from my grandmothers faith, because they can see these attributes which she instilled in me, and which I am passing on to them, and hopefully they will pass on to my grandchildren. In a sense, it seems strange that grandparents can have such a far reaching influence. After all, even though they can be separated in age from their grandchildren by 40-70 years, yet they have the ability to bridge that generation gap—sometimes even better than parents can. I am sure that each of you has been influenced in a positive way by someone in your family that has instilled in you godly family values, in my case it was my grandmother. This is a treasure you must never forget, as you must apply these teachings to your family, and let these traits be passed down to your children, as you can make a difference to future generations.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Monday, December 27, 2010
My Daily Devotional
What Happens When You Die
"Therefore, just as son entered the world through one man, and death through sin and in this way death came to all men because all sinned..."
Romans 5:12
What happens when you die? Imagine for a moment that you've just been in a terrible car accident on your way to work. The ambulance has arrived, but it's too late. Your body is now cold and lifeless, and is taken to the morgue. Actually the very moment your heart stopped beating, your soul, the conscious part of you that never dies, was literally ripped from your body, and you opened your eyes in this great courtroom. You've never seen so many people before, and shield your eyes from the brightness of the One sitting on the throne. It is now your time, and you are brought before Him. There, a book is put in front of you, with all the records of your life, nothing is left out, all the good things you did, and all the bad things you did are recorded. At the end of the book, is a list of names. You notice the name of the book, it is the Lamb's Book of Life. They look for your name, and it is not there. Someone, says Guilty, your name is not listed. You kick and scream as you are led out, and shout there must be some mistake, I am not a bad person. You are led to a burning lake of fire, and hear the screams of thousands filling the air with piercing voices as they suffer in the never ending flames. You see Satan, standing in one corner, and wonder how you allowed him to deceive you all those years on earth. Reality begins to sink in. Could I really be in Hell? I never thought much about Hell, and besides, what great crime did I commit? As you begin to panic, you begin to cry out to God, who in life you thought very little about, asking Him to send some relief to the hot flames that are now surrounding you. God tells you about the huge gulf that keeps you from the place in Heaven, and tells you that you will never escape. You begin to think about the time that your friend shared salvation with you, but you slammed the door in his face. If only you had listened to this simple message, you would not be here today. You now begin to think about your family, and want to warn them of this awful place, and that they still have a chance, the very same opportunity you had, and you want so badly to tell them to seize this opportunity. Being consumed in a fire is terrible enough, but to have to endure it throughout the ages, you can't comprehend. You think, after I have been here for 1 billion years, it will still be like the first day. There is no escape for me. My friends, this is the scenario that each of you will face, if you continue to reject Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are a sinner, and need Jesus to forgive you of your sins. The road to salvation is clearly presented in the New Testament. There is only one way you will ever be able to escape this horrible fate, and that way is to ask Jesus to come into your heart, and acknowledge the fact that Jesus died on the cross to save you from all the sins you have committed, and was raised from the dead, so you could be saved. You must commit that you will serve Him, and obey His commands for the rest of your life. This is the only way to avoid Hell, and the scenario above. You still have a chance to escape Hell, and you must not let it pass you by. You are not promised tomorrow, as you could be the one in the accident today, and this afternoon you could be the one facing this future. Don't put off this simple message, but ask Jesus to come into your heart right now. Don't let this scenario be your scenario, as you still have a chance to have your name recorded in The Lambs Book of Life, and found "Not Guilty."
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
"Therefore, just as son entered the world through one man, and death through sin and in this way death came to all men because all sinned..."
Romans 5:12
What happens when you die? Imagine for a moment that you've just been in a terrible car accident on your way to work. The ambulance has arrived, but it's too late. Your body is now cold and lifeless, and is taken to the morgue. Actually the very moment your heart stopped beating, your soul, the conscious part of you that never dies, was literally ripped from your body, and you opened your eyes in this great courtroom. You've never seen so many people before, and shield your eyes from the brightness of the One sitting on the throne. It is now your time, and you are brought before Him. There, a book is put in front of you, with all the records of your life, nothing is left out, all the good things you did, and all the bad things you did are recorded. At the end of the book, is a list of names. You notice the name of the book, it is the Lamb's Book of Life. They look for your name, and it is not there. Someone, says Guilty, your name is not listed. You kick and scream as you are led out, and shout there must be some mistake, I am not a bad person. You are led to a burning lake of fire, and hear the screams of thousands filling the air with piercing voices as they suffer in the never ending flames. You see Satan, standing in one corner, and wonder how you allowed him to deceive you all those years on earth. Reality begins to sink in. Could I really be in Hell? I never thought much about Hell, and besides, what great crime did I commit? As you begin to panic, you begin to cry out to God, who in life you thought very little about, asking Him to send some relief to the hot flames that are now surrounding you. God tells you about the huge gulf that keeps you from the place in Heaven, and tells you that you will never escape. You begin to think about the time that your friend shared salvation with you, but you slammed the door in his face. If only you had listened to this simple message, you would not be here today. You now begin to think about your family, and want to warn them of this awful place, and that they still have a chance, the very same opportunity you had, and you want so badly to tell them to seize this opportunity. Being consumed in a fire is terrible enough, but to have to endure it throughout the ages, you can't comprehend. You think, after I have been here for 1 billion years, it will still be like the first day. There is no escape for me. My friends, this is the scenario that each of you will face, if you continue to reject Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are a sinner, and need Jesus to forgive you of your sins. The road to salvation is clearly presented in the New Testament. There is only one way you will ever be able to escape this horrible fate, and that way is to ask Jesus to come into your heart, and acknowledge the fact that Jesus died on the cross to save you from all the sins you have committed, and was raised from the dead, so you could be saved. You must commit that you will serve Him, and obey His commands for the rest of your life. This is the only way to avoid Hell, and the scenario above. You still have a chance to escape Hell, and you must not let it pass you by. You are not promised tomorrow, as you could be the one in the accident today, and this afternoon you could be the one facing this future. Don't put off this simple message, but ask Jesus to come into your heart right now. Don't let this scenario be your scenario, as you still have a chance to have your name recorded in The Lambs Book of Life, and found "Not Guilty."
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Control Your Bitterness
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Ephesians 4:31
Have you ever been betrayed in your life? I am confident that most people have experienced a situation or situations where you have been hurt, and bitterness, rage and anger has manifested itself inside you. A friend or co-worker who slanders you behind your back, a boss that has fired you without reason, an unfaithful spouse, a broken relationship without any cause can all be reasons to feel betrayed, and cause you to store up bitterness against someone. Jesus was the ultimate example of how we need to deal with betrayal. When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Jesus refused to be bitter, and did not penalize Judas for what He had done. Judas destroyed himself; it was not Jesus that took his revenge. Jesus also did not hold bitterness against Peter when he denied him three times. Jesus forgave him and Peter was restored, and became the great preacher on the Day of Pentecost. Being betrayed is an external act against us, something that others do to us, but bitterness is internal; something that we do to ourselves. Bitterness is more devastating that the act of betrayal, as we can survive betrayal, but very few can survive the effects of bitterness, and what it can do in our lives. We may not be able to control an act of betrayal that is done against us by someone, but we can and must control our hearts, and keep bitterness from invading our lives. We need to eliminate any words of bitterness from our conversations, and not remind others of our experiences, unless it is to teach and encourage them to rise above their own hurts. We need to remove any bitterness from our hearts, and be on guard against bitterness in the future, and use Jesus as our example as He refused to be bitter.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Ephesians 4:31
Have you ever been betrayed in your life? I am confident that most people have experienced a situation or situations where you have been hurt, and bitterness, rage and anger has manifested itself inside you. A friend or co-worker who slanders you behind your back, a boss that has fired you without reason, an unfaithful spouse, a broken relationship without any cause can all be reasons to feel betrayed, and cause you to store up bitterness against someone. Jesus was the ultimate example of how we need to deal with betrayal. When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Jesus refused to be bitter, and did not penalize Judas for what He had done. Judas destroyed himself; it was not Jesus that took his revenge. Jesus also did not hold bitterness against Peter when he denied him three times. Jesus forgave him and Peter was restored, and became the great preacher on the Day of Pentecost. Being betrayed is an external act against us, something that others do to us, but bitterness is internal; something that we do to ourselves. Bitterness is more devastating that the act of betrayal, as we can survive betrayal, but very few can survive the effects of bitterness, and what it can do in our lives. We may not be able to control an act of betrayal that is done against us by someone, but we can and must control our hearts, and keep bitterness from invading our lives. We need to eliminate any words of bitterness from our conversations, and not remind others of our experiences, unless it is to teach and encourage them to rise above their own hurts. We need to remove any bitterness from our hearts, and be on guard against bitterness in the future, and use Jesus as our example as He refused to be bitter.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Christmas Day
The Birth of Jesus
Luke Chapter 2
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
This is the day of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ who came into this world to suffer and die on the cross for us and forgive us from our sins.
Merry Christmas Bob and Margaret
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
The Birth of Jesus
Luke Chapter 2
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
This is the day of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ who came into this world to suffer and die on the cross for us and forgive us from our sins.
Merry Christmas Bob and Margaret
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Friday, December 24, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Joseph’s Transformation
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:18
Can you imagine the transformation that Joseph must have had when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and told him to take Mary home as his wife? Joseph was just an ordinary man, with ordinary dreams for his life. He was going to get married, start a family, raise his children and build his carpentry business in a little town called Nazareth. There was nothing unusual in his plans, just a simple life. But when Joseph had first found out that Mary was going to have a baby, he had thought about divorcing her quietly, as he had wanted to be married to her, but being a righteous man did not want to expose her to public disgrace. But God had different plans for him, and also for Mary. This encounter with God changed their lives. Most of us can look back at certain moments in our own lives where we have encountered God, and He has changed everything. It may have been when you were baptized, or when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I know there have been several encounters, in my own life, where God changed everything from what I had planned for myself. During this Christmas Season, don’t forget to do more than just open presents. Open your heart to Christ in a greater way than ever before, and worship Him, and let Him transform your life. Your encounter with God can become the most important event that will ever happen to you. Just remember that God has already given you the greatest gift possible, when He first sent His Son Jesus to earth, and then to die on the cross for your salvation. Merry Christmas Bob and Margaret
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:18
Can you imagine the transformation that Joseph must have had when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and told him to take Mary home as his wife? Joseph was just an ordinary man, with ordinary dreams for his life. He was going to get married, start a family, raise his children and build his carpentry business in a little town called Nazareth. There was nothing unusual in his plans, just a simple life. But when Joseph had first found out that Mary was going to have a baby, he had thought about divorcing her quietly, as he had wanted to be married to her, but being a righteous man did not want to expose her to public disgrace. But God had different plans for him, and also for Mary. This encounter with God changed their lives. Most of us can look back at certain moments in our own lives where we have encountered God, and He has changed everything. It may have been when you were baptized, or when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I know there have been several encounters, in my own life, where God changed everything from what I had planned for myself. During this Christmas Season, don’t forget to do more than just open presents. Open your heart to Christ in a greater way than ever before, and worship Him, and let Him transform your life. Your encounter with God can become the most important event that will ever happen to you. Just remember that God has already given you the greatest gift possible, when He first sent His Son Jesus to earth, and then to die on the cross for your salvation. Merry Christmas Bob and Margaret
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
My Daily Devotional
The Simplicity of Christmas
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12
This Christmas like most others almost all of us will dress up, wrap our presents and prepare our best meal of the year to celebrate the greatest of all seasons. But what we miss so often in the elaborate and glamorous celebration we are accustomed to, is the simplicity of Christmas. Just think of God becoming flesh and coming to earth, and living among mankind. When God got ready for Christmas, He undressed, stripped off His finery and apparel, and left His place in eternity, and laid down as a baby in a manager on Christmas. Can you imagine just coming from Heaven to a manger in a stable? This is the simplicity of Christmas that I want to make you aware of. But if Jesus had not come to earth in this way, and become flesh with us, we would not be able to understand just how much of a sacrifice He was making on our behalf. There are so many people who don't understand the significance of what God did for us during Christmas. There are not many that will celebrate Christmas as it should be celebrated. Not everyone will understand its eternal significance in our lives. The commercialization, the presents, the food are just a few of the things that have gotten us away from the real understanding of what God did during this precious time. We think of it as just another festive time when we get time off from work and give and get presents. I would encourage each of you this Christmas to read the story of the birth of Christ, and to think about the significance it has for us. We need to focus on the first six letters of Christmas, and understand that without the birth of Jesus we will not have the promise of salvation. Yes, Christmas is a season of simplicity, but it is one of the most important days for all of us.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12
This Christmas like most others almost all of us will dress up, wrap our presents and prepare our best meal of the year to celebrate the greatest of all seasons. But what we miss so often in the elaborate and glamorous celebration we are accustomed to, is the simplicity of Christmas. Just think of God becoming flesh and coming to earth, and living among mankind. When God got ready for Christmas, He undressed, stripped off His finery and apparel, and left His place in eternity, and laid down as a baby in a manager on Christmas. Can you imagine just coming from Heaven to a manger in a stable? This is the simplicity of Christmas that I want to make you aware of. But if Jesus had not come to earth in this way, and become flesh with us, we would not be able to understand just how much of a sacrifice He was making on our behalf. There are so many people who don't understand the significance of what God did for us during Christmas. There are not many that will celebrate Christmas as it should be celebrated. Not everyone will understand its eternal significance in our lives. The commercialization, the presents, the food are just a few of the things that have gotten us away from the real understanding of what God did during this precious time. We think of it as just another festive time when we get time off from work and give and get presents. I would encourage each of you this Christmas to read the story of the birth of Christ, and to think about the significance it has for us. We need to focus on the first six letters of Christmas, and understand that without the birth of Jesus we will not have the promise of salvation. Yes, Christmas is a season of simplicity, but it is one of the most important days for all of us.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Signs of the Times
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
As we approach the Christmas season we need to be mindful that for hundred of years before Christ was born, prophecies were given of the Messiah’s conception, birth and promise of salvation for mankind. The scripture above from the Prophet Isaiah gave us this account, and the sign when Jesus would be born. When Jesus was born, the sign from God that the prophets had declared should have been obvious to all the world. But, many people of that day missed the prophesy, as they were not paying attention, or did not believe. Not everyone saw the Star that the Magi saw, nor did everyone see the angels appear and hear them, when they announced the birth of Jesus. There were few that paid any attention, when a young virgin girl named Mary was found with child. Nor did anyone listen when Joseph told his story of the angel who appeared before him, and spoke to him about Mary’s baby. I am afraid that it is much like that today, as God is moving all around us, with signs of Jesus coming again, and we are still not paying attention or believing. Even with the Christmas season almost upon us we are still not paying attention. Just as it was in the days of the first Christmas, even with all the signs not many noticed and ready for the first coming of Jesus. Today, we have the Bible giving us all the signs of the second coming of Jesus, and we are still not paying attention or heeding them. This time will be the last coming of Jesus, and is the critical one that we must make sure we are prepared for, as this time we are going to be judged by God, to see if we have been paying attention. There will not be a next time to get prepared for, as this will be the last.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
As we approach the Christmas season we need to be mindful that for hundred of years before Christ was born, prophecies were given of the Messiah’s conception, birth and promise of salvation for mankind. The scripture above from the Prophet Isaiah gave us this account, and the sign when Jesus would be born. When Jesus was born, the sign from God that the prophets had declared should have been obvious to all the world. But, many people of that day missed the prophesy, as they were not paying attention, or did not believe. Not everyone saw the Star that the Magi saw, nor did everyone see the angels appear and hear them, when they announced the birth of Jesus. There were few that paid any attention, when a young virgin girl named Mary was found with child. Nor did anyone listen when Joseph told his story of the angel who appeared before him, and spoke to him about Mary’s baby. I am afraid that it is much like that today, as God is moving all around us, with signs of Jesus coming again, and we are still not paying attention or believing. Even with the Christmas season almost upon us we are still not paying attention. Just as it was in the days of the first Christmas, even with all the signs not many noticed and ready for the first coming of Jesus. Today, we have the Bible giving us all the signs of the second coming of Jesus, and we are still not paying attention or heeding them. This time will be the last coming of Jesus, and is the critical one that we must make sure we are prepared for, as this time we are going to be judged by God, to see if we have been paying attention. There will not be a next time to get prepared for, as this will be the last.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Listen to the Wise
