A Tree And Its Fruit

A Tree And Its Fruit "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:19-20 If you died today how would God judge you? Has your life been fruitful, or has your fruit swiveled up on the vine? In the Bible, the scripture above comes under the heading, "A Tree and Its Fruit". The message it tells us is that during our time on earth, we must make our life meaningful in the sight of God. My devotional today is about making a change in your life, a change to be the kind of person God wants you to be. A change that will make your life meaningful to God. God knows what is in your heart. You may put on a good outward appearance to the outside world, but He knows what you are really like on the inside. The question you need to answer, "would God be pleased with you as you are"? Would He be pleased with all the secret sin you have committed, with all the unforgivness, with all the pride you have about yourself, with all the anger and bitterness you may have stored up inside you? Could you stand before God today with a clean heart, and be comfortable with His judgment? If you are not sure where you stand; today could be the day that you need to let God transform you, and change you into the person you need to be. When you allow God to make this transformation in your life, and in your heart, you will stand before Him, at His judgment throne, and be 100% sure that God would be pleased with you, both on the inside and on the outside. Making sure that God is pleased with you, is the only thing that really matters during your life. Making Him first in all you do, and obeying and following His commands is the only way you can be sure that He will find your life meaningful. Asking Jesus into your heart and receiving His gift of salvation is the only way for your life to bear fruit. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 31

Life Is Meaningless

Life Is Meaningless "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13 If you could have anything in life, what would you choose to have? There was one man who was given this choice, his name was Solomon. Study the scripture above as these were the final words of Solomon, the man that asked God for wisdom, and was granted more wisdom than any man has ever been given. You may recall that Solomon had earlier called life "utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." In looking back over Solomon's life and the wisdom he gives us in the book of Ecclesiastes, his conclusion was all that matters is that we "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." I would encourage you to keep these important words in your thoughts and minds at all times, as these came from the man that had more wisdom than any other. Take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments the number one priority in your life. If our purpose in life is to serve and glorify God, then we must live each day with this engrained in our thoughts and mind, and not waver from it. We need to fear God, because it is God that will someday judge us, and hold us accountable for all our sins. There are only two destinations that we have available when this life is over. These are to spend all eternity either in Heaven or in Hell. There are no other options available. I pray today that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and will make "fear God and keep his commandments" the most important thing in your life. Everything else in this life is meaningless, and has no purpose. All that matters in the end is where you will spend your eternity, everything else is meaningless. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 30

Life Is Meaningless

Life Is Meaningless "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13 If you could have anything in life, what would you choose to have? There was one man who was given this choice, his name was Solomon. Study the scripture above as these were the final words of Solomon, the man that asked God for wisdom, and was granted more wisdom than any man has ever been given. You may recall that Solomon had earlier called life "utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." In looking back over Solomon's life and the wisdom he gives us in the book of Ecclesiastes, his conclusion was all that matters is that we "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." I would encourage you to keep these important words in your thoughts and minds at all times, as these came from the man that had more wisdom than any other. Take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments the number one priority in your life. If our purpose in life is to serve and glorify God, then we must live each day with this engrained in our thoughts and mind, and not waver from it. We need to fear God, because it is God that will someday judge us, and hold us accountable for all our sins. There are only two destinations that we have available when this life is over. These are to spend all eternity either in Heaven or in Hell. There are no other options available. I pray today that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and will make "fear God and keep his commandments" the most important thing in your life. Everything else in this life is meaningless, and has no purpose. All that matters in the end is where you will spend your eternity, everything else is meaningless. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 30

The Sin Of Pride

The Sin Of Pride "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:9 Do you always feel in control, and always rely on your own abilities to handle all the situations you face in life? In today's devotional I want to talk to you about pride, and how it can affect your daily walk with God. Pride can get in the way of letting God into our life, and letting Him help us face the daily trials and struggles that Satan puts in our paths. I know that I have always struggled with pride, as I have always been confident about my own abilities, thinking that I could handle most situations that have occurred in my life. Many times, however, I have made bad decisions by relying on my own abilities. My pride got in the way of asking God to help me deal with these issues. As I have gotten older and wiser God has given me wisdom to know that I do not have all the answers to the problems that I will face in life. I know that I need God in my daily life, to lead me and guide me in the paths that I need to follow. I know that if I become so prideful to think that I have all the answers, I will soon stray off the right path and begin making bad choices. We all need to let God be part of our daily lives, and not depend upon ourselves for all the answers to deal with our situations in life. When our pride keeps God out of our daily life, this is when Satan gets in, and temptations begin to take over and control what we do. Satan is always there to convince us that we don't need God. It is important to keep God in our lives daily, and continually pray and ask Him to give us wisdom and direction to face the trials and struggles that confront us. Don't let your pride, stand in the way of asking God for help. God wants you to depend upon Him for help and guidance. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2.

