Showing posts with label Steve Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Martin. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Break Away - Steve Martin

 


Break Away

 

“Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd…” Mark 7:17, NLT

 

Even Jesus needed to get away at times, to break away from the cares and concerns of the world around Him. Not to just “escape from the world” but to take a break, to get some rest, to be with the Father and inquire of Him.

Have you done this lately? To get up earlier than normal; to turn off the news on the TV or radio; to get out of your routine and spend some time with the Lord Who created you and knows what you need?

We all need that time. We need to break away.

I think back to the days growing up, with eight kids in the family. For sure it was a house full, but for the most part, we all got along, and still do to the day. Five girls and three boys, with Dad and Mom working hard every day to keep a roof on our heads and food on the table. It surprises me today when couples struggle to raise one or two kids. Yes, I know it is a different time, but still, I wonder at times where the priorities are with people. They certainly have changed.

Dad had his two weeks of vacation the same time every year, the first two weeks in August, when the foundry shut down (they made water pumps in Cedar Falls, Iowa) and every worker was off. Saving up for the entire year prior, and working two jobs to do it, Dad had enough money for us to go on camping trips, with a big tent, and hauling all in the homemade trailer he had made to pull behind the 1960 Ford station wagon. He even painted it the same color – baby blue. Later when we could afford a camping trailer that slept eight it was much better. Two had to always sleep in the station wagon when we all went.

It was a fun time. It was family time. It was time to get away and live for two weeks in God’s creation outdoors. Campfires. S’mores. Even having a bear snatch our food in the middle of the night happened on a Colorado family adventure.

But one thing else I remember, the other 50 weeks of the year. My Mom would spend time reading her Bible and praying almost every morning of the week before the rest of us occupied her day. She would take time to be with the Lord, seek His face, and get strength and assurance for the rest of the day. Often Christian music on records would be playing in the phonograph (a record player, for the younger generation who only know of MP3 technology.)

She would wisely take time to break away.

Maybe you can’t always get that annual vacation trip or the weekend away very often. But we all have 24 hours in the day, and we need to spend more time with the Lord. Just as Jesus did, our God Who became man, and yet took time to get away and spend with His Father.

And as you give Him time to refresh you, to encourage you, to let you know of His continuing love and ongoing care, you just may be passing it on to others who will be watching and later follow your example.

Be blessed as you seek Him.

Steve Martin

Love For His People Founder

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Man of War and Mighty Men - Steve Martin

          


Man of War and Mighty Men

 

"Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.” 1 Chronicles 11:10-11, NASU

 

Anyone and everyone who knows Bible history are very familiar with King David. From the time he was taken from the shepherd’s field in Israel and anointed king by the prophet Samuel, through his gallant leading of his mighty men to remove the ungodly from the land, and onto reigning as king over the tribes of Israel, David bears witness as a large living example in the walk of faith.

The Lord raised up David and put him in positions to first take on the lions and bears attacking the sheep; then the giant Goliath; and further beyond to the people of Canaan who did not know the Living God of Israel but instead served false and evil gods.

During his mighty battles and wars, the men who fought under David’s experienced leadership fought through the rigors of war. Many received wounds and sufferings as they took the Land that was to be theirs, given first to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the generations following them.

How ironic that believers today often fail to understand the natural and spiritual battles that we go through, believing that once saved all becomes a rose garden. But we must realize that that is part of the promise yet to come. The beautiful rose garden.

So, here on this earth it is a battle for us in both the natural and the spiritual, fought on our knees, but at times calling for us to take up arms to destroy the wicked who threaten us and our families.

The Lord Himself, the Anointed One, the One with the armies of heaven on His side, clearly states of things yet to come.

"In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. "And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Zechariah 12:8-9, NASU

Is this just a spiritual battle that is coming, which I believe is sooner than many would want to realize, in our day? If I read it correctly, there is some major physical conflict going on “in that day.” The Lord Himself will destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and the Jewish inhabitants. No doubt about that.

Did not Israel have to take the promised land in Joshua and David’s time, and then fight to keep it in the 1948 War of Independence, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and today yet battling the ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas in Gaza, and threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon? With Syria’s threats on the east and others further north? And as always, Iran trying to carry out their promises of completely destroying Israel with nuclear bombs while many shut their blind eyes?

