Blog Archives

Intercession for Lent

3/31/2022

Jesus, remember us when you come into your kingdom.

Hear our intercessions.
For your church around the world,
we ask new life.
For all who carry out ministries in your church,
we ask grace and wisdom.
For people who have accepted spiritual disciplines,
we ask inspired discipleship.
For Christians of every land,
we ask new unity in your name.
For Jews and Muslims and people of other faiths
we ask your divine blessing.
For those who cannot believe,
we ask your faithful love.
For governors and rulers in every land,
we ask your guidance,
For people who suffer and sorrow,
we ask your healing peace.

Holy God, your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought humanity the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death he endured. Teach those who bear his name to follow the example he gave us. May our faith, hope, and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, and death to eternal life; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Book of Common Worship---Daily Prayer” Westminster/John Knox press

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More Prayers

3/28/2022

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As we continue to pray for those impacted by war or violence, throughout the world, may we keep these words from Psalm 27 in our hearts, souls, and minds.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” Psalm 27: 1-6

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Faith to Trust in the Promise of God

3/24/2022

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“No distrust made him [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore, his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’” Romans 4: 20-22

The story of Abraham and the faith he showed in God’s promises is recorded in several places in the Bible. He believed that God would do what God had promised, even when things around him seemed to suggest something different. On our spiritual pilgrimage we often are called upon to have faith to trust in something that others can’t see or understand. You may know others that have been in this situation, or you may have been in a similar position.

One of the times in my life when this occurred was when I was thinking of going to the Trinity Lutheran Seminary. I had spent more than twenty-seven years in the insurance industry and wasn’t in a position to take early retirement but was given some really clear direction to go. The odd thing for me was that I knew that I should think about going, but I wasn’t sure why I was going before I went. I very strongly believe that in order to become an ordained pastor, a person had to receive a call from God in some form or fashion, and I had not received that call. However, it became clearer as I went along that I should go to Trinity anyway.

After I started, people would ask me why I was here, I would say that God told me to come, but I didn’t know why. After I was there for a few months, people began telling me that I would make a great pastor, but again I didn’t feel called to be one. Going to Trinity took faith in God’s promises, for I truly didn’t know why. Later on, I found out why when I met and married Shirley Ross, and became involved in my current ministry, however that was after I went.

On your spiritual pilgrimage, may you like Abraham have the faith to trust in the promises of God, so that when you are called to act, you can do so knowing that God will be with you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2022 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Prayers

3/21/2022

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We continue to offer prayers for the people of Ukraine and other places suffering, such as Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and so many others in our country and around the world.

God of compassion, you watch our ways, and weave out of terrible happenings wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been shaken by tragedy with a sense of your present love and hold them in faith.
Through they are lost in grief, may they find you and be comforted; through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives and rules this world with you. Amen.

“Book of Common Worship---Daily Prayer” Westminster/John Knox press

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Overcoming Evil with Good---(As it relates to the nation of Ukraine!)

3/14/2022

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“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12: 21

Like so many of us, my heart is breaking for the Ukrainian people over what is happening in that country. In my mind and that of many others; they have done nothing to warrant an attack by Russia. It pains me to see how much suffering these attacks have caused. In my prayers and reflection time, I have begun to refer to these actions as being purely evil acts. I understand that as a fallible human being with as many faults as the next person, I shouldn’t judge another human, thus, I am going out on a limb here, by referring to someone’s actions as evil.

However, these actions have caused so much needless pain and sorrow, and I ask why and what for. I can’t come up with any logical answer, except to say that these deeds were caused by the evil acts of one person and his minions. Of course, we all must be careful in our rush to judge. For many times over the history of our nation evil has fallen upon people of different colors, races, ethic backgrounds, economic status, and so forth. This country was built on the backs of many, whose lives were beaten down by evil forces. Thus, we all must realize that evil has been around since time began and will be around until the end of time. But when it appears, it should be acknowledged and confronted.

We all struggle with sin within ourselves, our families, communities, states, and nation. May we all acknowledge and confront sin and evil as it occurs around us daily; and pray about it and attempt, as guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to overcome evil with good. Each of us can do our part each day in whatever place and situation God has planted us.

May all of us continue to pray for the situation in the Ukraine. But also pray that the good actions of all peoples and nations can help overcome the evil that is causing so much pain in the Ukraine. The fallout from this situation is spreading throughout the world and even to the United States. None of us are immune from the actions caused by this evil; we are all touched by it, in one way or the other. My prayer is that none of us will be overcome with evil, but that we all, whenever possible, will try to overcome evil with good! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2022 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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If all we can do to help the Ukrainians is pray for them, please continue to do so!

3/10/2022

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“The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 b

For World Unity (A prayer from Zaire)

O God, you love justice, and you establish peace on earth.
We bring before you the disunity of today’s world: the absurd violence, and the many wars,
which are breaking the courage of the peoples of the world; (especially the nation of Ukraine)
militarism and the armaments race; which are threatening life on the planet;
human greed and injustice, which breed hatred and strife.
Sent your Spirit and renew the face of the earth; teach us to be compassionate toward the whole human family; strengthen the will of all those who fight for justice and for peace;
lead all nations into the path of peace, and give us that peace which the world cannot give. Amen

“Book of Common Worship---Daily Prayer” Westminster/John Knox press

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Life’s Miracles

3/3/2022

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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 right 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 can’t be explained, and were only miracles of life, and God’s gift to us humans.

For me, seeing the miracles of life and creation----carried over into other areas such as; the changes of the seasons with all of its different colors and varieties, snow caped mountains, lakes and streams, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, and the birth and development of a child. Having been fortunate enough in my new blended/extended family to again be around 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. Even in these very stressful times of all of our Pandemics; I pray that you are willing and open to seeing the daily miracles of life that God has created for us to take delight in. Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2022 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved