I Am

Chapter 14

After church I went home with Felix. She was right, her mom did love me.

"Who is this?" She had said enthusiastically when she saw me come in the door with Felix.

"Mom, this is my friend Briella," Felix had explained. "She's going to be staying with us for a few days."

"That's great!" Her mom, Mrs. Green, had said. Mrs. Green was very eccentric. She looked just like Felix, but older. She loved people and showed it. She was always happy, and was never mean to a single person.

Felix also had a little brother, his name was Philip. He was a cute little 9 year old, with dark hair like Felix, but green eyes.

Felix's father was way different than the rest of his hair. He had light blonde hair, like Felix, and and bright green eyes (I guess that's where Philip got his eyes). This man looked so much different from the rest of the family you would have thought he was a step father.

Felix's house was quite grand. I never would have thought that such a modest, down to earth, girl would have such a house. It was two stories with a spiral staircase and a grand foyer. Enough said.

Felix told me that she didn't like money or having all of this stuff. She felt bad for all of the people who were starving to death on the streets and here she was living in luxury. But she couldn't do anything about it because the mont and house and now things were her parents.

Felix helped me study the Bible and pray everyday. She also gave me advice on some of my problems and some guitar lessons. Felix was a very christian girl. She loved God more than anything.

That afternoon Felix took me to church. I sat with Peter through the service. Jody preached on redemption. He told us that the love of Christ redeems us from our sins; that we don't have to hold onto our sins any longer.

When he was done the band began to play an invitational hymn. I started to sing with them:

"Lord, I come, I confess, bowing here I find my rest."

I couldn't help it. I started walking up to the altar to kneel and pray.

"Without you, I fall apart, you're the one that guides my heart."

I was at the altar now. I kneeled down and began to pray the lyrics of the song.

"Lord, I need you, oh I need you. Every hour I need you. You're my one defense, my righteousness. Oh, God, how I need you."

The words were so perfect I couldn't believe it. As they went into the second verse I felt someone beside me.

"Where sin runs deep, your grace is more. Where grace is found, is where you are."

I could feel the tears start to flow out of my eyes. I was crying because I was happy. I was happy that this song was so perfectly describing my cry to The Lord when my words alone were failing.

"Where you are, Lord I am free. Happiness is Christ in me."

"Lord, I need you, oh, I need you. Every hour I need you. My one defense, my righteousness, oh, God how I need you."

"So teach my song to rise to you, when temptation comes my way. And when I cannot stand I'll fall on you. Jesus, you're my hope and stay."

The band repeated the chorus twice more. When the song was over I stood up. The person who had kneeled beside me was Peter. He held my hand as we started to walk back to our seats, but Jody, who was standing right in for to the middle of the stage, motioned for me to join him.

I went over and stood in front of the 40 teenagers. I was very nervous.

"A lot of you guys may have seen Briella around here," he said. "You may have even talked to her. She has been through a lot lately but this morning she gave her life to Christ."

Everyone started clapping and cheering. I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks.

"Would you like to say anything?" Jody asked me.

"No," I said quietly.

"Then you are all dismissed," he said loudly into the microphone.

I walked quickly back up the aisle to where Peter was.

"You really gave your life to Jesus?" He asked.

"Yep," I said with a smile.

"Briella, that's awesome!" He said very enthusiastically. "We should go to dinner to celebrate!"

"Ok!" I said.

Peter and I and the band all went out to lunch at the mexican restuarant downtown. They all congratulated me on my salvation and offered to give me tips in times of need.

Elyse was especially congratulatory of me and I suspected there might be something behind that.

***

Everything had been going great at Felix's house until Saturday. Saturday I got a call.

"Hello?" I answered my phone.

"Hi, I'm looking for a Briella Green," I heard a female voice say.

"This is she," I felt so awkward saying that. I hated saying this is she, or that's me, or this is her, they just sound so weird.

"Hi, Briella," she started, "you're father, Harold Green, is going on trial one week from today. I would like to meet with you Monday to help you with your testimony."

"Ok," the words barely escaped my lips.

"Great," she said. "I'll see you Monday!'

***

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Saigeeeeeeee. She is one of my bestest friends and encourages me to keep writing. She also happens to be the inspiration behind Elyse.

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Disclaimer: I do not own the song "Lord, I Need You" nor it's lyrics. These are all property of Matt Maher whom I have never met or talked to.