Have you ever felt that God's line was busy when you needed Him most? Mrs. Jacquiline Cox aka Listen Linda joins Gentry to unveil the essence of 'Women of the Waiting Room,' where tales of faith and perseverance during life's toughest seasons emerge. Our listeners are in for an emotional journey as we explore with Mrs. Cox the shared experiences of women who have braved diagnosis, trauma, and the silence of God, yet clung to a faith as insistent as a heartbeat. These stories are not mere narratives; they're lifelines extended to those adrift in their own waiting rooms, offering solace and a pathway back to hope.
Each contributor to the 'Women of the Waiting Room' anthology brings forth a unique testament, blending testimonials, affirmations, and scriptures into a devotional aimed at drawing souls nearer to God. This episode isn't about accolades or the race for bestseller lists; it's about the immeasurable value of genuine connection and the powerful impact these stories have on readers across the globe. We celebrate the strength found in community, in the unity of 33 women sharing their truths to light the way for others, valuing being worth knowing over the fleeting glow of fame.
As our conversation with Mrs. Cox winds down, we delve into the potency of personal testimonies and the tapestry of individual faith journeys. Acknowledging that each person's story is as unique as their fingerprint, our discussion underscores the importance of divine friendships and trusting in God's promises. Through these shared narratives, we discover the power to uplift and inspire, affirming the belief that even in our darkest hours, there is strength to be found and peace to be won through faith. Join us for an episode that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring beacon of hope that faith provides.
Have you ever felt that God's line was busy when you needed Him most? Mrs. Jacquiline Cox aka Listen Linda joins Gentry to unveil the essence of 'Women of the Waiting Room,' where tales of faith and perseverance during life's toughest seasons emerge. Our listeners are in for an emotional journey as we explore with Mrs. Cox the shared experiences of women who have braved diagnosis, trauma, and the silence of God, yet clung to a faith as insistent as a heartbeat. These stories are not mere narratives; they're lifelines extended to those adrift in their own waiting rooms, offering solace and a pathway back to hope.
Each contributor to the 'Women of the Waiting Room' anthology brings forth a unique testament, blending testimonials, affirmations, and scriptures into a devotional aimed at drawing souls nearer to God. This episode isn't about accolades or the race for bestseller lists; it's about the immeasurable value of genuine connection and the powerful impact these stories have on readers across the globe. We celebrate the strength found in community, in the unity of 33 women sharing their truths to light the way for others, valuing being worth knowing over the fleeting glow of fame.
As our conversation with Mrs. Cox winds down, we delve into the potency of personal testimonies and the tapestry of individual faith journeys. Acknowledging that each person's story is as unique as their fingerprint, our discussion underscores the importance of divine friendships and trusting in God's promises. Through these shared narratives, we discover the power to uplift and inspire, affirming the belief that even in our darkest hours, there is strength to be found and peace to be won through faith. Join us for an episode that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring beacon of hope that faith provides.
Music. That ain't no fit for me. Do you pray, cause I pray? You want kids, I want they. Are you faithful, lord, tell me, can you send a ring? You a king, I'm a queen. We require certain things, and that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for.
Speaker 2:Dear God, you're in your sin. I'm gonna be ready. Dear God, you do this for me. I won't forget it. My heart has been through so much and I just wanna feel your love for once. And, dear God, I hope he's happy Already here. What if he's new? I know he is. I know he will. Dear God, that's what I pray for. So that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for, and I vow to be Everything you need. Share my life with you, on the right, with you, and I promise to support all your dreams. But I gotta know that you were made for me. Do you pray, cause I pray? You want kids. I want names. Are you faithful? Oh wait, tell me, can you stand the rain? You, a king, I'm a queen. Me require certain things, and that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for.
Speaker 1:That's what I wait for. That's what I wait for. To die, that's what I wait for. That's what I wait for, dear God. That's what I wait for. That's what I wait for, dear.
Speaker 2:God, I'm gonna be ready. Dear God, you do this for me. I won't forget it. My heart has been through so much and I just wanna feel your love for once. Feel your love for once and, dear God, I hope it's happy, already healed, but if it's in me, I know it is, I know it will. Dear God, dear God, that's what I pray for, so that's what I wait for.
Speaker 3:Welcome to Gentry's Journey. Today we will be speaking with a phenomenal guest. I'm going to start out with an inspirational scripture and, by the way, I'm, carolyn Coleman, glad to have you with me this afternoon. I hope everyone's day is going well and it reads when a man waits, pleases the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him, and that's from Proverbs 16 and 7. Think on that, please think on that.
Speaker 3:I am here to introduce to some and present to others Mrs Jacqueline Cox, and she's going to tell us about her latest, one of her latest. She keeps so many balls juggling, forgive me. One of her latest ventures that we'll be presenting soon, and it's Women of the Waiting Room and she is the vessel of this phenomenal project. We are very pleased to be a part of it. I am very pleased to be a part of it. There are several other women as well, and so we're going to let Mrs Cox come and take the floor to introduce herself and speak on being the vessel of the waiting room and the inspiration behind it. Take it away, mrs Cox behind it. Take it away, mrs Fox. Well, thank you so much, gentry, for having me on your platform. I truly appreciate it. You know I've only graced this platform a couple of times in my day, but you know it's always a blessing to be in the room with Miss Carolyn Gentry Coleman I like to call it Carolyn Gentry Coleman. I am thrilled to be the vessel of this project.
Speaker 3:This project is actually a three-tier project. So we have the anthology, which is compiled of seven women, seven being the number of completion. It's made up of Dr Nikita Davis, who wrote the board, but who's also the publicist for the Women of the Waiting Room, as well as Apostle Michelle Brown, and they wrote some phenomenal everybody wrote some phenomenal pieces for this project. Everybody's piece was so vulnerable, so transparent, and I'm just honored to have the support. And for you guys trusting me with your most vulnerable stories is to shed light on some of the dark times that we all have went through in our own personal lives and our own personal as you would say, gentry our own personal journeys.
