6 Things I don't wanna do in 2014

There are several things that I've been thinking about that may challenge you as they have me. 

1. I don't want to be so glued to my phone that I miss out on actual life, friends and family moments. 

I've been noticing how many folks have smart phones these days. (I know, "Welcome to 2014, Natalie"). But seriously, whether it's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, even blogs, we have become SO CONNECTED that we're really NOT CONNECTED.  Hopefully you understand what I'm saying. We SEE what everyone is doing ALL THE TIME (well those of us that are on Social Media) but we aren't actually a part of what's happening. We're somewhat of a by-stander peering into the lives of others. We know what's going on with them and in their lives so why actually talk to them, right? WRONG!  

Anyhow, I often think about how my kids or even how others see me....Do they see me with my nose in the Word or doing something else productive or do they see me with my nose in my phone all the time? Maybe you've had these thoughts too? Maybe not. But I think there's really something to grasp here.......Whether it's my phone, sports, music, church stuff.... (insert your own noun) I MUST maintain a balance. 

2. I don't want to always be the one taking the picture of others having a great time, but I want to be IN the picture with others also having a great time. 

I know some of my good buddies will relate to this. It seems I'm always the picture taker or the one making sure everyone else is "OK"....Or I'm so busy with the "Flow" of things, or managing things that I don't take the time to actually enjoy it? I put a questions mark there because I'm still trying to figure all of this out. 

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I get to do. But I believe God wants me to loosen up a bit. To not be so concerned with the little details of "how the everything is going" and "maybe I should've done this or that"........I believe that I am wired that way for a reason BUT I can't let it consume me. It's just like the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was SO CONSUMED with the flow that she missed out on what Jesus had for her. While Mary, stopped and listened. This speaks VOLUMES to me. (Luke 10:38-42) Some people think that Martha was just doing what she knew to do and I could see myself doing the same thing. Maybe Martha found value in preparing her house and food for Jesus. But here's the thing; Jesus pointed it out. Maybe that WAS how Martha functioned but Jesus pointed it out because He wanted her to know that her value ISN'T in the work she does but in Him. 

I don't want to have regrets like that. I want to enjoy the good times that God has placed before me.  

3. I don't want to procrastinate any longer for me to be in good health. 

For the past 10 years or so, my health hasn't been great. I've been diagnosed with Thyroid problems, PCOS, Diabetes.....blah, blah, blah......NOT GOOD THINGS. 

This is the result of poor eating habits, not enough actual exercise but more running errands like a crazy person, genetics and not a good understanding of how I should treat my body according to God's Word. 

WELL, enough is enough. I realized the other day how old I am. I'm 33. I know, doesn't sound that "old"....but I haven't had children of my own yet and as a woman, it concerns me a little. BUT I AM HOLDING ONTO GOD'S PROMISE TO ME. Our children will be here WHEN I stay disciplined with my eating and exercise and when GOD SAYS SO. PERIOD. 

I feel like since my hospital visit back in June, I've made HUGE strides for change but I want to do better! 

4. I don't want to merely TALK about ministry....BUT actually DO IT. 

Yes, I know I preached a sermon on BEING THE CHURCH and I truly meant it. But I want to be known as someone who didn't just preach in the pulpit but also as someone that LIVED OUT THE GOSPEL. I want to BE WHERE the people need to hear the Gospel. That means, I want to go TO THEM. Why in the world would we ever think that it's the sinners responsibility to come to us?? That's NOT what Jesus did! He went TO THEM. He even preached this little sermon about the Good Samaritan???? Remember that? The Good Samaritan WENT TO the person in the ditch. 

I want to be in the ditch with "them"....the ones that REALLY need help and hope. 

5. I don't want to live offended, overly sensitive, and fearful of what is going on around me. 

All I need to know is that God loves me and His timing is always perfect. Not that I have been living offended....I wasn't brought up that way. But there have been times when I could've been outraged in 2013 but I chose to let it go. Like when.......Ahhh, gotcha! :) But seriously, I was better off for it. Less stress resting and realizing I'm already blessed. Now that'll preach! 

