“WHAT DO YOU SEE?” – Now Available for Purchase:
Looking into all that God has promised is the focus of this three part teaching, a series that will help you to embrace all of the fullness of what God has for you. This series will teach you how to look up and see “from the place where you are,” even if you’re in a difficult place and life seems hard or hopeless. The theme, “What Do You See?” will challenge you to exercise your God-given power for spiritual vision.
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This past weekend we released our brand new CD series, “What Do You See?” Looking into all that God has promised to us is the recurring theme. This teaching is based on God’s instruction to Abraham to “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, for all that you see I will give it to you says the Lord.” (Gen. 13:14-15) Even though we may be in a difficult or hard place, we can lift up our eyes “from the place where we are”.
As we Look and See what God has for us, the next step is to Declare and Possess what He has given. Job 26:28 says, “When you declare a thing, that thing becomes established in you.” As we embrace the fulness of God’s promise the challenge then comes to Arise and Walk in it. Each day is a new day of opportunity to stand up and move forward in the things of the Lord. What do you see God has given you to look for and see, declare and possess and to arise and walk in at such a time has this?
FOR PURCHASE: Click on “Store” in this website, make selection for “What Do You See?” (Price: $15, plus $4 flat rate delivery). To contact us for CDs or anything else just click on “Contact” tab on this website.
June 1st just marked my 59th Birthday. As we grow older, most of use don’t like to be reminded of our age and wish we could reverse the aging process. Looking younger becomes the reason for many choices we make. We buy certain clothes that make us “look younger”. We change hair styles for a “younger looking” look. If our hair begins to turn grey, we dye it. The desire to appear younger than we are has generated a multi-million dollar industry. Its big business in America. No one wants to look old and we do our best to avoid it. We just finished attending the International Foursquare Convention where we saw pastors and friends who we haven’t seen for a year or two. Some remarked that my hair is turning grey since the last time time they saw me. I told them, “That means I know something” . The Bible says, “The young glory in their strength but the old are honored by their grey hair”. (Prov. 20:29) Thus, on this, my 59th Birthday, as I see the grey filling in upon my head, I consider it a sign of honor and even a sign of wisdom that can only be known in time. There is no short cut to wisdom, no fast way to get it. Maturity and wisdom will always demand the passage of time to be realized. Thus, if anyone wants to wish me a “Happy Birthday” may it be a wish for the added wisdom that comes with the passage of yet another year.
Roger Smets
After taking one month off from all ministry engagements we have now resumed our normal ministry schedule. Due to health reasons I withdrew from all public ministry for one month, to rest and recouperate from what could have been, a fatal heart attack. I was hospitalized for 4 days and received a stent implant in one of the main arteries in my heart that had become 95% blocked. My normal blood flow was restored, freeing me from the life threating jolts of pain I was enduring in my chest. After a month of rest, I am feeling strong enough to resume our normal ministry schedule, begining with two weeks of ministry in Sourthern California.
Thank you for your continued prayers as we return to preaching the Word and praying personal words of prophetic promises to individuals. The Bible says, “The Lord shall restore healthunto us and will heal us from all of our wounds.” (Jer. 30:17) We receive this promise in Jesus’ name!