Speaker 3:And what I want to commend each woman for is because you guys were willing to unpack those emotional roller coasters that you all have went through in your lives, whether it's being diagnosed with something, whether it's going through something in your own personal lives, traumas that you went through and you've been able to unpack those things and just speak on how God has either delivered you from your waiting room, how you're still there in your waiting season, or what you may have been through in your past life and how you are still waiting for God to come through for you. And a lot of times, everyone come through for you and a lot of times, everyone not just women, but everyone has those times in their lives where they feel like God does not hear them, and we want to touch those people with this project. We want to show you how just having just a small faith, that faith of a mustard seed, can carry you so far. We dug deep, we went deep, we went to places that we vowed that we would never go and unpack those things truthfully. And we did it transparent, transparent and we did it under the, the, the notion and the belief that god will bring. You know that our stories will bring people closer to god and maybe people who don't have that faith after reading these chapters and getting these, maybe help them overcome some of the things that they're dealing with or will deal with, or maybe give this book to inspire others who may eventually go through these things hope and and faith and belief that that god is real. And that is the mission behind the women of the waiting room surgery for yourself. And then we have theional.
Speaker 3:The devotional is made up of 33 wonderful women who have come to not just tell their stories, but some people came and they've given testimonials, they have given uplifting affirmations, they have given scriptures that they believe in, they've given steps on overcoming those things or steps on how to get closer to God. So each woman has come with their own perspective. Now with the devotional, the devotional is more so like a reader's digest. Okay, this is not something that's traditionally done in anthologies or devotionals. This is listen, linda's take on it, and so what I wanted to do is kind of put a spin on things, because everybody has it seems like everybody's coming out with anthologies and devotionals and inspirationals, and those are all great. But what I wanted to do with the devotional is let each woman craft it and be herself in it. I wasn't micromanaging it, I wasn't saying, hey, it needs to look like this, it needs to sound like this, everything needs to be like this, everything needs to be like this, I feel like, as long as it aligns with the message, as long as it aligns with the brand behind it, meaning the Bible, that you are free to be who you are within the pages of your story.
Speaker 3:Nobody can tell you how to write your story. Nobody can write your story for you. These are not AI-generated stories. These are not AI-generated people. These are real people with real stories, giving real truth in real time. And when you have authenticity like this, this is what reaches people on a global impact. A lot of people they do. They do these projects and then, once they reach best seller, they're on to the next best thing.
Speaker 3:With this, I want to reach people and we all have made a pact in the beginning of starting this project. All seven of us made a pact in the beginning that we will go through with this thing and we will do it not for bestseller status, not for this, because we all have those on multiple occasions, you know. So we don't do it for that. We do it for the glory of God, we do it to bring people closer to God and our mission is to reach people on a global stage, a global impact, to bring more people to God. And when you do that and you're genuine in that, god will bless it. And so we've been saying that.
Speaker 3:I've been saying, hey, I want to reach people on a global stage. I want to do things globally, not just for the moment, not just for the title, not just for the number one bestseller. Now I'm going to jump to another anthology because I want another bestseller. That's not what this is about, and I've already let the people know. If that's what you're about, then this is not the project for you. What we want to accomplish is to really touch lives for real and reach people globally for real. And when you do it, and you do it and give all glory to God, it will be what it's going to be, as long as we're able to capture people's attention and give that attention not to us, me, not to you, but to god.
Speaker 3:And I said something earlier and I posted it and I meant what I said when I said it, and that is don't strive to be well known, strive to be worth knowing. When you strive to be worth knowing, people will never forget you. But if you're well known, you could be well known for anything, but it's the value of the person that keeps people connected and attached. It keeps their attention because you are worth knowing and you are worth everything that God says you are worth as long as you believe that within yourself. I agree, I love that. When I saw that I guess it was on a post you made earlier today and I was like that's a word that will preach. You know, it's one thing to be famous, but what are you famous for? It's the quality of the work, hopefully, that you're looking for. Yeah, that's going to make you famous. Now you mentioned a couple of things. You've been number one bestseller individually. You have been a number one bestseller collectively with other anthologies. So you're looking to get the word out, to really reach people, touch people with um, this anthology.
Speaker 3:What made you decide to be a visionary on this one? You know what it wasn't. I apologize, I apologize the vessel on this one. You know what. I apologize. I apologize the vessel on this one, yeah, because it's not my vision, it's God's vision. I didn't decide it, god decided it for me. I actually I had this conversation with you and many other people, so I won't delve into that aspect of me saying that I would never do another anthology ever in my life. I said I would not participate in one. Well, god said, of course you won't, because you will not participate. You will actually spearhead this for me because you don't tell me what to do. And I'm a firm believer If you could tell me what to do, then you could tell me what to do, and that's in all aspects of my life. I had never met a man that was able to tell me what to do until I met my husband. And when I met my husband, it's like you can't tell me what to do until you can tell me what to do. So until you, until you have the wisdom to be able to lead, you cannot lead others. That's basically what that means, and I'm a firm believer. If god tell me to do something now.
Speaker 3:My pastor, pastor winston, his son, was preaching today. David Winston, who's now the acting pastor until he returns. He spoke a word today and he said a lot of times, when God tells us to do something, we don't act on it. But we want God to continuously give us direction, but we haven't followed the first direction. And he said a lot of times we don't follow God's direction because it's inconvenient for us to do and a lot of things that God wants us to do involves inconvenience. Well, I've heard a wise person once say change never happens in a comfortable place, and when I heard that person say that, I was like that is so true. Yes, change never happens in a comfortable place, and a lot of times we want our lives to change, we want things to turn around for us. Um, just like pastor was speaking on a lot and the fact that him and his brother, um, god called his brother to do something. Um, I can't remember who his brother was right now, you forgive me. Uh, lock, brother, I'm gonna look it up while we on here.
Speaker 3:Abram. So god called abram to do something. Abraham, god called abraham to do something and he wanted his brother to lock to go. Okay, lot had to come with him. And when Lot came, lot came with a lot of baggage and a lot of problems. It got so bad that him and his brother started having complications Him and his herders and his brother's herders and all of this stuff. Now, abraham had to give up so much stuff because somebody in the camp was sleeping with this other person's wife and all that stuff. So, yeah, he ended up getting into that squabble.
Speaker 3:Well then, him and his brother ended up getting into it to the point where Abraham had to say God, I need this, I need that, and God will not answer him Right. So it got to the point where Abraham had to tell Lot look, you have to go your way and I have to go mine. And they had to separate. And once they separated, abraham, you know, prayed to God and God answered him. And God will not answer you until you follow the direction the first time, which is let those people go. They're causing you strife, they're causing you to stay stagnant in your life because you are not willing to let these people go, be it family, friends, whoever.
