Family Business VI Read online

  Family Business

  Servant of God

  Book VI

  Family Business Series

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Family Business VI | Servant of God

  Vanessa | Miller

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Family Business VI

  Servant of God

  Vanessa

  Miller

  Book VI

  Family Business Series

  Publisher’s Note:

  This short story is a work of fiction. References to real events, organizations, or places are used in a fictional context. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  Vanessa Miller

  www.vanessamiller.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  © 2018 by Vanessa Miller

  Praise Unlimited Enterprises

  Charlotte, NC

  No part of this ebook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical—including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system—without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Other Books by Vanessa Miller

  Family Business Book I

  Family Business II - Sword of Division

  Family Business III - Love And Honor

  Family Business IV - The Children

  Family Business V - The Atonement

  Family Business VI - Servant of God

  The Spirit of Christmas

  Sunshine And Rain

  Rain in the Promised Land

  After the Rain

  How Sweet The Sound

  Heirs of Rebellion

  Heaven Sent

  Feels Like Heaven

  Heaven on Earth

  The Best of All

  Better for Us

  Her Good Thing

  Long Time Coming

  A Promise of Forever Love

  A Love for Tomorrow

  Yesterday’s Promise

  Forgotten

  Forgiven

  Forsaken

  Rain for Christmas (Novella)

  Through the Storm

  Rain Storm

  Latter Rain

  Abundant Rain

  Former Rain

  Anthologies (Editor)

  Keeping the Faith

  Have A Little Faith

  This Far by Faith

  EBOOKS

  Love Isn’t Enough

  A Mighty Love

  The Blessed One (Blessed and Highly Favored series)

  The Wild One (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)

  The Preacher’s Choice (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)

  The Politician’s Wife (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)

  The Playboy’s Redemption (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)

  Tears Fall at Night (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Joy Comes in the Morning (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  A Forever Kind of Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Ramsey’s Praise (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Escape to Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Praise For Christmas (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  His Love Walk (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Could This Be Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Song of Praise (Praise Him Anyhow Series)

  Prologue

  Whether in the body or out of the body, Obadiah Damerae Shepherd did not know. But as he stood looking heavenward he saw a door open in heaven, and the first voice which he heard was like a trumpet, saying, “Come up here and I will show you things which must come to pass.” And immediately he was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

  And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. Round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats, he saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their head crowns of gold.

  Out of the throne proceeded thundering, lightning, and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne, there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

  The first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Each of the four beasts had six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day nor night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Those beasts gave glory, honor, and thanks to Him, that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.

  The four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  Then the angel said to me, “Come, I have something to show you.”

  Dam was then transported to another area where he saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little book that was open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth as he cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

  The angel which Dam saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him that liveth for ever and ever; who created heaven and the things that are therein, the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things which are therein; that there should be time no longer.

  “What does he mean?” Dam asked the angel, “What don’t we have time for anymore?”

  The angel did not answer his question, but rather said, “God has called you to prophesy before many people, nations, tongues, and leaders. Be instant in season, for the time is short.”

