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Videos from Steve

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Occasionally I post videos on youtube. If you’d like to see some of these, just go to this link. The videos range from personal musings on what God is doing in our lives to trainings on church planting movements.

During my current illness, I am trying to do short (4-6 min) videos, often with my wife Laura, about what God is teaching us. He is giving us more of an eternal perspective than ever before.

At the same time, God is accelerating His work of finishing the Great Commission. I remain intimately involved with that primarily through my c0-facilitation of the 24:14 Coalition, as well as my involvement in leadership with Beyond and East West Ministries.

Following God’s leading when plans change (Steve Smith)

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For the last three months, I have been battling an unexpected life-threatening illness. Such a time can cause us to question our faith and doubt ourselves. The amazing thing is that it has given me time to pause and examine these issues from God’s perspective. More than ever, my wife and I are tasting and seeing how good God is. His Word has been underscoring that our values and mission are truer and more significant than ever.

Even so, it can get difficult when plans change. Last week (Jan 16, 2018) the major plan for bringing healing changed at the eleventh hour. In this 4-minute video, I discuss how we have dealt with the scenario of the plans for dealing with my medical situation changing for the umpteenth time. How do you follow God’s leading — the leading of His Spirit — when the steps He takes you down keep varying from your plans?

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Pr. 16:9 NASB)

How have we learned to respond in a healthy and biblical manner?

  1. We have decided that when we get news (in our case about health issues right now), whether it is “good” or “bad”, we choose to “rejoice that names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Our salvation is the root of our joy — and salvation is the eternal constant.
  2. We have chosen to not just give thanks IN all things (1 Thes. 5:16-18), but FOR all things (Eph. 5:18-20). Sometimes we just thank God in the midst of tough circumstances but not for the tough circumstances. When we thank God for “bad” things, we declare that 1) God is in total control and 2) is perfectly good and loving.

The other night, nothing was going right–accompanied by lots of pain and lots of confusion. Before we fell asleep, my wife and I consciously thanked and praised our good Father. “Thank you, Father, for the change of plans, the pain and the confusion. We love you.” In that moment we felt the enemy robbed of his power. If he cannot get us to curse God when things go wrong, he has no power over us. Jesus always wins.