Encouragement

My husband lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on December 14, 2011. These last few months I have spent a lot of time sorting through the disorganized treasures of his earthly life. Now some of these things were treasures only to Tim, many items are important to his sons and myself, and a very few items might have some sort of monetary value, but the greatest discovery of all has been found in his spiral notebooks and nearly illegible writings on various scraps of paper. Some of his writings include unsent letters, sermon and Bible study notes, and impressions from his daily devotions. I pray that one day his children and grandchildren will glean life wisdom from his writing and have a better understanding of what a genuine Christ follower Tim Smith was. What should I do with these words from his heart? As a first step in sharing Tim's written record, I have decided to create this blog page.

I titled this page Encouragement because this was one of Tim's spiritual gifts. I don't know how he would feel about me posting his words in a blog, but I have a strong conviction that I can't keep this light under a bushel (or in stack of papers in a box in the closet).

Fed by the Ravens

FAITH is our church's outreach and visitation program. Tim struggled with discouragement over his ability to memorize the FAITH outline.

The last day of Summer FAITH I had to constantly through oft prayer fight down my inadequate abilities to tell the Good News. So bad it was that two days later that evening I fell to the flaming missiles (fiery darts). My faith gone, I angrily told God I would not get up unless He sent the ravens to feed me like with Elijah. Well God picked me up and dusted me off and told me calmly that I needed to work on my anger and bitterness. Three days later I understood that he had sent the "ravens" way before I prayed that prayer. The ravens are people that had uplifting words and spiritual help for me. Randy, Scott, Tony, Matt and prayer.

This touched me so much as I was reading Tim's notes, that I too had to thank God for the "ravens" in my life.  -Mary

Jesus and Tuna

Matthew 8:1-12

A few days ago I had the hungries and was looking in the cupboard for something to eat. I happened to notice a can of tuna. I didn’t open the tuna, but it got me thinking how marvelous it was to have perfectly eatable tuna in a can. I praised Jesus for it. Later, a comment was made in a Bible study saying how perfect and pure Jesus is. I saw Jesus in tuna, but fail to see His purity and perfection.

Lazarus’ sister believed Jesus could have healed him if Jesus was there on the scene in time. “Lord, if you had gotten here earlier he would be alive.” She failed to see that Jesus has power over death, not just sickness. “Lord if that tomb is opened up there’s going to be a body in there that smells like it’s been dead four days.”

The centurion had faith that Jesus had authority to heal even though he did not actually see the healing take place. Would I have enough faith to ask for total healing or only enough for a partial healing? Just a hand or an arm.

Tim's Testimony 

This is Tim's testimony before the church when he was ordained a deacon. Brother Willie and Brother Orel, who are mentioned, are two wonderful men of God. Tim loved them and respected them immensely.

Men, Brothers and fathers of the faith, Willie and Orel,

To God alone be the glory for anything I say here, and His Son, Christ Jesus the Lord.

From my earliest days I was raised up in church where my father and mother attended with my older sister and brother. Only illness excused one from Sunday School and church. Before I was two years old we lost Dad, who died unexpectedly of injuries from an auto accident. A drunk driver left the road and hit Dad as he was doing his job of selling farm equipment. Not long before he died he had become a deacon. That means a lot to me today. Our mother worked, raised three kids, and faithfully took us to church every Sunday and Wednesday. One day after Sunday School we tried to talk her out of going to church. Mom told us, “If your father were here, we would go to church.” We went to church!

This, in later years when even at my lowest point of spirituality, kept me from wandering off completely. Though I professed Christ and was baptized at nine years old, resentment and anger at God over Daddy dying had already started to have a great deal to do in how I viewed God and His love for me. Praise God that even when I told Him He did not love me, the very opposite was true. Yet I had over time built up a stone wall, callous to anyone else’s pain but my own.

God began to work in His own time. By and by I met Mary Mix, who became my wife and mother of all my children. Without her I would be far less prepared to serve. By the way, it’s till death parts us and nothing else. Our vows are before God on that.

In March, 2002, I took stock of my spiritual condition and began earnestly to seek the Lord most High, “Lord change me.” I began to pray and read the Bible diligently. “What You show me, Lord, I will obey.”

In November, 2003, I earnestly prayed about a place to serve. God Most High turned me down flat. Yet, at the same time he called me to commit all that I am and all that I have to Him for His glory. So I did right away. I firmly believe God has called me to step up to serve as deacon and am here to make myself available, trusting God to make able those He calls to do His will. It’s not about me; it is however all about God.

All glory and honor to the Living God. He has torn down my high stone wall. He has shown me His steadfast love and faithfulness. Where once I accused Him of not loving me or that Christianity was not for me, but for a few others like the apostles and prophets of old, or Brother Willie, and Brother Orel today. By His inspired Word I learned that God would provide for all who keep on seeking Him. He has taken away the devastation to my soul over my father’s death and given me a peace with my Heavenly Father. Through the great commission He has given me to understand I cannot live to self and hope to witness and disciple without cost. To my disciple I have taught to give honor and glory to God, who is greater than our greatest strength because God first showed it to me. To each stepping up to service has come a greater price each time. I have seen the cost to myself and seen it paid by Christ Jesus the Lord. Where I had nothing in my hand to bring to God, He gave me the gift of encouragement to use for the edification of His church. Thank God for the fruit of the Spirit abounding more and more that even in trials and tribulation peace and joy are there as well. He has given me the great joy of Christian friends who have shown me how to faithfully serve in His cause. Yes, my life is no longer the same, but is being remade day by day.

This is my God-given testimony. Yet I ask you to look beyond me and see only the One who gave it to me. God spake these words to Moses in Leviticus 10:3: "By those who come near me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified." This is Christ's example to us and one I cannot obtain without the Holy Spirit's power working in my life. Glory only to the Most High God.

Ambush Praying

If you knew Tim very well you might find humor in this post. Honestly, I believe this to be an earnest note to someone he had prayed with one Sunday morning. Many folks, especially guest speakers and pastors, had the experience of Tim approaching them and asking to pray with them before the Sunday morning service. There is no date on this note.

In practicing encouragement, I tend to pray with people where I learn of the need.. This is sometimes in the open. Is this too high profile? I like to be low-key and don't want to appear like it's all about me. Also, is this ambush? If you ask to pray together with someone are they going to decline? You yourself were involved in this last Sunday morning. My desire is to encourage through prayer, but to do it rightly. Am I off track?

Written 14 May 04

I have seen that God is steadfast, loving, and true. His promises are absolute truth. Now I see that God desires to use me. This is a fact so plain in His holy writing, yet so unrealized by me till now. Fresh hope and new excitement build within me as more of His process comes about. Yet there is peace beyond any that I have had so far.God will not let me back off five ministry commitments though I sought to do so. So better grip on them as attempted. I believe the call to obey sacrifice, struggle, and suffering has been given me for Christ Jesus' sake.

On Death

Tim wrote this in a letter to a friend whose father had just passed away.

You are being strengthened and refined according to the plan that God has for you. The hard reality of the great loss and your pain and sorrow has brought you into contact with God’s plan. We don’t fully understand why or what for. When time after time, even on a daily basis salt is rubbed into your wounds, remember God is working. When we walk along we cannot see over the mountain, but when we walk with God we have no need to. God can see; it is enough.