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The world lost a great man today and if you have not met him, I am sorry for your loss. I have only known him for a short time, but very few people have affected me more.

He is the author of the blog, Unshakable Hope, here on WordPress, and you may find his many years of messages at http://www.unshakablehope.com

Bill Sweeney, suffered for over 24 years with ALS; a terrible disease that slowly takes a life away, but keeps the person trapped in a body they can’t use as it progresses. You may read about the disease elsewhere, but what I want you to read here is about the man inside. He is the one that couldn’t speak to you, but spoke to thousands from his computer. He maintained his own blog through modern technology; a computer program that would type each letter that his retina rested on. That in itself is a miraculous discovery. I Praise the Lord for the insight for this that He gave, and am thankful for the person that developed it– truly an amazing gift to the world–as is Bill!

I can’t imagine how painstakingly and tediously long it must have taken to type out a post, one focused letter at a time, but Bill never took pause or shortcut. His ministry to the world brought compassion, insight, love, respect, humor and most of all tremendous encouragement! He was a friend to all, and thousands were refreshed by his timely messages. It was a ministry of love that took him to the Throne of God, and then out to the world and back again. It took him out of a body that wouldn’t respond, to a Body that responded–the Body of Christ.

The old adage of “behind every good man is a good woman,” may not be politically correct anymore, but it certainly is correct for Bill. He would not have been able to do all that he has done without the loving support, strength and tenacity of his wonderful wife, Mary. My heart goes out to this sweet woman, a valiant fighter, a strong woman of God. My heart cries out for the years ahead, as Mary carves this new path. I have lived it, am living it, and I so wish I could spare her this!

Mary, Lauren and Leah, may God’s peace and comfort surround you now. May you be comforted, always, with the knowledge that Bill stands before the Throne of God, in worship. He is singing!!!

May you all find strength for the days and years to come. May you be surrounded with love!

Thank you for sharing your husband, dad, with the world and your extended family of God. He truly is a gift to us all ♥

With much love and prayers, Lori J. O’Neil

One year ago today I posted my very first message on Wordscroll.

From that very first post, birthed out of obedience to God’s call on my heart, Wordscroll and all its wonderful readers has been an incredible blessing to me. So far 52 countries have been represented by visitors to this blog. And now I realize that, by the wonders of technology, I am enabled to ‘go ye into all the world and preach the gospel’. What an incredible and exciting time we live in. A time we can’t afford to waste!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

Every Christian believer has a calling on their heart from the Lord and the gifting to fulfill that call.

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them–” Romans 12:6a

I urge one and all to step out in faith to answer God’s prompting. Do you sense the urgency in the air? There is so much to be done and all are needed to do their part. If you simply take the first step, you will see the next and the Lord will meet your every need–just take that step.

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might–” Ephesians 1:16-19