GOD ENCOUNTERS by JAMES STUART BELL

Author:JAMES STUART BELL
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HOWARD BOOKS
Published: 2009-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

I stomped from room to room shouting at the empty walls about the futility of religion.

* * *

During the drive, I could not help but see that spring was in the throes of rebirth, which only added insult to my grief. The rising sun displayed its beauty by spreading tendrils of ginger reds and carroty orange across the blue pallet of the heavens. The sky looked like a painter’s masterpiece. As I exited my car in front of the church, the twittering of birds and their babies announced new beginnings. Conversely, the echoing click-click of my heels minus the thump-thump of William’s heavy footsteps proclaimed death’s victory.

As I started up the stairs to the church entrance, my feet froze on the third step. Before I could turn and flee, the doors burst open, I heard the congregation singing, and several smiling greeters declared, “Welcome, we love you in the Lord.” I was like a fish caught in a net as a multitude of arms encircled me, pulling me into church.

God had me in the boat.

Week after week I returned and sat on the same pew where William and I had sat. The oak pew, however, offered only the coldness of dead wood. William had forsaken his promise of forever and had abandoned me. I felt emotionally naked.

Seeking answers for myself seemed to be the only solution. I bought my first Bible, a concordance, and a lexicon in order to study what I had always considered to be the height of stupidity—the Bible.

Hooked and landed, a captive audience, God was about to start my training.

His Holy Spirit chose a Friday-evening Bible-study service to turn my upside-down life right side up.

The pastor was teaching on God’s creation of Adam and Eve. Suddenly, he stepped out of the pulpit, brought a chair, and sat down directly in front of me. He later explained that the lost look on my face caused his reaction. He then reminded the congregation of when we made mud pies as children. He reached down and formed an imaginary figure before breathing into the make-believe form.

At that precise moment, the Holy Spirit entered my heart to reveal God’s existence. It felt as though someone had shoved me back against the pew. Quicker than an eye could blink, I knew the truth of our creation by God. More importantly, I knew to whom I belonged.

However, God was not through with me yet. It was just the beginning.

God began to answer every question I presented to Him, confirming what I heard and saw through the Scriptures. I discovered that the Bible taught on marriage, fidelity, friendship, family, raising children, neighbors, and so on. The knowledge I thought I had gained from self-help books paled in comparison to God’s truth and wisdom.

When God intervened in my life, His first act was to show me His creation. Then He revealed His everlasting love for me, and also for all of His creation.

Last but not least, He assured me that He would never toss me back out of the boat, no matter what I faced in life.

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