As Long As It Is Called "Today"

"Thank you, Pastor Ron!"

But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

- Hebrews 3:13

I received a pleasant surprise early this morning.

Upon visiting a blog site owned by Pastor Ron from central Florida, I saw a familiar picture on his July 20 post. It was the picture of my desk, which I have used as the header of my blog title. It took me a few seconds to realize that Pastor Ron had picked my blog as his featured blog of the week.

He had such kind words to say about my blog, it was like receiving a very personal blog award!

I know he doesn't expect me to write about his blog here, not at all!

But I do want to share that Pastor Ron's blog is one blog I enjoy visiting. His is a well rounded blog where he writes what he thinks and feels about many areas: his relationship with God, his family life, the events at the church that he pastors, computers, historical events, government policies, politics, Bibles, fountain pens, journals, coffee shops, and many other things that he is quite knowledgeable about.

He even has a unique weekly Bible study in his church where the questions are not too easy to answer: you need to do a bit of research to be able to defend your answer. He shares the weekly questions on his blog and invites the readers to join in. It really is fun, and quite challenging. I've had the privilege of trying my hand at it a few times.

If you want to know why his blog is called From Preacherpen's Desk, you will have to visit his blog and read about it yourself.


Well, all I really wanted to say here is:

Thank you, Preacherpen,
for encouraging my heart today,
and for honoring what God, our Creator,
has done in my life.

In the personal thank you note that I wrote Pastor Ron, I said,

One wonderful thing I have discovered about my blog friendships is that God’s many facets are revealed through the people He has created in His image. I never cease to wonder… each new facet I get to discover in you and my other blog friends as I follow your lives on cyberspace leads me to know, love, and honor the Creator more. Such creativity, such depth of insight, such grace and kindness… words will never suffice to express what I really want to say.

No wonder, heaven will be such a place of homecoming, truly a place to look forward to.

Visiting one another's blogs, reading what is written as a way of sharing the blog author's heart, showing interest, and leaving behind a prayerful response or a kind remark ... these are the means by which we encourage one another, something that is needed by fellow believers in Christ.

Why do we need to encourage each other daily? The Bible states it clearly:

To keep our hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Isn't that amazing? Whether in real life, or in cyberspace, we can apply this spiritual principle.

Thank you, Pastor Ron, for sharing my life journey, for praying, and for your words of encouragement.

And now... it is time for me to return all the glory and the honor to my God and King. He alone deserves the praise!