After the War to end all wars was over in 1918, life was not the same. Because of chemical and catastrophic bombs, most animals became extinct, and those surviving suffered drastic mutations. The human race was no exempt from these changes. Humans grew to an average of nine feet, with skin that glowed different colors depending on which tribe they belonged to, and had wings like a hummingbird. During the war, many of those belonging to the Kingdom of Zonlicht were taken captive and subjected to cruel deaths, and others to unthinkable slavery. Although the War to end all wars was over, a different kind of war was simmering between the two realms. There would take place a true battle that would defeat once and for all a certain king’s archenemy.
As was mentioned, many fairies were taken during the 1918 war, and a fairy named Felicity was among these fairies. She was taken to the realm of Korek, the Prince of Maailma, and a traitor to the fairies from the Kingdom of Zonlicht when she was just a baby. Felicity belonged to the tribe of Kaplan, daughter of King Gesù of Zonlicht, God of Heela. She, of course, being taken away as a baby, had no idea that her true father was Gesù and not Korek. King Gesù made battle plans to rescue His beloved daughter from His foe. It took many years of planning and preparing, but finally the day had come.
The battle between both kingdoms was intense and bloody, but it all came to a head when King Gesù at a crossroad, was surrounded by His enemies and face to face with Korek. The battle looked like it would be lost to Korek, but the God of Heela new different. King Gesù, who knew what was about to happen and who had deeper, stronger magic than His archenemy, gave a yell of victory and died right there before both armies. At that instant, there was a tremendous earthquake that shook the world, broke prison cells, tore down the castle in Maailma, and hundreds of thousands of prisoners were set free, including Felicity. In a moment, Korek was swallowed alive in an eternal abyss along with his followers. King Gesù was raised up by a glowing light and shining archfairies in silver armor. They spun around their king, who suddenly burst forth with light that spread in all directions with thunder and lighting and then, in an upright position, descended on top of a hill, at the foot of the crossroad, alive and radiant.
King Gesù had defeated Korek by laying down His life and, in it, had broken the cells of darkness for prisoners and His daughter from the power of the Prince of Maailam. Felicity ran out of her cell, smelling of rotten flesh and covered with grey, tattered, torn garments and bat-like wings. The King stepped toward His daughter and knelt to meet her eyes. She was terrified and confused, but when their gaze met, all fear was washed away, and the revelation of who she really was gleamed in her eyes. King Gesù touched His daughter’s head. Instantly a blinding light erupted from her body, and she was spun around in a whirlwind of sparkles, lightning, and rainbows. As she descended, her once tattered garments were transformed into a flowing gown of pink and silver, interwoven with gold and diamonds. A crown of splendor was on her head, and her wings were like those of a mighty eagle. Hand in hand, King Gesù and Princess Felicity flew back to the Kingdom of Zonlicht.
(c) 2023 alrights reserved Camry Sharp

Okay, so I have been asking myself this question: Do I really know God?

Why am I asking this question? Well, because I really want to know that if I KNEW, really KNEW God, would my life be different? Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't "know" God. I know God, I follow God, I live for God. But, do I truly know who God is? I have friends that I've had for years. I know ABOUT them, but I don't really KNOW them. 

What is the difference? Relationship. The more TIME I spend with someone, the more I get to KNOW them. So, am I spending enough time to get to KNOW my Creator? I am working on that. I think if I really understand who God is, many things in my life would change. What would those changes be you ask? For one, my speech. And no, I am not talking about pronunciation, articulation, and projection (someone had speech class and knows these fancy words, LOL!). I am talking about WHAT I say and HOW I say it...okay, so there is some articulation there, but that's not the point.

The point is, if I recognized fully that the God whom I serve is going to judge me one day for all that I say and THINK in my head, I believe my words would be a lot different. Now, what do I mean that He will judge me? I mean that one day I will have to give account for my life and all that I did with it, including what words came out of my mouth. I don't want to get to Heaven and have a list a mile long of words that hurt people, words that disrespected my authorities, or told lies about others. I want to have pure speech. What is purity of speech? It is not having defiling, contaminating, degrading, and filthy talk coming forth from my lips. You know the truth? What comes out of our mouths is what is coming directly from our hearts.

So yeah, I have asked myself, "If I really knew God, how would that affect my life and change it?". I am working at getting to KNOW God by spending time with Him in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Basically trying to stay connected throughout the day. I do this through prayer which is just talking to God like I would to a friend; sharing my innermost thoughts and desires, concerings and dreams. I read His Word, sing, and just sit silent waiting for Him to speak, and He does. It's not like an audible voice, but a voice that my heart can hear.

