~~~
The morning speaker talked about breaking out of your box and conquering fear to worship. James turned and winked at Joni from the row in front of her. Marla elbowed her in the side. “I can’t believe you’re flirting in church.”
“We’re not flirting.” Joni faced the front. “Pay attention.”
During the altar service, hundreds of worshippers blocked her view of James. If she couldn’t see him, maybe he couldn’t see her. The singers on the platform began the song Aunt Sandra had sung long ago. She raised her hands and spoke to God the words in her heart. “I love you, Jesus. Lord, take away the hurt and pain of losing Isaac. Fill this emptiness in me, Jesus.” A warmth flowed over her. She closed her eyes. The voices surrounding her faded in the distance. Joni swam in a sea of peace and love.
She lost track of time, but when coherent thought returned, a small crowd of people had gathered around her. Marla pressed tissues into her hand. Joni wiped her cheeks and eyes. Her shirt was wet. The crowd around her dispersed. James smiled from five feet away. He mouthed the word “beautiful.”
Joy bubbled inside her and turned into laughter. She sniffed and wiped her nose. She was too happy to care what she looked like.
After lunch and a quick stop at the mall, she ignored Amanda and the twins and napped in her room. In the shower before the night service, she found the privacy for prayer. “Lord, I want Your power. I want Your peace. I don’t care who sees me. Heal my hurt. I want to belong to You.”
That night, Joni was anxious as she added her voice to the praises of the Lord.
A different preacher took the platform and read from his Bible. “Be this known unto you and hearken unto my words…This, Is That.” He stepped out from the podium and paced. With his head bowed he spoke, “I know some of you are ready for the altar service. You want to get down here and feel the goose pimples. You want to cry and not be ashamed.”
He pivoted on one foot and headed in the opposite direction. “Some of you just want to watch everyone else hop around on one foot. Fall out and run. Jump up and down.”
Propping an elbow on the pulpit, he held the microphone adjacent to his body. “I promise, we’re gonna do all that and more with the help from the Holy Ghost, but before we do, I want to echo Peter’s words from the book of Acts.” He slapped his hand on the wood and Joni flinched. “Listen to me! There is something you need to know!”
Joni leaned forward and waited while he drank from a plastic water bottle.
Finally, he spoke, breaking the still silence. “There are things you need to know about the Holy Ghost. One, Jesus told His disciples to tarry in the upper room until they received the power. He never told them to speak in tongues. He never told them to act like drunk men.”
That couldn’t be right. At another conference, a man told a young girl to open her mouth and speak her heavenly language. Joni had tried, but her tongue wouldn’t function properly. She flipped through her Bible and scanned chapter two in the book of Acts.
Huh! The preacher was right.
“There’s only one way to receive the Holy Ghost and that’s through Jesus. And once Jesus baptizes you in the Spirit, you can’t help but speak in tongues. When you allow Him to take control, you may stagger all over this building, but God will orchestrate your life in His perfect will.”
Could it be that simple?
“Stand to your feet as the musicians play. You want the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost? Praise Jesus. You want the fullness and the gifts of the Holy Ghost? Praise Jesus. You want the anointing? Praise Jesus.”
Chairs were moved and Joni lifted her hands where she stood. She dropped one arm and wiped her tears.
“Don’t worry about yourself! Don’t worry about the people around you! It’s you and Jesus! Let your tears flow! Don’t you know your tears are precious to him? For out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water!”
The sound of his voice faded, but somehow Joni knew he kept preaching. Light shone beyond her reach and she stretched on her tiptoes. Hands landed on her back and someone prayed. James? The brightness dulled and the indescribable sensations faded. Joni forgot about everything around her and refocused on her love for Jesus, praising Him in an audible voice.
Nothing else mattered but reaching the place where He waited. The more she praised, the brighter the light. An explosion occurred within her and a kaleidoscope of colors merged. A deep void was filled. The final piece in the puzzle of her life connected in its rightful place.
