"When you finish preaching go straight home, all by yourself. Do not entertain anybody. Let your words be few. This I tell you for your own survival".
The words of Bishop Charles Henry Taliefero seemed very strict to me. I was divorced now for about 1 year. I knew he wasn't trying to stop my friendships or associations, he was extending to me wisdom that would carry me through this personal dilemma...
Although I strived to do the right thing, the wrong thing always presented itself to me. I was not trying to be disobedient, I promise.
I just finished preaching what I considered to be a successful sermon. People were saved, healed and delivered. Now all I needed to do was go to my apartment, pray and give the service back to the Lord in worship and prayer, as it was always my practice to do so.
"You need to come and get your bible, I borrowed".
I hung the phone up. I suppose I can go in and come out right away. Susan probably won't be happy.
Susan was fully dressed in a jogging suit. Nothing going on here, I thought to myself.
She pulled up her shirt just to scratch her stomach. I saw it and thought nothing of it at first.
Where's my bible?
Being careful, I did not want to give this any chance to grow into anything. I got up and walk toward the door. She said wait. She wrap herself around me and kissed me very passionately. I kissed back.
I am a man, you know.
I do like her.(a likely excuse)
What am I doing?
Jesus, what am I doing?
The phone ringed.
I heard her say, Okay.
Thank you Jesus!
Yes Lord!
I won't!
She hung the phone up, looking at me very strangely.
What's wrong, I asked?
That was Prophetess Sister. She told me to stop what I was doing. God is not pleased. Prophetess Sister continued, I don't know what it means, but I was in prayer and your face came before me and I had to give you the message I received.
Susan reached and gave me my bible. I immediately left. As I got into my car, I ripped my leather coat on the steering wheel lock.
Looking up to heaven, I asked God why didn't you warn me?
Yes I know it was the wrong attitude. It was how I was feeling. I was angry at myself. I was embarrassed with myself. I was not purposely disobedient to Bishop Taliefero's warning, I allowed myself to just gloss over it by not actively thinking about it. I also knew that God spared me.
Lord, let me start again.
First of all, thank you Lord for saving me and Susan. Secondly, forgive me Lord. I had only intentions of getting my bible. I got caught up in emotions. I am sorry. I then started my car and pulled away in the below zero degree frigid weather.
I went home and sought the Lord. That night I vowed to never get in that circumstance again.
The next day after I got home from work Susan showed up at my door. I wasn't going to open the door for fear that I would get involved again. I watched from my window as she left and drove away. I refused to subject myself to that again. I just barely escaped by the hairs of my chinny chin chin.
We did talk a few days later. I asked her to forgive me. She asked me to forgive her.
She and I remained great friends.
I only tell this story so that others can avoid the pitfall that I found myself into that night. I was wrong and needed God's forgiveness. I allowed my vision to become blurred. I allow my mind to go into neutral state of not focusing on God's command.
I kept the leather coat and never repaired it to serve as a reminder of this time in my life.
All's well that ends well.
ReplyDeleteYep, I survived!
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