Authors: E. N. Joy

The Perfect Christian (23 page)

BOOK: The Perfect Christian

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Chapter Forty-eight

“If Sister Deborah was here to hear that story you just told us, Mother Doreen,” Unique said in disbelief, “she'd write a book about it.”

“A
New York Times
bestseller indeed,” Bethany said in just as much awe as Unique and Margie were in after hearing the details Mother Doreen had shared with them on their drive back from West Virginia to Malvonia.

“What about Terrance?” Bethany asked. “I mean, you and Lauren are all squared away and cool, but how does he feel about all this?” Bethany shook her head in disbelief and said under her breath, “Ol' Willie had a kidâwow.”

“I think Terrance will be okay,” Mother Doreen said hopeful.

“You sure about that?” Unique asked. “I mean, that was one angry brother right there; straight hood. And take it from meâI know hood when I see hood.”

A couple of the women laughed, and Mother Doreen replied, “Yeah, I think so. I mean, we really didn't get to say too much more after Lauren and I talked, but he knows where to find me. He knows he can reach out to me,” Mother Doreen replied. “I still got a few things of Willie's stored in that old shed behind my house. When I moved back to Kentucky, I was going to throw the stuff out or give it to charity. But now I know just what to do with it.” Mother Doreen smiled and looked upward. “Thank you, God!”

“Amen,” Bethany cosigned. “Amen.”

“Well, that's good to hear,” Margie stated. “I'm glad you know what to do with Willie's things. But can I ask you one question?”

“Sure; go right ahead,” Mother Doreen replied.

“What in the world are you going to do about Pastor Frey?”

“Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus.”

As Mother Doreen, Bethany, Margie, and Unique entered the church, they could hear someone praying. They'd come back to the church because that's where the women's cars were parked. There were still a few cars in the parking lot. Considering it was just a shadow away from midnight, they all went inside together.

“Yes, God. Thank you, God.”

That prayer came from another person. It was a man and a woman and the voices were coming from the sanctuary.

They heard a third voice. “We thank you in advance, God.” It also belonged to a woman.

All four women looked at one another.

“Um, uh, it can't be,” Unique said, and was the first one to go barging through the sanctuary doors. “Well, I'll be . . .” Her mouth dropped. She was in awe as she saw that Pastor Frey and Sister Deborah were still pretty much in the same position they had been in hours ago when the foursome had headed to West Virginia. And Paige had obviously joined them after grabbing a bite, because she was in there praying up a storm too. Sister Deborah was sitting on the church pew with folded hands praying. Pastor Frey was on his knees at the altar.

“But it's been how many hours? And they are still . . .” Unique shook her head.

All Mother Doreen could do was stand there and weep at the sight of Pastor Frey praying like he was praying down the walls of Jericho. Deborah was the first to look up and see that her friends had returned. She stood up from the pew and walked toward her sisters in Christ. Sensing the movement, Paige followed behind Deborah. Once Paige and Deborah reached the women, no words were spoken. All the women just simply embraced.

“God is good, Sister Deborah,” Mother Doreen whispered in Deborah's ear. “God is good.”

Deborah pulled herself from the embrace. “And so is that man right there.” She looked over her shoulder at Pastor Frey.

Mother Doreen exhaled. “Oh, Sister Deborah, you don't have to tell me that.” She excused herself from the women and made her way down the altar to Pastor Frey. She managed to kneel down beside him and place her hand on his back. Like he knew her touch, he just began to weep. Before anyone knew it, the two were embraced weeping like two children who had dropped their ice-cream cones on a hot summer day; and the cones had been their only hope of keeping cool.

“I prayed He'd send you back to me,” Pastor Frey said through tears. “I told Him I wasn't gonna let go of this prayer until He answered it. I told Him I wasn't gonna let go of this prayer until He brought you back to me.” Pastor Frey pulled away from Mother Doreen and looked her in the eyes. “So did He? Did God bring you back to me, Doreen? Because if so, I still want to be your husband. Do you still want to be my wife?”

“I do,” Mother Doreen replied.

“Then I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Pastor Wallace Frey,” Margie said as Paige, Bethany, Unique, and Deborah cheered.

It wasn't quite the wedding Mother Doreen had planned, but it was a wedding nonetheless. Margie had performed the ceremony with the other four women and God as witnesses.

“Pastor Frey,” Margie continued, “you may kiss your bride.”

Pastor Frey put both hands behind Mother Doreen's head and pulled her into a big juicy kiss. The onlookers cheered even more.

“I love you, Mrs. Frey,” Pastor Frey said, looking into Mother Doreen's eyes.

“And I love you too, Mr. Frey,” Mother Doreen said back. “You know, for years, I've been waiting for God to tell me, âIt is finished,' and mean it. Well, guess what? He did say it some time ago, and He meant it too. I'm the one who had to let everything go, though. But guess what? I finally did.” Mother Doreen smiled a huge smile. “I let it go, all of it, everything. My past; it is so finished.” She looked at Pastor Frey like she thought she'd never look at another manâwith nothing but deep love and passion. “But me and you . . .” she pointed from her chest to her new husband's. “Honey, me and you . . .” Mother Doreen planted a kiss on Pastor Frey that would have made a sinner blush. “. . . we are just getting started.”

