Showing posts with label Jonathan Avalos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonathan Avalos. Show all posts

Monday, November 20, 2017

NOTHING, I MEAN NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU JUST GOTTA BELIEVE. Hannah Avalos



NOTHING, I MEAN NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
 YOU JUST GOTTA BELIEVE.

Hannah Avalos
Nov. 19, 2017

(Posted from her Facebook page.)

Life as a special needs mom is really freaking hard, but it’s also equally BEAUTIFUL,THRILLING and MAGNIFICANT, because two years ago, I wouldn’t have found so much joy in all these little things that are all actually big things if we take a closer look. I would have missed the opportunity to be so grateful, so moved by the mundane. 

The littlest moments have brought us so much joy, because when you throw "normal" out the door, you really get to see the beauty of life. 

These past few weeks have been another test for us, and I think it's another one we have crushed. 

The Lord doesn't seem to ever forget about us, and that's just the feeling we cling to. 



Thank you all who love us and support us! I usually don't always have the right words to say, but you keep us going. Love is the fuel we need to conquer tough times. Grace is the ultimate feeling in all of it. 

We love you and I just wanted to let you know, NOTHING, I MEAN NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, YOU JUST GOTTA BELIEVE.

Hannah Avalos
Charlotte, North Carolina

Comments:
Lauren Knight: Brb, crying. Hannah, you are one tough, beautiful momma. This life is hard, but we were made for this life. Levi is one beautiful boy and you both are so blessed to have each other. Who needs normal anyways? 😚😚

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Hannah Avalos You have one up on me, Lauren! Lol! I'm just reminded sometimes how even though it's tough, it really puts life in perspective, and for that I'm very humbled and thankful!! 💙🙏

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Ashlee Winter LOVE this❤️ beautifully said!

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Grace Vasquez Avalos Well said beautiful lady. Can't say it enough how proud and impressed I am of how you guys have are handling it all. Love and miss you all.

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Linda Baker-Skaggs I can do all things through Christ

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Terry Lafferty Beautiful sweetie.

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Susan Capasso Beautiful Hannah.

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Special Note from the Editor: 

We are so blessed in our hearts, spirits, and souls.  Our oldest daughter Hannah Elizabeth Avalos, her husband Jonathan, little Levi and his big brother Payton have seen the Hands of the Lord come and do His miracle in Levi's hands and arms (who was born with TAR Syndrome.)

Our Grandson Levi Zachary spent three weeks in Florida recently, with his Dad and Mom, undergoing two surgeries to straighten out his hands and wrists. Having been born 22 months ago with TAR Syndrome, leaving him with no forearms and twisted hands, among other things, we are grateful for the wisdom and expertise the Living God has given Dr. Paley, an Israeli surgeon. (See here: Paley Foundation & Institute)

What a joy it is to have your children grow in the love of the Lord and then reach that place where they too become an encouragement to others, sharing His love for people.

Knowing her desire to be one who encourages others, Hannah has been encouraged in her walk with the Lord. Thus she shares with her heart what the Lord has shared in hers.

Thank you, Hannah, for hearing the call of the Lord on your life, living for Jesus, and stepping out in faith to share His Word in love to those looking to Him also, and for others who will in their time of need.

Mom and I are proud of you!

With our love,

Dad

(Steve Martin)


P.O. Box 414
Pineville, North Carolina 28134  USA

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Introducing Our New Blogger! My daughter Hannah Avalos! - "Worship While You Wait"


Special Note from the Editor: 

What a joy it is to have your children grow in the love of the Lord and then reach that place where they too become an encouragement to others, sharing His love for people.

I am so blessed in my heart, spirit, and soul. Today we are introducing to you, the Love For His People blog readers, my oldest daughter Hannah Elizabeth Avalos. (You may have seen a few of her pictures along the way!)

Knowing her desire to be one in also encouraging others, as she has been encouraged in her walk with the Lord, I believe her messages will touch the hearts of her generation, and even us older olders!