Far in the distance, she heard her voice speaking words she couldn’t understand. Amazing joy flooded her, washing away pain and confusion with peace and comfort. Time and space ceased to exist. She was invincible.
~~~
James couldn’t take his eyes off Joni and he couldn’t stop smiling. The others in the group had gone to eat. Sitting on the edge of the platform, he thanked God once again for his blessings.
His jacket covered her midriff. The indoor lights haloed her hair, but she wasn’t the only one sprawled on the carpet. He shook his head in wonder. Only Joni would get baptized and slain in the Spirit all in one night.
Mark crossed the indoor arena. His lips curved as he tilted his head. “How can we get Joni and Marla back to the hotel?”
James had already thought it out. “We’ll put them in the backseat of my truck. Sara can ride with them. Cole can have shotgun. Put Philip, Vince, and Blaine on the bus.”
“Works for me. Let me tell Sara the plan and get everyone loaded up.”
A few minutes later, Mark and Sara collected Marla. James threw Cole his keys. “Unlock the door.” James lifted Joni jacket and all. She’d been in his arms many times, but tonight was different. As impossible as it seemed, he could feel a barrier protecting her. God killed Uzzah when he touched the Ark of the Covenant. James adjusted the position of his hands.
Sara was in the middle of the backseat with Marla leaned on her right side. James gently placed Joni on her left and cushioned her head on Sara’s shoulder. His sister modestly arranged Joni’s skirt as he shut the door and got in the front.
Cole slid into the passenger side. He jerked his head toward the backseat as James pulled onto the highway. “Wonder what heavenly realm they’re in?”
James laughed softly. “I don’t know, but I’d sure love to be there, too. Makes me want to shout all over again.”
Sara yawned from the backseat. “I’m jealous and proud at the same time.”
~~~
The next morning, a tall glass of orange juice sat in front of James. Joni claimed the chair. “Is this for me?”
He smiled at her “Absolutely. How do you feel?”
“Wonderful.” She laughed. “I can’t put it into words.” She drained her glass. “Mmm, this is good. What do they have to eat?”
“You’re eating before noon? Wow. You are a new girl.”
She laughed again. “Shut up and show me how to work the waffle thing.”
“You sit there. I’ll make it for you. It’s been a while since I cooked you breakfast.”
She refilled her glass while James poured batter in the waffle machine. “Last night was more amazing than anything I’ve ever experienced.”
James smiled. “Syrup?”
“Yeah, and can I borrow some earplugs for the ride home?” Joni was in such a great mood, not even four hours in chaos could dampen her spirits.
“Or you could ride with me.” He better not be teasing. “I told Sara there was no need for you to ride the bus. It’s not like the girls can jump out the window.”
“Seriously? And that was fine with her?” She smiled as he nodded. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She wanted to jump out of the chair, run around the table, and throw her arms around him, but she could feel people staring and she didn’t want to make Jesus look bad. At the sweet bite of waffle, Joni wondered what manna tasted like. She didn’t deserve God’s blessings, but she’d take whatever He’d give her.
When everyone loade
d up for the drive home, Blaine frowned over his shoulder before he stepped on the bus. Joni whispered across the interior of the truck, “I can’t believe you let him ride with you.”
“Are you kidding? It was the only way I had to make sure he left you alone.”
She giggled and shook her head. “Real smooth, James.” Comfortable in the front seat, she refused to complain about the hulky console between them.
“Hey, Joni.” Cole called from the backseat. “Can you sing that last song?”
She half-turned in her seat. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it. Let’s practice tomorrow. Can Marla pick out the notes?”
“Already got it covered. We talked about it at breakfast.”
Phillip grinned from the middle of the backseat. “Unless Pastor kicks Joni off the platform again now that she’s back with James.”
Beside her, James’s body went rigid. “What?”
She shook her head in small, quick jerks and mouthed the word, “No.”
