The Lottery

The Lottery
 "Step right up folks! Get your lottery ticket. If you win you get the person of your dreams! That's right! With our high tech equipment we scan your mind, your heart, and your soul and create just the kind of mate who is perfect for you! Don't be afraid folks! Step right up and see who will be the lucky winner!"


 People lined up for miles around. It was too good to be true. The person of your dreams for the rest of your life created especially for you.


 As each person bought their ticket, they were guided into a special waiting area where they all stood to see who was going to be the lucky winner. There was excitement in the air. One lady cried out in a shrill voice, "Oh I hope I win! I have just the man in mind!"


 Everyone was so exuberant that it seemed like it would take forever for the stage hands to get the last of the tickets placed into the giant metal cage. Finally, it was done.


 The man on stage pressed a button and the cage turned repeatedly insuring that the tickets were thoroughly mixed. Finally, the huge cage slowly spun to a stop. The host reached inside.


 "And the lucky winner is... drum roll please... Number 6507519. That's 6507519! Would you please come up on stage?


 A man pushed his way through the crowd and appeared on stage. The numbers were checked and they matched. The winner was placed in a special chair and his heart, mind, and soul were scanned. Soon there was a ding and a lovely lady walked out of the preparation chamber and came and took the man by the arm.


 "That will be all for tonight," said the announcer.


 He then reached over, pulled a lever, and the rest of the contestants were dropped into a giant vat of boiling oil.

Lucy Got the Rings Today

Lucy got the rings today.  I was quite thrilled that she was very happy about it.  You know that these things don't usually go well for me but I guess I finally found someone who is different.  :)  The man's ring says "Doctor" and the woman's ring says "Companion."  It's sentimental because her late grandfather, Robert Holmes wrote and directed many Doctor Who scripts.  Here is a picture of Lucy showing the ring to my mother I think.

No, she's not hiding her head because she's ashamed.  She has a dongle for an internet connection and it's quite touchy so she was trying to stay as still as possible so I could snap the picture.  It's quite blurry both because of the webcam she has at her dad's house and because of the lousy internet connection she has.  It gives us dreadful fits.

 This is an old picture of Lucy chatting with me.  I'm not sure which chat app we were using.  She had been quite ill just before this.  She has been getting better until recently.  There has been a lot of death and a lot of drama surrounding her friends.  It's making it very difficult for her to eat.  What she needs is a rest from it all.

Here are the three monkeys happily chatting away on Google Chat or whatever the hell the name of the program is.  We have so much fun when the three of us chat.  Billy gets a little excited and gets on Lucy's nerves sometimes but it's all in good fun.  If we can ever get all three of us together at the same time we'll have to make a video.  Billy is very clever and I love him as much as he loves me.  I don't love him as much as I love Lucy though.  ;)  That's a different kind of love.  haha

I wish that Skype had allowed me to save the videos that Billy and Lucy and I made when I was in the hospital.  Billy has the same strange sense of humor as Lucy and I have.   He could have probably written the last to lines of the previous paragraph.  We don't get to talk as often as I would like but it's wonderful when Billy does get to chat with us.  We were going to try to save those videos and make them into something like a podcast or a longer comedy video but Skype seems to have disabled them.  It's a shame really.  Everyone would have enjoyed them.

You can see in this picture that Lucy and I sit in the same kind of pose quite often.  We both have the habit of resting our elbows and holding our chins.  It's one of the many, MANY things that we have in common.

For you Doctor Who fans, here is a link to her a wiki about her grandfather, Robert Holmes.

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Robert_Holmes

Here's a picture for you.

