Don't Linger In Sin

Don’t Linger In Sin “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city. But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.” Genesis 19:14 We know the story of Lot and his wife and his family, who were spared from being destroyed along with all the other inhabitants of Sodom. But even after being visited by two angels, and being told of the imminent doom that would soon come upon the city, Lot and his family lingered. The Lord had to literally have them taken by the arm and physically removed from the city. Lot and his family had grown accustomed to the lifestyle, the comforts, and yes, even the sin that surrounded them. By “lingering” he and his entire family were almost destroyed by God’s righteous punishment upon an unrighteous city. When God tells us to leave behind a certain sin, habit, or lifestyle, we must do so immediately and not linger. If we linger and stay where we are, and continue this sin, we will be putting ourselves and others whom we love, directly in the path of God’s righteous judgment. But when we turn from our sin, and become obedient to God, He is able to guide us down the path of righteousness, which will keep us in His protection, provision, mercy, grace and love. I would encourage each of you to not be like Lot and his family and linger in your sin, as God is pleading with you to separate yourself from your sin, and to follow Him. Just as He had to drag Lot and his family, He wants to remove you from the sinful lifestyle, and maybe even some comforts you may have become accustomed to, but He wants to replace these with a new lifestyle, one that will lead you to His kingdom. We do not know when God will call us home, but we need to be ready, to accept his gift of an eternal life and secure our future. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 31 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Power Of Prayer

The Power Of Prayer By My Wife Margaret Sue Brock “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12 This is a devotional that Margaret has written based on the scripture above that she reads every day, and has done so throughout the years. Each morning I read this scripture and I mention my children’s names, and ask the Lord to surround them with his favor as with a shield. Over the years all our children have asked us to pray for them when they had any kind of problems. I remember one night our youngest son Christopher came and got in the bed with us. He was crying and said that his stomach was hurting so bad, and asked me to pray for him. I laid my hand on his stomach and prayed, and as I was praying he seemed to relax, and in just a few minutes he was sound asleep and slept all night, and was fine the next morning. When anything was wrong all through the years he would ask me to pray for him. I remember when he was in the eleventh grade, he had an accident and tore the ACL ligament in his knee, and had to have surgery. After the surgery was over, there were some problems that developed, and he became very sick. He could barely raise his hand, but he reached out and asked me to pray for him. What a blessing this was for me, as he was a grown man, but was still asking me to pray for him like when he was a little baby. He never complained or became discouraged, but rather was very uplifting to his many friends when they came to visit with him. This is what God can do when our families are centered on God, and our children know that they can turn to him in their times of trouble. God will let them be at peace and content with their lives. It is such a blessing to me to have a son like him that is letting God control his life and his family. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 30 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is a picture of Christopher when he was 4 years old. He is now 33 and is married to Heather and has two children ages 5 and 2. He lives next door to us and is still the same loving, caring and precious son that any mother would be proud of.

My Little Princess My Daughter Pamela “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26 I remember gazing intently through the small window at the hospital, at a small metal crib filled with a yellow, blue and white striped blanket. My eyes were fixed on this small crib, and I could not focus on anything else in the room, only on this small crib. This crib held something more precious to me than anything I had ever possessed, because nestled inside this blanket was my beautiful little newborn daughter, my little princess, Pamela. I can remember holding her for the first time, as she seemed so fragile, so small and so beautiful. I had never seen anything more beautiful and precious. God had given me an angel. I would have given my life instantly for her, and had only known her for a few minutes. How could something instantly make that much of an impact on my life? Looking back I believe this one moment was probably the happiest moment of my life. We have had two other children since my little princess, and I love all of my children as much as the other, but the moment I saw my little princess, was the first time I had ever experienced emotions like this in my life. This was different than anything else I had ever experienced, and is difficult to describe the pride, joy, happiness, gratitude, thankfulness and peace that was in my life at that moment. I wanted my little princess to be brought up in a family where God was present, and where he would be able to lead me, guide me, and give me wisdom to make her the best she could be. Together my wife and I provided a loving home for my little princess during the time we had her. She has now grown up, and is now a loving wife and mother to our two grandchildren. She will always be my little princess. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 29 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Mother's Bible

Mother's Bible By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6 This is a devotional that Margaret has written that relates the importance of having the presence of God in our family, and the influence it can have on our children. Our children have always seen me reading my Bible each morning before they went to school. The most precious memory I have of my son Rob was many years ago when Bob and I did a will, as we wanted to have our estate in order, and asked each of our children to tell us what they wanted. When we asked Rob he simply said that he would let us know that afternoon. In a little while he called me, and his answer could not have been more precious to me, as it touched my heart and I cried. All he wanted and asked for was my Bible, as he knew that I read it every day. There was nothing that has ever pleased me more, and was one of the best presents I have ever received. I can remember when I was a little girl, our friend Marion Brock would sing a song called “Mother’s Bible”. Some of the words were “with its pages worn and torn is more precious than Gold.” Rob is our most perfect and precious son, and has always had the kindest heart and thoughtfulness. He has grown up to be a father and husband that I am so proud of, and still has this kind heart and demonstrates this to all the people he meets. When we have the presence of God in our family, and demonstrate this to our children, we can expect them to be blessed in this manner. Rob carries this blessing over to his own family. He has been such a blessing to us all throughout the years, and I am so proud to be called his mother. His gift of thoughtfulness in asking only for my Bible will forever be with me and in my thoughts. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 28 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Joy Of The Lord

