My Mountaintop

My Mountaintop "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." Luke 12:23 As I was growing up, the place I found most comforting to me was on top of the mountains. My grandfather and I spent many days on top of the mountains, hunting and training our beagle puppies. My grandfather also loved the mountains, and we would leave our house many times before daybreak, so that we could be on the mountain top before sunrise. It was such a beautiful, breathtaking sight to see the sun begin to slowly come over the horizon, and see the fog, in the valleys below, slowly being burned away by the rays of the sun. From the top of the mountain the world seems so large, so massive and never ending, as you gaze in all directions, not being able to see the end. I would love to go back to my mountain tops again with my grandfather, but this time I would take God along with me, and experience this wonderful time with Him. I believe this would be an amazing trip to have God by my side, and let Him show me all the things he created. The sunshine beaming down on my face, the cool breeze that would sweep through my hair, the fragrant scents of the trees and grass, the chirping of the birds, the rustle of the animals would make me aware of His presence. Even though I don't get to visit my mountaintops anymore, I can still see God all around me. I see Him when I look in my yard at my beautiful flowers, when I pass by the rivers and lakes, when I look at the rainbows, when I look at the puffy white clouds floating in the blue sky, I know that God is there looking down on me and showing me His wonderful creations. Yes, I can feel God anywhere I am now, as He is in my heart, just as he was on my mountaintops with my grandfather. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 31, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Find Your Peace

Find Your Peace "Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert." 1st Corinthians 10:5 This scripture describes the result of the people of Israel, after they wandered for 40 years in the desert, attempting to reach their promised land. Is this where our great nation is headed, as never in the history of mankind has there been such massive and destructive armaments as there is today. There is enough nuclear power and energy, controlled by several nations, to destroy almost all of mankind that is on the earth today. Some of the most brilliant minds now spend their entire lives developing new and more sophisticated ways to destroy life. It would seem that with all this power and might, that a nation in control, could provide security and peace for all mankind. However, this is not the case as all these weapons and power has brought us even less peace, and made the world less secure. There are small wars raging all around the globe, that threatens to ignite a global war where there will not be any winners, only losers. We are constantly hearing our leaders talk about peace, but not finding ways to bring us peace or security. Even in the Old Testament, the false prophets of Jeremiah's day were talking about peace, "Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace." Jeremiah 8:11. If you are afraid and concerned with what is going to happen, my advice is to not be afraid or concerned, as you can have all the peace and security you want. Your peace can come by putting your trust in Jesus, as He is the only one that can give you a lasting and eternal peace. This same God has been telling people since the beginning of time that peace can only be found in Him, but so many have ignored it and have been lost in the desert. You still have time to find your peace and security. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 30, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Brock's Birthday

Brock's Birthday "If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" 1st Corinthians 9:11 Today is the birthday of my first grandson, Brock Elliott Ford, who will be 22 today. Brock, has been a real blessing to me and Margaret, as Pamela and Tim, his mother and father, have lived close to us ever since Brock was born. We have watched him grow, and grow and grow, until he is now a man almost 6'5'. Brock has always had such a kind, gentle and loving heart, and is such a reminder to me as to what the presence of God can do in the life of a young boy, as they are growing up. Brock has grown up in a home where God has been the center of the home, and in this environment Brock knows what the presence of God can do. His family has always attended church, and have always been actively involved in all the church activities. Brock has always been around friends, that have had the same Christian values as were practiced in his own home, and these values have now become part of his own life. This is how God intended a family to function; one centered around God, and one that practices and lives by godly values. When children are raised in this kind of environment, they know right from wrong, and when temptations begin to invade their lives, they know when to step back, and turn away from them. We are so proud of the fine young man that God has placed in our life, and as he ventures out into the world, we know that God is walking with him, and will be there to watch over him and protect him. Brock, we pray that you will always keep your eyes on Jesus, and continue to develop an even closer relationship with Him in the years ahead. We love you Brock, and now place you in God's hands where we will let Him fulfill the plans He has for you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 29 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Ready

Are You Ready "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:7 This morning I received word that one of my good friends was nearing death due to cancer, that had spread throughout her body, and they had given her only a few weeks to live. She is a strong Christian, and has told me that she longs for the day when she can go to be with Jesus, and leave her pain behind. She is looking forward to being an heir with Jesus. The Bible tells us that we are pilgrims and strangers in a foreign land, and that this world is not our home, as we are just passing through. Some day all our battles on this earth will be over, and we will enter that Heavenly Home. This is what every Christian should look forward to, and those that have made Jesus their Lord and Savior will have this waiting for them. I have also been able to talk to many other people who were facing the same scenario as my friend, who were not sure what their future held. They were not sure that they would be an heir of God, and were not welcoming their ultimate fate. If you are not sure of what the future holds for you, this could be the day that you need to make a decision that will also make you an heir of God. My friend does not know when God will call her home, but she is ready. You also do not know when God will call you home, and you also need to be ready. You are not promised tomorrow, or even the next few hours, so it is important to prepare yourself now. The Bible tells us, "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2nd Timothy 4:8. Be prepared, as when God does call you home, you need to also be called His heir. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 28 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Walking With God

