Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2016

Are You Looking for Love in the Right Places? - RUTH LOPEZ WHITFIELD CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Where are you looking for love?
Where are you looking for love? (iStock photo )
Hardly a day goes by that I don't see a TV commercial advertising a site where you can meet Mr. or Mrs. Right. Some cater to young singles, others to the more mature and still others to those of like faith or ethnic background.
I know of a few couples that actually met and courted their spouse online and have successful marriages. I'm not sure of the percentage of failed ones.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and we are bombarded with hearts, flowers, decorations, candy and sweet recipes. Restaurants and jewelry stores gear up for what will be a busy and lucrative time, while children exchange "Valentines" in school or other functions, and even "Charlie Brown" gets in on the act with a TV special.
Invariably there will be the surprise proposal with man on bended knee being photographed as he pops the question to his intended amid sighs of "Aw" and cheers from onlookers.
For some, it's an exciting time and, for others, not so much. There are those who may not hear the words "I love you" or "Be My Valentine," and for them it may be a very long and tedious day.
All of us are born with a need for love and acceptance. God made us this way. Studies show that babies who are held and loved do far better than those who are not.
Because of this innate need, many of us spend our lives looking for love—sometimes in all the wrong places. We want to belong, to be part of something or someone. We seek acceptance and a sense of belonging wherever we go.
Being driven by this need can cause all kinds of problems. It might lead us to cling to our children, smothering rather than loving them and stifling their growth and development. Or it might tempt us to live in a fantasy world, dreaming of a knight in shining armor who will fill the void in our lives.
This need may cause us to look to others for affirmation: family members, friends, co-workers and so on. We rely on their esteem to convince ourselves we are worthy of esteem.
The truth is that as Christians, we are already fully accepted in the Beloved. We are members of God's family, precious daughters and sons of the King who are totally and unconditionally loved!
There isn't anything we can do to earn this love and acceptance. Jesus assures us, "All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me I will never cast out" (John 6:37, MEV). We are secure in Him.
We have no need to look for satisfaction anywhere else. Yet there were times I had sought affirmation from others—and felt unloved and rejected when I didn't receive it. Has that ever happened to you?
When I asked the Lord about my actions and responses, He said: "Whenever you look to others for love or acceptance, you will be disappointed. You are already loved; you are already accepted by Me. Come to Me and receive your fill, then you will be able to be a giver of love. Share My love with others rather than looking to receive it from them. As you give, you will receive because you will reap what you sow. Accept others even as I have accepted and continue to accept you—not because you're perfect but because I love you and count you worthy of the price of My blood. You are a gift to me, bought and cherished. Cherish others as I cherish you. Love others as I love you."
Wow! That gave me a new perspective, and it was very liberating. Because I am already accepted and loved beyond measure, I don't need others to love me. I can love them without any expectation of reciprocity. I can release them to be who they are without placing demands upon them.
I can set them free not to do something for me just because I did something for them. In fact, Jesus told us it is better for us to invite those to dinner who can't repay us. What He meant is that we actually receive a greater reward when we do something for people who can't or don't pay us backit is a greater indicator of our love.
Make a decision today to stop looking for love in all the wrong places and find it in God. Then you will be a vessel through which His love can flow out to others. Receive it from Him that you may give it out—and watch how you reap what you sow!
Prayer Power for the Week of Feb. 7, 2016
As you pray this week, embrace God's unconditional love for you, let it fill you heart, express it back to Him and share it with others. Ask Him to direct your steps to those who desperately need to know they are loved so that you can be a vessel of reconciliation and acceptance. Pray for those struggling through personal and economic loss as well as the ravages of winter weather. Continue to pray for worldwide revival and the soon return of our Lord. Lift up our nation and its leaders, the upcoming elections, more laborers for His harvest fields, Israel and the persecuted church (Jer. 31:3; John 6:37; 1 John 1:4; 1 John 4:19).
For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Beautiful Creations By God - Flowers In North Carolina

Azaleas

Beautiful Creations By God - Flowers In North Carolina

Day lilies

Day lilies

Begonias

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris

Roses

Pansies


Photos by Steve Martin - flowers in North Carolina

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Day Lilies - Soaking Up The Son's Warmth and Rain



Day lilies proclaiming 
in triumphant fashion 
the glory of the Lord. 

