God's Gentle Whispers

God's Gentle Whispers “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1st Kings 19:11-12 This scripture means a great deal to me, as it describes the way God spoke to me. He did not tear mountains apart, or cause earthquakes, or fire to get my attention. There were no sudden sounds of thunder or lightening when He spoke to me, as He spoke to me in gentle whispers. All through the years God was speaking to me, as He spoke to me through my wife, my children, and numerous other people I encountered. God spoke to me when I had difficulties and trials in my life, as He put these in front of me to change the direction I was going. These were not thunderous words where the earth trembled, but were the words of a gentle whisper. These gentle whispers eventually got my attention, and I began to ask myself the question: What is God’s purpose and will for my life? When I began concentrating on knowing what God’s plan was for me, the gentle whispers became more and more clear, and I began to understand what God was saying to me. These gentle whispers became all that I wanted to hear, as they began to direct me and control my life. They became the things that I yearned for, and wanted to commit myself to following and obeying. My life finally began to be meaningful as I began to understand more and got closer to God. Those gentle whispers from God changed my life. God may be speaking to you today through His "Gentle Whispers", take the time to hear them. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 30 Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Mother's Prayer

A Mother's Prayer By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 Prayer has always been a big part of my life over the years, as I believe the power of prayer can do so much in the lives of our children and our family. I remember when our baby, Christopher was about four years old, he would try to talk and would stutter so badly that we could barely understand him. At that time I was getting up at 5:30 each morning to take the mail to the post office, for the business I operated. One morning I was praying so hard about him and his speech problem, I found myself screaming to God to hear me, and saying that nothing was impossible with God, and that I demanded Him to heal Christopher of his speech problem, and by the stripes of Jesus he would be healed. I then began thanking Him for hearing my prayer and for healing Christopher. By the time I got home I had perfect peace all that day, and when Christopher began to talk that morning his speech was perfect, and he has not had any problems since that time. He is now 27 years old, and does not have any problems with his speech. He has been called to the ministry and he and his beautiful wife Heather are living for God. The power of prayer is such an important thing to have in our family, and the power of the parents to ask God to answer our prayers for our children is something that all parents should pray for. All parents should pray daily for their children and their families. I have always had faith that my prayers will be answered if I keep my eyes on God and doing His will for my life. My family is the most important thing in my life, and my prayers can touch them as I believe God will answer my prayers. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 29

Life Without God

Life Without God "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 1:2 These were the words of King Solomon, the man who asked God only for wisdom, and were written in the twilight of his years, after he had lived his life with more wisdom than any man had ever known. During his life, King Solomon had experienced great wealth, had great power, and had all the pleasures and desires of the heart, that life had to offer, but when he assessed all that he had been given, was calling it all "meaningless." With his life largely behind him, King Solomon, even with all his wisdom, and all the things that God had blessed him with, is telling us that everything is utterly meaningless without God. Solomon had realized by his old age, that he had not always relied on God, and that all that he was blessed with and given, was meaningless, without God. The message I want you to get from this devotional today, is for you to realize that a life not centered on God, is truly purposeless and meaningless also. Without God, nothing else will satisfy you. The wealth you may accumulate, the power you may hold, the honors you may earn, the social status you may acquire, will all be meaningless, without God in your life. I believe King Solomon, even with his great wisdom, and his great wealth still felt that his life was meaningless, because he had not made God first in his life. Our life on earth is short, and is but for a season, as we are not promised tomorrow, but while we are here we do not want it to be meaningless. While you still have time, I would encourage you to turn to God, and rely on Him, to lead and guide you in all that you do, so that you can say "my life has a purpose, and is not meaningless", in the sight of God.

Wintertime

Wintertime “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12 You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was a young man, just married and embarking on my new life with my wife. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all, as I have glimpses of how it was back then, and of all my hopes and dreams—but, here it is—the winter of my life, and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? And where did my youth go? But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last—this I know, that when it’s over—I am waiting for a new life to begin with Jesus. I look forward to my new life and a new beginning. Yes, I have regrets in my past life, such as things I should have done, but I have many things I’m happy to have done, and would do them all over again. So, if you’re not in your winter yet—let me remind you, that your winter will be here faster than you think. Life goes by so quickly, so enjoy today, and live it to the fullest, but remembering that God has given it to you, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not. You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life—so live for good today, and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember. Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life, is your gift to those who come after, leave the legacy that they will see and remember you as a child of God. Make it one that you will have the assurance that you will have a new life to look forward to in Christ Jesus, by asking Him into your heart, so that your new life will be an eternal life. September 27 Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six

