| Author |
Message |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 6:20 pm: |     |
Pheeki welcome and Praise God for your delieverance and believe me I know what it must be like for you trying to go against the stream. My son-in-law was duped into SDA in fall of 1998 because of his incertaintity with Y2K, my daughter then started going with him because she saw thru her parents marriage that Mom let Dad take the lead in the family and as she would tell me "Mom it doesn't seem any different than our chruch." One day I had to ask son-in-law if it was right for him to ask me to do something he would not and that was work on his Sabbath since he had to change his work schedule all around so he did not work on Saturday but that made me have to babysit with their children when my daughter worked on Sunday. When I told my daughter that I had this conversation with him I told her "Be sure you know what you believe" and "I Love you" and left. She came back later that evening with Bible in hand and said she had asked God what she should do and she opened her Bible to Galatians and saw that we are not under the Old Covenant but rather the New Covenant. That was a hard lesson for her to learn because it put her at odds with her husband as you well know. I will say my prayers are with you and your family and I like Colleen will tell you just keep telling your children and your husband about Jesus. Witness to them about the things that have happened in your life. It will be hard to try and teach them something different until they are ready and feel a need themselves. I say that all the while I am praying desperately for son-in-law and daughter is still witnessing to him thru letters even though a divorce is in progress. Just so there is no misunderstanding by someone of SDA reading this I will say it was my daughter that filed for divorce. I'm not going to tell you what she did was right but I will tell you that I know that she knows as far as her eternal salvation it makes no difference. The difference it makes is with the children, but the SDA split makes a difference also. 2 scripture that I would like to leave with you for your brother are what are you going to do with 1 John 1:8 when you think you have reached the sinless state? And along with that what how are you going to know you are sinless since the only one who knows is God. Will you then be in the same place as the one in 2 Thess. 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple proclaiming to be God? There is so much I would love to talk to you about but will close for now and know that you are being lifted up to God for strength and courage as you proclaim what Christ has done for you.
Carol |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 7:00 pm: | |
Thanks. My husband keeps calling home and I am on the internet and he is upset that I am on this forum at all. He saw the Proclamation magazine I gave my mother at her house and was angry. So I sit here with a knot in my stomach. Thanks for the texts to look up. I will do that now. Maybe I should stop going to church with them, perhaps is misleads my husband into thinking this will all go away. I wish I could tell my whole story but let me just say, he has no room to begrudge me the fellowship I am getting from this forum. TerryK, I will email you probably tomorrow. I need to make dinner before he gets home from praise team practice. I guess I fear him rejecting me...Let me just say, he should be tolerant of me because I have been extremely tolerant of him, in the past and now! See you all tomorrow! |
Janet (Janet)
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 10:03 pm: | |
Welcome Pheeki! So glad you are here! I just want to encourage you to keep reading your Bible and praying, and God will continue to lead. Know that you and your family will be in my prayers, and that God IS faithful, and will complete the work He has begun in you, Praise the Lord!!!
God bless,
Janet |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 12:35 am: | |
Dear Peechi and the others, Please bear with me as you read what I am about to write because what I am about to write is so dear to my heart that I'll most likely have to stop and get myself together several times and then continue writing. My dad, bless his sweet heart, just died three months ago, only one month after turning 93. He was born into a SDA family and never questioned much of the SDA beliefs. Several months before his eath I went into my parents house. It was quiet except I could hear my dad from my parents bedroom and he was praying. I went near the door to listen to his prayer and this is more or less what I heard, "Dear Lord, please find me worthy to be in your kingdom when you come. I have tried very hard to live right. To he best of my remberence I have never broken a Sabbath. If I have ever broken a Sabbath then please forgive me so I can be worthy to be in your kingdom. I have been married to my wife for 55 years and have never even looked at another woman "that way". I have tried to obey all your rules. If I have failed then please forgive me and let me be in your kingdom when you come. I have tried to be a good husband and a good father and I love my grandchildren but if I hve failed in this then please forgive me. .." And, his prayer continud like this for I don't know how long because I felt I was easedropping between him and God and I felt that it wasn't my place to do that so I left and wen home and cried because I knew my dad didn't have much more time here with me and I knew that he knew that, too and it broke my heart. Buy, mostly I notced how his prayer focused on his SDA understanding of THE LAW and needing to BE GOOD ENOUGH. Praise God, that only our Father in heaven has the mercy of giving only full forgiveness and granting righteousness to us peons down here. My dad was a wonderful man and I think he truly never did understand GRACE and I'm cool with that because I KNOW Jesus died for my dad, too and my dad did his very best by me, my mom, his grandkids and everyone else he ever came into contact with and I believe God will have MERCY on his sweet soul. Still though, that deep indroctination of SDA'im was with him to the very end of his life. Whew! I made it through this post and only had to stop to cry twice. I'll be alright. Please, pray for me as I am still so deep in greig. Oh, I miss my dad, I loved him so much. |
Lydell (Lydell)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 8:07 am: | |
Susan, it must have been so heartbreaking to overhear that. I know you would have much rather heard words of peace coming from him at that time! But I was struck by something as I read it, and that is that it sounds like maybe your dad really had a heart for God. In those last moments he WAS communicating with God. I think you should hold on to the fact that you DIDN'T hear the remainder of the prayer. I have to believe that after the time he spent asking for forgiveness, that the Lord spoke to Him some assurance. I pray that the Lord will replace the memory of that prayer that you heard, with a vivid picture of how delighted your dad must have been when he stepped into heaven and realized that all the heavy weight that he had carried was unnecessary, and that the Father's arms were open wide and He was smiling with delight waiting to embrace him. How your dad must have leaped with delight! |
Lydell (Lydell)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 8:14 am: | |
Pheeki, I hear your frustration and nervousness in dealing with your family. But, you know, it sounds like you handled the situation with your brother very well indeed. Take some comfort in what the Lord has shown you--you DO have answers to give and He IS leading you.
I can't encourage you enough to keep to the main and plain things of scripture, those things that are truly important....salvation and having assurance of that salvation and the overwhelming, never going to leave My children love of God. Those are the things you want your family to have, right? If you open up arguments (and I'm not saying that you do!) or bring up hot button side issues you will just detract from the important stuff. The issue is not the errors of Adventism and tearing down confidence in the church, the issue is the truth of scripture and encouraging folks to lean on and trust God.
Can someone else explain the difference a bit better than what I just said? |
Doug222 (Doug222)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 9:58 am: | |
Pheeki,
I agree with Lydell 100%. It is NOT your job to convince others of the errors of their ways. Neither is it your job to defend your beliefs to them. That is something that many Christians miss. I could be wrong, but to my knowledge, there is no where in scripture where you see anyone badgered, coerced, nagged, or cajoled, into accepting the gospel--or a particular brand of it.
I think the best example we have is how God deals with us. He communicates very clear boundaries that define who he is, and who he is not. Then, he invites us into fellowship with him. However, he does not violate our boundaries (although he would have every right to). He gives us the right to choose. In Revelation 3:20 he says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." What a picture of respect!
Unfortunately, the thing you will find out as you make your transition is that many Adventists--especially family, do not believe you have the right to choose. They have good intentions, but their methods are suspect. In doing so, they disrespect your boundaries and infringe on the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. There is a reason that you very rarely hear the Holy Spirit talked about in most Adventist churches--when you have "the truth" there is no need for a "teacher."
I would suggest that you resist the urge to defend your new beliefs. If someone asks you what you believe, feel free to share with them, but make it clear it is not open for debate. My experience has been that most Adventists are not really interested in what you believe, all they are interested in is convincing you how wrong you are for leaving the Sabbath (that is almost always what it comes down to). In the midst of your sharing, they will get this puzzled look on their face, and say "but what do you do with the Sabbath?"
As much as possible, focus your conversation on the freedom and assurance you now have. That is a very hard thing to do. I'm not sure how long you were an Adventist, but we have been taught to use the debate/logic approach. That is something that does not go away easily.
You also need to respect their boundaries as well. They have a right to believe as they do. In the same way that the Holy Spirit guided you out of error (in His time) He will do the same for them. God may or may not plan to use you as part of that process.
You will experience so much peace when you realize you are not responsible for the decisions of everyone else (including your family) and that the fact that they disagree with your beliefs does not have to have any bearing on your relationship with them.
I will continue to pray for you. I know it is a very difficult situation and I don't mean to minimize it.