The Joy Of The Lord “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 Have you ever noticed how easy it is to lose your peace and joy? You get up every morning expecting things to be bright and rosy and that everything is going to go your way. However when you experience your first setback such as a spilled cup of coffee, or experience a traffic jam on your way to work, or a rude waitress, your day becomes frustrating and your peace and joy is instantly gone. When this happens you have just experienced Satan at work in your life. Satan does not want you to be happy and joyful in your daily walk. He wants you to experience worry and misery wherever you go. This is the atmosphere he thrives in, as if you are miserable, you will not have your mind and thoughts on God, but rather will be concentrating on worry and the pressures of life. It is so easy to lose our peace and joy, but this is not what God commands us to do. 1st Thessalonians 5:16 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” You will notice that the scripture doesn’t say “I suggest” or “maybe you should” be joyful always. It says to “Be joyful always”. When we lose our happiness and joy we are right where Satan wants us, and certainly not obeying God’s command. We can see how God expects us to act in the face of adversity by reading the Psalms, as we constantly see King David rejoicing and praising God even while circumstances were not what he wanted. Think about the things that destroy your peace, and be aware of these when they arise the next time. Don't let Satan ruin your day and destroy your happiness. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 27 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Knows What We Need

God Knows What We Need “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 One of my friends recently sent me an e-mail that made me think about the scripture above. It said, “If our greatest need was for information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need was for technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need was for pleasure, God would have sent an entertainer. If our greatest need was for money, God would have sent an economist. But, since our greatest need is forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.” God knows what we need in our lives as he knows that so often we cannot determine what we really need. This has been so true in my own life as God knew what I needed before I even asked him. Before I knew I needed him, God knew. Before I thought about Him, God thought about me. Before I experienced His forgiveness, God had already forgiven me. While we were yet in our sins, bound in darkness, and held captive by Satan, Christ Jesus came and destroyed the works of darkness that we had committed. Before I ever knew that I needed to experience eternal life, God knew and came to give it to me. We need to seriously consider all that God has done for us and bow down and thank Him for all the blessings He bestows on us daily. Even if you’ve been a follower of Christ for years, let me encourage you to go to Him today and experience afresh, His forgiveness and cleansing in your heart. Call to Him in prayer and approach His presence with humility, confessing, seeking and worshipping Him. We need to always remember that no matter what we’ve done, or how bad we’ve blown it, His forgiveness is ours for the asking. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Feel God's Presence

Feel God's Presence “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2nd Timothy 4:2 As I write this devotional this morning, I look outside and see the wonderful fall morning that God has created for me. The majesty of his creations amazes me as I view the beauty that surrounds me. The beautiful trees, the birds singing, the blue sky and the puffy clouds, all make me aware of the presence of God. In this hustle and bustle world we live in, it is so often that we forget to remember God, as we go our own way and do our own things, and so many do not take the time to enjoy the beauty that God has created for us to enjoy. Each morning we need to refresh ourselves in the spirit of God, and let Him reveal himself to us, so that we can spread His word wherever we go. Our actions should reflect the power of God, and we should be a beacon for everyone we meet, and show them the love of Jesus. Our hearts and minds need to be focused on God during the hours ahead, and our actions should demonstrate the presence of God in our lives. God wants us to be a witness for Him with everyone we meet. Our acts of kindness, encouragement and patience can help others we meet see the spirit of God, and can have an impact on their lives if we take Jesus along with us. People need to see the peace and joy that God provides us, and then they should want to have what we have, God's inner peace. Look around you today and make yourself aware of the beauty of what God has created for you. Let the presence of God walk with you today and help you be a witness by your actions and behavior. Be a witness to God and encourage and show others what God can do in their lives. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 25 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Bless Your Children

Bless Your Children “The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him. Proverbs 20:7 I have thought about this scripture for the past ten years, and think about my great grandfather who was a Methodist minister in our hometown of Pineville, Kentucky. He had been a minister and schoolteacher for over 50 years, and was one of the most well known men in our small community. I have researched this family for many years and discovered that they came to the United States in the early 1500’s. During my research I discovered that his father was also a Methodist minister, and also his father’s father. There were eight generations straight where one of the children had become a Methodist minister and had followed in his father’s footsteps. This demonstrates so well how this scripture can influence families. When parents teach their children in the way of the Lord their children and their children’s children are blessed. Parents have a big responsibility to teach our children about God, and when we do our jobs, our children will follow in their parents footsteps. I also discovered that during these eight generations there were no divorces in any of the children’s families during this time. This demonstrates what can happen to a family where God is at the center of the family, and the children are brought up in a home where God is worshipped and honored. God blesses the home where he is present. I know this has been true in my own family, as all my children are serving the Lord in their homes, and my grandchildren are living their lives for God. There is not a greater gift we can give to our children, than to live our lives for God. They will see the peace and joy God is giving us, and will also want this for their lives as well. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 24 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Cherish Your Spouse

Cherish Your Spouse “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 When I think about this scripture I think about how much I love my wonderful wife Margaret. We have just celebrated 48 wonderful years together. I think about our life together, our happy times, our struggles, our children, but most of all the love, and the life we have shared together. She has made my life complete as I believe God made her especially for me, as he knew that I needed someone like her in my life. Our home has been one of love, acceptance and forgiveness. I believe that the foundation of any Christian home is based on these three things, love, acceptance and forgiveness. A home without these three ingredients will never be complete. But to have these three ingredients, I believe that this is only possible when God is at the center of the home. God intended all families to be a place where both the husband and the wife are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So many families in today’s society try to do it themselves, without the presence of God in their homes, and I believe this is why there are so many broken families. When we depend upon ourselves to make financial decisions, relationship decisions, family decisions and all the other decisions that are made by the husband and wife, without the guidance of our God, this is where problems begin to appear. The Bible gives a family the guidance, understanding and wisdom to handle any kind of issue that will arise. Proverbs 2:10-11 “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” An ideal marriage is one in which both the husband and wife is giving to the other at all times. It is a marriage where each spouse places the others needs above their own. If both are giving all they have to the other, both are also receiving as well. If either spouse is not giving fully to the other the other is not receiving fully, which is where problems will develop. Agape love is a giving love. We must also give our spouse an unqualified acceptance. Each spouse will bring both strengths and weaknesses into the marriage. It is the responsibility of each spouse to not compete, intimidate, degrade or act superior to the other, but to accept them as they are. They are your life-mate and someone that you will share your life with. Our efforts should be to build up, not tear down our spouse at any time. Always support them in their endeavors, never criticizing, embarrassing them, but always uplifting them in whatever they do. Forgiveness is the other key ingredient that a successful marriage must have. We must be willing to forgive and forget. There will be things that occur in any marriage that we must forgive our spouse of. We must be able to put these in the past and move on. There is a scripture in the Bible that tells us to “never let the sun go down while you are angry. This is so important to not let problems fester and become greater than they need to. This is where communication needs to come in, know what they are feeling, what their thoughts are, and resolve them before they become cancers that can destroy your marriage. Your spouse must receive full attention and a praiseworthy quality at all times, as this helps to ensure future benefits worthy of the others honor and respect. I know that my wife Margaret is a gift, a blessing from God, and we must always remember to treat them as such, one of God’s blessings. She is my best friend, and a valuable and important part of my life, and is a part of the grace for me here on earth. Just remember that Jesus loves you, accepts you and forgives you, which is such good advice for any marriage. Cherish your spouse, as God has given them to you, they are your life mate, love them as they are God’s blessing to you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 23 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Receive Your Miracle

Good Morning to all my friends. This is another day that God has given us, let us be glad and rejoice in it. My prayer for you is that God will bless each of you today and give you His peace and His comfort in all that you do. Today's Challenge-------------------- Receive Your Miracle ”Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:49 These are the words of Jesus, when he came walking on the water to his disciples, on the stormy Sea of Galilee. We all know the story about how the disciples were struggling to stay afloat in their fishing boat, and for a moment, we see Peter who was so filled with the power of seeing Jesus, that he also began walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter forgot about the storm that was raging around him, and was focused on Jesus. Peter was on the verge of a miracle. How many of us, are discerning enough to get our eyes off the storm, long enough to see Jesus in the storm. With all the troubles and trials that we face in our daily life, are we so focused on the storms, that we do not see Jesus in the midst of our storms. Just like the other disciples, they missed seeing Jesus in the midst of the storm, but only Peter saw Him. If the Lord is going to transform our trials and troubles into victory, seeing Jesus in our storms, is the first and most important thing for us to do. All the doubt and uncertainty is instantly removed, when we see and hear the Lord respond to our cry. It is important for you to see, by faith, the Lord in your trials and troubles, and be able to hear His voice, rising about the noise of this world. Jesus is telling you to take courage, and not be afraid, in your trials and trouble today. Our miracles can begin with just a question to God, asking if it is Him in the midst of your storm. You may just hear and see Him, as Peter did, and you also will be able to get out of your boat and run to Him. You won't sink in the storms raging around you, because God will be waiting for you. The reality is, that your storms may just be a miracle waiting to happen. My Daily Devotional Volume Four June 22 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Sow Good Seeds

