Dear Fellow Children of God,
Many have heard my story of running away when I was 7
years old. I was in trouble, for a good
reason. But, I got myself in more
trouble by running away. I pushed the
storm window out of my bedroom window, took some clothes, and walked into the
woods through the snow, alongside a stream.
I came out of the woods near the home of a 7th grader who was
respected in the community and whom I knew.
It was not long until my uncle found me and brought me home to my
parents. I was afraid of the trouble I
would be in for my disobedience, for my bad choices. However, when I walked in the front door of
our home, my mom and dad hugged me and cried over me. I deserved punishment. However, in spite of
my mis-behavior they welcomed me back with forgiveness and love. I was surprised.
Have you ever done something which was not wise? Have you ever made a bad choice in life? Have you ever disobeyed God? Have you suffered the consequences of your
own choices, but refrained from returning to the Lord in prayer, or in worship,
or lifestyle? Guilt can be a good
emotion when we learn our short-comings and turn to our Lord. On the other hand, guilt can be a hindrance
when it keeps us from turning to our Heavenly Father, or leads us away from
Him.
I was praying through my prayer list the other day and
began to think. I have a section of my
prayer list for people who are facing life troubles,. For some, the struggles of disaster, or of
the struggles of war, are not their own doing. Nevertheless, they are still
suffering. I pray God’s grace and mercy
for them.
But, some others have made choices which have led to
their struggles. Therefore, I pray for
people who have family or relationship problems, some of which are
because of choices they have made. I
pray for people who have made choices which led to addiction to drugs or
alcohol. Currently I pray for a number of folks who are in prison. I have also prayed for some who
have made decisions which have even led to homelessness.
However, just because these people may have made an
unhealthy choice does not mean I don’t care for them. I do care.
I ache for their pain. I hope for
their future. I pray for them, praying
that our Lord would accomplish His love and His purpose in their lives. I do believe that God answers those prayers.
And, I am thankful for a number of instances when people have turned their
lives around with the help of the love of Jesus.
Scripture tells us that God is like a loving Father. Psalm 103 teaches, “10 He does
not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our
iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so
great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as
the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to
those who fear him.” (Psalm
103:10-13) Our Heavenly Father
loves, and forgives, and welcomes us back.
Think of how far our Heavenly Father went to save His wandering
and sinful people. 16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the
world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) The Lord welcome back those who turn to Him
in repentance and faith.
That is also the lesson of 1 John 1:8-9. “6 If we say we have fellowship
with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
When others make bad choices, I may be tempted to
look down on them. But, how about all
those unwise decisions which I have made. God loves me, and He loves those who are
suffering. I pray they come to know and
live in this forgiving and welcoming love.
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows
compassion to those who fear him.”
A Child of God,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now
serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.
·
On September 6 and 13 I will be gone, and Pastor
Dave Keddington, SMP Pastor at ALC will be leading worship AND Bible Study
·
Call Committee – On Wednesday, August 19,
the Executive Leadership Team of Anchorage Lutheran voted to restart the call
process. ELT President Steve Fibranz has
recruited a call committee. The goal is
for a small group which represents all different groups at Anchorage Lutheran. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CALL PROCESS AT
ALC!
·
Stewardship Sunday – The ELT also voted
to conduct a Stewardship Emphasis which will provide education on God’s plans
for Christian Stewardship, and will give ALC members an opportunity to consider
and plan ways to respond to God’s grace in their lives. Watch for updates concerning dates and
events. We will have a special Sunday in
November.
·
Bible classes –
o On
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. we have been studying the book of Ephesians
downstairs in the fellowship hall, using the CPH “Lifelight” Bible Study. We
have some new lesson books available.
Class begins at 9:00 a.m. downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. On August 30 we started Chapter 4. FEEL FREE TO JOIN US!.
o Lay
Ministry Classes – I finished teaching a class on the Sacraments AFTER
worship on Sundays. In addition to our Lay Worship Leaders, 4
long-time ALC members also attended. August 30 was our last study on The Lord’s
Supper.
Other Activities of Faith:
I am again taking a two-year
journey with my Lord, by reading through the Scriptures using the “Today’s
Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, September 2, I read 1
Chronicles 27-28. The reading tells
of David preparing Solomon to build the temple.
You are welcome to join in
this journey of reading God’s Word. You
may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
received questions and comments about the readings. It is always good to
consider our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only
God knows!
P.P.S. Family Fun, Friends, and Fishing!
·
Garden – I worked on my garden on a
BEAUTIFUL August day on Saturday, August 29.
The garden did not do as well this year, as in the past. However, we had lettuce and spinach all year,
and potatoes are poking through the soil.
In addition, I had another pretty good (but not like other years),
picking of raspberries. Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2vyZ7ujrJ92MqtXd7
·
Our dog, Mat, went to the vet for an
annual check up on Tuesday, August 24. I
was told, “He is aging gracefully.” 😊 Then, on Monday, August 31, he went
fishing and enjoyed a day on the boat. However, he took very ill on Tuesday
afternoon, being unable to walk without falling. Our friend and vet says “an idiopathic vestibular
event” causing severe vertigo. He has
medicine. We will see.
o Family
pictures with Mat - https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ge7rr93WAgPauFMz5
o Fishing
pictures with Mat - https://photos.app.goo.gl/VU4SPWBUQbcYKcfK8
·
Snow! – We had a hard rain and cold
weather Sunday night in the Mat-Su VALLEY.
The MOUNTAINS were filled with snow on Monday morning. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LrEPa65fkGDMk2AF8
·
Fishing – St. John DCE, Ethan Mirly, asked me to
take his cousin, his wife, and himself fishing.
Since salmon fishing is closed down, I took them to Finger Lake. Everyone caught fish, even under the snowy
mountains. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qf1D2NYSzy4xH1pZ7
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of
August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church
in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled,
"Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to
continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing.
However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor
at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to
receive it. (I finished for now serving as Assistant to the Pastor for
First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL. I am now serving Anchorage Lutheran
Church as Vacancy Pastor.)
So, if you stopped receiving
these devotions and wondered why, now you understand. And, if you are now
receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them, please let me know,
and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution list. My e-mail
address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these
devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy Pastor, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, AK
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
907-841-4066 – cell
“How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
