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Sunday, November 15, 2015

My Daily Devotional

God Is With You "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16 Several months ago I got an e-mail from a friend, telling me that she had just lost her 24 year old son, and had set by his bedside for 6 weeks, before he went to be with God. Just 4 years earlier she had lost her husband of 40 years. It is difficult to deal with these kind of losses, but so many people that I deal with in my ministry, go through these kinds of difficulties every day. Many times these times can cause anyone to ask the question, "why are these things happening to me"? I know in my own experience, it was difficult for me to understand why God allowed my father to be killed in World War II, when I was only 2 years old. No one knows what God's plan is for our lives, but He tells us in the scripture above, that He knew us while we were still in our mother's womb, and knew all the days ordained for us before any of them came to be. We can never understand why tragedy's such as these happen, that can affect our lives so dramatically, but we must believe that this was all in God's great plan for us. We must have enough courage and faith to say "God, I don't understand it, but I trust you." We need to put our complete trust in God and give our hurts and pains over to Him. He tells us, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3. I encourage each of you to continue to trust in God during your difficult times as He is always with you. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me." If you are dealing with a difficult situation in your life today, I want you to know that God is with you, He knows what you are going through, as this is all part of His plan for your life, but He will give you victory. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 15

Saturday, November 14, 2015

My Daily Devotional

God Hears Our Prayers "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13 If you are like most people there are times when it feels like you just cannot go another day, as the stresses of daily living are getting you down. There are troubles that are threatening your peace and joy in life, and you are waiting on God to answer your prayers. The waiting seems to go on forever, and it seems like God is not listening and just refuses to answer your prayers. God wants His best for you and He is not ignoring you, as He has heard your prayers, and knows what you need. We want our prayers answered in our time frames and know what we want the answer to be. Our time frame is not always God's time frame, and His answer is not always what we want to hear. It is important to know how to wait on God for your answers to prayer. The bible tells us to believe that we have what we ask when we pray, and we shall have it. Then we are to believe without doubting. We are to know in our heart that God will do what He says. Then we wait knowing that He will carry out and keep His promises to us. The minute we start trying to figure out how or when He will do it we have just stepped into doubt, and thus we have just delayed our answer. He wants us to let our petitions be made known to Him, but He does not want us to worry about them, or when they will be taken care of. He wants us to trust Him to do as He says, and get our minds off our selves and turn it to the needs and petitions of others. When we do this we are saying Father, I have brought you my needs and I trust you to handle it for me. While you wait for God to answer your own prayers, spend your time thinking about the needs of others. You are expecting God to bless you by answering your prayers, so think about who you can bless today as you wait on God for your own blessings. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 14

Friday, November 13, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Teach Your Children "Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" Matthew 19:14 When we study our Bibles we see where the disciples wanted to stop the children from getting to Jesus because they thought that they would distract Him from teaching to the adults. In our world today we too, as parents, can keep our children from entering God's presence by how we live our lives. How? Some parents may keep them so busy and on a schedule that there is no time for stories about the Bible. Sports, hobbies, and the pursuit of our own personal pleasures, can keep parents from spending the time with our children, telling them about God, taking them to church, getting them involved in Sunday School, where they will be taught about the Bible and what God wants them to hear. We can become so busy that we don't pray in front of them, or at the family meals. We can become so busy that we don't have a devotion time together or pray together. Jesus shows us in the scripture above just how important children are to Him, He took the time for them that was needed. Our children need their parents to teach them how important it is to have God in their lives. Teaching them about God is the most important things that we as parents can give them. He said, "(Proverbs 22:6 NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". This is not the responsibility of a minister or a Sunday school teacher, it is our responsibility as parents to bring our children close to God. It is by our walk and our actions each and every day of our life to show them that we make God first in all that we do, and that we trust Him for everything that we do. Our children need to see God in our daily lives, and through this we can bring God into our homes and let Him touch them. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 13

Thursday, November 12, 2015

My Daily Devotional

What Do You Boast About "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14 There are not many families in our country which do not have pictures of their children, grandchildren, parents, and other relatives hung on their walls, on their tables and usually scattered all throughout their house. Most people have their wallets full of pictures of their children and grandchildren. We all think that our children are the prettiest and the best compared to others. It also goes beyond just our families, as we proudly display any trophies, service awards, college and high school diplomas, and any other award or tokens that demonstrate our importance. Boasting is nothing new, as even in Biblical times, we see all the rituals that accompanied the mark of being a Jew and obeying the Jewish laws and customs. The Jewish requirements even went further and demanded the rite of circumcision to prove the Jewish faith. The apostle Paul, tells us that we don't need to boast about our faith, except to tell others about the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross to save us from our sins. We don't have to prove, or show anyone a certificate, or an award, or be the best, the prettiest, or smartest to be recognized and known. The only thing we need to boast about is that we have been saved, our sins have been forgiven, and we now have the promise of an eternal home in heaven, to be with our Lord and Savior for all eternity. This is the only thing that Paul tells us that we should boast about, as all the other things in life does not matter, and will be meaningless in the end. Just boasting that we belong to God is all that matters. If you find yourself today feeling that you are not where God wants you to be, this could be the day where you ask God to help you become the person you need to be, and then you can boast to the world that God is your Savior. Take just a few minutes this morning to ask Jesus into your heart, and let Him take away your sins, and give you a new life, a life that will lead you to an eternal life in Heaven. Then God will boast that He has a new child, one that will come to live with Him for all eternity in His home in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 12

