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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, August 15, 2019 |
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The Motive Trap
Don't Let It Keep You From Using Your Gifts for Christ!
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God
has given you the ability to do something well. It's an
area of talent where you can express your personality,
find creative fulfillment and be of service to others.
Now,
as a Christian, you face a dilemma: while using your
gift will help others, it will also draw attention to
yourself. Will this attention be spiritually unhealthy
for you? Is it best just to refrain from using your gift
altogether--to avoid any ego problems, and so that Christ
will be glorified in your weakness and not in your
strength? . . .
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Focusing too much on our motives can discourage us from
taking important steps with our life. Read the article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, July 15, 2019 |
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Trust Your Judgment
When Following Your Best Hunch Makes Sense
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Sometimes
when counseling someone about a decision, I’ll give this simple
advice: Trust your judgment.
I may add something like:
You are in a better position to decide this matter than you
realize. Make the choice that seems best to you, and believe
that it is the right path to take. Yes, trust your judgment.
There are two situations
where I’m particularly inclined to offer this counsel . . .
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When should we follow our gut
instincts, and when should we assume they're unreliable? I
consider this vital question in
this article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, July 1, 2019 |
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Handling Life's Interruptions
Expecting the Best from the Unexpected
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When I was in the early
stage of writing Overcoming Shyness, my computer crashed.
It was an unforgiving hard disk failure, and all data on it was
lost. Because I hadn’t backed up or printed out my work for over
a week, I lost about two chapters that I had carefully crafted
for the book.
I probably don’t need to tell
you that nothing is more devastating to a writer than losing
material you’ve written. You'd rather be mugged on
a subway . . .
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Unwelcome interruptions are sometimes the gateway to
unexpected blessings from God. I explore this fascinating
truth in this article.
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How
It Radically Affects Your Happiness, Health, Success and Effectiveness
for Christ
