"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.

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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

Let It Rain. Let It Pour. Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Let It Rain. Let It Pour.

Steve Martin

“After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions;” (Joel 3:1, Complete Jewish Bible)

We all love it when the richly colored blue sky is splattered with those puffy white, voluminous clouds; when the golden sun rises faithfully in the morning, bringing forth its warmth and brilliance, and many hours later leaving a most beautiful trail across the painted canvas, at its daily setting in the west.

But then…

It pours rain. Seemingly never-ending rain lately. Day in and day out in many areas. (Or snow, if the temperature is low enough for the precipitation to be changed to that form.)

And what should we be proclaiming?

Let it rain Lord!

Amongst the complainers, and in some cases those who curse, my heart is proclaiming, “Let it rain oh Lord! Let Your Spirit pour down upon us, even as You promised in these last days through Your Jewish prophet Joel centuries ago. Let it rain!”

I want to sing it repeatedly, even as Michael W. Smith did, beginning in 2001. Remember?

Let It Rain Michael W. Smith

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad
Let the distance shores rejoice
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne

A fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side
His lightning lights up the world
The earth sees and trembles
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord

Before the Lord of all the earth
The heavens proclaim His righteousness
And all peoples will see His glory

We want to see Your glory, God!
Do you want to see His glory?

Lift your voices, lift your hands!

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of heaven

Songwriters: Smith

Let It Rain lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management Inc

Listen again. Be encouraged. Let this be your prayer, rising from deep within your spirit.

Listen to that powerful song here (LET IT RAIN) and let your spirit rejoice. Be glad that rain is coming. Give thanks that He is sending the rain.

We welcome Your reign, Oh Lord!

And even as the Lord’s prophet Joel so rightly prophesied, that as the Lord’s prophetic promises are being brought to fruition, even in His Promised Land, we know that we can trust Him, for He is forever Faithful and True.

“Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad,

For the Lord has done great things.

Do not fear, beasts of the field,

For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green,

For the tree has borne its fruit,

The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.

So rejoice, O sons of Zion,

And be glad in the Lord your God;

For He has given you the early rain for your vindication.

And He has poured down for you the rain,

The early and latter rain as before.

The threshing floors will be full of grain,

And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.

"Then I will make up to you for the years

That the swarming locust has eaten,

The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.

"You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied

And praise the name of the Lord your God,

Who has dealt wondrously with you;

Then My people will never be put to shame.

"Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,

And that I am the Lord your God,

And there is no other;

And My people will never be put to shame.

After rain in Jerusalem. (Photo by Steve Martin 2016.)

It will come about after this

That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;

And your sons and daughters will prophesy,

Your old men will dream dreams,

Your young men will see visions.

"Even on the male and female servants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

"I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,

Blood, fire and columns of smoke.

"The sun will be turned into darkness

And the moon into blood

Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

"And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord

Will be delivered;

For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

There will be those who escape,

As the Lord has said,

Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

(Joel 2:21-32, NASU)

  

It is coming! He is coming! He is coming back and preparing the way for us and all the nations that will turn to Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, the One and Only Savior of the world.

Do not complain. Do not give in to soulish proclamations that exist among the naysayers.

Be the one who welcomes the rain. Be the one who says even now, “So let it rain, Lord. We need Your reign!”

In all His Glory and Majestic rule, He is the One sending the rain.

For He will reign! Reign, Lord!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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