My tears rain on the suffering world below me

Tyrants’ tongues fan the ignorant flames of hell

Refuse strangles God's creations under the sea

The blood of millions boils under War's savage spell

Cowards hide behind digital walls and people shrink in despair

Yet listen for my hymn drifting softly on the summer breeze

A prayer of hope calling to His children swirls in the air

Be still tonight - let my soothing touch put you at ease

Smell my floral fragrance as I caress your restless soul

Take my hand and we'll glide on a path to glory

Come let me show you joys that will make you whole

Spurn the anguish and distraction and listen to my story

Heed heaven's message and find the good in the world

Reach into my spectral heart and grasp my holy power

A love that began so tiny, now is blinding might unfurled

Let my faith warm you ’til you bloom like a divine flower

Carry my promise and smash your brothers’ bonds of deceit

Now’s the time to reforge that trust lost so long ago

Share a bit of heaven and let Man taste what’s just and sweet

Soar high with my spirit and let your love for others show

Yes I'm a demon, sold my soul for power

was a worth while trade if you ask me, all that devil asked for was my soul

sure take it i said, won't need when I'm old

little did I know it was undying

to some this might dreadful, but i'm not feeling even the least bit regretful.

In my long life on that earth with powers given from someone beneath the dirt

I was a great man and helped a great many others

so while my soul sank i'm sure their's fluttered.

Give me another chance and I'll do it all again

demons get a bad rap and i really don't mind being their kin

that devil gave me a chance, while the angels just watched and judged

so now I extend my hand to you, what do you think not so bad huh

for the low price of a soul all the power imaginable,

eyes wide open not even a little shutter the guy said yes.

Great! another sucker.

Sign right here and i'll be on my way

and if you should die before you wake

thats your soul for me to take.

Forgot my roots, left my boots to dust

Armored my heart, laced my nikes up

Covered scars in tattoos; iced over love

Lowered my bar became like my blood

Said after years of pain I wanted numb

Give me drugs, drink till I’m dumb

Didn’t know that I’d never have enough

Or I did, figured it was just who I was

Genetics deciding disguised as free will

Kicked hope and dreams for the thrill

Did surgery on my heart took all the pills

Flipped over cards, they wished me ill

Bet all I owned on I’d never really care

Forgot to build a house, a fuck or a bear

Climbed the bottom to end up there

Innocence is brief, that thief really cares

Drills in young that life’s never fair

Killed the boy in me now the man stares

In the mirror looking closer for a sign

That who he was is still somehow alive

Reaching out defying space and time

Preaching to me about the devine

Wearing holy jeans, see it in my eyes

Never been a saint or a lucky guy

Love has overdosed me blind

I’m ignoring signs drinking on my side

Forgot last night, yesterday, last year

Woke up sober enough to face my fears

Choked on sorry, a curse to your ear

Floating along hoping you draw near

Boasting on about how I never cared

Has left me alone with liquor clear

Vodka on the rocks, quarter filled sock

Straight to the head like skipping rocks

Killing who I was, 100 proof tonic

Can I have a second ’fore I’m the target

I tried my best, less if I’m honest

Fear ruled daily wound that’s the rawest

Barely holding on wishing you saw this

Forgotten is better than never regarded

the light in your eyes softens the hard edges

of the world. a hard fire that burns bright

covering the world’s dark heart in red gold showing that in this ugly world, there is beauty there is kindness

and with you, darling beside me I can feel like I can do anything that I can conquer and defy fate itself

that I can reach for the stars

there’s nothing impossible with you

and when the fears are strongest and I am frozen in breath - powerless and small

when the earth beneath my feet staggers and I feel like I am falling

darling, you are the forces that pulses in my heart the power in my bones as I pick my self and push forward

reminding me that I am strong, reminding I can do it

that despite everything

i can be free

i can be loved

i can fight for my happiness

i can kiss you,

hold your warmth and

love you

that despite everything —

I AM WORTH IT.

You have eyes red like roses,

Adam had told her.

A flower named,

a woman still flowered.

