The Message Of Parables

The Message Of Parables "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable." Matthew 13:34 The use of parables was used by the greatest teacher of all, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the people of His day listened to Him and soaked in all of His wisdom, as they knew that He was special. The scholarly religious leader Nicodemus said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God" (John 3:2). Yet when Jesus addressed the crowds that followed Him, He didn't recite great truths of the Talmud. Rather, He spoke with the homespun style of a storyteller. Throughout the years teachers and speakers have used various techniques to capture the attention of their audience and encourage learning. Jesus used parables to capture the attention of all that heard Him, as this made them think about the message He was trying to convey to them. Through the story of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18), we learn about God's grace and forgiveness. The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) showcases God's love for repentant sinners, and that He will always welcome us back home. Through the parable of the talents, we are taught that whatever gift God gives us, we are not to hide them, but use them for the Glory of God, and they will be multiplied many times over. The parable of the Sower, the parable of the Weeds, the parable of the Mustard Seed, and the Yeast, and all the other parables have valuable messages that teach us about the Kingdom of God, and are ones that Jesus used to make us think and understand their real meaning. The inspired parables of Jesus teach us about Him and the life He wants us to lead. As you begin to read your Bible, these parables will mean more to you as they have a message straight from the heart of Jesus Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 31

Jesus Has A Plan

Jesus Has A Plan "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, but his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 Have you ever thought what would happen if you committed a punishable offense like cutting off someone's ear? In today's society you would most likely be arrested and probably spent some time in jail or prison. However, the night Jesus was arrested, Peter did just that, he committed a punishable offense, by cutting off the soldier's ear that was about to arrest Jesus. But Jesus stepped in and saved Peter, by touching and healing the soldier's ear. I am confident that this act changed the life of Peter, and especially the soldier forever, as they saw the compassion and caring that He had. It would be hard for us to help someone that was going to be part of a group that was going to kill us, as we would find it difficult to be as loving and forgiving as Jesus was. However, Jesus must have realized that if He had not healed the ear of the soldier, that Peter would also have been arrested for attacking a solder, and would also have possibly been killed. Jesus knew what He was doing, as He knew that He was going to be crucified, but that He had plans for Peter, and for Peter to be arrested and also put to death, was not part of His plans. Peter's slate was cleared, which made the way for Him to become one of the great men to carry on after Jesus was crucified, and to spread the gospel to the rest of the world. Much in the same way as Jesus did with Peter, when we commit a punishable offense, Jesus will step in and rescue us. It is after we have done the damage that we see His action on our behalf, as He will remove the evidence against us. Our slate will be cleared. Jesus reaches out to us each day with compassion and mercy to heal and deliver us, and restore us. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 30

My Mentors

My Mentors "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." Proverbs 13:14 As I have written my daily devotionals for the past 10 years, I am constantly reminded of all the wise and Godly mentors that have been part of my life. Both my grandfathers, and my grandmother, and my mother have all played such an important role in making me the person I am today, and influenced so much of what I try to replicate in my life each day. My father was killed in World War II, and I missed not having him as a mentor, but my life has been blessed with the others who raised me, and always taught me so much of what a Godly man should be. These precious people, by their wise counsel, have helped me grow in faith, in family life, in work, and in life in general. As I write my devotionals I am always constantly reminded, just how much these people have meant, in helping me grow in an understanding of the Christian life. The Bible is filled with wonderful mentoring relationships, such as Jethro to Moses, Elijah to Elisha, Barnabas to the Apostle Paul, Jesus to the Twelve Disciple, and Pricilla and Aquila to Apollos. As I write my devotionals each day, I am always aware of the many contributions my mentors have made in my life, and almost always think about how they would address the situations I face each day as I write. I am so grateful to have had them in my life, and would not be the person I am today without their influence. Today, I want you to think about the mentors that have touched your life. Think about what they have taught you, how they were positioned in your life, at the right time, and think about all the wisdom you learned from their teaching, and how they have changed your life, to make you the person you are today. Be grateful to them, and honor them by passing on to others what the Spirit has passed to you, through them. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 29

