He Began With Eve - Hardcover

Heatherley, Joyce Landorf

3.89

36 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0849903599 ISBN 13: 9780849903595

Publisher: W Pub Group, 1983

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Portraits of five Old Testament women: Eve, Jochebed, Rahaba, Abigail, and Bathsheba. Joyce looks at each woman's unique gifts and shows how their trials and victories parallel our own.

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About the Author:

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, nationally known author, public speaker, and recording artist brings the special message of love and hope to thousands of men and women through her books, videos, music, and inspired presentations.

A graduate of Pasadena City College with a degree in music, Joyce also received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Azusa Pacific University. Through her 24 books, her film series (His Stubborn Love), speaking engagements, radio programs and national television appearances, Joyce has spread her inspired message of hope to millions of readers and viewers both in the U.S. and overseas. Her four record albums exemplify her musical gift and touch the hearts of people needing reassurance, hope and support in the trials of everyday living. There are over seven million copies of her products in circulation.

Quickly she moved through the immense and majestic forest. Only a few days before had she become aware of herself and her surroundings. All of it was still overwhelming, impressive, and completely captivating.

With her newly formed curiosity cresting within her, she longed to stop, to explore, and to study the wonder and grandeur about her. Instead, a greater urging about the unknown before her pushed her along at a hurried pace.

The unseen Presence, for that's what she had named Him, was just ahead, leading her deeper and deeper into the magnificent forest. He was gently persistent in urging her onward.

In truth, even if she had wanted to - and she did not - the woman could have done nothing but follow. He had been irresistible even though she'd not actually seen Him.

From the beginning of her awakening, she had instinctively understood how she would respond to Him. Catching and holding Him to her inner being without seeing Him or knowing who He was came easily, for she had simply known He was there and was drawn instantly to Him.

Effortlessly this first eager learner scrambled over ground that had never before been trampled by human feet. Joyfully she skipped and skirted around billowy trees that had never provided shade to any traveler. And exhilarated, she waded through the shallow part of a mighty river in the middle of the forest which no person had ever crossed. Intoxicated by the Presence, the land, and the pace, she continued her journey.

Once, with her dark eyes dancing, she called out, "Now where are we going? And what new, surprising wonder do You have to show me?"

That the Presence hurried on without a word did not trouble her, nor was she afraid. In fact, her fledgling trust and deepening love for Him was so strong that girlishly she giggled when He gave her no clues as to the secret promises of that day.

At one place, when she passed close enough to a small, flowering tree, she managed to snatch one of its white-petaled blossoms. Quickly she tucked it in on one side of her dark, luxuriant hair.

Time was not a reality for her, and since she had no sense of its passing, she neither knew nor cared how long she had walked that morning. Only now, quite suddenly, she found herself standing still along the edges of the forest.

Just before her, past the last fringes of foliage and down a slight hill, stretched an exquisite meadow. The scene was in direct contrast to what she had just passed. Instead of huge, regal trees, the meadow grew only a few fragile trees here and there. The ground was covered with long, soft green grasses which were delicately sprinkled with tiny pale pink, warm violet, and soft yellow flowers. And here and there magnificent butterflies with rich paintings on their wings added bright, darting flashes of color.

Ahead of her the Presence was still, so she inhaled the fragrant beauty of the meadow and began to fill herself with the details and wonder of this new place. Looking and exploring with her eyes, from the outer perimeter to the very center of the meadow, she was completely enchanted.

The meadow was set in a little valley, and fringed about with the dark green trees of the forest, it was so perfect she said aloud, "Presence, I'd like to stay here always...how wonderful it would be to sleep and wake in this meadow each day and night."

Then a happy thought came. "Did you make this place for me...was that Your intent all along?" She hoped she was right. "Is this Your gift to me? If it is, I shall lovingly care for it. How did You know I would love it so much?"

She would have carried on the one-sided monologue except she realized the Presence had slipped away, so she stopped. He'd return later. Now, she contented herself with giving full attention to her surroundings.

She began walking in the soft grass, still reveling in the wonder of her discoveries and picking some of the flowers. After a time she was startled by a sound which came from somewhere behind her.

It was a new sound. Something she'd never heard before. Someone's audible voice had called out a greeting to her, and she froze statue like in surprise.

When she finally managed to move, she turned slowly around and found herself facing the source of the sound. Even though she had never seen the Presence, she knew this creature was not He. Also, she quickly reasoned that this being was not a part of the land, the river, or the sky. In truth, he did not remotely resemble any of the land or sky creatures she'd observed. He was unique from all others.

She felt no fear or shyness, so she stood tall and poised before him. Calmly she appraised him with both her eyes and her mind. For a few awesome moments, they stood several paces apart and then, when he again found his voice, the man said, "You are so beautiful."

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