Intimate - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Intimate

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, NASU)

Most people fear to be intimate. Decades of rejection, initially in our lives due to the separation we had with our God until new life, rebirth took place, kept us from having honest, soul to soul communication with Him and with each other. I know I do, struggling at times to express what I really want to. It’s that sense of uncertainty of what the other may think, feel, or want to share with us in return.

It is quite common I believe among us. We want to. We need to. But we somehow can’t. (Especially for us macho men!) So we have the small talk, the short quips, the “meet and greet” five minutes during the church service.

We are missing out on being intimate, especially with our Lord Jesus. And that is the One we really need to start with. If we can’t be intimate with our Creator, our Father, the One who gave Himself totally for us, how can we be intimate with one another? I am still seeking to find out what all is missing. The lack, I need. The love and intimate cup need to be filled more often than it has been.

There have though been real moments in being with the Lord, those times when touching His heart has just been a real, reachable joy. Those “almost raptured” times during God-filled worship in a large gathering of His people, when the anointing of the Holy Spirit just comes over us. It seems as close to being with Him that we may know, this side of eternity. It’s as if we just can’t hug Him enough; speak words of built-up heart thanks to Him; crawl up in His lap and sit, staying in His presence, not wanting to leave that place for a long, long time.

Sounds too heavenly, right? Not attainable you say? But it is.

Because of His tortuous pain on the brutal cross, we can now receive healing.

Because of His tearing down the huge curtain of separation, we can now touch Him.

Because of Who He is and what He has done, we can be as close as we want to be with Him.

“But I'm in the very presence of God — oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home.

God, I'm telling the world what you do!” (Psalm 73:28, THE MESSAGE)

David need not be one of the few who knew what it was to be close, to draw near, to really get close to God. It is not a scary thing. It is an awesome thing. We CAN know, deep in our soul, deep in our spirit, close to our heart, His presence.

Let me share something personal as if I usually don’t most often.

Zoe Girl Martin - pure love

I can finally declare that I am thankful for my dog, especially with this particular action on her part. It has taken me a few months to come to this point where I can say, “Thank you Lord for Zoe, this 12-year old Dachshund you created, who has to get up now once or twice in the middle of the night, drink a big bowl of water, and then let it all out. Yes, I can finally say, “Thank you, Lord.”” (She has Cushing’s. You’ll have to look that up if you are curious enough.)

Because…along with the re-energization that I get each time I return from being in the land of Israel (the promised land for both Jews and those who the Lord has joined together along with them), with the Lord’s Spirit waking me up in the middle of the dark night since then, my little 14 pound Zoe also gets me up in the middle of the silence and almost deep sleep. Because of Him using her, I have had more moments of experiencing intimate times with Him these past days and months.

When all is quiet, undisturbed, and time is given for taking time to be with Him alone…putting on the earphones, tapping the praise and worship music app on the smartphone playlist, and just giving Him seconds, minutes, maybe even an hour to be with me, in intimacy, has refreshed my soul, lifted my spirit, and renewed the initial vision, purpose and plans He has to reveal even further. He has given me times of being intimate with Him.

And yes, it is possible to be intimate with each other I am certain. It starts with being intimate with our Lord, where His heart first becomes yours, and His life then dwells in ours.

I like to sleep. Most of us do. Sometimes I believe it is overrated when we could be doing so much more. But I no longer mind it when the Holy Spirit awakens me in the middle of the night, using Zoe or any other means He chooses. Being with Him is worth the time.

My prayer, both for you and I, is very simple. “Lord, we want You. We need You. Come and fill my heart with Who You are so we can love those who yet don’t know, or want to know You more.”

May He answer this prayer for you and me today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

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 #369 - in the year of our Lord 11.20.18 – “Intimate”  Tuesday, 5:00 am

What Tim Hawkins Said When His Daughter Wanted a Puppy for Christmas - CHARISMA NEWS

What Tim Hawkins Said When His Daughter Wanted a Puppy for Christmas

2:00PM 12/8/2017CHARISMA NEWS

When your kid really wants something for Christmas, they tell you—over and over again. Christian comedian Tim Hawkins was beside himself when his daughter asked for a puppy for Christmas. His exasperated response to her continued pleas will ring true for many parents this time of year.

Eat Your Food Zoe - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Eat Your Food Zoe

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach (Revelations 22:12-13, NASU)

Do you like to get a reward? Don’t you feel a bit more inspired to achieve something if there is a “carrot at the end of the stick”?

OK, for the young ones under 30 - you may not know what that old school saying means. So how about this one, “Do what I tell you to do and you will get an iPhone for your birthday.” Got it?

We have a dog. Her name is Zoe Girl Martin (full name on her pedigree papers). She is a Dachshund - a wiener do, a hot dog. And she is a bit overweight for being 10, or 70 years in human terms. (But don’t we all…)

Zoe likes to eat. Dog food. Human food. Any kind of food. I know, that isn’t the best for her, but when she looks at you with those beautiful brown eyes, and whimpers her sweet, sweet sounds, what can I say? A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Zoe - her Facebook profile photo from 5 years back. (Just kidding.)