  If this was what God wanted from him, then Dam was ready and willing. He just prayed that the love of his life, the woman he was set to marry in the morning was ready and willing also.

  ~~~

  Amarrea Harris stood in front of the full-length mirror and exhaled. All morning long, through hair, make-up and as she put on her gown, everyone kept telling her how beautiful she was, but it wasn’t until this very moment as the veil was being placed on her head and she gazed at the strapless white mermaid cut gown that she truly felt beautiful. It was such a special feeling. The lace and tulle had a royal effect that made her look and feel like a princess. No, not just a princess, but a much-beloved princess. At that moment, Amarrea knew exactly how Meghan Markle must have felt as she walked down the aisle in the Windsor Castle to marry Prince Harry.

  She too was about to marry a prince. But this one didn’t have a grandmother who was the queen of a nation. But Dam Shepherd did have a heavenly Father who was King of kings and Lord of lords. She twirled as she continued to look at herself and fantasize about the wedding she’d dreamed about all her life. Amarrea heard sniffles behind her. “None of that. This is a happy occasion.”

  Wiping her face w
ith the well-used tissue, Amarrea’s mom cleared her throat and said, “I’m just so happy for you, honey. Dam is such a good man, I know that he will treat you like a queen.”

  “And I know she will treat Dam like a king and that’s why I can’t stop crying either,” Angel Shepherd, Dam’s mother said as she reached out and lovingly adjusted Amarrea’s veil.

  “Okay, let’s break this up. I don’t need the bride crying and getting her makeup all messed up.” Marissa Walker grabbed Amarrea’s hand and pulled her away from the doting mothers. “Girl, you’ve got ten minutes before you walk down the aisle, think happy thoughts. We don’t want the make-up artist to redo that mascara and eyeliner now, do we?”

  Since the day they met in college, Marissa had become the calming force in Amarrea’s chaotic life. They were destined to be best friends for life; Amarrea was glad that Marissa was her maid of honor. “Girl, if you weren’t here I would have lost my whole mind instead of just pieces of it.”

  There was a knock at the door, the ladies watched as the door slowly opened. Isaac Walker Jr., Marissa’s husband, peeked his head in the door. “I’m just following orders, ladies.” He set his eyes on his wife. “The groom is in place. I’m going to take a seat now, okay?”

  “Thank you, baby.” Marissa walked over to the door and kissed her husband. “You’re the best look-out man God ever created.”

  “You’re just saying that because your birthday is coming up and you want that necklace, you slyly pointed out the other day.”

  Giggling, Marissa admitted, “Did you see how many diamonds that were on that necklace? Of course, I want it. But you’re still the best man God ever created.”

  “Um, excuse me, but do you two lovebirds mind moving out of the way so I can get down the aisle and marry the real best man God ever created?”

  The room erupted in laughter, but not for long because the moment Amarrea started walking down the aisle tears of joy flowed from the onlookers. Her prince was waiting for her. They loved each other, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.

  1

  Dam’s heart filled with sorrow at the realization that he had missed God’s direction when he accepted the youth pastor position at the church he currently worked for. He knew that God called him to evangelism... to prophesy to nations, but he took this assignment because Bishop Daniel Thomas persuaded him to believe that becoming youth pastor at his church was a part of God’s plan for his life.

  Dam had much respect for Bishop Thomas because he had been watching his world-renowned ministry on television for most of his life. The church was Called of God International Ministry, and they were on the mission field in Africa, Mexico, and India.

  Bishop Thomas told him that although the ministry was flourishing, the youth ministry had fallen off because of a scandal their previous youth minister had gotten into. The bishop believed in the call that was on Dam’s life and believed that he was the right person to rebuild the youth ministry. Dam told Bishop Thomas that God’s call on his life was more of an evangelical/prophetic one. He believed he was supposed to go out into the world and preach the gospel. But Dam still didn’t have a clear picture on how all of that was supposed to happen.

  Bishop Thomas promised Dam that he would be able to evangelize the world by being a part of Called of God International Ministry because he would be able to go on the mission field and preach the gospel to people in other countries, some, who have never heard the gospel.

  Dam had bought the sales pitch and signed on to work for Bishop Thomas. The first year was actually one of the best years he’d had thus far in ministry. Dam and Amarrea bonded with the youth in the church and built that ministry from two hundred kids to a thousand. But that’s when the problems started.

  Dam was informed that he would not be able to go on the mission trips because they didn’t have anyone to take over for him in the youth ministry. Dam didn’t like it, but he stayed behind and did the job he had been hired to do. Then one Sunday while Bishop Thomas was in Africa doing missions the media department made the mistake of submitting Dam’s sermon to the youth for the Sunday broadcast that was viewed by a little over five hundred thousand people.

  Dam didn’t think anything of it when it happened the first time, but the following Sunday the media department uploaded his next sermon to the television ministry, even though the viewership went up to a million on that broadcast, Dam wasn’t pleased. Somebody was doing this behind Bishop Thomas’ back, and he intended to get to the bottom of the matter.

