My Vegan Story

 

 

 

So I thought I would share my vegan story as well. Why I am sharing this because it all ties in with things. 

So like I have said in my about story I grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and this all ties in with how I went vegan. 

Okay so lets start from the beginning. Growing up in the SDA denomination they have advocated for plant based eating. Growing up I remember going to potlucks and there was no ounce of meet, dairy or eggs in the food. It was all plant based.  Now this is not say all members are vegan but the faith in general  advocate for vegetarianism/veganism.  All because of Ellen G White (although many people speculate that she was a false profit even though she helped found the church). Ellen was vegetarian I don't think the term vegan was for back then, she was just an full blown vegetarian. 

Because of this I grew up dominantly eating vegetarian food. I did however eat eggs and dairy products. I did eat animals too but my dad new about the issues with animals. Like how they are raised, hormones, treatment etc. Also my grandfather (his dad) himself was a vegetarian. So it was just how I grew up. The only animal products I remember us bringing in the house was occasionally we had chicken and fish. We did used to eat at taco bell and would have cow flesh then and remember once also having a pizza with ground cow on  it. Pizza was horrible by the way, never went back to that pizza place.

I also got sick several times that I ate at Mc Donalds. I got food poising from have cow flesh and also got sick once from having chicken. It was so much that my mom would remind me not to get the chicken from McDonalds because it did not sit well in my stomach. For the most part growing up when would eat there till a certain age I would just eat their fish fillet sandwich. I did start eating cow flesh in a little later in my life. For the most part when was with my dad we would eat vegetarian. With my mom I would eat (I grew up with my parents being separated so would alternate weekend with my mom, weekend with my dad) more animal based proteins.  I really think the second time I got sick from eating a quarter pounder from McDonald's was a wake up call. However, ever since I was a little girl I feel like I was getting the call to be vegan.

On my way to spend time with my mom we would pass slaughterhouse trucks on the hi way. I was naive and thought that they were just moving the animals to a different farm. I remember a while later talking to my dad and he said they were going to the slaughterhouse.  On the highway part from where we would meet my mom and transfer into her car to go to my moms place there was a Schneider billboard and I always used to then start dreaming about then the animals and what they go through at the slaughter house. While Schneider is not a slaughterhouse for some reason it made me think of a slaughterhouse.

 

I am not going to lie, I used to like how animal proteins tasted. My mom used to make a really good roast. But I always felt guilty any time I would eat them. I felt like something greater then me was telling me not to eat animal flesh. Well in 2007 I had my first mental health crises and I just got the link then that I needed to go vegan. I did not go till much later but again the thought I should go vegan was there. Honestly if God really was calling me to Go Vegan all these years I was really bad at obeying him.

 

I remember though touching and handling animal flesh always made me feel grossed out. I remember one time lets say around 2009-2010 I got some chicken breast and was making a soup. I was so disgusted that I did not have one bit of the soup my mom had it all. Finally in 2011 I was working with an organization that helps people with mental health issues, we were working on my resume,  and looking for jobs. She heard on the radio of this organizations that helps dogs and cats over seas by doing massive spay and neuter clinics. I contact them and got involved with volunteer work. After my first clinic in 2012 I started seeking on facebook pages against animal cruelty all because one of the dogs that came to the clinic was attacked by a human with a machete  so it just got me to search for a page against  animal cruelty. In it I found a page (no longer exists) called Animal Cruelty Exposed.  In it I started learning about the cruelty that goes on to animals. In that year of October I decided I was no longer going to eat animals. I still had some fish in between then and when I went vegan. As I continued to learn about what goes on I also got information from a page called the Bloody dairy industry and started learning how cruel and horrible dairy is and in July of 2013 I finally went vegan. 

With all this said the thing I regret the most is not doing it sooner. After I went vegan and shortly after getting involved with activism I created my own page and blog called The Gentle Vegan. You can access that blog by clicking here

So that in a nutshell is my story to going vegan. I may look into putting it in a video one day soon too.

