Introduction To God

Natalie stepped out of the water, wrapped herself in a big towel and stretched out on the grass near the purple lilac bush. She opened the towel and let it fall on either side of her as the fragrance of the lilacs filled her senses. She took a deep satisfying breath. The sun felt warm and relaxing. She was glad that she had found this place, on the edge of such a lovely lake. What made it even better was the total privacy of the entire back yard. There were five acres of woods along both sides of the lake which was part of her property. A few posted signs kept out all hunters but those she gave specific permission to. So there was little chance of strangers wandering through the area. Today she felt so peaceful and happy that she began to sing. It was an old hymn entitled “Victory in Jesus.” Though usually sung at a rather fast tempo, she sang it slowly, taking in and enjoying the sound of every word. Victorious was exactly how she felt. She had come through a long, difficult, drawn- out war, a war of the worst kind. The winning hadn't been immediate nor quick, but it was decisive and sure. There are consequences of war, of evil and defeat, she thought. But there are also consequences of righteousness and victory. I lost several battles and was hurt by evil, but God gave victory in the end. She was beginning to enjoy the consequences of victory. If only she had seen the enemies' most effective weapon for what it was and seen it much sooner. For so long she had possessed the ability to disengage it, but hadn't realized it. Later she resisted making the move she knew she would have to take, at least in part because she knew it would be painful. She didn't want to dwell on the “if onlys” now, but neither did she want to forget altogether. She wanted to learn from her experiences so she would do better in the future and not repeat the same mistakes. Her enemy had planned his actions very carefully, using cunning strategy to bring her down. She now realized that he had not only been after her but also her own precious daughter, Terah Lavine. His plan was to use Terah's own mother against her, without her knowledge. By separating the daughter from her mother, Natalie would be unable to provide the spiritual influence Terah needed. If he could destroy Natalie spiritually the spirits of despair could eventually do their work on both mother and daughter. He had already had some success in using Natalie's mother against her, so he continued with a similar method of action. This generational curse had been stopped and broken, however, with Natalie. God opened her eyes to what was going on and by the name and power of Jesus Christ it had been brought to an end. It was over! Oh, how free she felt! Everything she and her precious Edward had believed about God had proved to be true. With a joyful heart she dozed off and took a little nap. When she woke, she got up and followed the brick path to the large screened-in back porch. She went through the porch to the kitchen. After making herself a salad and getting a large cold drink, she went back to the porch and sat at the little table she had there. It was peaceful eating there where she could see and smell the flowers, watch the birds coming and going from the feeders hanging on low branches of a few trees, and watch the furry tailed squirrels scampering up and down the tree trunks. Many nights had been spent in Mrs. Sophie's small back room, not so very long ago, silent, hopeless, lonely nights with darkness pressing in on her. The Son had finally penetrated that darkness, however, and freed her mind and soul. Many things happened so quickly the night in which the darkness had almost overcome her. One day she had been enjoying the love of her family and a reunion with an old and faithful friend; the next day her world had been shattered. The man through whom she had learned more about love and freedom of spirit than she had believed possible was suddenly gone, stolen from her. She hadn't realized how much her faith depended on him until he was no longer there. Natalie got her first glimpse of Edward's faith, his kindness, and tenderness the day he began work on the gazebo in the rose garden, on the palace grounds. When she saw a large truck loaded with lumber pull onto the grounds she was curious and decided to go over and watch. Edward was already there setting up his tools when Natalie walked up. “Mind if I watch?” she asked, looking around at all the unfamiliar paraphernalia. “Not at all,” he said with a big smile. “That is, if it's all right with Her Majesty. But it will probably be pretty boring for awhile.” Then he stuck out his hand, saying, “I'm Edward Williams. I'm supposed to build a gazebo for the queen.” Natalie gave him her hand and said, “I'm Natalie, the queen's oldest daughter. I'll watch without asking Her Majesty's permission.” Her smile was clearly mischievous. At that Edward gently released her hand, looked at her with surprise and interest, then smiled broadly looking quite impressed. He took a step backward and gave a quick, curt bow. “By all means, Your Majesty,” he agreed. “Please,” she said, “I would rather be called by my name.” “Is that allowed?” he asked, still smiling. “I wouldn't want to lose my job or my head, or anything. I'm not accustomed to the rules of royalty, being an American, you see.” “Well if mother were here... ,” she hesitated for a few seconds, weighing her words. “Well, she would probably hold to formality, but she's not here,
