Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Wishing You and Your Family The Health of God’s Love, In His Church

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

What is the best resolution a person can make, not just at the beginning of a year, but for their most positive and healthy life?  Please notice I am asking this question after the first of the year.

 

I have heard and read in counseling classes that for a person to have a healthy self-image, a vital factor is a good relationship with their parents, especially with their father.  No wonder I read what I did in an opinion piece recently.  One man suggested that the biggest cause of inequity in our culture is the result of the different privilege which occurs for children who come from a two parent household.  Parents are important!

 

That is also one reason why, when people ask me for help, I often share with them that if a healthy relationship with our earthly father is important, how much more important is a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father?  A person needs a positive relationship with their Creator, their Lord, and their Savior.  Please notice that this is all “family language.”  God’s family plan for His children is not just about blood family, but also for a faith family – His Church! A local Christian congregation is a gathering of people who are brothers and sisters because God created them, and because, in Jesus. He saved them. 

 

We all know that families do not always agree.  Families do face problems and dis-agreements. The same thing is sadly also true of Christian congregations, or families. But family is family, and in God’s plan families work through disagreements in order to work together.  The glue for families is love.  In a Christian family that love is fed by faith, faith which knows that our Heavenly Father loved us in Creation, and that He has sought out His wandering sheep to love them through the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

 

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus gave His disciples instruction for His family - The Church  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34) John further instructs Christ’s church in his first epistle.  “10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11) The equation is simple.  God’s people receive love from our Father through the life and death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.  Then, when we know the love which God has for us, we share that love with one another. 

 

In my first year as pastor, I received a phone call from a highly respected scholar, and former professor.  Dr. Richard Dinda called me from Texas to ask me to do a chore for him in St. Louis.  After asking about the congregation where I was serving, he gave me some advice, “Love ‘em, Jon.  Just love ‘em.”  That advice remains with me.  This man was known for, among other things, translating for publication a large Latin manuscript.  But this well-known scholar summarized good churchmanship in one quality, love.  That may sound like a lot of rambling, and those who know me wouldn’t be surprised if I do ramble.  But, these thoughts lead me to two questions which I have for you.

 

First, do your plans for this year, and for your life, include active participation in God’s earthly family, in His Church?  Remember, a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father leads us to a healthy life.  If you do plan this, please know that living as part of God’s family means regular attendance, and support of your congregation. 

 

So, secondly, if you are living as part of God’s family, will you work to bring love to your congregation.  Remember, all families have issues.  Sinful humans can and do act in unloving ways.  But, through Jesus, God’s people can bring forgiveness and love to their faith family. We not only need God’s church to grow in our relationship with God.  The church needs us to work to make it a healthy family.

 

What resolutions have you made, not just at the beginning of a year, but for your most positive and healthy life?  I pray you may find health and love from your Heavenly Father, and that you share His love through regular participation in Christ’s family, The Church.

 

A Child of God, Wishing You and Your Family The Health of God’s Love, In His Church,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  FAMILY – Since returning to Alaska, we have had time to spend with family.

·       Family Ski – On Wednesday, January 3, Josh’s family went skiing at a local slope.  I got to go too.   https://photos.app.goo.gl/PjZDD1B2RcnAa6G2A

 

·       Wednesday evening all 6 grandkids, and some friends came over for chicken and dumplings.  😊  https://photos.app.goo.gl/PjZDD1B2RcnAa6G2A

 

·       Family Christmas – All 4 children and all 6 grandchildren were able to celebrate family Christmas on Saturday, January 6.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wr2uiVRuMWE4QPJD6

 

FISHING J  - I went ice fishing 3 times this past week. 

 

·       On Thursday, January 4, I looked for places to fish, but – too much snow!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ky71QvnQrjJ3d7tx5

 

·       On Friday, January 5, I went fishing on Matanuska Lake with Pastor Craig Schultz, Carl Jacobson, and Pastor Erik Christensen.  We caught 9 fish and kept 4.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/RTJJRTAuowU7hsNt8

 

·       On Sunday, January 7, after worship, I fished till dark.  (I was the last one on the lake.)  I caught 4, but released them.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/FvY3KTmPAwkpohhi7

 

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.  We have made it through 1 week!  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 MEMBER CLASSS –A new membership class will begin in the new year, perhaps on February 11.  If you are interested, 5-6 people are talking of attending this class.)  Here is a picture.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zps44Bhsemu8W9rA9

 

·       TIME IN ALASKA – Kathy and I are spending some Christmas time with our children and grandchildren in Alaska.  We left on January 1 and return January 16. 

o   On Sunday, January 7, Florida-Georgia District President and son of First Lutheran, Pastor James Rockey, led worship at 10:00 a.m. and taught 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)

 

 

  

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