Blessed Because the Lord Keeps Me in All the Goings and Comings of Life!

One of my all-time favorite sections of Scripture is Psalm 121. I often read these verses to homebound people I visit, or to those in the hospital. Psalm 121 promises that the Lord is our keeper physically and spiritually, night and day, now and eternally. When I was first pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, Alaska, I visited Karl Kopperud’s dad, Herb Kopperud, in his home. I read this section of God’s word. After I read this Psalm, before I made any comments or prayed with and for Herb, Claire Kopperud, Herb’s wife and Karl’s mom responded, “Oh, the Palmer Psalm.” Perhaps you know the well-known first two verses of Psalm 121. “1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Claire called Psalm 121 ‘The Palmer Psalm’ because Palmer is beautifully surrounded by mountains. So, God’s children in Palmer can look to the mountains surrounding our town, and think of our Lord’s loving help.

However, the last verse of this short Psalm also speaks to my heart. In fact, I find verse 8 especially helpful in my life right now. “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” The Lord keeps us in our comings and goings. In the next few days Kathy and I have full lives. We are not complaining. All our ‘adventures’ promise possible blessings. Nevertheless, it is helpful to know the Lord keeps us in all these goings and comings.

We are preparing for the end of my time serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL, to return home to our family in Palmer. We have been here 20 months. Pastor Chris Kollman has been installed and is now serving First Lutheran with wisdom and faith and energy. Yet, during our time at First Lutheran Kathy and I have connected with God’s people in this place with bonds of faith and love. Sunday, May 4 will be my last Sunday to preach at my childhood home congregation for at least 5 months. There will be lots of good bye’s before we drive to Tampa for our plane. It is good that the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings!

After 20 months, preparation for our return trip will take a little more than just packing. What do we take? What do we leave? Thankfully, the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

On Tuesday, April 29, I finally got my car back from the body shop after I was hit at a stoplight on Saturday, April 5. Now, to check it out and make sure everything is working. And, I need to move all the tools and supplies which I had taken out back into my vehicle. Praise God no one was hurt in the accident. Thankfully, the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

We have a Rockey family celebration on Saturday, May 3, for brother James’ daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is marrying Peter Robbins in a ceremony at New Smyrna Beach. We will be there for the festivities. I am comforted to know for Peter and Elizabeth that the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

I received a surprise on Sunday night, April 13, which caused Kathy to exclaim, “Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?” After preaching at the morning Palm Sunday worship service, and after fishing in the afternoon, I received a text from Forrest Wacker, head Elder at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK. This congregation is 20 miles south of our home in Palmer. Forrest inquired if I might be available to help in their coming vacancy. I truly respect their shepherd, Pastor James Baumgartner. I did not know he had a call. But, he will soon be in St. Louis working with Jesus’ larger church supporting missionaries for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. James’ leaving will be a BIG loss. Yet, Kathy and I had planned to stay in Alaska at least into October. So, I have agreed to help Our Redeemer during this time. It is truly good that the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

On Sunday, April 27, I attended the Mission and Ministry Council meeting at First Lutheran after worship. However, after making my report I left to help a man in need of a bus ticket. That was a bigger chore than it looked at first. On Tuesday, April 29, First Lutheran Pastor, Chris Kollmann, informed me that after I left the meeting the Council had voted to put my one quarter time salary into the 2025-2026 budget for 6 months. While I knew the meeting included budget discussion, I did not realize this was up for consideration. I am truly thankful that the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

When life is full I seek to remember the ‘journey’ my savior took. Do you know 2 Corinthians 8:9? God inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Jesus’ journey took him from the riches of heaven, to the sin, to the suffering, to the death and poverty of this world. Jesus traveled from heaven to earth so that by His suffering and death and rising we can receive the riches and the joys of heaven. THANK YOU, JESUS!! We are so blessed that the Lord keeps us in all our goings and comings.

What do you face in your life? I pray that you find strength in God’s truth from Psalm 121 that “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore!”