Dear Fellow Children of God,
In my daily devotions on Tuesday, September 22, I read
about Ahaz, the unfaithful king of Judah.
Ahaz closed up the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, and worshiped the
false gods of the nations around him. Because of Ahaz’ sin, both he and the
nation suffered under the Lord’s correcting hand. In the “Sharpening the Focus” note at the end
of this Bible reading, the editor, Jane L. Fryar, wrote. “The gods we
worship are often like that. We honestly
believe they will fulfill our dreams . . . Sometimes we get what we think we
want. But if we count on experiences, things, or other people to fulfill our
lives we will find our dreams turning into nightmares.” (Today’s Light
Bible, page 620) I do not personally
know anyone who bows down to a carved statue.
But, there are things, even in the lives of God’s people, which can push
the Lord away.
This devotion spoke to me on Tuesday morning, because of
what had happened to me on Sunday, and then Monday. Sunday night I was watching a football game
on TV as I answered email on my computer.
I got up to let my dog out and when I returned my computer screen was
blue and there was a message which read, “Your computer has experienced an
error which cannot be repaired.” I
turned off the computer, and it did restart.
However, then the computer turned off and nothing I could think
of at that time would make it turn on again.
Over the years my computer has become an important tool
for me. I use it to communicate through
emails, and on the internet. I write
sermons, devotions, newsletters, and church worship services. We shop over the internet, and search for
information. I organize my home-life on
my computer. And, (ahem) I do play a
game or two of solitaire. 😊 In some ways my life is on my computer! I began to think of the tasks I could not do:
write and communicate a staff meeting agenda for Tuesday, write a weekly
devotion for Wednesday, print a sermon for Sunday, communicate with committees
with whom I am scheduled to meet, keep up on my bills!
I
bought my first computer in 1986. Our
lives used to work fine without them. Yet,
in some ways it seems we can’t live now without this tool. Has this become an idol? That’s what I thought as I read my Tuesday
Bible reading and devotion. And, what
else in my life pushes my Lord and Savior away, or pulls me away from Him?
When Jesus’ ministry was beginning, He was tempted in the
wilderness by Satan. The devil offered Jesus, “all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory.” (Matt. 4:8) In response, Jesus quoted the Scriptures to
resist the temptation and send His adversary away, "Be gone, Satan! For
it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you
serve.'" (Matthew 4:10) Our
calling, as people created and saved by God, is to worship and to serve Him, to
worship and serve Him alone!
Ultimately, the issue is not necessarily the object
itself gaining our attention, but how our heart reacts that object. Is this thing (fishing pole, boat, computer)
that which my heart desires? Or, is this
object a tool which I plan to use in worshiping and serving my Lord?
Romans 8 is such a deep and comforting chapter of
Scripture. In verses 31 and 32 our Lord
inspired the Apostle Paul to share this amazing truth about God’s grace for us.
“31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who
can be against us? 32 He who
did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with
him graciously give us all things?”
Imagine! The Son of God born for me, dying for me, rising for me!! When I know that the Father gave up Jesus for
me, for us, in spite of our times of wandering, that captures my heart. God deserves all my worship and service, not only
because He is my Creator, but even more for His love to me in Jesus. Then, when God also “graciously gives us all
things,” these things of the world can
become, not the object of our desire, but a tool to serve our Lord. However, the account of Ahaz in 1 Chronicles
28, and my own experiences tell me I need to keep a watch on my heart!
When my computer died I did not panic. I am blessed with a friend who is great with
computers and I contacted him. On
Monday, Kathy needed to go to Anchorage, so after her appointments we stopped
at a couple of places and looked at computers. My friend gave me some
advice. I waited until Tuesday and went
to Costco to purchase a new computer.
And, by the grace of God I remembered a trick which a computer
technician had taught me previously. I
pushed the keys Fn+F10+start at the same time for 30 seconds. My computer woke up. I still have the same error message, but I
can, for a time, use my computer again to share God’s word. (You realize this fact because you are
reading this devotion.)