The Love Of Money

The Love Of Money "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever has wealth is never satisfied with his income." Ecclesiastes 5:10 I have spent my entire career in money management, and have written many devotionals about the power of money. The dream of most people today is that they want to become rich, have great wealth and be financially secure. Most people think the answer to most all of their problems is money. They think, "If I just had more money, then I could do anything I desire to do, and then I would be happy." Money does not make a person happy. Look at King Solomon, the man that had so much money he would make Bill Gates look like a street beggar, and who wrote the scripture above. Jesus tells us it is impossible to serve both God and money. Now don't get me wrong, it is fine to have money, as long as money does not have you. If your entire world is devoted around acquiring wealth and money, you have a problem, as riches are uncertain and unstable at best. Riches and wealth can disappear almost instantly, as a flood, fire, earthquake, tornado or a stock market crash can wipe out all your wealth in an instant. And when you die, you leave behind all that you have, and you take with you only what you are. According to Jesus, the only way to make your money last for all eternity, is to invest it in heaven's bank. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth,.....But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21. My friends, let me encourage you to be content with what you have. It is certainly not wrong to have riches, just do not long for them, and place all your trust in them, trust only in God, for he only wants your soul, not your money. September 26 Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six

Do You Please God

Do You Please God By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" Matthew 5:8 This morning one of my children came over and shared many of the things that was going on in their life with me, which pleased me, and made me happy, as this is the way that I feel I am loved by my children, in that they love me enough, to share their lives with me. This simple act made me think, "when is God pleased with us? I believe we please God when we bow down to Him, and pray to Him daily, telling Him what is going on in our lives, and also thanking Him for all the blessings He bestows on us each day. We please Him when we do His will, and obey His commands, in all we do, and when we make Him number one in our lives each day.. We please God when we help others around us, showing them that we care about them. We please God when we tell people about Him, and what He has done in our lives, and what He can do in their lives. We please God when we put Him first in everything we do, and depend on Him to help us carry our burdens.. When we have trouble and trials in our lives, and turn to God for help, and ask Him to share our sorrows and grief, I believe he is pleased with us. God is pleased when we wake up each morning, and thank Him for providing our needs, and thanking Him for the all the things He has given us. I believe when we do all these things to honor God, we will be happy in our life, just by enjoying God's presence, and God will be happy and pleased with us and enjoy our company. When God is happy and pleased with us, more blessings will flow, and He will begin to answer our prayers. Make God pleased with you today by doing his will and obeying His commandments. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 25

No More Tomorrows

No More Tomorrows "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2nd Corinthians 5:8 Yesterday, one of my readers sent me an e-mail, telling me that her husband had just passed away from cancer, the day before. I had been praying for her, and her husband for some time, that God would give them some more time together, as they had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Death will come to each of us at some time, and unfortunately we do not know the time that our life will end. As I think about the death of a loved one, I am reminded, that what we so often take for granted will not be there "anymore". There will not be any more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more birthdays or anniversaries to celebrate together. All these will be gone, and all that will remain, will be just some precious memories. The lives of our loved ones are important, and so often we do not appreciate these people, that are in our lives and mean so much to us, until they are gone. Today, I want each of you to think about the people who are special to you, and encourage you to tell them that they are special, and that you love and care about them, while you can, as someday it will be too late to let them know how you feel. Also as you read this, I want you to think about, that you also could die today, tomorrow or next week, and ask yourself if there is someone you need to tell that you love them, or if there are any wounds that need to be healed with someone, or a friendship that needs to be mended. Today is a good day to let the people in your life know that you love them, and care about them, because tomorrow could be too late. Don't put this off, but deal with these issues today, you will be glad you did, as it will give you peace. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 24

A Message For Dad's

A Message For Dads "Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding." Proverbs 4:1 The message today is for all fathers, to let you know just how important you are to your children. God has given you a great responsibility in caring for your children, and you cannot let time pass you by, and not teach them about God. If you don't do anything else, show them the way to God, as it's your responsibility as a father. I never had a father as I was growing up, as he was killed in World War II, when I was only two years old, and I know personally what it was like growing up without a dad, and not having even one memory to cherish. What any child needs from their father is time to spend with him, where you can give them your undivided attention, and show them that you are sincerely interested in what is going on in their life, and listen to what they have to say. They'll never forget how you show them respect, and build their self esteem, by honoring them in this way. Your children cannot learn to respect themselves, when they've never felt respected. It's your job to be there to show them that they matter, and that they are loved. It's not enough just to tell them that you love them, but you need to show them you love them through your actions. You need to hug them, spend time with them, and make them feel important. They need to be your top priority, and you need to give them your time and attention. Look at your schedule today, and see where you spend your time, and don't let other priorities come before your children. You only have them for a season, and then they are gone, but the memories you make with them will follow them throughout their lives, so make many beautiful memories with them, memories of the good times, memories they will cherish forever. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 23