Jobs and Life

 So I just got this topic in my mind and decided to write about it. I really think the life we live is not at all how God intended for us. I understand we need to make money, to pay our bills, food, clothing, etc but I truly don't believe one bit this is what God envisioned for us.

This makes it tough and partially shortly after I went vegan I got impressed that this everyday living is not for me. I am the most happiest when I am volunteering. I kinda in a way feel bad to make money when there are countless others who are suffering or going without basic needs.. Now I do have a job and It is nice to have some money in my pocket to do things but I think of all those that aren't as fortunate.

I am just really drawn to act of service and helping out our fellow man and or other critters.  I feel so many people do not have the same luxuries that I do and its our duty to help them. Our job is not to judge who is fitting, our job is to obey and to help them out. If there is any sorting to do God's got that. 

 

There are many things I would love to help out with I'd love to help others who also suffer from anxiety, depression. I have both and know all too well the demons that need to be slayed. Whether in Christian setting or not so many people need help and feel like its okay to bare their soul. I also would love to help others connect and their journey towards veganism. I don't have all the answers, but would love to help someone out. Then there is too helping animals in need. This is my biggest want to help out with. I don't know what God has in store for me and really I should of been going to God with all this first.

 

If any of that would lead to a paid position would be bonus but money is not the main motivator for me. I mean in my job I have now it kinda is. But generally speaking I want to help. I am not the best at small chat. I hate repeating myself also and with the job I have now you say the exact same thing to everyone you talk too. I dunno where God will lead. Sometimes I even wonder if I will get to those things because it just shows that Jesus is coming back real soon. When you think of this though how many people thought the same when world war broke out. People thought this is it the world is coming to an end but I just feel  like even more so now that this is so very true. I guess this is why I have troubles too doing stuff.  I know God does not want that either. He wants me to enjoy this life that he has given me. But so many scenarios pop in my head and am left wondering {also not knowing what to do}.

 

No one knows the hour, or the day, its not anything one person can predict. Only God knows when that will be. Our job is to always be prepared because that day could come at any moment. Or we could find ourselves face to face with him. I dunno I think this is just me and how I see things but I think we were meant for more than just the life we live now. There is so much I think we miss with our current life.

 

Well just some thoughts, thank you if you read it till the end. I appreciate it!

False Prophets.

 Is a topic that has been on my mind for some time now. I get it there are plenty of false prophets out there its why we need to read and know scripture. So when someone says things we can say, yes this lines up with God word, or no this doesn't line up with him. But I truly don't think every author, preacher, etc is false.

Remember God created us in his image, so I do believe each person has some truths which is why we get fooled easily. One of the person's I was following when I was learning and practising new age teachings told me that one of the person's that I listen too is a false teacher and that person that they claim is false is Joyce Meyer.  She does believe that Jesus went to hell when he died on the cross. I am not sure that is Biblical and is just an opinion however; her book battlefield of the mind really transformed how I see the battles I face.

She opened up the fact that my thoughts are not coming from God. God would not be saying you are a looser, or the you don't matter, etc. That comes from the opposite side. I never thought of it that way and her whole book just transformed how I see things. Maybe she is a false prophet but I think even so God can use people to help us and in this case Joyce Meyer helped me. I stopped following her and am no longer buying her books. But that book really helped me. I just think we really need to put everything up to scripture.

God is not the author of confusion that is from the enemy. He wants us to doubt not only God but ourselves. Like to make us confused in hopes we give up, or no longer follow and listen to God  but him. Its hard, but I truly don't believe that everyone out there that writes a book is false. God often uses other people. Sometimes we put ourselves up to miss a message if let that guide us. False prophets exists. There is many things out there that seems like its coming from God but it really isn't. Thats why looking and holding everything against scripture is so important. Yet at the same time I don't believe ever person out there is trying to fool you or false. I do believe so many hold a thing that is true thats why its so hard to tell them apart. The Bible for me will be the number 1 book but I enjoy being challenged to think differently about certain topics and continue to read a wide range of books.

If all fails pray, and let God lead you to the books that will help you.

