Number 7

By N.A. Mitchell

Standing in a world where anything goes and the standards of God are replaced with man's desires are Matthew and Sarah Mills. They seem to be doing everything in their power to keep their children on the straight and narrow road, especially their only daughter, Genesis Mills. In a loving family with strong Christian values, Genesis is a smart, beautiful, young woman. In the church all of her life and with her strict upbringing, she has the knowledge needed to follow in the footsteps of her church-going family. Genesis knows what is right and desires to do the right thing, but darkness stands in her way. As she transitions from adolescence to adulthood, she discovers shocking family secrets, and her life begins to unravel. As Genesis toggles between her family and her male lovers to find acceptance, she quickly descends down a path that may not have a way out. Fighting to get back to where she once was in Christ, she realizes that the One who she was meant to be with was waiting there all along.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781681396897

Book preview

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Number

7

N. A. Mitchell

Inspired by God

Copyright © 2015 Nikeisha Mitchell

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2015

ISBN 978-1-68139-688-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-68139-689-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Disclaimer

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Two Years Later

Discuss Number 7

About the Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my lord and savior Jesus Christ. I pray that I decrease and that he may increase in this novel and in my life. The number 7 is the number of completeness and perfection both physical and spiritual. It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things. The number 7 appears several times in the Word of God and has ties to many divine things. God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into seven major divisions, seven judgments, seven annual holy days, and that’s just the start. Throughout the Bible we see the number 7 referenced over 850 times.

When I was a young child, someone would ask me to choose a number between 1 and 7 and I would always choose 7 never knowing why. I guess it’s because that’s the number my mother always chose, or maybe because I thought it meant something more. I was always told that God worked in order and with numbers, so I decided to do some research to see what each one of them meant. After researching 7, I was amazed at what I found. This book has been part of me for so long, and my wish is that it will become part of others.

As human beings we often put ourselves in situations that are not pleasing to God, and he is constantly trying to show us who he is and what he is, but we continue to ignore the signs of his presence in our lives. This story takes the reader through a young woman’s transformation from a confused and troubled young woman to a life of purpose and grace.

My desire is that this book will find someone and not only encourage them but also inspire them to become what God created them to be. I want to thank my family, my spiritual parents, and my friends for keeping me lifted up in prayer and encouraging me to stay strong during the many times when I’ve felt so weak. There may be some portions of this book that are uncomfortable to some readers, but I challenge you to keep reading because the journeys that these characters take are truly spectacular and may possibly change your life.

Disclaimer

Although this book is fiction, chapter seventeen includes real quotes by live speakers from an actual event.

Chapter 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

—John 1:1

Right from the beginning Genesis knew she was different. I mean with a name like that she really didn’t have a choice. Mama was a missionary, Daddy a pastor, so church was never optional. It was mandatory way of life, and she didn’t have the guts or the energy to argue with them about it, and this Sunday was no different.

Sometimes she wished that she was what the others called normal, but what was normal anyway. Genesis was exceptionally beautiful, so much so Daddy sent a memo to all boys and men in a hundred-mile radius that he had a shotgun, but everyone knew the good ole pastor was just joking. She had long black hair—and although she was only sixteen at this point, her five foot nine size 16 frame allowed her to pass for at least twenty, maybe older on a good day—deep brown eyes, lips that were somewhere between full and a little too big for her face, and silky brown skin. She was the darkest one in the house. Her older brothers Junior, short for Matthew Mills Jr, and John often teased her about it, saying that she had to be adopted because Mama was toffee colored and Daddy was maybe a shade lighter than Mama, but at some point over the years Genesis got used to the teasing. When she was younger and someone would tease her about her full figure or her chocolate skin, she would often cry to Mama. Mama would always say, Chile, God made you just the way he wanted you to be, who wants to be like everybody else anyway.

We are going to be late, Sarah! Daddy yelled from downstairs. How can I expect my flock to be on time when I can’t even get my own family there?

We’re coming, Matthew, Mama replied as calm as can be.

Genesis often admired the meek way her mother always responded to her father, never a rebuttal, at least not in front of the kids.

