Part 3 Just say the Word (1) (online-audio-converter

Michelle is called into Pastor Gregory's office at the church. She is surprised and wonders what it could be about. Pastor Gregory asks her to marry him, but she initially thinks it's a joke. She is hesitant and unsure about the proposal. She leaves the church and talks to her friend Diane about it. Michelle is upset and confused. Pastor Gregory finds her outside and asks for a chance to talk. They go to the park and Pastor Gregory explains that he has been praying and believes it is God's will for them to be together. Michelle is still unsure but agrees to talk more about it. first two sessions of this book. So let's get right into it. Michelle was taken off guard by the request. She had only been a member of the church a short time. It was already beginning to be called into the pastor's office. After a brief silence, Pastor Gregory stated, if you don't feel up to it, I understand. No, I'm fine. I don't mind stopping by. I didn't really want to go home and be by myself anyway. Great, I'll let my secretary know to be expecting you. I should be there in about 30 minutes. I wonder what this could be about. It's probably the information about the building. It couldn't possibly be about anything else. That was the only thing that we had talked about. No need to let my mind wander. I'll know shortly what this visit is about, even though I feel like I'm being called into the principal's office. Pastor Gregory could see Michelle's car from his office window as she pulled into the church parking lot. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was about to be revealed. Michelle walked into the church and let the secretary know that Pastor Gregory was expecting her. Hello, Sister Jane. I'm Cynthia Grant. I'm sorry I haven't gotten the chance to introduce myself. Is everything going well with you? Everything is just fine. Thank you for asking. I'll let Pastor know that you are here. You can have a seat and I'll be right back. Michelle was starting to figure out and still wondering what Pastor Gregory could possibly need to talk to her about. She hadn't been attending church long enough to make anybody mad at her. Miss Jane, the pastor will see you now. Thank you. You can go right in. Michelle had always wondered what a pastor's office looked like on the inside. She had only been in one other church in her life. To her surprise, it wasn't anything fancy, just the office with a lot of books. There were not many pictures on the wall. A picture of an older lady, possibly his mother, was on his desk. Please have a seat, Sister Jane. Thank you for coming with such short notice. May I offer you something to drink? We have coffee, we have water and juice. No, thank you, I'm fine. If you don't mind, I would like to leave the door open. That's fine with me. I first want to let you know that I am still praying for your friend's healing. Thank you for that, Pastor. I've been doing a lot of praying myself lately since this happened. That's a good thing. It shouldn't take things like this to get us to pray, but that's how it goes sometimes. I guess you're wondering why I asked you here. Yes, I am. I thought it might have something to do with the building. You did say you would call me when you had some information. So what did you find out? That's not the reason why I asked you to come. No? Then why did you ask me to come, Pastor Gregory? This meeting involves a personal matter. I don't understand. Have I done something to offend someone? If so, I want to apologize. No, Michelle, it's nothing like that. First, let me say I admire how far you have come in your walk with the Lord, how you continue to keep your head even when people aren't so kind to you. Thank you for the encouragement, Pastor. Sister James, God has been dealing with me for a while now. I feel that it is time for me to discuss this with you. What I'm about to say is in no way intended to embarrass or hurt you. I prayed about this for a long time. I have fasted and sought God about this many times, and I believe God has revealed his perfect will for me. All I ask is that you listen with your heart and not with your head. It may be hard to accept at first. Pastor Gregory, you're scaring me. I don't mean to scare you. I think I'm a little nervous. Pastor Gregory stood up and moved around the desk in front of Michelle. Again, I want you to know that I am sincere about what I'm saying. I know I'm not making sense, so here goes. Michelle, I want to ask you to be my wife. Michelle began to laugh nervously. For a minute there, I thought you said you wanted me to be your wife. What was I thinking? Whatever would make me think that you would ask me to marry you. You're a pastor. I'm a prostitute. Somebody slap me back into reality. Go ahead, pray for me right now. I repent for even thinking such a thing. Michelle, you didn't hear me wrong. I'm asking you to marry me. It's not a joke, not a joke at all. You make fun of me by asking me to marry you, and you try to tell me it's not a joke? Let me let you in on a little secret, mister, just in case you have not noticed. We have nothing in common. We know nothing about each other. We've never been on a date, and we've only talked on the phone twice. Maybe it's me, but shouldn't we at least know each other's birth dates? Pastor, I really don't have time or the energy for this. It's neither funny nor amusing. Now, if you will excuse me, I'll be leaving. I have a sick friend that needs me. I don't have time for your church game. Michelle, please calm down and stop shouting. I understand how you're feeling. How do you think I felt when God told me? I know we don't know anything about each other. I understand that we haven't talked. However, I'm not asking