Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "Colors"
“Colors”
“…though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool (snow).” Isaiah 1:18b
Dear family of friends,
Colors. Blue and white. Red and green. Yellow and black. Black and white. Colors all around us. Some more prominent than others.
Back in the day (like the ones the country group Rascall Flatts sing about in their song, “Mayberry”, when “everything was black and white”), life in Cedar Falls, Iowa was basic growing up time in the ‘60’s and early ’70’s. As typical Midwestern youth, my friend Rusty and I had our Schwinn Sting ray bikes, the ones with the big Texas steer handles and the banana seats. We obeyed the traffic signals, stuck out our hands when turning left or right, and occasionally remembered to ring the bell when approaching the “slow ones” on the sidewalk. (Ricky Bobby had nothing on me.)
Once I became a sophomore at Columbus Catholic High School in Waterloo, I had gotten my first real ride.
Thanks to my oldest sister Sue, I became the proud owner of her former black and white 1957 Ford Fairlane. I had gotten a great deal for $150 (almost a half year’s savings of working at Rolinger’s Hamburger joint, no less, at $1.10 per hour!) Even though it was a 4-door, at least it had doors. And when I added the glass pack muffler, to give it that extra “loud” flare driving down Main Street, life was worth living. Dad wondered why I wanted noise, but then he gave me a booming reverb add-on for my three station button radio. That made it real special.
After I meticulously added the white pin stripes around the black trimmed windows, oh so carefully with my craftsman-like precision fingers, the freshman girls even looked. At least once.
Things were indeed more simple back then.
Flash back to grade school, I remember what occurred when you mouthed off in class. My 6th grade nun Sister Robert Cecille took me once to the older nun’s office, who was the Principal. I only had to go there that time (the other kids used to call me “Brown Nose”), but even still, that room was one place you didn’t want to go. Just “walking the plank” up the stairs to the second floor at St. Patrick’s Elementary gave you extra time to put the fear of God in your heart. Sister’s black and white nun’s outfit, called a habit, with the pointed cap hiding her short black hair (we saw it one time – a very rare occasion), clearly indicated the need in my life to respect and appreciate authority.
When Father Thomas Purcell, dressed daily in his black shirt and black pants, with a white collar around his neck, put me in charge of the altar boys schedule while I was in 8th grade, he unknowingly helped me raise funds for my new black Panasonic cassette player. Any one remember? The one with the automatic off switch, so the battery expense wouldn’t be so large. I liked Diana Ross & The Supremes songs the best.
Being the “brains” that I was (thank you Lord!), I scheduled myself to serve the priest at Mass for most of the Saturday weddings. The groom was always in a good mood, so the $5 tip usually received made me smile real big too. (The funerals I gave to others. Not so profitable.)
For each Mass, whether it was “high or low”, wedding, funeral, holy days or just the 20-minute daily Mass, we put on our black and white cossacks, as they were called, over our street clothes, and did our thing. (Sidebar: Many symbols in the Roman Catholic Church had their roots in the Jewish culture, the early Christian community. We need to get back to those Hebraic roots, and cease with the Replacement Theology garbage, as many Christian churches throughout the world erroneously believe.)
Today, black and white has turned gray. The Ten Commandments are not allowed in the schools, our courtrooms, or any public places that I am aware of. Many in this current youth generation, following after parents who also have lost their way, after dismissing the rules and regulations as too restrictive decades ago, are wandering aimlessly. Anything goes, when it comes to doing the number one thing – being entertained. And so people burn themselves up by practicing their “freedom”, with out of marriage sex, drugs of all sorts, and over indulgence of drink.
Many have lost the beauty of the simple standard, basic colors, and instead have accepted the ugly ones.
Black and white. Yes, simple and basic. The way of life given to us by the living God of Israel, to give us life.
Red is a very good color. It represents the Blood that enables us to see clearly black and white. I like black and white, but I like red the best. And I give Him thanks daily because of His love shed for you and me.
Ahava to my family of friends.
Steve
P.S. It was good seeing all the teens and young adults at the Charlotte, NC Samaritan's Purse distribution center warehouse in December, helping to put together over two million Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. "Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
P.S.S. Love For His People, Inc. sends monthly financial support to believers “on the ground” in Jerusalem, and to an orphanage in Accra, Ghana, cared for by a Messianic Jew named Ephraim. We also give as we can to assist a very reliable work in Hyderabad, India, called Lighthouse Center India, founded by John Ebenezer. We appreciate your special gifts.
