Courage to Stand

Well, the time has come. I dropped my oldest son off at the high school and watched him walk in. I began to think to myself how different this was from his first day of kindergarten when I had to walk him all the way to class and then promise him some fruit snacks when I picked him up.

It has always been my biggest goal to set my children on the right path from a young age. We go to church, read the bible, and pray daily. It is such an important thing for them to see my husband and I do also, both individually and as a couple. Proverbs 22:6 encourages us to “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” When we look into our sweet baby’s eyes and make this promise, we begin a journey.

But I think the scariest thing about this journey is knowing that when they begin to grow up, especially in those influential years, we can’t always be there. Children nowadays are exposed to so many things and at such a younger age than we were as children. Technology, social media, and non-Christian influences are constant, both in the home and at school. Because of this, we as parents have an even greater responsibility to prepare our children to walk into those situations with a solid foundation and enough determination to stand out against the world. To be tried and tested through societal standards and still have the courage to stand in their faith.

As we begin this next school year, I encourage you to begin to pray over the many choices our children will face this year. As parents, teachers, and even students ourselves we know all too well the many times the enemy has challenged us. Pray for strength and clarity in our children’s minds to see through the lies. Calmness to know that when they stand up for their faith they are not standing alone. Bravery to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves. And most importantly, courage to bring those bad days and those questions to us as parents, guardians, pastors and mentors without fear of judgement.

We stand on the road with these children and they are looking to us to show them that our faith remains steadfast in Jesus, no matter our surroundings. So therefore, we must teach them to have the courage to stand.

Kellie Jones

All In

All In

As I was deciding what to do my blog on, I am continually reminded of our VBS theme called Make Waves and how close it hits to home for many of us in our daily lives.

First, I want to tell you a story. Many years ago, when I was part of my youth group, we took a trip to an amusement park. For those of you who don’t know, I am from Michigan and Cedar Point is a big rollercoaster theme park in Ohio, so it was a big deal back then to be traveling so far just for the day. The newest roller coaster, the Top-Thrill Dragster had just come out. The whole way there I was excited, I pumped myself up, I made a plan with my friends and when the park opened, we went straight for it. But when I saw it, I froze.

Now it wasn’t the biggest coaster or the longest, but it was the fastest. So, I decided, you know, I’ll build up to it. If I ride all the others, it won’t seem so scary right? My friends and I rode every ride in the park that day, including the tallest one. There was only about an hour left and so once again, we got in line for the Dragster. I was watching the people riding by overhead as the line slowly crept forward. My friend kept asking me “Are you nervous?” “No.” I would say. We got to the front, and I panicked. My friend went without me, and I used the cut line to exit and wait for her at the end of the ride. To this day, I haven’t ridden it. I haven’t had the chance to go back at all. 

I feel like our walk with God is kind of like riding that roller coaster. God calls us to this amazing plan. We get so on fire when we ask God into our lives. We are pumped and ready for God to call us to that great, amazing thing that he has for us. Then he shows us his plan or asks something of us that is outside of our area and we get scared. Many times, God calls us out of our comfort zones, to do things we may not be comfortable with, speaking at church, telling a stranger about Jesus, or even going out of our way to help someone. 

We live in that comfort zone, it’s nice and safe and familiar. We have our friends we go to church with, our family members that we share our love of Jesus with, and our daily routines. We sing songs on Wednesdays and Sundays and eventually, it runs together. It’s comfortable. 

We still say yes to God when we feel that familiar tug on our hearts. “You know what God, I am on fire for you, anything you want in here, in this comfort zone, I’m good with.” And that’s good for a while, but eventually, God calls us to more. To that deeper water. To give more, pray more, trust more, and we get scared. We try to shut off that little voice in us that’s going “Hey, hey. I have more for you. You can do more.” Because we just know it’s going to be uncomfortable. So eventually, we just get stuck in that zone and we miss what God had planned for us. We give in to that fear, that uncertainty, and we pull back. 

But the reality is that God has called us to so much more you guys! If we can learn to let go of that fear and take the jump. Say yes to what God has for us there is no limit to the things He can do for us. You might be the only one who can reach that friend of yours that is hurting and needs to hear about Jesus. There might be a family member who is having a hard time and you letting them know that God is still there for them might be just what they need to hear. God might be giving you these missions because you’re the only one who can reach that person or do that thing.

Let’s look at the book of Mark. Specifically, Chapter 1 verses 16 to 18. 

16  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

17  Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

18 They immediately left their nets and followed him.

Now read verse 18 again. It doesn’t say they paused, it doesn’t say they checked their calendars, and made sure someone could take care of things while they were gone. No, it says IMMEDIATELY they went with him. Now at this point, the news of Jesus had become commonplace. He had performed some miracles, spoke in many places and his reputation was beginning to precede him even before he would arrive in a town or city. Something to keep in mind is that the people of Israel had been waiting a very long time for the Messiah. Throughout the Old Testament, they had held faith that one day he would come. After the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, they still held that faith. They passed down the stories God’s promises to their children and their children’s children, and so on. Many men had come before Christ claiming to be the Messiah they had waited so long for but when the time came, when Jesus came to them with that choice, when they looked at that roller coaster-sized request, they NEVER hesitated. They didn’t ask if he was the Messiah or ask to prove his worth with a special miracle. They had that faith in Jesus, that fire inside them that told them they were made for something more than just being fishermen. Were they nervous? I’m sure they were. They were leaving their livelihood behind, their families behind, to follow Jesus and be his disciples. 

