A Wife for Stephen by Valcine Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

ones that she didn’t
think were good, she would transform them in her mind,
and as she developed a talent for pencil drawing, she would
sketch her ideas. Celeste was extremely meticulous about
details, which is what has gotten her so far in her career as
an advertising executive at Vines and Robert’s .
Becoming the
first
female
executive
has
not
been
enough for Celeste. She desires to be the first female
partner of Vines and Robert’s . If she can manage to bring
in just a few more prominent accounts, that ought to be
enough to put over the top.
She
snaps
on the
bed table lamp
to
illuminate
her
bedroom with a soft light as she walks in. It takes just a
few minutes to change into her favorite pajamas of navy
blue satin with white trim. The gift her mother had given
her just this past Christmas.
Christmas. Over the past year, Celeste has been slowly
discovering the true meaning of the precious immaculate
birth of her Lord and Savior. She had always thought of it
as a day for the giving and receiving of gifts. That was
before
she
had been
watching television
one
Sunday
morning. Flipping slowly through the channels and not
finding anything of interest, she paused on a station where
a preacher was talking about the promises of God. He went
into detail about the blessings God has in store for His
beloved children. The blessings of an abundant and fruitful
life. The protections that He affords those who seek shelter
in Him.
The message literally had Celeste on the edge of her
seat, hanging on every word that he spoke. As the preacher
moved to the blessings that God had in store for those who
were called by His name and had accepted Jesus as their
Lord and Savior,
she
heard the preacher
exclaim and
expound upon the beauty of Heaven. “Just think,” the
preacher said, “not only do we miss the lake of fire, but we
get to live with Jesus forever. Amen?”
As the congregation replied a hearty, “Amen,” in
response, Celeste felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips.
To quote the preacher, Celeste heard that, “You must be
born again to enter into Heaven, God’s rest.” Celeste’s
smile dropped from her face. She found herself, for the first
time in her life, wondering where she would go when she
died. She had always assumed that she would be going to
Heaven since she was a good person.
“Are you born again?” the preacher
asked, looking
around the audience. “Have you accepted Jesus as your
personal Lord and Savior? Have you made the decision to
follow in His footsteps?” he paused at that moment to let
the brevity of his words sink in.
Hearing these questions posed, Celeste had to face that
fact that she could only answer, ‘No,’ would that mean that
she couldn’t go to Heaven? According to the preacher, that
is exactly what it meant.
But I don’t want to go to hell, a voice cried out from
within
her.
I
want
to
go
to
heaven.
But
how,
she
wondered.
“Well, if you haven’t accepted Jesus, it’s not too late.
The Bible teaches us that now is the acceptable time.
Because, people, time is not promised to any man. If you
would like a relationship with Jesus Christ, all you have to
do is ask Him.
He’s waiting for you to ask,” the preacher exclaimed.
“He says unto you, ‘Ask and ye shall receive, knock and
the door shall be opened.’ Will you invite Him in today?
Will you share your life with Him and allow Him make
your life sweeter? Will you allow Him to give you a new
purpose in life, His purpose? And in return, He will give
you eternal life.”
Celeste had tears streaming down her cheeks. When the
preacher invited those who wanted salvation through Jesus
Christ to pray with them, Celeste joined in the prayer. At
the end of prayer, as she said, “Amen,” Celeste felt as
though a tremendous burden that she had not even known
she was carrying had been lifted from her shoulders. The
thought of everlasting life with Christ brought a smile of
thanksgiving to her lips and put a new spring to her step.
Going