(NEVER AGAIN Part Two) Continues...

When Rose heard all that from Mrs. Odili, she became furious and even wanted to bump into their conversation and tell the church officials that all what Mrs. Odili just said are lies, but she held herself and hoped for the best outcome.
‘So what are your plans for Rose?’ asked one of the officials.
‘Eeerm, Rose… I think I will have to… Eeerm…’ she muttered. ‘You see, just leave Rose. I will know what to do about her with time’, she added.

Rose didn’t want to miss this opportunity of going back to school, so she thought of something. She rushed into the kitchen and got a pack of fruit juice with a glass cup. She quickly came and presented it to one of the officials who never asked for it.
‘Haba, Rose, I’m good already. I didn’t ask for fruit juice’.
‘Oh, I thought you did’, Rose said, then she offered it to the others but they politely turned down the offer. As Rose took back the fruit juice and turned to leave, brother Lekan called her back; ‘Rose, can I ask you something?’
Rose turned to him and smiles, motioning him to go ahead.
‘What do you want to do with your life seeing that you have refused to further your education?’ asked Lekan.
Rose was very happy to hear the question and without wasting any time she responded, ‘Me? I want to further my education sir’
Brother Lekan and the other officials were surprised at her response. Then Lekan asked her, ‘But Mummy Kate said you…’
‘She is not serious o’, snapped Mrs. Odili who looked at Rose angrily trying to pass a message to her to leave the room at once.

Rose understood Mrs. Odili’s gesture but she was ready for whatever outcome from her disobedience. She had long hoped for the day she will eventually leave the Odili’s house to her own freedom and this is one good opportunity after many failed attempts. Rose was lenient enough to speak nice of Mrs. Odili in the presence of the church officials. She said to them, ‘I may have refused to further my education, but I think I have now seen the importance of education and I am willing to go back to school’.

The church officials were glad to hear that and smiled to Mrs. Odili who could barely hide her anger.
‘So we will make arrangement on how you will write the next UTME and if truly you are serious with your education, we expect you to pass the UTME and hopefully gain admission into one of your choice universities. We will talk more on that before we live here, okay?’ said brother Lekan.
‘Okay sir’, Rose gladly responds and thanks them all. She happily returns to her room. ‘Finally, I’ll be out of this house; oh my God!’ she said to herself as she rolled around in bed. Then she laid still and thought about her first attempt to leave the house about four years ago after late Pastor Kay burnt her left arm with a hot pressing iron for just a little mistake she made. Her joy immediately turned to sorrow and resentment as she thought about that fateful day.

...Never Again continues shortly...

(NEVER AGAIN Part Two) Continues...

After she told Mrs. Odili of her intention to go back to her village the following day, she went into her room, put her luggage together and laid on the bed, eyes closed, waiting for the day to quickly break. ‘Where will I go? I don’t even know the way to my village, and even if I knew the way, how do I get money for the transport fare? I don’t even have a single penny on me’, Rose recollects. ‘But that notwithstanding, I have to leave here first thing tomorrow morning. I can’t spend another night with these monsters anymore. I mustn’t die of ill treatment before I know I have overstayed my welcome here. I just have to leave this house and go anywhere’.

As she kept on pondering on where to go, she slept off. She woke up the next day at about 6:35a.m and without having her bath or even brushing her teeth, she got up from bed, took her luggage and went out of her room. When she got downstairs to the exit door, she noticed it was locked as usual. She went to the dining table where all keys are normally kept but noticed that that particular door’s key was missing. The keys to the main gate, the car keys and some other house keys were all on the table except for the entrance/exit door’s key. Rose thought her eyes must be deceiving her so she took out time to observe the keys one after the other but couldn’t find it. She again though she was mistaken so she took all the keys and went to the exit/entrance door, trying each key on the door, but to no avail. After a long trial, it dawned on her that the Odilis must have played a fast one with the key. That was how Rose was locked indoors for some weeks until she lost interest in leaving.

Other times she had tried to leave, the Odilis always have a way to stop her. On some occasions, they will pretend to be very nice to her just to make her stay. The last attempt she made to leave the house was also very unsuccessful. Then she was about sitting for her SSC Examination but the Odilis persuaded her to stay and write the exams. They promised to send her home after her exams but they never did. Now she is seeing this offer and sponsorship by their church as a golden opportunity she has been waiting for so long.

