Dear
Fellow Children of God,
Last week a friend of mine, Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick,
posted a humorous and timely blog. I don’t
remember the anniversary date for Jerry and Terry. But Kathy and I celebrate 45 years of
marriage on Saturday, August 20. Jerry
wrote,
A long-time friend of mine sent this to me
last year. Source unknown.
A group of women were at a seminar on how
to live in a loving relationship with their husbands. The women were asked,
"How many of you love your husband?" All the women raised their
hands.
Then they were asked, "When was the
last time you told your husband you loved him?" Some women said “Today.” A
few said, “Yesterday.” Some couldn't remember how long ago they had spoken
those words.
The women were then told to take out their
cell phones and text their husbands: "I
love you, Sweetheart." Next, the women were instructed to
exchange phones with each other and read aloud the text messages they had
received in response to their love notes. Below are some of their replies:
1. Who the heck is this?
2. Uh, mother of my children, are you sick or
what?
3. Thanks. I love you, too. What's wrong?
4. What now? Did you wreck the car again?
5. Don't beat around the bush; just tell me how much you
need.
6. Am I dreaming?
7. I thought we agreed you wouldn't drink during the
day.
8. Your mother is coming to stay with us next week, isn't
she?
The moral of this story is not to let the
words “I love you, Sweetheart!” be used so rarely that they cause the person
who hears them to wonder what’s really motivating the person who speaks them.
I love you, Sweetheart!
Perhaps you laughed at this writing
as I did. But, I have recently run
across a number of devotional writing on the gift of a Christian wife. Roland Bainton, noted Luther scholar, wrote
about Katherine Von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther. “She
presided over the first well-known Protestant parsonage and did much to give
the tone to German domestic life – authoritarian, parternalistic, with no
nonsense, and at the same time tenderly affectionate and marked by utter
devotion. . . Luther was fond of the saying: ‘Let the wife make her husband
glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.’” (For All
the Saints, Volume IV, page 303) Katie
was a blessing to the great Reformer, Martin Luther. I feel many blessings in my own ‘Kathy/Katie.’
When I look at 45 years of
marriage, I am overwhelmed by the blessings Kathy has brought into my life,
personally. Let me quote to you from Proverbs 31. “10
A wife of noble
character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. . . 29 "Many
women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the
city gate. In the past I have preached on
Proverbs 31 on Mother’s Day. but then I discontinued doing so. In many ways Proverbs 31 describes a “super-woman.” I know that all of Proverbs 31 is not necessarily
true of every wife or mother. They have
their own gifts and talents. Yet, I do feel
like the words of this Proverb actually describe my wife, Kathy. I know that I am truly blessed!
A faithful and loving Christian
spouse is one of the very greatest gifts a person can receive in this
life. I thank the Lord above that He has
so blessed me with Katherine Isabelle Tobin Rockey, and for the joys and
challenges of 45 years of marriage. What
a gift I have! Thank you, Lord!
I do
love you, Sweatheart!
A Child of God, Thankful For My
Loving Christian Wife!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Kathy and my big plan for August 20 is to go
out to eat in the evening, and to buy new . . . non-stick frying pans. J We must have been married a LONG time. (Actually our cruise in June in the British
Isles was our anniversary celebration.) Then, on Sunday evening the whole family
is coming over to celebrate.
P.P.S. Silvers are in. I recently took some family and friends
fishing.
·
On
Wednesday. August 10, Kym Miller and Gaelen Swigart went fishing with me. We caught lots of pinks and chum. Kym caught 2 silvers. Here are the pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/zxqKUtx9pdG2zuVz6
·
On
Saturday, August 13, I took my daughter, Mary, my son, Tim, and Tim’s
girlfriend, Megan, fishing. Megan had
been fishing before, but never previously caught a salmon on a pole. However, she was the champion fisherperson on
this day. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nds1TAtTjH4Ug3zB7
·
On
Monday, August 15, after a long weekend preaching on the Kenai, Gerry Zellar
and I went fishing on the Little Susitna.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wjJsxXHdbxDPi48t7
P.P.P.S. I refrained from quoting
all of Proverbs 31:10-31. I do believe
God has indeed blessed me through Kathy as this proverb states. I feel this proverbs echos MY blessings. Here
are God’s words in Proverbs 31:10-31.
10 A wife of noble
character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has
full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him
good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects
wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the
merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up
while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her
servant girls.
16 She considers a
field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about
her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that
her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she
holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her
arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows,
she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes
coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is
respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen
garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed
with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with
wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches
over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children
arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many
women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is
deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised.
31 Give her the
reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at
the end of August 2019 from serving as 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. (Though I am now
serving again part-time at St. John as assistant to the 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
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran
Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
“1 John 3:1 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 3:1a)
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