Faith. Enough Already? Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Faith. Enough Already?

Steve Martin

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6-7, NASU)

When is enough faith enough already?

Or, as you might think, “I have faith. Isn’t that enough for me to the end of this life?”

That question recently came up when a younger pastor and I were considering the costs of operating the church facility, and the needs that seemed to be always in front of us. As we talked back and forth, we briefly considered when we would have reached the “faith maximum bar“, as I call it. Reaching that point in our lives for each of us, you included, when we have built up enough faith to last us through to the end.

Now I know that that bar doesn’t really exist. But wouldn’t it be nice if we just might get to the point in our faith walk when we reach a certain marker when the faith we have thus far will be enough faith to last us to the finish?

The Lord Himself tells us that that answer would be a “no”. Because He always wants us to have to keep trusting, keep looking, keep believing in Him, He will always require that we walk in faith. For all that we need and desire.

Often I myself, even one who has now walked with the Lord for over 50 years (being 64 years of age at this writing), still continually finding myself in the position of needing to put my trust in Him. And pray more. And seek more. And believe Him for more.

And that is the way He likes it.

For without faith, we cannot please Him. Without faith, it is sin if we go on our way thinking we have “enough”, as the one with the full barn thought, so as to not have to rely on His provision, His protection, His guidance in our life today, or tomorrow.

“And He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'  "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'  "But God said to him, ' You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'  "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21, NASU)

Wouldn’t it be great to someday tell our kids and grandkids, “When you reach this age or get to this point, you have made it. There will be no more need to trust God for the daily bread, or the upcoming days' provision, for you have crossed that point. You can coast from here.” And yet I know I can’t say that, for until I go onto the glory promised in the next life, it will daily take trusting faith for this day to day walk we have with our Lord Jesus.

For many of us, Abraham is one prime example of being required to trust on and on, almost to the point where you would think he could not believe. Way beyond the physical means did both he and Sarah reach when having a son was possible. And yet the Lord kept Him in the place where he had to believe. In the end, he was rewarded for his faith.

Many of those who have walked before me have shared their opportunities given by the Lord to believe God for more. They could have rested on their laurels, called it a day, and sat back while reaping the bounty of their harvest. But each time the Lord wanted to bring them into a deeper walk with Him, and for the sake of others. Thus, they couldn’t rely on the previous faith that met the challenge last time. They drew strength from those previous faith challenging experiences, knowing He Who is faithful always came through, but each time going forward they needed fresh manna, a new word, another encouragement given by His Holy Spirit to go beyond where they were at before. He was there to give them what they needed, as they pressed on.

Today you might be having another faith challenge – for daily food, another house or car payment, a relative needing the Lord to touch them as only He can. You may be leading a congregation, big or small. and realize you need more than what you have, to keep giving what they are looking to you to give.

Do you have enough faith already? My experience is that what you have has brought you this far. What you need in the future is what you will still need to believe God for whatever He calls you to do. It will take obedience. And it will take more faith on your part. That way you will always be putting your trust in Him, and not in that which anything else or person can fulfill.

I know He likes that. Having His children walk daily with Him, in faith, as He leads us on.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Please donate online safely through our website. Click here: DONATE  

(or use the DONATE  buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #399 - in the year of our Lord 03.12.19 – “Faith. Enough Already?” – Tuesday, 5:45 pm

Count the Stars - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Count the Stars

Steve Martin

“Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." (Genesis 15:5, NKJV)

Have you ever tried counting the stars? If you live in a city or suburban area, you can hardly see any stars at all due to the bright night lights that light up the sky, which prevent the heavenly lights from shining through to your eyes. You must get out into the country, away from the glow of mankind’s rays, to see the ultimate canopy of the Lord God, Creator of the universe. Then you will experience His awesomeness.

In the summer of 1973, fresh out of the Catholic high school in Waterloo, Iowa, (Columbus High, home of the Sailors!) I went on a mission trip to the hill country of northern Georgia. Blairsville, Georgia to be exact. Northeast of Atlanta, somewhat near the North Carolina state line. A group of older teenagers went on the six-week adventure to lead a summer Bible youth camp for underprovided kids, sponsored by a Catholic mission.

Being 18, I loved it! Quite the adventure driving my two-door, metallic blue 1963 Mercury Cougar all the way from Iowa, through Cincinnati, OH. It was a great time, forever stored in my memory banks. (Read the full story in my book, The Promise – One Man’s Journey to See God Revealed).

One thing I very much remember to this day were the nights, both black and white. At those late times of the finishing day (or the beginning of the new day, as with the Jews, as written in the Torah when God created each day), if the clouds covered all above you, you could raise your hand in front of your face and not even see it. It was that so utterly dark. Midnight blackness!

But if it was a clear night, looking up from these northeastern mountains in Georgia, the Lord God Almighty revealed Himself in glory, for the stars were fantastically brilliant. The heavens were filled with His creation in one of His very vast realms. Because of the sheer numbers, you could not count the stars. Wow!

