The Way Maker and the Scarlet Cord E-Book

Dixie Koch

• Herausgeber: RWG Publishing
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Her body was weak from giving birth. Her soul was fragile, wishing desperately that she could hold her baby, but she had not even been allowed to see her baby. Under the influence of drugs, she could vaguely remember a baby crying, and then the sound of her baby being whisked away from her. Forever.

No not forever. Hopefully not forever. She must return somehow for her baby.

When thirty-year-old Jezra felt her baby move for the first time, a spark of life also entered her heart. Suddenly, she found mysterious comfort in the words spoken many years ago by her grandfather's maid. "Your mom had a change of heart, Jezra. She had been offered a considerable amount of money to have a baby for your grandfather. But as she felt the life you brought moving and kicking inside of her, the value of money lost its importance. All she wanted was you… her name was Rahab."

Jezra and her unborn baby were part of a generational blood pact. Determined not to give her baby into the hands of those commanding dark powers, she runs into a journey of horrifying uncertainty.

In this suspense packed sequel to The Miracle Maker and the Misfits, two women are searching for the love of family which has been stolen from their lives. Rahab has discovered a new blood covenant. For many years she has held on to its scarlet cord of promises, whereby she believes the Way Maker will save her and her family. But how much longer can her faith endure? Can they be saved after all?

Find out in The Way Maker and the Scarlet Cord.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER fOUR

CHAPTER fiVE

CHAPTER SiX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EiGHT

CHAPTER NiNE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THiRTEEN

CHAPTER fOURTEEN

THE WAY MAKER AND THE SCARLET CORD

Copyright

The Way Maker and the Scarlet Cord

Copyright © 2017 by Dixie Koch. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of Revival Waves of Glory.

Published by Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing PO Box 596| Litchfield, Illinois 62056 USA www.revivalwavesofgloryministries.com

Book design copyright © 2017 by Revival Waves of Glory All rights reserved.

Cover design by Andrea Hallstrom

Cover artwork by Andrea Hallstrom

Published in the United States of America Paperback: 978-1-365-99117-2

Hardcover: 978-1-365-99118-9

Fiction / Christian / Suspense

Fiction / Suspense

w

ritten to all mothers and fathers who regret their past mistakes, who are looking for hope, change, and a promise to hold on

to that their children and grandchildren will discover real love and life. And written to all children who have longed to feel real meaning and love in their lives and who are needy and desperate to experience the heavenly Father’s forgiveness, great love, and the abundant life he longs to give them.

Written because we all need a Savior, and his name is Jesus. Because of the powerful blood he shed for us, he has secured a new covenant that we may enter into with him. Here mercy, forgiveness, deliverance, healing, and redemption begins and continues.

Written because he doesn’t just become our Savior to leave us the same, but he wants to change us and renew our minds and transition us into transformation. The New Covenant is all about him and his kingdom and what he can and will do for and through those who will trust him with their lives.

Dedicatedtoallmychildrenandgrandchildren.

BarryandApril,AsaandElisha;LarryandAngie,Zach,Andrea,Levi,andJosiah;SandieandLydia,HannahandMoriah.Ilove youallsoverymuch!Thereisn’tamomentthatgoesbythatIamnotthankfulforyou.Thereisn’tadaygoesbythatyouarenotinmyprayers.I’veaskedGodforlotsofthingsforeachofyou.AndIbelieveourGodanswersprayer!“Forthepromiseisto you andyour children!”Acts 2:39.

Dedicated also to Darla and Brenda and their

families.Yougirlsarelikedaughterstome.

Thankstomyhusband,Jim,forbeinghereandhelpingoutaroundthehousesothatIwouldhavemoretimetowrite.

Aspecialthankyouagaintomyson, Barry,foralltheendlesshelpyou’vegivenmewiththiscomputer!(andtoAprilforenduringthroughit).Thankstomytalentedgranddaughter,Andrea,foranotherbeautifulcoverartwork.Andthankstomydaughters,SandieandAngieandtomyson-in-law,Larry,forvolunteeringtoread itwithediting eyes!