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
Proverbs 1:5
Throughout the Bible we find scriptures such as this, that suggests that we seek advice from others, wiser and more experienced than we are. Even Jesus sought knowledge as when He was twelve, He was found in the temple listening and talking, with the teachers of the day. Much of what we have learned in our life has been taught to us by someone, our mentors. Our parents have the greatest influence on us, but grandparents, friends, teachers, neighbors and peers also teach us throughout our lives. Our mentors are not perfect people; they simply have experienced life, and are capable of transferring that knowledge into us. Our mentors can be older or younger that ourselves. Our mentors can be anyone that is capable of growing and increasing our lives. We see almost all of the Biblical leaders having mentors. David sat at the feet of Samuel, and gained much wisdom and knowledge. Joshua received instruction and guidance from Moses, throughout their journey to the promise land. Timothy received wisdom and teachings from Paul, that let him become an effective evangelist to many. All of these people had one thing in common, and that is that they had a willingness to listen. The first step to success is the willingness to listen to the wisdom and knowledge that others can teach us. All of us need to be willing to listen to our mentors, set in their presence, and absorb all the knowledge they have to give. It is so important to become a good listener, as knowing where others have been, can become an important factor that can keep us from making mistakes in our life. I would encourage each of you to become a good listener, and open your ears and your hearts to the wise around you, and especially to the greatest mentor, Jesus.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
Proverbs 1:5
Throughout the Bible we find scriptures such as this, that suggests that we seek advice from others, wiser and more experienced than we are. Even Jesus sought knowledge as when He was twelve, He was found in the temple listening and talking, with the teachers of the day. Much of what we have learned in our life has been taught to us by someone, our mentors. Our parents have the greatest influence on us, but grandparents, friends, teachers, neighbors and peers also teach us throughout our lives. Our mentors are not perfect people; they simply have experienced life, and are capable of transferring that knowledge into us. Our mentors can be older or younger that ourselves. Our mentors can be anyone that is capable of growing and increasing our lives. We see almost all of the Biblical leaders having mentors. David sat at the feet of Samuel, and gained much wisdom and knowledge. Joshua received instruction and guidance from Moses, throughout their journey to the promise land. Timothy received wisdom and teachings from Paul, that let him become an effective evangelist to many. All of these people had one thing in common, and that is that they had a willingness to listen. The first step to success is the willingness to listen to the wisdom and knowledge that others can teach us. All of us need to be willing to listen to our mentors, set in their presence, and absorb all the knowledge they have to give. It is so important to become a good listener, as knowing where others have been, can become an important factor that can keep us from making mistakes in our life. I would encourage each of you to become a good listener, and open your ears and your hearts to the wise around you, and especially to the greatest mentor, Jesus.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Monday, December 20, 2010
My Daily Devotional
The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Luke 11:2-4
Christians think of this prayer as The Lord’s Prayer, the model prayer and the prayer that gives direction. The disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and He gave them this prayer. Jesus also used parts of this same prayer in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells us throughout the Bible to pray without ceasing. When our heart is so heavy with all our problems, this is the time that most people turn to Jesus, however we need to turn to Him also in the good times as well. I am reminded of a story about a small boy who had been having nightmares and his grandmother began saying a prayer for him before he went to sleep. After a few nights his nightmares went away, and after several nights he said to his grandmother “I don’t need to pray tonight, as I no longer have any nightmares, and there is no longer need to have God take care of me.” Later on that night, the little boy woke up crying hysterically; his nightmares had returned. His grandmother rushed to his bedside, and his first words were I want to pray so God can hear me. He then prayed and in just a few minutes he was fast asleep. The little boy learned an important life lesson, and that is that trouble can teach us to pray, as so often we only go to God in prayer, when we have problems. God’s prayer has so much more to offer than to help with problems, as it covers so much of what God promises us. I would encourage each of you to pray to God each and every day of your life in the way that God has instructed us to pray, His prayer.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Luke 11:2-4
Christians think of this prayer as The Lord’s Prayer, the model prayer and the prayer that gives direction. The disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and He gave them this prayer. Jesus also used parts of this same prayer in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells us throughout the Bible to pray without ceasing. When our heart is so heavy with all our problems, this is the time that most people turn to Jesus, however we need to turn to Him also in the good times as well. I am reminded of a story about a small boy who had been having nightmares and his grandmother began saying a prayer for him before he went to sleep. After a few nights his nightmares went away, and after several nights he said to his grandmother “I don’t need to pray tonight, as I no longer have any nightmares, and there is no longer need to have God take care of me.” Later on that night, the little boy woke up crying hysterically; his nightmares had returned. His grandmother rushed to his bedside, and his first words were I want to pray so God can hear me. He then prayed and in just a few minutes he was fast asleep. The little boy learned an important life lesson, and that is that trouble can teach us to pray, as so often we only go to God in prayer, when we have problems. God’s prayer has so much more to offer than to help with problems, as it covers so much of what God promises us. I would encourage each of you to pray to God each and every day of your life in the way that God has instructed us to pray, His prayer.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Listen to God
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Several years ago I heard a voice from God telling me to undertake a very demanding task, one which I knew could bear much fruit for our Lord, but one which I also knew would be very difficult and demanding. I did not know if I was up for this task as it was not something I had ever done, and was completely out of my comfort zone. After thinking about this for several weeks, the voice would not go away, and I questioned this voice and wondered, “Could this actually be the will of God, and why had He chosen me to do this for Him”. I reasoned that there were others who were more qualified than me, and why had He not chosen them to do His will. After praying to God for guidance I accepted my task, and began to work with all my heart to do God’s will. Even though I questioned God’s call to me, I knew in my heart that my only response would be “Yes sir, God, I will obey you, and trust you and do whatever you ask of me.” I believe that God talks to us and tells us what He wants us to do throughout our lives, and our only response should be to say “Yes, God, I will follow and obey you.” Although my task has been difficult and demanding God has also blessed it and also me, and I have accomplished much more than I had ever imagined. Perhaps you are facing some major opportunity or obstacle in your own life, some challenging situation to navigate; whatever it is if God is telling you to take the challenge, you must obey and follow His calling. Even though you may think you are not worthy, or up to the task, God can give you the wisdom, courage and strength to succeed. When God is walking with you all things are possible.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Several years ago I heard a voice from God telling me to undertake a very demanding task, one which I knew could bear much fruit for our Lord, but one which I also knew would be very difficult and demanding. I did not know if I was up for this task as it was not something I had ever done, and was completely out of my comfort zone. After thinking about this for several weeks, the voice would not go away, and I questioned this voice and wondered, “Could this actually be the will of God, and why had He chosen me to do this for Him”. I reasoned that there were others who were more qualified than me, and why had He not chosen them to do His will. After praying to God for guidance I accepted my task, and began to work with all my heart to do God’s will. Even though I questioned God’s call to me, I knew in my heart that my only response would be “Yes sir, God, I will obey you, and trust you and do whatever you ask of me.” I believe that God talks to us and tells us what He wants us to do throughout our lives, and our only response should be to say “Yes, God, I will follow and obey you.” Although my task has been difficult and demanding God has also blessed it and also me, and I have accomplished much more than I had ever imagined. Perhaps you are facing some major opportunity or obstacle in your own life, some challenging situation to navigate; whatever it is if God is telling you to take the challenge, you must obey and follow His calling. Even though you may think you are not worthy, or up to the task, God can give you the wisdom, courage and strength to succeed. When God is walking with you all things are possible.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Saturday, December 18, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Take Time to See People