Thank you, Hannah, for hearing the call of the Lord on your life, living for Jesus, and stepping out in faith to share His Word in love to those looking to Him also.

Mom and I are proud of you!

With our love,

Dad
(Steve Martin)



Worship While You Wait

Hannah Avalos
Aug. 31, 2017

How many times have we been eager about something? Scared? Anxious? I have been thinking about this a lot! When I pray and ask the Lord to reassure me He is with me, I hear a whisper "worship while you wait". 

Worship while you wait?! Yes, give "weight to worship." You have all the time to worry, so instead, I want you to worship! 

Why worship you ask? Because the peace of God passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) All short comings. All confusion. All fear. All anger. All Anxiety. We worship not to dismiss our anxiety but to release it to the Lord. We worship to feel his peace. We worship to magnify Him and not our problems!  
     
When we are in the midst of a trial, we must believe that the author, the Maker of our faith, is in every situation we are up against!! He doesn't ordain the things that happen to us, but He is with us through them. 
  
I often realize the more "weight" we give to worship the less time we have to analyze our circumstance. This doesn't allow our circumstance to go away. It allows us to persevere through our circumstance with God's help. Often times we find Him most in the deep trenches of our struggle.

Our worship can strengthen us and encourage us for something more important than just our Monday struggles.  As we go through our circumstance with our son Levi, we know the most important thing, God is still God and He is STILL Good. 

As we face these trials with our son and for his upcoming surgery, the enemy still has a small window to put in our minds of fear and anxiety. It's like we are driving straight into oncoming traffic, but I know that we are going to swerve and not hit anything at all. It's kind of like the Christian faith when you're under attack! You have to know God is in the car and He will protect you! 

Sometimes there is a question of, "He is going to show up? Is He going to get us through this? Will we be ok?"

Yes. The answer is YES! 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

So I encourage you as I also encourage myself to "worship while you wait." I ask the Lord to give you and I a peace that passes all understanding - no matter what you're facing today. 

Be blessed. He is with us. 

Hannah



P.O. Box 414
Pineville, North Carolina USA

loveforhispeople@gmail.com

 Hannah with her family
Parents and siblings - 2015

 Jonathan, Payton, and Hannah 
- before their wedding 2012


Hannah and husband Jonathan - 2017

 Hannah - 1985

Hannah at  her grandparents Otto and Lorraine Unzicker's house 
- Peru, Illinois (1986 maybe?)

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Love For His People - Arms of Love - video series. Coming August 2017


Love For His People 
Arms of Love
Video Series
Coming August 2017

July 27, 2017
Charlotte, North Carolina
USA 


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

Beginning in the month of August 2017 (the month #8 - "new beginnings" in the Bible), Love for His People will launch our new ministry outreach, a 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 be the best time." I respond, "How high do I jump Lord!" in obedience to Him. 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 '90s, 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 for the past 16 years. You want to know how to raise a two-year old? Well, I know one who can help you!
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 and then helping to raise his then 5-year old son Payton. (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.)

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 

By the way, this day that the Lord has made, July 25, 2017, is Jonathan's 34th birthday! Send a greeting to his Christian Strength Coach Facebook page or his personal one Jonathan Avalos.

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! Stayed turned...

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.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

How to overcome your limitations and perform above expectations - Christian Strength Coach Jonathan Avalos


How to overcome your limitations and perform above expectations.