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Communicating Effectively “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 It is sometimes hard for people to really share their feelings and thoughts, but it is only when we are able to break down the barriers to get past the idle conversations that we can really begin to communicate with someone. This has been difficult for me throughout the years as my wife has mastered the art of communication, and I am still working on it. She can open up and let others know exactly her thoughts, feelings and emotions, but I have not been able to do this in the fashion she is able to. I have improved over the years but am not there yet. The more we can open up in expressing our thoughts and feelings the more intimate the relationship can become between a husband and wife. A good marriage is one in which both the husband and wife are able to throw open the doors and express themselves openly. How many times have you and your spouse had an argument, only to discover that the argument could have been avoided if you had truly taken the time to understand one another? I know that there have been times in our marriage where we thought we both disagreed about something, but really discovered that we really didn’t disagree at all—we only thought we disagreed because we were too impatient to fully understand one another. So many disagreements are escalated because we don’t make the effort to clarify what the other person is trying to communicate. We often say “well, I thought you said this or that”—but it wasn’t that at all, as to what they were trying to say. Restating what you said is another way to ensure that you have communicated what you wanted to say, and also is a way to make sure the listener has heard properly what you are trying to say. Perceived communication without clarification usually leads to frustration, and a situation where nobody wins. Men and women are different—and that’s okay. I know that I have different opinions about certain things, and my wife has other opinions. I have had different opinions from the people I worked with throughout the years, and that is also okay, as not everyone has the same opinions about certain things. It doesn’t mean however that any one of us is wrong. Remember, it’s okay to have different opinions. Each of us however needs to drop the need to win the disagreements that we have, as well as the need to blame the other person. Putting the blame on the other person is so easy, and so often keeps us from admitting that we may be part of the problem. I believe our family has had very good communications over the years, and our disagreements have been few and far between. Our relationship has always been good and everyone has had an open door to communicate with each other and with us. Conflict is a normal part of any home. What will set your family apart is how you respond to each other when circumstances collide. It is important to make our homes a haven of peace for our families and our children. Consider your communication style and change it if you feel you are not lovingly expressing yourself to others. To speak in love is to communicate the truth in kind and gentle terms. Often it has less to do with what you say than with how you say it. We should consider how we confront others and the tone of our communication. You may need to examine your motives and attitudes, as you plan to communicate the way you speak the truth. We also need to communicate intentionally, what we want to say, and not communicate in anger. Anger is a God given emotion, but things said in anger will usually result in an outcome that will not benefit anyone. Our words should always be uplifting to others, and not to make anyone feel bad or hurt them in any way. We should be building others up instead of tearing them down. 1st Timothy 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 11

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

My Daily Devotional

God's Patience "What if only ten can be found there? He answered, For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." Genesis 18:32 The scripture above is God's response to Abraham, who was asking Him to spare Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction. Abraham had already asked God five times to spare them at higher numbers, but wanted to bargain with God. In other devotionals I have talked about patience, but in this one I want to discuss God's patience. In this example, God had been patient with Sodom and Gomorrah, and agreed to not destroy them even if only a few people, out of the whole city, still obeyed Him and His commandments. God is still patient with us today, as He sometimes waits a lifetime for us to repent, and ask Him into our hearts. Would we be as patient as God is? Think back about your own life, and all the things that you have done. Many of you have done terrible things in your life. Some of you have been a thief, some have been addicted to drugs or alcohol, some have cheated on your spouse, maybe even some have committed murder, but none of you are perfect as you all have sinned. God has been patient with you during this time, and has been watching you, and knows all the sinful things you have done. However, the difference between God and you, is that God is patient, and is willing to forgive all your sins, and forget about all your past. He is not like you, as you probably become impatient if you wait a few minutes to be served dinner at a restaurant, or wait in line at the grocery store. Regardless of what you have done God is patiently waiting for you to turn your life over to Him, and give you an eternal life in Heaven, as He loves you. If you have not asked Jesus into your heart, today is the day of your salvation. Take just a moment to get down on your knees right now and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and ask Him to be your savior. He is patiently waiting on you, and will gladly accept you back into the fold. He will give you the most precious gift you will ever receive, which is the promise of an everlasting life in Heaven. Do it now, as tomorrow may be too late. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Five November 10

