Birthdays abound! My good wife Laurie (66) and oldest son Josh (47) celebrate on June 28, 2025. Same day! St. Augustine, FL

My good wife Laurie (66) and oldest son Josh (47) 

celebrate their birthdays on June 28, 2025.

 Same day! St. Augustine, FL

                           Josh with his new Love For His People hat and shirt. From Dad and Mom.

Two new Notre Dame t-shirts with Hebrew.

     Laurie and Steve before departing from Charlotte, NC to St. Augustine, FL. 7 hour drive by car.

Oldest grandson Daniel Martin (26). He does smile! Big cuddly bear.

Daughter-in-law Chelsie and 3rd son (our grandson) Jensen Seth. 

He just graduated from high school.

I like the looks teenagers give at times. 

Reminds me of the days when each of us was growing up.

Our only granddaughter, Dylan Joy Martin (20), and her dog Thor.

We have 7 grandsons.

Laurie and Josh - sharing another birthday.

Josh was born on her 19th birthday. Thank You, Lord!

Laurie and Josh blow out their lone candles as Levi looks on.

#birthday #joshmartin #lauriemartin #Staugustine #florida #celebrate #jesus #yeshua #notredame #hebrew #birthdaycupcakes #cupcakes

 

Thank God for His Wonderful Gifts - RUTH L. WHITFIELD CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Material things come and go, but relationships can last a lifetime. (Lightstock)

Thank God for His Wonderful Gifts

11/22/2015 RUTH L. WHITFIELD  charisma magazine

I recently celebrated a birthday and was blessed with a barrage of cards and gifts. Well-wishing friends and relatives called, sent cards, gave gifts and took me to lunch.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. I felt loved and special. The years, which are considerable, seemed richer as I faced yet another chapter of my life.

Although I received some wonderful gifts, what I valued most was the love expressed by those around me. I realized that the greatest gifts were not the things I had received but the people God had brought into my life.

Material things come and go—they wear out, go out of style, depreciate, and get old and worn. But love and its expression among those of like faith is eternal. This special love from God, which the Bible calls "agape," and these relationships will go on forever. 

They will not wear out or grow old; they will grow richer. They are priceless treasures that will only increase in value. 

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus (see John 3:16). Jesus so loved that He gave His life in order that we could be forgiven and become adopted sons of God and joint-heirs with Him. But beyond that and as a special bonus, He gave us each other and joined our hearts in His love. 

What if, after all that, we refuse to accept His gifts? What if we receive the gift of eternal life but are not willing to love the people He brings into our lives or allow them to love us? What if we choose to keep these expressions of God's love at a distance, as I once did? We will miss so much!

As I looked across the table at the friends who have weathered many a storm with me, who are growing "older" as well, and gracefully I might add, I cherish them more and more each day. It's as if God wrapped each one in a special package and presented them to me as His very own array of gifts.

How thankful I am, Lord! Not just for the tangible expressions of Your love given through Your people but for the intangible expressions as well—wise counsel, prayer support, laughter, sharing in good times and bad, admonition, instruction and mentoring.

I understand now that each person is a gift from the Father to someone. Each one comes in a different package, a different shape, size and color. But each one is a reflection of His love. 

In becoming more like Him, let's share the love He so generously pours into our hearts toward others (see Rom. 5:5). And let us gratefully receive those He brings into our lives as special gifts from Him, regardless of the packaging.

This Thanksgiving, when we express our gratitude to God for His salvation, His presence and all the material things He has given us, let's not forget to thank Him for our family and friends—and the gift of love He has blessed us with through them.

Prayer Power for the Week of November 22, 2015

This week receive all the "love" gifts God sends you through family, friends, new relationships, outreaches and opportunities to connect with others. Pray for their salvation, healing, wholeness, deliverance, prosperity and blessing. Ask God to show you how to specifically reach out to the lonely, lacking and needy. Thank Him for leading you to the ones He desires you to bless and carry His love and presence to them in tangible ways. Continue to pray for our nation, its leaders, all those serving our country, and those who have suffered severe losses this year. Lift up the persecuted church and pray for the protection of Israel so it can fulfill God's mandate in this season. Before you embark on the busyness of the week, schedule time alone with God to make Him a priority, seek His counsel and receive His peace (Rom. 5:5-8).  