You can donate your end-of year gift now on-line by clicking here http://www.loveforhispeople.com/ for our website “Giving Opportunities” tab, or by sending checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)
©2010 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035 www.loveforhispeople.com
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People Twitter: martinlighthous and LovingHisPeople
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions sent by mail or given on-line will receive an e-receipt for each donation, for you to print out. (Saves the ministry on postage and envelopes!) Plus you too can bless others through your favorite ahava letterman!
Ahava Love Letter #8 In the Year of Our Lord: 12/28/10
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "Christmas Greeting"
Ahava Love Letter
Dec. 2010
For all our family of friends, a merry merry Christmas poem for you.
"You are busy.
This is short.
Merry Christmas to all.
God bless your fort!”
Short and sweet, right?! Now I have to go wrap Laurie’s extra surprise present. (It’s a mug with her initial on it! But please don’t tell her. She will say she has too many mugs already.) She is a real blessing, as are our Moms, our children (and Chelsie!), grandkids, and future son-in-law too!
May you be more aware of His blessings in the coming year, those coming down from the forever reigning King Jesus’ throne. For He is the Lion of Judah, and the Ruler of the nations.
May you also be a blessing, and pass onto others that love that falls on your head and passes through your heart from Him.
Ahava to all!
Steve & Laurie
P.S. Regular "full length" Ahava Love Letters will resume in 2011. Happy New Year too!
End of Year Contributions & “Giving Opportunities” – Click Here:
2010 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization, Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions sent by mail or given on-line will receive an e-receipt for each gift. Ahava Love Letter #8 121710
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "The Prince & The Silver Hairs" (#7)
Ahava Love Letter
“The Prince & The Silver Hairs”
“And he said (to the Lord), “Here I am.”” (Exodus 3:4)
The Lord speaks: “Come now therefore, and I will send you…” (Exodus 3:10)
Dear family of friends,
Have you ever seen The Prince of Egypt animated movie?
Dream Works' first American traditionally animated musical film of Moses and the Exodus, The Prince of Egypt, came out on December 18, 1998. I read where the concept arose unexpectantly from a conversation Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen had in 1994. The film was nominated for best Original Music Score and won for Best Original Song at the 1999 Academy Awards for "When You Believe". The pop version of the song was performed at the ceremony by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. (I still love it!)
It may have had a big impression on my kids. I don’t remember. But I know it certainly did on me. So much so, that after I had set up the church bookstore at All Nations Church on Granite Street in Charlotte in 1997 (in the former kitchen), and then when we purchased and moved onto the Heritage USA/PTL former Fort Hope property, where the store became "The Glory Barn" (Ruth Heflin influence), I wanted to share this message as much as I could.
When the CDs, DVDs, pictorial story books, logo cups, etc. came out, I waited just a bit longer to buy a mass quantity on clearance shelves at the "big boxes", to make available in that "smaller box." Something, or Someone, had given me the desire to share this story, and hope it would have the same impact it had on me, with others. Especially to get this story into the hands of little kids who are so imprinted and impacted during their young ages.
Now over 10 years later, while waiting for our four grown kids, with Josh’s spouse Chelsie, Christen’s fiancé’ Andrew, and our four grandkids to come over for the annual Thanksgiving dinner this year, I re-discovered our DVD copy of The Prince of Egypt sitting on the TV shelf, behind the glass door case. I pulled it out and popped it in. Still a great movie.
Lately I had been wondering about Moses again. What was it really like for him in his 40 year "desert", both naturally and spiritually? What was the Lord doing, when He led, and then seemingly left, the former exalted prince out there in that wilderness? How did this Moses, once next in line to Pharoah, raised to rule an empire that would rank high on the list for all time, end up sitting around sheep and camels in a hot, dry desert? For 40 years no less. (Sidebar: Did you know Moses was about 55 years old in comparison to life spams now, when the Lord sent him back to Egypt? Do the math, using his full 120 years and our current lifespan of about 75-80 yrs.)
How many of you, along with me, feel like you may have just spent (or still are?) 40 years in “the desert”? Thinking and wondering and questioning if you too would be "used of God again", or even for the first time? As I have, did you too question if those desires, the ones you just knew the Lord put in your heart long ago, quite possibly in your tween or teen years, would ever come to pass? Or were they just life-long aches, that pressed even more when you saw others doing so great, experiencing fulfillment of "their calling", while you seemed to “sit on the bench" and just long inside for those opportunities? Maybe not? Maybe so.
Quite possibly you had some glimpses or moments when encouragement did come, but they were few and far between. But you kept faithful and pushed on. For many of us, the historically true story of Moshe' (his Hebrew name), leader of the once enslaved Israelites who guided them out of Egyptian bondage, is encouraging. He made it out of the desert.