Speaker 3:Sometimes in life we want to bring everybody with us, but we can't, and that's okay. Maybe you go this way, you go that way. Can't, and that's okay, maybe you go this way. You go that way. And I had to learn her way because his wife end up being what disobedient and turned to a pillar of salt because she looked back. And we sometimes have have those people who just cannot be obedient, and a lot of times we have to leave those people behind and let them run on their hamster wheel and we cannot feel bad because we are moving up on the chain and they are still stagnant because they don't want to go. All we can do is say, look, we love you, but look, you got to go your way. I just have to go, my, I have to follow the path God is leading me on, and God has been leading me on this waiting room path for a long time.
Speaker 3:The wording came years ago, the belief came years ago, the ministry came years ago. But God put it on my heart to do this anthology back in November and I spoke with you about it, yes, and I spoke with Laquita Parks and Dr Velma about it and Dr Adrienne about it and Melanie about it. And then I spoke with Teresa Dorsey about it back in December and we all collectively had the meeting and we came up, you know, with the fact that we're going to partner in this together. That's why I don't call myself the visionary of this. I call myself the vessel. But I believe that all seven of us are the visionaries of this Because from day one, you guys have been with me. Since listen, linda came, since the book slammed, but when I started listening to the radio show, when I started listening to the Facebook Live, when I started listening to, you guys have been there and supportive of me since day one. So of course I'm going to bring it to you guys.
Speaker 3:But since then I have things swayed or changed a little bit here and there, but it's only to help build the brand and sometimes leaves fall but roots stay. Let's stick a pin in this and go back to life. Just in our lives and we, being human, do you think we're hesitant to move forward because we're comfortable in familiarity and we're afraid to go forward because we're not sure what's before us? A lot of times that happens a lot. That happens with me a lot. I wrestle with that in true transparency, if we're being true and we're being transparent. Um, I'll wrestle with that a lot.
Speaker 3:I wrestle with the fact that I'm the youngest person on this project and I'm spearheading it. I wrestle with if I'm going to do a great job, if I'm going to be able to produce all that I promised in the beginning, because I saw God doing these things. So it wasn't something that I'm just creating, false promises to people or anything like that. I truly saw God doing these things for us, putting us on these global platforms. That's why I said in the beginning I'm done with small projects, I want to move forward, I want to gain. You know, I made afraid sometimes of what that could become and I immediately shut down. And then, when I find myself shut down, I go into prayer and I go into fasting Because I want to make sure that what I'm doing I'm doing correctly and I'm doing it to you guys, excuse me, you guys' satisfaction, of course, but mostly to God's satisfaction. I want to know that what I'm excuse me, what I'm doing, is the right thing to do at the right time, and I'm not compromising myself, absolutely Exactly.
Speaker 3:That is pleasing him. Yeah, because we're representatives. We're true representatives of a true and living God. That's my one. Moving on with the women of the waiting room, you told us who was a part of it and what you would like for it to do. How do you ensure that there is a cohesive theme that's carried through the anthology? Can you elaborate on cohesive? It's basically we know the title is Women of the Waiting Room Surgery for the Soul.
Speaker 3:Everyone's story basically aligns with a situation in their life, but how do you make sure that it is going to be not similar but it sticks with the thing that you would like for it to have? You know what I don't. What I do is everybody knows what the waiting room is. The waiting room is you and your waiting season. You're waiting for god to deliver you from that and it gets no plainer than that it gets. If you are a woman of God or a woman of faith and you really are in that word, I don't have to do anything. I just allow God to speak to you and you allow God to speak to you and whatever comes out of that, that's what it will be. I allow people to freely be who they are in their literary work, because I can't tell you, gentry, your story. I can't tell you how to write your story. Your story does not have to sound the same as Jim James Pollan's, tyrone's story, because you are you. So that's what makes this special. There is no wrong or right way to write how God has blessed your life, how God has brought you out of whatever season you were in. Or if you're in that season right now, you don't know what to do, that is okay. There are other people in that same season. If you don't know that God is going to bring you through it, that's okay too. We are talking about all of those topics in this story.
Speaker 3:It's not one dimensional in this anthology or in this. This story it's not one-dimensional in this anthology or in this devotional. It's not one-dimensional, and that's what makes this thing so special. It's special and it is unique because, as you say, no one can tell your story as you can tell your story, as any individual can tell their story. You may try to repeat what they have said, and this is just in life in general, but you can't tell it. You can't emphasize another person's story, personal story, the way that they can tell it. It's just like a testimony. You know, we've all been in church when people say, can't nobody tell it like I can tell it what God has done for me? Well, that's the same as being a co-author. Your story is your story and no one can really give it that authenticity. But you, would, you agree it, that authenticity? But you would you agree a thousand percent, about a thousand percent.
Speaker 3:A lot of times, you know, I used to get so frustrated, um, because I said, oh, this person got me and me rawr, you know, um, and I did, and you know how I am. I'd be like, oh, I'm going to call my lawyer because you know this and that. But it's like, why? Why, everybody gets copied. We are here to be copied. If you are copying me, god bless you in it. I hope that it made so much of an impact that you felt like you want to tell my story again and put your own twist to it. That's wonderful. I'm glad that you're able to do that and be inspired. But just because I wrote the tutorial and I put it up there, you know, that's like having a cooking show. I got it. I just feel like I got a cooking show. That's all, you can have a cooking show, right? Who is the guy? Who is the guy? Come on, help me, help me. I just have my, oh, my favorite one.
Speaker 1:That's my favorite.
Speaker 3:John Ramsey got a cooking show, right, and he got a cooking show right, yeah, and, and, and he got a cookbook, and so you know, with that comes what recipes, right, he does. And I can sit up here and I can try to make that chicken piccata till my fingers turn blue. But that's not my gift, right? True, his gift is not my gift. While I'm a great cook, you know, I'm no chef and I can copy recipes all day long. I do it all the time and they come out great, but I put my own spin to them, but they come out great. But I'm not Chef Ramsay.
Speaker 3:That's a gift that God gave him Me. I had to practice itsey. That's a gift that god gave him me. I had to practice it. It's a skill for me. And see, a lot of times people get those two mixed up, right, yeah, because you can have a gift.