Order is the first law of heaven, Matthew said. And it seems like we don’t have any around here.

We’re going to make it on time, Matthew, calm down, Sarah said as he opened the door for her.

As they piled into the car the sibling squabbles began.

It wasn’t me this time, Dad, I was ready. It was Genesis hogging the bathroom John said.

You stole my comb, Genesis snapped back.

Enough, Daddy said. You both are guilty of sloth, and for that I expect to see you all on the altar for repentance.

Junior was the oldest and usually the quiet one. He just shook his head. The other two sat back in their seats, pouting. Junior learned a lesson that the others wouldn’t learn until much later. Sometimes it’s best to just stay quiet because usually parents knew best.

As the family arrived at church, they saw it was ten till eleven, and all the siblings kept their fingers crossed that prayer had not yet begun. As the doors swung open, the regulars were there, which included between 100 and 150 any given Sunday. House of Praise probably had nearly two hundred members, but just like any other church they had their C-me Christians (Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Easter), and every year during that time the congregation could bet on Pastor Mills preaching on faithfulness, repentance, the importance of staying connected, etc., etc., etc.

The sibling saw that the musicians were testing equipment and most people were congregating and still finding their seat, and for that all of them were grateful. Mama looked over to her stairstepping teenagers and grinned as if to say Y’all dodged the bullet this time.

The Mills siblings’ knees were throbbing from staying on them as much as they did, and not that they minded prayer. They had gotten quite used to it over the years. Mama and Daddy required prayer for thirty minutes each morning, but they did often get tired of going up front to kneel on the altar for being a verse into I need you to survive.

As church began, all three sat on the front pew next to Mama. It had been their seat all their life, and when Daddy was asked by John why they had to always sit up front, Daddy replied, I don’t want y’all mind wondering, and I want to always see what y’all are doing, that way if I need to correct you openly, I can. None of the siblings wanted that, so they usually acted like angels in church.

As praise and worship began and music filled the air, everyone rose to their feet, hands together, tambourines shaking, voices in melodic harmony. How Deeply I Need You by Shekinah Glory was always one of Genesis’s favorite, and although she wasn’t saved as the church folk called it, she had been raised in this way and really didn’t know any other way, so of course gospel music had become a part of her everyday life, and that song just seemed to always ignite the service. The only time that she ever heard anything else was when she would visit her cousins. She sometimes would sneak and listen to secular music, but she knew if she was ever caught, it would be some sad singing and flower bringing because Mama and Daddy weren’t having no parts of it. The Pentecostal/Apostolic was a denomination growing at a rapid rate, so Genesis knew that there were a lot of other kids with strict upbringings like hers, but that didn’t make it any easier. Genesis looked on as her mother approached the front of the church grabbing the microphone. Her mother had the voice of an angel. Her voice was powerful and strong. It was crisp, and although she was usually a quiet and shy person, it didn’t show when she sang. She could usher in the spirit like no one else Genesis had ever seen. Her brothers had that gift too. Junior more so on the instruments, and John had a voice a lot like Mama’s. He just didn’t want anyone to know it, but Genesis knew. Even when he was little, before he was worried about what people might say about him, he would be in the kitchen with Mama while cooking singing along with her. It must be nice to know where your place is in the church, Genesis thought. To truly see your gift manifested and developed right before your very eyes. Genesis longed for the moment when she discovered her gifts and her place in God. She envied her mother in that way. She longed to know her place and know who she was in God. She just felt so scattered, kinda drifting around not belonging in one particular face and feeling all over the place.

As the praise and worship part of service came to a close and offering began, everyone reached for their offerings. None of the teens had a job at the time, but the two oldest boys mowed lawns, and Genesis often did hair for the ladies in the church, so they were required to tithe out of their earnings. John hated this part because he felt like if God was rich the way people say, then he didn’t need our money. He would often confide this to Mama, but they all knew that if Daddy heard him saying anything like that, it would be an issue. Mama would always tell John Malachi 3:9, and he never knew what it meant because she would never quote the scripture. She would just say Malachi 3:9 hoping John would look it up because she was always about learning, and eventually he did. Once she saw that he looked it up, she would say, Any more questions? After that John kinda let it go. John was always the rebellious one, and everyone knew it, but he never went too far, or at least they never thought that he would.