Yes, I know that the rings weren't expensive but they are very sentimental.  Some people put sentiment over price.  That's another one of the many things I love about her.  She knows my financial situation and she doesn't really care.  The only thing that's really important is that we treat each other well, get along famously, and love each other deeply... even if she has trouble admitting it sometimes.  hehehe  ;)  (sort of an inside joke)

So, that's what's been going on in my life.  I wasn't at liberty to say anything until now.  I wanted my long-time friends to know though.  Don't worry, it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  I just love her more.  :)

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Cal-el

Take Heart (Needs updated prayer list and closing song)

Take Heart

Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries 2/3/2015

Good afternoon, welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries. My name is Elder Cal Jennings. 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/

Elder Cal’s Other Sites: Blogspot & Facebook & Twitter & Google+

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot

http://youtu.be/JI1DiddWCKs

Ocean - Put Your Hand in the Hand

We all have problems. Every single one of us. Some of our problems are more serious than the problems of others but to us our problems are just as important. God didn't tell us that life would be without problems if we followed him. He just told us to take heart and trust that He would get us through those problems.

Psalm 27:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

“Be strong and take heart.” No, this isn't referring to the ancient Mayan and Aztec practice of cutting someone open and taking their heart. ;) This is referring to definition 4 of the King James Version Dictionary.

4. The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure &c.

Take courage. Be of good courage. Trust in the Lord for all of your needs. Sure, we may have troubles, but when you trust in the Lord, your needs will be filled. You don't have to worry about whether or not things will work out. You just do what you can and trust that things will work out. That doesn't mean just sit back and do nothing and everything will be dropped in your lap all of the time. Sometimes we have to work on changing ourselves or changing situations in our lives that are causing the problems.

Psalm 31:24 King James Version (KJV)

24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

When you take heart and trust in the Lord, he will strengthen your heart. The more you trust, the stronger your faith will become and the stronger your heart of faith will be, The more faith you have the easier it will be for you to take heart. Sometimes it may seem like things are impossible but when you take heart, God turns those things around.

John 16:33 King James Version (KJV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

One thing that you should know about maintaining your faith and being able to maintain it during something important that is occurring is to watch the company who surrounds you. If you have a bunch of doubting Thomas's around you, you're going to have trouble maintaining your faith. Rev. Joel Osteen presented this passage concerning it.

Mark 5:21-43 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman 21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Footnotes: Mark 5:36 Or Ignoring

As Joel Osteen said, you can't have people around you mocking you and putting you down when you're trying to do something important like heal someone or raise someone from the dead. Even Jesus sent everyone but Peter, James, John, and the child's mother out of the room before he attempted to raise her from the dead.

Sometimes people are just agitators and/or detractors. You don't need those people around you when you're doing something that important. If you're praying FOR someone, it's good to get them to understand that there is no reason to doubt as well. The more doubt there is, the more trouble you are going to have praying with the pureness of heart that is needed for God to answer your requests. You need everyone involved to be on board with you or the boat is likely to capsize. That is why Jesus told us these things about praying.

Mark 11:24 King James Version (KJV)

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Matthew 21:21-22 King James Version (KJV)

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Yes, you have to believe if you want to receive what you ask for. Let me repeat that. You HAVE to believe if you want to receive what you ask for. Believe that you have received it and it shall be done. Jesus also said that we don't need to be too specific in what we prayed for because the Father already knows our needs. That is what Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer. Just ask that your needs regarding something be filled and God will fill them. Let God worry about HOW it's going to happen. You just believe it IS going to happen as you pray.

Now, let's bow our heads and pray as Jesus taught us when he said in

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye:



Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 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.

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Elder Cal Jennings

Nothing is Impossible (Incomplete)

Sermon for Wednesday 1-28-2015

Nothing is Impossible

Isaiah 14:24-27 King James Version (KJV)

24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Isaiah 14:24-27 New International Version (NIV)

24 The Lord Almighty has sworn,
“Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
    and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land;
    on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will be taken from my people,
    and his burden removed from their shoulders.”
26 This is the plan determined for the whole world;
    this is the hand stretched out over all nations.
27 For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
    His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

Surely as I have planned, so it will be. These are some words that I needed to hear myself. God made it evident to me on Tuesday that He meant it. I won't go into details but I was starting to think that for all of the times I had prayed to be sure that something was right and God seemed to be telling me yes, it was right and even sent me some threats as dreams if I went back on it, that God had let me down. Everything seemed dark and dingy. I became depressed. I didn't quite lose faith but I was certainly confused because I didn't know what was wrong. I didn't have all of the details. When I got the details, I was quite ashamed of my doubt.