Speaker 3:A gift is oil, okay, that god is giving you, um, and that's your oil. That's what you will use to to inherit blessings. You know that God has given for you to remain in wealth right in the earth, and God plants those things in you when you're born. Okay, chef Ramsey got that. When he was born, he came out the womb with a butcher's knife? Okay, he knows the kitchen Like he can close his eyes. He got it. Okay, me, I have to practice that, because God didn't gift me with that, you know. But he gift me with the mind and the ability to be able to follow directions, cultivate a skill set. Cultivate a skill set? Well now, that's a skill for me. I can cook, that's a skill, but it's not a gift.
Speaker 3:My gift is reaching people. The word of God has given me that People cling to me and I used to be like God. Why do people cling to me? I'm not people-y, I don't like me, I'm not people-y. But people cling to me and that's okay, because they know they can trust me, they know that I'm here, they know I'm a great support system. And I used to be so mad about that at first because I used to be like people just use me. They only come to me so they can use me. Well, guess what? We're here? To be used. That's what we're here for. That's service, to serve. Right, I have no problem being used. I have no problem serving. I have no problem being of service to people Right or wrong people Right, because we gotta treat the wrong people right so they can understand and know how to be right.
Speaker 3:They can't know that they are wrong until they see right. That's true. Right. You cannot know that what you're doing is wrong until you see somebody doing it right, and so I have no problem being used. But what I do have a problem with is being misused or mistreated. Right, because a lot of times people stay and cry and my biggest thing that I've always said and my daddy used to tell me this all the time, and my daddy used to tell me this all the time he used to say you can either stay and put up with it or leave and be happy, but staying and crying I won't entertain you. Staying and crying, okay, because why would you want to stay and be depressed, stay and be this forever? And that goes back to the waiting room, right?
Speaker 3:We stay we let it out and we leave it to God and we let him work. So, while we're in that waiting season, while we're staying there, trust God to do what he's going to do. While you're waiting there, be productive. While you're waiting there, work on your goals. While you're waiting there, write the list of everything you want out of life and then do what you need to do to get it Become that list. I wrote a list of the type of women that I wanted in this anthology and devotion and when I wrote that list, there were certain things on that list that I hadn't even accomplished yet. So I said, okay, I done made this list, said okay, I'd have made this list. So, since I made this list of all the accolades, I would like to have these champions that are going to be a part of this anthology. They have all of these accolades behind their name that they worked so hard for. Now I need to at least be half of this if I'm going to want these people to even trust me to lead them into whatever goals that they're trying to reach with this anthology, and we all have to be on one accord on what the goal and the mission is.
Speaker 3:Came together for our first meeting of this anthology, I had an agenda set and I gave you all the agenda and I said this is it. I said anybody got any questions? No, everybody on the same accord. Yes, we all had the objective, we knew what we wanted to do and we knew that this was not about popularity and this was not about bestseller, because we know, with great things come great reward. When you have a vision, god gives you something and you do things according to his plan and not your own. It's going to work in divine favor and God is going to bless it. Your own is going to work in divine favor and God is going to bless it. Everything that I have touched, every book that I've touched, everything that I have rooted for, every project that I've been a part of or even just supported, has been best seller. So that's not even in my mind about that. What is in my mind is about the people. This is going to touch the lives. This is going to change the lives that these projects may potentially save. That is the goal, that is the key, that is what keeps me going, knowing I'm getting emotional.
Speaker 3:I read some of the pieces of this anthology and of this devotional and they were life-changing for me. It was a lot of times I going through this thing. I wanted to give up, I was tired, I was depleted. I wanted to give up, I was tired, I was depleted. And I go back and I look at Myra Cook's story, I look at Elena Maria and what she's been through, and I look at Sharon Denise Smith, her chapter in the devotional, her chapter in the devotional. These women have remarkable stories. Everybody, everybody, leave nothing out. Teresa Dorsey and her chapter of how she survived Hurricane Katrina, her and her family.
Speaker 3:Mm-hmm you know, I'm sorry, go ahead. Your story, gentry, Amazing. And you said I ain't telling nobody my business, but you did it.
Speaker 1:I think what I say.
Speaker 3:I ain't telling nobody my business Uh girl, I ain't. I can say that for my own story. But I'm just so thankful and I'm so humbled and honored because a lot of times when you're so young, like I am, A lot of times when you're so young like I am, it can be hard, Gigi, because people want to belittle what you can do because you're so young and you're not experienced enough. And I said this on the last show that I did and I meant what I said Always have some people who are going to try to doubt. You're going to have those naysayers and you have to put those things in the back of your mind because God don't call the qualified the earthly qualified. He qualifies the called.
Speaker 3:And those same people who are speaking against people who are young in leadership and they swear they read their word, but they want to talk about the inexperienced people. How long have they been teaching? How long have they been preaching? Where long have they been preaching? Where did they get their degree from? And all this and that that's fine and dandy, that you've been reading the word for a hundred years, that's wonderful. But you're saying that.
Speaker 3:But the person, person, the spirit, the omega, Jesus Christ himself was how old. His word is truth he was 33. Yes, and if you can allow a 33-year-old to lead you, he got a child, just like I am Mm-hmm, Just like you are Gentry, Absolutely. So we need to really be careful on how we question who God called, because you feel like God didn't call that person because of their age and I have to have faith in God enough for myself to know that God will not call me and bug me. Yes, Lord, I said it, Bug me down because I ran from this. I ran from this for a while, Bug me. So I just said, okay, God, okay, okay, and my life has been blessed ever since then.
Speaker 3:Have there been people, enemy, try to come and infiltrate and try to distract from the cause? Absolutely, but no weapons formed will prosper. No weapons formed will prosper. The distractions usually fall off will prosper. The distractions usually fall off because God will continue to keep this project and future projects will continue to keep this thing and allow this thing to soar as far as he would like it to go. This is out of my hands. This is no longer in my. It never was. This thing is going to, it's going to break records just off the strength of I'm doing it. I feel in the way that God want me to do it, and I don't care who questions it. This is going to happen and it's coming very soon. Soon and very soon, and we're going to play the next song and we will come back in.
Speaker 1:They try to break me, try to take me out, but I got Jesus on my side. It's a better thought of a time, but ain't no power stronger than the one that came and laid down his life. And I got long to time. But the enemy can't stop me, cause there's a calling on my life. So when I'm crying, don't last too long, cause he gonna step in and make it alright. So only do it. Won't he do it? He said he would.