6. I don't want to just hope that God will make a way....I AM CONVINCED HE WILL! 

Jared and I were chatting about some things in the car the other night. We were discussing Hebrews 11. Jared was saying that the Word says in Hebrews 11:1-3

 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." 

Did you catch that? FAITH IS BEING CONFIDENT AND CONVINCED that God will do it! THAT'S what faith is! And the Bible says we can't please God without faith! WHOA!! This blew me away! I've heard this verse my whole life but never really understood it. 

So Jared and I have a new way of thinking about 2014. We are confident and convinced that God will show up! We aren't just hoping and praying......NO we are CONVINCED! 

I know this was a bit different that your typical resolution list but I feel the Lord is changing me. There has been a lot of change in our lives and I think it really did a number on me in 2013. But I am CONVINCED that God knows what He's doing and I'm not going to question it. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

One Thing Is Necessary

I had a conversation with my husband, Jared, about people not having time to do anything. To serve, to fellowship, etc....even if you do have time to do those things....it MUST be scheduled. 

This got me thinking about how Jesus handled this. Time after time, Jesus teaches us to serve. In fact, serving poured out of Him. 

There was a particular scripture that I thought of that struck me though. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus is at Martha's house. The Bible says that "Martha was distracted with much serving." 

I thought about this verse and wondered what exactly it meant. Jesus goes on to say “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha was being distracted from her soul's needs by other things. The other things in this case are not bad things. Sometimes, even good things can fill up our lives to the point where we neglect our souls. 

God has not blessed us with our families, friends, jobs, abilities and other gifts to give us an excuse to abandon a close walk with Him. 

Without Him we can do nothing (JOHN 15:5). 

The good part which Mary had chosen was to LISTEN to the Lord's teaching. In the final scheme of things, the things Jesus said that day were of much more importance than what He ate.   

Today, if we are too busy to commune with the Lord; to pray and study His word; to meditate on life's purpose and to enjoy a peaceful, private time with Him, then there is something horribly wrong with our practice. 

If our walk of faith consists mainly of going to church and then on with life's busy day then we are not receiving of the goodness that the Lord has planned for us. 

And if we are so hassled by the routines of daily existence that we find ourselves  lashing out at those we love as Martha did on that occasion, then isn't that a good indication that something needs fixed?  

One thing is necessary: MAKE SURE you are taking time to listen to the Lord and pray. If you need to mark some things off your calendar of things to do, then do it. Don't miss what He wants for your life because you are in too much of a rush. 

Do things that TRULY make an impact. Do the things that GOD has called you to do and He will give you strength and the confidence to do those things.  

REACH!

~Natalie 

Numbers are scary.....BUT GOD

Triglycerides: Normal Range: Under 150
                     My number: 5,387 
Lipase:          Normal Range: 300-900
                    My number: 18,000  


One week ago yesterday, I was in a lot of pain. I knew that something was different about this pain and I also knew I needed help! 

I told Jared that we HAD to go to the hospital and he knew by me saying that that it was FOR REAL! 

Turns out I had pancreatitis. I pray that no one get this. It was so bad, that while sitting in the ER, I was literally scratching a nearby table. Anyhow, I won't bore you with any of the details but I will say that we are making drastic changes for the better in the Jones' household. 

During my time at the hospital, I had a moment when I didn't have visitor's. I was pretty much in the clear by this time so Jared went home to work because he hadn't worked in two days and he wanted to get caught up. My mom and dad were gone, Jared's parents left to get lunch and Jessica was at work as well. 

And not one nurse, aide or cleaning person was busting down my door. 

So here I am, laying in a hospital bed and it hit me, "I'm in a hospital.......as a patient!" 

It took me a second to realize that I had said it out loud but everything was very real to me in that moment. I started to process all that had happened and I started to cry. I cried because I felt so ashamed of what I have done to my body. I felt bad for putting my family through so much worry. I seriously felt like I was a burden. After my pity party, I thought about how I knew the Lord was walking with me. He told me not to be ashamed; that He was going to help me with this new journey I was about to start on. I knew that He was the One that brought my numbers down so quickly and removed the pain. 