But what happened when he was in his desert? Why was the time so long, and so obscure for him? Why has it been for many of us?
I have often heard that in construction, the more massive the building structure is to be, the deeper the foundation that must be built. I am not an engineer or architect, in the natural, but life experiences do count for something. (Along with those "white hairs" of wisdom, which number even more so!)
Looking back on our Ft. Lauderdale, Florida days (those “seven tough years in Egypt” as Laurie and I called them), while our family was at Good News Church from 1987-1994 (where the international ministries of Derek Prince, Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, and Jim Croft first flourished in those years) then Senior Pastor Geoff Buck shared a prophetic word. It was one that I have "logged into from the memory hard drive in my brain" several times.
Either directly from his mouth, or previously spoken through another, I heard something like this out of his mouth. "The time of the silver-hairs will come. And the Lord wants you to know that in the meantime He isn't finished with you. In fact, it will be "that time” when you are the most productive.” (Sidebar: As for the “silver-hairs”, I trust the Lord would also include those who have, let me be careful in how I say this, have them “Covered them up with another color”??!!”)
Does this give hope for you? It certainly did for me, even when I was in my late 30’s!
When on my 55th birthday, Nov. 23, 2009, the Lord said specifically to me, "Now is the time", it spoke two things to me: the waiting (desert) time was over and a release had come to have my own vineyard to grow and care for. (I wrote about this more elaborately in one of my first Ahava Love Letters. For that one and all the letters which have been written thus far, go to http://www.loveforhispeople.com/ and look under the Ahava Love Letters tab.)
From the bottom of my heart, I hope it is the time for you too, and that your most important desert training time is over or about to be completed. Our country, spouses, kids and grandkids, and extended families need our leadership, encouragement and hope, for now and in the future. With our “desert time diploma in hand”, we can now get up, get going, and do that which the Lord God of Israel has been preparing deep within us over these many, many years.
Ahava, my family of friends,
Steve
P.S. Caring for sheep, goats and camels must be a tough job. When I see the Bedouins and shepherds in Israel out in the hot, sandy, rocky desert doing it, I give thanks to the Lord for the air-conditioned bus I am on! Come along with us on our next Ahava Adventures trip in November, 2011. Or if you can’t make this one, go shop for “not life-size” camel and sheep stuffed animals at our new Shalom Inspirations gift shop in the BLACKLION complex in Pineville, NC on Park.
Either one is a good time!
P.S.S. Love For His People, Inc. sends monthly financial support to believers “on the ground” in Jerusalem, and to an orphanage in Accra, Ghana, cared for by a Messianic Jew named Ephraim. We also give as we can to assist a reliable work in Hyderabad, India, called Lighthouse Center India, founded by John Ebenezer. We appreciate your special gifts. You can donate now on-line by clicking here http://www.loveforhispeople.com/, for our website “Giving Opportunities” website page, or by sending checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)
©2010 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People Twitter: martinlighthous and LovingHisPeople
Blogger: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions sent by mail or on-line receive an e-receipt for each donation. (Plus you too can bless others through your favorite ahava letterman!)
Ahava Love Letter #7 121410
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "He Knows Your Name"
Ahava Love Letter
“He Knows Your Name”
“…and you shall call His name Emmanuel (God with us.)” (Isaiah 7:14)
Dear family of friends,
Have you ever wondered why the Lord has written so many personal names in His Word to us? Ever think about how you got your name?
On Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, after my regular time of reading His Scripture He so faithfully gave to the nations, through the Jewish people, still His chosen ones, I was overcome by His passion of love and care for each of us, as I sat in my brown, swivel prayer chair (the one my Mom gave me several years ago, after she got another one. I broke a back bottom spring in it three weeks ago, so it is a bit awkward now sitting in it. Oh well. Adjust as you can I have learned.)
Around 6:10 am that morning, I had just finished reading Nehemiah 7, as part of my daily routine reading on Mondays through Fridays. This was after reading more verses from Exodus, about Moses and his leadership, which I had also been pondering on lately.
When I reached the long list of names in this chapter from the book of Nehemiah, I was tempted, as I had often done in the past when getting to long lists of names, to skip past the individuals. Mainly because I can’t pronounce them anyway. Even silently in my head.
But then the Holy Spirit stopped me. (I love it when He interrupts my Bible reading to tell me something special.) He quietly and simply said, “Read the names.”
“Ok.” So I did.
It reads, “These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city. Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah.”
Ok, I thought. I made it through this first list. I could say about four of the names. I felt I had accomplished something.
