Christianity Oasis Forum

[lyl1114]

Hi. Random question here. How many of you have facebook accounts? What do you use it for? Is it beneficial in any way?

My personal experience today. I don't or try not to go onto my facebook page. This is why. I like to see what my friends, who I don't get to see often, are up to. Some are friends, most are acquaintances . Anyway, my high school friend who I hung out with last on my birthday last year, posts something like this..."just went into a BMW dealer to just browse after dinner but came out with a M6" Well, for those of you who don't know the cost of an m6...I had to look it up...is over $100K! Yes, it is nice that her husband can afford to shower his wife with such extravagant gift, because he can. But for the rest of us who aren't well off, to see that brings mixed feelings. Yes, I too use to roll with that kind of a crowd. But now we are so far from it. We barely get by every month. The other day, my husband said, we were too involved in being in that "crowd" of just being really materialistic, that our current situation is a way for God to open our eyes to see God first. I agree with him. So I am learning and growing...but as I am in the process of growing spiritually, seeing this makes me want to close my account and retreat away from everyone. I don't want to feel the negativity. Yet, I will be curious of what my other friends would be up to.

How do you deal with it? Maybe I am offending others by writing such a shallow post. If I did, I'm sooo sorry. Let me know and I will delete it.

[Christnundrconstruxn]

Hi Lyl,

Don't be silly, you are not offending anyone and as for the post I see where you are coming from and at times I still let things like this bother me cause I too just get by along with so many others these days....BUT

You and I and some of these others I just spoke of are more rich than these ones with BMW's or whatever toy they decide they need to make them feel on top.
I just try to step back and realize do I want to act like that......nope....problem solved, I believe also that this is why some like me do not win the lottery so to speak because it would turn me that way and I DON'T want or need that.

As for Facebook, yes I do and I will keep it but my issue is a different one, it is that it seems to be the place to air dirty laundry or whine about life, I try to keep my post positive and encourage others when they reach out struggling

Another is texting and NO I don't I know some here are probably saying WHAT!!! because everyone is doing it but to me it is taking away personal conversation, now I get that there are some cool uses for it but as with most things in our society we don't know how to use it properly, I watched my kids and friends actually sit across from each other and text

I Just feel all things such as facebook and texting would be a good thing IF we would learn how and WHEN to use it but not allow them to take over our lives or change/define our lives

In short yes there are 100's out there driving BMW's or something better than mine but I am content with it because that is what God allowed me to have besides I like my 160,000 mile clunker because they are plunking down the payments for that beemer and just like my sins........... mines payed for

God bless
Cuc

[vahn]

Hello sister

I myself do have a F/B account ... I just dont know why or what is it good for exept for getting E-mails that I am being poked or something ... or who looked for me ... I knew I was lost , but that lost ?

Like anything else , everything has its pros and cons I guess . It is nice that sometimes when sometimes need to "check on how the other people in the world are doing" ..... But one thing for sure , anything , I repeat , anything that stands in the way of my attemts to get closer to my Lord on a daily basis ... Has Got To GO . That includes envy .


In Christ , our Lord
vahn

[xxJILLxx]

Hi lyl,

I do have a facebook account, and have on more than a few occasions searched out old classmates in a "where are they now" typa speal. It reminds me alot of a class reunion, but them not knowing there was one and I didn have to travel far, get my hair done, and lose some weight before i get there. LOL! But anyways it is an innocent curiosity, i think, of why i sometimes do that. Most times I use it to jot down some inspiring or funny thoughts or quotes that brightened up my day and share them in hopes to brighten up others. It's my page and i can write whatever i want on it and if they dont like it, they dont have to read it. No harm, no foul.

I have also filtered friends, who post things that bother me in their newsfeed, that effect me negatively. Such as constant whining and after attempting to advise them and I show them support, they choose to continue to stay in that state of mind. As well as those who post graphic and disrespectful pictures n sayings.

God bless
♥Jill

[Dora]

lyl

I appreciate your question and your honesty.

I just logged off face book because it made me sad. I've often thought of deleting my account because of this. Then someone posts something that I needed to hear. It lifts me up. Or I'm able to respond to someone and lift them up. Which makes me smile and think I need to keep my account.

I've had things here make me sad on occasion. I've had things on tv sadden me. I've had things on the radio make me sad. Anytime you come into contact with other human beings you have the chance of them leaving you with a feeling of sadness. You have to decide what media uplifts you the most and/or gives you the opportunity to reach out to others with the Love of Christ. God bless you on this mission. :

[Christnundrconstruxn]

This is so true Pine, but another thing to remember is we tend to look through OUR eyes instead of what the other is feeling
we all tend to say things a certain way and mean them in that way but we do not realize it can (and usually will) be taken differently by someone, this is where it is good to remember the rule of "benefit of doubt" in other words don't be so quick to decide how the other person means what the said and look at the possibility they meant no harm.

We ALL hurt and tend to whine and lick our own wounds and to others it may seem petty or not important, we must realize what may seem petty to us may be turning someones world inside out, we all process differently.