you to marry me tomorrow. I know God's voice when I hear it. I've prayed about this. I know without a doubt that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I know that sounds crazy, and it's hard to believe, but all I'm asking for now is that you just pray about it before you make the decision. Please, Michelle, all I'm asking you to do right now is pray. If you will excuse me, Pastor, I have to leave now. I need to get back to the hospital before visiting hours are over. Goodbye. Michelle, wait. Please wait, don't leave. Michelle runs out of the church. Her hands are shaking so bad, she can hardly hold her keys to unlock the door. Her mind is racing as she speeds out of the parking lot. She still can't believe what just happened. She must be dreaming. Michelle walks into Diane's room and looks at her still lifeless body. She sits down beside the bed and starts to talk to her. Hey, girl, it's me, your best friend. I know you don't feel much like talking, so I'll do the talking and you can do the listening. You're not going to believe what just happened. I can hardly believe what just happened. Listen to this. I called Pastor Gregory to thank him for coming to the hospital yesterday. You remember him, right? He asked me to stop by the church. He said that he had something he wanted to talk to me about. I ain't thinking it's about the building that I asked him about. Boy, was I wrong. Pastor Gregory asked me to marry him. Can you believe that? A pastor asking an ex-prostitute to marry him. What's really going on? He must have me mixed up with Miss Prissy Beverly. That's the church's attorney. Wait, girl, it gets better. He has the nerve to say God told him that I would be his wife. Does he really think I'm stupid? Why didn't God tell me? I may not have a degree, but I'm far from being stupid. Can you believe the nerve of him? Michelle began to cry. Diane, wake up. I need you. Diane, please wake up and talk to me. You always know exactly what to say. I need you to tell me what I should do. I need you to help me make sense out of all of this. This isn't fair. I need you to talk to me. I don't know where else to go for help. God, please help me. Help me. Help Diane as well. Michelle sat with Diane for a while longer and eventually decided to go home. Just as she stepped out of the door, she met Pastor Gregory coming off the elevator. She tried to avoid him, but it was too late. Michelle, please just give me a minute of your time. Please hear me out. This is not a good time, Pastor. Not here, not now. We need to talk, Michelle. I know you're confused. I know none of this makes sense. Please, let's go somewhere quiet so we can talk. You need to understand that you are not in this alone. I'm here for you. I want to help you through this. I truly want to help you work through all of your concerns. With God's help, we can get through this. Give me a chance to show you how much I want to help you. All of this is just too much for one person to handle. I'm not sure I want to handle any of it. Please, Michelle, just give me a chance to try to help you. I'm not going to force anything on you. I promise. Everything is happening too fast. I don't know what to say or think. You don't have to think. I know what you're going through. How do you think I felt when God spoke to me about this? Can we just talk? Let me get you something to eat or drink, and we can talk. Walk to the park. No, I'm fine on the food and the drink, thank you. I just want to get this over with. Let's just go to the park. So they walked to the park and took a seat on a secluded bench. Before we say anything, let's pray. Pastor Gregory begins. Lord, we ask you right now to help us to understand your plans for our life. Reveal to us how we're supposed to handle this situation. We trust you and believe you to do so, amen. Michelle lifted her head and opened her eyes. So where do we start? First, I want to apologize to you for what I said. I just didn't know any other way to say it. You have to understand I've been dealing with this for the past three months. Three months? Are you just now saying something? I wanted to make sure it was God speaking and not my flesh. I wanted to make sure it wasn't me feeling lonely. When it first started, I thought it was just, I wanted companionship. Then I saw your hurt. Believe me when I tell you, marriage was the last thing on my mind. I don't know much, but I do know the voice of God when I hear it. I made up my mind a long time ago that whatever God wants, it is what I want. Pastors, you talk like this is just some small matter, like we'll get married and live happily ever after. I'm not Cinderella and you're not the prince. This is real life with real issues. I don't have the proper clothes or a college education. I'm not a member of the AKA sorority. I'm Michelle Lynette James, ex-prostitute. That's reality, Pastor Gregory. Now, what part of this do you not understand? I'm not blind to those facts, Michelle. Yes, you are right about everything you just said. The fact is that this is not an ordinary situation. The truth is that God has looked beyond our faults and saw our needs. The truth is that all things, old things, have passed away and everything has become new. Nothing will stop the plan of God. Another truth is that now that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your life no longer belongs to you. So make up your mind. Either you believe God or you don't. The change in your life applies to every area of your life, not just select parts. So what if you're not seeing the whole picture? Stop wasting his time. God is not into pity parties. Stop complaining and comparing yourself with other people. By the way, you may not think you're Cinderella because you've only served your