Lessions From Malachi

Lessons From Malachi "But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant." Malachi 2:8 The Book of Malachi is a little known and read book of the Bible. It is the last Book in the Old Testament, but carries a wonderful message for us. The four chapters of Malachi deals with how the priests, which could also be directed at each of us, does not have the respect and reverence for God that, "they and we", should have. We cheat God by not giving Him our best. We do not give Him our first fruits in our money, our time and our talents. We hold back and even when we give, so often we give begrudgingly, not because we really want to give, but because we are expected to give. The important thing so many miss in giving their best, is that they may have to sacrifice in order to honor and obey God. By sacrifice, I mean that we must be consistent in our behavior, such as our prayer time and our daily devotion time; reading and studying our Bibles. God wants our best, and we should never hold back in giving our best, but most of all giving it freely to Him. The scriptures in Malachi give us a stern warning for the penalty of not honoring God, and holding back, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings". Malachi 2:2 This is pretty plain language, that tells us that if we don't honor, respect and worship God that He is not going to hear us when we pray to Him and call upon Him. The chapter goes on to say that we will be judged harshly for not obeying and honoring God, as there will be a day of judgment which will separate the good from the bad, as each will be judged accordingly to how they have lived their lives. However, for those that do obey and follow His commands, God will throw open the floodgates, and pour out so much blessings that we will not have room enough for it all. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 28

Don't Dwell On "What If's"

Don't Dwell On "What If's" "Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power." Proverbs 8:14 How many times as adults do we reflect back on our lives and wonder "what if" things had been different? I know that in my life I have always wondered "what if" my father had not been killed in World War II, when I was two years old, how my life would have been different. Would I have been a different person today? Would I have had other brothers and sisters, instead of being an only child? Would I have married my wonderful wife, and had the children that we have been blessed with? Would I have had the problems and difficulties I had as a teenager? These are all the "what if's" I have thought about over the years. During my earlier years I questioned why God had allowed all these things to happen to me. However, as I have gotten older and wiser, I know that God has destined what my life would be like even before I was born, and knew all the things that would happen. I realize now that He had planned my life to be what it is like today. I have learned invaluable lessons over the years that have shaped me and molded me into the person I have become. If you are in a situation where you are questioning the "what if's" in your life, I want you to realize that God also knew about you from the beginning, and knows your situation even today. He knows that you may have lost your mom or dad, He knows that you may have had an illness that has impacted your life, He knows that you may have had an addiction to drugs or alcohol, He knows all about you. But God has you where you are today, because this is His plan for your life. Don't dwell too much on "what if's", but spend the rest of your life making sure that you know what lies ahead, in your future. Despite what your circumstances have been, God has always been with you, as His plan for you is to give you an eternal life in Heaven. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 27

Little By Little

Little By Little "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." Exodus 23:30 I grew up on a farm in Southeastern Kentucky, and my grandparents lived by the principle of "little by little, as we were not wealthy and just had enough to barely get by day by day. In the 23rd chapter of Exodus, God is giving the Israelites specific instructions about the laws of justice and mercy, how to obey the Sabbath, celebrate the annual festivals, and how He will prepare the way for them to possess their promised land. The key scripture in this entire chapter, which is shown above, tells us that all of these things would take place "little by little". God had the power and might to immediately allow all of these things to happen, but He fulfilled all His promises little by little. Why didn't He do a miracle, like He had just done in parting the waters of the Red Sea, and let them take possession immediately? God, however, knew that a place of instant abundance and blessings would not be good for them, as they would not be able or ready to receive them. He knew that it would take time for them to adjust and handle the blessings He was giving them. There may be situations in your own life today, where you would love to have the immediate and miraculous rescue that would eliminate your problems. Maybe you are in severe financial trouble, and need immediate rescue. God could provide instant relief, if He chose to do so, but knows that you probably would not have the wisdom and maturity to handle it. Throughout the Bible God teaches us that even our money should be earned, saved and grow "little by little", as we are not ready or able to handle a sudden windfall. Little by little, God will give you complete victory over your situations, by having faith day by day. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 26

No Walls In Heaven

No Walls In Heaven "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?" Romans 14:4 Each day my daily devotionals are posted where people in all walks of life can see and read them. They are read by the rich and the poor, by the old and young, by the employed and the unemployed, by the sick and the healthy. They are also read by members of the Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish, Muslim, Islam, Hindu and all other church denominations and faiths. They are read in over 150 different countries around the world that I know of, and published in newspapers throughout our country. This is a widely diverse audience that see a short message each day about God and the teachings of the Bible. I realize that many of my readers are believers in God and His son Jesus, and also realize that many of my readers may not have accepted these messages and asked Jesus into their hearts at this time. Regardless of what your status in life is today, or in what country you live, if you died you are either going to heaven or hell. Those that have accepted Jesus as their savior, will have an eternal life in Heave, while those that haven't will spend all eternity in Hell. There is not going to be any walls in heaven if this is your destination, as the Baptist are not going to be in one place, and the Catholics in another. The rich are not going to be in a palace, while the poor are in a shack out back. The old are not going to be in a retirement area, and the young all by themselves. There will not be a section for black people, and another for white people. Everyone in heaven will be together, as there will be no separation of any kind for the people who go there. So if you have any kind of religious belief, prejudice, racial or social issue against others on this earth, you need to realize that you cannot take this with you. Only those who believe and have accepted Jesus will be with you in heaven. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 25

Be An Encourager

Be an Encourager “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” Proverbs 10:21 In the previous devotional I talked about complaining and the negative impact it can have on others. In the scripture above Solomon gives us his wisdom about the impact that our words can have upon others. God wants our words to nourish others, and not to affect them in a negative manner. The people who stand out from the crowd in most of our lives are not complainers. They are the people we feel good being around because they build us up. They are the people that always have positive things to say, and make us feel good just to be with them. Very few of us want to be around someone that is constantly telling us how bad they feel, or that they did not sleep well last night. We usually don’t seek these people out as someone we want to be around. We have enough problems of our own to deal with, and to be burdened down with others baggage does not do any of us any good. This is not to say that we should not be concerned with others when they have real issues, as we should be concerned, and be there to listen and help them in any way we can. But very quickly we will know when people have a chronic case of complaining, and I believe this is what Solomon is talking about in the scripture above. These people can demoralize and drag others down with them. God wants us to be an encourager, and so often just the words we say to others can make a difference. Think about your own life and determine whether you are an encourager. Do you make others feel good about themselves, or do you constantly complain about things that both you and they cannot control. If you find yourself in this situation, just begin to think before you speak, and then speak words that are positive and uplifting, words that nourish. "The lips of the righteous nourish many." Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 24