After offering they had a guest speaker. Genesis enjoyed guest speakers because they brought something new and fresh to the table. Although she wasn’t truly saved, she loved God deep in her heart. She was just so logical and full of reason that it was often very hard to accept some things. Although their parents knew the only child that had shown evidence of being saved was Junior, all kids had to behave as if they were no excuses. The Mills took child rearing by the Bible very seriously. It was how they both had been raised, and when all three children were in their mother’s womb, Sarah and Matthew promised God that they would do their best to teach their children in the fear of the Lord and anything that could lead them astray would not be tolerated. That included no sports, no pants for Genesis, no boyfriends, no girlfriends, no parties, no premarital sex, no swearing, no drinking, no smoking, no going out without supervision, no nothing; and now that the teens were no longer in home school and were in high school, they were really feeling different from their peers. Neither of them was allowed to date unless they were considering marriage to that person, and both set of parents had to agree to the union, which the Mills called a courtship. Being that all of them were too young to entertain the idea of marriage, even courting was not up for negotiation.

The message came from Ruth, and the guest minister spoke about how she found her Boaz a message that many were familiar with, and it had to be really awesome because there were several Amens, Hallelujahs, and other things yelled throughout the crowd that Genesis couldn’t quite make out. As the minister preached, Genesis began thinking about how she felt so different, so alone sometimes. She was unable to date, and although she would look at boys around the church and she knew some had eyed her once or twice, she knew it was out of the question. Deep down Genesis often felt very depressed and her self-esteem was questionable. Daddy had always had a soft spot for her and often called her his beautiful lil princess, but it hadn’t stuck. At least not the way it was supposed to.

"You! What’s your name, young lady?"

Genesis jumped because by this time she was so deep in thought that the building could have been on fire and she might not have noticed.

Um, Genesis, she said.

That’s my daughter, Daddy told him.

I see, the minister said. Come here, child.

As Genesis walked to the front, knots began to form in her stomach. She hated being in front of a lot of people because she was terribly shy. As she walked up to the minister, she thought to herself, Now, God, I know this man is probably going to lay hands on me, and that’s fine, but I ask you to please let him have good breath and don’t let me fall on the floor and my dress fly up.

Origin, he said, disrupting Genesis’s train of thought again. Beginning of the universe and life. That’s what your name means. And you were destined from the foundation of the earth to belong to God. You are destined to be used for his purposes, and you are a jewel in his kingdom. So much so that if you follow him you will want for nothing, and you are destined to marry God first before any other man. I am seeing pain, and I am also seeing the number 7 all around you. You can run, Genesis, and you will try, but you cannot hide from what God has destined for you to be, as he continued to speak and placed his hands on Genesis’s head, tears flowed down her face.

She had heard prophecy before but nothing so meaningful to her life. Inside she could feel warmth, sadness, love, and a sense of longing all at the same time. And although she could hear the cries and praises of the congregation behind her, they seemed to slowly fade, and for a fraction of a moment it was her and God and no one else. But there with was also something else, something dark tugging her away from her destiny, and suddenly her experience came to an end, and she was just standing there face wet from tears.

Genesis, this will not be an easy journey for you, but I want you to hold on to the fact that holiness is right. You have to present yourself holy and pure before the Lord. Mind Body and Spirit, the speaker finished.

Mama hugged Genesis tight and helped Genesis as she walked back to her seat. She felt grateful that God chose to speak to her that Sunday, also that she didn’t fall and her dress didn’t fly up. She wondered what was this feeling she couldn’t shake, this pull on her that kept her from truly receiving what God had for her. As she sat down, Junior grabbed her hand and winked, and she knew that it was all right.

