Читать книгу Blessed Trinity - Vanessa Davis Griggs - Страница 16

Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

(Psalm 119:133)

When Pastor Landris walked into her office, Johnnie Mae was working on the computer but actually waiting for him to get back from his meeting with Reverend Knight.

She looked him in the face to be sure she saw every expression. “So, what happened?” she asked. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“He offered me the building.”

“How much does he want for it now?”

“He said he wants nothing.”

“What?”

Pastor Landris took a deep breath. “He offered me the building. He wants to give it to me to use for as long as I want. Reverend Knight…the organization…whoever is doing this, wants to give me the building for nothing.”

“Wait a minute. You’re telling me he wants to let you have that building for free?”

“That’s what he said—nothing. But he did try again to get me to come on staff with him.” He told her about the Eastside/ Westside congregation idea.

“I sincerely hope you turned him down,” Johnnie Mae said.

“You know I did. I just don’t get him, though.” He shook his head. “I haven’t quite figured him out. On one hand, he seems to want me to join him. But on the other, it appears he’s trying to set me up. For what, I’m not sure.” He sat down.

“He knew about the radio deal.”

“Who?” She threw him a hard frown. “Reverend Knight?” Her voice cracked.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I don’t know how. I was just about to find out when he was conveniently interrupted by an emergency phone call. There’s just something about him I don’t get. But he wants me to pray about his offer. He said, ‘No strings attached.’”

“You and I both know what’s probably going to happen,” Johnnie Mae said, shaking her head. She turned to her computer and clicked the Save button to make sure her last entry wouldn’t be lost. “Okay. So he wants to let you use the building with nothing legal to protect your interest. Yet, you’re supposed to sink $200 to $300,000 into something you really won’t have any rights to afterward? Something that can be taken away at will? Nope.”

“My sentiments exactly. But he’s a preacher. So why should I question his integrity? If we acquired that building right now, it would still take two to three months to fix it up. We might be able to get one area completed enough to begin services in a month. The crew could possibly work on the rest without disturbing us. I don’t know. Could this really be God at work? I’m just not sure what to do at this point. But he wants an answer from me pretty quickly.” Pastor Landris sat back down in the chair.

“Then you know what? We need to kneel down right here, right now, and seek God’s guidance and direction. Landris, you don’t have to do anything until you hear from Him. I don’t care what or who’s pressuring you. When you don’t know what to do, it’s best not to do anything until you get clear direction about it.”

Pastor Landris nodded and reached out his hand for Johnnie Mae to come to him. She walked around her desk, and they knelt down together beside the chair he’d been sitting in. As they held hands, Pastor Landris began to pray.

“Dear Lord, I come to You, not leaning to my own understanding, but acknowledging You in all my ways. Direct my path, O Lord. Order my steps. You’ve told me to wait on You and to keep Your way. In Psalm 37:34, You say if I do this, You’ll exalt me to inherit the land. Lord, you know the hearts and motives of everyone walking on the face of this earth. I lift Reverend Knight up to you right now. I admit—I’m not sure whether he’s for me or against me. Protect me as I do Your will. Not my will, but Your will be done. I’m committed to go where You tell me to go, to do what You tell me to do, to say what You tell me to say. Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from evil, that nothing may cause pain. You’ve told me to wait on You; I’m waiting. You’ve told me you would supply my every need. You know what I’m in need of right now.

“Lord, we need a place for the ministry You sent me here to begin. You have begun a good work in me. I realize the enemy will use others to try to hinder or stop the work. It’s up to us to keep pressing. Psalm 91:11–12 assures me that You will give Your angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. These angels will bear me up to ensure I don’t even dash my foot against a stone. You say in Psalm 91:15 that we can call on You and You will answer, that You will be with us in trouble, You will deliver us, and honor us. Speak to me, Lord. Tell me what You desire me to do. This I pray and thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

“Amen,” Johnnie Mae said. “Hallelujah, Lord. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus for answering this prayer. We thank You that it’s already done.”

“It’s already done,” Pastor Landris chimed in with praise. “Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Father, that You hear me always.”

“Thank You, Jesus for being our advocate…for interceding for us as You sit on the right hand of our Father…forever interceding on our behalf,” Johnnie Mae said in agreement with her husband. “Thank You for saving us. Thank You that You’ve already made a way. Right now, it’s already done. Hallelujah to Your name.”

“It’s already done, in Jesus’ name,” Pastor Landris said as he realized that was his Word from the Lord. “It’s already done.”