In His Grace
Doug |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 10:11 am: | |
No, Lydell, you said it well. The one thing people cannot argue with is your own experience of God leading and loving and changing you, and your growing love and respect and understanding of the Bible. Discussing the SDA particulars often leads to arguments and to people digging in their heels and becoming defensive of their own beliefs, whether or not they're really convinced of them! It really does sound as if you handled your brother well, Pheeki, and praise God that you came out of that conversation still convinced of the truth and freedom you now know!
Susan, I will also be praying for God to comfort your heart. Your description of your father does sound as if he reverenced God and honored him. I was thinking the same thing Lydell said, just imagine how surprised your father was when he saw Jesus! My grandmother died about eight years ago at the age of 99. She was a dyed-in-the-wool Adventist who ALWAYS prayed that she would be ready and that her children and grandchildren would be ready. (She would have been horrified to know what we have done!) But my grandma became more sweet, softer, and more loving the older she got. That does not happen in people who are closed to the Holy Spirit's work in them. She even mended some fences with relatives in the years before she died. During her last years, whenever I visited her, she talked about being ready to die, even wishing for that relief from her crippling pain. She finally said one day that a fellow resident in her nursing home told her, "Lilly, you are still here so you can pray for us." That statement comforted her and made her feel as if she were still useful.
My point in this story is that I an certain my grandmother was as surprised as your father, Susan, when she finally died and met Jesus. Even though they may not have KNOWN they were saved, God knows the hearts of his people, and those that love him are his.
Praise God!
Colleen |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 12:25 pm: | |
Susan, Romans 14 does say that God will make us able to stand and I know that is for the sabbath-keepers too. Sounds like your dad was sincere and God looks at the heart. None of us have it all right and none of us will. I think there are many sincere SDA's who are saved but God wants so much more for them. Likewise there are surely plenty SDA's and Christians that just live a lifestyle and aren't saved at all.
Pheeki, you have great advice. God puts us in people's lives at certain times and it is our job to share if we are asked (by God or that person) but when people don't want to hear it is senseless and a waste of time to share with them. I learned the hard way, still have to smack my mouth sometimes. We are a better witness by living out our relationship with Jesus than trying to preach to people. |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 4:03 pm: | |
Thanks to each of you for your kind words. I had a miracle two days before my dad passed I will share the miracle with you. When I was a little girl my dad taught me his two avorite hymms in German. Also, every night before going to sleep my dad would kneel with me at my bed and him and me would pray the Our Father in German together. I hadn't ang thouse hymm or prayed the Our Father in German, I'll bet for 40 years! Then two days before my daddy died I prayed and asked Our Heavenly Father to give me a miracle, to bring through my mouth those German hymms and the Our Father in German. I held my dads hand as he was going in and out of consciousness and lo and behold, I sang those beautiful German hymms right out loud to my dad. He couldn't talk bt he squeezed my hand and I KNEW he heard and we bth knew a miracle had been preformed by God through me. I didn't recite the prayer because after the humms I needed to get home (next door) and gather my wits before going back to sit with him. I had miracles happen for me before that but I don't consciouselly reall evr being given the HONOR by God to be a part of the miracle. I shared this with the pastor at the Lutheran church where I attend and he told me that is one true form of tongues and it was a real GIFT that God gaveto me at just the moment it weas needed. I am still in sch awe about that experience. I beieve the Lord sed me to bing a joy to my dad and I will be forevr grateful that God let me have that HONOR. Oh I miss my daddy so much. |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 4:51 pm: | |
I am crying Susan2. That is the most wonderful story I have ever heard. Let me tell you what happened to me in August that started my journey out of SDAism. My dear non-denominational truly saved friend's mother got cancer. I had seen her in the grocery a few months back and she had told me about it. She said they had been praying for a healing (something she strongly believes in)and they were just waiting for the Lord. She told me her mother stated to her she was ready to be with Jesus. She said they started praising God that her mother would soon be with Jesus. A few months later (August) she called me to tell me her mother had just died. Do you know what her last conscious words were? "Praise God, he has answered every prayer I have ever prayed!" My friend was praising God for those words. She was sad but not like I have seen people sad. There was a feeling of joy too.
