Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Is Your Head Spinning? - Holding Onto THE Rock, My Redeemer, My Lord and Savior-Jesus!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

My head is still spinning!  After counseling and a funeral in Florida on Saturday, July 27, AND after Bible Class, worship, and a meeting to call a new pastor in Florida on Sunday, July 28, I hopped on a plane Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. and I am now back home in Alaska.  You know, there’s a 4 hour time difference from Florida to Alaska.  So, when I rose at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning Florida time, it was 2:00 a.m. Alaska time.  When I finally laid down to bed at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning Alaska time, it was really 8:30a.m. Florida time.  Actually, Alaskans know this ‘head-spinning’ experience.  Those who travel know this as well.  It’s called “jet lag.” I am told it takes a day for each time zone to sort of regain one’s equilibrium.  So, you understand why my head is spinning . .  .again.

 

However, to my credit or shame, I am a person who wants to keep busy.  I desire to make a difference for good in my life and activities.  I don’t shy away from opportunities.  Instead, I attempt to balance my life.  And, when a person travels from one place to another, there are a whole new group of activities, or responsibilities, or tasks.  While I’m hoping to visit with family, and to fish, I am also helping to plan the Palmer Kiwanis Golf Tournament this Friday.  I have 4 doctor’s appointments in the next few weeks.  This sort of sounds like my devotion from last week about rest. 

 

In all honesty, my experiences bring minimal disruption compared to real trials.  Travel and activity are opportunities.  But, what happens when natural disasters, or death, or a medical diagnosis, or a national catastrophe, or a child leaving home, or the loss of a job affect our lives?  Then our heads really spin!  When life causes a person’s head to spin,’ how does a child of God balance these challenges or opportunities?  How does a a person actually keep going?

 

Personally, I find that I can face the challenges of life by knowing who I am, and whose I am.  I am a child of God, created by Him, forgiven and redeemed in Jesus, saved for eternal life in spite of the sin and death of this world.  What really helps me to face these times is one of the names of God.  He is “The Rock!”  He is My Rock!  When I stand on the Lord, I can face the challenges of life.  Please consider some of the verses from God’s word which call Him by this holy name.

 

The first verse I found in Scripture naming God as The Rock” is in Jacob’s blessings to his sons while on his death bed.  In prophesying about Joseph in Genesis 49, God moved Jacob to declare. “But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,”  God is The Rock on which Joseph would build.

 

The Psalms declare of God, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  (Psalm 18 2)  God is a place of refuge, of strength, of protection in the difficulties of life which spin our heads.

 

I appreciate the last verse of Psalm 19.  I pray this prayer each time I preach the word of God.  Yes, for the challenge of speaking words of truth for the lives of God’s people, HE is THE Rock and Redeemer. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  (Psalm 19 14)

 

Isaiah adds to these verses about God’s strength for our feeble and shifting lives.  . “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 30 4)

 

In the New Testament we are similarly told that Jesus is our “anchor” (Hebrews 6:17-20), and our “foundation.”  God teaches in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

 

How does a child of God face life, face this world, when our head spins?  We stand on The Rock.  We know Who we are: children of God, created in love and wisdom, redeemed by the blood of God’s son, Jesus, assured of everlasting life through faith in our Savior.  When the world spins our Rock and Foundation are sure, stable, and eternal.

 

Jet lag is a real thing.  But, I have been in Alaska two days now.  Nevertheless, there are tasks to be faced AS I seek to live as my Lord’s child and to make a difference in His name.  When my head spins, I hold on to the Rock, onto the foundation which is Jesus.

 

How do you face the “head spinning” times of life?

 

A Child of God, Holding Onto THE Rock, My Redeemer, My Lord and Savior-Jesus!

Pastor Rockey

 

 

P.S.  I am listing SOME of the “Rock” verses below.

 

P.P.S.  NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!

 

Stephanie Smith and Larry Hartley were confirmed and received into membership at First Lutheran on July 28.  Here is a picture.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/zBAxB71ogYNt4tZE6

 

FIRST LUTHERAN VOTES TO CALL PASTOR JAY WINTERS –

On Sunday,, July 28, in a congregational meeting after worship, First Lutheran Church voted unanimously to call Pastor Jay Winters of University Lutheran Church in Tallahassee, FL, to be pastor at First Lutheran.  When a pastor considers a call he deliberates and prays to determine the will of God.  Should he take this new opportunity to serve?  Should he continue where he is already serving?  What bests serves the Lord?

 PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

 

VBS took place last week, July 22-26 at First Lutheran.  I am told that a total of 18 children and 7 adults attended classes.  THANK YOU to all who helped organize, teach, and serve!  Here are some picture.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/wyexMTa9NdepT6r67

 

WE CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.  On Sunday, July 28, we continued in Acts 19.  Come and join us in studying about the history of the early Christian Church!

 

WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible.  On Tuesday, July 16, we finished reading 2 Samuel.  We are reading 2 Kings. On Wednesday, July 31 we finished reading 1 Kings and learned the fate of Israel’s King Abab.. 

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

 

FIRST LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A ROOF FUND, and an AIR CONDITIONER FUND. In an announcement at the May 19 Voters’ Meeting we learned that to put a new roof on the sanctuary, the office building, the fellowship hall, the preschool, and the student housing will cost about $200,000.00  The roofs are still in good shape.  But we have had leaks, and it has been about 20 years since the roof was last replaced.  First Lutheran leaders want to act before the roofs fail. 

In addition, we learned at the June Mission and Ministry Council meeting that our Air Conditioners are old and will need replacing.  

Please consider how God may lead you toward these needs in the future.

 

 

P.P.S.  PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

 

I WORKED ON MY BOAT FOR THE KENAI PENINSULA.  Gary Feaster of Greatland Welding put in a new floor, and moved a newer motor to this boat.  I tried it out on July 30.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9cREjyWdYx3CXcSJ6

 

Alaska Weather is understandably different from what we experienced in FL.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/QF4KjhpVvnweQMR47

 

I LEFT FOR 6 WEEKS OF VACATION, TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY, TO FISH AND HUNT IN ALASKA, ON THE EVENING OF JULY 28, AFTER WORSHIP.

 

 

BIBLE VERSES

ROCK

Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,”  God is The Rock on which Joseph would build.

 

Deuteronomy 32: 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

 

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 

Psalm 19 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

Psalm 31:2-3  2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

 

Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

 

Psalm 78:35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

 

Psalm 89:26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.'

 

Psalm 94:22 But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

 

Psalm 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

 

Isaiah 30:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

 

ANCHOR

Hebrews 6:17-20 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

 

FOUNDATION

Ephesians 2 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

 

1 Corinthians 3: 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

*******

 

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 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)


No comments:

Post a Comment