Showing posts with label Christian ministries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian ministries. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2020

“When I AM Lifted Up” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“When I AM Lifted Up” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” John 12:32, THE MESSAGE
During the time I worked with Derek Prince Ministries (1987-1990 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and again 2000-2005 in Charlotte, North Carolina), Derek being one whom I consider being one of the great Bible teachers of all time, he received a prophetic word from another that went something like this.
“I saw several ships travelling down a river, heading toward a bridge up ahead. Each of the ships had a mast. Some of the masts were large, some small, depending on the size of the boat. They each also had a flag flying at the top of the mast, indicating their country, name, or whatever else they were wanting people along the shore and waterway who they were and represented. Most of them had the name of the captain on them.
As they approached the bridge, due to its low overhang, they had to decide if they were going to lower their flag or not. If they did, they would make it under the bridge without damage. If they didn’t, their flag would be broken off. The decision was made by each.”
When the word was received, as it is common with all men, a decision had to be reached as to what this was saying to them individually. As for Derek and his ministry, he felt the Lord was speaking to him directly, and he was going to make that decision. But others disagreed.
“If your name is lifted up, where is My Name? If people see you, how do they see Me?”
He carefully and truthfully took the time to consider this word. As for Derek, it was always his heart to lift up the Name of Jesus, not his own.
As we took consider whose name we lift up, one should wonder who are we trying to draw men and women to. Our name? Our ministry? Our way?
Or Jesus’, Yeshua’s, way? His Name or ours?
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘ Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.  “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”  But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.” John 12:27-24, NASU
There is a message given by Charles Haddon Spurgeon called “Stand up! Stand up for Jesus! (He was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the “Prince of Preachers”. Born: June 19, 1834, Kelvedon, United Kingdom Died: January 31, 1892, Menton, France.
The message states whose banner, flag, we should be lifting up.
“Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
Ye soldiers of the cross!
Lift high his royal banner;
It must not suffer loss:
From victory unto victory
His army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquish’d,
And Christ is Lord indeed.
“Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
The trumpet-call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict,
In this his glorious day;
Ye that are men, now serve him,
Against unnumber’d foes;
Your courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.”
(from Spurgeon’s Sermons, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. By Him can we all be saved.
In these days of popular ministers, teachers, politicians, heroes, popular worship leaders, entertainers in all fields of entertainment and sports, and all those who we highly esteem, as we should honor and respect, let us not forget the Name of the One Who sits on the throne above, the Creator of all, and acknowledge Him, as we live our daily life.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4”8-12, NKJV
His Name is Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. Yeshua HaMashiach.
Today we must choose to lift high the Name of Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, the Name above all names.
Then He, the Living God of All, the One Who alone can save, will draw all men to Him.
Now think on this.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin, Founder/President  Love For His People, Inc.
SPECIAL NOTE: Our ministry’s new mobile app is available for iPhones and Androids is available. These are free app downloads! Look here: Love For His People free phone app
Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On ThisThe sign-up form is on our new ministry website: https://loveforhispeople.com
You are welcome to help support the work of this ministry, including the assistance we give to families in Israel: DONATE online now. You can also send checks to: Love For His People P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134
Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did. And I thank you too.
Now Think On This #498 – in the year of our Lord 04.03.2020 – “When I AM Lifted Up” – Friday, 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC USA

Monday, January 6, 2014

“How Shall We Then Give?” Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

                   

                        “How Shall We Then Give?”


 “…and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” (Luke 8:3, NASU)


Dear family of friends,

Have you ever heard of the book, “How Should We Then Live?” It was written by Francis A. Schaeffer in 1955. I read it in the 80’s and remember it gave me something to ponder (dictionary: to think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.)

Lately even more so I have been asking the Lord about the way we support Christian ministries - how they request funds, and how should we then respond. Or as I keep seeking of the Lord, “how shall we then give?”

What is His plan? Is His example the same as the model we have basically followed for the last 30 years, as we respond to requests from monthly ministry contribution mailings, commercials on radio and TV showing needs abounding all over, e-mails coming into our InBox, or through websites having ads on almost every site we get on? I have been pondering.

