Behind The Clouds

Behind The Clouds “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27 Have you ever thought about the significance of the clouds in our lives? Without the clouds we wouldn’t be shielded from the burning sun. Without the clouds there would be no lavish sunsets, no beneficial rain and no beautiful landscapes. The most beautiful scenery is of the fluffy clouds, floating against a sky of blue. Just looking at a beautiful sunset, with the fiery red rays of the sun piercing through the clouds, is one of the most beautiful sights we can behold. The same is true with life’s clouds in our life. When hard times come we easily get discouraged. But behind the clouds God is still present, and can even use them to water our souls with unexpected blessings. Many Christians face obstacles and difficulties in their lives. Just like the cartoon character, Charley Brown, there is always a black cloud that is constantly above us. God tells us that he tests us with trials and tribulations, but He will not let us bear more than we can stand. During our times of troubles, we must trust Jesus to help us get through these times. He will be there to guide us, and lead us to overcome the storms of life. God wants us to persevere over any of our obstacles, but He will let us be tested with difficult times in order that we will learn to trust in Him, and learn to put our burdens on His shoulders. He is just behind our clouds, and is there to lift us up and carry us. Just as the sun breaks through the clouds, God is there just waiting to let His light shine on us. When Moses and Aaron were leading the Israelites out of Egypt God came to them in the clouds. Each of us experiences clouds in life—sometimes slight, but sometimes dark and frightening. Whatever clouds you face today, ask Jesus, the light of the world, to help you look behind the cloud to see His glory and to give you victory. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 31

Be Slow To Anger

Be Slow To Anger “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 Have you ever considered how many times you have gotten angry when you did not get your way? Probably so many times that only God could really keep count. James is warning us in the scripture above to learn to listen, and to cultivate the art of listening. For example, your son promises to clean the basement after he has been doing his woodworking project, and has left it in a mess. It makes you happy to think that when you get back, the sawdust will be vacuumed up and everything placed back in its proper place. When you arrive home you go down the stairs expecting to see a neat and tidy basement. But to your surprise, the basement is exactly the way it was when you left, and your son is nowhere to be found. By the time you find him, you are boiling on the inside. If you follow James’s instruction, you will remind yourself that you need to listen to his side of the story (“quick to hear”). He will most likely have a reasonable explanation. If not, we need to say, “I need to think about this, and I’ll be back to talk to you further” (“slow to speak”). Next, you need to pray and think about what you want to say, and how you want to say it. Finally, go back to your son and talk with him, speaking in a gentle tone of voice. If you have done all the above, you will be very “slow to anger.” If you follow this advice, you can see that although you were disappointed in your son, you did not allow the situation to develop into something that could damage your relationship with him. We need to take the time to listen fully, and then be very careful in using words when we speak that does not invoke anger. Jesus was a good listener, and was very patient. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 30

God Is our Refuge

God Is Our Refuge "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 Recently, I had the privilege of hearing one of my favorite hymns, that I had not heard for many years, as most churches have replaced the old time hymns for more modern music. The story behind this favorite hymn was that a young Irishman named Joseph Scriven (1820-1886), was deeply in love with a young woman, and they had made plans to be married. The night before their wedding, however, she drowned in a tragic accident. For months Joseph was bitter, in utter despair. He did not know how to handle the loss of his bride to be, and became depressed, with no peace in his life. After months of living with no hope, peace or comfort, he turned to Christ, and through His grace, again found peace and comfort, and a reason for living. Out of this experience he wrote the familiar hymn that has brought consolation to millions of aching hearts. "What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grief's to bear." Sometimes our way to finding peace and comfort during the tragedies of life is to turn to God, as He is the only one that can give us lasting peace. This is the way it was for Joseph and the loss he was dealing with. But like him, we may also find that our paths sometimes lead through the dark shadows of life, the loss we face when our loved ones pass away, the disappointments we face when we lose our jobs, when our relationships go sour, when financial pressures begin to take its toll on our peace and joy. But like Joseph, we can find that God is our friend, and we can go to Him during these times, and turn our sorrows into blessings. These times can make us less attached to the things of this earth, and more attached to God, and the eternal future that only He can provide. Then more than ever we discover that Jesus truly is our friend. "All our sins and grief's to bear." Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 29

