In our world, unspeakable acts of evil take place everyday. There are those who endure pain and suffering such that we may never fully know (or comprehend).
This past weekend, I was honored to speak at First Baptist Church of Orange Park, Florida. On Monday of last week, a 7 year-old little girl named Somer Thompson was walking home from school, when she was abducted and taken to an abandoned home nearby. While the details have not yet been fully disclosed in the ongoing investigation, reports last Wednesday indicate that her body was found in a Georgia landfill, 2 days after her abduction.
Last week, after I heard the news, I called Pastor David Tarkington, a man I barely know but profoundly respect. I asked if he needed to preach Sunday instead of myself, his church body and the local community no doubt still reeling over the profound effect of a brutal crime so close to home. David's reply: "Nathan, don't you think that God knew you, an evangelist, would be on our Sunday schedule this weekend?"
So I preached with as much as passion as I could muster after a full Disciple-Now Weekend with teenagers! I preached to fight back for the ground that the Enemy had taken away. My message was clear, I preached Psalm 56: God is Closer than We Think. Lives were rescued, and hearts-soil shaken, just as Jesus had planned from before the dawn of time.
Psalm 56 takes us back several thousand years to a time in King David's life where he called upon God. He did not see God in the midst of his unspeakable suffering at the hands of the Philistines who had taken him captive. En route to Gath, their capital city to face the king's justice, he cried out to God.
"Remember my sorrow (oh God!). Are my tears not already in your bottle." Psalm 56:8 (KJV)
Psalms paints a beautiful picture of our heavenly daddy, bottling up our tears. He will not forget our pain, but rather stores it away somewhere in the cosmos. King David's words are intimate and profound about a God who loves more deeply in the midst of tragedy, heartache, and pain.
Today, David Tarkington preached Somer Thompson's funeral at First Baptist Church of Orange Park. He preached to a family that is completely unchurched. He shared an unfamiliar Gospel with them, a Gospel he lives out everyday as a pastor. In the midst of an evil unspeakable, David and the men and women of their church shine a beacon of light to point others to a great God who is Closer Than We Think.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Amazing Gracie
My 8 year-old Gracie was awarded "Star-Student of the Month" at her school last week. Her teacher asked for a letter to read to the entire class about Gracie, so I wrote:
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Gracie Smith. She was unstoppable. Her beauty and smarts were such that the world had never seen. She loved Jesus and puppies, even the crazy ones that used to knock her down when she was small.
Gracie decided to go to school to get even smarter. That's what people do if they know what's good for them. At school she had this teacher named Miss Belottti. She was pretty and smart so Gracie listened to everything she said. One day Miss Belotti started reading this letter about Gracie to the whole class. All of the class said, "WOW! Tell us more about Gracie!!!" And so she did. Miss Belotti read the whole story.
Gracie was born in Columbia, South Carolina. Angels in heaven sang songs about her. God smiled that day, just like he does every time a baby is born. God loves Gracie just like He loves you.
Gracie made strange sounds for a while, and drank lots of milk. Babies love milk. They don't drink Dr Pepper or Coke or Kool Aid. Gracie had a nice room to live in. Not everyone has a nice room. Some babies don't even have a house to live in. Gracie was happy. One day her daddy was burping her, and she puked up milk all over him. It was kinda gross, but Gracie didn't care. She just went to sleep and forgot all about it.
Gracie's Mama sang songs to her. Her mama was good at it. She loved Gracie very much. Not every mama takes care of their baby like Gracie's mama does. Gracie really loves her Mom.
Gracie grew and she grew and she grew. She moved to Belmont, North Carolina when she was 2 years old. Her sister Sophie was born. And Gracie's grandma ("GiGi") and grandpa ("Poppy") helped take care of her. They are the best grandparents in the whole world!
Gracie learned how to swim. She's pretty good at it too. She plays tennis like a pro. And have you ever seen someone play the piano? She can. But she is best at taking care of her dogs and puppies. They are the best dogs, golden retrievers. They are fast and smart and very friendly. And if you throw a ball they will go get it for you and bring it back everytime. Sometimes they lick Gracie right on her face...YUCK!
Gracie has been all over the world and she's only 8! She's been to Disneyworld, New York City, even Germany and Austria too! She is going to Paris, France next week where she will go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and jump off with a parachute...just kidding. She won't really jump.
This summer Gracie bowed her head to pray. "Dear Jesus," she prayed, "I want you to come into my heart. And Jesus, I hope you will live in my heart forever. Amen." So Jesus did exactly that! He lives in her heart now, and He won't ever leave. Jesus wants to live in everyone's heart. And He's the best! Just ask Gracie.
So now you know about Amazing Gracie Smith, Star-Student of the Week!
