Bombshell

[Gail]

Can you tell us of a bombshell in your life that was either dropped on you or that you dropped on someone else?

[GayatfootofCross]

1.A young lady told me she was pregnant with my child!

I was so young!

 

2. God really loves me as I am!

I am still reeling!

Edited May 28, 2015 by GayatfootofCross

[JoeMo]

I used to be a REALLY conservative Adventist (some would use the words "historic" or "taliban").  A vegan teatotaller and a Sabbath Nazi as well as a total believer in every word that came from the mouth of a well-known and "inspired" SDA writer; condemning everyone that didn't believe exactly as I did (kind of like a few posters here whose handles I won't mention).  Friends from the church were kind and concerned enough to point out some of the inconsistencies of my beliefs; and challenged me to broaden my horizons.  When I did, I learned that Jesus was more interested in me as a person than me as a set of behaviors.  I saw people from other Christian faiths having much deeper relationships with Jesus and having much more spiritual power and discipline than I did.  I saw God manifesting His Spirit much more powerfully in Non SDA churches than the SDA churches I had been attending.  I began to feel people loving me unconditionally rather than inspecting and critiquing me and my behaviors; and showing their concern by gossiping about me. I read "When heaven Invades Earth" by Bill Johnson and "destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince. These grace "bombshells" shook me to the foundations of my faith and revised/revived my love for and trust in Jesus.  It changed me forever.  I am still a cultural generic SDA; but I have no problem worshipping and fellowshipping with non-SDAs (in fact sometimes I prefer it).

[LifeHiscost]

My memory not being what it use to be, there probably were more personal things in the past that affected me that could be considered a "bomb". However the most severe bomb of fairly recent vintage was the auto accident that happened, putting my wife in the hospital for 6-7 days, the vehicle only traveling 25-30 mph at the time. It changed my whole mindset over how tenuous my life, not to mention those close to me, actually is. This URL will lead to that same paradigm that prevails in all of our lives.

http://tinyurl.com/pggfvk3

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[GayatfootofCross]

I used to be a REALLY conservative Adventist (some would use the words "historic" or "taliban").  A vegan teatotaller and a Sabbath Nazi as well as a total believer in every word that came from the mouth of a well-known and "inspired" SDA writer; condemning everyone that didn't believe exactly as I did (kind of like a few posters here whose handles I won't mention).  Friends from the church were kind and concerned enough to point out some of the inconsistencies of my beliefs; and challenged me to broaden my horizons.  When I did, I learned that Jesus was more interested in me as a person than me as a set of behaviors.  I saw people from other Christian faiths having much deeper relationships with Jesus and having much more spiritual power and discipline than I did.  I saw God manifesting His Spirit much more powerfully in Non SDA churches than the SDA churches I had been attending.  I began to feel people loving me unconditionally rather than inspecting and critiquing me and my behaviors; and showing their concern by gossiping about me. I read "When heaven Invades Earth" by Bill Johnson and "destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince. These grace "bombshells" shook me to the foundations of my faith and revised/revived my love for and trust in Jesus.  It changed me forever.  I am still a cultural generic SDA; but I have no problem worshipping and fellowshipping with non-SDAs (in fact sometimes I prefer it).

​I was exactly the same way! Wow! I grew up in an ultra conservative small SDA country church. I hung on every word they uttered. I grew up without GOD and wanted to know HIM. I thought everything I learned was what it was to be a good Christian. I became just like them. Meanwhile I was slowly dying inside. I couldn't be what was expected of me. I tried but I couldn't be someone else anymore.

 

Then I met a young SDA Minister and my crying heart and secret life came tumbling out and when I looked up and saw compassion in his eyes. So unlike the church I went to all those years. He told me something that has brought profound healing and still healing till HE comes again. There is nothing like being transparent and vulnerable and see JESUS looking back at you thru another's eyes!

Jesus loves all of me, right now. My good days and bad days are HIS! HE's got it taken care of.

