Author Archives: vincentsmithauthor

Declaring my genius

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A customs officer once asked Oscar Wilde if he had anything to declare. He replied: “Only my genius.” Fifteen years later, alone and broken in prison, he reflected on his life and said. “I have been a spendthrift of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Despair, Oscar Wilde, Pride, Regret, True greatness | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Give, and it shall be given to you.

Posted on January 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Two young students once engaged the great pianist Paderewski to give a recital.Unfortunately the concert raised much less than the agreed fee, but they handed it over with a promise to pay the rest as soon as they could. Paderewski … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Faithfulness, Generosity, God's faithfulness | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lions and lambs

Posted on January 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago a Roman Catholic parish in Holland decided hold a special service for the blessing of family pets in order to mark World Animal Day as well as the Feast of Saint Francis, who, of course, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Paradise, Peace, Second coming of Christ | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An unknown region with a well-know inhabitant

Posted on January 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

We know very little about the after-life but someone once described it as “an unknown region with a well-know inhabitant.” I remember an old man I once ministered to just before his death, who told me how, in London, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Eternity, Faith, God, Heaven, Trust in God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What’s beyond the door

Posted on January 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A.M. Hunter used to tell the story of a man suffering from a terminal illness, who asked his doctor to tell him about what lay ahead for him after he died. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Faith, Heaven, Trust in God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sink or swim

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Some years ago researchers placed two sets of laboratory rats in separate tubs of water and left them there to see what they would do. However, every so often they would lift one group of rats out of the water, … Continue reading →

Posted in Despair, Faith, Hope, Life, Life's journey, Living Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cape of Storms

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The southernmost point of Africa was for centuries known as the “Cape of Storms”. But then, in the sixteenth century, Vasco De Gama, successfully sailed around it and found beyond the raging storms a great calm sea, and beyond that … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Despair, Faith, Grace, Hope, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual discernment | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You can get bitter, or you can get better

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The best selling book entitled You Can Grow Bitter or You Can Grow Better got it’s inspiration from a young woman who had just received word that her husband had been killed in a farming accident, leaving her alone with … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Growth, Healing, Hope, Life, Life's journey, Overcoming, Pain, Spiritual growth, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble, Tried, Troubles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Assuming too little too often

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Nobel prize-winner Richard Feynman, while visiting his old high school, was surprised to find that his grades there were not as good as he remembered and that his IQ level was reported as being only a bit above average. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Aspiration, Assumptions, Discerning God's Will, Faith, Life's journey, Making the most of what you've got, Opportunities, Positive Thoughts, Renewed Minds, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

I wish I’d kept that

Posted on December 20, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A friend of mine who works in real estate told me about a man who became increasingly envious of his friends because they had larger homes. So he listed his house with an estate agent, planning to sell it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Disatisfaction, enjoyment, Envy, Gratitude | Tagged , , | Leave a comment