| Author | Message | ||
| Shortwave |
Amen to Lydell's post. That's exactly how it's been working with me. "Clear small voice". Shortwave | ||
| Colleentinker |
Snali, Lydell is right: pray for God to confirm the truth to you. Ask him to lead you to the things he wants you to read. Ask him for the Holy Spirit's confirmation of truth. God knows exactly what we need in order to truly see and accept what is true. He knows how confused our own perceptions of truth are because of the errors in which we grew up. I was reading in Henri Nouwen's "The Return of the Prodigal Son" the idea that for those of us who have been frozen with cynicism, it is essential for us to exercise trust and gratitude, even when we don't feel like it. We can know the Bible and Jesus are true; we must choose to act on that knowledge. The Holy Spirit brings our acts of trust and gratitude to life in our hearts. Give thanks in all things, Paul tells us. Praise God, Snali, for calling you out! Praise him for his completed work. Let your heart praise him for his love. Also, try listening to praise music that lifts up Christ. I have been so blessed this summer by having the time to listen to more music than usual. One of my favorite CD sets is Dennis Jernigan's Worship Collection Volume 3. The reality of Jesus' power and love and salvation of us goes deeply into our souls through the avenue of music. I'm praying for you! Colleen | ||
| Snali |
Lydell and Colleen,thank you for your words of truth,the day after I wrote my questions, I ran across Col.2 and was convinced of the fact that even though Im a confused person the holy spirit is indeed leading. How else could I see text that Ive read before,come to life and for once make sense to me. All I can dois trust him toshow me allthough I think IM going to have lots of questions. We have been studying things on a real basic level but soon we are going to plunge deeper,for now we are content to let God dictate the pace, The suggestion about music is a good one, we discovered Hillsong music over this summer and it has blessed us greatly. I do have to clarify one thing though ,please dont let any questions we have make any one think that we arent greatful for the fact that God has led us out of that mess,we have been so unhappy with sda church for such a long time that for us despite the confusion it has been like a breath of fresh air for us.To realise for the first time in our lives that we are truly free in christ,it is amazing. Thank you for the prayers snali | ||
| Colleentinker |
Snali, isn't it awesome to know that Jesus chose you and saved you? I'm so glad the two of you are experiencing that joy! Our prayers for you continue! Colleen | ||
| Dennis |
Like the children's song says, "WE ARE A GREAT, BIG BUNDLE OF POTENTIALITY." One of my favorite praise songs, "IT IS THE CRY OF MY HEART," was sung in our church yesterday. Last night we had an awesome service, at one of our church member's outdoor pool, where 67 people were baptized. God really does care about each one of us. My wife and I anxiously await the weekly worship service and Sunday School with our new church family. Wow! How could we have believed all those lies for over forty years? Despite the inevitable heartache and disappointment of being deceived and spiritually abused, we now rejoice in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Praise His holy name! In His grip, Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Richardtinker |
Dennis, Like you we look forward eagerly to the Sunday service at our church. What a difference it makes to be worshiping with the body of Christ--saints that are filled with the Holy Spirit! | ||
| Colleentinker |
I just wondered if Kim and Shereen and Rushelle and Hannah are out there and how they're doing. I've been praying for you and for many others of you as well. How's your husband, Hannah? And how's your health, Kim? Shereen, how are you doing in your personal journey toward truth? Lydell, how was your weekend witnessing blitz? Sherry, how's your husband doing? And Lisa, How's your husband's battle with smoking? Snali and Frances-jo, have you come any closer to finding a congregation with which to worship? How about you, Andrew? Praying for us all, Colleen | ||
| Lydell |
Colleen, I put the report on the outreach under the "prayer" topic. One change, the new Christian who was handing out cokes tells me that what the guy actually said to her was, "oh, it's free? I won't turn you down." What she said in response was, "you know what, Jesus won't turn you down either." She is still so amazed that such a thing would just pop out of her without her thinking about it at all. She says that she can see now that the Lord CAN use even her as a witness. We're still hearing from folks about how much fun they had. We plan to do it again in September. | ||
| Sherry2 |