Shining in the sun 
after a nice rain 
in North Carolina. 

(Photos by Steve Martin 
06.08.14)







 



Friday, May 23, 2014

Saturday, May 17, 2014

GOD YOU ARE AWESOME!!! - Photos of His Glorious Creation

Rocky Mountains in Colorado - May 2014

Camel in Negev Desert near Eilat, Israel - Oct. 2009

Red Sea near Eilat, Israel - Oct. 2009

 Negev Desert in Israel south of Beer'sheva - Oct. 2009

Bearded Iris - Charlotte, NC April 2014

Pansies in Charlotte - April 2014

Bradford Pear Tree - Charlotte, April 2014

Charlotte, NC - Oct. 2013

From Jerusalem looking west - Oct. 2008

Tel Aviv, Israel beach - Nov. 2010

Martin Home in Charlotte - June 2011

Mallards - Charlotte, NC - March 2014

Turtle - Charlotte, NC May 2014

Rocky Mountains - near Denver, CO May 16, 2014

OUR GOD
IS AN
AWESOME GOD!

YOU HAVE SEEN
JUST A FEW OF
WHAT HE HAS
CREATED
TO BLESS US!!!

THANK YOU LORD!

Photos by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People

Friday, May 9, 2014

7 Things for Which to Thank Your Wife

Man and wife
Have you thanked your wife lately for all of the wonderful things she does? (iStock photo)

7 Things for Which to Thank Your Wife

We men can be notoriously bad at thanking people, starting with the person we love the most: our wife. Here are seven quick things we can thank our spouse for, one per day for the next week:
1. “Thanks for putting up with me and for loving me. I know I am not always easy to live with.”
2. “Thanks for all you do to provide good food for our family to eat.”
3. “Thanks for all you do around the house. You do a great job keeping things clean and organized.”
4. “Thanks for pouring your life into our children and making that tough but worthwhile investment.”
5. “Thank you for all the times you have prayed for me. Please keep it up!”
6. “Thank you for being wise with our finances to give our family a bright future.”
7. “Thanks for being you, for putting your family first, and for looking so gorgeous while you do it!”
All Pro Dad is Family First’s innovative and unique program for every father. Their aim is to interlock the hearts of the fathers with their children and, as a byproduct, the hearts of the children with their dads. At AllProDad.com, dads in any stage of fatherhood can find helpful resources to aid in their parenting. Resources include daily emails, blogs, Top 10 lists, articles, printable tools, videos and eBooks. From AllProDad.com, fathers can join the highly engaged All Pro Dad social media communities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

    For the original article, visit allprodad.com.

    Blessings on Israel!


    May the Good Lord, God of Israel, 
    Yeshua HaMashiach, 
    bless Israel today with protection, 
    wisdom and a heart looking to Him.

    Steve & Laurie Martin
    Love For His People

    Saturday, April 12, 2014

    Giving thanks...as we reach another milestone on the journey.


    Giving thanks 
    to the Lord Jesus (Yeshua)

    as we reach 250,000 pageviews 
    on our 
    LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE blog
    ...on April 12, 2014.


    Even as the Lord commanded the Israelites to place stones and altars along the way, as markers on the journey to remember His grace, leading and provision, so do we follow in those footsteps. 

    Thank you you Lord for this milestone, as we look back to what YOU have done, and look forward to what You will yet do through His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) working through us.


    Trusting as the journey continues...

    Steve & Laurie Martin
    Love For His People
    April 12, 2014
    Sat. at 9:05 am