Are You Walking With God "You became imitators of us, and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." 1st Thessalonians 1:6 Throughout the last several decades, I have tried to walk with the presence of God in my life each day, and these have been the most pleasant years of my life. Before I found Christ, I walked alone, wanting to do things my own way, and rely on my own abilities to get me through the struggles of life. During these years I worried about everything, as I did not know what the future held for me, and was constantly in turmoil knowing what to do or what decisions were best. However, now I have Jesus to walk with me and help me carry the burdens, and with His help, I am worry free, as I know and rely on His promise to provide and supply all that I need. When I look at the people who walked with God in the Bible, I see how God blessed them and provided for them. Noah walked with God, and when the floods came, He saved his family. Moses walked with God, and God gave him the strength and power to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. David walked with God, and God allowed him to be one of the great Kings of the Israelites. When these men walked with God, He allowed them to do great things, as they were following the will of God in their lives. I know that since I began to walk with God, He has given me the peace and comfort in my life that I never had before. When I put my trust in Him, just as Noah, Moses and David did, He has provided for me just as He did with them, and has also allowed His will to be fulfilled in my life. If you are not walking with God in your life, you are missing the greatest partner you will ever have, as He can provide you with a peace and comfort that you have never known. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 27 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be An Encourager

Be An Encourager "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1st Thessalonians 5:11 Ever since I have been writing my Daily Devotionals, I have thought about this scripture, and it has become a dominate theme in my ministry. My goal is to become an encourager to all my readers, and to give them something each day, to uplift them and encourage them to keep their eyes on God. God is the "Great Encourager", not me, but He is using me as His instrument to reach others. I receive many e-mails on a daily basis, where my devotionals have spoken to their hearts in some way, and they are encouraged and uplifted as they are faced with the trials and troubles in their lives. Many times my readers have no one to turn to, that will listen to the problems they are dealing with, or try to help. Therefore, much of my time is spent listening to them, and giving them words of encouragement, to get them through their tough times. God is the only one that can provide them true comfort and peace, as they go through their struggles, but I can direct them to God's Holy Word, where His words can provide them His wisdom and give them peace and comfort. God has blessed me during this time, and I often feel His encouragement and peace in my own life, after being able to help someone else deal with their own problems. I had a dear friend who once told me that if he was having problems in his own life, they would suddenly disappear when he helped someone else. These words are so true, as this is what I experience daily. If you are dealing with problems in your life today, look around you and help someone who is struggling, and encourage and help them. I can assure you that your own problems will become much lighter and easier to bear. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You God's Light

Are You God's Light "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 This scripture was some advice Jesus was giving to the people of His day from His sermon on the mount. He was telling them to be different from the rest of the world, and let their light shine so others could see that they were different. Many of the so called religious people of His day were worldly, unspiritual, and wanted to display, and publicly parade their religion to impress others, and were dominated by pride, ambition, greed and with only thoughts about themselves. This is still how many so called religious people are today, as they still want to represent themselves as religious, but still have the same impure hearts, and think only about themselves, and how they come across to others. Jesus was trying to impress on us that we cannot make our light shine by sinking to the ways of the world, but that we need to rise above the ways of the world, and make ourselves stand out, as a beacon for others. He wants us to stand out in a good way, as being someone who stands out because of a clean heart and caring attitude about others, and not because of our selfish attitude about ourselves. Only in this way can be we be the salt and light to a decaying and darkened world. Our influence on the people around us depends on how much we are like Jesus, as He loved others more than He loved Himself. We should not want to be the center of attention, and think only about our welfare, but we should make God the center of attention and give Him the credit and glory for everything. I would encourage you to think about how you are influencing people around you. Are you being the influence that will attract them to Jesus, or is your purpose to attract them to yourself? My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 25, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Will Meet You

God Will Meet You "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 One of the truths I have learned over the past decade or so, is that God wants us to be confident and trust Him, that He will answer every true petition we make. The Bible tells us, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7. This does not mean that God is going to give you a blank check when you pray, nor will He give you everything you want, as He is not going to answer your prayers when you pray for foolish things. However, if you get closer to Him, and establish a true relationship with Him, your desires will be closer to His desires, and His will closer to your will, and you will begin to see Him meet you, and grant your requests. You must understand that God wants you to be successful in life, and be at peace. He wants you to experience the fruits of the Spirit that the Bible talks about, but He wants you to get to know Him better. You can get to know God better by reading His Word, and praying to Him daily. When you make God number one in your daily life, He will begin to act in your life, and give you His peace and His comfort in all that you do. You may still have trials and troubles, as He does not tell you that these will all disappear, but as you go through these, you will have the peace and comfort to get you through these times. If you are going through tough times in your life today, don't turn away from Him, but draw closer to Him, and lean on Him to help you. Trust in Him, and have the faith and confidence that He will hear your prayers. The Bible promises, "No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Psalm 84:11. Accept this promise today. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 24, 2013