Imagine the promise the Lord had given Abraham, beginning in Genesis 12, of the immense number of descendants that was coming forth of his lineage, if he obeyed. Once he had heard the Lord’s word to “leave your country and go to the place I will show you”, the promise for Abram (later changed to Abraham) was beginning to unfold. His reward would be great.

“Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

So Avram (Abram) went, as Adonai (the Lord) had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left Haran. Avram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Kena‘an (Canaan) and entered the land of Kena‘an.” (Genesis 12:1-5, Complete Jewish Bible)

Obedience to the word of the Lord, written in His Word the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms (and all of the Bible), will always bring a reward. Abraham believed, and it was rewarded to him. And not only to him but “…all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

“By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the Land of the promise, as if it were not his, staying in tents with Yitz’chak (Isaac) and Ya‘akov (Jacob), who were to receive what was promised along with him. For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God.

By trusting, he received potency to father a child, even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself; because he regarded the One who had made the promise as trustworthy. Therefore this one man, who was virtually dead, fathered descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the grains of the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:8-12, Complete Jewish Bible)

In Genesis 215:1, the Lord even says to him that it would be an “exceedingly great reward.”

When we hear and obey the Lord, He honors our faith we have thus demonstrated. He will then allow His favor to come upon us, and He will provide covering and protection for not only us, but also for those whom He has given under our care and watch – our families, our churches, our cities, our nation.

Next time there is a clear night, drive out from the city lights, and look up. Try counting the multitude of stars if you can. When Abraham saw those very same heavenly creations centuries ago, he believed that the Creator would keep His promise. And He certainly did. Not even the hatred and anti-Semitism of all these past centuries could keep the Lord from fulfilling His promise to the chosen people the Jews, and all believers who call upon His name and were martyred for their faith.

Just look at the state of Israel today, and you know that the Living God, the Lord God of Israel, has indeed kept His promises. As Luke wrote in Acts 3:21, it is now the “times of restoration of everything which God spoke through the mouths of His holy prophets from eternity.”

Have you ever received a word from the Lord? You most certainly have! The Bible itself is His guaranteed Word to you. Believe it! Walk in His promises! See Him move in your life, your family, and even in this nation, the very one you live in.

Go out and try counting the stars some night. Sense the ever-living Holy Spirit’s presence lift your spirit to the eternal heavens. Have even more faith and believe our God the Father for even more of Himself!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Listen to this encouraging word the Lord gave me on March 3, 2019, during our church meeting: "Resurrection After Decades"



If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Please donate online safely through our website. Click here: DONATE  

(or use the DONATE  buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

Also, my latest book (#20) was just released last week. You can get it on Amazon here, in paperback or Kindle version: All Together Now - For His Plans & Purposes 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #396 - in the year of our Lord 03.05.19 – “Count the Stars” – Tuesday 3:55 am

Jerusalem & Friends - Louie, the Arab. Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Jerusalem & Friends

-          Louie, the Arab

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.” (1 Chronicles 1:28, NASU)

A short walk inside Jerusalem’s Old City Jaffa Gate takes you down the narrow street, lined on each side with Judaica, olive wood, clothing and spice shops. That’s where I first met Louie, or rather Louie met me. He was on the lookout for tourists whom he could draw into his brother’s gift shop. As was my custom, I was open to shopping.

This past year in 2017 Louie said he first got acquainted with me in 1994 and gave the exact date. Knowing he has a sharp mind, I figured he was right, but I sure didn’t remember. I do recall he offered me orange juice or Arab coffee, my choice, which was a customary way of getting one into their shops. Of course, always liking to receive that which is free, I obliged and followed him down the cobbled, slick stone walk a quick distance. His brother had an elaborate shop, filled with Jewish and Arab items of all sorts. Some were actually made in Israel. Most were Chinese imports.

Now after these many years, Louie has his own shop. He explained that the tourism numbers are very good, but those coming now are less apt to buy, making it tough for him to earn enough to pay the high rent. With his small shop along this busy section of the Old City’s Quarters, one of four (Christians, Jews, Muslims and Armenians, each having a quarter within the outside walls) many walk by but few buy. He continued explaining that when the Americans came in huge numbers, sales were good. Now more and more are coming from China, Southeast Asia, and South America, but they tend to purchase less goods. Hence Louie said he has to spend longer hours to attempt making the sales in order to meet his expenses.

Wanting to support him too, as I have regularly done with the Jewish shop owners on Ben Yehuda Street, less than an hour’s walk west out of Jaffa Gate, he picked out items on my list I had in my mind. Olive wood camels, menorahs and possibly a piece of jewelry for my good wife Laurie. He pulled several nice pieces from behind the glass doors covering the display cases. One beautiful menorah (7 branch candle piece) was one of the few left he had on hand, actually made in Israel. With the cheaper imports from China, competition is high, forcing even the locals to get out of the manufacturing business. I bought the silver-plated menorah because it had the “Made in Israel” label adhered to the base. Support blue and white!