I am so proud of little Gracie. She is falling in love with Jesus, and I am so thankful to God for His great work in her life.
In Philippians 1:6, Paul wrote,
"I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus."
This verse means that God always finishes what He starts. We're all a work in progress, just like Gracie, but God won't ever move out, divorce, or give up on us. He will never leave, because He's the best daddy, full of Amazing Grace, and He never runs out!
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Gracie Smith. She was unstoppable. Her beauty and smarts were such that the world had never seen. She loved Jesus and puppies, even the crazy ones that used to knock her down when she was small.
Gracie decided to go to school to get even smarter. That's what people do if they know what's good for them. At school she had this teacher named Miss Belottti. She was pretty and smart so Gracie listened to everything she said. One day Miss Belotti started reading this letter about Gracie to the whole class. All of the class said, "WOW! Tell us more about Gracie!!!" And so she did. Miss Belotti read the whole story.
Gracie was born in Columbia, South Carolina. Angels in heaven sang songs about her. God smiled that day, just like he does every time a baby is born. God loves Gracie just like He loves you.
Gracie made strange sounds for a while, and drank lots of milk. Babies love milk. They don't drink Dr Pepper or Coke or Kool Aid. Gracie had a nice room to live in. Not everyone has a nice room. Some babies don't even have a house to live in. Gracie was happy. One day her daddy was burping her, and she puked up milk all over him. It was kinda gross, but Gracie didn't care. She just went to sleep and forgot all about it.
Gracie's Mama sang songs to her. Her mama was good at it. She loved Gracie very much. Not every mama takes care of their baby like Gracie's mama does. Gracie really loves her Mom.
Gracie grew and she grew and she grew. She moved to Belmont, North Carolina when she was 2 years old. Her sister Sophie was born. And Gracie's grandma ("GiGi") and grandpa ("Poppy") helped take care of her. They are the best grandparents in the whole world!
Gracie learned how to swim. She's pretty good at it too. She plays tennis like a pro. And have you ever seen someone play the piano? She can. But she is best at taking care of her dogs and puppies. They are the best dogs, golden retrievers. They are fast and smart and very friendly. And if you throw a ball they will go get it for you and bring it back everytime. Sometimes they lick Gracie right on her face...YUCK!
Gracie has been all over the world and she's only 8! She's been to Disneyworld, New York City, even Germany and Austria too! She is going to Paris, France next week where she will go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and jump off with a parachute...just kidding. She won't really jump.
This summer Gracie bowed her head to pray. "Dear Jesus," she prayed, "I want you to come into my heart. And Jesus, I hope you will live in my heart forever. Amen." So Jesus did exactly that! He lives in her heart now, and He won't ever leave. Jesus wants to live in everyone's heart. And He's the best! Just ask Gracie.
So now you know about Amazing Gracie Smith, Star-Student of the Week!
I am so proud of little Gracie. She is falling in love with Jesus, and I am so thankful to God for His great work in her life.
In Philippians 1:6, Paul wrote,
"I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus."
This verse means that God always finishes what He starts. We're all a work in progress, just like Gracie, but God won't ever move out, divorce, or give up on us. He will never leave, because He's the best daddy, full of Amazing Grace, and He never runs out!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Seasons of Suffering
Ponder the creative genius of our Great God. He made it all. The Original Inventor, the First Artist EVER, and the author of imagination.
God designed the Alaskan wood frog as the only amphibian capable of surviving the frigid Arctic winter. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, this one-of-a-kind creature has the amazing ability to freeze solid and thaw out as temperatures warm in the spring. At the onset of freezing temperatures, wood frogs hibernate. Their bodies are engineered by the Master's Hand to pump much of the water out their organs and replace it with large amounts of glucose. The syrupy sugar-solution serves as a cryoprotectant (antifreeze), protecting the cells themselves from a frigid death. Within a few hours, ice fills the abdominal cavity and encases all internal organs. Flat ice crystals form between layers of skin and muscle, and the eyes turn white because the lens and fluids freeze. During this painful process nearly 70% of the frog's total body water is converted to ice. The blood freezes, the heart stops beating, all breathing and muscle movements cease, and the wood frog remains in a virtual state of suspended animation.
Was God showing off when he designed the wood frog? (Maybe so!) Or was He painting a picture of a season of suffering that could only be thawed by the "glory of spring?"
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
No matter what trials we face in this lifetime, there is a season forthcoming that will set us free from the icy grip of world's winter. Let us not be taken by surprise, let us prepare, expect, REJOICE!
After all, Spring is just around the bend!