Jonathan Avalos

 20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Did you know that you can take any tree and turn it into a bonsai tree?
All you have to do is train the tree to stay small –  prune it on a regular basis, wrap wire around the branches, and restrict its growth by planting it in a confined environment.
I believe that God blessed my wife Hannah and me with a child that would be born with limitations; so that we would be reminded not to live with a limited mindset.
Our son Levi was born with a condition called TAR syndrome which is a rare genetic disorder that’s associated with both bone and blood abnormalities.
He’s missing his radius bone in each arm (one of the bones in your forearm that extends from your elbow to your thumb), and he has low platelets (which helps your blood clot and stops bleeding).
The great thing about babies is that they don’t know that they are supposed to feel sorry for themselves. Levi doesn’t have a victim’s mentality rather he has a positive perspective and childlike faith that allows him to test boundaries, push through barriers, and set new PR’s (personal records) daily.
Imagine if we chose to get better and not become bitter if we looked at life not as what happens to us but rather what happens for us and in us;  if we looked at every obstacle and saw it as an opportunity to grow our roots, strengthen our faith, and develop our relationship with God.
DNS training (Developmental Neuromuscular Stabilization) has gained some traction in the fitness and physical therapy community.  In short, it assesses your movement based on that of an infant.
Can you do basic movements that a baby can do – crawl, get off the ground, and move without pain or dysfunction?
It sounds silly, but I think that this is a great way that we should not only train but live.  If we would return to our roots and learn to move, think, and live without limitations, then we can operate out of love, freedom, and holiness.
The problem that most Christian and fitness enthusiasts have: isn’t that they aren’t saved or aren’t showing up to the gym – it’s that they aren’t growing in their faith or aren’t properly progressing in their training program.
It’s interesting to see how some people will allow their situation to stunt their growth while others will find strength in their struggle.
We were not created to live or train like a bonsai tree.
So guard your roots, remove your restrictions, and condition yourself to overcome every challenge by reminding yourself that –  you are a child of God, created in his image, and given unlimited potential – the Holy Spirit.
Love For His People Editor's Note: This website is by our son-in-law Jonathan Avalos (Hannah). His son (our 7th grandchild) Levi is featured in the video.  Steve Martin, President

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Little T-Rex. He will be a warrior. - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Little T-Rex.
He will be a warrior.
.

Now Think On This
Steve Martin


“My heart is stirred by a noble theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of an expert scribe. You are the most handsome of men; gracious speech flows from your lips. For God has blessed you forever. Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh; [gird on] your splendor and majesty. In your majesty, succeed, ride on in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness. May your right hand teach you awesome things.” Psalms 45:2-5 Complete Jewish Bible


Hannah Elizabeth was expecting her first born. The excitement was shared by her whole family, including us, her Dad and Mom. Even as a young girl Hannah loved children. At one point I thought she would have her own daycare business, and I had suggested that to her in her early 20’s. She had a heart for kids.

In her third year of marriage Hannah was with child. It was confirmed on her visit to the doctor, and the countdown to birth began. Was this unborn a boy or a girl? Black hair, like father Jonathan, or blonde hair like mom. And would this little one have all ten fingers and ten toes? You know, the usual questions anticipated and quietly asked.

Into her first six weeks or thereabouts (Grandpas generally don’t keep track of those things, at least this one doesn’t), with today’s medical advancements, the sonograms started. Amazing what life we can see even at this developing stage of the unborn. Oh how our God is so good! 

Even from the moment of conception, He was forming another good creation in His image, our 7th grandchild.

“God, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother's womb, says: "I am God. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth." (Isaiah 44:24, THE MESSAGE)

At one point in the first trimester period, following another sonogram, the doctor came to Hannah, and with concern, told her there seemed to a problem in the formation. This one within her may have TAR Syndrome. Neither Hannah nor anyone else in the family knew what that was. In short, this little one appeared to be missing bones in the arms, specifically the forearms. The doctor told her she had an option – to abort or to continue the pregnancy.

Having been raised in a God-believing family, and being herself a strong Christian, Hannah firmly said no to the killing option. This child was going to continue life, for the Lord was his Creator. As the months moved on, it was confirmed that this baby, now known to be a boy, and prayefully named Levi Zachary, would come forth with a challenge before him and his family. 