Pray Without Ceasing

Pray Without Ceasing "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Colossians 1:9 I get several responses each day from my Daily Devotionals that I send out by e-mail, were people are asking for prayer for some of their loved ones to accept Jesus as their Savior. I received one this morning from a mother who had been praying for her son. Mr. Brock: "Thank you so much for the daily devotionals. My Son just accepted Jesus after reading your recent devotional, this morning. I have been praying for his salvation for many months now, and he has been reading them with me for the past 3 or 4 months. I am so grateful to you, and your ministering to him in this way. May God Bless You for all you do." If you have a loved one that you are praying for, don't ever give up asking God for their salvation. It may seem frustrating to go on, day after day, and seeing nothing happen in their lives, but constant and consistent prayer can, and will work. When I get requests such as this one from a mother, I always tell them to never stop praying, and also to let the person know that you are praying for them. We can see the example in the Bible about the persistent widow who did not give up, but continued to ask God for her request. As the Bible tells us, "Pray without ceasing." 1st Thessalonians 5:17. This should be the motto of every true follower of Jesus Christ. Never stop praying, no matter how dark and hopeless the situation may seem. Your responsibility isn't to tell God when He must act, or even how He must act. Your responsibility is simply to "pray without ceasing", and trusting Him to act according to His perfect will. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 23 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Great Physician

The Great Physician "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 Over the years science has confirmed time and time again that there is a close relationship between our minds and our bodies. This is what the Bible has always taught us. I spent 45 years in health care and saw first-hand how the mind can affect our bodies. Worry, guilt, depression, addictions, anger, failure and many others, are examples where our minds, when it is misdirected, can affect the physical health of our bodies. There is also a close relationship between our mental and physical health, and the health of our spiritual lives. These same traits listed above are usually associated with, and brought about from the disease of sin. Much like poison, they can make us sick in both our minds and in our bodies. The Bible tells us in scriptures, like the one above, that if we can rid our hearts from these, that our minds and our bodies can also be cleansed. When Jesus comes into our hearts, He can remove these diseases of guilt, fear, jealously, bitterness, anger, pride and all the other diseases that we have stored away in our hearts. When these are removed they are replaced with joy, peace, love for others, and all the other fruits of the spirit mentioned in the Bible. He gives us a new purpose in life, one that promises and promotes our emotional and physical health. God's peace in our hearts, can bring cleansing and refreshment to our bodies and minds, much like taking a vitamin supplement to give us more energy. Like the scripture says, "a cheerful heart is good medicine", and when the Great Physician gives us his prescription for healing our minds and bodies, and also our spiritual life, we should listen, and do as He prescribes, because our eternal lives are at stake. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 22, 2013

New Things

New Things "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you." Isaiah 48:6 As we are only a few days into the new year, and most people are busy implementing their new year's resolutions, I am reminded of an old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, the truth is, just because "it" is working (whatever "it" is) does not mean "it" cannot be improved upon. I would like to think that many of you are having a great deal of success doing what you are doing the way you are doing it, but that doesn't mean you should be closed to some new ideas. Even the best concepts and methods can grow old and stale without some positive overhaul. The new year could be an opportunity for you to make some very positive changes in your personal life. For instance, could the time you spend alone with God each day use some fine-tuning? Are you giving Him the "first fruits" of the morning? Is there a person in your life, either a family member or friend, where a disagreement, bitterness, or misunderstanding has hindered that relationship? You could begin the new year with a clean slate by getting this resolved, which would be a positive change. Maybe you could reflect and look back at your life, and see a character flaw that needs to be perfected, such as patience, sense of humor, attitude, work ethic, compassion, pride, etc.? The new year could be a year of positive change for you in one of these areas. I know for me there will be some changes that I want to make in my life, as I want to deepen my relationship with God, and learn to depend on Him more and not on myself. I want God to direct my life more, and give me the courage to make the changes that need to be made, and patience to deal with those things that cannot, or need to be changed. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 21, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Plan Is Perfect

