Your Story Matters

Those who died for freedom

Terry Sanford Smith — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:08:57 +0000

Today I will remember

Those who have fallen so young

Because of the bad decisions

Of Adolf Hitler

Normandy and Omaha

On those beaches lay the dead

Of young men who were heroes

Who died for freedom

Each person has a story

That is known by very few

Each would say “ordinary”

If they only knew

Each life is special

A sacred gift to cherish

Remembering the sacrifice

Filed under: past, your story Tagged: freedom, Memorial Day, story

Thank you God

Terry Sanford Smith — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:47:54 +0000

It is a hidden treasure

Knowledge of the living God

With it comes understanding

And wisdom to live

Thank you, I can understand

What it means to fear you, God

You have promised if I will search

I can know your heart

For every good work

What you need is provided

You’ll abound with provision

God’s heart will be seen

The human heart will be drawn

In relationships of love

Victory is yours

In what really matters most

When righteousness is pursued

And love is the aim

This is the promise given

You will abound in His Grace

Meditations after contemplating Proverbs 2 and II Corinthians 9:8.

Filed under: God, grace, wisdom Tagged: God, grace, love

Unexplainable Gift

Terry Sanford Smith — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:44:28 +0000

I have learned to hide
In the shadow of your wings
You’ve lifted my heart to joy
I cannot explain
I’m an ordinary man
A broken human being

When I look back my heart’s sick
I see my failure and pride
Lust for affirmations
Longing for power
I repent again today
I am new every morning

Each morning I rise
Praise God for his massive love
One who lives by his Spirit
In those who repent
Those who accept forgiveness
Who accept undying love

A gift I cannot explain
It defies logic of men
But I know one thing
I was shattered in pieces
And now I am whole again

I will seek the truth
That is a choice I can make
It is the one thing
That I have done and will do
It has brought light to my eyes

I’ve lived close to death
I have watched my love ones die
I’m angry at death
I hate it with all my heart
Only truth has brought me hope

Men’s religion has failed
A cloud, a veil hides the truth
You must look deeper
Search for yourself the answers
You will find if you will seek

Reflections written after meditating on Psalm 31; Proverbs 7; Jesus Calling; My Utmost for His Highest – 4-7-12.

When I rise in the morning, I can now visualize the places I have read about for over 50 years. I am in Jerusalem. I have been to the Sea of Galilee. I have stood on Mount Carmel. I have been to the synagogue Jesus taught in Capernaum. I have stood on the mountain where he explained who the really happy people are (Sermon on the Mount). I have looked up at the stars over the Sea of Galilee where he knelt before dawn broke. I have seen these places and marveled. What is happening inside me is a feeling of having brought the one in me (Jesus) to a most familiar place. It has made my heart glad.

As I have been seeking the truth about life, I have found nothing to compare with the teachings and life of the man from Nazareth. His friendship defies human logic. His life and resurrection have been made real as I have sought what is true. I wanted to know who speaks to the real human struggle around the universal issues of life (death, despair, guilt and fear). I have been led to the One relationship that brings me hope, peace, forgiveness and joy. A daily practice continues to surprise me with new things.

Filed under: God, His Story, Jesus, love Tagged: God, Jerusalem, Jesus, life, love

Understanding is the Doorway

Terry Sanford Smith — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:50:28 +0000

His tongue brings healing
The fruit of the tree brings life
Deceitful words crush

The lips of the wise
Spread knowledge and bring real hope
Pursue righteousness
You will find how loved you are
What delight in you God has

A cheerful heart celebrates
Sees the beauty, finds the hope
She cannot be defeated
Love’s at the center

A man of understanding
Listens with great compassion
Seeks counsel for direction
Then obeys the Lord

His path will be straight
Find joy in giving true words
A timely reply

Her path leads upward
He’ll climb every mountain
Joy will lead the way
Courage, wisdom and compassion
Death itself will be destroyed

The Lord listens to prayers
Those who seek with all their heart
Revere the Lord above all
Joy will fill your heart

Written in Jerusalem, April 16, 2012

How much better to get wisdom than gold, understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16

Dedicated to my granddaughter Maia, on her ninth birthday

Filed under: God, heart, live well, wisdom Tagged: God, joy, Proverbs, wisdom

Jerusalem on Easter Morning

Terry Sanford Smith — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:12:16 +0000

It is Resurrection morning, we just walked back from one of the gardens outside of Jerusalem where some say Jesus rose from the dead. There was a sunrise service with about 1500 people from every nation. We arrived early, so we had time to read and remember.

Dawn Breaks with Life

The dawn is breaking

In the garden where he rose

Many gather to worship

Taking their pictures

Did you know it would be like this

Each one coming to worship

After reading all the accounts of the Resurrection

I wrote:

At the beginning

There were only a few there

The women were first

But the men did not believe them

The women say – ran to tell

They ran to the tomb

To see for themselves what was true

There the empty tomb

Angels spoke resurrection

He’s not here, He’s risen

We worship God who’s alive

Each person invited to come

One with the Father of all

His son died and rose

Let me join you, Lord

In giving life to this planet

Help me point them to your love

God becoming man

In the person of Jesus

A joy much larger than death

It was impossible for death to hold Jesus. It is impossible to death to hold us. Jesus lives in you. We are invited to a life of joy because of the living Christ in us. Do not be afraid or anxious. God is with you. Peter said in Acts 2:24 “… it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” That same promise belongs so us.

You are everything to God. Be still and invite Him to come and hold you. He always comes and sends his angels to join Him. Psalm 91.

