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December 2, 2008
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
Luke 15:7 - I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
I praise the Lord Jesus Christ for seeing fit to use an old sinner like me to see souls saved by the grace of God this past month! One was in Berkley Springs, West Virginia where I went on visitation with another man in the church. There we were able to knock on Roger's door and after talking with him and showing him his need for the Savior, Roger, an older man in his late 50's to early 60's, prayed and asked the Lord to save his soul! The other man was hitch hiking just north of Knoxville, TN. I was on my way back form Pennsylvania and so I stopped and gave him a ride. Sean though he was a clean cut nice man; I realized that he was lost. He went to church some and even was a man of prayer. He believed in God and in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the bible states is James 2 “the devils also believe and tremble”. So I talked with him and told him about being born again. After nearly one hour drive up the road and putting the word of God in front of him, before I left Sean he bowed his head and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save his soul form Hell. Praise the Lord! Just like in Acts 10 Cornelius was a good man, but lost, Sean was a good man but lost. Praise the Lord for divine appointments.
This month has been good as far as deputation goes! I have had meetings in West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania picking up some support as well was a real answer to my prayers! The best I can figure is we need around 15 more good supporting churches behind us to get us to the field full time! Please continue to pray in that direction! While in West Virginia this past month I was able to preach at a church in Princeton, WV about 45 minutes from my in-laws and my wife's granny came out to here me preach as well as my father and a few others. I preached on John 3:3 “Ye must be born again” and what a real blessing to get a chance for 45minutes to preach a clear salvation message to family. No one came forward but my Granny's hands were very wet after church and she was open to talk about the bible after wards. Please pray for her (she has some what of a testimony of salvation in an old time Methodist church as a child, but I do not know if she has ever been truly born again.) Granny has not been to church in years and it was a real blessing to see her there in church.
Thanksgiving went well, as I tried to be a light and testimony to my family though I ended up making a few people mad at the table when addressed with the subject of “eternal security.” I used the Old 1611 King James final authority, with as much compassion and love toward them as I could. But I saw very quickly that if a man does not want the truth he will not take it. As my family though saved Southern Baptists that they are do not believe that book. Please pray for them to do something for the lord before it is too late. That is one thing my wife and I do not like about the holidays, is to see people you love be in such a mess and condemn you for trying to point them to Christ. Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Kacie and Naomi are doing well. The baby boy seems to be growing and kicking more, I felt the baby kick for the first time and what a thrill to know he is okay thus far. The last time I felt a baby kick in Kacie stomach was with Levi almost exactly a year ago. Please pray for this upcoming month of December, on the 14th marks one year since Levi died and we are going to have a memorial service for him and try to give a testimony of the grace of God and what he has done in our lives with Levi and try to preach salvation to some of our lost family attending. Please pray for their salvation, and for myself to have the wisdom and grace to preach what the Lord would have. I am leaning on preaching on the resurrection out of John 11, so I would appreciate your prayers.
Again and as always we do thank each and every one of you for your pray and support graciously giving on our behalf. We are awaiting the Lord's return and just trying to occupy till he comes. May the Lord bless each and every one!
Looking for that blessed hope,
Mark, Kacie and Naomi Smith