Author |
Message |
Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl
Post Number: 375 Registered: 6-2005
| Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:21 pm: | |
Saw this bumper sticker, I can't get it out of my mind. Ill write my response later. Wanted to hear from others: Here it is.... "I don't believe in Miracles--- I depend on them." |
Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 751 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 3:22 am: | |
Amen! \(>_<)/ |
Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl
Post Number: 377 Registered: 6-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 9:49 am: | |
Okay, I see others are not as moved as I am by this, but here goes anyway..why God is impressing me to post this, I dont know. This bumper sticker to me represents my transition out of Adventism I think. Maybe I should post it on the stories section. . __________________________________________________ Lori's story: "I used to believe in Miracles... Now I depend on them." __________________________________________________ I am floored by the truth of this statement. * I depend on the miracle of the new birth. * I depend on the miracle of the blood of Jesus alone to save me. * I depend on the miracle of the New Covenant written in my heart. * I depend on the miracle of Jesus to create in me a pure heart, and to renew a right spirit within me. * I depend on the miracle of forgiveness. I am completely unable on my own to offer forgiveness to some who have grossly wronged and deliberately harmed or offended me. * I depend on the miracle of the joy of the Lord to give me strength through very difficult and painful experiences. * I depend on the miracle of the WORD, when I injest it, it changes me. * I depend on the miracle of the fact that by his wounds I am healed. Now, in the present. * I depend on the miracle that he puts this love in my heart. * I depend on the miracle of Grace, given to me, when I deserve death. Thats my new story, one year out of Adventism! Lori |
Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg
Post Number: 389 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 10:08 am: | |
Lori, thank-you for sharing. You have been able to verbalize in a wonderful way the experience of many of us. Thank-you again |
Doc Registered user Username: Doc
Post Number: 243 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 11:31 am: | |
Great comments Lori, I'm still learning that I really can count on those wonderful miracles in my day to day walk with God. Jesus really is reliable and trustworthy. It's amazing, Adrian |
River Registered user Username: River
Post Number: 673 Registered: 9-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 12:54 pm: | |
Lori, I saw your post and I didn't intend to ignore it but I was waiting on your response. One time I was talking to my Pastor on Monday over the back fence, on Sunday the day before we had prayed for someone and they had been miraculously healed. My Pastor said "Weren't you surprised at that healing Miracle? I answered, I suppose, in a my matter of fact flat everyday voice "No" I said. His eyes got big and he looked at me like I had just turned purple or something. "Why/" he exclaimed, I said "Well, I would have been surprised if he hadn't". Jesus said in Luke 13:32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' He is still performing his "cures" today and tomorrow. I may just look like a common Arky to most but this common Arky had an uncommon Jesus do one of his "Cures" on him. So yes, I do depend on them because I depend on him and them. River |
Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 5694 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 1:24 pm: | |
Lori, thank you for sharing your responses to that bumper sticker. Yes, I agree—life is a succession of miracles grounded in knowing the Lord Jesus. Being alive in Him is a miracle that still amazes me—and all the rest of living by the Spirit and learning to trust Him is completely a succession of miracles. I love how you put it, River: "I may just look like a common Arky to most but this common Arky had an uncommon Jesus do one of his "Cures" on him." Yes! The cure of Jesus changes everything! Colleen |
Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 753 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:30 am: | |
Lori, yes, thank you for sharing your story! It reminds me how so often in my last year of Adventism, I would pray & search for the thing that I thought was missing, the spiritual truth that was neglected -- unconsciously I was in search of whatever we had missed. I needed Him to be *real*... but most often He wasn't, and going through the dusty old denominational materials just wasn't real. Then I met the Holy Spirit, and suddenly I realized that He is not silent! He has not been gone for two thousand years waiting for us to get our act together! He's been moving all throughout history, and still is moving. He's been talking to His people, and His people have been hearing Him! He is not distant, He is not remote, and He is not waiting for us to get it all right before He talks to us in obvious ways. I felt like Job when God spoke to him out of the storm: "I had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You." |
River Registered user Username: River
Post Number: 675 Registered: 9-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:46 am: | |
