Hidden Flame (Acts of Faith Book #2) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Janette Oke

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

179 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Abigail loses everything and is left with little promise of a normal life. When she discovers the Messiah and joins his followers, she also discovers new meaning and purpose. Maybe she does have a future after all. But increasing persecution is scattering the burgeoning group "to the ends of the earth." And Abigail may have given her heart to the wrong man.Two suitors desire the lovely Abigail's hand in marriage. One is a successful Hebrew merchant and widower looking for a mother for his children. On the other side is the Roman soldier Linux, who is captivated by her winsome charm and could offer the sanctuary--maybe even the love--for which she yearns. But her heart has been captured by neither of these. Stephen, one of the leaders of The Way, has a character and a faith that move her deeply, but his outspoken preaching has marked him for assassination. Will her faith and courage withstand a heartbreak beyond comprehension? And then a glimmer of hope appears, one she never would have foreseen.

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 janvier 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441207388
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0259€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

A CTS of F AITH , B OOK 2

The H IDDEN F LAME
DAVIS BUNN JANETTE OKE
The Hidden Flame Copyright 2010 Davis Bunn and Janette Oke
Art direction by Paul Higdon Cover design by Jennifer Parker Cover photography by Mike Habermann Photography, LLC
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Some Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
E-book edition created 2010
ISBN 978-1-4412-0738-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
This book is dedicated to all our friends at
Bethany House Publishers
with heartfelt thanks for the wisdom, care, and creativity with which you bring our stories to the world.