Learn To Be Patient

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-------------------- Learn To Be Patient "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly." Proverbs 14:29 One of the things that I lack more than anything in my life, is patience. I believe I have gotten better the older I have become, but still have not conquered this issue, as I still have to pray about, and work on it almost every day. I realize that many of the problems that people deal with every day, is due to a lack of patience. We pray about a problem that we are facing, and when God does not answer it immediately, we become frustrated. We forget that God has a plan and purpose for each of us, and through God's time frame this plan and purpose will manifest itself. God knows the problems we face each day, but so often we see only what we want to see, and ignore God, when He is obviously closing or opening a door in our life. I believe that we often don't have much patience, because we already know what God wants, but it really isn't what we want. This is called rebellion, and it will cause pain and heartache every single time, as when we try to do it our way, and not God's way, there is always a price to pay. I believe that we need to wait on God, and teach ourselves to be patient during difficult times. God is not going to lead you along the wrong path, but when the time is right, God is going to lead you to the place He wants you to be. Don't rely on your own abilities and judgment, to solve every problem you face, but pray and ask God to give you the wisdom and guidance, in dealing with your problems and issues. God will hear you, and in His time, will lead and guide you to make the right decisions. Just learn to be patient and trust in God to provide you understanding. My Daily Devotional Volume Four July 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Behind Closed Doors

Behind Closed Doors By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:12 So many times our life behind closed doors does not match what we project in public. Our family sees us as we really are, while the outside world sees another side. It is important that our family sees people who are following God at all times, not being one thing in public and something else at home. When we compromise, and let the world influence us, many put on a different face to the public, and another face at home. There are several things we can do to be the kind of witness we need to be for our families. We need to always build ourselves up each day, by reading our Bibles, and seeking to become closer to God. We need to seek His presence, and in so doing, our family will see God through us. How we handle day to day problems, by praying and seeking God's wisdom, is another way to demonstrate to our family, the presence of God in our lives. The way we communicate to our spouse and children in our homes, should always show love and respect for them. The language we use behind closed doors, should always be uplifting, encouraging and spoken with a soft voice and kind words. So often families begin compromising their values, based on worldly ideals, and allow these to invade their homes. We must never compromise God's values, and allow worldly trends to become part of our family life. If we do, these will, little by little, become part of the family life, which must not be allowed. We must be aware at all times of our conduct behind closed doors, as our families need to see us as Godly examples. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 21

Think About Tomorrow

Think About Tomorrow By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:21 As we live in our troubled world, most people do not think about, and forget the most important thing in life, and that is that someday we are going to die. Most people put this out of their minds, and live only for today. We only have to pick up a newspaper, to see the reality of what can happen, as there are examples each day, where life has suddenly ended for people who did not expect to die. The thing that most people forget, is to live for God, and make Him number one in their lives, but so often we look only at the day ahead, and then only for ourselves. Most people are prone to seek the things of the world, instead of seeking the thing that means the most to them, which is God, and what the future may hold. Life here on earth is likened to a fleeting shadow, and will be for only a season, and our thoughts should be more on where we will spend our eternity, than on the here and now. There is nothing that is more important than for you to make sure that your future is secure, and that you will have a place in Heaven. If you have any doubts about what tomorrow may hold for you, now is the time to do something about it. You don't have to be concerned about your future, as Jesus promises you that you can be at peace and content, about what your future holds. Death is going to come to each of us, but it does not have to be a consuming part of your thoughts and life, as God can give you peace and comfort by providing you with His plan of salvation. Your eternal life is at stake, and His plan of salvation is your only answer.

