A sample of my new novel.....

Jiarie sat up in the bed, looked at the clock in the armoire and groaned, “It’s only 5:30 AM,” what the heck am I up for? She realized that her sleeping pattern was getting shorter and shorter due to those complicated dreams she had begun to experience over the last few months. She lay in the bed and fumbled around for the remote. It is Sunday morning and I know I should be excited about going to the Praise & Worship service today, she thought to herself, but she knew that deep inside she had other matters to contend with on this day.

Jiarie waited until 6:45 to call him. She dialed the number and it seemed to ring for an eternity, no answer on the home phone and no answer on the cell phone. Jiarie’s heart sank a little.

She knew that an apology for her behavior the previous night was the only way to restore all that she had built with this man, and she felt the urge to humble herself and allow the words to just flow out, but that would cost more than she was willing to give of herself. “I know he hasn't left for service already,” she spoke out loud even startling herself. She allowed the phone to drop on the soft folds of her Italian bedding. She looked around at her surroundings as she turned on the Tiffany lamp on her nightstand and sighed heavily, this time she may have blown it with Legend for sure.

Legend did not smile as he looked at the caller ID on the telephone. The ringing of the telephone, this early, shook him out of a deep sleep. He groaned, as he looked over at the clock on the nightstand. He was late for the musicians sound-check, and, praise and worship. He looked back at the telephone and then saw the light blinking on his cell. As he grabbed for his cell phone, a sharp pain shot up his neck, and he moaned quietly. He had fallen asleep in Jiarie’s Jacuzzi the night before and was now paying for the awkward positioning of his 6’5” frame in that small hot tub.

As he looked at his cell phone for missed calls, he noticed that she had called at 6:45 AM, her normal Sunday morning routine call, but nothing about this day was routine. I wonder what she wanted to say today he thought. Last night should have been more than enough. He contemplated calling her back but gave up that idea after rehashing in his mind the harsh and inconsiderate things that she said.

He thought back on her beauty and her sexy way of flirting with him without allowing him to lose his stand on sanctification and abstinence. He was for sure that she was the woman that God had sent him, the woman that he had prayed about all his Christian life. But now he was unsure, and, doubt and distrust seemed to impede his thoughts. Legend thought to himself, I will call her in a few days he declared, talking to her right now wouldn't change what she said and it won’t change my feelings this morning.

He walked over to the adjoining master bath suite and looked at himself in the mirror. He spoke aloud to the image of himself, “ Legend Christopher Marx, you are the man that God says you are, you can have what He says you can have, you can be who He says you can be, you are a Mighty Man of God, and you have the Hand and Favor of God upon you.” He examined himself a little closer and smiled at the reflection in the mirror, “Legend Christopher Marx, you are a bad dude.” He laughed at his last remark and thought quickly of something that Jiarie had said. It took him a moment to shake off the negative vibe he received from remembering her attitude and disrespect of his manhood.

He said a quick prayer and jumped in the shower; if he hurried he could still make second service.

The Church was rocking with praise when he arrived and he let his eyes scan the crowd looking for that familiar face. He grimaced when he didn't see her sitting in her usual place in the sanctuary, "I guess she was here for first service," he thought.

As he made his way to the musician’s area and took his seat behind the drums, he had a quick sensation that seemed to always accompany him when he took this seat; it was a warm feeling that enveloped him. Legend knew that it was his calling to play the drums and saxophone. He remembered how he had spent countless hours beating the drums throughout his boyhood and how his mother had made his father put them in the family garage because she said he was too loud.

As he began to play the song that they rehearsed earlier in the week, he was aware of the Spirit of God even the more. It seemed as if the moment he got into place God would meet Him in this spot. It was difficult for Legend to explain this sensation and when He tried to describe it to others, they just laughed it off and said it was "just the anointing". Legend knew he was anointed and gifted, set apart for the Masters use, but what he was feeling was more than that, it was as if God, the Father himself, had taken over his playing and Legend, the son, was standing back looking.