| Author | Message | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 32 Registered: 7-2005  |
I've been out of the SDA church for about 4 months, but my husband is still firmly entrenched in it. As a result, all my SDA friends see him alone in church each week and naturally think of me. For the most part, none of them has contacted me directly, but they do ask him about me. They know I have been visiting Sunday churches in recent weeks. One brave sister called me on the phone the other day to say she had been thinking about me a lot and wanted to invited me and my husband over for dinner with her and her husband. I may regret this, but my husband and I accepted the invitation. I feel uneasy about fellowshipping on their turf, because I will be outnumbered. I am praying the Lord will use me to speak His words, in His way, in His timing, so that there will not be a spirit of contention, but rather a spirit of love. I would appreciate the prayers of my fellow Formers and welcome any advice you want to offer. | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 408 Registered: 8-2004  |
Dear Jesus, You often taught people as you ate with them. Please be present at this table also. Teach each person. Let your Holy Spirit fill the house, and the heart of everyone who is willing. Send your angels beforehand to prepare the way, and keep Honestwitness firmly and fully in your hands the whole time. Rebuke every spirit not from you and send them away from that house and from each of the people involved. Give each person a thirst for You, a thirst for Reality, a hunger for Your Word. I ask this also for each person here at this forum, whether poster or lurker, friend, enemy, or aquaintance. May Your Spirit overshadow us, may our eyes, ears, and hearts be healed. May we overflow with the joy of Your salvation! And before I close, I also lift up the coming Former Adventist gathering to You. May You be lifted up by all those in attendance. May all come away having been refreshed and renewed. May Your special grace be with each organizer and presenter, may they also be renewed in spirit rather than worn out by the many things that they are responsible for. Thank You for all that You do! Amen | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3412 Registered: 12-2003  |
Honestwitness, God will put His words (or His stillness) into your mouth in His time. Praise Him for what He intends to do through this, whether or not you actually see the results. (Perhaps this will have more to do with your husband and his understanding of you than with the friends...) My prayer for you is Ephesians 3:16-19: "I pray that out of the riches of his grace he will fill you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, will have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." I pray this prayer for all of us here and for all who will be attending the FAF weekend beginning tomorrow. Praise God for His faithfulness. Colleen | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 119 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dear Honestwitness, I understand your hesitation and unease. Everybody in this situation does not know what to expect. I do not know your personality type, however I will make some suggestions. Like yourself, I offered my resignation letter 4 months ago,and can relate to your circumstance as my wife and family are still members. Be friendly and very gracious. Let your warmth and loving spirit permeate every aspect of the conversation. Let them see the real you, be authentic and try to be comfortable. If the conversation heads toward Spiritual topics. Share the joy of Jesus you have found. Let that peaceful spirit shine through. You have learned an awful lot in the last few months. You have asked questions and found answers they probably have not even considered. This is a chance for education,however only share what you have learned on specific doctrinal topics if they ask.If they do not have an honest curiousity On the other hand, they might be having many of the same questions you have had. Pray before you go in and trust that the Holy Spirit will use this interaction to help lead into greater understanding. This is an exciting opportunity for you to show this family, and especially your husband that you can be a non-Adventist who is a wonderful Christian who is living the walk. This is a chance to live your freedom and to show how wonderful it can be. Remember the fruits of the Spirit, and trust God that His will is being done. Trust in Jesus, Randy | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 180 Registered: 4-2005  |
