What is Going On?

Do you ever ask that question?? What is going on?  I have been asking myself that question all day today.  It first started last night with the devastation from torandoes across the country, and then today, it seems everyone has had a "bad" Monday.  Gotta say, it wasn't even the best day for me, either.  Due to work.  But that's a story I won't bore you with and what good does it do to complain?  But it seems the status updates I've seen on Facebook today have to do with peoples work.  Do you ever just grow tired and weary of living in this world? I know I sure do.  I know there are SO many good things here, don't get me wrong, but there are SO many days that I wish I could just go HOME and get out of here.  Today is one of those days.  I see so many people hurting, and people who have lost loved ones from these storms. It just hurts.  My heart aches and longs for a better place. A place where there will be no more storms, no more devastation, no more hurt, no more pain, and no more goodbyes.  A place where a boss is not constantly on your back to "work harder and faster" even when you're giving your all.  A place where I can fall at my Savior's feet in complete worship for eternity. A place where I will feel peace, perfect peace.  It's hard to do that here when we are constantly bombarded by life, by Satan. Satan, the one who is always stealing our joy and loving all the pain we are going through.  I read of people who have kids who are so sick and they can't get answers or the problems they have are never "fixed". You just deal with them as best you know how.  Today the old hymn has been running through my mind as I try to unwind from a crazy night shift and settle down to sleep. "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue... and I can't feel at home in this world anymore..."  This is the only thing that keeps me going on the rougher days of life. Just knowing THIS world is not the end and I don't feel at home here. And every single day, I'm getting closer to getting out of here, and so are you.  The day is coming where we will see Jesus face right before us.  Oh my goodness. My heart jumps for joy at the thought of that.  How exciting that day is going to be.  I don't mean to sound selfish, but if I could go right now, I would, and I sometimes get jealous of the ones who are already there.  They ran their race, they survived this crazy world, and they crossed the finish line into the arms of Jesus.  I can't wait to cross my finish line.  I think about Heaven every single day, and I grow more and more homesick for it as I see this world get crazier day in and day out.  So to all my friends out there who have weathered these storms and tornadoes, to the ones who have lost friends or loved ones, to the ones of you who have had a bad day at work, or dealing with sick kids, or just whatever you may be dealing with in your life at the moment that is not "fun". Remember...there is a greater day coming.  A day when all of this will pass. A day when all things are made new. A day where we will have no more pain and sorrow.  A day where we will never hurt or say goodbye again.  A day where we will not have rotten jobs just to get by. A day where we will surround the throne of our God and we will praise Him with the angels.  Try to keep your eyes focused on this and soon you will realize that nothing matters here. Nothing at all. It is all temporary. Passing in the blinking of an eye, and we will be HOME before we know it. And we will no longer ask the question, "What is going on?"  Oh Lord, come quickly. I cannot wait for the day to be with you.  I love you all, and I pray that everyone stays safe as these storms pass us by.  God bless!!  

Gods at War

I love days like today where I have nothing to do or nowhere to go. These kind of days are RARE for me.  I know people probably think, "She's single, she has no life." Sure.  I'm tellin' ya, I don't know how you people with kids and families do it because I stay busy all the time, and I only have to take care of me.  Trust me, I'm lookin' for the Calgon quite a bit, but it's nowhere to be found some days. haha!  Today, though, I've just been able to enjoy the day. I've been able to hang outside and just do nothing.  It's been AWESOME.  On my days of nothing, I sometimes like to read.  I have started reading a book called "Gods at War", and I gotta tell you, it is stepping on my toes.  Kyle Idleman is the author. He wrote another excellent book, "Not a Fan".  Another one that will step on your toes and make you take a second look at your faith and who you are serving in this world.  "Gods at War" is similar in some areas to "Not a Fan" as it just questions what "god(s)" you are worshipping.  I often wonder, how many of us put God FIRST?  I see so many of us putting sports, jobs, careers, money, homes, cars, etc. before God.  I'm not a big fan of the "American Dream", and I know my life doesn't make sense to many people as I have chosen to live differently, and that's ok. I don't really care if people "get me" or not. I'm weird, I admit it. :) And I still have friends, it's pretty amazing. :) As I am reading through this book, I see things even in my life that I put before God Almighty.  It is SO hard when we are constantly bombarded and distracted here with so many different things.  Often times, I wish I had lived in the 40's and 50's. When life was just simpler, and people weren't in such a hurry like we are today. We didn't have all of these electronic gadgets, Facebook, and so many other things distracting us and taking away our time.  Years ago, families spent time together. You know what I see now?? Families sitting on their phones instead of actually talking to one another. Just go to a restaurant and you'll see what I'm talking about when you just look around.  People even lose sleep now days because they can't even turn their phones off at night.  I'm preaching to myself here, too, as I'm just as addicted to my phone as the next person.  But isn't it sad?  Do you ever wonder what we did before we had cell phones?? I sure can't recall what I did. Well, I didn't mean to get off on a cell phone tangent, but it's easy to make your cell phone a "god".   It's just easy to put things aka "gods" before our Father.  How can we become more quiet in this society we live in? How can we slow down and put Him first? I wish I knew how to answer these questions as many of us don't even hardly have time to squeeze Him in on a Sunday morning anymore.  There's always something more important than spending time with God.  If you're looking for a way to deepen your faith and walk with God, I highly recommend reading "Gods at War". It's a real eye opener, and a book that will make you think.  If we could just slow down and spend some time with God, we would be amazed at the things He would show us.  I hope you were able to get out and enjoy His creation today and just thank Him for giving you another day on this earth.  God Bless!