Adding to my menorah purchase was a three-piece camel set, of course, made out of olive wood, hand carved in Israel. There is something about camels that amaze me. Beasts of burden to carry goods for the people.  

Then he pulled out of a special wooden drawer several pieces of fine shaped silver and Eilat Stone necklaces (green and blue color stone from south Israel). Among them was my final choice, having already almost exceeded my budget - a very beautiful necklace for Laurie. Though she isn’t much on jewelry, occasionally she does appreciate this type of gift, and so the Tree of Life piece was chosen.

It is always a joy for me to spend time with Louie, hearing of his daily life as an Arab in Jerusalem. Life can be hard at times he shares, but he appreciates what he has. Here he can have his own business and livelihood, knowing freedom is not found everywhere in the Middle East.

Next time you are in the Jaffa Gate area, look around for my friend Louie. He will be looking out for you, and is anxious to share his goods with you. At a good price!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Use the "Sign Up" button on our website, or go here: Sign Me Up!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE (or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #337 - in the year of our Lord 12.15.17 – “Jerusalem & Friends – Louie, the Arab”, Friday, 12:30 pm

Jewish Hebron ✡ "The Cave Of Machpelah" - Israel365

His sons Yitzchak and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre. Genesis 25:9 (The Israel Bible™) וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ יִצְחָק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בָּנָיו אֶל־מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה אֶל־שְׂדֵה עֶפְרֹן בֶּן־צֹחַר הַחִתִּי אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא בראשית כה:ט va-yik-b’-RU o-TO yitz-KHAK v’-yish-ma-AYL ba-NAV el m’-a-RAT ha-makh-pay-LAH el s’-DAY ef-RON ben TZO-khar ha-khi-TEE a-SHER al p’-NAY mam-RAY

Today's Israel Inspiration The Torah states that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah are all  buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs, Machpelah Cave, in Hebron.  Abraham's purchase of this property to bury Sara was the first concrete transaction that established a Jewish connection with a particular site in the Land of Israel. Although the entire Land of Israel was promised to the Children of Israel, three locations are recorded as having being purchased in order to prevent the Children of Israel of being accused of taking possession of the land inappropriately. These sites include the Cave of Machpelah, Joseph's burial plot in Shechem (Genesis 33:19) and the site of the Beit Hamikdash (II Samuel 24:24). The Israel Bible provides commentary and insights into the connection between the People and the Land of Israel. Deepen your understanding and appreciation of this eternal relationship.  Study with The Israel Bible » Hebron Belongs to the Jews Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum speaks about Jewish history in Hebron from a synagogue build in the year 1540. Watch » Jewish Scribe to Write Torah Scrolls in Live Exhibit at US Capital’s New Bible Museum In hopes of bringing the most significant piece of literature to the American capital, the new The Museum of the Bible opening in Washington D.C. on November 17 will feature a live exhibit of the traditional writing of a kosher sefer Torah (Torah scroll). Read More »             Jewelry Mined From the Land of Israel The Eilat Stone and Roman Glass are just two of the unique matierlas mined from the Land of Israel. Own a piece of Israel with this beautiful and natural jewelry. Shop Now! » Today's Israel Photo A worshipper deep in prayer outside the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. See more photos by Yehoshua Halevi »  If you enjoy your Israel365 daily email newsletter, please consider donating to one of our causes or buying products from our store and blessing the Land and the People of Israel. Thank You to our Israel365 Store Customers "Todah Rabbah" to Norma W. from Texas; David S. from Florida; William C. from Washington; Adam B. from California. Shop the Israel365 Store » Thank You to our latest Tree Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Carolina O. from Canada; Diane J. from the UK; Carol M. from Idaho; Joseph G. from Massachusetts. Plant Vineyards in Samaria » Thank You to Our Holocaust Campaign Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Ana Jacqueline F. from El Salvador; Lambertus E. from Netherlands; Rose S. from the UK; Vanita A. from Arizona. Donate to Holocaust Survivors Now »  Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of the Land of Israel! Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “Thank You for the Daily Updates” It’s great to hear from you and make new friends from all over the world. Please send me an email and let me know how you are enjoying Israel365 (don’t forget to say where you are from!). Stay in Touch » Thank you for writing to me and I see you are doing a wonderful work for G-d of Israel you are a good example Hashem bless you and thank you for the daily updates of Israel. I hope the world will one day understand and leave Israel alone. --Edward Mphaka Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

Copyright © 2017 Israel365, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for daily Israel Scenes and Inspiration on our website, www.israel365.com. Our mailing address is: Israel365 34 Nahal Ein Gedi Apt #17 Beit Shemesh 9909875 Israel