After church the family usually greeted as many members as they could. It was just routine. As Genesis spoke and shook hands with the members, she noticed a man that she had never seen before. He had to be in his early twenties, maybe even mid-twenties, very handsome, at least six feet, full build, probably about two hundred pounds, light brown complexion, wavy hair, and a big white smile. He shook Junior’s hand and appeared to know him because they held a brief conversation. After shaking hands with John, he approached Genesis. As he walked up, she could feel her palms getting sweaty and immediately wiped her hands on her dress.

Hi, he said, teeth beaming.

Hello, was all that Genesis could muster.

Quite an experience you had, huh? he said.

Yes, it was, Genesis replied.

Good luck with everything he told you. And with that he walked away.

Genesis shook her head, and as she did, she saw Daddy staring at her, and immediately her grin disappeared.

Go help in the back, Daddy said, and Genesis scurried to the back of the church as told.

The ride home was quiet and peaceful for the most part except for an occasional comment from Daddy about the service. Because it was a guest speaker and the church made dinner afterward for everyone, they found themselves in service a little longer than usual, and everyone was tired to say the least. As they drove into the yard, Daddy saw that the grass had not been mowed. The lawn was relatively large and the boys were responsible on taking turns cutting it. The boys usually handled the outside work like mowing the yard, taking out the trash, cleaning the garage, that sort of thing; and the women took care of the inside work, cooking, cleaning, things like that. The house was quite large as well with five bedrooms and three baths, so neither job inside or out was an easy task. Daddy spent many hours at the church between counseling sessions, meetings, weddings, funerals, business trips, and heaven knows what else. He wasn’t usually home till dark and expected all chores to be done upon his arrival.

Whose turn was it to mow the lawn? Daddy said.

Mine, who else would it be? John replied with a bit of sarcasm.

Well then, I’d suggest you get to it and leave the attitude, Daddy said.

As everyone piled into the house, the tension rose between the two.

I am seventeen years old, Dad, John said. I’m just as much of a man as you are, and I am tired of you treating me like a child. Do this, do that, and no matter what, it’s never good enough. You always have to be in control so you can look good in front of your precious little flock. I’m tired, and the grass isn’t even that high. I’ll cut it next weekend. And with that John walked into his room and slammed the door.

Silence filled the air, and they all knew this was the calm before the storm. Disrespect was absolutely not tolerated in the Mills household, and for the most part, no one really flirted with it but John, but never had he went into a rant like that. Mama and Daddy were completely old-school in that way, and even though a lot of people didn’t raise their children like that in modern-day society, they were not going to be persuaded to change now. Daddy looked wide-eyed, and they all knew reasoning was completely out the question. Daddy stormed through the house after John and tugged on the door. As he tugged on it, Daddy discovered that it was locked, which didn’t do anything but add fuel to the fire.

"Open this door, boy, right now," Daddy said, his tone angry.

Matthew, give him some time, give yourself some time to cool off, Mama said, trying to defuse the situation.

Mama was usually the peaceful one, but they all knew that what she said was law. She didn’t get angry often, but when she did, she always acted in the most peculiar way. She would often go off to herself for an hour or two, and when she returned, the anger seemed to be gone, but depending on the circumstances, it was often replaced with disappointment, which was so much worse.

Sarah, this is my house, and I will not be disrespected.

A few seconds later the door swung open, and John appeared to have a bag in his hand. Genesis and Junior looked in shock as the fiasco unfolded before their eyes.

Let me tell you something, my son, there’s one man here and it is not you. When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it. Now the Bible says honor thy mother and thy father and your days may be longer upon the earth, and right now your days aren’t looking mighty long. Now go mow the lawn.

Are you done because at this point I really don’t care about what the Bible says? John said as calm as can be, which completely confused the rest of them. I’ll be gathering my belongings and leaving.

Now let’s just talk about this, Mama exclaimed. This is something very petty, and I’m sure we can talk this out.

No, Mama, I love you, but I am not going to be told what to do anymore. I am tired of living in this prison, Dad dictating my every move, John said.

Let him go, Sarah, he’ll be back, Daddy said sharply.

I’m never coming back, John snarled and with that he hugged his crying mother and siblings and left slamming the door behind them.

