Spam

Every day as I write my blog post I wonder.
I wonder who will read the next day’s post.
I wonder if the words God put on my heart will touch another heart, or two, or three.
I wonder, but I actually like not knowing.

When I schedule the post for the next day I leave my laptop; I walk away.
All I can do before I write, as I write, and after I write is pray.
Pray for the words to settle in the heart of a person who needs to read them.
Pray for the words of His Word to reach down deep and not return to Him void.

God makes that promise in His Word.
It still fascinates me that it is true.
God’s Word goes forth and accomplishes all He intends it to accomplish.
I am in awe that He chooses to use my little bit for His Glory.

We all should be astonished that He chooses to use any of us.
He doesn’t have to, but He does.
How wonderful is that?
God uses imperfect people to share His Good News.

God is in the habit of doing that.
That should astound us.
It’s like cooking with children, or doing any job with their little hands.
It could get done much quicker if we did it on our own, but how would they learn?

How would they feel a part of the process if we shut them out?
God does not shut us out.
In fact He welcomes us to participate in the telling and the sharing.
We stumble and make mistakes but He encourages us to get up and try again.

I have no idea how many people are touched by His Whispers as I write them each day.
I am just trying to be faithful to Him as I go about my day listening.
The results are up to Him.
I don’t know the scope of these words; I only know when I hear from those that comment.

That comment or that email helps me to press on.
I appreciate them and am truly blessed by them.
Over and over I hear, It was just what I needed to read today.
That brings me so much joy because HE knows just what we all need.

When someone comments on a blog post, I have to approve it before it is published.
It is not a screening process of the legitimate comments.
It is a sifting process of comments that are spam.
Spam the mystery meat with the gelatinous glaze; the term we now use for unwanted mail.

Each day, there are many legitimate comments, public and private.
Many days there are emails as well.
Every few days, there is a collection of spam comments that are immediately deleted.
Everything from advertisements for products to marketing strategies to promote my blog.

Each day a question is asked of me.
Approve comment?
Each day the legitimate comments are approved.
Each day the spam comments are deleted.

Wouldn’t it be wise if we asked ourselves that same question before we spoke?
Do you approve that comment?
Would God approve that comment?
Ouch!

Would our comment be a legitimate one, encouraging, spurring another on?
Would our comment help or hurt another?
Would our comment be worthy of publishing for the entire world to see?
Would our comment be considered spam to be immediately deleted?

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

We sift other people’s comments with ease.
Do we ever take the time to sift through our own?
Do we derive pleasure from cutting someone down to size?
Do we intentionally make someone feel insignificant so that we can feel important?

Even when we are careful with our words, we can hurt someone.
Even when we measure our words, we can underestimate their power.
Even when we feel at peace because we spoke our mind, another is suffering in silence.
Sometimes silence is the perfect response.

When Job’s three friends…heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. (Job 2:11-13)

Compassionate silence.
Something we often know little about and practice even less.
We fill the space with words, endless words.
Words that do not help and often hurt in the long run.

Delete comment?
Probably, if our comment does not pass the litmus test of God’s Word.
True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
Comments like that are approved.

Sometimes silence is best.
Sometimes it is wise not to engage when our words will only add fuel to the fire.
Perhaps especially in those times the words must go vertically to our Heavenly Father.
Perhaps in those times we restrain from the horizontal speech that fills up all the spaces.

Do you approve that comment?
Would God approve that comment?
Important questions we must ask in order to pass the litmus test of God’s Word.
We must be intentional to fill up the spaces with more of Him and less of us.