Encouragement...

There are days when I am very discouraged with raising support for my ministry position with IVCF.  It is a "marathon" of faith and hard work and prayer.  God's timing is crucial as He develops my character, knowledge, faith and so many other traits necessary for ministry.  It's days like this, that make me vulnerable to Satan's lies and tricks... "just give up", "it's no use, God won't provide for you."  "Go back to Architecture where you can make good money."  But in the midst of my doubt and trouble a friend gives me a call, or an email or sends a letter and lifts up my spirit and sets my eyes back on Christ and not on my circumstance.  Here is such an encouragement from a friend who has had to persevere more than I ever could imagine.  A friend filled with faith in Christ!

Todd--keep with your ministry and persevere. We need you sharing truth with those college kids! We NEVER ever know what tomorrow brings. May God continue to bless you my friend.

The short story here is that my friends lost their teen son in a tradgic car and bike accident a couple years ago.  Then recently another teen lost his life in a similar circumstance in the same community.  Yet my friends encouraged me! 

No one knows the extent or number of his/her days on earth.  The urgency of sharing Christ and believing in him is now!  There is NO other way to heaven!  "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.." Hebrews 3:15.  No matter where a person has been because of their sin, God has paid for that sin by the suffering and death of His own Son Jesus, who also rose from the dead.  The punishment that we deserve, Jesus voluntarily took it upon himself!  Don't beat yourself up over the sin that you do over and over again; Jesus already took that punishment.  Turn away from it and confess it to the Lord.  He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:5-10.  We have a loving God friends.  He has called each of us to build up the rest of the body.  If you see someone discouraged, hurt, alone, falling into sin... build them up, share truth with them in love.

Thank you friends, for your encouragement to persevere in faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Todd