| Author | Message | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 268 Registered: 6-2005 |
A while ago, I was at lunch with an adventist friend, (who didnt know yet that I had left the adventist church) telling her of the incredible onslaught of difficuties I had faced recently. She remarked "God must really love you", in that tongue-in-cheek kinda way. I immediately responded, "yes, He does." , and I meant it. I could see the startled look in her eyes, when she realized I was sincere. I remembered having those sorta caustic remarks and thoughts like, "well, I wish He had a different way of showing it"....blah blah blah. I guess what Im trying to say is, Im very grateful that I do now KNOW, for certain, that God loves me, and has His best interest for me at heart, in all that he allows me to go thru. What a difference resting in Jesus makes. A year ago, I would have felt quite differently. And I didnt REALLY believe that God LOVED me, as I was. Im really grateful for all your prayers, thru my journey into Christ alone for salvation and sanctification, and all the other family crisis you continue to pray me thru. A little over 4 months ago, I was a questioning SDA, married and getting ready to celebrate my 20th anniversary. Five days after making my intention to leave the SDA church public, my husband moved out--four months later we are divorced. I have experienced rejection from family and friends, had serious family health crisis, safety crisis, spritual warfare, business problems, tax problems, and close friends with very serious illnesses. And yes, God really does Love me. And He has been very present, and continues to pour His Spirit, and unexplainable peace into me and my son. And he really does love a lot of YOU here,. who are going thru serious trials, (and those who are not, at the moment, in the fire). Makes me think God is preparing us, like He said He would. JavaGirl 4excape@bellsouth.net | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1444 Registered: 7-2003 |
You put me to shame, Lori. We are truly blessed beyond measure... | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4407 Registered: 12-2003  |
Lori, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It is a life-changing thing to KNOW that God really loves us.Youre experience is such a witness to His faithfulness and strength. Praying for you, Colleen | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1445 Registered: 7-2003 |
I received this from my step-mom a few minutes ago and thought it went along well with Lori's remarks.... A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: "This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said: "Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion". I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel like it. I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come. I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... that I wanted to write "One of these days". I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters, son and daughters, not times enough at least, how much I love them. Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.. And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.. Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. ------ Those thoughts put a lot of life into perspective for me. What I've lost is hopefully minimal to what I still have. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2715 Registered: 3-2004  |
Lori, Thanks for sharing you experience with us and Melissa, thanks for that story. I have seen that story and ever since I have used my good glasses, silverware and dishes, just for me because I have only myself at home. I am always amazed at how God shows his love for us and I do not mean the BIG things he does for us, but the little things that no one sees but me. You are all my friends and sisters and brothers in Christ and I am so thankful for each of you. Diana | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 269 Registered: 6-2005 |
Ah, Melissa, you have been a support to me, even in all your stuff! Diana, you mean that I should resist the fleshy urge at dark moments to break the not-quite-completed-wedding-china set, and maybe save it to eat on some day??  . Colleen, it is HIS faithfulness and strength. Reminds me of an old favorite song, as you often speak of the fruit and joy of SURRENDER. Hold Me Jesus: Rebecca St. James Sometimes my life just don't Make sense at all When the mountains look So big, and my faith Just seems so small And I wake up in the night And feel the dark It's so hot inside my soul There must be blisters On my heart Hold me Jesus I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace SURRENDER DON'T COME NATURALLY TO ME, I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want, than Take what You give that I need Surrender don't come naturally to me And I beat my head against so many walls Now I'm falling down, falling on my knees Saying hold me Jesus Please hold me Jesus Hold me Jesus I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace My Prince of Peace My Prince of Peace My Prince of Peace Hold me Jesus Hold me Jesus Hold me Jesus (emphasis mine) | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 37 Registered: 2-2006 |