So, let me ask you. What would your life be like if you really KNEW God?

I've had to ask myself. "Why am I disappointed in this person?". "Why do I feel that this person is rejecting me?". Have you ever asked those questions?
I have had to do some re evaluation with some friendships. Are they the problem or am I the problem? Guess what I found out!
We're both the problem! More so with me! Why? Here is why.
When I place expectations on a friendship, but I do not communicate those expectations...then when they are not met, I am like, "What! They don't like me! How rude!". Then I start to treat them differently, rejecting them thinking they have rejected me. I see everything they do as against me and as unloving gestures.
Now, they in turn feel and see that and react to my actions. And on goes the cycle.  So how do we resolve this? By getting in their face? No!
Maturity, people! Being the first to take the first step, being the more mature one who approaches the person in the very beginning and telling them of your expectations! Don't be ridiculous in your expectations! Be realistic! They are only human too! 
Once your expectations are made clear, then it is up to that person if they will respond and act on them. Here is another level of maturity, going out of one's way to make the other feel happy. If you do not get your expectations met, don't react in a stupid way. Be mature and think about the other person. Talk with them and find out what is going on. Don't let bitterness settle in. Also, you are not responsible for their reaction to your actions. Take care of yourself first. They need to be mature too, but you are not to force them.
Expectations should not control our emotions or actions nor excuse how we treat someone. We need to re evaluate our expectations and be merciful if that person cannot met them on demand.
Be the person you wish people would be to you when you cannot met their expectations. Be gracious, kind, compassionate, understanding, giving, loving, peaceful, and above all merciful.
That there is what I have to put into practice on a daily bases and if I can be real, I don't always act the mature part. Life is a school for the soul and we must work so that we can pass our final test. Let's start with expectations!

​I had to think fast! The sure death waters were racing towards me by the second. I looked all around for some kind of escape. Then I saw it. Off to the horizon there was a…light!? A shimmer of a light like a beacon of hope on a hill about eight miles away. I knew it was risky, but I put my truck into full gear and raced towards my tower of hope. It was the most horrific, death defying, and stupide thing I could have done racing through the rising waters and the storm at its max. But I had to reach that beacon of hope. I had to make it to safety. I had to find safety. I had to find…myself. I needed a place where I could think, breath, and process. I needed that light to shine in me. I needed to get there alive and in one piece.
Eight miles might as well have seemed like eight thousand. I felt like a was being dragged backwards with a load of bricks. Never had I felt such a struggle to reach a place where I could escape the rising waters. I was…desperate…disparate to just get out of this mess and feel my heart again. I longed for the sun to shine on my face. I longed for the soft gently summer breeze mixed with the sound of birds and the smell of wild daisies. Would I ever experience tranquility again?
My truck swung into the road leading to the lighthouse. Now it was no longer a tower tower in the distant. Something that, minutes ago, had seemed impossible to be able to reach. It had seemed like a false hope that I could even reach it without dying in the process. Yet, here I was. I swung open the door only to have it shut on my leg. I cried out in agony from the slam. The wind, rushing past at well over seventy miles an hour speed, had slammed the door on my left leg cutting it deeply. My cry of course was not heard in the madness of the storm. I tried again to open the door and prepared for what might happen. Now more than ever I had to reach safety. I was beaten, battled, and scared. I was dying…not physically but dying inwardly from lack of hope. I didn’t know if I had the mental strength to continue and now injured…How could I possible continue my journey?
I fought my way, inch my inch to reach my place of safety. I felt like an inchworm, worm for being reached, despised, and rejected, an outcast in the animal kingdom. And inches!? Each one had me dragging myself against a massive rising wind. A wind that was like a giant blowing out of his mouth a gush of breath seeking to knock over anything left breathing in the storm. How I longed for my life to be over! If I could not make it to safety, then I’d rather perish now then be dragged by the storm and dashed to tiny pieces. Why had this happened to me? Why had life given me not lemons, but acid that eats away and destroys? What was the reason for all my pain, lose, and suffering? Surely after the storm passes, there will be nothing left! Then what will become of my life? What do I have to look forward to but a world beaten, half dead, and destroyed by an unexpected storm?

​Copyright Ⓒ 2022 C. Joy Sharp All rights reserved