God *IS* Love.

I sat awhile

this morning and

watched my little girl twirl.

Sometimes, I can't help myself,

and it's not just her,

the little one,

it is all of them.

I stare at their faces, 

trying to memorize

and record

and remember.

When I do,

I can't believe how 

much I love them

and how much good I want

for them.

Last week,

I had a very

disturbing

conversation

with an older man

who was very set in his views of God.

(I've been told that he is a respected Bible teacher.)

Hmmm.

He angrily assured me

via several scripture passages

and circumstances that at times

God is indeed deceptive,

and lies, and promulgates violence,

and kills people ~ and that,

at times, God commands 

us to do the same.

(Not allows, not forgives, but commands.)
His comments were so
scathing they virtually
stunk of fire and brimstone.
No love, there, for a fellow believer.
No humility, either.
 

I came away from that conversation

shaken for days.  Not shaken 

in my own view of God,

but shaken by the

wrath and anger of one

who thinks He knows God

but has missed the

most unique and powerful

Love Story 

of the world.

I determined to continue

to live that Love Story,

but to never again 

engage in contentious debate

with someone who views

God as Hateful.

I will never again

entertain a conversation

which says

that I am an enemy

of God or that

God chooses certain

people over others

(and condemns some to eternal

punishment and leaves them

without choice.)

Because of His good pleasure,

of course.
I, rather, believe
that God loves all,
and offers relationship
to all who would receive Him.
Jesus was the reconciliation,
the sign and sacrifice of
deep, forever, love.
His life, His death, His resurrection
fill us with hope,
not brimstone.

God created.

God was driven by love, 

from the very beginning.

Love creates.  He can't do otherwise.

I watch my children,

and I know my thoughts toward them.

It seems impossible to me

that some people think

that they are a better parent than

God.  They casually assign things

to God that can not be true,

for if they were, 

if He were human,

He would be a monster.

I believe that

God

is so much more than 

only a "type" of parent,

even more than a Creator.

And yet - he certainly is never 

less.