Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
In two weeks, Vileen and I will be traveling to Omaha NE to visit our families. We will spend time with our daughter’s family as well as some good friends. While we are in the Omaha area we will drive to Minnesota to spend time with our good friends in Owatonna.
At this juncture in our lives, every facet of our lives touches the development of Grace Rivers. We have several important meetings on our agenda that we are asking your prayers for. While we look to the future of Grace Rivers we are praying about those who would partner with us in financial and practical ways. We are building a ministry team to assist us in carrying out our mission. We would appreciate your prayers for these two things as we look at our Omaha Trip.
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
Financial provision for our personal needs
For Bart (ghost writer) and my book project
Our meetings while in the Omaha area.
Tags: Bart Green, family, financial provision, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nebrasks, Omaha, Owatonna
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Phew! God has provided for us! We received financial provision at just the right time. Things were getting a little slim around the Smid household. I deeply appreciate your prayers and thoughtfulness. Keep praying for our finances and God’s wisdom as we continue our pursuit of developing Grace Rivers.
We are praying about some more long term plans for our financial needs and how God wants to direct our path.
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
Financial provision for our personal needs
For Bart Green (ghost writer) and my book project
Tags: Bart Green, book project, financial provision, prayers
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
I am still experiencing God’s peace however, at this time, Vileen and I are one month behind in my salary from Love In Action. Love In Action has had a very hard summer financially and really needs your prayers to help them and for Vileen and I as we continue in our walk of faith for God’s leading.
The Book Project
I received some work back from Bart, my author. I have to be honest, I wept all the way through it and this is just the beginning. He has very eloquently captured my heart. Please keep Bart in your prayers. He experienced a medical reaction last week that put him out for 10 days. There is such an anointing on this book project that much prayer is needed to make it to the end of this one!
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
Financial provision for Love in Action and for John and Vileen
For Bart and the Book project
Tags: Bart Green, financial provision
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
I remain calm in my walk of faith regarding provision for myself and Vileen come November. I continue to pray and seek the Lord for His will. I trust He will lead us.
I heard from my book writer this week and he said to thank you all for your prayers. He is gaining freedom from the strange distractions that have been occurring lately. He said he will have some pages for me soon.
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
For Bart Green, my writer, to gain progress on the book soon.
Financial provision for our family starting in November 2008
Tags: Bart Green, Book, financial provision, provision
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
Personal Prayer for John and Vileen
Vileen came to me today and asked me where we were going to cut our budget in preparation for the potential of our loss of income. In my own insecurity and attempt at denial I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I don’t know.”
In reality, there is a lot I don’t know about where God is leading us. I don’t know what He is going to do. I don’t know what we are going to do. I don’t know exactly how He will lead us. I don’t know how He will provide for us.
What I do know is that God is faithful. I also know that His ways are not our ways. I know that He will provide for our “needs” even though I can’t always understand what those are exactly. I know that for over 25 years I have seen God provide for us in times of abundance, times of need, times of insecurity and great financial challenge. He has never let us down.
I know that He is not an enabler and will provide according to His will even if it means that we have to change dramatically how we live. I still like to remain in denial about it all. I am not comfortable having to think of giving up anything. Do I have a show of hands to “relate”? I don’t want to feel alone in all of this.
A friend of ours asked Vileen if I had been applying for jobs. She said, “No”. Our friend was shocked at her response. Another good friend asked me how I felt about applying for jobs. My response was this. If I were working at a full time job that was unrelated to Grace Rivers I would not have the time to develop this ministry. If I were trying to work and develop GR I would not be able to give the time to my family that I feel is really important right now. I feel deeply convicted that Grace Rivers is God’s plan. I also feel deeply convicted that time with my family at this time in my grandson’s life is also extremely important. So, no, I haven’t applied for jobs.
But, I am open. I seek God each day for His will and believe whole heartedly that He is faithful and will lead me where He wants me to go. Please pray for us so that we will continue to feel His arms of leading and provision around us.
Pray for:
- Wisdom for John and Vileen
- Financial provision for our family starting in November 2008
Tags: financial provision, John, Prayer, Vileen
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