In Times of Trouble by Yolonda Tonette Sanders Read Free Book Online Page A

the director of a center that counsels former drug addicts?” RJ chuckled slightly.
    â€œIt just goes to show the power of God and how He can promote us despite anything we’ve done in the past.”
    â€œLet me guess. . .you’re giving me a summary of the sermon you preached yesterday, huh?”
    â€œNaw, bruh. . .simply testifying about God’s goodness.”
    â€œYou know you fill the shoes of our father very well?” RJ and his brother grew up under the preaching of their father, the late Robert James Hampton, Sr. As the older of the two brothers and their father’s namesake, RJ had originally taken over as pastor when their father passed away because that’s what he’d always been expected to do. After the mess he’d gotten himself into in Baltimore, no one could argue that David was the one truly called to the preaching ministry.
    â€œDad had some pretty big feet. It may take me a long time to fill his shoes. . .if ever. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
    â€œWell, you’re doing a great job; I’m proud of you and Dad would be, too.”
    â€œThanks, man. Are you coming to Baltimore for Memorial Day?”
    â€œNaw. . .I’m supposed to help Lisa’s mom move that weekend, but I’ll see you the week after that because y’all are coming for Chanelle’s graduation party, right?”
    â€œYou know it. Sheila and I are going to drive up that morning. How are Lisa and Chanelle doing?”
    â€œMan, Chanelle is getting way out of line. Would you believe that she skipped curfew Saturday night and was brought home drunk by the police?”
    â€œMy goodness. . .”
    â€œI went over yesterday after church and got on her. She didn’t really say much to me, but apparently she’s been getting real smart with Lisa. Since she is supposed to be looking for a summer job, I’m going to talk to her about some temporary positions available at the center. I figured it would give the two of us a chance to spend some time together since she’d be working primarily with me. Lisa was cool with the idea. I’m waiting for Chanelle to be in a better mood before I bring it up to her. She’s on punishment for a while and I’m standing behind Lisa one-hundred percent.”
    â€œSounds like things are going pretty good between you and Lisa.”
    â€œI wish. . .She doesn’t hold long conversations with me. I’m surprised she shared the things she did. She was at her wits’ end this weekend because her mother gave her some grief about punishing Chanelle. I’m glad that I’m here to give her some support. I only wish. . .never mind.”
    â€œYou might as well say it now.”
    â€œI wish she would consider giving us another try.”
    â€œGive it some time.”
    â€œMan, I’ve been up here for four months and yesterday was only the third time I’ve set foot in Lisa’s house. She’s not trying to be around me.”
    â€œKeep standing in faith, bruh. We know God made a way for you to move to Ohio. You’ve done your part; now leave the rest up to Him.”
    â€œSeeing my girls after all this time makes me want my family back even more. I miss them, but now isn’t the time to approach Lisa about reconciling. It’s been five years since the divorce and she hates me as much now as she did then.”
    â€œI’m sure she doesn’t hate you. . .strongly dislike, maybe.” He tried to lighten the mood. “Seriously though, she doesn’t hate you, she hates what you did. There is a difference.”
    â€œI hate what I did, too,” he said solemnly.
    â€œLook, man, don’t go getting all depressed on me. Before you left you were on cloud nine saying how you felt God was about to fix everything you’d messed up. What happened to all that faith?”
    â€œIt’s still