Always Tried and Proven (38 page)

    Sean sighed.  “Yep.  Provided I can keep my hands and
mouth
off Sadie.”  He snarled.  “For a man with such a gaping weakness for you, he sure doesn’t mind telling me where to get off.”

    “Sean, you have to understand this.  Sam knows all about temptation.  But he’s strong in his faith, and he practices what he preaches.  He’s never done anything more than kiss me.  Even when sorely provoked.”  She admitted with embarrassment.  “You know, Sean, he’s not saying you can’t see Sadie, he’s just telling you that you can’t be in a relationship with sex, unless you’re committed for life; married.  No one else would ask anything any different in this circumstance.  And Sadie’s not the kind of girl who can deal with affairs anyway, Sean.  She’s deserving of real love and commitment.”

     Sean sighed.  “Yeah.  Well, listen, I’ll talk to you later.  I’ve got some stuff to take care of.”

      Callie smiled sadly.  “Sure.” She agreed.

    There were some heavy hearts that night among the tent crew.  Try as he might to keep people’s secrets, it never worked.  Sam could tell that everyone in camp knew about Sadie and Sean, in a matter of hours.  It was frustrating, and it sure didn’t help the situation.  It made him wonder what they were saying about he and Callie.

     Clyde started the service and did the announcements.  Then, he introduced Callie.  She went out with a smile, and felt Sam’s eyes on her as she addressed the crowd.

     “I’ve got a little Irish song for you tonight.  It’s one that my mama used to sing to me.”

      Sam crossed his arms and watched, intrigued.  He was out front, by the door.  It had become his habit.  He suddenly realized that he did it to see Callie, while she sang.  He could never help watching her face.  She drew him, every night.  He shook his head, laughing at himself mirthlessly.  She had him, fair and square.

     At first, he’d been the aggressor.  Now, he was running.  But suddenly he realized it didn’t matter how long it took, how hard he ran, how rebellious Callie was, or how scared he was.  She had him by the throat, and there was no way out.  His heart belonged to her.

     Sam looked away as the realization sunk in.  He was ready to cry his eyes out again, in front of all these people.  He shook his head and tried to pull himself away from the tent, but she started singing – and he couldn’t do it.  He had to listen.  And, he had to stare.

     She looked like a lovely angel, in her shining white dress.  She looked sweet and pure, with her round, pink cheeks and her big, luminous eyes.  Her soft, lovely lips were curved into a smile, and her hair shone with soft luster.  She sang A Capella.  Sam found himself watching the swell of her chest as she breathed deep, thinking as he looked, how his hands fit almost around her tiny waist.

     “Cast all your troubles, cast them upon Him.  He alone is able to bear,

     Don’t let your heart break under the load, Ask Him and He will be there.”

     “Oh, doubtful heart, won’t you come trusting In He who is sure to care,

     In the darkest night, darling, He’ll surely be near you,

     when you meet with despair.”

     “Cast all your burdens, cast them upon Him, Hang them upon Calvary’s cross

      And leave them there, leave them forever;

      Let his love wash away all that is lost.

      Come away with me, my bride.  Come away, my darling, come away

      Come stand by my side.  Come away, my darling, come away.”

    Jeremy came in on the piano, and Callie repeated the lilting, haunting melody.  Her voice was sweet and robust, just right for the folk melody of the song.  Sam closed his eyes, and drew the healing words deep into his heart. 

    Callie always had a way of getting just the right song, just the right words to minister to the hearts of the people in the tent.  Sam had to chuckle.  How did she do it?

    The Lord answered his question instantly.  “She wrote this tonight.  It wasn’t Rose, or any Irish saint whose song she’s singing.  She is singing My song, as I give it to her.  She is My Psalmist, My Prophetess, My songbird.”

     Sam felt the song pierce his heart deeply, as he began to recognize the significance of what he was hearing.  Callie’s song was a prophetic word for the people, fresh from God.  What a gift!  What an anointing!  And she was just a babe in the Lord. 

