Before Eternity: The One Who Dwells in Zion

By Sandielyn

The book that you are holding right now will lead us to ask our self of our present relationship with our Creator, it will give us a spiritual telescope to look further, the courage to look back and the path that will take us to the depth of our innermost being . It can also be a mirror that will show us of what we are missing and forgotten along the journey of faith and walk with God. The story will break us and thirst us to long for the love that only our Heavenly Father can fill . It may not answer all our questions and cannot present the whole situation but surely we can relate to the journey shes going to take, as one of the traveler in the story. This book will make us hold once more the pierce hands of our Savior at times we feel like loosing, The story will speak to us of how our Father love us so dearly that He did not only die for us but will come back to take the last remnant of his Holy Kingdom when the great battle comes and before eternity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512751192

Sandielyn

Sandielyn a wife, mother and a teacher started to write this book when she was in South Korea as a Missionary and Multi Cultural Teacher her experiences and daily walk with God put the desire in her heart to write. She got married four times but always with the same man, her loving husband Samuel Taylor. Their love story is truly a divine intervention that is worth hearing, they got married in three countries South Korea, Philippines which she originally came from and Kentucky which her husband live. As a child who’ve been raised from a paganism background, she experienced a tremendous redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ when she was twelve years old listening to her neighbor who read scriptures and pray for her that resulted to her repentance and also persecution of her relatives which now she can testify that God use her life that her families also accepted our Savior and her Father became a Pastor after so many years of bondage in drugs, and other addiction. She believe that as you hold and finish this book, you will experience to look back and self evaluate yourself your Christian walk with the Lord or even asking yourself if what kind of journey in life you are now going in. The author encourage you that no matter where you are in your journey right now always choose the narrow way because doing God’s will is the ultimate destination of our soul to be with our Creator.

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Copyright © 2016 Sandielyn Taylor.

Image credit for cover: Samuel R.W. Taylor

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Lion and Lamb by Joseph’s Studio, permission granted by Roman, Inc. ©2016.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-5120-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5121-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5119-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016912240

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/28/2016

Contents

Chapter 1 The One Who Dwells in Zion

Chapter 2 The Hedge

Chapter 3 Flashback

Chapter 4 The Dark Show

Chapter 5 Haunted by the Past

Chapter 6 Soul Eaters

Chapter 7 My Desperate Plea

Chapter 8 In His Presence

Chapter 9 The Ponds

Chapter 10 Here I Am—Send Me

Chapter 11 The Meeting

Chapter 12 The Land of the Dying

Chapter 13 The Miracle

Chapter 14 The Cave of Misery

Chapter 15 The Shack

Chapter 16 The Witch of Tombstone

Chapter 17 Let Go

Chapter 18 Broken Heart

Chapter 19 Sanctuary

Chapter 20 Conquering Heights

Chapter 21 Facing Mr. Death

Chapter 22 The Land of Love

Chapter 23 The Never-Ending Feast

Chapter 24 Vineyard

Chapter 25 The Harvest

Chapter 26 The Mine

Chapter 27 The Fishing

Chapter 28 Stewardship

Chapter 29 Hone Period

Chapter 30 Wedding

Chapter 31 The Test of True Selves

Chapter 32 Getting Along

Chapter 33 The Riddle

Chapter 34 False Victory

Chapter 35 Knowing Your Ground

Chapter 36 The Garments and Weapons

Chapter 37 The Time Has Come

Chapter 38 Almost Over

Chapter 39 The Awarding

Chapter 40 The Most-Awaited Appointment

Chapter 41 The Surprise Awaits

I

dedicated this to my Father in heaven for making this book a reality.

To Jesus Christ, who put the desire in my heart to make this book you are holding right now. And to Holy Spirit that inspired me to press on no matter how many spiritual attacks I’ve been through in making of this manuscript.

And for the obedient angels in heaven who stayed and guard me all the years just to make sure I am safe.

I would like to thank my Husband Samuel Ray-Westley Taylor, for his support, care, and staying up with me till morning for brainstorming and editing my manuscript and drawing the images. You are a glimpse of God’s love my honey.

For my daughter Samiela Amphirea Ledee Taylor I know someday I will read this book to you.

I also want to thank my sister in-law Sara Ruth Mareah Taylor for taking time to do my Author photo. To Ms. Lizette Rodriguez for giving her time to sit with me sip some hot tea together while editing parts of my manuscript. To Mom Hydee and Dad Densil Taylor thank you for your kindess and moral support.

Thanks to my Mother Alejandra for believing in me. To my sister Sheena, for giving her beautiful input in some chapter of this book. To Toto my brother Ate miss you.

To Ate Nena and family, who’ve been very kind to look after my daughter when I needed help you’ll be missed. To my Father Eduardo, T’LOR’s church families for interceding for me. To Kuya Eddie Digma for sharing gospel of Jesus Christ and planted seed in my heart when I was young. To Hernan and Cazin Family for helping me during my darkest times. To Mojica Family who welcomed me as their own. To Pastor Jesser and Mommy Riz Ikan for being a Good Samaritan and good Christian example to me. To Choi family Crizaldo Family, Hermino, Digma, Martonito and Indozo Family.

To JSRF Church, Victory Lutheran, Grace Fellowship, City Disciples, San-gil Kyohe, TFUCS. To all Pastors, Elders, Ministers and members thank you for shaping my faith.

And to all my friends and families in Face book, Philippines, South Korea, America, Africa and India, thank you everyone for believing in me and for celebrating with me while making this book.

Thank you everyone!

