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Scripture Reflection: Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged!

9/25/2014

“There they [Paul and Barnabas] strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14: 22

We have Paul and Barnabas traveling from city to city proclaiming the good news and causing many to become disciples of Jesus Christ, then they returned to Antioch and spoke these words. They wanted the disciples to be strengthened in their souls and to be encouraged in their faith. Think about the times when you have been strengthened and encouraged by people around you, and when you were able to do the same for others.

This has happened many times in my life, and one of the major times was after my late wife’s second surgery to remove a brain tumor. After this operation she couldn’t talk, walk, or move her right side. She spent twelve weeks in two different hospitals and a nursing home recovering from the effects of the procedure, having radiation, and relearning her life functions again.

Needless to say that was a very trying time for my family and me, I was with her every day for some period of the day during that time, and thus grew extremely tired and became emotionally drained. Even though it was very demanding, we were nevertheless strengthened and encouraged by the many people who prayed for us, visited us, called us, sent us cards, gave us meals, and were there to support us and help us in anyway that they could.

That experience certainly changed me and caused me to see so many things in life differently. I know that I am more empathic to others who go through something similar. I will always remember those who aided us and became God’s love for us. Without this love and compassion that time period would have been more challenging and lonely. May you also be like Paul and Barnabas and our friends and family and strengthen the souls of others and offer encouragement in their faith, so that they can feel God’s love through you!

Prayer, God of all love, please strengthen and encourage me on this spiritual pilgrimage, and in the process allow me to be a support for others whom I meet today! Amen. Vernon T.

Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Following Instructions!

9/18/2014

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“When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” Luke 5: 4-6

In this chapter from Luke we have Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus tells Simon (Peter) to go out into the deep water and let his nets now again. Even though Simon had fished all night and came up empty, he did what he was told. The catch was so big that his nets were strained and Simon had to get his partners to help out with the haul. Simon and the others were in awe at what had just happened. After this passage Jesus tells these individuals that they would be soon fishing for people. After getting to shore, all of them left their boats and followed Jesus.

As you take part in this spiritual pilgrimage, you may also be asked to do something that in human terns maybe quite remarkable. However, if the instructions and discernment come from the Lord through the Holy Spirit hopefully, we will be like the first disciples and do as we are guided.

Something like this happened to me the summer after I got out of high school. I didn’t quite know what to do afterwards, I wasn’t guided to go to college, or enter the military. I worked for a time at a few odd jobs. I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence at that time and was somewhat shy. So going out and trying to find a full-time job, or find out what I was meant to get involved with, was a very frightening task. A couple of men at my church helped me get interviews with two of the steel mills that were in town. I lived in Youngstown, Ohio and the steel mills were still a going concern for the community. However this was an industry that I knew very little about, and had never been in one before. So it took a lot of strength and faith on my part to enter this world.

I applied at one mill called Republic Steel, and they told me that they would call me later on if they wanted to hire me. I also applied at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company, and they offered me a job on the spot and said I could start in a few days. A few days later Republic Steel called back and offered a job as well. I thought about it, and decided to go with Youngstown Sheet & Tube.

That really worked out for me in the long run. I was laid off less working for them, rather than for Republic over the next eight years. I was also able over time to work shifts, which allowed me to go to college part time, and eventually leave after getting my college degree. I became somewhat comfortable in those surroundings; however, it wasn’t very easy at first and took a long time before I got used to going to work every day. The mill environment could be very daunting and sometimes dangerous. Thus interviewing for the steel job and then staying with that job took me way out of my comfort zone.

I didn’t fully know of the importance of that decision, however for my journey it was extremely significant. My life has been far from being perfect, and I have made my share of mistakes both large and small ones, however, over the years I have increasingly sought the instruction and discernment of the Holy Spirit on my daily walk.

As you take part in this pilgrimage and with your spiritual practices may you like the early disciples listen for Jesus’ voice coming through the Holy Spirit calling you to do things for the kingdom of God that you never thought you could do before!

Prayer, Holy Spirit, help me to listen for your daily instructions, and may this discernment allow me to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, and in the process become a witness of God’s infinite love for all of humankind! Amen. Vernon T.
Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Time Alone!

9/11/2014

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“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. . . .” Matthew 14: 13a

In Matthew 14: 1-12 we have the death of John the Baptist described. After Jesus heard this he was sadden and had to get away. Even though he was the Son of God, this event greatly grieved him, and he had to be alone so that he could mourn the death of someone he loved very much.

We may have times in our lives when we have to be alone to think about, grieve, or contemplate something that has happen to us. Like Jesus we want to remove ourselves from the noise and strain of the world around us. However, notice what occurred in the verses that follow this one, Jesus was moved by the crowds and went to them and ministered to them. Thus, at some point after our periods of grief and reflection, and we are the only ones who know when that time is, we ought to think about getting active again in the community that we live in.

I experienced something like this, after my late wife, Judy, died after a long struggle with cancer. We had been married for more then twenty-eight years when she passed away in January, the middle of winter when the days are short. My time of grieving for her was when there wasn’t much day light, and I remember sitting in my living room alone after work, with it being dark outside, it really was a very trying and painful period for me. I was alone a great deal in the evenings, for I needed to grieve and process what had happened. Of course she was missed, and I didn’t know how my life would unfold. It took all my energy to make it each day. Spring did come, and I began to feel somewhat better. Looking back that time away from doing a lot extra activity was important for my healing, and for my moving on.

On your spiritual pilgrimage you may have the occasion when you need to get away to pray, grieve, or reflect on events in your life. If that is needed, please do so, remember Jesus did the same thing. However, realize that just as Jesus did, at some point we may need to get back into our surroundings in order to do the ministry that we have been called to do, and to continue with our healing!

Prayer, compassionate Lord when needed, help me to take the opportunity to be alone and reflect on the things that impact my life, and may that time allow me to share your love with those that I meet today! Amen. Vernon T.
Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Glorify God in Your Body!

9/4/2014

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“Or do you not know that your body is a temple [sanctuary] of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” I Corinthians 6: 19-20

These two verses come at the end of a passage written by the Apostle Paul where he talks about glorifying God in one’s body and spirit. He wants his readers to know that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Additionally that their body is a gift from God, and not something that they own for they were bought with the price of Jesus’ sacrifice, and that is why God should be glorified in their bodies.

The implication is that because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit we should treat our bodies with respect and attempt not to do anything that would cause them any harm or to abuse them. That is something that is both easy and challenging to do. We probably all know what should be done to take care of our bodies, eat right, exercise, get enough rest, stay away from food or anything that could bring harm to our bodies with overuse, or using too much of any additive stimulant that has adverse side effects, etc. However, because we are all imperfect humans we fight in maintaining a healthy balance in this regard.

If we can try to visualize that the Holy Spirit is in our bodies, and that we are the temples for this Spirit, it may help us treat our bodies better. This is an area that I have battled my entire life. Even though I can be disciplined in certain areas of the care for my body, like with exercise, certain foods have been my downfall countless times in my life. This is something that I have prayed about and also thought about how to handle in many different ways. Sometimes I am okay for a while, but it is still a real struggle with me.

No matter what your situation is in caring for your body, on your spiritual pilgrimage may you feel the Holy Spirit within you, and may that presence help to glorify God in your body!

Prayer, Holy Spirit, help me to treat my body with respect and keep it from all harmful habits, so that it can be a good place for you to dwell, and one where God is glorified! Amen. Vernon T.
Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Scripture Reflection: Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged!

Scripture Reflection: Following Instructions!

Scripture Reflection: Time Alone!

Scripture Reflection: Glorify God in Your Body!

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