As I am sure you have, we have heard it all. Tithe here. Send your offering there. “This need is real urgent, call now the 800 number shown on your screen.” Is that really how our Prime Example, Jesus (Yeshua) did it? Of course, you and I know He didn’t have all this modern technology, but isn’t His Word eternal, the same yesterday, today and forever, and we can learn from Him? We should learn from Him. That also holds true in how we support ministry.

If you believe that, yes, His example given in His Word is true, there is something then that we can learn by HOW HE DID IT. We can learn from Him as to how His ministry was provided for. Might we then consider reconsidering how we give - in our support of those we do now, or for those whom we should be, but haven’t been supporting, and now should instead?

Here is one example of how Jesus did it. His ministry means was provided by those who knew Him. In fact, Scripture even gives specific names of some who gave provision for the ministry of Jesus. The first three verses of Luke 8 read, "Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."

We can learn from the importance of why the writer Luke even specifies the names of some women (that note well taken.) These people were those who personally knew the one they were supporting. I would imagine they even walked with Him, saw how He ministered, knew His family and certainly knew His lifestyle. Because they knew, they gave in support of His work. They gave to the one they were familiar with and trusted.

How familiar are you with the one who has the costly half hour infomercials, and after convincing you to give your $10, $25 or more, “for the need is great”, do you ever see or know exactly where it has gone? (Most likely a good percentage of it will have to go to pay for the TV production, airtime, staff and more.)

Having worked with three major ministries, as the Director of Operations and Finances over a period of 24 years (these each having budgets of over one million dollars annually) I daily saw how money was raised and spent. And on a regular basis I did reviews of other ministries with large budgets and expenditures, to gain further perspective. It will amaze you, and at times it did me. Years later it caused me to seriously consider how funds for our ministry, Love For His People, would come in.

My encouragement to you would be to give to those ministers and ministry whom you personally know. By having a relationship with them, and not just in giving money, you can see how they themselves live. This will very well be a good indication as to where your generous gifts are actually going. Or you might even get to know the ones that their work assists. This too is a good indicator.

But if you can’t do that, might you yourself ponder for a bit and seek the Lord, if you are to redirect your giving? Jesus knew His supporters, and they knew Him. His ministry didn’t get so large that the relationship was no longer there among His supporters.

I believe the time will come, sooner than later, that the Lord will shake down in size those ministries that have gotten too big, and the relationships aren’t real. He will have caused us to join together and support one another in small teams, where the huge expenditures for big TV budgets, radio airtime, and staffs won’t be the norm. He will get us back to basics, just as He and Paul did it. And we know what they accomplished.

The Word also says to “Know those who labor among you” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. It might also mean to know those who you support for the work of the ministry. To me, that speaks of an ongoing relationship.

Jesus knew how to do it. Paul knew how to do it. I want to follow their examples in how you and I do it.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People


Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.
Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINEGIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love ForHis People

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

I hope you read my first two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com, plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for$14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  
  
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

           Ahava Love Letters
           
  Full website: Love For His People


Ahava Love Letter #98   “How Shall We Then Give?”   Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (01.06.14) Monday at 9:00 pm in Charlotte, NC).


All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava LoveLetters

Thursday, August 29, 2013

"The Promise" - Released on Amazon.com


My first book The Promise has now been released on Amazon Kindle in e-book version. Just $0.99!



You can purchase now: Amazon.com - paperback or Kindle

You do not need a Kindle device to purchase, download and read. You can get the software online at Amazon, free, for smartphones, PCs and laptops.


PRODUCT DETAILS

  • File Size: 381 KB
  • Print Length: 203 pages
  • Publisher: Martin Lighthouse Publishing 
  • (September 6, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00F1JL4XW
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled 
  • Lending: Not Enabled

To Purchase Kindle Edition 
Now for $0.99 - Click Here:

The Promise - 
Paperback & Kindle Edition on Amazon

Note: You don't have to have a Kindle, smartphone or tablet to download the e-book edition. I downloaded the free app below onto both my PC laptop and desktop computers. 

(Steve Martin)

  


Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.


The printed version is also available 
on Amazon for $7.59 (181 pages).



Back cover text:

Throughout our lives, God keeps His hand on our shoulders and nudges us on to more than what we could ever realize. I am excited to share how He did it this with me, and am confident mine will be a story you’ll be able to relate to.