“Keep reading,” He spoke again.
I quickly glanced at the next page and a half. There were a lot of names! This would take me at least ten minutes to get through them all, I thought, if I try to think about how to say them right.
“Keep reading,” He quietly nudged me again.
“Ok”, I spoke back from my spirit. So I continued reading on, giving a little bit more attention.
“The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two… (Sidebar: have you ever noticed how accurate the Lord is too about numbers? Having done enough accounting for over 30 years, I have!); the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; the sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two…” And the list went on for 57 more verses, before it also came to the listings of the exact number of animals, gold offerings, and such.
I finished the chapter. Closed the Bible, and started to pray. Monday is now our Martin family regular prayer and fast day (thanks sister Mary for setting and keeping this up!), so I started praying in tongues. My normal habit. (Holy Spirit knows the individual needs better than I do, even if written down in front of me on a prayer list.)
After a bit of time I received the thought to send out a few e-mails to beloved friends in Israel, Africa and India, to let them know I was praying for them especially that day too, for their encouragement. Then I wanted to post a verse on my Facebook page, so I picked up my Maxwell Leadership Bible again (New King James version) at 6:15 am, and thumbed into my Blackberry a posting onto my profile page. It was the following thought.
“Why does Adonai name, by name, so many people in His Word? Another demonstration of His love. Same for you and me - He knows our name.”
Holy Spirit spoke to me again.“Do you realize what I just had you write?”
“Well” I replied back, hoping it wasn’t a “trick” question and I’d get the answer right. “He knows our name.” (That’s a good thing, right?)
Within seconds, my heart began to whelm up with overcoming compassion. Tears started falling from my eyes, and my chest moved a bit further out a few times. My nose started clogging up with (well, you know what…)
“He knows our name. He knows our name. He knows our name.” It kept being repeated in my brain.
From deeper and deeper the sobs came, as He had me consider all those people who were, even at that very moment throughout the world, asking themselves, “Does anyone even know my name?”, as they sat in despair, loneliness, depression, and utter discouragement. “Does anyone even know my name?
More and more His love came over me. Intercession for those, through the sobs and all.
“He knows their names. HE KNOWS THEIR NAMES. Yes He does! Yes He does! Yes He does!”, my spirit was reaffirming through me, as He ministered to them through this intercession.
After repeated times of this, I got up from my chair, went and blew my nose, and came back to thank the Lord for His love. His everlasting and ever present love that He is continually pouring out to the nations. To the individuals He created, and continues to create. And to you individually.
If you are one of those who has wondered at times (and who hasn’t?), or even now, asking if anyone cares, or even knows your name, and you have this God-given eternal desire to have someone express real love to you, for you, about you; for someone to really know who you are, even as simple as it may seem, to know your name, and your importance, and your very being… Let me reaffirm to you now, from the deepest part of my heart as I can; from the deepest part of His heart - HE KNOWS YOUR NAME!
He knows your name. Say it to yourself again. “He knows my name.”
And He loves you. He provides for you. He laid down His life for you. And He will ALWAYS be with you, as you call on His name. Jesus. Yeshua. Adonai. Whatever you know His name as, He knows yours.
Ahava to all my family of friends,
Steve
P.S.. Love For His People, Inc. monthly sends financial support to believers “on the ground” in Jerusalem, and to an orphanage in Accra, Ghana, cared for by my “adopted son”, Ephraim, a Messianic Jew. We also give as we can to assist a reliable work in Hyderabad, India, called Lighthouse Center India, founded by John Ebenezer. Please read his attached field report from Dec. 6, 2010 also.
We appreciate your special gifts. You can donate now on-line by clicking here http://www.loveforhispeople.com/, for our website’s “Giving Opportunities” page, or by sending checks to the address below.
Todah rabah! (Hebrew for” Thank you very much!”) And don’t forget to enjoy, appreciate, and thank Him for His love for you too.
©2010 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People Twitter: martinlighthous and LovingHisPeople
Blogger: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions sent by mail or given on-line will receive an e-receipt for each donation, for you to print out. (Saves on postage and envelopes!) Plus you too can bless others through your favorite ahava letterman! Ahava Love Letter #6 Date: Dec. 7, 2010
John Ebenezer – Field Report
LighthouseCenter India
Hyderabad, India A.P.
Dec. 6, 2010
(Note: John’s message has been printed just as he wrote it. No edits have been done, for the purpose of you experiencing the actual report! John has literally built 36 church buildings, trained the pastors to lead the new flock, and provided ½ acre of land next to the building to grow red hot peppers. That provides ongoing income for the pastors. At a remarkable cost of just $7000 each.
