Sasha turned around. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were standing there. Do you need us for something?”
Gabrielle smiled. “Actually, I was wondering if I could speak with you when you finish here.” She was directing her comment to Sasha.
“Sure,” Sasha said.
“I’ll catch up with you later,” Alicia said to Sasha, then scurried away.
“You have been so great with this dance team,” Sasha said, pouring on the praise. “Everybody is excited about the routine you choreographed and impressed by just how anointed you are when you dance. I only pray I someday reach your level.”
“Thank you. I think everybody’s doing a fantastic job. I believe the people are truly going to be blessed tomorrow. I know the Lord will be.”
Sasha smiled. “Absolutely.” She stood waiting for Gabrielle to say something else. When she saw she was slow in doing it, she said, “So, what did you want to talk with me about?”
“I hear you work for a bank, in the mortgage department.”
“I do.”
“They wouldn’t happen to be hiring, would they?” Gabrielle said half teasing, but deciding it certainly couldn’t hurt to ask even though that wasn’t her original intent.
“No, they’re not. In fact, they even may be laying off soon. What? You’re looking for a job?”
“I have one, but I really could use one that pays a lot more. What I’m making now is not enough to keep up with all of my expenses.”
“I know what you’re talking about. I can empathize with you on that,” Sasha said. “I got fired last year at the worst possible time, of course, and had to start all over again. That’s how I ended up at the bank. I’m a divorced, single mother of a fourteenmonth-old baby girl and an eight-year-old daughter, who’s going on twenty-two.” Sasha laughed.
“Your oldest daughter’s name is Aaliyah, right?”
“Yeah. It’s Aaliyah.” Sasha smiled, somewhat touched that Gabrielle had remembered her oldest daughter’s name, having met her only once.
“She’s something else. You had her here at one of our earlier rehearsals. She picked up on our steps perfectly, just in that brief time. In fact, when I saw her dancing that day, I was thinking how we seriously need to bring our youth into this dance ministry, not that I have any say-so about that. But your daughter is an outstanding little dancer, a real ballerina with great deliverance and technique.”
Sasha began to beam with pride. “I know. She is something, isn’t she? I was thinking maybe I was biased, being her mother and all.”
“No, she’s really good. She reminds me a little of me when I was young, dancing in almost every move that she makes. And she has a natural curiosity about things. That’s a giant step toward becoming great,” Gabrielle said.
“Well, her father certainly spoils her. He’s the one who makes sure she has dance and piano lessons. He’s like that. Although it did take a lot of prayer for him to forgive me about a piano fiasco a few years back. But he loves Aaliyah so much. You know Minister Marcus Peeples, don’t you? He’s my ex-husband, Aaliyah’s father.”
“I didn’t know you two used to be married. I mean, I knew your last name and his were Peeples, but I didn’t link the two of you together at all,” Gabrielle said.
“That’s because you probably see him with his new wife, Melissa, and their brand-new baby boy. Well, I suppose his wife is not so new anymore even though the baby would be considered new at six months. They dated for about four months, got engaged, and were married in July before the year was even out. She had a little girl the following July, and now they have a brand-new baby boy. Makes my head swim. She was the one who put on the church’s Inaugural Ball back in January, pregnant and all. But she did a great job. At least that’s what I heard, since I didn’t make it to it.” Sasha shifted her body.
“Personally, I don’t understand all of these short courting periods between Christian folks,” Sasha continued. “I think people should date for at least a year just so they can really get to know each other. Do you know why some couples get married so fast? Do you want to know why?”
Since Sasha brought it up, Gabrielle did want to know even if the conversation wasn’t heading where she was trying to go. At some point soon, she would need to grab the reins and steer things back on course. She nodded her answer to Sasha’s question.
“Plain and simple: they get hot for each other—hormones and pheromones. That’s mostly why. And wanting somebody to want them. Then, you have Pastor Landris, who dares to teach on fornication and adultery—sermons a lot of preachers won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Not in these prosperity and breakthrough days. Who wants to hear about sins and consequences during these times? Just make the people feel good, and everybody gets what they want. Most people know how difficult it is to keep yourself while dating. Heck, it’s hard to keep yourself when you’re married. People who come to this church and hear the Word of God take the scripture ‘It’s better to marry than to burn’ literally.”
“So, you’re saying that you don’t?”
Sasha cocked her head. It occurred to her that Gabrielle was in a leadership-type role with the dance ministry. Johnnie Mae had obviously been impressed with her, enough to elevate her to a status above the rest of them. Sasha realized she needed to watch what she said to Gabrielle. The last thing she wanted was to be kicked out of the dance ministry because of something that had flippantly come out of her mouth. Marcus always told her she needed to think more before she spoke.
“Of course I’m not saying that I don’t. Although, I do question whether ‘to burn’ is referring to hell’s fire or to the fact that if you’re hot for somebody, it’s better to marry them than to burn, you know . . . burn up with desire. But what happens when the fire starts to burn low, or worse, burns completely out? I’ll tell you what. They’re stuck with that person, and the question then becomes : did they really love each other, or were they merely satisfying their flesh? If it’s love, then okay. If it was more lust than love and the luster has dulled, then what are they going to do?”