Vince and Cole got the message, but unfortunately Phillip didn’t. “Sorry, I thought since she’s riding with us, ya’ll were back together. My bad.”
James frowned at Phillip through the mirror. “As far as I’m concerned, we were never not together.” He turned his attention back to the highway. “Tell me why they booted her.”
Joni gripped his arm. “It doesn’t matter. I would have told you, but I’d forgotten about it.”
He squeezed her hand. “You can tell me later.”
“So…” Cole leaned over the seat. “…about the song.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Practice must be running late. James drove into the church parking lot and parked beside Joni’s car. He paused in the foyer and breathed in strength and a sense of belonging. He was home and Joni waited. If he could find Isaac, his life would be complete.
She had her back to the doors while she sang on the platform. Cole played the drums. A few others played and sang too. James slipped down a side aisle and leaned back in the shadows of the second pew. Her voice blended beautifully with the music.
The second verse began and she grappled with the low notes. She stopped singing. “We’ve got to go up a notch. I can’t reach it.”
“We can’t. Marla and Abigail are struggling, as it is. Try again.”
Joni turned and her eyes met James’s. She missed her cue but the music soon started again. Her voice lacked volume during the first two lines. “This sounds horrible.”
Cole let out a shrill whistle and yelled into the pews. “Hey, quit ogling my lead singer. You’re making her nervous.”
James laughed and leapt out of the shadows. Joni’s eyes widened as he jumped on the platform. “I’m not allowed to ogle in church.”
Cole stood and slapped James’s hand. “Great. Now either help or get out of here.” Cole turned to Joni. “Why do you let him hang around?”
James caught the cordless microphone she tossed him.
“He’ll help.”
Awkward silence fell. Anticipation hung in the air.
“James doesn’t sing in church.” Marla’s fingers danced across the keyboard.
Joni reached over and turned his microphone on.
Cole provided a drum roll. “Maybe he does now.”
She whispered for James’s ears only, “Sing with me.”
The music began. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. The sparkle in her eyes held him captive. His voice blended with hers. They sounded good together.
Halfway through the song, Cole held up a hand. “Marla, drop it a key. James, sing the first half of the verses, Joni back him up. Switch leads after the change.” He pointed a stick at the others. “Come in at the chorus.”
Are you singing for her or Me? James started at the still, small voice speaking in his heart. He dropped his eyes to the carpet. Forgive me. Refocusing on the lyrics, he worshipped with song.
When practice was over, Marla walked up the aisle on Joni’s other side. “You guys sound amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“What are your plans? Where are you headed?” Cole questioned James.
“I don’t know. Whatever Joni wants.” James claimed her hand in the church foyer and slipped his shades on as they stepped into the evening sun.
“That’s sweet.” Marla bumped Joni’s arm.
Joni giggled. “You choose. Dad came back from Miami to train a new employee and I promised to cook dinner. Other than that, I was just going to dream about you anyway.”
James pressed his lips together to keep from kissing her in front of her friends. “What are we cooking?”
“See you lovebirds tomorrow.” Cole and Marla got in their separate cars and drove out of sight as James walked Joni to her car.
“I love you.” He kissed Joni’s surprised lips.
“We’re in the church parking lot.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her again. “Doesn’t matter where we are, I still love you.”
“I love you, too.” Her hands slid around his neck and he dipped his head. A horn beeped. She flinched and shoved against his chest.
The pastor rolled down his window. “James. I wondered how Cole convinced you to sing with his group.”
“Sir, if you’d rather I not…”
“No. No. I’m looking forward to it.” To Joni he said, “Been trying to get this boy to sing in church for years.” The window rolled up and the pastor’s sedan merged into traffic.
Red-faced, she swatted James on the arm. “You can’t kiss me in church anymore. There’s no telling what the pastor thinks.”
He laughed. If she knew what the pastor saw outside of their apartment last December, she’d freak. “We’re in the parking lot and you asked me to.”
“I most certainly did not.”
