As I write this devotion on Tuesday, March 10, God’s gift of
family is on my mind.
First, I am taking family time in Helen, Georgia. It is Spring break for schools in Florida and
in Alaska. My brother Stephen reserved a
nice VRBO home for the extended Rockeys while he is on break from
teaching. Stephen and Lori, and my
sister Martha and her husband, Mark, and Kathy and I, had planned to spend time
together just enjoying each other’s company, and enjoying the opportunities in
North Georgia. When my daughter Mary
heard about the trip, she decided to join us.
And now that Mary is engaged to Brandon Holmes, they have flown to
Florida during their spring breaks and so all 8 of us are staying together in
this home. It is a BLESSING!
To add to this family time, Mary and Brandon have asked me to
perform their wedding on June 13 in Alaska.
Mary and Brandon also requested that I lead them through pre-marital
counseling, or preparation, even though this surprises my friend Dr. Rick
Armstrong, who has practiced Christian counseling for over 20 years. So, this
morning Mary and Brandon and I secured a private room in a local restaurant and
ate breakfast while we looked at God’s plan for marriage, while we talked about
their Prepare-Enrich Inventory, and as we planned their ceremony. The privilege of talking about God’s plan for
marriage and family with my own daughter and her fiancée brings God’s gift of family
even more to my mind.
On
top of all this, I have been teaching a Bible class at First Lutheran Church on
the book of Ephesians. Last Sunday,
March 8, we studied the last 34 verses of Ephesians 5. We read God’s instructions to wives and
husbands through St. Paul. “21 submitting to one another out of
reverence for Christ. 22
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. . . 25 Husbands,
love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, . . 32 This mystery is profound, and I
am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let
each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she
respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:21-22, 25, 32-33) Our Lord gave marriage as a gift in
creation. God has a plan of the
healthiest way for his children to live with this blessing. Ultimately, God’s children submit to one
another as they seek to grow in in His gracious, saving love for us, through
Jesus.
This coming Sunday, March 15, we will finish the study on
Ephesians. We will start by reading
Ephesians 6:1-4 which discusses the part of family which children and parents
play in families. “1 Children, obey
your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ‘Honor your father
and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 ‘that
it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ 4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Children obey parents. Parents
raise children in the ‘discipline and instruction of the Lord.’ So, in the sometimes difficult relationships
between husbands and wives, or in the relationships between children and
parents, our Heavenly Father’s plans can make these relationships into a
blessing.
One more occasion brings the blessing of family to my
mind. Today, March 10, 2026, is the 70th
birthday of my wife, Kathy. For 70 years
she has lived as the Lord’s child, following Him and blessing others. And, for almost 49 of those 70 years, Kathy has
been my biggest earthly blessing!
We talked in Bible class on Sunday, March 8. I pointed out that many people today do not
necessarily agree with God’s plans for family, or marriage. My response to today’s attitude was a number
of questions. “Do you believe there is a
god, who is Creator and Lord of all? Do
you believe the Bible is God’s Word, and true?
If so, when you read a verse which causes some questions in your heart
and mind, how will you respond to the loving truth and wisdom of God?”
I know that not all people have been blessed with
positive family experiences. Nevertheless,
we are children of the heavenly Father. God’s
plan is to bless His children through earthly families.
Thank you, Lord, for your blessing of family, and for my
wife, Kathy! Thank you Lord, for the blessing of Your family, the Church!
A Child of God, Thankful for God’s Blessing of Family!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now in Gainesville, FL, serving as assistant to
Pastor Chris Kollmann at First Lutheran Church.
First Lutheran Activities
·
WHAT ARE YOUR SUPERPOWERS? Starting in worship on Sunday, March 8,
members and friends of First Lutheran will be asked to fill out a survey as we
seek to learn of the abilities and interest of those at FLC. Here is the QR code for the survey if you have
not yet participated. 😊
·
MID-WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP – In the time
before Jesus’ Easter victory, we focus on our need for His forgiveness and resurrection. Lent is a season of repentance for our
sin. Lent is a season when we watch
Jesus suffer and die for us.
During
our 2026 Mid-Week Lenten Worship at First Lutheran we will focus on
The
Sins of the Disciples. Here is our
schedule for the sermons.
February
18 - Judas Betrayal
February
25 - James and John Who
is the Greatest
March
4 Andrew Pride
March
11 Peter, James, and
John Laziness/Falling Asleep
March
18 Peter Denial
March
25 Thomas Doubt
·
SUNDAY SERMON SERIES – During the Sunday
Worship Services we will consider Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, looking
at different parts of the parable for 6 weeks.
