Tag: life

What Not and My Epic Crash and Burn

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Hello, fellow travelers and friends,

How are you on this fine June day? I hope the sun is shining on your side of the street. As for me, well, the weather was lovely, but I got my tail feathers a little singed on WhatNot yesterday. Let’s just say… the show didn’t go as planned. I know it takes practice, but whew—what a hit to the ego!

When my husband and I lived in Texas, one of our favorite weekend adventures was going to estate sales. We had an antique booth in Alvin, Texas, and honestly, it was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. The people were wonderful, the atmosphere was welcoming, and everything about it just felt right.

That love for vintage and antique treasures never left me, so I decided to give WhatNot a try. I started sourcing vintage and antique items, watching shows to see what people were buying and what was trending. I didn’t have the funds to dive into the big pallet pulls like some sellers do, but I’m slowly working my way up—one piece at a time.

I’m doing this because I want to help my husband with the overwhelming stack of medical bills we’ve built up over the past three years. Most of it is because I was in and out of the hospital during that time—including one stay in the ICU where I crashed twice. But by God’s grace, He wasn’t ready to take me home just yet.

My husband works so hard to provide for us, and even with insurance, we’ve still been left with a heavy financial burden. So, even though we didn’t have extra money to invest in WhatNot, we set aside a little to help me get started. I also had some handmade items for products—like tumblers and jewelry—that I already loved creating. It just felt like the right time to take a step of faith and try.

But you have to build up a following, and I have not yet. We had two shows where we made money and a few nada shows. It is hard to talk to yourself with no one in your live and even harder to have no sales. I have scheduled a show every day this week at 5:20, and then on Friday, it is a PJ party with your favorite food and drink while you watch and shop.

So, if anyone has suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them! At 63, I think I can learn! Tonight is vintage Avon and household knick-knacks!

God Bless You!

James 4

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Hello, Fellow Travelers,

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

The world feels like it’s unraveling, doesn’t it? Who has the duct tape and time to fix it? Duct tape can patch up almost anything—or so we say. Imagine if we duct-taped world leaders together, locked them in a room, and returned a week later. Would they finally learn to work together? Perhaps. But this cycle of power and conquest has been with us since Adam and Eve. Power feeds power, and power breeds greed.

Greed seems more rampant than ever. Just look around this holiday season. The Grinch is a fitting mascot, isn’t he? “Gotta have it all, right, Grinchie?” And it’s not just the holidays. Open any social media app, and you’re bombarded with ads and influencers competing for your attention and your wallet. Greed isn’t just a problem; it’s a pandemic.

But it’s not just greed. Our children are lost. We’ve allowed confusion and chaos to infiltrate their lives. We’ve blurred their sense of identity and drowned out their ability to think critically or make responsible decisions. Instead of guiding them, we shove screens in their faces and yell, “Dance, kid, dance!” We’ve turned our children into commodities for likes, views, and virtual applause. This is not okay—not with God, not with anyone. And yet, we’ve prioritized the “good life,” the glamorous life, over what truly matters.

Stepping off my soapbox for a moment…

This weekend, I heard a pastor speak on James 4, and his words struck me like a lightning bolt. It felt as if James himself was standing before us, calling out, “Listen up, you heathen generations!” The message was clear: time is short. We must get right with God. I want to be in His Kingdom with my family and friends. Have you thought about what that means for your loved ones? So many professing Christians think they can coast by, having said “the prayer” and leaving the rest until the last minute. That’s a dangerous lie. The world’s deception can lead us straight to hell.

I know—I was on that path myself. God had to knock me upside the head to wake me up.

James 4 offers a sobering reality check:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James doesn’t pull any punches. He calls us out for our selfishness, our pride, and our friendship with the world. Friendship with the world, he says, is enmity against God. That’s a hard truth, but one we need to hear. God’s grace is abundant, but it requires humility. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6)

The call is clear: submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. These are not just words; they are a lifeline.