Gown? You Call That a Gown??

Tonight I decided to dig deep into my blog archives and I came across this beauty from 2008.  I was having some health issues 6 years ago and was obviously having a good time at the Doctor's office with their hospital "gowns." I'm not exactly sure where these people get off calling those things "gowns", but it's a far cry from any type of gown I've ever worn.  Anyway...enjoy this humorous blog from the life of Jewels.  :)  And I'm still an advocate against Mt. Dew. 

We've all been there, or if you haven't, rest assure, you will be one day! The dreaded "hospital gown"! Need I say more?? Ok, honestly, are they kidding?? Most gowns I wear...let's see, how shall I say....cover me! A mere hospital gown is made out of some kind of funky, thin paper that doesn't fasten! That's not a gown folks!!! A gown does not have a gaping hole in the front or the back in places that shouldn't be gaping. If I am feeling a breeze in places I should not be feeling a breeze in public, that my friends is NOT a gown! Even I do not have to go to medical school to tell the difference between a gown and what's NOT a gown! Are you with me?? Well, I had the fun experience today, and trust me, when you go to the dr. you just have to have a sense of humor.  All of this say, I had an ultrasound done on my heart today. Some of you may or may not know that I've been having some issues related to my heart...and I was privileged to get to wear "the gown". So anyway, the drs. have been a little concerned with my heart arythmia, so I had to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours about 3 weeks ago. I had several weird episodes while wearing it, and I was informed today that 3 of the readings were considered "near fatal". Yes, it was that bad. I had been drinking Mt. Dew everyday, and I started wondering if THIS might be my problem. I decided to cut out the Dews, and I have been drinking nothing but water for the past 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. Well guess what?? My ultrasound showed no problems whatsoever today!! I'm here to say that IF you drink Mt. Dew, please stop because I am not the only person who has had problems with this soft drink. I know of someone else who was told to stop drinking them, or he was going to die. It was affecting his heart as well. I'm not trying to preach, but I was told today at the dr. that Mt. Dew has more caffeine than 9 cups of coffee. That is insane! Plus being told you had some "near fatal heart arythmias" is a sure fire wake up call to make some changes. There will be no more DEW for me, but even MORE water! Hopefully no more "gowns" for awhile, as well. That's one fashion statement I'm good to live without!! :-) Hope you've all had a wonderful day!!

Talkin' To Myself and Feelin' Old...