After talking to one of my friends from church who gets pancreatitis all the time, I realized how serious the situation was when she told me that my numbers were life threatening and ICU worthy.  

I must admit I was a bit shocked to hear her say that because I felt ok. When I think about "the end" I imagine all my friends and family around and me in pain until the last breath. But I wasn't anywhere near that. 

Then I started thinking about how they say that "diabetes is a silent killer" and I totally believe that now. I wasn't feeling bad up until last Monday morning. I thought that my sugar was ok because my last bloodwork came back and my A1C's came down, so I thought I was good. NOPE! 

It was in that moment, I knew my life would be changing! It was then that God gave me a determination to get healthy! 

I must say that I wasn't eating cupcakes and bon bons secretly to make my numbers so high. However, I was eating things on the run like every other American. 

But this experience has changed everything. It has changed the way I think, look and eat food! And let's not forget about exercise! 

I feel like I could be a SERIOUS HEALTH NUT. And I feel I have to be. 

The title of my blog today is "Numbers are scary.....BUT GOD" I think about statistics we hear almost every day whether it's about human trafficking or how many diabetics there are in our country. 

But when it happens to you, it's like a Facebook "check in". You see this big number but yet it has found YOU and "zero's in"! 

So all in all, my life is changing. The last months have been a constant merry go round, constantly moving and changing it's tone. 

I feel that Jesus saved my life. Most folks don't understand that until it happens to them. But you can see my numbers at the top of this blog; you can see that they were WAY out of control. 

What I found out later is that normally it takes at least 2 weeks to get numbers like that down to a normal range. My numbers came down in 24 hours. THAT IS THE LORD!!! How does that happen except for Jesus healing my body? 

IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. PERIOD! I'm here to tell you that HE is a Healer!! STILL! He still does miracles TODAY! 

I've only shared this with a handful of people but I had to share it with the world because I can't keep it inside. I had to have time to really think about what He did for me and now I REALLY understand. 

Praise God! HE GETS ALL THE GLORY!! He is ABLE!!! 

Why can't we go on vacation?!

I'm sure the title of my blog is a question that you may have asked recently if you want to go on vacation this summer. 

This is a question that has filled the brain of this Jones girl lately. It's not that we can't afford to go, it's that we are choosing to sacrifice. What I mean is, that we are trying to save money to eventually buy a bigger home for our family. 

Our family is growing and expected to one day have little people crawling around on the floor. Right now, if we had little people, we would literally be tripping because of the lack of space. 

Now, I am SO grateful for my existing home. God has blessed us completely! It just has come to the point that we need more room. Simple right? 

Although we know we need to save money and we are paying off any debts that we may have, I STILL long for the sight of palm trees, the smell of the ocean and sand between my toes. I STILL want to be there NOW. 

Maybe you don't like the beach as much as I do. Maybe you long to be somewhere cold and rainy (I don't understand that...lol) but anyhow, maybe the beach isn't your cup of tea but it IS mine. 

I thought I loved everything about the ocean and then I got to thinking........but I don't like hurricanes or tropical storms. I definitely wouldn't want to live close to a beach when a hurricane is on it's way. 

The truth is, we ALL face "hurricanes" or "storms" in our lives. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus is on a boat and there's a storm that is threatening the very lives of the folks that Jesus was traveling with. They were freaking out! And then they go and find Jesus asleep?! This is an unexpected reaction! But it speaks to me in a BIG WAY! 

If we know who is in charge, we DON'T need to worry. 

I realized that today after talking to a friend about some things that I was worried about. I realized that each storm has a purpose in your life. You may not understand it now, but you soon will. You may not understand why the waves are SO BIG and that you can't see above them BUT God knows right where you are. You are not alone in the storm. 

There's been a song that I've been listening to non-stop and it's called Oceans (Where feet may fail). God has made this song SO REAL to me. It talks about trusting Him without borders....in other words, don't limit God and what He can do. Listen and enjoy.. 

Bible in 90 Days (Friday reading)

A group of us at church are reading the Bible in 90 days and I have agreed to blog on Friday's about our reading...So here goes! 