Monday, November 9, 2015

My Daily Devotional

The Love Of Money "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." 1st Timothy 6:10 Throughout the Bible there are scriptures similar to the one above that tells us to not to fall in love with money or material things. God does not want you to not have wealth or material possessions, but when these things become your God's and your idols, that is when they become dangerous. God gives you everything that you have, and you should hold it with an open hand, and realize that He has allowed you to receive it, and could easily take it away. If you hold it tightly to your chest and claim it as yours, that you earned it by yourself, and do not give your tithes from it willingly, you are not handling your wealth correctly. You should freely accept God's gifts, and never hold on to anything that would cause you catastrophic sorrow if it were removed. I know that this is a hard way to live in today's society, as the world teaches you how to say "that's mine" by the age of two. Most people are in a mad dash to get as much as they can, and spend their entire lives focused on accumulating wealth and material things. God knows just how powerful money can be, and warns us that it's next to impossible for a rich man to enter into Heaven. (Matthew 19:24) Everyone has wants and desires, however they must be kept in the proper perspective, and not let them become the focus of our lives. God should come first in our lives, and if our pursuit of money and wealth gets in the way, then it has crossed the line and becomes sinful. God wants us to give up our hunger to make ourselves first, but rather make Him first. When God is first, then we will prosper. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Five November 9

Sunday, November 8, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Mother's Bible By: My Wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6 Our children have always seen me reading my Bible each morning before they went to school. Many years ago, when our son Rob was a freshman at Geneva College, he left a little note in my Bible, asking me to pray for him as he knew I would see it. Another memory that I have of Rob was years ago when Bob and I did a will, in case anything happened to us. As we were deciding what to give our children, we asked each of them to tell us what they wanted. When we asked Rob, he simply said that he would let us know. He called later and said all he wanted was my Bible as he knew that I read it every day. Nothing on earth could have pleased me more than this simple request, and when I read my Bible each morning, I always think about this. I can remember when I was a little girl, probably 10 years old, our friend Marion Brock would sing a song called “Mother’s Bible”. Some of the words were “with its pages worn and torn is more precious that Gold.” I loved to hear him sing it, and I have always thought throughout the years, whether my children would ever ask for my Bible. What a glorious gift Rob gave me that day, just by asking for my Bible Rob is our most perfect and precious son, and has always had the kindest heart and respect for others. He has grown up to be a father and husband that I am so proud of, and still has this kind heart and demonstrates this to all the people he meets. Rob has been such a blessing to us throughout the years, and I am so proud to be called his mother. His gift of thoughtfulness in asking only for my Bible, will forever be with me and something that I will cherish forever. I hope that all my children will remember the legacy that I hope to leave for them, my devotion to God. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 8

Saturday, November 7, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Attitude Adjustment “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 What kind of attitude do you have each morning when you wake up? This is an important question for you to consider, as your attitude often determines what is in your heart. By simply getting focused at the beginning of each day on the proper attitude we need to have, can have a tremendous effect on our families, our fellow employees, our schoolmates and on everyone we meet. Our attitudes affect others around us and we can either be a positive influence or a negative influence on all the people we come into contact with. God wants us to be a positive influence on all the people we meet, and not be a deterrent or negative influence on anyone. There are eight criteria listed below which I think is necessary to have the right attitude. 1. We need to wake up each day with the thought of being happy for the day. Happiness is a choice we each make in our own lives. 2. Don’t let the little things get you down. These are the killers that will rob your day of its happiness, and will keep you from reaching your potential for the day. Don’t let the traffic jam or the spilled cup of coffee ruin your day. 3. Don’t worry about things you cannot change. Let God take control of these circumstances Be content and happy and keep your attitude positive. 4. Appreciate today as it is, as you will never be able to live it again. Live it to its fullest. Make sure you have your attitude adjusted to be happy and not let anyone take away your joy for the day. 5. Learn to smile for your health. Smiling is the best way to get yourself geared up for your day. It will make you feel better and keep you in the proper frame of mind for the day. 6. Be content where you are. God has put you in your job, in your city, in your family, in your neighborhood for a reason. He knows all about you. Be content and trust him for the answers. 7. Trust God for the answers to the obstacles that you will face for the day and he will provide you with the wisdom to meet these challenges and deal with them successfully. 8. And most of all forget the past. Whatever happened yesterday or last week or last year is gone. Nothing you can do will change the hurt, disappointments and circumstances that have happened in the past. You can’t do anything about it so forget it and plan for the day ahead and the future. The future is the only thing we can influence. Our attitude is so important as people need to see God in us, by the way we speak, by our behavior and actions, and the way we treat others. Each day we have opportunities to minister to others, and having the right attitude is just one of the attributes we need to have to do this effectively. We have God's great commission to fulfill. By putting ourselves in the best frame of mind at the beginning of the day, we have equipped ourselves to put our best foot forward, and given ourselves the best opportunity possible. If you get up in the morning in a terrible mood, the best thing you can do is find a place and spend some time with the Lord. By learning to seek God quickly when we sense any attitude or behavior that is not Christ like, will help us prepare ourselves each day, and be the witness that God wants us to be. Just remember that your attitude is one of the first things people will notice about you, they will like you or not like you because of your attitude. Put on the best smile you can, and let your attitude be pleasing to God and others. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six November 7

