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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Be A Contagious Christian

Be a Contagious Christian “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Have you ever thought about what the disciples must have thought when Jesus spoke the message above to them? It must have seemed like an impossible request when they looked at their past lives as a tax collector, a fisher, etc. and Jesus was now telling them to go spread the Gospel throughout all the world. There are times in our lives when we are told to do things on our own, where we have major concerns. Our first day at school, our first bike ride without training wheels or even taking our first step by ourselves. We continually are asked to do things on our own through adolescence and even into adulthood, until we begin a family of our own. Each time we are asked to step out by ourselves we are unsure, but then become excited to find out that we actually could do it all by ourselves. The disciples were, I am sure, questioning whether they could do this by themselves, and had doubts, fears and questions. But Jesus knew what lay ahead of them, and the experiences they would encounter in their lives to spread the gospel throughout the world. It is not easy to step out in faith when we don’t know what may lie ahead of us, but this is what we must do, in our walk with God. Just as the disciples were told to do, to step out and spread the word of God to the world, we are also to step out and spread the word of God to our friends, our neighbors and in our workplaces. We need to be a contagious Christian wherever we are and wherever we go. We are also part of the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the disciples, and need to go out in faith as they did and spread the Word of Jesus wherever we go. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 24 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Be Reborn

Be Reborn “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.” Acts 7:51 These are some of the teachings of Stephen to the Sanhedrin just before he was stoned to death. These people were not willing to change their pagan ways and listen to new insights, new approaches and new ideas? They were not teachable in any way. Their hearts were hardened to the words of Jesus Christ that Stephen was trying to convey to them. The strong words “stiff-necked” and “hard-hearted” certainly tells us how inflexible and non-responsive they really were. We can see how the Sanhedrin were, and need to ask ourselves if we would consider ourselves to be as un-teachable as they were. Are we open to new insights, new approaches and new ideas? Most of us would want to answer “yes”, that we are teachable, but just how valid is our response. So often we have hardened our hearts, and have stiffened our necks to the point that we don’t or won’t consider a change in our thinking and attitude. In such a condition we are not open to new ideas, nor are we open to the transforming work of the Spirit of God in our lives. When God comes into our heart we must be ready to be transformed, and be made into a new creature. We must be willing to throw off the old self and put on the new self. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. We must be willing to change the patterns of our life, and change our attitudes and behavior both in public and private. We must be willing to become the kind of people that God would want for us to become. We need to be committed to our new born self and ask God to reveal to us what attitudes and behaviors that He would have us change. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 23 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

You Are Not Alone

You Are Not Alone “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2nd Timothy 4:7 Several days ago I received a call from one of my former employers that one of my good friends had passed away after a ferocious battle with cancer. This was a good Christian man who walked the talk in his everyday life and was a beacon for everyone to follow. That night I read the scripture above and it really hit home. It made me think that as my friend was going through all the trials in his life over the past few months he kept his faith, fought the good fight and finished the race. He was able to do this because he had God to lean on, and who was his strength during his struggles. I know that so many people try to solve problems on their own, and then realize that they can’t do it by themselves and eventually turn things over to God. We can all fight the good fight, and sometimes finish the race by ourselves but when we do it without faith it just isn’t satisfying, but only sufficient. There is no gratification in doing something that isn’t in God’s will. There is a security in knowing that when you fight the good fight and finish the race with faith that God was on your side through it all. God knows all our strengths and weaknesses, and as He promises throughout the Bible will not make our burdens more than we can bear. And even though when we are down in our valleys and the storm clouds surround us God is still there to guide us through and give us peace in our lives. I would encourage each of you, that when you feel that you are all alone, and that no one understands what you are going through, to remember that God knows and understands your troubles, and will provide the understanding that will guide you through your difficult times. Don’t try to do it all by yourself, but turn to God who will walk by your side. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 22 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

God Is Our Creator

God Is Our Creator “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 Last week as I was turning through the television channels, there was a program which I momentarily watched, which was talking about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. The program was showing a progression of man from the so called apes to the present day form of man. I know that godless information such as this turns people away from believing the real truth of creation. I remember a cartoon several years ago showing a gorilla in a zoo, holding a Bible in one hand, and a book about evolution in the other? He was looking confused, so someone asked, “What are you doing?” The gorilla answered, “Well, I’m trying to decide if I’m my brother’s keeper, or my keeper’s brother.” The subject of Creation versus Evolution is no laughing matter as the sad truth is that our children and our future generations are suffering because of the evolutionist’s attack on the belief in God today. Unfortunately, many parents do not take the responsibility of teaching their children about God, the Great Creator, and leave this up to the ignorant multitude of liberals that are taking over much of our school system, and teaching our children this so called “evolution pollution”. As parents it is our responsibility to let our children know why they believe in God’s creation and to be able to share their beliefs. I would encourage all parents to make sure your child is not caught up in the web of deceit that is pervading our society on the subject of evolution verses creation. Make sure you are equipped to handle this situation, and are able to answer your children’s questions so they can present and defend their positions. It is extremely important to make sure our children do not begin doubting the real God and their creation. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 21 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Trap Of Sin