Are You Prepared

Are You Prepared By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:3 What would you do if Jesus came today? Would you be prepared to stand before Him at His judgment throne and be judged? I want to encourage each of you to prepare yourselves for this day, which certainly will come to all of us. We do not know the year, the month, the day or the hour when this day will come, or when our life may suddenly end. The Bible tells us that our life is like a mist, it appears for just a little while, then it's gone as suddenly as it appeared. I don't mean to sound so downbeat, but this is the way life is, and each of you need to live your life as if this was your last day on this earth. You must be prepared to stand before God's judgment throne and be judged. I would encourage each of you to always, pray before you close your eyes at night, and always thank God when you awake in the morning. You do not know what each day will hold for you, as statistics tell us that there are over 40,000 people who die suddenly each day in accidents, one of these could be you. The thing you need to remember is to always live your life with Jesus in your heart, doing His perfect will, then you will have no need to fear, and be afraid of what the future may hold. You can live in perfect peace, always happy, when you place God first in your life, believing and trusting that He will provide, protect and give you His peace and comfort in all that you do. The future does not need to be something that you fear, and are afraid to face, as when you live each day for Jesus, you are prepared to meet and stand before Him, knowing that He is going to say "Welcome good and faithful servant, In you I am well pleased." Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six. September 19

A Godly Mother

A Godly Mother By: My Wife Margaret Sue Brock "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1 This message is for all mothers, and as you read it I want you to think and apply it to your own life. Are you doing all the right things to be the wife and mother that God wants you to be? But the real question to ask yourself is, "is God really the Lord of my life"? In order to be the person God expects you to be, there are other questions you need to ask yourself: Do you go to church? Do you say all the right things to your family and friends to let them know God is walking with you? Do you let worldly things, slowly come into your life, and begin to compromise your Godly values, and let them affect your husband and children? It is so easy in the hectic day to day struggles of life, to compromise your values, and slowly, little by little, let worldly things into your daily routine. However, if God is first in your life there will not be room for compromise. Your family needs to see God in you at all times, even when things go wrong. You are the best influence on your husband and children, they will ever see, and how you react when things go wrong, can show them that God is really in your heart, and helping you deal with daily problems and issues that arise. Your daily walk with God, in both the good times, and also the bad times, needs to be the example of the person God wants you to be. You may ask how do I become the wife and mother God wants me to be, and the answer is found in God's word. Study your Bible daily, read God's Holy word, and you will be given wisdom and understanding to know God's will for your life. When you are following the will of God in your daily life, you will be the mother God wants you to be. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 18 Robert William Brock, Jr.

No More Silence

No More Silence "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." Revelation 2:11 These are the powerful words of Jesus describing what will take place before the end of days. Our world is in a moral decay of epidemic proportions, and it may not be too long before we see the return of Jesus. If you would have told someone just 50 years ago, that there would no longer be prayer in our schools, or that crosses and manger scenes, and even the Ten Commandments, would be banned from public buildings, or that we would legally slaughter 4,000 babies every 24 hours in this nation, or that it would be legal for men to marry men, and women to marry women, they would have called you crazy. However 50 years later, all of these have now become realities. But the true reality is that things are going to get even worse. It is so sad that the church has become the silent non-functioning institution, that for the first several hundred years of our history, had stepped forward to protect and defend Godly family values and secure our freedoms, but now are more concerned with their money stream than they are with upholding and defending God's Word and commandments. Today, I want each of you to think about this message, and these Godly values, which have been taken away, by our silence and our church's silence. There may still be time to reverse this trend, but it is going to require every one of you, and also your church to not be silent any longer. We have been electing our government officials, with no thought given to their Biblical values, it is time to bring God back into our government, but each church and every member needs to speak out, and not remain silent any longer. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 17

A Sin Free Life

A Sin Free Life "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure." Titus 1:15 Today, I want each of you to think about the kind of life you are living, and whether it is the kind of life God wants you to live? God wants you to live a sin free life, and the Bible tells us the penalty of sin is death. When we try to compromise the truth of God's word, we are left with nothing. Many pastors and churches have quit preaching about sin, for fear of offending people, and unfortunately have turned into little more than a social gathering, and a place to be entertained on Sunday's. I am afraid that this is true not only in the church today, but it is true in the lives of many people as well. There is no such thing as a little sin, as sin by its very definition is rebellion against God. You will either obey God or you don't, as there is no middle ground. You are either living in accordance with His Word, or you are living in rebellion to His Word, and there is no room for compromise. I believe that the problems that many people face today, is due to the fact that they chose to compromise God's word, and don't understand that their way doesn't work, but God's way does. Whenever we choose to compromise the truth of God's Word, there is always a price to pay. Satan will always give you great reasons why it is ok to compromise in certain situations or circumstances, but remember that Jesus tells us in John Chapter 10 that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life." Think about getting rid of the sin in your life today, and don't let the enemy deceive you into compromising God's Word. Follow God's way, as that is where you will find the truth, and where you can find the greatest gift you will ever receive, God's gift of an eternal life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 16 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Forgiveness

God's Forgiveness "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1st John 2:15 Recently one of my readers asked me a question, "if God will forgive us for anything we do (no matter how bad it is), then why should we try to be good", as it seemed to him that all we have to do is ask God to forgive us when we do wrong. I realize that some people do say this, just as some have throughout history. But the Bible says otherwise, and we must not make a mockery of God's forgiveness and grace. One reason we should avoid sin is because God wants us to love Him, and we cannot love God, and at the same time love sin, as is evident in the scripture above. Sin is an offense to God, and when we sin we are turning our backs on God and rejecting Him. A second reason why the Bible commands us to avoid sin, is because of what it cost God to make our forgiveness possible. Yes, for us forgiveness is a free gift; when we turn to Christ in repentance and faith, God promises to forgive us by His grace. But for God, forgiveness is costly because it cost Him the life of His own dear Son. On the cross, Jesus became the final and complete sacrifice for our sins, shedding His blood for us. Don't ever scorn what Christ did for you and me, instead, turn from sin, and by faith ask Christ to come into your life today. Then make it your goal to live for Christ, who teaches us "to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:12-13. If sin is controlling your life, today is the day to turn from it, as your tomorrow may not come. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be Content

Be Content “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:3 Today, I want each of you to think about why you are where you are today, as God has you where you are for a reason. During our almost 49 years of marriage, my wife and children have traveled many places, and lived in several different states. We have moved to different hospitals to further my career, however we have now been living in our present city for almost 34 years, and now call this our home. I’m sure most of you have heard the saying, “We are pilgrims just passing through”, and I know that during the early part of my career we felt like this, as we did not stay very long in any place. The above scripture, however, tells me that wherever we are, we are to take possession of those places for God’s kingdom. I believe God took us to all the places we have been for a reason, as He was getting us prepared to do His work where He now has us. I know that there are things I have learned in all the hospitals I have been, and have had the opportunity to influence people in a positive way in all of these hospitals. I also know that I have been influenced by the people I have met at these hospitals. In this life, we are on a pathway, a narrow road, a journey that will lead us to where God wants us to be. I believe God wanted us to be in the city where we are today for a reason, as it is part of His plan for our lives. I know that God is working through me, and is also working in the lives of my children, to minister to the people in this area, and we are all responding to His call. He put us here at this place, and at this time for a reason, and the pathway we have followed has let us mature and grow in Him, and now we are ready to fulfill the rest of His plan for our lives. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 14

Fear Not

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

Who Will You Follow

Who Will You Follow Dedicated To My Grandfather: John Jeff Brock "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1st Timothy 4:12 As I was growing up my grandfather and I loved to hunt, and we spent much of our days in the mountains. There were many mountain springs through the hills of Kentucky, where we would always find water to drink. During this time most of the farmers let their cows roam the mountains, and one of my grandfathers sayings was "always drink upstream from the herd." When I think back on this time in my life, I can see much wisdom in this simple statement. Throughout our lives we are all influenced by the people around us. We all meet, work with, and have contact with people, who have good morals, good family values and follow God. We also encounter people, who have very little or no morals, bad family values and follow Satan. When we encounter either group of these people, we have a choice to make, whether to gravitate to people who have their lives centered around God, or to people who are worldly, with their lives centered around Satan. Whatever group we choose to follow, this group will certainly influence our lives, and we will gravitate to their level. We can choose higher values as our way of life, or we can choose to lower ourselves to worldly values and their standards. My grandfather also had another saying "when you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty". There is nothing that will influence a young person more than to get into the wrong crowd, as their influence will so easily lead them astray. I would like for you to consider whether you are with the wrong crowd in your life, or whether you are "drinking upstream from the herd." My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 12 Robert William Brock, Jr.

My Little Princess

My Little Princess “When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.” Genesis 6:1-2 September 11th is a special day for me, as this is the birthday of my first child, my beautiful daughter Pamela. She was my little Princess, from the first time I saw her and still is my pride and joy today. I believe daughters are special to their fathers, as mine has been to me. I believe there is a bond that exists between a daughter and a father that God provides which will last forever and stand the test of time. There will never be another experience in my life that was more amazing and exciting as holding my daughter in my arms for the first time. God had given me an angel, who I would watch grow up before me to become a beautiful and loving wife, and a mother to our two grandchildren. There is something special about a daughter, as I believe God intended them to be the pride and joy of their fathers. Psalm 144:12 “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” I have always thought it was my responsibility, to my daughter, to make sure she received the best advice I could give her, and knowing this helped me keep my eyes focused on God, as I knew he could provide the guidance I needed to provide the best for her. Proverbs 14:26 “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” I believe that so often it is through our children that parents become closer to God, as was the case with my daughter. Her walk with God has inspired me through the years, to become closer to him. She gave her life to Christ when only a teenager, and has not strayed from God. I believe she exemplifies what God would want a daughter to be. God has given her many gifts that she is using for his glory each and every day of her life. He is using her for his glory, and she is becoming more of a witness for God to the people she comes into contact with each day. Yes today is a special day for me, as I can look back and recall the beautiful memories I have of my little Princess. I can remember her first smile, her first steps, her first words, her first day of school, her first date and the day she was married. She now has her own family, whom I am extremely proud of, but the memories of my little Princess will remain forever in my heart. They comfort me when I have troubles as I can recall them as they can take away any worries I might have. God made my daughter especially for me, as he knew that I needed someone like her to brighten my life. So today, I want to tell my daughter Pamela that I love her, and am so proud of her and the wife and mother that she has become. She will always be my "little princess", as she embodies what any father would want their daughter to be. I love you. Dad