I thought about all of that, especially her mother's last words over and over. I wanted that assurance, something I have never had. I wanted to be able to come to the end of my life and with joy say those same words. And I can tell you without a doubt that I too believe he has answered every prayer I have ever prayed! I prayed for the Lord to help me find assurance and when I began to study the Bible to find it, one of the first things I saw was the text that says "the Bereans were more noble because they searched the scriptures daily to see if what was said was true." Then one thing led to another. I decided to look up Martin Luther (not sure why) on the internet and found his work on Galatians. He stated he was "wed" to the book. I started reading Galatians but was totally confounded by what I read. Then I looked up Righteousness by faith and got a lot of SDA websites. (They think they understand it?!?!) One of the choices was not a pro-SDA site, it was an anti-EGW site. This had other links and I began to read Pat Pine Darnell's story which, I found to be similar to my mother's life. I then read Dr. Nina and the Tiger, which really touched me. One thing led to another, I found Ratzlaff.com and this website, I ordered sermon tapes, etc. It took about 2-3 weeks of constant studying and many tears and asking God to just kill me if I was headed down the wrong path (dramatic, huh?) but it felt like a death or divorce or something. Many tears later I announced to my husband and mother that I was no longer an SDA. It is funny that when the blinders come off what error you can see. The children's story today was how God left us his blueprint for life in the 10 Commandments and how they should all go home and ask their parents to read the 10C. I just had to sigh, there is so much more in God's plan than that. It's like they totally missed what Jesus came to do and what commands he left us with.
A few of my epiphany moments:
When I read and understood Matthew 17:3, Mark 9:4, and Luke 9:30 (all three telling the same story of God telling us to Listen to his son! (exclamation point) and immediately Moses and Elijah disappeared). I cling to those texts.
One afternoon I was given the words of Jesus after reading about the Acts 15 counsel (Not putting the yoke on the new Christians that they nor their forefathers could bear...) In the same Bible study session I found the text that said, "Take MY joke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light!" I cried and cried over that. I so wanted my family to feel the freedom I felt (feel).
Thankyou for your prayers, they are timely and apprieciated more than you will know down here, when we get to heaven and all meet, you will all know what a part you have played in the lives of so many! Praise God. |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
It sounds to me, Peechi, that you elderly friend must have read and believed and agreed with Phillipians 1:20-26. The first time I read that passage, which really was rather recenly, I just had to say to myself, "WOW! THIS IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE TO WHAT I'D ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT!" I was just blown away. That is now one of my favorite passages. I find great comfort in that passage. |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 5:20 pm: | |
Has anyone read the Adventist Review lately? I have to tell you... there is so much angst! One of the last articles I read was about a girl who kept having nightmares that she wasn't going to heaven. Her husband had to quote one of my favorite texts to her (If you believe Jesus was raised from the dead and confess it with your mouth you will be saved! Good man!) She talked about how we need to have assurance...I think they recognize that most don't have this. It saddens me. But here is one that I couldn't believe...the article was entitled Sabbath Questions. Some poor soul who deserved a real answer wrote..."What is the rest mentioned in Hebrews 4: 1-11, and how is it related to the 7th day Sabbath?" The main idea of the article was contained in a highlighted box, which said, "The meaning of Hebrews 4:1-11 is not that obvious."
He said the purpose of the passage was to emphasize the need for perseverance and faithfulness in the Christian community. The text is to be used to motivate believers to be faithful. He goes on to say that the OT contains a theology of God's rest in addition to the theology of the Sabbath that deals with God's promise of rest to his people and to his own resting in the temple. It says that Hebrews does not identify the "rest" with the entrance into the land of Caanan and it remains to be fulfilled. He says this also seems to be a present experience and I quote "Althought that rest is not clearly defined in the text, it probably designates the blessing of salvation we enjoy now as we wait for its consummation."
He does say that Hebrews is not equating the Sabbath rest with the eschatological (a word I had to look up) rest. Here is what sadden's me...He goes on to write that "The works Hebrews refers to are not specifically identified, but it cold be suggested that contextuallythey are NOT the works of the Law. The Pauline discussion of justification by faith versus the works of the Law is foreign to the arguement of Hebrews. One could suggest that the works mentioned are works of rebellion and unfaithfulness." "The context does not support the suggestion that the SAbbath commandment had been fulfilled in the rest of salvation that Christ brought, making it unnecessary for Christians to obey it." "To enter God's rest requires only perseverance and faithfulness, ceasing from our works, not the rejection of the obedience to the Sabbath commandment. There is nothing in the text concerning a new type of Sabbath observance that replaces the literal observance of the 4th commandment."