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1st Samuel 16:7
A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. He immediately realized that he had just thrown away tens of thousands of dollars into the ocean. It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful, stylish, well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. May we not come to the end of our lives and find that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. Take the time to see the people in your world as God sees them.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1st Samuel 16:7
A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. He immediately realized that he had just thrown away tens of thousands of dollars into the ocean. It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful, stylish, well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. May we not come to the end of our lives and find that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. Take the time to see the people in your world as God sees them.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Friday, December 17, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Jesus’ Sacrifice for You
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
These were the words of Jesus as he hung on the cross, and was asking God for forgiveness of the people who has tortured, beat and crucified Him. I saw the movie “The Passion of the Christ” several years ago, and can still not forget the pain and suffering that Jesus must have gone through the day of His crucifixion. Jesus had been beaten and tortured for hours before He was led to the cross. His body must have been bloody, bruised and torn apart from the lashings and the abuse His tormenters had inflicted upon Him. Having nails driven through His hands and His feet must have been excruciating pain. At any time during this horrendous ordeal Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to come and rescue Him, but He knew His purpose and resisted. He endured all this pain and suffering for you and me because He loved us. As we wake up each morning, and all during the day we need to be thanking Jesus for enduring all this agony just for us, as it is because of our sins that He died. He endured this kind of death just because we are sinners. There is no one that loves us like our Lord and Savior, and all He asks in return is for us to believe and trust in Him. To have someone die for you in this fashion is the ultimate sacrifice, as there could have been an easier way to die, but the suffering, abuse and pain that Jesus endured is beyond our imagination. I now realize that Jesus’ death was for me, and that I will never be able to repay Him enough. I would encourage each of you to think and read the passages of how Jesus died, and to realize that He did all this for you. If you will really study these scriptures, you will realize just how important your salvation means to Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
These were the words of Jesus as he hung on the cross, and was asking God for forgiveness of the people who has tortured, beat and crucified Him. I saw the movie “The Passion of the Christ” several years ago, and can still not forget the pain and suffering that Jesus must have gone through the day of His crucifixion. Jesus had been beaten and tortured for hours before He was led to the cross. His body must have been bloody, bruised and torn apart from the lashings and the abuse His tormenters had inflicted upon Him. Having nails driven through His hands and His feet must have been excruciating pain. At any time during this horrendous ordeal Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to come and rescue Him, but He knew His purpose and resisted. He endured all this pain and suffering for you and me because He loved us. As we wake up each morning, and all during the day we need to be thanking Jesus for enduring all this agony just for us, as it is because of our sins that He died. He endured this kind of death just because we are sinners. There is no one that loves us like our Lord and Savior, and all He asks in return is for us to believe and trust in Him. To have someone die for you in this fashion is the ultimate sacrifice, as there could have been an easier way to die, but the suffering, abuse and pain that Jesus endured is beyond our imagination. I now realize that Jesus’ death was for me, and that I will never be able to repay Him enough. I would encourage each of you to think and read the passages of how Jesus died, and to realize that He did all this for you. If you will really study these scriptures, you will realize just how important your salvation means to Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God’s Judgment
“But I will pass judgment on you because you say, I have not sinned.”
Jeremiah 2:35
The Bible tells us that someday God is going to judge us for all the sins we have committed. Our book will be opened and all our sins will be recorded in it. There will not be one evil thought, one evil deed or action that will not show up in this book of our lives. There will be no one we can blame for causing us to sin, as only we will be held accountable. When I think of how God will judge us, I am reminded of the two robbers that were crucified on the cross with Jesus. These two robbers had been judged by the authorities and had been sentenced to death along with Jesus. One of these men however saw the true heart of Jesus as He prayed for His accusers, and asked God to forgive them for what they were doing. This man knew that he had sinned and was being punished justly for his crimes, and asked Jesus to remember Him when he came into His kingdom. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43. Jesus knew that this robber had repented and promised him salvation. Even though this man had sinned, and was being punished by man for his sins, God’s judgment reigned superior over the judgment of man. Earthly man could take this man’s life, but Jesus could give him an eternal life. It is not too late to confess your sins and ask God for your salvation. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, He did this so that you might be saved. Just as the robber gave his heart to Jesus, you can also give your heart to Jesus and be promised your own eternal life. You may not have tomorrow, so it is critical that you ask Jesus for your salvation today. God’s judgment is something that none of us will be able to avoid, and I urge you to consider asking Jesus into your heart today.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“But I will pass judgment on you because you say, I have not sinned.”
Jeremiah 2:35
The Bible tells us that someday God is going to judge us for all the sins we have committed. Our book will be opened and all our sins will be recorded in it. There will not be one evil thought, one evil deed or action that will not show up in this book of our lives. There will be no one we can blame for causing us to sin, as only we will be held accountable. When I think of how God will judge us, I am reminded of the two robbers that were crucified on the cross with Jesus. These two robbers had been judged by the authorities and had been sentenced to death along with Jesus. One of these men however saw the true heart of Jesus as He prayed for His accusers, and asked God to forgive them for what they were doing. This man knew that he had sinned and was being punished justly for his crimes, and asked Jesus to remember Him when he came into His kingdom. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43. Jesus knew that this robber had repented and promised him salvation. Even though this man had sinned, and was being punished by man for his sins, God’s judgment reigned superior over the judgment of man. Earthly man could take this man’s life, but Jesus could give him an eternal life. It is not too late to confess your sins and ask God for your salvation. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, He did this so that you might be saved. Just as the robber gave his heart to Jesus, you can also give your heart to Jesus and be promised your own eternal life. You may not have tomorrow, so it is critical that you ask Jesus for your salvation today. God’s judgment is something that none of us will be able to avoid, and I urge you to consider asking Jesus into your heart today.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Don’t Dwell on the Past
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18
Jesus tells us throughout the Bible to not dwell on the past, but to look to the future. This is difficult for many people to do however, as so often the tragedies they have incurred during their lives continue to haunt them. The death of a mother or father when you were young, an alcoholic parent, an abusive relationship, guilt over a serious mistake you made in your teenage years, and other situations can cause most people to continue questioning, and having self-doubts about these events. But it is very important to remember that your past is over, and nothing will ever change what has happened to you. Just remember that God never consults your past to determine your future. You need to move beyond the scars of yesterday, and look to what is ahead of you. Staying in the past and having a pity party because of the things that have befallen you will only keep you from becoming the most you can be in the future. As I counsel people, the one thing that keeps coming up is something that has happened in their past, that is preventing them from moving forward. The “what if this had not happened I would not be in the position I am today”, is something that keeps so many people from reaching the place they want to be. “What if” keeps people from reaching their dreams and being the person they want to be. We need to stop advertising our past and continuing to dwell on it. Each of us has had adversities in our past which may have hindered us physically, emotionally, mentally and sometimes even spiritually, but dwelling on these adversities does not help us reach our dreams and ambitions. I would encourage each of you to stop looking where you have been and start looking where you are going. Never build your future around your past.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18
