Commitment, Persistence, Dedication
Building With Living Stones...
The First Three Years Completed!
Love For His People
"...you yourselves, as living stones,
are being built
into a spiritual house
to be cohanim (a holy priesthood)
set apart for God
to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to Him through
Yeshua the Messiah."
(1 Peter 2:5) Complete Jewish Bible
In the spring of 2010 the ministry of Love For His People was "officially" birthed. We received our USA Federal Government 501(c)3 non-profit status. So I guess that is considered the starting point for some here in America.
But most importantly, it was in the heart of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) from the beginning of time. He just let me know about it on my 55th birthday (Nov. 23, 2009), asking me to step out in faith, leave my important and secure job with another ministry, and go forth.
And then, of all things, He started to have me speak up and write on for this work. My background is business administration and accounting. Not so much a polished minister. (I was ordained though in 2003 and have performed two weddings to date. The third one happens October 12, 2013 with our oldest daughter Hannah.)
As a result of this commitment to bless Israel and the Jews with this new outreach, Love For His People, Inc. has pressed on through the first three lean years, and is poised to go forth further with His encouragement, wisdom and strength. Those three proclaimation words, found on our original logo above, set the foundational course we would pursue.
Over these young years we have passed a few milestones along the way. Maybe I should pick some up and leave these stones around the house, just as the Israelites did in remembrance of the Lord's faithfulness in getting them across the Jordan. Then someday we will build an altar with them, which would represent the sacrifice requested of the Lord.
One precious stone would commemorate the 48th issue of Ahava Love Letter (entitled "Back To The Future"), which was published on April 1, 2013.
The starting fire ignition of these letters came as a result of the Lord's urging, in November of 2010, within a week after a trip to Israel. His Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, stirs people up when they go.
My purpose in writing these encouraging ahava words is to share His love in a real, down to earth expression. Did you know that the Hebrew word ahava means love? Connect that with the Gentile/English word love, which we do in our letter title, and you get the One New Man bonding of love. Ahava and love. Jew and Gentile. Coming together, as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Previously we had sent them out exclusively through e-mails and Constant Contact, but even e-mailing is becoming rare outside of the office, as social media changes hourly. Ask the next generation. My daughter Hannah is still trying to get me to switch to the IPhone. My ancient BlackBerry works just fine.
You can search this Blog to see most of the letters. They also can be found through googling. Thank God for Google, who is unknowingly helping to get the Gospel out! I believe the Lord had them and other such social media businesses established, to serve His purposes. He is always in perfect control. In each of our lives and the nations. Someday all will come to that understanding, one way or another.
Some people think numbers do not matter to the Lord. Adonai (the Lord) loves numbers! He has exact counts all through the Scriptures, beginning with those in the beginning (Genesis) to the final declarations at the triumphal celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! (Revelation of Yeshua). (I personally hope we have prime rib, medium rare. Two servings, Lord?! And then triple layer chocolate cake for desert?!)
How many fish and loaves were there? How many fish did Peter pull out of the water? The days the Israelites marched around Jericho were how many? See, you know because He wanted you to. So we will share a few here, which has encouraged us as the foundation of this ministry has been laid.
In addition to the Ahava Love Letters, along with postings of news articles from Israel and other truthful sources, we have now surpassed the 777 posting mark on this Blog, with almost 47,000 page views. Another stone for the altar.
The Love For His People FaceBook page has 3550 friends, 90 followers, and some photos (7,984 - just short of 8,000) for people to see the fascinating land of Israel. Someday we pray they themselves will walk the Land, where Jesus Himself did. By the way, the land itself is far more than just ancient stones.
On Oct. 20, 2010, we launched our YouTube channel
Love For His People Inc. It now numbers 144 videos, 146 subscribers and 135,985 views. Small beginning with a big heart. Spreading the Word and touching the World.
Another stone of remembrance would represent the time in 2010, when I took my son Ben, the one who does such a great job with our full website
Love For His People and all logos, on his first time trip to Israel. He was part of the initation of our
Ahava Adventures to Israel. We are looking forward to the time when many of his generation join us.
Our goal for these truly adventurous service trips is for the Lord to put a little bit more of His heart for Israel and the Jews into the hearts of those who go with us. Incredible.
As I look back now, that first
Ahava Adventure was my 10th trip to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. If I do the math, which I do often being an accountant, having made 10 trips by 2010 could mean 20 by 2020. Come along with us! We keep it cheap - but only in the cost.
That which we give thanks for the most, transpiring over these years, is the friendship and support we have established with and for the Israeli Jews. This is one major, primary purpose of this ministry. We seek to be active participants in fullfilling His Word, out of obedience - "Those who bless Israel will be blessed." (Genesis 12:3) We thus take the Lord seriously, in a practical manner.
It has been just like a few small stones thus far, like the widow's mite, by sending direct monthly support to three families in Jerusalem. But as others bring their stones of skill, experience and provision, we anticipate this solid foundation will be absolutely made stronger.
Many more stones of remembrance will be laid down, as we move forward. Some will help pave the highway for His people to make aliyah. Others who will walk down this road of carefully placed stones will come to acknowledge and appreciate what the Jews have done for the nations, beginning with the Bible.
We will also stand strong against the false, massive lie of the enemy, commonly known in the Church today as Replacement Theology. That leads people to believe that the Jews are no longer in God's eternal plan, but have been replaced by the Church. It is ONE tree that the Lord created. The Jews are the roots. We, as Gentiles (goyim) are the grafted-in branches. Simple as that.
We will share the LOVE BEAT OF YESHUA'S HEART FOR HIS.
His name is on their Promised Land. They are the apple of His eye. His Archangel Michael watches over them daily.
Therefore, our family and friends have decided to stand with the Lord and His Chosen People. As long as we live, we will be there for them - the Jews and their places of habitation.
Take your place as the Lord directs you.
The passionate love work of
Love For His People marches on.
Shalom, my family of friends,
Steve and Laurie Martin
Founders and Married Together In Ahava Love
From the Complete Jewish Bible:
1 Peter 2:5-10
"...you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah.
6
This is why the Tanakh says, "Look! I am laying in Tziyon a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and whoever rests his trust on it will certainly not be humiliated."x
7
Now to you who keep trusting, he is precious. But to those who are not trusting, "The very stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone";y
8
also he is a stone that will make people stumble, a rock over which they will trip.z They are stumbling at the Word, disobeying it — as had been planned.
9
But you are a chosen people,a the King’s cohanim,b a holy nation,c a people for God to possess!d Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.e
CJB
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