A New Day by Nancy Hopper

chance.  He’s who you’ve been searching for all your life.  Accept Him.  Let Him show you who He is.”
         As if of their own accord, Tasha’s knees gave way; and she found herself kneeling on the carpet.  Gary, too, sank to his knees, and Pastor Brook’s hands settled over Gary’s, which still rested on Tasha’s head. 
         “ All right.  All right, I can’t fight you any more.”  she whispered in a barely audible voice.  “You’ve got to be real, you’re too strong.”
         The warmth within her flickered and leaped, and quickened to a purging flame.
         “ Tell Him.” Gary urged softly.
         “ I … accept you.” she said in bewilderment.
         “ As my Lord and my savior, Jesus.”  Gary urged.
         “ As ... as my Lord ... and my savior.”  she repeated, feeling almost as if someone else had to be saying those words.  It couldn’t be her!  Could it?  “Jesus”.
         “ Receive the Holy Spirit, Tasha.  Ask for Him.  He’ll come and make all the difference in your life.”
         “ How ... ”
         “ Just say, Holy Spirit, come.  Come, Lord, I welcome you.  I want you.  I need you, Lord.”
         Tasha followed Gary’s lead, feeling compelled but quite bewildered.  How could she be saying these things?  How could she mean them?  How could it all be happening?  It wasn’t what she’d planned at all.  And yet – she wanted it!  She wanted what Gary had.  She wanted what Deb had.  She wanted what made the Waldens all so happy, and peaceful, and loving. 
         They had something special, and she knew that 'this' was it.  It was being offered to her.  It was pure love, of a kind she'd never experienced before.  But she'd seen it in action, this summer, and she truly desired it – with all her heart.
         “ His Holy Spirit will fill you, Tasha, and wash away all of your pain, all of your scars.  All of your prior life, honey.  Just open up, and let Him in.”
         As if Gary’s will joined with hers, she felt a power surge up within her.  A great gladness filled her whole being.  She gasped and grabbed onto Gary’s forearms for support.  But she fell as if a mighty wind had struck her, suddenly and hard.  Only Gary’s sure hands kept her from hitting the floor unexpectedly.
         The men were quiet while the Holy Spirit obviously worked a miracle in the beautiful girl.  Their eyes met with wonder and mirth at the Lord’s method of dealing with the wounded, willful, lovely child.  They couldn’t be sure what was happening inside her, but they knew it was good, and they knew it was God.
         Gary knelt beside her, and prayed.  It was utterly silent for a few moments.  Gary could feel bonds between he and Tasha forming.  They were very strong.  He wanted to pull away, but he found he could not move.  It was as if the Lord was insisting that he stay and allow this to happen.
         “ God, I’m not ready for this.  I’m not sure she’s the one.  I don’t want to love her too much.  God!”  he cried out from his heart in desperation.
         The Holy Spirit silenced the protests in his mind with a heavy warmth.  He stopped cold, and submitted.  “I’m sorry, Lord.  I repent.  Do whatever you want, I trust you.” he whispered.    
         He felt a current of power come then, that bound his heart to Tasha’s.  It felt like a complete melting together, a sweet ache that brought tears rushing to his eyes.
         Gary felt the Lord speak to him, then – quietly, and tenderly.  “My bride is not perfect.  She is willful and spoiled, and she has turned her heart to others.  Yet, I love her.  Yet, I woo her.  Yet, I will wait until she comes to me willingly.  And I shall make her clean, without spot or wrinkle.  Lovely she is to me.”
         Gary groaned from the depths of his being.  He felt as if his heart was being torn out by the