Jesus tells us throughout the Bible to not dwell on the past, but to look to the future. This is difficult for many people to do however, as so often the tragedies they have incurred during their lives continue to haunt them. The death of a mother or father when you were young, an alcoholic parent, an abusive relationship, guilt over a serious mistake you made in your teenage years, and other situations can cause most people to continue questioning, and having self-doubts about these events. But it is very important to remember that your past is over, and nothing will ever change what has happened to you. Just remember that God never consults your past to determine your future. You need to move beyond the scars of yesterday, and look to what is ahead of you. Staying in the past and having a pity party because of the things that have befallen you will only keep you from becoming the most you can be in the future. As I counsel people, the one thing that keeps coming up is something that has happened in their past, that is preventing them from moving forward. The “what if this had not happened I would not be in the position I am today”, is something that keeps so many people from reaching the place they want to be. “What if” keeps people from reaching their dreams and being the person they want to be. We need to stop advertising our past and continuing to dwell on it. Each of us has had adversities in our past which may have hindered us physically, emotionally, mentally and sometimes even spiritually, but dwelling on these adversities does not help us reach our dreams and ambitions. I would encourage each of you to stop looking where you have been and start looking where you are going. Never build your future around your past.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Don’t be Afraid
“Yet not one of them (sparrows) will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
I find it very uplifting and exciting to see the number of times that Jesus said throughout the Bible, “don’t be afraid”, as seen in the scripture above. This indicates to me that God doesn’t want us to go through life concerned about the worries of the world, but is telling us that we need to have a positive attitude about our life. He is telling us through these scriptures to not give in to Satan, who wants us to be afraid, as we are weak and uncertain about how to deal with situations that we are confronted with, when we are fearful. God wants us to be able to confront our difficulties, to be positive about all their outcomes, but most of all is telling us to trust and have faith in Him, and that He will provide and protect us. Jesus loves us, and places an immense value on us, and does not want us to go through life afraid of what might happen. When the disciples were in the boat and a terrible storm came and threatened to capsize the boat, Jesus awoke and told them to not be afraid, and He calmed the storm. Jesus is here with us during our storms, and will calm the wind and the seas that threaten to wash us under. When we go through our valleys, and do not see how we can ever get back to our mountain tops, Jesus is with us, and tells us to not be afraid, but to be positive, continue to have hope, and continue to have faith and trust in Him. Nothing is impossible with God, as none of our problems are too great for God to handle. Just as He calmed the storm for the disciples He can handle any trial that Satan sends our way. So the next time that you face a trial, look up, and see Jesus and “don’t be afraid.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Yet not one of them (sparrows) will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
I find it very uplifting and exciting to see the number of times that Jesus said throughout the Bible, “don’t be afraid”, as seen in the scripture above. This indicates to me that God doesn’t want us to go through life concerned about the worries of the world, but is telling us that we need to have a positive attitude about our life. He is telling us through these scriptures to not give in to Satan, who wants us to be afraid, as we are weak and uncertain about how to deal with situations that we are confronted with, when we are fearful. God wants us to be able to confront our difficulties, to be positive about all their outcomes, but most of all is telling us to trust and have faith in Him, and that He will provide and protect us. Jesus loves us, and places an immense value on us, and does not want us to go through life afraid of what might happen. When the disciples were in the boat and a terrible storm came and threatened to capsize the boat, Jesus awoke and told them to not be afraid, and He calmed the storm. Jesus is here with us during our storms, and will calm the wind and the seas that threaten to wash us under. When we go through our valleys, and do not see how we can ever get back to our mountain tops, Jesus is with us, and tells us to not be afraid, but to be positive, continue to have hope, and continue to have faith and trust in Him. Nothing is impossible with God, as none of our problems are too great for God to handle. Just as He calmed the storm for the disciples He can handle any trial that Satan sends our way. So the next time that you face a trial, look up, and see Jesus and “don’t be afraid.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Monday, December 13, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God can Heal Broken Families
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 9:9
The statistics tell us that in today’s society that as many as 40% of all marriages end in divorce. Under God’s plan this is not the way that families are designed to function, as marriage is to be a godly union that is everlasting, joy filled and a place where children are taught good family values, which they will pass on to future generations. Family is where members can turn when they need guidance or comfort. I have counseled many families that have been broken by divorce, and everyone is hurt, especially when children are involved. It is in times such as these, that we can take comfort in the scriptures that say that Jesus is a father to the fatherless, and the Holy Spirit a comfort to the hurting. I believe that God wraps His love and strength around His children during these hard times. I have always encouraged people in this situation to trust God and turn to Him during this difficult time. It is important that the children see our faith in God lived out. There are many difficulties that are involved, and feelings are destroyed and shattered. Natural instinct tells us that during hard times such as divorce, we are prone to produce emotions of bitterness, rage, sorrow and anger. But as believers we are given something greater, as the God that holds the universe in His hands is big enough to carry you and your children through the hard times. I would encourage any of you that are going through a situation like this, to ask God to minister to you, and give you wisdom and guidance, and heal your broken spirit. There is nothing that is impossible with God, and though you may think that your world is falling apart, God is there with you, walking beside you and if you continue to have faith and trust in Him, He can provide healing.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 9:9
The statistics tell us that in today’s society that as many as 40% of all marriages end in divorce. Under God’s plan this is not the way that families are designed to function, as marriage is to be a godly union that is everlasting, joy filled and a place where children are taught good family values, which they will pass on to future generations. Family is where members can turn when they need guidance or comfort. I have counseled many families that have been broken by divorce, and everyone is hurt, especially when children are involved. It is in times such as these, that we can take comfort in the scriptures that say that Jesus is a father to the fatherless, and the Holy Spirit a comfort to the hurting. I believe that God wraps His love and strength around His children during these hard times. I have always encouraged people in this situation to trust God and turn to Him during this difficult time. It is important that the children see our faith in God lived out. There are many difficulties that are involved, and feelings are destroyed and shattered. Natural instinct tells us that during hard times such as divorce, we are prone to produce emotions of bitterness, rage, sorrow and anger. But as believers we are given something greater, as the God that holds the universe in His hands is big enough to carry you and your children through the hard times. I would encourage any of you that are going through a situation like this, to ask God to minister to you, and give you wisdom and guidance, and heal your broken spirit. There is nothing that is impossible with God, and though you may think that your world is falling apart, God is there with you, walking beside you and if you continue to have faith and trust in Him, He can provide healing.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God Loves You
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day.”
John 6:40
Have you ever thought just how much God loves each of us? Could you imagine sacrificing your own Son to save others and give them an eternal life? This scripture reminds me of the father who had a handicapped son, whose dream was to be in a triathlon. This father loved his son so much that he entered him in a triathlon, and pushed, pulled and carried his son by swimming 2.5 miles, cycling 125 miles and running 26.2 miles. No, they did not finish first or second but they did come in under the deadline. This earthly example showed the love that a father can have for his son. We can also see this in the love that God has for us, as our Heavenly Father is running in a similar race with us. We are all in a race, as the sins of this world have led us to places we should not be in, doing things we should not be doing, and saying things we should not be saying. But God’s love is so strong for us that no matter what sins we have committed, He still sent his Son to die for us so that we can be forgiven and have a new life. This was God’s sacrifice as the blood of Jesus was given as the ultimate price for our sins. However, with the help of Jesus our goal is to win our race, and receive our trophy which is an eternal life. In order to win our race, we need to strive to live a sin free life, and depend on God to help us withstand the temptations to sin. We need to put on the full armor of God, and depend on Him to push, pull, and carry us across the finish line, and claim our reward. I would encourage each of you to think about the love that God has for you, as He wants the best for you. He cares for you, and wants you to be cleansed from your sins, and give you an eternal life.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day.”