Friday, November 6, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Behind Closed Doors By: My Wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:12 So many times our life behind closed doors does not match what we project in public. Our family sees us as we really are, while the outside world sees another side. God also sees us as we really are, as He knows what is in our hearts. It is important that both our family and others see us as one that is following God at all times, not being one thing in public and something else at home. When we compromise, and let the world influence us, many put on a different face to the public, and another face at home. There are several things we can do to be the kind of witness we need to be for our families and others. We need to always build ourselves up each day, by reading our Bibles, praying and seeking to become closer to God. We need to seek His presence, and in so doing, our family will see God through us. How we handle day to day problems, by praying and seeking God's wisdom, is another way to demonstrate to our family, the presence of God in our lives. The way we communicate to our spouse and children in our homes, should always show love and respect for them. The language we use behind closed doors, should always be uplifting, encouraging and spoken with a soft voice and kind words. So often families begin compromising their values, based on worldly ideals, and allow these to invade their homes. We must never compromise God's values, and allow worldly trends to become part of our family life. If we do, these will, little by little, become part of the family life, which must not be allowed. We must be aware at all times of our conduct behind closed doors, as our families need to see us as Godly examples. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 6

Thursday, November 5, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Think About Tomorrow By: My wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:21 As we live in our troubled world, most people do not think about, and forget the most important thing in life, and that is that someday we are going to die. Most people put this out of their minds, and live only for today. We only have to pick up a newspaper, or turn on our televisions, to see the reality of what can happen, as there are examples each day, where life has suddenly ended for people who did not expect to die. The thing that most people forget, is to live for God, and make Him number one in their lives, but so often we look only at the day ahead, and then only for ourselves. Most people are prone to seek the things of the world, instead of seeking the thing that means the most to them, which is God, and what the future may hold. Life here on earth is likened to a fleeting shadow, and will be for only a season, and our thoughts should be more on where we will spend our eternity, than on the here and now. There is nothing that is more important than for you to make sure that your future is secure, and that you will have a place in Heaven. If you have any doubts about what tomorrow may hold for you, now is the time to do something about it. You don't have to be concerned about your future, as Jesus promises you that you can be at peace and content, about what your future holds. Death is going to come to each of us, but it does not have to be a consuming part of your thoughts and life, as God can give you peace and comfort by providing you with His plan of salvation. Today is your day of salvation, as you can ask Jesus to come into your heart right now to be your Lord and your Savior. Your eternal life is at stake, and His plan of salvation is your only answer to spend your eternity in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 5

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

My Daily Devotional

God Is Here "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17 All throughout the Bible we see story after story how God did miracle acts to protect the people of Israel. Opening the Red Sea was just one of the miracles that He did to protect His chosen people. But does God still do miracles today? One of my face book friends sent me this story which he said was true as his father was a witness, and had told it to him. A missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, described his experience with God's divine angelic protection. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, desiring to kill him and his wife and burn all the buildings down. All through that terror filled night, they prayed that God would deliver them from this evil. When daylight came they were amazed to see the natives leave, looking frustrated. One year later, the chief of that tribe gave his life to the Lord. Remembering what had happened that terrible night, the missionary asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house that night. The chief replied in surprise, "Well, he said, all those men were there with you! "What do you mean?", asked the missionary, "There were no men there, just my wife and I." The chief argued that the tribe had seen many men standing guard - hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the house, so they were afraid to attack". God's angels are still here to protect us today, and God can still do miracles even today, and tells us there is nothing to be afraid of, as He is there to keep us safe. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 4

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

My Daily Devotional

A Godly Mother By: My Wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1 This message is for all mothers, and as you read it I want you to think and apply it to your own life. Are you doing all the right things to be the wife and mother that God wants you to be? But the real question to ask yourself is, "Is God really the Lord of my life"? In order to be the person God expects you to be, there are other questions you need to ask yourself: Do you go to church? Do you say all the right things to your family and friends to let them know God is walking with you? Do you let worldly things, slowly come into your life, and begin to compromise your Godly values, and let them affect your husband and children? It is so easy in the hectic day to day struggles of life, to compromise your values, and slowly, little by little, let worldly things into your daily routine. However, if God is first in your life there will not be room for compromise. Your family needs to see God in you at all times, even when things go wrong. You are the best influence on your husband and children, they will ever see, and how you react when things go wrong, can show them that God is really in your heart, and helping you deal with daily problems and issues that arise. Your daily walk with God, in both the good times, and also the bad times, needs to be the example of the person God wants you to be. You may ask how do I become the wife and mother God wants me to be, and the answer is found in God's word. Make God first in all that you do, follow His commandments, so that you will be an example for your family. Study your Bible daily, read God's Holy word, and you will be given wisdom and understanding to know God's will for your life. When you are following the will of God in your daily life, you will be the wife and mother God wants you to be. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 3

