Payback Read online

Page 18


  If you want to learn more and have a balanced perspective on all this stuff, you’ll probably want to research the broader category of spiritual gifts. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, and they are important to learn about. Here is a list of books and Web sites that will help:

  Hearing God’s Voice by Henry and Richard Blackaby

  What’s So Spiritual about Your Gifts? by Henry and Mel Blackaby

  Showing the Spirit by D. A. Carson

  The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today by Wayne Grudem

  Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? edited by Wayne Grudem

  Keep in Step with the Spirit by J. I. Packer

  www.expository.org/spiritualgifts.htm

  www.desiringgod.org. Click on Resource Library and choose Topic Index. Then under Church & Ministry, check out Spiritual Gifts under Church Life.

  (Note: If you’re doing a Google search on spiritual gifts or dreams and visions, please make sure you type in Christian as well. This will help you weed out a lot of deceitful stuff.)

  As you continue to research and learn about spiritual gifts, always remember: the bottom line is to focus on the Giver, not the gift. God gives to us so we can glorify Him.

  Signs and wonders are not the saving word of grace; they are God’s secondary testimony to the word of his grace. Signs and wonders do not save. They are not the power of God unto salvation. They do not transform the heart—any more than music or art or drama that accompany the gospel. Signs and wonders can be imitated by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 24:24), but the gospel is utterly contrary to his nature. What changes the heart and saves the soul is the self-authenticating glory of Christ seen in the message of the gospel (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6).

  But even if signs and wonders can’t save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the shell of disinterest; they can shatter the shell of cynicism; they can shatter the shell of false religion. Like every other good witness to the word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines. Therefore the early church longed for God to stretch forth his hand to heal, and that signs and wonders be done in the name of Jesus.

  — John Piper, Desiring God

  About the Author

  MELODY CARLSON is the award-winning author or more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens. She is the mother of two grown sons and lives near the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon with her husband and a chocolate Lab retriever. She is a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

  PAYBACK

  PUBUSHED BY MULTNOMAH BOOKS

  12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200

  Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

  A division of Random House Inc.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

  The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2008 by Carlson Management Co. Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  MULTNOMAH is a trademark of Multnomah Books and is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Books.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Carlson, Melody.

  Payback : a novel / Melody Carlson. —1st ed.

  p. cm.— (The secret life of Samantha McGregor; bk. 4)

  Summary: Samantha works to prevent a senseless tragedy after she has a vision of violence at a prom.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-56153-4

  [1. Visions—Fiction. 2. Christian life—Fiction. 3. Proms—Fiction.

  4. High schools—Fiction. 5. Schools—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.C216637Pay 2008

  [Fic]—dc22

  2007044162

  v3.0

  Table of Contents

  Other Books by this Author

  Title Page

  Author’s Note

  A Word from Samantha

  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

  Reader’s Guide

  About the Author

  Copyright

 

 

 