Years ago when I was about 4 or 5 years old, I would listen regularly to The Carpenters.  They were really my first remembrance of music, and the first "group" I grew to love.  They are still amongst my favorites to this day.  I recall the lyrics to one of their songs, "Rainy Days and Mondays".  Karen Carpenter would sing, "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old, sometimes I'd like quit, nothin' ever seems to fit. Hangin' around, nothin' to do but frown, rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." Kind of a depressing song when you really listen. Almost like her life has passed her by and what is she even living for anymore?  Well, I never thought much about those lyrics until tonight as I was working at Kroger.  I usually work the night shift, but sometimes they don't have enough hours to schedule me on nights. Yeah, I have no idea, makes no sense to me either, but whatever.  So this week, I'm working day shift, which means I end up working with a bunch of high school kids.  Good times.  Nah, they're really not bad kids and they've all been super nice to me considering I'm really OLD compared to them.  I crack up as I listen to them talk about this or that class, and how stressful life is to be 16.  Oh they just don't have a clue.  Tonight I listened as they talked about this one teacher they couldn't stand, or how boring this or that class is.  It took me back to my high school days which seems like many moons ago when you're hanging around kids born in 1997.  And now I just made you feel old. :)  I was talking with one girl tonight who is a Senior in high school, and she "can't wait to graduate."  Aaaahhh yes, I remember having those feelings, too.  As I stood there listening to them talk at each other back and forth, my mind couldn't stop thinking, "These kids were born in 1996 and 1997."  Do you know what I was doing in 1997?? I was 24 years old and having a great time in college (for the second time after dropping out.)  Is it really possible that it's been 16 and 17 years ago that I was in college??  I never really feel too old until I get around teenagers, and then I feel like I'm an over the hill old biddy.  So now I get those lyrics, "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old"....haha!  Oh Karen Carpenter, you were speaking to me way back when and you had no idea.  I really don't think I'm old, but working with those kids tonight, I realize I'm old enough to be their mother. YIKES!!!!!  Time amazes me as it seems like only yesterday that I was the 16 and 17 year old kid working while going to high school.  And here I am 23 years later.   Our life is definitely like a vapor, here for a little while and then vanishing away.  If you think life isn't flying past you, go hang out with some teenagers. They will quickly make you realize just how old you really are.  But something else those teens taught me tonight, they helped me know that I'm SO thankful to be as far through this old world as I am.  My teen years were not bad at all, and I had a lot of good times,  but I wouldn't go back to that time for anything. I love where I am right now in life. I'm doing things at 40 that I never even dreamed would be happening to me when I was 17.  So even though I may talk to myself and feel old sometimes, I love right where I am.  And I love that I'm getting closer to my Heavenly home.  As those teens are just about to start their life journey, this ole girl is happy to be as far through her journey as she is right now.   The Lord has been so good to me as I look back over my life, and He continues to be good to me and take me to places I never dreamed would happen to me. Why would I ever want to go back in time?? I'm happy right where I am.  Hope you all have had a blessed day!! God Bless!

Heaven Is For Real

So yesterday I went to see "Heaven is for Real" with some friends.  I had read the book, which is amazing. I'm not an extremely big reader, but when it comes to books about Heaven and near death experiences, I can't put those kinds of books down. I read "Heaven is for Real" in one sitting on a Monday when I had the stomach flu and stayed home from work 4 years ago.  I just couldn't put it down.  It captivated me so much, made me cry, and made me long for Heaven even more than I already did.  I've not lost anyone (yet) extremely close to me other than my grandparents who passed away in 2005.  I was pretty close to them as I grew up in the same hometown that they lived in.  So reading this book made me so happy as Colton talked about no one being old there. I couldn't help but think of my grandparents and other relatives who have passed on being young, and apparently wearing no glasses since he also said no one in Heaven wears glasses.  I'm not sure how many of you believe that this sort of thing happened to this little boy, but I fully believe it.  I'm not sure how a 4 year old kid could make up some of the things he saw.  I know kids have a vivid imagination, but come on.  This kid saw things that we've only read about in scripture, one thing he talks about is Jesus' "markers"...meaning the nail scars in his hands and feet. Wow.  This movie will make you happy, make you laugh, and it will make you cry tears of joy. I should have taken a box of tissues with me as I cried through the majority of the movie.  :)  If you have doubts on God or if Heaven is real, I highly recommend seeing this movie.  If you are missing loved ones who have passed on, I pray that this movie would bring you comfort knowing that they are "ok".  I've heard and read several different accounts of people who have had near death experiences not wanting to come back to this earth.  That really excites me as I don't feel like I belong here at all. I'm SO ready for the next world.  A place with no more sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more wars, no more tears, no more fighting, no more people fighting for power...and the big thing is no more death and no more goodbyes.  I'm not sure what you think about this Colton kid or what he saw, but as for me, I fully believe that he experienced everything that he did.  We are told to have faith like a child, but what happens to us as adults? Where does our faith like a child go?  I have faith that Colton saw everything that he did.  I'm just jealous that it's not happened to me.  I'm not sure why some people get to experience these things and others of us do not.  It's kinda like my friends who see angels and have visions. I feel like I get ripped off as I've not ever experienced any of these things either, but maybe that's where I've lost my faith of a child.  It's easy for me to lose focus on the spiritual life when I become so consumed with the junk of the physical life. Just one of the reasons that I'm so tired of living here. I'm tired of things stressing me out here that don't matter at all. I just want to go HOME, where I belong.  I hope you all will go see this movie, if nothing else, just to remind you of what's important...and it's not this life.  I don't know about y'all, but I'm SO thankful that with each passing day, I'm getting closer to eternity and living with my God forever and ever.  If you're not excited thinking about that, maybe you need to reevaluate some stuff in your life.  As we celebrate Easter tomorrow, just remember how much God loves you and me by sending His one and only son to die for this world.  I can't grasp His love for us when we slap Him in the face time and time again, but I'm SO thankful He is ever forgiving. Praise Him!!!  I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, and if you're looking for something to do, go see "Heaven is for Real", and check out the book, too.  You won't regret it!! God Bless!!