John 6:40
Have you ever thought just how much God loves each of us? Could you imagine sacrificing your own Son to save others and give them an eternal life? This scripture reminds me of the father who had a handicapped son, whose dream was to be in a triathlon. This father loved his son so much that he entered him in a triathlon, and pushed, pulled and carried his son by swimming 2.5 miles, cycling 125 miles and running 26.2 miles. No, they did not finish first or second but they did come in under the deadline. This earthly example showed the love that a father can have for his son. We can also see this in the love that God has for us, as our Heavenly Father is running in a similar race with us. We are all in a race, as the sins of this world have led us to places we should not be in, doing things we should not be doing, and saying things we should not be saying. But God’s love is so strong for us that no matter what sins we have committed, He still sent his Son to die for us so that we can be forgiven and have a new life. This was God’s sacrifice as the blood of Jesus was given as the ultimate price for our sins. However, with the help of Jesus our goal is to win our race, and receive our trophy which is an eternal life. In order to win our race, we need to strive to live a sin free life, and depend on God to help us withstand the temptations to sin. We need to put on the full armor of God, and depend on Him to push, pull, and carry us across the finish line, and claim our reward. I would encourage each of you to think about the love that God has for you, as He wants the best for you. He cares for you, and wants you to be cleansed from your sins, and give you an eternal life.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Live a Worry Free Life
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Philippians 4:11
Most people in today’s society are not content with anything, as our wants and desires get the best of us. We want the bigger house, the bigger car and every new convenience that we see and can afford. We want and desire all the comforts and conveniences that life can bring us, but after acquiring all of these luxuries we are still not content. When we look at the life of the disciples, we can see that they were content wherever they were, even though they were often in dire straights, either in prison or being humiliated and hunted by unbelievers. Jesus tells us that we should be content and not worry about our lives, and that he will supply all our needs. Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” But worry is one of the more common illnesses that we all face, as worry causes depression and mental illness, and destroys many lives as people let worry get the best of them. The disciples were contented because they believed in Jesus, and saw His mighty power, at work all around them, and were not afraid, as their faith was enough to provide them contentment. God tells us throughout the Bible that we need to have faith and trust in God, and that He will sustain us, provide for us, and protect us, even in today’s world. God’s plan for our lives is not one of worry, but is one of joy, happiness and contentment. As Christian’s we can obtain this worry free life and be contented, by committing our life to Christ, and having faith and trust in Him in all things. By making Christ first in our lives, we can live each day knowing that He will be there to guide us through life’s storms, and let us be content whatever our circumstances, just as He did His disciples.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Philippians 4:11
Most people in today’s society are not content with anything, as our wants and desires get the best of us. We want the bigger house, the bigger car and every new convenience that we see and can afford. We want and desire all the comforts and conveniences that life can bring us, but after acquiring all of these luxuries we are still not content. When we look at the life of the disciples, we can see that they were content wherever they were, even though they were often in dire straights, either in prison or being humiliated and hunted by unbelievers. Jesus tells us that we should be content and not worry about our lives, and that he will supply all our needs. Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” But worry is one of the more common illnesses that we all face, as worry causes depression and mental illness, and destroys many lives as people let worry get the best of them. The disciples were contented because they believed in Jesus, and saw His mighty power, at work all around them, and were not afraid, as their faith was enough to provide them contentment. God tells us throughout the Bible that we need to have faith and trust in God, and that He will sustain us, provide for us, and protect us, even in today’s world. God’s plan for our lives is not one of worry, but is one of joy, happiness and contentment. As Christian’s we can obtain this worry free life and be contented, by committing our life to Christ, and having faith and trust in Him in all things. By making Christ first in our lives, we can live each day knowing that He will be there to guide us through life’s storms, and let us be content whatever our circumstances, just as He did His disciples.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Friday, December 10, 2010
My Daily Devotional
This is Our Place to Serve God
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them, to the Israelites.”
Joshua 1:2
There are many times in our lives when God calls us to go somewhere or do something. During these times He wants us to step out in faith and go and do what He is asking us to do, but these may seem frightening and undoable to us. Many times we miss out on these exciting opportunities because of fear of the unknown or fear of failure. We are reluctant to step out of our comfort zones and let God work through us. I am sure this is what Joshua felt when God spoke these words to him in the scripture above. But Joshua faithfully listened to God and followed Him, and God led them to their promised land. God has a plan for each of us, and wants us to be in specific places at certain times so that He can use us to fulfill our plan. I know that God wanted me and my family where we are today, as this was His plan for my life. I did not expect to be here, and left to my wants and desires I would have been in another place. But God destined me to be here as this was His plan for me, and is using me to witness for Him. We sell ourselves short when we believe that only missionaries can make a huge impact for Christ. God calls all of us to be missionaries, and puts us is our mission field. True service to the Lord is a combination of two things: faith and submission. God has placed us where we are today for a reason, we need to go out in faith and submit ourselves to do His will. We can’t wait until we feel we are where we want to be, and have everything in place that we dreamed about and desired before we begin to serve God. We can serve God now as this is the place God has destined for us to be, and we need to faithfully obey.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them, to the Israelites.”
Joshua 1:2
There are many times in our lives when God calls us to go somewhere or do something. During these times He wants us to step out in faith and go and do what He is asking us to do, but these may seem frightening and undoable to us. Many times we miss out on these exciting opportunities because of fear of the unknown or fear of failure. We are reluctant to step out of our comfort zones and let God work through us. I am sure this is what Joshua felt when God spoke these words to him in the scripture above. But Joshua faithfully listened to God and followed Him, and God led them to their promised land. God has a plan for each of us, and wants us to be in specific places at certain times so that He can use us to fulfill our plan. I know that God wanted me and my family where we are today, as this was His plan for my life. I did not expect to be here, and left to my wants and desires I would have been in another place. But God destined me to be here as this was His plan for me, and is using me to witness for Him. We sell ourselves short when we believe that only missionaries can make a huge impact for Christ. God calls all of us to be missionaries, and puts us is our mission field. True service to the Lord is a combination of two things: faith and submission. God has placed us where we are today for a reason, we need to go out in faith and submit ourselves to do His will. We can’t wait until we feel we are where we want to be, and have everything in place that we dreamed about and desired before we begin to serve God. We can serve God now as this is the place God has destined for us to be, and we need to faithfully obey.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My Daily Devotional
We Need to be a Teacher
“Instruct a wise man and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”
Proverbs 9:9
All Christians need to take the time to train and teach others. I believe it is very important that we take the time to mentor other Christians. We need to train and teach them what we know. I know that during my career in hospital administration I spent a good part of my time teaching my employees and training them to be the best they could be. Everyone needs to know from their leader what is required of them so that they can perform their duties in the best possible manner. Any successful business will have employees who are informed, well trained and confident about carrying out their instructions. This takes time, energy and great patience to do the job well. Every one needs motivation in order to achieve to their full potential, and our instruction and teachings can mean the difference to someone being successful. Jesus was a master teacher. He sometimes taught thousands at a time, but at other moments He sat with only His twelve disciples and motivated, influenced and inspired them. We can teach the people we mentor about prayer, about heaven, giving, relationships and all the other wisdom of the Bible. We need to remember that none of us were born with great knowledge. We became who we are by being taught by someone else, and we need to pass this down to others. The people we mentor will not know everything; they will not see what we see; or feel what we feel; they will not know what we know. It will take time to nurture their vision, their dreams and the rewards you want them to pursue. They need someone good to mentor them, to inspire and motivate them, and you may be their only source for information and motivation. Take the time to train and teach others.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Instruct a wise man and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”
Proverbs 9:9
All Christians need to take the time to train and teach others. I believe it is very important that we take the time to mentor other Christians. We need to train and teach them what we know. I know that during my career in hospital administration I spent a good part of my time teaching my employees and training them to be the best they could be. Everyone needs to know from their leader what is required of them so that they can perform their duties in the best possible manner. Any successful business will have employees who are informed, well trained and confident about carrying out their instructions. This takes time, energy and great patience to do the job well. Every one needs motivation in order to achieve to their full potential, and our instruction and teachings can mean the difference to someone being successful. Jesus was a master teacher. He sometimes taught thousands at a time, but at other moments He sat with only His twelve disciples and motivated, influenced and inspired them. We can teach the people we mentor about prayer, about heaven, giving, relationships and all the other wisdom of the Bible. We need to remember that none of us were born with great knowledge. We became who we are by being taught by someone else, and we need to pass this down to others. The people we mentor will not know everything; they will not see what we see; or feel what we feel; they will not know what we know. It will take time to nurture their vision, their dreams and the rewards you want them to pursue. They need someone good to mentor them, to inspire and motivate them, and you may be their only source for information and motivation. Take the time to train and teach others.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Don’t Become Discouraged
“The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.”