I feel so sad about this article. I have started praying that the author's blinders will fall off!
Also, I have noticed Clifford Goldstein mentioned on this website from time to time. He wrote a rebuttal in the Nov.28th Review because he had been called on the carpet to the GC and had received a lot of scathing mail about his recent article that only said this: (paraphrasing) If you are going to be an SDA preacher or teacher, etc. You owe it to the people paying for their chilren's education to state your true beliefs. In other words he has encountered people who do not believe straight SDA teaching in their institutions. He didn't understand why this would cause such a tumult when he was only speaking the truth. Interesting, huh?
I don't know why I still read the review. Perhaps it makes me feel good (affirmation) that I can now see the error because of turning to Jesus Christ! (yet, it frequently saddens me too). I quit looking to people for examples and my happiness has known no bounds! Nothing of the above was intended to be taken mean spirited, please don't think that. I just want people to know the truth! |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 5:30 pm: | |
Susan2, I just read that passage and love it too. I know that what they are saying about your father is true. What a surprise he must have got when he opened his eyes and saw Jesus. This is something new to me and I have to say that I need to study it. I do not believe we sleep when we die, that was before Christ conquered death. The Jew's believed that (and consequently the Protestant Jews too-SDA) because they don't realize the paradigm shift that occurred when Jesus won the war! He took the first fruits to heaven with him and that is where we will be if we believe in him! I was told by my SDA preacher brother that the OT contained everything we needed for salvation, I think the SDA are stuck in the OT! How sad it a SDA funeral compared to say, a Baptist? Sleeping! No one wants to sleep, human's are programmed to want stimulus and activity. God programmed us for that, why would he give us eons of sleeping and knowing nothing? Human's want to know everything! I trust God to do whatever he wants with my soul but I am truly coming to believe that he wants us with him at all times. If we are in constant fellowship with him, He would miss us talking to us, right? |
Terryk (Terryk)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 7:57 pm: | |
Pheeki Hi I have waiting to hear from you. I was wondering what the ages of your children are?I have been praying for you and your family. I think I would die if I had to keep going back to the SDA church. Does that sound too harsh? Well how did it go today? Well hope to talk to you later. God Bless |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 8:05 am: | |
Hi TerryK. I meant to email you yesterday but I didn't have time with all the writing I did on the forum. I will email you now. |
Loneviking (Loneviking)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 9:24 am: | |
Pheeki, welcome! I just wanted to pass one thing on to you that I haven't seen said yet---be patient!
For most formers, coming out is a loooong process, with three or four years being the norm for most folks. It starts off with questions, then conviction that what SDA teaches is not right. Then, there is usually a transition period where you find a Sunday keeping church you like and attend both Sat. and Sunday. Eventually, the angst gets to be too much and you leave entirely and take membership in another church.
And don't expect your husband to be in a hurry to change. He's having fun with the praise team, he has the expectations of his family--so for him, he doesn't want to rock the boat. I know about this, because that's basically where my wife is. Now that we have moved, she's no longer attending anywhere! But, be patient and wait for God to work. Look around you and see if there is a grace based church that looks interesting. No harm in going to visit---right?
