Delilah Read Online Free Page B

to respect my elders, but you have to give respect to get it. I think I better leave before we both say some things we’ll regret later.”
    â€œYes, you better because I might be old, but I haven’t forgotten how to throw down.”
    Michelle jumped up and intervened. “Ms. Dorothy, this is so not like you.” Michelle wrapped her arm around Dorothy’s shoulders and glanced in Delilah’s direction. “Delilah, I think you leaving now would be a great idea.”
    Delilah reached down and grabbed her purse. She had to pass Dorothy to get to the front door. “Let that be the last time you disrespect me. Elder or not, I have no problem kicking your behind.” Delilah heard the women murmuring as she strutted out the door.

Chapter 6
    Samson said a silent prayer before leaving his office to head to the sanctuary. “Samson, we need to talk,” his mom said before he could reach the entryway to the sanctuary.
    He turned around to face her. “Mom, is it life-threatening?” he asked, noticing the worried look on her face.
    â€œNo, but—” she said.
    â€œThen it can wait until after church. Love you.” He kissed her on the cheek.
    The soloist’s voice rang out the words, “So I’ll just say thank you, Lord…I won’t complain,” while the other ministers in the pulpit stood up and greeted Samson as he made his way to the center seat. There was not an empty seat in the church as people of all ages began to feel the Holy Spirit. As the song ended, Samson made his way to the podium. The music continued to play as Samson sang the words, “So I’ll just say thank you, Lord…I won’t complain.”
    He paused and said, “You know, sometimes you just have to say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ When your husband won’t act right, say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’” Shouts were heard throughout the sanctuary. “When your wife won’t act right, say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ When the kids won’t act right,” the people in the congregation shouted along with him, “Thank you, Lord.’
    â€œDon’t let that fire stop burning; we’re just getting started. Ushers, I’ll let you take over from here,” Samson said as he backed away from the podium and took his seat.
    Assistant Pastor Michael Monroe whispered in his ear, “We took up $5,000 in Sunday School this morning.”
    Samson wasn’t concerned about the money. He knew that as long as he preached the Word, the people would come, and he trusted that God would take care of all of the church’s needs. Money was the last thing on his mind as he mentally prepared for his sermon. The choir sang an A and B selection, getting the members spiritually ready to receive the Word. The pianist sang the hymn “Amazing Grace.”
    Samson, with his mind on delivering God’s Word to His people, eased his way to the podium. “Turn your Bibles to the fourth chapter of James. Let’s read verses one through three together. I’m going to use the New Living Translation.”
    The congregation stood and read along with him. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
    Samson asked, “Do you sometimes wonder why it seems God isn’t answering your prayers?”
    â€œYes,” could be heard throughout the congregation.
    â€œWell, ask yourselves, Where is God in my prayers? How does He fit in? Are we asking for things just to satisfy our earthly