Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
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TITLE: Boldilocks and the Big Bad Wolf | Previous Challenge Entry
By LINDA GERMAIN
09/06/07 -
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Christina kept her eyes straight ahead and continued to clutch her Bible to her chest like a shield. The sleazy toxic voice taunted her to join him in the back of the gaudy black limonene that rolled a few feet from the sidewalk. This was not the first time she had heard this coaxing, lurid man and his nasty invitations.
The seedy neighborhood seemed to draw ugliness to its streets like a giant malevolent magnet gone amok. Every kind of drug, thievery, and abuse crime seemed to make its way to this once pretty area where Christina’s grandmother had lived for more than fifty years. The familiar house was the only place the young woman had to call home now that her parents were gone. Grandma Mattie provided a loving and cozy sanctuary in the midst of pain and confusion. She also offered the most incredible advice for surviving in a world of confrontation and danger.
When Christina’s sweet expression registered amazement the elderly woman would insist, “Honey, it’s all in the Holy Bible.”
Christina had been raised in a large church but some of the things her grandmother tried to teach were so new to her mind they were difficult to process. She had to agree, it was right in Scripture, but no one had ever shown her how to apply it to real life.
“Now listen to me, Darling girl,” Grandma would say, “I’m trying to give you some tools to insure your safety. The Lord provides all that we need, and that includes protection from what is seen and what is unseen.”
“That ’s kind of spooky, Gran. You’re scaring me.”
“Good. That’ll make you remember what I’m telling you.”
Every morning before Christina left to catch a bus for her job at the flower shop, her faithful Grandmother asked the Lord to watch over her dear grandchild in her going out and in her coming in. She prayed things the young girl had never heard a person say out loud. It was unsettling, but at the same time reassuring.
Now, as evil-personified threatened her from the backseat of a big black car, all the admonitions from her wise grandparent were playing back at warp speed in her mind.
“If some sorry so-and-so tries to hurt you, never forget: YOU have authority because YOU are a daughter of the KING! The name of Jesus is powerful! There really are bad principalities of the air, just as there are angels sent to protect us. “
Christina felt confidence rise up on the inside of her as Grandma Mattie’s words swirled around. She held her head high as she stopped and turned, just like the older woman had told her, to keep from looking like a victim.
“When you know God is on your side, girl, BE BOLD! Remember, evil cannot stand to hear about the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Malicious intentions in shiny black shoes began to ooze from the backseat of the imposing vehicle . The face of wickedness sneered as the hands of iniquity reached out to grab the sweet Christian girl.
With absolute boldness borne of true faith, Christina pointed her finger at the attacker, raised her voice to a strong no-nonsense level, and shouted with authority, “NO! In the name of Jesus you will NOT touch me!”
The long arm of destruction, so obviously raised to destroy the embodiment of good, stopped in mid-air, as if an unseen protector had grabbed it and would not let go. The withering face of sin froze in surprise at the unexpected and powerful interruption.
Like wax under fire, his frightful veneer melted away to expose raw terror at the army surrounding this essence of purity he had encountered. Still unable to lower his offending limb, he fell back into the pretentious car and commanded the driver to take off. The engine stalled. For some reason, four tires went flat about the time flashing blue lights pulled up behind him. He was caught.
“You okay, Miss?”
Christina looked into the clear and concerned eyes of a young patrolman she had heard speak at church. She smiled and hugged the Holy Scriptures a little tighter to her heart.
“I am now.”
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In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan (2 Corinthians 11:16)*
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)*
*RSV
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