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Welcome
to the Nehemiah Ministries
Website . . .
And thank you for visiting! I began this site in 1997, as my effort to bring
encouragement and counsel to Christians online -- especially regarding relationships and realizing their personal potential. I've
posted a “Nehemiah
Notes” article twice each month since then, and all
are archived here. While I’ve reissued some, over 100
individual articles are available. You’ll also find information on all my books,
with sample chapters, and links to online sellers
where they are available. And there’s also a history of
this ministry, and I've posted some photos (updated
June 2017), in case you're interested. I hope an article or book featured on
this site will provide the help you need, and God’s best to you as you browse! - Blaine Smith |
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* * Memorial
Photo Tribute to Evie * * *
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Evie
Kirkland Smith November
14, 1951 -
March 8, 2017 |
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On March 8, 2017 my wife Evie
died at Casey House Hospice in Rockville,
Maryland, from ALS. She
was diagnosed with the disease in November, 2015,
but, looking back, she had probably suffered from
it for close to three years. It is a brutal,
degenerative disease, and this vibrant woman
ultimately lost the use of both legs and feet, her
left arm and (primary) hand, and some right arm
function as well. Then in her last weeks she
suffered serious respiratory decline. As is so
common with ALS patients, this is what finally
took her life.
By
the time she was hospitalized on February 21, she
had reached the point where she wanted to be freed
from her sufferings and be with the Lord. Her
longing for Heaven, and her confidence that Christ
had a place there for her, was so strong that it
stunned some who worked with her at Casey House,
the hospice to which she was transferred on March
1. She went peacefully, with joyful expectation of
a much better life to come. While I am heartbroken
over losing her, I am so glad she is relieved of
her suffering and is now in the presence of
Christ.
Evie
taught elementary school music in Montgomery
Country,
Maryland
public schools for 25 years, and was highly
successful at the task. She was loved by a
great many people, and will be dearly missed by so
many. Most of all, she was the most amazing
possible wife and mother of our two sons, Ben and
Nate.
The
photo above is of Evie and Ben dancing at his
wedding reception, July 28, 2008. I've posted a photo
tribute to Evie on YouTube, including about
100 pics from throughout her life. Even if you
didn't know her, you may still enjoy watching this
display, for she was highly photogenic, and her
constant smile was an inspiration.
Your prayers for me and for my family are much
appreciated during this time, and I'm so grateful
for the condolences that many on my Nehemiah
Notes list have sent to us. - Blaine
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Nehemiah
Notes, June 1, 2019 |
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If God Loves Everyone,
Where Does That Leave Me?
Appreciating God's Distinctive Love
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“For a long time I had no doubt that God loved me, but it made no difference to me--for the fact is
that God loves everyone. And if God loves everybody,
what’s so special about the fact that he loves me?”
Although I had
never heard it expressed this way before, I realized immediately
that Nancy had her point. Our manner of talking about God can
imply that there’s no distinctiveness in a relationship with him
. . .
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Have you ever considered that God loves you in a way
that's different from his love for anyone else? I explore this deeply encouraging truth in this
article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, May 15, 2019 |
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Tradeoffs Worth Making
Seven Shifts in Priority That Help Us Realize Our Potential
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In my last Nehemiah
Notes, I mentioned a burnout
experience I had halfway through a graduate program. I noted that
talking with the dean of students rekindled my zeal to tackle my studies
again.
The essence of his advice was
simple: It was a reasonable tradeoff to spend some dry time in
exchange for the creative period I had already enjoyed.
Besides, I would soon finish the program and could then begin
to enjoy its benefits. When all of the angles were considered,
the tradeoffs were certainly more than worth it . . .
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Finding God's best can mean choosing options
that, initially, seem short of perfect to us. Making effective tradeoffs is
often at the heart of it--as I
note in this article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, May 1, 2019 |
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Bailing Us Out
Appreciating God's Radical Protection in Your Life
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Halfway
through an intensive graduate program I lost my zeal. I came close
to quitting.
On Evie's advice I decided to
seek counsel from the dean of students. When I walked into his
office the next morning, he received me warmly and spoke with
me at length, even though I hadn't made an appointment. After
I explained my dilemma, he offered some simple advice: Since I
had come this far in the program, it was a minimal sacrifice
to continue. Besides, the long-range benefits of finishing the
degree well outweighed the momentary relief of getting out . .
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God graciously performs many “rescue missions” in our
lives, to protect and provide for us; I look at this
greatly reassuring truth in
this article.
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How
It Radically Affects Your Happiness, Health, Success and Effectiveness
for Christ