Faith And Healing

Faith And Healing “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 God cares about our spiritual life and also our physical life. When God created the human body, I believe He knew that our physical body would suffer with the diseases and problems that we all suffer with during our lives. So many people struggle with heart disease, cancer, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and thousands of other diseases that eat away at our health and our happiness. In this world our body endures pain, suffering and decay. In the days of Jesus there was also sickness throughout the land. People were blind, lame, deaf, and stricken with all types of diseases, the same as today. But throughout the Bible Jesus gave us many instances where healing occurred. The scriptures overflow with stories of Jesus healing every kind of bodily affliction. So did His disciples, whom He promised that they could do the same works as He did. The thing that all these people that were healed had in common, was that they had faith and trusted God for their healing. This past year I had an occasion to experience the healing power of God first hand. My mother had suffered for over 10 years with a large hernia which protruded from her stomach, and was as large as a grapefruit. During a healing service at our church, as our pastor prayed for people to be healed in our congregation, God healed my mother of her hernia. Her physician can no longer find any trace of her hernia. Her stomach is now as flat as it always was, and has remained this way for over a year now. It is clear that the gift of healing did not end with Jesus and His disciples. God healed my mother, because of the faith and trust she has in God, and I know through this the power of God is alive and well in our world today and that His power still can reach us. With God all things are possible. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 28

Wealth And Happiness

Wealth And Happiness “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20 It appears that there is more discontent among people, than there used to be, as people are wanting more money in order to buy more material things, thinking that this will bring them happiness and security. But so often their effort ends in failure and frustration. Many, when failing to gain the desired wealth by legitimate means, will resort to unlawful methods—stealing, armed robbery, selling narcotics, and other unlawful acts. This illustrates the truth of the proverb stated above. Even though some may succeed and become wealthy, the more important question is: Are they content and happy? We have seen time and time again that those who have been successful in accumulating wealth often are not satisfied, always wanting to become wealthier. God knew the harm and unhappiness a materialistic way of life can bring, and has given us much counsel to warn us against this pitfall. No matter how successful a person may be in accumulating material wealth, they will lose all their possessions in death. It is certainly futile to concentrate all one’s efforts on gaining riches that must be left behind for others. The situation is aptly described by wise King Solomon in these words: "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs." Ecclesiastes 5:15. Real contentment and happiness can be achieved only by seeing material things in true perspective. While they are provided by God for our enjoyment, they are by no means the chief source of happiness. In fact, pursuing them without regard for God’s will can only lead to loss of happiness. True happiness and contentment comes from serving God and doing His will, not from wealth. The only wealth that will get us to Heaven is our spiritual wealth which only comes from God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 27

The Power Of Love

The Power Of Love “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37 Making God first in our lives is something that we must all do, and is so important to relate on to our children. The love of God in the family is something that cannot be replaced in any other way. Parents have the responsibility to their children to demonstrate their love to each other, and then to their children in every aspect of their life. Parents must walk the talk in putting this command of God at the forefront in every aspect of their lives. Children must see their parents be the example of showing love within their own family structure, and also to others by their actions every day. The power of love can have these effects on a child. If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. A cohesive family unit is essential to the well being of all members of the family. The family must work together as one unit in order to have any kind of order and peace. A family divided and going in all different directions will have problems in dealing with each other. Parents must set the tone and atmosphere for the family. It is so important to have the family structure in place where children see the presence of love at all times. The love the parents have for each other needs to be evident at all times to the children. Children need to feel the love the parents have for them, as we can never give our children too much love. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 26

Are You Using Your Time Wisely

Are You Using Your Time Wisely “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:19-20 Just recently I had a friend say to me that it seemed like he never got anything done, that he was always busy, but he never had anything to show for it. The management of our time is one of the most critical aspects of everyone’s daily life. There are only 24 hours in each day, and how we manage and utilize this time is critical to our well being and the way we feel about ourselves. So many of us get our priorities completely out of proportion, so much so that never have the opportunity to stop and smell the roses. With so much to do and so little time to do it, we often leave God out of our priorities. We need to set our priorities in such a way that allows us to spend some quality time daily with God. We cannot be too busy to set aside some time for prayer and to study His word.. We have to get our priorities straight, and take the time to spend with Jesus. When we make time for God, we will no longer be unproductive, but repentant, and will make a radical new beginning and become productive and fruitful. We need to ask ourselves if we have set our goals and priorities for each day to match what God’s goals and priorities are. The time we have on this earth is uncertain, and utilizing our time wisely is the difference between meeting our goals and objectives in life, and utilizing our talent to the fullest, or not accomplishing what God wants us to accomplish. Set your priorities for your day to include God. I personally like to look back at the end of each day to reflect and see the things that I have accomplished. I would encourage you to do an evaluation of your day to determine if you have used your time wisely, and given God some of your time. Time is too precious of a commodity to let any of it go to waste Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 25