so please give me a break and just let me be Natalie. If anyone comes around you can follow those silly rules so that no one gives you a tongue lashing and you don't get fired.” She gave him a helpless little sigh and shook her head. She turned to a rose bush, held a bright red rose between two fingers and breathed in its fragrance. She looked somewhat like a bird out of a cage enjoying its freedom. Edward watched her thoughtfully for a moment. When she turned again and looked at his eyes she felt he had been reading her from the inside out. Not in an immodest way, but reading her thoughts and heart. Natalie blushed. She had never met anyone like this unusual man. She felt that in only a few moments he had come to know something about her private self without being told a thing. Just then Susanne, one of the palace maids, came walking up with a tray of cold lemonade to offer Edward. As she started across the grass she tripped on an electrical extension cord which his power saw was plugged into. She fell straight forward, dropping the tray. Her chin came down on the glass pitcher as it shattered on the ground. She was cut deeply and began bleeding profusely. Edward instinctively ran to her, lifted her to a sitting position, then sat behind her, and leaned her head against his chest. With one hand he held the wound closed tightly. He maneuvered her as if he were working with a child. For a few minutes it looked as though he forgot anyone else was around. Automatically he began praying, like it was the most natural thing in the world to do in such a situation. “Please Father God,” he prayed, “stop this bleeding, remove the pain and cause this wound to heal quickly. Please Father, in Jesus' precious name. Thank you so much. Thank you.” Susanne submitted to Edward' s control, as he acted so quickly, seeming to know exactly what needed to be done. She was frightened by her own blood. Though wincing a little and crying from the pain, she gave him no resistance. The blood that had been running between Edward's fingers and down his forearm stopped as soon as he finished praying. The maid looked up, wide-eyed with amazement and whispered, “It stopped! The pain just stopped! I don't feel it!” Edward smiled caringly and slowly began lifting one finger at a time from the wound he had been holding tightly shut. With his other hand he unbuttoned his shirt and began working to get it off. He looked at Natalie with a look that she understood was a request for assistance. She felt embarrassed but hurried over to help, leaving him only in his undershirt. He lifted his last finger and using the inside of his shirt began gently wiping the blood from the maid's face. Susanne sat there like a trusting child in its father's care, an astonished expression on her face. Natalie watched this whole procedure in awe. By now the gardener who had seen the crash and how badly Susanne had been bleeding, was running across the garden with the doctor, who was on the royal staff. The doctor immediately began demanding, “Here! Here! Out of the way now! Let me see! Le me see!” As Susanne rested against Edward, the doctor examined the large cut. “No glass in it. Doesn't seem dirty. That's good. Well now, sit very still while I pour in a cleaning solution, just the same, just to be sure.” Having done this, he spoke with a look of confusion. “I don't understand why it has already stopped gaping, when it was so large and so deep. I saw the bone when I first looked, before I opened the solution. Doesn't make any sense why it's suddenly closing up. We'll go over to the clinic just the same and stitch it up. Susanne turned and looked at Edward. Her eyes were bright and she was smiling as if she had just found a happy secret. “No!” she said to the doctor. “That is, no sir, no stitches please. Just put a bandage on it, if you will.” “Now listen, Miss. You don't want an ugly scar, do you? You have been cut deeply on your face. We need to take care of it properly.” “I'm fine, thank you,” she insisted.” She now looked as if she were about to burst into laughter. “It's already begun to heal, as you can see, doctor. It won't need stitches. Are you going to put a bandage on it?” “Of course!” he said gruffly. “This is too deep to be left uncovered. But who is the doctor here, me or you, young lady? I guess I know my business and I say we stitch this up as soon as we get inside.” Susanne looked at him with a twinkle in her eye. “Why isn't it bleeding, doctor, and why is it nearly closed up already?” “I can't explain it, for a fact,” he admitted, looking amazed himself. “How deep does it look now?” “I tell you it was cut to the bone. I could see the bone when I began to examine you,” he said as he covered the wound with a bandage. “You can't really tell by looking at it now, but it certainly was. Normally it would be gaping, and beginning to swell. Hmm... interesting; quite amazing. Why, it's nearly closed!” Susanne smiled politely and stood up with Edward's help. “Thank you, doctor,” she said. “I'll clean up and get back to work now.”
She reached over to Edward, gave him a quick wink, whispered thank you, and nearly ran back to the palace. Natalie searched Edward's eyes as the other servants were now cleaning up the mess. The doctor sat bewildered, staring as Susanne hurried through the garden toward the palace. He stood, then exclaimed as he gathered his medical kit, “Well, I never! Of all the stubborn, disrespectful, strong willed... . I'll not be responsible if she gets an infection or ends up with an ugly scar on her face! But then...” he said in almost a whisper, “I've never seen anything like it!” He left shaking his head and looking as if in deep thought, rubbing his chin unconsciously. “I... I better get to work,” Edward said to Natalie. “if I'm going to earn any pay.” He smiled into her searching eyes, stood up and walked to his truck for a clean shirt. Everyone else was leaving in silence. Moving quietly, Natalie followed him. She came up behind him and spoke in a barely audible voice. “I'm scared. What did you just do back there with Susanne?” There was a loving look in Edward's eyes when he turned around. “Thank you for helping me with my shirt, Natalie,” he said. “I suppose that was beneath the position of a princess, but thank you. All I did was pray. God chose to help your maid, who is really one of his own creation and equal even to you, in his eyes. He's kind and loving like that, Natalie. He loves to take care of his little ones.” She liked hearing him say her name. She felt confused, yet quieted all at the same time. She felt she had stepped into a reality she had never known existed, but one she never wanted to forget or walk away from. She looked away in deep thought, yet had no clear thoughts at all, just a profound awareness. She walked slowly to the white iron bench near the trellis, feeling warm and reverent, and sat down. Edward followed. “Natalie,” he spoke her name tenderly. “Are you okay?” “Yes, Edward.” It felt good to say his name. “You must work, but I'll be back at the end of the day and you will tell me, won't you?” “Yes.” “I'll be here,” she said. “This evening at eight on the other side of the garden by the fountain. Is that okay?” he asked. She just nodded thoughtfully, smiled, got up and slipped away. Remembering that first encounter with Edward Williams moved Natalie deeply. She sighed and brushed away a tear. It was not only sadness that she felt, but deep joy in knowing that in her lifetime she had enjoyed more love and beauty than some folks ever know. “Oh, Edward,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and smiled. It was as if, for Natalie, heaven was within earshot and she expected him to hear her. “You are not just in my past,” she said aloud. “You are part of my forever. I'm so glad that I know it now.” Tonight was the night that Mirah was to call her at midnight, so she decided to change from her swimsuit to a comfortable, loose dress, lay on the sofa and continue looking back. It seemed that looking back over the past seven years was like putting together puzzle pieces that began to make sense as they connected. She was sorry for the times she had been blinded by pain and bitterness, but thankful for the way God had opened her eyes and returned life to her. She went inside, showered, changed and refilled her glass. She then made herself comfortable on the sofa. Even being this comfortable seemed a luxury to Natalie, not only because of the hard little bed she had slept on for so long but because of the stress and tension her body had been under for such a long time. She had gotten so used to being tense that she wasn't even aware of it. Now her body felt light and soft as she lay down and continued to reflect. She had arrived at the garden fountain at 7:30. Her mother, having retreated to her chambers early to bathe and meditate before retiring, Natalie found it easy to slip out unnoticed. She had a lot to think about and could use a little quiet time to herself. The sky was filled with stars and the softcolored lights on the fountain made the whole scene breathtakingly beautiful as she sat there alone,. I don't think mother is even aware of all the beauty around her, she thought. She hides herself away in her isolated world, in her chambers, so much of the time. She's ordered a gazebo built, but w ill she ever go outside and use it? She probably just wants it for outward appearances. Mother w ill probably never even meet the unusual man who is going to build her grand edifice.” Looking back she wasn't sure if she had fallen in love with Edward that morning or that evening, but she was sure it had been that first day. In less than an hour of meeting him, she felt safe with him. She trusted him completely, which was unusual for Natalie. As she waited, Natalie had a sense that this evening was going to change her life; that she was about to receive the information she needed to find her purpose for being. She thought about Edward's connection to God. Communicating with him seemed so natural for him. She sensed that this was how it was supposed to be for her too. Up to now her life was empty and superficial. She felt that there was a purpose in life that she and so many others were ignorant of, but that Edward knew what it was and tonight he was going to tell her.
Natalie found herself speaking softly into the night sky. “God, there's something you want me to know. There's something Edward has. I'm supposed to have it. Please tell me. Help me understand.” Then she remembered something she had heard Edward say, earlier that day, at the end of his prayer. Although she didn't know why he had said it or what it meant, she added, “In Jesus' name. Thank you. Thank you very much.” What Natalie didn't know was that Edward had come to the garden early himself. Upon seeing her sitting on the bench, while still some distance away, he stopped, sat down behind a rose bush and did some praying of his own. Putting his head between his knees, he prayed silently, asking God to give him wisdom. He had been quite moved by Natalie. He felt he had just met one of the most wonderful and beautiful of all God's creations, so tender and delicate. He did not want to do anything that might break or wound her in any way. He found himself feeling very inadequate. “Dear God,” he prayed. “Please give me the words I need to say. Help Natalie to understand and reveal yourself to her.” He checked his watch at 7:55 and started toward the fountain. He walked slowly, admiring how beautiful she looked in the moonlight, the softcolored lights surrounding the fountain, sparkling like little jewels behind her. She looked as pure and innocent as indeed he felt she was. Her dark hair lay loosely over her shoulders. “She looks like an angel,” he whispered to himself. Edward knew God had sent him to her for a purpose of his own. Now he needed to stay focused. As he grew closer he heard her little prayer. He smiled to himself and walked around the bench where she could see him. She instinctively held out her hand. It was an unconscious gesture, as if reaching out for what her heart was about to receive. He automatically took it, and after sitting down beside her, covered it gently with his other hand. It was a spontaneous reaction that symbolized protectiveness. He had smiled at her as he approached; now he looked at her seriously and asked, “What do you want to know, Natalie?” He released her hand and she lay it carefully in her lap, looked at it and answered, “Everything.” “You know nothing of God, do you?” he asked quietly. “No,” she said, “only what I have learned today.” “What is that?” “That there really is one, and that he is kind,” she answered decisively. “You learned this just today? How?” “Because I saw the two of you in action today. I saw what he did when you asked him to.” A pleased smile spread across Edward's face. “And what else have you been thinking?” “That there is a purpose that he wants us to know but most of us are ignorant of. You know it and you are going to tell me.” She spoke so matter of factly and with such sincerity that Edward couldn't help but smile again. Such pure faith! he thought as he looked into her expectant eyes. How amazing! He stood up, walked over to a large bush and stood there facing it for a minute with his hands on his hips, then picked a couple leaves from the bush, fiddled with them a few seconds and said, “Oh, yes, Natalie, there is a real God. There is only one real, true and living God and he certainly does have a purpose... for the leaves on this bush...” He paused and gingerly fingered a rose petal, saying, “... for every flower that blooms, every bird that flies, the air we breathe, everything... but especially for mankind. I know, Natalie,” he said, after walking back to her and kneeling on one knee in front of her, “that he has a great purpose for you.” Her eyes had grown large as he began this discourse. She was taking in every word, ready and anxious. “As a matter of fact,” he continued, standing up again, “all of nature that we see around us was created by God for man's benefit. He created the earth and on it he put a garden far grander than anything we've ever seen. Then he created the first man and woman and placed them on it.” On and on he went, describing the creation and God's purpose for man, with words that seemed to paint each scene in Natalie's mind. Edward spoke with such earnestness and deep feeling that she almost felt he had truly been there when it all took place. Then came the part where Eve was tempted and sinned. “My mother has been tempted to be as God,” she spoke her thoughts aloud. “She thinks she is above everyone and I think she would do almost anything to have all power. When she does anything good for her subjects, it is only to keep them from making trouble or to gain their praise and adoration. She doesn't really care for anyone. She is only a human, but she doesn't seem to know it. They could all rise up against her and put her in her grave if they decided to. She should love them and appreciate their loyalty. Instead she thinks herself superior. I don't really like my mother. At times I think I hate her and all she stands for. Why should one person rule another? We are all carried in our mother's womb and born weak and vulnerable, even the mighty queen.” “Mighty queen” she had emphasized sardonically. “My mother has done like Eve,” she said seriously and with a touch of disgust.
Up to now Natalie had listened silently to Edward. Now he was silent as she spoke. With this little outburst, he could see that she was considering his words carefully. She had also revealed a lot about herself. “You have very honorable opinions.” He spoke softly and carefully, knowing that she had just shared an important part of herself with him, that surely she would not be able to speak freely and openly otherwise without fear of retribution. “I can see that you've given these things much thought.” She smiled shyly, unaccustomed to speaking her mind so frankly. “No man should have to be the servant of another man. Each of us should serve God and God alone. But it is also true that we've all been tempted by the same tempter and we've all sinned. God's enemy still desires to defeat him and to hurt him by hurting the people he created and loves. The same one who tempts your mother to live selfishly and pridefully tempts you to hate her. He would incapacitate you by filling you with the poison called 'hate' if he could and destroy you in the end.” Natalie suddenly looked shocked. For a moment Edward feared he had not been gentle enough in his approach. Then with a sad countenance that caused Edward's own heart to hurt, she nodded understandingly and said, “This enemy is very cunning, isn't he?” Edward was relieved to see how quickly she was able to receive and understand. “I am tempted in many ways myself,” he went on. “When Eve sinned by her deed of disobedience, sin entered her body and God separated himself from her. He is holy and pure. He will not allow himself to be polluted by evil. His Spirit would not dwell in her and commune freely with her while sin was in her body. “God had promised death to anyone who would eat of that tree, but he also made a promise that one day he would send a savior who would pay their debt for them. There would be one man who would live without sinning and die in the place of all others.” “Death is separation, Natalie, and God, separating himself from the man and woman he loved, was the worse kind of death they could suffer. Like corrosion may stop the flow of electricity, so sin stopped the flow of fellowship between man and God. Eve's mind and spirit, which are inside her body, were automatically separated as well. When she aligned herself with God's enemy, it was like a woman committing adultery against her husband.” Natalie nodded understandingly. Edward went on to explain how that, later on, God had imposed laws upon his people and the purpose they served until the Savior would come. He explained the awesome plan of salvation. He told Natalie how God the Father had loved man so much that he was willing to send his son to give his life. He told of the love of the Son to be willing to give up his deity, become man, and suffer abuse at the hands of those he had created himself and had come to die for in order to save them from their sin, there separation from himself and the Father and from eternal punishment. Big tears began to well up in Natalie's eyes. Her mouth tightened and her heart began to beat hard. He told her how Jesus was willing to let men beat him and crucify him because it would mean reconciliation of God's creation to himself; how that he rose from the dead, never to die again. “In this way,” he told her, “Jesus made the way for all of us to live again, with him, forever.” As Edward spoke of eternal life, the tears began rolling down her cheeks. She put her face in her hands and cried quietly. Never had Edward seen such a receptive heart. “It is the same today, isn't it?” she asked and lifted her face to look into his. He sat down beside her and simply said, “Yes, it is.” “This salvation, this forgiveness, you say it is for everyone, which means it is for now and it is for me, isn't it? This is what I was to learn tonight and what I need. Is it not? I too may be made clean and serve him?” She was looking hard into his eyes, this new revelation stirring her whole being. “What amazing love this is, Edward! I have never seen any earthly father with such love, one so pure, so sinless, willingly taking the place of others and the punishment for the sins of those who hurt and rejected him! What love! What incomprehensible love!” “Yes, it is, Natalie.” he said tenderly, trying to control his own emotions. “Tell me how then, please, Edward. I must come to him now! I do not want to add to his pain for another minute.” He took both of her hands into his own and taught her how to pray for this great, free gift of salvation. First she wept for sorrow, then shame, and finally for joy. Edward stood up again. He walked to a grassy spot not far from the pool, lifted up both hands toward heaven, looked up into the sky and said, “My father! My father! How I thank you! How I love you!” Natalie came to him with a smile that shined from deep within her soul, through her eyes and illuminated her whole face. She exclaimed,“Edward, I feel so clean, so new, and so free! He is my father now too, isn't he?” “He is your father. You are his child.” Natalie smiled a little shyly, put both of her arms straight out on either side, turned once in a slow circle, then threw her head back and laughed.
Edward stood watching, both hands now on his hips and laughed too. She looked like an angel about to take flight. “Natalie, the Bible says that all the angels in heaven rejoice when one soul is born into God's kingdom. There is a lot of rejoicing tonight.” “The Bible?” she said questioningly. “I have heard of it.” “Yes. It's the book containing the words of God.” He showed her his own small Bible. “What I've told you about is written in here.” He explained about the men who penned the words of scripture. “How many angels are there?” “I don't know exactly, but many thousands, probably millions or billions.” “They are all happy tonight because of me?” “Yes. They are rejoicing.” She twirled around again, laughing and saying, “Thank you, God!” Then she stopped and came and stood close to Edward. She became very serious and looked lovingly into his eyes. “Thank you so much Edward,” she said with such warmth and expression in her eyes, that, as he confided later, it was a strong temptation to kiss her. Having the same impulse, she placed one finger on his lips for only a second, then asked, “You will talk with me again, won't you?” Looking deeply and steadily into her eyes, he answered, “Of course, but for now, maybe you better go inside and get some rest.” She smiled again and said happily, “Rest? Oh, yes, tonight I will rest better than I ever have for I have found purpose and peace.” She laughed again. “Thank you, Edward, you will never know...” At that she took his hand, brought it to her lips and gave it a little kiss, turned and hurried off, turning once to wave and say “thank you” again. “See you later. Sleep well.” Then she slipped away. Edward followed from a distance till he saw she was safely inside. Natalie fell asleep there on the sofa, enjoying these beautiful memories. The ringing of the phone woke her at about 8 in the morning. She sat up with a start and reached for the phone. This would be the call from Mirah.