"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." --- Proverbs 16:24
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So at Facebook, Naomi posted a birthday wish to President Trump and one of her friends (I'll call Biff) wrote this:
"I hope Donald Trump dies and his death comes soon."
Wow. My eyes rolled. I sighed. Immediately I tried thinking of a witty, but strong-worded comeback for this guy I don't even know.
But I paused (always a good choice), glanced below his comment and spied one from my nephew (who I'll call Mark)--
"Lord I ask you to just reach down and touch Biff's life in a way that only You know how to. Let our hopes be set on good, and not evil, and for Grace and Forgiveness because we know not what we do sometimes. Thank-you for the things you do for us that we don't even realize. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen!"
Oh. My. Goodness. Conviction City. Mark's was the perfect, God-inspired reply and it stayed with me all day. His words reminded me of sermons and teachings about patience, love and extending Grace. After reading that prayer? I behaved better. No, really.
For 20 years I've heard Christians
Gah. I hate ignorance.
Our written words don't count, don't matter for eternity? God doesn't use our own story, our hard-won lessons to inspire, encourage or change minds if it's written online? Seriously?
What about the books we read years ago (or online), but still often recall mind-blowing lines? The books which molded us into a better version of ourselves? How about the articles (online and otherwise) of heroic tales which challenged us to 'come up higher'? What about the testimonies of change we read, the encouragement that kept us standing moments before we'd have fallen?
What about--
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." ---Proverbs 25:11
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." --- Hebrews 4:12
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." ---Romans 15:4
Hmm?
After 20 years online I've had it. Color me exhausted with the 'if it's online, it won't deeply affect anyone' lie. Color me especially weary when the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon our words is not even considered as a real thing(!) How grievous to forget, deny, His power.
This blog? This form of social media? I wish you could read the heart-felt emails I've received when my God-breathed words made readers view something in a brand new way. When the words helped blast down the brick wall between people and a God they'd been taught was scary or aloof.
Written words matter! Always they will and how good of God to provide these online platforms to help us fulfill this--
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." --- Matthew 24:14
And how gracious of our huge God, in these last days, to provide us with computers. To give our voice, our words, wings upon which to fly and to light upon the confused hearts, the angry ones, the lost ones anxiously waiting for us to share our life-saving, blessed hope.
May our words continue flowing from our heart as it's touched by almighty God, Himself, for as long as we're allowed, as long as our fingers can tap our stories, our lessons, upon a keyboard.
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Spread your words like seeds. The ground they fall upon is not up to us, neither is the water or the sun unless God specifically asks this. But rather, keep sowing seeds. Keep believing God, Himself, is doing a deep work upon the hearts where your seeds landed. Leave the results to Him and rejoice in your obedience to plant.
If you're wishing the times were different and you didn't need to speak, to push back the darkness? This might help--
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
Yes, God works through social media and he is with us during these changing times. Nothing and no one can limit our God! If only more of us would allow grace to flourish in our lives as your nephew has, Debra. Reading his words brought tears to my eyes. May we all be faithful.
ReplyDeleteYou're 100% right ... Words do matter whether they are read or spoken and to be honest, the words that are on social media are usually left there and so can be read literally for years, and not by just one person, but can reach MANY, ya know?!
ReplyDeleteAlso, God bless your nephew for such an amazing response! I'm afraid that over the years I've had multiple times where (in anger and frustration), I lashed out in a reply. I'm doing so much better with it now though - do I still write the reply? Yep, I usually do, HOWEVER - 99.9% of the time now instead of hitting send and posting it, I delete it instead.
What you were talking about with Naomi posting a birthday wish to the President - good for her! I was appalled at the response from her friend who wished Trump would die. It appalled me near as much as someone in person saying the same thing and did I have a response to her? No and usually I do have one for something like that but this time, I think first of all - though others have told me how she feels about the President, when I heard her say it myself, I was too stunned to say anything at all.
Then too, she works here in our building and rather than get into it with someone (she just cleans here so is not in an authoritative position) but still, I would much rather keep my mouth shut and maintain a peaceful environment if you know what I mean?
When you mentioned about words mattering on social media, it brought back to me that for the past few months, I really have been wanting to start another blog - it's been a long time since I've done it but hey, one never knows who will come across something that speaks to that one person that could make a huge difference, right? (If I ever get caught up on things here then maybe that's something I'll pursue yet!)
Thank you for all of your great posts - I'm still behind in reading them but I will get there! Have an awesome day.
Deb
Amen!!?
ReplyDeleteThank you for not ever hiding your light under a bushel. And for standing up to what is right and holy. For shaking us up and making us think. For showing us our wrong ways and the way into the right. For God's perspective on things.. You make things clearer for me to understand. That if they say one vote can sway an election..what can one voice do in to bring good in ? If you ask me ..a lot ! Some are shy about speaking out but when one dares to do so it makes another feel more comfortable joining in then another then another. When three are joined together they are stronger. ... When thousands join together.... ..In Love.
ReplyDeleteIn love, like our nephew did on that post in response to the lady. He is a very special young man. Sarah
Pam--it's so true about limiting God. We're the only ones who do that--not Him! So glad you were as blessed as I was by my nephew's prayer!
ReplyDeleteDebi--that's so true that our words are left here online for years! Only God knows how many people will read them over Time. Oh! And please do let me know if you start blogging again, ok? This is such an important time for us all to share truth and hold back the darkness and I'd love to read what you are thinking.
Rebecca--thanks for making me smile! I realize this post is a bit different than what many others are saying and may take some time to sink in. :)
Sarah--what an encouraging comment! Thanks so very much for your kind words and for reading here for such a long time.
Thanks so much, Everyone! Blessings, Debra