A message from my father, Mark

To who may all receive this message Jesus loves you:

I have lived my Christian life knowing that I am a sinner in need of a savior and God gave his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rise again to forgive me of my sins. My Christian walk has been one of grace and works. My life has been blessed and stable which has allowed me to follow my calling and attend a church which has fed me spiritually my entire adult life.

My cancer diagnosis has rocked my world and it has motivated me to spend much more time in prayer and be in the word more than I have ever been in my life. If we are Christians to die is just a step into glory but my current adversity has put my mortality and the promise of heaven front and center. In my life death has been something that was always very far back in my mind. Please pray for me as I go through this adversity.

It has hit me like a ton of bricks that my love of Jesus needs to be stronger and everything in our life is based on our love of Jesus. We can thank him for his love towards us but our Christian walk is determined by how strong our love for him is.

I raised my family in a Christian home that was very pragmatic. We went to church and we prayed at home sometimes but I relied on my Church with its messages and church camps to minister to my family. Our prayers at home did not focus on developing a greater love for Jesus and loving what he loves. I felt the holy-spirit in church and relied on that to develop my love for Jesus and his word.

I now realize that I needed to actively encourage my children when they were younger to press into a deeper love of Jesus and that is something for which I am very sorrowful of and a time which I can never get back. I encourage and pray that each of you begin today to press into a love of Jesus beyond measure and you will in turn love what Jesus loves. If we are in love with Jesus all the other parts of living a life for Jesus fall into place.

I am thankful that we have a God of the now. I am actively seeking a greater love of Jesus. I have been blessed to see this need in my life and pass it on. I need Jesus today more than ever.

I know many of you have had life changing events of all kinds and are still working through changes. I am praying for you individually that you will start today to develop a deep abiding love for Jesus. I am also praying that Godly people will come into your lives to help you with your journey.


I love all of you so much and only want God’s best for you.

In Jesus love

Mark Russell

a very beautiful Testimony, and a very rare one to share with others...

TY, AS, for Posting it...

It is wonderful for your dad to share his beautiful testimony in the midst of his pain and suffering. His words speak volumes. God bless your father.

Beautiful words spoken from a heart of love for God's people.


I hear his tender heart and it's encouraging to know that with his struggle with cancer and his mortality staring him in the face, all he wants to do is grow more in love with our Lord and Savior.


Please let your dad know that I will be praying for him. I pray that he will see truths in the word of God that causes his spirit to soar to new heights in obedience and following hard after the Lord!


God bless you and your family!

Oh God bless your father he has words of knowledge and a message that is wonderful. I wish your father all the love in the world and Huge Hugs for him of comfort in his time of need. I am glad he is seeking to be even closer to God everyday that is wonderful.. I will pray for him on his journey with his cancer that he will be comforted by God in his time of need..

Thank you everyone, I will be sure to tell him all of your lovely comments

Very nice ArtsieSteph!! ( James 4:14!!) Sometimes brothers and sisters our true character can even be hidden from us, until an event takes place,and then we fine out just who we really are in Christ Jesus!( James 4:11-17) And the purpose we thought we had has little meaning compared to where are minds are suppose to be set upon!

The will of our Lord Jesus is to remain steadfast in being thankful always and for everything!( 1 Thess 5:18) To truly realize just what Jesus has done, just to call you his very own!!( 2 Tim 1:9, Isaiah 43:1-2, and Heb 2:11) Since we mean so much to our Jesus, should he not mean so much to us as well? OF COURSE! And HE DOES!!!! Thanks again sister for that very fine reminder!

Your father's heart for God is a beautiful thing to behold

Please thank him for sharing His love of God with us...

it's great to see your sharing, hope anyone who really blieve Jesus can realize that. thanks for sharing!

Babe your dad is something else... lots of people talk about using their illnesses to glorify God but who knows how many actually go through with it? upon receiving his cancer it didn't just help him grow stronger and he didn't just learn from it but he gained a new fire and passion and is creating a forest fire in his home and those around him.
If only i could take a picture of your dads face if he could see how brightly father was beaming with such pride when he sent this message speaking from his heart

Beautiful testimony thanks so much for sharing. Hugs and prayers.

HEAL
CANCER

I saw a tshirt with this message today. Your Father's message is beautiful. Blessings to him in this trial...and to you as well as together you fight. Love -student