We normally got games as Christmas presents for each other and during the Christmas break, we played games and enjoyed each other’s company. I look back on that time as a blessing for we grew together as a family and enjoyed the time together. May this be a time of bonding and fun for you, your family, and close friends! Vernon T.
When I was in the secular work force, I was generally able to take off the time between Christmas and the New Year. This period became a bonding period for my immediate family when my children were young and we lived in Denver and then Northern CA. Both Judy’s (my late wife) and my families were back in Northern Ohio and so we spent these Christmas holidays away from them.
We normally got games as Christmas presents for each other and during the Christmas break, we played games and enjoyed each other’s company. I look back on that time as a blessing for we grew together as a family and enjoyed the time together. May this be a time of bonding and fun for you, your family, and close friends! Vernon T.
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"When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife." Matthew 1:24 Here we are on the day before Christmas Eve. The Advent season is almost over. Additionally all those last-minute Christmas chores are trying to be hastily done. However, for a moment lets think about how important Joseph’s act was to what we are celebrating. Joseph had planned to quietly dismiss Mary as was his right in the society at that time. However, he changed his mind and went against everything he had always believed in. While we are on this spiritual pilgrimage taking part in prayer, we should be open to being changed as Joseph was. Just as the angel of God appeared to Joseph and he changed what he had planned to do. God through the Holy Spirit may speak to us through prayer, some scripture, some spiritual book, or any number of ways. This message may cause us to change and move in a new direction. May we all be open to be changed on this Advent/spiritual journey! Vernon T. Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved "It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." Jude 19-21 Only a few more days left until Christmas. So much of our society is mainly concerned about the material aspects of this time. Since before Thanksgiving we, at least in the U.S., have had our fair share of ads letting us know that until we buy the latest new thing, our life will be less then perfect. We know that this isn’t true, however, the daily message of buy-buy can weigh us down and get us off our center. I pray that during this Advent season you may continue with your spiritual practices of prayer, Bible study, and reflection to keep yourselves focused on where the Holy Spirit may be taking you. May there be little or no division in your life about what is really important at this time and all of your life. What we buy today is only short term, only God’s love will last for eternity. Blessings on your Advent pilgrimage! Vernon T. Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 Last Sunday was the second Sunday of Advent, just a few days until Christmas day! The marketing of the holiday season that began well before Thanksgiving continues at a frantic pace. However, for the Christian church Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of the Christ child, who is with us and is still coming. It is a period set aside to reflect on this wonderful gift of love given to humankind by the God of love. Advent should be a time of hope. However, having hope about the future can be challenging, when it is so easy to be discouraged by the things happening around us, such as the storms of nature or the storms in daily life. But God’s hope is always there, even if sometimes hidden by clouds. By focusing on God’s word and love it helps us to get to the other side of these storms. During this Advent may you be able to find hope about your future no matter what may be facing you at the moment. Vernon T. Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved Angie Ross and Vernon T. at the Mackinaw Area Public Library Local Author Open House and Book Signing, December 6.
"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 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. 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! Prayer, gracious Lord, help me, guide me, and comfort me, and keep me from all harm and danger on this earthly journey! Amen. Vernon T. Copyright © 2014 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved On Saturday December 6 at the Mackinaw Area Public Library, I will take part in a Michigan author book signing from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. If you are in the Mackinaw City area stop by! Vernon T.
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