A Key To Success

A Key to Success “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4 What is success? Success is not necessarily fame, money or what our position in life is. It is knowledge and awareness of your worth in the eyes of God. You are here for a purpose, designed and equipped for a particular function. You must discern and develop the God-given abilities He invested at your birth. It is only when those gifts are being used properly that you will feel and know success, and the value God sees in you. I believe success is happiness, and happiness is feeling good about yourself. If you do not feel good about yourself, neither money, fame or position is going to bring you success and happiness. All men crave greatness, recognition and rewards in life, as God told us to rule over all His creations and have dominion over them. Many people feel like they are not good enough to receive the benefits of God, but He gives us examples throughout the Bible of people who experienced success and were blessed. The Samaritan woman at the well, and Zacchaeus in the tree were examples of common people who experienced God’s blessings. God knows all your weaknesses, and the mistakes you have made in your lives, but you have to stop looking at these and start concentrating on the strengths He has given you. Stop looking backward at your weaknesses, and start looking forward and magnify your strengths. Nobody wakes up successful and happy, but we control our decisions, and our decisions create and control the majority of our circumstances. God wants us to be successful and happy in life as this is how we can serve Him better. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 24

Are You A Sluggard

Are You A Sluggard "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? Proverbs 6:9 Have you ever been called a sluggard? We don't hear this term used very much, so I looked up what the dictionary says about a sluggard. It is someone who is lazy or is a slacker. I am sure this would fit the description of most of us, as we all have been guilty of slacking in the things we should have done. We may have slacked in the discipline of our children. We have slacked in not helping around the house, and doing the chores that we needed to do to help our spouse. Most of us have been sluggards even after we accepted Christ into our life, as we have been a prayer sluggard, a Bible reading sluggard, and a witnessing sluggard as we would never witness without being prompted . What about the times we have been a sluggard in not using our God given gifts and talents to encourage others or to witness to them. Have you been a sluggard in not giving of your tithes and returning to others the part that God commands you to give, and which He has so freely given you? Have you been a sluggard in letting the busyness of life, and your selfish desires keep you from really being the ambassador of God that He wants you to be? If you're honest with yourself you will find that you have been a sluggard, and could have done more of the things that God wanted you to do. If you know that you have been deficient in any of these things, do you know that you are a sinner? When you refuse to obey God and His commands you are sinning. Listen to these challenging and convicting words from the book of James: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" James 4:17. If the term sluggard defines who you are, change your ways, let God help you to become the person He wants you to be, one that is on fire for God, with no lazy bone in your body. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 23

Be An Overcomer

Be An Overcomer "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Revelation 21:7 Has life gotten you down, and you don't know where to turn, and you know there is something much better waiting? I have spent much of my life being an "overcomer". I had a difficult time during my early years, with my speech, as I inherited a stuttering problem from my father. This has haunted me throughout my life, although I have been able to overcome almost all of it as I have gotten older. I had to overcome being the youngest person in my school, which caused many social problems as I was growing up. I was often the youngest person in administration in my jobs throughout the years, which caused some credibility issues, as people normally don't like taking orders from someone much younger than they are. Life is full of areas where we have to be overcomer's to survive. I know it would be nice to ride through life on a pink cloud with harps playing in the background, but this is not what life is like. We are not in kindergarten as we progress through life; we are in a battle. Satan is attacking us wherever we go, and in whatever we do, and if he can make us feel insecure, worthless, and with no sense of self worth, he has won the battle. But, you have someone that will help you fight your battles, as God does not want you to face your struggles alone. He will be with you each step of the way, to give you strength, comfort and His peace, as you do battle with Satan. You will all face your own giants, whatever they might be, and you must learn to overcome and defeat them. Don't let Satan get the victory, and cause you not to be the person God wants you to be. Don't walk around as defeated Christians, but become victorious Christians. You can become a conqueror, as there is nothing that can keep you from being victorious, when you have Jesus with you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 22

The Gnat And The Bee

The Gnat And The Bee "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25 The scripture above paints a picture of a man in a hurry. He has a lot on his mind. He takes a casual glance at himself and rushes on, not taking the time to really see what is behind the scene. If the Bible is like a mirror, then this man is simply getting a glimpse into the Word and not really applying it to his life. This reminds me of a gnat and a bee. The gnat is going everywhere, flittering from one place to another, never taking the time to really settle down and explore his environment. The bee however takes the time to explore the blossoms, to get inside them and experience the blessings that each one brings. Many Christians I know today are like this when they study the Word of God. They are like a gnat bouncing here and there, instead of being like a bee and diving in and staying long enough to extract the sweetness of each one of God's scriptures. The man in verse 25 gazes into the Word, and stays there, digesting all the wisdom that God brings. This is someone who delights in God’s Word, who applies God’s Word, and who cherishes God’s Word. What kind of Christian are you? Do you take a passing glance at God’s Word and move on to the next thing on your to do list, or do you dig deeper? Which sounds more like you…the passing glance or the careful gaze? When you dig deeper into the wisdom God gives you in the Bible, you find the answers to many of life's problems. When King Solomon asked for only Wisdom from God, he knew that if he had wisdom he would be able to have the things necessary to face his struggles. When you read your Bible today, be like the bee, dig in and really see what God is saying to you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 21