Thankstoallmy friendsandfamilyforyourprayers andsupport.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

P

astorCory,thankyou.IamblessedtobelearningmoreandmoreaboutthegreatNewCovenant-thatthisredemptionisasupernaturalrescueand

life-changing package,whichiswhythedevilhatestoseeitestablishedinanyhumanlife.Howimportanthasbeenyouradvice,thatIlearntotransitionoutoffearandintoagreaterfaith,wherebyImayclaimthesegreatpromisescontainedinJesus’stransformingword.

Thankstomyfriend,BevRodriguez,forallyourhelp,praying,reading,editing,goodadvice,andtheongoingsupportyouhavebeentomewhilewritingthisbook.

ThankstomyfriendJaNetforallthetimesyou’vebowedyourheadandprayedwithmeforthisbook.Youareagreatfriendandprayerpartner!

Tomysister,Janet,thankyouforbeingyou,mydearsisterandfriend.Ilove you!

TomyfriendPatAnderson,thankyouforyourfriendshipandsupport!Itisprecioustome.

Thanks to my friends Rozie, Deb, Marilyn, and Nellie for praying and for encouraging me to keep writing!

Thanks to award winning author, Billie, for a listening ear and good pointers along the way.

Thanks to all of my family—nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Arlene. I love you guys, and I appreciate each of you.

Thank you to my new friend Sam Jayakumar for the interview and promoting my book on Turning Point @ myhopefm.com.

Thanks to all my friends, too numerous to mention, for all your prayers and support!

I sincerely wish to thank Bill Vincent and Revival Waves of Glory for another opportunity to publish the second book in this Mark of God series. You have been great to work with.

Letnotmercyandtruthforsakeyou;Bindthem aroundyourneck,Writethemonthetabletof yourheart,Andso findfavorandhighesteem inthesightofGodandman.TrustintheLord withallyourheart,andleannotonyourown understanding;Inallyourwaysacknowledge Him,AndHeshalldirectyourpaths.

Proverbs 3:3-6(NKJV)

To my grandson Zach, these verses are packed with great promises, and you really surprised me when you had them tattooed over your heart. The way Maker and the Scarlet Cord is all about the promises of God, which are real powerful words needing to be so real in our hearts that they flow from our mouth as well. These words will renew our minds and are the source of supernatural living. Bind them like a scarlet cord around your neck! This is my prayer for you and for everyone of my grandchildren.

CHAPTERONE

I

twastrue.Standingsideways.Lookinghardintothefull-lengthmirror.Shewaspregnant.Couldshegothroughwiththis?Shehadguessedshewas

pregnantbuthadbeenunabletofacethethoughtofanotherabortion.Now,feelingthebabymoveinsideofhersparkedsomethingshecouldn’treallyunderstand.

Jezrapressedherlipstightlytogetherasshedrewinadeepandtroubledbreath.Kevin.Sheswallowedhard. Sheregrettedthetwentymonthsoftheirspottyrelationship.Ivow tonever letyouknowIamcarryingyourbaby!Youwereanevilleechalwayswantingtousurpmyinheritance!

TheFBI,especiallyagentCaleb,wasstillhotonKevin’strail.Thoughafugitive,Kevinhadmanagedtomorphhimselfintoanotheridentity.Sheimaginedhewascockyabouthismakeover.Shewishedhehadbeencaught,too,andlockedupand outofherlifeforgood.

Jezraglancedbackatthemirror,andwithaswipeofherhandpushedbackanunrulychunkofherdark,glossyhair.Sheturnedtofacethemirror.“ButIwantthebabyevenifitmeansrunningfromKevin,running

formy life,andrunningforthelife ofmy unbornbaby.”Yes,maybeshewasabitlikeherownmother,whohadn’trejectedher.No,hermotherhadhadnochoicebuttorun.

ButIhaveachoice.Icanchoosetokeepmybaby.

Horror smacked itself againsttheback of hermind.Shouldshekeepthisbaby,shewouldbeexpectedtodedicateittothedarkpowersofhermaster.Only,something growing evendeeperinsideofherwasscreaming,“No!”