The Trap Of Sin “He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” Proverbs 28:10 When I found this scripture a few nights ago I was reminded of something my grandfather told me as I was growing up. He loved to hunt and told me a story about how to trap and tame a fox. He said to find a suitable place in the woods and put some food on the ground. The fox would find it and begin to come back for more food. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the food. When they get used to the fence being there, you put up another side of the fence. When they get used to that you put up another side. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. When the fox, which now is used to the free food, comes through the gate to eat, a trap door closes the gate and the fox is trapped. Soon the fox forgets about his freedom, and eats the free food and accepts his captivity. I believe that the scheme of Satan is much like this. For example we begin to get used to and accept just a little sin in our life, like an off color program on television that we begin watching, then another level of sin is added and we become accustomed to this, then another is added until all four sides of our fence is built and we are trapped. This kind of entrapment is seen throughout our society as we start accepting and compromising just a little, then just a little more, then just a little more, and before long we can be trapped into a life of sin. Just as there is not a difference between a white lie and a real lie, there is not a difference between the levels of sin we commit. If we commit a sin and we know that we are sinning we are still guilty. A word of caution do only what you would be comfortable doing if Jesus was beside you watching you. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 20 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Monday, June 25, 2012

God's Masterpiece

God’s Masterpiece “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the Lord God made all kind of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Genesis 2:8-9 As our children were growing up, there was an artist that we would always watch that would draw beautiful scenic pictures of the trees, grassy hillsides, ponds and beautiful white fluffy clouds against a blue sky. He would always call his clouds, little happy clouds, and would instruct everyone who was watching that these were their clouds, and their trees and they could do whatever they wanted to with them when they drew their own pictures. Have you ever thought about God being a master artist, when He created the Garden of Eden? Can you imagine how He created the spectacular colors of a sunset, the colors of a rainbow, the red and gold leaves of autumn, and how He could have painstakingly painted each leaf on a tree and each blade of grass, and each flower in the field. The beautiful trees, the fluffy clouds, the blue sky, the grassy hillsides, and all the beauty that surrounds us was all created and formed by God. God is the ultimate Master Painter, as we can see His creations all around us, and we should be in awe of His masterpiece. But best of all God has placed us in this beautiful garden and now we are also painted into His landscape. Just as the artist we watched years ago instructed we can do whatever we want with our painting. We can add color to this dark world, as we can be a light to the world we live in, or we can live in darkness. We have the freedom to be the splash of gold to our own world and bring our lifeless canvas to its full brilliance. “The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” Proverbs 13:9 My Daily Devotional Volume III April 20 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

You Shall Be Healed

You Shall Be Healed “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 Being in the health care field for 45 years I have sat and listened to people who were struggling with health issues, and have had them unburden their hearts to me about their fears of what was going to happen to them. They were torn apart emotionally, spiritually and physically with their diseases and usually did not know where to turn for comfort and reassurance. No one knows the anguish that people with chronic sickness suffer until they go through health issues themselves. God tells us in the scripture above that there is hope in Him as He can be our healer. I would encourage you to not lose hope, as He is still the God who heals us, no matter what disease we are battling, and no matter how bleak the situation looks. We can find many examples throughout the Bible where people with all kinds of illnesses were healed both by Jesus and by His disciples. Healing starts with the belief that there is a God and the faith and trust that God can heal any affliction. The Bible gives us instruction, hope and faith when we believe and pray to God for our healing. The Word of God tells us to lay our hands on those who are suffering, anoint them with oil and pray the prayer of faith to God on their behalf. When we do, we are taught that God will do the rest. We can discover that through prayer and asking God for healing that great things can take place. The power of God can heal, restore and make new bodies that were suffering. When we have even the amount of faith as small as a mustard seed we have enough faith to be healed My Daily Devotional Volume III April 19 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

