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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 1, 2018 |
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Obedience to Christ--What Does It Mean?
Sometimes the Answer Is Surprising
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Obedience.
What comes to mind
when you hear the word?
From the earliest age, “obey” quickly becomes an unwelcome
term. Most Christians bring a cold-shower concept of
obedience into their Christian walk.
Scripture has plenty to say about the hard side
of obedience. Yet another level of obedience is stressed in Scripture
that is far less appreciated by Christians, and seldom explained
meaningfully . . .
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While obeying Christ often involves self-denial, it can
also require pursuing a dream. Read the article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, July 15, 2018 |
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Learning Optimism
The Role of Positive Expectation
in the Christian Life
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After
my father-in-law, Glenn Kirkland, lost his wife of forty-six
years, Grace, to Alzheimer’s disease, he decided to open
himself to getting married again. While finding a suitable
spouse is no small challenge for anyone, it’s a particularly
daunting one for a retired man of seventy-one. Yet Glenn took the important step of getting socially
active again . . .
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We who follow Christ best honor him by being optimistic about our
life. Read the article.
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Nehemiah
Notes, July 1, 2018 |
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If I Don't Express My
Anger, I’ll
Blow Up
And Other Myths About Constructive Criticism
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When cleaning out an old
desk of my father’s, I came across a priceless treasure: a letter he wrote in 1959 to the president of
his country club. “Dear Stephen,” it begins.
“I want to tell you about this incident, not just
because it was irritating and embarrassing to me, but more
importantly because it points up so graphically a situation I
am sure you will want to know about.”
He had authorized me to take a female
friend to the club for dinner as his guest. “They arrived around
6:00 to 6:30. They sat in the grill for over a half-hour
without being able to get a waiter to take an order . .
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We imagine that ventilating anger will bring relief, but it often
compounds our problems. Read the article.
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How
It Radically Affects Your Happiness, Health, Success and Effectiveness
for Christ
