Awakening: The Deep Sleep (The Deep Sleep Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

mouthing the words ‘Help me!’
    “Instantly, my heart jumped to attention and my mind raced to think of what I could do to rescue the man. What did he need saving from? Indeed, though he led so many to the forgiveness he craved, I saw he could not forgive himself. I saw the years that he had spent in the pastorate fleeing from the discovery of his hidden life. Indeed, his double life – the life he did not want to live and the life he longed to truly live.
    “He was taken captive by a large demonic creature of lust and perversion that had complete control of him. It sat on his shoulders like a proud, disgusting mass. The creature was prideful of his prize, this poor defeated pastor, whose wife defined sweetness and adored himso much. She prayed with all her heart for God to touch him and make him again into the man she once knew.
    “ ‘Help me!’ I saw him say again. My heart was gripped with compassion for him and I cried to the Lord. ‘Oh, Jesus,’ I cried. ‘Can’t we help that poor man? Jesus, help him, please.’
    “Before Jesus could answer me, the river suddenly came alive with activity. Over my cries to the Lord for help, the creatures in the water began to scream in unintelligible shrieks and howling. The sounds rippled through the water like waves and seemed to be calling something.
    “Suddenly, from the sky across the river I saw a massive flying creature. It was enormous and flew with great speed directly at the river. The creatures in the river grew louder and louder with their noise and seemed to be chanting something as they saw it approaching. They were greedy with excitement. The sound of them made me sick.
    “The creature flew across the river with a large rock in its tentacles, and suddenly I realized what was about to happen. Anguishing fear gripped me, but there was no time to react.
    “I was filled with anger at the creatures in the river who were hungry for destruction. I watched as thedisgusting, winged creature flew directly at the pastor and launched his weapon at the man. The man did not even see it – his head was turned toward me as he continued to cry his mournful plea for help.
    “I screamed a guttural cry from deep inside me as I saw the creature release the stone and watched as it struck the man directly in the head. In a flash he was gone... under the water... I did not see him emerge again.”

Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.
    —Isaiah 60:15 NLT
    BELOVED CONTINUED , “I sat for a moment, unable to breath, paralyzed by the scene I had witnessed. The river seemed to ripple with unholy howls and dark, gleeful jeers. The trees of the forest only a few feet away from us seemed to laugh at me. The wicked flight of the flying creature made them bolder in their contempt. The strong gusts of wind caused by the flying creature blustered through the trees, giving them the appearance of power.
    “I grew fearful as I watched them but, without saying a word, Jesus held out His hand and the trees instantly stopped. Looking to Him for guidance, He
seemed
to be unmoved by the shocking scene we’d just witnessed. I was puzzled by His reaction, or lack thereof.
    “The more forlorn and despairing the river grew, the more intently Jesus looked out over the horizon at the rising sun. I wondered what it was He saw there.
    “As I looked to see what had captured His gaze, I saw what He saw. Far off, away in the distance, I saw the rays of the sun peaking out over the horizon. Though it was still only a dim glow, it seemed almost smothered by a dark mist somehow emanating from the river, as if it were trying to dim the brightness of the sun’s rising.
    “It was still very dark where we were and the light, at this point, only succeeded in reflecting faintly over the thick membrane of death that covered the river.
    “The Lord continued His intense watch of the horizon as the water looked