My Glimpse Of Heaven

My Glimpse Of Heaven "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne." Revelation 3:21 Today, as I look out my window, I am drawn to the bright rays of the sun peeking through the clouds, and knowing that you, God, are far above them in Heaven, looking down on me, and all the world around me. I stand in awe today, of your power and your majesty, as to the beautiful world that you have created here on earth, and I can only imagine what heaven will be like that you have also created for me. I can hardly wait to walk on the street of gold you have prepared for me, and see and hear the angels filling the air and sounds with their heavenly music. I long to be reunited with my father, my mother, my wonderful wife, my children, my grandchildren, and my grandparents, and spend my eternity there in a great reunion in your beautiful garden. I anticipate getting to spend all my days in your kingdom where there will be no more fear, no worry, no sickness and no concern about anything, and being able to live in peace and harmony all my days. I want to experience your presence, and see you face to face, and spend time with you, in the paradise you have prepared for me. But today Lord, I am still on this beautiful earth, with my earthly family, and as I struggle to obey your commands and do your will, I stand committed to do what you would have me do while I am still in this earthly body. I wait with anticipation for the day you will decide that my time on earth is over, your work in me has been fulfilled, and you will welcome me with open arms to the place you have prepared for me. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Savior, and letting me have just a glimpse of what you have prepared for me. Thank you for saving my soul and for my eternal home in Heaven. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is Waiting Patiently

God Is Waiting Patiently "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2nd Peter 3:9 Today, I want to talk to you about God's patience. Have you considered the fact that God waits patiently to grant you His salvation? You may have lived the majority of your life in sin, but now in your old age, He still is willing to grant you His salvation. The Bible tells us that the only path to Heaven in to be born again, and accept Jesus into our hearts. Most people know about Jesus in their early years, but do not accept Him into their hearts, and they miss out on all the blessings that can come with a life that is built on God. However, even if you did not accept Jesus into your heart at an early age, He is still waiting for you with open arms. There is no sin too large for Him not to forgive you for. There are no actions, behaviors or thoughts, that you have done or committed during your life, that He will not forgive. Jesus will still be patiently waiting for you, and will wash away all your past, if you make the effort to ask Him to come into your heart today. I know many of you may think that you have done things, and said things, and been the kind of person that in your eyes no one could ever forgive you for. However, God still loves you enough to have sent His only Son Jesus, to die on the cross for all your sins, and to save you. He has been patiently waiting for you, and will still welcome you into His kingdom. You need to realize that Jesus came to earth for this very purpose, to save you and have you come to repentance, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. But you have to take the step forward, and ask Him to come into your heart. God has done His part, and it is now up to you to respond. It is still not too late, but we are not promised tomorrow, so time is precious, do it today. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 9 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You A Good Influence

Are You A Good Influence "For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul." Proverbs 2:10 Are you a good representative for Christ? Today, I would like to ask you to consider, if you are a good influence on the people around you. I see many people in church on Sunday morning who are worshipping God, but during the week there is nothing in their daily life to demonstrate that they are a Christian. Our Christian life should not end when we walk out of the church on Sunday morning. It should be evident at all times throughout the week. People should see that we are a Christian, everywhere we go. It only takes a moment of weakness, a careless word, or an ungodly action on our part, to ruin our testimony. One of the reasons this generation is so skeptical of Christians today, is due to the moral failures, and inconsistent lifestyles of those who claim to know Christ. My friends, you and I must change this perception. We must become the real deal. We must learn to guard our heart, and grow in intimacy with Christ on a personal level. We must learn to serve others, and be the influence that God wants us to be. Satan is always plotting to discourage God's people from serving others, and being the influence they need to be. Satan knows that if he can defeat us in our personal relationship with God, or in the call of God for us to serve others, and be an influence on them, that we will never advance the gospel of Jesus in the world. My friends, do not leave God at Church on Sunday, but take Him with you all during the week. Let His light shine brightly in you at all times, so that others can see God through you. Show them that you have something in your life that they need. You must be a representative for Christ, and be an influence for others, throughout your day. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 8 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Think Of Others

