Showing posts with label The Message. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Message. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Are You Free… to do what the Lord has given you to do? - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Are You Free…
to do what the Lord
has given you to do?

Now Think On This
Steve Martin


As a young boy, (growing into a fine young man!) I really enjoyed reading biographies of men and women – those who found what they were created to do, and actually did it.

Men like David Livingstone, the Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an explorer in Africa. When he was “found” by Henry M. Stanley, the famous British explorer and New York Times reporter, deep in the heart of “the dark continent”, Stanley reportedly spoke this famous quote, when on November 10, 1871, he found the missionary and asked, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

I really liked the bios I read of Eric Liddell, the Scottish missionary to China, as his parents were before him, who was made even more well-known after the movie Chariots of Fire came out in 1981. Eric was an Olympic hero who followed after the heart of the Lord, in all His ways. He took the Gospel to the Far East nation. What an example for a young boy!

Of course there were others who inspired me, much like Harmon Killebrew, the Minnesota Twins baseball home run hitter in the 1970’s; Francis of Assisi, who left it all behind to touch the lives of the poor; and Abraham Lincoln, our American 16th President during the Civil War in the 1860s (I think I must have over 24 books on him alone.)

Finally, a most inspiring book for one who wanted to do the Lord’s will in his life...

The Actes and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by John Foxe, first published in English in 1563 by John Day. It includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the Catholic Church, with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. The book was highly influential in those countries, and helped shape lasting popular notions of Catholicism there.

The book went through four editions in Foxe's lifetime and a number of later editions and abridgements, including some that specifically reduced the text to a Book of Martyrs. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Above all, there is the One whom it is written, that there are not enough books to cover His life here on earth - our Lord, Jesus the Messiah. None can compare when reading of Him, and how we can walk in His steps even today.

But how do we walk in His ways, or those who continue to inspire and encourage us on today?

If the Lord called you tonight (or sent a text), and said, “Leave all you have and follow Me?" – what would keep you from doing it?

Would it be that job you have, that you don’t like anyway, but grudgingly to it because that is what you think there is just for you to do?

Is it lack of money, believing you need a good amount to get started down the path you’d really like to take, but never took that first step?

Would the opinion of family or friends outweigh the word the Lord wants to give you, or already has spoken to you about, and you keep pushing it back to another time, another place?

Can it be a simple thing like needing to have the constant noise of the TV on, watching meaningless weekly shows, that a month from now will have proven to be of nothing, having lasting value in your life?

Are you free to do what the Lord has given you to do? What is holding you back?

I think if you ask Him, actually “inquire of the Lord” as David did, you’d be given the inspiration to take the first step. 


Psalm 25The Message (MSG)
A David Psalm
25 1-2 My head is high, God, held high;
I’m looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.


I’ve thrown in my lot with you;
You won’t embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?
Don’t embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.


Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.


Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?


Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!


Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!


God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.


He gives the rejects his hand,
And leads them step-by-step.


10 From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions."



So seek the Lord in faith, not fear, and see what He says. It will be worth it.

Something to think about.

Love you,

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 sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We love Israel.

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 

Full website: Love For His People

Now Think On This #212 “Free To Do?  Wednesday at 7:30 am 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

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

Saturday, October 10, 2015

4HIM - The Measure Of A Man (music video)



Uploaded on Nov 15, 2010
Second track from "The Message". Written by Mark Harris, Don Koch, and Stephanie Lewis. More videos are on my YouTube channel athttp://www.youtube.com/burgesssc

Thursday, May 8, 2014

"I look up to the mountains..." Psalm 121



A Pilgrim Song - 
Psalm 121, The Message


I look up to the mountains; 
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, 
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won’t let you stumble, 
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! 
Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God’s your Guardian, 
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke, 
sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil, 
He guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave 
and when you return,
He guards you now, 
He guards you always.


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Vision. Needed.



"If people can't see 
(have no vision)
what God is doing, 
they stumble 
all over themselves; 
But when they attend 
to what He reveals, 
they are most blessed." 
Prov 29:18


(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language 
© 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)




Photos by Steve Martin (Love For His People, Inc.) at the Charlotte Center City Partners "Vision Awards"event, April 18, 2013 in Charlotte, NC.