Dear Fellow Children of God,
I believe I have written about this topic in previous
years. But, sometimes the on-going
frustration from one of life’s struggles reaches a boiling point and a person,
in this case myself, can at times . . . EXPLODE! I am in an on-going war with weeds,
specifically chick weed!
I have been working on the gardens at our home in Alaska. Yes, we were gone and out of state for most
of 20 months as I served in Florida. Our
front flower garden took ‘major reconstructive surgery.’ But, thanks to recent high school graduate, St.
John member Luke Stanley, the overgrown weeds and brush have been cleared
out. We have a newly planted flower
garden. Thanks, Luke!
However, my vegetable garden is a different story, a never-ending
battle. I weeded my vegetables on
Saturday, June 14, and my garden looked good. New plants were popping out of
the ground and I had it pretty clear of weeds.
However, I was out of town from Monday, June 16 through Saturday night,
June 21. I went halibut fishing and attended
a church convention. Then on Monday,
June 23, when I looked at my garden after returning, the weeds were trying to
take over . . . again! All this in just
one week! These weeds can choke out the
growth of my edible plants. My least
favorite of these pests is chick weed.
During the time that my vegetables were growing one of my
daily devotional readings from the Today’s Light Bible was from Mark 4, a
chapter of agricultural parables from Jesus.
This reading reminded me of the
parable Jesus told in a similar setting in Matthew 13, the Parable of the
Weeds. “24 He put another
parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a
man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26
So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.”
(Matthew 13:24-26) As a gardener, I
understand this dilemma. It seems like I
only took a short rest and the weeds appeared!
Later in Matthew 13 Jesus explains the parable. 37 . . . "The one who sows
the good seed is the Son of Man. 38
The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds
are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the
devil. . . “ (Matthew 13:37-39 ESV)
I feel like I am in a constant battle with my enemy, the weeds.
However, we are all in a constant battle with our
enemy, the devil. He is always planting
seeds of temptation, seeds of doubt, seeds of selfishness, and seeds rebellion.
Our enemy seeks to choke out our faith in Jesus. He seeks to hide our Lord and His love from
us behind the tangles of life’s concerns and temptation.
Thankfully, by telling this parable, Scripture reveals to
us that Jesus understands our plight.
Jesus is keeping watch over the garden of His people. He sees the attacks
of our enemy. Jesus died to pay for the
times we have fallen prey to the wiles of Satan. Jesus rose to win eternal life for all who
believe in Him. Jesus will bring His
people home, to heaven, in the final harvest.
Jesus has won the war. Yet, while we are in this life, we still face the
battles.
Coincidentally, our Epistle lesson for this coming
Sunday, June 29, will instruct us about’ the works of the flesh’ (Galatians
5:19-21), and the fruit of the Spirit. You know the verse. “22 But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians
5:22-23) Thankfully Jesus has sent His Spirit to work God’s fruit in us, even
as our enemy seeks to sow seeds of disaster.
How is your garden growing – the garden in your yard, AND
the garden in your life? Are the love of God, the victory of Jesus, and the
gift of the Spirit growing fruit in your life as you live in this world full of
weeds and thorns and thistles?
A Child of God, Fighting A Non-Stop Battle - In my Gardens
and In my Life!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in
Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
- Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
- Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday mornings
at 9:00 a.m. The class is
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” On June 15 we began the study about
the fall into sin. Come and join us in the library. On June 22 we begin studying about who
Jesus is, and His saving life.
- Summer Sunday School - Children have an
opportunity to study during the summer as well. Leah Rawlins is leading the children in
studying the book of Ruth. At the
end of this study they may put what they learned into expression through
legos. All Children are WELCOME! 😊 (There will be no Sunday School on July
6 (4th of July weekend), nor on August 31 (Labor Day Weekend!
- The Our Redeemer 5K is held THIS SATURDAY, June
28, at 10:00 p.m. This event will
raise money for the local Chugiak Fire Department. Talk to Lauren Johnston to see how you
can participate, or how you can help.
The Our Redeemer Call Committee has been
formed. It includes Elder and chairman,
Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis, Scott
Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They met on
June 4, and will meet again on July 1. The
first step in the call process will be to begin a congregational
self-study. The Northwest District has
the study and tools to help in this study.
It is good for a congregation to be patient in the call process. Please PRAY that as our Lord leads
this committee and Our Redeemer in this process, we will follow His guidance.
- The 4th of July Parade will pass Our Redeemer on
Friday, July 4. Our Redeemer again
will be serving refreshments and encouraging the marchers. Again, contact Lauren Johnston for more
information.
- Northwest District Convention – The Triennial District
Convention for LCMS Churches of the Northwest District was held June 19-21
in Spokane, WA. Geri Wacker and
Pastor Rockey attended for Our Redeemer.
Jerry Simpson attended for AMC.
Thank you for your prayers.
MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional
Bible.” We are now in the New Testament!
On Wednesday, June 25, we read Mark 11, and the account of Jesus’
triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
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.S. Family and Friends:
· My vegetable garden did look really
good on June 14 after some extensive weeding.
HOWEVER, when we returned home from Spokane the weeds had returned with
a vengeance! And my frustrations rose! I
am again at war with the enemy! Here are some pictures of my vegetable garden. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9LDZQQD7jzAzcW4D7
· With help from recent high-school graduate
and St. John member, Luke Stanley, we have re-claimed our front flower garden.
It is no longer a 'briar patch,' but now a well-maintained garden. Look at
these pictures of BEFORE and AFTER! THANKS, Luke! https://photos.app.goo.gl/hf8h5VSrmubo5Rit8
Fishing - Last week was a little more productive on the fishing front
again. More fishing is coming this Saturday
as well.
·
I
needed to break in my new boat motor. AND, David Bower, whom we've known from
childhood, came over with his children on June 23 and suggested we go fishing. The
next day we went north on the Glenn Highway and David's 9 year old daughter and
almost 2 year old son caught LOTS of fish. It was a good day. Here are some pictures! https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZVvvxgXDFpwWb9V26
*******
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)