Jezraflickedonthelightswitch.Instantlytwowirechandeliers,intheshape ofantiquebirdhouses,litupthestairway.Decorativeglasspendantshangingfromthecenterofthechandeliersseemedtodancetolifeunderthepalelights.

Sheclimbedtheoldwindingstaircase.Herpulseescalatedwitheachstep.Theoldheirloomwashers.Ithadbeenhergreat-grandfather’sgifttoher.Shehadbeenbirthedwithintheconfinesofthisbuilding.Hergrandfathersaidhehadbeenthefirstpersontotouchher,toholdher,andtogiftherwithhisincrediblepowers.

Jezrastoppedandheldtightlytothebanister.Shewasbreathingharder now.Uphere,onthe fourthfloor,ortheatticofherchildhood,shehadspentmostofhergrowingupdays.

Thiswasherinheritance,butshehadbeengladtoleave.Maybe itwasthosepainfulmemoriesofanatticexistencethathadkeptherfromreturning.Shehadnohomereally.Neitherhadshefoundanylastingor

meaningfulrelationship.LikeKevin,shehadnotfound

ahomewithhim,onlyatemporarydwellingplace.

“ButIwillneedahomenow.”Hervoicewasarawwhisper.“Ineedtofindoneformy baby’ssake.”

Jezrastaredhardintotheroom.Sherememberedtheshadesbeingpulleddownandonlywantingforthesunshinetoproveitself.Ifonlynowshecouldpulluptheshadesofherpastandseewhatallshehadmissedwhileconfinedtosuchutterdarkness.Like,shewouldreallywanttoknowmoreabouthermother.Allshehadwasapictureofhermother, whichhadbeensecretlygiventoherbyoneofhergrandfather’smaids.

Shehad beenthirteen years old whenthemaid,Anna,hadsneakedintoJezra’sroombringingthepicturetuckedundera napkin on a lunchtray.

Lately,shehadbeenrememberingthatday,seventeenyearsago,whenshehadthatconversationwith Anna.

“Yourmotherwaspregnantwithyouinthispicture.Shewasaverybeautifulyoungwoman.Youlooksomuchlikeher,Jezra,”Annahadsaid.

“WhyhaveIneverbeenallowedtoevenseemymother?Andwhereisshenow?”Jezrahadasked.“Mygrandfathersaysshewasa castaway andnothingbutatraitor.”

“Yourmotherwasusedasasurrogate,Jezra.Yourgrandfathercouldnothaveanychildrenofhisown.Still,heneededtokeephislineofpowersgoing.It

wasanoaththatway.TheOathoriginatedwaybacktoyourgreat-great-grandfather,whowasa verypowerfulman,skilledindarkpowersandbrandedbythem.Hehadmadethe covenant with the devil himselffortheseedofhislineage.Thisisthekindofbloodcovenantonewouldneverdaretobreak.Therefore,yourgrandfather’syoungestbrother’sseedwasdonatedtoyourgrandfather.”

“Why dotheytellme nothing?That makesmygrandfatherasurrogategrandfather!AndNikoismyfather?”Jezrahadcried.“Whereismymother?”

“Ah,child,itdoesn’tpaytoaskmanyquestions.AndyoumustpromisemetonevertellyourgrandfatherthatIhavebeenmeddlinginhisaffairsthisway.Youmustneverletonthatyouknowanyofthesethings.YoumustnotletonthatyouareawarethatNikoisyourfather!I’monverydangerous groundsasitisforjustgivingyouthispicture.”Themaid’seyeshadtakenonaseriousnessthatJezrahadneverforgotten.

“Ipromisenottotell,”Jezrahadbeggedasshehadgrabbedontothe maid’s arm. “Please tellmeeverything.”

“Yourmomhadachangeofheart,Jezra.Shehadbeenofferedaconsiderableamount ofmoney tohaveababyforyourgrandfather.Butasshe felt the lifeyoubroughtmovingandkickinginsideofher,thevalueofmoneylostitsimportance.Allshewantedwasyou.Shebecameveryfrightenedbecausesheknewherlifeandyourlifewereontheline.Oh,shetriedtoescapebyrunningbarefootintothewoods.Shehadhopedtogetaway.Poorthing.”

“DidtheykillherafterIwasborn?”

