Hiding in Plain Sight

Hiding in Plain Sight






Ah ha!  I just had a brilliant dream... a vision if you will.  It told me about all of the secrets of the universe 🌌.  Well, not exactly, but exactly how the universe operates and what's important.




You see, all this mumbo jumbo about positive thinking and wishing for what you want are actually detrimental.  By blocking out the unpleasant details that you don't want coming near your thoughts you are losing vital information that would later come together as sort of a code to let you know exactly what you need to know.  These pieces don't come out and tell you all at once but are sort of links in a chain.  While seemingly unpleasant at the time, each link fits a later link that will also come to you as something unpleasant so that you don't forget it.  Once you have enough links of the chain, you get the all-important, vital message that can not only give you what you desire but also prevent you from repeating a serious mistake that is part of your personal history.  In some cases, these historical chunks of knowledge are also part of human history which should never, never be repeated.  Once blocked though, you have lost important pieces of the message that the universe wanted you to retain.  It may seem very complicated but it's relatively straightforward. 
This isn't to say that you should constantly dwell on the negative links.  Once received and acknowledged, they will remain in your consciousness enough for you to link it to the next link.  Since they fit together so perfectly, all you need do is acknowledge them and wait for the next link of the message to come along and they will join together like magic.  Don't lose one of those pieces of seemingly negative information though or you will completely lose the message and will be doomed to repeat your failure until such a time until you learn not to try to ignore or hide the pieces of information from your history.




I cannot stress to you the importance of this revelation.  It is not only vital to you but also to all of humanity.  A lesson blocked is a lesson unlearned.  Remember... all of these pieces of information were hiding in plain sight before you decided to erase them from history.


DO
NOT
ERASE!

Test for Rev. Laura

Wednesday May 6, 2015 Saved By His Love Finding Truth By Reading Between the Lines
Good afternoon, welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries. My name is Rev. Laura A. Neff, the Rainbow Minister. The choice for Rainbow has to do with the fact that the rainbow symbolizes a promise made and one that can and will be kept. I made, long ago, a promise to God that I would do all I could to keep that faith within me. We are normally posted on Sundays for sermons and Wednesdays for studies. You can find these posted in the following locations.
Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/
Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.
- Please pray that the good tidings which have occurred for my family far away from me would continue for as long as it can be.
- Please pray for a friend Susie Bartholow as she is in hospice. She is in very grave condition with cancer. Hospice care is in her home with her family. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.
- Pray for my sister-in-law who has been in the hospital with a dangerously high fever and an elevated heart rate.
- Please pray for my nearby family members as we are going through some tough times here.
- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings as he is going through a whole lot health wise and emotionally as well. Please pray that he will be able to find and follow inspiration still.
- Please pray for a friend of ours, Lucy, whose liver is failing. She is going to be on medication but may need a transplant. Pray that the first option works and she returns to health.
- Pray for a friend of my brother’s, who is far from home right now. There have been many problems for her right now. It is our hope that she will return and be here to complete her healing and more.
- Pray for our members Theresa and Wayne who had a very rough year last year. Theresa has had even more chaos in her life regarding family and finances. Wayne has been very ill and I haven’t had an update in a while. May some of their trials and tribulations end in time for our celebration of the birth of Jesus.

- Pray for those near and far who have been suffering in battles that do not have to be. Pray that peace can be found amidst the fear and anger, frustration and more. May hope blossom and bring that peace once more.
- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.
- Pray for some friends who have had all manner of chaos, sorrow, and more. May the Lord bless them with peace and solace.
- Keep hope alive in your prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.
- May God bless every one of us as we continue on.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought, and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We bring prayers for those who have been seriously ill. Help those who are working to fight serious illnesses by bringing the ability to find solutions. We pray for those who suffer pain, that their pain be relieved. We pray for those lost and those who mourn. We pray for all those who are victims of violence. We pray for patience and courage for those we love and care about, and ourselves as well. We pray for peace to reach out from the heart and be heard, felt, and understood. We pray that Your grace and love would fill the hearts of the many in this world. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: You Are Loved https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGLSk3AVcUU&index=154&list=FLys7UjSJHrgrNHy9kLrkxpw