God's Not Dead!

I'm a big fan of movies.  I like comedies, chick flicks, suspense, but my favorite movies are Christian/positive movies.  I'm SO excited that there have been a few Christian flicks come out this year.  Aside from "Noah",  which I THOUGHT would be Biblically based, but was far from it, the one Christian movie I've seen so far this year is "God's Not Dead".  It's a pretty powerful movie that is set on a college campus and is centered around a Christian student debating with one of his Professors who claims to be an atheist.  Of course, as with most Christian flicks, you have your cheesy moments, but what a breath of fresh air to watch a movie without cussing and sex all through it. One that I can go sit through with friends or family and not want to crawl under my seat from embarrassment.  As Christians, we really need to be careful about what we watch.  I've got some Christian friends who will tell me about certain movies that are big money makers and are "so hilarious", but I refuse to watch them because the title alone should be a red flag to something we shouldn't be watching.  I know I'm not part of the "cool crowd" when it comes to the world or watching what everyone else is watching, but that's ok.  I don't want to "fit in" here, and I choose to protect myself from things I watch that are not God centered. I'm not a perfect saint by any means, so don't get me wrong, but I want to try and protect myself from "junk" as much as possible. Because when you let just a small part of Satan in, he can really mess with you. We've always got to be on guard because he is SO strong. So I really try to make it a habit now to see clean, positive movies.   There is another movie coming out this week that I'm planning to see very soon, "Heaven is For Real".  If you've not read that book, I recommend doing so before you go see the movie. I read the book in one sitting a few years ago because I couldn't put it down.  I'm SO excited about this movie. I really hope it's a box office smash and gets people really thinking about the next life.  We've just got to remember that this life is temporary. The next one is where we will be eternally.  What I do here doesn't matter a hill of beans unless I'm serving the Lord and helping people know Him.  What about you? What or who are you living for?  This life is fleeting, but the next one is eternal.  God's not dead and Heaven is for real.  Sure, they are movie titles, but they are also reality....let us not forget that.  Hope you've had a blessed day!!