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Chapter 1

THE ONE WHO DWELLS IN ZION

M ANY KINDS OF STORIES HAVE been told to us ever since we were young. These may be a story of courage, patience, and suffering; a story that affects us somehow; a story that frightens us; or a story that touches us and makes us feel like we’re part of the story or the main character, such as a hero in a legend.

I live in the period when everyone’s name depends on what fate he or she chooses to take. I live on an old earth where the spirits and fairy creatures never seen by our forefathers now exist, and our language goes back to the old ways. Our lifestyle goes back to the old style of living. After the earth’s constant war and calamity, the word technology became history, and technology no longer rules in this age. This is the age when the creepy creatures and nature’s spirits are visible and finally show their faces in the world. They now live together with us humans. We live with them in chaos and survival.

It is the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and I am in the middle of uncertainty. For so many years, I’ve been on this journey, and I’m still unsure whether I’m going straight, going back, or just sitting down for a while. I’ve come all the way through different lands—steep lands; slippery plains; and bumpy, thorny, and dark lands—and now I’m heading to the Land of Love. I heard that if I come across this land, I must meet Mr. Death. On this journey, most of my companions have died; others have turned back, while others have chosen to find a new companion to travel different paths. Even though we have different paths, we must arrive at one destination.

I long to have a companion who will go to the same place where I’m heading, someone who is brave enough to protect me when I face death.

I met Mr. Strong, but when we faced the Test of Reflection, he failed. I met Mr. Knowledge, but he got dizzy and fell into the River of Confusion. I met Mr. Emotions, and I felt the intense excitement of being with him, but he got lost in the foggy Jungle of Extremity.

I’ve met a lot of brave young men on this journey, but being brave isn’t enough to survive in these lands where heartless creatures are all around.

I now stand on Future Bridge. Below is a winding, snakelike river that crisscrosses beneath the bridge multiple times, while smaller streams feed into it or out of it, almost like the veins on a giant leaf. I have been standing still for a long time, wondering whether I’m going to cross this bridge alone. But when I step forward, a strange voice seemingly comes from under the bridge. To determine whether someone is under there, I shout, Hello! Is anybody there?

And the voice responds, Yes, I’m here!

Out of curiosity I ask the voice, What are you doing under there?

The voice calmly replies (and it sound like it’s coming from the water), Why don’t you see for yourself?

But since I’ve been through a lot on this journey and have met many harmful creatures, I’m skeptical of going under the bridge, so I ignore the voice and move forward. I think, It’s hard to reach out and help someone again. I remember trying to help someone before, only to discover that I was helping an Ahaz.

An Ahaz is a kind of cunning and deceitful creature. In this world these are shape-shifters, creatures that look like alluring women or men, but their true selves are giant vipers. I was young and naïve when one of these creatures almost swallowed me, so I think maybe the man under the bridge is one too. Otherwise, what is he doing under the bridge? I wonder and shake my head.

I step farther onto the bridge and look back, doubting my way. It’ll be hard to go back now that the sun is going down—I need to hurry before it gets dark.

The bridge began to squeak as I step forward, so I start to doubt and get nervous.

I think Future Bridge is strong enough to hold at least one person—I recall that the old folk told me this bridge is strong, so I try to hold the sides while stepping forward. I gaze at the horizon. It’s getting darker, and the sun has almost set. I keep on moving. The wind suddenly goes from gentle to strong, and it sways me quite a bit. I try to hold tight to both sides.

In an instant, I feel a small pebble or a speck of seed grass, and whatever it is goes into my right eye. I concentrate on trying to take the speck out of my eye, but it’s hard to walk since whenever I try to open my eyes, whatever is in my eye pricks, and my eye hurts. I rub my eye, but the speck is still inside. In the midst of this situation, I don’t realize there’s a hole in the bridge, the perfect size for me.

Instantly, I fall through the bridge without anything to grab onto, since both of my hands are pressed to my right eye. I fall straight down and scream loudly, but no one hears me. I plunge into deep water and manage to swim, though my eye still hurts, but I realize the speck in my eye is gone. Plunging into the water with my eyes open has helped.

The current carries me back to where I started. I drift and can’t fight the waves, because the impact of the fall makes me too weak to resist. My thoughts flow like running water. I start to get scared—the thought of creatures under the water shakes me. Suddenly, I remember the voice I heard under the bridge. It’s too late, though, and I can’t even grab onto something to make me stop drifting. I find myself screaming again, and again as though no one can hear my pathetic condition.

I reach the shallow part and try to stand, only to find I’m back under the bridge. It’s dark now save for the moon and stars. I feel so cold and hungry, yet I still manage to walk to dry ground beside the river. As I’m walking, I suddenly fall back, for I see an image in the water.

I ask, Are you the voice I heard before?

The image of a man replies, Yes, I am. He doesn’t look frightening like I imagined—totally the opposite, in fact. It’s like seeing his reflection from a mirror, not from the water. Judging by his appearance and clothes, I decide he surely comes from a noble family.

I bravely ask, What are you doing in that water?

Chuckling, he says, What water? I am not in the water. I am in my room right now.

So how come I can see you in the water?

He replies, Well, this is one of the ways we communicate with travelers like you.

Impressive! I say. Well, obviously I am now alone, and I feel so hungry and cold. Do you know this place, the Future Bridge? I’m looking for a place where I can spend the night and find some food.

He replies, I’ve never been there, but I know for sure that someday I will.

Sounds like no one can help me now,

True, the image replies.

What will I do now? I wonder. While I’m looking at the image in the