| Author |
Message |
Rayna
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 4:11 pm: |     |
Thank you Susan. I feel you are definitely right. Adventist did have a lot of social activities, but you know what? I really don't want to get that involved anymore. I would just like a place to go and worship God and maybe get to know a few people. Right now I work every weekend. I have been thinking about going over to a church near here on a Wednesday night. Maybe I could meet some peope that way, and at least worship with them. Not sure what the future holds, am praying about it. Thank you for answering me. So thankful to hear from people that know how I feel as a former Adventist. May God continue to lead all of us in the right way. . Also I must continually hold to the truth of righteousness by faith and know that God accepts me in Jesus. |
RaynaKay
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 4:19 pm: | |
Thank you too Thomas. You are all so kind. I know there is some church out there where people are kind and not just talking about theology. Wish you all lived closer to me, but this is nice to have someone to chat with that knows how I feel and have found new churches to attend. I am just hesitant to do this. But I will find the courage to go one of these days. Thank you so much for your reply. |
Cas
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 4:52 pm: | |
There is a song that I would like to share the words to it. Usually the tears flow when I listen to it... By Greg Long, Mercy Said NO.
"I was just a child when I felt the savior leading.
I was drawn to what I could not understand, and for the cost of Christ I have spent my days believing that what he'd have me be is who I am.
As I've come to see the weaker side of me, I've realized that his grace is what I need.
When sin demanded justice for my soul, (chorus) mercy said No, I not gonna let you go, I'm not gonna let you slip away, you don't have to be afraid,.... mercy said No.
Sin will never take control, life and death stood face to face, darkness tried to steal my heart away. Thank you Jesus Mercy said No.
For God so loved the world he sent his son to save us, from the cross he built a bridge to set us free, but deep within our hearts there is still a war that rages and makes his sacrifice so hard to see.
As midnight fell on crucifixion day the light of hope seemed oh so far away as evil tried to stop redemptions flow, chorus Mercy said no.
And now when heaven looks at me it's through the blood of Jesus reminding me of one day long ago. |
Colleentinker
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 9:55 pm: | |
What a wonderful song, Cas.
Rayna, Richard and I had home church with our neighbors for two years before finding a church where we hear the gospel and experience the Holy Spirit's presence every Sunday. It's OK to try different churches, and if you feel drawn to visit one, like the one you mentioned thinking of visitng on Wednesday evening, do it. I believe that God directs us to the church we need just as surely as he leads us out of Adventism. His will for us is to be in fellowship and communion with other believers. He prepares us for finding a church, and if we ask for his direction and are open to the nudging of the Holy Spirit, he will help us find the one that's right for us.
My experience is that the presence of the Lord in the church services where we attend is so impacting and nourishing that it makes the social connections in Adventism pale in comparison. After all, social connections are superficial. Unity in the spirit is life-changing.
God already has a plan for your need to worship with other believers! |
Joni
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 1:22 am: | |
I still miss having people over for dinner after church and going to others homes, and spending the whole day together, even though I know, as many of you have said, we worship God everyday. It was easy at first because I didn't want to really know others in the church we started attended. I was invited by a client of mine, who is a wonderful Christian. I was her midwife and she wanted me to come to her baby's dedication. I went and loved it. But at the same time I was very cautious. We have been attending for 2 years now and I am just starting to trust and feel apart. Jesus knows each of our hearts and grows us accordling. For me it is slow and gentle. I love the Bible Studies during the week because not everyone agrees, but there is no attitude that one is right over another. It is so different from adventism. I am free to express how the Holy Spirit lead me and I can listen to others and think, hmmm that makes sense too. We all hold the same view as to salvation and the main issues. (didn't mean to get off track here)
Now I finally can be a part of this church I am attending and I think the reason is this forum. I found you not to long ago. But knowing I was not alone in some of the fears that you all are speaking about, is very freeing and I feel as if I can breath again. Thank you all. Before I did not talk about all this stuff. I guess this is why we need to share each others burdens and continue to uplift each other. It is healing.
It is so wonderful to know that God loves us. When I have fears I now go to the Gospels and read about Jesus. Everything He said and everything He did. How he forgave and healed and loved and cherished those around Him. This is where I find my hope and peace, my answers. |
Lydell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 5:23 am: | |
Rayna, I saw your post above voicing your concerns about the fact that you hear people talking about what God is doing in their lives now rather than the salvation aspect. You see, salvation is only the very first step on a long road. First we accept His freely offered gift of salvation, and for the rest of our lives we struggle with coming to understand who He has said we now are in him. We have become a new creation according to II Cor. 5:17.
That's where the daily walk and the talk about victories comes in. After our salvation we still have to learn about such things as living in His presence, how to become people who walk by faith and not by sight, prayer, the gifts of the Spirit, why it is that we can be a new creature in Christ and yet still struggle with stuff, how to have our hearts and minds guarded by the peace of Christ, how to love our neighbor as ourself. And in the process of learning those things, the Lord is all the while working on stuff inside of us. He has to break addictions, rebuild self-worth, teach us how to interact with people, help us forgive, and bring us to healing, and set aside any idols that remain in our lives so we can focus on Him. And of course there is always the matter of learning the great importance of daily being into prayer and Bible study.
I think all of us as Christians tend to talk about the final victories that God works in our lives. But far too often we overlook the importance of talking about the internal struggle with Him on getting there. Absolutely we find healing and victory. But along the way there is often much pain in learning to let go and let Him deal with stuff. We have to battle against the flesh, our pride, to open up and be vulnerable to His working inside of us. Understandably we don't like to talk as much about all of that as we do the final release and freedom. I'd rather talk about the experience of in an instant having His peace and the touch of His overwhelming love filling me, than I would the 3 year struggle with self-condemnation and shame that I had to work through before I got to that point! So, don't let the talk of someone being changed throw you off. Folks are just sharing the outward result of the inward work that God has done for them.
As was pointed out already by someone, it's the stories of the changed lives that get peoples attention and make them want to know about the "how" and then most important of all, the "who" did it. |
Morgan
| | Posted on Thursday, August 05, 1999 - 3:58 pm: | |
Lydell, what you say is so true. Jesus never stops pealing away the "layers of the onion" and revealing the next stage of growth we have to do. The difference now is that the growth doesn't happen with a sense of despair. Now growth actually happens, and we have the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit witnessing to us that we are with God even in our struggles. |
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