No matter how strong your faith in Christ is, there are going to be times when we will doubt. Satan tries to throw us curves and make us wonder if we're making the right choices. Sometimes what God says is the right choice seems nearly impossible to achieve but if God said that it's the right thing then we must trust Him that He'll make a way.

“25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land;
    on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will be taken from my people,
    and his burden removed from their shoulders.'”

There have been times when I've been up against the wall, homeless, thrown in jail for a short period on false charges, and many other things but God has seen me through each one and made a way for me to walk through it without harm. At times it seemed that there was nothing that could make things better but just when I had completely given up hope, God turned things around. I even spoke truth to politicians... my big crime... so they set me up. They couldn't hold me for long since I hadn't done anything wrong but they refused me a phone call and refused me a lawyer. After about a week, I prayed to God and asked him what to do and he told me. A few days later, they sent me to court, I pleaded Nolo Contendere to the charges, and they let me go. I could have tried to represent myself but I knew that I didn't really have any chance against a lawyer so God put the idea of Agnew pleading Nolo Contendere in my head and that's what I did.

Luke 21:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Again from Isiah:

27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

If you have God on your side, not even the powers that be can hold you. When you've been doing nothing but God's work and you're being held and persecuted for something you didn't do, God can get you through it. If you have untold barriers between you and what God says that He has for you, those barriers will fall. It may seem to take more time than we think it should knowing that it has already been promised but God is true and faithful to His word.

In my particular situation, there are financial barriers, distance barriers, minor culture barriers, and other things to overcome but they will be overcome.

Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is to be patient when we can almost taste something. We can see it, we can hear it, and we can almost feel it, but by all appearances, they're just out of distance. Having lived my life, I know that there ARE no barriers. The barriers are just something in our minds. Something that society has told us to believe. Maybe it's even something our parents told us to believe. If God wants it to happen, it's going to happen. You can count on that.

http://youtu.be/hnrCOSXVrSM

*Audio* Nothing Is Impossible: The Church Choir of The Houston First Baptist Church

Now, let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us when he said...

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 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.

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Elder Cal Jennings

GOODSTUFFs CYBER WORLD: GoodBit the New Space Age Cryptocurrency

GOODSTUFFs CYBER WORLD: GoodBit the New Space Age Cryptocurrency

ARRRRrrrrgh!

I am at my wit's end today.  Most of you who are on faceboook know about the maddening weekend I had with the electricity getting cut off on the coldest day of the year so far, my mom losing $1200 of the money I was trying to save for an important purpose, and my sister being at Tomball Regional Medical Center during the alleged hostage situation with her father-in-law on the very floor where the situation was taking place.  Today, I had further maddening circumstances.

I got up to make coffee today and I don't even want to say what I found under the coffee pot but I will say that it was about a 1/8" layer of black, dead, decaying, compressed insect bodies that took a scouring pad to remove.  I had a talk with my mom about kitchen cleanliness... which probably did little good... and had to lay down because the counters are so low in this place that it's very hard on my back to work on the countertops.  This place was built for a short person.  She further agitated me by trying to say that Diane and I didn't keep our house clean which was CRAP.  SHE didn't keep HER house clean.  WE DID.  Nothing pisses me off more than lying.