God's Plan Is Perfect "Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10 This past week I lost a first cousin, who went home to be with Jesus, at the age of 97. He had certainly lived a long life, much more than God promises us in the Bible, was respected in the community, and loved by his family. As I was printing off his obituary in the newspaper, I noticed the obituary of a newborn baby, that had also died, and only lived a few days, before God called it home. This was such a contrast as it reminded me of how little control we have over our time on this earth. I am confident that both of these precious lives were part of God's great plan, and that we will never be able to understand the difference in how His plan will be fulfilled, and the impact a life can have on others. My first thought was that my cousin had been blessed by God, and had a longer life than most, but this precious baby had been cheated from its blessings. Did God forget about it, or doesn't He care? Then I began to think about my father, who was killed in World War II, at the age of 26, when I was only two years old, and whether he was cheated, and also if my mother and I were also cheated. As I thought about my life and the impact of my father's death on me, I realized that God's plan had been perfected, as his impact on me has made me the person I am today. My life was changed because of my father's death, and all the circumstances and events of my entire life were altered by his death. When I look back on my life as it unfolded, and see how God's plan was revealed, I can understand God's design. If you are dealing with something you don't understand, don't be concerned as God's plans are always perfect, and will work for the good in all situations. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 20 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Your Hope Is Real

Your Hope Is Real "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 Each day as I am doing our mail route, I pass several small churches that have signs in front of them, and many of their messages are eye catching. This week I saw these words written on a sign at one of these small churches. It said, "Hope Is Real", and the more I thought about it, I realized that for many people hope is not real, as they do not know Jesus as their savior. I believe that one of the most important gifts we can give to another person, is the gift of hope. People who do not know Jesus usually are hopeless and alone, and when problems arise in their lives, most cannot get themselves out of their situations. They have no hope, and most feel that they have been abandoned, and don't know where to turn. As Christians, it is our responsibility to come alongside them, and bring the good news of Jesus Christ, and all that He has to offer. We must let them know that their hope is real, as when we bring hope to them, we can bring them hope and a new life, a new life in Christ. It is a life changing experience, when we can lead someone to Jesus, and accept Him in their hearts. I believe one of the biggest problem we have in the world today, is that there are so many people who have lost hope. There seems to be so many problems, sickness, financial issues, job issues, relationship issues, and many others, in people's lives that they seem to have lost their hope. If you are feeling that there is no hope in your situation, I want to let you know that there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you, and can be found in only one place, and that is in Jesus Christ. Your hope is real, when you accept Jesus. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 19, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Why Are You Afraid

Why Are You Afraid "Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:10 These were the words that Jesus said to Mary Magdalene after He has risen from the grave, as all the disciples were afraid, and huddled in fear behind closed doors, filled with uncertainty and despair. I can also recall after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, people all over the country being afraid. It was reported that the psychiatrists offices were booked solid for months because people were afraid, unable to sleep and paralyzed by fear. We still live in a world that is filled with people burdened down with fear, apprehension, and anxiety. Fear is not of God, but is a weapon of the devil, as he uses this to keep us from having faith and trusting God. Throughout the Bible we see Jesus telling people to not be afraid. He told his disciples before He was crucified to not be afraid, as He would return again. He told the apostles on the boat to not be afraid of the strong winds that threatened to sink their boat, as they could rely on Him, to calm the waves. He warned people to not be afraid of having enough food, shelter or clothing, as He would provide all their needs. Our God does not want us to go through life being afraid of what might happen, but rather wants us to trust in Him for everything. God is in control, and has always been in control of everything, and His plans will be carried out in all situations of your life. You should never be afraid of what the future might hold, but have faith and trust that whatever happens is part of God's great plan for your life. You worship a risen Christ, who has broken the power of sin and death for you, and has given you an eternal life. So why be afraid? My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 18, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Plan To Win

A Plan To Win "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25 Throughout my life I never liked to fail at anything, as I always wanted to achieve any goal I set for myself. I am very goal oriented, and once I establish a goal, I work at it with everything in me to make it become a reality. As I have gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I realize that winning is not as important as it once was to me. I have come to realize that sometimes it is in our failures that we learn life's most important lessons and grow. The key, however is how do you respond when you fail? I know, in my earlier years I did not take failure very well, but as I have grown in wisdom, failure doesn't bother me as much. I have learned that losing and failure is simply part of life. Things often don't go as we planned, as we make bad choices, and God allows us to make these choices so we can learn from them. I know from experience, that when I have made bad choices that were leading me away from where God wanted me to go, I failed. Things just didn't work out and roadblocks were placed everywhere I turned. This was God's way of telling me I was on the wrong track. I believe we should all learn from our failures, and I know that this was God's way of getting me back on course. If God is directing your life, you will not fail in anything you do, but if your goals are not aligned with God's plan for you, you are doomed for failure. If you are struggling with failure in your life today, ask yourself if you are following God's plan for your life, or simply going your own way and doing things yourself. I can assure you that if your plans are also God's plans, you will never fail again, as He will direct you to win and succeed in all you do. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 17, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Time For Renewal

