Love For His People: #350

Showing posts with label #350. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Names & Numbers - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Names & Numbers

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“As for you, every hair on your head has been counted.” (Matthew 10:30, Complete Jewish Bible)

Just As I Am, ((HarperOne/Zondervan, 2007) the autobiography of Billy Graham, is a massive book of 801 pages (with many more pages of historic photos). I started reading it a week ago. One thing I particularly noticed is the numerous names of people met and the numbers of attendance records that Dr. Graham gives attention to. Wanting to be as accurate as possible, with no “evangelistically speaking” stretching of the truth, he commits to writing the decades of crusades and countries where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached by him and his team. In reading these accounts, it gives me even more respect for Billy Graham, along with his wife Ruth, who stood with him through many of his 99 years.

When it comes to names, like myself, you too may have trouble remembering one when a person you haven’t seen in several years comes back into your world. Try as you might, you search the memory banks, seeking to recall something that will help the process. When success does come, gratitude for needed assistance follows. It is especially important when that person happens to be a relative or friend whom you haven’t seen in ages.

Billy Graham preached the simple Gospel – the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He learned early on to focus primarily on the Cross of Christ, bringing truth into a world filled with lies and deception. Of the millions who responded to his message, life sprung forth for eternity. Each person who acknowledged the redemptive work of the cross received the resurrection power to overcome death and despair.

At times we feel we get lost in the crowded population. Just having a number as the record keeper of our file isn’t enough to bring the needed feeling that we are worth more than just being another number in someone’s storage cabinet. Having a personal connection with our Creator is what so many long for, realizing it or not. That is why He Who created us sees us more than just being another name, another number. He wants us to know Him intimately, to realize that our very purpose and place means so very much to Him. His desire for us is one of the very precious factors that draw us to Him day after day.

Writing of these simple truths may not bring many accolades or seem to be accomplishing much among the great scholars and works out there in the published world, but at times a simple word is much more appreciated than a complicated, complex dissection of matter that just doesn’t seem too personal. Our God is a personal God. He knows us each by name. And as the Bible also says, He has each of our hairs numbered. Simple truth. Simple love.

Next time you feel a bit lost in a crowd, or thinking you have been forgotten in a mass of names and numbers, know that the One who brought you into this world cares deeply for you. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you, and will see you through to the promised end.

Your name, and your number among the billions, are very personal to God the Father. We can rest in His trusted Word that we will not be lost in the masses, but will receive guidance and provision in our daily walk with Him.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #350 - in the year of our Lord 08.15.18 – “Names & Numbers”, Wednesday, 10:00 am

Thursday, May 17, 2018

God Will Make A Way - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

God Will Make A Way

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:19, NASU)

There may be times when something totally unexpected hits us in our life as if someone just punched us in the gut when we did not see it coming. A great fear tries to overwhelm us; panic pushes from without to get at us from within; confusion and uncertainty attempt to overtake our assurance. When this happens, the anchor of our soul must hold strong. The hope we had known in our Savior’s arms must be the hope that now keeps us from falling, from turning back from pressing forward.

I remember the time in 1990 when I had given my notice to leave one ministry position in order to take one with another, that I had been waiting for, only to find out that the one I was going to had withdrawn the offer. My current office job already had someone coming to fill my place. With a wife and four kids to support, and now without a job, I panicked. Seeing this supposed upcoming position as the reason we had moved from the North to the far south in Florida, only to find out after three years that it wasn’t going to happen, was totally unexpected. It left me hanging. If it wasn’t for the grace shown me by the International Director of the ministry I had been with, we would have been without income, in a state far from family, and left with a dream that seemed to end up as a nightmare.

Don Moen, worship leader and songwriter with Integrity Music at the time, had just come out with his song, “God Will Make A Way” (1990). The cassette tape got totally wore out in my player, as I desperately sought the Lord, listening over and over again, hanging onto the hope that had been found in Him since my youth.

The lyrics were very comforting and brought assurance to my spirit.

"God Will Make A Way"

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
He will do something new today

Don Moen

Produced by Tom Brooks

Album Worship With Don Moen: God Is Good, Integrity Music 1990

This worship song was the constant reminder that I needed at that time - that my Lord Jesus was the solid One Who would make the way for us. He had always been faithful in our lives, and He would not let me and my family down now.

After a rough eleven months of holding on and seeking His will, where we almost made the move from Fort Lauderdale to Kansas City, Charlotte, or wherever I could find a job, I was encouraged when I was hired by the other ministry, in 1991. Ultimately both ministries then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1994, and our family was part of that wagon train.

There have been other times where the solid anchor of hope proved to be shown strong and sturdy, keeping us from drifting in the open ocean of doubt, fear, and unbelief. God always did make a way, even in the darkest night and the loneliest of times. As we continually cling to His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, our confidence in Him remains.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NKJV)

Hope is one of the three, along with faith and love, that our walk with the Lord requires. With Him as the Giver of each, we can keep walking the walk, all the way into eternity.