The family stared at the door in disbelief for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was more like minutes. There wasn’t much talking going on for the rest of the evening. Everyone just kinda proceeded to their designated rooms. Mama and Daddy’s room was located on the other side, but with all the silence you could hear them exchanging words. Genesis tried to block them out as she lay on the bed thinking. It had been such a life-changing and emotional day. She knew that things would never be the same. In more ways than one. She reflected on what the guest minister had revealed to her, and she also thought about the WWE match between Daddy and John. She had never seen John act so cold or disobedient. She knew that he was rebellious, everyone knew that, but plain old disrespectful, never. She wondered what had gotten into him. She wondered if she would ever see him again.

When John left, everyone including Daddy thought that he would return. Everyone in the house missed his presence, including Daddy. They hoped that John would just come back and apologize and that would be the end of it. Daddy was as stubborn as a mule, a trait that John had inherited from him, which was probably why they didn’t get along, but the last thing that he wanted was to see any of his kids leave home like this. As days turned into weeks Genesis wondered if her brother would ever return. She wondered where he was, who he was with, and if he was even still alive. Except for a text message that Mama received a week after John left saying that he was all right, no one had heard anything. Genesis would often hear Mama in her room praying for all her children, but lately John had been at the center of her prayers. Genesis would sometimes stand by her mother’s door and listen to her cries and pleas to God to spare John’s life while he was in rebellion.

What do you think you’re doing, Junior said as he caught Genesis eavesdropping.

Huh, Genesis said, startled.

Are you eavesdropping on Mama? Junior replied.

Genesis looked down in shame but didn’t say anything.

If Dad caught you, he’d throw a fit for sure, Junior continued. Come ride with me to run some errands for Mama. It’ll keep you out of trouble, and I could use the help.

Running errands was the last thing that Genesis wanted to do on this hot summer day, but she would do anything to get out of the house, so she swiftly grabbed her purse, gave herself a once-over in the mirror by the front door, and followed Junior to the car.

Mississippi summers were extremely hot, and this one was no different. With the exception of being out of school, there was nothing fun about it. During the short walk from the house to the car, beads of sweat had already started to form on both of them and roll down their faces.

Hurry and cut the air on, Genesis said. Ah, this Mississippi heat isn’t too bad, huh.

Junior replied, I figured we’d just ride with the windows down.

Are you insane! You’d better cut this air on, Genesis snarled, fanning herself.

Staying in the country was okay most of the time. Problem was it was so far away from everything. Even the simple stuff like picking up groceries or going to the cleaners was a thirty-minute drive either way, but Genesis enjoyed riding with her brother. They had always been really close, and during their rides they always had the best chats.

Junior, how do you feel about everything that’s been going on the last few weeks? Genesis said.

Daddy’s on edge. He acts like he’s coping with John being gone, but he’s just putting in more hours at the church, if that’s even possible, to take his mind off things. Mama tries to keep a smile on her face, but I know she is feeling overwhelmed, and John, we don’t know where he is or if we’re ever going to see him again. After a brief moment of silence Junior began to speak, I feel like all things work together for the good for those who love the lord, and I love God, he said. I believe that he will find his way home, and as far as Mama and Daddy, I’ve just been praying healing for them—he paused—and for you too, he said and winked at her.

Genesis smiled but didn’t say anything. Junior was wise far beyond his years and always knew what to say and what not to say.

I miss John, I mean that’s my brother, and I love him, but ultimately he is entitled to his own choices, Junior said as he pulled into the parking lot of the cleaners.

Mama wanted me to pick up Daddy’s suits. Do you wanna come in? Junior asked.

Nah, I’ll sit here, she replied.

Well, since you might just knock my head off if I leave you without the air, I guess I should leave you the keys, be back in a sec, Junior said.

Genesis squinted her big brown eyes as a response to his sarcasm and slid down in the seat tilting her head back. She briefly closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she saw someone familiar standing next to her window. As she rolled her window down, she realized that it was the guy that she saw at church weeks earlier, Mr. Handsome with the big white smile.

