Showing posts with label Hand to the plow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hand to the plow. Show all posts

Monday, November 6, 2017

LoveMusic! - Paul Clark - Love You So


Paul Clark - Love You So


Nov. 6, 2017

Greetings LoveMusic! listeners.

If you know Phil Keaggy, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Love Song, Larry Norman, Andraé Crouch, Honeytree, Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, Barry McGuire, then you know Paul Clark!

In 1972, Paul Clark came to the Christian Jesus Movement with his album Songs From The Savior. It certainly was in my music collection at that time. Along with that great album, I added his other ones, such as this one Hand To The Plow. Even today that album hangs framed on our home wall, reminding Laurie and me of the work it takes to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach.

I was thrilled the day I got to talk to Paul on the phone from Jerusalem when he was at the home of Barry Segal (Vision For Israel and The Joseph Storehouse). Barry had him speak to me as they were conversing about an upcoming project between them. Paul promised to send to the USA office some of his new CDs. (Well, still waiting! He must have failed to write it down, as I have to in order to remember things yet to do.)

Paul's instrumental guitar music accompanied often with his band, touches the heart and soul, while his lyrics ring true to us in everyday life.

Be blessed in your listening to Paul as he sings to the Lord - how much we love Him so.

Ahava and shalom, 

Steve Martin

Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, North Carolina
USA


YouTube Published on Jan 1, 2015

5th track from "Hand To The Plow" (1977). Perfect in its simplicity! A honey-dripping sax, an electric piano, a phase-shifted guitar, Westcoast production, and a heart overflowing with gratitude. What more could you ask for from smooth '70s Yacht Rock? This is one of my all-time faves!

“With piano directed to the forefront and the help of Harlan Rogers and Hadley Hockensmith of the jazz group Koinonia, Clark dabbled with a progressive fusion of jazz, rock and pop which at its most sophisticated is not unlike Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam, particularly on the opening seven-minute title track with its extended instrumental jamming. Sleeker production was joined by heavy guitar solos, slick saxophone leads, brass section, synthesizers, organ, funky keyboards and ladies on bgvs.”

~excerpt from Hand To The Plow (Seed PSR-005) 1977
http://www.theancientstar-song.com/20...

***

Please support Paul Clark by buying his awesome music!
www.paulclarkmusic.com
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      • Paul Clark (Christian musician)

        From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
        Paul Clark
        OriginKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
        GenresJesus musicfolk rock
        InstrumentsGuitar
        Years active1971–present
        Associated actsPaul Clark & Friends
        WebsitePaul Clark Music
        Paul Clark is a musician who was involved in the Jesus music movement and early contemporary Christian music industry. He was born in Kansas City [1] and recorded his first album in 1971, Songs from the Saviour Vol 1.[2] Its songs became one of the first signs of the growing "Jesus Movement" of the early 70s.
        He went on to record a further albums including Songs From The Savior - Volume Two, Come Into His Presence and Good To Be Home with Paul Clark and Friends (including Phil Keaggy, Jay Truax, John Mehler, Bill speer, Mike Burhart, and more), then launched the well received, award-winning 1977 album Hand to the Plow. In 1978 he followed up with Change in the Wind and in 1980 with Aim for the Heart. These three albums had some jazz influences and were well-produced in the context of other Christian music of the time. Aim for the Heart featured Abraham Laboriel on bass along with Harlan Rogers, Hadley Hockensmith and Bill Maxwell and was certainly jazz influenced. Those four went on to become members of Koinonia jazz band from 1982 till about 1990.
        Clark is recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Jesus Movement and the contemporary Christian music industry.[3] During his 13-year association with Word Records in the 1970s and 1980s, Clark's songwriting, record producing and performances placed him in the forefront along with artists like Phil Keaggy2nd Chapter of ActsLove SongLarry NormanAndraé CrouchHoneytreeKeith GreenRandy StonehillBarry McGuire, and many notable others.
        He is also interested in fine art photography and entering 2010 is currently working on two new CD projects and releasing two books.