I don't have to pretend I am someone  I never knew, anymore. HE loves the real me!

Does anybody know how freeing that is?

What Wondrous Love is this Oh my soul. OOh my soul!

..................................................................................................

This too (among others) opened up my eyes to the GOD we have!

http://www.amazon.com/Servant-God-Cosmic-Conflict-Trustworthiness/dp/1594100233

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2015 by GayatfootofCross

[LifeHiscost]

​I was exactly the same way! Wow! I grew up in an ultra conservative small SDA country church. I hung on every word they uttered. I grew up without GOD and wanted to know HIM. I thought everything I learned was what it was to be a good Christian. I became just like them. Meanwhile I was slowly dying inside. I couldn't be what was expected of me. I tried but I couldn't be someone else anymore.

 

Then I met a young SDA Minister and my crying heart and secret life came tumbling out and when I looked up and saw compassion in his eyes. So unlike the church I went to all those years. He told me something that has brought profound healing and still healing till HE comes again. There is nothing like being transparent and vulnerable and see JESUS looking back at you thru another's eyes!

Jesus loves all of me, right now. My good days and bad days are HIS! HE's got it taken care of.

I don't have to pretend I am someone  I never knew, anymore. HE loves the real me!

Does anybody know how freeing that is?

What Wondrous Love is this Oh my soul. OOh my soul!

..................................................................................................

This too (among others) opened up my eyes to the GOD we have!

http://www.amazon.com/Servant-God-Cosmic-Conflict-Trustworthiness/dp/1594100233

 

 

 

​One of the most gracious gifts of the Master is that we don't have to wait until He appears in the clouds to experience the growth that is needed to satisfy heavens claims.

…19"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.".....Galatians 2

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[GayatfootofCross]

​One of the most gracious gifts of the Master is that we don't have to wait until He appears in the clouds to experience the growth that is needed to satisfy heavens claims.

…19"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.".....Galatians 2

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

​LifeHiscost GBU!

Thank you for sharing that.

A dear dear Christian Lady I am extremely close too always says..

" If there was no promise of Heaven.. Just having Jesus always with and in us would be enough in this temporary world! "

Amen Amen Amen

 

I would know what to do if I didn't have HIM now.

[GayatfootofCross]

 

I would know what to do if I didn't have HIM now.

​ugh!

I just saw this!

I mean .. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have HIM now

 

.. so much for my proofreading !

[LifeHiscost]

​LifeHiscost GBU!

Thank you for sharing that.

A dear dear Christian Lady I am extremely close too always says..

" If there was no promise of Heaven.. Just having Jesus always with and in us would be enough in this temporary world! "

Amen Amen Amen

 

I would know what to do if I didn't have HIM now.

​

Amen!

…16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.…1 Thessalonians 5

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[Gregory Matthews]

Bombshell:  I asked God to bring to my attention any unconfessed sin that I needed to repent of.  He did!

 

[LifeHiscost]

​ugh!

I just saw this!

I mean .. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have HIM now

 

.. so much for my proofreading !

​There's  an idea referred to from the Amplified bible that I've made effort to follow that says this;

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

That promise has to be being applied by the Holy Spirit since the way you expressed it above is the way it registered in my mind. One of God's ways when accepted, of keeping peace among His children.

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

 

[GayatfootofCross]

​There's  an idea referred to from the Amplified bible that I've made effort to follow that says this;

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

That promise has to be being applied by the Holy Spirit since the way you expressed it above is the way it registered in my mind. One of God's ways when accepted, of keeping peace among His children.

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

 

​A M E N

Edited May 29, 2015 by GayatfootofCross

[Gerr]

Ten yrs ago I had a CT scan of the abdomen for a totally unrelated problem. As we looked at the films, the radiologist turned to me and said, "Gerry, you have kidney cancer." That was to someone who has been very careful about healthful living.