Hey, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just recognized you from church, and I wanted to say hello, he said, voice like silk. Genesis, right?

Yeah, Genesis said shyly. I remembered from church when you were getting prayer, he mentioned your name, he said. My name is Minister Keith Smith, he said, holding out his hand so Genesis could shake it.

You’re a minister, was all Genesis said as she took his hand slowly.

Yeah, he said. You seem surprised.

You just look kinda young, Genesis replied and regretted it the moment it left her lips.

Still holding her hand, he smiled a kind smile, which made Genesis feel better and melt all at the same time. Keith finally let Genesis’s hand go.

I get that a lot, but just for the record I’m twenty-four, he said,

Genesis knew that he was far too old for her to be looking at in any type of way, but she couldn’t help it. By this time Junior was walking out of the cleaners.

Hey man, Keith said as Junior approached the car.

How’s it going, Junior replied with a suspicious look on his face.

I was just speaking to your beautiful sister, Keith said.

Genesis looked down with a slight grin.

Well, anyway, he continued, I wanted to invite you guys to a youth revival we’re having at my church for young adults. I know you’ll enjoy it, he said, smiling at Genesis.

Okay well, thanks, we’ll try to make it, Junior replied and got in the car.

Great, Keith said and walked away.

As the siblings drove, Junior was silent for a few moments, and Genesis waited on the inevitable.

And as expected, Junior asked the million-dollar question. Soooo, what was that? he said.

Genesis decided to take the dumb approach knowing that it wouldn’t work but hoping it would buy her some time.

What was what? she replied.

Genesis Sarai Mills, please don’t play dumb, Junior snapped.

Did he just read my mind, she thought. He was just speaking, he said that he remembered me from church, she said. How do you know him? she continued, trying to change the subject and gather information all at the same time.

Junior cut his eyes at Genesis. He’s a youth pastor at Shiloh nondenominational church, and I’ve visited there a few times, he said. But this is not about me, this is about what I saw. Let’s just cut the crap.

Genesis was a little shocked because she rarely saw Junior get worked up.

He is too old for you, and he’s trouble, so don’t go there. Period, he said.

You’re not my dad, you know, Genesis replied.

Oh, so do you want to bring Dad into this because I’m quite sure he’ll have my back on this one, Junior said.

Getting Daddy involved was the last thing that Genesis wanted, so she just shook her head in agreement and looked out the window. Junior was silent for a minute and looked at his little sister. He pulled over the car, put it in park and took a breath.

Genesis, he said, he is off-limits. I’m telling you that he could be dangerous, and getting yourself involved with that man, your life will become a whirlwind that you may never be able to escape. Trust me on this. I’m telling you this because I love you and I don’t want to see you hurt.

Genesis looked at Junior and nodded. Junior drove off, and although Genesis loved her brother and valued his opinion, the only thing she could think of was one Minister Keith Smith.

Chapter 2

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

—Matthew 7:15

The knock on Genesis’s bedroom made her jump. Perhaps she was too deep in thought. She had been thinking about Keith all week, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get their encounter out of her mind. She knew that it was wrong to be thinking about him like this. She had not been raised to lust over men, but it was like something had come over her, and she had never felt this before. Not only was he a minister and eight years her senior but also it was the whole issue of them breaking the law. Daddy was so protective of her he’d put Keith in jail for statutory rape just for looking at her wrong and say God bless you, brother in the process. I guess this was what people meant when they said strong holds.

Junior’s in the car waiting on you, Daddy said as he opened the door. He smiled as he looked at his only daughter. You have grown into such a wonderful young woman, and I am so proud of you, my beautiful princess. I’m proud of all my children.

A sad look came over Daddy’s face, and she knew that he was thinking about John.

Thank you, Daddy, Genesis said with a smile.

Now, he said with a deep breath, "I know that this is a youth revival, and I am familiar with Pastor Smith and Bishop Nolan, but curfew is still in effect, so I expect both of you back no later than 11:00 p.m. sharp. Greenville is a thirty-minute drive, and it’s already six thirty,