Monday, November 2, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Be A Light On The Hill By: My Wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 In today's world, everyone wants to be politically correct, and not offend, or say things that are not offensive to others. Even when we go to church on Sunday, many of the sermons we hear from our pastors are messages that are designed to make us feel good about our lives, and these are good, as people need to be uplifted and encouraged. But there needs to be messages also where we hear about Jesus, and how he wants us to live our lives; how we are to treat other people, not just our family and friends, but strangers. Messages that tell us what the penalty of our sins will be, if we do not repent and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. The message of Jesus is that we are to love others as we love ourselves. We have to deny self, and get our mind on others. There are so many people that are in need in our society, especially now, with the loss of jobs. Christians must be the light of the world to these people. All we have to do is look around, and we see people who are in need, dealing with sickness, relationship issues, addictions, finances and so many other issues. Many have no place to turn to, as they are lonely, afraid and frightened by what the future holds for them. As Christians we need to be their light, their beacon of hope in their time of trouble. Our churches should be places of refuge for them, and a place where they can find hope and comfort. As Christians, we do not need to set back and watch, and be complacent. We need to act, no matter how small, we need to do something to comfort them and share with them that there is something better that awaits, an eternal life in Heaven.. We as believers, need to be the shining light on the hill for them, so that they will see Jesus in us. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 2

Sunday, November 1, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Are You A Peace Maker By: My Wife Margaret Sue Lefevers Brock "Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9 Over the years, my daughter Pamela and I have always enjoyed doing everything together. She is our only daughter and has always brought us such joy, as she has always lived close to us her entire life. She is so intelligent, and when you talk to her, this becomes apparent so quickly. We both love our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we often talk about different verses in the Bible, and what they mean to each of us. The majority of the time we understand and interpret the verse the same way, but occasionally we differ about the interpretation of a particular verse. I have always said to her, "that even though we may differ or see things differently, I will not argue about it". She always tells me that when you discuss things, it will help each of us understand better, but I think it sounds more like arguing. I believe that God wants each of us to be a peace maker, instead of being a peace keeper, as I do not think that arguing over God's scripture does anyone any good. So often in life, people let little things like differences of opinion, and interpretation of scripture, become barriers, which is not what God wants from us. There should not be barriers formed that divide and cause division among people, but rather an encouraging and bonding presence that brings the people of God together. There is too much division in our world today, and I feel that God wants us to be able to come together in love, rather than being a hindrance to others. We need to understand that God made each of us in his own image, and gave each of us our own individuality. There will always be differences, but our differences should never be a stumbling block for others, as God tells us to love others as we love ourselves. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven November 1

Saturday, October 31, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 tells us 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. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today is the day you need to ask Him into your heart, and let Him forgive you of all your sins, make you white as snow, and give you an eternal life in Heaven. Don't take the chance that you will have tomorrow as your life on this earth could end today, and if you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior you could spend your eternity in Hell. Today is your day of salvation, get down on your knees right now and ask Him into your heart and he will transform you, and then when you stand before God at the Judgment throne you will know for certain that you will spend your eternity in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 31

Friday, October 30, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 30

Thursday, October 29, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Finding Your Peace “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 So many people today do not have peace in their lives, because of what is happening in our world. From hurricane Katrina, the War on Terror, rising gas prices, to threats of economic collapse, and crime and murder in our streets. Many times our government seems to be in disarray, and our ability to cope with all the stresses of life, takes away our peace. All of these things have an effect on our personal lives, whether we like it or not. So how do we have peace of mind in these troubled times? We need to keep our minds on the Lord during these troubled times and His peace will fill our hearts. There are several things that can bring us peace which I have listed below. 1. Nursing a grudge and not forgiving is a major factor in unhappiness. 2. Living in the past, and being preoccupied with old mistakes and failures lead to depression. 3. Wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. 4. Stay involved with people and situations around you. Do not withdraw and become reclusive during times of emotional stress. 5. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow or misfortune. Refuse to indulge in self pity when life hands you a raw deal. 6. Retain your old fashioned family values—love, humor, compassion and loyalty. 7. Do not over-extend yourself. The Bible teaches us that we are to be content with our situation in life, and that He will provide all our needs. As Christians we need to get our minds off the problems that surround us, and turn them over to God. God promises us peace in our lives when we are trusting Him, and letting Him control our lives. When we place our burdens and worries at His feet we will have peace in our minds and our lives. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 29