A Time For Renewal "See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it." Isaiah 43:19 Margaret and I began cleaning out some of our closets last week before the New Year, as it was time to tackle some of the chores we had put off. It is sometimes hard to part with some of our clothes, but we were determined to get rid of the old, and make room for the new. It was time for a change. We are told to look ahead to each new day with a fresh hope in what we can accomplish. God is always doing a new thing in the lives of His people. He says His mercies are new and fresh every morning. He says His grace is sufficient for this day. We can see that nothing is stale and nothing is stagnant in God’s Kingdom. We can trust Him to give us what we need each day, and look forward to living one day at a time, as old things have passed away. In the new year ahead I want to look for new ways to worship God and devote more time to Him, and not look back to what I didn't get done last year. I like to reflect back on what I did accomplish for God’s Kingdom last year, but then I want to move forward to what I can do in the new year. I have seen people who want to live in the past, but there is no future in the past, as often it is only a place of hopelessness and despair. Resolve in your heart to move forward and leave last year behind you, and ask God to let your new year be one of thankfulness, praise and worship to Him Believe and claim that this new year can and will be great, as you go forward expecting God's favor in your life. Speak your future into becoming a reality, as you build a closer relationship with God, asking Him to watch over you and protect you. Think about taking the old things out of your heart and mind, and making room for the new. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 16, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Pastor's Calling

A Pastor's Calling "For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 Over the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to get to know hundreds of pastors all over the nation through my Daily Devotionals. These men are in charge of congregations ranging from just a few members to several thousand members. During the past several months I have talked to several of them who have retired, quit preaching, and turned over their churches to younger pastors. Several of them don't do any form of ministry anymore, and some have even gotten jobs, in other fields. To me this is a disturbing trend, as God called these men to preach the gospel, not just until they reached 65 years old, but for their lifetime. I realize their need to slow down as the toll of a ministry can have an effect on their health, but to completely stop a ministry is hard for me to comprehend. When we look at the great men of the Bible, such as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and Samuel it was in their older years when God used them to their fullest. To see a man in his 60's stop his ministry, for retirement doesn't seem right as God has given them so much wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Bible which they could pass on to others. These men have dealt with almost any issue in their congregations, and know so much about helping others deal with these issues, and to deny others this wisdom does not seem right. I know that many pastors who are in this situation will read this devotional, and I encourage you to think about all the wisdom God has given you. Don't stop sharing this wisdom, and stop God's calling in your life. God still can do great things through you. Be faithful to your calling, and let God continue to use you throughout the rest of your life to spread His word. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be Joyful Always

Be Joyful Always "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice." Philippians 4:4 The Book of Philippians, which is a New Testament letter written to the church of Philippi, is a letter of praise and joy to God. The apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was a prisoner in Rome awaiting trial. Despite his dire circumstances, Paul's joy and strength showed through this entire chapter, as he tells us to be joyful always, even during our tough times. How would you describe your life today? Is it anxious, weary, bitter, busy, angry, unforgiving or is it joyful? I am afraid that most of you would say that it is not joyful, but your life should be joyful. The reason your life is not joyful, is because of what I will call "joy robbers". These "joy robbers" come in the form of you spending too much time working to meet your financial obligations, battling traffic, stress in your marriage, problems in discipline with your children, relationships in your job or school, and a multitude of other situations that rob you of your joy. These "joy robbers" can rob you of the joy of life that God intended for you. God wants your life to be joyful, as only then will you be able to worship Him to the fullest extent possible, and be the witness for Him with the world. God wants you to represent Him as being the light to the world, instead of being a dark, gloomy and dreary God. If you are happy, at peace with your life, and have a spirit of joy about you, others see this joy radiating from you. Paul had the secret to being joyful, as he had discovered the peace and joy that only God can bring. He had discovered that even when the "joy robbers" came, that the love and presence of Christ, carried him through these trials. If you are facing "joy robbers' in your life, release them, and you too will have victory and a joy filled, Christ centered life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 14, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Handling Trials

Handling Trials "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." Psalm 108:13 The Bible tells us that we will have trials and troubles during our life, even though we are Christians. But the question is how do we handle these trials and troubles when they come? One way is to simply try to get rid of the trial, and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God, which will lead to a larger blessing when it is over. When we face trials, we pray and ask God to remove it, and many times He answers our prayers and the trials go away. I believe we should always pray and ask God to remove our trials, as we should pray about all things. However, if the trials remain, after we have prayed, we should accept them as part of God's will for us. We should accept them, and ask God to let us learn from them, as I don't believe that God will permit any trial to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan in which something good will come from it. We don't see God's big picture, but only see a small part of His overall design and plan for our life, so we need to accept the trials as part of His specific plan for our life. Our trials could be God's way of telling us that the path we were on, was not the right one, and is putting a roadblock in our way. He may be closing a door, because He is opening another door, which will be better for us in the long run. We see over and over in the Bible where people of God suffered and were tested, but throughout these times, they kept their faith and trust in God, and in all situations the outcomes were good as God's perfect will was fulfilled. When God tests you, test Him, by claiming His promise that "give thanks in all circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 13 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Step Out In Faith

