Dear Fellow Children of God,
So, did you make any resolutions for 2024? After an experience I had on the night of
Monday, January 1, and the early morning of Tuesday, January 2, I am doubling down on my prayers for our
country and for our world. For years I
have prayed for repentance, for faith, and for our country and our leaders
by name. Now, in addition to praying for
repentance and faith I am specifically praying that our whole world, myself included,
specifically find our Savior, Jesus, and His love for the people of this world.
Kathy and I flew home to Alaska on Monday, January
1. We actually landed in Anchorage
around 1:15 a.m. and left the airport around 2:00. Remember, we left Florida with a 4 hour time
difference. So, by the time my head hit
the pillow in our bed at 3:00 a.m., I had been awake about 24 hours. I share this with you so that you know I was
tired, nodding in and out of sleep, as our daughter Mary drove us home. As we drove through the roundabout onto Trunk
Road by Mat-Su Regional, Mary exclaimed, “Why is that person in the road?” Being half asleep, I just barely saw a
blur. Mary passed the person, and then
stopped the vehicle and continued, “They want us to stop, should we?” Kathy suggested, “Maybe their car went off the
road.” It was about 2:30 a.m. I had seen
an outside temperature on the car of 5 degrees as we drove across the hay flats. In my semi-sleep I replied, “Yes,” thinking
that “You don’t leave someone without help in this weather.”
Then the sad adventure began. The person had been jumping up and down and
waving their arms, but came to our vehicle.
It was a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties. She only wore a sweat suit for clothing, with
no winter coat or gloves. We had trouble understanding the woman, but
she had no car, and no phone, and she asked if she could get into our car out
of the cold, and if we would take her to the gas station up the road. There is a gas station at Trunk and Palmer
Fish-hook Roads, which fit her description.
We drove her there but, we continued to have trouble understanding her.
She talked to other people who weren’t there but in her head, and she told them
that they were wrong. She talked about
different locations, her father, and her dead baby. Some of what she said was beyond our
comprehension. Kathy asked if she were on drugs. We didn’t understand her answer.
With some drama we dropped her off at the gas
station. She did act like she might be
expecting someone. So, we had gotten her
out of the cold, and to the location she requested, and we drove home. We all
felt shocked at the woman and her behavior, and we felt badly. If I hadn’t been drowsy, I think I would have
taken her to the hospital, or called the police, neither of which she would
have wanted. The next morning, wishing I
had done more, I did phone the police and troopers thinking they might want a
report. They told me, “We could have
helped last night. We can’t do anything
now.”
So, after this encounter, perhaps you understand why I am
praying even more for our country, for our world, and for this person. Kathy and Mary and I believe the woman was on
drugs. Kathy talked about such patients
in the hospital who were seemingly impossible to help. What is
going on in our world that someone would do this to themselves? Who cares so much about money, and so little
about others, that they would sell or give such drugs to another human
being? If we know the love and grace of
God in Jesus, then we want to serve our Lord and love others. So, why are we so lost that we are willing to
hurt ourselves, and hurt others? What
kind of tortured life must this woman live?
We need help. We need Jesus! I am praying even more fervently!
Two of many Bible verses rise to my mind and heart in
response to this experience. In Ephesians 2, God teaches us through Paul, “1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the
desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like
the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the
great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- (Ephesians
2:1-5) God tells us we are all dead in our sins, and only saved by the rich
mercy of God who makes us alive in Christ!
Another verse from Titus, used in churches at Christmas-time,
also reveals our sin and God’s amazing love.
“3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient,
led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in
malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when
the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 (Do you hear the Christmas story?) he
saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to
his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the
hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7)
We are killing ourselves through our foolish disobedience. But, in mercy God saves us, washes us, and
gives eternal life in heaven. That woman is not the only one who needs Jesus!
After this experience early Tuesday morning, I realize even more how important it is to pray for our world. I am praying even more that we turn from our foolish disobedience and passions, and that we turn to the righteousness and love God mercifully gives us in Jesus.
How are you making the world a better place
in 2024?
A Child of God, Grieving at our Foolish Disobedience –
Thankful for God’s Mercy – Praying that our World Finds Jesus!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. FISHING J - I went fishing twice this past week. This coming week the fishing will be from the
ice!
·
On Wednesday, December 27, I fished by myself. The weather was changing, but I was on the
water. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CNMG1oecRYiLh9DeA
·
On Thursday, December 28, First Lutheran member,
Thomas Dudeck, and I went fishing on TWO lakes.
It was cool and windy, the bite was minimal, but Thomas told me, I hate
to leave and miss the one hour the bite may be on!” I have found a kindred spirit. J Here are some pictures! https://photos.app.goo.gl/UQj2QBHvzttgALAe7
P.P.P.P.S. . ESPECIALLY
FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH - Gainesville.
·
READ
THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025? – There is still time to join Pastor
Rockey in reading through the Bible during 2024 and 2025, using the “Today’s
Light Bible.” This Bible leads a person
through Scripture in 2 years and includes daily devotions. It may be purchased online at CPH or at
Amazon. Here is a link to purchase this
devotional Bible. https://www.amazon.com/Todays-Light-Devotional-Bible-Fryar/dp/0758643519/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18IZZOYD5KP0Z&keywords=today%27s+light+devotional+bible&qid=1701895876&sprefix=Today%27s+light+devotional%2Caps%2C432&sr=8-1
·
NEW
MEMBERS – First Lutheran received two new members in worship on Sunday,
December 31. Hayley Nusbickel attended
adult confirmation / membership class, with some other young adults. Becky Belmont transferred to First Lutheran
from Lake Mary, FL. (A new membership
class will begin in the new year. If you
are interested, at least 5 people are talking of attending this class.) Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zps44Bhsemu8W9rA9
·
NEW
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC - Stephanie Smith
begins serving First Lutheran Church as Director of Music beginning this coming
Sunday, January 7. We look forward to
Stephanie’s faithful service and leadership.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, to Larry
Hartley who willingly filled in during our interim!
·
TIME IN
ALASKA – Kathy and I are spending some Christmas time with our children and
grandchildren in Alaska. We leave
January 1 and return January 16.
o On Sunday, January 7, Florida-Georgia District President and son of First
Lutheran, Pastor James Rockey, will be leading worship at 10:00 a.m. and
teaching Bible Class at 8:45 a.m.
o On Sunday, January 14, Pastor Stephen
Lane, who has filled in at First Lutheran before, will be teaching Bible Class
and leading worship.
·
CALL
PROCESS –
o The
First Lutheran Call Committee will meet again on Thursday evening, January 18,
at 5:30 p.m.
o A CONGREGATIONAL BRUNCH AND POTLUCK
will take place on Sunday, January 28,
after worship. At this time the
congregation will look at the work on the self study done by congregational
leaders, and then give input as we discuss who we are, who are neighbors are,
and how we are doing God’s work. The
purpose of this study is to discover what qualities God wants in the new
shepherd for First Lutheran. PLAN NOW TO ATTEND!
*******
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. (Currently I am serving as Vacancy
Pastor for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.)
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, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor
Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment