What an end to a great season for the Little League Greathouse team, coached by Steve Martin.
Live Generously
“A generous person will be prosperous, and one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.” Proverbs 11:25, NASB
My good friend David Peterman and I had finished our recorded messages for the subsequent YouTube releases (check out the Love For His People channel) and were feeling a bit famished. Well, at least hungry. Having by now realized that Golden Corral offers the best value for our dollars, I followed him in his red Prius south to Rock Hill, South Carolina, from Ballantyne (Charlotte), North Carolina.
When we arrived at our destination, with the sweet aroma of wonderfully prepared food and trimmings, the place was not as yet opened. We had a half hour to kill.
I said, "Let's go to the Christian thrift store down the road," and he followed me in my 2013 Hyundai Elantra. (Royal Blue. Not all have white paint, as is so common these days in vehicle color.)
As I looked through the shirts for men's XL, one t-shirt caught my eye.
"Live Generously". Hmm, I thought to myself. Even though it had a bank's logo on the back (imagine that), I paid the $3.00 for it at the counter. And got 10% off for Senior Citizens' Day!
I'm not one to advertise for an unknown bank, but I liked the words and design and could see myself wearing it at the gym, on Walmart visits, or wherever.
The Holy Spirit then encouraged me to write a message to you and others about the importance of being generous. I love how He speaks to us. Just a simple word. Full of truth and encouragement.
Over the centuries, the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) has spoken to His people about the importance of being generous. Others in the walk of faith also wrote to the Messiah's followers, sharing the same message in the early days as believers in His Word, which provided instruction and guidance.
"In everything, I have given you an example of how, by working hard like this, you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua himself, 'There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." Acts 20:35, Complete Jewish Bible
I encourage you to live a life of generosity. More joy comes when, out of His provision to share, we do. They will know us by our love and our care for the family of God.
To be continued...
Ahava and Shalom,
Steve Martin
P.S. Occasionally, I do like to "buffet" my body, but even in this, we must walk in moderation. Skip the fatty stuff. Enjoy the healthy items! We need to care for this temple He has given us to perform the work He has entrusted to us entirely.
Write to me here: Love ForHis People email.
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.
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
Love For His People Ministry 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA
Message #5 in new series (2025): "Live Generously" June 27, 2025, 6:40 am in Charlotte, North Carolina
#livegenerously #Steve Martin #messages #Jesus #Yeshua #Bible, #encouragement #generousperson #Proverbs #David Peterman #Golden Corral #WalMart #HolySpirit #buffet,
He Gives Us Signs
“So, Gideon said to Him,
“If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that
it is You who speak with me.” Judges 6:17, NASB
An excellent Bible teacher by the name of Bob Mumford, whom I first heard of during the “discipleship, shepherding, and commitment days” (for me, those were the years 1977-1994), had a book entitled Take Another Look at Guidance. A worthwhile read for those seeking to understand how our heavenly Father guides us in His ways and purposes for our individual lives. I have based many decisions on Mumford’s recommendations.
If
you are not so inclined to check it out (but I highly recommend that you do), I
will help you.
From
Bible.org:
Bob Mumford in Take Another Look at Guidance, compares discovering God’s will with a sea captain’s docking procedure: A certain harbor in Italy can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.
God has also provided three beacons
to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply—the three lights must be lined
up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance
are:
1. The Word of God (objective
standard)
2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness)
3. Circumstances (divine
providence)
Together, they assure us that the
directions we’ve received are from God and will lead us safely along his way.
- Gregory Asimakoupoulos
Bob
Mumford, Take Another Look at Guidance.
Again,
the three harbors’ lights are: the Word, the Holy Spirit, and circumstances.
All throughout Scripture, from Adam to Moses to Gideon to Mary to those gathered in the Upper Room on Pentecost (on the Lord’s feast known as Shavuot), the Lord gave His people signs.
Being
He knows all, He certainly knows that sometimes things are not so apparent as He
would hope they would be for us.
I
encourage you to seek the Lord in your daily decisions, to learn how He speaks,
what He speaks, and when He speaks, so you too can more fully know of His plans
and purposes for you.
Do
not be like those who missed the Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach, when He came the
first time. Even though they looked for signs, they failed to see the One who
was right before their eyes.
