| Author | Message | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Maryann, God bless you, precious soul. Since you are a "little child in Christ," I want to quote Jesus to you, only slightly modified and personalized. Matthew 18:1-6, NIV: ******* At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called Maryann and had her stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like Maryann, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like Maryann is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whosoever welcomes Maryann in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes Maryann, who believes in me, to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Jude | ||
| Maryann |
I can't sleep, But I'm not humble. If you look up blow fish in the dictionary, you would see me. If I dumped 1/2 of my pride on a battleship it would sink. Pride is not just a male thing it's a female thing too. Thank you for the personalized quote. But could that possibly apply to someone over 6 years old? It really slapped me back in my chair and gave me goosebumps and foggy glasses. I guess I'm angry. I'm mad that there isn't a warm bodied FAFer in the Las Vegas area that I could eye to eye and study with and study with Mom too. I'm so alone here. I sometimes feel like driving and going till there are no more roads. How could there be 1.2 million people here and NO formers. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I think I'll go try to digest that chapter in Matthew. Thank you again. I thought of another question. You know the big deal we as SDAs put on the "kneeling" till you had spurs on your knees to get God to listen? Is it prayer to be sorta conversing with God like he was a friend as you do your stuff all day? You know, not anything reverent, just talking in your mind? Maryann | ||
| Lydell |
Maryann, I became a Christian when I was 7. So I have literally grown up with God being as real to me as the air I breathe. I can tell you from my own experience that yes, most definitely what you are describing is the kind of prayer that God most wants. And that is us communing with him every moment of the day. What good would it possibly do you to talk to him and tell him how annoyed it makes you when your mom asks, "are you reallly a Christian" hours after the fact? How could he possibly give you useful input on how to handle the conversation hours after it is over? See, you are a little child in His eyes after all. You have already been learning something valuable without realizing it! The biggest problem with knowing how to answer stupid things people say to us is that we have to listen to the promptings of the spirit. It's a bit hard to do that at first while the other person is talking to you. That's why a special time of private prayer, and oh please pay attention to this part: LISTENING to his response, is so vitally important. It's during those times of being in a quiet place alone with him that you learn to recognize his voice and his promptings in directing your thoughts. We're not talking about something freaky or off the wall here. What kind of conversation is it that you have with God if you are the one always doing the talking? Yes, He speaks to us through the Bible absolutely most definitely. But all those precious things he has to say to us are just words on paper if we don't allow Him the time and place to bring them to mind at the moment that they are needed. If you just read the Bible and talk to him, you are going to begin to feel fragmented in a hundred different directions. Your mind is going to be constantly in a turmoil of asking, "well God, what about baptism, what about praying all the time, what about EGW, what about this stupid insistance on only the KJ version, what about lifestyle, what does happen to us when we die, what about...." Criminy, what chance do we give him to unravel the confusion when we do that? We MUST shut up once in awhile and listen to the answers to the questions! Maybe you are at the point where you need to get alone with him and vent all the frustrations. Make a list on paper of your questions. Yeah, I know, this could take a loooong time. But then step back and look at it and ask him to show you what his issue for you at the moment is. What does HE want to talk to you about? What does HE want you to focus on right now? Ask Him to take all your bubbling of intersts and bring them down to a simmer. If you are getting the impression that this could take some time, you are right. You can't just rush in and give it 10 minutes and then be off again. You have to give your mind time to settle down a bit so that you can focus on him. It gets easier the more you do it. It's during those times when I can step back and shut up that the Lord can give the clearest direction to my thoughts. And that's when it is back to the Bible study time again. I'm just saying that this daily alone time with him is how you are going to get to know him personally. Sounds like you need that time of peace with him to refresh you so that you can go back into the battle of being around your family. YOU can't change their minds. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. And, we just don't like to face the fact that we make a very rotten holy spirit. But hey, he got through to Maryann and Lydell, so He CAN make headway with them. The only thing you can do is allow Him to teach you to recognize his voice (his promptings) so that you will know specifically what to say to them. We can talk to someone for days saying every most brilliant thing that we know to offer. We can hit them with every scripture applicaple to the subject. We can lay the subject out to perfection. But if it is us doing it, they won't hear a word. But often it can be just a short one sentence that the Holy Spirit gives that will rock them on their heels and start them looking at Him. And after all, that's really what you want, right? | ||
