Showing posts with label Catholic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Count the Stars - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Count the Stars
Steve Martin


“Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." (Genesis 15:5, NKJV)



Have you ever tried counting the stars? If you live in a city or suburban area, you can hardly see any stars at all due to the bright night lights that light up the sky, which prevent the heavenly lights from shining through to your eyes. You must get out into the country, away from the glow of mankind’s rays, to see the ultimate canopy of the Lord God, Creator of the universe. Then you will experience His awesomeness.

In the summer of 1973, fresh out of the Catholic high school in Waterloo, Iowa, (Columbus High, home of the Sailors!) I went on a mission trip to the hill country of northern Georgia. Blairsville, Georgia to be exact. Northeast of Atlanta, somewhat near the North Carolina state line. A group of older teenagers went on the six-week adventure to lead a summer Bible youth camp for underprovided kids, sponsored by a Catholic mission.

Being 18, I loved it! Quite the adventure driving my two-door, metallic blue 1963 Mercury Cougar all the way from Iowa, through Cincinnati, OH. It was a great time, forever stored in my memory banks. (Read the full story in my book, The Promise – One Man’s Journey to See God Revealed).

One thing I very much remember to this day were the nights, both black and white. At those late times of the finishing day (or the beginning of the new day, as with the Jews, as written in the Torah when God created each day), if the clouds covered all above you, you could raise your hand in front of your face and not even see it. It was that so utterly dark. Midnight blackness!

But if it was a clear night, looking up from these northeastern mountains in Georgia, the Lord God Almighty revealed Himself in glory, for the stars were fantastically brilliant. The heavens were filled with His creation in one of His very vast realms. Because of the sheer numbers, you could not count the stars. Wow!

Imagine the promise the Lord had given Abraham, beginning in Genesis 12, of the immense number of descendants that was coming forth of his lineage, if he obeyed. Once he had heard the Lord’s word to “leave your country and go to the place I will show you”, the promise for Abram (later changed to Abraham) was beginning to unfold. His reward would be great.

“Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

So Avram (Abram) went, as Adonai (the Lord) had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left Haran. Avram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Kena‘an (Canaan) and entered the land of Kena‘an.” (Genesis 12:1-5, Complete Jewish Bible)

Obedience to the word of the Lord, written in His Word the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms (and all of the Bible), will always bring a reward. Abraham believed, and it was rewarded to him. And not only to him but “…all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

“By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the Land of the promise, as if it were not his, staying in tents with Yitz’chak (Isaac) and Ya‘akov (Jacob), who were to receive what was promised along with him. For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God.

By trusting, he received potency to father a child, even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself; because he regarded the One who had made the promise as trustworthy. Therefore this one man, who was virtually dead, fathered descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the grains of the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:8-12, Complete Jewish Bible)

In Genesis 215:1, the Lord even says to him that it would be an “exceedingly great reward.”

When we hear and obey the Lord, He honors our faith we have thus demonstrated. He will then allow His favor to come upon us, and He will provide covering and protection for not only us, but also for those whom He has given under our care and watch – our families, our churches, our cities, our nation.


Next time there is a clear night, drive out from the city lights, and look up. Try counting the multitude of stars if you can. When Abraham saw those very same heavenly creations centuries ago, he believed that the Creator would keep His promise. And He certainly did. Not even the hatred and anti-Semitism of all these past centuries could keep the Lord from fulfilling His promise to the chosen people the Jews, and all believers who call upon His name and were martyred for their faith.

Just look at the state of Israel today, and you know that the Living God, the Lord God of Israel, has indeed kept His promises. As Luke wrote in Acts 3:21, it is now the “times of restoration of everything which God spoke through the mouths of His holy prophets from eternity.”

Have you ever received a word from the Lord? You most certainly have! The Bible itself is His guaranteed Word to you. Believe it! Walk in His promises! See Him move in your life, your family, and even in this nation, the very one you live in.