Lilith would not bend to him,

nor bear his children.

She would birth shadows instead.

Ephemeral things, too fragile for daylight.

To dull the grief of constant loss,

Lilith would peek over the garden wall

at her golden haired replacement.

A woman as lovely as summer’s Eve.

Her eyes were distant and wide

but always curious.

Her body a reflection,

a distortion of Lilith’s own flesh.

They say a snake tricked this golden girl,

but there was no snake.

Lilith saw all, and knows the truth.

She ate the apple because she wanted.

She ate because she was made empty.

Made to satisfy, without satisfaction.

She ate because she was born hungry,

and knew no other way to fill the void.

Women aren’t supposed to want things.

They aren’t supposed to take things.

Certainly not forbidden fruit, red as roses.

Red as Lilith’s eyes.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow,

I find her perfectly preserved

and waiting for me

in a world under my finger,

just outside my grasp,

so close that I know

this will be the moment

that I finally touch her.

This will be the moment

that my grey eyes

joyfully drowning in blue light

finally see her love,

real and raw and warm,

instead of an oh-so-realistic

pixelation of the truth -

the mirage I always mistake

for honesty until

that very last moment

when I realize my finger,

starved for touch,

cannot extend,

no matter how desperately it reaches,

through shatterproof glass

to touch her wings

on the other side.

Jacob~ So, wanna head to Angels & Demons?

Trey~ All rightie. Let’s roll!

The two buddies hopped onto a grandel & were off in a blast.

Jacob~ Love the lights, ‘n’ setting of Angels & Demons. Dude, you need to get their famous dish.

Trey nodded his head and sat at one of the outdoor tables. Jacob grabbed a walkie-talkie on the table & looked at the menu. He scanned the options and decided on what to order.

Jacob~ Hmm, I’m getting the whiskey smoked ribs & broiled veggies. You should try the number one option.

Trey watched as Jacob gave the order for the food on the walkie-talkie. He couldn’t wait to dig in and taste Angels & Demons no. 1 dish.

Jacob smacked husband lips the moment the food arrived. Trey smiled. He raised his hands and blessed the food.

Trey~ May this food nourish our bodies.

Jacob~ Amen.

Trey used both of his hands to hle his food. His mouth watered after taking one bite of the spicy food.

Trey~ Ah, you’re so right about the wings. They’re so succulent!

Jacob~ They are the best wings in the universe!

Trey~ *burps & then chuckles* Excuse me. Yeah, I’m going to take some to go.

**************************************

Meanwhile- somewhere in another part of the city- a young demon stares at the enormous advertising board of Angels & Demons restaurant. The demon pulls out his phone from his jacket.

‘‘Hello..The resturant is still open...’’

*waits for a response*

‘‘Well, it’s been open now for a while.’’

On the other end of the call, static is heard.

‘‘Hello?? Are you still there?’’

The demon sighs and checks the phone.

A message pops up on the screen:

Keep an eye on our current business. If things get any crazy between either side of the Angels or Demons— take charge and remind them all to remember to do their job. If they don’t, then they’ll have to answer to me.

The demon got the message. Hopefully, this current alliance would last and not start a spark to a new battle/war between the two sides.

#LeRepas.

Feathers bristle flesh and bone

Pierced with vanes like arrows

Bequeathing gifts, authored, unknown;

Manna feeds our marrow

Whispered words, once clouded, dim;

Enveloped, satin shades

Melodic hum of ancient hymns

Speaks peace to souls, afraid

Fanning ember’s dying flame

Sustaining weak and weary

Answered prayers of fragile framed

Winged messengers shant tarry

While cherub tears lap ash as sand

Like oceans ebb and flow

On silvered stairs that stretch to land

Seraph journey low

Feet, once treading golden streets

Gather, watching grace;

Heaven kissing earth, beneath

Among us, face to face

#twitterphilanthropy @pulte

https://twitter.com/pulte/status/1149006287977496576

Bill Pulte is an angel among us!