  However, before Dam could meet with the media department, Bishop Thomas called and accused him of trying to take over the ministry. “I didn’t submit my sermon to the media department, Bishop. As a matter-of-fact, I scheduled an appointment with Vickie to figure out why my sermons were uploaded to your television broadcast.”

  “Vickie, who?”

  Called of God International Ministry had over fifteen thousand members so Dam could understand that Bishop wouldn’t know who all the workers in each ministry were. Vickie Gray had not only worked in the media department, but she was also a front door greeter and had served as armor bearer for Lady Jade, Bishop’s wife. Vickie also sat in the quarterly minister meeting that Bishop held. “You know Minister Vicki Gray, sir. She’s on our ministry team and armor bearer for your wife.”

  Bishop Thomas harrumphed. “Vicki knows better than to do some mess like that. I’ll take care of her.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her, Bishop. Minister Vicki has a lot on her plate. It might just be an honest mistake.”

  “Look here boy, you might be smelling yourself because the viewers loved your sermons. But I run Called of God and neither you or Vicki are going to take it away from me. The devil and all his imps done lied if you think rising up against me is a good idea.”

  Something in the way Bishop spoke to him that day made him want to turn in his resignation and pack up his office. But he and Amarrea had only been married sixteen months at the time and had been in the middle of purchasing their first house. He needed a steady income, so he stayed.

  A year later Amarrea was now pregnant with their first child, and Bishop Thomas was on his way to Dam’s office for another one of his little chats. Dam didn’t know how much more he could take, but he also didn’t think being homeless with a wife and a kid was a part of God’s plan for his life.

  The knock came like the police banging on a drug dealer’s door, just before they broke down the door. The door swung open, Bishop stepped into Dam’s office like he was evicting a deadbeat who had the nerve to ask for thirty more days on the premises. What had he done to offend the bishop today? Lately, it seemed like the very air Dam breathed offended his boss.

  Bishop plopped himself in the chair that was seated in front of Dam’s desk and proceeded to put his feet on the desk. Every single time Bishop did this, Dam felt disrespected, like Bishop was sending a message that Dam was beneath him.

  “What in the world am I going to do with you?” Bishop leaned back in his seat as he kept a laser focus on Dam.

  A look of confusion danced across Dam’s face. “Sir?”

  Bishop’s feet came off the desk as he firmly planted them on the floor and leaned forward. “Don’t give me that ‘sir’ crap. I have put up with your innocent act long enough. But I’m not letting you get away with this one.”

  “What are you talking about, Bishop? What have I done?”

  “Two things I can’t stand... a backstabber and a sneak. Turns out, you are both.”

  There were times when Dam wondered if this world-renowned pastor whose sermons were aired on three different television networks and two radio stations might actually be bipolar. Dam stood. “My wife is waiting for me. I need to get home.”

  “I wouldn’t care if the Pope was waiting for you. I’m not finished with you. If you think I’m going to let you stab me in the back with Pastor Walker and keep your job here, then you need to think again.” Bishop was in his face, practically fo
aming at the mouth. Spitting as he talked.

  “You’re upset about the revival I’m working on with Pastor Walker? But I told you about it two years ago.”

  “Yeah,” Bishop admitted. “But I thought it was at least five years off or if it would happen at all. How could you and Pastor Walker pull something like this off without my help? You must have gone behind my back and used some of my contacts.”

  “We didn’t use any of your contacts, sir. I have never gone behind your back for anything. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Dam tried to walk around him, but Bishop grabbed hold of his arm.

  “Cancel the revival, or you can turn in your resignation.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Maybe you should go home and ask your pregnant wife if she prefers having a roof over her head and food in her belly, or does she want you to do this revival that your boss and spiritual leader has instructed you to cancel.”

  When Dam didn’t reply, Bishop patted him on the back, like you’d do an obedient dog. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision for your family.”

  Dam was too stunned to speak. He watched Bishop walk out of his office wanting desperately to turn in his notice on the spot, but Bishop Thomas was right. He needed to talk to Amarrea first.

  ~~~

  “This is not necessary, Dr. Nance. I feel fine,” Amarrea Shepherd said as she sat on the examination table.

  “Your feet are swollen, and your blood pressure is up. Whether you like it or not, I’m taking you off work for the last three months of your pregnancy.”

  “You don’t understand. My husband is a youth pastor. He doesn’t make a whole lot of money, and we just bought a house. We need both incomes.”

  “You need to be healthy and to deliver a healthy baby. Believe me Amarrea I do understand. When I was in residency, my husband was serving as a missionary. Money was tight for us for many years. But we made it through. This is a setback, but you and Dam will find another way to take care of the mortgage for a few months.”

  Amarrea looked down at her feet and admitted to herself that they were not only swollen, but they hurt. If she killed herself before having this baby, then her child would be without a mother and Dam would be without a wife. She sighed. “We’ll make due. Dam wouldn’t want me to continue working with my health at risk.”