This Is Love

This Is Love "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 Today, as I was sitting here thanking God for giving me another day to be with my family, my mind wandered back some 2000 years ago. On a dusty old road, riding on the back of a donkey, Jesus was coming into a city, knowing that the people in that city were going to kill Him. Yet He still came. He knew that He was going to be crucified on that cruel cross on Golgotha, to pay for a debt He did not make, and one He did not owe. He did that for me and you. He paid the debt for all my sins and yours. He forgave us for all the sins we have ever committed, as He was preparing a way for us to be able to overcome anything that would ever come against us. He was looking ahead and seeing all that we would experience, and He was, in His great Mercy and Grace, paying for it in advance. If the price He was about to pay for me and you is not Love, then there will never be a Love in this world any greater than the Love He has for us. What an Awesome Loving Savior, to think so far ahead and to take actions to pay such a debt for us. I know I did not deserve His Mercy or Grace, as He could have said no, but because He loved me so much, He refused to let that debt stand against me. He took it on Himself so that I could have an abundant life in Him. Thank You Jesus for loving me that much. I will forever praise You and walk in Your ways. If you are looking for someone today who really loves you, and was willing to give His own life for you, then you have found Him. His name is Jesus, and He loved you so much that He gave His life for you, to forgive you of all your sins, and even more to give you life, an eternal life in Heaven. All he asks in return is for you to make Him first in your life, to love Him back, and obey His commands Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 20

Are You A Good Example

Are You A Good Example "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 Do you realize that when you invite someone to visit a church with you, they are not only checking out what is happening up front, but they are also checking out what is going on around them. They are watching your reaction, and the reactions of others around them. This should be important to you, as many times the impression they get is what will draw them back. This may be their first visit back to a church in many years, and they don't know the protocol and may feel uncomfortable unless you tell them what to expect. They may not know what they are supposed to wear. They don't know what slogan is acceptable on a T-shirt. They don't know what to say. Some Christians might turn them away and say, "I am sorry. You can't come in here. You are not dressed appropriately." That makes God angry, because the church is a place to hear the Word of God. The church is a place to worship the Lord. The church is a place to pray. And the church is a place for sinners to come and find God. If someone comes to church who doesn't know the protocol or the dress code or the secret language of Christians, and they are turned away or made to feel uncomfortable because of some judgmental stare from a believer, then we are missing it. We should look at those people and go out of our way to welcome them, to make them feel loved. We should never keep people from Christ, but encourage them and make them feel welcome. We should always be drawing them to Christ. Are you a bridge or a barrier to people coming to Christ? Every Christian tends to be one or the other. We are all examples, whether we want to be or not. The question is, are we good examples or bad ones? Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 19

Are Your Plans God's Plans

Are Your Plans God's Plans "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9 God has a plan for each of us, and only when we begin to seek His wisdom through a daily relationship with Him, will this plan be revealed to us. Our plans will change all during our lives, but God's plan for us will never change. Throughout life we tend to assume that our health, work, family, relationships and finances will all work out in the way we want them to. We have to assume that all our plans will work out, but we don't have a crystal ball that will assure us this will always happen. The real reality is that we don't even know what will happen in the next minute much less in the coming day, week, month or year ahead. We can only assume that we will be alive tomorrow, but cannot be sure. Although we desire to know what our future holds, it is quite clear that this is impossible. Only God knows what the future holds for any of us, as indicated in the scripture above, "my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." With all this uncertainty facing you, this is why you need to make sure that your relationship with God is where it needs to be. You cannot take the chance that suddenly, your life could be over, and you have neglected to make your peace with God. Not being promised your tomorrow makes it so important to get your life right today. You may not have the time later to make plans that you will not be able to finish. Only God knows what your future holds, as He knows your every thought, your every action, and even can count the number of hairs on your head. God knows all about you and your plans. I would encourage each of you to not wait for your plans to happen, but rather get to know God's plans and ways as you must know them before you can walk in them. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 18s

God Cares About Little Things

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 Cares About Little Things "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 In the course of a day, there are so many things in our life that happens that ruins our happiness and joy. I am not talking about the major issues we often have, such as a serious health problem, or a crisis in our marriage, or even a major financial challenge. I am talking about the little things that can ruin your day, such as losing your car keys, misplacing your wallet, getting a traffic ticket, spilling your coffee, or your computer not working. So often people let the little things ruin their day and cause them to lose their entire focus on the important things of life. I have warned you over and over in my devotionals, that it doesn't take much for Satan to control your day if you let him, which is one of the reasons you must have a committed 24/7 relationship with God. Just letting your guard down for a few minutes is all that is needed for Satan to take control, and take away your joy and happiness. When the apostle Paul said to "Pray without ceasing", this is what he was talking about, as a momentary lapse in your relationship with God, can allow Satan a foothold, which is all it takes to ruin your day. You must realize that God cares about all the little things in your life. He cares if you can't find your wallet or your car keys. He cares if you spill your coffee, or your computer isn't working. Don't depend upon yourselves to handle these small issues, but turn them over to God to help you handle. No matter how small the problem might be, you can still pray that God can deliver you from these, just as you will pray for the big issues. God wants you to live in peace, and if the small things are robbing you of peace, turn them over to God. My Daily Devotional Volume Six May 22 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Crossing The Generation Gap

Crossing The Generation Gap "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4 Last week I received two e-mail messages from friends who are each ninety-six years old. My mother is currently 96 years old, and a few months ago I turned 71. I enjoy texting and talking with friends who are in the winter season of their life, as they are always ready to impart their wisdom and share their experiences. We learn from people who have faced experiences in life and are willing to share their wisdom. I also enjoy sharing with others that are younger than me, as often they see things from a different perspective than I do, and I find their wisdom helpful as well. These e-mail made me think how many people do I know who are at least twenty-five years older than I am, and how many people do I know who are at least twenty-five years younger than I am? Typically we hang out with people near our own ages. Perhaps that’s a carryover from our years in school where most of our friends were classmates and our own age. Perhaps it's because we associate with people who are going through similar life situations, with kids in school, or empty nesters, or fellow employees, or perhaps with people who are in their retirement years as we are. It is always nice having friends who are our own ages and with whom we share much in common. At the same time I have been immeasurably encouraged by friendships that cross the generations. Those older than us offer their wisdom, spirit, and love, and those younger also offer their wisdom, spirit, and love. Ask yourself if you are in groups and activities that will allow you to meet and to grow real friendships with people across the spectrum of age, and if not what are you going to do about it? Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold. Jesus met with all ages, and expects us to do the same. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 15

God Provides A Way

God Provides A Way "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 For many people this is a tough scripture to embrace. How can they consider it pure joy, when they are going through a divorce? Or in the aftermath of the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job? Or when they are told that they have just been diagnosed with cancer? What will it take to see the joy through all the difficulties and problems that they face during life? We should always realize that God knows what is happening when the storm clouds begin to roll in, and when our mountains become difficult for us to climb. Only God can give us this joy and change our perspective. Testing develops perseverance. In order to learn how to persevere, we have to go through some trying times. Think back on the trials in your life. What were the results? Did you make changes in your life? Did God help you get through them? Remember that as you continue to serve him you are growing in faith, and trusting Him more. These times of testing is God's way of showing you that you are not in control, but He is Perseverance must finish its work. We can’t go from diapers to dungarees in the snap of our fingers. Living takes time, and there are “pains” that go with it. Sure, it hurts sometimes, but know that the uncomfortable seasons mean that you’re growing, and becoming mature and complete. When you were a child, you didn’t have the answers to all of life's experiences to draw from. Now that you’re older, hopefully you can see how you have grown closer to the Lord, and how he has changed you, and provided for you during these times. God knows the plans He has for you, and will see you through. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 14

Drink Upstream From The Herd

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---------------- Drink Upstream From The Herd 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, where we would always find water to drink, and also most of the farmers let their cows roam the mountains. 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. Are you with the wrong crowd in your life, and are you "drinking upstream from the herd." My Daily Devotional Volume Six May 18 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Loving The Unlovely

Loving The Unlovely "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25 Over the past ten years I have been actively involved in a food distribution program, where we distribute food at a community resource center to the needy. During this time I have had the opportunity to minister to many people, and tell them about God. During this time, I have always invited these people to come to church with me, and many have taken me up on this opportunity. Unfortunately, many do not come, and will openly tell me that they do not feel accepted by the local churches, because of the way they dress. Most of these people do not have new clothes, and feel out of place in the churches, where many people come to church dressed in their finest attire, and someone who is shabbily dressed is often avoided, and not accepted. The churches that do not openly accept the poor, need to remember the ministry of Jesus, as He spent much of his time with the poor, unappealing people of His day. He talked with them, ate with them and genuinely cared for them, and He expects as much from us. "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Matthew 25:45. Most Christians go to their big churches, and attend their Bible Study meetings, and hear their preachers talk about the churches outreach ministry, but do very little in reaching out even in their own churches to the poor and needy people in their midst. These are the people the church should be reaching out to, and take time to listen to, to encourage, and to see how they could meet an immediate need. A smile, a kind word, a listening ear, will show these people the love of God, and demonstrate concern about them. Be God's ambassador, and reach out to these people today. Love the unlovely and God will love you for it. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 12 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Become A New Christian