Only Jesus Can Give Us Rest

Only Jesus Can Give Us Rest "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 I receive dozens of e-mails each day from my readers telling me that they are tired of being burdened down by the struggles of life. They are dealing with financial issues, relationship issues, health issues, and many other problems that I am sure you can relate to in your own personal life. In the scripture above Jesus tells us to come to Him, when we have troubles and trials in our life, and He will give us rest. We need to realize that when Jesus was human that He knew what it was like to be tired and weary. He had calluses on His hands. If the chisel slipped and cut His finger, His blood was red and warm like ours. He felt pain just like we do. He knew what it was like to work long hours, and to come in at night tired and weary. This is why Jesus can say with authority, "Come to me, and I will give you rest." When we are exhausted and hurting, and the cares of this world have gotten the best of us, we can take comfort from the fact that Jesus knows what it was like to be exhausted and hurting also. But the greatest work Jesus did was not in the carpenter's shop, nor was it at the marriage feast in Cana, where He turned the water into wine. The greatest work Jesus did was not when He made the blind man to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, nor even the dead to rise. So what was his greatest work? His greatest work was what He accomplished through the sacrifice He made for our sins. When He gave His life on the Cross to forgive us of our sins, and His gift of salvation, this was the greatest gift we will ever receive. On the Cross He gave us the opportunity to spend our eternity in Heaven, where we will no longer have to suffer, where our trials and troubles of this life will be no more. That is why we can come to Him, and He alone can truly give us rest. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 28

Don't Be Led Astray

Don't Be Led Astray "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord." 2nd Corinthians 6:17 We have seen for years, new "so called religions" that have sprung up, led by many well known people such as Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins and many others. These are simply New Age philosophies to entice millions of lost, Biblically illiterate souls into buying their books and tapes. This New Age belief wants you to think that if you think only good things, only good things will happen to you. Satan is the great perverter, as he only perverts the perfect creation of God. Unfortunately the church has in many instances also perverted the truth, and watered down the real message the Bible gives us. This is why I urge you so often to read and study the Bible for yourself. That way when you hear faulty teaching you can spot it right away. It is critical to take the whole word of God into consideration, not just use one scripture alone, but use all of it. Yes, we are to have faith that all things are possible with God. Yes, we can do all things through Christ. However, we can't forget to factor in God's plans and desires. Biblical faith is not God granting us our wishes like some divine genie in a bottle. God has promised to meet our needs, not our wants. You want a Ferrari. You need a car. God will meet your need for a car. If at some point you are blessed to buy a Ferrari, praise the Lord. But there is nothing in the Bible that equates our faith with personal prosperity. This has been the perverted teachings of the prosperity Gospel movement, which focuses on people's personal greed and desire for the "things of the flesh" and this temporal world. God gave us everything we need in the pages of the Bible. While the lost masses chase the secret to having wealth in this life, those who know Jesus Christ possess the only true answers for true wealth in this life and for eternity. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 27

Take Your Stand

Take Your Stand "Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:11 One of the most stupid things we can do in life is try to negotiate with Satan. I realize many people doubt that there really is a Satan, that he is some mythical character with horns, a red cape, and a pitchfork. Some think that Satan is not real, but what we call the evil side of life, something to blame all of the pain and suffering on. But let's see what the Bible tells us about Satan. We find out that the devil was at one time an angel, but is cast out of Heaven because of pride, taking along 1/3 of the angels who followed him. The thing that is scary is that Satan has read the Bible, he knows as much as we know. He imitates God, perverts the Word of God, hinders the works of God's servants, blinds men to the truth, accuses Christians before God, tempts, afflicts, deceives, undermines the sanctity of the home, and tries to disrupt the prayers of God's people. Can you see why he is so dangerous? The Bible tells us that his final destination is the Lake of Fire for all eternity. My prayer for you today is that you will recognize who your enemy is, and be strong and stand in the midst of whatever he may try to throw at you. Until then, we still have to contend with Satan and his hosts. He is a very real foe that we must contend with. That is why the Bible warns us to be self-controlled and alert, to submit to God and resist the devil, to stand firm in the faith. Those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, are protected by His blood. We do not have to live in fear, but in victory. When Jesus was in the wilderness and Satan came to tempt Him, Jesus didn't try to negotiate with him or debate him. He simply stood on the Word of God. Stand on that word today that says "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." Live in the victory that Jesus Christ has given us each and every day. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 26

Rebuilding Requires Action

Rebuilding Requires Action "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little." Haggai 1:5-6 Do you need to rebuild your life around God? It is much easier to recognize a problem, than it is to do something about it. God's people in Jerusalem knew the Temple needed to be rebuilt, if their nation was to get back in line with God's will. They had set out to complete the task, but had become discouraged, and failed to follow through. Their failure to act over a period of years brought continued suffering upon them. The Prophet Haggai called the people to act, as he saw they were failing to do anything. This is a good example we can use when we are seeking to rebuild our own lives. We must go beyond the recognition of our need, and act upon it. We must use the keys God gives us to move toward reconciliation with God. Many want to follow quick and easy shortcuts, to grow spiritually, or to progress in their lives. There are some who don't mind following hook or crook methods to achieve what they covet in haste. God is more interested in how we do what we do, than in quick results. There are others who are spend precious time and resources to dig deeper, and do research about their needs, conditions, and gather all sorts of statistics, but finally do nothing about it. God wants us to go and do what He has already commanded us to do. His Word gives us clear guidelines and encouragement to accomplish rebuilding our lives, according to His plans. God is looking for people like Moses and Joshua, Samuel and David who will act on God's Word fully and wholeheartedly. God is not pleased with people like king Saul who does what they like to do, and disregard God's ways and His commands. You must be willing to act on and accomplish God's purposes in rebuilding your live. Be challenged and begin to take action, now, not tomorrow. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 25

God Gives Us Strength

God Gives Us Strength "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2nd Timothy 2:1 Great strength is necessary to live as God intends. Being an example for others can be demanding, and takes much discipline. It demands that we walk the talk in all things, as even one wrong decision can lead someone who is watching us, astray. Strength is needed. We are disciples of Jesus and should function as spiritual soldiers. We are the Lord's warriors in a worldwide, lifelong spiritual battle. The battle has been won by, Jesus. However, Satan will not stop attacking, and is persistent in his schemes and temptations. As Jesus' soldiers, we face many hardships, and obstacles that will be placed in our path. However, we must not waver, and be led astray from the path that Jesus requires us to travel. Again, strength is needed. As it is in athletics, the Christian life requires discipline, training, and the exertion of great measures of energy. We must always give our best, and put forth our best effort to achieve the results God wants us to have. We cannot let up in our quest to be the person that God wants us to be, and fulfill the plan for us. Yet again, strength is needed. We are to be ambassadors for Christ in our daily lives, and as farmers, we are to sow the seed of God's Word upon people's hearts. We are to water that seed through prayer for them. We can then expect to reap a harvest of righteousness, as they accept Christ as their savior. Farming for God is strenuous work, and takes us out of our comfort zones. Once more, strength is needed. To be successful we need God's grace to strengthen us for the diverse spiritual roles that God has commanded us to do, and the only sufficient resource is to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." We can be intimidated by all that God commands us to do, but He will strengthen us, and let us be victorious. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 24

A Mistake Or A Sin

A Mistake Or A Sin "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good." 3rd John 1:11 One of my readers send me an e-mail asking what the difference was between a mistake and a sin. After some thought I sent him this message hoping to enlighten him. A mistake is when you add baking powder, instead of baking soda to a recipe, miss a typo in an email, drop your cell phone in the washing machine, or hit the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal. It is not something you do intentionally, or with any malice or thought about hurting someone else. However a sin is when you chose to do wrong, while knowing that it is wrong. A sin usually begins with a selfish decision. I deserve to have my perceived need met, even at the detriment of others. I can take the pen from my office, because the company can afford it. I can cheat on my taxes. I can take the credit for someone else who had a great idea at my office. I can lie about a mistake I made, so I don't get in trouble. I can be rude to the teller at the bank. I can cut off that guy in traffic, and say bad things about them. I can resent the person who gets more limelight than I do, and gets the raise and promotion. I don't want to take responsibility for the consequences of my actions, therefore I can lie, misdirect, lay the blame on someone else, and expect them to clean up my mess. Don't allow yourself to be a poor example to those around you, by pulling out the “mistake” card when you know your actions stemmed from a deliberate self-driven sinful motivation. Call sin a sin. Jesus died for our sins, and there is forgiveness at the Cross. There is nothing we can admit to, and repent from, that cannot be covered by His blood. Although the words 'mistake' and 'sin' are not synonymous, there is good news, as forgiveness was bought for our sins, and God makes beautiful things from the ashes of our lives. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 23

