Walking on Water

By Morningside Writing Ministry

Walking on Water is a compilation of stories and narrative poems that shows Gods divine intervention in human lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490822143

Morningside Writing Ministry

The Morningside Writing Ministry is comprised of multiple authors of varying backgrounds. This Christian ministry is based at Morningside Evangelical Friends Church in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Each author brings to the collection a wide array of fields and expertise, ranging from stay-at-home moms to PhDs. Each member seeks to honor God in his or her writing and his or her personal life. Many of the members within the group not only participate in collective endeavors, but are also pursuing individual writing projects.

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Copyright © 2014 Morningside Writing Ministry.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Author Credits: From Authors of Launching Out

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-2213-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-2215-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-2214-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014900658

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/16/2014

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Fiction

Through the Darkness

Why Me?

Oil of Gladness

Forever Changed

The Encounter

The Right Track

A Time for Faith

Lost Tribe

Nonfiction

He Heard My Cry

Freedom’s Road

The Gift I Give to Me

Signs in the Sky

Even though I Am Weak, I Can Be Strong

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Second Best

Heart Healer

How Did I Get Here?

When Life Takes a Turn

A Glimpse of Heaven—I Was There

Zeda—Joy in the Walk of Faith

Poetry

The Boy with the Horn

Born for This

The Choice

A Second Chance

Strayed Faith

The Christmas Tree

The Oak: A New Sun Rising

A Storm So Deep

Living My Faith Out Loud

Adoption

The Story of Henrietta Steel

Walking on Water

Plan of Salvation

Author Biographies

The Morningside Writing Ministry dedicates this book to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it (Revelation 21:23 NKJV)

Acknowledgments

We writers in the Morningside Writing Ministry acknowledge that our talent comes from our heavenly Father. We believe that He is the ultimate writer and that we are His vessels. As we allow, He uses us to get His message to the world.

We thank the pastors of Morningside Church, in Port St. Lucie, Florida, who were instrumental in supporting the setup of this ministry and who continue to support us as we grow. Each of them encourages us as a group and individually as we use our God-given talent to write and publish for the glory of Jesus Christ.

We also thank the members of the congregation of Morningside Church who support us by buying our books and providing feedback on how we can improve and grow.

We give our readers our sincere appreciation for all they do by buying our books and sharing them with friends and loved ones.

Some very important individuals made it possible for us to have a place to meet and materials to use in the ministry:

Laura Dugmore finds rooms for us to meet regularly as well as at special times when we need extra time to critique and edit.

The maintenance staff sets up and cleans our meeting places.

Pastor Scott Crawford encouraged Barbara to write the proposal to start the original class.

Pastor Tom Crawford provides leadership and great ideas in his weekly messages.

Pastor Anthony Bruno worked tirelessly to help us get started. He is still there for us when we need him.

John Adams acted as editor for our poetry section in this book.

William Arnold is a great supporter who has gone so far as running off copies of materials. He also types occasionally.

Amanda Hoogkamp always contributed beyond the call of duty as she formatted our manuscripts.

As facilitator, I thank all the authors who contributed to this book for all the extra time and effort they put into making this book a success. They’re the best!

Introduction

Barbara Spivey

Morningside Writing Ministry Facilitator

Greetings to all our readers, family, and friends.

The members of Morningside Writing Ministry have traveled quite a path since we began our journey in 2010. Our purpose and mission has become an outreach for the ministry of Christ. Through the direction of our pastors and our partnership with the Holy Spirit, we have grown in grace, faith, and favor.

We recently reviewed our mission and vision statement and included further dedication to reach beyond our limited abilities and trust God to send His message through our writing to the world. He inspired us to find a publishing company that would get our book into new venues such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ebooks. We’ve dug deeper into our God-given talent and made ourselves emptier vessels for the Holy Spirit to fill with the Word of God. Walking on Water is the result of our answered prayer from our Lord and Savior.

We have written and compiled powerful stories and poems that will allow you to see the hand of God working in the lives of the characters. We hope you enjoy our book and allow the Spirit of God to minister to you as you read.