Become A New Christian “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12 There was a young boy who lost a little red sailboat he had made. It sailed away from him across the pond. Later, he saw it in a second-hand store, and the proprietor made him buy it back. He bought it back, and as he carried the little sailboat out of the store, he hugged it to his chest and said, “Little sailboat, you’re mine. You’re twice mine. You’re mine because I made you, and you’re mine because I bought you back.” Do you realize that you are like this sailboat, as not only did God create you, he bought you with back with His blood. And God says, “Christian, you’re mine. You are twice mine. You’re mine because I created you, and you’re mine because I redeemed you.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “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.” This scripture tells us that God has cleansed us inside and out. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the defining mark of who is a Christian and who isn’t. One of the great gifts of salvation is the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us. One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that we can ask God to empower us and strengthen us through His Spirit. Giving thanks to God and obeying His commands and doing His will are things that each of us can do to begin this transformation. The Scriptures are Spirit-inspired, and when we read, study and meditate on God’s will in Scripture, the Spirit helps us understand what is said, and convicts us of what is wrong in our life. It also empowers us to live out what God has called us to do, and fulfill His plan for us. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 11 This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Softly And Tenderly

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---------------- Softly And Tenderly " For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." Luke 15:24 As I was growing up one of my favorite old hymns was "Softly and Tenderly", which was usually sung at the end of the church service, when the altar call was given. The words now mean much more to me than they did then, as they applied to me personally all throughout my life. Even though I always went to church when I was young, and after Margaret and I were married, she always insisted that we attend church. I went through the motions of being a Christian during these years, but my heart was never in it. The words of the song are "softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, he's calling for you and for me". These words were so true as Jesus was softly and tenderly calling for me to come home. It took over 40 years of my life before I accepted this call and gave my life to Christ and came home, but I am so glad that I did, as my life has never been the same since. Look at the words of this beautiful song below, and let its words minister to your heart, as these precious words will tell you that Jesus is also waiting for you to come home. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home; ye who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! I pray that God will speak to your heart today about coming home, as He has also been waiting to rejoice with you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six May 15 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Finish The Race

Finish The Race "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." 2nd Timothy 4:7 One of my new year resolutions this year was to begin an exercise program, so most days I spend thirty minutes to an hour on my stationary bicycle. On my control panel there is a dial that tells me how many miles I have gone, and the time it has taken. I can travel as long as I want to, and stop at any time, as I am on my own to decide how much I want to exercise, as no one is watching me. This reminds me of an athlete running a marathon and entering a massive stadium in first place, but the stadium is empty, as there is no one watching. I can imagine this athlete lapping the stadium as fast as he can to get the best time possible. He is sweating, puffing, and struggling along as he crosses the finish line in first place, and yet there was no one watching. This is how life can be when we feel all alone, and that no one cares or is watching us. It is so easy to feel all alone when you are facing the trials and troubles of life, but If you have accepted Christ as your savior, it does not matter who is watching, as the only one that matters is God. When you are God's child He loves you, cares about you, encourages you, helps you carry your burdens, but most of all you only need Him watching you. So often in life we want a big audience, we want the world to appreciate us, we want to blend in, and be loved and respected by everyone. We forget that how others feel and think about us doesn't matter, it is only how God thinks about us that is important. So the next time you feel like no one is noticing what you do, loves you or cares about you, take a moment to remember that you are not running this race alone. Just remember that your coach and father is in fact running right beside you, cheering you on to finish the race, and ready to reward you with an eternal life in Heaven. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 9 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

The End Of The Age

The End Of The Age “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11 This is a scripture which tells us just a few of the signs of the end of the age. None of us can predict when God will come again, but there are earthquakes, famines and pestilences and fearful events and signs in our world today that could indicate that the end is near. Just this fall a deadly unstoppable influenza pestilence is mutating and strengthening which could be one of the pestilences that is mentioned above. The last time an influenza outbreak occurred was in 1964 when almost four million people died. In 1918 almost eighty million people died from an outbreak. In fact, the 1918 outbreak was the greatest disaster that America has ever had with almost one half million people dying in just a few weeks. To get all of this in perspective, Jesus warned us that a plague, a pestilence, a wall of death is going to someday stalk the entire planet. I believe that with the advent of Global Travel, it is possible to have a plague that could be spread to all points of the globe. Each fall we are warned by the scientist that they are guessing as to the type of Flu that is expected that year. The Bible also goes on to say that if these catastrophic events didn’t stop they would wipe out all human life. The potential is there for this very thing to happen. For our generation, the ability to kill a quarter of mankind with the spread of pestilence or war fits into the timeframe that God tells us could be the end of the age. It is so important that each of us are ready for this time, as although we do not know the day or the hour, the end days could be near. We need to be ready and have the assurance that if this time would come soon, that our eternal life would be guaranteed as we have accepted Jesus as our Lord. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 8 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Feel God's Presence

