My Mountaintop

My Mountaintop "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." Luke 12:23 As I was growing up, the place I found most comforting to me was on top of the mountains. My grandfather and I spent many days on top of the mountains, hunting and training our beagle puppies. My grandfather also loved the mountains, and we would leave our house many times before daybreak, so that we could be on the mountain top before sunrise. It was such a beautiful, breathtaking sight to see the sun begin to slowly come over the horizon, and see the fog, in the valleys below, slowly being burned away by the rays of the sun. From the top of the mountain the world seems so large, so massive and never ending, as you gaze in all directions, not being able to see the end. I would love to go back to my mountain tops again with my grandfather, but this time I would take God along with me, and experience this wonderful time with Him. I believe this would be an amazing trip to have God by my side, and let Him show me all the things he created. The sunshine beaming down on my face, the cool breeze that would sweep through my hair, the fragrant scents of the trees and grass, the chirping of the birds, the rustle of the animals would make me aware of His presence. Even though I don't get to visit my mountaintops anymore, I can still see God all around me. I see Him when I look in my yard at my beautiful flowers, when I pass by the rivers and lakes, when I look at the rainbows, when I look at the puffy white clouds floating in the blue sky, I know that God is there looking down on me and showing me His wonderful creations. Yes, I can feel God anywhere I am now, as He is in my heart, just as he was on my mountaintops with my grandfather. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 31, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Find Your Peace

Find Your Peace "Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert." 1st Corinthians 10:5 This scripture describes the result of the people of Israel, after they wandered for 40 years in the desert, attempting to reach their promised land. Is this where our great nation is headed, as never in the history of mankind has there been such massive and destructive armaments as there is today. There is enough nuclear power and energy, controlled by several nations, to destroy almost all of mankind that is on the earth today. Some of the most brilliant minds now spend their entire lives developing new and more sophisticated ways to destroy life. It would seem that with all this power and might, that a nation in control, could provide security and peace for all mankind. However, this is not the case as all these weapons and power has brought us even less peace, and made the world less secure. There are small wars raging all around the globe, that threatens to ignite a global war where there will not be any winners, only losers. We are constantly hearing our leaders talk about peace, but not finding ways to bring us peace or security. Even in the Old Testament, the false prophets of Jeremiah's day were talking about peace, "Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace." Jeremiah 8:11. If you are afraid and concerned with what is going to happen, my advice is to not be afraid or concerned, as you can have all the peace and security you want. Your peace can come by putting your trust in Jesus, as He is the only one that can give you a lasting and eternal peace. This same God has been telling people since the beginning of time that peace can only be found in Him, but so many have ignored it and have been lost in the desert. You still have time to find your peace and security. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 30, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Brock's Birthday

Brock's Birthday "If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" 1st Corinthians 9:11 Today is the birthday of my first grandson, Brock Elliott Ford, who will be 22 today. Brock, has been a real blessing to me and Margaret, as Pamela and Tim, his mother and father, have lived close to us ever since Brock was born. We have watched him grow, and grow and grow, until he is now a man almost 6'5'. Brock has always had such a kind, gentle and loving heart, and is such a reminder to me as to what the presence of God can do in the life of a young boy, as they are growing up. Brock has grown up in a home where God has been the center of the home, and in this environment Brock knows what the presence of God can do. His family has always attended church, and have always been actively involved in all the church activities. Brock has always been around friends, that have had the same Christian values as were practiced in his own home, and these values have now become part of his own life. This is how God intended a family to function; one centered around God, and one that practices and lives by godly values. When children are raised in this kind of environment, they know right from wrong, and when temptations begin to invade their lives, they know when to step back, and turn away from them. We are so proud of the fine young man that God has placed in our life, and as he ventures out into the world, we know that God is walking with him, and will be there to watch over him and protect him. Brock, we pray that you will always keep your eyes on Jesus, and continue to develop an even closer relationship with Him in the years ahead. We love you Brock, and now place you in God's hands where we will let Him fulfill the plans He has for you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 29 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Ready