As you embark on this journey of discovery through reading, keep in mind the story of Peter as he got out of the boat and walked on water to meet Jesus. As long as his focus stayed on the Lord, he was able to walk. However, when he took his attention off the Savior, he lost direction and started to sink. Still, Jesus was faithful. He reached out and saved Peter, and He will do the same for us. Just reach out for His mighty hand, sit, relax, read, and trust in God.

Thank you,

Barbara Spivey

Fiction

Through the Darkness

Valerie W. Bartnick

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Cold. Dark. Still. Eerie. That’s what it was—eerie. The room was black. There was a strange feeling around Scott he couldn’t explain. At times, he had a sixth sense about things; he would experience odd sensations, his eyes would roll around, and the nerves in his arms, spine, head, and neck would tingle, but he could never figure out what caused them.

That night was very different. The air was still. He was afraid. He was frozen in his bed. He couldn’t move. A force pervaded his room. He tried to ignore it but couldn’t. It was there—a presence! He couldn’t compare it to anything; it was definitely nothing he had encountered before.

Scott was trying to doze off; it had been a long day in the rehabilitation hospital. He never liked hospitals, and this one was no exception. A sterile feeling pervaded the air. The others in his hall resembled robots. People didn’t say anything as they shuffled past one another on their way to bed. He had checked in for observation; he had recurring stomach pain, but he wanted no part of being there. The presence that had come over him was more than frightening.

Scott’s breathing was short. He felt he was gasping for each breath. He tried to explain the sensation he was experiencing to himself. All he could think of was a plexiglass cover hovering inches above his body. It was terrifying. In his mind, it prevented him from moving. He couldn’t sidle to the edge of the bed and get out from under it; he couldn’t even sit up. He may have dozed off, but he never felt rested. Soon, the sun began to lighten the room.

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An orderly opened the door a crack and announced it was time to take vital signs. Scott followed all the directions the patients had to follow all day, including answering questions and going to the cafeteria for meals. The patients had to attend group therapy sessions, and there were endless hours of quiet time. Two doctors, an internist, and a psychiatrist had asked Scott questions about his stomach pain, but nothing was resolved.

As the sun set on day two, Scott was ready to climb into bed, a thin mattress on a plywood platform. Looking at the ceiling, he began to wonder if his medical team would solve his problem. His eyes burned from exhaustion. He said a short prayer. Please, God, help me to fall asleep. I’m so exhausted. Nothing changed, however. That feeling, that dark force, was ever present. Scott wanted to sleep, but the more he tried to drift off, the more awake he felt. He was drained.

In his exhausted state, he felt pinned to his bed. It was as if he would never catch his breath or get up. What’s going on? he asked himself.

The sun emerged through the hole in the window shade hours later, but he remained sleepless.

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Day three followed the same routine. He had no answers for anything. He wondered what was causing his stomach pain and why he couldn’t sleep. Most of all, he wanted to know what he was so afraid of each night when he felt frozen in bed. What’s this presence in his room, and why is it here? he asked himself. He felt as though he had been through a wringer. His lack of sleep was beginning to show.

He shuffled to the cafeteria with his peers. He walked toward a woman sitting alone and asked if he could join her. She looked up as she heard his query and smiled. She said her name was Grace. Grace—how peaceful. Scott set his tray on her table but just picked at his breakfast. He mentioned his sleeplessness to her and asked if she had any ideas about how he could relax enough to get just one night of sleep.

She looked through her thick, black-framed glasses and asked, Have you ever tried to meditate before going to sleep?

Scott felt his face turn red. He muttered under his breath, I don’t know how. What does that do?

Simply close your eyes. Inhale and exhale slowly, and focus on God. Psalm 4:4 states, ‘Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.’ She paused to take a bite of her bagel before she continued. Put all your thoughts aside. Concentrate only on those words. Before you know it, you’ll find your answer.

Really? How does she know meditating on the Word of God will help me sleep? Scott wondered. It sounds too easy, and I’m too tired to try it. I want to get out of here. I want to go home.

