Expecting #25 - Facebook / Social Media

Ok, here we go.

Facebook - social media - Snapchat - Linkin In - Instagram - text messaging - sexting - cyber bullying
etc. etc. etc. etc

I was challenged a month or so ago by a dear sweet sister in Christ that stated - to just spend AS much time in God's word  as you did on Facebook and then post it -- become accountable.  We can 'add up' all the time one spends on FB - as it posts time and dates -- can we post how long is spent reading God's Word?

The 'new messenger facebook app' ....I have seen about 4-5 video warnings on FB about not downloading it - whoops - too late.  Did it.

I have seen a few stake claim and declare they WOULD never allow Messenger to be on their phone and today I saw local news time on the TV reporting on it.

John 8.12 says:   " I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".

Quite frankly -- I am over it.

I am not too worried about BIG Brother ...and being stalked on FB.  I am more 'worried' about people that continue to use FB as a way to disrespect their children, their spouses and their selves.  

FB like all the other social media things...are an escape mechanism -- to live and read about another and take your mind off your own life.

Like alcohol or pleasure drugs.... it is a way to escape and for many - it become their reality.

FB was instrumental in a person contacting me  -- and this person spoke life into me -- when I needed it. So...I will always be a bit partial to the application.

FB is a way for me to actually SEE what some of my family is up too - as we no longer call each week, send photos across the mail box, or even see each other as now -- their lives are so busy with their own children.

FB today blessed me - as my Aunt was able to post a video of my Grandma and my cousin and I got to be RIGHT there.

FB allows me to message a person privately -- and encourage them or get them a message -- thus 'messenger' application is NOT that bad.

And...quite frankly --   I am going to cover it in blood...NOTHING comes into my path that God has not already known about -- so,  I am going to pray that we - I am - protected.

I am claiming God's protection.  I don't see what the big deal is....

I am more worried about  what is happening oversees with  ISIS, human sex trafficking, and the fact that people are more consumed about being politically correct than being morally right.  

But I am NOT going to be stupid ....  you can change privacy settings very quickly -- You can make sure that ONLY your friends see your stuff and you can make sure that only the ones you want to read a post will see it.

I don't think FB is trying to control us - it is just another way -- to communicate and of course ...Satan can get into anything and mess it up.

As far as the Messenger app -- it seems to me that some should be more worried about what Jesus says in Chapters 14-16 of the book of John  or read the book of Galatians....  to me ...THAT is more of something to be concerned about.

And get this....you can delete or inactive your account...YOU do not have to be friends with a person that is driving you nuts.

It is what it is...

To me...it is just another way for people to put blame on something else...rather than themselves.

Maybe they ARE spending TOO much time on FB and it has become an Idol.
Maybe they post EACH and every emotion on their FB.... and after awhile ....we ignore -- kind of like the story of 'crying wolf'...

But maybe ...FB encourages you and teaches you something new.
Maybe FB blesses you because you get to catch up with a childhood classmate and laugh a few laughs.
And Maybe FB is one way another gets ahold of you -- and that person speaks into your life  -- and you know that you know -- what God has told you to do -- is being confirmed.

Just saying.

But it is not just FACEBOOK - what else is consuming your time?
...watching TMZ on the computer or TV
...watching several different soap operas each day or 'dramas' that are just soap operas at night
...watching a show that you must then find Season 1, 2 and you have to go to NETFLIX to find other past episodes
...spending time on the phone - with a friend - daily when other stuff needs to be done...
.....maybe being so obsessed with a certain football team that everything gets lost ...?

The list could go on --  and please -- I am speaking to MYSELF on this one.
Since my friend challenged me -- I have been paying attention as to how much time I am on FB compared to reading my bible ....and she was right - I was lopsided...

Changing that... Changed that!

I don't claim to know it all - I just know that the Holy Spirit wanted me to address FB and the issue of Social Media -- we must make sure it is NOT an idol and it does not dictate us.

If you are easily offened by a person's post - delete them - prayerfully.
Messenger is NOT that bad....seriously -- I reset my privacy settings and I am not being tracked - at the moment....

But even if I was or could be...don't you see ....this is must MORE of prophesy coming to life...
At the end of our God Encounter Weekend, the women gave a short testimony about WHAT God had done for them that weekend.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me and one lady shared her heart and afterwards -- I knew God had more to say to us through her...so I told her, "God has a word for us, and He is going to use you to share it!".