Step Out In Faith "By faith, Noah, when warned about things not seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family." Hebrews 11:7 In chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews we read about many of God's chosen people who were called by faith, to do great things for Him. All of the people in this chapter had one thing in common, and that was that they answered God's call. They did what God called them to do, did not question it, but acted in faith to do what He commanded. I know that God called me several years ago to begin writing My Daily Devotionals. I did not understand at the time why God called me, however I began writing, and over these many years He has blessed me tremendously. God may be calling some of you to do things for Him as well. If he places something on your heart, even a small thing, don't neglect it, but tackle it with all your might. Put everything you have into it, and watch it grow and multiply as God blesses it and turns it into something good. Many times we don't know how God works, as I am sure Noah did not know how God could use an ark in the desert, but Noah acted in faith and obeyed, and his family was saved. Once you hear God talking to you, don't look back and question Him, but respond with faith. The Bible says, "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God." Answering God's call may not be easy, but God will make you adequate to stand the attacks, just as he did Noah. If God is calling you for some service, this means that He has a special relationship with you, and that you are special, so step out in faith and obey His call. Don't let your fear of the unknown, or question your call, but focus on your call and devote all your efforts to achieving it. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 12, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Handling Your Wealth

Handling Your Wealth "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36 I have written many devotionals about money, as I spent my entire working career dealing with money. The Bible does not condemn money or material possessions, as wealth can do great good when used wisely, and kept in the proper perspective. When we look at some of the great people in the Bible, many of these people were wealthy. Abraham, Isaac and Solomon were probably the wealthiest people of their day. According to the Bible, the problem is not with wealth or money itself, it is with our love for wealth and money. "The love of money is the root of all evil." 1st Timothy 6:10 I am afraid that our society today is placing far too much emphasis on money, as so many people spend all their entire lives trying to accumulate wealth. Wealth has become such a status symbol that it has become idols for many, which is the danger that the Bible warns us about. When our material possessions become the dominate theme in our lives, this is when our focus is dangerously close to the warnings the Bible gives us. It poisons every other aspect of our lives, even including our family life. The Bible tells us that God should be our primary focus in life, and that the pursuit of wealth can prevent the use of our time and talents for God's purposes. Money and wealth is wonderful, and a blessing if it is used for the purposes that God intended, but so many people want to hoard it. If you have wealth and share it freely with others as God intended, God will bless you even more. However, the problem is when God gives you wealth, and you crave and hunger for more and more, your wealth has become your idol. Handle your wealth carefully. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Give Your Burdens To God

Give Your Burdens To God "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1st Peter 5:7 I love to work in my yard, and have a John Deere tractor and cart, which I load to the brim with mulch and put around all my flowers and shrubbery. My cart will hold several hundred pounds of mulch or dirt and can be emptied by simply pulling on a lever, and the heavy load is discharged at the prescribed spot. When I read this scripture several days ago, I was reminded that we can also dump our heavy loads of whatever we are carrying around with us, just as easy as pulling a lever. I hear from many of my readers each day telling me they are carrying around loads of guilt, unforgiveness, bitterness, pride, anger, resentfulness, worry, and so many other loads of oppression that they need to get rid of. God never intended for us to be burdened down by the cares of this world, and gives us the promise that we can pull a lever and give this all to Him. We can pull the lever of faith, or pull the lever of trust, and all the weight we are carrying can be discharged upon His shoulders, as He said that He would gladly bear it. If you are dealing with issues today in your life that are weighing you down, you can turn them over to God, who will gladly take them from you. You don't have to hold on to them by yourself, as they will drag you down, rob you of your peace and joy, and keep you from having the relationship with God you need. Pull your lever of faith and trust in God and give them to Him. God cares about you, and wants only the best for you, and does not want you burdened down with the cares of the world. God loved you so much that He gave His only son to die on the cross for your sins, so why can't you trust Him to take away all your other heavy burdens. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Is Your Future Secure

