| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3448 Registered: 3-2004  |
I move the Prayer Chain announcement every so often to bring it to any newcomer's attention. We want you to know about it and join us in this very important part of our life. The first time we pray is Friday evening at sundown in our own time zones. The second time is Saturday afternoon at 1 PM, PT, 4 PM ET and what ever the time is in your time zone. On Saturday we pray as a group, even though we are scattered. But God is still in the midst of us and hears our prayers. Here is our list of who we pray for: 1. All SDAs from the GC down to the smallest church in the world. 2. All unchurched members. All the agnostics, atheists and unbelievers who are former SDAs. 3. All those who are coming under the influence of SDAs through such things as the SDA friends, Revelation Seminars and baptismal classes. 4. All Christians who think SDAs are just another Christian church. 5. All those writing on R/S, Spectrum, CARM and similar sites. 6. All SDA children who are being exposed to The Clear Word for Kids, history of EGW at the early age of first grade and younger and other distinctive SDA doctrine that is not Biblical. 7. We pray for each other, that God will use us to teach others His love and about what Jesus did for each of us and that the Holy Spirit fill us. 8. Dirk Anderson and the hassle he is receiving from the White estate. That God will be glorified in what ever happens and that Adventism will be exposed for what they really teach. 9. Dale Ratzlaff's project of contacting all SDA ministers in the SDA conference where he lives. Go Dale!! God be with you as well as our prayers. 10. Lurkers who are in the process of leaving the SDA church. 11. Those SDAs reading the the new SDA book(it does not deserve the title Bible) with EGW's books intermixed with the Bible. 12. All those receiving Proclamation! magazine. That they will be convicted in their heart, mind and soul of the Bible truths and will search the Bible for themselves to know the truth of the Bible, God's love letter to all of us. 13. Colleen and Richard Tinker and all who work with Life Assurance Ministries that God will protect them in all ways. 14. For the Spanish version of Proclamacion and the prayer circle. We are physically separated, but spiritually we are one as we pray and God is in the midst of us, with the Holy Spirit taking our prayers to the Father. What a group we are connected with. It could not get any better, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Matt 7:7 Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. v. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the seeker finds, and to him who knocks it is opened. Berkeley Version, Modern English Bible. We will be asking, seeking and knocking on Friday and Saturday, and in our daily prayers, for all our requests and God does hear us and answers us. That is a promise and God keeps His promises. Join us at our prayer times Friday at sundown and Sat at 1 PM, PT. I look forward to all of us praying at the same time. God is receiving all these prayers at the same time. He is answering our prayers in ways we cannot see, at this time. Our God is always awesome. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3497 Registered: 3-2004 |
REMINDER FOR THE PRAYER CHAIN Every Friday evening at sundown in our own time zones and every Saturday afternoon at 1 PM, Pacific time and 4 PM, Eastern time and what ever the time zone is where you are. I am adding the Spanish forum to the prayer list also, that are Spanish speaking brethren will come here to heal. Look above for all the people for whom we pray. Our God is working as I type and I know whatever He does is awesome. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3544 Registered: 3-2004 |
Here it is April and almost half way through it. PLEASE, DO NOT FORGET THE PRAYER CIRCLE. It is every Friday at sundown in your time zone. The second time is on Saturday, 1 PM, Pacific Time, 4pm East Coast time and whatever it is in your time zone. I am praying especially for Kevin, on of the SDA pastors on CARM. Do not forget to look at the list of people for whom we pray and above I have the Spanish speaking SDAs and the Spanish forum. God is always doing His work and I know it is awesome. Diana | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 525 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thank you Diana! I will make it a special point to join you in praying for Pastor Kevin. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3545 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks Freeatlast, I am so glad you are joining me in praying for this person especially. I know God is working on him. God is doing an awesome work with him, even if we cannot see it. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5671 Registered: 12-2003  |
Thank you, Diana. I so appreciate your commitment to the prayer chain. Colleen | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 99 Registered: 2-2006 |
Diana, The SDA church that I attended was very small. They had a lot of names on the books, but 25 would be a crowd at any service. After I left, one woman (friend) stayed in touch with me. She`visits me from time to time. A little while ago, she started questioning why I left the church. I was kind, but honest about my reasons. More recently she told me she had asked for prayer for me during a prayer service, as I was quite ill. She was surprised that they would/did not pray for me. I am happy they did not as it gave her more reason to question. She is doubting very much if she is not in the wrong church. I have felt for some time that she is being drawn out, and I could not help thinking of you and your prayer chain. I gave her some reading materials that I feel will help her and told her about this forum, as I feel that this is a great place for anyone questioning Adventism. I also am saving my copy of Proclamation to give her at her next visit. Just wanted to share this with you. Keep that prayer chain going. Know that I also join you in prayer. Blessings Toria | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3546 Registered: 3-2004 |
Toria, We all keep the prayer chain going with our committment to prayer for our fellow SDAs. Thank you for being there for your friend. I know God is using each of us to influence others. He will do the convicting and convincing. We just plant the seeds and we have His help to do that. I see more and more every day how awesome God is. Diana | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1751 Registered: 10-2004  |
Toria, That does not surprise me too much that they wouldn't pray for you, since their prophet Ellen G. White wrote:
Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on April 14, 2007) | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 100 Registered: 2-2006 |