Lori Thank you for sharing. And thank you for the e-mail on my computer yesterday reminding me how God sustains, carries & rescues us. (Isaiah 46:4) I know what it means to KNOW that God loves me. My divorce from my first marriage happened 23 years ago and I did not have Jesus in my life at that time. It was a dark time in my life. Life still happens. Last week we buried my mom. Two weeks exactly from the day we buried my younger brother Pat, who lost his battle with cancer. Those are difficult days. The difference now is I have Jesus and I know He will never let me go. Makes all the difference. Praying for you. Blessings to all toria | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 102 Registered: 6-2006  |
Dear Girlfriends, this is my FAVORITE Psalm - Psalm 116 (New Living Translation) 1 I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers. 2 Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! 3 Death had its hands around my throat; the terrors of the grave[a] overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "Please, LORD, save me!" 5 How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! 6 The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he saved me. 7 Now I can rest again, for the LORD has been so good to me. I had just turned eight when I found this chapter in my brand new bible. I was in the hospital getting my tonsils out and my parents had left for the night. The thing that impressed me most was that God "bends down and listens", which was a pretty neat word-picture for this little girl! God, who is massive, awesome and all powerful, loves us so much that he bends down and listens to us, like a Daddy to his little one. A great big hug to all of you! Leigh Anne | ||
| Violet Registered user Username: Violet Post Number: 470 Registered: 2-2001 |
Caroline Ingalls (Little House on the Prarie) said it best. "Special dishes are for special people not just for special times." Cherish your family while you have them as many of us can attest to you don't always have them for long in this world. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4410 Registered: 12-2003 |
Toria, I continue to pray for God to comfort and strengthen and hold youóalso that He will bring your husband to know Him. You are a blessing and an example to me of what it means to trust God. I so relate to your statement about suffering being different when you know God is holding you. Leigh Anne, what a wonderful psalm, and what a wonderful story about eight-year-old you, alone in the hospital, reading about God bending down to listen to you! Colleen | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 270 Registered: 6-2005 |
Toria, I am praying, even tho Ive been too busy to think and post lately. So good to have His ear and His arms, in all the loss. He meets us there, in the valley, and he is a "man of sorrows". Ill save that text Leigh Anne, and nice to "meet you". God's heart for the little ones is awesome. Last night, I was paying bills, and noticed my son had downloaded another "ringtone". I was ready to get onto him, and make him pay up, when I noticed the title of the song he downloaded... "Praise You in this storm" Amazing. Awesome. A few months ago, I was finding objectionable lyrics and angry songs. Now, every time his phone rings, its a witness to the power of God to him, his friends, and to my heart. Thank you all so much for praying for him regularly. Hard to imagine a 13-year old getting that concept, while facing an unexpected divorce and other losses all at once. Prayer is so powerful. Lori | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 117 Registered: 4-2006  |
Reading this thread has just made me feel a lot better, thanks everybody! Jesus is truely life! | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 563 Registered: 1-2003  |
Lori, you are so right that it is "Hard to imagine" when we look at the world in the "flesh" but when we look at the world in the "Spirit" it becomes the ordinary. Many of us have been praying for you and your family. We serve an awesome God ! ! ! In Christ, richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 564 Registered: 1-2003 |
Lori, it's me again. I also wanted to tell you what an inspiration you have been to me over the last few months as you have shared your "journey" in chats and emails and postings here. You always surprise me when you send me "stuff" and I know you are listening to HIM and you follow His direction. Richard | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2717 Registered: 3-2004 |
Toria, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom and brother. That really hurts. I am so glad that you know God and know that He is with you every step you take. Lori, It sounds, to me, that God is taking care of your son and he is letting you know. Not that you did not know anyway. Leigh Anne, Thanks for Ps. 116. I will get out my Bible and read it before going to bed. God is so awesome in how He takes care of us. Diana | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 105 Registered: 7-2005  |
