Mark’s Neighborhood

Wow, it's been a while since I have checked this page! I'm Jes you're Christian Music host. I want to thank each and every one of you for joining this group. I had no idea it would take off like this. Just goes to show you that God is in control of all things! I have listened to and read your posts. You guys are awesome! Keep on praising and worshiping our Lord. Ya'll have a blessed day. XOXO

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have had a lot happen in the last few weeks. The latest of which is I have been told that I have Fibromyalgia. I will see a pain specialist in July to be "officially" diagnosed. I have done a lot of research on this Syndrome and it's starting to become clearer to me the problems I have had with my body for the last few years. It has been physically and emotionally draining. However, God has brought me a friend through all of of this. She has had Fibromyalgia for years and has been kind enough to offer me support and prayer in this. Thank you gubby! I hope everyone is doing well and I will post again soon. XOXO    

First of all I would like to apologize for not posting regularly. I have been away for a very long time. I would also like to welcome all of you new people to the group. I have read most of your profiles and wish you all well. Please feel free to post comments about your favorite Christian based music or artist. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and ya'll take care. God Bless!    

Chain reaction of things occured in Sept. 2007 and the impact caught up with

me Sunday.  Wow I have a bad headache.........Anyway. God is Good and still rule in

my life.

Do people tell you that you act older, younger, or your age?

Well, most people tell me I am older than I truly am. I don't mind. One of my best friends will be 54 in April! I was raised old-school by my Grandparents. They taught me things like respect, morals, honesty, manners and how to be a lady. (Well, the last one is debatable). My point is, I was taught some things in my childhood that I think a lot of kids these days don't hear. Of course it doesn't help that parents are scared to discipline kids today for fear of them being taken away. I understand this is a controversial topic. I'm not sorry if I offend anyone. "Spare the rod, spoil the child!!" Ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day. XOXO  

My husband and I have been fighting a spiritual battle as of late. God is trying to get us to go in a different direction and we were pulling back the reigns. "Whoa", we said, "I want to go this way". Thankfully, by the grace of God He understands us mere sinners and He loves us and prods us to do His will whether we want to or not. We can have all the schedules, appointment books, and plans that we want but if God wants something different we might as well throw them all in the fire. God is currently teaching me to be comfortable but not always content to stay where I am. I am a creature driven by routine. I do not like spontaneity. I like to know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and I like to be prepared to face the situation when it comes. HAH!! What a joke right? I have learned here lately that the only thing I can be sure of is if I lean on the Word and support of the Lord, He will work it out for me. Whatever we may face God is there first. He has had a solution for it long before we ever knew the problem existed. He is just waiting for us to stop tackling it alone and ask Him to take over. Bryan Duncan has a wonderful song called "The Battle is the Lord's". If you have a minute take a listen. Pray for God to take away your desire to fight your own war. It's not your battle. THANK GOD!!!        

115 The Battle Is The Lord's

Greetings new members! Please tell me what you think and don't hesitate to make a post!

Okay, I know I haven't written anything in a while. I have been so busy! My husband decided to come in here and make a post I see. Ya'll will have to forgive him for he knows not what he does....ever....just kidding!

I have always "dabbled" in music. Starting in Elementary in the choir. I have been on TV a couple of times and been in several bands. I've spent the last 6 or 7 years singing in church praise bands. However, through all of this I have never really had the gift of writing music. Until my great great grandmother was admitted into the hospital for a several day stay. I was with her most of the time and was witness to her having a bad reaction to pain medication. She was hallucinating and acting crazy!! In a way to keep myself from losing MY mind, I starting writing God a letter. All of a sudden He sent me a tune to hum along with it as I was writing. Then out of nowhere I started singing the words out loud! I couldn't believe it. My very first song that I ever wrote was a song for my Lord. I have no doubt that He was the one holding the pen and creating the notes.