God designed the Alaskan wood frog as the only amphibian capable of surviving the frigid Arctic winter. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, this one-of-a-kind creature has the amazing ability to freeze solid and thaw out as temperatures warm in the spring. At the onset of freezing temperatures, wood frogs hibernate. Their bodies are engineered by the Master's Hand to pump much of the water out their organs and replace it with large amounts of glucose. The syrupy sugar-solution serves as a cryoprotectant (antifreeze), protecting the cells themselves from a frigid death. Within a few hours, ice fills the abdominal cavity and encases all internal organs. Flat ice crystals form between layers of skin and muscle, and the eyes turn white because the lens and fluids freeze. During this painful process nearly 70% of the frog's total body water is converted to ice. The blood freezes, the heart stops beating, all breathing and muscle movements cease, and the wood frog remains in a virtual state of suspended animation.
Was God showing off when he designed the wood frog? (Maybe so!) Or was He painting a picture of a season of suffering that could only be thawed by the "glory of spring?"
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
No matter what trials we face in this lifetime, there is a season forthcoming that will set us free from the icy grip of world's winter. Let us not be taken by surprise, let us prepare, expect, REJOICE!
After all, Spring is just around the bend!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I Love My Wife
A few years ago, I was playing tennis with one of my good friends. We had a great match, got some great exercise and on a final changeover, he asked for my help. He needed help with a quick errand. It wasn't far so I agreed and off we went. What happened next is something I will never forget as long as I am alive...
We were nearing the rendezvous (I think he was buying a car??) when my friend opened his tennis bag. I looked down to find a suprising discovery. CASH! and lots of it!! I don't know that I have ever seen so much money...17,000 dollars total.
I asked the all-important question (WHY?), which led to his answer, an answer that soaked my heart with grief. My friend explained about his marriage how conflict had taken the reigns. He seemed convinced that it would likely soon end in divorce. He said that he had been keeping his money stashed away from his wife. I gently pressed, and found out that he had been hiding cash from his wife for about 2 and a half years!
"If we do get a divorce Nathan, in North Carolina the woman gets EVERYTHING."
What came out of MY mouth was purely reactive and spontaneous. It was the first and only thought that came to my mind...
"IF I CAN'T HAVE MY WIFE, I DON'T WANT MY MONEY."
I didn't feel like i was being judgemental, just honest and genuine...I can't live without her. She is everything I am not and everything I want to be. She is beauty, inside and out. As men, we must truly "leave our father and mother, and cling to our wives" (Eph 5:31). We must for the same reason Jesus left his father for His bride, the Church. We must love and serve and sacrifice for our wives no matter what the cost. And I am not talking about just money, no, our very lives! Oh that my wife might be cherished above my own life! She is worth it...worth it all!
For Christ,
Nathan Smith
We were nearing the rendezvous (I think he was buying a car??) when my friend opened his tennis bag. I looked down to find a suprising discovery. CASH! and lots of it!! I don't know that I have ever seen so much money...17,000 dollars total.
I asked the all-important question (WHY?), which led to his answer, an answer that soaked my heart with grief. My friend explained about his marriage how conflict had taken the reigns. He seemed convinced that it would likely soon end in divorce. He said that he had been keeping his money stashed away from his wife. I gently pressed, and found out that he had been hiding cash from his wife for about 2 and a half years!
"If we do get a divorce Nathan, in North Carolina the woman gets EVERYTHING."
What came out of MY mouth was purely reactive and spontaneous. It was the first and only thought that came to my mind...
"IF I CAN'T HAVE MY WIFE, I DON'T WANT MY MONEY."
I didn't feel like i was being judgemental, just honest and genuine...I can't live without her. She is everything I am not and everything I want to be. She is beauty, inside and out. As men, we must truly "leave our father and mother, and cling to our wives" (Eph 5:31). We must for the same reason Jesus left his father for His bride, the Church. We must love and serve and sacrifice for our wives no matter what the cost. And I am not talking about just money, no, our very lives! Oh that my wife might be cherished above my own life! She is worth it...worth it all!
For Christ,
Nathan Smith
Monday, June 1, 2009
Love Africa!!!
As many of you know, God's Heart for Africa is far beyond what I could ever grasp...but that doesn't stop me from chasing! Several years back my wife Levacy went to the continent for the first time and her life was forever changed. As a result of her visit, we began to take on various missions endeavors. By partnering with our home church, Forest Pointe, we financed the construction of an orphanage in Ethiopia, embracing James 1:27, "Pure religeon that the Lord finds faultless is this, to care for widows and orphans in their distress." We have given shelter and clothing and blankets for hundreds of elderly living in the Tigre region. And just recently God has put together a team (of mostly college aged adults) to tackle a short term mission in Kijabe, Kenya. Our team has really come together beautifully! Here's our current roster and a little info on each:
Sammie Fendig - 20 year-old Jax, FL native, percussionist extraordinaire, 2nd time to Kenya!!!