Am I also saying that there is war coming in these days in America? Did not the first Americans fight a Revolutionary War, while generations later the Civil War, followed by two world wars and so many after that?

Maybe so. And Christians will be called upon to defend truth, righteousness, and the godly principles the Righteous God has set forth in His Eternal Word. His will being done won’t come by just letting the enemy run amuck in our land, with rampant lawlessness and violence carried out under the guise of “peaceful marches” and “my right to protest any way I want.” His will certainly will be done as it has been done in history gone by.

David’s men fought and won for the King.

American men and women fought for freedom to be maintained in our land and the freedom of others needing our help to defend theirs.

The Lord is raising up godly men and women, brave and courageous, not afraid to give their lives for the lives of the unborn, children, young and old, among all families, and to take a stand and fight for that which is right and true.

I am not a man of war. But our God is a Man of War, and He does and will do whatever it takes to give His people, Jew and Gentile together, that which His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, died, buried, and rose again for - a Bride and people unto Himself.

“The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.” Isaiah 42:13, NASU

Prepare yourself. Our God reigns, and He will have the last word.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Confidence by Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 




Confidence

 

“He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist…” Acts 17:26-28, NASU

 

Our times are in His hands. Or as it is written, “Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.” Psalm 66:9, New Living Translation

When you believe that Word, that indeed our times are in His hands, and He does keep us from fumbling and stumbling around, you will do awesome deeds for the Lord and His people. You will have built confidence in His Name, and in His actions in your life. You trust that what He says He is going to do, He will do it. Enough said.

When Laurie and I were part of a small group in LaSalle/Peru, Illinois back in the day (1976-1980 to be exact) called Victory Church, and then the name was changed for identifiable purposes to Victory Community, we had to trust the Lord when we were placed in one of the common purse community homes, with four other couples. And we were newlyweds! O Lord!

When He called us to leave the town of her birth, childhood, and teen years included, with her parents and two sister families being left behind, we ventured out, with our two young sons Josh and Ben. We relocated to East Lansing, Michigan in 1980, along with several other church families, to become part of Shiloh Fellowship (later changed to New Covenant Christian Church in the early 1980s). We were wanting to be a part of the Shepherding Movement happening in that decade.

We had to have confidence in Him.

Then when He set another divine appointment time for seven years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which we honestly called, “Our time in hell” due to not only the heat but the spiritual battles we fought, our trust level in Him had to be raised higher. Again, we needed to know He still loved us, had called us there and hoped He would soon deliver us back to the rest of the USA. On staff at both Derek Prince Ministries and Mahesh Chavda Ministries for those seven years was a challenge, but with His grace, we were overcomers in that appointed time also.

In 1994 both ministries, not necessarily in conjunction with each other, moved families, staff, and offices to the beautiful land of North Carolina. Charlotte to be exact. Cutting 13 hours from the length of time it now took to travel back home to Iowa and Illinois once or twice a year was truly a blessing. The Lord does have mercy, especially when the four kids, now having added Hannah and Christen to the tribe, had to sit on suitcases in the back seat of the four-door Ford while enduring those Chevy Chase “National Lampoon Vacation” adventures on the interstates. In our case, it was Martin’s Traveling Show.

I think you are getting the point. As we daily put our lives in His hands, we learn to trust Him increasingly, believe more firmly that He has our utmost at heart, knows what He is doing, and will complete that which He started in us.

We often quote the verse about Him knowing His plans for us, and sometimes it can just get too “familiar” and we dismiss it. But think about it a bit longer.

The One Who dispersed the Jews out of Israel in the 70s A.D. is bringing them back home in our day, just as He promised. Given that mighty, daily, awesome miracle taking place right before our eyes, we can have complete confidence that again, what He says He will do, He will do.

“For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai, ‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly; and I will let you find me,’ says Adonai. ‘Then I will reverse your exile. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you,’ says Adonai, ‘and bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’ Jeremiah 29:11-14, Complete Jewish Bible

We serve an awesome God. (Sing it, Rich Mullins! Our God is an Awesome God)

If we continually walk in faith, we can have the assurance that our God, our Father, knows best. I want to encourage you to not let up, not to give in, press on in faith, hope, and love, and know that the confidence He gives you will carry you through.

