A Good Name

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches..." Proverbs 22:1

Today I had a thankful heart for many reasons. We had a special missionary speaker at our church today. Mark and Connie Mandarano recently returned from Ireland, where they have been faithfully preaching God's Word and sharing the Gospel for 8 years. Mark and Todd worked together when Mark and his family were on deputation, visiting churches to gain enough financial support for their ministry.

Mark spoke this morning with authority from God's Word, a powerful message that encouraged me by seeing Noah's faithfulness to God, despite the sinful, wicked world in which he lived. My children seemed impressed, but especially my boys.

After the service, Mark and Connie gave me a hug and expressed their sorrow and sincere love for our family. There were tears, but good memories of Todd. Mark was "re-introduced" to "Todd's boys" (they've grown a lot in 8 years). As he shook their hands he said, "I was a friend of your Dad's. I loved your Dad, good name, good man, He was a good friend." What better thing could they have heard from Mark?

Thank you, God, for allowing Todd to be used of you while here on this earth. Thank you for allowing his boys to know of his "good name." Please let those words, along with the message from Pastor Mark, be an encouragement to Abe and Nathan to stand for you, follow their father's good name, and stay faithful to You in all their days.