Sow Good Seeds “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.” Matthew 13:24-26 In a nearby city there is an annual festival called the Johnny Appleseed Festival, named after the legendary character that went around the country planting apple seeds. This is a fun festival where hundreds of families get together each fall to celebrate this historic event. The scripture above also tells us a story about planting seeds, and the result of the type of seed we sow in our families. Parents have the choice of sowing good seeds like the wheat, or bad seeds like the weeds in their homes and families. The dysfunctional families that are springing up all around us are prime examples where the parents have sown weeds in their homes, and they are choking the life out of families today. The divorce rate is growing astronomically in our society. The weeds of contention, strife, hostility and unkind words are so prevalent in families today, that the children that come from these broken homes carry this baggage to their own families and the trend continues. I recently heard a program from one of the leading pastors in the country about disciplining unruly children, and how oftentimes the cause of these children’s behavioral problems are “learned behavior”. He stated that 99.9% of this learned behavior comes from home life. I would encourage all parents to begin to get these bad seeds out of your family, and begin to sow love, peace and joy in your family instead. We must begin to be the living examples for our children in our daily walk, and bring God back into our homes and reverse this trend. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 21 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Little Things

The Little Things "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 I want to share with you today a lesson I learned many years ago that literally transformed my daily life. It became the difference between me going through the day in my strength, feeling like there was a 200 pound weight on my back, and going through the day in the Lord's strength, effortlessly and free regardless of what the circumstances or problems that day brought. We have no problem praying to God about the "big things" in our life, but what about the "little things?" What I am talking about are those day-to-day issues that we face that may not seem life-changing, and in the big scheme of things are pretty trivial. Getting a parking place. A problem at the bank with your account. Your car needs to be serviced. An issue at your job or at school. You find ants in your house. They can't find two of your shirts at the dry cleaners. I am talking about literally thousands and thousands of daily issues that arise as you are simply living your life. These are the "little things" that we never pray about and try to handle on our own. The Bible says that God cares about you and loves you so much He even knows the number of hairs on your head. If God cares enough to number the hairs on your head, why would you think He doesn't care if your keys are lost or your sprinkler system is not working? Let me assure you that he does care. Start praying about the little things, and you will find it will literally transform your life and your relationship with God. Years ago, I realized that I was living my life not really depending on God, but myself. Then I began to pray about everything, no matter how insignificant it seemed. I would pray as I was looking for a parking spot. That didn't mean a spot up front magically became available, but it did mean I got the exact spot God wanted me to be in. I would pray when I took my car to be serviced. It didn't mean that there weren't things that needed to be repaired, but God made sure what needed to be fixed was, and it was in good working order. The point I want you to grasp is that thinking we are in control of anything is a myth. However, God is in control of everything at all times. He has given us the ability to communicate with Him at any time about anything. We are fools when we don't take full advantage of that opportunity. Trust me, there is nothing you can do better than God. You are only making your life more difficult when you live any part of your life apart from God. You are carrying unnecessary burdens when you don't take everything, even the little things to the Lord in prayer. God loves you and cares about everything in your life, even the little things. Have you ever gone to your parents, your boss, or a friend with a problem and they told you, "Don't bother me, I don't have time right now, figure it out yourself." God will never do that. The Bible doesn't say, "Call upon the Lord with the big problems in life, but handle the little things yourself." The Bible tells us to bring all of our petitions to the Lord. That means not just the big things in our life, but the little things as well. We are actually in rebellion to God when we are trying to deal with anything in our lives apart from Him. The scripture above tells us that without Him, we can do nothing. It doesn't say we can do the little things, it says nothing. When we pray about those little things we face each day, we are not only being obedient, we are not only acknowledging our dependence upon the Lord, we are taking the pressure off our ourselves. We are being foolish not to call upon the name of the Lord and let His Spirit guide us in everything we do in life. Simply take a moment and ask God to show you the way, help you through whatever the problem may be, guide you in your decisions. You will be amazed at how it will transform your daily life. Not only will you be living in the freedom of His strength, but you will start to live with great confidence, because when God is guiding you and directing your steps, you will be victorious in all your ways. Start praying about the big things and also about the little things. My Daily Devotional Volume Seven January 24 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Universe

God's Universe “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.” Song of Songs 2:11-12 The above scripture is one of the most beautiful scriptures I have found in the Bible, as it is such a calming and soothing scripture, and one that we all should be able to relate to. Just looking at the majesty of the earth around us we can see the magnificence of God’s creation. Just looking at the beauty of the trees, the flowers, the birds, the beautiful sky we can see the world that God created for us. God created our world and all the things in it and it was supposed to be our Garden of Eden. He has built it to be beautiful and provide everything that man would ever need to sustain himself. I am in love with nature, as I have found nature to be an impetus to remind me to breathe and relax and to think about God. I can see God all around me when I look outside. God gave man the beauty of nature as a means of relaxation. So often when we feel stress building in our lives we can take a short walk and view God’s world, and we will be relieved of our stress. Each of us should take the time to go outside to enjoy the sunshine. Take a walk and enjoy the trees, the flowers, the birds, and the sky, and think about God and the beauty he has surrounded us with. Do something each day to appreciate the divine gift of nature. You will find that you can become closer to God when you begin to appreciate nature, and see what he has created for us. It can, and will have a great impact on your mental well-being. God created nature especially for us, and we need to see and feel the presence of God when we look upon his wonderful creations. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 19 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Let God Lead You

