Praying to Number My Days Wisely – Because of Jesus!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

On Tuesday morning, as Kathy and I were sitting around in our living room, I received a sad call from friend, and fellow member of St. John Lutheran Church, Ron Svedin.  Ron shared with me that a faithful and loving man of 60, a man we both knew and respected, had unexpectedly passed away the night before.  As we visited and shared some thoughts, I informed Ron that just the previous night I had also been informed that a child of God in her 80’s, a woman full of God’s Spirit, was passing quietly in her home, attended by family and nurses.  As we talked, I also related to Ron about a young 4 year-old girl, for whom our churches had been praying, who had died on January 10 from cancer.  It is tragic, but this young girl of faith at one time was not expected to make it through August.  Her grandfather told me, “She was tough!”  Then, as we talked, we also lamented the untimely death of a young man last summer in an automobile accident out of state, a young man full of life and faith.

 

As we discussed these sad losses, Ron remarked wisely, “That just shows that we need to cherish every day.  We don’t know if it will be our last.”  In the chair beside me, Kathy commented, “That’s why I try to say ‘I love you’ when you leave, or someone else leaves.  I don’t want you or them to have an accident, or a heart attack, and for me to have spoken words of anger rather than words of love.”

 

So, as I added new names on the section of my prayer list for those who are grieving, the Spirit reminded me of a Bible verse from Psalm 90.  I prefer the 1984 NIV version which reads, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)  Life IS precious.  How can we live every day so that we do make the most of it, so that we do not waste God’s gifts of life and of time?

 

Actually, a number of people have recently asked me that question.  “How can I know God’s purpose?  How can I live my Lord’s plan for my life?”  I personally believe that people often make the idea of our life plans too complicated.

 

First, our Lord does share His plan for our lives.  "29 The most important [commandment} is this: . . . 30 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." If we want to ‘number our days wisely,’ if we want to follow our Lord’s plan for our lives, it really can seem pretty simple. “Love God. Love others.”  As I try to live my life those are goals which I have, which I believe all children of God have.  

 

God also gives each of us various and different gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12).  We may each find joy and fulfillment in different activities.  For example, I find peace and joy in fishing, and golf, and family, and  . . .  So, is it possible to love and serve my Lord and to love others even, for example, while . . . fishing?  I have found that I can love God and love others, even while fishing.  (Ask me some time.  Or I will share my doctoral thesis.)  Fishing is not an activity which I do in place of corporate worship, but in addition to my regular weekly observance of God’s Sabbath.  Therefore, loving God and loving others in my daily life IS His purpose for me.  Loving God and loving others in my daily life IS how I “number my days wisely,” hopefully in everything I do.

 

Unfortunately, I may intend wise living which loves the Lord and which loves my neighbor, BUT, I often fail in my good intentions.  There are times when I have dishonored God in my thoughts and actions.  There are times that I have hurt other children of God with my selfishness and sin.  I do not want to sin in this way.  But I do fail and, unfortunately, I do sin.

 

That is why I believe that, along with the prayer of Psalm 90, “Teach us to number our days aright,” we need to also know the words of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who taught, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b) In John 10 Jesus shares that He is ‘The Door’ into our eternal home with our Heavenly Father.  In John 10 Jesus shares “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) 

 

Jesus is the ultimate source of love and life.  He loves us as Creator.  But He does not give up on us because of our failures and sins.  In love, Jesus laid down His life to win forgiveness for the Lord’s straying sheep.  In forgiveness, our Lord gives us new chances every day to Love Him and to Love Others.  Because Jesus is my Good Shepherd, He gives ‘life to the full.’  I want to serve my Lord and I want to love others the way my Good Shepherd has loved a sinner like me.

 

In all the deaths which Ron and I discussed, we nevertheless had comfort.  Each of these people knew and believed in God’s eternal, saving love for them in Jesus.  And, because they knew Jesus, in spite of whatever missteps they took, they did have, and do have, life to the full.

 

My prayer continues to be, “Teach [me] to number [my] days aright, that [I] may gain a heart of wisdom.” And I know that in Jesus, in His call to a life of love, and in His loving, forgiving sacrifice, we do have “life to the full.”

 

A Child of God, Praying to Number My Days Wisely – Because of Jesus!