Complaining Doesn't Help

Complaining Doesn't Help “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14 One of the things that really bothers me is to hear people constantly complain. Having spent over 45 years in health care, I was obviously in a profession where much of my job was dealing with patients who were sick, and naturally they were always complaining about their medical condition. This is to be expected in this kind of environment, however outside of a medical setting I believe that our complaining should be limited, and we need to seriously be aware of it. If we are sick we need to always seek medical advice from a physician, but to constantly be complaining to others that we did not sleep well, or that we are tired, or that some minor ailment is bothering us, I feel does not do anyone any good. We need to keep a positive attitude about our lives, and being around someone that has nothing to say but complain about all the things that are wrong with them, can quickly change our positive attitude to one that is negative. I strongly believe that God does not want us to be complainers, as this does no one any good, as He knows what we are going through. I believe conversation is healthy between all people, but so often a conversation that deals only with complaining about health issues or other events that are happening can demoralize others. My philosophy has always been if I do not have anything positive to say, I will keep silent. I like the scripture above which warns us about being a complainer, and I would encourage each of you to think about yourselves in relation to this scripture, to see if this applies to you. God wants us to be a positive influence, to be an encourager to others we come into contact with, and if even in the little things, we complain and cause someone else to falter just a little we have not been the influence we should be. We should be content in all our situations in life, and not complain. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 23

God's Masterpiece

God’s Masterpiece “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the Lord God made all kind of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Genesis 2:8-9 As our children were growing up, there was an artist named Bob Ross, that we would always watch that would draw beautiful scenic pictures of the trees, grassy hillsides, ponds and beautiful white fluffy clouds against a blue sky. He would always call his clouds, little happy clouds, and would instruct everyone who was watching that these were their clouds, and their trees and they could do whatever they wanted to with them when they drew their own pictures. Have you ever thought about God being a master artist, when He created the Garden of Eden? Can you imagine how He created the spectacular colors of a sunset, the colors of a rainbow, the red and gold leaves of autumn, and how He could have painstakingly painted each leaf on a tree, and each blade of grass, and each flower in the field. The beautiful trees, the fluffy clouds, the blue sky, the grassy hillsides, and all the beauty that surrounds us was all created and formed by God. God is the ultimate Master Painter, as we can see His creations all around us, and we should be in awe of His masterpiece. But best of all God has placed us in this beautiful garden, and now we are also painted into His landscape. Just as the artist we watched years ago instructed we can do whatever we want with our painting. We can add color to this dark world, as we can be a light to the world we live in, or we can live in darkness. We have the freedom to be the splash of gold to our own world and bring our lifeless canvas to its full brilliance. When we have Jesus in our hearts we have all we need. “The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” Proverbs 13:9. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 22

Blinded By The Future

Blinded by the Future “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it.” Isaiah 43:18-19 The other day as I was doing our daily mail route I was reminded how often our past blinds us from our future. After experiencing several weeks of overcast and rainy days, suddenly the bright rays of the sun were shining so brightly through the window of my car that they momentarily blinded me. To regain my vision I began looking back through my rear view mirror. This “blinding encounter” made me think about life, and how so often we take our eyes off of the road ahead, and the good things that God is doing in our lives. We begin looking back in the mirror, and so often we take our eyes off of God and we see ourselves and our past in the mirror. It is these times when we begin looking back that we see the past and the mistakes we have made, the dashed dreams, the expectations that weren’t met, and all the disappointments of our lives. We are too often blinded by what God has in store for us in the future, that we revert to looking back into our past. This is what the Israelites did when they were in the wilderness, as they were so blinded by what lay ahead of them that they continued to look back at their past. God has a plan for each of us, and wants us to look at the bright road ahead that He has planned for us. He does not want us to be trapped in the past, but to look at the shining future He has in store for us. If you have Jesus in your heart, you have a marvelous future waiting for you, as nothing will ever compare to your eternal home in Heaven. God gave you this future by sending His son to die for you. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 21

Let God Be Your Guide

Let God be Your Guide “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:10 “Lord, I need your help to get through this?” “Why is this happening to me?” “Have you forsaken me during this time in my life?’ Do these questions sound familiar? More than likely, either you or someone you know has recently expressed these thoughts. In the scripture above, and most of the 12th and 13th chapters of 2nd Corinthians, the Apostle Paul was talking about the difficulties he had faced in his life. He talks about the time he spent in prison; the times he was beaten; the times he had to flee for his life, and all the difficulties he faced because of his faith as a Christian and believer in God. Paul called it “his thorn”, and the messenger of Satan, who tormented him. God tells us throughout the Bible that we will all face times of troubles and difficulties in our lives; that we will all be tested. Each of us has our “own thorns”, as Satan is always on the job to torment us and try to take away our faith and trust in God. Job also faced so many difficulties during his life that most men would succumb and give up to the kinds of problems he faced. Both Paul and Job persevered however, and did not give in to the trials and tribulations they faced, but remained steadfast and did not waver in their trust and faith in God. As you go out each day to face your trials and troubles, keep your eyes focused on God, and don’t give up and let Satan get the best of you. Make God first in all you do and let Him be your shield and your comfort, and let Him lead you to your mountain top where you will reign supreme by trusting in Him as your Savior. You will be victorious in all your struggles when God is at your side. Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 20