I knew that I knew HE would, HE was, and HE was going to use her.... having the Holy Spirit as my best friend - HE tells me stuff.  HE is trustworthy.

John 14:16The Message (MSG)The Spirit of Truth^15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

Later - she shared.   You see -- THAT is what the Holy Spirit does for us...for me...and that is not all.  There are more gifts from Him!   So,  She testified that she was unsure about the Word from God...but as she prayed, she clearly got 4 words...

With tears and with the greatest heartfelt and humbled emotion - she said - God gave her 4 words, "forgive, repent, praise, coming soon "  ...  We must forgive, repent and praise HIM for - HE is coming soon.

And so therefore, until God tells me to get off FB and not use Messenger...I will use it for HIS good - to get HIS word out....but...HIS word will be read more often...

And with that - I will always question myself and recheck - to make sure NOTHING becomes an idol !

And with that....  when we are so full of Christ and HIS word...and that becomes our priority -- we won't FEEL the need to post a status and get our needs or feelings stroked by FB...  as we will be whole and healthy...in HIM.


And then we can use FB for fun and silly stuff .... instead of tearing another apart on it...

IN Jesus name, Amen.

Lord, I am so thankful for the women and /or friends that are on my list....that continue to speak life, encourage and make me laugh -- may this blog prayer speak to the heart that needs to re-evaluate their FB usage and may it speak to the one who needs to be in  a church tomorrow -- seeking God's FACE through hugs and smiles of other believers...may they be filled with HIM - not social media.  IN Jesus' name...amen.  

 ^{Galatians:  6: 14-16} For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

¹⁷ Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

¹⁸ May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

..thankful.... there is a LIGHT at the end of the tunnel....I promise!

My Jesus Calling Devotional today ...states this:

Beloved, this is the day that the Lord has made...As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training.  Walk with Me along the high road of thanksgiving, and you will find delights I have made ready for you....To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle freely.  A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. ...They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts.  Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their minds.  How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times.  They can walk through the darkest of days with joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them.  Rejoice in this day that I have made for you, I am your steadfast Companion.  - God   Psalm 118. 24  and Psalm 116. 17 

It is very hard to stay hopeful when it seems like God has forgotten us.  I have said that...I have felt that God has forgotten me, but praise God I have also lived long enough to know
                            ...that is a LIE from the pit of hell.

God does not forget us.  God never has.  HE knew me..HE knows you...before you were born.  HE knows the number of hairs left on my head and how many will fall out into the drain this evening.

I am posting today for 3 reasons...to give hope and encouragement for three special women of God that I got to pray with today....and for myself, to remind myself how things are so relative and how the enemy  continues to try and lie and weasel his way into our lives.

And maybe I am posting this --for you...the stranger at the other side of this computer screen that I don't know.

Today I was SO pissed..yep, I used that word PISSED.  I was angry.  I wanted to cuss!   I have not been THAT angry with my daughter ....since...since she was 2 years old and pulled her ONE and ONLY tantrum in Walmart during the Christmas holiday.

I have not been THIS pissed off...since....since I saw my neighbor Todd put a shock color on our dog Bella and then I had to watch her get shocked and Brendan gave him permission  to do it ...I was equally mad at them both! (more mad at BP )

Let's see...I was THIS mad at myself when I knew I should of wrapped this one really cool vase better when we moved and sure enough- it crashed...and it was ME to blame, but I yelled at HP.

Ok...it seems there may be a few anger issues here, but not really.

 I was in the dentist chair today when I got a text and to make a  long story short - I am having a Mary Martha Party later this evening and I prayed over the invites  -- and I asked God whom to invite and took great care.  I mailed a few, delivered a few myself,  and then gave my daughter the job of delivering the 16 others to the mailboxes at CES ( my old school ).  Well, today's  text prompted me to ask a few questions and sure enough, the 16 invites NEVER made it to their mailboxes....the party was in 30 hours....it is Thanksgiving break, people have plans, the Consultant has  made plans, she will set up her stuff and have only a few here?

The goal is to sell some stuff! ---- (please read to the end of this post - as THAT is not the goal!)

