Dear Friends and Fellow Children of God,
Kathy and I were a little surprised this past week by a somewhat
quiet communication in our Florida place of residence. We have a small place in the Meadowbrook
community of Gainesville, FL, where my dad used to live. We are spending time in Florida as we ‘get away’
for the first few months of our retirement.
Regular e-mail messages are sent to us from the Meadowbrook community,
including a newsletter. However, after
receiving the newsletter one day last week, the next day we got another message
saying that the community newsletter would no longer be sent. It seems a political story in this newsletter
on one side of the political spectrum upset a number of people who think and
believe differently concerning national politics. So e-mail distribution of the Meadowbrook newsletter
is now suspended. We certainly live in
times of high emotion over political issues!
On Wednesday morning, I turned on the television and saw
a special news report concerning the impeachment hearings in Washington, D.C. It appears to me that all one has to do these
day in order to raise high emotions is to begin a discussion either in favor
of, or against our current president. But,
opinions were also similarly divided over our previous president. We do certainly live in times of divided
values and turmoil as a nation.
Meanwhile, in past weeks my personal devotions have consisted
of readings in the Psalms. As I write
this devotion, I just finished reading Psalm 66. While spending time in God’s Word, I have
been struck by godly wisdom found in the Psalms, wisdom which includes
direction for all nations, and certainly direction for our nation. Please read and consider what these verses from
the Psalms say to you.
The truth found in Psalm 12:8 seem
to me a diagnosis of our culture today. “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is
honored among men.” Does it seem to
you that our culture has embraced values that are contrary to what we find from
our Lord in Scripture? I am saddened and
frustrated when I see someone praised for doing what I hear God tell us is
wrong or sinful.
Please read Psalm 33:12 with me. “Blessed
is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Now, consider the blessings of God for nations who follow the Lord (I would encourage you to also read the rest of
the Psalm, verses 13-22 for more wisdom for a life of blessings from God.) There are indeed blessings for nations who
believe in and follow the true God of the universe.
Psalm 65 brought me comfort as I read its wisdom. Consider especially the end of verse 7. “4 Blessed are
those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the
good things of your house, of your holy temple. 5 You answer us with awesome
deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having
armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the
roaring of their waves, and the turmoil
of the nations.” I am comforted that God who ‘formed the mountains
by His power’ also stills the turmoil of the nations.
As I thought about the turmoil in our country, and as I
thought about the wicked freely strutting about, I was reminded of what I also recently
read in Psalm 23. 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not
be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet
waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his
name's sake. I thought, “Perhaps
that is why I enjoy fishing so much. In
the midst of such division and emotional turmoil on a national level, God is
still the Shepherd of His people. So,
the quiet waters provided by our Creator do restore my soul. While I am fishing, I can think in quiet,
away from the turmoil of our world.
Among those topics I think about are my life as a child of God. In fact, when I have been fishing alone, I
have been doing a lot of praying these days.
I have prayed for my children, for my grandchildren, for my home
congregation, and for those who are ill or injured. I pray for God’s direction in my life,
and . . . I have also been praying for
my country. You see, while I am beside
the still waters. it is God who assures me that He hears and answers
prayers. Still waters provide me an
opportunity for God to restore my soul in these times of turmoil that can cause
me worry. In fact, I don’t even have to
catch any fish; simply soaking in God’s creation blesses me and helps me to
continue and persevere.
Let me say, personally, that my reading of Scripture is that
God calls governments and nations to work for justice and for righteousness. While nations use the sword to enforce civil
law, the Gospel is best shared through churches with individuals and with groups. But, I also believe that what is best for America,
and that what is best for all countries, is to follow the direction and laws of
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Therefore, I will continue to pray for
America to know what Psalm 33 says, that God
is our Lord and King.
In the meantime, I know that there
is even greater peace for those who follow Jesus and believe in our Savior. In Philippins 4:6-7, God inspired Paul to
write, “6 Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Because
I know that God is the Lord of all,
and because I know that God forgives my sin, and offers eternal life in heaven
through the life and the death and the resurrection of Jesus, I can therefore face
the turmoil of this world, knowing that God has my eternity in His hands. That assurance gives peace. This peace found in Jesus really restores my
soul, even more than fishing (believe it or not). But, you will still see me on the shore, by
still waters, or in a boat, taking time in the beauty of creation and speaking
to my Creator, my Savior, and my Lord.
It restores my soul.
A Child of God, Thankful for Times Outdoors when God
Restores My Soul,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
recent pictures of still waters where God restores my soul. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2p4L557uBWS85Kkr5
P.P.S. When I
attended my 40th reunion at Concordia Seminary I was interviewed,
along with a couple of other pastors, by seminary president, Dr. Meyer. Here is a copy of a video of that
interview. https://concordiatheology.org/2019/11/word-and-work-life-after-seminary/
P.P.P.S. Kathy and
I did some visiting around Florida recently
·
Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings was a FL resident who lived near Gainesville in the
early 20th century. She wrote
“The Yearling,” and “Cross Creek” among other books. We visited the state historic site of her home
on Thursday, November 7. Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/HgMpvETcRdXQ3nEv5
·
Kathy and I visited Crescent Beach on a windy
day last Friday, November 8. We then
headed to Jacksonville to see some old friends, some of whom will be traveling
to AK, next summer. https://photos.app.goo.gl/p92uG29XfKEP1pHf6
·
I put a flag on my dad’s grave on Veteran’s
Day. He served in the US Navy, November
1945 to November 1947, and received a WWII participation medal for his time on
the USS Rochester. https://photos.app.goo.gl/7k4SyXsqHbz2H1qc6
·
I did go Fishing last week.
o On
Watermelon Pond, 11-6-2019 (no pictures)
******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION – I am now retired as senior pastor
of St. John Lutheran in Palmer, AK. This
devotion was previously titled, “Thoughts from the Pastor.” However, with life’s changes I will now call
it, “Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God.”
I am only sending this message to those who have asked to receive
it. If you know someone else who desires
to receive this message have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net. You can also view this message on my Facebook
page.
******
Psalm 33:12-22
12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his
inheritance.”
13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees
all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches all who
live on earth--
15 he who forms the hearts of all, who
considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who
fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them
alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our
help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in
his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O
LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
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