Picking up the church directory, she finds Pastor
Rawlins’ home phone number. Celeste dials the number
and listens intently to the sound of the phone ringing.
Celeste breathes a sigh of relief when she hears the
answering machine pick up. She has a couple of seconds to
figure out what she is going to say. Then the sound of the
beep chimes in her ear.
“Hi, Pastor Rawlins. I won’t be at church this Sunday.
I’ll be out of town. I’ll see you next Sunday.” Short and to
the point serves quite nicely. Celeste then places the phone
back on the hook and proceeds to her bedroom to pack.
Deciding that she would like to purchase a new outfit on
Saturday for the concert that evening, she elects to put only
casual clothes in her overnight bag along with her spare
toothbrush and travel size toiletries that she keeps on hand
for business trips.
Having packed quickly and placed her bag near the front
door, Celeste finds herself with too much time to think and
begins having second thought about her trip. Questions
travel in circles through her mind as she second-guesses her
plans and then third guesses her second guesses.
“Enough!” she takes every thought captive rising from
the edge of her bed where she had been sitting. “One of the
fruits of the spirit is ‘self-control’ and I have the right not
to
put
myself
in
any
situation
which
makes
me
feel
uncomfortable or that I am not in control. I am going on
this trip, I am going to have a good time, and I am sure I
can make Mr. Stephen keep his hands to himself.”
Maybe I can get some work done before I leave, Celeste
thinks to herself. She then decides to take Thomas on his
evening walk first. Celeste changes into a jogging outfit
and adorns a pair of walking shoes. Thomas is happy as he
joins her for their evening walk.
Arriving home, she checks her message machine and
finds that she has no new calls, which doesn’t surprise her
one bit. Most people are out with their significant others.
Celeste sets down at her desk and engulfs herself in
work. When she looks up at the clock she notices that it is
nearly midnight. Stretching her aching muscles, she rises
from the chair and pads her way down the hall to her
bedroom.
After
putting on
her
pajamas,
Celeste
calls
Thomas to come to bed.
Celeste focuses her thoughts toward Heaven as she
kneels in prayer beside her bed to pray:
Dear Lord,
I
thank You for Your
grace and mercies,
which are new, every day. I pray that each day
You bless me with, I walk in a way that
is
pleasing to You.
I
have
made
a decision to go to Vegas
tomorrow, and I pray that You will go with me
every step of the way. Please send Your Holy
Spirit to lead and guide me.
I hope that I don’t end up regretting this
decision. If I have committed any sins against
You, I pray that You would forgive me Lord and
help me to please You.
Thank You so much for the blessings You
have given me, especially my advancement at
Vines and Robert’s. It is You all the way. No way
could I be where I am except by Your grace.
May I never forget to thank You for all that You
have done for me.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Celeste is always glad when she talks to the Lord, and
immensely grateful for the peace He gives her when she
does so, peace that passes all understanding. Climbing into
bed, she shuts off her bed table lamp and goes to sleep.
In the morning when she awakes, the birds’ song she
hears from outside her window promises a most beautiful
day ahead. Celeste climbs out of bed and proceeds to
shower and dress. She puts on a pair of black denim jeans
and a
short
sleeved,
cream-colored blouse.
The
black
leather ankle boots that she chooses goes nicely with her
outfit.
Looking at herself in the mirror she decides to add a soft
touch to her attire by putting on the thin gold chain that her
mother bought her for Christmas a few years ago, with
matching small gold loop earrings.
“Good morning, Buddy,” Celeste greets Thomas in the
kitchen. “Is it time to
Rawlins’ home phone number. Celeste dials the number
and listens intently to the sound of the phone ringing.
Celeste breathes a sigh of relief when she hears the
answering machine pick up. She has a couple of seconds to
figure out what she is going to say. Then the sound of the
beep chimes in her ear.
“Hi, Pastor Rawlins. I won’t be at church this Sunday.
I’ll be out of town. I’ll see you next Sunday.” Short and to
the point serves quite nicely. Celeste then places the phone
back on the hook and proceeds to her bedroom to pack.
Deciding that she would like to purchase a new outfit on
Saturday for the concert that evening, she elects to put only
casual clothes in her overnight bag along with her spare
toothbrush and travel size toiletries that she keeps on hand
for business trips.
Having packed quickly and placed her bag near the front
door, Celeste finds herself with too much time to think and
begins having second thought about her trip. Questions
travel in circles through her mind as she second-guesses her
plans and then third guesses her second guesses.
“Enough!” she takes every thought captive rising from
the edge of her bed where she had been sitting. “One of the
fruits of the spirit is ‘self-control’ and I have the right not
to
put
myself
in
any
situation
which
makes
me
feel
uncomfortable or that I am not in control. I am going on
this trip, I am going to have a good time, and I am sure I
can make Mr. Stephen keep his hands to himself.”
Maybe I can get some work done before I leave, Celeste
thinks to herself. She then decides to take Thomas on his
evening walk first. Celeste changes into a jogging outfit
and adorns a pair of walking shoes. Thomas is happy as he
joins her for their evening walk.
Arriving home, she checks her message machine and
finds that she has no new calls, which doesn’t surprise her
one bit. Most people are out with their significant others.
Celeste sets down at her desk and engulfs herself in
work. When she looks up at the clock she notices that it is
nearly midnight. Stretching her aching muscles, she rises
from the chair and pads her way down the hall to her
bedroom.
After
putting on
her
pajamas,
Celeste
calls
Thomas to come to bed.
Celeste focuses her thoughts toward Heaven as she
kneels in prayer beside her bed to pray:
Dear Lord,
I
thank You for Your
grace and mercies,
which are new, every day. I pray that each day
You bless me with, I walk in a way that
is
pleasing to You.
I
have
made
a decision to go to Vegas
tomorrow, and I pray that You will go with me
every step of the way. Please send Your Holy
Spirit to lead and guide me.
I hope that I don’t end up regretting this
decision. If I have committed any sins against
You, I pray that You would forgive me Lord and
help me to please You.
Thank You so much for the blessings You
have given me, especially my advancement at
Vines and Robert’s. It is You all the way. No way
could I be where I am except by Your grace.
May I never forget to thank You for all that You
have done for me.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Celeste is always glad when she talks to the Lord, and
immensely grateful for the peace He gives her when she
does so, peace that passes all understanding. Climbing into
bed, she shuts off her bed table lamp and goes to sleep.
In the morning when she awakes, the birds’ song she
hears from outside her window promises a most beautiful
day ahead. Celeste climbs out of bed and proceeds to
shower and dress. She puts on a pair of black denim jeans
and a
short
sleeved,
cream-colored blouse.
The
black
leather ankle boots that she chooses goes nicely with her
outfit.
Looking at herself in the mirror she decides to add a soft
touch to her attire by putting on the thin gold chain that her
mother bought her for Christmas a few years ago, with
matching small gold loop earrings.
“Good morning, Buddy,” Celeste greets Thomas in the
kitchen. “Is it time to
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