A Wildfire of Prayers: A Tribute to Tim Wymbs (1941-2023)

What makes one's life happy and blessed?

As we consider those who have gone before, we often consider what they had, what they did, or what they accomplished as the basis for their great life. They may have traveled the world, had wealth, prestige, a successful job, unique experiences, a blessed family, and everything in between. But what if the story of a great life begins with what you didn't have, couldn't do, or never did? Maybe a great life begins with the little you had, the simple life you lived, and the great God you trusted in. I saw a life like this lived out in my friend and brother in Christ, Tim Wymbs. You may have known him well or never met him on this side of glory, but I hope his story and this tribute edifies and encourages your heart to know God deeper and sweeter.

The Blessing of Little

A great life is often defined by what you had: a massive house, a high-paying job, a large bank account, a vacation home, or travels to exotic destinations. These and many more are what the world tells us are the ingredients for a great life. They may all be good things if stewarded well, but they don't necessarily equate to a great life. Where we place our treasure and hope is the determining factor for a great life (Matthew 6:19-21). I am reminded of Paul's words in Philippians 4.

"Not that I speak from want, for I learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in abundance; in any and all things I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." - Philippians 4:11-12 (LSB)

Through the contentment Paul found in Christ, he could say these words and mean them. Christ was the source of Paul's joy and contentment. So whether it was in plenty or famine, persecution, or peace, Paul's joy and contentment were unchanged. He had Christ and nothing that happened to him could change that contentment in Christ. If I ever saw someone model this, it was surely Tim. Countless examples abound of times I saw him tell or show where his contentment was located.

In Abundance and Need

I had the incredible opportunity of knowing Tim my entire life and being taught by him both through personal interaction and through Bible study. While I never had the opportunity to meet my earthly grandfathers, he quickly became like a spiritual grandfather. I remember in 2020 sitting in his living room, talking about many things.

During that time, he began to tell me stories of God's provision and how the Lord provided his house and his furniture. As he told me that story, it became clear that his contentment was found not in things but in Christ. We discussed doctors' diagnoses over the years, and in those challenges, he admitted his bitterness and frustration. But as he talked about his emotions, eventually he always began to see the blessing, and rejoiced through those diagnoses. He would be the first to admit he wasn't always content, but he grew in contentment and knew where His hope was.

A Simple Life

Many determine the greatness of life by how it was lived and experienced, not by its simplicity. We often define the quality of life by exciting experiences and less by mundane moments. We prioritize the experiences themselves instead of how we lived in those experiences. We are to give thanks for it all. If that means the Lord blesses us with very unique experiences or if we live what some might consider a boring life, we are to give thanks in all things and rejoice.

"in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (LSB)

Tim lived this verse clearly and faithfully. He loved to give thanks to the Lord in all things and for everything. If that meant thanking the Lord for a working internet, food, or fellowship with friends, thanksgiving was being lifted to the Lord. As I watched his faithful example, I learned to begin to see the blessing of everything, and that we should thank the Lord for everything.

December 26

One of my fondest memories was fellowshipping with him and his wife after Christmas in 2020. I had just been with friends and was going to see family soon after, but for them, I was the company they had that Christmas. Tim loved writing, so I was often making sure that his printer was in tip-top shape. That particular day, I was able to fix his printer by the grace of God so we immediately broke into a celebration that included fellowship and food. It was a highlight of that Christmas for me although it wasn't anything incredibly special. We simply ate, fellowshipped, and talked about the Lord's blessings and it was so sweet.

It was a memory I will treasure, as I was reminded that life doesn't consist of extraordinary experiences, but the sweet moments of every day. We can either see everyday things as boring and insignificant, or we can thank the Lord for them and rejoice in them. We can complain, be discontent, and have a bitter attitude or we can rejoice in the Lord. We can either worship every day, or have a pity-party where we air our displeasure to God, and be ungrateful. Tim rejoiced in the small things because he knew Christ, and so should we.

A Great God

A great life is only found in submission to a great God who defines greatness. Many pursue a great life filled with many things, but those great things are not eternal. Eternity should cause us to evaluate life properly. Tim knew and loved the greatness of God. He loved thunder because of what it symbolized. He enjoyed the rumbles because it reminded him of his Creator.

"The voice of Yahweh is upon the waters;

The God of glory thunders,

Yahweh is over many waters." - Psalm 29:3 (LSB)

Tim knew his weakness. Earlier this year, I shared a sermon clip with him from a pastor who was talking about weakness. The pastor was mentioning that weakness is a gift, and I remember him focusing on that truth and being struck by it. He struggled with physical weakness for the last couple of years of his life. He couldn't do what he used to do, and his strength and ability weakened but his joy and resolve didn't. He knew the God he served, and that God is not small. Tim was a vigorous volunteer in every area of his life. Whether at a rescue mission, at church, or at a Bible conference, his hands always found ways to serve even until his last few days. Even as his strength weaned, he still served the Lord, just in different ways.

A Wildfire of Prayers

If ever I met a man who loved praying, it was Tim. Believers treat prayer as an optional activity, but Tim treated it as if it was his life. It was an essential practice. I knew Tim loved praying but it took a particular circumstance when I saw the wildfire of prayer explode out of his chest.