Is Your Future Secure "Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Psalm 45:6 Every time we turn on the television, all the intellectuals are talking about what the future holds for our world and society today. Will our future be brighter or darker, as the treats of a nuclear disaster still looms on the horizon as a possibility? The Bible tells us that our future is in the hands of God, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10 No one knows, except God, what the future holds for us, as even the greatest minds on earth cannot predict what will even happen tomorrow, much less next week or in the years ahead. However, God tells you that you can determine your own future, by making a choice between two different ways you can live your life. One path will lead to the most terrible future you could ever imagine, as you can choose to spend all your eternity with Satan, cast into the fiery furnace of Hell, which has no end. However, the second path you can travel will lead you to the most incredible future you could ever hope for, one which gives you an eternal home in Heaven with God. So your future is in your hands, as Jesus is leaving your future up to you. The only deciding factor which will determine your future depends upon whether you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, as this is the only thing that will separate you from these two possible futures. Your future boils down to you having to make one simple decision, but this decision takes all the guesswork out of it, sets it in concrete and makes it permanent. Make your future secure by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, and stop worrying about what the future holds. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 9 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you." Proverbs 4:25 The only thing in life that really matters is that we keep our minds and eyes focused on the future. I am not talking about our earthly future, but our eternal future. This life on earth will one day end, and for some it will be sooner than later, but it is inevitable that it will end. I recall an old saying, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today, and make a new ending". If you begin to think about this statement, you will come to the conclusion that you don't start over; but you begin again right where you are, making things better in your lives. If you are a believer in Christ, it is not about saying I will do this, and I won't do that, and then dropping the idea or falling short. It is more about asking God to help you each day, to establish a closer relationship with Him. This way your focus will be set on the things of heaven, and not on the things of the world. Since we are beginning a new year, I would encourage each of you to make a New Year's resolution, to establish a deeper commitment, a deeper love, and a deeper relationship with God. Make God first in your life this coming year, as He wants your undivided attention, so He can shield and protect you from falling prey to the distractions and temptations that await you. If God is your main focus in the days ahead, this year could be the best New Year of your life, as your life can finally be filled with hope and peace. If you are a Christian, but you are feeling stagnate in your relationship with God, now is the time to rekindle your relationship with Him. Fix your eyes on Jesus, so you will one day hear him say, "well done my good and faithful servant, I am well pleased." My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 7 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Never Fails

God Never Fails "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 How does the trials and troubles of this world affect you? Do you allow them to harden your heart, make you sour, bitter, angry, resentful, prideful, and take away your peace and joy? The trials and troubles that you will face do not have to affect you in this way, as although they may be painful and hurt, they can give you a fresh vision of God, and a new outlook on life. If you make your troubles an opportunity to learn more of God's love and His power to aid and bless you, then they will teach you to have a stronger trust and faith in Him, knowing that He will always provide, even in the darkest hours. When children have problems, they turn to their parents for help, as they know that they will be taken care of. This is the way God wants us to respond, as He wants us to turn to Him and trust Him, for all things. You need to trust God with a child-like dependence on Him as your loving heavenly Father, and that no trouble or trials can destroy you. Even when Jesus was facing His crucifixion, He said, "I am not alone, because the Father is with me." John 16:32 If you are facing trials and troubles in your own life today, and don't know how to handle them, or where to turn, remember that you are not alone either, as your Father is with you. God knows what you are facing, and He understands why you are facing these trials. It may be His way of changing you from a dangerous path that was leading you astray, and is giving you a new vision and outlook on life. He may be telling you that you are not in control, but He is. Even in your darkest hours, even though your flesh and heart may fail, you will be able to depend on your Father, to give you peace. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 6 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Jesus Changes You