“No,child.Ihadmanagedtosendoutalettertoawiseman.Ithadbeenamostdangerousarrangement,butGodcausedittowork.Yourmom’sexecutionhadbeenscheduled.Butsheescaped.Idonotknowwheresheisnow.Thatwassomanyyearsago,andyetIscarcelydarebreatheattimesforfearyourgrandfatherwillfindout.”

“Tellmehername,”Jezrahadpleaded.“Oh,surelyyourememberhername.”

“Rahab,”the maid had whispered. “Her namewasRahab.”

“Rahab,”Jezrahadmouthedthename.“That’sanoddname.Idon’tbelieveIhaveeverheardofasuchanamebefore.”

“IhavereadaboutaverybravewomannamedRahab,”theolderwomanhadansweredwithtearsgatheringinhereyes.“IreadaboutherintheBible,andbecauseshehadsavedsomeofGod’smenbyhidingthemfromtheenemy,inreturnherwish,whichwastosaveherfamily,hadbeengrantedtoherbythesesamemen.”

“Andmyfather?Whydoesn’thecometomeandtellmeheismyfather?”

“Inthebloodpact,yourgrandfatherisyourrightful

fatheruntilheshouldpassaway.”

“AndIambutaproductforthedevil?”

“There’sonemorethingIwouldliketogiveyou,Jezra,”Annahadsaid.Themaidhadreachedintothedeeppocketofherbluelinenservant’sdressandpulled

outasmallbook.“Jezra,readthiswheneveryoucan.Butnevereverletyourgrandfather knowyouhaveit!”

“Whatisit?”Jezrahadasked.

“ItistheNewTestament.Itisaboutapowerfulkingdomoflight.Itismorepowerfulthanthiskingdomofdarknessyouhavebeenborninto.ItexplainsthatYeshuaistheWayMakeroutofthisdarkness.”

Jezraopenedthedoorofheroldbedroom.Shadeswerestillpulleddownoverthetwosmallatticwindows.Painsearedinherchest,almostsnuffingherbreathaway.Itburned,almostlikeindigestion.Butitwasn’tindigestion.Itwasredhotanger.Whathadbeensnuffedawaywastheverybreathofherchildhood.Ifonlyshecouldlookinthisroomandrememberwhatithadbeenliketohaveamothertoholdher whenshehadcried.“IfAnnawasright, thenmymomdidwantme.Butshewasdeniedtherighttohaveme.”

Shemovedquicklytotheshades,notjusttoopenthem,buttotearthemfromtheirmounts.

“No,”shecriedbetweenpuffsofbreath.“Iwillnotletthemhavemybaby!”Savagely,herhandsgrabbedandrippedattheshadesuntilthebloodiedpiecesfelltoherfeet.

Shekickedatwhatremainedoftheblinds.“I’vegottogetoutofhere.Imustn’tletanybodyknowI’mpregnant.”Herhandswentnervouslyoverherprotrudingabdomen.“I mustleaveverysoon.Tonight.”

Jezrastoodinfrontofthewindow,theonetotherightofthemetal-framed,white-paintedheadboardofherbed.Sheopenedthewindowtoletinsomefreshairasshepeeredoutintotheshadowydusk.Alargeoaktreestoodinfrontoftheoldstables.Agentlebreezeplayedonlyenoughtoslightlyrustleitsleaves.

“Eclipse,”Jezrawhisperedafterajaggedbreath.HerheartbegandrummingatthesightofherbelovedFriesianmare.Eclipse’sheadwasproudoverthewhitefence.Evenunderthedarkeningcloudsandtheforthcomingofthenight,theblackmarelookedmorebeautifulthanever.JezracouldseethethickwavymanegracingEclipse’swell-muscledneck.

Thehorsenickered,andJezracouldfeelherheartslidedown.“Mydearhorse.YouaretheonlygoodmemoryI haveofthisplace.”AslightsmiletuggedatJezra’slips.