One Sunday, Tim had asked me to attend our morning prayer at church before the service. So I joined him the following Sunday 45 minutes before the service started, unsure of what to expect. It was just me, his wife, and him who prayed. We didn't say much beforehand - we just showed up and prayed until the start of the service. It was that fire and commitment to prayer he possessed that lit spiritual wildfires for many. I will never know how much he prayed in his life, but it was such a joy and love for him. He often responded to being asked to pray by saying, "I would love to." That was Tim.

The Wildfire that Spread

His passion for praying was like a wildfire that spread easily to those around him. His prayers touched many, many people for God's glory like a small fire that touches a forest.

For the next couple of years, we would pour our hearts each Sunday to the Lord before our morning church service. It would be some of the sweetest times as we prepared our hearts for worship and pleaded to the Lord for the assembly of saints who would gather above us as we prayed in the basement. There were times when I missed it, or sometimes we would pray over the phone, but through it all, he was faithful to pray during those times even when nobody came. The wildfire of prayer endured by God's grace in his life. Prayer was not an optional activity - it was his joy and passion.

An Everyday Wildfire

In that season of prayer together, I saw the necessity of prayer in the local church before and during the assembly of the saints. What a joy and honor it was to take our requests to the Father and plead that the Spirit would move and that God would be glorified through the service. It was a time of intense and sweet prayer to the Father.

That would certainly not be the only time we prayed together, but just the beginning. Over the last few years of his life, when I would visit him, it would be strange if we didn't pray when we were together. Regardless of the occasion for visiting, it normally ended with a time of prayer. If I was struggling to fix something, we would pray, or if we got something fixed, it was prayer, or if it was just purely fellowship, it was prayer. Prayer was the staple, and it was the best staple. It was like a necessity that you may not have initially recognized the need for, but once you did, you treasured it with everything.

A Wildfire That Didn't Stop

Tim taught and modeled so evidently what a praying life looks like, and his passion for praying spread well. He was a man who didn't have to say he was praying for something but you knew he was. One of the common prayers he prayed was that the Lord would bless his interactions with people. He prayed for neighbors regularly, and people that he either interacted with or would end up interacting with that day. When he interacted with people, he wouldn't just say hello and talk about the weather like the majority of Christians. He would talk about Christ. The Lord supernaturally gifted him to proclaim Christ, so that was in his heart and mind when he prayed. I am reminded of Romans 10:13-15 when I think about Tim's witness on the sidewalks and streets of our town and the many he visited, proclaiming Christ.

for “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!” - Romans 10:13-15 (LSB)

He walked everywhere for many years and that allowed him to have many conversations on the sidewalks. His wildfire passion for prayer led to a passion for sharing the gospel. He loved sharing the gospel in so many different ministries throughout his life.

A Wildfire in Words

One of the avenues through which He shared Christ was in writing. A few months back around the start of Everlasting Rock, I told him about how the Lord had opened the opportunity to create, design, and build Christian content for the glory of God. Knowing that he loved writing, I asked him if he had ever written devotional content, and he said, "Yes." I asked if he could send me some of it so I could read and maybe publish it on Everlasting Rock. He sent me some, and here is some of his writing from a devotional entitled "His Slave."

I love freedom, always have, always will. The term slave and servant once meant bondage to me. Until -- I heard an internationally known bible teacher say, “If you want to be totally free, become a bondslave to Jesus Christ.”

When I heard this, my reaction was, “What?” The reason for my confusion, the idea registered as a paradox in my mind. Slave and freedom meant total opposites to me.

Since I have a passion for freedom, I decided to give being a bondslave to Jesus a try. When I surrender all to being a slave to the Creator of the universe, I can rely on my Owner to take care of me. Like Old Testament slaves, I will not be ruled over ruthlessly. He will guide, protect and supply all my needs.

The freedom I experience in being his bondslave is second to none and totally fulfilling. I am glad I am his and he is mine. I intend to bask in my Master’s love forever. - Tim Wymbs

I am not sure when he penned this devotional but the words ring as true today as when they were first written. He basked in the Master's love until the end of his earthly life and now is basking in the Master's love eternally. Many verses come to mind when I think of Tim but there is one in particular:

"Rejoice always;

pray without ceasing;

in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (LSB)

Tim loved rejoicing in the Lord. He loved praying frequently, and he loved giving thanks to the Lord in all things. That was Tim. He was a faithful witness who went before us. One of his famous sayings was:

"The most underrated part of any ministry is prayer." - Tim Wymbs

I say a hearty "amen" to his words. As we serve the Lord and make Christ known, prayer is always going to be the most underrated part. I would further add to his words and say that prayer is also the most underrated part of life for every believer. Prayer isn't always tangibly seen by others, but if anchored to the Word, through Christ by the Spirit, it is a good and glorious wildfire that glorifies God and edifies saints.

May our lives declare the greatness of God, the glory of Christ, and the salvation He has brought, and may we joyfully live, faithfully pray, and give thanks to God in everything, for His glory, and for the faithful proclamation of His salvation among the nations.

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Works Cited

Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.