| Lydell |
Maryann, I'm reminded of the day when my son was 9 and we were having a class on how to do long division....yep we homeschooled for 16 years. I had v-e-r-y carefully taken him through the steps 3 times on the same problem to show him how it was done. This was probably something like day 25 on long division and he wasn't getting it. Finally I got done with the example and said okay, now do you have any questions. He turned and looked at me and asked something like, "Yeah...I've just been trying to figure something out...how many flies do you think a frog would have to eat before it exploded?" Okay, as vitally important as it must be for a 9 year old boy to understand the anatomy of a frog, what he desperately needed to know at the moment was how to do long division. Actually at the moment he didn't realize how dearly important it was that he give the correct answer to mom's question to avoid his own inability to sit down comfortably for a few hours. Talk about instant mom headache!! It didn't matter that I was the world's repository of knowledge of long division at the moment. It profited the kid nothing because he was dwelling on frog guts. Your answer to how to answer your mom's ridiculous comments will be to get your mind off frog guts and focus on God's long division lesson. HEY.....you're dwelling with enough heavy stuff, I just thought you could use a laugh, okay! Seriously tho, our pastor has a phrase that he has been trying to teach us to use when life is seeming enormous: I am NOT going to let THAT steal my joy in the Lord! Simplistic? Yeah. But it does put satan on notice when stoutly spoken out loud that you realize that the Lord is bigger than the THAT you are facing. | ||
| Maryann |
Thank you Lydell, I just read your last post, but I already have this written and youíre getting it dumped on you. By the way, how many flies will a frog hold before it explodes? Mom doesnít understand the heart of an apologist. I have a BURN for the deceived way more than for the lost non-Christian. Iíve been there! Iíve seen the lives of THESE people destroyed. I didnít have many friends because of the small group of people we hung with, you know, the Wright people. The two that were my best friends and were like brothers to me were driven to their deaths by an inconsistent, legalistic religion. Another one is so screwed up in the head that he has been on welfare most of his life even though as a tree surgeon, he can make 3 to $800 a day. Iím not sure what his sisters are doing. Another guy is the most wonderful guy I know. He is a bit older that most of the kids were. He is very successful. He is the most wonderful Christian one could meet. He, I believe comes close to being able to stand before God without a mediator! Iím serious. Awesome guy. Heís such a thrill to be around. But a lot of his siblings are out of the faith One guy that should have been killed in a car accident is thumbing his nose at God. His Dad is one that is close to standing before God without a mediator too. Wonderful Christian. This one gal is so far gone itís unreal. I havenít heard from her in several years, she may be dead from drugs etc. I think all of Fred Wrightís kids are away from religion. These are the people that I BURN for. And their parents. But they are dug in like my Mom is. I have so much to LEARN in so SHORT a time! I just want to tear my hair out. Now I have to go back to work full time due to some other things going on and that will cut down study time a lot. I feel like Iím facing a sheer, icy wall with a polar bear at my heels. THEN....... I get these doubts about God. I fully believe there IS a God. BUT. Is He just some sadistic fiend that is up there somewhere playing with us like a cat does with a mouse? Every time a Christian dies does he go, ìhaa haa haaa, I got another sucker to be miserable denying himself all his life just to die and never know any kind of conscious existence againî. Or, ìhaa haa haaa, that person that every one thought was going to hell got to enjoy his life and heís not going anywhere eitherî. Or, ìI really tricked the world into believing the Bible and it was just a hoax, I know the end from the beginning, so I can make the Bible writers say anything I want them to, to deceive the worldî. If God is capable of creating the world, he is capable of having the Bible say so many different things to so many different people so as to cause so much strife (like at my house) that he can sit up there and laugh his head off watching generations fight like roosters at a chicken fight. This could all be a game for him? Jesus could have been the sealing of the hoax, you know, to get people to really swallow all this by raising him from the dead and having him evaporate into thin air. Is this earth just a chess game? In a way, I feel awful saying these things, but they go though my little pointed head! There is more, but I think Iíve expressed enough. You guys told me on earlier postís that it would be okay to vent my doubts. Jude, am I still that little child??? Doubting Thomas never came up with one like this. This is sick, but what if itís true!? I feel like Iím out in the middle of the ocean floating on a pocket Bible an itís water logged! Some thing Chuck Swindoll says that is so true is that people that are self sufficient tend to have a difficult time trusting God. They keep looking down at their feet when they are trying to walk on water and keep sinking. If I keep a bar of soap with me at least I will be clean! Some what vented......Maryann | ||