That same faith that drove these men and 10 others to leave everything they knew behind and follow Christ also lives in us. That same desire manifests itself whenever we are faced with choosing faith over fear and we choose to take that leap and follow Him.  Mark 4:30 records the parable of the mustard seed where God likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed. Our faith only needs to start that small. Hopefully, it will grow many times over once we listen and follow God but, at that moment, when we ask God to come into our hearts and push us outside of that comfort zone we have set up for ourselves we just need that tiny bit, that tiny push.

God gives us that confidence, but he also gives us that choice. We have to be able to take that step, that leap of faith that says “I don’t know what you have planned for me, but I’m willing to step out of my comfort zone and trust you.” God doesn’t expect us to have all the answers and honestly, most of the time God doesn’t give us all the details either. He simply asks for that willingness, that faith, that fire that we can’t turn off and he will do the rest. 

So, as we gear up to go into our VBS season, I encourage you to look deeper into what God is telling you to do. Be willing to look at that roller coaster-sized plan that God has for you and step out on that faith you have. I promise you won’t be disappointed! 

Kellie Jones joined the NUMC Staff in the summer of 2021 as our Nursery Coordinator. Her energy and cheerfulness is contagious to everyone who works and volunteers with her. She loves Jesus, her family, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Perfectly Imperfect

The 12 disciples. 12 men chosen by Jesus himself to follow him and listen to his teachings. But what made these men special. What made Jesus look at these men and say “Follow Me”? In short, absolutely nothing. They weren’t particularly religious, didn’t devote all their time to helping others. They didn’t hold positions of power or authority, but still, Jesus saw something in them and called them out by name. When he did, they dropped what they were doing and obeyed. 

Many times, God calls us the same way. We are called to ministry areas, to jobs, too many things big and small, and God asks the same thing of us now that he did of the disciples back then, to obey. Now notice that when we are called, like the disciples, we do not always have everything for our journey upfront. God doesn’t call on us and give us our full itinerary, a stocked bag with everything we will need, and send us skipping off on our merry way. There is an element of faith involved.  When God met Simon Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee, they were fishing (Matthew 4:18-20). Something they had always done, something their fathers had done, and those long before. It was familiar to them. Now I imagine when Jesus told them to leave it all behind and follow him, they must have been a little confused. How were they to feed their families? Make money? This was the only life they had known. However, they didn’t hesitate! It says they dropped their nets and IMMEDIATELY followed him. 

I thank God often that he calls us to the unfamiliar places, to the unknown, and uses us perfectly imperfect people to do his work. He doesn’t wait for us to fill the mold or have our lives in complete order before we can be used for his service. He can call us right out of whatever mess we are in to a life of service, leading those around us to him. He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So when you feel God calling you, embrace being perfectly imperfect and answer the call!    

Kellie Jones joined the NUMC Staff in the summer of 2021 as our Nursery Coordinator. Her energy and cheerfulness is contagious to everyone who works and volunteers with her. She loves Jesus, her family, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Faith in the Valleys

As I sit here on the back porch drinking my coffee on this crisp October morning, I find myself reveling in the changing seasons. Each with its beauty and purpose, its own perfect timing. Bringing new life and wonder to our world on a scale that can only be described as God designed. But I wonder, what if the seasons never changed? Would the birds who migrate or the animals who hibernate know? I mirror this to the things we so often pray for/about. And what if the times we waited for never came? What if the job we prayed for was never available, or the healing we so desperately needed was never fulfilled? Do we simply turn our back and give up, or is there something more as to why these things did not come to pass? I believe that many times the people of both the Old and New Testaments were called upon to walk by faith. The 400-year break between the Old and New Testaments alone can attest to the faith the Jewish people had in their God and his promise to send them the Messiah. So why, if God’s chosen people were called to walk by faith those many years ago, are we any different now? In Nursery this month we are learning to Sing in the Rain, which simply put, means that while we are going through hard “storms” in our lives, God is looking down on us continually, and so we can be confident in the hope that “His will be done” Matthew 6:10. 

How many times can you look back on your life and see God’s handiwork? If you are anything like me, you can see God’s expert touch in almost every circumstance. Now let me ask, did you know the outcome to that plan beforehand or even during? Most likely not. Just as a mountain climber does not notice the heights to which he has climbed until he reaches the top and looks down, so must we also keep our eyes focused on God during the struggles we face each day.

I am proud to say that I serve a God who is faithful in all His promises! Now, does this mean that all the things we pray for will come to pass? Most assuredly not, but we can hold fast, stand firm, unbroken in the knowledge that no matter how we see the circumstances, God is at work constructing His perfect plan. Just as the trees and animals have faith that the seasons will change, so also can we have faith that God will bring us through the seasons in our lives. Seasons of growth and prosperity, and also seasons of sorrow and pain. These seasons are no surprise to our Creator and he longs for us to cling to him in these times that seem hopeless. He did not say in His word that our lives as faithful Christians would be without affliction, however, He made clear over and over again that He is with us through these times and never gives us more than we can handle when we turn to him for strength. 

So just as we have faith that the seasons will bring new life and wonder, so will the plans that God has for us. I urge you this next week to listen to the song Hills and Valleys (the Hills Remix) by Tauren Wells and I pray that it speaks to you where you are and encourages you through the valleys in your own life as it has mine. 

Kellie Jones joined the NUMC Staff in the summer of 2021 as our Nursery Coordinator. Her energy and cheerfulness is contagious to everyone who works and volunteers with her. She loves Jesus, her family, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.