Don't Worry-God Will Provide

Don't Worry-God Will Provide “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” Matthew 6:25 Do you spend time worrying about the future? Many 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. This is not the way God wants a Christian family to spend their waking hours, just getting by and worrying about their problems. You cannot be a productive witness for God, if you have your mind occupied on your own needs. You need to get your mind off your daily difficulties, and turn them over to God. He can handle your burdens, and provide for you. When you trust God and have faith, He will protect and provide all your needs. Many of the difficulties that people have today is related to things that happened in their past. We can all look back 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, as you can’t do anything about yesterday, but can do a great deal about tomorrow. Philippians 3:13 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” God does not want you to worry about anything, and promises you that He will provide. Your days on earth should be happy and peaceful ones. They should not be spent worrying about your wants and desires, but should be spent on things that will enhance God’s kingdom. Your time on earth is too precious to be wasted with worry, as this is not productive time. When God is at the center of your life you will have a productive life, free from worry. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 22

Our Leanin' Side

Our Leanin' Side "Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." Psalm 91:14 Each day I receive many e-mails from my readers asking me to pray for them. Several years ago I received a story from a friend, and recently ran across it in my files, since then I think of this story of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side. After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years, but It's still standing. One day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop me up on my leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.'' This story is so true as we all can begin to lean too much on the things of this world, and then find that we need someone to lean on. God is always there for us, and can keep us standing tall and straight during any storm and temptation. If you find yourself leanin' too much on the things of this world, you need to make God first in all you do, and He will prop you up and keep you from falling. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 21

Reaching Out To Others

Reaching Out To Others “Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” Nehemiah 2:17 The above scripture describes the condition of the city of Jerusalem, when Nehemiah surveyed the wall that protected this great city. They were defenseless from their enemies, and were vulnerable to be destroyed by anyone who attacked them. This is the way our society has become today, as our defenses are down, as Satan has so many people at his mercy. People are in need of help, and are on the verge of being taken over by the conditions of our world. Too many Christians are concentrating on satisfying their own personal wants and desires, instead of being concerned about others in need. God tells us what the most important thing in our life should be, but we do not obey His most important commandment. People are in need and are defenseless, and in need of our help. We need to build a wall around them, so they will be protected and provided for. Whatever we do in God’s name will succeed, if we give of ourselves to help others, but we must make the effort. We can make change in our communities, but we have to go out and find ways to help others. We have to become involved, and seek out ways to improve the lives of people around us. God will open the doors, and provide the opportunities for us to make a difference in the lives of people in need. He will provide the way, and things will begin to happen, if we get our minds off ourselves. Obeying God and following His two greatest commandments is the start to begin to make a change in our communities. We can begin to build our own walls around our communities, and the people in need, and build our defenses against Satan, by becoming proactive and taking a stand. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 20

Let God Lead

Let God Lead “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 On a recent trip down to our home in Kentucky, we drove up in the beautiful mountains near our homes, where we grew up. The roads were so twisted and curvy as we drove up the mountain, that it seemed like we would never reach the top. Life is so much like this, as it has a lot of twists and turns, and we get so caught up with coping with our daily problems, that we sometimes forget where we are going, and don’t take time to enjoy our trip. We miss several turns or opportunities, and we certainly are going to experience our share of rough times, and fall into several potholes along the way, but we can make life what we want to make it. We can either make it a positive experience, or a negative experience. We can use the age old test—do we see the glass as half full, or half empty. We can either choose to be happy, or we can live a life that is full of gloom and despair. The choice is up to us. God wants us to be happy, as this is the way we can be most productive in fulfilling His plan. I know I have had my share of troubles, but I don’t have time to go back to revisit my past, as I am enjoying the journey I am on, and thankful to the Lord for being with me as I travel. Proverbs 4:11 “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” God is our navigator through life, and if we let Him guide us, we will never be anxious about the troubles we face and the problems we encounter. We will reach our mountain tops, and when we do fall into our valleys, we will be prepared to overcome anything that will face us. God wants us to enjoy our travels in life, but we need to put our trust in Him and enjoy the ride. God can take us to heights that we never dreamed of, if we do His will and obey His commands. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 19

