Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author
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Scripture Reflection: The Lord Listens!

8/31/2017

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PictureShirley and Vernon T.
"For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me." Psalm 86: 5-7

This short passage places a real importance on being heard. Words like call, ear, listen, cry, and answer, indicate that the writer is confident that what they will be saying will be heard by the one being addressed and that their pleas will be answered. I have often said that a person who had good listening skills was well on their way to having good relationships with anyone that they were involved with.

Before going to Trinity Lutheran Seminary, for more than twenty-seven years, I worked in the insurance industry, primarily in marketing. One of my main tasks was visiting the agencies that sold insurance for the companies that I worked for. For me to be effective in what I did I had to be fully aware of what was being said. On those calls I had to be a good listener to what were the concerns and issues that were raised so that I, could correct any misinformation that was out there, help to solve any service problems, uncover why our products were not being sold, or deal with any number of assorted things. If I couldn’t clearly understand what was being communicated I couldn’t fully address what was needed to be done with the agency or with my company.

Of course good communications are vital in any relationship, in a marriage, in family situations, in communities, in work environments, in governments, among nations, etc. This passage lets us know that God is also a good listener beside being forgiving and abounding in steadfast love. When we come before the Lord with our prayers and supplications they will be heard, especially in our day of trouble. May you be bold in speaking to God about anything that you need forgiveness for or help with, knowing that when you call you will be heard!

Lord of steadfast love, help me to come to you knowing that you are the listener of everlasting love, and you welcome and hear my prayers and will answer them in your own time and fashion! Amen. Vernon T.

Copyright © 2017 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Praying Without Doubt

8/24/2017

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PictureVernon T. and baby Kevin!
"But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord." James 1: 6-8

As young parent I was very nervous about how to deal with a new born, for our first baby seemed to be so tiny and helpless. Overtime I got used to holding, feeding, and changing her. As I have gotten older and more used to being around babies, I have grown in my enjoyment in holding infants and being around young children. Part of my wonderment came about after my late wife’s battle with brain tumors, and when I learned more about how marvelous our human bodies are and how they function, and partly because of the new life that newborns represent to God’s creation.

Something that also helped me with this was one time I read that a baby can feel when they are being held by someone who is nervous or afraid of dropping them. Thus, often when a stranger tries to hold a new born, the baby can sense the fear and begin to cry. But then if they are held by someone who is secure in holding them, there is less fear and the baby is not as prone to cry. In the same way God knows when we are timid or doubting with our prayers.

This passage lets us know that God wants us to have faith when we pray, never doubting that we are being heard. Our faith is in the fact that we trust God will always hear our prayers and is full of love and only wants the best for us. What happens from our prayers may not be what we want or expect, but our faith and trust are in God, and not our prayers or our own effects. Thus, we are to ask in faith, trusting that what comes will be from our God who only wants the best for us and therefore we can’t pray in doubt that we will not be heard at all!

Gracious Lord, help me to not be timid, afraid, or doubtful in my prayers to you, knowing that you always hear me, and that the Holy Spirit will help me and provide what I need for my spiritual pilgrimage! Amen. Vernon T.

Copyright © 2017 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Reflection: A Road Less Traveled

8/17/2017

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Normally you can find me jogging several times a week, which includes a prayer routine that has changed over the years as has my spiritual practices. My jogging has allowed me to see things that one might not have been able to see unless they were out and about in the morning. This has let me see all kinds of wildlife, met some neat people that are out at the same time, and witnessed some awesome sunrises, the whiteness of freshly fallen snow, growing vegetable gardens, and beautiful flowers. Thus I try to go out in all of the seasons of the year, including the winter months with its cold and snow.

Over the years I have been learned how to jog on certain kinds of snow, however, ice and hard-packed snow cause me to stay inside or to jog very carefully. One thing that I have found when the snow has been around for a while is that on certain roads that I use, the edges are not as packed down as the middle part of the road, and thus isn’t as slippery. Therefore I generally have better traction on the part that is less traveled.

You might try this concept when you are beginning or enhancing your spiritual practices. Just because some learned spiritual writers or your friends suggest a certain method as a way to get involved in these practices doesn’t mean that they are right for you. Please be encouraged to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and come up with some routines that work for you. It just may be a method or manner that others may not have thought of before, or in essence a road less traveled.

You may come up with something that offers more traction for you, just as jogging on the edges of the snow-filled roads provides a better grip for me. Be open and creative, and not afraid to step out in faith, if that is where you feel you are being lead. The main thing is to start your rituals or continue them being open to change as you are being guided!

Lord of all creation, help me to strive for your kingdom on a daily basis, and may that striving allow me to try new and challenging ways to take part in prayer and the other spiritual practices! Amen. Vernon T.

Copyright © 2017 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: No More Tears

8/10/2017

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"They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7: 16-17

In our modern society some of us may think that people who cry may be thought of as weak for some reason. Some people can cry for most any reason, and others find it hard to do so. I know that for most of my adult life I generally didn’t cry except for major things, like the lost of a loved one. That all changed for me after I went through my late wife’s battles with cancer and her time being under Hospice care.

Judy had two operations to remove brain tumors, but after awhile the tumor came back, and there wasn’t anything else we could do, so we went under Hospice care. We cared for her at home until she passed away. That entire experience caused more changes in my emotional and mental state then I care to think about and therefore I cry a lot more often now than before that period. It doesn’t have to be anything sad, if it hits me the right way I tear up. I feel things more deeply then before and this causes me to become more emotionally then I used to be. Whenever I feel anguished about something that is happening to someone in my family, a close friend, or it may be even something going on in another part of the world, I can easily tear up.

That’s who I am now. However, this passage gives anyone who trusts in the promises of the Lord God, hope, that all of our tears will be wiped away. That we don’t have to remain in our current state or condition. On your spiritual pilgrimage may you feel that hope coming from God that the future is in the Lord’s hands and not in our hands or the hands of any other human!

Lord of all hope, help me to trust in your promises that all of our tears and pain will be taken away, and may that awareness influence how I live today and interact with those around me! Amen. Vernon T.

Copyright © 2017 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Vernon’s New Book now available in the Kindle Edition!

8/3/2017

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My latest book, Nourishment for the Spiritual Pilgrimage is now available from Amazon in their Kindle Edition. The site's link is at the top of this page marked ​Amazon's Kindle Editions. 

My first book, Discipleship, is also still on sale through Wipf & Stock, and Amazon in their Kindle Edition.
​
Many thanks for all of your support. Peace, Vernon T.
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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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