bill |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 5:43 pm: | |
Susan 2
Praise God for your precious time with your Father. I would like to share my expereince with my Mother-in-law who was a very simple person and who was raised in the church(not SDA) but I never heard her talk of Jesus. When she was around 87 she started to go downhill and I had always felt the need to talk with her about her salvation. One day as she was complaining about all her aliments I asked her if she realized that sometimes these things happen as we get older and did she know that this might be the end and was she ready for that and she said "NO"!!. I was pretty much devastated because I had been praying that God would open a door for me and thought this was surely it but not to be. When she was 89 she became quite ill and we were called to the home one evening. She was somewhat incoherent but at one point she said I want to go home and then later said are we there yet. She passed away that night and I can say that I know she was talking of leaving this earthly home and she was at peace with it and I praise God that he allowed me to be part of that. I would like to share one more thing about my journey with Christ by my side which happened right before all this started with my son-in-law and I know that it was orchestrated by God Himself to bring me to a state of total submission because He knew in the months and years ahead I would need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was there for me. On July 22, 1998 I came home from my part-time job about noon and my husband was already eating and I sat down with him to eat. He then went in to take a bath and I thought it seemed a little strange so early but since he had been tearing down his garage and it was hot and we had another job we went to in the evening I dismissed it as it's hot and he is just quiting a little earlier. I went to wash his back like I had for 30 some years and saw nothing wrong. When he came into our family room right off the kitchen I heard him sigh as he sat down in the recliner and thought to myself he sure seems tired and thought I will just step around the corner and check on him. When I looked at him I knew something was wrong and I asked him what was wrong and he said he had this awfull pain in his shoulder area. I went to him and touched him and he was wetter than a person coming out of a shower and I knew immediatley what was happening. I started down the hall to get my stehescope but said no I don't have time and called 911. The paramedics came and started working on him and told me to call someone, I called the church but everyone was out to lunch, I called all our children and our youngest son was there in flash and escorted me out of the room. As we were walking into Dining Room I heard something that alerted me to something happening and I turned to look at my husband and his head was blood red purple and twice it's size. I started to scream "He's going" and my son took ahold of me and shook me and said "No mom" and took me to the back room. We started to pray things like we need your help, keep him calm etc. etc. and then when I didn't no what to pray anymore I started praying the Lord's Prayer and when I got to thy will be done I said"No Lord I don't want your will" and I felt a touch on my shoulder and these words were spoken to me "I'll be with you" and I said yes Lord and continued on the prayer with my son never breaking stride. My husband was shocked 14 times and had a stint put in and later a pacemaker/defibulater but other than the pictures of the scars left from the shocks only the memories remain. His heart has come back to almost full capacity. I was not told that my husband would be ok I was told He would be with me and anyone who say me can attest to the fact that some other power was working in me,even my son-in-law who said "I'm prould of you" I said "It's not me". Sorry for the lentgh but God is so Good and I just feel I must share his marvelous power and I' not talking about saving my husband that was a wonderful by product what I am talking about is HE IS WITH US.
More at another time on other issues Carol |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 10:14 pm: | |
Carol, WOW what a story! What a miracle. I'm so happy that you still have your husband with you. Yes, the Our Father IS power. |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 11:20 pm: | |
Carol, what a wonderful story! What I love is that God calmed and reassured you so you could let your husband go BEFORE he let you know he was going to keep your husband alive. Now you can enjoy your time with you husband in peace, knowing that whatever happens God will be with you. You can enjoy him with so much more calmness and joy than you could have otherwise!
I love how God nurtures and touches us in exactly the ways we need to be touched in order to know we can trust him!
Colleen |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 5:17 am: | |
Colleen, It is so wonderful to share and have people understand when we don't have a clue about one another except that we know Jesus. I am crying right now because you know exactly how I felt not because I felt like I had to feel that way but because Christ is in me and I totally submitted to Him. If only I could give that feeling especially to someone I love so dearly. Carol |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 5:19 pm: | |
Carol, we'll continue to pray for you and for your loved one.
One of the biggest surprises and gifts I've discovered since becoming part of the Body of Christ is unity in the Spirit. When people know Jesus, the Holy Spirit unites hearts in ways that mutual interests never can. The Spirit in us recognizes the Spirit in others, and we have more true fellowship, often, than "things" in common or shared genetics can ever provide.
Praise God for putting the lonely in families, for being Father to the fatherless and a husband to widows!
Colleen |
Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 7:27 am: | |
Hi Sabra,
I must run quickly but saw your original question from long ago, and just wanted to say something without having read all of the thoughtful posts people have put up in response.
Pleading the blood and anointing with oil... don't feel compelled to or deficient if you don't do these things. If the Holy Spirit directs you to, then by all means follow HIS voice. But know that you are secure in Jesus Christ, and that failing to "claim" one of His promises does not mean you are going to miss out. God is sovereign, not us.
Bless you deeply in Jesus!
In His rest,
Ramone |
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