Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author - Vernon's Blog

Scripture Reflection: Keeping God’s Word

11/8/2018

“Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” John 14: 23

Keeping God’s word in our hearts can come out of our spiritual practices. When we refer to daily striving for the kingdom of God, we acknowledge the fact that this spiritual pilgrimage isn’t a one-time event, but an everyday one over a person’s lifetime. Jesus said that when we keep his word that we will be loved and that the Lord God and Jesus will make their home with us. Having them make their home with us can be a very comforting thought.

When my late wife, Judy, and I got married we really needed their presence with us. Beside the normal issues that confront young married couples we had several others thrown in. When we got married, I was still working full time in the steel mill and both of us were taking college courses.

A significant challenge that we faced was that we were from different faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds. She was raised in a Roman Catholic home, and both her parents were from the Italian heritage. I grew up in an American Baptist Church and my heritage was mostly African-American. We got married at a time when this type of marriage wasn’t accepted as it is today.

Despite these differences, we both were very involved in our church traditions, and had a every growing faith as children of God. We had faith that God was with us and would dwell with us, and this helped us through many difficult periods in our married lives.

Our life was far from perfect, but our faith in God helped us grow to have more faith in each other. Looking back with what we faced when we started out makes me realize that without the Lord dwelling with us, I am not sure we would have made it. When Judy passed away we had been married for more than twenty-eight years.

All of us have times in our lives when we aren’t sure if we can make it another day. Please be encouraged to keep the word of God in your heart through taking part in your spiritual practices. This may not keep you from all of the problems in your life, however knowing that you are loved and that you will not be alone, might help you make one day at a time! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: Walking Humbly with God

11/1/2018

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6: 8

This passage has often been used to indicate how humankind should treat other humans, and about how God wants us to live and move in our lives. In the verses just prior to this one Micah is stating what God doesn’t want from us, burnt offerings or any of the material things of this earthly life, but God wants us to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.

When we attempt to walk humbly with our God, we are also attempting to strive for God’s kingdom in our lives in this present time. When we do this, we are trying to put God’s will first in our lives before anything else. As I have stated often, this is a very challenging concept for me that has to be learned over and over. As a fallible human being, I daily must turn my focus to walking with God.

When I was going to college part time and working in the steel mill full time, I was thrown out of school twice for having too low of a grade point average for the number of hours I was taking. At that time for me college work was challenging, and when I tried to take too many courses while working I didn’t do well. My focus was on my own time table and me trying to look good by over working myself and doing too much versus walking humbly with God and having my focus on God’s kingdom and a time frame that were actually better for my wellbeing.

After almost being thrown out a third and final time, I was very embarrassed and humbled by this and had to take a different approach if I wanted to continue. I had to step back and look at what I had done that hadn’t worked and try to do something new. Thus, over the next three quarters I only took one course each quarter in order to concentrate my efforts on that one course, in order to work my way off of probation. I was able to do that, and after that period I took a more reasonable number of classes and was able to obtain my bachelors’ degree.

Being humbled in this case helped to get my focus off of what I thought I wanted, versus walking with God toward God’s kingdom in my daily life. There may be times in your life when you have to humble yourself before the Lord as you strive to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, hopefully your spiritual practices will give you the courage and wisdom to do just that! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged!

10/25/2018

“There they [Paul and Barnabas] strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14: 22

We have Paul and Barnabas traveling from city to city proclaiming the good news and causing many to become disciples of Jesus Christ, then they returned to Antioch and spoke these words. They wanted the disciples to be strengthened in their souls and to be encouraged in their faith. Think about the times when you have been strengthened and encouraged by people around you, and when you were able to do the same for others.

This has happened many times in my life, and one of the major times was after my late wife’s second surgery to remove a brain tumor. After this operation she couldn’t talk, walk, or move her right side. She spent twelve weeks in two different hospitals and a nursing home recovering from the effects of the procedure, having radiation, and relearning her life functions again.

Needless to say that was a very trying time for my family and me. I was with her every day for some period of the day during that time, and thus grew extremely tired and became emotionally drained. Even though it was very demanding, we were nevertheless strengthened and encouraged by the many people who prayed for us, visited us, called us, sent us cards, gave us meals, and were there to support us and help us in any way that they could.

That experience certainly changed me and caused me to see so many things in life differently. I know that I am more empathic to others who go through something similar. I will always remember those who aided us and became God’s love for us. Without this love and compassion that time period would have been more challenging and lonelier. May you also be like Paul and Barnabas and our friends and family and strengthen the souls of others and offer encouragement in their faith, so that they can feel God’s love through you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: Following Instructions

10/18/2018

“When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” Luke 5: 4-6

In this chapter from Luke we have Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus tells Simon (Peter) to go out into the deep water and let his nets now again. Even though Simon had fished all night and came up empty, he did what he was told. The catch was so big that his nets were strained and Simon had to get his partners to help out with the haul. Simon and the others were in awe at what had just happened. After this passage Jesus tells these individuals that they would be soon fishing for people. After getting to shore, all of them left their boats and followed Jesus.

