| Author |
Message |
Raven
Registered user
Username: Raven
Post Number: 1062
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 5:45 pm: |     |
My thoughts and prayers are also with Toria's family. Toria's posts were always a blessing, and she will be missed! |
Indy4now
Registered user
Username: Indy4now
Post Number: 708
Registered: 2-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 8:44 pm: | |
I'm looking forward to meeting Toria in heaven... it's one thing to get to know others here on the forum... but can't wait to meet her in person. So glad I had the chance to be blessed by her life!
vivian |
Handmaiden
Registered user
Username: Handmaiden
Post Number: 98
Registered: 7-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 9:20 pm: | |
We are weeping here on earth knowing that we will never again see Toria’s smiling face or read her encouraging words on this forum.
We greatly miss her … her love, prayers and inspirational life … the sweet friend she has been to all of us...
She has left a very vacant spot in all of our hearts and lives.
But we are more than comforted with the fact that we WILL see Toria again !!!!
We are overJOYed that Toria even now is in the sweet presence of our Lord Jesus, beholding Him face to face.
What an incredible celebration is going on in Heaven as another one of the Redeemed enters the arms of their Savior.
To those dear loved ones that Toria has left behind, I want to tell you all again how very much she loves you and wants to see you again.
Toria’s God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living. She wants so much for you all to know Him too.
There is more to life than this. This life is just temporary. It is just a snap of the fingers and then we enter into eternity.
Death is not something a Christian fears, nor is it the end of life but the final transition into the real life we were created for...
...like a catapillar coming out of his coocoon into its real life as a butterfly.
Death is simply our graduation day from the "school" that this temporary life has been.
This life is where the free gift of salvation is offered to all mankind.
For those who accept this amazing gift, life has meaning and purpose and a reason for being.
Life is about knowing God, the Life Giver drawing near to Him and learning His ways, marveling at His sacrificial love for us
and the incredible real life He has created for us to enjoy with Him.
Yes, Toria loves you but Toria’s God loves you even more.
It is her heartfelt prayer that you would all know her Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation as she did. That you would all come to know and love your Creator and Redeemer even more as the days pass and that on your graduation day you would all be together again with Him living the life you are meant to live.
i too hope to meet you all there
much love
handmaiden
Whosover calls on the Name of the Lord Jesus will be saved Romans 10:13
. |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 2942
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 10:16 pm: | |
I am saddened to hear of Toria's passing. But I am also glad knowing that she is with JESUS now!
She will certainly be missed.
Jeremy |
Jrt
Registered user
Username: Jrt
Post Number: 737
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 12:13 am: | |
Toria was a blessing on this forum ... she was always giving - even in the midst of her own needs ... I knew that she would pray when she said she'd pray ... and she spoke truth boldly when it needed to be spoken. She was a blessing and I will miss her along with the others that love her.
It is good to know that she is in the presence of her King and someday I will join her there.
Keri |
Kathy23
Registered user
Username: Kathy23
Post Number: 62
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 9:30 am: | |
Toria was such a blessing. Always willing to pray for others on the forum. She will be missed.
Kathy |
Psalm107v2
Registered user
Username: Psalm107v2
Post Number: 391
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 10:12 am: | |
Our Sister has gone home to be with the Lord!!
I will miss her alongside with you all who have loved her over the past years
Can I brag and say I have a 4-fold connection with her 1 We are brother and sister in the Lord
2 We are both ex-sdas 3 We are both Canadians
4 Jamaicans and Newfoundlanders share a special connection because the cod that is caught in Newfoundland is used in our national dish Ackee and Saltfish which I often joke and say is the best food this side of heaven
To Toria's family if you see this please know that she was loved and we appreciated her so. Or if they are not in this forum I hope our messages are passed on.
Leaving the SDA church was a simple, not easy, but simple decision to make when I was confronted with the truths of the Bible. For several months after I struggled with the whole "dead know not anything" and finally acceptted the truth of the Bible-absent from the body, present with the Lord.
What a comfort it is to know she is with our Redeemer. Though she may have wanted to stay and we may have wanted her to stay as well she has departed to be with Christ- a much better gain than anything here on earth. I don't know quite how to wrap my post but I can't help but think God's promises are true and though we know that here on earth she knows that now in a way that is sweeter and more tangible than we can even imagine
Enoch |
Blessed
Registered user
Username: Blessed
Post Number: 334
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 1:35 pm: | |
It is with a sad heart that I write this post. Toria was such an inspiration to me through the short time that I got to know her on the forum. Because she was a Canadian sister-in-the-Lord we also shared a few emails back and forth. Her positive attitude through such a difficult challenge in her life was such an encouragement to me. I especially loved her priority for prayer. She shared with me in her last email that she was diagnosed with cancer when her son and daughter-in-law were expecting twins. She asked the Lord to give her time to hold her grandchildren. They are now seven. She seemed very at peace with her latest diagnosis and her burden was for her family. She is free from suffering and I so look forward to meeting her in heaven.
Blessed |
Clintonc
Registered user
Username: Clintonc
Post Number: 43
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 7:13 pm: | |
"Our Sister has gone home to be with the Lord!!"
Amen, Amen, Amen
I didn't know Toria, but I too was touched greatly by her story of faith. It is plain to see that she was loved greatly by all who knew her. I wish I had known her too. I hope and pray that all that are grieving here in our forum community have peace and healing. We can only imagine. No eye has seen, no ear has heard what Toria is seeing right now!