“But though He had
performed so many signs before them, yet they
were not believing in Him.” John 12:37, NASB
And then
again in Hebrews 2:3-4, Complete Jewish Bible, it reads: “…then how will we escape if we ignore
such a great deliverance? This deliverance, which was first declared by the
Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him; while God also bore
witness to it with various signs, wonders and miracles, and with gifts of
the Ruach HaKodesh which he distributed as he chose.”
Be
one who follows, even chases, after the Lord, to better know Him. There is so much
that He wants to show you of Himself and how much He wants to give you
guidance.
Ahava and Shalom,
Steve
Martin
P.S. I saw a “sign” on Friday, June 13, 2025, as a good friend and I were driving north on I-77 from Rock Hill, SC, to Charlotte, NC. And so, I took the
photo to share with others.
P.S.S. I recommend my book, Prophetic Stories - Signs Along the Way. Available on Amazon.
Love
For His People Ministry
12120
Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA
Message #3
in new series (2025): “He Gives Us Signs” June 15, 2025, 5:07 am in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Website: Love For His People
Email: Love For His People
Facebook: Steve Martin/Love For His People
YouTube: YouTube
The Great Falling Away
Steve Martin, Love For His People
“Adonai said to Gid‘on, “I will use the three hundred men who lapped the water to save you; I will hand Midyan over to you. Let all these others go back home.”
(Judges 7:7-8 Complete Jewish Bible)
There is a great falling away coming from among those who once walked with the Lord. In fact, it has already started. For decades, it was “popular” to be a Christian. Not so anymore, especially when one considers the numbers who attend a weekly church service. Looking around any given Sunday morning gathering, and in most churches you will see mostly grey hairs; and they are dying off. Sure, there are those churches that are doing well among the youth, but that is an exception. We give thanks for them.
After a major crisis occurs in a nation, the pews do fill back up. But within a few months, or even weeks, the “Crisis Christians” no longer come around. It is back to normal as usual. (We may still have the “C & E” group – Christmas and Easter, but even those numbers are dwindling fast.)
The apostle Paul said that in the end of days there would be a great falling away. We are living in those times.
“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NASU)
Lest you become fearful, and wonder what is going to happen when so many are gone, let me share a little insight with you. It will inspire you in faith, I believe.
The Lord seems to allow for the reduction of numbers when He has a job that needs to get done. Unlike humans, more is not always better. As my good wife Laurie likes to remind me on certain occasions, “Less is more.” My accounting mind doesn’t always see it that way, but it is true.
Let’s look at a few instances in the Word of God, and see how the Lord chooses to accomplish His purpose, and achieve the final victory.
Take what happened when the Lord decided to flood the earth. He saved a remnant, Noah’s family of eight (Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives) and repopulated the earth with those alone. Looks like that worked.
And what about Gideon’s army, when it came time to defeat the Mideonites? Gideon took as many warriors as he had available, starting with 32,000. By the time the Lord had set up a few tests, the number was finalized at 300. With those remaining, the job got done. Victory was won.
Yeshua (Jesus) chose only 12 who would walk with Him for a little more than three years. Then He released them (even knowing one would be replaced by another) into the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, those twelve apostles changed the world.
Jesus also fed the multitudes, with very little. “All we have with us,” they said, “is five loaves of bread and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to me.” After instructing the crowds to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, made a b’rakhah (Hebrew – i.e. gave thanks). Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the talmidim (Hebrew – i.e. disciples), who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they took up twelve baskets full of the pieces left over. Those eating numbered about five thousand men, plus women and children.” (Matthew 14:17-21, Complete Jewish Bible)
The Creator of the Universe can get the job done with very few.
What about the 144,000 in Revelation of Jesus (Revelation 7:4)? That sure is something to consider.
“I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 12,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000 from Manasseh, 12,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin.
(Revelations 7:4-8 THE MESSAGE)
There is a great falling away that is coming through the Christian ranks. It will remove the lukewarm as the Lord Himself is going to weed them out. I believe He will then emblaze the remnant with His Holy Ghost fire, and show the world Who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. In the process, millions during that time, yet to be saved for all of eternity, will come into His kingdom, gathered from all the nations.
Are you going to be one of the few? As the Marines would say in their motto, "Semper Fidelis", which translates to "Always Faithful" in Latin. I pray you are.
By His grace you will keep committed and stay faithful to the end. It is going to be a battle, but He wins. Stay on His side.