"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.

Share This Email   Share This Email   Share This Email

Visit our Website

Love For His People Ministry | 12120 Woodside Falls Rd | Pineville, NC 28134 US #Live Generously #But how #Steve Martin #message #Proverbs #prayer #giving #funds #tithing #encouragement# #Jesus #Yeshua #Christians #Savior #faith #Celebration of Disciplines #DerekPrince #Complete Jewish Bible #giving #Avraham

 

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.