The End

About the Author

BLESSED selling author E.N. Joy is the author of
Me, Myself and Him
, which was her debut work into the Christian Fiction genre. Formerly a secular author writing under the names Joylynn M. Jossel and JOY, when she decided to fully dedicate her life to Christ, that meant she had to fully dedicate her work as well. She made a conscious decision that whatever she penned from that point on had to glorify God and His kingdom.

The “Still Divas” series is a continuance of the “New Day Divas” series, which was incited by her publisher, Carl Weber, but birthed by the Holy Spirit. God used Mr. Weber to pitch the idea to E.N. Joy; sort of plant the seed in her spirit, of which she prayed on and eventually the seed was watered and grew into a phenomenal series of books that she is sure will touch readers across the world.

“My goal and prayer with the âNew Day Divas' and the âStill Divas' series is to put an end to the Church Fiction/ Drama versus Christian Fiction dilemma,” E.N. Joy states, “and find a divine medium that pleases both God and the readers.”

With the success of the “New Day Divas” and the “Still Divas” series thus far, it is safe to say that readers agree this project is one that definitely glorifies God in every aspect, but still manages to display in a godly manner that there are “Church Folks” (church fiction), and then there are “Christian Folks” (Christian fiction), and come Sunday morning, they all end up in the same place.

E.N. Joy currently resides in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, where she is working on book three of the “Still Divas” series titled
The Sunday-Only Christian
.

You can visit the author at:

www.enjoywrites.com
or e-mail her at: [email protected] to share with her any feedback from the story as well as any subject matter you might want to see addressed in future Divas books.

Coming December 2012
The Sunday-Only Christian
Book Three of the “Still Divas” Series

What kind of woman wants a man so badly that she'd be willing to lie to get him? What if that lie includes denying the fact that she has a child?

Deborah Lewis is that woman. The suave, debonair Lynox Chase is the man Deborah wants. He's the man Deborah has wanted for years, almost had, but decided to give her ex a try, leaving Lynox hanging. With her ex no longer in the picture, Deborah is willing to eat crow and go claim Lynox. She can't help but worry if he will be forgiving and take her back, but figures after two years, he's had time to get over it.

Readers' Group Guide Questions

1.
Do you think Mother Doreen owed it to the entire congregation to share her past?

2.
Do you think Terrance had a right to approach Mother Doreen regarding her past that involved his mother?

3.
Do you think Mother Doreen wanted to visit West Virginia for selfish reasons?

4.
Did Mother Doreen owe it to Pastor Frey to let him know one way or another if she was going to marry him before she even went to West Virginia? Did she not owe her current situation closer versus her past situation?

5.
Mother Doreen stayed with Willie regardless of his continued faults? Do you think that made her a good woman or so called Ride or Die Chick? Why or why not?

6.
How do you feel about the advice Mrs. Tucker gave Doreen as a young bride?

7.
Put yourself in Mother Doreen's shoes. Had you seen Willie's car at that motel, would you have turned your car around and gone back to check things out? How would you have handled the situation?

8.
If you found out the things Mother Doreen found out about her deceased husband, how would that make you feel?

9.
Do you think, after what Mother Doreen had been through with Willie and in addition the new things she learned about him, she'll be able to fully trust a man? Or do you think ultimately Pastor Frey will pay for Willie's sins?

10.
Most of my readers of the “New Day Divas” series always saw Mother Doreen as the perfect Christian. Did you? How do you feel about her now after learning her entire testimony?

UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB!

www.uchisglorybookclub.net

UC His Glory Book Club is the spirit-inspired brainchild of Joylynn Jossel, Author and Acquisitions Editor of Urban Christian, and Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Author for Urban Christian. This is an online book club that hosts authors of Urban Christian. We welcome as members all men and women who have a passion for reading Christian-based fiction.

UC His Glory Book Club pledges our commitment to provide support, positive feedback, encouragement, and a forum whereby members can openly discuss and review the literary works of Urban Christian authors.

There is no membership fee associated with UC His Glory Book Club; however, we do ask that you support the authors through purchasing, encouraging, providing book reviews, and of course, your prayers. We also ask that you respect our beliefs and follow the guidelines of the book club. We hope to receive your valuable input, opinions, and reviews that build up, rather than tear down our authors.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

âWe believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God.

âWe believe the Bible is the true, living Word of God

âWe believe all Urban Christian authors should use their God-given writing abilities to honor God and share the message of the written word God has given to each of them uniquely.

âWe believe in supporting Urban Christian authors in their literary endeavors by reading, purchasing and sharing their titles with our online community.

âWe believe that in everything we do in our literary arena should be done in a manner that will lead to God being glorified and honored.

âWe look forward to the online fellowship with you. Please visit us often at
www.uchisglorybookclub.net
.

Many Blessing to You!

Shelia E. Lipsey,
President, UC His Glory Book Club

BOOK: The Perfect Christian

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