        Discography[edit]

        • Songs from the Savior, Vol. 1 1972
        • Songs from the Savior, Vol. 2 1972
        • Come Into His Presence (Paul Clark and Friends) 1974
        • Good To Be Home (Paul Clark and Friends) 1975
        • Hand to the Plow 1976
        • Change in the Wind 1978
        • Aim for the Heart 1980
        • New Horizon 1981
        • Drawn to the Light 1982
        • Out of the Shadow 1983
        • Awakening from the Western Dream 1988
        • When the Moon is Behind the Clouds 1992
        • Private World 1995
        • Resonate 1996
        • Christmas 1998
        • Call of the Canyon 2001
        • Approaching Jerusalem 2009
        • Down at the Whistle Stop 2014
        • Branching Roots 2016


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Saturday, October 24, 2015

Paul Clark - Hand to the Plow

Paul Clark album - 1970






Paul Clark (Christian musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul Clark
OriginKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
GenresJesus musicfolk rock
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1971–present
Associated actsPaul Clark & Friends
Websitewww.paulclarkmusic.com
Paul Clark is a musician who was involved in the Jesus music movement and early contemporary Christian music industry, still continues to travel the road less traveled by writing and recording songs from dialogue above and beneath the white noise of mainstream pop Christian worship. He was born in Kansas City [1] and recorded his first album in 1971, Songs from the Saviour Vol 1.[2] Its songs became one of the first signs of the growing "Jesus Movement" of the early 70s.
He went on to record a further albums including Songs From The Savior - Volume Two, Come Into His Presence and Good To Be Home with Paul Clark and Friends (including Phil Keaggy, Jay Truax, John Mehler, Bill speer, Mike Burhart, and more), then launched the well received, award winning 1977 album Hand to the Plow. In 1978 he followed up with Change in the Wind and in 1980 with Aim for the Heart. These three albums had some jazz influences and were well-produced in the context of other Christian music of the time. Aim for the Heart featured Abraham Laboriel on bass along with Harlan Rogers, Hadley Hockensmith and Bill Maxwell and was certainly jazz influenced. Those four went on to become members of Koinonia jazz band from 1982 till about 1990.
Clark is recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Jesus Movement and the contemporary Christian music industry.[3] During his 13-year association with Word Records in the 1970s and 1980s, Clark's songwriting, record producing and performances placed him in the forefront along with artists like Phil Keaggy2nd Chapter of ActsLove Song,Larry NormanAndraé CrouchHoneytreeKeith GreenRandy StonehillBarry McGuire, and many notable others.
He is also interested in fine art photography and entering 2010 is currently working on two new CD projects and releasing two books.

Discography[edit]

  • Songs from the Savior, Vol. 1 1972
  • Songs from the Savior, Vol. 2 1972
  • Come Into His Presence (Paul Clark and Friends) 1974
  • Good To Be Home (Paul Clark and Friends) 1975
  • Hand to the Plow 1976
  • Change in the Wind 1978
  • Aim for the Heart 1980
  • New Horizon 1981
  • Drawn to the Light 1982
  • Out of the Shadow 1983
  • Awakening from the Western Dream 1988
  • When the Moon is Behind the Clouds 1992
  • Private World 1995
  • Resonate 1996
  • Christmas 1998
  • Call of the Canyon 2001
  • Approaching Jerusalem 2009
  • "The Shorter The Trailer The Longer The Road" or "Songs From The Trailer VOL.IV" 2012
  • Down at the Whistle Stop 2014

References[edit]

  1. Jump up^ "Official biography" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  2. Jump up
  3. Jump up^ Powell, Mark Allan (August 2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Paebody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 1088. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Keep Walking - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Keep Walking
Now Think On This
by Steve Martin


“Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message)


Hanging on our family room wall is a worn out record album. You can see that it had gotten much use during it’s time from 1976 on. The cover itself, framed in black with a glass covering, has special meaning to me. Whenever I see it, going in and out of that room, it reminds me of the need to keep walking in faith, and to keep my hand to the plow.