As you take part in this spiritual pilgrimage, you may also be asked to do something that in human terms maybe quite remarkable. However, if the instructions and discernment come from the Lord through the Holy Spirit, hopefully, we will be like the first disciples and do as we are guided.

Something like this happened to me the summer after I got out of high school. I didn’t quite know what to do afterwards, I wasn’t guided to go to college, or enter the military. I worked for a time at a few odd jobs. I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence at that time and was somewhat shy. Therefore, going out and trying to find a full-time job, or find out what I was meant to get involved with, was a very frightening task. A couple of men at my church helped me get interviews with two of the steel mills that were in town. I lived in Youngstown, Ohio and the steel mills were still a going concern for the community. However, this was an industry that I knew very little about, and had never been in one before. So, it took a lot of strength and faith on my part to enter this world.

I applied at one mill called Republic Steel, and they told me that they would call me later on if they wanted to hire me. I also applied at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company, and they offered me a job on the spot and said I could start in a few days. A few days later Republic Steel called back and offered a job as well. I thought about it, and decided to go with Youngstown Sheet & Tube.

That really worked out for me in the long run. I was laid off less working for them, rather than for Republic over the next eight years. I was also able over time to work shifts, which allowed me to go to college part time, and eventually leave after getting my college degree. I became somewhat comfortable in those surroundings; however, it wasn’t very easy at first and took a long time before I got used to going to work every day. The mill environment could be very daunting and sometimes dangerous. Thus, interviewing for the steel job and then staying with that job took me way out of my comfort zone.

I didn’t fully know of the importance of that decision, however for my journey it was extremely significant. My life has been far from being perfect, and I have made my share of mistakes both large and small ones, however, over the years I have increasingly sought the instruction and discernment of the Holy Spirit on my daily walk.

As you take part in this pilgrimage and with your spiritual practices may you like the early disciples listen for Jesus’ voice coming through the Holy Spirit calling you to do things for the kingdom of God that you never thought you could do before! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: Time Alone

10/11/2018

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself . . .” Matthew 14: 13a

In Matthew 14: 1-12 we have the death of John the Baptist described. After Jesus heard this, he was sad and had to get away. Even though he was the Son of God, this event greatly grieved him, and he had to be alone so that he could mourn the death of someone he loved very much.

We may have times in our lives when we have to be alone to think about, grieve, or contemplate something that has happen to us. Like Jesus we want to remove ourselves from the noise and strain of the world around us. However, notice what occurred in the verses that follow this one, Jesus was moved by the crowds and went to them and ministered to them. Thus, at some point after our periods of grief and reflection, and we are the only ones who know when that time is, we ought to think about getting active again in the community that we live in.

I experienced something like this, after my late wife, Judy, died after a long struggle with cancer. We had been married for more then twenty-eight years when she passed away in January, the middle of winter when the days are short. My time of grieving for her was when there wasn’t much day light, and I remember sitting in my living room alone after work, with it being dark outside, it really was a very trying and painful period for me.

I was alone a great deal in the evenings, for I needed to grieve and process what had happened. Of course, she was missed, and I didn’t know how my life would unfold. It took a lot of prayer, energy, patience, and support to make it each day. Spring did come, and I began to feel somewhat better. Looking back that time away from doing a lot extra activity was important for my healing, and for my moving on.

On your spiritual pilgrimage you may have the occasion when you need to get away to pray, grieve, or reflect on events in your life. If that is needed, please do so, remember Jesus did the same thing. However, realize that just as Jesus did, at some point we may need to get back into our surroundings in order to do the ministry that we have been called to do, and to continue with our healing! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: Growing in the Knowledge of God

10/4/2018

“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1: 9-10

As this passage notes, for those who are on this spiritual pilgrimage, we are to grow in God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Our knowledge about the Lord’s will in our life, and about God’s kingdom will change and evolve over time. Being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ carries with it the responsibility to always be looking for ways to grow in our faith and in the knowledge about God and God’s word.

I entered Trinity Lutheran Seminary because I thought that was what God wanted me to do. I didn’t know why I was going, only that I was meant to go. I had always thought that I knew the Bible fairly well and was firm in many of my faith beliefs. However, the first quarter at Trinity was one of the most challenging and demanding times of my life. The remaining quarters had their stresses as well, but that first quarter was off the charts.

