Dear Fellow Children of God,
Do the daily surprises and challenges of life ever
frustrate you? As you deal with necessary
chores, many of which you did not choose, do you ever wonder what purpose you
are serving, or if you are accomplishing anything worthwhile? Kathy and I have returned home to Alaska after
about 20 months in Florida. When one
returns home after such a long absence, there are details to face, many of
which were not necessarily expected.
We arrived at our home in Palmer on Monday night, May
5. On Tuesday morning Kathy’s car would
not start. The battery was drained . . .
again. Thankfully, my truck did start, even
if my garage door openers needed new batteries.
Technology is a challenge! Also,
our printer would not talk to our computers, nor did it work. I downloaded a new driver from the internet
for the printer, and found out we were out of ink. However, the printer is now up and working
and we have both printed. 😊 Do you hear my frustration?
Our internet signal seemed slower than we
remembered. Multiple television and
streaming applications gave us trouble. First,
we found out that our apple device needed to be updated, before Amazon would
work. I accomplished both of those
tasks, but not quickly. Youtube TV did
not recognize our area of operation, but we changed our home location and now
we have local TV. All that takes time! It’s frustrating.
I tried to work in the yard and to roto-till my garden. However, when I tugged on the pull cord, the
cord broke! Then it took me time and
some thinking to discover the secret of re-installing the pull cord so it would
retract. After an hour or so, after some
tinkering and multiple tries, and after some frustration, I finally did
get my garden tilled for the summer. I am thankful that is done. I wish didn’t have so many detours on the way
to accomplishing this labor of love.
And of course, one of my first priorities was to get my
boat in the water. My friend and
boat-builder installed a new outboard motor last year. I had agreed to work with my friend as I
launched my boat for the first time with the new motor. I charged the boat battery and took it to the
shop. But, when I turned the key I only got a beep. The engine did not move, nor did the
tachometer react. You perhaps know that
I spend much time fishing. 😊
However, without a boat, plans
change. Again, after arriving home to
Alaska, and while seeking to return to normal, I was frustrated!
Finally, I did get all my tools and technology
working. But what did I accomplish
in all those minor, frustrating, distracting tasks? Was all the time spent fruitful for
good? I asked myself those questions and
thought about God’s words at the beginning of the Book of Ecclesiastes. “2 Vanity of vanities, says the
Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by
all the toil at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3) Good question, King Solomon! What is the purpose of all the tasks of life?
First, let me assure you that God does have a purpose for
our lives, and even for our daily chores. Consider the words from God written
by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31. “So, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Our purpose in life, in whatever we do, no
matter how small or frustrating the task, is to glorify our Creator, our Lord,
our Savior.
Perhaps also consider with me Colossians 3:17. “And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Because Jesus died and rose
to save us, to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we “do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” even the seemingly mundane and
frustrating tasks of life.
Do you think Jesus was ever frustrated? Did His ministry ever feel pointless? In John 17, in the upper room on the night
that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, on the night He instituted the Lord’s
Supper, before Jesus walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, He also prayed for His
followers, for the Church. Jesus’ prayer
began in this way, with these words, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come;
glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” (John 17:1) Consider how Jesus gave glory to His Father,
and glorified Himself. Jesus gave His
life! He was arrested, lied about,
beaten and whipped. He received an
unjust trial and died on the cross. This
sacrifice from the holy Son of God seemed pointless to His disciples. However, even facing these difficult and
surely frustrating tasks, Jesus honored His Father and loved the world. His crucifixion was not meaningless! As Jesus gave of Himself, as He served, He
accomplished the purpose His Father had for Him. He saved us!
As you deal with necessary chores, many of which you did
not choose, do you ever wonder what purpose you are serving, or if you are
accomplishing anything worthwhile? In
many ways it is not so much the chores, but how we face them. Can I approach these seemingly mundane tasks
while serving my Lord and loving others?
If so, then even the frustrations of returning home are worthwhile. In fact, because Jesus served me, I want to
deal with life’s frustrations . . . for Him.
A Child of God, Wondering Why Life Can Be Frustrating,
Seeking to Serve My Savior,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I have
concluded my service as part-time assistant pastor at First Lutheran
Church in Gainesville, Florida,
Kathy and I returned home to
Alaska on May 5.
I will now be serving Our
Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as Vacancy Pastor beginning May 16.
·
THANK YOU!!!!
Again, Kathy and I are truly grateful for the opportunity to
serve First Lutheran during the recent vacancy.
This is the church where I grew up and my family made our home. This is the church where Kathy and I worship
when visiting Gainesville. This is the
congregation which encouraged me for ministry and sent me away to study to
become a pastor. First Lutheran has
nurtured me and my family. We are
thankful God gave us the opportunity to serve in this special congregation for
the last 20 months! Again, THANK YOU,
and God’s continued blessings!
·
MORE FAREWELL SUNDAY - I
was not the permanent pastor, simply the Vacancy Pastor at First Lutheran. But that is my home congregation. And, even as a vacancy pastor, First Lutheran
put on quite a farewell celebration.
Thank you. Here are some pictures,
including some new ones from the farewell celebration.. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LR4epTWnPj1oFkuW7
·
MANY OF YOU CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE
SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional
Bible.” On Thursday, May 15, we will finish the book of the prophet,
Zephaniah! Only two more books
(Zechariah and Malachi until the New Testament!
Feel free to
contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. 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.P.S. Family
Fun:
·
Family Time –
o The
view of the mountains from our yard was beautiful on May 6 and May 8. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/7C4TrJVSW5qQxzPA8
o A
group of our family attended Jacob’s high school baseball game on Friday, May
9. Here are a couple of pictures.
o I
tilled the garden. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YhWEXRdfBgaN2NQa9
o I
was thinking of planting, but on Saturday and Sunday the temperatures were
below freezing. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mg2NPQPxCykqKccw9
o On
Sunday evening, May 11, we gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day, and to celebrate
my birthday. Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z5gBXWxQYS88RnEbA
*******
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. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for Our
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
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, Our Redeemer Lutheran
Church, Chugiak, AK
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)
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