Speaker 1:Where's your battles? For you? They gon' wonder how you sleep at night. Won't he do it? Yes, he will. Anybody tell you something different. You know that's a lie. You gon' look back and be so amazed how it turned out. It's only his praise, won't he do it? He said he would. So I trust him at all times.
Speaker 1:I'm about to lose it again. I'm about to let him know where I'm from. Don't take me there again. I just called Jesus, my friend. Get me back in line one more time, cause he's always listening.
Speaker 1:Ain't nobody perfect. Everybody's hurting. Need your whisper, lord. Save me from my weaknesses, cause you're always on time. Come and get your breakthrough, cause I'm gonna get mine. Only do it. I can say it would Break your battles for your day.
Speaker 1:Gon' wonder how you sleep at night. Won't he do it? Yes, he will. Anybody tell you something different? You know that's a lie. You gon' look back and be so amazed how it turned out. It's only his praise, won't he do it? He said he would, so I trust him at all times. You see, what the enemy had planned for my downfall Turned out to be the greatest victory of my life, cause when it comes at you fast and hard, there's only one that can come and make it right. So ain't no need for stressing and crying, cause he goes so up, just like he did the last time and the last time and the last time. I know I know. I know I ain't do it. Can't get anyone to break your battles for you. They gon' wonder how you sleep at night. I ain't do it. I ain't see where anybody tell you something different. You know that's a lie. You won't look back and be so amazed how it turned out. It's only his praise. I only do it. He said he would, so I trust him at all times. I only do it. He said he would, so I trust him at all times, so I trust him at all times.
Speaker 3:All right, ms Beth, are you back? I'm here, okay. What did you think of that song when it came to you? You?
Speaker 3:know I love you no, I love me some, miss Hawthorne baby, and I thought it was perfect she did, and I thought it was perfect. Behind everything that you said and you know just the spirit of the Lord coming on you, you know, won't he do it. He said he would, he said he would, and I trust him at all times, even when it looks bleak. We trust him at all times. Yes, we trust him to do exactly what he said he was going to do. When we get worried, when we get upset, when we get frustrated, we keep forgetting that that Bible is there. The answer is right there in the Holy Bible. And I am one. I get I panic, I panic attacks, I get down and dark. I am no stranger to it and I am guilty, that's all I mean. I'm a and dark. I am no stranger to it and I am guilty, that's all I mean. We all do. I'm a big worrier and I'm still working on that and that's why, yeah, we're human. And that's where I have to remember Technology.
Speaker 3:People shun from technology and they shun from things. But a lot of times you ain't got a Bible where you at. So sometimes you got to say Siri, I'm going through this right now, give me a verse that's going to help me get through it. Use that technology for what it's worth. There's a lot of times I'd be like Alexa where you at. She'd be like no wait a minute, alexa, how you going to go to Android? On me, girl, I'm right here. So a lot of times we have to use these things, these tools that God has given us. God knows the plans he has for us. Jeremiah 29, that was my favorite verse. I named my son after that verse. His first bestseller was a parable of that verse. We have to know that God's word rings true, even if you don't believe in God.
Speaker 3:Read the book, just to read it, and just you will see that that Bible holds a lot of answers to the unanswered questions that you have about daily life and daily struggles and daily challenges that you may face. You're going through grief, you're going through depression, you're going through hard times. You're going through rough times in your marriage, rough times in your relationships, rough time with family members, friends. A lot of the answers to why you're going through those things are in the Bible. They are, it's just, they are there, it's in the word, and that just that in itself will help you get through times.
Speaker 3:I know a lot of times people tell me your books helped me, sister Soulja, even Omar Tyree, a lot of Tony Morrison, a lot of people in literature, their works helped me get through these things. But when I dug deep into who they were, all of their inspirations and aspirations came from the Bible and aspirations came from the Bible. And so once I learned that about them, I started getting tuned into the word even more, because I'm like, if I want to be a great writer, some of them didn't even believe in God. But it's a lot of good parables in there that speaks on daily life and so, whatever you may believe, you may not, you may be a non-believer. I don't believe that God wrote that. So what? Read it? I don't believe Columbus discovered America, but guess what I read about it? I had to read it.
Speaker 3:Even though it wasn't a true story, it still was an inspirational story. It still was a story of resilience. It still was a story that would inspire others to want to go out and travel and find land and find themselves and make life better for themselves, just based off reading that. Sure, everybody know that John Baptiste discovered Illinois. Right, he was the founding father, but he was black and nobody, nobody wants to recognize that. But that is truth. That is truth, but that's still an inspirational story.
Speaker 3:You get what I'm saying a lot of things that we feel may be myths or this or that or or not true. That's okay to to believe that it's not, that's your belief. I can't pull you from that. But what I'm saying is that still pick it up it still may be something in that Bible, in that word, that would encourage you to want better for yourself, to believe in yourself, to believe that something somewhere is rooting for you to get through, to get to the other side of what you have going on, even if it's something as simple as a leprechaun in a rainbow. But we do know that after every storm there's a rainbow, there is, and the treasure on the other side of the rainbow may not be gold, but it may be just what you need to help you to cope through what it is that you're going through. That is true.
Speaker 3:So it goes back to study. To show that self-improve, you have to study, study thou self approved. You have to study, study God's word. And you need to do a little research. We need to research what we're doing, why we're doing it. I know a lot of people maybe know more about this than I do, and that's fine. But if it's something I want, I'll just research it a little bit and glean some information from it. That's what we need to do, you know, so that we can move forward. So I'll be stuck.
Speaker 1:As I said, stuck like Chuck. You know we're not all stuck. We don't want to be just stuck. You know there's a world.
Speaker 3:Can't be stuck like.
Speaker 1:Chuck girl Can't be stuck like.
Speaker 3:Chuck, you know. So we just need to. You know, just open up your mind and I've had people that tell me that makes no sense at all and I'll be like, why does it make sense? It just don't make sense. They can't tell you why it doesn't make sense, but it don't make sense and you'll be like let me slide away from this right here because this is just not who I need to be around right about now. You know you don't have to be rude, but let me just slide all the way because you know they're really entering my priorities right now.
Speaker 3:There are a lot of things that you have studied during your course because you are a graduate and you are cum laude and you graduated cum laude. Am I correct? I want to take that from you. Okay, come on with it. I'm just saying this is too big. People don't recognize, they don't know the struggle. I did not graduate cum laude, but I graduated, but it's still a struggle. It is still a struggle because every topic you have not heard of and even if you've heard it, you haven't studied it. It is a difference and once you get in and you study, you learn, you can apply. No, it doesn't make sense, but guess what? It is sensible, it has been proven. It is sensible, it has been proven, it is stated, it works. No, you and I can't go into surgery. We can go in, but we can't be the surject right. That's right. We have to yield to the person that has this knowledge.
Speaker 3:My daddy always said, and he said a wise man knows that he doesn't know everything. That's it. That's it. I agree. Yeah, you have to know your language.
Speaker 3:Anybody who knows me knows I'm always open to learning. I'm always the one who takes full accountability when I'm wrong and I'm open to learning what's right. I agree, I have told many physicians. You know I go to them with a scenario regarding their patient or actual facts. You know I go to them with a scenario regarding their patient or actual facts. And I was like normally, this is the expectation, what's your expectation? He was like well, my fault, don't worry about it, I'll get with you.
Speaker 3:I said, no, no, I'm always in an area where I can learn. I am always open to learn. And he was like, oh great. And so he explained everything to me at that point in time and I am appreciative. He's appreciative. I said just count me a forever learner. I will not close my mind to what needs to be done. And he appreciated. I appreciated because I gained something.
Speaker 3:And I said next time this scenario comes up with your patient, I will know your thought processes and I will know how to better handle it or what your desires are what you're really looking at and we appreciated each other the more. For that, absolutely so it has to be given taste. You have to be open and honest with people and then you, you come to a mutual agreement, then you go on. Now there are some people who don't want to say, don't want to tell, don't want to be open, don't want to be honest, they don't want to come to a mutual agreement, and you just have to kind of part ways and don't just say part ways that you're angry with them. Uh, I've had some physicians that we have battled it out, battled, and I was like I don't think the patient is winning, uh, on this side of the street, and they'll be like what?
Speaker 1:and I'm like what about you don't help me out here Because I have to go to a mental health clinic.
Speaker 3:Help me, help you.
Speaker 1:That's what I said.
Speaker 3:Well, this is what I said. Look, doc, my job is to ensure everybody gets paid. Okay, does it close?
Speaker 1:you. Does it close you?
Speaker 3:Now you have to write this this way or you're hindering the process. But it makes no sense to me.
Speaker 1:Carol, it may not make sense to you write this this way or you're hindering the process, but it makes no sense to me, carol. It may not make sense to you, but the regulations are changing and that's an everyday life.
Speaker 3:That's an everyday life and it is frustrating when people want to be a part but don't want to have or take direction or supervision because they think they know it all. Yeah, and it's like that person. You cannot be that person. You cannot be that person for everything. If you're trusting somebody to lead you, then you have to be first, be available. Second, be open. Third, be in attendance. Okay, because you cannot miss 75% of the class and expect to get an A+. Please tell them again. Please tell them again.
Speaker 3:And then you come in at the end of the class when everything is almost done and then say, okay, I did mine, now let's hurry up and finish. When is this thing going to? It's like no, it's a process. It's a process that we have to learn patience, we have to learn quality over quantity, but we also have to learn how to trust our supervisor, trust the person who's overseeing the project, and we have to trust God in knowing that he picked this person for a reason. Absolutely, and you know what I'm saying. Like, we have to understand that there are moving pieces and in order for everything to go smoothly, you have to be in attendance from A to Z. Now, a lot of times, those things are. You're going to miss some things, because life be life, but that's when you go back, you read over the notes. Okay, you read over your notes. You read over the notes, your cheat codes that your friends have left you, to get a better understanding of what is going on.
Speaker 1:And that is true.
Speaker 3:And this is cliche-ish, but it's new, or relatively new. Understanding the assignment Understanding the assignment that is given to you Okay, you're the assignment. Understanding the assignment that is given to you Okay, you're the vessel. On the women of the waiting room you gave us the assignment. We need to follow the process. I can't write about going to the fair and having a good time. That's not a waiting room situation. I mean, am I right? I mean you wouldn't want that to be a part of the anthology and you're like what does this have to do with your waiting process? What does this have to do with your delivery? Right, and see, this is my thing and this is. You know, I'm going to touch on this and then we can move forward, because I don't want this to be turned into something that something else, right.
Speaker 3:No, no, no no no, yes, I do want to say this. I do want to say that, while we may know what we have written and what we have turned in and what we have done correctly, we, as you know, other people may not have fulfilled theirs, and when you're working with over 30 women, half of them have never ridden before until now, and this is their first time. We have to learn how to have empathy time, we have to learn how to have empathy and we have to learn how to have patience with other people because we have been late doing things. We have been late on a lot of things, and we want that same respect when it's our turn. And I'm going to give you a brief scenario. My son gets straight A's in school. He has a 504 because he has ADHD, and so sometimes he's not organized and sometimes he may turn in stuff late because his memory, he forgets and he's supposed to be graded on a curve.
Speaker 3:He's supposed to be graded on a curve Based on not the work the work is A plus work. But because he's turning it late sometimes and he may forget it at home or forget his book bag, you know those type of things where me I'm not always available to be right there, you know right there to make sure all the time he's fall short. Well, he got straight A's at the end of the year but his teacher were late turn turning in some of their grades and so three weeks after grades come out, I get a notification in my email saying oh, you know, his grades dropped down two letters, so he has two or three Cs. And I'm like, wait a minute, now what happened? The same teachers who gave him the C's were late, turning in their assignments. And I said well, what did he get a C for? Because he was late turning in his assignments. I said so you expect me, as a parent, to accept you giving my child a C, to accept you giving my child a C when he, first of all, has been medically diagnosed. He has a 504 plan built by the school district to give him, grade him on a curve based on these exact same things.
Speaker 3:But you want grace for me for coming in three weeks late, and there's because when we have hundreds of kids and we have the great, that's no excuse. No, you took the job. You're supposed to be picked for the job. I will give you grace, but you are returning. Then you come back and you change his grade. That's what I mean by we expect so much out of people, but you know, we want to hold their foot to the fire, but we want grace when it's our turn. Yeah, and I used to be one of those people Like I can't believe this person did this to me Do, do, do, do, do. But then when you go through that same thing, you'd be like, oh Lord, now I know what she was going through. Child Jesus, woo-wee, what Woo, lord, you know God bless state ministry, because this is a lot.