This is just part of what he has done over his 70 years of life thus far. Now I would call him an “apostle” if ever I knew one! He is a remarkable man of God, just out there “doing the work.”
Love For His People, Inc . seeks to provide him with $100 a month to assist in the “labor” costs of birthing new life in the Hindu/Moslem villages! After reading below, think about how you can put good seed into good, productive ground.)
Monday, 7:27 PM (USA ET)
My Dear Steve,
shalom, praise the Lord. I have received many mails from you, as I am on the villages and for rural evangelisem and having few meetings in 6 villages 13 people are saved by His grace and 6 young people committed for their life to Christ, and I was heled up on of the trial village for another tribal village,because the district was shutdown for the day by politcal groups,any how GOD is so good to me and I am able to travel next day,in this mean time I have baby dedications 6,and oe house warming service one all night worship at sulanagaram, praiase the lord there is agreat mirical in the village ast year we have fasted and prayed for one hindu family who have no children,now I saw them having a baby now thy are coming to our chruch past 7 months the same baby I did baby dedication,praise the lord, as I am again traveling to villages from 14th to 26th I will be at mucherla and other villages, on 25th I have to take worship service in 7 chruchs in the night and back home on 27th then 29 leave back for new year services the same 7 service to take in the night and will be home on 4th jan,2011, on 6and 7th I have to go for my testes with doctor on 10th with reports I have to see my personal Doctor for check up,ten again I have travel on 15th to orrisa and chittsgarh because I have to see the new converts in two differnt village thy are all koyas tribe,very strong believers in the past three years,even thou thy are very poor much happy in the LORD so I have take new year service with same groups make them happy ,with my visit in new year.by GODs grace one sister patrice ladson she gave me 500 dollars offering for the new clothing for the christmas for the pastors and believers in the villages now I have aken 100 sarees and 60 astors dresses and 100 for men dress like (pancha and shirt) which old people use not pants.any howGOD is good all the time HE provided for them halelujah...thank you Jesus.
this cloths I give from the light house center India for the people in the villages,I thank you for your mails which I have gone through all it was encouraging and filled with love,still I am learing more from your letters,shalom.please let me know the dates of cathirnes marriage so we have to pay on that day at mcuerla church and other chruchs too,because many many people thy all love you so much praying for your ministry in india and afirca, I am seeing GOD to provide house at hyderabad for the lght house center to keep the children and give them education and care let it come by HIS time lets have HOPE in HIM all things are possible who BELIEVES IN HIM allelujah.
please pray for India,I am so happy hat you have with Franklin graham which I have seen him first time you are the second time, please greet all the partners from me and sister land all the family members of yours, I love to see them again GOD willing, may the JOY OF THE LORD WITH YOU ALL, SEASONS GREETINGS>
In His service
JohN Ebenezer
Ahava for all
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "Heritage USA & A Prophetic Drive"
Ahava Love Letter
“Heritage USA & A Prophetic Drive”
“Then I arose in the night...and went out by night…” (Nehemiah 2:12-13)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Dear family of friends,
On Oct. 21, 2003, I felt the Lord had me leave my home (a weekday night) in southern Pineville, NC, and head into town. He has had me go on these trips before, where I have the sense to get in my vehicle and “go”, and then trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. Sometimes it is early morning. Sometimes late at night. Normally I go to bed at 9 pm, so for me to be up at 11:00 p.m. was not the norm.
After I had headed up Lancaster Hwy. (old Hwy. 521), I made the turn onto Hwy. 51, and headed west. By this time I had the sense that I was being directed to go to the former Heritage USA (PTL) property, which I had done so many times before. It is literally three miles from our house, as the crow flies. (Or the eagle, if you like real good prophetic symbols!)
As I approached the entrance onto the former land, now known as Regent Park, I wasn’t paying as close attention as I should have, and actually passed the main entrance. When I became aware of missing it, I continued onto the All Nations Church property, which was about two miles or so further east. I drove to its entrance. As I sat in my truck, praying in tongues, I felt the Lord say the building they were wanting to construct over the past three years (since 2001) hadn’t progressed because they were trying to put it in the wrong location on that former Heritage USA Fort Hope land. I made a call to the ANC office and left a message on the current administrator’s phone, sharing my belief. (He later confirmed that a month earlier the decision had been made by them that the building was to go in the area I had specified in my call.)