She didn't want me showing yesterday's photo. Must be a girl thing.

What Zoe likes best, as I imagine all dogs do, are the treats. Give them a treat as a reward for being obedient and they do what you want them to do. They may not completely understand that doing what is good to do is good to do anyway, but dangling a treat in front of her helps her achieve the proper goal.

When there are times Zoe doesn’t necessarily like her same old, same old food for supper, we remind her of the treat she gets once her plate is all cleaned up. For her, nothing is better than a “rawhide” bone, or a real steak bone rarely (or medium rare) brought home from Longhorn Restaurant. (My favorite!)

Amazing how it works. When you are given the promise of a reward after a job well done, or obeying a command even when you don’t understand why, but know that the reward is worth the blood, sweat and tears, then you find the strength and courage to do it. Whatever it takes. Right? Say yes.

Your faith in the Person doing the promising gives you the hope and the will to press on.

“You who bring good news to Tziyon, get yourself up on a high mountain; you who bring good news to Yerushalayim, cry out at the top of your voice! Don’t be afraid to shout out loud!

Say to the cities of Y’hudah, “Here is your God! Here comes Adonai Elohim with power, and his arm will rule for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his recompense is before him.” Isaiah 40:9-10, Complete Jewish Bible)

“The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, so that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth." (Psalms 58:10-11, NKJV)

Max Greiner, Jr. artwork design (Look here.)

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach (Revelations 22:12-13, NASU)

Our Lord Jesus Christ promises us a reward. The one that counts in the end.

Even after He Himself lived, died, buried and rose again; even after He saved us, called us, and sends His Holy Spirit to be with us every day and everywhere, He STILL promises us a reward at the end of our time.

To put it another way, as does the well-known saying, “Such a deal.” It is the real deal.

What other encouragement do we need to hear, obey, do His will, and get the job done?

Be encouraged today. His reward here on earth and eternal life in heaven should be enough to spur you on until the end.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. 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. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

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

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 05.31.17 - #287 – “Eat Your food Zoe” – Wednesday, 4:30 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

Persistently Consistent - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Persistently Consistent

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Four things on the earth are small; nevertheless, they are very wise — the ants, a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer…” (Proverbs 30:24-25, Complete Jewish Bible)

We all have heard stories of the ants, of how they work and work and work. I can certainly attest to that. Living here in the South (southeastern part of the USA) over these past 30 years have presented many encounters with the red fire ants. These are the ones that when they bite you, you know it because it hurts. Then a short time later, small, red blisters cover your ankles or elsewhere on those parts of the body that were exposed. Sometimes they even get you under your socks, and then it is later that you feel their bite. Just great.

I have found a method that works for me, to rid my beautiful, weed infested yard of their hills. For if you don’t deal with them, you will have nice mountains of red clay all over your scenery. So what I found that works is this.

Step on the mound with your foot (shoe on of course) to flatten the mound out. This causes them to eventually move on to the neighbor’s yard. Or if the mound has already grown to be bigger than your foot, take a plank of wood, lay it on top, step on it, and then roll it over to smash the next section. Repeat as needed. Works every time! No pesticides. No hot buckets of water to carry. No bleach killing the rest of your lawn.

      

  

It must be said of the ant colonies – they are persistently consistent.

They never give up. They never give in. They keep on working even better than the Energizer bunny did. (Is he still around, or did his battery finally die out?)

One thing that I have found that also “works” in my Christian life, in order to be faithful in the small and the large, is to be persistently consistent in what I do. Then I trust, as He promised, that I will finish the race and get His reward. 

After all, who doesn’t like rewards? Even Zoe, our 10-year-old loving Dachshund, knows that if she consistently finishes her doggy supper she gets a rawhide bone! You can bet she likes rewards.

Zoe driving my Hyundai Elantra.

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?”

(Luke 16:10-12) New Living Translation

Want to know what are some things in the disciplined Christian life that pleases our Father in heaven? Seeing His children be faithful in prayer, spending time learning about His ways in His Written Word, and being the one who others can count on when a need is needing to be met.

If you learn to be persistently consistent in your doing, you shall obtain the reward, and help others achieve that objective also. 

Good servants of the Most High can be counted on, for they have learned to press on and not give up.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. 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. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

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

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 05.26.17 - #285 – “Persistently Consistent” – Friday, 12:47 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

Charlotte NC in March 2014 - birds, turtles, blooming trees, flowers, dogs and even a cat...

As I walked around the neighborhood and in the back yard, I took these photos with my Canon camera. We serve a very Creative God! His works are so wonderful and beautiful, to show His love for us and all His people.

Steve Martin, Love For His People

Charlotte, NC March 15, 2014