What Will Heaven Be Like

What will Heaven be Like “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.” Matthew 13:44 Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? The Kingdom of heaven is of such great value that one should be willing to give up all he has in order to gain it. Jesus did not imply that one can purchase the kingdom with money or good deeds. Having been in the medical field for 45 years I recall a story about a sick man who asked his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.” Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know. You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side’, said the man.” The doctor was holding the handle of the door; and on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, his dog sprang into the room, and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing—I know my Master is there and that is enough.” I believe this is the way that we need to approach death, and what is on the other side. Our Master will be there to welcome us home, and greet us with open arms. God promises us an eternal life where we will live with Him. We are only passing through this life, but a better life awaits us. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are assuring ourselves of a better life, where we will spend our eternity with our Master. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 19

Valley Dwelling

Valley Dwelling "Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hill and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord." 1st Kings 20:28-29 How are you dealing with the trials and troubles that this life can offer? Are you down in the valley or on the mountain top? I grew up in the mountains of Kentucky, and spent much of my youth, exploring and enjoying mountain life. Much of my happy times were spent on top of the mountains, as it was peaceful, and there were no worries when I was on my mountain tops with my grandfather. Many Christians refer to mountains as being our good times, as they are above their worries and troubles. Most consider the valleys, as our bad times, as they cannot see their way out of the struggles and trials. Some people have this idea that God is the God of our good times, but He is not there when we are going through bad times. They think that He leaves us helpless in the valleys, especially when the troubles are of our own making. I want you to know that our God is the God of the mountains, but He is also the God of the valleys. God sent His son Jesus to earth to die on the cross of Calvary, as a sacrifice for our sins. He left His home in Heaven because He loved us so much, and wanted to save us. He came down to where we were for the sole purpose of dying on the cross for our sins, so that He could bring us freedom from our sins, and give us an eternal home in Heaven. Jesus came down to crown us with glory, to clothe us with robes of righteousness, sharing everything that He has with us. That is the grace of God. He came down to our valley. So whatever you are going through right now, know that God is right there in your valley with you. He is holding you in His arms and carrying you through the valley. Victory is already yours as He is with you and will lead you to your mountaintops. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 18

Boasting And Toasting

Boasting and Toasting "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8 I have always been guilty of thinking I have all the answers to life's problems, and not giving God the credit. I had an old friend at one of my hospitals who, used to say, “When we learn better, we do better.” However, I am also learning that some things are harder to learn especially when it comes to pride. I’m as guilty as anyone of succumbing to boastfulness, and all during my writing I constantly find that I am using the "I" word more than I should. I know that I cannot do anything myself, as God is directing my life, and I should give him credit for everything, but that "I" word keeps popping up. I will continue doing battle with it each day, but it doesn't go away. I like what the old radio comedian Fred Allen once said: “Some movie stars wear their sunglasses even in church. They’re afraid God might recognize them and ask for autographs.” Ouch! But, of course, it’s not just movie stars who get carried away with their own importance. The apostle Paul wants us to know that such pride has no place in the work of salvation. We can’t take any satisfaction in earning favor with God--because we can’t earn it at all. We can only “boast” in the work of Christ on our behalf, and “toast” the loving heart that went to the cross for us. So, is there nothing for us to do? Paul says it perfectly: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). In other words, now that we are children of the king, let’s act like it. Give God credit for everything, don't take credit for anything yourself, keep your focus on God, and always thank Him for all the blessings He bestows on you each day. Make Him first in all that you do, and give Him credit. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 17

I Am Blessed

I Am Blessed “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 3:17 Almost forty eight years ago on July 10, 1965 I became the luckiest man alive as this was the day that I became the husband to the most beautiful and precious woman I have ever met. This day was the beginning of a love that has grown day by day, and year by year. Margaret has been the most precious gift that God could ever have given me, as my life has been blessed with her presence. God made her especially for me, and knew that she was what I needed in my life. She had been there to encourage me, when I have been down; she has comforted me in times of sickness; she has been there to share my joy and happiness when times were good, but most of all she has been so influential in bringing me to salvation. We all need someone who we would like to imitate and pattern our lives after. We need someone that is a model of what each of us should want to be like, and she has been my model. I always had a role model to follow, as she was the best example of what each person should strive for in their lives. My parents and grandparents gave me this example before we were married, and Margaret has been my example after we were married. Her actions and behavior during this time has never wavered and has been there as a constant reminder of what God could do for me. We have talked over the years about what we would do different if we could live our lives over again, and I have always said I would not want to change anything about my life, as I could not make my life any better than it has been. There has not been a day in these forty eight years that I have not thanked God for giving me this wonderful person to share my life with. God knew what I needed in life and gave me this precious woman as my wife. I am blessed. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 16