Due to Gwen’s recovery from hip surgery and my near heart attack just 3 weeks ago, I felt the Lord telling me to take one month off from all public ministry just to rest and recouperate from what has be a very difficult season for us. To maintain an ongoing evangelistic ministry such as ours requires a lot of “behind the scenes” work that many never see. When back home in the office for limited days between ministry engagements away, we are constantly busy scheduling our itinerary over the phone with pastors, writing newsletters and ministry updates to our partners who help support this ministry. We also are busy making airline, motel and car rental reservations, in addition to packing and unpacking our suitcases several times a month. The list of “busy work” goes on and on. At any rate, when the Lord told me to stop and clear our ministry calendar for one month of all public ministry, it was a big step of faith for us. The majority of our financial support comes from my speaking engagements. Honorariums and love offerings are received at the services where we minister. I always thought that I had to work hard to “keep the ball rolling” and if I didn’t, the ministry would not continue. To the contrary, as I stepped back from doing all the stuff I usually do, the Lord has uniquely provided for all of our needs and more, and in ways that we would have never suspected. Some pastors received unsollicitaded offerings from their congregations in our behalf. Individuals who we do not know, upon learning of our need to take a month off because of health issues, have sent some large gifts in the mail. One pastor friend told me that he believed that this will be our best month financially this year! One of the things I have learned from this experience is that if I don’t ever stop doing everything I always do for God, I will never see the handiwork of God, I will never get to see what God can do all by Himself! Our constant “ministry activity” does not leave space for God to “show us great and mighty things that we have yet to know” or discover. (Jer. 33:3) While we may be gifted to accomplish much for the kingdom we must remember that God does not and never will need us. We will always need Him. He alone will always be our Divine Enabler, the One who generates His gifting in us to make us effective servants. Without Him our ministry gifts are fruitless, like a motor without gas or a sail boat with without wind. May God help us to on occasion, step back from doing what we always do to make life happen for us, that we might discover what God can do all by Himself!
ROGER SMETS
“COME UNTO ME, ALL OF YOU THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST” …Jesus (Mt. 11:28)
A CALL TO REST: During these past two weeks I have been learning how to responnd to God’s call to rest. After suffering from a “near heart attack” just over 2 weeks ago, I have chosen to withdraw from all public ministry for one month to just rest. For me, it was a Godly call. Jesus said “Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28) Sounds easy but for somone like myself who’s life has been actively busy, fulfilling a demanding ministry schedule throughout the U.S. and Canada for 35 years, this “rest” that Jesus is speaking of can be a challenge to embrace. If I am not careful, I can get so busy working for God that I miss seeing Him work without my help. I can miss seeing those soveriegn workings of the Lord that I had no part or involvement in.
NOT A CALL TO MAINTENANCE: One of the things the Lord is showing me is that much of the work that we engage ourselves in is maintenance oriented, things we do to “keep the ball rolling” as they say. We feel that if we don’t do it, its not going to get done. To the contrary, I have been learning that I am not a maintenance man for God. He will take care of me and my household. If for whatever reasons I am not able to do what I always do for the ministry, He will raise up others to “step up to the plate” and intervene. Our need releases new ministry to flow. God will see to it that His work will get done even without our help if need be. The Bible says, “Faithful is He who has called us, who will also do it.” (I Thes. 5:24) Sometimes we fail to remember that God does not need us. We need God.
RESPONDING TO THE SIGNS OF OVERLOAD & RELEASING CONTROL: So when we see the signs of “overload”, as I did two weeks ago in the Sacramento Airport, when I thought I was going to die because of strong jolts of chest pain I could bearly endure, it is time to “Come to Jesus” and let Him take full corntrol. It is time to let Him give you the rest you so desperately need. I know that we, by nature, all want to keep everything under our control. But when that control is taken from you, may God help you to let it all go and find your rest in Jesus.
Thank you for your continued prayers for Gwen and I. Many have sent us cards and gifts during this difficult season, for which we have been so grateful. Our thanks also to some pastors who have received special offerings from their congregations to help us financially during this time of rest from the ministry.
To contact us during this time:
Email: revrogersmets@aol.com”.
US mail: Roger Smets Evangelistic Ministries, 2743 Madison River Drive, Redding, CA 96002.
Endeavoring to rest in the God who is forever able.
Roger Smets
A NEEDED TIME TO REST: After suffering from a near heart attack 2 weeks ago, I have felt it to be the leading of the Lord to take a one month off from all public ministry to rest and fully recover. Such has been the strong recommendation of both my family doctor and cardiologist. Even though the blood flow has been restored to a main artery that was 95% blocked, an achy soreness inside remains for which I am trusting the Lord to take away.