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW - Life in the Spirit is your Spirit-filled teaching guide. Encounter the Holy Spirit, hear God speak to you, and enjoy timeless teachings on love, mercy and forgiveness.LEARN MORE!

Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive CHARISMA MAGAZINE by email.

“Birthdays” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

                   

                “Birthdays” 

“Let me tell you what God said next. He said, "You're my son, and today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? Continents as a prize?”

(Psalm 2:7-8 from THE MESSAGE)

Dear family of friends,

Celebrating a birthday each year can be a great time for family and friends to gather together and bless. Bless the one whom the Lord has given another year to share his or her life with us. What fun!

I love birthdays. Even the many ones that come past 29 - which some seem to forget what their math grade school teacher taught them when it comes to the next number! Just having that special day that YOU are given notice to in a unique way is great. What a joy that is! I know it gives our Father tremendous joy, as He continually gives life to new and old.

The verse I shared with this Ahava Love Letter certainly reads different in The Message than in the New American Standard Bible I normally read, or even the Complete Jewish Bible which I like to also meditate on. Here the Lord God is asking if this person wants the nations as a present, and the continents as a prize? Can you imagine One that big, being able to give you this? I love the WalMart and the Movies 10 ($2 shows!) gift cards, but to be asked if you want a nation as a present? How awesome is that???!!

Love for His people – that ahava (Hebrew) love that Yeshua (Jesus) can only put in your heart, makes my heart burst with emotion when I dwell on this. Having a godly compassion and desire to see the peoples, the tribes and nations come to know Him as the Savior He is, has become the one motivating factor in my life that really drives me to push forward for another year. Being persistent in doing the daily stuff, to get you further along the path you are on in fulfilling your destiny, is enough for me, as each birthday comes again.

Being grateful to parents, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, relatives, longtime friends, and work family, for the love they express on your special day, is certainly a special treat. Much appreciation is to be given for those who do express their love to you.

Amazement for the Lord’s gift to us – for life itself – and then for blessing us with opportunities, open doors, and expanded relationships in other nations, is also a great thing to behold and to give thanks for. This year, and every year while I am still on this planet, I am rejoicing in the fact that our Messiah and King is offering you and I the nations as a gift, as a prize for enduring the race He has set before each of us, as we press on in His purposes and realize His promises.

Make your birthday milestones count each year. Keep the flame of love for His people and all the nations in your heart – to bless, curse not, and see His Kingdom come.

I know I am!

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People

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 the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go 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. 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.

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

            Ahava Love Letters

           

  

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Steve Martin/Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #87   “Birthdays”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (11/22/13 Friday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC). The day before my 59^th birthday!

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters

Leadership Through Love - Chapter 7 - "Field Trips & More!" (Steve Martin)

Chapter 7

Field Trips & More!

 - Enjoying Staff Events

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

      - Birthdays and BBQs

      - After Hours

Staff are often called upon to make events happen, such as the church picnic, the business expo, or the ministry conference. That is part of the job requirements, and understood by all. But serving others makes one desire, and need, a break once in awhile, to just relax and “hang out”. Just as in families, once a big event has come and gone, the staff needs some down time, apart from the “regular job duties”, to enjoy one another and continue to build good relationships. 

Coming from a large family, I appreciate the opportunities we had, and have, to be with one another, where one is not expected to have to “perform”.

Louis & Lila Martin family

- plus the almost full tribe of eight! 

(One yet to come...) 1968 in Cedar Falls, Iowa

Being one who enjoys having a good time, and wanting to see others involved as much as they desire, I saw to it that each staff I was blessed with had times of being together apart from the daily routine or the big event. I realized the importance of having a good time, when the pressures of the daily work or weekend schedule for church weren’t pushing hard.

