| Author | Message | ||
| Jeannette Registered user Username: Jeannette Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2003 |
I feel so overwhelmed, I really need your prayers for my sister and for me? For my sister to open her yes and see the truth and for me to stay calm when I share with her all I've learned> I shared with my sister awhile back some of EGW contradictions. I finally got the opportunity to ask her if she had read the material. Her response was that she didn't see any contradiction that she checked the stuff out and is just someone who is upset with the church wanting to destroy EGW and the church. To me it is black and white, right there, she can't see it. I had also shared with her verses in the Clear Word that had been altered. Her response is that the clear word is just so much easier to understand, that there is no distortion, it give the thought and as long as it expresses the thought that's the only thing that is important. I just feel so sad. Jeannette | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 30 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jeannette, Pray and share Jesus' love. Share the peace and the joy of God's Grace through Jesus Christ. Let her see that you are rejoicing in your Hope. Walk in assurance and she will see you are walking in the confidence she hopes for herself. Only then will she be ready to open her own heart up to searching and finding God's desire for her life. My prayer for you is to feel God's peace and presence as He directs you. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 265 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jeanette, Pray that God's Holy Spirit will open her eyes and ears and take the veil off her mind. And show her that you love her. And pray and pray some more. I put the following on other spots here on the forum and it goes like this, "before we can share the good news, we have to be good news". Be good news to your sister with your love. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do. I just said a prayer for you and your sister. Our God is awesome and will work miracles. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 720 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jeanette, I know you must love your sister much. I also know a lot of SDA's are fully aware of the contradictions within the SDA denomination. They rationalize these contradictions because the standard line is, "Well, even with the errors in the church it still is the closet church to being the most right of any denomiation." And, after saying that they get on to the topics of the Sabbath, what sort of meat is not to be eaten and the state of the dead and Jesus crusified and risin is not mentioned. As a relative to numerous SDA's my way of dealing with the family thing is to say nothing. Then if I'm asked point blank anything regarding my beliefs I make up an excuse that I have to leave and I get outta there as soon as I can becuse I just get told off. So, I try to exhibit my beliefs by my actions, thinking actions speek louder than words. I hope your sister will be open to further truth. After all,I just picked up a book recently in the local SDA church, I mailed it to Colleen and it said the SDA chuch does not accept any creeds because it wants to stay open to further truth. My prayers are with you. | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 |
Jeanette, I am praying for you and your sister. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will guide you in what to say and when to say it. I am praying that others will see Christ in us in all of us who participate in this forum. Blessings. | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 59 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jeanette, I'll be praying for you and your sister. I've experienced the same thing with my husband. I just have to be patient and keep praying that the blinders will come off my husband's eyes. I really like what Diana has said : to share the good news, we have to be the good news. | ||
| Patrickfoy Registered user Username: Patrickfoy Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jeanette, I know what your going through. I have old firends in the SDA that I have shared the truth of EGW and they mostly said the same thing. Through prayer and love, I have actually had a phone call from one friend wanting to see more evidence. This person is starting to see and it is through the Holy Spirit that this is happening. Don't push and have patience.The Spirit will do the rest. I will be praying for you and your sister. Our God is Alsome! Patrick | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 436 Registered: 12-2003 |
Jeannette, (I love that name, BTW--it reminds me of my own sister; her middle name is spelled the same way!)--I am praying that you will have peace in your heart re: your sister, that you will know how to love her for God, and that you will be able to release her to Jesus and allow Him to convict and care for her. He'll bear this burden of her deception and the need for her awakening; you are free to stand with her and to speak as God puts words in your mouth and to love her as God shows you how! As Patrick says above, Our God is awesome! Colleen | ||
| Doug_s Registered user Username: Doug_s Post Number: 23 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jeannette, I also understand what you are going through. My wife's family are all (except for her sister) fully hooked SDA's. Another classic line is "You know Ellen White said there will be those that fall away from the truth." When my wife told her mother that she was reading the bible and the bible alone (no SDA books) her response was "be careful that you don't let the devil deceived you". My wife was starting to see the problems with SDA doctrine when she let the bible and Holy Spirit lead her. I pray that God will bless you and your sister and that you will be able to help her see what we all see. Doug | ||
| Jeannette Registered user Username: Jeannette Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers. I just get very emotional, I want a better life for my sister and her family. I want them to have the joy and peace we have in Jesus. I really need the Holy Spirit to help me with mo mom, she is going with me to the beach for a week. She tries to get me to study the SS lesson and listen to some tapes from a spanish minister. I told her that all I want is the Bible and the Bible alone, she tried to tell me that the lessons are based only in the bible, yeah right. She asked me what I believe and told her that I am saved by the blood of Jesus and I don't have to work to earn my salvations. The coversation ended up with her throwing her arms up in the air and saying we will see who is right when Jesus come. I just want to be able to share my faith and be able to recall scripture. I just don't have verses memorized to say in such and such a place it says ... Again, thank you. I am really looking forward to meet you all in heaven. like Diana says Our God is Awesome Jeannette | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 724 Registered: 11-2002 |