Feel God's Presence “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” Song of Songs 2:11-12 I always include this devotional in all of my books as this is a special one for me, and lets me see and feel God's presence all around me. One of my favorite hobbies is working in my yard and garden, and as I spend many hours planting, pruning and weeding my flowers, I see God all around me, as I gaze on the beauty of what He has created before me. I believe God desires to be part of our everyday lives in this manner. He shows us His majesty in all the beauty that surrounds us, if we will look for it. Years ago, I discovered the above scripture during my Bible study, and it really jumped off the page at me, as it is one of the most beautiful scriptures I had discovered in some time. Since I found this scripture, every time I go out in my yard, I now think about this verse. It reminds me of God, and the beauty He has created all around me. After the rain and the storms comes the rainbow, and the beauty of the flowers, that He has surrounded me with. It is now a time for singing, as the birds fill the air with their joyful sounds. Since I asked Jesus into my heart, I can see Him and feel Him throughout my day, in all different ways such as this, which I had never experienced before. I believe Jesus wants us to experience Him in this way, in our everyday lives. It is through these kinds of moments, that we realize just how amazing God really is, when we hear the birds singing all around us, see the blue sky above, and feel the wind gently blowing through the trees These are now special times for me, as I can see God, and feel His presence all around me. I claim this scripture as mine as through it I know that God gave me this scripture to remind me of His majesty, and I will always be in His presence. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 7 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

God Has A Plan

God Has A Plan “Take away the stone, ‘He said. But Lord, said Martha, the sister of the dead man, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” John 11:39 Have you ever been disappointed with God’s apparent lack of response to your prayers? I am sure that almost all of us have at one time prayed to God, and have not had our prayers answered in a timely manner. It can be disheartening when you have asked God to help and intervene in a particular situation, and to know that He could have changed the outcome of your particular circumstance. But through all this, we must realize that God’s plans may not be our plans, just as it was with Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus. We can see in the scripture above that it was not that Jesus did not care about Lazarus, as He loved him, and had not forgotten about him. The Bible tells us that Jesus intentionally delayed going to help saying “it is for God’s glory, so that God’s son may be glorified through it.” Jesus had a plan, but Mary and Martha did not know that. All they knew was that their brother had died and Jesus didn’t come in time. Jesus knew their pain and felt it also. In fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus wept with them, but when they came to the tomb, Jesus commanded that the stone in front of the tomb be removed and for Lazarus to come forth. Many times in our lives we only see the trouble in front of us, and we want Jesus to come to our rescue and save us, but we don’t always know about God’s divine plan for us. We can become weary and disappointed when God does not immediately answer us. We need to remember that sometimes God’s plans for us might include a delay. As we wait, we must not give up, but continue to trust and have faith that God will answer our prayer, and that He cares for us and in His time will come and save us. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 6 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

God Is In Control

God Is In Control "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." Psalm 73:21 A man was carrying a heavy load of grain down a country road. Another man in a wagon being pulled by a horse saw the man walking and said to him, “Mister, do you need a ride?” And so the man got in the wagon. But he kept the load of grain on his shoulder. The wagon driver said, “Man, put that down and relax!” The rider said, “Oh no. It’s enough for you to carry me without having you carry this too.” Have you ever done that to the Lord? You say, “Lord, I’ll let You save me, but I’ll carry my own burdens.” How foolish we are to do this with the God who hung the stars and planets. If you can trust God to save you from hell, don’t you think you can cast your burden upon the Lord right now? I am sure many of you are going through situations in your life today where you could relate to this story, as you do not see any way out of your dilemma, and don't know where to turn to for help. This is so comforting as no matter what situation you may find yourself in at the present time, no matter how down you may be, no matter how threatened you may feel, no matter how fearful you may be of what lies ahead, God is telling you that He is always with you, loving you, guiding you, and leading you, and will help you carry your burdens. You may wonder why these things are happening to you right now, but God knows, and He also knows what you are feeling inside, and just how insecure, and how afraid you may be. He is feeling your pain, and knows that you cannot do this alone. So even though you may feel depressed, afraid, and don't know where to turn, God has told you that He loves you, cares about you, and will let you overcome any of your troubles. God is in control, and will let you be victorious. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 5