You Cannot Out Give God

You Cannot Out-Give God. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 The Bible tells us in the above scripture “Give and it will be given to you”. If you give freely, you will receive freely. If you show kindness and friendship to people, you will get kindness and friendship back. If you give of your time and talent to help others, you will be repaid by blessings from God in your own life. If you work at your job with all your might, you will receive recognition in the form of a raise or a promotion. Matthew 13:23 “He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” We cannot out-give God. I have personally experienced this in my own life, as I have developed my ministry, God has given me blessings that has touched my heart. Just being able to provide a nourishing meal to some of the children, in the afterschool program, has provided me with peace and joy that has been uplifting. Being able to provide a pair of shoes to a child that was going barefoot, has given me peace. Being able to provide a place of shelter, for someone who did not have a home, has brought me joy. Helping to bring broken families back together again; being able to comfort someone after they have lost a loved one, or giving comfort to someone who has just lost their job, are just some examples of things that has given me a sense of peace and joy, and as Jesus said is worth a hundred times more than I gave. I know I spent the bigger part of my life not giving in the manner that God wanted me to give, but when I realized the real importance of giving myself to others, this is when God really touched my heart, and began to pour out His blessings in my own life. I have learned that I cannot out-give God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 18

Are You A Mentor

Are You A Mentor “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20 During this past year, my youngest son Christopher, who is 32, has began mentoring my grandson, Brock, who just turned 22, and they have developed a bond that has been wonderful for both of them. We begin learning from the time we are born, valuable lessons from others around us, and it is how we apply these lessons to our own lives that assists us in becoming successful. I know that I would not have been the person I am today, if it had not been for my mother, grandfather and grandmother teaching me, and mentoring me in the things that were right and wrong. They built my character and made me the kind of person I have become. We all have had mentors that have helped shape our lives, and influenced our character, and made us the kind of people we are today. I have helped shape others throughout my life, as God has given me a gift of a comforter, encourager, and developed a positive attitude in my life, that I have been able to pass on and share with others in my business career. We must be willing to take other people under our wing, and help develop them to be better people. The example of Barnabas being a mentor to the Apostle Paul, is a good example of how God used someone to raise others to greatness. We always need to be developing others to become greater, so that they will be able to take our place. If we can set the foundation, we need others to build on this foundation, and to take it to the next level. It is important to get to know the people we are mentoring, as this will enable us to know their strengths and their weaknesses. One of the most important things of mentoring is our own walk and our actions. We must walk the talk in everything we do. Being a mentor to someone is God’s way to witness for Him and influence others. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 17

Be Transformed

Be Transformed “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1st Corinthians 6:11 Have you ever awakened in the morning and looked outside to see a beautiful snow covered landscape before you? The drab, cold and dreary scenes of yesterday were now blanketed and transformed as the snowflakes covered everything with its brilliant white blanket. The bare and seemingly lifeless trees were turned overnight into marvelous works of art, as they were decorated with brilliant white highlights. The way God can send the snow to wash away the lifeless landscape, and turn it into a wonderland of beauty, is the same way that our lives can be turned around by putting our trust in God, and asking Jesus into our hearts. Our lives that was once dead in our sins, can be renewed and cleansed, like the blanket of white snow, by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. Just as we are delighted to see a beautiful winter scene, God is also delighted to see His work in our lives. We were once drab and dreary, but can now be marvelously transformed by His Grace into children of God. And just as the trees did not cover themselves with the white powdery snow, neither can we claim credit for our transformation, it is made possible through God's gift of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Because of God's great love, He did not abandon us in our dark and helpless condition, and now we need to allow the transformation in our lives to be a testimony to others of God’s work. By following God’s commands and being an example for others, the celestial snow that has fallen on our lives can fall on others around us and change their lives as well. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 16

Let God Be Your Shepherd

Let God Be Your Shepherd “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Psalm 23:1 The scripture above is the first verse of the Lord's prayer. Many children memorize this psalm, and many adults turn to it in times of trouble, loneliness or sorrow. This Psalm is a personal testimony to what the Scriptures declare emphatically to be true. God is real, personal and all-powerful. He desires to be your shepherd. Each of us can have a meaningful relationship with God, and communicate with Him through prayer. Because His power is unlimited, the peace and comfort He gives us is more than sufficient. In contrast to the pretense and indifference we see in people around us, God offers us a personal relationship with Him. The true needs of our life are met, as the Lord who fills heaven and earth, also fills our hearts. We are content, satisfied, and no longer alone in life’s struggles. God gives us rich spiritual food through prayer and study of His Word, and through fellowship with others in the church. Many people struggle and become frustrated by the stress of their efforts to get ahead in life. The Lord offers peace and contentment that is like calm waters to every troubled soul. The Lord can restore us. By God’s help, we can walk daily in the paths of righteousness. So many people spend their entire life in the valley of the shadow of death. They are no match for their enemy, the devil, who lurks in the shadows. Just as the sheep trusted the shepherd, we must trust in God. We are secure because of His presence. If anyone refuses the Lord as His Shepherd, and walks in His own ways, his sins will follow him to the grave. But if we choose God as our Shepherd, and let Him lead us in the paths of righteousness, then His peace and joy will guide our way. But most of all when we face death, even though our bodies die and are buried, our soul will be safe in God's hand, because of His greatest gift of salvation. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 15