Doug, That is very sad and frustrating what your mom told you. It must be hard emotionally to deal with that. When I told my mom I've been attending the Lutheran church she asked/yelled at me if I'm not taking classes/lessons in persucating the Commandment keepers (SDA code meaning SDA's) in the last days. My mouth opened wide in a gasp. I believe most of us on here have had a lot of trash talk spewed our way from our SDA kin. And, Jeannette, about the statement that we'll find out when we get to heaven. Yes, I have heard that very same line many times and I always smile and agree with it. And, yes EGW did say that in the last days folks would leave the truth. She was referring to SDA'ism in that line. It's total psychological abuse and munipulation. That is one heavy duty line of hers and I think that line alone keeps a lot of former SDA's from seeking true Christianity. By not seeking Christianity they can have in the back of their minds that they are still somehow SDA. I know former SDA's who think like this. They won't attend the SDA church but they sure won't risk attending any other church. This is the main mark of a cult to me, the control through intimadation, munipulation and the mind warping, the emotional control. | ||
| Hallanvaara Registered user Username: Hallanvaara Post Number: 65 Registered: 1-2004 |
I began to think those EGW words in Doug¥s post. She indeed wrote: there will be those that fall away from the truth. Think about it. Is it really possible? If you have to come to know REAL truth, REAL Jesus, REAL Holy Spirit. If you had had your "whoa"-moment about shadows and grasp that Jesus IS the fulfillment of ALL those shadows. That it¥s JESUS we need and surreding to Him wholly. When you have had your new birth. Is it really possible that people fall away from truth and begin to follow another "truth"? To me it¥s impossible to fall away anymore. I think that claim is absurd and ridiculous and I think it just shows someones immaturite and unconsciouness of truth. And I don¥t mean just EGW but all those who claim that I¥m falling away from truth now. If they really know the truth they know also that no one falls away from it. Holy Spirit holds us and takes care of us so that can¥t happen. Hope you understood. Much of my thoughts are feelings and impossible to translate to words. Tuija | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 725 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tuija, You do exceptionally good with expressing yourself. | ||
| Patrickfoy Registered user Username: Patrickfoy Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2004 |
I second that! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 272 Registered: 3-2004 |
Tuija, You express yourself very well. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 442 Registered: 12-2003 |
Tuija, I agree! Your post was clear and profound. I'd never thought about that statement of Ellen's from the standpoint of falling away from Jesus--and you're right; HOW would we do that?? Praise God! Colleen | ||
| Vchowdhury1 Registered user Username: Vchowdhury1 Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jeannette had posted a request that she has a strong desire that her sister can see the contradictions in the writings of EGW. I have the same problems with my parents. I grew up in the SDA church and until 4 years ago, was a member for 35 years. My parents are still staunch SDA. Everything about the church, and the writings of EGW are un-wavering as far a they're concerned. I have pointed out contradictions between her writings and the Bible, but I cannot shake their belief that her writings are just as "good as the gospel". So I gave up. All I can do is pray for them. But I've decided not to drive myself crazy over it. There is someplace in the new testimant were Jesus says that ..."if someone does not want to exept the truth, shake the dust from your feet and move on". | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 447 Registered: 12-2003 |
Welcome, Vchowdhury1! We're happy to have you here, and we look forward to hearing more of your story! You're right about having to let go of the urgnecy to convince your SDA loved ones of the truth. The Holy Spirit has to do that, and we have to trust Him. Meanwhile, we pray that God will guide our conversations and prepare their hearts... Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 121 Registered: 4-2000 |
A hearty FAF welcome, Vchowdhury! We look forward to your participation in our discussions. | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2004 |
I've been praying for my SDA relatives and loved ones for a long while now. So far all that is happening with most of them is that they look at me like I'm lost and that perhaps they should give me a wide birth. I remember them treating my sister that way when she started smoking. It really hurt my sister to find out that their beliefs were more important to them than flesh and blood. Me, I keep on praying. I send them books, talk to them whenever I get the opportunity and then go home and pray some more. I've had some who were almost convinced when I asked them to, just for a moment, take the Bible at its word. I put one friend into a six-week-long tail spin when I read Paul's statement about the Sabbaths. Let me set this up, thanks to Dale Ratzlaff I had come to realize that a well-trained Jew would list the various sabbaths in either ascending, or descending order. I read a few such quotes to him so that he got the feel of it from scripture. Then I read him Colossions 2:16, which says, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day." This is from the NIV and it makes it very clear, but the King James is a little fuzzier. It says, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths." The traditional SDA view is the mentioning of sabbaths means the cerimonial sabbaths, remember. This text has already listed those by calling them "festival." Why would a good jew mention the same thing twice in one sentence? Like I said, my good SDA friend went into a tail-spin on that one until his pastor set him straight by taking him to EGW and her view on the text. He came back and told me that Paul was making certain that these New Testiment Christians let go of all of the cerimonial celebrations, so he mentioned them twice to really drive his message home. He was unmovable on the topic after that. There are some people who simply choose to remain confused. I can only hope that I planted a question somewhere in the back of his brain that will come back to haunt him sometime in the future. It is up to you and me to plant questions in our loved ones that the Holy Spirit than can then enlarge upon. It really isn't up to you and me to convince them. That is God's work. We can continue to give them brain tickles whenever possible. |
