Encouragement

Romans 12:8 – If it is to encourage others, we should do so. (GNB)

On August 29th, the Rev. Dr. Eustace Renner died in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We became friends in 1998 when he lived in Saskatoon for a few months. I was saddened by the death of this great man, and drafted a fax to his son Victor in Sierra Leone. I wrote: "I will miss your father for he was an inspiration to me. Your father's encouragement helped me to do more writing of devotional materials than I ever dreamed of in the past. God used your father's voice to speak to me and encourage me to write devotionals. These devotionals have appeared on the PCCWeb Daily". I went on to describe this ministry.

I was surprised to receive a fax back from Victor. He wrote: "It really blessed my heart to know that, by my father's faith, many, many people have been, and are still being blessed through your devotionals. Indeed he was a true warrior in the Lord's army." God was using my words to comfort Victor and also using Victor's words to comfort me. Here we were, continents apart, yet connected through a fax machine and by the same God.

I believe we can all grow in faith by sharing our faith stories. My faith has increased as I have read the faith stories of others on Daily. This is so because the writers are sharing life-giving experiences that have happened on their faith journeys. Praise God for this ministry. Let us also give thanks for those who participate in it.

Prayer: God, we rejoice in the ways that you find to encourage each of us on life's journey. Thank you for the ministry of Daily and for the source of encouragement that it provides to each one of the readers, writers, and volunteer staff. May we continue to know that you are God as we see evidence of your work in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.