Proverbs 12:6
When I read this scripture I am reminded that almost all of us have been misjudged at some time in our lives. People laughed when the idea of a horseless carriage was proposed. Others sneered when the telephone was invented. Even when our ministers speak about prosperity and wealth, they risk being accused of greed. People who have been given the gift of healing risk being called a fraud and a fake. Even our own families may misjudge our motives. Almost anyone who has been in an administrative capacity has been misjudged by their decision making. God tells us not to be discouraged by others who may misjudge us, as once we have taken the time to discuss our position with those who appear genuinely sincere we need to move on. We do not need to waste our time and energy on those whose motives are to stir up conflict. Jesus was constantly misjudged by others. Pharisees accused him of even being possessed by evil spirits. There are some ways we can prevent others from misjudging us, such as always be bold but very distinct in what we say. Do not leave room for misunderstandings when possible. When you are talking to someone, totally focus on that conversation, and shut out everything else. When you totally focus on what you are saying and hearing, you can keep others from any unnecessary misjudgment as you have a better chance of being on the same page. Jesus should be our example and we should pattern our life after His, and when we are falsely accused and misjudged we should know that if we have done the best we could, and followed God’s wisdom we will be redeemed, because our life should be an example for others to follow.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.”
Proverbs 12:6
When I read this scripture I am reminded that almost all of us have been misjudged at some time in our lives. People laughed when the idea of a horseless carriage was proposed. Others sneered when the telephone was invented. Even when our ministers speak about prosperity and wealth, they risk being accused of greed. People who have been given the gift of healing risk being called a fraud and a fake. Even our own families may misjudge our motives. Almost anyone who has been in an administrative capacity has been misjudged by their decision making. God tells us not to be discouraged by others who may misjudge us, as once we have taken the time to discuss our position with those who appear genuinely sincere we need to move on. We do not need to waste our time and energy on those whose motives are to stir up conflict. Jesus was constantly misjudged by others. Pharisees accused him of even being possessed by evil spirits. There are some ways we can prevent others from misjudging us, such as always be bold but very distinct in what we say. Do not leave room for misunderstandings when possible. When you are talking to someone, totally focus on that conversation, and shut out everything else. When you totally focus on what you are saying and hearing, you can keep others from any unnecessary misjudgment as you have a better chance of being on the same page. Jesus should be our example and we should pattern our life after His, and when we are falsely accused and misjudged we should know that if we have done the best we could, and followed God’s wisdom we will be redeemed, because our life should be an example for others to follow.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”
Matthew 6:25
Worry is one of the causes for many of the medical problems that people face today. Hospitals are full of patients with diagnoses of depression, mental issues and stress related problems. The Bible gives us much wisdom about how we are to deal with everyday issues and tells us not to worry about them as God knows all our needs and will provide for us. However, so many people want to ignore God’s wisdom and want all the material things that this life offers. We want to accumulate more money, a bigger house, a bigger car and all the material possessions that we can get. This desire to acquire wealth creates financial problems, relationship issues and many other kinds of issues that create worry and stress. I believe we need to slow down and enjoy life more, as God tells us to. I would propose the plan that God gives us, and that is that every day is a special day and one that we need to enjoy to the fullest. We need to search for wisdom and knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your need. Spend more time with your family and friends. Eat your favorite foods and visit the places you love. Use your Chrystal goblets. Do not save your best perfume. Remove from your vocabulary phrases like “one of these days” and “someday”. Tell our families and friends how much we love them. Do not delay anything that adds joy and laughter to your life. Every day, every hour and every minute is special and you don’t know if it will be your last. Eliminate worry from your life as God tells us to, and enjoy the time He gives us. So quit worrying about life, as God tells us that He will provide all our needs. What more could we ask for.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”
Matthew 6:25
Worry is one of the causes for many of the medical problems that people face today. Hospitals are full of patients with diagnoses of depression, mental issues and stress related problems. The Bible gives us much wisdom about how we are to deal with everyday issues and tells us not to worry about them as God knows all our needs and will provide for us. However, so many people want to ignore God’s wisdom and want all the material things that this life offers. We want to accumulate more money, a bigger house, a bigger car and all the material possessions that we can get. This desire to acquire wealth creates financial problems, relationship issues and many other kinds of issues that create worry and stress. I believe we need to slow down and enjoy life more, as God tells us to. I would propose the plan that God gives us, and that is that every day is a special day and one that we need to enjoy to the fullest. We need to search for wisdom and knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your need. Spend more time with your family and friends. Eat your favorite foods and visit the places you love. Use your Chrystal goblets. Do not save your best perfume. Remove from your vocabulary phrases like “one of these days” and “someday”. Tell our families and friends how much we love them. Do not delay anything that adds joy and laughter to your life. Every day, every hour and every minute is special and you don’t know if it will be your last. Eliminate worry from your life as God tells us to, and enjoy the time He gives us. So quit worrying about life, as God tells us that He will provide all our needs. What more could we ask for.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Monday, December 6, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Make God Your Priority
“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.”
Philippians 3:18-20
This is a message that Paul was giving to the Philippians, telling them that they were getting away from the example that Jesus had set for them. Paul was following the example of Christ, and he was telling them that the life styles Christians should lead ought to be models worth following. I am afraid that so many Christians today are leading a life style that is not what God would want for us, as our minds are on ourselves and on earthly things, instead of making God first in our lives. We want our own desires met without thinking about God and others. We have set our minds on the things of this life, and nothing else matters except getting the most and the best that we can afford. But according to God life is not supposed to be this way, as we are not to be addicted to material things, but to seek first the kingdom of God, and then all things will be given to us. God does not want us to be poor, but wants us to put things into priority. He wants us to first seek Him, and then He will provide all our needs. He wants us to get our priorities straight and then He will do the rest. When we follow the example of Jesus and the one that Paul embraced, we will get our minds off ourselves and our wants and desires, and put our priority on serving God and our fellow man. When we have mastered this, then God will begin pouring down His blessings on us and all that we do. I would encourage each of you to look at your own life and follow the example that Jesus and Paul gives us, and set your priorities first on Jesus and not on yourself.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.”
