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Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 377
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 2:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Most of us have left the SDA church with some kind of "baggage" which we are shedding as we move on.
My question to each of you is what keeps you going, especially when times get rough?
For me, I know God loves me in spite of my sinful nature. Jesus died for me. When times get rough I just pray more. Times are rough right now as I do not have enough patients to bring in a good income and I decided to look for a full time job. I like my job doing home health, but when things get slow I pray and tell God. Then I start looking for another job. I know that whatevery happens, God will be taking care of me.
I do not have a specific Bible text. I just know that God cares for me in every aspect of my life. When I look back in my life and see what God has done to care for me, I know He will continue to care for me as I move forward with His help.
God is awesome.
Diana
Tealeaves
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Username: Tealeaves

Post Number: 89
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 3:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I haven't been SDA, but my husband was, and I intimately know the "baggage" that he deals with. He is still struggling with the compulsion to "be doctrinally RIGHT" all the time. And he is still trying to pick the EGW threads out of his biblical blanket, so to speak. He isn't sure about things like soul sleep vs souls being in heaven right now. (Anyone have info on this, by the way, that is geared towards those who come from the "soul sleep" background?)
And, of course, he has all his family who are still SDA to deal with.

He says he simply clings to Jesus in faith and prayer when he struggles with "old ghosts". Reminding himself that he doens't have to know everything, or be doctrinally perfect, he just has to be at the feet of Jesus, ready to do His Will!
Tealeaves
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Username: Tealeaves

Post Number: 90
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 3:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Remember always, that anything short of total dependence on Christ is like asking for failure, in Kingdom terms! (- quote from Experiencing God study-)
Dane
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Username: Dane

Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 8:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Even though I left SDA 22 years ago, I still occasionally find a bit of baggage. The question of what keeps us going is important. For me, it is focusing on Jesus alone. (and I have to daily remind myself of that)

As I understand His teachings, there is only one vital characteristic of a Christian. It is to love! Love with that love that the Spirit is constantly trying to grow within us. I find that this can be much more difficult than following a set of doctrines. I really think it is the ultimate test of a Christian. Notice that Jesus does not give a doctrine as the mark of being a Christian. Paul reiterates this in his famous treatise on love. The more I meditate on His love and my proper response to it the less I worry about doctrinal quibbles.
Dane
Grace_g
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Username: Grace_g

Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 9:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What keeps me going is the incredible freedom and joy that I now have in Christ. The difference is night and day. I will never give this up.
Cindy
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Username: Cindy

Post Number: 632
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 10:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, the feeling of freedom is a very good...it does bring a sense of deep-down peace.

And also, the realization of living in honesty, and in simplicity, of doctrine...knowing totally that JESUS is really Enough!

grace always,
cindy
Pw
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Username: Pw

Post Number: 84
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 6:01 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This is a very good question. I left the SDA after only a year of membership but it took many years to shake off the teachings I was exposed to. The first one was the guilt of not keeping the sabbath, then was the issue with the soul sleep. That one still is hard to shake because they really did some damage in my outlook of the spirit when they said we just cease to exist at death. However, the more I get closer to God the less the doctrines of the SDA hold me in bondage....or fear.
Cindy
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Username: Cindy

Post Number: 635
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 6:37 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Pw, I think what you said about fear is quite accurate for me, also. The "fear factor" was present in those early days of leaving.

It gradually goes away by continuing to live in the true Light--Jesus Christ; the calm assurance the Holy Spirit gives us eventually puts tha fear behind us.

And then it almost hard to believe we had ever been afraid of any of Adventisms' mind controlling, fear-inducing, denial-of-the-all-suufficient-Jesus Christ doctrines.

I love many of Davids' Psalms where he talks of his feet being planted by God on "level ground"... or bringing him out into a "spacious place."

Here is one (Psalms 18:17-19:-)

..."He rescued me from my powerful enemy.....the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me."

Isn't that great!

grace always,
cindy
Cindy
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Username: Cindy

Post Number: 636
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 6:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow! I don't even know how I got that smiley-face on my post! I've never seen that before on any of my postings; always wondered how people got them on!

I must have hit something here on my computer...or did it just miraculously appear? :-)

Got to get ready for work...
grace always,
cindy
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 515
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 9:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What keeps me going is the certainty that Jesus is enough. When I struggle with a doctrine or a Biblical passage, I ask God to make it clear to me what the truth is. And I realize that I have to keep surrendering to Him. I ask Him to help me hold loosely all the things I've valued, including my ideas about things and to trust Him with whatever happens. Knowing that ultimately God's workings are beautiful and healing and life-giving gives me the courage to surrender my desires and understandings to Him.

The reality of the presence of Jesus--which has never left me since I met Him, even when I've been discouraged or helpless or worried--is what keeps me going.

Praise God for Jesus.

Colleen
Belvalew
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Username: Belvalew

Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 12:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The sweet air of Gospel freedom. Knowing that I was "saved from the foundation of the earth." That is a lot different than saying that everybody will be saved. I is saying that everybody could be saved if they accept Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for sin.

I'm not bragging here, because I know I still sin, but I no longer desire to sin. Do any of the rest of your identify with that?

Tealeaves, if your husband is open to the Christian writers that you can probably find in your local Christian Bookstore, tell him to look for a book called "One Minute After You Die." I can't remember the author's name right now, but it is a good one for confirming the state of man in death.

Another wonderful book was written by Billy Graham, but I can't remember the exact title of the book. It was something like "Man's State in Death." Please don't look for it by that title, however, just look for the book on that topic by Billy Graham.
Tealeaves
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Username: Tealeaves

Post Number: 95
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 1:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the book suggestions, I will look into them....

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