“Alone and Lonely”
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10 (NKJV)
Dear family of friends,
It was early on a Thursday morning as I walked
the main street in uptown Charlotte. The sun hadn’t risen as yet. Hardly a car,
or human, was up at this hour. Being I had a part to play in a Thanksgiving/Christmas
festival event, I parked my car and walked the few blocks needed to get there. The
cold night was biting my uncovered face. At least I had our warm bed for a few
hours prior to getting out and coming here.
Sitting on a metal street bench, across the eerily
quiet, dark street at this hour, was a figure slouched over, under a layer or
two of ragged blankets. I didn’t know if it was a man or a woman. They had to
be really uncomfortable. These benches were constructed in such a way as to
prevent any prone position sleeping, at any hour of the day or night. Beside
them was a bag stuffed with their entire worldly possessions.
Knowing that the 22 F temperature was only
adding pain to what must be a terrible way to live, I said a quick prayer of
mercy for them. But I didn’t know what else to do, and having little money in
my pocket, I kept walking.
(The Charlotte Rescue Mission, where I have
worked at, is not far from the grandiose Charlotte Panthers football stadium from
which I now hurried in the opposite direction. They do a great job in helping
those in need of “two hots and a cot.” They also provide recovery assistance
from drug addiction, getting people back on their feet. But that person may not
have been aware of that help. As for now, “Lord, help them,” was all I did, and
kept moving on.)
During holiday seasons my heart especially goes
out to those who are alone and lonely. Personally, I have always had family and
friends, but I have also known the ache and discouragement that others feel at
times, increasingly around these times. Depression, despair, and destitution
can crush the human heart. Having the hurt from lack of love, expressed in a
caring way, takes its toll on the spirit in man.
So what do we do? What can we do?
Yeshua (Jesus) showed us the way. He came that
we might have life, and have it abundantly. These are not just nice words that
sound good in a Sunday sermon, shared by an over zealous speaker. This can be
reality in each of our lives. Hope can always spring forth in our hearts, for
He knows of the pain, the hurt, the rejection. He experienced it when He came
the first time. That is why He came. He gives life and ongoing hope always.
During the festival and holiday seasons, we
are made more aware of those needing our help, and many will ask you for help.
Do as you can. Maybe even do more than you normally would.
But remember that salvation is of the Jews,
and our first command in assistance is to the “household of faith,” as we are
instructed again in Galatians 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us
do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the
faith.” My understanding of this verse is that the household of faith, in
Israel, are the Messianic Jews. They are the ones who have received Yeshua
(Jesus) as the Messiah, and are also part of the Church Body, the One New Man. We
have been grafted in among them.
“But if some of the branches were broken off,
and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker
with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the
branches. But if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the
root, but the root supports you.” (Rom. 11:17 NASU)
We have a debt to the Jews. They gave us the
Bible. They gave us the prophets. They gave us our Savior, the Messiah Yeshua. We
have an opportunity to now give back, and bless the believers among them.
This isn’t an Ahava Love Letter appeal,
but it is an opportunity reminder, to share with you that we do send monthly support
to Messianic Jewish believing family of friends, in Israel in particular, and
in the USA. They are of the household of faith.
The ones we regularly support include Heart of G-d Ministries, Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem, Israel
Media Ministries, and Christians for Messiah Ministries.
Please remember Love For His People, Inc.
in your regular and year end giving.
Ahava to my family of friends,
Steve & Laurie Martin
Founders
Love For His People, Inc.
Love
For His People, Inc. is
a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.
Please consider sending a
charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known
families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian
ministry.
Your tax deductible
contributions receive a receipt for each donation.
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. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew
- Thank you very much.)
Be sure to get my two books
The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press,
2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com , plus other website
book stores.
You
can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H)
and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for $14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both
from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all
copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for
Israel too!)
Please share this Ahava
Love Letter with your friends.
Facebook pages: Steve
Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous,
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Ahava
Love Letter #90 “Alone & Lonely” ©2013 Steve Martin
Date:
In the year of our Lord 2013 (11/30/13 Saturday at 5:30 am in
Charlotte, NC).
All previous editions of
Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava
Love Letters
