|
“Disappointed with Small Beginnings?”
“The
Lord is close to those who have suffered disappointment.
He saves those who
are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18
|
|
Dear
family of friends,
Disappointments
happen to each of us. We work long and hard for a special event, a needed life
change, a relationship gone sour needing to be rebuilt…and yet we so often experience
hurt and frustration when it doesn’t happen the way we had hoped. And even expected
the way it should have.
Then we want to blame God, while asking the question which
often haunts many, “Why God?”
It
happened to me again. But by this time I had learned not to question the One who
loves, the One who cares, the One who I know had asked me to do something, and
so I did. It didn’t turn out the way I had expected, or at least had hoped it
would. But then after many starts and finishes now, you get back up and go on.
Persistence will pay off if we don’t quit.
When only
eight people showed up for the event (and five were from my own family), for which
I had been planning for months, and had spent time, energy and money on while
expecting at least 30-50, I was truly disappointed. As I sat there on the
table, before the cars would start pulling up, after the final two hour long decorating
and other preparations had been done, I fought against that which I knew wanted
to attack me.
Disappointment. Rejection. The lying voice whispering, “You
really didn’t hear His voice, did you?”
Several
times over the years, I knew that I knew - in my “knower” as one Bible teacher
used to say – that I had heard the Lord, did what He asked, and then didn’t get
the expected results. At least not at the start.
Whether
it involved a ministry job change, a major move for the family, a purchase of
great value, or sharing a word with someone and then getting some backlash, it
took time before the real purpose of the Lord was understood and the
promise fulfilled.
I have
learned, after much practice of course, that His ways are not our ways. He led
Moses to the Red Sea, with what seemed to be an impossible way of crossing, after
leading the Hebrews out of bondage. Joshua had to march his army around a
stronghold city seven times. What was he thinking after the 6th lap?
Daniel was placed in the lion’s den. Did it at any time first cross his mind, “If
only I had obeyed the king and avoided this.”
Really
God? Is this how you operate?
It
sure is. They were able to face that because of the lessons they committed themselves to learn in the long process leading up to that point.
The Lord God Almighty wants to teach us to simply obey His word first.
He wants us to step out and do what we believe He has called us to do. The
results are to be left in His hands; not in our well planned out ones. As we learn to walk through that which we face today, the bigger giants yet coming will be looked at with faith and courage too.
It may
be years before we realize that the seed planted in the dirt will become a
mighty tree, or the word spoken to that person will long settle in their
spirit, and they become the next Billy Graham.
(Photo by Steve Martin - in Charlotte, NC)
The
Lord is not short on time, or bringing about His planned purposes. He knows the
beginning from the end. After all, He IS the Father of time, the Creator of all
things. And His plans and purposes will come about, even as He truly has
spoken. After all, Jesus (Yeshua) rose from the dead, proving that He is
true and we can eternally believe His word.
Take
courage in hearing His voice. Don’t give up or allow disappointments in small
beginnings to keep you from seeking the Lord with your whole heart, mind, will
and emotions. He is the Rewarder, and you will see the good results.
It
just takes a little more time.
Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of
friends,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed.
ID#27-1633858.
Please consider sending a
charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless Israel
with our humanitarian ministry. Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each
donation.
If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where
available).
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 this Ahava Love Letter with your
friends.
E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter
YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)
Ahava Love Letter #67
“Disappointed with Small Beginnings?” ©2013 Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord
2013 (08/11/13 Sunday at 7:30 am in Charlotte, NC)
All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter
can be found on this Blog:
Here are the last few:
Rise Again (#66)
The Cities (#65)
How can You Mend A Broken Heart
(#64)
Anxious (#63)
Hidden (#62)
Get Back in the Boat (#61)
Need
Money? (#60)
Rejected?
(#59)
In Your
Building – Guard Against Distractions (#58)
Connections (#57)
Your Name (#56)
Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends
(#55)
The eight who came! (L-R) Faithful friends Sandra McCain, Josh Martin (our oldest son), Susan & Mike Greene (blessings on ye heads!), Logan Martin ( a fun-loving grandson - in front), Laurie Martin (my good wife!), Dylan Joy and Logan Martin (grand kids whom we love!)