God Is Always There

God Is Always There “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2-3 The above scripture should be such an assurance to all of us, as God is telling us that He will always be there in our times of trouble and trials. Many times it is only when we begin to pass through the waters and the rivers and are trying to keep our heads above water do we begin to turn to God to ask for help in solving our problems. I believe that when things are going good in our lives and everything is coming up roses that this is the time that we are most vulnerable from the attacks of Satan. During the past two years I have had several friends that have developed cancer. There is a national cancer care website that has been developed where they can share information and receive encouragement from others who have this terrible disease. I have been writing devotionals which I post on this website as encouragements to these people to help them deal with their problems, and through this website I have communicated with many of these people. I have found that it has taken this life threatening disease to bring many of them back to God. It is very difficult for many of these people, but I have seen that God has strengthened the character of many of them, and has even given some of them a ministry to help and support others. When people are down in their valleys and the storm clouds are surrounding them they begin to turn to God for comfort and protection. So often it takes adversity in our lives to make us aware of our vulnerability, but we can all rest assured that God will always be there in our times of trouble and trials, and all that we need to do is to call on Him. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 18 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Friday, June 22, 2012

God Is Our Refuge

God Is Our Refuge “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2 Recently we have seen wildfires destroy and do much devastation to the homes of people, especially in California, but also over many other parts of our nation. The material possessions that these people have worked a lifetime to accumulate have been wiped away in an instant. The security that these families enjoyed, even last week, has now gone up in smoke and they are left with a feeling of despair and helpliness. This is how quickly our worlds can change, as one minute we can feel safe and secure, and the next minute our worlds can be completely turned around and we find ourselves without any hope. Throughout the Bible God tells us not to become enamored with our worldly possessions, as these will pass away, but rather to be concerned about our inward selves as these will never pass away. God tells us that He will provide for our needs, and not to worry about anything else. He tells us that He provides even for the needs of the birds, as they do not worry about their needs. All of us need to learn a lesson from these kinds of disasters, and realize that many times we put all our focus on acquiring all the material things of life, rather than focusing on what should really matter. When times of trouble confront us, such as wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes we are not alone as God tells us in the scripture above that He is still our refuge and our fortress and we need to continue to trust in Him. Even though God knows all things before they happen, I believe that He allows some of the catastrophic events to happen to make us aware of our vulnerability, and that He is still in control. During our times of trouble we still need to keep our eyes looking upwards and depend on God to help us through. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 17 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Learn To Forgive

Learn To Forgive “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” Luke 6:27-29 In this world we live in today, it would be rare to find many who would turn the other cheek as the scripture above states. However throughout the Bible this is the message that Jesus keeps sending us. Forgiveness is something that so many people struggle with every day of their lives. As I have counseled people throughout the years, many times the underlying problem that these people are facing is the lack of being able to forgive others. So many of them have been hurt by employers, friends, neighbors and many times by family members, and they have not been able to forgive and forget and go on with their lives. The pain keeps gnawing at them and does not go away, and the longer they harbor this hurt the more it spreads into other parts of their lives and into their family situations. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:15. When we are unable to release bitterness and pent up anger inside us this is going to keep God from operating in our lives. I know it is difficult to forgive someone who has hurt you, but just remember the sacrifice that Jesus made to forgive you. What He is asking you to do is nothing compared to the sacrifice He made on your behalf. If there is someone that has harmed you, and you have not been able to forgive, I would encourage you to ask God for the strength to help you forgive them, as this is one of the most important elements in your walk with Jesus. As the above scripture tells us, what better reason do we have to forgive others so that our sins will also be forgiven? My Daily Devotional Volume III April 16 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

My Daily Devotional: Step Out Of The Boat

My Daily Devotional: Step Out Of The Boat: Step Out Of The Boat “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be asham...

Step Out Of The Boat

Step Out Of The Boat “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 When I read this scripture a few nights ago it reminded me of the many times I had the opportunity over the years to let people know that I was a Christian. Even though I have always attended church I never was committed enough to really take my faith out into my workplace, which is so unfortunate. I had always been comfortable just being a good, considerate, respectful and honest man with all the people I came into contact with. However when the power of God began to work in my life everything changed. It reminds me of the Apostle Peter when he stepped out of the boat to go meet Jesus on the lake. I am sure he felt safe and secure in the boat, but when he stepped out in faith he was not sure what would happen. For a short time his faith sustained him, but when he began to doubt he began to sink. This is how so many people are in their own walks of faith. We are afraid to step out in the water, to venture out to territories where we have never been. But when we see and read some of the scriptures of Jesus such as the ones above, we must be willing to begin to step out in faith, and put our trust in God. I know that my life has changed dramatically since I have stepped out, and God has sustained me and given me abilities I never knew I had to make a difference. If there is one thing that I could ever encourage each of you to do, it would be to never be afraid to step out of your comfort zones to do the work of God and to spread His gospel. Amazing things will begin to happen in your life and you will never be the same again. God will take you to new heights in your ability to understand and reveal the plan He has for your life. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Our Great Comission