Not only the words of Luke 15 help us understand, but also Timothy Keller’s
book, “The Prodigal God.” Here are our
topics for the year’s Sunday Lenten Sermons.
o
Week 1 - Feb 15 - I
want your life - Luke 15:11-16, Ephesians 4:17-24
o
Week 2 - Feb 22nd -
The Younger Brother's Plan - Luke 15:11-24
o
Week 3 - March 1 -
Redefining Sin and Lostness - Luke 15: 11-16, 25-32,
o
Week 4 - March 8th -
He Ran to Me - Luke 15:11-24, Philippians 2:1-11
o
Week 5 - March 15th -
The True Elder Brother - Luke 15:25-32, Matthew 28-34-40
o
Week 6 - March 22nd -
How does it End? - Luke 15:25-32, Mark 8:31-33
·
STEPHEN MINISTRY - We started Stephen
Ministry classes at First Lutheran on Thursday, February 12. Stephen
Ministers are trained Christian care-givers. A Stephen Minister is not
a pastor, and not a counselor. But they Christians who are
trained to bring Jesus and His love to another Christian person facing a
difficult time.
Open Arms Director, Angie Burr, is a trained
Stephen Leader. Susan Lucas is also beginning training to serve as a
Stephen Leader for FLC. We are looking
for one or two more people to go through training to help Angie lead in this
ministry.
We do have 8 people who have committed to train
and serve as Stephen Ministers, as Christian care-givers. Training
happens on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and will end on April 23.
Please pray for our Lord to use these
Stephen Ministers to serve His people.
·
Pastor Kollman and I are teaching separate
Sunday Bible classes on Sundays at 8:45 a.m. from February 8-March 15.
o
Pastor Kollmann is teaching a Lutheran Hour
Ministry Class on “How we Got the Bible” in the Besalski Fellowship
Hall.
o
I am teaching a study of the book of Ephesians
in the Schwiebert Library and Conference room.
o
On Sunday, March 22, Pastor Kollmann will begin
teaching an Adult Member Class. I will
teach a separate class, still to be determined.
·
Young People Activities at FLC
o
YOUTH ACTIVITIES - Our first youth
activity was held at the Kollmann residence on Sunday afternoon, February 22. It was supposed to be a bonfire, but there is
a ‘burn ban’ because of the current dry conditions. We had a great time eating and playing.
We are also discussing other monthly
activities. On Sunday, March 29 after
worship, we will take a trip to Devil’s
Millhopper. In April we plan to attend
the Orange and Blue Game on April 11. 😊 If your children are going into 3rd
grade, or older, please consider participating in these fun activities of
growth.
Other
Activities of Faith:
·
I have again started my two year journey with my
Lord. On Tuesday, March 10, I read Leviticus 7-9, about sacrifices
and the priesthood..
Feel free to join me again if you
wish. 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 and Fishing! - LAST WEEK WAS A TIME OF BUSY-BESS AND BLESSINGS
in the Rockey Family!
·
On Wednesday, March 4,
o
I played a game of golf to prepare for a tournament
the next day.
o
In the afternoon I worked on Sunday’s sermon.
o
I preached for Lenten worship and then attended
choir practice.
·
On Thursday, March 5,
o
I played in a golf tournament with the “Gator
Seniors” organization. Surprisingly I
did well. Here are pictures of wildlife
on the course. https://photos.app.goo.gl/EyonDgPYsnWaG1WQ7
o
After Stephen Ministry class on Thursday
afternoon, Kathy and I drove to Sarasota and visited with friends, Fred and
Kelly Vasilie.
·
On Friday, March 6
o
Fred and Kelly and Kathy and I attended a Spring
Training Baseball game. We saw the St.
Louis Cardinals play the Baltimore Orioles.
The Cards won! Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/zzHxdKrhZD5Cucrd8
o
Friday evening, Fred’s cousins Karen Sweeney
Johnson and Chris Sweeney Drashner, who grew up at St. John Lutheran in Palmer,
came over to eat. We had a GREAT meal.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1jPMBY2iDYVyqRsR7
·
On Saturday, March 7
o
We visited with former Florida neighbors, Paula
Forsyth and her sister Doris Beazell, in Bradenton. Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/VRJbHBg1e1wetyacA
o
We picked up daughter, Mary, and her fiancee’,
Brandon Holmes, at the Orlando airport.
·
On Sunday March 8,
o
We worshiped at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, FL. I taught Bible class
and preached.
o
After worship, Brandon and I went fishing (go
figure) at the mouth of the Suwannee River.
We caught 8 bass, kept 7, and 1 bream.
We also had a visit from one gator, and lots of birds. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/mRPsQzHL7QN4d13DA
·
On Monday, March 9, Kathy and I and Mary and
Brandon drove to Helen Georgia for an annual (sort of) Spring Break family
trip. I dressed for my grandson, Jake.
Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/HpGTeXD7GCatgNCk7
·
On Tuesday, March 10,
o
Mary and Brandon and I did pre-mariral
preparation.
o
Kathy and Mary and Brandon and I hiked up to
Anna Ruby Falls. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XCGcqjDDnYZ9ukwB8
o
After a tour of Helen, we had hamburgers for
Kathy’s birthday dinner.
·
It was a week FULL of activity and family
blessings!!!! THANK YOU, LORD!
*******
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 Assistant to the 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
Assistant to the
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)
