God?

God is an interesting topic to bring up. I remember when I was growing up, we were not supposed to talk about God or politics, particularly at the dinner table. Specifically, at someone else's house. At least, that rule was bandied about. I took it to heart. How odd that seems in retrospect.Wouldn't the family dinner table be a good place to throw out ideas without being shot down........ maybe even encouraged?

I remember coming home, after freshman year in college, brimming with excitement about my new-found faith in Jesus. I told my step-mother I had given my life to Jesus, that He is the savior of the world, that He loves us and died, rose from the dead, all for us. I hardly ever crossed my step-mother due to no small anger issues when she was not approving. However, I was incredibly excited about the free gift of salvation, payment on Jesus' part for the penalty for my sin. Eternity in heaven. I was good to go!

My step-mother said she had not sent me to college so I could give my life to Jesus, scream the Jesus part in your mind, and then kind of went off on a tirade about no God, etc. Hmmmm. That did not square with my reality, experience and more recent study of the Bible. No God no longer rang true for me. Big no no that summer, however. Still, my baby faith in Jesus survived that summer of stuffing my thoughts, dreams, beliefs. I had a love for my step-mother that defied logic; I knew it was from our Maker and Savior.

I want to shout from the housetops; God does exist, He is huge and great and good and love. Jesus really is the savior, loves you and me, paid the penalty for our sins by dying that shameful  death, and He is praying for us, even now. There; I feel better.

I'll share two things I am working on tonight.  Art for God's sake.