‘I mustn’t miss this chance to leave this house for anything,’ she said to herself while still in bed. ‘I know madam will be very angry at my response back there in the sitting room but I don’t care. Never again will I live with these monsters in sheep clothing. I don’t even wish my enemies to pass through all that I passed through living with them. Bunch of pretenders always covering up their evil acts with church activities’.

...Never Again continues shortly...

(NEVER AGAIN Part Two) Continues...

The relationship between Rose and Mrs. Odili became even worse but there was really nothing Mrs. Odili could do to stop Rose from leaving the house at this point. If she had her way, she would have talked the church out of sponsoring her education but she wouldn’t do that because she still has an image to protect and she wouldn’t want her cover to be blown out yet. Mrs. Odili wished her husband was still alive because he is the one who sure knows how to do her bidding and she believes he wouldn’t have accepted the offer from the church concerning Rose’ education. Too bad she lost her husband in an auto crash which claimed only his life leaving others in the same vehicle with little or no injury at all. He was traveling to a nearby state in the company of some other members of their church to attend an annual conference there. His death came as a shock to his wife and others seeing that the vehicle conveying them wasn’t so wrecked, and out of ten people in the vehicle, only Kay died. Four people including the driver only sustained minor injuries while the other five came out unscathed. It was indeed a shocking news.

It wasn’t long before Rose wrote the next UTME, and to the surprise of the church, she came out with flying colours. She gained admission into one of the prestigious universities where she is studying Law. Rose chose to study Law because she wants to be a voice to as many voiceless individuals being maltreated by their supposed caregivers.

Rose learnt that just in her first year in the university, Mrs. Odili brought a young girl into her house to work as a maid. She also maltreated her but, unlike Rose, this new maid didn’t hesitate to inform the church of all the evil meted on her by Mrs. Odili. Investigations were carried out and Mrs. Odili was found guilty of all the accusations leveled against her by the new maid. They even found out that Rose suffered the same fate in the hands of the Odilis. People saw Mrs. Odili for who she truly is and many taunted her for being a pretender all along. The shame was indeed too much on her. Though Mrs. Odili committed a crime worthy of punishment, the church didn’t excommunicate her, neither did they stop rendering help to her. The church rather encouraged her to amend her ways and go back to Christ. They urged her to seek the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness, and also the forgiveness of all she and her late husband have offended especially Rose. She agreed and did all these, the Lord being merciful upon her.

The church prayed for her and continued rendering assistance to her and her family. Rose truly forgave her and both of them have been in good terms ever since.

THE END.

[quote author=LifeQuest post=91443048]

[Chapter Four please

Good evening all.. Hope you're having a great week.

More stories coming up with time by God's grace. The stories are ready but I have not been able to rewrite or elongate them into scripts/literature form (quite busy, but I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me)...

I'm beckoning on other Christian/Gospel story writers to share their stories too.

