Welcome to the Whyte House Family Spoken Novels podcast episode #271. Today we are reading chapter 1 of the novel “I Know What Prayer Can Do” by Daniel Whyte III with Meriqua Whyte.
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Aubrey Cressida Rodney. It certainly has a ring to it, Aubrey thought upon awaking on the last day of her two week honeymoon. She looked across at her husband, Quintin Rodney. She listened to his gentle breathing as she observed the slight rising and falling of his chest. Climbing quietly out of bed so as not to disturb him, she pulled the curtains slightly apart to take in a final view of the dawn skyline in the city of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from the Dammam Palace Hotel. The sun was not fully up, but the city was well lit—enough to paint an unforgettable picture.
God, You’ve been real good to me, Aubrey thought as she rested her forehead against the cool window pane. “Thank You, God, for being so good to me,” she whispered. Aubrey thought of how God delivered her from an abusive marriage that could have ended in her death. She thought of how God delivered her from a bad relationship with Roger as she was on the verge of possibly making another tragic mistake. Thank You, God, for true friends: for Simone and Kelvin—please bless them today; for Kelli and Trevor—please bless them today and heal their son, Justin, of whatever may be ailing him; for Jennifer—have things to work out between her and Brad. Lord, please protect Mother while we are away. And thank You for blessing me with a great husband. Amen.
“You are a million miles away,” her husband said slipping his arms around her waist from behind.
“When did you get up?” Aubrey said snuggling up to him.
“When I did not feel your warm body up against mine,” he said tightening his arms around her. “How has it felt to be Mrs. Aubrey Rodney these past two weeks?”
“I can’t even put it into words!” Aubrey replied. “All I can say is, God has been good to me—better than good.”
“He has; He’s blessed you with a great husband,” Quintin chuckled. He kissed her on the cheek. “Seriously though, He’s been good to me, too. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Aubrey said.
“You led a very interesting and active life before we got married. There was never a dull moment around you. I can’t wait to see what married life is going to bring us,” he said.
Aubrey chuckled. “I can’t wait to see either.”
After watching the city come to life, Quintin said, “Well, we have about seven hours before our return flight home. Anywhere special you want to go?”
“Surprise me,” Aubrey said pulling the curtain shut.
“You betcha,” Quintin said.
Aubrey placed a call to her mother while her husband took a shower.
“Mother, it’s so good to hear your voice,” Aubrey said. “If nothing happens we should be home as scheduled. Anything interesting happened while we’ve been away?”
“I know everyone is eager for you to return,” Mother Jamison said. “A number of the ladies who attend the Restoration Reset Ministry are wondering whether or not you will be leaving Mt. Salem United Methodist to worship at your husband’s church.”
“You can tell them not to worry anymore. Quintin’s already decided to switch his membership to Mt. Salem. Plus, I could still head that ministry even if I was to worship at Quintin’s church,” Aubrey said. “Have you heard anything from Kiera? She’s been on my mind.”
From its beginning, Kiera Gilard was one of the first ladies to attend the Restoration Reset Ministry. The Restoration Reset Ministry, birthed out of Aubrey’s abusive marriage, which ended in the death of her first husband, was meant to be a source of encouragement to other ladies who felt trapped in similar relationships. It had grown to become a local household name and its doors were now opened to all women. “One thing I have learned from that marriage is this: a husband and wife both have to do marriage God’s way, or it is not going to be a smooth ride for either,” she often reminded the ladies.
The Restoration Reset Ministry’s first aim was to encourage wives to remain in their marriages and to try to make it work ultimately for the glory of God, and then for the sake of the children in that marriage. Philippians 4:13 was one of its main verses: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Kiera and her husband, Eric, were separated when Aubrey first met her. Aubrey and others through prayer and the Word of God encouraged her to try to work their relationship out, but things did not turn out the way they hoped they would. Now they were involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle for their two children: Yomen, five years old; Kaiser, three years old.
“Things are not going too well for her, but don’t worry about that now,” Mother Jamison said. “You enjoy your honeymoon. You’ll have plenty of time to help her once you return.”
“How are Simone, Kelli, and Jennifer doing?” Aubrey asked.
“Simone and Kelvin are doing great. Kelli and Justin can’t wait to join Trevor in Germany. Justin’s condition flared up again. Trevor’s found a doctor who could possibly diagnose his condition. I believe she said they will be flying out about a month or so after you return.”
“I’m going to miss them,” Aubrey said. “We’ve had so many good times together.”
“Good times don’t have to end because the sea separates us,” her mother said.
“You’re right. How is Jennifer doing?” Aubrey asked.
Mother Jamison hesitated. Aubrey could hear deep hurried breathing.
“Is something the matter? Mother, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. Just a little discomfort in my chest—probably gas.”
“Are you sure?”
“Don’t worry about it. Like I said, it’s just gas, I think.”
“Look, Mother, you’re there by yourself … are you sure everything’s O.K.?” Aubrey asked.
“Yes, all is well. As I was getting ready to tell you, Jennifer is doing fine. I have not heard from her since the wedding, but hopefully as they say, no news is good news.”
“You would tell me if something was wrong, right?” Aubrey said.
Mother Jamison chuckled. “You’re thousands of miles away. What could you do even if things were going wrong? Enjoy your last day and you size things up once you return.”
“You’re right. Remember, being married to a lawyer I can pull some strings and get things in motion,” Aubrey said with a laugh. “Quintin just stepped out of the shower. I’ll let you talk with him. Bye, Mother. I love you.”
Aubrey stepped into the shower thinking of little Justin’s illness, Mother’s chest discomfort, and wondering what Mother meant by ‘no news is good news’ in reference to Jennifer.
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Thank you for joining us for this episode of Whyte House Family stories. You may purchase a copy of this novel and any other Christian fiction books read on this podcast from Amazon.com.
Now, dear listener, please know that God—the divine Author of all things—wants to write a great story with your life as well. But first you must give Him the pen by trusting Him with the life He gave you and surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ as Savior. Here is how:
1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
May God bless you until next time.
BCNN1 WP 