I am trusting my Lord to GUARD my heart. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7) It is MY LORD AND SAVIOR
whom I want to worship, not the shiny things of this world!
A Child of God, Reminded Again that My Heart Belongs to
Jesus!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now
serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.
·
Call Committee – The ELT of Anchorage
Lutheran has re-started the call process. This committee consists of Lynn
Boots, Danielle Bowman, Caleb Fluege, Tim and Genae Meerstein, Alexa Mix, Joel
Mix, Joe Pollock, and Karen Quintieri.
Also attending meetings will be ELT President, Steve Fibranz, DCE
Matthew Murphy, Vacancy Pastor Jonathan Rockey, and Circuit Visitor Tony
Schultz. The committee met on September
10 for a beginning meeting, and again on Sunday, September 20 after worship to
evaluate our self-study.
BEGINNING SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 27, ANCHORAGE LUTHERAN MEMBERS WILL AGAIN BE ASKED TO GIVE INPUT TO
THE COMMITTEE ABOUT OUR CONGREGATION, AND ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PASTOR
WE BELIEVE WOULD BE SERVE GOD’S WORK IN THIS PLACE. For 3 Sundays, September 27-October 11,
people will have an opportunity to fill out a questionnaire.
PLEASE PRAY
FOR THE CALL PROCESS AT ALC!
·
Stewardship Sunday – The ELT also voted
to conduct a Stewardship Emphasis which will provide education on God’s plans
for Christian Stewardship, and will give ALC members an opportunity to consider
and plan ways to respond to God’s grace in their lives. Watch for updates concerning dates and
events. We will have a special Sunday in
November. This committee will meet in
the pastor’s office on Sunday, September 27, after late worship!
·
Bible classes –
o On
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. we have been studying the book of Ephesians
downstairs in the fellowship hall, using the CPH “Lifelight” Bible Study. We
have some new lesson books available.
Class begins at 9:00 a.m. downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. On September 20 we studied Chapter 4. On September 27 we will finish studying
chapter 4 and begin chapter 5
PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO JOIN US!.
o New
Member Class? –Beginning in October, IF there is anyone interested, I will
teach an Adult Membership Class after late worship. This would not only be a way for non-members
to join Anchorage Lutheran, but a good refresher for current members.
Other Activities of Faith:
I am again taking a two-year
journey with my Lord, by reading through the Scriptures using the “Today’s
Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, September 23, I read 2
Chronicles 29, about King Hezekiah.
You are welcome to join in
this journey of reading God’s Word. You
may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
received questions and comments about the readings. 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 Fun, Friends, and Fishing!
·
Frost – We had our first notable frost on
the morning of Wednesday, September 23.
Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/SDn2EEaFKVH6A6C26
·
No Fishing this week. My Palmer boat is still in the shop! However, I do have a trip scheduled
with guide Murray Fenton on the Kenai on September 30.
·
Harvest – The SURPRISE of our week happened last Thursday night /
Friday morning, September 17-18. Our
son-in-law, Brandon Holmes, received a call from the state at 11:00 p.m.
Thursday night about a moose which had been killed by a vehicle north of
Glennallen, (about 3 hours away). He was
on the “road-kill list” for his previous residence. Mary and Brandon left at 11:40 p.m. and drove
north to the site. They field dressed
the large cow moose, whose neck had been broken in a collision, and returned to
our home about 3:00 p.m. on Friday. We
did an initial cleaning, and hung the moose on Friday afternoon. On Saturday and Sunday we butchered, with the
help of friend, Gerry Zellar. We cleaned
up Monday. Brandon and Mary now have a
freezer full of moose, and they have shared some with friends and family. We
did have moose roast Friday night, and leftovers Saturday, and moose burgers on
Sunday night! 😊 Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LRDh9F5jWzGof3J28
*******
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. (I finished for now serving as Assistant to the Pastor for
First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL. I am now serving Anchorage Lutheran
Church as Vacancy 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
Vacancy Pastor, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, 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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