Absolutely Ramone, brother I may not be able to understand you on some things but I hear you loud and clear on that. I like the way you put that "dusty old denominational materials wasn't real" he has been real to me going on 36 years now and you hit another nail on the head there, he didn't wait for me to "get it right" before he speaks, far as I know I probably still don't have it all right. He is the "Spirit of Truth" our comforter and has not left us desolate just like he said in his word. When the storms of this life blow he is there. He is there in our troubles and confusion and he is real. Nobody, but nobody can convince me that I have to look in some "dusty old denominational materials" to find him for he found me. He lives. |
Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 5704 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 1:00 pm: | |
Amen, River! "He found me. He lives!" Colleen |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 3558 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:44 pm: | |
The spirituality I found in my 12 step program was so much better/meaningful than I had learned in SDA school/church. I even told the SDA pastors I spoke to that I would not go back to the legalism of the SDA church. The "dusty old denominational materials were not real" after what I learned. Since Jesus claimed me and I acknowledged Him as my Lord and Saviour it has gotten so much better. He is so awesome. Diana Diana |
River Registered user Username: River
Post Number: 680 Registered: 9-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:13 pm: | |
Isn't it wonderful Dianna? Just like the sheep that wandered, he searched us out and finally we heard his call and lifted our tired heads, when the master calls, you know who it is. I am in the "leap program", when he called, I "leaped" to him. |
Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl
Post Number: 378 Registered: 6-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 7:27 pm: | |
Someone commented that it takes a miracle for someone entrenched in Adventism to leave Adventism. That made me defensive when I was a questioning Adventist. I do see the miracle, in hindsight. It was not dependent on my studying the bible with no commentary for six years (which I did). It wasn't even my desire for truth, or the "chance" meeting of some Christian women who had a relationship with Jesus that I wanted. It wasnt even the testimony of a "former". It was a miracle. A song by Misty Edwards describes this: I'll take my cold, cold heart I'll take my unrenewed mind I'll take Your word in my hand And I'll give You time, to come and melt me 'cuz I can't even love You unless You call my name I can't even worship unless You anoint my heart I can't even want you unless You want me first So come fan the flame Do what only You can do - Come fan the flame |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 3560 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 7:29 pm: | |
What is amazing to me is that God is the who led me all that time and I did not know that. I thought it was me deciding to do what ever. As I look at my past I see where God led me and I cannot help but say thank you God. At that time I really did not know you, but you knew that and you were preparing the way for me to know you better. Thank you so much. You are so aweosme. Diana |
Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh
Post Number: 163 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 6:00 am: | |
Amen, Lori, One of the sins that God has been convicting me of is pride. At first before I left or even had any problems with Adventism it was pride in that I had the "truth." I also was proud of my Bible knowledge. When I left Adventism, I still had this pride that I knew more than those in the new church we were attending - state of the dead, health, etc. (I have been humbled!) I also had pride in that I studied my way out of Adventism. He is still digging deep into my heart and revealing the hidden and deep seated pride that lurks there. Over the years, God has shown me that He called me. He pulled me out even when I was trying to cling to SDA ways. He sought and found me. Truely it is a MIRACLE! Thanks for the lyrics! I Surrender All Take all I am, Lord, and all that I cling to You are my Savior I owe everything to Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse They cannot follow when I enter Your house So I surrender all to You I surrender all Take all my cravings for vain recognition Fleshly indulgence and worldly ambition I want so much Lord to make You the focus To serve You in secret and never be noticed Take all my hunger for all that’s forbidden Every desire and sin I keep hidden Search me and know me I want to bring to You A life that is holy and sanctified through You So I surrender all to You I surrender all Words and music by Rich Dalmas Leigh |
Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 757 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 9:14 am: | |
The words "I Surrender All" remind me of a verse that had to come out when singing of my surrender and seeing His surrender -- "All for me Jesus surrendered On Himself He took my shame On His nail-scarred hands forever Lovingly He wrote my name "You surrendered all You surrendered all All for me, my blessed Savior You surrendered all" (>_<) thank You, Jesus, thank You |