Think Of Others "Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow--when you now have it with you." Proverbs 3:28 Each time I read this scripture, I always think of my mother and her giving spirit. My mother has always been my example, when I think about the attitude that God wants each of us to have about giving to others. Although she has never had much to give, she will give anyone anything that she has, if she sees they are in need. This same trait was so evident in my grandfather as well, as he always was a giver throughout his life. I believe this is one of the most important gifts that God can give someone, to have their hearts focused on how they can help others. Greed, which is thinking of yourself first, is one of the deadly sins that the Bible teaches us about, and prevents so many people from giving as God commands. The Bible tells us not to store up worldly possessions, which will not last and will rot and rust away, but to give with a free heart. In our society, many people spend all their lives trying to build up their nest eggs, and accumulate as much wealth as they possibly can, not thinking about others, who are less fortunate. It has been proven throughout history, that wealth does not provide happiness, as many of the wealthiest people have died in misery and depressed. It is perfectly all right to provide for our families, but not to store up riches, and let our wealth become our gods. Our minds and our hearts must not become consumed with material things, and become a distraction from our walk with God. When we see people in need, we must open our hearts to them and reach out to them. This is the way Jesus commands us to live, with thoughts about others, instead of fulfilling all the desires of our hearts. Don't let your wealth become your God. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 7 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be Transformed

Be Transformed “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 The above scripture is my very favorite verse in the Bible. Today, I was reminded again of this scripture, as I watched a caterpillar emerge from the ground, and attach itself to one of my peach tree leaves. A caterpillar is an ugly little creature, and is not the most pleasant thing to look at, but this is its sole function in life, as it is necessary in order to reach the next level, which is to hide itself inside a cocoon, and wait for its next transformation. A few weeks later the cocoon bursts open, and a beautiful butterfly springs forth. This beautiful example of the wonders of God’s nature, reminds me of what happens to us, when we ask Jesus into our hearts. Before we receive God in our hearts, we exist with very little function in our lives, as we live day to day with little direction. We are full of wickedness, ugly in our sin, but as we hear and accept God’s call, and begin to hide ourselves in God’s word, accepting His saving grace, a great transformation takes place in our lives. We suddenly are transformed, our mind is renewed, and our life has a new meaning. We turn away from the old things; things that were ugly, and go to the next level, one that now has meaning and purpose. Do you want to become a new person and accept Jesus into your heart, becoming a new being with joy on your face, and the peace of God in your heart, and experience your own transformation? Each one of you has this same opportunity to be transformed and renewed, as Jesus wants you to have the peace and joy that only He can bring to your life. Just ask Jesus into your heart today and experience this wonderful transformation. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 6 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is Faithful

God Is Faithful “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 During the past several months I have had many of my readers begin to question why they are having so many difficulties in their lives. Many have lost their jobs due to the economic collapse, and others are struggling to make ends meet financially. Their dreams, plans and goals have been shattered due to their current situations. I strongly believe that God uses situations like these to bring us back to reality, as so often we are going our own ways instead of following the paths that God has designed for us to follow. When we are in periods of prosperity, I have observed that many people have the tendency to turn away from God, not obeying His commands, not reading their Bibles and worshiping Him, and begin to depend upon themselves and their own abilities more and more. It is important that we not forget that in our times of prosperity, it was not us that had allowed us to prosper, but it was God that made it all possible. I have discussed many times in my devotionals that our dreams and plans must be consistent with God’s plan for us, and if they are, God will lead us and guide us to fulfill these dreams and goals and make them become realities. However, when we have dreams and goals that do not mesh with His plan for our lives, we will continually have doors being closed on us that will keep our dreams from coming to fruition. When we share a dream with God, it is a fragile thing we have been entrusted with, and we need to keep reminding ourselves that God is faithful and will open the doors we need to enter to make His dreams come true. If you find yourself in difficulties today, turn to God, He is still faithful. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 5 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Do Not Worry