You will do mighty deeds. You will accomplish mighty acts. You will be as the Lord God of Israel created you to be and do!

Ahava and shalom,


Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Believe It Or Not by Steve Martin

 


Believe It Or Not by Steve Martin

"Then this word of Adonai came to him: “Get up; go to Tzarfat, a village in Tzidon; and live there. I have ordered a widow there to provide for you.” 1 Kings 17:8-10, Complete Jewish Bible

We all know the verse, “Give and it shall be given to you.” Not enough most likely believe it though. I purposely didn’t share that verse at the top of this message for it may have become one of those, “Yeah, I have heard that plenty of times. Usually right before the offering. What else have you got?”

The verse I did share from 1 Kings tells of Elijah the Prophet going out as the Lord had instructed, then speaking to the widow as he asked for food. As you also know the story, she gave what she had, knowing that her son and herself were running out of provision themselves. It is a good, factual, story to learn from in our walk with the same God.

If one believes something, he, or she (not “it”, or any other pronoun) they do it. And the more often they do, the more it becomes a way of life.

We are given many examples in the Lord’s Word of giving something in faith and then seeing the Lord give it back, over and abundantly beyond what the giver thought possible.

We have many examples of His faithfulness and honesty. The widow and her bread and oil. Yeshua (Jesus) and the fish and loaves from the young boy, before feeding the multitude who had followed Him. And then of course His first miracle, taking the jars of water at the Cana wedding and turning them into the best wine. Each one had to first give something for His to use. He then multiplied it in return, benefiting many, including themselves.

Stories only? Or are these all factual moments for us to read, hear, and believe that the Lord is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Most Americans don’t really believe that verse from Hebrews because we can always go around the corner to the grocery or big-box store, or order on Amazon and get whatever we want the next day, or even within hours now. For many there is no need to trust the Lord for provision.

And with our checking account usually having some money in it, why trust the Lord for anything such as these stories tell us?

I tend to think we are about to learn many lessons in these days requiring us to trust more, in faith.

How can we walk in the ways of the Lord if we don’t practice walking in the ways of the Lord?

I recently told a young man this very thing. If we say we know the Lord, and do things our way, do we really know the Lord? If we don’t do things His way, then how can we say we are believers? How can we say we know Him? How can we say we do what He says to do in His Word, when we don’t even know what His Word says or take the needed time to ask Him daily what He wants to say to us, to hear and obey?

Are we living His life or our own? For Him or for ourselves?

I personally would doubt what you tell me if your life shows me you actually believe something else. True?

Givers give. And the Lord says, once again, “Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." Luke 6:38, THE MESSAGE

I encourage you to practice, yes practice, what you preach. Does your walk keep up with your mouth? I hope so!

And no, this is not a request for contributions! It is a desire to see more believers believe what the Lord asks us to believe.

Believe it or not.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

At the Appointed Time - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry



 At the Appointed Time

“Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:14, NASB

 

Always wanting to read a good book, I looked over the hundreds in my home library bookcases for one I hadn’t as yet read. But then my eye was drawn to the hardback “Appointment in Jerusalem” by Derek and Lydia Prince (Whitaker House 2005).

Having had the honor of serving with Derek Prince Ministries in the late 1980s and again 2000-2005, for a total of eight years, I had all of Derek’s books, and indeed had read each up through that time. Whenever one of his new books was published, and there were many, each staff member was given a free copy. Some autographed.

I consider Derek one of the greatest Bible teachers I have ever known. With sound, biblical, foundational teaching, some topics which few wrote on, then and now, Derek’s simple but clear understanding was shared in word and script with thousands over his years. I highly recommend his teachings for any who seek sound truth. And being he only used his Bible and Strong’s Concordance in his study, there is no mix of worldly speculation and hearsay.

Even though I had read the 1975 first edition of “Appointment in Jerusalem” a few decades ago (you can buy the book here from Derek Prince Ministries), I wanted to read it again. Given our ministry of Love For His People’s commitment to Israel and the Jews, and the ongoing passion we have as Christians in support of them, it seemed good to do so once again.