Danielle Jones - my little sister!! clemson student and cheerleader, avid scuba diver and tumbling champion!
Mary Grace Owen - Senior at App State, genius, and chaplain of her sorority, I have known MG since she was a freshman in high school. Such love and beauty, inside and out!
Kelsey Morgan - Professor of Style and Fashion in Virginia Beach area, but a Gaffney, SC native and has dreamt of Africa for many years now...
Sally Hamrick - Univeristy of Tennessee Grad, loves kids and Lion King, also from Gaffney, SC
Josh Meadows - my new intern, 26 year-old Div 1 footballer, and gifted communicator!
Carter Holmes - NC State Grad, master of the weight room and all things softball, professional bodyguard for our whole team!
DJ McCurry - UNC Grad, college soccer player, and future dentist (you can call him Dr. McCurry if you want!)
Josh Payne - Clemson Junior, stellar athlete beyond common knowlege, and a heart of pure gold
Rachel Cross - Rachel and Hannah both work for the YMCA. they heard me speak literally 2 weeks ago! Felt called to go with us, and have raised nearly $3000 in the last 10 days!!!
Hannah Nichols - Rachel's friend...also on staff with the YMCA. Racoon hunter, and Southern Bell!
Jim Gibson - 42 year-old fireman from Jax, FL, rescued one of the Wizard of Oz Lollypop Kids from his burning home (and thereby saved the life of the oldest living dwarf!)
Nathan Smith (that's me!)
Please pray for us as we continue to raise the funds necessary to participate, and for our hearts as we prepare to go to the uttermost parts of the world!
Sammie Fendig - 20 year-old Jax, FL native, percussionist extraordinaire, 2nd time to Kenya!!!
Danielle Jones - my little sister!! clemson student and cheerleader, avid scuba diver and tumbling champion!
Mary Grace Owen - Senior at App State, genius, and chaplain of her sorority, I have known MG since she was a freshman in high school. Such love and beauty, inside and out!
Kelsey Morgan - Professor of Style and Fashion in Virginia Beach area, but a Gaffney, SC native and has dreamt of Africa for many years now...
Sally Hamrick - Univeristy of Tennessee Grad, loves kids and Lion King, also from Gaffney, SC
Josh Meadows - my new intern, 26 year-old Div 1 footballer, and gifted communicator!
Carter Holmes - NC State Grad, master of the weight room and all things softball, professional bodyguard for our whole team!
DJ McCurry - UNC Grad, college soccer player, and future dentist (you can call him Dr. McCurry if you want!)
Josh Payne - Clemson Junior, stellar athlete beyond common knowlege, and a heart of pure gold
Rachel Cross - Rachel and Hannah both work for the YMCA. they heard me speak literally 2 weeks ago! Felt called to go with us, and have raised nearly $3000 in the last 10 days!!!
Hannah Nichols - Rachel's friend...also on staff with the YMCA. Racoon hunter, and Southern Bell!
Jim Gibson - 42 year-old fireman from Jax, FL, rescued one of the Wizard of Oz Lollypop Kids from his burning home (and thereby saved the life of the oldest living dwarf!)
Nathan Smith (that's me!)
Please pray for us as we continue to raise the funds necessary to participate, and for our hearts as we prepare to go to the uttermost parts of the world!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Welcome!
Thank you SO much for visiting my new website. It's our hope you will return time and again to read the blog, and stay connected. I urge you therefore to BOLDLY CLICK and explore the new stuff, including the link to our "Love Africa" mission with the beautiful people of Ethiopia and Kenya. Visit the eSTORE which serves to help us meet the needs, both physical and spiritual, of AIDS orphans on the African continent. Listen to clips of sermons I've preached recently, and download full-length messages too!
For this first post, I offer SPECIAL THANKS TO Brian Fischer and the 360group for not only his friendship but remarkable creativity in graphic design. To Carlos Rodriguez for coding the new site, bringing it to life with full functionality. To Timm Young and Chase Grindstaff (and others) for their genius in sifting through dozens of recordings to edit solid clips that clearly represent my style and passion to be true to God's Word and preach the Gospel faithfully to every audience.
Under His Wings,
Nathan Smith
For this first post, I offer SPECIAL THANKS TO Brian Fischer and the 360group for not only his friendship but remarkable creativity in graphic design. To Carlos Rodriguez for coding the new site, bringing it to life with full functionality. To Timm Young and Chase Grindstaff (and others) for their genius in sifting through dozens of recordings to edit solid clips that clearly represent my style and passion to be true to God's Word and preach the Gospel faithfully to every audience.
Under His Wings,
Nathan Smith
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