Earthbound Child of God

By Laurel Payne

Samantha Bennett’s life was a nightmare.

Dealing with the untimely death of her mother and the abuse of her cruel father was too much for teenager Samantha Bennett to handle. But, for the first time in her life, this courageous, rodeo-riding young woman is finally learning what it means to be loved and to be part of a real family. Samantha is more than ready to begin a new chapter of her life. But when her past comes back to haunt her, will anyone be able to save her?

In Earthbound Child of God, author Laurel Payne tells the story of the beautiful restoration and healing that can only come from the love, grace and compassion of Jesus Christ. Full of exciting adventures and set against the backdrop of the fast-paced rodeo environment, it shows that no matter where you come from or what you have been through, God loves you. Even in the midst of your struggles, He is always there. He hears your cries and will come to your rescue when no one else can.

Earthbound Child of God will touch your heart and fill you with hope, reminding you that you are loved and are worth much more than you think.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creation House
• Release date: Jul 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781616386627

Book preview

EARTHBOUND

CHILD OF GOD

by LAUREL PAYNE

EARTHBOUND CHILD OF GOD by Laurel Payne

Published by Creation House

A Charisma Media Company

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismamedia.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked nlt are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

The names of persons mentioned or described in this book have been changed to preserve their privacy.

Front cover design assisted by artwork from Sue Brunner.

Design Director: Bill Johnson

Cover design by Nancy Panaccione

Copyright © 2011 by Laurel Payne

All rights reserved

Visit the author’s website: http://toyoufromgod.weebly.com/

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: 2011936190

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61638-661-0

E-book ISBN: 978-1-61638-662-7

Contents

Preface

Prologue

Chapter 1:

The Horror

Chapter 2:

8 Seconds

Chapter 3:

Fresh Start of an Old Beginning

Chapter 4:

Encore Re-run

Chapter 5:

A Summer Breeze Full of Wonder

Chapter 6:

Brotherly Love

Chapter 7:

Free Fall

Chapter 8:

Soft Lips; No Values

Chapter 9:

Witness ’til Proven Guilty

Chapter 10:

Chance at New Beginnings

Chapter 11:

Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Epilogue

About the Author

Contact the Author

PREFACE

Dear Reader,

Earthbound Child of God is about a teenage girl’s dreams, longings, struggles, and accomplishments. However, some parts of this story describe my personal struggles, longings, and dreams. You and I may be different in many ways, but in other ways we are very much the same. Samantha’s journey in life tells the story of your life, as it tells the story of mine in some ways. Each of our struggles, dreams, longings, accomplishments, etc., may not be as intense, severe, or happy as others, but we all have experienced some form of neglect, harm, or happiness. We are not alone. God will be there for you like He has been there for me. God saved my life and the words thank you never seem to be enough. He knows my heart and will guide me down the road of eternity. I pray that you will allow or continue to allow Him to walk with you, or at times, carry you. Let God be that shoulder to cry on, that missing father or mother in your life, that crutch to lean on, or whatever analogy you need Him to be in your life; let Him be that, as He was and still is for me. God has become the Father I have always wanted in my life, full of love and compassion. I was a depressed and lost teenager desperate and confused about how to be loved for who I was. When I hit rock bottom, God held out His hand and pulled me from the deep, dark hole I was in. His love, grace, and compassion, along with many other characteristics, have changed my life. Let Him change or continue to change your life. He loves you unconditionally, as I also love you…always.

Sincerely with love,

Laurel Payne

But those who trust in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

—ISAIAH 40:31, NLT

PROLOGUE

June 17, 2018 at 3:18 a.m.

Dear Diary,

Tonight I’m planning on grabbing the little backpack I keep under the floorboard in my closet that has a photo of me and Momma, the photos of myself, the videos I secretly started recording around age ten, that video of my sixth birthday I stole from dad in the cellar, and Meeko, my raccoon rag doll Mother made for me when I was three years old; and getting out of this awful place once and for all. It’s not like I’ll be missed or anything. I mean, my only purpose here is like Cinderella serving her evil stepmother and stepsisters; only I serve a sickening, disgusting so-called father. I don’t think I can live in agonizing pain that keeps me up at night anymore. The whole idea of right now and every night and day wondering if he will come into my room and throw me around like a worthless rag doll or take away my innocence for no reason just terrifies me.

I wish Mom were here, even though she’s out in the backyard under the cherry tree. I miss her warm, comforting bear hugs, the softness of her voice, the way she smiled and laughed, the times we would spend together cooking or baking, and how she would talk about my grandmother, who was Cherokee Indian, and my grandfather, who was White. A big part of my security blanket is gone and I’m left here scared and completely alone, except for Yeller, my best friend, who looks like a yellow lab mutt. I found him wandering around one of the rodeos two years ago. He knows to stay away from here, but when I leave the house I bring some leftovers for him, and he meets me by the park two blocks away to walk me to school or work. He goes with me everywhere.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that if I stay here it won’t be long ’til I’m going to be buried right beside my mother under the cherry tree. I’m tired of having to sneak out of the house to go to school, work, or a horse competition. I can’t hang out with friends for fear of getting caught. I hear friends talk about my house (they don’t know it’s my house), saying that the man who lives there will take any kid who sets foot on the grounds inside the house, and that kid is never heard from again. There are rumors that he first tortures them, then buries them alive—which technically isn’t far from the truth if you think about it. I mean, if I didn’t live here and passed this house, and saw the six-foot fence with the pointed spikes and rolls of bob wire across the top (which is a pain to climb), the two male pit bulls that charge and snarl at any sound of movement, not to mention the long, eerie dirt road that goes deep into the darkness of trees that leads back towards the house, I might think the same thing.

My friend, Dustin, whom I met a few years ago, has talked to his parents and they have agreed to let me live with them on their ranch. I’m so excited! I can start living a life without so much worry; but it will take a while to get used to, I will admit. I will be able to pursue my riding career and schooling without having to do it in secret. Sure, I’ll still have to be on my guard in case my father decides to hunt me down with those three friends of his.

Well, I better get going and get breakfast ready before my father gets up and his friends get here.

Samantha Bennett