Speaker 3:It ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun, it ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun, child, and it's like you know you want that same grace, you want that same empathy, but you're not willing to give it to other people. And God sees everything, he hears everything, he hears those conversations, he hears those conversations. So, without touching on that any further, I do just want to say that this is not a bashing of any kind, because all the people are. Their stories are phenomenal, everybody is tasked with what's at hand. Have I had to coach a few people? Absolutely. Have Laquita had to coach a few people? Absolutely. Have Laquita had to coach a few people? Absolutely.
Speaker 3:But that is a part of the process and I know that it is a high demand for these books. You know, like I said, this is a four-part thing that's going on right now and there's more in the works. There will be a volume two coming out for the devotional and a volume two coming out for the anthology that I hope people take part in. But everything with quality takes time. Rome wasn't built overnight, no, and neither was the Eiffel Tower, and so, yeah, you can get a project building that's built with scraps of scrapes and cardboard, or you can have the Eiffel Tower. My thing is is are you willing to wait? Are you willing to wait in the waiting room? Because a lot of times we want something so bad from God and we're not thinking big enough so he's not going to bless it because that's not his plan for you. His plan is so much bigger, but maybe you thinking too small.
Speaker 3:That's something to think about. Now you spoke about timeline. Do you come up with a particular timeline and how do you do that to keep everything on track, or is that up to you? Is that a part of the publisher? How does that work? The timeline is up to God and it's up to the way that things just flow.
Speaker 3:Our publisher said something in the group the other day and it made total sense, and it was to the retrospect of when everybody follows direction and they are in attendance and they are doing what is asked of them and they are here. The process runs smooth. When they abide by the guidelines and they do things according to the timeline that has been given to them and not turned in late or not you know not, and they are not, you know, paying attention to what's going on, then sometimes the process may take a little longer, but I think that the process is absolutely 100% running smoothly. The train has never stopped. There are going to oh, life is going to life, and there's going to be hiccups along the way. But me, as the vessel of this project, I have given everything and will continue to give everything and every dime that I feel I need to to make sure that this runs smoothly.
Speaker 3:This is not a cheap anthology or devotional. This is not something that's thrown together just to say that we're doing something. I believe in quality, because God is royalty and when you walk in the room, you're supposed to walk in like God, like God sent you. Walk in like that, or put on your finest robes when you come to the house of the Lord. When you come in and you are royalty, you expect nothing less, and that is what I intend to produce with this project. That's great. That's great.
Speaker 3:Well, you, I'm just going to go ahead and make this assumption and I'm going to put this disclaimer You've had the privilege of perusing everyone's submission. Me, I haven't. So I am just anxious to read what people have written because I think it's phenomenal. I think it's going to be absolutely phenomenal because everyone's story has got to be unique, because we're all unique individuals. So you want to. The trailers that have been put out gives us a hint as to what's going on. Absolutely, absolutely. But you can't get from a what were the trailers two minutes. You can't get everything from a two-minute trailer, but it's making it interesting. That's all I can say. All right, take my hat off to you for taking the assignment that God has given you and being a good steward over the assignment. I appreciate you. I definitely appreciate the publisher, laquita Park, with Pay-Per-View Pay-Per-View Publishing, for accepting the assignment as well. I'm looking forward to the finished product. I know it's going to be a quality product. I'm really feeling my spirit at will and I've had the pleasure. Now, how do you know that? I just feel it. I just feel it.
Speaker 3:The people, the majority of us, have been in a book club together and so you know, I know the works that they have put out individually, their individual works that they have done, and you know it just really. It leaves me awe-inspired when I hear them do their read, and everybody has a different genre that they write from, and that doesn't mean that they're not awesome. They're awesome. Christian fiction, or these are Christian nonfiction, anthologies or fiction, which is what Gentry does. Everyone has their unique take on what they enjoy doing and it pulls you in. If you've ever heard any of them read, it pulls you into them. So, yes, my expectations are high. I'm not going so yes, my expectations are high. I'm not going to sit here and say my expectations are low. My expectations are very high and I am anxious to read what I know, what my submission said, but I'm anxious to read everyone's submission from the end, all of the way.
Speaker 3:I will tell you guys this, everyone's submission, from the anthology and from the devotional. I will tell you guys this I will say that everything that I do is intentional, and while this is a faith-based book, we have writers from all genres who have given their take on their faith and what it means to them, and I have allowed them the creative space to be able to be themselves within their project. So this is not your traditional faith-based book. This is not your traditional faith-based book. This is not your traditional faith-based devotional. And I'm welcome to all judgment, I'm welcome to all criticism Because in my spirit, god wanted me to do something that will reach more than one audience, and so you are fiction. Then you have Dr Velma, who's Christian fiction and nonfiction. You have me I'm a multi-genre writer and poetess, and Melanie is poetry and poetess and Melanie is poetry, and you know. So you have all different backgrounds of people, dr.
Speaker 1:Audrey Ann is, I think she's is it.
Speaker 3:Dr Audrey Ann is also multi-genre, but she's multi-genre as well because she's she's done auto, she's done non-fiction as well, because she did the anthologies where she spoke on her own life. So that crosses you over to multi-jogger, right? And so everyone has a different perspective of who they serve, what they serve and if they have a belief system or not. But what this does is bring everyone from all nations and it's just like the back of the dollar from all nations under God, right? Ain't that the pledge of allegiance? All names Under God, indivisible Liberty and justice for all. Like that rings true in so many aspects of this anthology. We have people from Jamaica, we have people from UK, we have people from all over the country, we have people who are inquiring now about being in volume two, from Haiti, from Alaska, from Nigeria. So this anthology has not even came out yet. Nopts or anything, just visuals that I've created with the trailers, or just graphics, and they these, just these things alone, are touching people, and so I just can't wait. I've absolutely read each and every person's, I've absolutely read each and every person's chapters and their submissions in the devotional and the anthology, and I will say that this piece of work is very original. It's nothing like I've ever read before and this is something that's going to put a staple. Even if it just reaches one person, this will change that one person's life so much that I'm sure God will be pleased. Amen. You heard it first, you heard it here on Gentry's Journey.