The black 33 1/3 vinyl enclosed within is entitled Hand To The Plow, one of Paul Clark’s many albums produced during the time of my early Christian walk. To this day he is still a Christian guitarist and soloist, though maybe not as well known.

On the front of that framed piece of artwork, in simple black and white color, is a pair of well worn, rather hairy hands. They surely had seen better days in their prime years. But these calloused hands were still holding onto the wooden plow. Obviously they were preparing the fields for another harvest yet to come. They had faithfully kept walking as the seasons went by.

Growing up in Minnesota and Iowa (located in the Midwest of America, for the sake of the international readers) I had plenty of summer opportunities to be on a working farm. Of the 11 uncles I had (both sides of the family) I remember at least four of them raising their families on farms. Each would put in the annual field crops, in addition to all the dairy cows, pigs, sheep, chickens or all of the above.

In those years from 1954 -1970, tractors had long since taken over the single steel blade as the method of plowing. But being aware of how the early pioneers had to sweat, endure, and pray to the Lord of the weather for favor, I understood what it would have physically cost to keep those hands on the plow to prepare the black soil.

Staying on the path takes courage and commitment. The apostle Paul wrote to disciple Timothy to be continually mindful of the prophetic words spoken over him in his faith walk. In order to do that in my own life I transcribed all prophetic words that had been recorded. Keeping them in a three ring binder for easy access, and also saved on my laptop, it is an encouraging reminder to go back and read what the Lord had spoken through His people.

We often need to be reminded of that which the Lord has revealed to us in our earlier years. In February, 2007, that was such a time for me.

After a period of discouragement in my life, I sought the Lord for a prophetic word. What amazes me now, looking back (October, 2015 as I write this), little did I know that three years later, in July of 2010, I would leave a $70,000 a year ministry director position, with full benefits, to start our own new ministry organization called Love For His People, Inc.

When I filed my income tax for 2011, my individual total taxable income had fallen to $11,000 for that year. Needless to say, either I had missed the Lord or He was doing a deep work in my spirit, soul and body. Not only for myself, but also for Laurie my wife. (We are thankful she still had her part time day care job.)

The following is a prophetic word that I still read as a reminder to this day. It helps me to keep walking the walk and my hands on the plow.

As transcribed from the cassette tape that was recorded that night:


Robbie Phillips, from Columbia, SC, met with a group at Michael & Mary Ann Blade's home in Charlotte, NC. Here is a word prophesied to me.

Robbie Phillips: We call for the blessings of God. Everything he puts his hands to, bless. Everything he puts his hands to, bless, in Jesus’ name.

It seems to me in your work – talk about plowing – brother it seems to me that you have been plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing. And there is a verse in Haggai. In Haggai it is in the negative sense but in your case it is in the positive sense, where the word of the prophet was that you have sown much but have harvested little.

And it seems to me that in the ministry that you have been in the last few years, that you have sown far more than what you have seen coming back. But it’s almost like as I see you are going down, like you have one of the old time plows and you have an oxen or a mule or something ahead of you, and here you are, just getting it done day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

And it’s like I see this tremendously long row, and there is this man standing there, and he has a linen garment on, he’s right out of Ezekiel, and you recognize that this is an angelic visitor, and you stop, and he says, “Steve, look behind you. And you look back and you thought you had been plowing, but in the distance, where you had plowed a long time ago, whole forests have sprung up, and they are seeding new forests, and right behind you there has been an acceleration of what God is doing in your ministry, so that it’s not just a place where you just plowed, but there are already small trees that have sprung up even a few feet behind you.