A TIME TO TRUST (Ps. 20:7): During this season of rest from travel we will be trusting the Lord for His divine provision. The psalmist, David said: “Some will trust in chariots and some will trust in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 20:7) While the devil has sought to discourage me with doubts and fears I have been asking the Lord to help me trust in the name of the Lord for complete healing.
NOTE: As you have logged on to our website today, please pause for a minute and pray for us even now. Gwen is still recovering from her hip replacement one month ago and needs prayer for a complete recovery as well as myself. Thank you for believing with us for divine healing.
ALSO: Some have asked us if they can send a financial gift to help with our needs during this One Month off from all Public Ministry. If you would like to do so, you may send your gift to: “Roger Smets Ministries”, 2743 Madison River Dr., Redding, CA 96002. Thank you.
AS IT WAS WITH MOSES: A word the Lord has given me for this season is this word about Moses: “Moses was 120 years old when he died and when he did, his eyes were not dim, nor was his natural vigor diminshed.” (Deut. 34:7 NKJ) Should I live to be 120 as well, I pray my eyes will not dim, and that my youthful vigor for serving the Lord will not diminish. So be it Lord Jesus
ROGER
We are happy to report that Roger is now home from the hospital and recovering well from his recent stay in CCU. The angiogram showed a 95% blockage in his right coronary artery. Normal blood flow returned immediately after insertion of the stent. He is resting at home and gradually resuming normal activities, although experiencing some aching in his chest. We covet your continued prayers. Thank you so much.
Gwen Smets
Roger was admitted to the hospital in Redding Monday evening with severe chest pains. His cardiologist performed an angiogram Tuesday afternoon and found an almost completely blocked artery. He inserted another stent, and Roger is now resting and being taken care of in Cardiac Care for a few days. We would appreciate your prayers for a rapid and full recovery. We are so thankful that he did not have a heart attack and the blockage was found before any heart damage was done. He is looking forward to getting back to preaching the Word and ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I want to sincerely thank all those who prayed for me during and after my hip surgery. Thank you for all the wonderful cards and phone calls, words of encouragement, and scriptures to hold on to. The experience was made more difficult because of the allergic reaction to the antibiotic, but I truly felt strengthened by your prayers. I can walk without the pain I suffered for the last few years, and am so grateful for renewed strength. We can’t always avoid the trials in life, but we can always trust Jesus to see us through!
Gwen Smets
“THROUGH THE COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE” (Rom. 15:4b)
In recent services I have been declaring the awesome truth that “Through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4b) So many people are hurting and desperately need the comfort of the Scriptures. That is why in our meetings I take ample time to pray the promises of God’s Word with many people. No matter what our need may be, there is a Scripture promise that always brings hope for every situation. If we are lonely, the comfort of Hebrews 13:5 assures us that “He will never leave us nor forsake us”. If you are brokenhearted, the comfort of Luke 4:18 declares the blessed and comforting truth that Jesus has come to “heal the brokenhearted”. If we feel we are in trouble, the comfort of Psalms 27:5 says that “In times of trouble, He will Hide us His pavilion and in the secret of His tabernacle shall he hide us.” The list of comforting Scriptures seems endless throughout God’s Word. Praise God for the “hope” that we have because of the “Comfort of the Scriptures”.
GWEN’S RECOVERY UPDATE:
We are glad to report that Gwen is recovering well from her recent total hip replacement surgery. She is having Physical Therapy 3 times a week and is relearning how to walk normally again. Her new titianium hip is working smoothly with no pain, praise God! We are so glad that the bad reaction that Gwen had to some of the meds she was given at the hospital has finally worn off. She no longer has any of the severe swelling that she had for over a week and her dry reddish skin has return to its normal color. Our thanks to many of you who have been praying for Gwen throughout this ordeal. The doctor says that she will be able to resume traveling with me in about 6 weeks time. Praise God for the comfort of Isiah 53:5, that “By His stripes, we are healed.”
Roger Smets
