God's Plays

By Sheila Young

God’s Plays is not just a title, it’s an ultimate part in our lives. The players change along with the situations in one’s life.

Like children playing ball, there are bases that they each will land on. Some of them will hit the ball out in the left field. But God will always give them a chance to get it into the right field. Some of them will hit the ball and make a home run, running and chasing after God. He wants them to have fun chasing after him through prayer. He wants them to be a glory carrier for God’s kingdom, uniformed down to win souls or save their own. Some will slide into a plate and get a little dirty. But they will pick themselves up and dust themselves off and start all over again. For God is a God of many chances.

Some will find themselves sitting in the dugout to pray about things more earnestly. There will be plenty of times they will want to throw in the towel. And sometimes the water bucket they carry may feel very heavy. Yet with God as their umpire, they will find safety under his protective wings as plays are called. The devil may say, “It’s a foul or strike. You are done.” God says, “You’re not finished. The game is not over. The victory is yours, and you have won.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638852162

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God's Plays

Sheila Young

ISBN 978-1-63885-215-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-216-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Sheila Young

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

All About Fish

Ashyia’s Choices to Make

Aunties Cabin Accident

Bum or Friends

Claire

Fireflies What?

Kip, Our Gift

The Moon Child

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

Louise and the Coin in the Fountain

My Self-Esteem

Our Dog, Bullet

The Boy in the Bubble

Phyllis’s Story

Prayers Going Up

Sidney’s COVID

The Spell

The Waiting Bench

Twilight Zone

Who Is the Parent?

Dedicated to the loving memory of Uncle Joe, Carol and cousin Tommy may they rest in peace.

Acknowledgments

I once asked Uncle Joe while going to a funeral, What should I write?

He gave me a pen and paper and replied, You are the writer in the family. Just write.

That one statement has empowered me and put such an impact in my writing.

God has planted in us many talents. We must be like the spider and pull out what is on the inside. The web we weave will make the difference.

Thanks Makiyah for inspiring Boy In The Bubble.

All About Fish

It was a hot summer day in New Orleans. As the two girls sat near the banks to go fishing, the weeping willows were hanging over the water, casting their shadows. You could see ripples in the water as they each cast their lines into the bay.

A nice catfish would be a good catch for today, said Shelby.

Darn tooting, said Louise. And a nice batch of hush puppies and fried apples would complement that fish.

Mmm, girl. Stop talking and more fishing, Louise.

Shelby, I have been meaning to ask you why your daddy has the fish sticker on his car? What does it mean?

The big fish is called the Piscis Australi, said Shelby.

Oh, like a Pisces in the zodiac?

No, silly. It is simultaneously looked upon as a symbol for Jonah in the belly of whale and Noah in the ark with his family. It is a very spiritual thing.

Sounds deeper than this water. said Louise.

Yes. I know some fish stickers and plaques have Jesus printed in the middle of them. It makes a statement that some Jews and Christians will do great things in Jesus’s name.

Louise asked Shelby, Are all Christians with the fish emblem Christians?

No, said Shelby, they are not. Some like the fish symbol as a fashion statement to embellish the car. Did you know, Louise, during the days when the church was undergoing persecution. The fish (ichthys) was used as a code displayed on doorways, trees and tombs also for Christians to meet. It is a reminder to be fishers of men. The word (icthus) means Jesus Christ Gods son the Savior. The Christians would scratch the fish symbol on the ground in the dirt as a means to determine if you were friend or foe?

What, said Louise, they did that?"

Yes, it was like a pat of truth between Christians. A Christian would draw one half of a fish in the dirt. And another Christian would draw the other half to complete the drawing. This act would show they shared the same faith and belief, said Shelby.

I never knew that, said Louise. My grandmom always tells the story about the fish and the loaves of bread, one of Jesus’s miracles.

My favorite is Peter Simon, said Shelby. He caught a fish with a coin in his mouth.

Sure. Wish I could catch a fish with money in his mouth like that, huh. I would fish all day, said Louise.

Hey, said Shelby, I think I got a nibble.

Pull it in, said Louise. Wow! That is a big one.

Momma’s going to love this.

Shelby took the fish off the hook and cast it out again.

Wow, said Shelby, I got another bite.

I must be sitting in the wrong spot. How come you’re catching fish, and I am not. What kind of bait are you using? said Louise.

I am using baked beans. I have some leftover from dinner last night. I got them in a baggy in my pocket.

Can I have some, Shelby?

Sure.

Shelby, did you know crocks and alligators like to eat marshmallows? Yes, they do. My uncle and I would come out and feed them from time to time.

Awesome, said Shelby. Can you imagine an alligator with a toothache or cavity?

No, and I wouldn’t want to meet one either, said Louise.

Shelby, you are Jewish, right?

Last time I checked, yeah.

"I heard you believe