God Is Always With You

God Is Always With You “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Last year we went back down to our childhood home in Kentucky to visit with family and friends. I was amazed how beautiful the countryside was, with the mountains stretching towards the blue sky, and the rivers winding through the lush valleys. How could anyone not see God all around them as they drive through this beautiful countryside? I believe God wants to reveal himself to us through creations such as this. I often think how people can question the existence of God, when they see all the beauty He has created around them. When I see the birds, the little rabbits that are around our yard, the beautiful trees and the magnificent sunsets these all remind me of God, and I can feel His presence. We need to take time to find God and feel His presence in all the beauty that surrounds us every day. I can remember my grandmother telling me, when I was a little boy, that God was with me at all times, even though I could not see Him. Throughout my life, these wonderful words of wisdom has given me comfort and peace, knowing that God is always by my side. We don’t need to think that He is millions of miles away in heaven, but need to think that He is beside us, everywhere we go, and in everything we do. To experience the presence of God in your own life take time to look around you, and you too will see all the wonders and beauty He has created. When you accept Jesus in your heart, obey His commands and do His will, He will be with you in everything you do, and everywhere you go. You will feel His presence in your heart, and feel the peace and joy that only He can provide. God will be with you through all your difficulties, and will help carry your burdens, and give you peace and comfort in all that you do. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 14

My Trouble Tree

My Trouble Tree “Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 There was a plumber who was hired to help a man restore an old farmhouse. When the plumber arrived at work the first day, he noticed his tire was flat, which made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit working, the parts he had purchased were the wrong size, and when he started home his truck refused to start. The homeowner had to drive him home, and the plumber sat in total silence during the trip, as he had a terrible day and had earned very little money. On arriving, he invited the homeowner in to meet his family. As they walked towards the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children, and gave his wife a kiss. Later he walked the homeowner out to his car, and as they passed the small tree the homeowner asked him why he had rubbed the tree. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree, I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home, and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is, he smiled, when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.” We all need a tree to hang our troubles on, and that tree is God. If you feel you are walking through a dark valley, and the storm clouds of life are all around you, God can be your trouble tree. If you are burdened down with troubles today, turn them over to God, and He will help you carry your burdens. He will lighten your load, and give you peace and comfort you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 13

Speak The Truth

Speak The Truth “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.” James 3:9 There was a man who went around town slandering one of the outstanding wise men in his town. He had told lies about him in an attempt to undermine the good work he was doing. After becoming a Christian and receiving Jesus in his heart, he went to the man who he had lied about and asked forgiveness. The wise man, realized that this man had not realized the effect of what these lies had done, told him that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, and take a feather pillow; cut it up, and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done this, he should then return to the wise man’s house. The man rushed home and quickly cut up the pillow, scattering the feathers, and returned to the wise man’s house, and asked if he was now forgiven. The wise man then said “just one more thing, go and gather up all the feathers.” The man replied, “but that’s impossible, the wind has already scattered them.” The wise man said “precisely, and though you may truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. Your words are out there in the marketplace, spreading hate, even as we speak.” This tale is so true as once we speak words that hurt someone we can never take back or reverse what we say. People can recover from a physical injury, but many times our words, spoken with an attempt to harm someone, can last a lifetime. We must be careful as our words come from our hearts, and reveal our true self. Our hearts need to be right with God, and the words we speak should be ones that are always truthful. Think before you speak and always speak the truth, as your words can never be taken back. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 12

God Can Remove All Doubt

God Can Remove All Doubt “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” Matthew 21:21 We have all read the story of Thomas, the doubting disciple, who would not believe that Jesus had risen from the grave, unless he could see the nail marks in His hands, and put his hand in Jesus’ side. So often people go through life like Thomas; we read our Bibles and go to church on Sunday, and hear our pastors talk about having faith, but when we have a need that God could meet, we begin to have doubt that God will hear us. I call this the "Doubting Thomas Syndrome", where if we can’t see it, we won’t believe it. When we can’t see how things will come together; we doubt that we will have enough money, skill, talent and ability, etc. to make things happen in our lives. Too often our dreams and visions wind up being washed down the drain, because we have doubt creep into our lives and kill them. If God can form the universe out of nothing, place the planets and stars in orbit, and provide all our needs as He promises---why do we doubt His ability to make a way for us to overcome our problems. If you are struggling with problems and trials in your life today, but are doubting that God can provide, give it to the Lord in prayer, as He hears your prayers, and in His time will make a way, and give you victory. You may not know how things will work out, but He will open doors for you, and remove all the obstacles in your way. As believers in God, you should never let doubt prevail in your life, but need to trust and have faith that He will meet all your needs, and let you be victorious in all things. James 1:6 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 11