Dear Honestwitness, May God bless you richly by His abiding grace. I agree with the counsel above. I personally think Randy has touched on what is key in such a visit - if opportunity for you to speak your witness is provided. I would refuse to be sucked into a doctrinal argument. You can simply say something like, "I don't feel a discussion of our differences would be profitable." Back to the key issue: Your love, joy and new-found freedom in Christ. Uplift Jesus every way you can, if only by a continuous, pleasant, smiling face, gentle, gratious behaviour. If given opportunity emphasize the joy you have never known before; freedom from fear and guilt you had during your years in Adventism; the increase desire to feast upon the Word, as you never felt before and the utter joy and excitement it now provides as you can, for the first time, read it without pre-conditioned thinking in place. The Word is coming alive as you now hear IT speaking as God intended, and you now are seeing more and more how every portion of Scripture in some way points to Christ and to glorifying the Father. You absolutely KNOW you are saved, eternally saved, this very moment, covered by His blood 24 x 7. Show your joy in Christ. Your joy in His freedom. Your increased - not diminished - desire to obey His will in all things. If they press about the Sabbath in that obedience, you can simply smile and say, Heb. 4 has clearly revealed to me that Jesus IS my eternal Sabbath rest. If they press for a foundation of your present beliefs, I would recommend (if it fits you, of course) saying you have returned to the old Reformation foundational beliefs of Salvation by faith alone, through Christ alone, by Grace alone for God's glory alone. You "no longer" need a system of 28 interpretations or an extra biblical authority as your guide. Christ is all and in all to me now. You might consider the tactful subtle use of the word "now" in any sharing you might give, to compare it with where you were formerly in bondage of fear and guilt and bound by chains of legalism. I just wish everyone could know the joy and freedom I NOW know in Jesus. One thing to remember: No matter how negative or saddened their expressions or responses might be....what they hear you saying will be re-played over and over in their minds long after you leave. The Holy Spirit of TRUTH, can keep pounding them deeper into their consciousness at odd times during the day and night. Your words, no matter how simple, will be seeds of the glorious Gospel and Christ will honor you as His precious "chosen" child for salvation. I can recall many instances when I was in the presence of other Christians and secretly considered the joy they expressed, the natural way they inserted Jesus in their conversation, or "the Lord" - these expressions were so frequent, no matter what they were discussing. I virtually NEVER heard any Adventist, including myself at the time, speaking with such love and joy and familiarity with Jesus throughout their normal conversation. It was just so natural sounding to hear them talk about the Lord answering prayers, revealing a fresh understanding of Scripture, blessing them in this and that, protecting, helping their children in subtle, marvelous ways. And I secretly questioned why I was not that way in my faith? Why didn't I "feel" the joy in Christ they felt? Why didn't I relish the Bible as they seem to enjoy it? What's missing in my religion, in my faith? These types of witnesses are so very powerful and those people had no idea they were sending a powerful message to my own mind at that time. We often think we have not "witnessed" (I dislike using that word simply because of how it is defined in Lay Activities and sermons within the SDA Church); if we don't give a Bible study, can't quote Bible texts rapid-fire; answer every technical doctrinal question successfully. I think we have and often do miss the mark. What is a witness anyway? It's someone telling of something they personally have experienced, seen, known, tasted, felt, etc. And what is THAT THING for true believers? It's none other than Jesus Christ Himself! Christ IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL WITNESS. Keep the spot light on Him, not you, not conflict, not doctrine or church conflicts, but on His Majesty, the Lover of your soul, and my soul, our souls! Perfect love casts out all fear. And remember who LOVE is. :c) You'll do just fine. You have nothing to fear. Be yourself. YOU have nothing to prove. Christ shining out from you in your natural smile and gentle speech and ways, will push out all negativity. Keep focused upon Jesus within you in Spirit - discipline yourself to NOT allow yourself to focus on any negative remarks or expressions. Silently sing the little chorus inside your mind, "Just Jesus and me." and also "Jesus in me." Grace and peace be yours, I too will be praying for you, along with my wife. We've been there ourselves. We know. JWD | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 287 Registered: 5-2004 |
I will pray for God's will to be done during your gathering. that you will be a vessel for the Holy Spirit. If they do let you honestly speak your heart and share your recent experiences with Jesus, it may be a good venue for your husband to hear your words in a group setting, so he doesn't feel that they are specifically directed at him. I will pray for you. -tanya- -tanya- | ||
| Lisa_boyldavis Registered user Username: Lisa_boyldavis Post Number: 165 Registered: 3-2005 |
