Dear
Fellow Children of God,
I
recently watched an older movie, “The Wedding Planner.” In that movie the Jennifer Lopez character
tells a future bride, the client of the wedding planning business where she
works, “He said he can’t believe you chose him.” Similarly, I recently told some people, “When
both the husband and wife think they are the lucky one, then a marriage
works.”
Marriage
between one man and one woman is God’s plan for the world He made, God’s plan
for families. “Therefore a man shall
leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall
become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
Actually, Scriptures tells us that the relationship between a husband
and wife teaches us about the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church. “29 For no one ever hated his
own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30
because we are members of his body.31 "Therefore a man shall
leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh." 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 5:29-33) Our loving Lord intends that the unity, the bond,
the sacrifice and the love between a husband and wife reflect the greater love between
Jesus and His Church.
Unfortunately,
in a world of selfishness, of pride, of greed and lust and covetousness, in a
world of sin, no marriage is perfect.
Many fail completely. We should
not be surprised that our sin disrupts one of the greatest blessings God gave
His children. Divorce is a reality which
breaks hearts, in Scripture, in our world, and in my own extended family. I know some, at least, of the heartaches and struggles
of my loved ones. I am sad for those I
know whose hearts have been broken, and I hope I bring comfort and love to
their lives.
But,
marriage is still a gift from God, meant to bless men and women, parents and
children, grandparents and grandchildren.
In Proverbs 31, King Lemuel sums up a song on the virtues of his own
wife, “10 An excellent
wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. . . 29 Many
women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." 30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works
praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:29-31)
I
write this because I feel like I understand King Lemuel. On Tuesday, August 20, my wife Kathy and I
will have been married for 47 years.
Forty-seven years is not a seemingly special number, like 25 years, or
30 or 40, or 50, or 60 years. I pray and
hope we celebrated MANY more anniversaries.
My own parents were married for over 58 years before my mom passed. But, Kathy’s parents only made 28 years
before her dad died.
The
bottom line is that I am thankful for God’s gift of marriage, for the blessing
of my wife, Kathy, and for our many years of love and faith, of family and
friends, of disappointments and joys. I
do believe that I am the lucky one.
Surprisingly, Kathy also tells me the same thing. But, then she also tells me that her job
is to . . . keep me humble. 😊 (I guess that’s a
big job!)
On
Sunday, August 18, I had the privilege of bringing God’s word to Faith Lutheran
Church in Homer, AK. Before worship I
was talking with Ron and Marilyn Hess. I
first met them in 1991, over 33 years ago.
As we were talking Ron and Marilyn shared with me that they have been
married for 62 years, and that Ron’s parents were married for over 70 years. Imagine, 70 years! Imagine the love, the sacrifice, the perseverance. That sounds like Jesus’ love for His church,
doesn’t it?
“
. . . a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of
the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Thank you, Lord, for the GIFT of marriage
and family! Thank you, Lord, for my
wife, Kathy!
A
Child of God, Thankful for 47 Years of God’s Love and Blessings - in Marriage,
Pastor
Rockey
P.S. I am in Alaska for 6 weeks. But I can still share some news of happenings
at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, where I am still vacancy pastor.
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
FIRST
LUTHERAN VOTED TO CALL PASTOR JAY WINTERS on Sunday, July 28, in a
congregational meeting after worship. However, on Friday, August 16 Pastor
Winters informed us that He has been led by the Lord to remain at University
Lutheran Church in Tallahassee.
PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
WHILE
I AM IN ALASKA
·
Pastor
Stephen Lane will lead worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 4 and 11, and
September 1 and 8.
·
Pastor
Doug Bock will lead worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 18 and 25.
THE
WELCOME BACK BACK BARBEQUE IS THIS COMING SUNDAY, AUGUST 25~
WE
CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. Pastors Lane
and Bock will continue teaching.
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. We have finished
reading the book of 2 Kings, and have started the book of 1 Chronicles. The first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles contain
long lists of genealogies of God’s
people.
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. The roofs are
still in relatively 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,
our Air Conditioners are old and need replacing. The combined amount for repairs will total a
significant sum.
Please consider how God may lead you
toward these needs in the future.
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
·
Here is a
link to SOME pictures from our marriage, many newer pictures, some older
ones. I will keep adding to this online
album. https://photos.app.goo.gl/rVCggpLpqaDjMhhA9
·
Our
raspberries are coming in. Here is a picture of our youngest granddaughter, Annie with
some raspberries she picked, 😊 https://photos.app.goo.gl/uEFDGmKZdsb23oTS9
·
I went halibut
fishing on Wednesday, August 14, with friend and halibut fisherman Fred
Vasilie, along with friends Gerry Zellar,
Pastor Tony Schultz, and Pastor Scott Shields.
We did well. Here are a few
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/x3f5SdPRU8YfKmYE6
·
I visited
someone in Mat-Su Regional on Monday, August 11. I saw this vehicle in the parking lot. I expect they were disappointed when they
came out of the hospital. https://photos.app.goo.gl/rSb8gnGa2wShMAUNA
·
Also . . . I have now seen 4 different doctors and been to the
veterinarian twice. Kathy has also seen
the dentist, and the eye doctor, twice, and is having secondary cataract
surgery on Tuesday, August 20 (Our 47th anniversary). Things are hopping in the Rockey
household!
*******
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)
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