For the monthly birthdays, we made it a point to celebrate these special days in the life of the accountant, the shipping supervisor, the custodian, the editor, or the receptionist. Having all the employees gather in the lunch room, my assistant and I had a birthday cake, ice cream, and sometimes balloons and other decorations ready to bless those whose birthday it was that month. 

This makes each individual know that they are indeed special and important, and not just someone sitting in the chair getting the job done.

Vision for Israel - partial staff - birthday party 2009

(L-R) Steve, Jodie Goodman, Indira & Edgar Persad

A specially made #24 birthday cake 

at the office for #55! (2009)

Once a year, we would try to schedule a staff retreat, out of town, for two days and nights. Usually this was after the annual conference, or some other event that had required extra effort and time. Going to a mountain retreat lodge, or a resort where all the food and recreation coordination was done by someone other than our own, was always a much appreciated time together.

Being able to gather after office hours, on a weekend or weekday night, gives employees the chance to appreciate each one even more, with an evening baseball or basketball game, racing event at the track, or a good band playing at the food gathering.

Whether the expense is covered by the business, church or ministry, or each pays separately, the staff see this extra care shown by the administrator and other leaders that the whole person is important, in addition to being the one on staff who gets the job done. It is interesting to hear what people say and do when “not on the job”. It can be a very positive addition to the ongoing relationships that are important to maintaining good relationships in the office.

Kevin Grafton, co-worker 

- Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation (Mendota, IL 1977-1980)

and Vision for Israel (Charlotte, NC 2001-2004)

Grill-Master on both jobs!

Another bonding time that is fun to do is to have summer cookouts during the work week day. It seems that each staff has a “grill master” on board, who likes to show off his home crafted skills on the gas grill. Give him or her that opportunity!

Buying either store prepared food, or having each one bring a dish from home, helps create an “at ease” break during the work day. And it makes a good lunch too!

I know the Lord knew the importance of getting His team away from the daily routine, as He would take them apart from time to time. A time to be refreshed, to “recharge the batteries” is important in the business life as well. Just having time to stop doing the normal routine will help keep people desiring to give their best throughout the year.

Planning staff events ahead of time gives people the opportunity to look ahead, to anticipate the time out with the others. As we all like adventure and to get “of the beaten path” sometimes, give the staff these opportunities throughout the year.

Ahava ("love" in Hebrew) and shalom!

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. 

You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first six chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!

Leadership Through Love

Chapter Listings

1.      A Gift for His Purposes

- The Early Years

- On the job training

2.      Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff

- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations

- Do unto them as you would…

- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you

3.      Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job

- All are created equal – make the most of this!

- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It

4.      Train and Let Loose

- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By

- Hire To Complement Your Strengths

- if you are weak, then they are strong

- Outsource as needed

5.      Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!

- Rest and Sabbath Days

- Mornings with the Lord

- Trust in Him at all times

- We all are given 24 hours each day

6.       The Visionaries Need You!

-          They dream it - you make it happen

-          It takes a team

-          Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck

(or heads will roll)

  

7.      Field Trips and More!

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

- Birthdays and BBQs

- After Hours

8.      It Doesn’t All Depend On You

- The Lord is the Rock – Not You

- Whose strength  - yours or His?

   - Key Staff to Lean On

    - Trustworthy managers and assistants

9.      Practically Speaking…and Walking

- Handle each piece of paper once

- File so you can find it!

- Early morning – before the others come

- Take a Break

10.  Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?

- Group or One-On-One?

- Why Morning and Mid-Week?

 - Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors

11.  Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways

- Heart of Thankfulness

- Heart of Worship

- Heart of Service

12.  Another Man’s Vineyard

-          Follow & help fulfill their vision

-          Faithful with another’s

-          Learn and growth until your time

-          The proper way of moving on