Good Morning to all my friends. This is another day that God has given us, let us be glad and rejoice in it. My prayer for you is that God will bless each of you today and give you His peace and His comfort in all that you do. Today's Challenge-------------------- Let God Lead You "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth." Isaiah 42:16 Are you letting God lead you, or are you trying to do it yourself? It is important for you to realize that you can continue to grow and rise to greater heights with God's assistance. You need to remember that as you travel down the road of life, you shouldn't worry about where you are going, but who you are following. I know in my own life, that I would rather follow God's lead and stay on course, than to go my own way and stumble along. When I am uncertain about the correct path to follow, God illuminates the way, and through scriptures such as the one above, gives me His assurance that He will guide me on the right paths. It is wise for all people to have plans for the future, as having dreams and desires, is part of what keeps life moving forward. We have all arrived at where we are today, because of the decisions we've made. However, when we try to make our plans and decisions without including God in them, this is when we get into trouble. God wants to be part of our plans and dreams, and He will allow all of them to become realities when we are doing things that are part of His plan for us. All your dreams and desires can become fulfilled, and your lives can be blessed when God walks along side you. Just as when you try to walk in the dark without a flashlight, you will run into obstacles and fall, but when God is with you, the darkness is lighted, and every obstacle becomes visible. God's Word is like a flashlight that will guide you. God wants to guide you today, and will lead you on the right paths, when you put your trust in Him. My Daily Devotional Volume Four June 18 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is Aways There

God Is Always There “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 As we read the Psalms of David, we find him either rejoicing and praising God for a victory over his enemies, or we find him down in the dumps and asking God to protect him and provide him guidance. Every one of us also goes through these times in our lives. We are either happy and overjoyed when something good happens in our lives and when our plans suddenly fall into place. We also go through times when we are discouraged, have financial issues, relationship issues and have the blues. Usually when we have our bad times we turn our eyes toward heaven, and ask God for guidance and for help. So often however when things are going good in our lives we forget to also thank God for the good times He is providing us. There are three steps I believe each of us should follow each day during both our bad and good times to keep ourselves focused on God and His power in our lives. (1) We should always go to God in prayer for everything. (2) Read the Word of God each day. Let His scriptures challenge and transform our mind and our actions. (3) Obey and follow God’s commandments and do His will. God’s will for you is to worship and serve Him. God can be our refuge and give us strength to face our blues if we put our trust in Him. David depended upon God to help him during his times of trouble, but also did not forget Him in the happy times. We won’t stumble in the darkness if we walk in the light of God’s word. David knew who to turn to when he faced trouble, as he knew that God was always there for him. He also knew that God provided the times of happiness and joy and always thanked God for them. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 16 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is all Around You

Good Morning to all my friends. This is another day that God has given us, let us be glad and rejoice in it. My prayer for you is that God will bless each of you today and give you His peace and His comfort in all that you do. Today's Challenge-------------------- God Is All Around You “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.” Song of Songs 2:11-12 Do you experience God in your daily life? Today, I want to encourage you to look for God all around you. One of my favorite hobbies is working in my garden, and as I spend many hours planting, pruning and weeding my flowers, I see God all around me as I gaze on the beauty of what He has created before me. I believe God desires to be a part of our everyday lives, in this manner. He shows us His majesty in all the beauty that surrounds us, if we will only look for it. Recently I discovered the above scripture during my Bible study, and it really jumped off the page at me, as it is one of the most beautiful scriptures I had discovered in some time. Since I found this scripture every time I go out in my yard, I now think about this verse. It reminds me of God, and the beauty He has created all around me. After the rain and the storms comes the rainbow, and the beauty of the flowers that He has surrounded me with. It is now a time for singing, as the birds fill the air with their joyful sounds. Since I asked Jesus into my heart, I can see Him and feel Him throughout my day, in all different ways such as this, which I had never experienced before. I believe Jesus wants us to experience Him in this way in our everyday lives. It is through these kinds of moments, that we realize just how amazing God really is, when we hear the birds singing in the trees, and see the wind gently blowing through the trees These are now special times for me, as I can see God, and feel His presence all around me. My Daily Devotional Volume Four June 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be An Example