Nehemiah 13:15-17

Bottom line: Honor the Sabbath! 

Esther 1-2

What I take away from this chapter is there’s an intentional measure of describing the party that’s about to take place, after King Xerxes’ exhibit to show how important he was. He is described to us as a King that was in high regard (or so he thought).

The King decides to throw a weeklong party. His drunken self calls for his wife to come to him so he could show her off because of her beauty. She refuses. Let’s think about this; why would she refuse? First of all, it was against the custom of the Persians for women to appear in public. Secondly, he wanted to “show her off” like she was a trophy wife, when he should’ve been protecting her.

She was actually asked SEVERAL times to meet the King and she refused every time. Now if she had obeyed the King’s orders, would she have been looked down upon?

King Xerxes gets angry and probably embarrassed because he was trying to display the splendor of his kingdom and then he gets shut down by his own wife? So he goes and talks to his “counsel” and asks’ them what he can do legally to his wife.

The King’s anger grew inside him. He had rule over 127 provinces but he couldn’t rule over his own family or his own spirit.

The majority of his cabinet pretty much tells him that he had better do something because if he didn’t then all the women of the land would think that they too could dismiss their husbands.

So King Xerxes annnounces a royal ruling that his wife was permanently banned from his presence and he would find someone else that would know her place.

Whether it was the passion or the policy of King Xerxes by this new law, it did open a door for Esther to step into the Queen’s place.

Later the King started to have second thoughts about what he had done. So his attendant’s stepped in and urged him to press forward with what had been decided. So they tell him that they will put the word out that they are searching for beautiful young virgins for the king and that whomever he choses will replace the Queen.

I think it’s interesting that each woman that was brought to the palace had to go through a 12 month prescribed beauty treatment, AND THEN she went to the King. SO this was a long process.

The King visits with each of the young virgins and then he sees a girl named Esther. Esther is an orphan and was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. He immediately falls in love with her. He places a crown on her head and made her Queen. At this time he doesnt know she's Jew. He throws her party and appropriately calls it “Esther’s Banquet”. He even makes it a holiday!

One of the most important parts of this selection is that Esther was a Jew. She was also an orphan. Her cousin, Mordecai raised her and told her to never tell anyone of her racial background and she didn’t.

Later in the Chapter, Mordecai is sitting at the King’s gates; he overhears two of the king’s eunuchs planning to kill him. So Mordecai tells Esther and then Esther tells the King. Mordecai received credit for saving the King’s life. Something struck me, while reading this. Did Mordecai work for the King now? Why was he there at the gates? I know earlier in the chapter it talks about how Mordecai would be around the gates before Esther was queen, to basically check up on her and see what she was up to. I don’t know the answer, but I thought it was interesting.

Esther 3-4

King Xerxes appoints Haman as the highest-ranking official in the King’s government. Everyone had to bow down to him, but Mordecai would NOT do it. This infuriates Haman. Then he learned that Mordecai was a Jew and instead of just doing something to him, Haman wanted to punish all Jews throughout the Kingdom.

So he goes to King Xerxes and tells him “the people that don’t fit in or who are different, must be destroyed.” He even says he’ll pay for it.

So the King gives him his signet ring, (what informs people that it’s approved of the King) and says, “It’s your money, do whatever you want.”

So the word is spread throughout the provinces to kill Jews, young and old on a single day. While all this news of a massacre was spreading, the King and Haman sat back and had a drink. I'm not sure that the king really knew what Haman was planning.  

So Mordecai is OBVIOUSLY upset at the King’s orders. So much so that he goes in the middle of the street and rips his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ash on his head and begins wailing in desperation for his people. He finds himself at the King’s gate where there isn’t supposed to be anyone dressed in sackcloth. 

Esther’s maids told her what was going on and she sent Mordecai some fresh clothes but he refused them. So Esther sent one of the royal eunuchs, Hathach, to go to Mordecai to find out what was happening. Mordecai explained the horror of what was to take place.

