Brick Wall. Ever Hit One? - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Brick Wall. Ever Hit One?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

(Galatians 6:9-10, THE MESSAGE)

Sometimes you just feel like you’ve hit a brick wall. And want to quit. I have. You too?

There have been seasons in my soul, in my life, where I felt like nothing was going anywhere, that the time was done. In fact, sometime in early 2018 I wanted to quit. Quit church. Quit the ministry I founded 8 years before (Love For His People). Just stop, and quit. Discouragement overcame me, as I couldn’t, and didn’t, see anything to look forward too. Tired, worn out, figuring it was the next generation’s turn. Let them do it now.

So I told my good wife Laurie, “I don’t really care where we go to church. I am just going to go wherever you want.” I really did say that.

This was after 45 years of walking with the Lord and serving His people – in many churches, and on paid staff with 8 ministries over many of those years (Derek Prince Ministries – Director of Operations and Finance; Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda Ministries/All Nations Church – Administrator; Vision For Israel/The Joseph Storehouse with Barry and Batya Segal – the USA Director; Covenant Keepers led by Rex and Carolyn Johnston – the accountant; Charlotte Rescue Mission with Tony Marciano and Chris Moore – accounting; Samaritan’s Purse with CEO Franklin Graham – mail processing and Team Leader for Operation Christmas Child; and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Billy Graham Library – Ruth’s Attic Gift Shop associate. And of course, Love For His People, which we founded in April, 2010. 

I have a long resume. Over six decades of life can bring about that length. It sure has given one a lot of friends and knowledge on how to treat employees.

One of our great delights - leading worship in churches.

I could also name all eight churches Laurie and I have been members of, but that would take more paper and ink, and we are conservatives!

And so here I was, entering into my “golden years” and not appreciating very much anymore the silver and gold relationships we had along the way. A few yet remained of course, but most were now sitting on the shelf, getting tarnished and forsaken.

But…(there is always a “but now” when it comes to our Loving Father) sensing there was a flicker of hope, because the Bible clearly says He doesn’t give up on us nor forsake us, I still did my Sunday duty and went to church. Like Joseph I guess, there was always a bit of light to look up to while sitting in the bottom of the pit. Or the dark cell of a prison. Which in my case was a spiritual one. My wife knows I go through the dark seasons of the soul from time to time.

Sometime in May 2018 I believe it was…as my memory banks take their time getting to the right file in my brain…previous members of a church, whom we always liked, invited us to a graduation party. One of the pastors had gotten her doctorate degree (now Dr. Elizabeth Enns), and somehow we were asked to come to their house and celebrate. We did. That was a Saturday night. The founding pastor of the church, Peter Wyns of Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, where we had stopped going to four years ago in 2014, warmly and gladly welcomed us. Later, to keep this brief, he mentioned to Laurie, apart from my knowing then, that the church could use our help. I was not a part of that conversation.

On the following Tuesday, I casually sent Laurie a text at her Calvary Children’s Development daycare job (18 years now – yeah Laurie!) that if I was going to go to any church, it would be Antioch. She then texts back about what Peter had said that previous Saturday night.

The following Sunday we went to the Antioch church meeting, which providentially enough, is located on the former Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s famous location in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Antioch International Church had actually bought the portion of the Heritage USA/PTL property, in 2014, that had The Barn and Studio on it during the Heritage years of 1978-1987. (In fact, I was on Peter’s Christians for Messiah Ministries board at the time, giving my approving vote to purchase the property. Again, Peter and Joy Wyns’ ministry). I felt that Laurie and my three lifetime, $1,000 apiece membership gifts to Heritage USA back in 1985 were bearing fruit yet again!

The former Heritage USA/PTL Barn and Studio is located in the top, right-hand corner.
Now known as The Riverplace (owned by CMM and housing Antioch International Church and offices.)

Extra! Extra! Read here what I published in 2014: Heritage USA Barn and Antioch, Christians for Messiah Ministries (But only after you finish this encouraging message!)

As they say, or at least I do, that the rest is history - God-ordained, God-planned, God-purposed history. The brick wall has been shattered.

As of October 1, 2018, I was asked to join the Antioch staff, helping the young pastors and team with my accounting and leadership gifts and training.

And as for me and my house, I can only say, “Wow! Lord!” You continue to be Faithful and True, even when we are not!

Bottom line (good term in accounting): If you have been where I was at spiritually, emotionally, physically…I pray you just keep going a bit longer. There is light at the end of the tunnel, breakthrough through the brick wall, and restoration to fulfill that which our Great Father has birthed you for, especially at this time.

As Jim Bakker loved to say, “You can make it!” (And by the way, thanks Jim for coming back and doing great things, once again!)

As the Elevation Church worship team sings, “You will do it again!”

Here are a few verses you can stand solidly on. Right now.

“I will restore to you the years that the locusts ate,

the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms,

my great army that I sent against you.

You will eat until you are satisfied

and will praise the name of Adonai your God,

who has done with you such wonders.

Then my people will never again be shamed.

You will know that I am with Isra’el

and that I am Adonai your God,

and that there is no other.

Then my people will never again be shamed.

“After this, I will pour out

my Spirit on all humanity.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions;

(Joel 2:25-3:1, Complete Jewish Bible)

Can you relate to any of this? I bet you can. And I sincerely hope you too make a comeback, knowing that the love of God, His Only Begotten Son Jesus, and the amazing Holy Spirit, is very real and alive today on planet earth. IF I really was a betting man, I would definitely say, “Yes you can! Because He will yet do it again for you too!”

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

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Now Think On This #367 - in the year of our Lord 11.12.18 – “Brick Wall. Ever Hit One?”, Monday, 7:15 am

Extra! Extra! Read here what I published in 2014: Heritage USA Barn and Antioch, Christians for Messiah Ministries