As I unveil my story, think back to those times when you knew there was some­thing more but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. You knew deep down that life wasn’t what the TV sitcoms portrayed it to be. In our souls there is the hope, the cry for more, that someday questions will be answered and promises fulfilled if we just kept plugging away at what we know to do.

In The Promise I share my 40 year journey with you, and show you that dreams do come true. Though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, certainly is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us. When you are done reading this story, my prayer is that you too will know more of that good plan and His purpose for you.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Martin served with seven Christian ministries from 1987-2012, all having a national and international outreach focus. During that time he made ten ministry trips Israel, as well as ministering in China, India, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.
On his overseas journeys he enjoyed sharing written journal entries with family and friends back home through Internet media. His light-hearted stories gave an up close and personal touch for those reading along.

In 2010 Steve and his wife of over 36 years, Laurie, began “Love For His People, Inc.,” a 501(c)3 non-profit humanitarian aid ministry. This work touches the natural and spiritual lives of those around them, and internationally, with needed encour­agement and strength.

His regular “Ahava Love Letter,” posted both on the Love For His People Blog and Facebook, feature his encouraging letters of spiritual enrichment, plus selected photos and commentary. In addition to The Promise, Steve has also written Leadership Through Love and Ahava Love Letters, the first edition having 52 of his letters.



“Have your delight in the Lord,
and He will give you
the desires of your heart. 
Trust also in Him,
and He will do it.” 

Psalm 37:3,4


DEDICATION


To all those who have a desire and a dream that is yet to be fulfilled, but continue to hang onto the promise the Lord has given you – I dedicate this book.


In agreement with the Bible verse that I have printed on a note card standing upright on my home computer desk, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:0, NIV), I declare that He will do it.


As surely as the Lord God of Israel lives,He will bring it to pass!!!


We’ve Only Just Begun…
                                              
Back in the ‘70’s, when music was still decent, and you could really understand the words, a brother and a sister, the Carpenters, came out with a popular song,  We’ve Only Just Begun.  For those of us around at that time, songs like this gave us some hope, as we made our way through grade school or high school.  Deep in our souls, whether we realized it back then or not, something, or Someone, was calling after us, and songs on the radio helped draw us on.

Not sure which way to go at times, we knew something was still possible, even as our parents sought after the “Almighty Dollar”, and the Sunday service was at least a place the family, which still looked like one, went to on Sundays.  Friday night football games, followed by the sock-hop (finally realized that we had to wear socks, not our shoes, because of the gym wooden floor), gave us potential stability, after coming out of the ‘60’s and before the ‘80’s hit.

Through it all, Someone kept His hand on our shoulders, and nudged us on to more than what we would ever realize, before now.  And then…boom! The answer comes in an unexpected way.

As I unveil this story, think back to those times that you knew there was something more, but you just couldn’t put your hand on it.  You knew, deep down, that life wasn’t just what Walter Cronkite said it was every night on the CBS news, or that the faith and love shown by John Boy to Grandpa, Jim Bob, and the other twenty Waltons wasn’t just for their family.  Deep down in our souls, the hope, the cry for more, would someday be answered and fulfilled, if we just kept plugging away at what we did know.

I want you to share my journey with me, as I look back over the last forty years, and you see that dreams do come true, and that though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us.  And when you are done reading this story, you too will know that…we’ve only just begun.

  


Book Chapters


Going To Africa
Father Thomas Purtell
Columbus High School
“I am a Christian”
Laura Jean
The Dream
Hasselbring-Clark
Bonnie, Derek & Mahesh
Heritage USA
The Barn
Worship The Lord God of Israel
The Beginning of the End
Jerusalem & The Western Wall
This Season Completed
The Incredible Journey
New Beginnings
Steve Martin & The Raiders
“Carry My Bags” – The Great Wall
A Season of the Soul
I Thought It Was Over
Roll Call of Honor



Editor's Note:
It was very exciting to know that my book came out during Rosh Hashanah, the new year of 5774, on Sept.4-6. This is a new beginning in the Lord's purposes and fulfillment of promises given to Laurie and I.  I hope you read my book!  Steve Martin

Steve & Laurie 2013

You can purchase The Promise now: Amazon.com