God bless you as you do so
God bless the writers and the readers

Cc: LifeQuest, VIRTUOUSWRITES, SheWrites, PRE4

Whose Father is He?

```A beggar came asking for food. I told him to come around to the back door and asked him to sit on the floor while I went in to bring the left over food.

I brought him food & said, let's pray. Now repeat after me, "Our Father in heaven". He said, "Your Father in heaven". I said."No, say OUR Father in Heaven". He again said, "Your Father in Heaven"!!!

This extremely Irritated me! I asked why do you say 'Your' father when I say 'Our' Father?'

He said, "Sir, it's like this. If I say Our Father, then we both become brothers. If we are brothers, you would invite me from the front door and not from the back; you would ask me to sit on your dining table not on the floor; you'd also not give me stale food! Sir, somehow it's not possible that we are sons of the same father"!

He may be your Father, but he can't be OUR father!

Whose Father is He?

It took a beggar to teach me the truth!!!```

God becomes our father if we do good to one another.

#As shared via WhatsApp

Nice one.... @Amicable24, I have stories to share too. You are doing a great job.

GraceRealm:
Nice one.... @Amicable24, I have stories to share too. You are doing a great job.

Thanks dear... Feel free to share them. God bless you

STORY 004
TITLE: THE GOD OF MOSES
Written by Amicable24

Moses is a devout Christian in his mid-40s, married with three lovely children. He is well known as a calm and loving father who loves his God with all of his heart and he is such a just man that he will rather live in want and abject poverty than have riches through ungodly means. Moses raised his family in the knowledge and fear of the almighty God and admonished them to always do things that will glorify God. For him, God's will first before any other.

Aside being a husband, father and a man of God, Moses is also a businessman who owns a shop located in one of the major markets in the State. He acquired a Point of Sales (POS) device which he uses for various business transactions ranging from cash withdrawals to transfers to bills payment and so on. Directly opposite his shop is a man his age, Lawson, who is also in the same business and they are very good friends. Moses and Lawson shared a lot in common; aside being in the same business, they are both from the same ethnic group, attend same church, married and with children. The only glaring difference between the two is that Lawson is not yet born again. Though he attends same church with Moses, he is yet to surrender his life entirely to Christ.

Time and again, Moses urges his friend, Lawson, to give his life to Christ and be born again but he wouldn’t listen. Lawson saw Moses as a religious fanatic who takes serving God too seriously. That notwithstanding, both still stood by each other and often visited each other's shop especially when there is low turn-up of customers. And during those times, Lawson taunts Moses and mocked him saying that the God whom he diligently serves couldn't even bring a lot of customers to patronize him. Moses always responded cheerfully to Lawson by telling him that the God whom he serves will make a way and also whatever is His will that he, Moses, wants to abide by it; meaning, if it is God's will that there should be little or no customer any day he is good with that.

Continues shortly...

(THE GOD OF MOSES) Continues...

Lawson even began to do unjust and illegal things to earn more money. One day he came to Moses and said to him, ‘Pastor Moses, how far guy? I have a business deal I want to share with you. Very nice and pays very very well; that’s if you can do it’.

Moses responded, ‘What is it Lawson? What business deal are you talking about?’

Lawson looked around to make sure no one else was listening to their conversation then continued, ‘Look here, there are these guys around that gave me some sound wisdom on what to do and how to earn more. I tried it and it's working for me. I have a lot of turnout of customers each day since I started it.’

Moses listened attentively, then he asked, ‘And what is the wisdom?’

Lawson said gently, ‘Some guys came to me and opened up to me that they had something to offer me of which if I'm willing, I will be rewarded handsomely.’

Moses asked hesitantly, ‘What is it o, Lawson? Go straight to the point.’

Lawson looked around again then said to Moses, ‘Those guys bring in stolen ATM cards to my shop and I allow them try it out on my device. Some of them even come with a cloned ATM card which they use on my device and once transaction is successful they give me my own share. Even some told me openly that they pick pockets and steal money which they bring to me to help them transfer to their bank accounts and I’m paid for all that. Free money every day’.

Moses shouted in shock, ‘What?! God forbid Lawson!! What kind of dirty business is that?!’

Lawson responded, ‘Calm down Pastor Moses. You are taking this your religious stuff too far. Let me tell you, since I started working with those guys, I've been going home with a lot of money each day as profit. Little work but so much gain. I'm just telling you this as a friend so that you can do the same; you know you are a family man and you need some more money to comfortably cater for your family not this peanut you make each day.’