As wonderfully described in the publication, Derek’s first wife Lydia struggled at first, but finally made the commitment to go to Jerusalem, leaving her family, job, and home in Denmark to do so. Being led in much the same as she found out later as doing what the Lord had called Abraham to do – go and do without knowing where, how, or what all would come of it – she obeyed with little in her pocket and many uncertainties the first year.

This autobiography is a great encouragement for those willing to hear and obey the Lord’s call.

As I read through the chapters, I again recalled how the Lord had led our family, from Illinois, to Michigan, to Florida, and then finally to North Carolina. It has been a journey we had not planned or anticipated but can truly proclaim it has been led by the Spirit of God. Seeing the Lord provide in unexpected ways, joining us with many others along the way, we too have seen the hand of God.

There was one specific example of trusting the Lord in Lydia’s story regarding her first adopted daughter Tikvah. Particularly when she saw the life of Abraham revealed and played out in her own life as she too was called to “give up” in order to then receive back bountifully. At the appointed time, God’s appointed time, it happened. Her faith and trust grew greatly as a result.

Each of us will experience times along the road we walk where we will be challenged in our faith to trust the Lord. For all, it is that first step of accepting forgiveness from Him for our sin, and then committing to Him our life to lead as He knows is best.

And as each year goes by, even after decades of walking with the Lord, He will present a challenge before us to choose in faith to decide His will or go with our own decision. And even as Abraham, Lydia, and so many more who have gone before us, we too must decide to seek Him for the right choice of the many we will have presented before us.

At the appointed time, as we stay true in our faith, we will see the hand of the Lord bring the provision, the protection, the direction He has for our life, our families, and our nations. He will never be late. Sometimes we will be right at the cliff, but when we jump, He provides the wings.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

God of the Breakthrough - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 


God of the Breakthrough

 

“…David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” 1 Chronicles 14:11, NKJV

During a recent church gathering, as the worship time proceeded with praise and declarations, I envisioned the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ, sitting on His heavenly throne, extremely aware of what was going on in all the earth. He wasn’t passive. He wasn’t asleep. He wasn’t sitting idly by uninvolved in the matters of men and women on the earth. He was passionately watching and waiting.

Then He arose from His seat, and as He did I saw what looked like bombs exploding in different nations of the world. He Himself was the One directing them. He was sending breakthroughs.

And then He roared, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah would do, further establishing the breakthroughs in the countries.

Breakthrough from lockdowns. Breakthroughs from lockups. Breakthroughs in sickness, drought, weariness, depression, suicidal thoughts, abandonment.

Breakthroughs from obstructive governments, controlling politicians, authoritarian rules and regulations.

He is the God of the breakthrough.

In the late ‘90s Rob Critchley of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship came to lead worship at our three-day conference here in Charlotte, North Carolina. He delivered a very powerful song I believe he had written, entitled I Will Call Upon the Name of the Lord (God of the Breakthrough)Proclaiming the truth of calling on the Lord for deliverance, release, and breakthrough, we knew of His promises to come through as we did so.

What an encouragement it is to know that our God, the Creator of the Universe, is acting on our behalf to bring the breakthroughs we so desperately need in these times of trouble, unbelief, rampant destruction, and the onslaught of the enemy against our minds, emotions, and very being.

What a comfort it is to know that we can call upon the Name of the Lord, the One who fights on our behalf, the One who delivers us and brings the breakthrough we long for in these last days.

“O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:16-17, NKJV

Call upon the Name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, and He will draw near to you. Call upon the Name of the Lord, seek His face, trust in His love, faithfulness, and courage, to see Him overcome that which keeps you from walking in freedom and fruitfulness.

Our God is bringing the breakthroughs as we actively call upon His Name. He is releasing the captives, those held in bondage, from that which keeps them from knowing His deliverance and victory. He is the mighty Warrior.

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. “The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;” Exodus 15:3-7, NASU



“The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.” Isaiah 42:13, NASU

Call upon the Name of the Lord every day. He is the God of our breakthrough.

Ahava and shalom,


Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Walk With Me in Israel - 84 video selection to choose from. Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry


Oct. 24, 2022 Another Ahava Adventure - Steve Martin, Walk With Me, as I arrive in Israel for the 26th time. Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.


 

Overcoming Weariness - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 


Overcoming Weariness

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14, NASB

We all experience weariness. In our body. In our soul. In our spirit. There just are days when it is hard to press on, to keep the chin up, to not quit in the midst of battle. It just is that way.

