July Aug Newsletter 2011

June Newsletter 2011

Eleventh Month Anniversary Today

July 11, 2011

Today it has been 11 months since a doctor walked in our room in NYC and told us that Mark had no hope. Yes, there have been days of trials but in everything we see God prevailing. Having two ostomy’s has not easy to adjust to but the Lord has given us Grace. In NY we were able to share about the works of the Lord in our lives. Many people have testified that Marks illness has not stopped him from proclaiming the Name of our Lord. God told him, “Get out of that bed, I am not finished with you” and Mark knew that he better get up. Then when God told us both “no chemo” we knew that our Hope was in God alone. The Doctors told us that Mark would swell back up with fluid if he didn’t have treatments but it never happened. God told us to trust Him and we did and we continue trusting Him, giving each day to the Lord no matter what happens.

The week after he got out of the hospital he was back in church. These days had their challenges but we continued to trust. A month after he was dismissed from the hospital he developed a stomach virus and dehydrated so badly that they were having a hard time finding a pulse so back to the hospital we went. We again were able to testify and share the Lord with many people. A week later the doctors came into our room and said, “We don’t know if it was viral or bacterial but it seems to be resolving itself”. No it had not resolved itself the Lord had resolved it. The Lord had brought us back there to proclaim that we only trusted the Lord.

In September we returned to AR for me to have a stint removed that had been placed in me during a gallbladder surgery in June. The stint was only supposed to stay in 6 to 8 weeks and it had been 3 months. I was not able to have it removed because of Mark’s illness. Two weeks before we returned to AR I was in a lot of pain and ask one of the ladies on our healing team at church to pray for me. The next morning the pain had subsided. When we returned to AR we were able to share at 3 different places about the things that God had been doing in our lives. On Tuesday I went to the hospital and was proclaiming to the doctors and nurses all that had happened with Mark and that my pain had gone from my back after someone had prayed for me. They had prepared me for the stint removal, IV was in and I was ready to go. When they took me back I was still proclaiming the works of the Lord. The nurse said they had to x-ray me to make sure the stint was in place before putting me under anesthesia. When they did the x-ray she was surprised. The stint was gone. The doctor said he guessed I had passed it, but I would prefer to believe that God had removed it. Why, because I know He is in Control.

In November we were able to go on a vacation to Disney World with some of our family and God had given Mark energy to do all these things. Going to church in NYC isn’t easy it takes an hour to get there and requires lots of walking, a subway ride and a bus. In December Mark was in a musical call “Hope Has Come” with a church in Queens.

Our mission in Manhattan was almost established. It had seemed such a short time when Mark had a vision of seeing thousands of people being mobilized out of the MNYBA building and we were seeing that vision come to life. It had all began last November when we felt that the Lord was moving us from NYC we began praying, Lord where do you want us to go? We spent many hours in prayer seeking to know just what the Lord wanted us to do. Now the move was also becoming a reality.

In February we came back to AR because our 6^th grandchild had been born and to speak in a few churches. This was a grandchild that the doctors thought Mark would never see. We also met with the board about the Granny Davis House. We found out that our Non-profit status had been approved and that Harmony needed a prayer coordinator. Now we knew that this was where the Lord was leading us. The Granny Davis Mission house had been completely remodeled by many wonderful people and we were ready for this new chapter in our life. Moving back to AR was where we knew the Lord wanted us. As the months moved on in April before we moved back to AR Mark preached our last Sunday at Graffiti Church again proclaiming the works of the Lord.

Upon returning to AR we knew that our life would be filled with new challenges but we know that God is in control and the all things are for His glory. Mark had lost some weight but we had not made it a big concern of ours except trying to find him comfortable clothes. Two weeks after we moved back we were going to go visit our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren in Kansas. The morning we got up Mark told me he was tired and he laid down on the couch and went to sleep. I was surprised although sometimes he did get tired easy. When we got in the truck to leave we didn’t get down the road far until he told me he was going to have to lay down in the back seat. The next few days were very hard. God gave him enough strength to go to our grandson’s pre-k graduation and our granddaughter’s dance recital but the next morning we had to go home. He looked like he had lost 10 pounds in just a few days and we were not sure what was happening.