Moses didn’t even allow him finish but responded, ‘Lawson, my Bible says in the book of Proverbs chapter one verse ten, my son if sinners entice you, do not consent. So therefore, I will not be a part to this wickedness. I am content with what God gives me each day and I want to warn you to stop that wicked act immediately because it is dangerous and evil.’

Lawson responded, ‘Dangerous?! Not at all. See, I know how to cover my tracks whenever I get any complaint concerning it. I know someone who knows someone at the helm of affairs in this society. Relax, I’ve got you covered. I can never be caught. Pastor Moses, you’d better left all this your religious stuff and hold this opportunity tight. Don't be foolish here. This is a great opportunity for you to better your life and that of your family. God cannot come down from heaven to assist you or throw money down for you; He sends men to help men. Who knows if it is even God that sent me to you and you are behaving like this’, he hisses.

Moses replied, ‘Sorry Lawson. It is impossible for God to have sent you to me because the idea you brought to me is an ungodly and evil one; and the Word of God already says in Romans chapter twelve verse nine that we should hate that which is evil and hold fast to that which is good. I will never do what you are asking me to do. What God gives me is enough to cater for my family and I. We are perfectly okay and have never begged anyone for food or money because we depend totally on the Almighty God who provides all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. My dear, why not drop that dirty and illegal business and give your life to Christ. I've been urging you for so long but you wouldn't surrender to Him. I think this is the best time for you to do so. I'm warning you to desist from such ungodly act before nemesis catches up with you.’

Lawson hisses and says, ‘Story! I’m even the one who made a big mistake to come to you to share this good news’. He angrily stepped out of Moses’ shop.

Continues shortly...

(THE GOD OF MOSES) Continues...

Moses kept urging Lawson to stop those illegal business transactions and make do with whatever he gets justly each day but Lawson wouldn't listen. At times, Lawson and some other neighbours came to Moses’ shop when he is idle just to mock him. They’ll stop by and ask, “Pastor Moses, haven't your God picked your calls yet? Is the God of Moses sleeping? The God of Moses is not a true businessman else He will know that the economy is hard and one needs a lot of money to survive”; but Moses responded calmly by telling them that his God is not asleep and whatever is His will let Him do.

One morning, Moses came to his shop rejoicing and singing praises to God in an unusual way. He shared with his friends and neighbours how some armed robbers came into his residential area and stole goods and money of many living in the neighbourhood but didn't come to his own house. He joyfully narrated to his friends and neighbours how him, his wife and children were praying all through the robbery incident and the armed robbers ended up leaving without breaking into his house. Even with this miraculous testimony shared, some of his neighbours still mocked him by telling him that the robbers already knew he had nothing tangible in his house that’s why they didn't bother entering. Others rejoiced with Moses saying that they heard about the robbery incident and also know many people in that area who were robbed and badly injured. They agreed with Moses that it is indeed a miracle that the armed and ruthless robbers didn't gain access into his house.

After that incidence, about few weeks later on a Saturday, Moses was in his shop praying. On that particular day, Lawson had a lot of customers entering and leaving his shop as usual. When Moses was done praying, he came and stood in front of his shop and gazed towards Lawson’s shop and saw the way people trooped in and out. He just held his peace and prayed in his heart asking God to also send customers who will patronize him. That day, he saw a well-known wealthy chief in that area entering into Lawson’s shop. When Moses saw the chief, he said in his heart, “Isn’t that chief Badmus going into Lawson’s shop? Ah! Lawson must be very lucky to have such a wealthy customer patronizing him today”

To be continued...

(THE GOD OF MOSES) Continues...

Shortly after Chief Badmus entered Lawson’s shop with a brief case filled with cash, three other people entered; two males and one female, unknown to Lawson and chief Badmus that they were armed robbers. The female stood by the door while the other two entered inside. Lawson greeted them like he usually does to his customers and pleaded with them to be patient while he finishes with chief Badmus. Lawson and chief Badmus exchanged pleasantries, and chief Badmus told him he wants to make an transfer transaction since it's Saturday and he can't go to the bank. He said the transaction was very urgent and as Lawson began to process the transaction by counting the money, the two robbers inside brought out their guns and pointed them towards Lawson and chief Badmus. They held them hostage and threatened them never to make any funny move. The robbers told them to cooperate or else they will kill them. The female robber stood at the door and hindered people from outside to see what was going on inside while she also looked around. There were two standby motorcycles just parked at a nearby place with the riders who were part of the robbers. So while Moses was gazing into his neighbor's shop, he never knew a robbery was going on in there.