Disclaimer, I will use scripture from time to time but this is purely my thoughts. I am not a theologian student or anything like that. I am however, learning about God's will and what he wants for us (also how he want us to live our lives). I do not claim to have the truth or to speak it. I do pray and hope God will use me if it is his will but I just wanted to put this disclaimer because I don't want people to think that what all I say is the truth. If you want the truth read the Bible and ask for the Holy spirit to work in your life. Whats true for me may not be what is for you, etc. Although Jesus is the way. Also this is just my journey.

Some thoughts

 God help me, ever since my health crises back in 2017 I am bothered by certain things. Like for example, even though I am working on it swearing bothers me. I know it is a sin to swear and I don't like to do it. I just have become picky about it. Maybe others might see me as being a goody two shoes but it doesn't matter to me what others think. I mean the only opinion I should seek to have is from my heavenly father. Now this does not mean I should be cold, or cruel either. I think we need to reflect our heavenly fathers love not only to us but to other people. But peoples opinion really should not matter. In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31  

 

When I see swearing now online it really bothers me. when I had my health crises back in 2017 I grabbed a book that I bought I started to read it was trying to distract myself and make myself tired as I was experiencing insomnia. I had to stop reading the book when I saw swearing in it. It just brought me to a place where now I want to read  only christian non fiction books. I have some authors that I will look into getting but for now my books are more focused on spiritual growth or understanding better how God made me. I think in part the reason I am so bothered is by my own sins in this department. I am not a major swearer but I have swore with that said  maybe the reason it bothers me so much now is my own regrets of getting down a path of doing it.

Thats another thing that brings me to mind. Not only am I bothered by swearing my movie taste has changed drastically since then too. I still watch the odd action packed film but even my movie taste is different. Well not 100% different I always liked the movies I tend to focus on now but now those are what dominantly I watch. I find films that are too violent I can not watch any more it just gives me anxiety. Some films I can still watch if it has a story line but if all it is killing people, etc I can not stand to watch. So like war movies I can't handle. Again unless there is a story line. I dunno I just feel so much with all that has happened in my life that God is just refining me.

That brings me to another topic I feel like the odd ball. I have not found people who are like me on this front. I mean vast majority of people watch horror movies, and most like them. I have seen some 6 or 7 horror movies or that would be considered to be and I did not appeal to them. I saw one movie that I found it to be the scariest and it was an older film. I just find too often that I don't mesh with this world. I mean there are things that pull me down but there are so much that I just can't relate too. Even with the christian community people participate in those things. I mean I did at some point also participate in earthly things. Just as I grow I become less and less wanting to get involved with certain things. I am though in no position to judge because I too have fallen. I guess God is just working in me and showing me to be less involved with certain things. Am I perfect, NO WAY. But I am working on following what God is telling me.

Which brings me to another thought, if God tells you to do something do it, you never know the reason behind it. If he moves you to stop something, do it, don't lean on your own understanding but his. I know that is tough to do though, believe me  I have faced hardships in my life but you will be better for it. I admit I used to be really into a soap opera I used to watch. Since I was young I was hooked into Days of Our Lives. It wasn't till I got the message back in 2017 I needed to stop watching it.  Its not of God's values, and it really does reflect the enemy. The show is nothing but a distraction and its putting into me things that really is not what God wants for me. By the help of his Holy Spirit I was able to conquer giving up and have not watched it since. I don't miss it. You start new habits and start with  replacing it with other things. Now on my queue to do in my day is to listen to a christian podcast or watch a video on youtube. Something that may benefit me and my relationship with him.

I also starting this blog. I have no idea who it may bless. I just felt the pull to do it. I know if its God's will he will use this for his glory and  I hope it will.

Disclaimer, I will use scripture from time to time but this is purely my thoughts. I am not a theologian student or anything like that. I am however, learning about God's will and what he wants for us (also how he want us to live our lives). I do not claim to have the truth or to speak it.  I do pray and hope God will use me if it is his will but I just wanted to put this disclaimer because I don't want people to think that what all I say is the truth. If you want the truth read the Bible and ask for the Holy spirit to work in your life. Whats true for me may not be what is for you, etc. Although Jesus is the way.  Also this is just my journey.

