| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2736 Registered: 3-2004  |
I am back from my cruise and have to tell you what happened. Most of you know the sister, with whom I went, is my half sister. God put me in her life to help her get rid of all kinds of bad things that happened to her and her brother as children, perpetrated by my mother. Because of that she will have nothing to do with God, religion, and churches. We are on opposite ends of the pole with God/religion and politics. While on this cruise we did get into a religious discussion. One of the things she told me is that the former SDAs are so adamant against the SDA church and EGW. I silently sent up a prayer and this is what I told her. About EGW, EGW said she was inspired by God and said all kinds of things that contradicted the Bible and we as formers want the SDAs to know that. I told her we do not condemn individuals, but we do show where the doctrine of the SDA church is not Biblical and it is the doctrine and EGW that are fair game for discussion. She thinks that is not right, even though she is not a believer of anything. To me this just shows some of Adventism that she still holds onto. She does not realize that. She thinks the same of all churches and relgious beliefs held by any church. She did not know that there are former Catholics, LDS, and JW who have websites on the internet that talk about how God has changed them. After a show in the theatre, my sister was talking to one of the ship employee's and was telling her how different we are and yet we love and respect each other. Then she quoted a verse from the Bible. At that the employee said "look who is quoting from the Bible". All of us got a laugh out of this. On the other hand, this lovely sister thinks it is a miracle that she and I got together, seeing as I am my mother's daughter and that I have been able to listen to all she told me about my Mom. Her youngest daughter, who was on the cruise with her husband and son, thinks it a miracle also. I was thinking about this miracle this morning and have come to the conclusion that I was able to hear everything this sister said and agree with her, because of other things that went on in my family, because God has changed me. He is in charge of my heart, soul, and mind. My eyes are tearing up as I write this as I am so happy that God has changed me. Because of this cruise, I am now a part of all my older sister's family and am accepted by my niece. She had doubts about me because of my Mom and another sister(another long story). I had a wonderful time with my family as we visited Alaska. We started in Seward, sailed to Skagway, Icy Point, Juneau, Ketchican and ended the journey in Vancouver, BC. I flew from LV to Seattle then on to Anchorage. From there it was a 3 hour bus ride to Seward through beautiful country. We got to stop and take pictures along the way. In Seward we met the cruise ship and had a southbound trip to Vancouver, BC. I took a lot of photos. God has been good to heal this sister and her daughter. I consider it a privilege to be part of their healing. One day they will see God's hand in all of this and will praise and accept Jesus Christ. I trust God for this. He is so AWESOME. Diana | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 149 Registered: 4-2006  |
Thats great! Keep on shining. I would love to see the pictures  | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1463 Registered: 7-2003 |
Diana, I hope I'm still as active in my later years as you are. It gives me hope that today is not necessarily the way of tomorrow....And I need that kind of hope.... | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2738 Registered: 3-2004 |
Melissa, The sister I was with is 78 years young and still very active. She gets up at 5 AM to go to the gym every morning. I am just waiting for God to get a hold of her heart, mind and soul. He will do this in His time. Diana | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 568 Registered: 1-2003  |
Diana, I was blessed listening to your story about your sister and how God is healing the relationships and opening the hearts of all involved. When I get a chance I'll share a little about my visit with my parents last weekend. I've noticed how he is less adamant about EG White etc and more open to God's spirit. From last Wednesday night until today I've been attending as much of a Spirit led conference in Pasadena as possible. There have been morning, afternoon and evening sessions each day. The worship times and opening of spiritual lessons has been wonderful. God has a way of really humbling His people when they come before Him in worship. I missed some of the sessions because Annie showed up unexpectedly for a visit and i wanted to spend some time with her. She is right now packing to go back to the Job Corp Training she has enrolled in down in San Diego, CA. I constantly pray that she will have her Damasus experience and encounter with her Savior. Diana when I have more time I'll write about what is happening at church. In the "natural realm" it has been a roller coaster ride but in the "spiritual realm" there has been a sense that HE is in control. It is a good thing that I believe that or life could be over whelming. In Christ, Richard rtruitt@mac.com PS: I suddenly realized that I'm not sure what thread this is getting posted in but I don't have time to sort it all out since I need to go give Annie a hug and have a quick prayer with her. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2742 Registered: 3-2004 |
When God is in charge Richard, sometimes it is like a jet fighter ride, going up/down, upside down and very fast at the same time, but the pilot is exceptional and you know He is in control of the plane. Then I know I can sit back and enjoy the ride. I am glad you got to visit with your daughter. She continues in my prayers. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2295 Registered: 11-2002 |
Diana, What a wonderful story you shared with us. It is wonderful that you and your sister and her family are having a reconsilliation. I'll bet you saw the most beautiful places on this entire earth while you were on the cruise. It's a pleasure having you back and reading your imput on this forum. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4480 Registered: 12-2003  |