Since I left Adventism, God has put me in the place to be Jesus in Skin to my Adventist Loved Ones a number of times. The latest was yesterday. My Uncle George died yesterday morning. He was an Uncle we've prayed for year after year. He was a hardened WWII Pearl Harbor vet who didn't believe in God at all. My mom had been down there visiting him, had tucked blankets around him as he was resting in his chair, they said their good-bye's, she got on a plane headed for Seattle and he feel back asleep, dying in his sleep. I had to meet mom at the airport and tell her the news. After the shock and deep grief response, mom said she knows God arranged to have me meet her on her lay-over in Seattle so that I could be there for her during her pain. She said she felt God's presence as we felt the pain of loosing Uncle George together. Your most powerful witness to Adventists is God's Spirit inside you during critical times. If your experience will be similar to mine, situations will occur where you will be the shoulder for that Adventist God has put in your path. Really, Adventists who love God have so much more in common with FAF's then they might think. Find the common areas, and if you sense there are genuine questions and some searching going on, God will give you the words. I will pray. Lisa | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2005 |
Dear Helovesme2, Colleen, Randy, JWD, Tanya and Lisa...I'm simply overwhelmed by your loving words and supportive thoughts. You have helped me to visualize this upcoming dinner engagement in a whole new way, so that I'm picturing good things happening, instead of bad things. I am very encouraged by your ministry to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! | ||
| Russkellyphd Registered user Username: Russkellyphd Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2006  |
What a wonderful web site this is! All of you show such love and care. Praise God. I can't help but inject a little humor into it. Don't complan if they do not serve ham. Ham it up instead. | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 158 Registered: 11-2005 |
JWD - That is a wonderful testimony! What a blessing. I am experiencing the same with my new (non-SDA) fellowship. Gilbert | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2325 Registered: 3-2004  |
Honestwitness, Please let us know what happened at the dinner with your SDA friends. I am writing this Monday afternoon, so I did not know about it to pray for you if it happened this weekend. If it has not happened yet, I will be praying for you and your husband. My best friends who are Adventist live in VA, so I do not see them often and as I have said before my family, brothers and especially sisters, are not practicing SDA, so I do not know what it is like to be spoken to about my change from family and close friends. All my close friends are non-SDA until Jesus drew me to him and now I have many Christian friends. I am constantly aware of how awesome God is. Diana | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 36 Registered: 7-2005 |
The dinner will take place on Sunday, Feb 26. Thank you so much for your prayers. | ||
| Lori Registered user Username: Lori Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-1999 |
JWD, I especially enjoyed your testimony. It was a reinforcement of the things you already know after you have found freedom "in" Christ. This is exactly why I came here this morning. I received more than I expected!!! But that's the way God always is!!! Four days ago, this was placed here BEFORE I needed it. God knows our needs in advance and has provided what we will need before we need it!! Thanks JWD for being His messenger!!! Lori | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 42 Registered: 7-2005 |
The dinner was a piece of cake! * smile* Thank you all for your prayers. Aside from the couple that invited us, there was an additional person who started attending the church right after I stopped. She has seen my husband at church every week, but had never seen me. Evidently, no one had told her about my recent exit. So she says to me, "How come I haven't seen you at church with your husband?" I said, "I don't go there any more. I'm looking for another church." The host said, with a smile, "I know of a few!" I just smiled back and changed the subject. We had a nice evening, because we talked about everything BUT doctrine. The hosts and my husband touched on a few things about a recent church meeting (at which I was not present), but all in very vague terms, like parents talk to each other above the heads of their children. After dinner we played an innocent card game, which kept everything totally light. Thank you all again for your prayers. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1313 Registered: 7-2003  |
Glad to hear it went well, HW. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1120 Registered: 10-2004  |
"The dinner was a piece of cake!" You mean they don't believe in EGW's health message?! ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist...  I'm also glad to hear it went well. Jeremy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2355 Registered: 3-2004 |
HW, God was in charge of that meeting and nothing happened that He did not want to happen. Thank you Jesus. You are awesome. Diana |