He continued to lose weight over the next few weeks then he told me he thought it was time to see a doctor. I put a note on facebook and several people recommended the same doctor then I called a friend of mine and she said she had been praying and she recommended the same doctor who just happened to be a member of her church. She told me she would get back with me. About 20 minutes later the doctor called me. I told him our story and told him he could go online and read Mark’s surgical report. He was going out of town and would be back on Tuesday. I wasn’t sure we could wait until Tuesday but by the Grace of God we were able to wait. When we went in he told us that it was obvious there had been some sort of divine intervention because these tumors don’t just stop producing fluid but Mark had no signs of fluid. He scheduled Mark for a CT scan at Baptist on Friday. Thursday night was rough. Mark was sick all night and about 4:00am he got up to go to the bathroom and thought he pulled something in his groin area. Then about 5:00 he told we needed to go to the hospital. I got things ready and called my daughter who went with us. His leg had gotten hard like he had a Charlie horse from being partially dehydrated. When we got to the hospital and he was getting out of the car his leg had swollen. We checked in the hospital and the doctor came in and ask us if we were there for Mark’s leg, we said no he told us that Mark had a blood clot in his leg. Of course we were thinking, Lord what are you doing now? The CT scan and scope showed that he has severe gastritis, erosive esophagitis, and a small bowel obstruction and blood clots in the lower part of his right lung plus the colt in his leg.

During our hospital stay the Lord gave us many opportunities to share what the He is doing in our lives. Some of these things which I hope to share later made it obvious why God had brought us to the hospital. We saw the Lord working mightily around us. I think the hardest thing is not being able to understand about the suffering. Mark is a servant of God so why would God in His infinite Wisdom want this for us. I then reflected on the many sufferings of people in the Bible like Job, Daniel, David, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then the question comes to mind this is a testing of our faith, can we stay faithful while we are going through such trials knowing that all of this is for the Glory of God. Yes, I know that we can because in the end when we stand before Almighty God we will know that we will spend eternity in a place called Heaven where life goes on forever. I do my best not to ask why or be mad or upset but to stay focused on scripture from the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 New International Version (NIV) ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²²reject every kind of evil.²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is this what I am living? I can’t if I am sad all the time living in a pity party of my selfishness or continually concentrating and complaining about bad things that are happening in my life. I must look to eternity and know that this life is temporary.

Today I sit here writing this and tonight Mark and I are going to speak at a Mission Awareness meeting in about an hour and a half. Mark doesn’t feel well; he has thrown up a couple of times today. The blockage keeps the fluids that build up in our bodies from going down so it must come up. Will God give us Grace to speak for Him tonight? I believe He will. I am putting my trust in Him and Him only. People say that I am strong and that I have been so strong through all this. I tell you that in my flesh I have been weak but through his Word and Grace I am strong.

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

For through His word I have received that peace that passes all understanding and oh what a joy it brings to my heart knowing that it all comes from a living God who gave his life for me and suffered more than any of us have ever suffered. We both cry out to God and wonder how long must this go on but continue to reflect on His Word, His Promises and His Grace knowing that it is all for His Glory.

Well, Praise the Lord! Mark and I did speak at the meeting. Once again God has prevailed. Please continue to pray for us as we seek to go where He calls us to go. May God bless you and fill your life with his wonderful blessings.

Amanda

Being in the Eye of the Storm

June 12, 2011

What happens in the eye of a storm? I haven’t ever been in the eye but have been told that there is peace in it, an unexplained calmness. As I think about a storm I see struggles all around it. Things are tossed to and fro. These represent to me our times of trials. As we watch on the news about storms, what do we see? We see that a storm can do the impossible. It can take a pine needle and stick it through a plank of wood. In 1974 a tornado hit the town of Warren AR. I went down to help some people move and was able to go into the destroyed areas. I saw a house that was torn completely down except for a kitchen counter. Sitting on the kitchen counter was a cup of coffee with the coffee still in it. What does this mean? To me it means that there are signs of peace in a storm. We must seek to find those moments of peace as the storm is taking place in our lives. We allow our mind to be so caught up in what is being torn up around us and we forget that God is still there. As we look again at the storm we see that it can pick things up and tear them apart. You see satan wants to pick us up and tear us apart. He comes to still kill and destroy us. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” When we are consumed with what is happening around us we forget the cup of coffee. We must remember that whatever our circumstances are that peace is still there and we must focus on that peace which is God. It has been told that when a storm is large that the eye is so peaceful you might think the storm has passed, but beware because it can quickly strike again.

In the June 18^th reading of My Utmost for His Highest it reads;

Keep Recognizing Jesus

. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30

The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.

We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.

If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.

Look for the peace of God in every situation. Seek to find Him. He is there with outstretched hands ready to take away any fear you may have. Allow the Lord to consume your life. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit by asking Him to teach you His ways. Put your trust in Him and Him only. He created you and everything around you. Open your eyes to see Peace in the eye of the storm which is God.

March Newsletter 2011

Feb Newsletter 2011

Jan Newsletter 2011

Facebook Friend or Foe

By Amanda 1-22-11

After being on Facebook for many years now I have heard many different opinions of it. I am sure you have too and I am sure that you also have an opinion. I would very much like to hear some of your opinions.