Sermon:  Good afternoon. Today’s inspiration came very early this morning after reading an article about how many Christians worship via doctrine as opposed to “reading between the lines” to find the true meaning, as opposed to just the words written. Truthfully many have left Christianity for this very reason. Bringing people back to Jesus is no easy task, and never has been. However, the article brings up interesting points of view. Take, for example, the man beside Jesus hanging on the cross, dying with him and simply seeing truth. It doesn’t take doctrine to see the truth. This is why Jesus told him he would go to heaven. Some say this is favoritism, yet, in truth, Jesus was showing that loving one another is more than just words written in doctrine. That’s one thing people often forget. Let’s take a look at some verses in Scripture that portray this view.
 Luke 23:39-45 KJV – And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple rent in the midst.
The thief has a simple request. “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” He didn’t know his Scripture. He knew what love could be, should be. Love is the ability to give as much, or more, than we receive. Love is the ability to ‘read between the lines’ whether written or spoken. Love is the gift of forgiveness. Hope is offered in these facts. You can’t write everything love is about. It doesn’t matter how hard we try, speaking or writing as to how much love affects us is nearly impossible to put into words. Yet we can share that love without a single word from our mouths. We can do so without a single verse of Scripture. The thief proves that, even within his sinning, he remembered God. In his request to be remembered he was also asking forgiveness. Someone I know went through a very hard time and felt as though they had been abandoned by anyone and everyone. When asked what they wanted most these are the words that person had to say. “Someone to remember me.” Jesus always remembers. God always remembers. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here. They keep their promises. God promised salvation. Jesus promised He was the path toward that salvation. His resurrection provided that path in more ways than one. Read between the lines and see what really must be seen within Scripture. Doctrine only goes so far. Faith is knowing where doctrine meets the heart and finds the truth. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus brought us.
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song:  Open the Eyes of My Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHZ9iuo1kRs


~Shalom~
Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister
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Calvin Jennings ~ Facebook & Twitter &Blogster
Covenant of Hope Ministries
Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/ 

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2015
http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.

This mission statement speaks of the rainbow in the darkness. Every time I would have a seriously traumatic thing happen in my life I would wake in the middle of the night. When I do I see a rainbow at the end of my bed, or even through the window behind my head. I’ll see that rainbow in a dark room even during the day. It will hover in the shadows and reassure me that God is with me.

The Reflecting Pool and

The Reflecting Pool

My grandmother returned to her uncle's plantation home for a final visit before her marriage.  Her mother died in childbirth which led to her being raised in a convent while her dad worked as an engineer on the railroad.  He died on his way to see her engagement ring when his train hit a stretch of bad track.  Her uncle was all the family she had left.
The outside of the plantation home was nothing but painted plywood, the home having been burned by the Yankees after the civil war.  Because they had been treated as sharecroppers, the negroes stayed and continued to work their share of the crops.  The sharecroppers houses out front remained undamaged and were a couple of acres in front of the main house.  Out back, though, the old trees and reflecting pool remained.


My grandmother used to play here with her assigned "servant" whom she merely considered a friend.  As she sat reflecting on those days, a servant about her age approached.  It was Simone, her old friend from her childhood.




My grandmother jumped up and embraced Simone.




"How are you doing, Simone?  It has been forever since I've seen you!"




"I'm doing just fine, Miss Delhomme.  I heard you done got engaged!"




"What's this 'Miss Delhomme' nonsense?  It's Lorraine just lime before.  Yes, I met a man.  His name is Albert Hamilton Tribe.  He performs on the radio in the Rice Hotel in Houston.  He's so dreamy!  He finally popped the question!  See the ring?  Isn't it beautiful?"




Yes, it's beautiful, Miss Lorainne!  I'd better keep the 'Miss' so the master of the house doesn't think I'm being disrespectful to our guests.  What brings you back to Louisiana, Miss Lorraine?"




"Well, as you know, my father died and I just needed the company of some family.  I'm an orphan now, you know."




"Yes, I know.  I'm sorry, Miss Lorrraine.  Let me give you a hug."




They embraced once again and my grandmother started crying on her shoulder.




