The Storm

By Martha T. F. Collins

Dear Reader,

The Storm is a fictional depiction of a real-life problem experienced by many in the body of Christ and all without. The Storm takes place in the city of Brightsville but can be applied to where you live. The Storm poses the critical question concerning what influences what we think, say, and do. It would be nave to think the situations we experience in life are merely random happenings without real purposes. There is nothing that happens in the physical realm without it first happening in the spirit. What if you had the power to change your life? What if you were in a thought paradigm that held you in your current situation? What if you had the answer? The Storm will challenge the intellect and bless the spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512795783

Martha T. F. Collins

Martha Collins lives in Lawton, Oklahoma. After experiencing the impact of the spiritual realm, this project was born and debuted on stage. Her literary voice is unique due to her no-nonsense approach to ministry and her experience with the plans and mission of Satan. She can see, hear, and in this book, she shares her revelation and appeals to the spiritual man as well as the intellect. Her story exemplifies the will to be free from the bondage of the enemy. “The Storm” reminds us to come together in unity and see the same thing, speak the same thing, and make one sound in the earth.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Evil Never Sleeps

There is a meeting of evil. The devil is waging a last-ditch effort to destroy Jason and his family. I want you to make it storm, says the devil to his minions—Generational Curse, Perversion, Compromise, and Gossip.

Generational Curse is an old, patient demon who stands tall like a man. His skin is jet-black with numerous extensions that appear to form human hands. There are tentacles that extend from his head, and there are cuts all over his body. Generational Curse has numerous eyes, including several in the back of his head. When Generational Curse moves, he makes an uncontrollable groaning sound that comes through the tentacles extending from his head. He is crafty, and he exercises control over the other demons assigned to the Robinson family.

After Generational Curse, Perversion has been with the family the longest. Perversion is a winged creature with reddish skin that resembles a rhinoceros’s hide. He has large hands that stretch out into talons and extend outward and curl under. His talons are sharp and cut like swords. Perversion is large but can reduce his size at will. He smells like old clothes. Perversion has gill-like apparatuses on his body. He moves in a calculated manner, so he appears to slither across the floor. His appearance is grotesque, and his excessive drool runs from his mouth and down his body. Many can hear his hideous sound of laughter from a distance. Perversion also has a foul sulfur smell that lingers in the atmosphere, marking his movements.

Compromise approaches the other demons, ready for his assignment. Compromise is small in stature, and he darts about in an erratic and animated fashion. He is a ruddy gray in color with cactus-like prickles all over his body. His small eyes are constantly moving left and right, up and down.

Gossip is a small demon with an uneven head that appears smaller than it should for his size. He has unusually large ears, and he has scales over the top half of his body. His eyes resemble those of a fly; he can see multiple images at once. Gossip hovers about, which gives him the appearance of dancing in the air. Gossip is an animated demon who laughs hideously. He also makes a rhythmic clicking noise that influences human conversation. Gossip is unique in that he can whisper influence.

I want you to make it storm like never before, the devil says, throwing his head back and laughing hysterically. This family belongs to me. I want you to make it storm like never before.

The devil calls the roll, and each minion proclaims, Present and ready for destruction.

The devil begins to move though the meeting to ensure each minion understands the specific instruction for his role. The devil knows he does not have very much time. He is thinking about the children he has lost—the ones who got away.

Curse that preacher, he says. That man of God has interfered enough with his plans. How did he get in the church anyway? That was not the plan. The plan was to keep that old man in the church. He didn’t know what he was talking about. He didn’t study. I kept him busy with those women and his lust for pornography.

The devil smiles. He couldn’t focus. I made one mistake, and it will not happen again, he thinks.

Who was praying? They’re always praying, he mumbles to himself. Someone disrupted my plan. You charges did not do your job! he screams.

He drools.

Generational Curse, Perversion, Compromise, and Gossip try to hide behind each other in fear of what is to come. There are screams everywhere. There are sounds of doors slamming and growling in the distance.

We are not responsible for it! Generational Curse, Perversion, Compromise, and Gossip scream at one another.

Shut up! screams the devil. Shut up, and prepare yourself for instruction, the devil says in a low growl.

Generational Curse, Perversion, Compromise, and Gossip become quiet, shaking with fear. They cannot fail. Failure is not an option.

I want havoc in the Robinson family. I want them annihilated! Gossip, come here! the devil screams.

Gossip is shaking, but he makes his way to his master’s feet and bows. Yes, great one, Gossip utters.

Stand up, you coward! the devil screams. He drools on Gossip’s face as Gossip rises to his feet.

The devil looks him over and spins him around like a child’s toy. I want people talking about one another. Begin in the church. Begin with the so-called deacons and the mothers. I want mothers talking about daughters and fathers talking about sons. I want church members talking about each other like never before. I want to hear negative chatter—church members tearing one another down. He laughs. Every time someone comes to the altar to confess their little sins, I want the ministers on the phone telling everybody’s business. I want the neighbors—what are their names? he says, piercing through Gossip with his eyes.

Gossip can barely speak. Danny and Carol, he says.