ugly stepsisters. I know different. The shoe fits, so you might as well put it on. I'll save you the trouble. This time, I'll leave. Pastor Gregory walked off and left Michelle sitting in the park with her mouth open. When he arrived back at his office, he found Deacon Jones waiting for him. Hello, Deacon. Did I forget about a meeting? No, Pastor. A concern has been brought to my attention. I think we need to take care of it before it gets out of hand. Now puzzled, Pastor Gregory asked, has something happened to one of the members? Pastor, you know I think of you like a son. I only want the best for you. The only reason I'm saying anything is because I'm concerned. Sometimes we say and do things before we think. Deacon, if you have something to say, just go ahead and say it. I'm really not in the mood for guessing games. Well, it was brought to my attention that you asked Sister James to marry you. I made it very clear to the person that started this rumor that they were mistaken. An apology would be expected. It's not a rumor. Deacon Jones continued, I just wanted you to know that I'm not going to tolerate gossip. This will be straightened out. People just don't understand how these things can hurt a person's reputation. Deacon Jones, I don't think you heard me. It's not a rumor. What do you mean it's not a rumor? Pastor, have you lost your God given mind? Do you understand what you have done? Yes, I understand. I asked Sister James to marry me. What else is there to understand? Do you know what this will do to your position in the church? If you decide to go through with this, you could be asked to leave. What were you thinking, Pastor? I wasn't thinking. I was hearing the voice of God. You know, the one who called me and placed me in this position. You have to stop this before it goes any further. We can just say you didn't realize what you were saying. That would be lying. I can't do that. Pastor, no offense to you, but out of all the women in the church, why did you choose a what, Deacon? A prostitute? Go ahead and say it. A prostitute. A woman of the night. Or maybe a better word. Nevermind. Any of those words make sense or make it easier for you to say? Well, that's what she is. There are so many respectful women you could have asked to marry you. Let me correct you, Deacon. That's what she was. Let's get a few things straight. I didn't choose her. God did. And you, Deacon, will give her respect. Now, if you have a problem with that, I suggest you take it up with God. He's been in the relationship business since Adam and Eve. I'm sure he will listen to your complaint. I just don't believe God would tell a pastor to marry a prostitute. Pastor Gregory quickly interrupted. Evidently, you haven't read the book of Hosea. That is one of the books in the Bible? Why don't you ask yourself, why did God choose to marry us? He calls us his bride. Pastor, I can't be responsible for what the church is going to do if you don't change your mind. I'm not asking you to be responsible, Deacon. If God is for me, then who can be against me? I guess this is where we separate the saints from the aints. Pastor, please reconsider what you're doing before it's too late. We can pretend that this was all a mistake. Sleep on it overnight, and I'll talk to you in the morning. There's nothing to sleep on or talk about. The only decision to be made is when are we going to dismiss the person who gave out this information. Other than that, this matter is closed. Now, if you will excuse me, I have something I need to do. You have a good night. Michelle finally made it home. Just as he plopped down on the sofa, the doorbell rang. Who could this be this time of day? Maybe it was a delivery. Michelle opened the door and was surprised to see Deacon Jones standing on the other side. Hello, Miss James. I hope I'm not disturbing you. I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. May I come in? May I come in? I didn't know you knew where I live. Oh, I got your address from the church office. Is this standard procedure, Deacon? In matters such as this, it is necessary that I speak with you in person. Let me get straight to the point. I'm sure you know why I'm here. No, Deacon, I don't. Come on now, Miss James. Let's not play games. This matter between you and Pastor Gregory is very serious. The pastor's future is at stake. You can't tell me you don't care, Miss James. He can't afford to ruin his future by making a mistake. I know it's easy, and it's every woman's dream to marry a pastor, but not every woman is qualified to handle the responsibility. There are certain qualifications that a woman must possess to be a pastor's wife. I'm sure you know what I'm speaking of, Miss James. Therefore, in the best interest of the pastor, I urge you to break off this engagement. This would be the best thing for the both of you. I'm sure you don't want to bring embarrassment to Pastor Gregory. Well, Deacon, I do understand your concern for the pastor. I also understand the call that is on his life. What you fail to understand is that it's not you who called him, nor do you hold his future in your hands. There are always the facts, and then there is the truth. Let me give you the facts. The fact is that you see me as I used to be, not as I am. The fact is that from where you stand and the way you look at me, all I will ever be is a prostitute. Now, the truth is that I'm made in the image of God. I look just like him. I know that I have been changed. So if God doesn't remember my sins, why should I even care what you think? If that's not enough, how about the truth? You need a relationship with God because you're only operating out of religion. Oh, and another thing, Deacon. Yes, Ms. James, don't ever show up at my door uninvited.