    The Happy Camper Read onlineThe Happy CamperCourting Mr. Emerson Read onlineCourting Mr. EmersonThe Christmas Swap Read onlineThe Christmas SwapLost in Las Vegas Read onlineLost in Las VegasThe Christmas Shoppe Read onlineThe Christmas ShoppeBecoming Me Read onlineBecoming MeFinding Alice Read onlineFinding AlicePayback Read onlinePaybackAll for One Read onlineAll for OneUnder a Summer Sky--A Savannah Romance Read onlineUnder a Summer Sky--A Savannah RomanceFace the Music Read onlineFace the MusicCatwalk Read onlineCatwalkNever Been Kissed Read onlineNever Been KissedAllison O'Brian on Her Own Read onlineAllison O'Brian on Her OwnAn Irish Christmas Read onlineAn Irish ChristmasBeyond Reach Read onlineBeyond ReachFaded Denim: Color Me Trapped Read onlineFaded Denim: Color Me TrappedThree Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah Read onlineThree Weddings and a Bar MitzvahHere's to Friends Read onlineHere's to FriendsOn My Own Read onlineOn My OwnRiver's Call Read onlineRiver's CallNew York Debut Read onlineNew York DebutHomeward Read onlineHomewardLove Finds You in Sisters, Oregon Read onlineLove Finds You in Sisters, OregonViva Vermont! Read onlineViva Vermont!Notes from a Spinning Planet—Ireland Read onlineNotes from a Spinning Planet—IrelandHarsh Pink with Bonus Content Read onlineHarsh Pink with Bonus ContentPerfect Alibi Read onlinePerfect AlibiThe Christmas Pony Read onlineThe Christmas PonyAll Summer Long Read onlineAll Summer LongThese Boots Weren't Made for Walking Read onlineThese Boots Weren't Made for WalkingBack Home Again Read onlineBack Home AgainTorch Red: Color Me Torn with Bonus Content Read onlineTorch Red: Color Me Torn with Bonus ContentBitter Rose Read onlineBitter RoseSpring Broke Read onlineSpring BrokeSold Out Read onlineSold OutLimeLight Read onlineLimeLightDouble Date Read onlineDouble DateHomecoming Queen Read onlineHomecoming QueenA Not-So-Simple Life Read onlineA Not-So-Simple LifeMy Name Is Chloe Read onlineMy Name Is ChloeMy Amish Boyfriend Read onlineMy Amish BoyfriendOnce Upon a Summertime Read onlineOnce Upon a SummertimeLet Them Eat Fruitcake Read onlineLet Them Eat FruitcakeDeep Green: Color Me Jealous with Bonus Content Read onlineDeep Green: Color Me Jealous with Bonus ContentThe Joy of Christmas Read onlineThe Joy of ChristmasMemories from Acorn Hill Read onlineMemories from Acorn HillPremiere Read onlinePremiereA Mile in My Flip-Flops Read onlineA Mile in My Flip-FlopsAs Young As We Feel Read onlineAs Young As We FeelDeceived: Lured from the Truth (Secrets) Read onlineDeceived: Lured from the Truth (Secrets)Take Charge Read onlineTake ChargeRoad Trip Read onlineRoad TripA Simple Song Read onlineA Simple SongThree Days: A Mother's Story Read onlineThree Days: A Mother's StoryA Dream for Tomorrow Read onlineA Dream for TomorrowLooking for Cassandra Jane (The Second Chances Novels) Read onlineLooking for Cassandra Jane (The Second Chances Novels)Against the Tide Read onlineAgainst the TideYour Heart's Desire Read onlineYour Heart's DesireThe Christmas Blessing Read onlineThe Christmas BlessingLove Gently Falling Read onlineLove Gently FallingOn This Day Read onlineOn This DayThe Christmas Joy Ride Read onlineThe Christmas Joy RideCiao Read onlineCiaoThe Christmas Bus Read onlineThe Christmas BusBlade Silver: Color Me Scarred Read onlineBlade Silver: Color Me ScarredDating Games #1 Read onlineDating Games #1Double Take Read onlineDouble TakeFalling Up Read onlineFalling UpLast Dance Read onlineLast DanceWestward Hearts Read onlineWestward HeartsGlamour Read onlineGlamourCrystal Lies Read onlineCrystal LiesThe Best Friend Read onlineThe Best FriendProm Date Read onlineProm DateThe Christmas Angel Project Read onlineThe Christmas Angel ProjectRaising Faith Read onlineRaising FaithThe 'Naturals: Awakening (Episodes 1-4 -- Season 1) (The 'Naturals: Awakening Season One Boxset) Read onlineThe 'Naturals: Awakening (Episodes 1-4 -- Season 1) (The 'Naturals: Awakening Season One Boxset)Allison O'Brian on Her Own, Volume 2 Read onlineAllison O'Brian on Her Own, Volume 2Notes from a Spinning Planet—Papua New Guinea Read onlineNotes from a Spinning Planet—Papua New GuineaOnce Upon a Winter's Heart Read onlineOnce Upon a Winter's HeartDamaged Read onlineDamagedLock, Stock, and Over a Barrel Read onlineLock, Stock, and Over a BarrelHometown Ties Read onlineHometown TiesAnything but Normal Read onlineAnything but NormalJerk Magnet, The (Life at Kingston High Book #1) Read onlineJerk Magnet, The (Life at Kingston High Book #1)Damaged: A Violated Trust (Secrets) Read onlineDamaged: A Violated Trust (Secrets)Fool's Gold Read onlineFool's GoldGirl Power Read onlineGirl PowerForgotten: Seventeen and Homeless Read onlineForgotten: Seventeen and HomelessTrading Secrets Read onlineTrading SecretsBlood Sisters Read onlineBlood SistersBad Connection Read onlineBad ConnectionSpotlight Read onlineSpotlightA Simple Christmas Wish Read onlineA Simple Christmas WishLove Finds You in Martha's Vineyard Read onlineLove Finds You in Martha's VineyardAngels in the Snow Read onlineAngels in the SnowA Christmas by the Sea Read onlineA Christmas by the SeaIt's My Life Read onlineIt's My LifeMixed Bags Read onlineMixed BagsThe Christmas Dog Read onlineThe Christmas DogSecret Admirer Read onlineSecret AdmirerLove Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon Read onlineLove Finds You in Pendleton, OregonTrapped: Caught in a Lie (Secrets) Read onlineTrapped: Caught in a Lie (Secrets)The Gift of Christmas Present Read onlineThe Gift of Christmas PresentHidden History Read onlineHidden HistoryMeant to Be Read onlineMeant to BeThe Treasure of Christmas Read onlineThe Treasure of ChristmasJust Another Girl Read onlineJust Another GirlRiver's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series Read onlineRiver's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters SeriesThat Was Then... Read onlineThat Was Then...Burnt Orange Read onlineBurnt OrangeSpring Breakdown Read onlineSpring BreakdownThe Christmas Cat Read onlineThe Christmas CatChristmas at Harrington's Read onlineChristmas at Harrington's