"There, there, Miss Lorraine.  We're still here for you and you know that your uncle loves you dearly.  Besides, you'll soon be Mrs. Tribe and you'll have a man to look after you."




"Yes, I know.  It's just hard losing my father.  We were so close even though he rarely got to come home.  It's a shame about all of those hobos who died in the wreck.  My dad wasn't supposed to let them ride but he could never turn down a poor person who needed a hand.  My step-mother took all of the money from the train company.  She was always so jealous of me.  Dad had to sneak away to come visit me at the convent."




"It's sad, Miss Lorraine.  She sure weren't mother material.  As much as you hated that convent, you were probably better off than being raised by THAT selfish witch.  I feel for you."




"So, is Uncle Curtis still treating you alright?  Have you married yet?"




"Your Uncle Curtis is treating me just fine.  Things were tight last year because of the bad crops but he saw that we were fed and taken care of.  I sure do miss the extra desert you used to sneak me when you were here when we were young though."




"Haha!  I'll order double again tonight and you'll have your extra dessert."




"Oh, thank you, Miss Lorraine.  It will be just like old times.  Hehe"




"Just like old times.  Now, if you don't mind, could you leave me here alone for awhile?  I have a lot of things to think about at this old reflecting pool."




"Sure thing, Miss Lorraine.  Just ring this bell if you need me.  I'll be sitting in the shack over there catching up on my knitting."




Simone reached in her pocket and pulled out a small, ornate silver bell with an ornate handle and handed it to my grandmother. My grandmother took the bell and put it into her pocket.




"Thank you, Simone."




"My pleasure, Miss Lorraine."




My grandmother turned back to the reflecting pool as Simone walked to the shack.  She stared at the Japanese Carp swimming and floating around the pond and started thinking about her childhood.  She thought about the harp that her real mother owned... and her stepmother despised... and remembered how much she wished that her mother had lived so she could grow up listening to the harp being played as she grew up.  She thought about how much she hated the convent and the cruel nuns who raised her but how much more special that made it she her dad came home to visit.  She thought about how much she missed him and wept awhile.  Her thoughts then turned to her future.  She would soon be married and having children.  She would no longer be mistreated by the Sisters in the convent.  She would leave the church and become a Methodist like her husband.  It was both exciting and scary at the same time.




Ah, the reflecting pool.  She remembered listening to the workers working the fields and singing hymns.  She remembered the feasts after harvest.  She remembered everyone sitting with the workers and eating watermelon on hot days.  It would soon be time to return to her apartment in Houston and get on with the business of planning the wedding.  For now though, she had family and the reflecting pool.

The Woofie

The Woofie



Hello.  You, yes you.  I look like a stuffed dog animal toy, don't I?  Nothing could be further from the truth.




I can imagine that you are starting to feel that something very strange is going on here.  Indeed it is.




First, notice that you're listening to what you think is a stuffed animal speaking to you.  You're intrigued so you can't pull away.  Something else is going on as well though.  Maybe you're starting to sense that something is wrong?




Yes, by now you are.  You want to turn and walk away but you can't.  That's because I've homed in on the motor cortex of your brain and made you completely defenseless.  That's how I start.  Once I have your attention and have made you defenseless, there's really nothing you can do about it.  You can't run: You can't hide: You can't scream for help.  You are totally defenseless and you are totally in my power.




Now what will happen is I shall drain you of all of your knowledge except for that which you need to serve me.  You wouldn't think something so sinister of such a cute little stuffed toy, would you?  That is why we chose this form.




You see, we are a race from a distant planet outside of your solar system.  We call ourselves Woofies.  Our minds became so developed that we didn't have much use for a physical body.  Eventually, though, we realized that we needed corporal bodies to accomplish certain menial tasks... like reproduction. 




You will find now that our minds are slowly becoming linked.  We will start to share in each others' thoughts, feelings, and emotions in as much as I allow it.  As I said, you are totally helpless and there is nothing you can do about it.  Soon I will ask you to pick me up and carry me to my mate who, by now, inhabits a member of the opposite sex.  Yes, you are my sex slave.  You are my love slave.  The female of your species will carry the offspring made today to term and it will carry not only psychic information of my mate and I but some genetic information which we shall soon impart to you.  Once the child is born, he will start to grow in both body and intellect at a slightly higher rate than human children do.  He will receive another shipment of Wolfies and shall distribute them among other human children to be carried into their households where those childrens' parents will be taken over as easily as you were.  We may keep your bodies for our pleasure once in awhile or we may decide to create more offspring , forcing you to mate with the victim of our choice.  You are totally and completely unable to do anything about it.  Soon, we will be in control of your entire planet. 