Our Great Commission “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13 This past weekend I received a call from the local community center, about one of the young men that has been helping with some of the projects we have established to help the needy in our area. He had just attended a local church and had asked Jesus into his heart. This young man had a troubled past, as his family had been torn apart by divorce at an early age, which left him pretty much on his own throughout his teen aged years. He had gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd and had begun using drugs, and had gotten himself in trouble with the police. He was assigned to do community service as part of his punishment, and had been helping distribute food to the needy. During the time he was assigned to us, there were several of us that counseled with him almost on a daily basis. When I received the call about him turning his life over to God, it thrilled my heart to know that I had a small part in rescuing this young man. This is just one of many examples of what I have experienced during the past seven years as I have ventured out to reach lost souls. I believe Jesus’ great commission to go out and reach others is the most important thing that we can do in our walk with God. We have to venture out of our comfort zones and go where these people are. This young man would never have gone to church on his own, but being in the presence of people of God was enough influence in his life to change him and get his life back on track. This is where God wants Christians to be, trying to bring sinners to know what a life in Christ is like. We cannot do this only going to church on Sunday. Sunday is the time we need our own spiritual food, but then we need to be out helping others partake of the spiritual food as well. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 14 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Purpose Of Life

The Purpose Of Life “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 Have you ever thought about what the purpose of life is? I believe when God created man He created him with the idea that he would last forever. When He created Adam in the Garden of Eden, I believe God made him to be eternal. When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, this changed things. However when Jesus came back to die on the cross for our sins this again gave us the chance to again have our eternal life. I believe the purpose of life is just a step to prepare us for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to eventually be with Him in Heaven. Our life on earth is to prepare us and get us ready, as our time on earth is only a short time, but eternity will last forever. The hills and valleys that we go through on earth is only our practice field, as God wants us to grow in character and in our Christ likeness. Our life here on earth is a series of good times and bad times much like a roller coaster as we are either going uphill or coasting down. We are in many instances like David as he was either thanking God for the good times and on top of the hill, or asking Him for help during his bad times and down in the valleys. I believe that no matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good that you can thank God for. I believe God wants us to be happy on earth, but our purpose is to become more Christ like and to be more like Him. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 13 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

God Will Provide

God Will Provide “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 The thought that is becoming more prevalent in our society today is about pleasing ourselves and fulfilling our desires. From the simple life that our ancestors lived, we have evolved into one that is focused not on meeting just our needs, but are caught up in our wants and desires. These are things that go far beyond our food, clothing and shelter needs that are necessary to maintain life, but we have become consumed with the materialistic things of life. We must have that new house, that new car, that new television, go on our dream vacation, have the latest fashions, etc. The focus of our lives has become centered on these materialistic possessions, and before we know it the bills start coming in and worry and stress quickly follow. Jesus understood just how bad people can get caught up in the temporal, worldly, demanding and ruthless ways of the world, and tells us to not be concerned about our life. He tells us not to worry, but one of the silent killers in our society today is stress, which so often is brought about by worry. We all need to deal with the thoughts of tomorrow, and what it will bring, but we do not need to worry about it as God tells us that He will provide all our needs. It is true that our culture has changed, but the one constant is still there and that is the promise that Jesus made to all of us. That promise is that there is a bright future for all of us, as we do not have to be concerned about our tomorrows, as He came to provide a way where we do not have be burdened down with stress and worry about our future. Our eternity in heaven is already planned for us when we accept Jesus as our savior, and our future is assured when we trust in Him to provide all our needs. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 12 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10 As we look at our daily newspapers and our television we see more and more trouble all around us, the spirit of fear seems to be working overtime. With the terror threats, violence in our streets, the threats of war and the crime that is prevalent we have reason to be fearful. This fear is not coming from God but from Satan. The devil wants us to be afraid and on the defensive. He wants us to be so consumed by fear, and so afraid that our thoughts and minds will be so overwhelmed with fear that we will not be able to accomplish the things we need to do. The scriptures, such as the one above can give us strength to stand up and hold fast to the promises of God, that He will not forsake us and leave us alone. He will protect us from our enemies and our fear. We cannot get caught up in the day to day troubles that face our society, and become despondent and begin to have doubts about what the future holds for us. We must realize that the word of God tells us that we must refuse to worry about what “may” happen, as God is going to see us through. He tells us that there will be a brighter tomorrow, even though we sometimes cannot see through the dark clouds that surrounds us. I believe God has angels all around us that are there to protect the ones that believe and trust in Him. We also have our Christian brothers and sisters to aid and comfort us during our times of trouble. When the attacks of the devil begin to drag you down, and fear begins to overwhelm you, you can reach out to your friends, but just remember that God is always there for you and will not let anyone attack you or harm you, as He is always there to watch over you. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Value Your Friends

Value Your Friends “May another take his place of leadership. So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias…who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken from us. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:20-23 This is the scripture that tells us what happened after Jesus ascended to Heaven, and how the remaining eleven apostles chose the successor to Judas. So often we think that the twelve disciples were the only ones that were close to Jesus, but we see in the scripture above that there were others that were close to him as well. This scripture tells us that both Joseph and Matthias were with Jesus even before he chose the Twelve Apostles. Jesus also was close to Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We also find that there were the 120 people who gathered before Pentecost who also were close to Jesus. Just imagine Jesus meeting with these people in settings much like the small groups we have today in our churches. He ate with them, spent time with them, talked of God to them, and prayed with them. Have you given any thought of the people who are close to you? Who are your circle of friends and do you spend time with them as Jesus did? The church family during my childhood did things together, such as picnics, dinners, etc. as the life of the family revolved around the church. When we have people that are close to us we need to nurture them as Jesus did, by spending time with them, praying with them and worshipping together with them. We need to treasure those who have walked with us, and have been close to us for much of our lives, for they are among God’s greatest gifts to you. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A New Life

A New Life “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1st John 5:11 God loves you and offers you a full and meaningful life. This full and meaningful life is abundant. This full and meaningful life is everlasting. Jesus Christ can change your whole life and give you joy and peace now and forever. Life without Christ is empty and without meaning, but the life Jesus offers is full, meaningful and eternal. This life is made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection, and includes: forgiveness of sin, fellowship in the family of God and strength for daily living. A life without Christ includes guilt, loneliness and weariness. The life God offers includes forgiveness, fellowship and strength. You enter this life through a “spiritual birth.” “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Nicodemus, a member of the strictest religious group of his time, was a highly educated man. He came to Jesus seeking a more meaningful life. Jesus explained that without a complete change in his life no man could understand or enter the kingdom of God. Jesus called this change a spiritual birth. The spiritual birth is more than accepting facts, and more than doing good works. Spiritual birth takes place when you turn your life over to Jesus Christ. This life becomes yours when you turn from sin and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. To receive Jesus Christ, you need to: admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself, be willing to turn from your sins and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and take control of your life. You become a Christian and possess this full and meaningful life at the moment when by faith you turn to God through Christ. The choice is yours. God offers you this full and meaningful life now. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 8 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Harry's Tree

Harry’s Tree This week I received an e-mail from the secretary of the company we work with in doing our mail service, telling me that Harry, one of our dear friends had passed away. This was a man that we had met each day for over 10 years to deliver our mail to. He loved to talk and we would spend several minutes each day talking as much as we could, even with the tight schedule we both were on in getting the mail to the office to be presorted. We met each other for all those years under a maple tree by the side of the road. He had been stricken with cancer for the past several years and was not able to work, but even during this time when we would pass this tree we were reminded of him, and the time we shared together. The brief time we spent with each other on a daily basis reminds me just how precious life really is, and how just a few moments each day talking with someone can make a lasting impact on all of us. Harry was a man that during his time on earth made an impact on many people, not through his achievements or stature in life but by the caring attitude he had for people. Each day we would hug each other before we left and tell each other to be careful. Harry made an impact on our children and grandchildren in this manner. Harry liked to talk to people and often was late meeting us because of this, but we understood and got to expect his late arrivals. I would encourage each of you to cherish these kinds of brief encounters with the Harry’s you meet daily as these are times that can make an impact on your life. I was able to share the Gospel with Harry during these times and gave him a copy of one of my first Daily Devotional after it was published. I know that both my wife and I and my family will miss him, and will always remember Harry’s Tree. God tells us to be kind to one another, showing our love to others and making this kind of impact on the people we meet. We can make an impact on people in this way by showing that we care. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 7 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

You Can't Hide From God

You Can’t Hide From God “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Psalm 139:4 God knows us perfectly, far beyond our knowledge of ourselves; our every action, our every undertaking, even our thoughts before they are fully crystallized, and our words before they are ever uttered are known by an ever present God. Even the little things that we do in our daily lives, where we are not honest in the way we conduct ourselves, are under God’s watchful eyes. I am reminded of the story about the minister who ended his service one Sunday by saying, “Next Sunday I’m going to preach on the subject of liars. And in preparation of this, I would like each of you to read the seventeenth chapter of Mark.” The following Sunday the minister asked, “Now then, all of you who have read the seventeenth chapter of Mark, please raise your hands.” Nearly every hand in the congregation went up. Then said the minister, “You are the people I want to talk to, as there is no seventeenth chapter of Mark.” This humorous story illustrates just how easy it is to sin in the eyes of God, and although many of these sins may not seem to be significant, they are nevertheless sins. I would caution each of you to always be aware of your actions, your thoughts, and your behavior at all times as God is watching, and is aware of all you do. There is no place where even the smallest of sins is kept secret from God, so be aware of what you do, what you think and how you live, even down to the small things of life. He will one day examine each of our lives and also our souls, as He knows our ever thought, word and deed, from whom there is no hiding. Psalm 139:1-3 “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” My Daily Devotional Volume III April 6 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Monday, June 11, 2012

God Has A Plan For You

God Has A Plan For You “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 The other night at one of our church’s small group meetings, one of the young men who will be graduating from college was concerned about what his future would be like. Most people go through life, like this young man, not knowing what the future will have in store for them, however the scripture above gives us a glimpse of how God looks at our future, as He tells us that He has plans to prosper us and give us hope for our future. From the time we set out on our own, we begin to make life-changing decisions; we get our first job; we find the perfect spouse; we begin our family; we buy our first house and make many other life changing decisions throughout the course of our lives. Ultimately, through these decisions we decide our future. All the decisions we make are part of God’s plan for each of us, and in His time he will reveal His plan to us. In my situation God did not reveal His plan for my life to me until I passed middle age, and had experienced many of these life changing decisions. I believe God wants each of us to listen to His call, but gives us a free will to see what we will do of our own accord. I know that I made many mistakes, but I believe these were all learning experiences for me, as He was molding me and shaping me to be the person I am today. At the right time God will speak to you and reveal His plan for your life. When this time comes, allow your life to be guided by God, and listen to His gentle whispers, and follow Him and He will make your future a bright one. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” My Daily Devotional Volume III April 5 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

A Mountaintop Experience

A Mountaintop Experience “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 I love the mountains, as I spent many peaceful and wonderful hours with my grandfather hunting and climbing the mountains as I was growing up in my beautiful state of Kentucky. It is encouraging to know that the disciple Peter also had a “mountaintop experience” with Jesus, and he wanted to stay on the mountain also. I believe God gives each of us a mountain experience during our lives to refresh and restore us. So often most people spend much of their lives in the valleys; worrying, struggling, and dealing with their problems of insecurity, financial issues, relationships and just dealing with the everyday stresses of life. Our time of “valley dwelling” is so filled with frustration, fatigue and irritation that we take our eyes off God and worshipping Him, as our thoughts are often centered on ourselves. When we are “valley dwelling” it is difficult to see what lies in our future as we cannot see what lies ahead as our thoughts and minds can only see the sides of the mountain. However during these times we need to look up, and see Jesus and the mountain top, as the view from the mountain top is wonderful and a “mountaintop experience” is all many of us need to refocus and recommit our lives to God. So today as the bills keep coming in, and the dishes pile up, and the pressures of life build around you, look up toward the heavens and renew yourself with a mountaintop experience with God. Isaiah 55:12 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands.” My Daily Devotional Volume III April 3 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

God Provides

God Provides “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 Have you ever thought how much we center our lives on keeping ourselves from hunger and thirst? Much of our days are planned about what we will eat, where we will eat and how we will prepare it. Much of the Israelites time in the wilderness was spent thinking about where they were going to get their next meal. God had promised Moses that He would provide for all the people, and even sent them manna from heaven to sustain them in their journey to their promised land. However, just because they could not see where their next meal was coming from, they became frustrated and discouraged and complained about their plight. So often Christians are like the Israelites, as when we do not have a plan in front of us to follow, we become discouraged and frustrated, as we do not have the faith and trust in God that He will provide all our needs. Learning to believe and trust in Jesus that He will provide for us is one of the most important things we all need to develop in our Christian lives. He tells us repeatedly throughout the Bible to trust in Him and He will provide all our needs. When we begin focusing on our own wants and desires, we take our minds and thoughts away from serving God and doing His commands. I would encourage each of you to get your thoughts and minds away from worrying about such trivial matters as where your next meal or paycheck is coming from, as God will provide all this, but keep your energy focused on worshiping God and doing His will. When you are able to do this, God will then begin to bless you and give you the real peace and joy in your life that He promises. John 6:33 “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” My Daily Devotional Volume III April 2 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Jesus Is Returning

Jesus Is Returning “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13 One day Jesus is going to return to earth to reclaim His kingdom. No man knows the year, the month or the day of His return, however much of the bible prophecy is now fulfilled or is being fulfilled as each day passes. When Jesus returns this will be both a day of happiness and also a day of mourning. All people who have worshipped God and obeyed His commands will be happy to see Jesus returning, as they will know that there is a better place that Jesus has in store for them. However all people who have turned their backs on God and not worshipped Him and obeyed His commands will now face their judgment. If our generation is fortunate enough to see Jesus return each of us will stand before God at His judgment throne and give account for all our time and our actions while on this earth. The books of our life will be opened and in front of our Lord and Savior to review. This will be a time like no other time in the history of the world, as everyone will be judged on how they lived their lives. While it is still not too late all of us need to search our hearts and seek Jesus, and give our hearts fully to Him. Our salvation is in our hands and it is only when we ask Jesus into our hearts, and believe that He died on the cross for our sins, and then begin to obey His commands and His will for our lives, will we know that our judgment day will be a happy one. When we have done this simple thing we will then be happy to see Jesus return and give us this eternal life that He promises. It is not too late to ask Jesus to come into your heart, as today could be the day. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” My Daily Devotional Volume III April 1 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Be Happy

Be Happy “To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” Ecclesiastes 2:26 When I think of the scripture above I am reminded so much of my grandfather and how happy and contented he was. Any time you saw him he was always happy, and was always at total peace with himself. He did not possess many material things and was not a wealthy man; however he always was at peace and content with his place in life. I probably spent more time with him than anyone other than my wife, as he lived next door to me all during my childhood. We fished together and hunted together and trained our beagles together as I was growing up. I don’t ever remember him getting upset about anything or at anyone. He never criticized, grumbled or ever became upset at anything I can ever remember. Having spent my life in the business world, I have never encountered anyone who has demonstrated this ability to remain as content and at peace with himself as my grandfather. I know that through the years I have become upset and frustrated many times, and would take out my frustrations on others, as do most other people. My grandfather had accepted Jesus into his heart, and I believe God gave him, and will give each of us this same sense of peace and happiness when we please God and do His will. When we turn our lives over to God, He instills in us this same kind of happiness and gives us the assurance that He will provide all our needs. Wealth and material possessions does not bring peace and happiness, but the presence of God in our lives gives us total comfort as God will provide all we will ever need. Matthew 25:21 “Come and share your master’s happiness.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 31 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Fear Not

Fear Not By: Elena Bailey Ford (My Granddaughter) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2nd Timothy 1:7 I have struggled with fear much in my 14 years of life. I always feared dying, family and close friends dying, pets dying, Satan, etc. But one thing I’ve learned about fear: “FEAR IS NOT OF THE LORD”. Satan is behind fear, and Satan is the father of all lies. Fear is of Satan, not of God, and I know everyone deals with fear. I know many people who fear things, but the Lord our God has not given us a spirit of fear, but the power to conquer our fear and a sound mind. Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Satan has been defeated, rebuke his lies. Remember that God is with us, and that there is no reason to be afraid. He is our light and our salvation. He is the stronghold of our lives as he is there for us and never leaves us. Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Have faith in the Lord; do not be afraid of anything. He is there any time we fear, just call on his name. If you take God’s hand and let him take control over you, who do you have to fear? With God at your side nothing in this world can hurt you. Make God your dwelling; receive him in your heart as he wants to hold you in his arms when you are afraid. He wants to take your hand and guide you when you fear. He will give you rest and peace and comfort you. God loves you and he wants to be there for you always. Psalm 56:4 “In God I will praise his word; In God I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 29 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Stand Strong

Stand Strong “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27 We live in a world of turmoil, as everywhere we turn there is trouble. Our children do not have God in their schools anymore, families are torn apart by the high divorce rates, and drugs and sexual immorality are temptations that test the best intentions of parents. Where do Christians turn to when their children, families and loved ones are under attack from the evil forces of Satan? During these perilous times there is no one to turn to that has all the answers except God and His gospel. The Bible tells us in the scripture above that we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, and even though Satan will place obstacles in our paths we must stand together as Christians and keep our eyes focused on God. Christians need each other now more than any other time in our history, as we must encourage each other in order to face the forces of evil that Satan sends our way. The persistent attacks against our God, our families and our values are a sure sign of eventual destruction if we do not stand strong against this evil. If we succumb to these forces of evil we will be rejecting our only way of salvation. The bible tells us that we will suffer due to our privilege of being a Christian, but that this should be a blessing as this is a sign of the genuineness of our salvation. The Christian life is one where we need to approve and practice what is morally and ethically superior at all times. Always remember that one day we will stand before God and be judged, based on how we lived our lives, and we must prove ourselves worthy. Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 27 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Be A Seven Day Christian

Be a Seven Day Christian “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 During these past 15 years I have been on a mission to do God’s will for my life. I feel God has called me to be a witness for Him, and to help provide for the needy in our community. During this time I have spoken at many of the local churches, encouraging them to become involved with many of the programs we have established that provides food, shelter, and other help to the less fortunate people in our area. There have been many people who have responded, but many set back and do not participate in any capacity. I am reminded of a story about three pastors who were having lunch in a diner. One said, “You know, since summer started I’ve been having trouble with bats in my loft and attic at church. I’ve tried everything---noise, spray, cats---nothing seems to scare them away.” Another said, “Me too, I’ve got hundreds living in my belfry and in the attic. I’ve even had the place fumigated, and they won’t go away.” The third said, “I baptized all mine, and made them members of the church. Haven’t seen one back since!” This is a humorous story, but in many cases is so true, as there are many people who are Sunday morning Christian’s, and only show up on Sunday morning, but the other six days of the week do not follow up with following God’s word. God wants us to be a witness for Him in all we do, not just on Sunday. We need to all be proactive in reaching our neighbors, our friends and anyone we come into contact with, and be a witness for Jesus. Our good works will not get us to heaven, but God will bless us immensely when we help others and witness for Jesus in all we do. Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

The Importance Of Forgiveness

The Importance Of Forgiveness “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 Having grown up in the wonderful state of Kentucky, I can remember hearing about the feud of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s who, over some unworthy event kept fighting and killing each other for many years. Neither family could bring themselves to forgive the other for something that their former ancestors committed. This feud carried on for many generations before the offspring forgot what the original feud was all about. This kind of unforgiveness is so tragic. No wonder God makes it clear in the scripture above that unless we forgive others their trespasses, God will not forgive us our trespasses. Even Peter had trouble with the principle of forgiveness as he asked Jesus how many times must I forgive someone who has sinned against me, Seven? Jesus replied, “not seven times but seventy times seven.” Everyone, through the strength of Jesus, can forgive every offense committed against him. For instance, the Nazis killed the family of Corrie Ten Boom, but with Jesus’ help, she forgave them. Unforgiveness is as serious as the original offense. When we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we also hurt God’s heart, as we are disobeying one of God’s greatest commandments, and refusing His help. Just remember that God forgave you and me, and He knows how to help you to forgive others. To be a follower of God, forgiveness is a must, and is necessary in order to receive our own forgiveness from God. Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 25 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Remembering God

Remembering God “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1st Corinthians 11:24-25 I have spent the past 20 years researching my ancestors, as I have become enamored with wanting to know all about them. As I have recorded their birthdates and the dates of their deaths, I think about the role they have played in my life and how they have shaped who I am. When I print out any report which shows all of my ancestor’s birth dates and death dates, it makes me think that I am honoring them by remembering them and keeping their memories alive. I believe our Christian faith is also centered in remembering. Each Easter we remember and celebrate our Lord’s resurrection and also our own salvation through our faith in Him. In the Lord’s Supper, shown above, we remember His suffering and His resurrection from the grave. The tremendous sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for me and all mankind in order to give us the chance for an eternal life, is something that we must never forget. When we eat the bread and drink from the cup at our communion services, this must be the time to remember what Jesus did for us. Just as I want my family to know about their ancestors, and to always remember where we came from and who our family is, I also want each of them to always remember who Jesus Christ is and the sacrifice He made for them. So the next time you observe the communion service in your church, take the time to remember the love God had for you, and the sacrifice He made for you, in order that you can have an eternal life. John 1:12 “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 23 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Be Renewed

Be Renewed “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.” Zechariah 10:1 I love the springtime, as the trees and flowers that have been dormant throughout the winter, suddenly spring to life and begin to fill our land with their beautiful and fragrant flowers and blossoms. This is how God brings refreshment into our drab and dreary lives. As we begin to do our spring cleaning and begin to prepare our yards and gardens, we need to also prepare our hearts and minds and refresh ourselves in the spirit of God. This is when we need to do our “spring cleaning of the Spirit” and renew our commitment to following God. Look around you in the springtime and see the wonders that God has created for you, and rejoice in the wonders of His creations. Feel renewed in the thoughts that all these majestic creations have been created by the wonderful hands of our Lord and Savior. Cast off your fears, your disappointment, your worries and the struggles of life that have surrounded you, and place them at the feet of our Lord. This is the time to turn all things over to God and renew yourself and commit your life to Christ. Begin your new season with the spirit of God in your heart, and the commitment to become a follower of God, who will help you renew your Spirit and let you spring to life and blossom in the love He has for you. Take the time to rededicate your life to serving God, reading his word and spending time with Him. The “spring cleaning” He can do in your life will produce a bountiful harvest in the days and weeks ahead, and can change you. Song of Songs 2:11-12 “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 21 Robert William Brock, Jr.