Go out and try counting the stars some night. Sense the ever-living Holy Spirit’s presence lift your spirit to the eternal heavens. Have even more faith and believe our God the Father for even more of Himself!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Listen to this encouraging word the Lord gave me on March 3, 2019, during our church meeting: "Resurrection After Decades"



If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
  
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P.O. Box 414   
Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 


Also, my latest book (#20) was just released last week. You can get it on Amazon here, in paperback or Kindle version: All Together Now - For His Plans & Purposes 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.


Now Think On This #396 - in the year of our Lord 03.05.19 – “Count the Stars” – Tuesday 3:55 am

Sunday, November 12, 2017

D.C.'s Museum of the Bible Officially Opens This Week - CBN News John Jessup


D.C.'s Museum of the Bible Officially Opens This Week
11-11-2017
CBN News John Jessup
The new Museum of the Bible – a project seven years in the making – officially opens its doors this week.
Blocks away from the U.S. Capitol and in the heart of Washington, D.C., it's the first museum solely dedicated to God's holy word.

CBN News got an early sneak peek of the 430,000 square foot, eight-story building. Click on the video below for a personalized tour.

Once past the bronze Gutenberg Gates and security, the very first thing visitors will see is a 140-foot long digital LED display, which boasts a series of breathtaking colorful scenes in a pictorial canopy.


It's the first glimpse at the museum's technological edge, but the museum has much more to beyond the latest gadgets and gizmos.

Here is a floor-by-floor preview of the museum's exhibits and galleries:
  • First floor: Lobby, atrium, media wall, gift shop, children's gallery (Courageous Pages), coffee shop
  • Second floor:  Impact of the Bible gallery, featuring a 20 to 40-foot long scratchboard panel chronicling how the Bible shaped America's founding and still reverberates today.
  • Third floor: History of the Bible gallery to trace the origins and evolution of the Bible
  • Fourth floor:  Narrative of the Bible gallery
  • Exhibit space for international museum galleries including more than 700 artifacts from the Israel Antiquities Authority currently on display, performing arts hall, research library
  • Sixth floor: Biblical garden, viewing gallery, restaurant

Dr. Tony Ziess is the museum's executive director. He told CBN News the goal is to expose people to the Bible and help them engage with the holy book.

"No other book has had such an impact on civilization, particularly western civilization," Zeiss said. "It's exciting to know that we're a part of exposing this book and getting people engaged in all walks of life — whether they come from a faith-based perspective or a non-faith based perspective. Whether they're Hebrew or whether they're Protestant or Catholic or Ethiopian. Whatever they happen to be."

The museum has taken a decidedly non-sectarian approach, saying its mission is to help people engage with the Bible and bring its rich stories to life.
With a $500 million investment and global cultural and scholastic partnerships, the Museum of the Bible hopes that its mission translates into more people reading and appreciating the best-selling book of all time.
Watch tour here: Museum of the Bible
Did you know?
CBN is a global nonprofit ministry demonstrating the love of God and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through media evangelism and humanitarian aid. Explore the life-changing work of CBN.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Arms of Love video series - Steve Martin - 1st one!!! (08.08.17)

Steve Martin - Arms of Love video series

Arms of Love 
Video series - Steve Martin
 - 1st one!!! (08.08.17)

Yeah!!!

Aug. 8, 2017
Charlotte, North Carolina
USA 


Greetings to our friends now, and new ones coming along.

This morning around 4:50 am I recorded the very first edition of Love For His People's new video series we are calling, "Arms of Love".

After sensing the Holy Spirit's nudge to do such a project, and knowing the additional time and costs involved, we are moving out in faith. It will be a small beginning, but we believe the Word of God, which states in Zechariah 4:10,  "For who has despised the day of small things?" (NKJV). We won't!

When the Lord then says "Now is the time", I don't often ask how will I do it, or when do I start, or say, "Now may not the the right timing for this." His timing is always perfect.

This photo depicts where we will do our main production. Right here in our former two-car garage, which was then transformed into a NASCAR man's cave back in the early 2000's, and then got saved and now has become the "Martin Museum of Moments", the prayer room, and the grandkids hang out den when they come over to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

The "new" Love For His People Arms of Love studio

So why not now make it the Love For His People studio? As my good UK English friend Martin Berger (GODTV representative) would say, "Brilliant!"