A number of things that I believed to be true about the Bible were radically changed or altered during that period. Some of the classes and discussion around the classes caused me to sincerely reflect on some of my long-held faith beliefs. It took a tremendous amount of emotional and physical energy to get through those classes. I made it, but what an effort. I continued my class work and in two years received a Master of Theological Studies Degree from Trinity. Even with this degree, I still read, reflect, and learn, and continue to be challenged regarding my knowledge and beliefs.

Be open on your spiritual pilgrimage to receiving new wisdom and understanding about God’s will in your life. Also, endeavor to grow in the knowledge about God’s word. On this spiritual walk you may be asked to change your beliefs or to alter what you once thought to be truth! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Scripture Reflection: God’s Peace from Prayer

9/27/2018

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7

When we pray with thanksgiving and let God know what is going on in our lives, we can have this peace that passes all understanding. During a time of my life when I was really struggling, the Lord’s peace came to me when my prayers gave me direction and insight.

My late wife, Judy, had two operations to remove brain tumors. The first one went fairly smoothly, and she had little of any side efforts from it. However, the second surgery was another matter for it was a much longer one with more challenges. Afterwards she couldn’t talk, walk, or move her right side. Needlessness to say it was a very trying time for my family, Judy, and me. She spent twelve weeks in two hospitals and a nursing home recovering from the operation, having radiation, and relearning many skills.

During her time at the nursing home she seemed to be getting a little better, however, every evening I hated to leave her there. It was very difficult for me because I felt so sorry that I couldn’t do any more for her. I always prayed for her doing the day and for guidance about this situation and was very thankful for any process that she made. I was led to get a devotional book, “Christ in Our Home” and started reading the book before leaving her at night. I read the scripture listed for the day, then the reflection part of the book, and the prayer at the end of the devotional.

That small act gave me some peace of mind and spirit so that I felt somewhat better leaving her at night. The peace I received didn’t change the situation that we were in, but it did allow me the ability to cope a little better with what was going on. After she came home, we continued to follow the same practice before going to bed. After Judy passed away, I continued that routine alone. During your prayer time share with God what is going on with you, the good and the bad, and may that allow you to experience the peace of God which passes all understanding! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Moving In Day:

9/22/2018

This morning, the movers delivered all of our stuff to our new place.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us and have given us so much encouragement.

We will of course be unpacking all of our stuff for a really long period, and in time we will get settled in.

As noted before we look forward to this new adventure that God has for us to do ministry here, getting us to this new area, meeting new friends, and spending time with our Colorado family.

Peace, Shirley and Vernon T.

Moving Out Day!

9/17/2018

It is a bitter-sweet day for Shirley and me. The moving van arrived and after weeks of sorting and packing, we are headed off to Colorado. Question, how we did end up with so much "Stuff" to move? :)

It is bitter, because we have really enjoyed our time doing ministry here in Alpena and before that in Louisville. We have gotten to know a lot of very loving, caring people, and always knew that we were loved and supported.

The sweet part is that we are off to a new adventure, trusting that our ministry will continue out West; however, at this point we aren't exactly sure what that will look like. We will be close to children and grandchildren which certainly adds to the sweet part, but that is also bitter as we're leaving children, grandchildren, and many dear friends in the Midwest.

Continue to keep us in your prayers, as we travel cross-country to begin the next stage of our lives and ministry.

Peace, Shirley and Vernon T.

Scripture Reflection: Faithful and Being Kept Sound

9/13/2018

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do this.” I Thessalonians 5: 23-24

This letter from Paul gives us a view of his initial missionary activity and it gives encouragement about how believers should have lived at that time. He wanted them to know that their entire being would be kept sound because Jesus was faithful about his promises to return. We all may have times in our lives when we don’t have the faith to trust in the promises of God, or in our present situations, or in the people that are around us.

Having the faith to trust is something that I, personally, have had challenges with at various times in my life. Once, one of the insurance companies I worked for took all of their management staff to an outward-bound experience with a company called Pecos River Learning Centers. Pecos River worked with organizations to help train their employees to faithfully function together while doing various tasks.

I was worried about it before I went, and even tried to talk my boss out of making me go, which didn’t work. Those few days took me way out of my comfort zone. One of the activities was to climb up this tall pole, which was at least twenty feet up, and to jump off the pole to hit a bell some distance away, with nothing underneath you. You had to do this by trusting that your team mates would hold you up securely with ropes.

I am deathly afraid of heights and told my team mates this the day before we were scheduled to do it. I let them know that I didn’t want to do it. However, because we had some other team building events prior to that; I came to trust in my team mates. I was able to climb the pole and jumped off it in faith. Someone took a picture of me jumping off, and I still have the picture on my desk. It was a wonderful experience for me, and one I will always remember and one I am very grateful for.

On your spiritual pilgrimage please be faithful and believe that God will also keep you safe and sound, when you are asked to take a risk! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved