| Author | Message | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 992 Registered: 7-2007 |
What differences in your lives has leaving the Adventist church done for you? For me the most significant difference is this. When I was an Adventist, I looked forward to being in Heaven for the enjoyment I could get out of it. I looked forward to the things I could DO, EAT, EXPLORE, etc. and of course living forever! Now, the biggest attraction is God Himself! I'm still interested in the other things, but they've taken a back seat to just being with God!!!  How about the rest of you? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7386 Registered: 3-2004  |
I look forward to meeting Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit. I was saved from an almost accident that would have killed me and my unborn son a week before he was born. I want to meet the angel who saved me. I tell all you will find me sitting at the right foot of Jesus when we get to Heaven. As if I will be the only one doing that!!! As an adventist I was never sure I would ever make it to heaven. But if I did, I wanted to explore the universe and learn about the human brain, sing in the heavenly choir. I don't remember wanting to sit at Jesus feet. Diana (Message edited by Flyinglady on August 24, 2009) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10283 Registered: 12-2003  |
Now I do not fear death, and my life is no longer marked by existential anxiety. I have confidence and peace at many levels I did not know was possible. I've been startled to discover that I feel actual love, the emotion, for Jesus! I always assumed "loving Jesus" was a "decision" (ever heard that?). I thought it was a sort-of metaphor for deciding to "serve" Him--whatever that meant (usually living by the health laws and keeping Sabbath). Colleen | ||
| Insearch Registered user Username: Insearch Post Number: 60 Registered: 7-2009 |
I'm pretty new here, so I'm sure I have much more to experience, but I don't see it much differently. My big change came when I was in college 25 or so years ago. I was very depressed over my parents' divorce and a break-up of my own. I started drinking alone, just to forget and to turn my mind off so that I could sleep. After a while, I realized I had a problem. I called my dad (my mom was overseas as a missionary) and told him. I was scared to death because he "wasn't a Christian" anymore. Since I was 4, I had grown up with the idea that "a little child shall lead" (that verse is terribly taken out of context!!!!), and that it was my duty to get him back into church. So calling him to confess my problem was hard. He said, "Well, sounds like you need to take a break and come on home." That was it. No shock, no reprimand. He even took my brothers and I on a 5-day rafting trip (he was a guide), and then paid for me to go see my mom for 6 weeks. After that, I always looked at God that way. When I mess up, He says, "Why don't you come on home." That experience has made all the difference in my life. So, I always knew God would welcome me to heaven, and I've always taught my kids and my students that way. | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 648 Registered: 11-2004 |
There have been lots of changes, but the main ones are that I understand what grace means and experience peace that passes understanding. I don't focus on heaven much anymore either, but the here and now. | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1142 Registered: 11-2007  |
First of all I've learned the joy of being in the presence of God NOW - although not the fullness of what we will have then - but hard to imagine how amazing that will be. And once tasting that - what else is in heaven? Who cares. I hear Christians in my church now speaking of how wonderful heaven will be - in terms of how much more comfortable it will be - and yes, I'm looking forward to no more suffering. But even if there were still tears - if Jesus is there - give me heaven. Sondra | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 904 Registered: 7-2005  |
Every Saturday, as my husband drives off to church, I whoop and hollar, thanking God I no longer have to go with him and sit and listen to all the Adventist darkness and confusion. In the past few weeks, two people from hubby's church have died. I went to the funeral of one of them with hubby. I hadn't seen most of those folks for a couple of years and they were all very loving to me. But, sitting through that funeral sermon was VERY hard to do. It made me glad all over again that I don't have to sit through it any more on a weekly basis and that I've found my wonderful Presbyterian church. | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 685 Registered: 6-2005  |
Insearch what a great story! Makes me miss my earthly daddy! I had one like that too, and it makes it easy to picture God as saying, "come on home". | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1006 Registered: 7-2007 |
Another thing that's different, is that when I was an Adventist, I had no clue that a Christian could actually sense God's Presence with them. Several months after I got saved, I got to thinking that perhaps God would like it if I asked for His Spirit. So, wincing inwardly, because of the baggage of what Adventists are taught concerning the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, I asked for the Holy Spirit. A little while later - maybe a day or three - I sensed God's Presence. Since then, I've sensed His Presence with me - not constantly, but from time to time. It's so much better than the nothing I had as an Adventist! | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 26 Registered: 3-2009 |
I don't worry about "end times" and the "Sunday laws" anymore. I don't worry about losing my salvation over one unconfessed sin. | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 651 Registered: 7-2008  |
I worry if I got enuff oatmeal to get me thru the week. Animal |