Since there is nothing you can do about it anyway, I may as well tell you the last part.  Once we decide that you are no longer useful to us, you will be terminated.  There really is nothing you can do to stop us.  We may have you fight each other in games for our amusement.  We may cause you to walk off of a tall building or into a hot, live volcano.
If you had stopped listening to me as soon as I began speaking to you, you may have had a choice.  Now you have none.




It is time now, sex slave.  Pick me up and take me to my mate who is awaiting our arrival.  You may as well enjoy the sex anyway since YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

A Coin In the Fountain

A Coin In the Fountain



 

Jack stood at the fountain and sighed. He was over his divorce from his cheating wife and he felt lonely. He had tried asking out women from church but the only ones available were at least ten years older than he was. He didn't have the smooth way of picking up women that most guys seemed to have. All he needed was a break.










 Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. In his hand lay two pennies, one tarnished and the other shiny, a dime, and a quarter.










 "I don't want to be cheap and get a cheap woman so I'll use the quarter" he thought, somewhat amusing himself.










 Jack took the quarter in between his left index finger and thumb then returned the rest of the change to his pocket. He then placed the quarter in his right hand, made a fist around the quarter, and whispered his wish into his fist.








 "I wish for an intelligent, charming, beautiful woman with whom I can share this lovely day."




 He tossed the quarter into the fountain, visualizing the woman he would like to meet. The splash of the quarter in the water brought him out of his visualization.






 Jack looked to his left and saw nothing then turns to the right and started walking to the fence to stare aimlessly at the pond. Just as he took his third step, a woman ran right into him. They both paused, startled. The woman began to speak.






 "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you. I beg your pardon."






 "It's no problem at all. I should have been more careful as well."






 They had grabbed each other instinctively to keep from falling and were still holding on. Suddenly their eyes met. It was instant attraction. It was as if their souls had been ripped apart at birth and they finally found each other but both were too shy to be forward about it. Still, the eyes said more than the words ever could have. All at once they noticed that they were still holding each other and slowly and awkwardly let go.






 Jack spoke.


 "I haven't seen you around here before, have I, Ms...?"






 "Jill. My name is Jill. No, I don't believe so. I just came in on a flight from out of town."






 "There's a concert in the park over to the left in a couple hours. Would you like to get something to eat and watch it with me, Jill?"






Jack quickly glanced toward her ring finger.


 "No, I'm not married. What about you? I know that guys sometimes don't wear rings."


 "No, I got divorced a few years ago. Shall we?"

Jack reached out his hand and she put her hand in hers. They started to walk to a nearby restaurant.






 At the restaurant, Jack pulled out Jill's chair for her then seated himself. Jack motioned for a waiter and they ordered. Jack had a confession to make.






 "Jill, you may not believe this but just before we bumped into each other I made a wish at the fountain. I don't normally believe in such things and didn't see anyone around so I started moping over to the pond when we ran into each other. Maybe there's a little magic in that old fountain after all?"






 Jill laughed, "Maybe."






 "Do you believe in fate?"






 "Not really but stranger things have happened. By the way, which group is playing in the park?"






 "Blood, Sweat, and Tears. They're from my high school years but a free concert is a free concert."






 "That's true. Besides, I like them."






 "Wonderful! We should enjoy it then. It's an early concert. It starts at six and will probably end at eight."






 "That will work great for me. If things go well, I might have something we can do afterwards."


 "Such as" asked Jack with his eyebrows raising and lowering.






 "Not that. Haha You'll see."






 Jack and Jill received their orders and began to eat.






 They finished their dinner then headed over to the concert area. Jack walked up behind the car and opened the trunk. He pulled out a styrofoam blanket and a quilt.






 "We're here early enough to get a good spot. I know the best place to set up."