A softer heart and not judging others is two very important things this site has taught me since coming here....Pine you were one of the teachers

I have to say I see many things on face book and everywhere else that is not worthy of our eyes......don't look at it...
it really is that simple, it will never go away and will probably get way worse so the only two choices is become a hermit....or use your imaginary blinders

God bless
Cuc

[lyl1114]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful insights into this fb issue as well as my envy, as vahn as pointed out.
So I guess that is my issue. envy. It is a sin and I don't want to feel it. and as cuc said, I have a choice to be a hermit or filter what I see. Sometimes, I can't filter fb because I will not know what I see until I see it on the newsfeed. I just don't want to feel negative. I was working on this for a while and I found that I was being too judgmental and that I lacked love... (cuc, I agree. This site teaches me to love unconditionally through very loving people. hehe...cuc, you are one of my teachers too)
I want to love others...because Jesus loves me even though I am not perfect (ok, faaaaar from being perfect). I want to be able to feel happiness (genuine happiness) when they post whatever it is they want to share (obviously nothing bad and offensive). Yesterday, I got to that point. I shed my judgmental eyes and just loved my friends (who I pushed away because of my own insecurities). And all the envy has disappeared.
It is definitely tough to live a godly like in this very ungodly world.

Romans 12:2
And ne not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

God bless you, my oasis friends!

[xxJILLxx]

Wonderful words shared lyl. It is so important to look within and investigate these bad feelings that we feel before they run havoc on our lives and inevitably onto others. You got to the core and are moving forward in a new light! Takes alot of courage and work to do what you did. You rock! Keep up the good fight of faith sister.

Peace!

♥Jill

[Christnundrconstruxn]

Hi again sis

I love you feel I have taught you anything BUT if I have it is by the grace of God not my mind
I feel I only teach (or show) what He puts in my heart and I myself have SOOOO much to learn
I feel the negitivity on facebook at times and if it is due to ones postings I choose to ignore it or even change the post I see from this person
For example I have let a person I really like as a friend get under my skin cause he is ALWAYS running down my favorite (and only football team) it is the ONLY sport I get into and the only team, and I know it is common to bash the other team a little buuuuuttttt this one carries that to extremes and I get tired of hearing it, and constantly gets on there "saying a prayer of how he wished God would take it easy on Him, he doesn't feel it is right what he goes through and all this
I have thought a few times of blocking or even unfriending him on there because of this BUT it is then I realize even though I see he has a pretty good life and his "team" is no better than mine I have to realize there are some out there that feel simular to me as we all process differently and tend to forget how bad others have it or how good we really do have it, we are here to turn the other cheek so to speak and it is NOT for the other persons benifit....but our own.
So I will even if he slams my team and post a while later of how down he is I will try to remember what God would want me to do and reach out to him and let him know I'm prayin for him......and in the end we BOTH win because he recieved prayer and I was able to reach out and do as God would expect.....do I ALWAYS do this........no

I have another on my friend list which is a teen and she gets VERY rude and sometimes vulger and to most it would be hands down BLOCK HER!!
But I know more of her story first she struggles with bipolar disorder and she will be the sweetest girl one minute and a total brat the next but those who know her also know she doesn't like it but she hides that too because she loves and misses her dad that was taken away, he was in my opinion of what I know wrongfully imprisoned but God is using him there in the most AWESOME ways but it does not make it any easier for her or her sisters and mom.
SO when she lashes out or being mean I just try to be positive or ignore it all together but when she is saying something good or positive I ALWAYS try to respond to lift her and show her others are watching and she is not alone

So you see just as these two on my friends list do and say things I don't like or is offensive and rude...I try to look beyond that to see they hurt and are reacting as this world has taught them....is that how I wish to react back????

Just remember who did Jesus tend to hang around or befriend or pursue.......those who needed Him most
God bless

[lyl1114]

Continuation of the renewing of mind.
i ran across my childhood friend's pic of her second baby today on fb. I haven't spoken to her since her wedding. She did something that offended me and I didn't want to do anything with her. That was three years ago. I guess there is always two sides to a story. She might have been offended with my reaction. I don't know. but my pride never let me be the first to offer forgiveness. Maybe I thought it was a sign saying it was my fault. Either way, I just wanted to be the one to let go of the grudge. i sent her a message. It is ok if I am rejected. Rejection is one of my biggest fears. I can't stand the feeling less than those that reject me. It is an issue I need to work through. As long God sees my intentions are pure and right, and that i am forgiving...all is good. I have peace with that. God is really working in me. It is very painful at times but at the end, I can rest in the peace He provides...

[Christnundrconstruxn]

Amen!!
See you used what concerned you as a tool to ask for forgiveness.
And yes it is for YOU not her if it is a blessing to her then that is an added benefit BUT forgiveness is within

[xxJILLxx]

Hello lyl,

You are doing what you are resposnible for, and that is cleaning your side of the street. That is doing your part, the other part is their's to do, we have no control of that Most likely tho, when we clean our side of the street the other will take notice and follow suit. It happens alot like that but again if they choose not to, as you stated dont be offended. Be proud of yourself and the progress you are making by pulling out all these weeds standind in the way of gettig to know the true you through Christ. Repentance is an awesome thing and is NOT a dirty word. It take much courage to want to change and much more courage to work towards those changes. You truly inspire me sister,

Keep up the good work!

Gb
♥Jill