Shewouldalwaysrememberthedaytheymet.Itwasonherfourteenthbirthday.Eclipsewasagift toherfromhergrandfatherwhenJezrahadbeendeclaredbyhimasfinallyawomanskilledinthepowershepossessed.Twothingshehadgivenherinhonorofherdarkaccomplishments.First,thathisspiritguidewouldalwaysleadher,andsecond,ablackfilly.Shehadbeenspeechlessatthesightoftheyounghorse.Eclipsebecamethesecretpassionofheryouth.Manyeveningsshehadstoodbesidethemare,sometimeswithoutsayingaword.Still,therewasacommunionthatonlythetwoofthemunderstood.Shehadwatchedasprofessionalhorse trainersworked dailywith Eclipse.Themare obeyed,but there wasn’tthe same light in

hereyeswiththosemen.WhenJezracame,sheknewthehorse’seyeslitupwithmorebrilliancethanthebrightestnightstar.Sogreathadbeenthecomradeshipbetweenherandthisgiftedhorse.

Jezra’sheadliftedhigher.Herlipspartedintoanopencircle.“I’mnotleavingwithoutyou.”

Fredrick,thebutlerwhohadstayedontocarefortheestate,hadalreadycompletedhischoresandhisroundsfortheevening.“I’msurebynowhehasretiredintothedentoreadthepaperandwatchwhatevermovie.”Shecouldrememberthebutlercleaningupthelastofthedinnermessandthenslinkingawayintotheprivacyoftheden.“He’snotasenergeticasheissneakythough,”Jezraaddedwithatwistofherlip.Jezralookedaboutthebedroom.Therewereonlyafewpackedboxesofoldclothing,noneofwhichwouldfitaroundherwaist.Sheguessedherselftobeaboutfivemonthspregnant,judgingfromherwideninggirth.Fornow,shewouldneedtoriskbeingseenbyFredrick,ifperchancehehadn’tretiredtohis den.Theskirtofherdresshadenoughflareatthebottomtomakeridinghorsedoablefornow.Atanyrate,sheneededtosneakintoherdeceasedgrandfather’sroom.Maybeshecouldfindafewpairofsweatpants.Hewasasmallman,butthistypeofpantsshouldbestretchyenoughtoaccommodateheradditionalgrowth.Then,shewouldseeiftherewassomebreadandothergoodiestopack.Sheshouldhaveacoupledays’worthoffoodandwateratleast.She’dfillasaddlebagwithgrainforEclipsetoo.

Nopersonshouldbeassumingshewasontherunyet.

Thiswouldbuyhertimetostopatherstashingground

andtakesomeofthemoneyshehadburiedaway.Jezrahadneverfeltsecure. Alwaysclingingtoherbackbone,likealeech,wasafearasblackasthenightshewasabouttoescapeinto.Shecouldnotunderstandfear,butsheknewitwasadrivingforce.Itwasanenergythathauntedhermorethanprotectedher. Itwasadreadfulplaceofsurvival,whereshemustmaintainhercontrol.Nonetheless,whetherithadbeenthepowerof thatfear,orsomeotherforce,maybewatchingoutforher,somethinginsideofherhadcausedhertohabituallyburysumsofmoney.Andnonehadsuspected,thoughmanyhad watchedherasshe’dleaveherroomregularlyforaneveningwalk.Nonecouldhaveseenherasshehaddisappearedaroundthebendof an old countrypaththatledintoathicketofwoods.

Ashivershookitswaydownherspine.Shemustleave,andshemustdoitsoon.Withsoftmoccasinsonherfeet,Jezracreptsilentlydownthewindingstairway.Thedoortothedenwasclosed.Sheputherheadagainstit,listeningforeventheslightestnoise.Shecouldn’tevenhearasnore.Carefullyshegraspedthedoorknobandtwistediteversogently,tryingtoavoidanunwantedsqueak,lestthesneakybutlershouldawakeandsnoopintoheraffairs.Slowlythedooropened,andunderthedimmoonlightmakingitswaythroughthewindow,Jezracouldmakeouttheoutlineofhisbodyagainstthe recliningchairbed.

Jezrasneakedintothekitchen,findingafewpossiblyneededitemsandbaggingthem.Whenshereachedthebedroomhergrandfatheroncepossessed,shefelthauntedbythedarknesswithinit.Jezracouldn’t