      What, he wondered, would Callie be capable of ministering in the fullness of time?  His head began to spin, in wonder at what he felt happening around him as Callie released the song into the heavens and the earth for the very first time.

      The Holy Spirit answered him.  “Anything and everything.”

    Release flooded the house as Callie sang.  Her creative work had done a wonderful job.  She was amazed and humbled by the results she saw.  Sam was undone.  He shook his head, and tried very hard to hold his emotions.  This woman was incredible in what she was capable of doing for God!

     “She is obedient to Me.”  The Lord told him plainly.  “She doesn’t understand why, or much about My ways; but she loves Me, and she is willing to obey My prompting.  She has a childlike trust.  Such I can use.”

     Sam felt devastated.  God trusted Callie, far more than he did.  She had developed into a prophetic psalmist right before his eyes, and he hadn’t recognized any of the work until just now, when his face was pushed in it and gently rubbed around.

     Sam laughed until he had to sink to his knees in weakness, and gasp for breath.  All the burdens he’d been carrying that day slipped from his shoulders and fled.

     There was a spiritual release all across the house, as Callie sang.  She recognized that her new song had done a creative work in the people as it came forth.  She was humbled, and amazed.

       Sam finally regained his senses and took the stage, and Sean was there on the steps to meet him.  He whispered in Sam’s ear, and Sam gave him the microphone.  Sean turned a very deep shade of pink, and found it difficult to lift his eyes to the people.

     “My name is Sean Mattson.”  He said uncomfortably.  “I got saved a few weeks ago, here in the tent, and I decided to quit my job and come along with the tent.  I liked what God was doing in my life, and I loved Him.  But I thought I guess, that I could just go on being the same guy I was, and kind of doing my own thing.  You know, stuff like having a good drunk if I wanted it, or smoke some … thing, or getting too friendly with a pretty girl.  I figured out today that the devil would really like to rob me of … everything.”

     “Thank God, I’ve got a pastor like Sam to set me right, when I get off track.  He ain’t afraid to tell you where the door is, and knock you right off your high horse.  And yet, he’s so absolutely … nice about it.  And he’s got this way of telling you exactly -- so you can see the consequences of your actions and the choices you’re going to have to make, now that you screwed things up.”

     “And yet you never, ever feel like he’s mad at you, you just … wish you could wiggle under a rock or something to get away from those eyes … the truth looking right back at you, reflecting what you did – into the light of the cross.”

     “He showed me that I really haven’t done much to bow to the master; and that salvation isn’t a heck of a lot of good, if you’re going to just be real satisfied in it and not go any deeper with God.”

     “I found out tonight that Jesus really has to be Lord in my life, if I’m going to be any good to Him on the earth.  You know, He showed me that I can be like the servant that buried the one talent his master gave him, and the master called him wicked because he didn’t do anything with what he was given; and then even what he had was taken away.  I don’t want it to be like that.  I don’t want life as usual.  I want Him to give me more, and then more, and then more, because He trusts me.”

     Sean sighed, and regrouped.  “I’ll be honest with you.  I got real mad when Sam confronted me, this afternoon.  But he showed me that I was using and hurting a real lady, and that it was wrong.  He let me know he wouldn’t allow it to go on.”

     “And after thinking about it and really asking God, I can see that I have to lay down my wants and follow after Jesus.  I don’t want to just
look
saved -- but inside, still be the same old guy who doesn’t care about anything or anybody but himself.  I want to be free of all that.”

     “So, I’m here to say I’m sorry to the lady; and to Sam, and the whole team.  I’m going to change.  I’m going to become the kind of guy that everybody will see Jesus in.  So help me God.”

     “He will, Sean.”  Sam said quietly.  He put his hand up and caught him as he fell to the stage.  Sadie was watching from the back of the tent, her eyes wide and tears of joy flowing.