| Maryann |
Lydell, How many EGW lies do have to swallow before you explode? Maryann | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Maryann, Yes, you are still that little child in Christ. And you are being warm and open and vulnerable within a good, safe, context -- the kingdom of heaven that is within us and all around us on earth here and now. Never forget that God has given you a marvelous writing talent and you are right now using it on formeradventist.com. to his glory, the kind of glory that he covets, as distinct from the glory given him by the Seventh-day Pharisaicals. I want to quote another Bible text for you, again with an appropriate modification, Micah 6:8. "He hath shown thee, O Maryann, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" | ||
| Lydell |
Hmmm, how many EGW lies would it take to make one explode? My guess is one...if you dwell on it and let it fester after you have discovered it is a lie. You're right, it does hurt to see the damage that has been done, supposedly in His name. And I can't answer all of your whys. None of us can because we DON'T have all knowledge. But I know this: God is faithful to continually call out to people up until the moment of death. Even those who were raised in the church, those who were raised in abusive homes, those whose lives are miserable right now, are still free to make their own choices as adults. It is certainly harder for someone who has had an abusive family to grasp the concept of a loving God. Those are things that can and are overcome everyday by those who only have to start to be open to Him. He is a God of revelation. (We're all the way back to listening again. He's always speaking, but we have to desire to hear. Remember: Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. Rev. 3:10) Deep in your heart Maryann, you already sound like you know the answer to the question of "is God for real" because He has already touched you. If He were a God who didn't care, then you wouldn't be getting any of the answers to any of your questions. And you DID find this website. That wasn't by a brilliant move on your part. That was God. I'll add some verses to yours Jude: II Chron. 16:9 The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (Does that sound like He doesn't care?) Is. 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar parths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. | ||
| Maryann |
I must have realized that I swallowed one to many lies because I EXPLODED (I think). I'm still peeling chunks of the ceiling. I think I better go clean house for a few days!? (Maybe even re-paint it.) Jude.....In case no one ever told you, you really DO have a soft spot in your heart. Thank you. Maryann | ||
| Lynn W |
Jude, be careful not to confuse deeds with motive. The Bible says we will have deeds which survive the fire, but Ps. 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my HEART: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." I dont' believe we need to confess our deeds done for Him, but we need to continually check our motives. Matt 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men..." Why? "that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." There's no sin in what brings glory to the Father. Maryann, don't jump. There's always hope. "I asked Jesus how much He loves me and He said, 'This much.' And He stretched out His arms and died." I can't believe how well you've described what I've been seeing in Adventsts. "A lot of these people from his church have a look that you spot from 30 feet away. Itís this dead, blank, empty brainwashed look in their eyes," I've been saying for a long time that I've gotten to the point where I can usually tell if a person is SDA before I ask. "Is it prayer to be sorta conversing with God like he was a friend as you do your stuff all day? You know, not anything reverent, just talking in your mind?" I think that's just what God wants from us. Throughout my favorite movie, "Fiddler on the Roof" Tevia talks to God like a friend. At one point, he gets interrupted, then looks up and says, "I'll talk to You later." When I saw that, it really struck me that God is person Who really is listening. It's never too late to talk to God or for Him to tell us what we need to hear. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Okay, Lynn, I have enough respect for your mind (and heart) to very carefully consider what you're saying. And it certainly does make sense. But I don't think I'm confusing objective deeds done with the motives that lie, sometimes totally unnoticed, behind them. I'm only trying to resurrect and re-emphasize the largely forgotten teachings of Jesus about the value of genuine humility and "little-child-ism" and the danger of hypocrisy and elitism which are as rampant in the pre-harvest kingdom of heaven on earth today as they were in the Israel of the old covenant when Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem twenty centuries ago constantly jousting with the hypocritical and elitist hordes of Seventh-day Adventists. Also, the verb "to confess" still allows more than one meaning. The most common meaning is, to be sure, as you have used it: "to tell or make known, as something wrong or damaging to oneself," "to admit wrongdoing," "to acknowledge sin to God," "to disclose one's faults," or "to unburden one's sins or the state of one's conscience." But the older meaning still persists: "to profess" or "to declare faith in or adherence to." So my question remains: Why NOT confess to God your good works? Why NOT lay open before the one who looks upon your heart the possibility that there may be some tainted motive hidden deep within the recesses of that which is "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" -- the human heart. Come on, Lynn, you know that all of our motives are tainted to some degree. Else why would no less than St. Paul the apostle admit, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing," Romans 7:18-19 NIV? And so the Psalm you perspicaciously quoted -- Ps. 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my HEART: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" -- achieves a perfect fit with what you and I both are saying. And doesn't Scripture say somewhere that the Holy Spirit will purify even our "bad" prayers? Nothing but blessings to you always, Jude | ||
| Allenette |
MaryAnn: If you lurk on any other anti fringe-type religion websites, you will read people saying the SAME things as you (and me, to myself) do here. Merely substitute Mary Baker Eddy, or Joseph Smith, etc for EGW, same agonizing going on. On another SDA forum, a lady there trashes the ecumenical movement for its attempt to make all denominations more "same"...she actually revels in her fist-shaking at her deluded fellow man (especially Catholics ggg) who, in their ignorance, believe God loves them as much as He does her. (the above meant tongue-in-cheek by me, not her) I, too, have see the looks on the faces of the people you described. You see, I'm a PK. I've seen that look from Idaho to Vermont, from North Dakota to Tennessee. But I dont just see it on SDA's...I see the eyes glazed over expression at MOST religious events I've ever attended. Sometimes it is accompanied with the 'blissed out' version, too. I'll bet there are plenty of former SDA in Vegas; the deal is, I'l bet they are like me in that I RARELY tell anyone I was raised SDA 1) they have no idea what I'm talking about (so much for spreading the Good Word gggg) 2) if they ARE familiar with it, they just add uh-oh..."weird" to my social possibilities!! So I leave it out...you're probably stuck with moaning here. Sorry bout that but at least you know you're WELCOME here. My dear sweet SDA mom bought a 3ABN satellite dish recently and I got a dose it myself yesterday afternoon. She leaves it on all day and just basks in it. Talk about one big paid advertisement show there you have it. What little I saw reminded me of that old sickeningly sweet "It Is Written" guy, soooo smarmy, smiley, and coiffed (sp?) Gave me the creeps and I took her out to lunch just to get away. Went to Red Lobster where she lived dangerously by ordering salmon (clean meat) and I had that wicked shrimp !! and deviled crab !! LOL She had raspberry lemonade and I had TEA!! So what's my point? I guess this is just a sympathy note to let you know you're NOT ALONE in trying to be your own person around those who feel more comfort belonging to fringe groups than mainstream. I chucked SDA 30+ years ago and havent found anything religion-wise to replace it with but as I have found several websites like this one, when I read the theology and attempt to follow the logic (where and when I can find it), I have found, to my dismay, that after all these years in many cases I cant find the demarkation line between KJV and EGW, in other words, were I to decide that my long-standing agnosticism needed replacing with a faith-based belief system, it would be VERY TOUGH -- VERY TOUGH to separate the EGW filtering of the Bible I received growing up, from what the rest of Judeo-Christians have been indoctrinated with. And I think that's a shame. :-( | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Allenette (still love that name!), Forgive me for eaves-dropping on your conversation with Maryann, but I just have to say I always find it a tickle to read your posts. You haven't failed me once! And that has to be a record on the books up somewhere (careful, don't let your irkishly impsome -- or is that impishly irksome? -- PK nature play too hard with that one, just kidding, how you say, ggggg?). Anyway, just wanted to say, I do appreciate your honesty. It ranks right up there with Maryann's. God's agnostic! You see, he's using you any way he sees fit, playing with you, and the best part is, there's nothing you can do about it! It's like, well, God whispers behind his hand that you're going to encounter Maryann on this website. And you say, "No way, God! I've got free will and I'm not going to access FAF. So there!" But one day you just can't resist scratching the FAF itch, tune in, and Bingo! there's Maryann. And, despite yourself, you find yourself reading her testimony. Hear God ggggging up there? :) to you, Jude | ||
| Colleentinker |
Jude, you're priceless! Maryanne, I know I'm a day late, but I second what Lydell said. You need to spend time talking to God about your frustrations with your family and then calmly sit and listen to him. Quite literally I sometimes ask him what I shoud say or do in a situation, and I'll find that I KNOW what it is afterward. One thing I'm learning is that you certainly do not have to catch the arguers' bait. There is absolutely no reason to enter into a defense or a debate with someone who really doesn't want to know what you think. Richard (my husband) had a conversation within the last two weeks with a person who comes to see him occasionally and argues with him. On the last day this person came to see him, Richard said that instead of answering the guy's questions and getting into endless, pointless arguments, he always answered him with a statement about Jesus. The guy was unable to drive his points home, and finally he left. The battle is the Lord's, and he will give us his words. The more you try to figure out how to answer the arguments, the more frantic you will be. As Lydell said, you need to spend time praying, listening, and calmly reading the Bible with your heart open to the Holy Spirit's insights. God may not lead you anywhere near the answers to your unbelieving family's arguments, but he will lead to closer and closer to his heart. He promises peace and rest. Those are things very hard to argue with! Your experience, your love and peace and freedom speak for themselves. It's not up to you to convince your husband and mother. That's the job of the Holy Spirit! We heard an excellent (convicting) sermon this Sunday. Paul Cedar, former president of the EV Free Church, spoke on prayer. He pointed out that in the parable of the fields white and ready for harvest, Jesus told his disciples to pray for WORKERS. He did not ask them to pray that THEY would be able to bring in the harvest in time themselves. He also pointed out that he and his wife as well as others have had amazing results from walking their neighborhoods and praying for the people living there to know God. Prayer is the one thing we can always do. And it's the most important thing any of us can do. A couple of years ago I began to pray that God would send appropriate mentors into my sons' lives because they needed Godly input besides from us their (íway too familiar) parents. He has answered (and is still answering) in some wonderful and completely unexpected ways. Our older son has grown by light years after becoming involved in a small, specially designed discipleship group. And if you knew the story behind how it all came about, you would smile and shake your heads. God is so faithful. He loves your mom, Maryann, and your husband. And he has ways to reach them that you don't even know. Go to him for peace and faith and strength. He will uphold you, and he will also work on your loved ones! | ||
| Maryann |
Hi guys, I just checked some of the fall out from the explosion and discovered giant chunks of ear wax. Suppose I might be able to listen a bit better now? Allenette, So you came out of the wood work. Since it's not Feb. 2nd, I now know you are not a ground hog. It's always good to hear from you. In fact, I'd love to e-mail back and forth with you. Mine is posted all over this site. Jeaud, You really are to much. You're just Jeaudiful. Now to serious stuff. I need to know PRONTO, what is the 3 angels message according to Rev. 14 and who is the beast in Rev.13 and 17? Can you boil it down to a SHORT paragragh for each question? That is like hurry up please! Maryann | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Maryann, Love to, but right now, if I tried to do that, I wouldn't get done the project I'm currently working on. In fact, I probably shouldn't have strayed to FAF for even this post. Got to get back. Lynn? Cas? Colleen? Bruce? Sombody? | ||
| Maryann |
I got a wonderful e-mail from a "new" friend and I need to explain something in case I came across as everyones savior. I want an eye to eye FAFer to help me cram the correct info into my head first and foremost. Two heads are better than one. I still am not grounded so solidly that I always know truth from error. Second, I want someone to be able to help me study with Mom. It would be so nice if everyone believed the same. I realize I don't have a luggage rack on my back to carry anyone but I do have a burn to be able to study with the deceived. I know I'm not a holy spirit even though I have stupidly tried. Usually because they try to be my holy spirit first! One thing that I should be thankful for is that all this mess has happened, because if it hadn't, I would still be sailing along in my old ways not really caring about the gospel! I am in this alone as far as my salvation between God and I. I have 3 brothers that are out of all chrisianity. 2 of them are in Australia. I want to someday talk to them. Sooooooo, if I can get some one on one help studying, I can do that sooner. Maryann | ||
| Maryann |