Yes, Danny and Carol, he responds while rubbing his hands together and looking in the distance, ignoring Gossip. I want them talking all the time. I want them causing confusion and putting one church member against another. The devil pushes Gossip to the floor. Are we clear? the devil asks with his face inches away.

Gossip says nothing, but he shakes his head furiously and covers his face, preparing for pain.

The devil looks around as all of his minions cower in the corner of the room. Compromise, I want you to work in the church. Influence the young people. They’re stupid. They think they can live on the fence. I’ll show them! the devil screams. I want you to tear up the youth at the church. That preacher won’t know what hit him. I want to destroy as many young people as possible. If we can destroy the young people, the church will die with the old folks. I want you to cause confusion so they will not understand what the preacher says. Make them talk to one another. They are so easily persuaded. I want them to make bad decisions. I want them to emulate what they see their parents do.

He thinks about those fake people who say one thing but hide their little secrets. I will expose them, he thinks. He says aloud, Begin with the ones who give their lives to Christ at the church. They are the weakest ones. Nobody pays attention to them. All the church people worry about is that they give their lives to Christ.

He turns back to Compromise to give further instructions. Work on them! Make sure they see the hypocrisy in the church. The devil runs his finger across Compromise’s back and then slaps him to the floor.

He now turns his attention to Perversion. Perversion has done well, but much more is needed. I want you to continue your work in the church, he says. The elders and the deacons work there. Leave Preacher alone. If you attack Preacher, he will see us coming and warn the others. Stay away from Preacher, he adds as he reflects on the plan.

Secrets. I want secrets everywhere. I want you to ensure no one gets delivered, the devil says as he smiles wickedly. Yes, bondage. Bondage is good. Do you hear me, Perversion? You must succeed.

Perversion knows he had better not look up. Perversion shakes his head in agreement and begins to move backward.

The devil kicks him like a soccer ball, and he flies across the floor.

The devil eyes Generational Curse and thinks about the curses he’s kept flowing through the generations. Generational Curse, you have been with me the longest. You have done well, but I need much more. I want you to keep an eye on Perversion, Gossip, and Compromise. Make sure they are successful with this family. I want Jason destroyed. No mistakes this time. I want Ruben to lose his mind. Turn up the pressure on Ruben. It’s time! he says as he considers the impact of his plan.

He turns his attention back to Generational Curse. I want you to make it rain! he screams with enthusiasm and expectation. Make it rain, he says with a ghastly smile on his face.

Go. Go quickly. We have no time to waste. Time is limited, he tells the demons. They scramble over one another to get away.

The devil stands there in his stench and smiles. Make it rain, he whispers to himself.

CHAPTER 2

The Essence of Brightsville

Brightsville is a small town located in a mountain valley. The scenery consists of the beautiful ridgeline with its colorful array of foliage and flowers. When the sun rises, a bright orange glow appears in the sky. When the sun sets over the ridgeline, the sky turns to vibrant hues of blue and green.

Brightsville has the usual small-town flavor. Everyone knows one another in some way. Most of the population works in the surrounding areas. There are the businesses one might expect in Brightsville—the convenience stores, one theater, the discount stores, hardware businesses, and the local grocery store and gas stations. The main attractions of Brightsville are the church and the schools, which is where most of the town’s activities take place. There is only one church in Brightsville, and most of the residents attend the First Community Church.

The Robinson family has attended the local church for many years. One could say that the Robinsons were born into the local church and became members by birthright. The congregation is a staple in the community, but Preacher is new. Preacher is wise for his years and has proven to be a patient leader. Although much younger than expected and quite unconventional, Preacher is faithful, and he managed to convince the congregation that he is certainly the right man for Brightsville. Preacher is a tall, dark-skinned man who does not prescribe to pomp or circumstance. He draws quite a bit of attention with his dress and speech. The number of younger members has grown since Preacher has been there. You can always find Preacher encouraging the kids at the local group home or teaching what he calls a lesson on the basketball court. Most of the time, Preacher wears cargo pants with tennis shoes and a polo shirt. He does not own a minister’s robe. Preacher’s sermons are much different than what the congregation is used to, but his sermons challenge them. He has often said that it is time for the body of Christ to act like they know Jesus.

Big Momma is the matriarch of the town. She is a retired nurse who worked at the local hospital for many years before she retired. She still takes every opportunity to doctor up the family and anyone who will let her. She has led the Robinson family and continues to be the thread that holds the family together. She has been around the church for a long time and has seen many things. Some battles have been won, and some lost; however, through it all, Big Momma continues to stand on the Word of God. Big Momma is a prayer warrior. It is a regular occurrence for her to interrupt to testify to the goodness of the Lord. She blames herself for the condition of the family. She knows she should have told the truth about many family matters, but she did not have the courage to face the backlash if the truth were known. Big Momma knows very well that secrets are the devil’s playground, but there are some secrets that would destroy so many people if they were revealed. She is not known for gossip; she hates it. She knows how much damage the tongue can cause a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell, she always quotes from James 3:6. There is one thing Big Momma says in the wake of every situation. The prayers of the righteous avails much. Some believe that