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 28

Monday, October 26, 2015

My Daily Devotional

Looking To The Future “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 We can all look back and see things in our lives that we wish we would have done differently, but the Bible says to make the most of each day. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may not come. You must live for today. You can’t do anything about yesterday, but you can do a great deal about tomorrow. Regardless of the poor choices we may have made in our lives, and the times we feel we may have blown it and things will never be the same, there is still a new day ahead. God promises us that if we have faith in Him that He will restore us and make us new. We just have to believe and live for tomorrow and trust Him to provide for us in the future. We cannot change anything that happened in the past no matter what we do, but we can plan for the future and make it better for ourselves and our families. There are so many examples God gave us in the Bible where almost all the disciples faced disappointments in their lives. Paul for example faced death many times during his life. He was beaten numerous times and spent much time in prison for his faith. He was finally beheaded for his faith in God. Throughout all these examples that God gave us, none of these people lost their faith and trust that God would provide for them. God tells us in Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” We must remain focused on the future and not dwell in the past. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our past is forgotten and forgiven. Look for a brighter tomorrow, and experience an eternal home in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 26

Sunday, October 25, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 Heaven, 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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 25

Saturday, October 24, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 24

Friday, October 23, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 23

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Steven October 21

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 20

Monday, October 19, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 19

Sunday, October 18, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 18

Saturday, October 17, 2015

My Daily Devotional

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 17

Friday, October 16, 2015

Change Your Priorities

Change Your Priorities "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding." Proverbs 3:13 I realize that most people spend the best part of their time either involved in their work or school, and I have encouraged you in previous devotionals, to put forth your best effort in these areas, which is important. But, how many times do you come home from your work or school, and are exhausted? You have a spouse, children, family, and friends who are part of your life and need to be nurtured. The fact is, we give our best efforts to our work or school, while the people who we love the most often, get the leftovers. When we look at our culture, we see the result of this, as almost half of all marriages today end in divorce. Marriages suffer because husbands and wives don't have time for each other, and many are little more than convenient living arrangements. Children suffer, because the parents don't have time to spend with them, teaching them good family values. They get only little bits and pieces of your love. But the most critical person that gets left out in this scenario is God. He may get only a brief "hello" in the morning when you wake up, and maybe a short prayer as your eyes close at night. Today, I want you to change your priorities by starting your day with God, and spending some quality time with him. Take some time with your family before work or school, and have breakfast together and talk about the day ahead. Then go to work or school, and do the very best job you can. After work, spend the balance of time with your family, eating and playing together, and bonding and sharing your love with them. Before you close your eyes thank God for everything he has blessed you with, then spend some more time in His Holy Word, and watch how your life will change. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 16

Thursday, October 15, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 15

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Look Up For Your Answer

Look Up For Your Answer "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 It is always interesting to watch people in a big crowd, some always look down, others always look around, and others are always turning and looking back, but God doesn't call us to do either of these as He only wants us to look up. When God told Noah to build the ark, he instructed him to build a roof to within 18 inches from the top as a window, as He wanted Noah to only look up, as if he looked out from the side he would only have seen the endless water, the debris, and the people screaming for help. The answer to all of life's problems is to always look up, as God has solutions for all of the struggles and problems you may be facing today. You can look around you, and may find some comfort in talking to other believers, pastors, family and friends, who can give you advice. You may also be able to look back and see how you and others have dealt with some of the same issues in the past, and not make the same mistakes again. You may look in front of you however, and see that there is no way out of your situation, and realize that you do not know where to turn. When all these fail you realize that the answer to your problem is to look up, and ask God for help. You will find that God is always there, and is always waiting for you to ask Him to help you, and give you His peace and His comfort in your situation. So if you are dealing with problems and difficulties today, you can raise your hands, lift up your heads and look up, where God will let the faith build up in your hearts, and fulfill His promise that everything will be all right. You will then realize that God promises to provide all that you need. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 14

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 13

Monday, October 12, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 12

Sunday, October 11, 2015

A New Life

A New Life "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2nd Corinthians 5:17 There is something exciting about getting something "new". I can recall our children's faces when they got a new toy, or when they got new clothes, or got their first new bicycle. There is something inspiring about getting a "new" anything. Most people even try to change their appearances by new hairstyles, makeovers, whiter teeth, to plastic surgery in hopes of creating a new look. The problem with these superficial changes is that it is only skin deep, and only covers what is on the outside. In the scripture above Jesus promises us that our entire being can become new, not just the outside surface, but also our inner being, when we ask Him into our hearts. Our happiness and joy begins with what is inside us, in our hearts, not on the outside. Just think what a new beginning could mean to you today. I am confident most of you have made mistakes during your life. You have committed sins you are ashamed of, you have done things that you regretted doing, you have hurt others, and done things that you wish you could erase and eliminate in your past. When you accept Jesus, all of these are forgiven, as anyone who comes to Jesus is given a brand new start. "All things have become new." What an amazing promise God has given us. We not only get a new start, but we become a new creation. "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25 Once we accept Jesus as our Savior He wipes all our sins away, and we are given a new start with a new life. This precious gift of salvation, gives us the opportunity to begin a new life, one that will lead to an eternal future in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 11