And I see about you, I think it is just trickling in now, but I see the blessings of God beginning to come now, to the point where they are going to overtake you. It talks about when you are faithful to the Lord, and in the 7th year when the land has the Sabbath, that you don’t need to worry about plowing and harvesting in that 7th year, because what you sowed three years before, and the next year and the following year, will all seem to come in on top of you at one time, and you will have more than enough, in fact you will have so much coming in, that you will have to move out some of the old to bring the new in.

And I see the blessing of the Lord and it’s like you have been looking and trusting God for His faithfulness and you are going to see a demonstration of the faithfulness of God and not just in spiritual things but in financial ways and material ways.

I see you, brother, you riding the high places of the earth with the Lord. I see you at 50,000 feet in jet liners just about all the time, flying all over the world. I see you a connector in the hand of the Lord. I see you being behind the scenes man, much of the time, major conferences and things like that, but the people that really know, the people that are the shakers and the movers in the Kingdom, the people that are well known, they’ll say that if you really want to meet a shaker and a mover, then you go and meet Steve Martin. He’s the guy behind the scenes, and he’s the guy that really gets things done.

And I see you being able to go to Scandinavian countries, European countries, the countries of the Far East, South America, all over the world, and I see you having contacts all over the world, and I see you being able to be used of the Lord to connect this person on one end of the world to a person over here and to bring things together in just the right timing of the Lord.

I see a tremendous amount of influence in your life, and I see that teaching anointing of your life. I see situation, particularly with leadership, it seems to me the Lord, just like with Elijah, suddenly “Boom!” out of nowhere Elijah appears, he wasn’t there one day and suddenly he’s the talk of the nation and I see the Lord just suddenly revealing you, revealing a teaching anointing, particularly for leadership and with leaders, and a lot of it having to do with the holiness of God, and your own personal, their own personal walk with God, the things that are near and dear to your heart, about right relationships with your wife and your family. How your relationships with that, how those dynamics work, things that really matter. The nitty gritty stuff that drive the kingdom. These things being those that are really near to your heart.

Being able to be a real impact to people who are key leaders. But I see that in a teaching format, even more so than your own personal encouragement and strengthening. I see the Lord giving you teachings to begin to bring to leadership, in due season.”

We know that not all personal prophetic words may come to pass, for a variety of reasons. (Another message for another day.) But there are several spoken in this word from that 2007 date that have since been fulfilled already. I anticipate that more of them will be in the years ahead.

I shared this to encourage you to keep believing the Lord on your faith walk. There are many days when things don’t look like they are moving; when advancement would be great if even just a step forward happened one day, rather than the two steps backward that seemed to occur yesterday. We must keep pressing on towards the goal set before us. (Philippians 3:14)

Winston Churchill is famously known for a simple but profound speech he gave, where he walked out onto the stage, said, “Never, never, never give up” and then walked off.

Scripture also encourages us to never quit, but to keep walking and standing firm in our commitment to the Lord and His eternal purposes.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:11-17 NASU)

Days of trial and tribulations are coming even more so on the earth. For many believers in the Middle East and the Far East, they can’t get much worse than what they already are. But wherever we find ourselves, we are called to stand in the power of the Lord’s might, and be witnesses in the nations.

The Lord God Almighty, Victor of All, is on His eternal throne in heaven, along with many witnesses who have gone on before us, interceding and cheering us on.

Keep walking.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
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Now Think On This #195 “Keep Walking” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (10.23.15) Friday at 6:30 pm in Charlotte, NC

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


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Saturday, October 3, 2015

"It's Time to Put Your Hand To The Plow and Not Look Back!" - Bonnie Jones (The Elijah List)