[Liz]

One bombshell was probably when I told my parents I had gotten married. We eloped after knowing each other for only two weeks. Another was when we were told our son had Type 1 Diabetes when he was only 5, and another when we were told our daughter had Cerebral Palsy, and another when we were told that my husband would go blind due to a genetic bomb we didn't even know he had until it went off. Everything just makes up life.

[8thdaypriest]

Hmmmm - life changing bombshells.

Context:  I was raised SDA by my Mom, and agnostic by my Dad.  Mom dragged us to Sabbath School.  Dad NEVER went. 

1.  God proved to me that He exists, with a couple of miracles.  THAT was life-changing at age 30.

I became an ardent SDA, and an ardent reader of "the red books".  I believed in perfection of character BEFORE Jesus could return to claim us as His own. 

2.  I saw for myself, that EGW had morphed (grown) from "the Father and Son alone are to be praised", to  "three living beings of the heavenly Trio".  And this AFTER 50 years preaching.  It just didn't FIT with God revealing His truth through her.  I lost faith in her.  I felt like I was swimming in an ocean without a rock to crawl up on.  I just clung to those miracles, knowing that Jesus was REAL, and I began to really STUDY my Bible. 

3.  An MRI revealed that my headaches were caused by a birth defect.  I was born with Chiari One malformation.  I never HAD a C1 vertebra.  I was told I would stroke one day soon, if I did not have surgery.  I had decompression craniotomy surgery, which left me with frequent migraines.  And I STILL had constant neck and shoulder pain.  Ongoing chronic pain TESTS ones faith.  It has TESTED my husband's faith. 

 

 

[LifeHiscost]

Hmmmm - life changing bombshells.

 

 

 

​After reading reading Liz's and 8thdaypriest's bombshells, that seems to have amounted to a full scale attack. I have only empathy for both of you, while giving praise to God for fulfilling promises that have delivered me and those I love from many(most) of those assaults. It makes me wonder sometimes if I'm much of a Christian.

12Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. 13But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

14But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work....2 Timothy 3

Nevertheless I still believe this to be true.

30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."....Matthew 11

Putting those two principles together so that both can be seen to be true is something that only Divine help can make plain to us.

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;…Romans 8

Keep looking up. for both you and yours.

God is Love Jesus saves! 

[phkrause]

That God came to this earth and died for me!!

[Stan]

When I was trying to find a faith basis in my life, a number of people told me that God became man and died for me..  I thought, must have been 10-12 BILLION people who have Iived on this planet, (more if you are evolutionary thinking)  did not seem that big of an issue, or prize. I was 1 in 12,000,000,000.  Had I not lived the process would have gone on with out me.

 

The I was told that God's only begotten son died for me,  and I thought, if I had a son and my son died, but was coming back in three days, and I knew it..  why was this such a big deal??

 

When I brought up these two things, honest questions to me, I was lambasted for not being appreciative.

 

What say ye?  are these reasonable question for someone seeking to find a faith base?

 

 

Edited May 30, 2015 by Stan

[LifeHiscost]

When I was trying to find a faith basis in my life, a number of people told me that God became man and died for me..  I thought, must have been 10-12 BILLION people who have Iived on this planet, (more if you are evolutionary thinking)  did not seem that big of an issue, or prize. I was 1 in 12,000,000,000.  Had I not lived the process would have gone on with out me.

 

The I was told that God's only begotten son died for me,  and I thought, if I had a son and my son died, but was coming back in three days, and I knew it..  why was this such a big deal??

 

When I brought up these two things, honest questions to me, I was lambasted for not being appreciative.

 

What say ye?  are these reasonable question for someone seeking to find a faith base?

 

 

​My first leanings toward accepting Jesus were based on family influences from birth so those types of questions would only seem to me relevant to one who would be coming from a secular non-religious background. However basing my faith on a personal relationship with Jesus as a Friend became more meaningful when I listened to a a sermon in 1998 wherein it was focused on the fact that Jesus wanted to be a personal Friend to me. And then upon further thought, when I realized He was responsible for organizing and maintaining 10-12 billion or more galaxies, but stopped short in the middle of His busy schedule, not just to make sure I was well taken care of, but to take responsibility for a death that I deserved. I was persuaded there couldn't be anywhere in the universe that I could be safer or more satisfied and comfortable.

