Author |
Message |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 4222 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:14 am: | |
I have told you folks of a lady friend who is studying the Bible with a retired SDA minister leading the group. My understanding was that it was a non denominational study group. She is now going to church on Saturday, some of the time and at others, she has told me she just cannot go. She wants me to go with her next Thursday at 11 AM. I told her I would pray about it. I am asking you to pray about it also. If I do go, I do not want her to tell the minister a former SDA is coming to the group. I want to go as a new member and then ask questions for which I have the Bible answers. These are just the thoughts running through my brain. Please pray for me and tell me what you would do. I have not faced an SDA since I gave the SDA minister the books God wanted me to give him a few months ago. We did not discuss Bible doctrine. This would be the first time facing an SDA who is teaching people SDA doctrine and they do not realize it. Our God is awesome and I know He will give me an answer. Diana |
Susans Registered user Username: Susans
Post Number: 452 Registered: 8-2006
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:20 am: | |
I will pray Diana, that you will know from the Lord what it is you should do. Susan |
Bree_w Registered user Username: Bree_w
Post Number: 23 Registered: 7-2007
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:23 am: | |
I will be praying for you and your decision about this Diana. God is so good and I know He will lead you! In Christ Bree |
Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg
Post Number: 448 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:38 am: | |
Diana, I will pray for you. I wouldn't want to go under any false pretenses. But I think your understanding would be a welcome asset to that study group. I would also suggest you take Bree with you. She's got it happening, and might like a mission trip to Vegas!!! Our God is an Awesome God, Randy |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 4223 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:48 am: | |
Randy, You are correct about the false pretenses. Thanks for being my accountability partner. How should I approach this. Should she or I, if I go, let him know I am a former SDA?? If I could pay Bree's way here I would bring her here for moral support. Yes, Our God is awesome and He will tell me what to do. Diana |
Bree_w Registered user Username: Bree_w
Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2007
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:56 am: | |
If I could pray my way there I would be there! I know exactly how you feel about wanting to not make an issue of being a former Diana, some days I feel like hiding under my desk and pretending I am still SDA. But I have been able to witness so much more by being honest. People that I knew notice that I am a different person, and I am able to say that the difference is purely Christ. Know that if you go, they will see Christ in you and that is always the best testimony Still praying for you In Christ Bree |
Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj
Post Number: 241 Registered: 1-2006
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 1:52 pm: | |
Praying for you, Diana. Bree, you're in a challenging environment, but I would encourage you to share your convictions as the Lord impresses you. I think many of your teachers (though they would never admit it to you) would gladly drop the Adventist part of their employment if they could. I recall a Union Conference president coming into my theology class and telling us that by their own confidential research, about 50 percent of Adventists pastors would quit. What spiritual agony that represents! I think there are many people pretending to be bold leaders when in reality they are afraid to take a stand. The Lord will look after you. I wouldn't be in a hurry to leave Union. The Lord will make it clear. Meanwhile, He has placed you on that campus fully aware that you are His child and that you would be transitioning out of Adventism with literally hundreds of people witnessing your struggle FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Hang in there, kid. You have many people praying for you. To God be the glory! It may be tough sailing, and I can tell you that a couple of the hardest disappointments of my life turned out to be the biggest blessings--but it took literally decades for me to realize it. God is good. I praise Him for your walk with the Lord. Praying for you. Bob |
Bree_w Registered user Username: Bree_w
Post Number: 27 Registered: 7-2007
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 2:03 pm: | |
Bob, Thank you for your words of encouragement. That post and the posts of praise and support are the posts that I store in my heart for the tough times I praise God for fellow believers like you! I will remain at Union until I am called to be elsewhere. There are so many seeking, hurting people on this campus that need Jesus so badly. One class agreed that their generation of Adventists didn't know Christ personally and really didn't know why they believed what they believe. For that reason I am so glad to be at Union. If in my time here I can show even one person who Jesus truly is, I will praise God for that. I know God has a purpose and a blessing for me here. No matter where we are in life, God has a plan for that. As long as God is glorified I am happy! In Christ Bree |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 4224 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 4:22 pm: | |
Bree, For some reason I missed that you were at an SDA college. Being a child of the King is kind of strange among a group of people who think they know God and only know that he exists. I will pray that your stay there will accomplish what God wants it to accomplish. He is so awesome. Diana |
Dale Registered user Username: Dale
Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 8:40 pm: | |
Flyinglady, God will be with you. When you have the truth on your side, you are safe. If you are asked a questions you cannot answer, that will give you a chance to respond the next time. John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. I will be praying for you. |
Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 4226 Registered: 3-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 8:53 pm: | |
Bree, I do not mind telling anyone I am a former SDA. I get an opportunity to tell others what SDA teaches and believes. God has used me to educate our senior pastor, the pastor in charge of the singles and over 50 group(and his wife) and the pastor and his wife over the Celebrate Recovery program. It has been an interesting situation. Then giving my testimony last Friday night a lot more people were educated about some of the aspects of adventism. Pastor Dale, I haven't decided yet to go with my friend. I am still praying about it. Thanks for reminding me that when I have the truth on my side I am safe. Keep praying that I will do what God wants me to do. We have an awesome God and I do not want to disappoint Him. Diana |
Dale Registered user Username: Dale
Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 9:31 pm: | |
Diana, I am not telling you to disguise who you are. However, I will tell you an interesting thing I did and how to do it! If you are in a group of Adventists and do not want to be associated as coming from them, just pronounce Adventist differently. Put the emphasis on "vent" instead of "Ad". I did that at the W. Miller chapel some years ago. I asked all kinds of questions: “Why would Adventists want to claim Miller in their history as his prophecy was false, etc. Why build a church on a false prophecy? It was fun to watch them scramble! |
Toria Registered user Username: Toria
Post Number: 195 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 4:20 am: | |
Diana; You are ever a strong witness for our awesome God. I pray for Him to lead you and be with you in this. Blessings Toria |
Peperpat Registered user Username: Peperpat
Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2006
| Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 5:27 am: | |
Diana, I am praying for you. - Patti |
Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 6695 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 10:38 am: | |
Praying for you, Diana... Colleen |