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. 

 

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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.)