Philippians 3:18-20
This is a message that Paul was giving to the Philippians, telling them that they were getting away from the example that Jesus had set for them. Paul was following the example of Christ, and he was telling them that the life styles Christians should lead ought to be models worth following. I am afraid that so many Christians today are leading a life style that is not what God would want for us, as our minds are on ourselves and on earthly things, instead of making God first in our lives. We want our own desires met without thinking about God and others. We have set our minds on the things of this life, and nothing else matters except getting the most and the best that we can afford. But according to God life is not supposed to be this way, as we are not to be addicted to material things, but to seek first the kingdom of God, and then all things will be given to us. God does not want us to be poor, but wants us to put things into priority. He wants us to first seek Him, and then He will provide all our needs. He wants us to get our priorities straight and then He will do the rest. When we follow the example of Jesus and the one that Paul embraced, we will get our minds off ourselves and our wants and desires, and put our priority on serving God and our fellow man. When we have mastered this, then God will begin pouring down His blessings on us and all that we do. I would encourage each of you to look at your own life and follow the example that Jesus and Paul gives us, and set your priorities first on Jesus and not on yourself.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God has a Plan for You
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
2nd Corinthians 4:1
As I have stated many times in my devotionals every one of us is an evangelist according to the word of God. We need to always be seeking any opportunity to reach others around us and tell them about God and His plan of salvation for them. You may think that you are not capable of being an evangelist and reaching others for Christ, but it is our duty. I believe many times that ministries are established by God out of sufferings and hardships that we have in our lives. A good example is Joni Erickson, a professional world class diver, who suffered an accident that left her paralyzed. I am sure she thought her life was over, however God, though this terrible ordeal, gave her one of the most wonderful ministries possible, as she has touched the lives of hundreds of people, and brought them to Jesus Christ. There are countless examples of others that God has used to witness to people through their sufferings, and is using these people to tell others about the power of God. God evidently had a plan for these people, and although it does not make sense to us, God’s plans are always for a specific purpose. As Christians we all need to seek God’s heart and discover what His plan is for our lives, and do everything possible to fulfill it. We need to listen to God as He speaks to our heart and follow His every call, even when we don’t know where He is leading us. I know that God has given me direction in my life, and has led me to where He wants me to be. He will do the same for you if you will submit to Him, and follow Him. Maybe God has a unique ministry planned for you, and is wanting you to trust him. Be open to let God speak to you and lead you to accept whatever plan He has for your life.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
2nd Corinthians 4:1
As I have stated many times in my devotionals every one of us is an evangelist according to the word of God. We need to always be seeking any opportunity to reach others around us and tell them about God and His plan of salvation for them. You may think that you are not capable of being an evangelist and reaching others for Christ, but it is our duty. I believe many times that ministries are established by God out of sufferings and hardships that we have in our lives. A good example is Joni Erickson, a professional world class diver, who suffered an accident that left her paralyzed. I am sure she thought her life was over, however God, though this terrible ordeal, gave her one of the most wonderful ministries possible, as she has touched the lives of hundreds of people, and brought them to Jesus Christ. There are countless examples of others that God has used to witness to people through their sufferings, and is using these people to tell others about the power of God. God evidently had a plan for these people, and although it does not make sense to us, God’s plans are always for a specific purpose. As Christians we all need to seek God’s heart and discover what His plan is for our lives, and do everything possible to fulfill it. We need to listen to God as He speaks to our heart and follow His every call, even when we don’t know where He is leading us. I know that God has given me direction in my life, and has led me to where He wants me to be. He will do the same for you if you will submit to Him, and follow Him. Maybe God has a unique ministry planned for you, and is wanting you to trust him. Be open to let God speak to you and lead you to accept whatever plan He has for your life.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Speak Out for Jesus
“Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news, about the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 11:20
In the scripture above there was nothing special about these men, as they were not trained evangelists or pastors. We do not even know their names. They are just ordinary people like you and me. However they spoke freely of their Lord and Savior in a positive way and the people responded. In your normal everyday conversation with your family members, your friends, co-workers or anyone else, do you ever talk about your faith and speak freely about God? Do all the people you come into contact with know that you are a Christian? In the vast majority of cases, American Christians today do not speak about their faith in a personal conversational way, even when given an obvious opportunity to tell others about Jesus. In not being outgoing in letting others know about Jesus we may be depriving them of the single opportunity they will have to know about Him and His plan for salvation. It is easy to let people you come into contact with know that you are a Christian, and share your faith and Christian values with them. The Bible tells us to be a contagious Christian, and to spread the good news about God wherever we go. We need to be alert and ready to seize any opportunity to let others know about God. We should not argue with anyone however, and let our faith become a stumbling block to others, but spreading the word of God to others is something that God expects each of us to do. Colossians 4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news, about the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 11:20
In the scripture above there was nothing special about these men, as they were not trained evangelists or pastors. We do not even know their names. They are just ordinary people like you and me. However they spoke freely of their Lord and Savior in a positive way and the people responded. In your normal everyday conversation with your family members, your friends, co-workers or anyone else, do you ever talk about your faith and speak freely about God? Do all the people you come into contact with know that you are a Christian? In the vast majority of cases, American Christians today do not speak about their faith in a personal conversational way, even when given an obvious opportunity to tell others about Jesus. In not being outgoing in letting others know about Jesus we may be depriving them of the single opportunity they will have to know about Him and His plan for salvation. It is easy to let people you come into contact with know that you are a Christian, and share your faith and Christian values with them. The Bible tells us to be a contagious Christian, and to spread the good news about God wherever we go. We need to be alert and ready to seize any opportunity to let others know about God. We should not argue with anyone however, and let our faith become a stumbling block to others, but spreading the word of God to others is something that God expects each of us to do. Colossians 4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
My Daily Devotional
The Greatest Book
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:105
The greatest book on earth is the Bible, as it has outsold every book that has ever been written. According to Biblical scholars it takes approximately 56 hours to read the Bible through completely. If you read 40 chapters a day, you will complete the Bible within 30 days. If you read nine chapters a day in the New Testament you will finish reading the New Testament in 30 days. I know in my life every time I open the Bible there is a new revelation that jumps out at me when I read its scriptures. Even though I have read each verse many times before I am able to understand additional wisdom that God is telling me. The Bible is truly a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, as the scriptures gives me guidance for anything that will occur in my life. I believe that faith comes when you hear God talk through His Holy Word, and the wisdom that you get from the scriptures help you deal with life’s problems. The word of God will help keep you pure, as it will keep you on the right path and not let you give in to the temptations that Satan is constantly bombarding you with. The Bible is God’s word and has been given to us to give us direction and guidance in how to live a godly life, and one that is pleasing to God. We need to go to God’s word daily which will give us the strength to overcome all the adversities that we face, and to give us the faith we need to trust in God for all things. Faith and trust in God is all we need to sustain us, as He promises to provide all our needs. The Bible should be the most important book in all our lives, and the one that we turn to for all the answers. The Bible is God’s word and we need to listen to God and let Him be a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:105
The greatest book on earth is the Bible, as it has outsold every book that has ever been written. According to Biblical scholars it takes approximately 56 hours to read the Bible through completely. If you read 40 chapters a day, you will complete the Bible within 30 days. If you read nine chapters a day in the New Testament you will finish reading the New Testament in 30 days. I know in my life every time I open the Bible there is a new revelation that jumps out at me when I read its scriptures. Even though I have read each verse many times before I am able to understand additional wisdom that God is telling me. The Bible is truly a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, as the scriptures gives me guidance for anything that will occur in my life. I believe that faith comes when you hear God talk through His Holy Word, and the wisdom that you get from the scriptures help you deal with life’s problems. The word of God will help keep you pure, as it will keep you on the right path and not let you give in to the temptations that Satan is constantly bombarding you with. The Bible is God’s word and has been given to us to give us direction and guidance in how to live a godly life, and one that is pleasing to God. We need to go to God’s word daily which will give us the strength to overcome all the adversities that we face, and to give us the faith we need to trust in God for all things. Faith and trust in God is all we need to sustain us, as He promises to provide all our needs. The Bible should be the most important book in all our lives, and the one that we turn to for all the answers. The Bible is God’s word and we need to listen to God and let Him be a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path.
(Many of my readers have asked if my Daily Devotionals have been published and if they could purchase them. The Devotionals I am posting are from My Daily Devotional Volume III which was published in 2009 and can be purchased at amazon.com or from me at robbrock@comcast.net)
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