I then returned to the other Heritage USA entrance, on Hwy. 160, arriving at 11:58 p.m. After I crossed the railroad tracks onto the main part of the former Christian retreat center, I sensed that I was to drive around the perimeter road. I knew that was permissible. Again interceding in my prayer language, I knew I was imploring the Lord for the land to be put back in the hands of His believers. I had expected to make only one trip around, even as Nehemiah had done when he approached ancient Jerusalem, and saw the walls in ruin.
At 12:00 a.m. I had driven to the back side of the property, near what was then called The Studio. I believe it still is. I knew this property well, even in the dark. Because I had invested $3000 in lifetime memberships in 1985 (two for my family and one for a family in Fort Lauderdale, who now actually live in the Charlotte area) I had often “scouted out my land.” (I even still have a big, 20 pound granite rock that I had “picked up” in 2004, that now sits on the floor in our new “worship room” in our house. (Formerly this room was called my “NASCAR man cave”. You can read further on that in two previous Ahava Love Letters, entitled “Move In To Move Out” (Parts I and II.)
Also while on staff at All Nations Church/Mahesh Chavda Ministries, as the administrator, we held several conferences on this property. In fact, little did we know at the time, we held the very last conference on the former PTL grounds before it completely shut down – that being in November, 1997, in “The Barn”. The entire place finally closed down at the end of that month. The property had been in disuse since, apart from the Kingsway (Narroway) Christian outdoor plays in the amphitheatre and their dinner theatre in The Studio.
While I sat in my ’99 Chevy S-10 “pick-em-up” truck, praying and interceding, I was instructed by the Lord to proclaim “Return seven times what was stolen!” Maybe even as Nehemiah himself may have spoken as he sat on his horse, looking at the walls under the moonlit sky, seeking the Lord’s command and purpose for Jerusalem. The enemies of the Lord had destroyed that city prior to his days. Now these grounds had also been vacant and falling further into destruction, for over six years now (when I originally wrote this in 2003.). Fallen apart, as if left for dead. Even as Rick Joyner had prophesized in that small blue book he wrote,
At 12:05 a.m. I completed the first circular lap of the road that I could drive on. I had weaved past The Barn, with its roof caved in and the interior having been flooded many time by indoor and outdoor waters; past the Upper Room, also left as it was on its last day, back in 1997. Then it was used for crying out to the Lord for His revival and intervention, but left alone in utter quietness over these many desolate years. I drove past the stark and empty amphitheatre and through the former campground. (Sidebar: My dad, Louis Martin, in 1998-1999, helped re-wire this outdoor, half-moon facility of the former home of the Passion Play. My son Ben has now set up a great memorabilia display off Main Street in the Grand Hotel of Heritage International Ministries. Go check it out! Jim Bakker did, and loves it!)
I then made a left turn at the stop sign posted at the edge of the campgrounds, and drove past the only burnt evergreen tree stump, located just under the walkway overpass, on the right side of the road.
Back in 1997, I had conducted a Martin family reunion here on these grounds near Charlotte, over the 4th of July weekend. An errant bottle rocket, lit and fired by this writer, didn’t quite perform the projection that I had anticipated and hoped for, landing the fire piece instead in the top of the evergreen tree. It quickly made a Roman candle out of that once living creation! (I have my entire Martin family as witnesses too!) With ineffective efforts on our part to put it out, with very little time to do otherwise, it didn’t keep the tree from burning rapidly to within one foot of the ground. Now only the charred stump remains, as a testimony to my unskilled method of shooting off bottle fire rockets. (Sidebar: And as of the last time I checked, it still stands as another memorial, to this very day!)
At that time, knowing that control of this land was heading into a direction that many desired it wouldn’t go, including myself, I spoke under my breath, after all of this extra 4th of July added excitement had leveled off. “Well, if we (believers) can’t have this land, no one will!”
I then turned my six cylinder around and drove back to the original intersection of the starting point (now known as Regent Blvd. and Starlight), where I stopped momentarily.
Again I proclaimed, “Restore the land to Your people!” seven times. I then called the Derek Prince Ministries office at 12:08 a.m. on my cell phone and left a message on my desk phone, just to have confirmation that I was actually doing this. (My personal assistant would check my messages the next day.)
Then the Lord gave me further instructions. “Drive around the perimeter six more times, for a total of seven times.” And so I heard and obeyed.
At 12:12 a.m. I completed the 2nd encircling of the land, and spoke out to “Restore the widow’s mite!”
As I drove the 3rd time, I continually prayed in tongues, as I had throughout the first two laps. I completed this round at 12:17 a.m., noting that each trip was 2.2 miles in length on my odometer. I also noted, as I wrote on the purple 3” x 6” paper sheets I had available to scribble on, that the Lord spoke again to “Speed up” when I took the next lap. He said He was “Speeding up His timetable.”