Do Not Worry “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them.” Matthew 6:26 This morning as I was sitting in our sun room drinking my morning cup of coffee, there was a flock of wild geese that flew by our house. It was a rather windy morning, and the geese were having to work extra hard to fly into the wind. I was reminded of the eagle, which with its large wing span, is able to fly above the wind into calmer air. I believe the eagle can teach us a good lesson, in that when troubles beset us we need to rise above them, as the eagle does, by reaching out to God, who can take us above our problems and into calmer circumstances. We don’t have to continue to struggle with situations that can rob us of our peace and contentment by ourselves, but we can turn these over to God, who will help us deal with our problems. Whether we are having problems with our finances, a relationship issue, a family issue or some other circumstance that is taking away our peace and joy, God can take the burdens from our shoulders and restore our peace. There are so many problems in today’s world that we struggle with, which seem like mountains to us, and bog us down, and keep us from having peace in our lives. We need to remind ourselves that God is still in control, and even though these problems seem insurmountable in our eyes, they are insignificant in God’s eyes as Jesus tells us not to worry about such things. “So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? Or what shall we wear? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 7:31-33. God is still in control, and can give you the strength to fly like the eagle above your problems. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 4 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Keep God With You

Keep God With You “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” Matthew 15:5 As you read this devotional, you may be facing various problems in your life. You may be dealing with a serious health issue, a crisis in your marriage, a major financial issue, a problem in your job or some other problem that is challenging you. Every day, just in the course of living through another 24 hours, there are so many things in our lives that happen. Many of these things are totally out of our control, and simply problems that we never expected, but are suddenly confronted with. This is one of the reasons that we must always have a real committed, 24/7 relationship with the Lord. To withstand these kind of problems, I always counsel people to start their day in prayer, and in the Word of God. It is not only the best way to start each day, but it will give you the focus and strength to deal with whatever problems life may throw at you. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing”, and I take that literally as we can pray all during our day. We need to keep the line open to God at all times, as God has given us a direct line to Him. You need to understand that God cares about you, and He loves you. There is nothing too small or too large that He cannot handle. When we don’t pray, we are depending upon ourselves, and as the scripture above states, that “apart from me you can do nothing.” I will be praying for you today, that no matter what problems in life you may be having, that you will find your strength, your hope, and your answers in the Lord. You will be amazed how much easier each day is, when you are operating in His strength and not depending upon yourself. Take time today, to spend with God, talk to him, tell Him your problems, let Him be part of your daily life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 3 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Great Judgment

The Great Judgment “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Revelation 20:12 As I was growing up the subject of the Great Judgment of God was preached in my church almost every Sunday, as this is the essential ingredient that will someday be the deciding factor for our entrance into heaven. To see our name recorded in the Book of Life will be the most important thing that will ever define our success in life. We should all be living for eternity, as one day soon all of us will stand before a holy and just God, and be judged for the way we have lived. However during these past several decades I have observed a disturbing trend in our churches, and that is that this message of a Judgment Day is slowly disappearing from Church pulpits throughout our nation. I realize that things have changed since I was a child, and that our culture has become more materialistic, and that our religion has moved to a more “feel good” type of religion, one that is geared to appeal and more pleasantly popular to the masses. This kind of new age religion is usually what we see on television, and in the majority of the churches today. The “Old Time Religion”, that our forefathers taught, and we heard each Sunday, is something that much of the Christian world seems to have lost touch with today. I strongly feel that each of us needs to have the Great Judgment preached to us again each Sunday, as without this we will lose sight of our destiny in Christ Jesus, and will miss the extreme joy God has for those who follow Him. We do not know the time that Jesus will return, but we must be ready. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 2 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Love One Another

Love One Another “A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 During the recent presidential election there has been much heated discussion between the candidates that have bordered on hatred, and much innuendo about the character including personal attacks. It is obvious that there is very little love lost during many of these heated exchanges. I have always thought that all people may disagree about certain issues, however we can disagree and still treat other people with dignity and respect even if they do not share our convictions. In our society it is becoming difficult for people to “disagree with grace” both in our churches and also in our society in general. This loss of civility means we frequently see a basic lack of mutual respect in conversation between persons in any kind of public discourse. Many of the problems in dysfunctional families, stem from the different viewpoints family members have, and the inability to work together to reconcile their differences. The society of yesterday which our ancestors lived in, was one where reconciliation was practiced, and when issues arose where there were disagreements they were settled respectfully, and the dignity of those involved was not damaged. God instructs us to always treat others with respect and with dignity, and not to let divisions occur that will hinder anyone’s walk with God. We should never cause others to become angry as this is causing them to sin, but should try to settle any disputes with kindness and compassion, and to always show our Christianity, and be a witness to God in everything we do. My Daily Devotional Volume Six September 1 Robert William Brock, Jr.