Allenette, You know the "look" I was describing, brainwashed etc. You said that you've seen the same look from one end of the country to the other. I have seen "the look" also from one end of the country to the other. Self supporting schools, sanitariums, offshoots, offshoots off offshoots to the 10th power and nothing, I mean NOTHING, compares to the "look" that I've seen from this one particular UPC church here in Vegas!! It actually is blood curdling, hair raising and scary, an I don't scare to easy. It is more on the order of "possessed"! Not all UPCs look like this and I don't know why. (my husband doesn't look like that?) If you missed it, I posted a story, I think Saterday, about a mountain I climbed as a kid that gave me the scare of a life time. The look these UPCs have, rivals the fear in me that I had in that story. Go ahead, make my day, e-mail me and I'll share some more. An exploding friend.....Maryann | ||
| Lydell |
Jude I may have misunderstood the point you were making waaay back there. So set me straight if I'm wrong. We are certainly agreed that we are miserable sinners but saved by the grace of God anyway. From your comments about confessing that our good deeds are also sinful, it sounds to me like you focus more on the "we are miserable sinners" part. For me, it is much more helpful to focus on the "but saved by the grace of God anyway" part. I have battled with low self-esteem. So that is always satan's biggest stick to use against me. When I was focusing on the "we are miserable sinners" part, I fell prey to an evil attack that laid false responsibility on me for something that had happened. And that attack opened the way for me to be hit with an irrational fear that was becoming parallizing. I have been set free from that. And I think the Lord glories in hearing me tell others about that. That is as surely a part of my testimony as the fact that I am saved by grace. He doesn't just leave us at the point of salvation, He continues to do stuff inside us bringing victory. It was when I heard someone else tell about having been freed from similar stuff that it was brought home to me that Christ did not just save me from sin, he also saved me from the realm of being oppressed by satan. It opened my eyes to see that while those who are living in satans kingdom are sinners and totally controlled by that, those of us who are living in God's kingdom are victors because we are covered by the blood of Christ. God says I am now a victor and don't have to put up with satan's tricks. It's our testimony of the things that God has done for us that will point others to the fact that He is willing to do the same for them as well. When I heard someone else talk about some good thing they had done...praying for someone in a specific area following a prompting of the Lord and subsiquently seeing the person walk free from a problem. It awoke me to the fact that the Lord was still working in this way through his people today. And that gave me the courage to step out and follow His promptings also. As a result, there have been times where I have seen him impact someones life while I was praying for them. Is the power mine? Goodness no. Is it by my intelligence? NO. Is it by my mercy or grace? Not even! It is all His doing. But when it happens I don't stand back and confess, "gee Lord I'm a miserable sinner because I enjoyed that." Heck no. Instead I am saying, "Lord! You are so good! I am amazed at the ways you find to touch peoples lives. Look how you have touched this person! Thank you for using even tiny little me in something like this." It's a tremendously humbling and awesome experience to stand back and see what HE did. Not me. Are there those who take pride for themselves in what they have done? Oh sure always they are around, and the temptation is there. But if I personally were to look at doing something "good" from the standpoint of "I'm just a miserable sinner and must confess that I have the ugly attitude of felling blessed when I do something 'good' ", then I will do nothing but sit on my backside. Remember, I'm one on whom satan likes to use the stick of low self-esteem. Whew, I likely didn't explain that well at all. Lynn, if you think you can explain any of that better, please have a go! Oh yeah, Maryann, to answer your question about how many flies will make a frog blow up. I can't tell you. It seems I suddenly got in a very foul mood that day and was not inclined to be open to suggestions for any science experiments involving frogs. | ||
| Maryann |
To add to my 2nd to last post. This whole thing has stolen so much of my time. Going round and round with Mom just wears me out. I have to listen to her stuff or she WONT listen to mine. (The barter system). I just listened to 3ABN for an hour this morning learning how Ex 20:8-10 with Rev.4:11 ties the Sabbath to the 3 angels meesage of Rev.14:6-10 making it the SIGN of the gospel and showing that the Sabbath is the clearest symbol of Rightiousness by Faith! This then makes the Sabbath a sign and no longer a legalist command!! This is why I need a warm bodied FAFer here in Vegas! My son's birthday is Sat. and am giving serious thought to taking them to Disneyland this weekend. I may try to come and attend your church Sunday if all works out. Seems like I saw info on the site of where it is. It would seem like a waste to be so close and not visit. I have to go back to work tomorrow, so will really have my study time cut down. It will take me a while to post my Rewards V Salvation study now. Mom has finally agreed to open up Sabbath in Crisis with her Bible and study it. Prayers PLEASE! Maryann |