The narrow roadway reminded me of a NASCAR road course, and it was no easy task to drive the dark, broken blacktop at 35 - 40 mph. (No speed limit signs were posted! I felt like I could have taken on #24 Jeff Gordon at that time!) J
At 12:23 a.m. I finished the 4th round.
At 12:24 a.m. I started the 5th lap, and completed it at 12:28 a.m.
At 12:29 a.m. I started the 6th lap, and finished it at 12:33 a.m. Each time I grew bolder in my driving. (Yes, I would have beaten Jeff Gordon in this race! But kids, don’t always do what your father does!)
At 12:34 a.m. I started the 7th and final lap, completing the course at 12:38 a.m. I had driven my 4 x 4 at a speed of up to 50 mph on the “straightaway”, which was rather short on the back stretch, which crossed the parking lot, just before passing The Studio on the right.
The total mileage traveled for the seven laps was 15.4 miles on my odometer.
At 12:40 a.m. I again called my office and left a message for my personal assistant, recording what I had just done. (Remember that, M.M.?)
Upon completion of this divinely assigned task, on my way out of this 2000 acre property, I headed towards the other entrance. That would take me by the former World Outreach Center, or commonly known as “The Pyramid”, back in the day. All Nations Church/Mahesh Chavda Ministries had seriously considered leasing this building in 1998, for a church, conference and office facility. I had spoken of this possible commitment to the five Malaysian owners’ administrator of Regent. But to no avail.
(Sidebar: And for the record, I saw Jim Bakker’s famous, so-called “golden bathroom faucets”, on the very top floor of the building. From my observation, they were simply better hardware, which could have been found in Lowes, or anywhere else. Why the big issue made at that time in 1987? Just more lies printed and spoken in the media, as usual.)
At 12:42 a.m. I pulled up in front of the pyramid. I then felt led to run my Chevy truck around the flag pole that was located in front of what was then a Laura Ashley administration office, doing this encirclement seven times. (Remember, I originally wrote this act back in 2003. Being it is now Dec. 2010 that I am sharing this publicly, that makes it just over seven years ago.) I finished at 12:43 a.m., quite dizzy, having driven my good ‘ole girl as fast as I could for those very tight laps.
I arrived back home at1:04 a.m., knowing that 5:00 a.m. came early. The alarm clocks of Laurie and I had, as usual, been set for that scheduled normal “wake-up” time.
And now back to the future, here in 2010, as history has again shown, the Lord had preserved this land for His purposes. What the enemy had indeed stolen was returned to His people! And I give special heartfelt thanks to Rick Joyner, the past and current Morningstar Fellowship staff, and to so many others who have given of themselves, with long persevering efforts in the natural and spiritual realms, to bring restoration “to these walls.” (Sidebar: Even just last week the Upper Room was sold, and plans move forward for its restoration too, for prayer and worship times for many.)
May the same restoration be brought forth in Jerusalem, and in the rightful owners of that entire Promised Land of Israel - the Jewish people.
Ahava, my family of friends,
Steve
P.S. On January 7, 2011 (my Mom’s 76th birthday!), Laurie and I will lead the new Beit Tikvah (House of Hope in Hebrew) Friday night meetings at Antioch International Church (pastors Peter Wyns and Jesse Enns), located within a stone’s throw of the former King’s Castle. That facility is another former Heritage USA building that will be restored. Still standing after 25 years, restoration will come. And so it will to The Tower!!! I know two people in Black Mountain who are moving in!)
This special anointed land, with the new Heritage International Ministries and several others on it, is further fulfillment of many prophetic words spoken over these past 24 years. Having been undergirded by the prayers of countless aged saints (and some not so fine wined), His promises continue to be fulfilled. The Lord is faithful!
©2010 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People Twitter: martinlighthous and LovingHisPeople Blogger: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions receive an e-receipt for each donation sent to the office address above, or on-line website donations. (You too can help support your favorite ahava letterman!) Ahava Love Letter #5 120110
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Ahava Love Letter - "Commit Your Way To Him"
Ahava Love Letter
“Commit Your Way To Him”
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.” Psalm 37:5 (NAS)
“You are all set,” Mr. Phil Bailey, my boss, told me. “Just talk to the manager when you get there.”
I had been employed at Eagle Groceries store in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for a few years at that point, in 1976. They had wanted to make me the Night Stock Crew Chief the year after I graduated from high school. That was in 1973. But I wanted to be a missionary in Africa. Get married. Have ten kids. So I moved on when I felt the Lord saying “Go.”