Jesus Changes You "Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2nd Timothy 1:12 Does asking Jesus into your heart really change you? Does Christianity work? Does anything really happen when a person repents of sin and receives Christ by faith? These are questions people have asked me over the years as I have talked to them about their salvation. I can only tell you that it worked in my own life. I know that for most of my adult life, I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus, although I had grown up in a Christian home, where godly values were always practiced. Even after Margaret and I were married, I went through the motion of going to church with my family, but never committed my life to God. However, all this changed, when I finally decided to ask Jesus into my heart, and gave my life to serving Him. Jesus gave me a purpose and pointed me in the right direction. Instead of wandering aimlessly through life, I now knew what God's plan and purpose for my life was all about. My whole world began to come into focus, and my attitude about myself and others changed dramatically. I began to seek God's will for my life, instead of doing things my own way. No, I didn't become perfect, but my life changed. I haven't regretted turning my life over to Jesus, as I have finally discovered the peace and joy that only He can give. I am no longer concerned about what the future holds for me, as I know that I am in God's hands now, and that I am content with what He has in store for me. God has allowed me the opportunity to lead others to Jesus during these past several years, and I have yet to find anyone who has regretted giving their lives to Christ. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 5 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth." John 14:16 When Jesus was on the earth, His presence was experienced by only small groups of people at one time. He did not have the luxury of the mega-churches of today, or the modern technology to reach millions of people like we do today. This is why, all down through the ages since Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, that can lead and guide us to God. The other "Counselor" referred to in the scripture above is the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote, "Do you not know...that the Spirit of God dwells in you." 1st Corinthians 3:16. The Holy Spirit is given to every believer, to lead and guide them through all the temptations that Satan will bring to bear in their life. We have this Holy Spirit at all times in our heart, not just for a limited time, but forever. Without this Counselor in our heart, we would be in deep trouble, as Satan would easily be in control of our hearts, and would lead us on the paths of destruction. The Holy Spirit is our protector, our conscience, and whispers in our ears, through gentle whispers, the encouragement and wisdom that keep us from falling prey to Satan and his evil schemes. The Holy Spirit is there to give us all the gifts of the spirit that the Bible promises in the book of Galatians "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." The Holy Spirit is God's gift to you, and you can experience it in your life today. Why don't you accept God's free gift now, and let it begin to work in your life, as it can give you peace, and the ability to withstand Satan's fiercest attacks. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 4 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Share God's Love "They are from the world and therefore speak from the view point of the world, and the world listens to them." 1st John 4:5 We live in a society today, that is of the world and where Satan is running rampant, and through his temptation, is leading people astray, and away from Jesus. Christian's are in the world, and yet they must not be absorbed in the world, and led away from the godly values of God's Holy word. Sadly however, I am afraid that so many people are compromising their values, by wanting to fit into the many prevalent social groups, and are compromising their values and being conformed to the worldly ways of these groups. God does not want us to conform to the world, but wants us to conform to Him by the renewing of our minds. In the Bible we see that Jesus dined with publicans and sinners, but He did not allow their social groups to overwhelm Him and conform Him to their ways. Instead, He used every opportunity to present the spiritual truth of God's Word to them, and many were conformed and turned their lives over to Christ. Our social contacts should not only be pleasant, but they should provide us the opportunity to share the saving grace of Jesus and also our faith. Today, you will have many opportunities to share your faith, and let others see the presence of Jesus in your own life. You may be the only chance they will ever have, to know what a personal relationship with God can be like. Take the time, with all the people you meet today, to share Jesus with them. Let your light shine brightly, and demonstrate by your speech, your actions and your peace, that there is something they are missing in their lives. Let them sense the warmth of Christ's presence through you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 3 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's In Crowd

God's In Crowd "Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4 In our world today, people seek popularity and praise more than at any other time in our history. Being in the "in crowd" seems to be the thing that so many of the younger generation strive for, as they want to be accepted. Being accepted, by itself is not a bad thing, however, it can be a very dangerous thing as well. Trying to fit in with the "in crowd" can turn them from God, if the "in crowd" has values that are not godly values. Trying to fit in with others can lead them away from God, without them even being aware of it, making us like those in Jesus' day who "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." John 12:43 It is so easy when things go well in our lives to lose our perspective. If wanting to please others, and have praise bestowed on us becomes our main focus, instead of having a passion to please Christ, we can be lead to destructive behavior and actions, that will lead us away from our primary mission, which is to make Christ number one in our lives. If you are struggling today, with wanting to fit in with the lifestyles of others, I want you to step back and evaluate and consider, if these are really the lifestyles you want to follow. Remember, you want to follow the lifestyles that God gives you in the Bible, as these are the ones that are important. You don't have to conform to the lifestyles of this world. When you follow God's standards, He will enrich all your circumstances, and you will not be concerned and worry about what others think. You will be content with whatever your situations are, and will have peace and comfort knowing that you are in God's "in crowd" which is all that matters. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 2 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Jesus Is Your Defense

Jesus Is Your Defense "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." Luke 12:2 This is such an important scripture, that every Christian should embrace in their everyday lives. We should live our lives as if Jesus was watching us every minute, as He really is, but so many don't realize this. Jesus is all knowing, and sees our actions all throughout our day, and knows all our thoughts. In our society today, there is hardly any where we go anymore, where we are not captured on security cameras. The banks, grocery stores, department stores, and now even many of the streets have security cameras, that capture all our actions and movements. God has been capturing all our activities and our thoughts, ever since we were born. He knows all about us, and one day all of our life history will be laid at his feet, as He will judge us on all of our life activities. Nothing will be concealed, as every aspect of our life will be revealed, and we will be held accountable. We will then be judged, and either found guilty, or not guilty of being the kind of person God wanted us to be. The sad reality is that everyone will be found guilty, as none of us will be found worthy, and pass God's test. The only chance we will have is to have been forgiven by Jesus, who will be our only defense. Jesus will come to our rescue, only if we have invited Him to defend us. He is the only one that can save us from Hell, but we have to ask Him to come into our hearts. He is the only one that can wipe our slates clean, and remove all the blemishes from our life history, so that when God looks at our record there will not be any stain. Unless you ask Jesus to defend you, it will be hopeless. Jesus is your only hope, so call on Him today, before it is too late, to save you from Hell. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 1 Robert William Brock, Jr. This new book was just published and is available on Amazon.com and also on Kindle E-Books