Are You Ready "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:7 This morning I received word that one of my good friends was nearing death due to cancer, that had spread throughout her body, and they had given her only a few weeks to live. She is a strong Christian, and has told me that she longs for the day when she can go to be with Jesus, and leave her pain behind. She is looking forward to being an heir with Jesus. The Bible tells us that we are pilgrims and strangers in a foreign land, and that this world is not our home, as we are just passing through. Some day all our battles on this earth will be over, and we will enter that Heavenly Home. This is what every Christian should look forward to, and those that have made Jesus their Lord and Savior will have this waiting for them. I have also been able to talk to many other people who were facing the same scenario as my friend, who were not sure what their future held. They were not sure that they would be an heir of God, and were not welcoming their ultimate fate. If you are not sure of what the future holds for you, this could be the day that you need to make a decision that will also make you an heir of God. My friend does not know when God will call her home, but she is ready. You also do not know when God will call you home, and you also need to be ready. You are not promised tomorrow, or even the next few hours, so it is important to prepare yourself now. The Bible tells us, "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2nd Timothy 4:8. Be prepared, as when God does call you home, you need to also be called His heir. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 28 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Walking With God

Are You Walking With God "You became imitators of us, and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." 1st Thessalonians 1:6 Throughout the last several decades, I have tried to walk with the presence of God in my life each day, and these have been the most pleasant years of my life. Before I found Christ, I walked alone, wanting to do things my own way, and rely on my own abilities to get me through the struggles of life. During these years I worried about everything, as I did not know what the future held for me, and was constantly in turmoil knowing what to do or what decisions were best. However, now I have Jesus to walk with me and help me carry the burdens, and with His help, I am worry free, as I know and rely on His promise to provide and supply all that I need. When I look at the people who walked with God in the Bible, I see how God blessed them and provided for them. Noah walked with God, and when the floods came, He saved his family. Moses walked with God, and God gave him the strength and power to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. David walked with God, and God allowed him to be one of the great Kings of the Israelites. When these men walked with God, He allowed them to do great things, as they were following the will of God in their lives. I know that since I began to walk with God, He has given me the peace and comfort in my life that I never had before. When I put my trust in Him, just as Noah, Moses and David did, He has provided for me just as He did with them, and has also allowed His will to be fulfilled in my life. If you are not walking with God in your life, you are missing the greatest partner you will ever have, as He can provide you with a peace and comfort that you have never known. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 27 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be An Encourager

Be An Encourager "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1st Thessalonians 5:11 Ever since I have been writing my Daily Devotionals, I have thought about this scripture, and it has become a dominate theme in my ministry. My goal is to become an encourager to all my readers, and to give them something each day, to uplift them and encourage them to keep their eyes on God. God is the "Great Encourager", not me, but He is using me as His instrument to reach others. I receive many e-mails on a daily basis, where my devotionals have spoken to their hearts in some way, and they are encouraged and uplifted as they are faced with the trials and troubles in their lives. Many times my readers have no one to turn to, that will listen to the problems they are dealing with, or try to help. Therefore, much of my time is spent listening to them, and giving them words of encouragement, to get them through their tough times. God is the only one that can provide them true comfort and peace, as they go through their struggles, but I can direct them to God's Holy Word, where His words can provide them His wisdom and give them peace and comfort. God has blessed me during this time, and I often feel His encouragement and peace in my own life, after being able to help someone else deal with their own problems. I had a dear friend who once told me that if he was having problems in his own life, they would suddenly disappear when he helped someone else. These words are so true, as this is what I experience daily. If you are dealing with problems in your life today, look around you and help someone who is struggling, and encourage and help them. I can assure you that your own problems will become much lighter and easier to bear. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You God's Light

Are You God's Light "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 This scripture was some advice Jesus was giving to the people of His day from His sermon on the mount. He was telling them to be different from the rest of the world, and let their light shine so others could see that they were different. Many of the so called religious people of His day were worldly, unspiritual, and wanted to display, and publicly parade their religion to impress others, and were dominated by pride, ambition, greed and with only thoughts about themselves. This is still how many so called religious people are today, as they still want to represent themselves as religious, but still have the same impure hearts, and think only about themselves, and how they come across to others. Jesus was trying to impress on us that we cannot make our light shine by sinking to the ways of the world, but that we need to rise above the ways of the world, and make ourselves stand out, as a beacon for others. He wants us to stand out in a good way, as being someone who stands out because of a clean heart and caring attitude about others, and not because of our selfish attitude about ourselves. Only in this way can be we be the salt and light to a decaying and darkened world. Our influence on the people around us depends on how much we are like Jesus, as He loved others more than He loved Himself. We should not want to be the center of attention, and think only about our welfare, but we should make God the center of attention and give Him the credit and glory for everything. I would encourage you to think about how you are influencing people around you. Are you being the influence that will attract them to Jesus, or is your purpose to attract them to yourself? My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 25, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.