Basically, the end of this chapter ends like this; Mordecai sends a message saying that she should go to the king to plead for the Jews. Esther tells Mordecai that she must be invited to speak to the king. But she urges Mordecai to gather up the Jews in Susa and fast for her. Then she would go to the king. She says, “If I die. I die.”

Something interesting here, Esther knew she had to PREPARE to go and see the king. She knew she needed the prayers of her people to accomplish what needed to be done.

Esther 5-7

Esther dresses in her royal robes and goes to speak with the king. He welcomes her and invites her in. He asks’ her what she desires and she tells him to come to a dinner with her and Haman. He agrees and they dine. While at dinner the kings asks’ Esther again what it is that she wants. Esther says for him to come to dinner again tomorrow and THEN she will give him a straight answer.

So Haman leaves the dinner and he’s a pretty happy guy until he sees Mordecai, (the Jew)….So Haman goes home and explains what’s going on saying that the Queen invited him to another dinner tomorrow night but he can’t enjoy any of it because of Mordecai.

His family tells him to go and build a gallows (where people are hanged) and then to go and tell the king to order that Mordecai be hanged, then go enjoy dinner…..Haman liked that idea and so he had the gallows built.

So the King couldn’t sleep that night. He order that his servant come and read him his journal. In it, he had recoirded that Mordecai once stopped an assassination attempt on his life. He asked what honor had been given to Mordecai for doing this and his servant said, “Nothing.”

The King wondered if anyone was in the courtyard and the servant told him that Haman was out there. Haman was on his way to talk to the King about hanging Mordecai. The servant explains that the King wants to honor a man for his good deeds and Haman immediately thinks it’s him. Haman says what he thinks should be done and the King agrees.

He tells Haman to “bring a royal robe that the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crown on its head. Then give the robe and the horse to one of the king’s most noble princes. Have him robe the man whom the king especially wants to honor; have the prince lead him on horseback through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!’”

So Haman did it. Then he ran home and cried. While he was still talking to his family, the king’s eunuchs came to pick up Haman for the dinner that had been planned the night before.

While at dinner, Esther explains what is going on with her people. That they were to be killed. And she explains that Haman was the one that had arranged it all.

The King is outraged. Fear struck Haman and so he started pleading for his life to Queen Esther. Then to make matters worse, the king had stepped out for a moment and while he was gone, the Bible says that Haman was “groveling” at the couch where Esther was reclining. So it must’ve appeared as if Haman was trying to do something to the Queen. When King Xerxes comes back in the room, he says, “ Will he even molest the queen while I’m just around the corner?”

This infuriates the King. And Haman knows that his life is about to end. The a eunuch announces to the king to look across the courtyard and see the gallows that Haman had built for Mordecai. The eunuch explains everything and the King says, “ Hang him on it.” Pointing to Haman.

Esther 8-10

After all of the truth coming out about Esther and Mordecai, the King takes the signet ring off of Haman and gives it to Mordecai. He also appointed Modecai over Haman’s estate.

Then Esther pleds with the King to revoke the plan to kill all the Jews. The King says, ““I’ve given Haman’s estate to Esther and he’s been hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews. So go ahead now and write whatever you decide on behalf of the Jews; then seal it with the signet ring.”

The order read that the Jews could defind themselves if anyone tried to harm them.

Mordecai walked away from the palace with a royal robe, a gold crown and a purple cape of fine linen. Jews celebrated with Mordecai. They celebrated in the streets with cheering and eating! And many non Jews, became Jews because now it was dangerous to not be a Jew!

Then the Jews overtook the people that tried to kill them. And all the Kings government officails actually helped the Jews because of Mordecai. They also killed ALL of Haman’s sons.

Everything was reported back to the King. He asked Esther what else should be done. She said to tell everyone to stop killing and that she wanted Haman’s sons to be strung up in the gallows so that everyone could see.

All of this is still recognized today but the Jewish holiday called, Purim.

We are through ESTHER!

Job Chapters 1-8

Going to do this a little different….