Servant evangelism is a lot of fun. Sounds like you've got a great thing going on there Lydell. I've been reading but not posting lately. Been on the go, and haven't felt led to say anything really. But in response to your question, Colleen, I'll put a note here. Thanks for your watch care and praying for us all Colleen. My husband and I are doing great. He is regularly attending now and seeming to make this church his home. We even drove by a church in another area we were talking of moving to, and he said, "Hey look, there's a church right there we could attend." I don't know what's gone on inside of him - he hasn't shared - but there's an obvious difference. Last week I felt a burden from God to lead out in the 2 1/2 year old group for Sunday School. But I went to him first, and asked if he'd pray about it and what he thought (because this would leave him in church alone with our daughter for first service). Well he didn't think much about it and he said "That'd would be fine. You'd be great at it. Moriah and I will do just fine in church together." I have one weekend off a month though so we can worship together, and now we'll go to evening services a little bit so we can worship together there. It's wonderful having him by my side and supportive. I'm just pleased as punch! :)I'm always so amazed how God works - not the fact that He works - but the fact that He works so audibly in my own life. It's humbling and truly awesome and praiseworthy of my Father's love. So there ya have it - mini update. Blessings to all, and thanks again! | ||
| Windmotion |
Dear Colleen, Thank you for remembering me. My husband is going through a negative period right now. He told me the best he can hope for is that he doesn't burn forever when he dies. We haven't gone to church in a while, partly because he was visiting his family in Washington while I was in Michigan, and before that we were on vacation and before that there were work conflicts. He said he didn't get anything out of the sda service in Washington, which he attended because his family is sda. About the only thing he likes yet that is Christian is Christian praise and worship music. I am at a total loss what to do. I can tell you im not the best example of a wife. He does things that make me very angry. It's like a cycle. Anytime he starts feeling "christian" again, he starts wanting to be in the sda church. Anyways, thanks for thinking of me and keep praying for us 8) --Hannah | ||
| Lydell |
Hannah, keep the praise and worship music going all the time, then. It can be a powerful tool to reach him. Vineyard puts out some good stuff, so does Hillsong. Hope you have found a church that has contemporary worship, since it sounds like it could be an inroad with him. | ||
| Snali |
Hi there,we still havent found a church yet allthough we are looking. It sometimes gets difficult because Im still in the military and when they call I have to go.The other side of that is that our future isn't very clear at the moment,I have not been physically well for over a year and my case is going to go before a medical board next month, so we have lots to pray about and we need prayers.If the military lets me go then we have to decide where to go from here,if we go back to where we came from we arew going to have to deal with sda's who will try to get us back ,but if we dont go back we dont know where we will go.So in short we are looking still,and hopefully with Gods leading we wont be too stubborn to see it. snali | ||
| Colleentinker |
Thanks, everyone, for updating us. We'll all keep praying for each other. Hannah, I couldn't agree more with Lydell re: the music. As I've mentioned before, Richard often plays it at work in his office at an SDA university. The people in his depratment sometimes request certain songs they've grown to like. It's a powerful tool for getting truth inside one's head. It's also a powerful antidote for discouragement and overload for me! Snali, thanks for sharing about your health dilemma and the implications for moving. We'll pray about that, too. When things get tough with the Adventists you know trying to get you to come back, remember what Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." (Romans 1:16) I'm so glad to hear about the progress in your family, Sherry! School starts for me next Tuesday. It's back to the fourteen-year-olds again! Wasn't that a hard age? I wouldn't redo that age for anything! I would appreciate your prayers as I go into this school year. Thank you! Praising God for his faithfulness, Colleen | ||
| Snali |