Belize Mission Trip 2014

Wow...I've obviously fallen off the blogging wagon considering I've not posted anything since last summer.  Sheesh.  I need to do better. We'll see how it goes. :)  Seems so much has happened since I last blogged in July. I've started a new job at Kroger, still pet sitting some, and getting super busy with Durant.  Ever since high school, I can remember dreaming of a day when I could sing with a Christian group and minister around the world. I never really knew how that would happen or IF it would happen, but that was a lack of faith on my part because all things are possible with God.  First of all, I grew up in a small town where there really weren't too many people I knew who had this same passion that I did. I'm not really even sure I shared it with anyone.  I really thought if I wanted it to happen, I was going to have to move somewhere else.  Well, I went to college in Arkansas, I sang in chorus there, but honestly?? It was ok, but not really what I was wanting to do, so I quit after my Freshman year and became more focused on friends and dating.  Kinda just let my dream of singing fade away for awhile. Because back then, we were all looking for our "MRS Degree". We see how well that worked for me. HA!   Deep down though, I still had this longing of singing and ministering, but how? How could I make it happen? Most of my friends were not interested in music the way that I was. They were more focused on settling down with a husband and having a family.  I just felt different, I still do, as deep down, I really have never wanted any of that, but what was wrong with me? It's just what every American girl is supposed to do, get married and have 20 kids. But I have never been of the norm, and I followed my own path after having my heart broken time and time again, but I digress...  All through my 20's and 30's, I still longed to sing. It was all I cared about, I lived and breathed music.  I didn't care much about anything else other than sports, but even with sports, I was not nearly as passionate about that as I was music.  Music has always been my "therapy". When I had a bad day, I'd come home, close myself up in my room, and turn on my music. I would listen and sing for hours.  It always made everything better, and made the whole world go away.  In 2002, I moved to Nashville, TN after living in Arkansas and Florida (I don't like staying in one place too long. I get bored. :) ), and I placed membership at Madison Church of Christ where Keith Lancaster was Worship Minister at the time.  One thing led to another and in 2004, I began singing on a praise team there. As the years passed, it opened up more singing opportunities through church and I eventually landed in a group called 1WORD.  We did several gigs around the Nashville area and we had a blast.  In the summer of 2012, Melissa Lancaster approached me about singing with Durant that is a sister group of Acappella of the Acappella Company.  I think I just about passed out when I received her phone call because I really couldn't believe she would ask this skinny dork to be a part of something SO huge.  Since being a part of Durant, I have been able to travel to so many places that I'd never been before. One of those places was Texas.  I know, can you believe I was 39 years old before I ever visited Texas? Isn't that just wrong??  And guess what?? I loved it out there.  Dallas was REALLY incredible as we drove through to our destination of Denver City, TX in August 2012.  Well who knew on our trip to Denver City that we would meet a man who invited us to come to Belize in March 2013 on a mission trip.  By this time, I'm just pinching myself because of what God was doing.  I'd never even been out of the country other than on a cruise in 2005, but that doesn't really count.  Words can't describe the excitement I felt about going to Belize.  I'd always wanted to go on a mission trip, but working full time kinda puts a damper on those plans as I never had enough vacation, or I was too busy at work to take off. Yeah, that whole American Dream thing really interferes with God's plans too many times, and I was tired of that. Should I be living for the American Dream or God? Which one is eternal?  I couldn't take it anymore, and I was really wrestling with my spirit on the whole thing. I knew my friends and family would think I was nuts, but when you live for God, things just don't make sense to people.  So, I walked away from my full time job in April 2011. If I hadn't done that, I would not be able to do what I'm doing right now.  I trusted God and I live by faith, and He has blown me away how He has taken care of me.  He knows my passion is music ministry, and He knows I've wanted to go to foreign lands to share His good news for years, and He is making that happen. I have had no regrets about walking away from the American Dream because God's blessings are a billion times better than that.  So in March 2013, I went on my first music ministry/mission trip and I've never been the same.  I've always had a heart for missions, and this just made my desire for mission work stronger.  We were blessed in March 2014 to go back again, and words just can't describe how much these trips impact me. I have met some of the most amazing people in Belize, as well as the 2 different mission teams who have gone with us.  God is blessing my life so much, and I cannot begin to thank Him for all He has done and continues doing in my life.  I am so humbled and overwhelmed by His goodness and faithfulness when we keep Him FIRST.  I'm attaching Durant's Mission Trip Report at the bottom of this blog so you can check out what all we did while we were in Belize.  Next month, Durant will be traveling to the UK for another mission trip.  We will be there for 2 weeks or so, and again, I'm pinching myself as I can't believe this is happening to me.  It is amazing what God will do if you choose to follow Him completely.  There were times in my life when God was not first in my life and nothing made sense, but putting Him first and seeing everything fall into place and the continuous blessings He sends is just overwhelming and  incredible.  If you'd told me 10 years ago that in 2014 I would be doing what I'm doing today, I would have never believed it.  It has been a journey like no other.  Later in the summer we are planning a mission trip to Africa, as well.  I am SO excited to see how God is using me and the rest of Durant to serve Him and to take the good news to the lost. Music is a universal language, so it's really cool to be able to use it all over the world. So thankful to God that I left my comfort zone for HIS plans.   We never know the impact we are leaving on people, and I'm just thankful to be a small part of it all.  So to those of you who support Durant and have supported my mission fund to the UK, I just want to say THANK YOU.  This would not be possible if not for you guys. I'm absolutely blown away and blessed by my friends.  You guys are seriously the best, and thank you just doesn't seem to be enough, but I hope you know how eternally grateful I am to all of you for all you've done for me.  Thanks for reading my ramblings. :) I hope you've all had a blessed day!!!