Pastor Rockey

 

P.S.   I continue to serve as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, until First Lutheran receives a permanent full-time pastor.   

NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!

 

 

·       Pastor Chris Kollman has accepted the call to serve First Lutheran as full-time pastor.   

 

o   Pastor Kollmann will be installed as Pastor of First Lutheran on Sunday afternoon, February 16, at 4:00 p.m. with a meal to follow.

 

o   Pastor Kollmann’s first Sunday to lead worship is February 23.

 

·       Kathy and I are in Alaska January 13-30.  While we are gone, Pastor Stephen Lane will be leading worship and teaching Bible Class.

 

·       SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING until May. Children begin in worship at 10:00 a.m..  Early in the service, after the Children’s Message, children leave for a lesson, for a craft, and a snack. 

Parents, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Neighbors, PLEASE bring your children to Sunday School.  THANK YOU Sunday School Teachers and staff!

 

·       In Sunday Bible Class we began a study of “The Pastoral Epistles,” 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, on Sunday, January 5.  Pastor Lane is teaching while I am in Alaska.  Come and Join Us in the Besalski Fellowship Hall at 8:45 a.m.!!!!!

 

·       COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m.  Come and join us! They are studying “The Case for Christianity.”  There was a break as school was out for the Christmas holiday.  Tuesday night group classes start again this Tuesday, January 14.

 

·       STEPHEN MINISTRY – First Lutheran is re-activating the Stephen Ministry program at First Lutheran.  Angie Burr, Jean Halabrin, and Dana Lucas will start leadership training, hopefully on February 10.  In addition, those who are committed to training as supervised Christian Care Givers include: Julie Dicks, Tina Gorske, Patti Holloway, Debbie Jones, Marge Polkowski, Kathy Rockey, Stephanie Smith, and Jon Visscher.  Stay tuned for more information as the training process progresses.

 

·       WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.”  On Wednesday, January 22, we read Isaiah and 45.

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  I have recently received questions and comments.  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:

 

·       Since we have returned to Alaska we have spent time almost every day with our children and grand children.  Here are just a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/u2X2XynJczkPf7mx5

 

·       One of those days with family was a day of skiing at Skeetawk near our home.  Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/SEbmXUtCFuovX78E9

 

·       I have been fishing Three times!

 

o   On Thursday, January 16, Kym Miller and I fished at Irene Lake.  However, DO NOT TRY TO GET THERE YOURSELF! The hill has turned to ice and you will not be able to drive your vehicle back out.  Here are pictures of a better day.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/wsJWPReQvSczvmm78  

 

o   On Sunday, January 19, I took my granddaughter Emma, my daughter, Mary, and her friend, Brenden, ice fishing on Seventeen Mile Lake.  We first worshiped, and then ate lunch, and then packed.  We got to the lake TOO LATE so we had no bites.  But it is ALWAYS good to enjoy the Lord’s Creation.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/w5JmG7wXi9ojVuW96

 

o   On Wednesday, January 22, I used my new ice auger and caught a limit!  Here are some pictures!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/DysdPRG2kddD8Eui7

 

·       Another set of blessings is . . . some NEW FISHING EQUIPMENT!

o   After 16 months my Palmer boat finally has a new motor.  I picked it up on January 22.  Here are a few pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/8B3XyRMiuH2qbkSU7

 

o   I have STRUGGLED with ice fishing the last 2 years because my 20 year old ice auger has had issues.  Last summer I did have a new carburetor installed.  And this week I did order new blades for the auger.  However, the new blades will not arrive till after we leave.  THEREFORE, I also bought a new, lighter, battery-powered auger which I PLAN TO USE ON JANUARY 22!!!! 😊 (Merry Christmas from Kathy!)  Here are a couple of pictures! https://photos.app.goo.gl/Re3srJyBWYQvAyyE9

 

·       UNFORTUNATELY, the moose have found my apple trees . . . AGAIN!  I planted new trees two summers ago because the moose had stripped the bark from my over 15 year old trees.  If you look at these tracks, and at the tip of the trees and limbs, they are at it again!  ☹  AND, there are tracks right at the steps to our front door!!  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/k5TZcsNhU3FZkwRZ7

 

 

*******

 

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)