Saturday, October 10, 2015

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. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 10

Friday, October 9, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 9

Thursday, October 8, 2015

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 know 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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 8

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The Road To Heaven

The Road to Heaven “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1st John 2:3-4 My friends, this is probably the most serious and critical devotional I have ever written, but it is so important for you to hear it's message. It is not going to be as easy as you think to get to heaven, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14. The Bible is very clear when it talks about the importance of obeying God and His commands. The Ten Commandments were not just something that God told you about as an afterthought, and you have the liberty of obeying them or not obeying them. If you are going to find this narrow road to heaven you must begin to obey God’s commands, and not take them lightly. When you say you know God, as in the scripture above, you must do what he commands, and if not He calls you a liar. There is no room for anything else, and you must not go on fooling yourself and making excuses for not following the commands of God. Just look at God's greatest commandments and see how you are obeying these. He tells you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. How must time do you spend each day in prayer and reading His word. This is how you show God you love Him. When you love someone you make them number one in your life. You don't give them the crumbs from your table after you spend all your time on other things. His second greatest command is to love others as you love yourself. Is your life all about yourself or is it about others. The little white lies, the cheating, the lust, the pride, the hording of your wealth, the non use of your talents, not obeying the Sabbath, are all things that must cease if you really know Jesus as your savior. There is no room for them anymore in your daily life, if you really have accepted Jesus into your heart. There are even more drastic warnings from God that tells you how perfect your lives must be to reach heaven. Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." There would be very few American's who are not considered to be rich in the sight of God, so this scripture would apply to you. 1st John 3-9 "No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." My friends, this is God's words not mine, and there are dozens of other scriptures, just as powerful that say the same thing. Our world needs to wake up and realize that the feel good preaching that we are hearing today, does not tell us this message. Don't be led astray by these false teachings that are leading you to Hell. There is only one way to heaven and that is to first ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins and then obey His commands. You must realize that Satan is alive and well and is roaming our world, and will entice and tempt you to compromise the word of God. There is no compromise allowed, however, as when Jesus died to save you he made the ultimate sacrifice for you. The Book of Hebrews has the most compelling scripture in the Bible that tells us the importance of living a Godly life and obeying God's commands, after you have been saved. "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." Hebrews 6:4-6. These are frightening words, my friends, and these cannot be discounted as being taken out of context or not applying to you. The Bible is filled with many scriptures such as these that warn you that you cannot take your salvation lightly. When God's Word tells you over and over that you cannot sin anymore after you have been saved, you had better believe it. You can't continue to make excuses for your sins, as God is not going to listen to you and is warning you over and over. You are just not hearing this in your churches today, because "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2nd Timothy 4:3. There is too much at stake in your life not to heed God's warning, as heaven is the reward, but hell is the punishment if you don't begin to obey God’s commands. Don't take my word for it, but read the Bible yourself and see what it says about living a sin free life. Find all the scriptures for yourself that talk about the penalties of sin. 1st John 3-6 " No-one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." My friends, there is no other way to interpret a scripture such as this one or the one below, and I challenge you to interpret it any other way. John 9:41 "Jesus said, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." If God is really in your heart, you are not going to continue sinning as you are going to live the kind of life that Jesus led, as He tells you that you need to be an imitator of Him in everything you do. Take the time today to apply this devotional to your own life. Are you confident that you are living the life God wants you to live? If you aren't sure that God will be pleased with you, it is not too late to ask Him for forgiveness, and begin to obey His commandments. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 7

Sunday, October 4, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 4

Saturday, October 3, 2015

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 God is never in vain, as the wicked will spend their eternity in the fiery darkness of Hell, while the good will spend all their eternity in Heaven. The future benefits of Heaven far outweighs the temporary pleasures of the present. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 3

Friday, October 2, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 2

Thursday, October 1, 2015

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 William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 1

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Be Transformed

Be Transformed "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 I grew up on a farm, and when I read this scripture I am reminded of some of the pigs we raised. You can scrub a pig, sprinkle perfume on them, put a ribbon around their necks, and take them into your living room. But the moment you turn them loose, they will jump into the first mud puddle they see, because their nature has never been changed. They are still a pig. This is not so with people, as we are constantly trying to change and reform ourselves. Stores are filled with self-help books claiming to be the fountain of youth and promising to make us become the people we want to be. But even if there were books to transform us they would only be temporary fixes. A deeper transformation is needed, a transformation of the heart. The amazing fact is that this is really possible. The Bible tells us that when we ask Jesus into our hearts, we are transformed on the inside, we are spiritually born again. God's Spirit comes to live within us and change and transform us. Our motives change, our objectives change, our goals change, our attitudes and dispositions change, but most of all our eternal destiny changes. This transformation doesn't take place all at once, as we will then need to study the Bible, seek it's wisdom, and then apply what we learn to drawing closer to being the person God wants us to be. We will spend the rest of our life learning what it means to follow Christ. I would encourage each of you reading this devotional to ask Jesus to transform you, let Him change you to be the person He wants you to be. Open your heart to Jesus and let Him set you free from the sin that is keeping you from the peace and joy you have been missing. Do it today. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven September 30

