"Live Generously - But how?" - Steve Martin latest message

 

July 9, 2025 Greetings to you once again. Is it true - 'give and you shall receive'? When I was 18, a long time ago, I worked the night shift stocking grocery shelves in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Being raised a Roman Catholic, my concept of the Bible was limited to hearing the priest read from it a few sentences at a time during Mass. Working with me at the store was a young Baptist kid. He would talk to me at breaks, and being curious, I would listen also out of respect. When he spoke about tithing, I had no idea what that was. Catholics, mostly, at least in my young days, threw in a few dollars as the usher passed the long-handled basket down each row. My message today isn’t about tithing, though; since I was 18, I have tithed. A life of generosity goes way beyond your finances. It is having a heart as our Father does. To walk in His love, which He calls us to do, we must practice being generous. Please read below to find out what will help you in your walk as well. And…I can testify, based on my financial well-being and the life I've lived, that being generous has proven that the Lord is absolutely right. Ahava and Shalom, Steve Martin Love For His People Ministry P.S. View the photos below and watch the new videos below. You can see all my videos on our YouTube channel, Love For His People/Steve Martin—over 2,900.

Bird Photo of the Week: This mom and her kids were in our downspout on our front porch. She gave me the courtesy of allowing me to take the family photo. Steve Martin Israel Photo of the Week: Hannele Pardain (Christian Friends of Israel -USA director), Ray Sanders (Christian Friends of Israel Co-Founder), Steve Martin - at the CFI office in Jerusalem, Israel. Ray passed on Oct. 6, 2023 (Photo: May 2004)  Live Generously -         But how?    “A generous person will be prosperous, and one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.” Proverbs 11:25, NASB   Learning to give…in prayer, encouraging others, our funds, and our time…does not happen overnight. In fact, for my life, it has been a process made possible by the Lord’s grace and encouragement. You can learn even more as you walk in His daily light and Word.   I want to share four examples with you to help you become more generous. I purposely kept them short to keep your attention.   1.     Prayer. For Christians, once you have experienced the Savior of your soul, prayer comes naturally. Say a quick word, and then watch the Lord respond. As a young toddler in your faith, He shows Himself strong on your behalf. But He expects you to grow up. To be consistent. To show His love to others by saying you will pray for them when asked (and when not) and actually do it.   Celebration of Disciplines is a book I read decades ago, and it instilled in me the correct view of practicing what we talk about. I encourage you to take a look.   Using a Proclamation Card, printed by Derek Prince Ministries, enables me to pray faithfully for Israel every day. If you'd like one, visit their website (highlighted, $0.05-$0.25 each) or write to me, and I'll send you one free of charge. It is the size of a bookmark and fits easily in my Complete Jewish Bible (or whatever version you use).   2. Encouraging others can be as simple as texting someone to say hello or being part of a WhatsApp, Signal, or even a Facebook group to share concerns and events that bring others joy and uplift. Phone calls? Not so much, unless you are older than 50. My adult kids won’t respond much to a call, but they'll respond to a text. Back at you real quick, generally!   3.     Funds – giving of what you have from what the Lord has given you to bless others with. I once heard a message from a man who gave thousands, nearly 90% of his business income, to ministries. And the Lord continually increased his business. At the time, I thought, “That will never happen to me. I can barely give 10% (tithe), especially with a wife and four kids still in the house.”   As the years went by, and the Lord helped me discipline my spending (by reducing waste and entertainment on ourselves), He enabled us to give more. My heart of giving grew, and I sought ways “to save” so I could have more “to give”. And trust me, it works.   4. Time – we have all been given 24 hours in a day. What do you do with it? Work, sleep, eat, entertain yourself, and such. Just a quick word about our time. We will each give an account of what we do with it. May your works burn up in the end, or may you be given crowns for how you blessed others with the time you were given—our choice.   I have come to believe this Scripture, believing the Lord to expand the truth in my heart.   “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:28, NASB   Living a life of generosity takes time. It is worth all the effort you put forth to do just that.   Ahava and Shalom,   Steve Martin   P.S. Next week, I will share a significant announcement that Laurie and I are about to embark on. I hope you read it!   We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Please note that contributions can be made online by clicking here: DONATE HERE. (Or you can go to our website, Love For His People, and click on the donate button on the right-hand column.   Are you new to these messages, or has another shared them with you? Sign up here to receive it directly. Click here: Sign Up for Steve Martin's Messages. (Or...click on the coffee cup shown on either side of this message in the columns!)   Love For His People Ministry 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA   Message #6 in new series (2025): "Live Generously – But How?" July 7, 2025 First photo: Cathy Hargett, Highway To Zion Founder, Aug. 2011. Teaching the people. Second photo: Billy Graham Library "The Sower" Training them up in the way they should go. Charlotte, North Carolina (Dec. 2022).

"Hearing the Lord's Voice" - Ahava Moments With You, Steve Martin, David Peterman Charlotte, NC Do you hear? Do you want to hear more? Take a few minutes to listen to what He may be sharing with you now as we discuss how to hear His voice for your life. Today you can. There are two parts, for the camera's battery ran out in the middle of the first video! (Sorry about that.) Listen to part 2 also, as we continue on. Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Music video: Jerusalem, Israel - night street music with the violinist at the corner of Jaffa and Ben Yehuda in Zion Square. (Recorded by Steve Martin, Jerusalem 2019)

Above video: My good friend Avraham Saidian is from Jerusalem. He is a two-shop owner on Ben Yehuda St., along with his two sons, David and Dan, and his daughter, Dahlia. We have been friends now for over 20 years (As of May 2025). The year I first met him, he asked for help with a phone call to St. John's Island, South Carolina. With the success of that call, he was so blessed that he had me come with him to his house in northern Jerusalem for a Shabbat meal. I then stayed overnight at his insistence, went to shul (synagogue), visited his son's house, and then slept on the couch. In the morning, he had an Arab taxi driver (being Shabbat) take me back to my hotel, the Jerusalem Gold, where the Christian Friends of Israel USA tour group, directed by Hannele Pardain, which I was a part of, was staying. This video was recorded on Oct. 17, 2018, in Avraham's shop at 15 Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem.

As in many of Steve's previous books, he continues to share experiences and inspiration in being faithful in the Christian walk - hearing the voice of the Lord, knowing His written Word, adhering to the teachings of those who have gone before - in order to stand strong in the midst of societal changes with the truth of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua. As you read these chapters, may the Lord's encouragement through His Holy Spirit strengthen your inner being to walk out the calling He has on your life, among your family, and others surrounding you. Being faithful to the end is possible only because of His grace and mercy working through us daily. Buy now on Amazon HB $14.95, PB $9.95, Kindle $2.99

We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Contributions are welcome online by clicking here: DONATE HERE.

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