Today, the song that has stayed with me has been Shackles by Mary Mary. When I worship I like to WORSHIP! None of this sitting down and solemnly singing a song. I want to get up and raise my arms to Him. I want Him to hear me! I expect a God encounter every time I worship. If I leave without one, I feel like I have let Him down. Worship Me with all Your heart and soul, He says. And that's what I plan to do! Ya'll have a blessed filled week! XOXO~Jes

I was cooking dinner last night and my 6 year old daughter was sitting at the table drawing a picture. I was busy chopping carrots when all of a sudden she started belting out Jesus Loves Me. Now, Abby is a quiet little thing. She can be loud when she wants to be but most of the time I have to ask her to repeat herself. When I heard her give it her all to God I didn't comment, I didn't stop doing what I was doing, because I was afraid she would stop her song. I wanted her to focus on nothing but the words of the music. I pray every day that my husband and I can pour out the love of Jesus to our children. At this age they are very open and inquisitive. There's nothing better than weeping over chopped carrots while listening to your child sing a song to the Lord. Ya'll have an incredibly blessed week! XOXO~Jes  

Well, needless to say, I haven't really been sleeping a lot here lately so I have had a lot of time to sing. This morning I woke up to New Song in My Heart. It's really upbeat and fun. I fell asleep last night (finally) to Have Thine Own Way Lord. My grandfather is suffering from dementia. Now, some would say, "oh, I'm so sorry. I know that must be hard". Let me tell you a secret, this has probably been one of the best things that has ever happened to him. I know that must sound strange but he has formed a relationship with God that he has never had before. He told me and my mom that he can hear music coming from the ceiling. We asked him what he heard and he said, "Have Thine Own Way Lord". She and I went to inspect. We thought maybe he had left his TV on a gospel channel or his CD player running. Nope, nothing. We couldn't find a thing that was making any sound. Yet he was still saying he could hear it just as plainly as if he were sitting in church listening to the choir. My mom and I just looked at one another dumbfounded. Then she turned to look at him and said, "Do you like what you hear?" he replied, "oh, yes! I can't wait to sit back in my chair and listen to the music." Then I told him, "well Pa, I'm glad you're enjoying it. Let me know what other songs you can hear." He hasn't mentioned it again since we had the conversation. However, I know he still hears the Lords song because I peek in at him and he is rocking to the beat of it with a big 'ole smile on his face. See, even though his memory may be affected through his Dementia, he is enjoying more time with God through music. Even though no one else can hear it, God has put music in his head. For only him. How wonderful........Every time I hear this song, not only do I think of God and all His blessings, but I also think of my grandfather. What a precious memory....XOXO~Jes   

What have you changed your mind about? 
Submitted by chitoes.

The most important thing I changed my mind about was to live my life for Jesus. I was raised my whole life in church. My parents were believers and encouraged God and Jesus and the Bible. However, I had a really hard time with the stuffiness, stiff necked, nose stuck up in the air kind of people we "congregated" with. I had some really hard teenage years (as most of us do) then I got married at 17, found myself 2,200 miles away from my family and then had a child at 19. Three years later my family moved back home and I started working in a tattoo studio with my brother. Not long after, my brother felt his heart being tugged at by the Lord and not too long after that I also felt a knock at my door. I wasn't really sold out yet though. I visited the church he was attending (which was the same one I went to as a child). I spoke to the pastor there and he prayed with me. Then I visited several other churches and one Sunday found myself crying in the middle of a service. At the alter call I felt a huge relief as I stumbled down the aisle to release my body, mind, and soul. 6 years later as I look back on my decision, I wish I had made it earlier. My life could have been so much more if I had just had Jesus in me at every step. I do know that He has His time. He knows when we will be ready and I had to conquer those things by myself in order for me to be able to understand them now. Dear God, I am so glad I changed my mind about you! I know you knew I would though! If you find yourself reading this and you haven't made that decision yet, please I promise you, you will have never known life as it should be until you do. If you have questions, please email me or contact someone who can help you. Thanks for reading my post and may you be blessed! XOXO~Jes