Hi there just a quick note to say we broke out of our shell and went to a church today and left there kind of bummed.We walkked in and were imediatley welcomed and hugged like we were long lost relatives,and we enjoyed the music greatly but then they got on to the subject of tongues and I just cant agree that the noise is somehow beneficial.I have always understood that tongues was little more than me speaking to you in a language that you understand if God so directs it to be ,not the kind of noise I heard.so we aren't really sure where we should go.We dont want to get involved with more lies and we cant stay in our shell forever.I can be thankful though that at least we gave it a try which is a start in the right direction.Take care and God bless. snali | ||
| Bob |
Snali, you showed spiritual courage to take the step that you did. Don't retreat now! Not all churches outside of Adventism are "charismatic." One of the reasons for visiting various churches is to examine their teachings and to find a fellowship where you can "fit in" doctrinally and socially. This week, select a different church, and go there next Sunday! Sooner or later, the Lord will guide you to the congregation where He wants you to be. And as for the others you visit, well, you will observe many things that will contribute to an increase of your spiritual discernment! | ||
| Trippllb |
Colleen, thanks for asking about my husbands battle over cigarettes. You must have a 'tickler' file on your puter or a really good memory to keep up with everything on this site. Thanks for remembering. The update is today marks his 3 week anniversary without a cigarette. He had to step back the Zyban to half the dose he was taking because he started getting that 'mental patient' look in his eyes. He's doing great on half the dose and his will power increases daily. Keep praying cause it's not over yet. I'd like to put another request on the board as well. On the 14th of next month he is going to go in for surgery for errosive esophogitis (sp?). Basically the valve that keeps acid from coming back into your esophogis has been eaten away and his esophogas is suffering damage as a result. Wouldn't you know it, I read last week that smoking can aggrivate or cause this. Too little too late, but at least he's not smoking now. We're taking a week off before the surgery to 'destress' from daily life before he goes in. He'll be going in with better nerves and no cigarettes. They say the procedure is relatively routine, but no surgery is ever routine. I'm trying not to worry about it and leave the worry in Gods hands, but let's face it, I'm human. Please pray for his safety during the surgery, that God will guide the surgeons hands and that he will have a speedy recovery. Thanks again for checking in. Lisa | ||
| Lydell |
Snali, you DID learn one thing today: there are Christians out there who will welcome you with open arms. Keep praying and seeking the Lord's direction, He'll take you where He wants you. And Snali, while there are times that "tongues" is a language that another person will understand, it isn't always so. I Cor. 14:2,3 | ||
| Snali |
Lydell,I just read that verse and just like many things that have come to life for me lately that made sense,however my question is this:Is it necessary for a christian to speak in tongues?I ask this with the utmost respect for I have always enjoyed the enthusiasm of the charismatic churches. I just get very concerned when anyone says you "have " to do something either to be saved or to prove it.Im not suggesting that this is what your saying,I have however heard it else where.Please let me know what you think snali | ||
| Lydell |
Snali, I've heard that said too. Personally, I don't see anywhere in the scriptures that insists that all must speak in tongues. In our church,a part of the Vineyard association of churches (which is middle of the road between traditional and charistmatic), you generally only hear tongues being used as a private prayer language. It's not a big deal to us. We try to keep the focus on the giver of the gifts rather than the gifts themselves. And see tongues as being only one of the tools the Holy Spirit gives to equip us for ministry. I know there are plenty of other groups that see things the same way. I'm turned off by the confusion and noise you spoke of as well. | ||
| Sherry2 |
Praise the Lord, Lisa for your husband! Wonderful news. I will be praying for his surgery as well. Snali, I share with you the same concern. I've always believed that tongues were relevant for today (despite my sdaism) but knew there had to be balance. I've seen some bizarre things go on in certain churches and I will no longer attend there. On the other hand I've also seen people with the gift of tongues who do not overextend it's use, and seem to be in line with what Corinthians talked about doing vs not doing. Just keep seeking His will for you and do not be afraid. I enjoyed myself going to many different churches this past year and studying many doctrines out there, and what different denominations believe. It was quite interesting. Blessings in your search! :) |