Your Independence Day

Your Independence Day “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.” Exodus 13:17 In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics and various other public and private events celebrating our freedom. The people of Israel also had their Independence Day when Pharaoh, after enduring the plagues that God brought against them, declared that they could leave Egypt. Their Independence Day was the day after Passover, and according to the Bible there were about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside women and children, that left that day for their promised land. As we know, God provided the way for them, by parting the waters of the Red Sea, and providing manna from heaven to feed them in the desert. God also has provided a day of Independence for each of us, in that He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and set us free. Just like the people of Israel, we are held captive by our sins, but the greatest gift that we will ever receive, set us free. When you ask Jesus into your heart, your Independence Day will be a day of celebration like no other day in your life, as this is the day that you will be reborn in the spirit of God, and washed clean from all your sins. Ask Jesus to come into your heart today and forgive you of your sins, and tell Him you will obey His commands and live for Him forever. This can be your independence day, and you can be free. As you celebrate today, think about your gift of freedom and the love that God has for you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 4

Times Gone By

Times Gone By "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1st Thessalonians 5:16-17 Several days ago I was doing some research on another devotional that I was writing, and came across the words "Auld Lang Syne" Every New Year’s Eve, one of the most common English-speaking songs people sing is a song called “Auld Lang Syne.” Isn’t it funny how it’s possible to sing a song all your life and have no idea what it means? It turns out that “auld lang syne” is a 17th century Scottish song written by a man named Robert Byrns. His transcription of the words “auld lang syne” means “times gone by.” So when we sing this song, we are saying, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for the times gone by.” As I thought more about this well known song, I couldn’t help but begin to do a little reminiscing myself. I got to thinking about just how awesome it is to finally reach a place in life when you can honestly be thankful for everything. I mean everything. All the good, the bad and the ugly, everything that has ever had the fortune or misfortune of passing through the curtains of my life. I am more and more convinced, that until we truly believe that God really does work out everything in conformity with the purpose of His own will, we will never be ready for the next round of the growth process. A very well known scripture articulates this remarkable truth very well when it says: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28. Then when we ultimately come to the realization that God is after one thing, and that one thing is “us” giving “Him” EVERYTHING, then (and only then) will we gladly, without hesitation, partake of that cup of kindness … yet for the times gone by. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 3

Move Toward God

Move Toward God "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1st Corinthians 15:58 In our world we are seeing more and more people move away from God and His will, and making compromises to His Word in order to blend in and be acceptable to others. This is a trap of Satan as this behavior has consequences that will lead to an eternity in Hell. God tells us to be immovable. People are making excuses for moving away from God, such as the time we live in today is not the time when Jesus lived, that things have changed and this is a new culture and new lifestyles. These are simply excuses because these people want to live their life in sin, and not obey the Word of God. We see this in politics as our leaders are compromising God's Word in order to win an election. Others are taking the life of innocent babies, because it could cause health problems for the mother. Our laws now makes it acceptable to marry someone of the same sex. This is not the time to be compromising and making excuses to turn away from the Word of God, but now should be the time to move toward the Word of God. It is not going to be long until we hear the trumpets sounding, and will see Jesus returning in the sky to claim the righteous. This is not the time to be making excuses and compromising, but a time for repenting and getting our lives in order. We should be seeking the wisdom of God and trying to get our life in order, before it is too late. The Kingdom of Heaven in drawing closer, and now is the time to stand firm, and stand up for God, not pull away from Him. The world would like for us to become one with it, but as Christians we are to live in the world, but be apart from the world. Now is the time to take our stand for God, and secure our eternity. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 2

Respecting Others

Respecting Others “Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” Thessalonians 5:15 I have written many devotionals about respect, and the importance it is in our relationships with just about anyone we come into contact with. Respect for others is something that my grandfather ingrained in me that has been so instrumental in my business career and also my family life. The Bible talks much about respect, and gives us much wisdom to follow in our daily life. Our goal in life needs to make sure that we treat our fellow man with respect regardless of what we perceive their status in life to be. We should not treat the rich man any better that we do the less fortunate man, as in God’s eyes the poor man would be the most worthy. I believe that if we show respect to all the people we meet that we will be blessed abundantly. If we give freely of ourselves we will be overflowing with blessings of our own. Respect is one of the most important things that any of us can do to show people that we care about them. It does not take any effort or training on our part to demonstrate respect for our fellow man. Just being courteous and polite to everyone is a simple form of being respectful to others, and is a rule we should all follow with people we meet. The Bible tells us in 1st Peter 2:17 to “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” As parents I feel this is one of the traits we have emphasized with our children as much as any we have ever taught them, in that they need to be respectful of all people they come into contact with. I would encourage each of you to think about how you are viewed by the people around you, do they respect you, but most of all do you respect them. Respecting others shows them you love them, and God's greatest commandment is to love Him and love others as you love yourself. Put this into practice today. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven July 1 This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.