God's Greatest Gift

God's Greatest Gift “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 A young man was getting ready to graduate from college, and had admired a beautiful sports car, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible,” and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible. Many years passed, and the young man became very successful, but never had spoken to his father since his graduation. One day he received a letter telling him his father had passed away, and had willed all his possessions to his son. When he arrived at his father’s house he began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined the scripture above. As he read the words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It was the key to the new sports car he had wanted. How many times have we missed God’s blessings in our lives because they are not packaged as we expected? Our Bibles are full of these keys that will lead us to a better understanding of God, and what he can do in our lives. God is waiting for us to open His Word, and receive our gifts. God gave us the greatest gift, His son Jesus, who died for us, and He’s waiting for us to open our hearts and accept Him as our Savior. . Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 10

Think About Tomorrow

Think About Tomorrow By: 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. So if you are not sure of what the future holds for you, today is the time to make your future secure, by asking Jesus into your heart. Tomorrow may not come, do it today. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 9

The Harvest Is Ripe

The Harvest Is Ripe “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12 In the mid 90”s Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, was named one of the richest men in America. According to all indications, most people would never have recognized him however; as he drove a pickup truck and lived like a regular person. When asked why he didn’t drive a Rolls Royce or other expensive cars that he could easily afford, he replied, “Where would I put my dogs?” He was very successful at business and at public relations, due in part, because he was able to connect with the common man. God also wants us to connect with the common man, not for their money or business, but to save their immortal souls. Each of us is an evangelist, as God wants us to reach out to the people we come into contact with, and bring them to Christ. We have opportunities every day to be a witness to others. We can witness for God to our fellow employees, our friends, our neighbors and everywhere we go, as we have opportunities to show and demonstrate the power of God in our lives. There are many ways we can let people we meet know about God. We can ask them where they go to church, and if they do not attend a church, we can invite them to come with us to our Church on Sunday as our guest. There are many ways we can bring up examples of special occasions of church events which we enjoyed with friends and family. As Paul stated in the scripture above, we have the responsibility to spread this word of Christ throughout our world. We need to connect with, and reach people, and tell them about the word of God wherever we go. The harvest is ripe and each of us must step up and bring others to Christ. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 8

Always Do What Is Right

Always Do What Is Right “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.” Romans 16:17 In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, he laid down his burden, and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After picking up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins, and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. We learn from our obstacles, and know better how to deal with them when they confront us in the future. By facing our adversities, we become stronger and bolder in facing other difficulties that will confront us throughout our lives. We should never compromise our values, and if we see something that needs to be done, such as removing an obstacle from our path we should do it. The word of God tells us what is right and wrong, and our efforts should always be to obey God’s word and do His commands. We can do what is right, in all obstacles we face during our lives, and our decisions should be ones that follow God’s will. God will someday judge us based on our own actions and deeds, and not on what others do. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 7

Get Your Values Right

Get Your Values Right “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:15 I encounter many people in my ministry, who are running to and fro, and have no time left to even take time to have a meal together with their families. Many of these people think they have found the secret to being successful in their businesses and their family relationships. So often they forget that even though they think they are doing it by themselves, God is still in control and can in an instant take away their "so called success". Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires and tornadoes, can destroy all the material wealth people have spent a lifetime accumulating. They think they have their values adjusted to what they want and desire out of life, and ones that make them blend in with the crowd, and make them appear to others that they have it all together. But when our values are centered toward worldly things, and are all a show, so that we will be recognized and respected by the people around us, we could easily be crossing the line as to what God tells us to do. When we get our minds away from God’s values and commands, we are walking on thin ice. God knows our hearts and whether or not our motives for our actions and behavior are reflective of His wishes for us. Many times what we place a value on may make us part of the "in crowd", but is detestable in God’s sight. Today, I want you to ask yourself if you are taking the time to spend with God, and seeking His wisdom as to what His plan is for you, and the values you have established and are following . When you stand before God one day and give an accounting of your life, you want the values that you have followed during your life to be ones that are pleasing in God’s eyes and not men’s eyes. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 6

