By Jonathan David Faulkner

Let us be honest, it has been a downright gloomy few weeks for us. We’ve talked about division and about voting and politics and comments thrown at us. There has been a lot of negative topics covered as we have sought to build up others in the face of those who would tear them down. But not this time, for the sake of my own soul I need a break from addressing those who would rather shame us than encourage and exhort. So I want to simply take a moment to encourage you.

Yes you, you reading this, the person who puts up with all of my words and who have encouraged and sought to build me up. My regular readers and those who are reading for the first time, I am edified by you, encouraged and even driven to praise of the Lord because of you. Because you walk with me in this journey to discover God’s Heart for…well…everyone. Listened as I preached the gospel, what I hope to be the true gospel, of salvation by faith in Christ. Walked with me through the journey of this awesome Healing work God has been doing as He has restored and redeemed the church. You have been part of that, with your outpouring of love and support and even by just reading this blog. I did not set out to inform you, to teach you or to exhort you. But to encourage and love you as God as encouraged and loved me.

So I have one thing to say after nearly five years.

You are all awesome and I love you. Let me dote on you, you who are Saints of the Living God, sons and daughters of His Majesty. You are beautiful and handsome, strong and powerful, wise and kind. You are called sons and daughters of God; a title you cannot lose no matter how many lies the enemy throws at you. You have hope of deliverance from every temptation and every valley. You have hope in the dark places and a light in the midst of troubles.

I want to celebrate you, celebrate your love and kindness towards this broken man. The joy you have shared in your emails to me both through 10:31 Life Ministries and through God’s Heart. You deserve it, for helping me shed the chains that had so long held me. You deserve it for liking our posts and for keeping up with us over the last five years. For sticking with us when our writings were about the worst thing on the planet, to now when they are…slightly better.

Always remember that you are loved deeply by God and by myself. Stand firm in the promises of our savior and I hope to see you out on the road.

God Bless You

Jonathan

Jonathan David Faulkner is a student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Pastor, Musician and Writer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree inChristian Education & Administration with a concentration in Urban Ministry