Are You Content

Are You Content “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” 1st Timothy 6:8-9 I have observed over the years in doing the research on my ancestors an important fact that is creeping into our society today, and changing our values and many times our priorities, and this is that we are not content with our status in life. My ancestors in the 1800’s, and I believe you would find that your ancestors probably were the same, were content with their place in life. They lived in the same house, and in the same communities most of their lives. They had the same jobs for year after year, and were content with their means of livelihood. Most of them were content with their lives, as their ancestors had been. The fathers worked in the fields, the mines or in the factory, and provided the income for his family, while the mother stayed home and took care of the children. Their needs were met, and the families were contented with this lifestyle. Today we find a new culture that has developed. We find that the family is not contented or satisfied anymore just with their needs being met, but now are seeking ways to add their wants and desires to their lifestyles. This is why God places such an emphasis in the Bible about the power of our money, and the power it can have over us. When our money becomes our God, we need to reevaluate our priorities, and get our lives back under control. If we had the time and the money that we spend for our wants and desires, and used this as God intended, on him, our families and others, what wonderful things we could do. God wants you to be content, get your priorities meshed with God's priorities, and they will become realities. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 31

Are Your Needs Met

Are Your Needs Met “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 I can recall reading one of Pat Robertson’s books about the law of simplicity, whereby God tells us to be happy with the simple things of life. I believe that our lives would be much more stress free, if everyone could be happy when their needs are provided for, and be contented with that. Life would be so simple if we could be satisfied with having food, clothing and shelter, as our ancestors had. They were not stressed out because they did not have the best and biggest house, best job or the most money, but were happy and contented with what they had. When we go beyond having our needs met, we have to be careful to keep this from detracting and taking away from the things that really matter the most to us, which is our God and our families. So often the pressure to accumulate our wants and our desires, takes valuable time away from God and our families in order to be able to acquire these things. In the Bible God does not talk about meeting our wants or our desires, but tells us repeatedly that He will take care of the things that we really need. He tells us that even the birds do not worry about their needs as He provides for them. Having grown up without the luxuries that most families now have, I can appreciate what it means to have your basic needs met. I would encourage each of you to think about your real needs, and find the place in your life where you feel comfortable with having your true needs met. I would also encourage you to reach the point where the excesses that you accumulate over and above your true needs, will be the things that you will also feel comfortable sharing with others. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 30

Controlling Wealth

Controlling Wealth “You may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18 Since time began the importance and value of money has been such a controlling influence in the lives of man, that God has over 2,350 references to money and material things in the Bible. Money is intoxicating; it is like a drug, as it can be addictive and can change people’s lives forever. We can be consumed by money. It can enslave us. It can consume our thoughts. It can dictate our lives, and it can control our behavior. Money can become our gods, and the Bible tells us to worship no other God, but I believe many people worship their money, and it becomes their gods. They become totally dependent upon it. Money does not bring happiness, but many times can destroy happiness in people’s lives. I can remember growing up in my small town in southeastern Kentucky. We had very little money as I grew up, as my family were farmers and coal miners, but we were content with what we had, and lived a very happy life. We were not dependent upon money and material things for our happiness, but rather enjoyed and depended first upon God, and then on our own abilities to provide our needs. The Bible gives us so much good advice about the power and use of money, but the scripture shown above is one of my favorite verses. So often in life we think we are the ones that produces our wealth, it is us with our brilliant mind, our great wisdom, and our superior work ethic that has produced our wealth, but we so seldom give the one who made all this possible, as without God we would have nothing. Give God credit for your success. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 29

A Time For Renewal

A Time For Renewal "See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it." Isaiah 43:19 Margaret and I began cleaning out some of our closets last week before the New Year, as it was time to tackle some of the chores we had put off. It is sometimes hard to part with some of our clothes, but we were determined to get rid of the old, and make room for the new. It was time for a change. We are told to look ahead to each new day with a fresh hope in what we can accomplish. God is always doing a new thing in the lives of His people. He says His mercies are new and fresh every morning. He says His grace is sufficient for this day. We can see that nothing is stale and nothing is stagnant in God’s Kingdom. We can trust Him to give us what we need each day, and look forward to living one day at a time, as old things have passed away. In the new year ahead I want to look for new ways to worship God and devote more time to Him, and not look back to what I didn't get done last year. I like to reflect back on what I did accomplish for God’s Kingdom last year, but then I want to move forward to what I can do in the new year. I have seen people who want to live in the past, but there is no future in the past, as often it is only a place of hopelessness and despair. Resolve in your heart to move forward and leave last year behind you, and ask God to let your new year be one of thankfulness, praise and worship to Him Believe and claim that this new year can and will be great, as you go forward expecting God's favor in your life. Speak your future into becoming a reality, as you build a closer relationship with God, asking Him to watch over you and protect you. Think about taking the old things out of your heart and mind, and making room for the new. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 28

It Takes Effort

It Takes Effort “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23-24 I have always tried to teach my children that whatever they want out of life they can make it happen, if they put forth the effort and be committed enough. I know that when I was young I wanted to be the best basketball player that I could be. This was my dream and all I ever wanted to do was to be able to play basketball better than anyone. I would practice from morning to night, and probably had a basketball in my hands pretty much any hour of the day. I became very good and set several college scoring records that still have not been broken today, because of the amount of commitment I had. I was offered a scholarship at the University of Kentucky, the most renowned basketball college in the nation, all due to my commitment to be the best I could be. This is the kind of commitment that we all have to make, if we want to excel in anything we do. I have tried to carry this attitude with me in my business career, and also in my personal life, as I have strived to be the best I could be. I am always willing to make the commitment to make these things happen. It is important to strive for excellence in everything that we do. Jesus said in Colossians 3:23, which is shown above, that he expects us to do whatever we do with all our heart, and put all our efforts into it. If we want to experience the blessings of God we also have to put forth much effort. Satan will always be tempting us to do wrong, and often these temptations will be ones that will be pleasing to us, but we must resist, which will take some effort on our part, which will also be pleasing to God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 27

Looking To The Future

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 W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 26

You Can't Fail

You Can't Fail "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." Psalms 37:23-24 Thomas Edison was busy working in his laboratory at 2 o’clock one morning when an assistant came into the room and noticed that the inventor was smiling broadly. “Have you solved the problem?” he asked. “No,” replied Edison, “that experiment didn’t work at all. Now I can start over again.” Edison could have such a confident attitude because he knew that the road to success is often paved with disappointments that serve to extend the road, but not to block it. Each failure brought him a little closer to success. My friends, failure is never a pleasant feeling. It isn’t enjoyable to lose a job, or fail a test, but the disappointment we feel when we face defeat can be turned to joy if we look at it the right way! The key is learning how to get up after we have fallen. It’s natural to make mistakes - but it’s supernatural to learn from those mistakes and move forward! In the world's eyes, Jeremiah looked totally unsuccessful. He had no money, family, or friends. He prophesied the destruction of the nation, the capital city, and the Temple, but the political and religious leaders would not accept or follow his advice. No group of people liked him or listened to him. Yet as we look back, we see that he successfully completed the work God gave him to do. Success must never be measured by popularity, fame, or fortune, the worldly measure. God measures our success with the yardsticks of obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness. If you are faithfully doing the work God has given you, you are successful in his eyes. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 25