James also warns against arrogance and complacency:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

At 62, the fleeting nature of life feels more real than ever. We are here for a moment, a breath, a mist. What will we do with the time we have left? Will we chase the world’s empty promises, or will we humble ourselves and seek God’s Kingdom?

The choice is ours, but the time is short. Let’s not waste it.

God Bless You! Joni and Merry Christmas

Navigating the Unseen Spaces of the Heart

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Hello, dear readers! It’s been quite a rollercoaster for me these past two weeks, as my heart seems to be on a quest of its own. There’s this peculiar sensation of missing someone, but the catch is, I can’t quite put my finger on who that someone is. Strange, isn’t it? I’ve tried to unravel this mysterious feeling through prayer, and while God has brought a particular person to mind, the emptiness persists. It’s a curious dilemma, as there are numerous individuals who could potentially fill this void in my heart.

Leaving Texas marked a significant chapter in my life, bidding farewell to friends who were more like family. The pastor and church that guided us through thick and thin, becoming an integral part of our journey. Then, there’s the memory of my best friend, Suzanne, who departed from this world some years ago. Her absence has left an irreplaceable void, and I find myself yearning for her companionship more than ever. It’s a feeling that cuts deep, leaving me pondering the intricacies of the heart.

Now, you might be wondering, what on earth is going on? And no, it’s not indigestion – let’s keep it light-hearted! But seriously, have you ever experienced a sensation like this? The feeling of a missing piece in your heart, despite your best efforts to identify and remedy it? It’s a perplexing journey, one that many of us traverse at some point in our lives.

Leaving behind the familiar faces and comforting embrace of our Texas community has opened up a space that no new friendship or experience seems capable of filling entirely. It’s not about forgetting the past or discounting the value of new connections; rather, it’s a testament to the profound impact certain individuals have on our lives.

In the midst of this emotional labyrinth, I’ve come to realize that our hearts have a language of their own. They carry the imprints of people who have touched our lives in ways we may not fully comprehend. It’s a mosaic of emotions, a collage of memories, and sometimes, a longing for a connection that transcends the boundaries of time and space.

As I navigate these unseen spaces of the heart, I invite you to reflect on your own journey. Have you ever felt a similar tug, a yearning for someone or something that defies explanation? Perhaps it’s a sign that our hearts are more intricate than we give them credit for, weaving a tapestry of emotions that shape our identities.

In the grand tapestry of life, each person leaves a unique thread, contributing to the beautiful and sometimes complex patterns of our hearts. So, here’s to embracing the mysteries, acknowledging the voids, and finding solace in the shared human experience of navigating the uncharted territories of our hearts. After all, it’s in these moments of vulnerability that we often discover the profound beauty of connection and the resilience of the human spirit.

Love Remains

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Easter weekend quickly approaches and some will be focused on the cross, and some on the chocolate bunnies.  I will be focused on Jesus and my new year with Him.  In case you don’t understand, I believe my new year to be Easter Sunday not January 1.  I do celebrate the changing of the yearly number, but it is more important to me to celebrate the changing of my soul each year.

We go through so much in a year.  Joys, sorrows, struggles, miracles; you name it, we humans experience it.  So I like to think of Good Friday as the day Jesus takes my past year to the middle of hell and leaves all the bad stuff there.  My brat ways, my control freak persona, my self-centered absorption, unkind words thought and said, and anything else along those lines.  Then Jesus brings back the better side of me, especially my heart.  And on Easter Sunday, I start a new Christian year!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Humans die, kingdom don’t last, fads fade away, countries rise and fall because nothing stays the same.  We are all evolving.  The one who has never changed and will never change is Jesus.  Love remains!

This year why not start a new year with me?  No resolutions or fad diets required.  Just the love of Jesus Christ in your life to share with others!

Love Remains by the Scott Family is the perfect video to explain how I feel.  Like I have said before, if I could sing, I would sing for you.  But I want to protect your ears!

I pray this music blesses you the way it blessed my heart!

God Bless You!