     Sam faced the crowd wearily.  “What he said is the absolute truth.  I had a very confused young lady and a belligerent young man to confront this afternoon.  It’s one of the less pleasant duties of pastoring.  But the secret to all of it is, letting Jesus be Lord, and letting the Holy Spirit take charge of your life in every situation.”

     He laughed at the floor, and shook his head ruefully.  “That includes me.” He admitted quietly.  “I was wondering how I’d get my mind off this situation tonight, so that I could minister.  Here is the answer --  I finally let the Lord do it for me.  He brought immediate repentance.”

     “And as for Sean; he came and laid himself at the Master’s feet.  I respect his honesty, and his decision.  It will be my pleasure to be able to support him as he begins to live for God.”

     “You know, it always hurts when the Lord exposes those areas of our hearts that need to change.  When He puts His finger on the bad spot, and pushes the issue to the surface, it’s something no one wants to see, most of all the person with the problem.  What we’ve got to realize is, that if the thing weren’t ugly and festering, God would leave it inside us. He only roots out the things in our hearts that he did not plant.”

     “It is very important that we let the Refiner send His fire.  Just look at the fruit that comes, when you let Him in.  Sean is repenting and getting free of this thing that would stumble him all his life, if he didn’t face it and get past it.  It would hold him back, again and again.”

   “Callie’s song came as a call to Sean and others like him.  It was a spontaneous call for
all of us
to cast our burdens on Jesus.  That song allowed me to cast my burdens on Him.”

      “Please, think about it; what did that song do inside you?  What did it bring to mind?  Search your heart, and let God talk to you. What does He want to do with you, tonight?”

    The message continued on, flowing out and unfolding, rich and wonderful.  Sam didn’t preach too long, because he could feel repentance begin to come, begin to sweep through the people.  Hearts were beginning to break open.  He called people up for prayer, and then turned to find Callie.

     When their eyes met, he motioned for her to come to his side.  He whispered in her ear, “Stand with me.  Help me pray, will you?”

    Callie nodded, a bit surprised.  She began to flow with it, though, and was greatly blessed as she felt the anointing on Sam, and the flow of the Holy Spirit.

      Sometimes he used her hands, when he was praying for a woman.  He’d put her hand on a woman, and then put his hand over hers.  She felt honored, and touched that he would ask her to be a part of this, with him.  She felt the power of God flowing, and it humbled her deeply.

     She became aware of a new dimension in Sam, as she watched him minister.  He was so compassionate, and so humble.  He approached each person with respect and openness.  And a very personal caring.

     After the service, Sam was pulled aside to talk to some men that Callie didn’t know.  She looked for Sadie, and couldn’t find her anywhere.  Sean was still in the tent, she noted with satisfaction.

     Callie went back to the trailer.  Sadie was there, already in bed.  Callie sat beside her, and put her arms around her.  “How are you doing?”  she asked gently.

     “Oh, all right.”  Sadie sighed.  “Man, what a nightmare this day has been.”

     “I can imagine.”  Callie agreed.

    “God isn’t letting me get away with anything, is He?” she asked almost angrily.

    “Well,” Callie hedged.  “I rather think, really, that perhaps it is the mercy of the Lord, that kept you from a bigger mistake.  Looking back at a time when I was in similar shoes, if I’d gone too far with Sam, it would have ruined everything. Probably beyond repair.”

     “That’s true.”  Sadie admitted.  “It’s just that I really want Sean.  I do.”

    “I truly do understand.”  Callie assured her.  “I was really ticked off when I couldn’t have Sam, when and how I wanted him.  But it’s quite clearly expected that we wait and marry these men.”

     “Yeah.  I can relate.  Except that I’m not sure I want to marry Sean.  I want him, you know, on a male-female level, but I don’t think he’d be all that much fun to be married to.  I mean, he’s something of a rebel.”

     “Well; then you’ll need to pray for him.”  Callie sighed.  “You have to take all, or nothing.  I’ve learned that, if nothing else.”