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
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY -TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY -THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY -FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY -FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY -SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY -SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY -NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY -ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY -TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY -THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY -FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY -FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY -SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY -SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY -EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY -NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER O NE
Jerusalem, AD 33
A BIGAIL QUIETLY WITHDREW from the celebration and limped into the shadows coolness. Her leg throbbing, she eased herself down onto a stone bench by the courtyard s outer wall. Around her hummed the gaiety of wedding revelers. Never had she witnessed such joyous festivities. She felt as though the tension, the anguish, the uncertainties of the past weeks had been transformed. The group was not merely celebrating the wedding of Alban and Leah. There was a far greater reason beyond the joyful union of these two newfollowers of the Way.
They all rejoiced in the truth they had believed but that now had been confirmed. Their leader, the rabbi Jesus, had indeed risen from the dead, and there were eyewitnesses to the fact.
Abigail watched twelve-year-old Jacob as he danced back and forth among the merrymakers with a fervor bordering on hysteria. Abigail was still marveling that her brother was alive-whole and well. The time since the massacre of her family had seemed an eternity. A lifetime of feeling lost and alone. And just hours ago, she had caught a glimpse of the boy across the courtyard, and it was as if he too had been resurrected-a miracle that seemed like a dream. The very thought brought tears to her eyes once again.
Jacob must have felt her looking at him, for he turned as though seeking her. When their glances connected, he ran over to her, concern in his dark eyes. Why aren t you dancing too, Abigail? Are you not well?
I m fine, Jacob. And she was. Her injured leg hurt rather a lot, but just then she could feel nothing save the joy in her heart. Her beloved friend Leah danced with her new husband, Alban, in the circle of believers, and her brother stood before her. Her brother . I am only a bit weary, she assured him.
Shall I bring you something? He glanced at the wedding banquet table spread with flowers and greenery, all ready for the feast to come.
Suddenly she needed to touch him, just to assure herself he was not merely an apparition. She reached up to his shoulder with a tremulous smile. Perhaps some water. Thank you.
When Jacob dashed away, her attention returned to the jubilant crowd filling the little plaza. Could it be only six weeks past that our Lord died? The group of followers, already under suspicion, had locked themselves away, whispering solemn and frightened words to one another, checking anxiously about whenever they needed to enter the Jerusalem streets.
And then Jesus had appeared to them, afterward rising up into the heavens, only to have the Lord s own Spirit descend among them in a most stunning fashion-in wind and fire.
And now here they were, faces flushed, eyes bright, voices blending into song. The music of tambourines and flutes swirled upward once more, setting feet to dancing-a wedding festival for sure, but also a celebration of their Lord s resurrection and his parting gift to them of his unseen but unmistakable presence.
And the return of Jacob , Abigail whispered to herself with a little smile as she fanned her face with a palm leaf. How good it was to have so many reasons to celebrate. If only my leg did not hurt so . She reached discreetly beneath her robe to rub it. She would have loved to be among those dancing. She would whirl on and on around the courtyard. . . .
Here you go, sister!
Abigail couldn t help her little shiver of joy at the familial address coming from a lad she had thought lost to her forever. She smiled her thanks and took the earthenware mug but was unable to drink because her throat was closed up tight with emotion.
Jacob turned back to watch the clapping, singing throng. She nodded and motioned for him to go and join them. She could tell he was torn, but she gave his shoulder a little push. Go, Jacob. Dance for both of us, she managed to say through tears of joy.
He was gone in a flash, and she watched him join hands to weave in and out among their friends. Her dear friend Hannah was among them, a circlet of white flowers wreathing her head. Leah and her bridegroom had already slipped away to their bridal chamber.
Abigail roused herself. She should be assisting Martha and Mary, who were now bringing platters of roast lamb to tables stretching along the opposite wall. Sounds of laughter caught her attention above the general hubbub. One of the fishermen from the Galilee must have been telling an amusing tale. Though she did not hear the words, she couldn t help but smile again as the man slapped his companion good-naturedly on the back and they roared together.
She sighed and attempted to rise as she saw the women carrying earthen bowls of plump red grapes and ripe olives. She had helped prepare the dipping sauce made from dried chickpeas along with a dish containing fresh spring onions and coriander and mint. Inviting fragrances filled the cooling air.
Abigail, Martha called over to her. Come and take your place at the table. Though the voice was direct and curt, Abigail knew the heart. It was love that spoke.
I should be helping-
There are many more hands to do it. I saw you limping earlier. Now sit and eat.
As Peter rose from his seat to bless the food, Abigail moved reluctantly to a place at the women s table. She loved to hear him pray aloud, words addressed to Jehovah but ones of such comfort and insight.
Scarcely had she settled into her seat, however, when someone plucked at her sleeve. Nedra, from Herod s household, was crouching down beside Abigail. This was astonishing, for despite Leah s entreaties, Nedra s superior, Enos, had refused to permit her to attend today s celebration. Oh, Nedra. Leah will be so happy to hear that Enos relented-
But Nedra was already shaking her head. Panting so hard her breath puffed against Abigail s face, she leaned close to gasp out, Enos does not know I have come. They must leave. At once.
Abigail felt the words jostle in her head. Who do you mean?
Leah, Alban. They must go now . Nedra s eyes were wide, fearful.
Laughter spilled over them from the table s opposite side. The woman s agitation did not fit into the day. But Leah and Alban, they re-
Now! You must hear me. Nedra s fingers tugged at Abigail s robe. There is no time .
You don t understand, Nedra. They have gone to the bridal chamber-
Herod has already dispatched his guards. Nedra s eyes looked wild.
A voice from Abigail s other side said, Is something the matter?
She was relieved to find Martha standing behind her bench. Nedra tells me there is a danger. But I was trying to explain-
And I am telling you, they must flee . Nedra was on her feet, her arms waving wildly.
A young man named Stephen was suddenly beside them. Abigail could see the fine lines in his dark complexion as concern creased his forehead. Yet in spite of Nedra s obvious consternation, he exuded the most remarkable sense of calm. Please . . . Nedra, is it? Please tell us-
If Enos realizes I am gone, he will have me killed. Nedra wiped her brow with a shaking hand.
Then we can t allow that to happen. You must thirst if you ve run all this way. Martha, bring her a drink, please. Now then. Tell us what has happened.
Abigail saw the woman s shudder. Herod is dispatching his guards, she repeated hoarsely.
For Leah?
And Alban. Herod continues to seek vengeance on them both. They are to be brought in and given a hasty trial. And then . . . and then he will put them both to death.
You are sure?
I overheard the plans.
Is there anyone we can appeal to?
Martha arrived with the cup, but Nedra only held it.
No, she said. Pilate has left for Caesarea. Which is why Herod is acting now. Nedra s breath returned to its frantic spasms. I must return. Every moment I stay is a