This nationwide grocery chain (Lucky Stores) was just one mile west from that other grocery store, near the University of N. Iowa, where I did my one year of college. That other one (HyVee – the newest competition) was where Kurt Warner was bagging groceries and stocking shelves too around that time. Back in the 70’s. (You might recall, he was the one who made it big in the NFL later. If only I hadn’t quit my football career for a new job, my senior year. Right before the “big rival game” between my Catholic high school Waterloo Columbus and Cedar Falls High School, where I actually lived. Dream on!)
By the way, Kurt had been led to the Lord by his wife, Brenda, who had been led to the Lord by my youngest sister, Lynn. (She is one of my five sisters. The youngest of the girls. I only have two brothers though.) The Warners and Lynn, with new husband Greg, were neighbors at the time, near CFHS.
I like to “name drop” once in awhile. I have known Lynn Martin Cowell for over 35 years now. At least since she was born. (I won’t give out her real age. Women tend to not like that bit of info disclosed for some reason.) She is a Proverbs 31 Woman speaker and author, in case you are interested further.
And sorry for the sidebar. I am sure those of you too over 50 get “side barred” sometimes. Don’t worry though. That too will pass when we get our new memories. At the final graduation time.
Back to my original story. When I arrived in LaSalle/Peru, Illinois, I went directly to the Eagle Grocery. There I found out they didn’t know who I was. “Steve Martin? From where?” was all they said. Seems like Mr. Phil Bailey hadn’t made the call to transfer me.
Panic came on me immediately. Here, at the wise-old age of 22, I had moved the three hours from my hometown. Had left all behind me (except what could fit in my pretty blue metallic, two door 1967 Mercury), and “went”, as I felt the Lord had told me. All in obedience of course (or maybe because my marriage engagement to Kathy had just broken off…)
So here in the Illini state, chief rivals of my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes, I looked up and exclaimed, “Lord, what have You done to me?”
At least I was still single, didn’t have five others to care for at the time, and had my two closet sisters in town (Sue and Mary, with their husbands, Dave and Bob.) Jesus didn’t have a place to lay His head most of the time, but the single guys room up in the Victory Church loft had a green couch to sleep on, so there I landed. I thus had to seek employment elsewhere. I needed a job.
“Why this unexpected development, Lord?” I lamented almost daily, during my morning prayer time. And through the day. For a good solid week for sure.
I had never been unemployed in my life. Ever since I started my first job (not counting the “kitchen duties” rotation with my other siblings, from age 10), my Waterloo Courier paper route in 6th grade, work was just the norm.
Dad worked two jobs. Fifteen 15 hours everyday (except Sundays, when we went to 6:30 am Mass.) And I never saw Mom sleep, raising us eight kids almost by herself it seemed when I was still home. I need a job Lord. I can’t depend on others for my needs.
Why this unexpected, unplanned change right now? Did You leave something out in that prophetic word You had given me, that I knew how it was to all work out when I trusted You?”
My heart had already been broken (smashed down even, with all the red blood drained out it seemed) before the move here. Kathy didn’t want to join me on the African mission field. She wanted to be an English teacher instead in her Iowan home town. I wonder if she ever did.
“Commit your way to the Lord” thus became my life-long verse during this time. “Trust also in Him” was what I had to hang onto to. “And He will do it.” I had to believe that. “Especially now,” as I buried that promise deep in my still warm heart.
Even though I wasn’t expecting this change, nor had it planned out in my “organizational, administrative” brain, I had to believe that the Lord knew what He was doing. He knows all things. And He always has my best interests at hand, ready to reveal them to me, one step at a time.
For the record, I did get a job soon enough. It was at a very small restaurant called “The English Muffin”, if you really want to know. But I needed to take the open door the Lord gave me, until the next one opened up. All for His reasons, in His full wisdom and knowledge.)
It was a new season for me. It is a new season now. I hope you are in one yourself, or are expecting one soon. He is the Keeper of His promises, and He will give you the desires He put in your heart. He certainly is doing that in mine. That is why I love Him so, in addition to eternal life that He freely gave me.
May His Ahava be with you today,
Steve Martin
P.S. As I said in one of my Israel e-journal entries recently, on our first Ahava Adventures trip to The Promised Land of His Chosen Ones, Laurie Unzicker Martin was the Lord’s choice for me all along. Since the beginning of eternity, in fact. His plans are SO MUCH better that what we can come up with! I love my good wife very much. And I wouldn’t now have Josh, Ben, Hannah and Christen without her (plus four grandkids!!!)
Ahava Love Letters (#2 ) ©2010 Steve Martin - Love For His People, Inc.