Job 1 – Job loses his income and his children

Job 2 – Job's health is threatened

Job 3 -  Job finally cries out

Job 4 -  Job’s friends give their advice

Job 5 – Misery until you find God

Job 6 – Job realizes who his friends are

Job 7 – Job complains to God and then asks for forgiveness

What I find most intriguing about the whole book of Job is that he went through SO MUCH and still chose to be obedient to God.

I mean, in the first chapter he loses his way of income and his children! All 10 of them!

The other things is that Satan had to ask permission to test Job. This shows how mighty God is!

I have really enjoyed this reading! The book of Esther is a little different than all of other books of the Bible though. There’s not a lot of talk about the Lord. Mordecai, of course, demonstrated his devotion to God, but as far, seeing anything that the Lord said to anyone, is not seen in this book.

There is a lot of talk about King Xerxes, who is still talked about today in current video games and in the movie 300.

The book of Job is that book of the Bible that really demonstrates the powerfulness of simply being obedient to God. Job didn’t understand what was happening to him and he complained about it. But he still chose to honor the Lord.

Happy reading!! 

Tear down the Walls

Ya wanna Fight?!

At the urging of a friend, I am back at the blogging grind. 

There's a topic that I have been thinking about and that is the topic of FIGHTING. There can be an array of subjects how the term can be used. 

Just for kicks, I looked up the definition of the term 'fighting'. 

fight  (ft) v. fought (fôt), fight·ing, fights v.intr. 1. a. To attempt to harm or gain power over an adversary by blows or with weapons. b. Sports To engage in boxing or wrestling. 2. To engage in a quarrel; argue: They are always fighting about money. 3. To strive vigorously and resolutely: fought against graft; fighting for her rights.  So as you can see, it can mean several things. What comes to your mind when you think of the word fighting? Do you think of an armed solider fighting for America? Do you think of you arguing or in a physical fight with someone? Do you think of someone in a hospital bed, fighting for their life? Do you think of ROCKY in a fighting scene? Do you think of someone being so stubborn that they're fighting for their opinions to be right? Do you think of someone fighting for a cause?  There are a number of things that come to my mind. But then questions arise from the pile of scenarios; Why does arguing or physical fighting exist? How did it ever come to be? When in an argument with someone, why would the thought of actually hitting them come into your mind?   I can understand the other scenarios; the FIGHTING for a cause like Human Trafficking or FIGHTING to end abortion. I can even understand someone being stubborn and FIGHTING to make sure their side of a story is right. But actually hitting someone....I don't understand.  But that's not what this particular blog is about. I wanted to write about 'fighting' because I see or hear about it almost EVERYDAY. Sometimes it's positive but a lot of the time it's negative.  The positive side of it I LOVE to see, are people fighting for a cause in our world. People fighting for each other. Or I'll see a post about a solider fighting for me. THAT's what moves me and reassures me that there are people that TRULY care for each other.  Now let's talk about the negative. We all know those folks that post from time to time on Facebook about how "now they know who their true friends are" or they use the term "people" knowing that who they're talking about is reading what they post. Come on! Really? Is that how you want to spend your days? Demeaning others so that YOU can share YOUR THOUGHTS and OPINIONS? Because you've NEVER messed up, right?  Ok I'll get off my rant about that.  I also have had situations I've heard about where a person fights with everything they've got, to ensure that THEY don't lose something they want. Whether it's a boyfriend, best friend, etc. They will go to extreme's to keep what they think they have.   In all of these different scenarios, laying behind all the actions and words, there is something that is similar and that is PASSION. Passion can be good or bad.  I know of someone that was also passionate and that was JESUS. They didn't call the movie "Passion of the Christ" for no reason! In the words of Christine Caine, "They didn't call it the "Christian Obligation of the Christ". Sometimes that's how folks view their Christian walk, as an obligation. Some even see going to church, as an obligation. Something to do on a Sunday? What? Isn't that a bit dangerous to think that way?  Jesus was passionate about His life and that's how we should be.   So I ask you these questions; What are you passionate about? What are you fighting for? How do people perceive you? Do they know what you are fighting for?  I know, I know...deep questions for a Friday. But try to think about it... Good day, nat j