Be An Example “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.” Titus 2:7 It is so important in today’s world to set an example for our young people. They are growing up with so much temptation all around them, that is having lasting influences on their lives. All people need models to follow, especially our youth. Watching our parent’s model correct behavior by the way they live their lives, is the best form of influence our children can have. I have heard and read many books which indicate that as much as 89% of our learning is by watching others, and is visual. Only about 10% comes from what we hear, and only 1% comes from our other senses. We all learn best through a model, and imitating them. How many times in our lives have we been influenced by someone that has stood out from the crowd, by their actions and behavior? We all have had a school teacher, a Sunday School teacher, a boss, or maybe a friend or a family member that we tried to pattern ourselves after. I know in my situation I would love to be the man my grandfather was, and to leave a legacy that he left for his family. Our actions can influence others, everywhere we go and in anything we do. Christians need to be careful in all situations in their lives, to set the example for others to follow. We can influence so many people we come into contact with on a daily basis. Even our youth can influence people around them. We can all be influencers everywhere we go. When we follow the commands of God, and obey his will for our lives, we will become a witness for God, and our influence can be far reaching in the world around us. At all times our actions and our lives must be centered around God, and if it is, he will direct and lead us to be a witness for him wherever we go. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 14 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Time Is Short

Time Is Short “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” Psalm 103:15-16 We are here for only a season, but during this time we have the opportunity to choose a life that is filled with God’s presence—one that is overflowing with his blessings, and one that will be fruitful. So many people however choose to spend their life mired in a world of trouble, unhappiness, sin and one that produces no fruit. We have not been placed here accidentally to serve no purpose. God has placed us here for a reason. We may never understand the overall plan of God, and our part in his great puzzle, but we are here for a reason. So many falsely conclude that it’s my life to live as I please, it’s my money to spend on what I want, it’s mine, I earned it and can do whatever I choose with my material possessions. This is such a fallacy as everything we have is due to God letting us have it. We have to guard our lives to make sure we do not become caught up in fulfilling our own needs, our own desires, and thinking only about ourselves. God promises that he will provide all our needs when we obey His commands and serve Him and do His will. Although we are only on this earth for a short time, God has promised us that we are also immortal. One thousand years from this day you will be more alive than you are at this moment. The Bible teaches us that life does not end at the cemetery. There is a future life with God in Heaven for those who put their trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jeremiah knew this when he prayed, Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 13 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Don't Worry Be Happy

Don't Worry Be Happy “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” Matthew 6:25 In today’s society one of the things that touch so many Christians, and cause them to not fully accomplish what God wants them to accomplish, is worry. Most families spend a good part of their day trying to figure out how to pay their bills, dealing with problems with their children, handling pressures with their jobs and dealing with relationships with their spouses. There is little time left in their day. This is not the way God intends for a Christian family to spend their waking hours, just getting by and worrying about their problems. We cannot be a productive witness for God if we have our minds occupied upon our own needs. We need to get our minds off our daily difficulties and turn them over to God. He can handle our burdens and provide for us. All we have to do is trust and have faith, and He will protect and provide all our needs. Many of the difficulties people face are related to things that happened in the past. We can all look back in our lives and see things that we would have done differently, but the Bible says to make the most of each day. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may never come. You must live for today. You can’t do anything about yesterday, but you can do a great deal about tomorrow. When we have God at the center of our lives he will care for us, he will protect us and provide all our needs. Our limited days on this earth should be happy and peaceful ones. They should be days that our thoughts should be on being a witness for God, and doing and obeying his commands, and His will for our lives. When God is at the center of your life, you will have a productive life, free from worry. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 12 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Wise Words

Wise Words “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction Proverbs 16:21 Once our words are said, they can never really be taken back. This can be a frightening thought, as so many people say things they really don’t mean, which can have catastrophic ramifications on other people. We must consider both the right words, and the right timing, especially when speaking words of correction to our children. We must always be thinking about building others up instead of tearing them down. We have tried to communicate our values to our children throughout our lives, and I believe we have successfully done this, as they are living their lives with the values we have taught them, and are passing these values on down to their children. Our parents were able to communicate with us, and pass what their parents had passed down through them, and we in turn have been successful in passing this down to our children. Our homes are the most intimate places on earth, and need to be greenhouses of beauty and growth for us and our families, but this will only become a reality when we follow the instructions of God. When we’re tempted to treat each other harshly, we need to consider God’s model of forgiveness, and choose to be tender toward each other. Learning to communicate with your spouse and your children is a process which can take time, and I know that sometimes it may seem like we are speaking different languages. But over time, and with enough effort, we must learn to understand each other. It is so important to make our homes a haven of peace for our families and our children. The way we communicate with each other, and the use of our words is so essential in this process. Always choose your words carefully. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are Your Plans God's Plans