The one bright spot in my day today was when a special someone whom I admire talked to me and calmed me down with her sweet, gentle way of texting.  It's almost as nice as hearing her voice live on private video chat.  Well, that was going well until I mentioned something about some wedding plans that SHE had brought up.  Suddenly I'm the bad guy again.  WTF???  I remember another woman who did me that way.  Most of you remember Jill.  Now, this woman is generally much more stable than Jill but this kind of craziness is starting to make me wonder.  I am NOT going to spend time on something again where I'm the only one putting any effort into things.  I learned from my 15 year 'til death do us part marriage that the only way that anything can work between two people is if both people are committed to the friendship/relationship/marraige, whatever you want to call it.  As a matter of fact, that's exactly the order that the relationship with Diane went.  We lived together as "friends" then she wanted to call it a "relationship" then, after I had asked her once a year to marry me and had finally given up on asking, she decided that she wanted it to be a marriage.  Hell, I didn't care by then.  We'd do whatever the fuck she wanted.  We were together and we were committed to staying together.  That's all that mattered to me, though I really didn't appreciate her cheating when I tried so hard and DID resist temptation throughout the 15 years of our marriage.  When someone starts acting like they're not going to hold up their end though, it makes me very, very nervous.

Now, this person to whom I'm referring lights me up like a Christmas tree and has never given me any reason to doubt her.  I never even felt that way about Diane, I'm sad to say.  This person calms me, helps me, inspires me, and makes me feel better about myself.  She brought me back from the edge of death... make that PRIED me back from the edge of death... wanting me to give her a chance.  I really believe that she is and will prove to be the best thing that ever happened to me in my life.  Her actions today, though, made me very nervous.  Hell, I was DONE with love, DONE with relationships, DONE with LIFE!  I was ready to die and just get it all over with.  When she finally made me take a look at who she was... a long, hard look, I couldn't help but fall in love with her.  I have never laughed so hard so often with anyone in my life, never have been so compatible and had so many things in common with anyone in my life, and never had met anyone with so many extremely similar experiences in life as I had.  I don't WANT this to go wrong.  Am I scared?  HELL YES I'M SCARED!  You know of my past catastrophies.  I really, really, REALLY need this to work.  If not, I may need to borrow a 12 gague shotgun shell from someone because I don't think I can take anymore.  Haha

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Cal-el

Sermon for Wednesday 12-30-2014 What's Really Needed In the World?

Mark 16:15-20 King James Version (KJV)
 
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

What's Really Needed In the World?

It's amazing how a seemingly unrelated post on Facebook can cause an epiphany!  

I was reading a post about Pat Benatar's husband's birthday and someone commented that if her husband hadn't gotten her to change to rock she would still be just a lounge singer.  JUST A LOUNGE SINGER?  Well, as some of you know, I'm a fan of torch singers so I went on a search for Pat Benatar singing one of her "lounge singer" songs to see how she sounded.  What I eventually found was this:

Here's My Heart by Pat Benatar, Film Version 

 

captainsquare

If you haven't seen the film Metropolis to understand what it's about, I recommend you do so.  I haven't yet seen the 1984 version from which this was taken.  I first saw the pieced together original version in River Oaks at a theater there.  I recently saw it again.  When I saw this clip, I realized what I had been wanting to say all along and how it fit into my idea of WORLDstock, a vision that God had given me.

What is WORLDstock?

I have given my part of a shared vision, the idea of WORLDstock, to Aliza Hava who has a better location... Jerusalem.  After all, what better place to take this message than the root of where these things stem from? I feared that I might die before I could get the vision moving and I just hadn't anticipated running into anyone who would have access to the area and be able to put on a peace concert there before I met her.  She was working on a similar peace project so she was perfect to share my part of the vision with.  Anyway, onto the story.

I always related to Freder because I came from part of both worlds and had trouble resolving the conflict within when I stepped out of my life of relative privilege and saw what it was to live and work amongst the workers.  There was a terrible dichotomy inside me.  If only I could find someone to stand by my side to support me into trying to bring a resolution between the two worlds like Freder did. I need the love and encouragement to make it happen. I have the connections. I just need those who have faith enough in my idea to make it happen.