Speaker 3:And do you have any closing remarks about the women of the waiting room? I just want to end this by thanking every single person who has joined the anthology as well as the devotional, has joined the anthology as well as the devotional. I am humbled and honored that you trust me and as well as the other six fabulous women of the anthology with your submissions. I want to humbly thank God. You know he, like I say he put the waiting room in my spirit about three or four years ago. Um, and I've I've done the waiting room.
Speaker 3:I couldn't understand what he wanted me to do, so I started with waiting room affirmations. Then I went to telling my own journey of the waiting room in a dissertation. I went from that to doing the Facebook Liz and Linda waiting room. Then I went from that to doing and I've had waiting room workshops with Imperfect Angels in Aurora, which is another troubled girl youth program here in Aurora, illinois, and I just could not understand why the waiting room was still in my spirit. So I invited women to come on women of color specifically to come on and speak about their journey in the waiting room and really get in depth with who they are, so people can understand how God changed their life for the better. And I still wasn't through, my clip still wasn't empty, my cup still was running over and I just thank God for him to give me this vision and say you know what? Do this with the waiting room? And so that is what I'm doing and I just hope God continues to bless it. Amen, amen.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you so much for being part of Gentry's Journey. If you would close out in prayer, then we're going to close out with CCY. We believe for you, father, god, in the name of Jesus, I want to thank you so much for allowing Gentry to have this remarkable platform where she's able to share not just her journey but other women and other people's journeys on how they get to the other side of through. I am so blessed and honored that she, as well as all of the other 32 women, as well as all of the other 32 women, are part of this remarkable and blessed and anointed project that you have placed in my eyes and in my vision.
Speaker 3:God, I want you to bless everyone in the world, whether it's friend, family, foe, enemy. Bless everyone. I just truly believe that if everyone knows how much you are blessing them in their season right now, that there will be no hate, that there will be no jealousy, that there will be no envy, that there will be no strife, that there will be no confusion, because, god, you are not a God of confusion, you are not a God of chaos. You are a God of peace, of love and sound mind. You are a God of honor, a God of dignity, a God of impact, and I just really want to duplicate that and project that into the world. God, please continue to work on me inside and out. I want you to bless my family, bless everyone's family in the world, anything that anyone is going through right now, god, I want you to speak to their heart. Right now, god, I want you to speak to their heart, speak to their mind and keep them at a standstill and let them know that, as long as they believe in you and trust in you, that they can always, always be at peace. Anyone who's going through grief, anyone who's going through sorrow around this time Mother's Day and Father's Day and they don't have their moms and they don't have their dads Let them know that you are the mom, you are the dad and they will forever be covered in love through you and love through you. Show them that it's okay to live and be happy even though that person is not here.
Speaker 3:I read a book over the weekend, god called Transitioning to the Other Side, volume 3. And it gave me so much peace, god. And it was the visionary Ivy Caldwell, who's also a co-author in this devotional Women of the Waiting Room, who compelled these people to come together and be a vessel for me, because I was going through what I was going through during my grieving process, and I just thank God for her. I thank God for everybody who was a part of that project. You never know how much someone else's words can bring joy to your life, can bring joy to your life.
Speaker 3:So I ask you, god, for anyone who hears my voice, to hear you through my voice and know that it's okay to depend on you. A lot of times, god, you take away all of our dependencies, so we can only depend on you, so we can only hear you. Sometimes we may not know why we don't have that mate, why we don't have those kids, but a lot of times it's because we are shutting our ears and our eyes to what you have for us, and a lot of times we need that solitude to be able to hear you clearly. And, like I said in the beginning, a lot of times what you want us to do may be such an inconvenience for ourselves that we don't want to hear that part. But we have our eyes and ears open to what everyone else around us is doing or not doing. That's according to your word. But when it comes to ourselves, we close our eyes and we close our ears.
Speaker 3:And I just thank you, god, for opening my eyes and opening my ears to be able to acknowledge myself and my wrongdoings, so I can correct those things, so I can flush those things out and fill myself up with you and forgive people and move on from things that no longer serve purpose in my life and sometimes may never have. When we learn to let go of the wrong things and focus on the right things, then good things will transpire from those things. So I want you, god, to just open open people's minds, their ears and their eyes and let them focus on you, and that we all will be blessed. So I thank you, god, for this word, I thank you for this platform and I thank you for the women of the Waiting Room, the anthology as well as the devotional. I thank you for all of it. All of it, because without that then, I may have never been able to uncover the truth about myself and work on myself to become a better me.
Speaker 3:So, thank you, thank you, god, I love you, I appreciate you, I adore you, you and only you, and I thank you and I love you and I love everybody with the love that I have for God in Jesus' name. Amen, amen, amen, amen. Thank you so much for that beautiful prayer and we're going to go into CC Winas and we're going to close out. You guys have a great day. Welcome to Gentry's Journey. Our honored guest today has been Mrs Jacqueline Clark. She is the vessel of women of the waiting room, the anthology and devotional, and it is surgery for the soul. Thank you, and have a great day.
Speaker 1:They say this mountain can't be moved.
Speaker 1:They say these chains will never break, but they don't know you like we do. There is power in your name. We've heard that there is no way through. We've heard the tide will never change. They haven't seen what you can do. There is power in your name, so much power in your name. Move the old alone. Break the unbreakable.
Speaker 1:God, we believe God, we believe for it. From the impossible, we'll see a miracle. God, we believe God, we believe for it. We know that hope is never lost, for there is still an empty grave. God we believe, no matter what. There is power in your name, so much power in your name. Move me and move my heart. Break me, I'll break the law. God, we believe God, we believe for it. From the end of time. Lord, we'll see a miracle. God, we believe God, we believe God, we believe for it. You have a way. When there seems to be no way, we trust in you. God, you have a way. You are okay. He trusted you and you have the final say you are the way. When there seems to be no way, he trusted you and you have the final say Move the evil. Lord, break the unquavered wall. God, we believe God, we believe for it. From the impossible We'll see a new you, god. We believe God, we believe for it, god, we believe God. We believe for you, god, we believe God, we believe for you.
Speaker 3:I want you to look up at the top left hand where it says end. Once you hit that end button, it's going to automatically ask if you want to save it. Save it, okay, thank you.