In Lawson’s shop, the robbers began to put all the money from Lawson’s drawer into their bags. They also took chief Badmus’ briefcase with the cash in it. While they were doing this, they told Lawson and the chief to face the wall. Then Lawson began to say slowly with a shaky voice, ‘The God of Moses! The God of Moses!! Ah!!! The God of Moses, please help me.’ This distracted the robbers who were trying to gain access to his POS device. They paused, asking him what he was saying but he just kept on saying with a shaky voice, ‘The God of Moses! The God of Moses, please help me’. One of the robbers pointed his gun at his neck ordering him to stop saying that or else he will blow him off but he responded fearfully, ‘I’m sorry sir’.

Continues shortly...

(THE GOD OF MOSES) Continues...

As the robbers continued with the operation, Lawson began saying again, ‘The God of Moses! The God of Moses, please help me.’ This angered the thieves who were now through with putting all the money in Lawson’s shop into their own bag as well as chief Badmus’ briefcase. So, as they were still trying out a transaction on the POS device, the one with the device went closer to Lawson and ordered him to tell him his password. Lawson responded in fear, ‘Sir, the password is… eeerm, my password is… one… five; sorry, one… two, ah! God of Moses please help me’. This angered the robber and he struck Lawson from behind. Lawson fell and groaned in pains. The other robber held Lawson's neck and yelled at him that if he should hear one more word from his mouth again he will kill him. Lawson fearfully nodded in agreement.

Just then one of the riders outside who was part of the gang signals the female at the door about the presence of the police. Two policemen were just walking by and it looked as if they were coming towards them. The lady told the two robbers inside, ‘guys, guys, ekelebe o, ekelebe dey show for we side’. The males were shocked and looked disappointed. The one holding the bag of money and briefcase dropped it on the table and peeped through the door. He saw the policemen approaching them from a distance. While this went on, Lawson kept saying slowly, ‘The God of Moses! The God of Moses, please help me’. The robbers began to murmur saying, ‘Which kind rough package be this now; oooooooh! This one don knock o. Wetin we go do now?’ The lady at the door told them she's not going to be part of this that she can't go to jail again. One of the male robbers agreed with her that he too doesn't want to go to jail. The other male tried to calm them down but the two told him they are leaving before the policemen get there.

Continues shortly...

(THE GOD OF MOSES) Continues...

That was how the three of them hurriedly left the shop leaving all the money and POS device behind, entered their bikes and zoomed off. Chief Badmus and Lawson were relieved. Chief Badmus looked around, took his briefcase and asked Lawson who stood still shivering in fear, ‘Who is this God of Moses you were calling that sent those thieves away’. Lawson wouldn't answer, he just kept saying with a shaky voice, ‘The God of Moses’. Chief Badmus replied, ‘This God of Moses just delivered us from the hands of these robbers. My money is still intact. This is a memorable experience. The God of Moses! I will like to meet this God of Moses one day’. He took his briefcase and left the shop saying, ‘The God of Moses, thank you o’.

As Chief Badmus left, Moses joyfully came into Lawson’s shop to congratulate him on the numerous customers that came to his shop especially Chief Badmus. As he entered, Lawson was still shivering in fear and kept muttering, ‘God of Moses’. Moses draws closer to him and listens carefully to what he was saying. He noticed Lawson is not in his right frame of mind, and he asked him, ‘What happened? And why are you saying God of Moses? I don’t understand’. Lawson just pointed to the door and said trembling, ‘They’ve gone’. Moses asked, ‘What are you talking about? Why are you shivering?’ He looked out but didn't see anything strange or unusual Lawson was pointing at. Then Lawson stood up and said again, ‘They’ve gone. Ah! The God of Moses, thank You’. At this point, Moses knew something was wrong, so, he calmed Lawson down until he told him everything weeping and thanking God for delivering him from those robbers. Moses was convinced in his spirit that this is the best time to talk Lawson into accepting Jesus into his life and be born again. Right there, he preached to Lawson about salvation and the need to be born again. Lawson couldn’t reject the call this time. He wept as he genuinely gave his life to Christ asking God to forgive him all his sins. Moses prayed for him and admonished him with the Word of God.

Moses was very happy to see his good friend, Lawson, turn to Christ and be born again. He kept praying, training and discipling this new convert of his. Even Lawson was empowered by the Spirit to preach the Word of God boldly to others sharing his glorious testimony to everyone.

The one who comes to Jesus, He will by no means cast out… John 6:37


THE END.

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Ooooops!!! It's been a while since I posted a Christian story here... I've been busy though, Lagos and it's hustling and "bustling"

I didn't forget this thread though. Hoping to post a new story soon, if time and chance permits me. Will be glad if other Christian story writers post theirs here too... You never can tell who will read it or how far it will go