Chapter 10

My heart is panting after you

By pastor Paul Eneche

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Nnomma had never feared for her father like she did now,it was as if death was knocking at her father's compound.

Nwoke was so stubborn ,he had refused to adhere to her father pleas.

"Papa please na,I don't want to loose you too ohhh"

"Go inside my daughter it is well"

Nwoke continued his song ignoring the fact that the masquerades were close he seemed undaunted by the hailing songs of oshimiri or the diabolic drums sounds or the cry of his daughter he believed there was a greater realms where other realms was subdued that there was a divine spirit that protected him from the torments of oshimiri.

"A stubborn goat does not go far at all,Nwoke your end has come"

A voice boomed from across the compound as masquerades approached him with cutlass they were covered with heavy cloaked that looked diabolical with a horn on there head

"I am not afraid of you all or your god " he said courageously but was shaking with fear inside of him the wind had picked silently carrying him off his feet "I am not afraid of you Oshimiri"

The masquerades laughed sadistically as they shaked their heads like snakes but was taken by surprise when a voice spoke with Authority behind them

"In the mighty name of Jesus I rebuke you"

They all turned distracted by the familiar voice it was that same stranger that had left them all in confusion the other night suddenly the wind approached Jesse but he was undeterred by it

"I rebuke you evil wind by the fire of the Holy ghost,I command you that have raised your ugly head against the servant of the most high God to be consumed"Jesse declared as he spoke in a different tongue confusing them all again.

They felt the impact of this divine fire and disappeared into thin air.

Nwoke opened his eyes to see a stranger smiling at him instead of the masquerades that had come to harm him no one had been able to stand against Oshimiri

"Ewoooh...heyyy,I have seen Jesus in my compound ohhh" he shouted as he ran out of his compound.

Jesse looked confused watching the man as he ran off

"Wait.. Please" he called out to the man

"Papa" Nnomma called out to her father as she ran out of the house she had witnessed the scene, she took a cautious step towards the stranger suspicious of him for he looked dirty and worn out his face covered with beards

For a moment Jesse thought he felt his heart fluttered as he watched her

"Hello"

He wondered why she watched him in such manner

He had a look of fascination while she had a look of fear and terror

"I come in peace don't be frightened "

"I know for certain you are not Jesus,why is my father calling you Jesus" nnomma asked in a cracked voice as she rubbed the chills away from her skin

"But then you saved my father from those masquerades ,how did you do it"

Jesse gave a light smile as he scratched his head lightly "I am not Jesus but I believe He has sent me here " he turned towards the direction where the old man took while running

"Why did he take off any ways"

Somehow Nnomma found herself caught in between the depths of his beautiful eyes "I...I need to go look for my father before they start calling him a mad man again" she muttered before she walked passed him turning several times to watch him.

Jesse eyes never left her retreating figure

"Wow"

He found it hard to believe in the midst of such a confused crises he was attracted to a girl and that was a first for him

Now he understood the saying if your left eye lead you to sin cut it off.

He walked back to his car and drove out of the compound.

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The old church building that stood out at the peak of the village had been abandoned for a few years now,the building was in need of critical renovation,the few wooden benches left was broken and had termites feeding off them,spiders had already claimed the tattered building as a territory as their thick cobwebs wrangled as much space as they could contain ,the wooden pew was broken ,sheets of papers littered everywhere ,there was dark spots on the ground ,as if someone body had been rolled in it even the pieces of wornout papers had dark spots.

Jesse bent down to take a close look at the ground

"Could this be blood"

The building reminded him of the temple of the Israelites after the invasion of king Nebuchadnezzar, the young pastor was yet to understand why he stopped in front of an abandoned church building splattered with blood surrounded with bushes around it.

"Son you are here because this is where I want you to be"

He heard that swift but very Audible voice, a word from the bible came to him suddenly

"Its in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for ,long before we first heard of Christ, got our hopes up ,he had eyes on us ,had designed us for glorious things, part of it all, God is working out in everything and in everyone"

Ephesians 1:11

Jesse was dirty and worn out as the journey was long and filled with spiritual welfares,still he knelt down in front of the ruined building and prayed

"Ohh precious God ,you told me you are sending me back to my root ,you alone know the best for me and the direction you want me to take,take the lead oh Abba father and I will follow you ,don't leave me half way ......

When Jesse was done in pouring his heart out he headed back to his car to get an anointing oil he needed to sanctify the place and hear what God has to say for he knew God was ready to work wonders, it doesnt matter how ugly the building was he was not interested in the ugliness of the building but the heart that are ready to receive him.

Jesse was not thinking of where he would spend the night knowing no where was safe

" I will send you a helper son,do not be afraid for I am with you till the end "

The voice spoke again

Jesse smiled "Thank you lord"