Are Your Plans God's Plans “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 During our lives we all make big plans as to what we want to do in our profession, the kind of person we want to marry, the school we want to go to, the kind of house we want to build; the list goes on and on. So many of us make these plans with the expectations that if we work for them, they will come to fruition, and we will obtain from life everything we desire. So many of us leave out one big factor in making our plans, and that is that we leave out the will of God in our lives. God tells us in the above scripture that if we commit to the Lord whatever we do, our plans will succeed. There have been so many times in my life where I had big plans, and knew just how I was going to accomplish them, and could just see these plans becoming realities. I would spend much time plotting all the steps, but then due to some unforeseen circumstances many of these plans never came to fruition. It has only been during these past 10 years or so that I realized that one thing was usually missing in my big plans; and that was that God had not been included. I now know that if we are going to succeed in anything we do, we need to include God in our plans, and know that what we are doing is also his will for our lives. If we do this I believe He will let our plans succeed. It is so easy to let pride stand in the way, as we think that we have the answers to the problems in life. We think that we can do all things by ourselves, and that we are in control. Until we determine just how little control we have, and how much our plans depend on God's will, we will wander aimlessly through life But there are no plans that we have that are impossible to accomplish if it is in God's will and plans for us. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are We There Yet

Are We There Yet “But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.” 1st Kings 2:33 One of our fondest memories of our children as they were growing up, were the trips we would make from Florida to Kentucky to visit our families. We would usually make this trip almost every month. Our children always looked forward to getting to stay in the hotels, and then visit with their grandparents. One of the most used phrases during these trips was “Are we there yet”. They would usually begin asking this question within 30 minutes of leaving, and would continue through the 12 hour trip every few minutes. We will never forget these precious times, and they remind me of something that should be important for all of us, and that is “have we arrived at the place where we are at peace with our lives and where God is in control”. I know I only arrived a few years ago, and would never turn around and go back. I know I spent the majority of my life asking myself if I was there yet, as I never felt that I had arrived. I was too busy working and busying myself with my own personal wants and desires. But once I arrived, there is no describing what it is like to be at peace with myself, and to know that God is there for me. I have to admit it wasn’t an easy trip sometimes, as there were obstacles all along my way, and I was not always strong enough to overcome some of them. But God provided the roadmap, and has shown me the way to get there, and finally I have reached my destination. I can tell you from personal experience that the trip was definitely worth it and I have finally arrived. So if you are "not there yet", listen to God and let him lead you to your eternal home in Heaven, which is in sight. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 9 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Stand Firm

Stand Firm “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7:9 When I think about the above scripture I think about all the times in our lives when we do not stand firm in doing God’s will. I know that during my life, and in my business career there were times I could have stood firm in situations, and done more than I did in letting people know and see my faith in God. There are so many times, where because of different reasons, we try to blend in with the crowd instead of standing out. What can be so different between a Christian and a non-Christian in our workplaces, in our community and with the people we come into contact with? The answer is that we are not to blend in with the usual crowd, but are to stand out. We need to have a different expression and attitude—that is one of peace and joy, that reflects that we have Jesus in our hearts. Our actions, our speech, and our walking the talk, can be a tremendous influence on the people we come into contact with on a daily basis, and can make a difference in people’s lives. I know that I have met people throughout the years that have stood out, and did not try to blend in with the crowd, and these are the people that I remember. These were the people who were not afraid to be different, but stood for their principles no matter what the circumstances were. God wants each of us to conduct our lives in this fashion, and stand out in the crowd, and be the example for others to follow. We need to walk the talk, and do the things that will make us different from the crowd, and it is through us and our actions that God will be revealed. If your coworkers, school mates and your neighbors do not know that you are a Christian, you have work to do, to be the person God wants you to be.

Dream Your Dreams

Dream Your Dreams “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Acts 2:17 Are you satisfied with where you are today in your life? Are your days happy, and joy filled, and you are where God wants you to be? I have always been a dreamer. As far back as my memory takes me I have always had lofty dreams about what I wanted to accomplish in life, and always had full expectations that I could accomplish just about anything that I set my mind to. I owe this confidence to my grandmother, and as I have thought over the years about her, the one thing that she instilled in me was the idea that I could do anything I ever wanted to do. She was the most positive person I have ever been around. I grew up with her and somehow she knew, and was able to give me her gift of positive thinking, and I now credit this gift as being probably the most important thing in my life, that has helped me to be successful throughout my business career. I believe God places dreams within us. Our dreams and deep desires are part of his plan for our lives. I believe there are two steps that are essential if our dreams are to become a reality. The first step is that we must hold on to our dreams, and not let anyone take them away from us. Our dream was important to us or we would not have had it. The second step is that we must be able to visualize our dreams coming to be a reality. If we can’t see them being fulfilled, chances are that we will not put forth the effort necessary to make them come true. So live out your dreams, and let others know that God made your dreams come true, and let them know that he can do this for them. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 5 Robert William Brock, Jr.