Jesus Himself experienced weariness. He understood it, becoming man Himself, and did what was necessary to keep His face looking forward, to press on. He knew He needed proper rest, and took time away from the others to spend with His Father, to be re-energized and uplifted.

Paul grew weary many times as he walked out his calling. He described in several writings how he battled against the naysayers, the ungodly, the ones who even among the brethren questioned his legitimacy after he turned from being a Christian hater to becoming a Christ-follower.

Standing for truth in an ever-increasing godless society certainly wears you out. Paul instructed his disciple Timothy to be watchful of this as he wrote to him, “Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:115, NASB Upholding the truth takes courage, knowledge, and boldness if we are to be overcomers for the truth.

Paul let us know that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, as it is spiritual warfare that we face daily. There are times when the cost of pushing forward, as many in sports and military arenas so often do, takes strength and continual output of effort in order to get the victory.

I recall as we prepared for the high school football season, we had to endure three practices a day in the hot August heat, to get our bodies and minds ready for the upcoming games. Though others certainly experience far more in their weeks and months of preparation, it helped bring to me the understanding that you won’t be able to put up a good fight if you do not prepare in advance.

Be it preparation of the mind, soul, or spirit, we must do what it takes to be ready for the action that is promised to come and it many cases already here. No one goes to battle without properly being made ready. No success will ever come without it.

As believers in the Lord Jesus, and ones called to be the warriors resisting the enemy and his attempts to take away all that the Lord has given us, we will need to fight even against weariness and all that seeks to bring us down.

We must be faithful in practicing the disciplines of the Christian faith. Prayer. Bible reading. Fellowship with other believers. Teaching is received for training, encouragement, and renewed hope for what we believe in. All necessary to sustain the long journey.

The days indeed are getting darker, but our Bible confirms that we are the victors as we stand with our King in His rule and government.

Be encouraged. Do not grow weary in the fight. Be renewed as the hope within us brings strength to endure to the very end.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel - Walk With Me, Steve Martin


 Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel - Walk With Me, Steve Martin

Come see where Jesus was crucified as believed by many in the Christian world. Recorded 09.11.23 in Jerusalem. Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Friday, September 1, 2023

We Bless - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 

                                              (Steve Martin with Danny Boy in Jerusalem April 2023)

We Bless by Steve Martin

"Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.” Romans 15:27, NASU

Every time the Lord gives me the opportunity to go to Israel as part of our Love For His People Ministry, I greatly enjoy spending time with our good friends among the Jewish people. Some we have known for 15 years now. Blessing them, as the good Lord has instructed us as Christians, has been on my heart now for over 46 years, beginning when I was first given the understanding of our debt to Israel and the Jewish people. Because of their faithfulness to the living God of Israel in spiritual things, we now have an indebtedness to them in material things.

Because of His faithfulness to them above all, the Jews, we Gentiles, now believers, have been grafted into the olive tree as well.

“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Romans 11:17-18, NKJV

Standing with the Messianic believers in the Land and befriending the “pre-believers” has enriched my spiritual life for many years. These connections the Lord has made continue to grow, as we see the days becoming darker and His light shining even more.

Being friends with Nissim and Hadassah, Nouri, Avraham, Uri, Danny Boy, Chaim and Deanna, Richard and Carolyn, Koken and Menalu, Tuly and staff, and the several ministries we have stood with and supported over the years allows the Holy Spirit to do what He has given us to do as our part in the restoration and salvation of Israel and His people re-gathered there once again, as He prophesied centuries ago.

I have written previous messages of the debt Christians owe the Jews, as I first heard and learned from the great Bible teacher Derek Prince. Because of the Lord’s granting them as a people the knowledge of Him and His Word, the Torah, through whom our Messiah Jesus has come, Yeshua HaMashiach, we are now too grafted into the olive tree, and can partake of their salvation and inheritance, among all Who call upon the Name of the Lord.

Understanding this basic, vital foundation in the life of believers is necessary for further unity in His Body, as He joins Jew and Gentile into the One New Man, the Bride that is being prepared for the return of the Son of God, Yeshua (Jesus).