 I guess I got "more" mad cause I later found the invites in her messy car...under junk.  Under volleyball and college stuff.  You see, I rubber banded the invites to her keys and asked her 2x.. and this has happened before!  But again -- long story short, the invites did not go out.  And now, do I cancel or do I call people?

Ok, enough already - this really is not about the forgotten invites.  It really is about the Enemy trying his best to defeat us.  Quickly I was reminded of something the Consultant always says, "Michelle, those who God wants at the party - are always the right ones, even if there are only two people" -- and one time we had a party of two people!   And God reminded me even more quickly - this was the enemy....as each time Carla shares a word from God - the enemy is defeated....

And I know something REALLY cool will transpire later tonight cause not only did the invite debacle interupt my day...but, the enemy threw a few more things at me.

By the way...
I texted/yelled at my daughter via 1400 miles away.  I said sorry about 4 hours later.

As I said, when it rains, it pours at times, but yet, I became so aware and thankful for my own children and their health as throughout the day, I prayed with a woman that needs her health back and she needs her son to be healthy and whole too.

I read about a little boy that went to the REZ school, that had entered heaven and thought about his family....

I was reminded of Ethan and his children that probably awoke today and were reminded that "their mommy went to heaven today just two weeks prior".    ( His wife, their mom died of cancer on 11-11)

I reached out to a woman that wants restoration in a marriage.

I prayed with a woman that does not have her kids right with her right now, and her heart is so broken.

And I was reminded of MANY other heartbroken people.

I was reminded that we always need to be thankful.

I think it is important to be real and to be aware.  Because of God....there is HOPE and there is light at the end of the tunnel even when we think it can't happen.

It is a very hard concept, but there can be joy in our circumstance.

Tomorrow could be the day the situation turns around....tomorrow could be the day....

I am quite sure that my 'party' will be fine.  Carla's goal is not to have GREAT sales, she does this as a ministry and she is able to speak about God.  My goal for the party was to have some time of fun fellowship with my pals from CES...and share with them the wonderful products that could bless them.

But, even though the enemy seemed to weasel into today - I am thankful.

But, I have prayed this evening and I will continue  to pray specifically for those three women I spoke to today...that God will uphold them, that maybe tomorrow the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel will be revealed..I will pray that they grab ahold of the edge of Jesus' garmeant or walk OUT on that water and hold ON for dear life...and allow God to be there.

God has to be it.
HE has to be our all.
HE allows strife and heartache within out lives - cause HE wants to draw us near  -- HE is getting our attention. That was NOT HIS intention but we are in a wicked world and we chose the path, we have that free will....it leads us into temptation and then sin.
It certainly seems  like ALL the others ( around us )  are getting the breaks and the ones who are ARE on their knees seeking God are NOT winning...but hold on dear sister...hold on beloved....YOU are HIS.

Please don't compare your situation with others -- you have no idea, but maybe Satan does not need to mess with them...and he is able to bless then ( Satan can bless people ) cause they are NO threat.
So consider it an honor...that the enemy is seeking to destroy you -- and your dreams and family...cause he knows, God has great plans in the future.

Lisa Bevere says that you are probably being attacked ...cause of WHAT the enemy knows YOU can do for the Kingdom of God in the future -- so he is attacking now.  Don't let him win.

Don't let the enemy tell you God has forgotten you -- HE has not.
Cry out to him.  Demand GOD to show up and move....just make sure that you are RIGHT with him first - confess any sin....make sure YOU have asked HIm into your life and heart, and declare your love for him.

I realize it may be hard to declare your LOve for God...I was unable to really do that for many years...it takes time to trust something that is 'unseen'.  But, if we will...Glory will come.

Hang in there sweet ladies....YOU are deeply loved.  Memorize these verses  below.  Personalize them.

Michelle, be strong and courageous, don't fear..for God is with me and HE won't leave or forsake me.
__________, be strong....



Lord, God.....I am thankful for this day - as I close my eyes now finally at 2am...and rest, I pray that tomorrow - ( later today ) - YOU will show up in a mighty way to those sisters in Christ that touched me today....God they need miracles, guidance, advice, and direction and they need healing and restoration - I pray that for EACH of them.  amen.

God they may not have the faith right now to believe there is  LIGHT at the end of the TUNNEL - but I will believe it enough for them -- I will!

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 55:22 ESV / 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.