Gabrielle thought this was a great discussion—for another time. Sasha was indeed bringing up some thought-provoking discussion questions.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Gabrielle, this was not the problem confronting her right now. Not her problem at all.
Chapter 19
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.
—James 1:23
Presently, Gabrielle wasn’t talking to or dating anyone. But that hadn’t stopped plenty of men, both in and out of the church, from stepping to her and trying. For now, she was content with sitting at the Lord’s feet, feeding her spirit. That way, as Pastor Landris had said often since she’d become a member, she would be prepared for whatever the devil threw at her. She was fortifying her faith shield to quench all of the fiery darts that might be hurled her way.
Darts, as she tried to be true to what God had called her to do in spite of things not going her way. She’d given her life to Christ. In the beginning, things had been grand. Folks told her that’s how it appears to work when people first come to Christ. “A baby Christian,” they’d called her. The best way they explained it to her was that it was like lifting weights. You don’t start out bench-pressing or lifting one hundred pounds from the get-go. You start out with small, manageable pounds, then work your way up to twenty, fifty, and eventually able to lift hundreds.
“God knows how much you can bear,” Pastor Landris had said at Bible study. “Trust that God is watching and that there is nothing happening in your life that He doesn’t know about. Trust that if God allows it to be brought to you, God is there to bring you through it. He’ll bring you through, and He’ll bring you out. No matter what’s going on in your life, in the end, God will get the glory. Even those negative things help us in the exercising of our faith.”
Gabrielle was now lifting heavier weights than when she�
�d begun. She was deep in God’s Word. That was something else Pastor Landris had said.
“Satan will bring all kinds of trouble to your household. For those of you who have children, he’ll use your children to get to you. To you who are married, he’ll use your spouse. Single, he’ll find ways to tempt you, to try to cause you to fall, thinking he can use that against you. If you have a house, a car, or other things, he’ll mess with your things to cause you distress as he whispers that God is not there or that God doesn’t care. But trust God no matter what it looks like, and no matter what’s going on in your life. Maintain an attitude of forever praise.” Pastor Landris did a one–two step dance. Chuckles and laughter rose in the sanctuary.
“Your attitude should be that you’re going to praise God no matter what—come what may. Learn to press your way through. Be focused on your desires. And no matter who or what tries to get in your way, keep pressing until you’ve reached your contact point.” Pastor Landris shook his head, then walked down the steps to the main floor.
“God is looking for faith today, not fake. He’s looking for faith. Real faith. And how does He know you have faith? By what you do. So, what are you giving God to work with?”
Pastor Landris walked over toward his right, then without saying a word, back to the left. “Let me leave you with this. In Matthew the ninth chapter”—he held his Bible up, then let it back down—“there is the story of two blind men. They were following Jesus, crying, and saying, ‘Thou son of David, have mercy on us.’” Pastor Landris began to laugh. “Think about that: two blind men . . . men who couldn’t see, but they could see enough to follow Jesus. Men who in the natural couldn’t see but could see enough to follow Jesus. We have people right here, right now with natural eyesight, twenty-twenty vision, and they can’t see to follow Jesus the way these two blind men could see enough to follow Jesus.”
Some in the congregation began to erupt with shouts as they got what Pastor Landris was saying.
Pastor Landris read what Jesus said to the blind men in verse twenty-nine. “‘According to your faith be it unto you.’ Did anybody get that?”
The congregation was shouting and praising God.
Pastor Landris began to repeat that scripture, emphasizing different words during each time. “According to your faith . . . be it unto you. According to your faith be it unto you. According to your faith . . .” Pastor Landris did another two-step. “Not according to someone else’s faith, but according to your faith. I like to say it like this. Whatsoever you believe, be it unto you. Do you hear what I say? If you don’t want to believe, then according to your faith, be it unto you. I’m not going to argue with you about it. We’re not going to fall out because of our difference in belief. Because ultimately, and I’ve seen this work too many times . . . faith works y’all, you will have what you say. You will have what you say. Not what I say. What you say.”
Gabrielle had heard the Word as it had come forth from Pastor Landris. Hearing the Word was great, but doing the Word was what it was about. Standing here, talking with Sasha now, she was trying to do what she could. She had already prayed. She’d even held up her bills, shown the Lord what she was faced with.
She’d shown God the notice she’d received from the car loan company, their intent to repossess if payment was not received in ten days. She knew God was aware of all of this. The car loan company had informed her of her “right to cure,” which meant she could avoid the car being repossessed by making up any missed payments plus applicable penalties and fees. Unless God stepped in and soon, there was nothing she could do to keep her car from being taken. And her home mortgage company had written to inform her that her contract gave them the right to initiate a nonjudicial foreclosure process if she didn’t catch her payments up as well.
