Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author
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Scripture Reflection: We All Have Different Gifts

2/28/2019

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For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: . . . Romans 12: 4-6

The lesson in this passage is also outlined in other passages in the Bible, and they basically state that all of us are called to fulfill different roles in God’s ministry and mission in this time and place, according to the grace given to us. Just as the human body has different parts that function and carry out their duties, the body of Christ is the same way. We are all called and given different gifts and talents to use in our various roles.

My two marriages are a good example of this. The written use of the English language is not one of my strongest suits. I have always been challenged in this, and the first class I took in college was a basic English course, which I failed and had to retake.

My late wife, Judy, however was really good in this area and helped me with my college papers and written correspondence afterward. Shirley is also very good in this, and has been a big help with my Seminary papers, sermons, and other publications. Thus, these two have used their gifts and talents to help me in life and to help me fulfill my role as called by God. In the same manner I have helped both of them, and continue to help Shirley with skills that they didn’t have so that their ministries could be enhanced. Shirley, Judy, and I helped each other in our mutual ministries and in life with gifts that the other didn’t have.

Please be open to where you are being called, and listen for the discerning voice of the Holy Spirit, which daily offers guidance as to what is needed next in the body of Christ. God allows our skills and gifts to be used in areas that are needed and not being met by others in the community! Peace! Vernon T.

Copyright © 2019 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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Scripture Reflection: Making a Home Wherever We are Sent

2/21/2019

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Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.”Jeremiah 29: 5

This passage is taken from when the God of Israel, through the prophet Jeremiah, told the people living in exile in Babylon how they were supposed to live. They weren’t to act as exiles but were to fully embrace the area and people that they were now with. God indeed had future plans for them, as noted later in this chapter. However, at that point they were to build homes and plant gardens.

Now I wasn’t ever in exile in a foreign land, but I have moved a number of times as an adult. After finishing college my late wife, Judy, and my family made several corporate moves. During that time, I worked for five insurance companies in four states, in two of these states I lived in two different cities. After I left the insurance industry and went to the Seminary, I have moved to two brand-new states to where Shirley was called as pastor. Most recently we moved again after Shirley retired.

Some of the moves were longer than others, but in all of them I tried to make myself and my family at home, and we settled into the community. We bought houses, put in yards and tried to make wherever we lived our home. We also took advantage of the surrounding area to visit on vacation, as well as taking in all of the interesting aspects of the town that we lived in.

Part of discernment on this spiritual pilgrimage is living in the moment and trusting the future to God. That is what God was telling the Israel nation that even though they were in exile they were to build homes, live in them and plant gardens, to basically settle down.

You may not be called to move to a new location as you listen to God’s direction and discernment, however you may be asked to try something new, or take on a different ministry role. No matter what it is, take it seriously and embrace the new adventure and live in the moment, knowing that God has a plan for you, and will be with you in that future whatever it may be! Peace! Vernon T.

Copyright © 2019 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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Scripture Reflection: Life Trials

2/14/2019

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"And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one." Matthew 6: 13

In Matthew’s last line given to us in what has been called the Lord’s Prayer, we are told to pray that we are not brought to a time of trial (or temptation) and that we are delivered from the evil one (or from evil).

There is evil inside all of us and all around us, and there are more temptations and trials facing us every day than we can count. Sometimes it is easier to give in to these temptations then to resist them. We need the spiritual help of the Holy Spirit to aid with our physical and spiritual journey, and we are encouraged to pray for help. Sometimes it may be a long time until we are ready to accept the help and guidance from the Holy Spirit to do this, but it is still there. It took me many years regarding one aspect of my life before I realized I needed this help and was open to it.

One of my areas that has been a trial or temptation my entire life has been one of overeating, especially regarding the eating of sweets and foods high in carbohydrates. This issue is both a temptation for me and one where I can be overcome with the evil forces in me and around me to overdose on certain foods. I have been on more diets than I can count, and over the years I have lost and gained back more weight than I care to add up. This is because I have had times when I can watch what I eat, and have had times when I couldn’t control myself.

For example when I was a marketing representative in California my job was to travel around and visit the agents that sold our insurance, thus I was on my own during the day. I can remember stopping by a store or bakery to buy goodies and eat them all in my car, and a little while later would stop somewhere else to load up again. After years of positive thinking, prayer, and reading many books about my issues, it dawned on me that my physical make up wouldn’t allow me to eat just one of these foods. If I ate just one that was one too many, and I would be on the road to many more.

I realize that countless people have similar issues with other kinds of food, drugs, and alcohol, that once you start, you can’t stop, and I also understand that what I have may not be as life destroying and life changing as what others have had to deal with. However, this issue has caused me to have many moments of temptations, where the evil in me and around me can override what I know is best for me in the long run. Thus, in my mind the best thing I can do is to not eat anything that will cause me to continue eating, and hopefully I will be able to do that more often than then not. However, I cannot do this alone, for my impulse is to eat up and enjoy the moment, thus I need this spiritual support to help out with my physical desires.

On your spiritual pilgrimage, continue to pray the Lord’s Prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to be with you and to lead you not into a time of trial, and pray that you may be delivered from the evil that is in you and all around you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2019 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Words of Repentance

2/7/2019

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 “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord; say to him, ‘Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.’” Hosea 14: 1-2

The prophet Hosea is encouraging the nation of Israel to return to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness for the things that they have done. The implied message is that God doesn’t want their sacrifice but for them to express their need of repentance in words and actions. In my life I have found that unless I could share my feelings with someone, and then show them how I felt, nothing else seemed to matter in trying to renew or build up a relationship with them.

During the first few years of my marriage to my late wife, Judy, one of the really hard things that I had to learn was that of sharing my feelings and thoughts, verses keeping them inside of me. Judy had a very out-going personality and found it very easy to express what she was thinking and how she felt about most anything. I, on the other hand, was more reserved and had not learned how to share my emotions with others. This was an area where we struggled with quite a bit in those early years.

Thankfully she was patient with me, loved me, and was willing to walk with me through that period, as I slowly became comfortable in sharing with her and over time with others. It took a lot of prayers, love, and persistent effort but things did improve. Today, I am still somewhat reserved, however, I am better than I used to be, but it is something that I will have to constantly work with.

No matter what your personality is, according to Hosea, God wants to hear the words from our lips about how we see ourselves, about our shortcomings, and where we need to ask for forgiveness. Part of our spiritual pilgrimage is to daily ask for God’s repentance. Today return to God and strive to share all areas of your life, your prayer requests, and your shortcomings! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2019 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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    Vernon T. Jones earned his Master of Theological Studies Degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary after a lengthy insurance industry career. Jones has assisted people with incorporating into their faith journey the discipleship practices that are outlined in his upcoming book and his presentations. 

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