You Need God

You Need God “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8 How dependant are you in your own ability in your daily life? Do you feel that you are in complete control, and don't need God for anything? When we pray to God we do not need to pray on and on repeating ourselves and our wants and needs, as God knows all our needs even before we ask him. We however need to be in partnership with God in everything we do. We cannot do everything ourselves, but need God’s help in accomplishing anything. I recently received an E-Mail from a friend of mine which illustrates this partnership we need with God. A man had recently purchased a new house whose yard was overgrown with weeds, and after much work he had transformed the yard into a beautiful garden, with beautiful flower beds and a lovely manicured lawn. Pointing to his work of art he said to his neighbor “Look at what I did here.” His neighbor corrected him and said “you mean look at what God and I did here.” The owner replied, “I guess you’re right, but you should have seen the shape this yard was in when He was taking care of it by Himself.” The above joke expresses a wonderful spiritual truth—we are co-workers with God. This applies to every aspect of our lives including prayer, which is implied in the scripture above. God is our partner in both the physical and spiritual areas of life. Through prayer we work with Him in dealing with the hardships we face, and the trials and troubles that confront us every day. We need the comfort, peace and understanding He brings to confront and defeat the temptations we face on a daily basis. We need to partner with God and trust him for everything and He will provide. You can't get by depending on yourself, you need God. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 4 Robert William Brock, Jr.

You Are An Example

You Are An Example “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” Titus 2:1-2 Have you thought about the kind of Christian example you are to others around you, in your job, in your school, in your neighborhood and everywhere you go? Do they even know that you are a Christian? The scripture above were teachings Paul was giving to Titus to preach to the people of Crete, and are teachings that each of us need to follow in today’s society. We must follow the word of God as given to us in the Bible, as this is the plan that God has given each of us to live our lives by. Sound doctrine demands the right conduct of all believers, regardless of age, sex or position. As we grow older and become leaders, we must be moral and spiritual examples for the younger generations. Older believers must be responsible and sensible in our actions, and always be an example for others to follow. We must always live our lives and be respected as fair, honest and trustworthy in all our business dealings. Our attitudes should always be self controlled and consistent, in order to set the example for others. We cannot be pleasant and in control one day, and gruff and out of control the next day, as this is not the example we need to set for others. We must always have our faith, and demonstrate it in all our actions and encounters with the people around us. We must be willing to show our love for others at all times throughout our day, and be willing to show strength when we have difficult times in our lives, as this will demonstrate our faith and trust in God. If we can obey this scripture to its fullest, we will be the influence on others that God wants us to be. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 3 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Prospering

Are You Prospering “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 29:9 Are you happy with your life today? Do you feel content where you are, with your finances, your family, your relationships, and all the other aspects of your life? God wants each of us to become successful, however the amount of material wealth that we accumulate is not indicative of the type of success that he has in store for us. God has a plan for each of our lives, he knows all about us, he knows our thoughts and desires, and will provide us guidance to make the right decisions we make each and every day if we will seek it and ask him for it. God wants us to be successful in our lives, but not at the expense of others. Making the financial decisions we all make on a daily basis takes thought on our part, and we need to consider all issues before we make many of our financial decisions. We need to ask God for guidance in these decisions, and live our lives for him, and make sure the decisions we make do not come at the expense of others. So many people do not reach the full potential of what God wants them to achieve in their lives, because they do not follow His commands and seek the guidance from Him in making the proper decisions for themselves. I believe God gives us the opportunity to prosper, and has positioned each of us to be at the time and place we are at today for a purpose. If we are following God’s plan for our lives we will prosper where we are, but we have to be following His plan and doing His will. We must be using our gifts and talents the way He wants us to, and if we are faithful in carrying out His will we will be prosperous in all that we do, and our decisions will be the right ones. Take a few minutes today to think about the scripture above and apply it to your life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 2 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Seek God's Will

Seek God's Will “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17 Do you know what God's will for your life is? Are you experiencing peace and joy in your life? If you don't you are missing so much. I have spent the majority of my life not knowing what the will of the Lord was for me. I had always been what I thought was a good husband and a good father to my children, although I am sure I could have done a better job in both of these categories. I have always provided for my family to the best of my abilities, and my family was the most important thing in my life. However I did not realize until a few short years ago what God’s will was for my life? After retirement I felt that something was missing in my life, and during a temporary business assignment had time to really begin reading the Bible and studying God’s word. The more I studied and read, the more I began to understand what God’s will was for me. This understanding has led to the most enjoyable and peaceful years of my life. I now realize what God has in store for me, and it is amazing as to the things he is revealing to me each and every day. I am now doing things that I never thought could ever be done in our community, and he is leading me in every step. He is opening doors that I never thought could be opened and bringing together people and organizations that I never dreamed would be talking and working together. God has made these things possible that I thought would never come about. I implore each of you to seek out the will of God for you and your life. Find out what God has in store for you and follow everything he puts on your heart. If you could only experience in your life what he is doing in mine, you will have a peace and joy in your life beyond belief. My Daily Devotional Volume Six August 1 Robert William Brock, Jr.