“I need to sell my house,” Gabrielle said, getting back to Sasha and the topic at hand. “Is there anything that you know about that might help me these days?”
“Well, I’m only a receptionist in the mortgage department, so I don’t know all the ins and outs. But you could try contacting HUD. That’s Housing and Urban Development. I hear they have some things that can help people who are in jeopardy of being foreclosed on. See if they can help.”
Gabrielle thanked Sasha. At least it was something to go on. She would check into that tomorrow. Since she’d gotten rid of everything that wasn’t a necessity back when her situation called for some real belt-tightening, she didn’t have Internet access in her home any longer. She would have to go to the library to go online or call HUD tomorrow sometime.
Right now, she could no longer afford her house. Only God moving on this, and moving relatively quickly, would be able to save her.
“God, I don’t have anywhere or anyone else to turn to except You,” she said as she kneeled down and prayed before going to bed. “Please, hear my cry. Lord, I need Your help down here. I need a little relief. I don’t know where else to go or who else to turn to except You. Please . . .”
Chapter 20
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
—Hebrews 13:15
It was a beautiful day at Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center, the church congregation’s special day of celebration being held the third Sunday in August. They had set aside this day to invite family, friends, and the community to give thanks with them for God’s goodness and mercy. A day to celebrate with a congregation that had begun the second Sunday in March 2002 in Pastor George and Johnnie Mae Landris’s home before moving into a modular building in July of 2003, to their present facility moved in on December 5, 2004. This day drew an overflow crowd.
The newly named Wings as Eagles Dance Ministry was derived from Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Johnnie Mae told the group she’d chosen that scripture and that name because she thought it was befitting of the message the ministry wanted to convey.
“An eagle is a large bird—strong . . . powerful,” Johnnie Mae had said during their first official meeting as a dance team. “Eagles have exceptionally keen eyesight; able to see what other birds can’t at a distance other birds can only wish for. As Christians, we should also be able to see what others can’t. Eagles build their nests in tall trees or on high cliffs. I admonish all of you to set your sights on your home on high. We serve a big God, a powerful God, an unlimited God when it comes to what He can do. Eagles don’t sweat. As Christians, we need to stop sweating both the small and the big stuff. Stop sweating stuff. Eagles are active during the daylight. That goes hand in hand with scripture that tells us to work while it’s day.
“Ironically, eagles don’t have vocal cords even though they’re capable of making shrilling sounds when needed. Eagles’ movements—grace in flight—speak volumes for them when witnessed by others. So it should be with you, your life, and your dance. Eagle wings are fashioned for soaring. They know how to use rising currents of warm air, the updrafts generated by terrains—those peaks and valleys in life as well as mountaintops—to make it to their destination. You see, eagles don’t need to flap in order to fly. They have learned to rest, using what others would view as negatives, to reach even higher heights. They use the storms in life to soar, and they soar with ease. The eagle’s feathers are light in weight, but they’re strong and flexible. I encourage all of you—when you minister through dance and as you go through life—to mount up with wings as eagles.”
And minister to the people is just what Wings as Eagles Dance Ministry did that Sunday morning. After they finished, when the congregation demanded it by a standing ovation, Johnnie Mae had each member step forward as she called their names. It had been a powerful and magnificent time of worship. They had indeed set the atmosphere for the rest of the church service.
After service, Gabrielle was approached by a lot of peop
le who told her how much they had been blessed by the ministering of the dance team. Gabrielle loved how her gift was being used in the service of God. Her response to those who told her how great she was and how blessed they were having been here today was, “Thank you. I praise God. God gets all the glory.”
“Now, that was praise in motion,” Gabrielle heard a man’s deep voice say directly behind her.
She turned around and could hardly believe her eyes.
“Well, hello there, stranger,” she said as coolly as she could manage after seeing who stood before her.
“So, you remember me?” he said with a smile.
“Of course I remember you. We met back in January, on the twentieth, to be exact, at the church’s Inaugural Ball. You’re Zachary Morgan.”
He bowed his head slightly as he continued to smile with an added primp of his mouth. “The dance team was awesome . . . a true blessing. Goodness, all of you blessed me.” He shook his head. “In fact, I was so moved by the ministry through dance, and after that, the Word coming from the pastor, I came forward to become a member.”
“Really,” Gabrielle said, unable to mask her delight. “That’s wonderful! Allow me to welcome you to Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center. You’re going to love it here.”
“Thank you. I still have that one day of orientation this week before I receive the honor of officially being ‘added into this flock,’ as I believe they call it here. But so far, everybody has been quite . . . quite . . . what’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Loving and embracing?”
“That’s more than one word, but that works.” He smiled. “They certainly are loving and embracing here. You feel like you’re being welcomed back home after a long period of having wandered around in life, slightly lost, not knowing who you really were before finding your way back to your family. Back to a family, I might add, that’s been looking for you and praying for your safe return. I don’t know if that makes sense,” Zachary said.
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