We will feature "story-telling" by myself. Maybe even reading a chapter or two out of my book 
Arms of Love (now translated in Urdu/Pakistan and soon to be in the Nigerian Yoruba language).




My good wife Laurie will be featured, as she speaks of life from a woman's point of view. Having raised two boys, two girls, and also with seven grand kids (along with me), she has some great wisdom and practical mentoring words to speak forth.

Laurie has also "raised" literally hundreds of two-year olds, being she has served with the Calvary Child Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina going on 17 years now. Imagine that - two-year-olds!

Well, I know one who can help you raise yours!


My oldest daughter Hannah Avalos will come on at times and tell her encouraging stories learned from being a newly-wed several years ago, as she joined hands with her husband Jonathan Avalos.
(As an ordained minister, I got to be both Father-of the-Bride, just like the comedian actor Steve Martin in the movie of the same title, and officiating pastor! I don't think that Steve Martin has the ordination papers though.)

Together they are raising son 10-year old Payton and now Levi.

Maybe we can also get Hannah's spouse Jonathan to share about his life in being a Physical Trainer, and do a few exercises "live" to get us all in shape! Check him out! Personal Trainer For You 
Hannah and Jonathan Avalos

Hannah will have many great stories to share of miracles, and of our Lord Jesus' (Yeshua's) work being outworked through those experienced blessings, especially with their now 19-month-old son Levi Zachary. Born with TAR syndrome (missing both forearms and having needed blood work done weekly the first full year), we all have seen the Lord's arms of love around Levi's arms of love.

Grandson Levi - he likes the "toys" found in our kitchen.




But wait! This commercial isn't over yet! Our pet Dachshund Zoe Girl Martin just might wobble in on the set at times. She thinks she can go anywhere and do anything anytime, being a full-grown woman now at 11 (that is 77 years old in human years!)

With her small arms of love, I guess we will let her make her presentation...how to eat 3x daily, and then sleep for 20 hours a day.
I guess I am a bit excited. Knowing what the Lord has done with the ministry, and now this, taking another big step forward, has to get one excited.

Thank you Jesus! 

Be blessed in your blessing others today,

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
Charlotte, North Carolina USA

P.S. You can help us help others. Please give a gift today. Online gifts: Contribute Here

Love For His People, Inc.
P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134

We have been a USA non-profit since 2010. Gifts are tax-deductible.

We'd love to keep in touch with you. 


 
Take #4!

 YouTube LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE Published on Aug 8, 2017


Arms of Love video series - Steve Martin - 1st one!!! (08.08.17) (8x8x8) - Intro - Tuesday, 4:40 am 6:57 minutes

This is our very first edition of our new series. Sharing the love of the Lord Jesus, with stories, experiences, Bible truths, and ways to walk in His ways.

Produced by Love For His People, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin - to give appreciation to and love for those we support, through Love For His People, Inc.

Checks can be sent to:

  • Love For His People, Inc.
    P.O. Box 414
    Pineville, NC 28134

    We have been a USA non-profit since 2010. Gifts are tax-deductible.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

'Middle' Mom Patricia Heaton Tweets Messages of Jesus and the Holy Spirit - CBN News

Patricia Heaton
'Middle' Mom Patricia Heaton Tweets Messages of Jesus and the Holy Spirit
08-01-2017





Patricia Heaton's Twitter feed is alive with messages about her love for God and church.
Heaton, who stars as the overwhelmed mom in the ABC series "The Middle," is a Catholic who isn't shy when talking about her faith.
A recent retweet encouraged her 352,000 followers to follow Jesus: 

 She also shares an experience common to many: being bored in church until God comes crashing through. 
 And being thankful for His grace: 
 She also follows the feed @CSLewisDaily and retweeted this quote by the influential 20th century Christian author and apologist:
 As CBN has reported, Heaton is bold in standing for life and has taken some heat for her strong anti-abortion stance. 
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