Giving From The Heart

Giving From The Heart “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Luke 18:22 I ran across a story recently about a small boy who demonstrated the true value of giving. A 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. The boy looked very poor and appeared to have been hungry. The waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty five cents,” she harshly replied. The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished his ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip. So often we get our minds on ourselves that we forget about others around us. We get our priorities out of line and think only about our own wishes and desires. So often when we have little, we want to keep it and not share with anyone. Our attitude of giving should not be centered around getting something back, but should be given freely from our hearts. The story of the widow who donated all she had in the offering was blessed by Jesus more than the people who openly gave large sums of money. God loves a cheerful giver, and promises us that when we give cheerfully we will be blessed. When we have the attitude about giving that God commands, we will be storing up treasures for ourselves in heaven. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 5

My Perfect Son

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---------------- My Perfect Son "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8 Most children are not bashful in asking for things. I can remember our daughter Pamela, and our youngest son, Christopher always wanting something. They were not bashful in wanting all the new toys that were on the market, or anything that was the rage of the day. Our middle son Rob, who I have always called our perfect son, seemed to always be content with what he had, and was always happy. I call Rob, "my perfect son", as he was always a parents dream to have a son like him. He was always just a perfect son, never causing any problems, always obeyed, always content with what he had, and fit in with both young and old alike. I believe God's favor has always been on Rob, as he gave his heart to Jesus many years ago, and was an example as he was growing up, to all the church family. He was the youngest man to be selected to the church board at the age of 18, and people still talk about him around our town, as he made an impression on people that most, seldom forget. He still is like that today, as he now has his own family, and is passing these same traits down to his children. I have always prayed that my children would be children of God, and I am so blessed that all of them are, and when I asked and prayed that God would bless my children, I believe He has answered my prayers. I have claimed the scripture above for them. "For everyone who asks receives." I would encourage each parent reading this message today, to pray for your children, and ask God to watch over them, and to bless them, and to make them content to be what God wants them to be, "God's perfect son." My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 8 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Respecting Others

Respecting Others “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God honor the king.” 1st Peter 2:17 When I was in college I can recall one of my business teachers talking about respect. One day she gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student, and had breezed through the questions until I came to the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans our school room?” I thought surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, had dark hair and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before the class ended, I asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” she said. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.” I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned that her name was Helen. Respect is something that I believe helps determine each of our character. Respect is so important in any relationship you will have in your business life and with your family. When we treat people the way we would like to be treated, we will begin to develop a habit of being respectful. God places a great deal of emphasis in his scriptures as to the respect we are to have for others. He even gave us His greatest commandment which states that we are love God, and also to love our fellow man. We can’t love them if we don’t respect them. We need to think about the way we treat other people at all times. We cannot treat others with respect one day, and show disrespect the next. time. Even when people show disrespect to us, we must not lose our composure and become disrespectful to them. God looks at our behavior in these instances, and will be the judge of how we have followed this important command.. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 3

God Never Fails

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

Look To The Future

Look To The Future “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2nd Corinthians 7:10 When we look back on our lives we all have regrets. We have had times when we have made the wrong decisions about a business situation, a relationship, a financial issue or even a family matter. Many times these bad decisions continue to haunt us, and we have difficulties getting over the consequences of what these decisions have caused. As I have counseled people over the years about the problems they were having I have found that almost every one of them have the same thing in common. They almost always start their conversation with two words, “if only”. If only I had done things different. If only I hadn’t lost my temper. If only I had been wiser. If only I had listened. The trouble with “if only” is that it doesn’t change anything. It keeps the person facing the wrong way—backward instead of forward. If you let “if only” become a habit, it can become a roadblock—an excuse for not trying anymore. The answer to us constantly keep reminding ourselves of the past mistakes, is to begin to use the phrase “next time” When we continue to think “if only”, we stay in the past, but when we begin to think about the future we need to think “next time”. “If only” keeps reminding us of negative things, but “next time” keeps us thinking positive, and that there is a brighter future waiting. We should never let the past regrets keep haunting our lives, but need to get over them. 1st Peter 5:10 “God, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” The next time you find yourself dwelling in the past hurts and disappointments, think about “next time”, and your attitude will be changed to a positive outlook on life. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven March 1