 Jill followed him to the top of a man-made hill and watched as Jack selected the spot. She then helped him lay out the large quilt.






 "Isn't this a bit far back" asked Jill.






 "No, really... this is just the right distance. You'll see when the annoying people in their lawn chairs start to set up and block most peoples' views. This is just far enough back to see over the lawn chairs and just the right location for the best sound."






 "Okay. You're the boss."






 Jack opened up the ice chest and pulled out a can of Sterno and a strange contraption made of a twisted coat hanger. He lit the Sterno and placed the contraption over it. He then pulled out a small aluminum pot and placed a cake of brie in it and set the pot on the homemade pot stand. As the brie started warming, he pulled out a bottle of chardonnay and a wine opener. He produced two wine glasses and handed them to Jill. He then opened the wine and poured. The last item he pulled out of the chest was a box of fancy crackers. Soon the brie would be warm enough to eat.






 The band came on and played hit after hit as Jack and Jill sat on the hill eating their crackers and brie. By the end of the concert, the brie and wine were gone and they stopped for a long, romantic kiss. Afterward, Jack turned to Jill and spake.






 "That was a nice concert, wasn't it?"






 "Oh, wonderful! The refreshments and kissing weren't bad either."






 Jill gave Jack a wink.






 "Well then, Jill. What was this thing that you wanted to do afterwards?"






 "It's a surprise. Get in the car and drive us to the planetarium."






 "The planetarium? That seems an odd surprise."






 They loaded the trunk with the quilt and ice chest and Jack shut the trunk. He then went to the passenger door and let Jill in then went around to the driver's side, got in, and started the car.






 "Off to the planetarium" exclaimed Jack. He really didn't see why they couldn't have walked since it was just a block over.






 "Off to the planetarium!"






 They arrived and Jack parked the car then went around and opened Jill's door for her.




 "So, what's the surprise" asked Jack as he locked and closed her door behind her.




 Jill reached into her purse and pulled out two tickets. Jack still had no idea what they were doing there.






 "Let's get in line" said Jill.






 When they got to the door, the doorman tore the tickets and gave each one of them a ticket. Jack looked at his stub.






 "The Pink Floyd laser light show" Jack exclaimed. "I've always wanted to see this but never took the time!"






 The show was a dazzling set of laser effects set to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album. By the time the show was over it was getting late.






 Jack turned to Jill and invited her to his place for the night. She agreed.






 It was a thirty minute drive to his place once they got out of downtown Houston. Jill sat next to him and he put his arm around her shoulders as they drove. They had conversations about their hopes and dreams and found so many things they agreed on.
 When they finally reached Jack's house, they went inside. Jack put on some romantic music and sat down on the couch beside Jill. After about thirty minutes of making out, Jack stood up, took Jill by the hand, and led her to the bedroom where they made passionate love. When it was over, Jill turned to Jack and spoke softly to him.






 "That was a wonderful fantasy, wasn't it, darling? What are we going to do for our next anniversary?"

The Swing

The Swing



 The chores were finally finished. The cows were milked, the chickens were fed, the garden had been tended and watered, and the pastures had been brush hogged. The once overgrown mess was now a beautiful pasture where the cows could roam and take a trip to the pond to drink without fear of being struck by snakes hidden in deep brush.
 It looked as if it might rain. That would be good for the crops. It had been awhile since we had decent rain. I asked my grandmother permission to swing since the chores were done. She said okay but come back in if it started raining.
 I got on the swing and let my cares drift away. There wasn't much to do on a farm so I used my imagination. I swung as high as I could, imagining that I was Superman in the comic books I read. I was far away from the big city problems of Houston and my parental discord. I would fly up to the heavens, land on a cloud, and talk with Jesus. I would hear the angels singing in perfect harmony with overtones so clear that you could hear the pronunciation of each word. I would swing and fly, swing and fly. One day I would reach those heavenly clouds but tomorrow was another day of chores.

 I swung and daydreamed until it began to sprinkle then I ran into the house, lay on the bed, listens to my uncle's classical music, and grabbed another Superman comic book to read as I heard the rain splattering on the tin roof. It had been a good day and the crops would get fresh rain. Perhaps tomorrow the sun would shine and we could go swimming in the Mulberry River.