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The remainder of the day passed quickly, and once again, it was time for bed. There had been no resolution regarding his stomach pain, but Scott thought maybe that was the night he’d fall asleep and get the rest he so desperately longed for. He quickly disrobed, donned some light pajamas, and crawled into bed.

He lay on his back for what seemed like hours. Fear raged inside, but he didn’t know why. With his eyes closed, he whispered, Dear Lord, I’m exhausted, my eyes are burning, and I need to rest. Can You help me relax and fall asleep? It was at that moment he remembered what Grace had told him about meditating. Maybe I’ll try it, he thought. He could feel the same presence over his bed. He couldn’t move. His breathing became short, and he gasped for each breath. He called out to the Holy Spirit to protect him and remove the darkness. He was able to inhale deeply and exhale calmly. He heard the Holy Spirit say, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:19).

As Scott focused on Psalm 4 while he breathed deeply, he felt a peace come over him. He began to feel comfortable lying there. The force he equated to plexiglass started feeling like someone’s hand was pushing on his chest and was applying light pressure. The truth Grace had shared with him calmed his nerves. The tingling sensations he’d felt began to ease. He felt a release of pressure from the right side of his chest. It was as if a hand had been removed. His fear was leaving.

As he concentrated on God’s Word, the pressure eased from his left side as well, and the fear he had experienced the previous nights continued to dissipate. What just happened? he wondered. The spirit of fear had been lifted by the Holy Spirit.

Scott drifted into a restful sleep, knowing he was protected.

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The next morning, Scott was puzzled. He had an idea of what he’d experienced, but he didn’t realize the Holy Spirit was actually close to him. He looked around for Grace in the ward. He wanted to tell her that her suggestion had worked, that he had slept. He had overcome the evil attack.

He spotted her in the corner of the large room and went to the couch where she was resting. She smiled. Scott sat beside her and related the events from the previous night. All the time he was talking, Grace was smiling.

When he finished sharing, they were smiling. The Holy Spirit had always been with Scott, even during his sleepless nights.

That day, his strength had been renewed. Scott knew he was not alone and never had been. All he had to do was believe to receive, and that he did.

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Scott now walks hand in hand with Jesus Christ; he knows He is his strength and comfort and is loved unconditionally by the Lord. For him, that’s more than enough. He was ready to be discharged from the hospital. His stomach pain had vanished.

Why Me?

Elizabeth Enyart

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

The iron door clanged shut as Jerry sank to the stinking, damp floor. His black eyes were swollen to mere slits. His lips were split and bleeding. Bruises covered his body. The rocks had come fast and furious. He thought he’d likely have been killed if the police hadn’t shown up. How’d this happen? he wondered. The previous day, he had been a healthy, happy-go-lucky guy minding his own business.

As he walked along the seaside that day, a voice came from out of the blue. Jerry! Jerry! He looked around to see who had called his name so urgently. Go to the square and tell people their country’s going to be destroyed!

What? Who’s calling my name? There was no one in sight. Suddenly, a man in bright clothing with a saber hanging from his belt appeared before Jerry. Jerry trembled so violently that he thought his legs would give way. He remained speechless as he stared at what he thought was an apparition.

I was sent from God to tell you to warn this nation of impending danger.

Me? I’m a mere child! How can I be a messenger to much older and wiser men? They won’t believe me, and I’ve never spoken in public.

Don’t worry. God will tell you what to say, and your youth will work for you. They may not believe you, but they must be warned. It’s God’s way.

The angel left as quickly as he had appeared. Jerry was stunned by the message and the assignment. He trudged home, mulling the words of the shining being.

Why did God call me? he wondered. He felt so inadequate. What a message he had to deliver! The country was up for destruction. God was tired of the spilling of innocent blood. Abortion on demand billboards proclaimed. The home for the aged was going out of business since the proclamation that people couldn’t live beyond their working years. People didn’t want them to be a burden on the young and moving generation that continually praised the king.

Jerry mused.