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

God's Grace Is Sufficient

God's Grace Is Sufficient "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:8 To me this is one of the most powerful statements in the Bible, as we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to God. In it our Lord asked that the cup of crucifixion, which was about to be thrust upon Him, to be taken away. But then, in the very next breath, He said, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39. What a powerful prayer? What strength. What Power. Jesus knew that He was going to die, but through all the anguish he was going through, He still trusted in God. We also see the Apostle Paul, asking God to remove the thorn in his flesh, but God did not remove it, saying instead, "My grace is sufficient for you." We find Paul also joyfully submitting to God's will and being content in his situation. He discovered that God's grace truly was sufficient, even in the midst of pain. So often in life when we have trials and troubles come upon us, we complain and sometimes become angry, not trusting and having faith that God will remove our mountains and give us relief. We need to have the same faith that both Jesus and Paul had, and praying that God's will be done in our situations and not ours. We always need to realize that Christ desires to be with us in whatever crisis we may find ourselves in, and that we must trust Him and have faith that He will carry us through. When we find ourselves in these situations, we need to call upon God, and then trust Him to do as He promised, and believe that "His grace is sufficient." We need to also realize that our problems may not go away, but that God will give us the strength to withstand them, and will give us peace even in our struggles. God cares about you and will give you all the strength to deal with anything in life, and to overcome them by His grace."His grace is sufficient for you." Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven September 29

Monday, September 28, 2015

Come Follow Me

Come Follow Me "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24 Have you ever thought about the sacrifice all the Apostles made when they gave up their businesses, their families, their possessions to follow Jesus. Some of them were wealthy but they gave it all up when Jesus spoke to them. There are many missionaries today that give up their fame and fortune to go to other countries and live very meagerly on hardly any money to sustain themselves. They live day by day trusting God to provide their needs. This is the way the Apostles were, as they depended on God, and trusted Him that He would provide for them. When Moses led the people out of Egypt he trusted God that He would provide, and God did. All of these people sacrificed and gave up all they had, but they had the promise that there was better things waiting for them. Discipleship is always costly. No, it may not cost us our lives, but it will cost us. It will cost us our plans, our wills, our selfish desires, as the standards Jesus had for the Apostles has not changed, as the scripture above still applies to you and me. Instead of controlling our lives, we turn them over to Jesus. Your salvation is the thing that Jesus is interested in, and He gave His life because He loved you so much that He died on the cross for your sins. Your salvation was not cheap as He died for you. It cost Jesus His life, and it will cost you as well. You will also have to sacrifice your selfish desires, maybe even your wealth and material possessions, as Jesus wants you to worship Him, not the things of this earth. But could there be anything greater than your salvation, and the promise of an eternal home in Heaven that will await you? Could anything be more fulfilling? When you follow Christ, and at life's end you will have no regrets, you will be glad you followed Jesus. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven September 28

Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Brevity Of Life

The Brevity Of Life "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14 It seems like only yesterday that I was young and just beginning my life, but now I find that these days are gone, and as the twilight of my days are rapidly approaching, I am amazed at how swiftly the years have flown by. I can remember my grandmother saying that she could not comprehend how swiftly the years had passed. "The brevity of life", catches each of us by surprise, as almost before we know it, the years have passed and life is almost over. On one hand, life's brevity should challenge us. If ever we are to live for Christ and share Him with others, it must be now. Jesus said, "The night is coming when no one can work" John 9:4. But life's brevity should also comfort us. We know that life is short, but we have the promise that our eternity will last forever, it will be never ending. When the trials and struggles of this life is over, we have the promise of God that we will live on forever, if we have asked Jesus to come into our hearts. God has prepared us, and even our days on this earth go fleetingly by, our eternity in Heaven should give us peace and comfort us, that better times are ahead. The apostle Paul wrote, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, for the things which are seen are temporary." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. Even though we know this life will soon be over, we can be at peace knowing that God has prepared a place that will fulfill all our dreams and meet all our needs. However, while we are on this earth we still have work that needs to be done, as we can tell others about the eternal life that also awaits them, when they ask Jesus into their hears. So keep busy spreading the good news. Don't live as if this life will last forever. It won't. Live instead with eternity in view. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven September 27