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