Why Do We Suffer

Why Do We Suffer "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:50 Today, I want you to know that God loves you, and wants the best for you in all that you do. He is with you always, even in the struggles and trials you might be facing. He knows all about you. Every time we pick up the newspaper, or turn on the news, there are situations staring us in the face, where seemingly innocent people have been killed, seriously injured or where tragedy has befallen them. It is easy to see why so many people could say, "if God really loves me, then why do I suffer." I receive many e-mails from my readers asking this very question, as they have tried to live good Christian lives, but trouble and trials seem to follow them around daily. However, we must face the undeniable fact that people do suffer. You can find sickness, sorrow, and suffering in all walks of life. This very moment you can probably think of someone, very close to you, who is suffering greatly, and it just doesn't seem fair. The suffering and sorrow that you and I face today, is not the work of an unjust God; it's the consequences of sin. We suffer because we are sinners. There was a time when suffering and sorrow did not exist. When God first created man, everything was perfect. Man brought sin into the world. But Jesus Christ suffered for us all, that we might have eternal life. The curse of suffering and death entered this world because of sin, but we can escape the curse through Christ. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." There is coming a day when all suffering will end for those who know Jesus as their Savior. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 15

God Is With You

God Is With You “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10 We all have had days when everything seems to be going wrong. Days when we feel dejected, and think that the world is against us. Everything we do seems to be the wrong thing, and we struggle with even the simplest task. These days appear to us to be like a dark cloud is over our heads, and everything that could go wrong in our life is happening. During these times when we feel everything is lost, and we have no peace and joy in our lives, it is not God that is working in our lives, but it is Satan attacking us. These are times that we have let our guard down, and Satan has seen an opening, and is making his assault on us and our inner peace. It is easy to focus on those things the enemy is attacking us with, because they represent the things we value most in our lives. Maybe it is an illness that has befallen us or a loved one, a financial loss, a ruined relationship, the death of a dream, or even the death of a loved one. When these times happen to us, and they will, we must always remember that Satan will attack us and try to destroy everything that is precious to us. It is during these times, that we need to remember that God is greater than everything. He knows all about us, our strengths, our weaknesses and also our vulnerabilities. We must remember that God is with us through these times. God is with us during our times of trouble, and is also with us during our times of prosperity. Everything we have and accumulated in our life is because God has allowed us to have it. So often Christians feel secure in themselves, and what they have accomplished, instead of thanking God for what he has accomplished through them. Without God we are nothing, and can do nothing. God is the one that makes everything possible, and allows us to be successful. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 14

Seek God's Will

Seek God's Will "Rejecting the advice of the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier." 2 Chronicles 10:13-14 In the scripture above King Rehoboam stubbornly rejected the wise advice of his nation's elders and instead followed those who told him only what he wanted to hear. As a result, conflict broke out and the nation became divided. The Bible warns us, "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7. Tragically, many people are the victims of their own bad decisions. We are faced with choices each day of our lives, and so often we turn our backs on what is right or what is best, and decide instead on what is wrong or what will bring us harm. Only afterwards do we really realize that our bad decisions have resulted in bad consequences. When we make the wrong choices, we are seeing Satan at work in our lives, as he has tempted us to do the wrong things, and we have followed him. When we make the right choices, we have followed the Holy Spirit, who is always there to lead and guide us on the paths that God wants us to follow. We can always seek the words of God, found in our Bibles, which will give us the wisdom we need to do the right things, but so often we don't seek the relationship with God that we need and make bad choices. Life is filled with decisions, some minor, but some are life changing. The most important thing I can encourage you to do is this: Seek God's will in every decision you make, pray about which choice to make, then turn to your Bible to find God's wisdom. If you have godly friends seek their advice and their wisdom. When you have Jesus with you each day you also have the Holy Spirit which will lead and guide you to do the things that are right and are pleasing to God. Always remember that God loves you, and that His way is always the best. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 13

Pitch Or Pile

Pitch Or Pile "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:1 Over the years we have moved several times, as I accepted new jobs at hospitals during my career as a Hospital Administrator. Each time we moved we were faced with the decision of what material possessions we wanted to take with us. We made the choice to "pitch or pile", and usually kept more than we needed, and had piles of stuff, like pants that were two sizes smaller than I could wear, but some day they would fit again. The need pile usually was enormous as compared to the pitch pile. When you become a Christian and ask Jesus into your heart you are faced with this dilemma as you have to make a decision to pitch the sins that have bound you over the years. You have to rid yourself of many of the things that you have accumulated during your life, sometimes even things that you have enjoyed. I will call this the "Satan Pile", as these are the things that you must leave behind. Things like anger, unforgiveness, lying, foul language, selfishness and many other sins will have to be left behind. However, you will also start a new "Jesus pile", and begin accumulating things that God will approve and want you to have, such as love, forgiveness, acceptance, peace, joy, contentment and happiness. It is necessary to give up the old ways and take on the new ways as it wouldn't really profit us to own and hoard the whole world if we lost our soul. So if we keep our soul, we have more gain - much more - than if we actually did possess the entire world. The new pile leads to an eternal life in Heaven, but the old pile leads to an eternity in the fiery pits of Hell. Make your decision today to rid yourself of the things that could keep you from experiencing the joys of Heaven, and ask Jesus into your heart. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 12