Jeremy Thank you for the above quote. The more I read about that woman, the more difficult to find a kind thought for her. I said I was happy they did not pray for me as it gave my friend more reason to question. But I am sad also for their sakes. I met those folks when I first moved to this area. I was at the time a fairly new christian, looking for a church home. They were so loving and welcoming that I felt like they were family. I am not an expert on the Bible by any means, but I was/am in the habit of spending time in daily study. The time came when I started questioning what was being taught/preached at the church, as it often did not agree with what I was reading in my Bible. My questions were not welcome. About then I got my computer, and I started doing research on the church, and EGW. I left the church, but it was difficult leaving folks I thought were my friends. This forum (which I thank the Lord I found), helped me to understand why they cut me out of their lives so completely. It's like I'm dead to them. But time has passed, and I have made new friends in the area. I have joined a non-denominational Bible study group. I am looking for a church home, but am finding when I go into a church and am greeted with smiling, friendly faces, I feel something inside closing down. I guess that will pass with time. Blessings Toria | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5677 Registered: 12-2003 |
Toria, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm struck by your comment, "…but am finding when I go into a church and am greeted with smiling, friendly faces, I feel something inside closing down." Can you explain that a bit more? Do you feel that the open welcome makes it hard for you to observe unnoticed, or does it bring up something from the old SDA days, or is that reaction about something completely different? Perhaps feeling vulnerable to becoming known before you're ready to divulge? Of course, if you don't wish to respond to these questions, please feel free not to! I find your observations, though, to be insightful and helpful. I'd be interested if you're willing to explain—and there may be others who also experience what you do. Colleen | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 101 Registered: 2-2006 |
Colleen, To be honest, I'm not really sure. I am not very good at putting what I feel/think into written words, but I will try. I normally do not have a problem being open and accepting with people. I accept people for who they are and appreciate our differences. I come from a large (12 kids) family. We were taught right from wrong, but I don't remember ever hearing a prayer being said in the home. My grandmother, on the other hand was a church going, praying woman, who influenced me more than I knew. Fast forward many years.... I found myself, at the lowest/blackest point of my life, on my knees, crying out to God. That night I gave my life over to Jesus, and started down the road I find myself travelling today. Less than two years (and much Bible study) later, I found myself in this area, and as I said looking for a church/people with whom I could share my love of my Saviour. To me, people who really love Jesus, love each other. The face we show the world, should be a reflection of His face. I know I'm not doing a very good job here, it's difficult to explain. When I joined the SDA church I believed everything I was shown... friendship/love and acceptance was real. These were God loving folks. I felt I was finally home. Now, when I check out a new church and someone puts out the hand of friendship, with a big welcoming smile????????? I have attended and enjoyed some Spirit renewing services, which I truly enjoyed. Also some that I know I will not repeat. I find myself wanting to be a part of things, but something holds me back. I tell myself that when I find the place God wants me to be, I will be able to trust more freely. Hope you can make some sense out of all that. One thing I do know. My Lord is with me wherever I am. I am no longer afraid to face anything that comes my way in life, because He is near and has promised strength for any of life's challenges. Blessings Toria | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5681 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thank you, Toria. Yes, I think I do understand. It sounds as if there is an automatic fear of being deceived once again. I understand that! In fact, I think it's a really common reaction among people who leave Adventism. As I've said before, several years ago one study showed that only two percent of people who left Adventism ever attended another church again. This percentage was lower than for those leaving either Mormonism or JW's. I'm wondering if the percentage might be higher today because of the effect of the internet and the fact that so many people leaving today are finding Jesus. Truly, however, the Adventist "experience" is a very clever "look alike" of the real thing. It is amazing how much apprehension I've seen in people when they begin visiting "Sunday churches". It's a common experience. Toria, God does know where He wants you to be in order to grow in Him. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3551 Registered: 3-2004 |
My experience has been the opposite. As an SDA, when I entered an SDA church, I was ignored. When I started looking for a new Church, I was greeted with a smile and people were glad to see me. Toria, God has a place for you. Diana | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 105 Registered: 2-2006 |
Colleen and Diana, Sometimes I wonder if I had not found Jesus before I joined the church, if I would not still be there. Then I realize that He has been there, all down the years, and would have brought me out of adventism, just like He (without my always knowing) brought me through so many things. I know God has a place for me. If not here then surely in heaven. I would just like to fellowship more with other christians. I have that once a week with my Bible study group. All things considered, I am grateful that things as good as they are. With my health the way it is, most of my contact with the world is in cyberspace. I do not often miss a Bible study night, and I can sometimes attend a church service. For those and many, many other things I am truly greatful. I am still learning just how Awesome He truly is. Blessings Toria (Message edited by toria on April 18, 2007) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5706 Registered: 12-2003 |
Toria, praise God for His strength and faithfulness to you. You are in my prayers. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3562 Registered: 3-2004 |
WEEKLY REMINDER FOR THE PRAYER CIRCLE Times: Friday at sundown in our own time zones. Saturday afternoon, 1 PM Pacitic time, 4 PM East Coast Time and what ever the time is in your time zone. See the first post here for whom we pray. If you want to add anyone else, please put it here. We have an awesome God and He is doing an awesome work. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3589 Registered: 3-2004 |
THE PRAYER CIRCLE WEEKLY REMINDER WHAT IS IT: A time to pray for our SDA relatives, friends and many others. See the list in the first post. WHEN: Friday evening at sundown in our own time zones and Saturday afternoon at 1 PM, pacific time, 4 PM east coast time and what ever the time is in your time zone. In reading the list of who we pray for, please put all the SDA children who are being fed the stuff about EGW in first grade. God is not willing that any should perish. So let us pray that all we know will come to know Jesus and love and accept him. WE DO HAVE AN AWESOME GOD. Diana |