You can believe that his praying family, from great-grandma down to his cousins, were interceding with all the prayers we knew, for full development of Levi. How was he going to thrive in this world missing parts of his body? The usual questions were already being asked, as we sought the Lord for what we thought would be the perfect response.

On January 13, 2016, Little Levi came out, just 16 days before his mother’s birthday. He did not have the forearms, as earlier detected, which were missing. Within the first 14 days of life he needed four transfusions, to build up the platelets in his blood. But from the start, he has known his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles love, along with his six cousins. His older brother Payton also received this new addition into their family, with the Lord Jesus' special love and our thanksgiving for the Levi's life.

This little guy is a gift from our Lord. He will be cared for and raised in the knowledge of His Maker. Whatever comes his way, he will have the grace to be an overcomer, and fulfill the plans and purposes of the Lord.

Here is another interesting but encouraging demonstration of the Lord’s love. Hannah calls Little Levi “T-Rex”, and has spoken over him that he will be a warrior for the Lord’s work. Even in despite of missing those forearms, and other situations, we agree, He will be!

And then there is yet another, but simple, sign of the Lord’s heart for this beautiful creation of His. At a recent prophetic class I attended at MorningStar, our home church, a small brown bag containing items was passed out to each of the tables, with the teacher's instructions for each person at the table to draw out an item, ask the Lord for a word to share with another at the table, and give that word in the form of encouragement. No one at the table knew what things were in the bag.

The young mother seated next to me, who was to give a word to me, reached in the bag and drew out a very small, gray toy. It was a dinosaur. It was a T-Rex. She had no idea what that meant, and said so. But I did. I knew immediately it was a sign from the Lord to me.

Our Almighty God whom we serve has Little Levi in His heart. He always has, from the beginning of time, even before He began forming him in his mother’s womb. Little Levi is a “T-Rex”. He will be a warrior, a fighter, for the Lord’s purposes in His kingdom.

You and I don’t know all that the Lord has in store for us. We don’t know what all Levi will face as he continues to grow in the Lord’s love. But we certainly can stand on His promises that whatever those plans are, they are most certainly for good! For He is a great God! He is a Mighty Savior! He is the King of kings and the Lord of All!

We all face obstacles in our life. But we have the Victorious King who makes us overcomers. In His wisdom, honor and strength we too, like Little Levi, will find our place in His army and be the men and women, warriors all, to see His Kingdom come.

To this we can say, “Amen!”

So think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I have included a brief description on TAR Syndrome below.



Here is our Little Levi, at just 14 days old as of this writing. And below him is the T-Rex which I now carry in my pocket daily, as a reminder to intercede daily for our grandson. He will be a mighty warrior for His Lord!


  

Hannah and Little Levi


Dad Jonathan and big brother Payton.

The “T-Rex” from the MorningStar prophetic class.
I carry in my pocket as a reminder daily to pray for Little Levi.


   
                    
                            Levi at birth Jan. 13, 2016                  Levi & Grandpa at 7 days old

 Levi Zachary (Martin) Avalos - 12 day old, Jan. 25, 2016


P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to bless the families that we do in Israel, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  
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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 01.30.16 - #239 –“Little T-Tex. He Will Be a Warrior.” – Saturday at 8:00 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This


Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve


TAR Syndrome


Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome
What is TAR Syndrome?

Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius (TAR) Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder. It is characterized by low levels of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia), absence (aplasia) of the bone on the thumb side of the forearm (radius) on both arms, and underdevelopment (hypoplasia) or absence of the bone on the pinky-side of the forearm (ulna). Platelets are very important for normal blood clotting. Consequently, thrombocytopenia results in potentially severe bleeding episodes (hemorrhaging) primarily during infancy. Children with TAR Syndrome frequently have malformations of their hands, but their thumbs are always present. Other abnormalities may include malformations of the heart, legs, and hip sockets; kidney defects; and mental retardation resulting from bleeding in the skull.

Source: Birth Defects website - click here: TAR Syndrome