During the time that Mark was sick many of you know that I used facebook as a connection to prayer. Prayers went up in many places all over the world. We realized that there were thousands of people were monitoring what we were saying. Russia, Argentina, Thailand, China, Brazil (through email), Nepal, Africa, France, Germany and many places in the USA prayers were lifted up to the Lord praising God for Mark’s healing. (If I missed your country you can let me know). All of this was a sure sign that you facebook can and is used for a positive thing. But, do we as Christians abuse the use of facebook. What kind of witness for the Lord are you on this site. Do you use it for good? When you are on it are you living and saying things that are in obedience to God?

This morning the Lord spoke to me while reading and listening the book of Philippians in the Bible. He showed me that when we are in obedience to Him we live in spirit not in the flesh. So my question is when you are on facebook are you living in obedience to Him? When we live in the Spirit of God we live in a totally different reality and are guided by God not by our own desires of the flesh. When we are checking out facebook we are not usually led by the Spirit. We are driven to see what is up with the world.

My challenge for you today is to think and pray before you “comment”. Your influence on this wonderful connection to the world can and will make differences in people’s lives whether negative or positive. Ask the Lord what to say that is positive and uplifting to Him. While working at the BCM at UAPB we learned when we see or hear something that someone is saying or doing that we don’t feel is of God we ask, “What time is it?” Our answer would be, “4:29” to remind us of the scripture Ephesians 4:29 “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it”. If you really live for Him you will want to be a witness in everything you do. I love the song by Rebecca St James “Everything I Do”. There is a true message in that song. Remember that thousands of people could be monitoring your words.

What time is it in your life?

November & December Newsletters

A Walk in the Park

by Amanda 11-12-11

A couple of days ago my husband and I took a walk in the Park. We live close to the Hudson River here in NYC. In the last few months a walk in the park is something we don’t take for granted. It seems like only yesterday that we had the brief thought, will we ever walk in the park again. But praise the Lord that He saw us walking in the park, enjoying His creation, and loving Him more than we ever loved Him.

After walking the Lord has brought many things to my mind. The park offers many activities. There are all sorts of things to do along the river side. You can choose what you want to do. You can run, ride a bike, play in the children’s area, roller blade, or just plain walk. As you are in the park you will see that each area is designated. We have lines that indicate where to go and signs that say what to do. There are fences around the children’s areas for their protection. In life we are given boundaries just as we have boundaries in the park. If you cross those boundaries things can go wrong. Sometimes we are the ones who cross the boundaries and hurt someone, sometimes we are hurt because someone else crossed the boundaries and sometimes we just simply stumble.

When you look at your life where do you feel you are? Are you walking in God’s boundaries? Are you living each day as He would want you to live? What about crossings those boundaries? Are you a stumbling block to someone else? Do you trip them up with your lifestyle when they see how you live and yet proclaim to be walking with Him? Think about it and search the scripture for the boundaries that God has given you.

Mar 9:42 And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

1Th 5:16-21 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what

the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who

are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. Do not quench (suppress or

subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not

depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning].

But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

Are you expecting a miracle today?

When I was a young child my grandmother used to listen to Oral Roberts. Every time that he would preach he would always say, "Expect a miracle today." I used to think casually, OK. Now my thinking is no longer casual. We have experienced the miracles of God.

The scripture that my husband put on facebook today says,

Mat 7:6 (MSG) "Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege."

Don't take lightly the things of God. Read his Word and BELIEVE the things that he says. Believe today if you are sick that God will heal you, believe today that God will remove evil spirits from among you, believe that God is with you. Luk 7:21 "In that very hour Jesus was healing many [people] of sicknesses and distressing bodily plagues and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave [a free, gracious, joy-giving gift of] sight". Not because I tell you this, but because it is in His Word. His Word should be taken lightly.

(AMP) Psalms 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” What exactly does that scripture say to you? Well, let’s back up in Psalms 119:5 God has already said in the AMP version, “Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes” [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]!

What does that scripture say to you? Allow God to speak to you today and answer this question. Do you take lightly the things of God? Watch yourself today, believe in His Word and see that you do not take God’s Word lightly for there is POWER in the Word of God.

You may also want to read the daily devotion January 3, 2011at utmost.org.

". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" —Philippians 1:20

Today, January 1, 2011, like most days Mark and I read My Utmost for His Highest (utmost.org). God has given us new opportunities to share about Him through what most people would consider a tragedy. What man would consider bad God has made for His Glory. We pray that this year we will be able to share with many what God has done for us and what He can do for you! Our life is full of the Joy of the Lord because we know that He is in control. He made us and knows us. How do I know this because I believe in His Word and His Word says it. " I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139:14. Do you know that? I ask you today to search your heart in this new year. I challenge you to give God a chance. Submit to His Will and be strengthened by His power, the power that has been given to you from Heaven. Colossians 2:10 says, "And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:" Are you complete today? Don't think about yesterday or tomorrow. Are you complete today? If not you can be, because if you surrender to Him and know that He is the head of all principality and power (authority), through Him you will have that power to overcome anything. Matthew 28:18-20 says, "18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This my dear friends in not a request it is a command. God gives us free will to choose our own way but in the end you will see, if you have chosen against Him you will loose everything! Praise the Lord if you surrender to Him!

My last thoughts are, several years ago I used to attend a church that every Sunday when we would leave the pastor would say, "Now remember that you are not leaving the church but you are taking the church to the streets." I always loved that and knew that when I left that building my life was what was speaking to the world, not the words I speak or preach but the life I live and I choose to live for Him. Praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus who saved me from all sin and darkness! Amen

by Amanda Burgos

Our yearly report

Praise the Lord for a great year of work in missions at Metropolitan New York Baptist Association.

Our work in the association building
In September 2009 we began rearranging the association building for mission team housing. This work continued until January 2010. We took down a wall on the 5th floor and set it up as a dorm room for male and females. This room houses 30 volunteer missionaries working with our local churches to reach our world in Christ. We also built two walls, and painted the 3rd floor. This was to section off meeting rooms and the dining/kitchen areas. We also emptied out the basement area from years of outdated material and trash.

We opened the dorm floor in February of 2010 and we have housed 28 teams with a total of 322 people.

Our partnerships
We have completed our second year partnership with the Georgia Baptist State Convention, and have had our first full year partnership with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. We had made over 60 mission team request to our partners with great results. There have been hundreds of volunteer missionaries that have come to work hand in hand with our association churches doing back yard Bible clubs, VBS, surveys, witnessing, light construction, teaching, donating material, and helping financially. We have even had teams working in our association building doing construction and painting.

Doubt = Defeat

A few months ago my wife and I were faced with the biggest test of faith in our marriage.
We have been living by faith for the past 10 years relying on God to meet our every financial need. We had no doubt that He would not let us down. Most of our friends came to expect that we would trust in the Lord for our everyday needs.
Then God called us to a deeper walk of faith than we have ever been on before. I was told that I had only 6 months to live and there was nothing that could be done for me. After that news God told me that He was not finished with me yet. So we took it as a healing from Him, and we continued on with life believing that I was alright. Our faith walk expanded from meeting financial needs to healing from a death sentence.
We had a Christian friend tell us that we should consider preparing a funeral now just in case the worst happened. We would not do that because doubt = defeat. Amanda told that friend of ours that she was not going to prepare a funeral for me until I was dead and not a day before.

Luke 9:60 But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."

Another friend who was having trouble believing that God had healed me asks us if we were not healed then what would we do. We would not even consider that thought because in doing that it would promote doubt, and doubt = defeat. So I told him to ask me again in 6 months because I am still going to be here. Then we would see where his faith is.

Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

For me this is a no brainer. If I doubt God has healed me then I die. I think we are all in the same boat. If we doubt that Gods word is true for our life then we all die spiritually, and we live our natural lives in defeat.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.


Praise God!!!

God's powerful words

The words of God have all power and are more real than life itself.
Can we believe that and make it reality in our lives. Well I did.
Three months ago Gods words came into my life, and I was changed forever. I had just come from colon surgery the day before. The surgical team opened me up and saw with their own eyes the cancer that was spreading throughout my abdomen. I was told my life on this earth was over, and I had a very short time left. Lying in the hospital bed God spoke to me. He said I am not finished with you yet. You get up out of that bed. That was challenging words for this dying man. I have known God for 30 years and He has always enabled me to do what had asked me to do. I felt like that He would do the same now.
I was weak and dying from cancer and surgery, but I was determined from that point on to get up out of that bed and try with the best of my ability to go back to doing the work God had called me to do before I got sick. I must admit the road I am on is a difficult one. Most people around me looked at me like I was a dead man. My body had many days when it would give out on me and I would have to lie down and rest. Every pain would remind me that I was not the same person that I use to be. But I know my God. He speaks and the universe is created. He speaks and the world is created. He spoke to me and now I am not dying anymore. I live and I will speak of the mighty works of my God almighty. He healed this broken body without chemotherapy or medicines, but by His mighty words to me. His mercy is great and His power is great. He truly loves us all.