Blog Archives

Scripture Reflection: Discipline Yourself

1/30/2020

“. . . therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.” I Peter 4: 7b

The ministry that I feel called to is assisting congregations, and church bodies with their spiritual pilgrimages. From my standpoint this comes about with prayer, Bible study, and reflection. This is done to allow us to become the person that God wants us to be; a lifelong learning disciple of Jesus Christ. He often went off to pray by himself, and he expects us to do the same.

Additionally, many desert mothers and fathers have shown that this routine takes discipline, and a willing and open heart and spirit. This is something that is done is daily, and is ongoing on our earthy walk. In our very busy-24 hour a day-world, we have many different things to occupy our time and energy. Often, we don’t take the space and or have the motivation to take part in any spiritual practices. But if we are serious about this pilgrimage, we have to make time to follow the model that Jesus left for us.

Somehow, someway, may you find the discipline to embark on or enhance your spiritual practices. Blessings on your journey! Vernon T.

Copyright © 2020 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Looking Back

1/23/2020

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“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9: 62

In Luke 9: 57-62 we have a few people who want to follow Jesus, apparently because of the miracles he has done. Jesus was becoming a rock star, and many wanted to be near him because he was doing things that no one else had been able to do. However, he had to get them to think about what they were asking of him. Their focus was on what he did; not on who he was. He told them what the focus needed to be in order to follow him. Jesus said that when someone wanted to be his disciple, one is turned toward Jesus and the kingdom of God, versus how one used to live, or what the secular world had to offer

Such is the case with anything we want to achieve in our life. There are times that we may have to give up something from the past, or from the human world in order to attain God’s will in our lives. May you be open to looking ahead toward God’s kingdom in your life, versus those things which may be holding you back from becoming the person that God wants you to be. Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2020 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Personal Reflection: Life’s Miracles

1/16/2020

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My late wife, Judy, passed away after a lengthy struggle with brain tumors. After her second surgery she couldn’t talk, walk, or move her left side. After several months of rehab, she regained some functions, only to slowly lose them again prior to her death. During that period, I began reflecting more and more about how the human body is created, grows, and operates. I came to believe that many things couldn’t be explained, and were only miracles of life.

Seeing the miracles of life, and creation carried over into other areas of life such as; the changes of the seasons with all of its different colors and varieties, a beautiful sunrise or sunset; and the birth and growth of a child. Having been fortunate enough in my new blended/extended family to again be around babies and young children, has only reinforced this sense of awe about all of God’s creation.

There are so many miracles in life that can’t be described in human terms, but only experienced and enjoyed. I pray that you are open to seeing the daily miracles of life that God has created for us to take delight in. Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2020 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Personal Reflection: Our Life Lens

1/9/2020

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We all have a life lens that determines how we look at every aspect of our life. Our life lenses are influenced by the spiritual practices that we take apart in while striving for God’s kingdom in this present time. The focus of our lens is also developed by our life experiences; all of the things that we have been a part of, all of the people that have come into our lives, and all of the events that have happened around us; impact who we are, and how we see life.

For me, my life lens has been developed by my upbringing by a single Mom growing up on the east side of Youngstown Ohio. My first church community was Jerusalem Baptist church, which was made up of people who had come to Youngstown from the southern states to make a new and better life in the north.

My life lens was later influenced as I worked in a steel mill, went to college part time for eight years in order to earn my bachelor’s degree, married Judy, who was of the Catholic faith, which of course affected my spiritual growth. Her death years later, after a long battle with cancer, caused my life lens to change radically. My many moves around the country as I worked for different insurance companies gave me more experiences. Then joining a Lutheran church, and eventually going to a Lutheran seminary, and being married to a Lutheran pastor, Shirley, continues to change my life lens.

I give my life experiences to encourage each of you to think about all of the events both large and small, and all of the people that have come and gone into your lives and reflect upon how all of these situations have gotten you to where you are today. We are who we are today because of what has happened to us in the past, and how we look at life through our life lenses has been formed by these experiences. How we look at things that occur on a daily basis, how we spend our time and money, and how we react to the events that confront us are determined by our life lens.

At this beginning of a new year, please be encouraged to either begin or continue to enhance taking part in the practices of prayer, Bible study, and reflection. These habits will give your life lens the ability to see things from a spiritual aspect versus a worldly one. This may help you to better deal with the many and varied issues of life! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2020 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Personal Reflection: The New Year

1/3/2020

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One of Shirley’s and my favorite spiritual writers is Henri Nouwen. He was a Catholic priest, now deceased, who was a very important writer in the last century. In his book “Bread for the Journey” for January 8 he writes about having light for the next step. As we begin a new year, we can become concerned about what this year holds for us. He notes that generally we only enough light for the coming hour or the following day.

He writes, “The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark.” He goes on to say that when we can take the next step with faith, our life can be filled with joy. May you be able to trust the Lord about the future and live today with that faith. Blessings on your spiritual pilgrimage throughout the New Year! Vernon T.

Copyright © 2020 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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