The truth about death is so comforting now, isn't it? Our sister in the Lord is absent from her body, and present with the Lord! |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 2944
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 10:26 pm: | |
Amen, Clinton!
I just came across this song again tonight, and thought I would share it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pdwj9FJsfA
Jeremy |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 2945
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 10:49 pm: | |
And if you liked that song, here's an even better one (by the Cathedral Quartet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o136YC34Nuw
Jeremy |
Gcfrankie
Registered user
Username: Gcfrankie
Post Number: 558
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 9:21 am: | |
I also did not know Toria well as I came on when she was in the throes of cemotherapy and soooo sick from it. I read her past postings and she showed to be such a loving person caring for others before herself.
When she left sda God gave her a very special spirit of her own and now He has called her home to be with Him as her work here on earth is done. She touched a lot of hearts here on the forum mine included.
Toria, would not want you to grieve for her but to celebrate her life and know she is safely home in to loving arms of our Lord and out of pain.
May God bless you all her family and friends.
Gail |
Rejoycing
Registered user
Username: Rejoycing
Post Number: 83
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 10:51 am: | |
I remember Toria's posts being filled with concern for others even while she faced illness. I miss her along with many others.
Joy |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 10225
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 12:38 pm: | |
Jeremy, thank you for the songs. Overlaying them onto my thoughts of Toria made me cry--in a good way.
Clinton, you are so right: the truth about death now is so comforting. When I remember how I was taught that our brand of "soul sleep" was such a "comfort" was just another of the deceptions. It never seemed comforting, but they always said it was, so I kept trying to think of it as a comfort.
In reality, it was terrifying--the idea of dying with no confidence of salvation and going into total non-existence (except in the memory of God) until the resurrection when I'd discover my eternal fate...it just never felt comforting.
Praise God--the truth really is comforting! As Paul said, we do not grieve as do others who have no hope.
Toria is with Jesus, and nothing--not even her own death--can separate her from His love! Praise God!
Colleen |
Seekinglight
Registered user
Username: Seekinglight
Post Number: 333
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 12:53 pm: | |
Jeremy, thank you for those songs. I love the Cathedrals, and I was sad when the pianist, Roger Bennett passed away from cancer a few years ago.
When I was in my early teens, I begged my folks to take me to their concert, and I'll never forget it! Looking back, I know that the H.S. was touching my heart and drawing me to Him through the music. It was one of those times that I was glimpsing little bits of the light of the Gospel as an SDA. Now, I completely & fully appreciate their lyrics. |
Asurprise
Registered user
Username: Asurprise
Post Number: 966
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 6:30 pm: | |
I too was touched by her faith story. The Lord is SO wonderful, the way He draws us patiently to Himself!
When I was an SDA, I could never understand what Philippians 1:21-24 meant, so I would just read quickly over it or skip that part entirely. It SO contradicted what the SDA church taught! Paul here is clearly telling his readers that he would prefer to "depart and be with Christ!" Now Toria is where Paul was longing to be!
I would like to urge everyone who's reading this, who is an Adventist or Catholic or any religion where the person has to DO something to be saved or stay saved; to ask the Lord to show him or her the truth - whether or not their religion is right or not. If you ask in all honesty, if you mean it; the Lord WILL show you the truth! |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 7344
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 9:00 am: | |
To Toria's family and friends. I miss her comments here on the forum. In the article she wrote for Proclamation she ended with something about how awesome God is. That has been my closing byline since I was told, by God, to attend the church I now attend. It was at this church I learned how awesome God is. And now
Victoria is in the presence of our AWESOME GOD.
Diana L |
Ardyj
Registered user
Username: Ardyj
Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 10:35 am: | |
Toria was such a special lady,and her walk with God was amazing. I look so forward to meeting her in Heaven! God be with her family and friends to comfort them and bring peace to their hearts.
Ardyj |
Olga
Registered user
Username: Olga
Post Number: 176
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 1:45 pm: | |
Like Diana, I knew the next thread on Toria would be about her going to meet Jesus. It is still sad to hear that she is no longer here with us. I don't write often but I read the various threads from time to time; Toria was one of those members here who through their great trials have shown even greater faith. Toria, your work here is done and so are your trials.
God bless all of Toria's family and her friends.
YOu, your courage, your kindness to others while yourself going through hardships and your great smile will be missed!
Olga |
Javagirl
Registered user
Username: Javagirl
Post Number: 677
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 7:58 am: | |
oh boy, I missed Toria so much yesterday. Its finally hitting me. I have prayed for her for so long, especially when waiting in line or something, and God always gave me lots of wait time.  . Anyway, I started praying for her yesterday as I had a 15 minute wait, then it hit me all over again...So please know, dear family of Toria, that I have switched my praying to you. I cannot imagine the void you feel.
Toria's name has been on my dry erase board in my prayer room for a long time, I couldn't bear to erase it, so it now says "Toria's family".
Im praying for the comfort of the God to surround you, and that many sweet memories surround you. I also pray that all who she loved come to know Jesus as she did. There is nothing like knowing Father God. Don't hesitate to pour your heart out to him, good and bad, anger, hurt and pain. He already knows it, He can handle it, and He can heal your pain! You cannot be with Toria in this life, but God offers you eternity to love her and Him.
Feel free to email me, I will send an email to the address I have used in the past,
Much love and prayers for you in your sorrow,
Lori |