Becoming A Model Parent

Becoming A Model Parent “Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” Proverbs 4:10-11 What influences your children more than anything? Is it the outside influences such as television, music, friends, sports or all the other things that occupy so much of their time? These are certainly influences, but the parents are the most powerful influence in our children’s lives. Children model their parents behavior and actions and their responses to life situations. Our children are watching us for clues on how to live their lives, and our views of God will reflect in their lives. God trusts us to nurture them, love them, guide them and mold them into the kind of people they need to become. God only gives us our children for a short time, and then we release them to pursue their destiny as children of God. God knows all about our children, and has a plan for them, and when we turn them over to Him, we need to have established the foundation for them that God can build on and complete His plan for their lives. God has put the responsibility on us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him. Sure, we are going to make mistakes along the way and our children will see these mistakes, but they will also learn from these mistakes as well. They should see God at work in our lives correcting these mistakes. We are all a work in progress, and we allow our children to watch God minister through us and correct our defects and flaws. Although they will see our defects and flaws they should also see our desire to love and serve God. They will see the power of God when troubles attacks the family and see how God can intervene and deliver us from our troubles. The real truth is that our children hammer out their own view of God by watching their own parents, and modeling themselves after them. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 11

Every Knee Will Bow

Every Knee Will Bow "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!" Philippians 2:6-11 There is coming a time when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God has given man the free will to accept His free gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ, or reject that gift. That is a choice each person must make during their life. That is why the Word says "Today" is the day of salvation. The reality is, you may not see tomorrow. So the ultimate choice each living person has to make is to bow their knee to Jesus and confess Him Lord and receive God's free gift of everlasting life, or reject Christ in this life and spend eternity separated from God. Sadly, there are many people walking this planet today that have chosen to live their lives in complete rebellion to God and to His Word. They have rejected Jesus Christ in their life and refuse to acknowledge Him for who He is. But they will at some point bow their knee to Jesus and confess Him to be Lord. For those who have already bowed your knee to Jesus and confessed Him to be Lord, you have the assurance of everlasting life with your Savior when this brief journey here is over. That is why no matter what may be happening in this world, we can never lose sight of the fact that our hope is in a better place. For those who are reading this today that have not bowed your knee to Jesus and have not confessed Him to be Lord, I am praying for you. He loved you enough to die for your sins so that you could receive everlasting life, and know true joy, true peace, and true abundance in this life as well. Take a moment right now and ask God to open your heart and ask Jesus to be your savior.

Are You Living For Jesus

Are You Living For Jesus "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kind of evil against you because of me." Matthew 5:11 Let me ask you a serious question today, "are you making God first in your life?' There are so many that are Sunday morning Christians and only make Him first one day a week. For those of us who have lived our lives in the United States, we have enjoyed tremendous freedoms to live and share our faith in virtual peace. However, we cannot comprehend and understand what many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, in other parts of the world, have to endure to simply be a follower of Jesus. In a way, all of this freedom has made us, "soft Christians." When we can't pray in public schools, we feel persecuted. When our city does not allow us to put up a manger scene at Christmas, we feel persecuted. When Wal Mart won't say, "Merry Christmas" to us, we feel persecuted. However, there is coming a time when this kind of persecution will seem tame, compared to what we think we are going through now. It is easy to say I would die for Jesus, but would you really? Let me challenge you today, that if you would die for Jesus, will you live for Jesus? If we really love the Lord as we claim, then He should be the top priority in our life. When you accepted Jesus into your heart and live by faith, you gave Him your life, not just for an hour on Sunday morning, but "all your life". You must live your life like it is no longer your own, but is His. You need to be totally and completely surrendered to Christ at all times. It cannot be about your desires any longer, it must be about His desires and the desires of others. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God at all times, and that should be the only goal of those who follow Jesus. I ask each of you, are you really living your life for God? Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 9

It's Not Too Late

It's Not Too Late "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21 There is coming a time in all our lives were there will not be a tomorrow, and I encourage all of you to be ready. As I think about the condition of our world today, and the depravity and lack of morality that is rampant in our society, I wonder just how long God is going to wait to come again. I know that there is much debate about the events of the end times, as to what prophesies must still be fulfilled, before God returns, but as I read the Bible I believe the end times are drawing near. The Bible clearly tells us that no man, only God knows the hour of Christ's return, but the things described in our Bible, clearly indicate that the events leading up to His return are being fulfilled as we speak. It tells us that nations will rise against nations, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Many will turn away from the faith, and will betray and hate each other. There will be many false prophets that will appear and deceive many people. There will be an increase of wickedness and violence. These are just some of the indications of the events that will appear in the end days. All of these things are happening in our world today, which indicate that we are truly in the last days. The message I want you to get today, is that you need to be ready yourself for Christ's return. Although we don't when He is returning, you need to be ready. The Bible tells us that it is only God's mercy that is delaying this final event from happening, because it is His desire that none should perish and that all come to repentance. For those of you who have never made a commitment of your heart and life to Jesus Christ by faith, the Bible says that today is the day of salvation, as tomorrow may be too late. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 8

Confess Your Sins

Confess Your Sins "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". 1 John 1:9 Throughout the years I have written many devotionals that are rather strong and pointed. My devotionals are read by different types of people and to find a common thread to reach them is difficult at times. Every member of the body of Christ is in a different place. Some have known the Lord for a month, some 5 years, some 10 or some maybe 90 years. We are all in different places, going through different seasons. Some have had seasons of great growth, some have gone through fiery trials, some have experienced valleys where they cannot seem to find God anywhere. No one can honestly know the season where anyone else is in, therefore we must always walk in love and rely on the Holy Spirit to direct us. What might appeal to someone that has just recently given their heart to Jesus, and is still learning, may sound boring and lifeless to a seasoned Christian that has known Jesus their entire life. But there is one common thread that bonds all people together, and that is that we all must have accepted the gift of salvation and have asked Jesus into our hearts. Whether you are Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, or any other denomination, if you are truly a believer in Jesus Christ then you need to be refocusing your sights on being totally submitted to Jesus as His disciple. All of us have areas of weakness, that we need to work on. To pretend we don't is a lie and offends God. We need to be willing to say honestly "Dear God, show me what You see in me and in my life. Show me where I am flirting with sin and anything that offends You". When you pray this, in honesty and humility, God will honor you and start to speak to you. When He does speak to you through conviction be quick to repent, 1 John 1:9. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 7