Lori (Javagirl), Reading about your upcoming divorce gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Would you say your leaving the SDA church is what caused your husband to leave? I went through something similar many years ago. This was long before I even heard of the SDA church, but I had been a Christian all my life. As I became more totally committed to Jesus, my marriage started to fall apart at the seams. There was definitely a clash of kingdoms, as my ex-husband was becoming more committed to his sinful lifestyle and hardened against having anything to do with church, God or the Bible. He even asked me to stop praying for him. My three sons are now in their thirties and mostly stable, even though they have had some real challenges related to their dad's sins against them. He molested two of them. Just yesterday, I was discussing this with a Christian friend at work. For the first time in my life, I was given, through her, the idea that I should thank God for what I've been through, including the sexual abuse of my sons. That thought is almost alarming to my sensitive spirit, but it is Scriptural to thank God in everything. My friend said that I can now look back and see that going through this experience has made me much more aware of the dangers awaiting my grandsons and much more watchful and prayerful on their behalf. I have to agree with my friend, that this is a good result. I am thankful, even though it still hurts to remember all the anguish I've endured. The dark valley I went through developed a very active prayer habit in me, and that probably would never have happened, if my little sons had been allowed to keep their innocence. It was a long hard journey, but God has restored all the years the cankerworm has eaten away. I've been married to my wonderful second husband for sixteen years now. He's SDA, and even though he's a devout SDA, he's one who understands that our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, by Christ alone. We're doing very well, considering we now have different denominations. I've been attending a Presbyterian church, but I'm still honoring his sabbath-keeping habits, so as not to offend him. I'm so glad to know your relationship with the Lord Jesus is vibrant and alive. Your words are radiant with His glory. Thank you for sharing your intimate struggles with us. You're in my prayers. Honestwitness (Message edited by honestwitness on August 02, 2006) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4413 Registered: 12-2003 |
HonestWitness, thank YOU for sharing your story. I understand your developing a prayer habit out of the helpless agony of dealing with abused children. Your insight about thanksgiving is profound. When our younger son (now 19) was in 4th grade, I was very worried about him. He was withdrawn and distant, even dissociative at times, and sometimes I just didn't know how to pray for him. One day I was praying as I was working in the house, asking God to help me know what to pray for him. I clearly had the conviction that I was to thank God for what He was doing in our son's life that I couldn't see. I continue to praise God for His work in our son's livesóalong with other prayers, too! The Biblical commands are clear: we are to BE THANKFULóand in all things! God is clearly at work in our sons' lives, and sometimes I just cry when I see what He has already done in them. God truly is faithful to waste nothing and to redeem everything we submit to Him. He is faithful. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2719 Registered: 3-2004 |
Lori, Sorry I missed that part about breaking the not complete set of dishes. If they bring back bad memories, give them to someone who needs them. If you can bear to keep them around, wait until you feel better to use them. They may be worth some money some day. I have a wrist watch that my ex gave me as an engagement present. It is a white gold Omega. I am told it is worth $10,000 now. I am so glad I did not get rid of it. I wear it frequently and thank God it still keeps time. I do not think of my ex when I wear it. I deserve something like this in my life. I love you girl. I have been through a divorce myself. Sometimes I think I would like to get remarried, but it is not in God's plan for me at this time. That is okay, as I like where I am in life right now. God has you in his arms right now and in your worse moments, he is carrying you. That is what I have learned in my life. I will continue to pray for you. Love you Diana | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 271 Registered: 6-2005 |
Honestwitness, Thanks for your inspirational story. God's hand does sustain us, and redeems and even annoints the past to use for His Glory. His timing is perfect, and I believe His Hand held back many of the crisis coming my way, until He had me fully surrendered to His loving plan, rather than putting my trust in a religious system. I cant imagine facing this storm without Christ in me, and the fullness of The Comforter. Richard, your support and even humor has been a gift to me. Diana, as I mentioned, those breaking china impulses are dark and brief, and you are right about passing things along to those who need them. Glad you kept your watch! Friends at church have been praying from the time my husband left, that No Bitter Root spring up in me. What a powerful prayer. What a difference it makes as I battle the Evil One when he tries to get me to wallow around in self-pity, anger, etc. Lori | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4417 Registered: 12-2003 |
Lori, your comment about the bitter root is so on target. It's true that the root of beitterness can fill our hearts almost before we're aware it's happened. God wants to fill our hearts instead of bitterness filling us. It's hard to let go of our "right" to feel victimized sometimes! Thanks for sharing that prayer for you. I will remember it, too. Colleen |