 When I saw this particular clip of Metropolis with Pat Benatar's song Here's My Heart, it struck me.  I think it shows how true love can truly bring understanding and lasting peace between opposing groups.  The groups aren't opposing in reality but need each other to exist. It's just that both groups have forgotten that they need each other and need to be compassionate toward one another.

I have seen the tensions forming on both sides.  It's like a repeat of the movie Metropolis.  Both sides seem to be warring with each other and it is about to become a revolution that could destroy everything on earth.  Deep down, the rich know that it's not right to hoard everything and starve the workers who made their riches and machinery possible.  

Proverbs 11:26 King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

Isaiah 23:18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

Proverbs 28:27 King James Version (KJV)

²⁷ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Deep down, the poor know that it's not right to kill the rich and to destroy everything that they created which also supports them and their lifestyle.  Instead of a warring revolution with possible nuclear implications, what is needed is a meeting of the hearts.  Rather than revolution we need conflict resolution.  Though the following song is dated, its message is what the world really needs right now... not war, not revolutions, but true love.

James 3:13-18 King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Proverbs 13:4 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 6:34 King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

Jackie DeShannon - What the World Needs Now (with lyrics) 

 

magnalink600

Now, it's true that at this point, the technology exists to tell the corporate masters to go to hell.  What people of those groups don't realize is that it's not something that would happen overnight.  Some people can't afford completely self-sustainable quarters and don't have the health to go out in search of their own food.  Not everyone can afford to relocate.  There are people living on the streets with no food and no housing.  They have no source of income and there are no jobs out there that they are capable of performing.  The Venus Project has some great ideas but these ideas take money and time to implement.  If none of the people who support the ideas have the money to make it happen, the ideas are irrelevant.  Still, a more compassionate view between the working class and the management class could acheive similar results and there would be no need for the wars and destruction that are likely to take place in the very near future if something doesn't change.  Don't be fooled.  The working class now has very powerful weapons at its disposal.  They have been stockpiling guns, grenades, missile launchers, and have even obtained nuclear weapons and support.  Spending your life hiding in an underground bunker, no matter how elaborate, is no substitute for living among others in a peaceful, compassionate fashion.  Shouldn't we find a way to make peace rather than revolt?  This was Jesus' vision.  It was God's message to mankind.  It was why God sent Jesus to the Jews and to all mankind.  Let's make the following verse a reality everyday as He intended.

Luke 2:14King James Version (KJV)

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Sometimes, I don't think women realize what an inspiration a woman can be to a man. She can wake all his hidden talents even if they've lain dormant for decades. Ladies, don't fear your man's talents and abilities. Don't suppress them. Help nurture and guide them so that he can make the most of them and you... And maybe the rest of the world... Will reap the rewards.  The reverse is true as well.  Support your women in their talents and dreams.

John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

True love can overcome any barrier whether it be social class, race, sex, or great distance.  As long as we truly open our hearts to one another, we will be surprised at how much more compatible we are than we previously thought.  I owe this to someone whom I truly admire, and yes, love.

John 16:33 King James Version (KJV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I don't fear the world or what it can do to me. I know that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I am quite comfortable being of good cheer in dangerous times because I've been through dangerous times and I know that He shall see me through until the end.

1 John 4:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We should not be afraid of others. We should especially not be afraid of those who would keep us from doing God's will through threats of harm. These things will come and these things will pass.

Matthew 24:8-14 King James Version (KJV)

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

I know that tougher times are coming, but I've been there too and know that God will give me the words to say when it is time to say them. I shall endure unto the end. I shall be here until God calls me home.

Luke 12:11-12 King James Version (KJV)

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

So, be of good cheer. If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, fear not. If you have not then I invite you to do it at this time. Here is a simple prayer you can pray.

Dear Jesus,

Come into my heart and teach me the things I need to know. Teach me how to love God with all of my heart and all of my soul. Teach me how to love you and to love others as you did. Teach me your ways and teach me of heavenly things that I might walk in your path until the end.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Cal-el