Follow him on twitter to watch all the amazing gifts he is generously donating! Even better, direct message him or retweet and apply if you are in genuine need of immediate cash assistance. <3

At some point everyone struggles. At some point everyone feels alone. They feel this whether it is true or not. Life is hard. Some people use different techniques or beliefs to stay on their feet, but others face the torrential downpours that the world has to offer and they begin to stumble and fall. I am one of those people. I find myself struggling to stay afloat in the murky waters of the world. What is right? What is wrong? Am I right? Am I wrong? What is the point? I ask myself this a lot. In fact, it makes it very hard to want to continue with anything because of these thoughts that strike me at my very core. I've quit a lot of things. I've quit ballet, tap dance, martial arts, soccer, softball, and so much more. Life sometimes appear hopeless to me and I begin to think about...other options. This was a recurring thought for me when I went to an annual girl's church camp.

Near the campsite is a beautiful church building and historical site. The church building glows at night, lighting up the sky, acting as a beacon of light and hope. My friend, Manhattan took me and several other girls down to see the building light up. We got there only to be met with a pitch black darkness. The building was not lit up for the night. My friend said a few words about her beliefs of the church and offered for the girls to stay and ponder their thoughts and feelings despite the fact that the building had not glowed that night. Most of the girls stayed for a good two minutes. I stayed a bit longer.

I felt tears slip down my face as I said a silent prayer. By the way, I know that some do not believe in prayer or God, but that is not the main point of this. Anyways, as I said this prayer, I confessed my feelings. I had been feeling very confused with my emotions. At times they were strong, sometimes for what seemed to be no good reason. Other times, my emotions would appear to be nonexistent. I would either be filled with the most horrible emotions or I would be filled with an emptiness that would eat me up inside. At the time that I was saying my prayer I felt hopeless, confused, and as if I was not worth much. I wasn't good at anything and I could never make anyone happy. So, I prayed for someone at camp to be my angel for the week. I prayed for someone to help me know that I was not worthless or alone. After saying this prayer I made my way back to my campsite and laid down, hoping for a friend.

The next day passed by relatively quickly. It was the last full day of camp. The next day we would pack our stuff up and drive on out. I felt upset. No one had stood out to me as some kind of angel. My prayer had not been answered. Then, that night we had a meeting with a group of girls from our home ward with our bishop. Some girls from my ward stood and gave a few thoughts. I thought about saying a few things but I didn't feel that anything I had to say would be valued by anyone and so I kept my mouth shut. Then one of my friends who doesn't come to church very often stood up. She was crying. It was unbelievable. This girl rarely ever acted sad or even mad. She was very good at acting annoyed though.

"I just wanted to say that I wasn't going to come to camp this year. I wanted to but cheer camp got in the way and so I wasn't going to be able to come. I figured that no one would want me to come anyway. Then a few weeks ago during our yard sale fundraiser, I was working with Amber, (me), and she told me that she wanted me to come to camp. I was struggling with feeling wanted and feeling as though I belonged and yet here this girl was, telling me exactly what I needed to hear. I wasn't going to say anything except that only Amber and myself knew what happened and I wanted other people to know about it," and with that my friend sat down. I wasn't sure if anyone could tell because of how dark it had become, but I was sitting on my stool, tears slipping down my face. I was crying so hard, shaking practically. One though was going through my head. I did something good; something right.

We said a prayer to close out the night and right away, my friend stood up and came over to me and we hugged each other. That was another thing I had needed that week. I had been desperate for a hug, but too afraid and ashamed to ask for one. My friend gave me the best hug I could ask for. It wasn't nice because of how hard she squeezed, but because of the passion she used as she wrapped her arms around me as we both cried into each other's shoulders. She was my angel. She was the answer to my prayers. This girl was the one who made me feel as though I was wanted. I was needed!

Angels do exist everywhere. When you need that little bit of comfort or even just a hug, there are people out there. These people can be anyone. They can be friends, family, coworkers, boyfriends, girlfriends, and so on. They don't always know it and we don't always recognize it, but they are there. Everyone has that angel waiting for them in disguise.