Thank You, Father, for Your great plan of salvation, which has been laid out in completion through the Word of God, from Genesis through Revelation. Seeing Your fulfillment of prophecies and plans from Your heart encourages us to press on as we now do our part through faith and obedience.

Bless the people of Israel, Lord, and may those be blessed who realize the debt we owe them and seek to bless them also.

Ahava and shalom,

 


Steve Martin (with Avraham Saiden of Jerusalem)

Founder, Love For His People

 

Message #147 in this series – in the year of our Lord 09.01.23 – “We Bless” Friday, 9:00 am in Charlotte, North Carolina

Love For His People Ministry. is a charitable, USA humanitarian ministry started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations, especially to and within Israel.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Go here for safe donations using major credit cards with PayPal.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Provision Comes - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 Provision Comes

 


 

"In vain do you get up early and put off going to bed, working hard to earn a living; for he provides for his beloved, even when they sleep.” Psalm 127:2, Complete Jewish Bible

 

When I clearly heard the Lord back in mid-2009 to give my usual six-month notice that I was leaving my position at that time as the USA Director of an international ministry, I was sincerely seeking the Lord for what would be the provision going forward. He had finally given me the go-ahead to start our new ministry after years of wanting to do so, and my faith was founded on Him and the funds to make it happen.

 

Assuming that money would “just come” to cover the ministry costs, and our own personal expenses, being I was obediently following His leading, I was not overly concerned. After all, I was doing as He said, and it was often heard, “Where the Lord guides, He provides.” I believed it.

 

But after a few months, things got a bit uncertain. And we didn’t have a savings account or dollars stuffed under the bed to cover the mortgage, car payments (2), and regular monthly bills that still came. With my income dropping from $70,000 per year to just over $11,000 (I still have all my accurate tax returns for those years and following so as not to “exaggerate”), my good wife was greatly encouraging me to do something. Even if it meant for me getting a job at McDonalds if I had to.

 

Thankfully, her part-time job as a child caretaker provided food and some other needed income for the home.

 

In my heart, I knew the Lord was going to provide. I waited for His clear direction. In the meantime, He did lead me to seek a part-time accounting job, which I did.

 

And then He spoke. “Use what I have already given you.”

 

“What?” I asked.

 

He responded further. “Your home. The extra bedroom.”

 

Being our four kids had moved out, we had two extra bedrooms in our home, basically unused. That was 13 years ago, and we have had a renter ever since, providing income for the ministry and more.

 

In addition to that, with the accounting contract services jobs He has provided over those 13 years, it covered all ministry expenses for frequent Israel trips, and gave us additional monthly support for our Messianic Jewish friends living in the Land.

 

With that being said, we had decided to no longer have a renter, to take a “break” from it. This August 2023 was to be the end of it. And I thought, “There goes my Israel ministry trip funds” as I had known. I even began to think that there would be no trips to Israel in 2024. And so, I again put it in the hands of the Lord to see where His next means of provision were to come from, for He hadn’t removed the calling and ministry that He had first given 13 years ago.

 

And then on Aug. 7, 2023, I got a voice message from someone responding to a “room rental ad” I had placed in January of this year (2023) but had placed the ad on “pause” in February. How did that happen - that it was seen?

 

When I mentioned the call to Laurie, she responded rather positively, surprisingly to me, after I had already told the person we no longer were renting the room.

 

And then Laurie had the person come over that same night…and now we are going to be back having a renter here near the end of the year, after giving it a few months break. And the rent income will be double what we were getting from the last one! Ministry income!

 

The Lord does provide. He is always faithful to enable us to fulfill what He has called us to do. Each one of us, if we but keep our eyes fixed on Him.

 

As He promises to each of us in faith, “…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2, NASU

 

What He has called you to do, continue doing it. Even when it looks like it may be “done and over”, He will still make a way, until it is really done and over, and we have reached our eternal reward in heaven.

 

Ahava and shalom,

 


Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

 

Message #146 in this series – in the year of our Lord 08.08.23 – “Provision Comes” Tuesday, 12:40 pm in Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Love For His People Ministry. is a charitable, USA humanitarian ministry started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations, especially to and within Israel.

 

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

 

Go here for safe donations using major credit cards with PayPal.

 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

 

Love For His People Ministry  12120 Woodside Falls Rd.   Pineville, NC 28134

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