My story

 

My walk with God has been rocky. I always believed in him and thought there were many paths to him. It isn't till recently that It really sunk in the truth. But before I get to that let me start from the beginning.

I grew up in a christian household. I went to church every weekend. I was sometimes not really present even though my body was there. I got distracted and thought about other things. However, I started days with a devotion, and we would start our day with prayer. Before my dad would drop me off at school we would say a prayer in the car. I think around 2004 time frame I stopped going to church and disconnected from it. My beliefs in a creator never stopped but I just did not practice my faith.It all just got buried.

In Between 2004-2007 I ventured on the net and started and got introduced to new age ideas. Someone suggested to me that I might be an indigo which is a type of person and is based on new age teachings. Then in 2007 I had a health crisis. It kinda led me to do something again. I went back to church for a while and then that fell. During the time I remember I have revelations that I should be vegan for one (I will make a separate post on this). I got other thoughts that brought me back to my faith. I remember at the time getting in the car and making a trip to the church that I grew up in bookstore. I grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist church and we have our own bookstore and I got books, devotions, etc. During my time healing from my crises I read some books and tried to anchor myself in God. I healed from that and unfortunately I fell again out of my faith. Then about in 2012-2013 time frame I came back to new age teachings and I fell into the trap of following the teachings. I truly believed there was another way to him. I believed in the ideas that lurked around those teachings and really got involved with them. I followed one teacher in particular but God did not stop seeking her. In 2017 she had an awakening and that led her to being baptized and living a life for Jesus she is now Christian and has denounced her teachings. Also when I was at a vigil that I used to be part of in animal rights there was this guy that was at one of our vigils that was spreading word of Jesus. It kind of clicked in my brain that God was calling me, and has been doing for a real long time. Most of the times it is subtle but it's there. Around the same time too I had a health crisis mentally and all the teachings that I learned started to creep on me and I got very fearful. I was freaking out because I thought that I was going to die and then be reincarnated as a pig and be slaughtered. Those thoughts really really disturbed me but I thought they were true. I also was so fearful that I was going to die. Went to the hospital and saw some people that got me into a program but also got me some meds to help with the crises I was having. But I really have to say Jeremiah 29:11 and 2 Timothy 1:7 is what helped me though the dark times. God's words helped me in my darkness. Later in 2017 I started venturing on more christian books and readings and In late 2017 I made the decision that in 2018 I was going to read the Bible from cover to cover. So much in there that my dad taught me but I did not listen and thought he was speaking out of opinions and not Biblical facts. Like how witchcraft and such is an abomination to our heavenly father. I also read that Jesus is the only truth. Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. John 14:6

I heavily regret getting involved with new age but one thing is clear God has not stopped pursuing me. He wants us to repent of our sins and turn away from them. I am not perfect by any means. I do feel like I have a relationship with him now but it's just beginning. I also have to say I started a new practise I write to God in what I call my God Journal. In my God journal I tell him my worries, my fears, my hopes, my joys, etc. I finish my entries as if it is a prayer because well it is. I know I need to work on my prayer life and that also is a work in progress.

Using a site to read the Bible from beginning to end just became a habit and now I can't start my day without reading a devotion and also a chapter in the Bible. I do not  consider myself to be a Seventh Day Adventist. I for a while was calling myself christian and in ways I am but I recently have changed it to be a follower of Christ because I know there are lots of bad thoughts and feelings towards the term christian. I truly inspire to be like Jesus and to live a life more like how he did. I follow his teachings and do my best to live a life in his footsteps. I am not anywhere close but I thank him for dying on the cross for my sins. It's an incredible gift, one that is free but is rejected by many. I will also make another post later on this topic.

Welcome to my blog.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Welcome to my blog. This blog focuses on my walk with God and topics that might come up. If this is not your cup of tea no need to read it further. A disclaimer, I am not a theology student. Everything I write is from my experience, my knowledge or my interpretation. If the holy spirit moves you and things speak to you then thats great. I am not here to convert only share my truth if it  resonates with someone great. I will also include scripture as verses that I like or am moved by.Thank you have a good day/night.