Filed under: His Story, Jesus, joy, love Tagged: Jerusalem, Jesus, joy

Look Ahead with Wonder

Terry Sanford Smith — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:22:59 +0000

Help me trust with all my heart

O God, without wavering

For your love is my great truth

Test me, Lord, try me

Examine my heart, my mind

Your love ever before me

I will walk continually

Eyes fixed on your love

Place my feet on level ground

Let no one come between us

I want you to capture my heart

My soul and my mind

One thing I ask of the Lord

I seek it with all my heart

That I may dwell in your light

Your Living Presence

My father and my mother

They did the best that they could

They were broken as children

Not equipped to love

Our merciful God

Came to give relationships

That are rich and deep

A love that’s unshakable

A life that’s everlasting

My heart leaps for joy

As I remember your words

Meditate on your promise

I look back and see

I look ahead with wonder

Expect to see your glory

I’ll give thanks in song

Giving praise for what is true

Our God who lives in the NOW

A love that pursues

Our God gives us strength

A massive love beyond words

God became a man

Destroyed the power of death

Gave victory to us all

April 6, 2012. Written in response to Psalm 26-30 and Proverbs 6. We celebrated the Passover Seder in the home of Norma and Martin Sarvis, as we overlook Jerusalem.

Filed under: family, God, heart, joy, live well, love Tagged: God, Jerusalem, joy, love

Surprised by Joy

Terry Sanford Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:19:42 +0000

Take time to listen

There are words that bring you light

Jesus is calling

There is a fresh drink

Each morning that I arise

Go to the wellspring of joy

A relationship

Peace passing understanding

Hidden for you to find

Create space each day

On your knees and in the word

Go there and engage your mind

Be still and listen

You will be surprised by joy

In honor of Ty Osman II, who was full of joy.

Ty joyfully served orphans. You can continue his work. Click here to learn more.

Filed under: Jesus, joy, live well, Ty Osman II Tagged: Jesus, joy

Listen Like Ty

Terry Sanford Smith — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:47:41 +0000

Young Ty II listened
He drew near to the God he loved
Was still and silent
God spoke to him of the joy
Gave him a passion to share

Hear me, O God, when I cry;

Listen to my prayer.

You are the one I will call

When pushed to the edge,

When my heart is faint.

Shoulder me to the rock above.

You have heard the promises I made, O God.

You have laid on me the legacy due

To those who revere your name.

So I will never stop singing your praise;

As long as I live, I will fulfill my promise.

The Voice of Psalms - Psalm 61

In memory of Ty Osman II

Filed under: God, joy, live well, Ty Osman II Tagged: joy, life, Ty Osman II

Ty Osman II – A Legacy of Faith

Terry Sanford Smith — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:08:44 +0000

The loss of Ty Osman II fills us with sorrow, but it comforts me to imagine Ty skydiving through the galaxies with his Father in heaven.

Ty skydiving

From Ty’s friend LaJuana Gill:

To observe Ty’s life was like watching a beautiful, brilliant shooting star. He was in perpetual unfettered motion. Even when standing still, his eyes sparkled. His smile was so infectious that it drew you into his orbit. At Coker Creek, it was such great fun to watch him connect with Adair or to play with Keller and Paden. I loved how Ty worshiped with abandon. He lived and worshiped full-out!

I think you brought God glory, Ty. Just know that you leave us wanting more – just like a beautiful, brilliant shooting star …

From Ty’s Dad:

Ty keeps comforting me from heaven with memories and even his words. “God is here. His presence is evident. Take a look around you: what do you see?” Reading these words makes heaven seem a little closer.

From Ty:

It is hard for me to imagine trying to sincerely believe that this world and everything in it is all that there is … There is no way that this just happened by chance. A greater power, obvious to me, definitely had a hand in creating all of this. One of the things I do not understand is how someone could believe differently. To think that something as fragile yet as powerful and complicated as the brain was not crafted carefully by a higher power is crazy. It does not make sense to me. God is here. His presence is evident. Take a look around you: what do you see? All the way from the intricateness of a cell all the way to the expansiveness of the universe, He is obviously involved.

“God is so good.” Ty Osman II

Click here to read Ty’s tweets - @TyOsman

Filed under: God, live well, Ty Osman II, your story Tagged: God, grief, life

Ty Osman II – Legacy of Joy

Terry Sanford Smith — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:29:19 +0000

This past Friday, I had the sad honor of speaking at the funeral of young Ty Osman.

Four questions I addressed:

1. What would Ty want you to know?

“I never tasted death. I moved from life to life.”

2. What would Ty want you to do?

“Remain aware that what matters most is a person.”

3. What would Ty want you to feel?

“Feel and believe that God passionately loves you.”

4. Who would Ty want you to be?

“Be someone who practices being in the presence of God.”

These are four moments that I shared in connection with each question:

1. The moment Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

2. The moment Jesus revealed he was aware of the sick woman (Mark 5).

3. The moment Jesus compassionately said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe!” (Mark 5:36)

4. The moment I sat with Ty at midnight and I listened to him share his heart (July 13, 2011). I told Ty that if I had five minutes to live, and could only tell him one thing, it would be this: ”Go into your room and close your door and pray to your Father, who is unseen … Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” – Jesus (Matthew 6:6-8)

Here are three things Ty focused on each day:

Kneeling to pray.

Reading the devotional book the Jesus Calling.

Listening to God by reading the Bible.

You are invited to develop these spiritual habits in your life. Many people have been inspired by Ty’s life and faith and are now adding Ty’s routine to their day.

Ty Osman II leaves us a legacy of joy that he is living right now.

Filed under: live well, pain, Ty Osman II, your story Tagged: grief, joy, life, pain