As to the questions above, they seem to be perfectly logical to anyone who has little comprehension of the magnificence of His character.

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[Gail]

I suspect that these things make more sense to the heart before doing so for the mind.

Stan, I thank you for asking a thinking person's questions. For a long time I wondered about, Why blood? Why and how does the shed blood of a sacrifice make it all better and forgiven, and how do I explain that to a non-believer?

I had a bombshell when as a young adult I was told that my father had had a family before I was born (I am the oldest), and that my youngest half sibling was only 2 years older than me.

[Naomi]

Good questions Stan.  I asked similar questions in Sabbath School class; suffice to say it was several years before I asked another question in class!

Don't Know that I have one particular bombshell .... life seems to be a series of bomb shells.  Jesus provides my fox hole

[JoeMo]

Great questions, Stan.

Another question I have had - if we are "saved" as soon as we put our faith in Jesus, why are we not immediately whisked away to heaven (or put to sleep to await Jesus' return)?  The answer - we are now part of God's family; and we must be about the family business.  We have work to do - not to assure our own salvation but to assure salvation for others.  We are God's ambassadors.

Maybe God allows bombshells to come our way not only to test and strengthen our own faith, but to show the world that we are devoted to our God; and we trust that He will carry us through whatever the world or the evil one throws at us.  I was reading last night in Bill Johnson's "When Heaven Invades Earth" that when bombshells come our way, we are not to wither before them in fear and despair;  we are to stand up and boldly face them as opportunities for God to show His miraculous power to heal and deliver.  Even if things don't turn out the way we desire, we need to remember that all things work for good when we are in Jesus.  After all, Jesus' victory was assured by dying - a loss in the world's eyes; but a magnificent victory for the spiritual realm which will one day be our reality.

Of course, when we are in the middle of dire straits, that is easier said than done.

[8thdaypriest]

I believe that chronic pain IS A CALLING.  If it is not, then our God is powerless or worse, cruel.   Bombshells are not just episodes to endure.  They are CALLS to greater trust, and to greater witness.  I think that Jesus knows, we do not cling to Him so tightly, as when we are under attack.  

[8thdaypriest]

Re: Stan's questions

It took a couple of miracles, to get my attention.  Wow!  There is a God!!  AND He knows who I am, and what I need. 

Then I had to begin the search to find out just WHO He is.  Yes - I had my SDA upbringing, but I wasn't all that sure those teachings were truth.  I spent a year comparing religions.  You can find a table of the different religions, and their main teachings at my website.  There were TWO I found appealing.  Bahai and Chriatianity. 

Bahai teaches equality for women, and respects everyone.  Christianity didn't seem to do THAT.  It gave me pause. 

I could NOT understand how the death of a perfect God-man, could PAY FOR stupid, selfish human beings.  What kind of all powerful being kills the GOOD and preserves the BAD. 

My husband asked WHY God would create little beings anyway.  Just to have them all worship Him.  God seemed selfish to my husband - on an ego trip.  He allows all this pain, and demands that we worship Him anyway.  What kind of being is He?

And I couldn't understand just HOW God was going to clean us up, so that we could live with Him in a perfect world.  If He was going to it by a sudden healing miracle, then WHY didn't He just make us perfect (impervious to evil) in the first place???

You can see I had a whopping lot of questions.......

[LifeHiscost]

 I think that Jesus knows, we do not cling to Him so tightly, as when we are under attack.  

​

I'm satisfied that applies to some. Others, at least to many personal witnesses re: to their own conduct. Even the founder of the program "It is Written", George Vandemann gave personal testimony to revealing anger at God's way of handling his life.

God is Love!  Jesus saves!