“Your eyes have begged for a kiss since they saw me in the pew.” He opened her door and kissed her again. “See.”
Her laugh was priceless.
Later, when three steaks sizzled on the grill, he slipped into the kitchen and watched her slice vegetables for the salad. He had a vision of coming home to this scene every day. Oh God, please, let it be so. Sneaking up behind her, he nuzzled her neck. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and they settled at her waist.
She turned and looked over his shoulder. “Hi, Daddy.”
~~~
“Are you going to marry her or not?”
Joni had disappeared up the stairs to dress for their date. Her father eyed him critically. The force of Bill’s question rocked him. “I hope so.”
“Well, what’s stopping you? You two get any closer and you’ll be living together again. I may not know a lot about the Bible, but I do know premarital relations are sinful. Are you going to wait until I’m a grandfather before you propose?”
Joni obviously got her bluntness from her father. “I’m praying about it, sir.”
“Pray faster.”
“Yes, sir.” He agreed with her father, especially when Joni descended the stairs in a shorter skirt and a pair of her flippity-flappity heels.
She stopped in front of his recliner. “Are you ready?”
“I’m waiting on you, beautiful.”
Their outing failed to divert his attention from the dream of marrying Joni. After he dropped her off at her dad’s house and returned to Sara’s garage apartment, James prayed into the early morning hours. The sun rose and charged the air with an expectancy.
Not bothering to knock, he walked into Bill’s kitchen.
“You’re early. Joni’s upstairs getting ready. Have some coffee.”
“No, thanks.” A yawn escaped him.
“Late night?” Bill shoved a mug into James’s hand.
“Yes, sir. I had a prayer fest.”
Bill raised his eyebrows and grinned. “And?”
“I don’t know.” James wanted a life with Joni more than anything, but with his past failures, he wanted to be sure.
Shaking his head, Bill stood to
refill his mug. “You’re the first young man I’ve ever known to pray before pr—”
“I’m ready.” Joni gathered her Bible and purse.
The deep green dress had a half-jacket thing tied above her waist. She leaned over and kissed her father’s cheek. Peach toes sparkled from spiky emerald heels.
“James?”
“Yeah.” Sweet perfume teased his nostrils.
“I’m ready to go now.” The frustration in her voice penetrated the fog around his brain.
Bill guffawed and slapped the table. “Boy, I feel sorry enough for you to pray myself.”
Joni cut her eyes to her father as he spilled coffee. “What’s wrong with Daddy?”
“Nothing.” James stood. “Where’s your keys? I don’t want to get your dress dirty in the truck.”
At the church, as they gathered on the platform, Joni whispered, “Butterflies are fluttering in my stomach.”
James encouraged her with a wink and ignored the squadron of fighter jets in his own. Cole counted down the beat. Marla played the introduction. When James sang the first words, God answered his prayer. All his reservations about marrying Joni fled.
A picture of them singing together flooded his mind. He poured his thanks and his praise into worship. A cloud of glory descended and the altars flooded with worshippers. Tears streamed down Joni’s face. The anointing took control and the service exploded in power.
Marla rose from the piano bench and knelt to pray with her brother. Joni stepped behind the keyboard and played in church for the first time. After singing a multitude of praises, the service quieted. The pastor spoke into the microphone. “James, come here a minute. Bring Joni with you.”
He led the way while holding her hand. His body trembled with anticipation and he could feel Joni shiver. Whatever the Lord had in store for them, he wanted it all.
“When I saw you yesterday, I saw something different in you and I’ve seen you both plenty of times. God told me to tell you that though the devil tried to destroy you, God has a plan. The devil didn’t realize who you were. He didn’t know you were gonna let God’s strength be your own. You may have fallen for his tricks in the past, but never again.”
James held tight to Joni’s hand. The pastor placed one hand on each of them. A jolt of electrical current shot through the top of James’s head and ran out both of his shoes. He staggered back at the power it held.
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