Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author
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Trials and Evil

8/25/2022

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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 passage given to us about what has called the Lord’s Prayer, we are told to pray that we are not brought to a time of trail (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 a long time until we are ready to accept the help and guidance from the Holy Spirit to do this, but it can be given. 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 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, many years ago, when I was a marketing representative in California my job was to travel around and visit the agents that sold my companies insurance, thus I was on my own during the day. I can remember stopping by a store/bakery to buy goodies and eat them all in my car, and a little while later would stop somewhere else to load up again. (Not a pretty sight or very smart---I know!) 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 © 2022 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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​Discipleship---A Lifelong Spiritual Pilgrimage

8/18/2022

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“For surely, I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with Jeremiah 29: 11
 
How do we know God’s plans for us? How do we know God leads and talks to us daily? How do we become more disciplined in our spiritual walk? When we are intentional in our times of prayer, Bible study, and reflection, the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to God’s love, allowing us to see opportunities for further direction and growth.
 
The writings in the blog hopefully gives the reader some small tools to help them in their spiritual pilgrimage. Being a discipleship of Jesus Christ is definitely a lifelong journey. For those who do not already know about them, you might also find helpful tools in the two books that I have written.
 
 Discipleship—A Lifelong Spiritual Pilgrimage offers guidance and gives support to those already involved in this pilgrimage plus encouragement to those wanting to do more in developing good discipleship practices.
 
Nourishment for the Spiritual Pilgrimage is a yearly devotional that has a specific focus on the concept of discipleship. It offers insight and support for those who daily want to turn their attention to God’s will in their lives.
 
If interested check them out on links above, Wipf & Stock and/or Amazon.
 
Blessings on your spiritual pilgrimage, peace, Vernon T.

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​Growth in Prayer

8/11/2022

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"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways." I Corinthians 13:11

This passage is taken from the chapter in I Corinthians that is often quoted about the importance of love and of its every lasting quality. There are many wonderful messages in this chapter and one of them is embedded in verse 11. That when we are young in age or maturity we generally act and think in one way and after we grow, we behave differently. The same can be said about our prayer life and the steps that we take along on our spiritual pilgrimage.

Many spiritual writers have said that having a life of prayer will change us, and cause to see things in a different way as we continue with our spiritual practices. For me, I know, that is the case. My prayer life has often changed over the years as I have added and dropped certain aspects of my prayer practice.

One of the biggest changes is how I feel free to pray for my family, something that I concerned about, and for others during the day; this is beside the specific prayer times that I am involved with. I often pray during times such as when I am going for a walk, when jogging, riding in a car, or waiting for an appointment. Somewhere along the line I started to place post it notes in the inside cover of my prayer book and began writing specific people and or situations on those notes. That way I am sure to pray for those persons/issues while doing my daily prayers. It has become a wonderful reminder for me.

How we did things while young in our faith, will not be the same as how we do things when we move along on our walk. As this passage states, when we were a child we thought like a child, but when we became an adult, the childish ways were put aside. Please be encouraged to find creative ways to have prayer be an ever-changing aspect of your spiritual pilgrimage. Know that as you mature in your journey that how you pray and live will change, evolve, and grow! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2022 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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​Words of Repentance

8/4/2022

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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 outgoing 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. I know that my marriage to Shirley, is much better because of my early struggles with Judy and communications.

No matter what your personality or life challenges are, 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 the lord and strive to share all areas of your life, your prayer requests, and your shortcomings! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2022 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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