A Glimpse Of Heaven

A Glimpse Of Heaven "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 Don’t you sometimes wish we could live forever? I love my family, I love my wife, I love my children and my grandchildren, and could not imagine living without them. I know Heaven is a beautiful place. I know I can’t even imagine it, can’t even fathom what it will be like, and know that I want to be there, but my love for all of my earthly family is strong, and I cannot control my thoughts of leaving them behind. In the years I’ve been on this earth, I’ve lost many people I love - my father, my grandparents who taught me all the things I needed to be the person I am today. But for everything I’ve ever lost, God has filled my cup to overflowing. He has blessed me with a wonderful life, given me a wonderful family, provided all my needs, and most of all has given me the promise of an eternal home in Heaven. To live forever here on earth, it seems like more than enough sometimes. But we know that can’t be true. Heaven was made to be more than this life offers. But what exactly is Heaven? Heaven is a place where there will be no more goodbyes. It's a place filled with people who had faults on earth but are now made perfect, wrongs made right, hearts made whole. Heaven is a second chance and Heaven is everything we love plus a thousand, million things we can’t even begin to understand. Heaven is seeing God’s face with the faces of those you love. I’m so glad that we have a Savior who loved us more than enough, a God who loves us more than enough to see past what we can imagine, to prepare a place for us where we can live forever, in a way that if we could understand we’d probably knock down the doors of Heaven just trying to reach it. What a gift and a treasure to be found worthy of Heaven, where I will see the face of God, and where I will spend my eternity. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 6

Make This Day Special

Make This Day Special "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13-32 I have been writing my devotionals now for over 15 years and each day as I write them I reflect back on my life to see if I am being the person God wants me to be, and being the good steward God wants me to be. When we talk about being good stewards of what God gives us, we immediately think of money. While much of the focus of our stewardship is on money, I want to remind you today that we are also called to be good and faithful stewards of our time. The Bible clearly teaches that tomorrow is promised to none of us, that each day is a gift from God. As I reflect back on the days of my life on this earth, I can honestly say that I have not always been a good steward of my time. The biggest trap we all fall into is taking a day in our life for granted. We get so used to waking up in the morning, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, that we simply take today for granted expecting that there will be a tomorrow. The reality is tomorrow is not a guarantee. Each day I hear from some of my readers and help them deal with the death of a family member or friend. They range in age from the loss of a baby still in the womb, all the way to those who had a full life into their 90's. It is God who will determine when each of us has completed our journey here, and there will be no more tomorrows. Today, right now, is the only thing we can be assured of. That is why I want to encourage you to make the most of today. Today is a day like none other, it is special and unique. Don't treat it as just another day, but as the gift from God that it is. How do you make today special? First, you start it in prayer and by reading God's word. Spending time with Jesus should be the very first thing you do each morning. Make this day special and let God be first in all you do. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 5

Serve Others

Serve Others “Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Jesus fully lived up to the scripture above. Jesus humbly ministered to the needs of those He taught, readily expending himself in their behalf. He crisscrossed the Promised Land on foot, walking hundreds of miles on preaching tours in an effort to reach as many people as possible. Unlike the proud Pharisees and scribes, He remained humble and approachable. All manner of people—dignitaries, soldiers, lawyers, women, children, the poor, the sick, even society’s outcasts—approached him eagerly, unafraid. Though perfect, Jesus was human, subject to fatigue and hunger. Even when He was tired or was in need of rest or a quiet time to pray, however, He put the needs of others ahead of His own. Jesus was equally willing to serve His own disciples. He did so by teaching them kindly and patiently. When they were slow to grasp some vital lessons, He did not give up, lose His temper, or berate them. He continued to find new ways to get His point across. For example, just think of how often the disciples bickered over who was the greatest among them. Again and again, right up to the night before His execution, Jesus found new ways to teach them to deal humbly with one another. Notice that Jesus did not merely tell the disciples what the example was; He taught them by example. He did not speak down to them from a lofty height, as if considering himself above carrying out the things He was telling them to do. That was the way of the Pharisees. “They say but do not perform,” Jesus said of them. Are you willing to serve others, are you willing to sacrifice your time to help someone in need. Your rest and leisure should be within balance and should not cause us to neglect the whole reason for our existence. We are here to serve, not to be served. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 4

It Is Not In Vain

It Is Not In Vain "This is what the wicked are like – always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart Pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." Psalm 73:12-13 One of the great spiritual questions many people wrestle with is the issue of why good people sometimes suffer, while so many bad people prosper. It is not a new question. The scripture today is from a man named Asaph. He was one of King David's chief musicians, who wrote this psalm after struggling with this very issue. Earlier in the psalm, Asaph tells us he found himself envying the prosperity of those he identifies as "the wicked." As he looks at what appears to be the lack of fairness in the world, he becomes discouraged about trying to live a righteous life. His conclusion about those who thumb their noses at God is that "the evil conceits of their minds know no limits." And yet, he observes, "always carefree, they always increase in wealth." Consequently, he reaches the conclusion of today's text: "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure." What does Asaph do to get his head back on straight? He steps back and looks at the "bigger" picture. He goes to "church." There he remembers some of the good things that we can't see in the visible world: God is always with us. God guides us and gives us strength. When our life ends, God takes us into His presence. As a result of getting his perspective straight, Asaph can say to God, "In this life, I don't need anything more than to be with you!" When you try to live in a way that is pleasing to God, it is not in vain. If it seems as though the "bad guys" are always winning, remember that we have a very limited perspective. As did Asaph, we need to get ourselves into a place where we can get some perspective. It can change our discouragement to joy. We can go from victims to victors. Living in a way that pleases you is never in vain. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 3

List of United States Senators who support abortion.

This is a list of The United States Senators who are running for office this November that support abortion and the murder of innocent babies. There are 1.3 million babies that are murdered by abortion each year. That is 3,562 babies murdered each day. These men and women need to be thrown out of office this November. Please share this with all your friends and lets elect Senators that will reverse the Roe VS Wade bill and end abortion. Christians Against Abortion Senators Who Support Murder Of Babies Alabama Richard C. Shelby Alaska Mark Begich Lisa Murkowski Arkansaw Mark L. Pryor Arizona California Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein Colorado Michael F. Bennet Mark Udall Connecticut Richard Blumenthal Christopher Murphy Deleware Thomas Carper Christopher A. Coons Florida Bill Nelson Georgia Saxby Chambliss Hawaii Mazie K. Hirono Brian Schatz Iowa Tom Harkin Idaho Mike Crapo Illinois Richard Durbin Mark Kirk Indiana Joe Donnelly Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Mary L. Landrieu Massachuttes Edward J. Markey Elizabeth Warren Maryland Benjamin L. Cardin Barbara A. Mikulski Maine Susan M. Collins Angus S. King Michigan Carl Levin Debbie Stabenow Minnesota Al Franken Amy Klobuchar Missouri Claire McCaskill Mississippi Thad Cochran Montana Jon Tester John E. Walsh North Carolina Richard Burr 50-50 Kay R. Hagan North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen New Jersey Cory A. Booker Robert Menendez New Mexico Martin Heinrich Tom Lidall Nevada Harry Reid New York Kirsten E. Gillibrand Charles E. Schumer Ohio Sherrod Brown Oklahoma Oregon Jeff Merkley Ron Wyden Pennsylvania Rhode Island Jack Reed Sheldon Whitehouse South Carolina South Dakota Tim Johnson 50-50 Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Tim Kaine Mark R. Warner Vermont Patrick J. Leahy 50-50x Bernard Sanders Washington Maria Cantwell Patty Murray Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin West Virginia Jay Rockfeller Wyoming 4 Senators could vote either way 4-50-50

Are You Ready

Are You Ready "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." John 9:4 If you died today would you be ready? We are not promised tomorrow, and many who are not ready, will face an eternity in Hell that will last for all eternity. The other day while I was doing our daily mail route, a car in front of me had a bumper sticker that said, "Look Busy", but underneath this there was a second line that said, "Jesus is Coming". This sign made me think, do people really think it will make a difference to Jesus if they look busy. Most people are busier than they have ever been, as life today moves at a seemingly insane pace. There is always more to do than most people will ever hope to accomplish, as almost everyone seems to have a "to do" list that they will never get done. Many times I rush to get my yard mowed before it begins to rain, or to get it mowed before it gets dark. Many times we have a limited time to do many of the things we must do, and we work hard to get them done. The question I would like to ask each of you to think about is exactly what you are busy doing, and are these the things that are going to make you ready for the return of Jesus? Have you opened your lives and hearts to Jesus, and recognized that He is the only one that you can look to for your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior, or have you been too busy with other priorities on your list of things to do. If this is you, what are you waiting for? You need to ask Jesus into your heart now. There is no guarantee that you will have another day, or another chance to accept Jesus as your Savior. There are many that will wait too long, and do things that means nothing to Jesus. You need to realize that Jesus may be coming soon, so you need to be busy keeping your eyes on Him, and getting ready for His coming. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 2

A Life Of Peace

A Life Of Peace "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7 If you have gotten up this morning and are struggling with a situation that has taken all the peace and joy out of your life, this message is for you. There should not be any situation that you will face, whether it is financial, a relationship, loss of a job, or even a health issue that you should let rob you of your peace and joy. If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, He will provide you peace even in the most difficult situations. When He made the promise to His disciples, just a few hours before His death, "even though we would have trials and tribulations, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." This promise is where your peace and joy should come from. From this precious promise, that no matter who or what may be going in your life, because you know Jesus Christ by faith, you not only have the assurance of spending your eternity with Him, but also the promise of His strength and comfort during your struggles. You also need to know that God knows what you are facing today, even the little things that may seem insignificant to you, as He is aware of all things in your life. God is there to comfort you, during your daily struggles, and all He asks in return, is for you to have faith and trust in Him for all things. Satan is the one that is robbing you of your peace and joy, as any distraction he can cause in your daily life, gets your focus off God, and if he can do this, he can take away your peace. Don't let Satan destroy your peace and joy, ask God to give you the strength to withstand. When you asked Jesus into your heart you also got the Holy Spirit which is there to guide you and comfort you through even the darkest storms. So, if you don't have peace and joy each day, it is not God, but Satan that is robbing you. When you put your trust in Jesus, He will give you peace. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 1