Diana, praise God for His patient and ceaseless work in your life and your sister's life. You are rightóGod put the two of you together, and you are able to listen to all she says because God has changed your heart. And what a good answer you gave her about former Adventists. If she can't "hear" your reasoning right now, that's because of a certain lack of spiritual awareness. In time, what you said will make sense as God awakens her. Continuing to pray for you and your sisters, Diana... Colleen | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 242 Registered: 4-2005  |
Diana, So exciting to hear your testimony and observe (verbally) your sweet attitude of trust in God's providence and timing. My wife and I fantasize about possibly taking that cruise for our 50th, the Lord willing. Do you think there is a "best time of year?" I've heard varying comments. Perhaps the tour people give guidance along these lines of questioning. Regarding your sister, once again am I drawn to the powerful truthful statement by William Blake. "If the doors (I prefer windows) of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is - infinite...." We all look out at the world about us, with it's relationships, all input, rather a person speaking, a movie, TV, or book - - we observe everything through the window of our perception. Everyone has layers of accumulated "dust" built up upon their window. These layers of perception, like onion skin covering the eye, distort what is coming to us through this "window" of perception. Adventist conditioning from childhood or many years is also like layers of dust upon that window. The same object looked at through windows of different levels of clarity, is often mis-identified, due to the distortion; while the clean(er) window allows one to pick out distinct features otherwise missed, and to see what it really is, clearly, in truth. Every encounter, such as the one you had with your sister, is like another cleaning of that window, or some portion of it. You sprayed a little spiritual Windex of Truth on her window. Perhaps you rubbed a bit and saw some dirt on the cloth you used (your own perception and intuitive observations). God can keep this cleaning process on-going; and eventually send His own rain to wash the remaining "dust" off, so that, THEN, she can see things (truth) as they/it really exists in true reality. Meanwhile I must trust that our prayers for these kinds of people, whom we love and care about very much, is like another spray of cleaner, which the Holy Spirit wipes across those established grids of judgment (dust). Oh to see as God desires us to see. Continued prayers for you and your sister. Soli Deo Gloria Jess | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2744 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jwd, Get my e-mail address from Colleen and I will write to you all about the Alaskan cruise. Your prayers for my sister and her family are very much appreciated and I know God hears them. I really like your analogy of the windex and our perceptions. That is so true. I just keep telling myself, that we have an awesome God and he is in charge. Diana | ||
| Cw Registered user Username: Cw Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2006  |
Diana, congratulations on a great cruise-in more ways than one. Cruising is Kathy and my favorite type of vacation and we look forward to an Alaska cruise some day. Welcome back. I've been too busy with landscaping and building a book case in my den this summer to spend much time on the forum but you're all a source of comfort to me and I still read when I can even though I don't write. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4484 Registered: 12-2003 |
Good to hear from you, CW. Praying for your daughter... Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2307 Registered: 11-2002 |
If you come out to Hawaii in the local newspapers is an ad that says, "7 days, 7 nights, $700". It's a local cruise. It sounds like it would be a good one to go on, too. The extent of my cruising was going to and from Long Beach and Catalina Island. It was fun. I was 9 years old and we split from Lynwood Campmeeting for a day to do that. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2745 Registered: 3-2004 |
Cw, It is good to hear from you again. I continue to pray for your daughter. Diana | ||
| Cw Registered user Username: Cw Post Number: 113 Registered: 4-2006 |
Thanks for your continued prayers for D ladies. There is no change in her relationship with J. The change since the beginning of all this has been more in me. God does work in mischievous (spelling intentional) ways in that secondary growth can come to us even as we pray for others. I continue to pray for the right man to enter D's life at the right time and I have a peace about that whether I get it my way or not. I believe God will protect her from spirits of deceit and with that assurance there is nothing left for me to do but trust Him. Regardless, I promise to never leave this forum without letting you all know the final results of your prayers as well. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4498 Registered: 12-2003 |
Cw, thank you for sharing what has been happening in you. Praise God for the peace and surrender He has brought to your heart. I know how HARD it is to trust God with my sonsóit is a miracle when He brings that kind of trust to us. D is in God's hands. She has belonged to Him for a long time, and He is not done working in her. Praying, Cw... Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2760 Registered: 3-2004 |
Cw, Thanks for sharing how you are doing with your daughter. When my son married his wife, I was wishing she was a nice SDA girl. WOW!!! I am so glad she was not SDA. My son is still classified SDA for the military, but he does not believe everything the church believes and he goes to church at the base where he is stationed. I have been praying that God direct him to the church of His choice for my grandson's benefit as well as my son and DIL. I leave that in God's hands. By the way, my son was happy when I told him I did not rejoin the SDA church and at the things I had learned on my own, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God is good and always awesome. Diana |