The Lord is speaking in a clear and intentional voice in this season. Recently I heard Him say, "Now is the time for Christians to gird up their loins and follow after Me. It's time for them to put their hand to the plow and not look back; fear follows those who do. Their past is already behind them."
But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 AMP (Photo via Bonnie Jones)
"They cannot take illicit lovers into this next season. I'm looking for abandoned lovers, those who are abandoned unto Me."
You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. James 4:4 AMP
I believe the question to the Body of Christ is, "How much of our self are we willing to surrender to God?" He can only occupy as much of our vessel to the extent that we make available to be filled. If we only surrender twenty percent, He can only occupy that amount in our heart. But an abandoned lover willingly surrenders their whole being unto Him so He can fill them to overflowing with the fullness of His Spirit.
The Whirlwind
After hearing His voice I was shown a great and awesome whirlwind coming to the Body of Christ. It's the move of the Holy Spirit we've long anticipated, and it's unlike anything we've experienced in the past. In this great movement, those who are being led by the Holy Spirit will remain hidden in the cleft of the Rock. They will follow the Master wherever He directs them and move in supernatural demonstration of God's unlimited power. (Photo by Kevin Moffatt "In Spirit and in Truth" via elijahshopper.com)
And while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Exodus 33:22 AMP
I was also shown Christians who regularly attend church and continue reading their Bible. Although they truly love the Lord, they deny the power of His Holy Spirit. Once again they were offered His fellowship when this mighty whirlwind began. Yet, once again, they rejected the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. 2 Timothy 3:5 AMP
After the whirlwind subsided, there was an immediate acceleration for those who were hidden in the Rock. They never looked back for those who rejected the Holy Spirit. Instead they kept a steady eye on Jesus and followed after Him. Their whole being was surrendered unto Him and they moved in demonstration of His resurrection power. They knew how to rest in God and allowed Him to manifest His presence through them.
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
Parables of Elijah and Elisha
In this experience I could easily see two parables with Elijah and Elisha. First, in 1 Kings 19:19-21, we see Elisha plowing the field when Elijah places his mantle upon him. Operating out of an old mindset, Elisha wanted to turn back and kiss his parents good-bye before following the man of God. Elisha already had his hand to the plow and but needed to gird up his loins and follow after Elijah. He had no time to turn around or look back to the way things were. This was a divine appointment that would change the rest of his life, and he had a choice to make. From that time forth, Elisha followed Elijah, never leaving his side.
So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, whose plowing was being done with twelve yoke of oxen, and he drove the twelfth. Elijah crossed over to him and cast his mantle upon him. He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you." 
And he [testing Elisha] said, "Go on back. What have I done to you? [Settle it for yourself.]" So Elisha went back from him. Then he took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the oxen's yoke [as fuel], and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, followed Elijah, and served him. 1 Kings 19:19-21 AMP (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Second, because Elisha remained faithful to keep his eyes on Elijah (type of Holy Spirit), he received a double portion of Elijah's anointing when he was taken up in the whirlwind. In the same way, if we desire to be part of this supernatural movement, we cannot not turn back to the ways of the flesh. We MUST follow after the Holy Spirit of God with a whole heart. It may offend some, and others will misunderstand us, but no matter the cost we must remain faithful and obedient to God.
And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you – but if not, it shall not be so." 
As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:9-12 AMP (Photo via Flickr)
I believe we're about to step into this supernatural movement of monumental acceleration in the Spirit. It will be far greater than anything the Body of Christ has experienced in past movements. Azusa Street was an incredible display of power through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but this was only a glimpse of that which is now on the horizon.
We can't afford to miss our opportunity for acceleration because His time is of the essence. Let's gird up our loins and put our hand to the plow. Let's become those abandoned lovers so God will fill us with the fullness of His presence as we go into the greatest whirlwind and spiritual awakening of all time!
Bonnie Jones
The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones

Email: click here
Website: bobjones.org
Bonnie Jones has a great love for the Lord, the Word, and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love, and encouragement. Bonnie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2001 to attend Morning Star School of Ministry; in 2005 she met Bob Jones and they were married the following year (Bob Jones went home to be with the Lord in 2014). Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling.
To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe