Giving thanks.

We do give thanks to the Lord Most High for all His goodness and provision. Daily.

Steve & Laurie Martin
Love For His People, Inc.

RESPONSE TO EVIL by Morris E. Ruddick

RESPONSE TO EVIL (c) Morris E. Ruddick "Lord, You have set up a banner for those who fear You, a standard displayed because of the truth. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, save with Your right hand and answer us." Ps 60:3-5 Mind-sets are a compilation of assumptions that influence how we live our lives. They are the predispositions of our attitudes which determine how we respond to the circumstances around us. Mind-sets shape an individual's behavior. Cultural mind-sets mold the identity shared by a people. Working with believers in cultures where freedom is at risk has often challenged me to take a closer look at my own individual and cultural mind-sets. One culture I've worked with in particular includes a number of leaders who have spent extended time in hard-labor prisons for their faith. The intent of these incarcerations of brutal conditions was to undermine their faith. It had the opposite effect. In each case, I've been struck by the strength of character, decision-priorities and genuine humility of these friends who bear these brand-marks of their faith. On the other hand, what I have not observed is the focus that the West can give to issues that impact the soul. In conditions designed to break their spirit, those issues included severe deprivation of such essentials as having enough food to live and the realities of facing death. In short, what I have witnessed has been a distinct absence of a victim's mentality. In lands of persecution, almost everyone has a story of tragedy and serious loss. Yet, contrary to Western predispositions, the choice has been to put their tragic pasts behind them to more fully live in "the now." "Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth for that which is ahead." Phil3:13 Paul's admonition is not to "stuff it," but rather to renew our minds and make a choice to transform our thinking by giving focus to remembering those things that are true, noble, just, pure and of good report (Phil 4:8). That's the rallying banner. It's the standard upheld by those we regard as heroes of faith. Foundations to How We Respond At the core of the way of the Kingdom is how we respond to evil. Our mind-sets play a significant role in this response. The first premise is that we cannot hope for much by responding in our own strength or cleverness, no matter how much we verbalize it. It takes a great deal more, even for the most talented. The opening Scripture is about that added dimension that only comes through God. It is from a Psalm describing a people who have strayed and lost the power and protection of God against evil. It outlines the need to be restored and highlights what is required to maintain that place in which God intervenes on their behalf. Over the centuries, the Lord has imparted banners and standards for the good of His people. They serve an initial function to help us avoid the subtleties of evil. When ignored, they still provide the means of deliverance, although at a higher cost when evil inroads can only be met by judgment. The banner displayed gives first priority to embracing the unequivocal fear of the Lord. That calls for a choice. The standard then sets the stage to unveil the truth and the reality of God that empowers deliverance. It is the foundation from which we can cry out to the Lord and expect the manifestation of His power. Bondages result when God's supernatural standards are watered down with the natural. Within the Body are many who enjoy God's blessings yet are constrained from crossing the boundaries into what is represented by the fullness of their callings. The constraints typically are self-imposed, driven by precepts of men, with the standards influenced by both individual and cultural mind-sets and predispositions. The response to evil draws a line in the sand. Not recklessly or arbitrarily, but rather as a choice and a priority to uphold the standard. That choice is contrary to the way the world responds. That sometimes means sacrifice. Yet, that choice is the very foundation that Jesus imparted to His followers during His three year earthly ministry. The Subtle Influence For years I have worked with men and women of God being prepared with modern-day Joseph-type callings. The calling of God in the marketplace is not one of position or status, but a calling of influence. The influence evolves around establishing God's standard against evil, harnessing resources, and bringing deliverance and transformation within the infrastructures of the world's systems. Yet, again and again the pressures and subtleties faced by these modern-day Josephs bring challenge and distortion to their mantles. With the distractions and deceptions, the result is being drawn into safe-places, of spiritually treading water. As an illustration of the subtleties that distort and diminish the standard, the Western media has long advanced a cultural mind-set that turns returning military heroes into victims. It has undermined the standard of the cause of freedom with subtle, downgraded and distorted moralizations. The brand-marks of true heroes are then dishonored and reduced to pity. Pilate's challenge to Jesus was based on this very premise: that Jesus was facing death and Pilate had the authority to release Him. Jesus' response to Pilate was that his authority was limited and defined only by the Father. Figuratively speaking, Jesus spit in the face of death. Jesus was never a victim. His response refused a mind-set of pity, as He held to the standard. Jesus said He came not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill, to bring completion to them. He drew a line in the sand with destruction and death. Yet, until the time He was turned over to Pilate and Herod to face crucifixion, the focus of His earthly ministry dealt with the response to evil within the household of faith. "From the days of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force." Matt 11:12 The Evil Within The evil within the household of faith is far more subtle than the evil from outside the community of God's people. Ranging from factors such as obsessive introspection leading to majoring in minors and spiritual myopia to outright misuses of authority, the result has long been a people of feeble power, fragmented and divided. Nevertheless, overcoming these vulnerabilities represents the cohesive foundation needed to maximize the power in responding to evil coming from the world's system. No one group has the total picture, which is why we need one another. The level to which the evil within the community of God's people is properly addressed will be the level destabilizing and diluting the impact of the evil lurking outside the camp. "Do not be afraid of the sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being taken." Prov 3:25-26 The inroads of evil into the household of faith find their seedbed in mind-sets, the most devilish being religious mind-sets. Instead of being the influencers and overcomers, the Body has systematically become culturally compliant and spiritually anemic. The perception is viewed as the reality. Most purveyors of news are no longer presenting facts, but rather the spin of events within the view of a creeping system of godless values and evil-intended priorities. In God's eyes, the reality is based on the standard. God's standard is the driver for our mind-sets, the factor that determines what is right and the priorities we ascribe in stewarding our destinies. That standard is then wielded to the degree that our thinking and actions are in oneness with Him. "Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look. Then ask for the ancient paths where the good way lies. Then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls." Jer 6:16 When God's people are in alignment with Him, His glory will manifest. God's glory manifested when King David brought God's people together. That was King David's greatest accomplishment and will be the standard for the model in the millennium. To grasp the dynamics needed to realize the release of God's glory in the face of evil requires a closer look at what pride really is, how true humility upholds the standard and the role of suffering. With that is the need to understand how the Word of God defines wickedness within the ranks of the household of faith. The Seduction of Pride. There is a fine line between pride and honor. True honor comes from God. Pride, however, is self-created and rails against the knowledge of God. Self-righteousness is based on pride. It seduces and distorts. The Bible says that pride is like death and cannot be satisfied (Hab 2:5). Jesus addressed this dynamic manifesting with the Pharisees. They reached for the standard and missed. Their elitism and self-serving ambition for status and power pushed them away from God. It manifested in the mind-sets and the priorities they gave to the way they lived their lives. Jesus called them hypocrites because of their spiritual myopia. The history of God's people is filled with stories of "strays" who have misused their authority and operated under short-sighted, prideful illusions of their own significance in their stewardship of God's power. The Bible describes them as wicked. Proverbs 12:5-7 draws a sharp comparison between the righteous and the wicked. It applies within the boundaries of God's people. The divergence is between being just and operating with treachery and deceit. It speaks of the wicked seeking to entrap, of being ensnared by their own words, while the righteous maintain their integrity through backlash to emerge not only whole, but with new dimensions of purpose and enlightenment. Remember Job's response to his "friends" and the later end for Job. "When Job prayed for his friends the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as before." Job 42:10 It is the way of the Kingdom to respond to evil with good. In short, the root of the righteous, defined by this standard, cannot be moved or uprooted (Prov 12:3). It emphasizes our complete dependency on God and the importance of humility and a listening heart in maintaining the standard to stay the pathway. Humility and a Listening Heart. At the core of a righteous heart is the humility that comes from a genuine listening heart. We continually need to be hearing from God and the truth of His Word. We likewise need the wisdom from those who have gone before us as well as the God-fearing whose orientations are not constrained by our own search for what is truth. "[The Bereans] were more fair-minded.... in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."Acts 17:11 That's not to suggest a potpourri of opinions, but rather the discernment of the essentials needed to grasp the biblical standard guiding the steps of the community of faith. The need calls for more than a doctrinal statement on a web-site. The world we live in, along with today's factionalized Body demands strategic-level wisdom in establishing the scriptural common ground of how we come together and how we operate as the community of faith -- in a way that draws the world. "You are the light of the world, a city [community] set on a hill that cannot be hidden." Matt 5:14 The homosexual community mapped out just such a strategy roughly three decades ago. They have exceeded their goals. But then Jesus observed that the sons of this world can be more shrewd in operating with their own kind, than the sons of Light. To have a story to tell begins WITHIN the household of faith, with the degree to which we are listening to one another. The common ground involves how we OPERATE together. That will require humility. Humility toward God and others is a Kingdom key. It is an igniter for unity. Humility is the shield against pride and the fear of man. Paul described the ultimate spiritual enemy we are dealing with as death. True humility inoculates us against the fear of man and the age-old seductions of death and destruction. The Response and Role of Suffering. People who have faced death in combat and survived, understand the reality involved in face-offs that "cheat" death. Winston Churchill was a man who over the course of his life had many encounters with death. He was intimately acquainted with how evil operated. His demeaner was fearless. His consistently big-picture response was to uphold the standard against evil. When he was made Prime Minister, what he was dealing with was a faceoff with death. Hitler's machine had conquered most of the European continent. Churchill was surrounded by those seeking to appease evil. As irreverent and as unorthodox as Churchill could be, he was much like a modern-day Cyrus. God knew and called Cyrus long before Cyrus knew there to be such a One as the God of Israel. In the world of 1940, Hitler may have been the human mechanism, but it was death that was on the march. In its grip were the chosen of God, with the anemic stewardship of the Lord's standard in the crucible. Churchill's response to death, to this amassing evil was to draw a line in the sand. Not unlike King David, with wisdom beyond his own brilliance, he rallied the free world and brought them into unity. The response involved a time of extreme sacrifice and suffering. Historically, times of great revival have been directly correlated with times of sacrifice and suffering. So it is that we find ourselves today with evil amassing before us. The Big-Picture Response These are times described in Isaiah 60 as when darkness is covering the earth and deep darkness the people. Evil has aggressively come out of the closet. The clarion call for the household of faith is to give heed to the big-picture and gird up the loins of our mind-sets. Humility and listening hearts, along with facing the realities is no longer an option. "While following the way of your judgments, we have eagerly waited for You. At night my soul longs for You. Indeed my spirit seeks you diligently. For when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Isa 26:8-10 The need is to redirect the focus of the energies given to the fund-raising soap boxes, and sweep aside the idols occupying our minds (Ezek 14:5). In responding to the big picture of what is happening around us, is the need to draw a line in the sand, calling the evil within for what it is and to begin giving focus to the strategies needed to fully draw on our Great Equalizer in facing the realities. Peter notes (1 Peter 4:17) that judgment first comes to the household of faith. Jesus said that each would be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice seasoned with salt (Mark9:49). That's the mix, it is the cost required to be carriers of His presence. In facing the disarray and division, it is time for the household of faith to uphold the big-picture standard, serve as God's calling card, as He draws all men to Himself. "We have a strong city [community]. Lord, You have established and strengthened our walls and ramparts. So, open the gates, that all who are righteous may enter, the ones who have remained faithful. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. For in You we have an everlasting Rock." Isa 26:1-7 ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.comand other popular outlets. Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card atsign@strategicintercession.org  Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the times emerging in the West.  2014 Copyright Morris Ruddick - sign@strategicintercession.org Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

"Protect Your Soul From the Destructive Forces of the Enemy!" - Victoria Boyson

"Protect Your Soul From the 

Destructive Forces of the Enemy!"

Victoria Boyson, Montgomery, TX

The Elijah List

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and all your mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27, NLT

Our world is inundated with intense and even frightful events. 

We who are the reigning spiritual power on the earth are called on to pray boldly for the will of God to be made manifest in any horrendous situations. Intercessors are the legs the Church stands on and intercession should be the core substance of every Believer. Due to the important position every intercessor holds in the world, we must be on guard against the enemy's tricks to deactivate our authority in the spirit realm. None of us are perfect, and we all have weaknesses, so, we must all remain watchful of the impact we are having on the world by remaining alert to the hindrances our own souls.

I've seen many who've prayed positive declarations into the spirit realm one minute, yet, slander their brother the next. Naturally, this grieves my spirit, not just because I know it will injure the person being slandered (that's inevitable), but because I can feel in my spirit how deeply it will injure their own heart. Every word we speak affects our soul – either for good or for bad. Even those who are careful to make only positive, life-filled declarations over themselves simply have no idea the poison they release in their own lives by speaking evil of others.

Slandering a Brother

Any time we accuse or slander a brother, we are reducing our authority in the spirit realm. God can only give us authority if He can trust us to use that authority to benefit His Kingdom. Of course, I am burdened for those who have had their reputation assassinated by the flippant defamation of their character, but I feel in my spirit a very weighty and increasing burden for those who choose to release the slander. I sense the darkness they've released into their own lives and what they will have to battle in the future because of it. (Photo via Pixabay)

They've been targeted by the enemy and satan has infected them with his agenda against a brother leading them to cause strife. It seems like most Christians have winked at this sin, thinking other sins were much worse, but God's not winking.

Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven sins which the Lord hates and intensely abhors the most, those He considers to be an abomination: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies and one who spreads strife among brothers.

I think it's healthy to remind ourselves of the things the Lord hates – the sins He considers to be an abomination (a vile, shameful or detestable action, condition, habit, etc.). Slander is quite sneaky and often attempts to disguise itself as a noble action or a warning about someone. It is a deadly, preemptive strike against a brother or sister, a sect or church or other group of people. Slander lays the groundwork to disparage the value of anyone the enemy wants to target and destroy.

The enemy sent slander in advance of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. The people were prepped in advance to lend their souls to embrace the annihilation of an entire race. We are seeing that today against Believers and much of it is being done by other Believers.

Guard Your Heart

Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8), someone he can destroy with hatred, jealousy and strife. When he finds his prey, he infects them with his twisted agenda and they begin to do his work for him. Sadly, they believe they are accomplishing a noble service for the Lord, but, truly, they're allowing the enemy to use them to spread strife in the Body. (Photo via Wikimedia)

It's a double whammy! Most often, the enemy will target those who truly have a great destiny, corrupting their soul with the bitter demon of slander and accusation against others, thereby thwarting their destiny in God. Replacing it with a perverted copy of their true destiny, the enemy can kill two birds with one stone by luring the once greatly destined warrior to do his work for him.

Those in the Body who seem to make it their job to attack and slander – the petty police who watch those visible in the Church as the Pharisees watched Jesus – may never change. I understand that. Yet, they use other Believers to do their dirty work, like the Pharisees used the Roman government to kill Jesus (John 18:28-31), and like Jezebel used the city elders to kill Naboth (1 Kings 21:1017). Truly, the Lord warned us of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew10:16).

Treat Your Neighbor As Yourself

My hope is to reach out to those dear souls who love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, but who have been misled by someone and have become a helper used to spread their agenda of strife against a brother or sister. To you, precious ones, I say: Guard your heart, guard you soul, guard your strength and guard your mind BY loving your neighbor as yourself (see Luke 10:27).

In Matthew 7:12, Jesus said, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" – that includes what we say about others. In everything we say, in every article or message we forward, in every Facebook post we share, we must stop and ask ourselves: "Would I want this said about me?"

How would you want your neighbor to treat you?

So, you may ask, "Victoria, are you saying we should never address the wrongs done by others in the Body?" Well, let me say...

Eli, the high priest, showed us how very easy it is to misconstrue another person's actions and motives and made a painful experience even more painful when he was convinced Hannah was a horrible sinner who'd come to church drunk (1 Samuel 1:9-17), the complete opposite of which he found out later to be true. He had bumbled his way into Hannah's pain and threw around false accusations against her, humiliating himself.

So be very careful when you are "sure" of a brother's motives before you accuse and slander him. Eli, at least, approached Hannah personally with his presumptive ideas about her. Indeed, is there any honor in slandering a brother or ministry without first at least talking to them about your offense against them? – There is NO honor in slander, period!

What's Your Religion Worth?

Our words are extremely powerful, much more than most Christians recognize. We invite trouble into our lives by not controlling our tongue as the Word says in James 1:26-27, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless."

Truly, life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). If our tongue produces death and trouble, you have to stop and wonder, "What have I said lately?" And this goes double for those in positions of leadership.

If we are given a sphere of influence, we are responsible to protect that influence from the enemy's schemes. We are held responsible for what we've been given. Moreover, if we use our influence to slander others, it will come back to harm us.

Years ago, a dear friend betrayed me and set about on a campaign to "warn" people about me. I honestly felt instant fear for them the moment I heard what they were doing.

I do not think I am any more special than any other Christian, but I do know how much God loves me. He is protective of the work He has done in me and is doing through me.

I feel genuine pity for those who attack and slander their brothers and sisters in the faith. Truly, I am afraid of what they are inviting into their own souls as they embrace the work of the adversary. For those lies produce a harvest of death as we are warned in Proverbs 6:14-15,"...who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, who spreads strife. Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing." ((Gulp!))

There's an old quote from World War II which says, "Loose lips sink ships" and they also create an atmosphere of death! (Photo via Huffington Post)

Protect Your Love

Yes, we should obviously guard our tongue when speaking of those beloved of the Lord and those in service to Him. However, we need to guard our tongues for our enemies as well. Fight for them – wrestle with the demons who've taken over their heart, using your authority to liberate them from the lies of the enemy! 

Pray for the love God has for you to invade and penetrate their heart.

Pray for them to know and experience the love of the Father because, as they do that, love will manifest in their treatment of you. 

If they refuse His love and you keep sending it to them, that love will come back on you and you will benefit from it. If, however, you send curses instead of blessings, the curses will come back on you in one way or another.

Our Lord taught about praying for our enemies and blessing those who attack us. Why? It wasn't so much for those who are attacking us, but to protect our own hearts against the bitterness of unforgiveness that would inevitably destroy us.

I'm not asking you to lay down and let people injure you. No. I have a saying, "I don't do stupid twice!" If someone betrays you, don't give them place to do it again (unless the Lord directs you to). You have a responsibility to protect the work the Lord's accomplished in your life; don't let your compassion destroy you.

You must guard your heart against bitterness and protect the love of God in your heart. Use the authority of your words to speak constructively about your enemy what you would like to see manifest in their lives, not what is actually manifesting through them. (Photo via flickr)

As the extension of Christ on the earth, we should use our tongues to produce the life He destined for us to live. With our words, we can transform our world by using our words productively to speak forth the love we'd like to see manifest in our brothers, not give way to the destructive lives of the enemy. 

We must decree and declare the will of our Father, not the lies of the enemy.

Sharing! Sharing! Sharing!

Sometimes I like to scroll through what my Christian brothers and sisters are sharing on Facebook. I feel like it gives a quick overview of the hearts of the saints. Usually, I'm blessed by what I see, yet, sometimes I am astonished at the things I read that are openly slandering other brothers and sisters in Christ.

When I see a ministry or fellow Christian sharing slander about another brother or ministry, a GIANT RED FLAG goes up in my spirit. I don't want to have anything to do with strife-spreading, God hating, abominating SLANDER! I won't forward it, I won't read it and I'm not curious about the lies. I don't want to take part in anything that smells like Hell. And I don't want my cherished friends to either, because I care for you.

Our Father sees what we share or like on Facebook, Twitter, etc. He hears the words you speak. He sees how you treat those you think are beneath you. He sees it all and it hurts Him when you enter into the adversary's agenda.

BUT, it totally and completely blesses God when you come to the defense of a brother. When you speak out truth and love in support of those being slandered, His heart overflows!

Our Father is generous, slow to anger and quick to love (Joel 2:13). He is not a vengeful Father. His forgiveness is unfathomable. Even though I know it hurts Him significantly when we get caught up in slander, He readily forgives us when we ask Him to.

You see, He sees where souls spend eternity. He weighs the devastation a human causes against the judgment of their soul. He sees the cost they will have to pay if mercy doesn't have its way in them. So, even though it hurts Him to hear the slander against His children, He waits hoping His beloved child will return to Him and learn to love others.

Learning to Love

Loving your neighbor IS loving yourself. It's protecting your soul from the devices of the enemy; it's creating a harvest of mercy in your future when you need it. It is WORSHIP to your God. Love is also warfare, releasing a destructive force to the powers of darkness. Satan cannot understand love. He is hopelessly defensive against it.

Love is the greatest power on the earth and, for those who understand it, it holds the key to great blessings. Mercy has no equal in the realm of darkness and when we embrace love, not hate, we annihilate the plans of the enemy. We cause him catastrophic damage when we bless those who curse us. And we protect our own soul when we release the Kingdom of Heaven through our words. (Photo via flickr)

Think about it! Who do you want to hurt more... your brother or sister in Christ, or your adversary, the devil? Yeah, I know... me too!

Victoria Boyson
Speaking Life Ministries

Email: victoria@boyson.org
Website: victoriaboyson.com

Victoria Boyson met Jesus at the age of seven. At thirteen, she started ministering using music as a platform to tell others about Jesus. She and her husband, Steve, ministered as pastors in the mid-west, but in 1999, the Lord told them to move to work for Francis Frangipane, who was extremely influential in their development as Christians and as ministers.

Victoria is a powerful prophetic voice to this generation and co-founder of Speaking Life Ministries. Based out of the Houston, Texas area, she is called to awaken and prepare the Bride of Christ for the end-time harvest and compel His Church to embrace a passionate relationship with their Heavenly Father. She is the author of The Birth of Your Destiny and His Passionate Pursuit.

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Sharing Love from Sweden - THE LOVE BETWEEN THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM - JESUS - Eva Haglund

THE LOVE BETWEEN THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM -  JESUS

Sometimes activities are so important in Body of Christ. We need to do things for God, if what we do is according to God's will. But sometimes activities are just a tradition which are not from God's heart. Sometimes activities takes so much time in a congregation, week after week, that the fellowship time with God and seeking His face comes in a second place. The enemy wants to keep Christians from having time with God.

If you have a friend it is good to spend time with that friend. Jesus wants us to do things for Him, but also desires that we spend time with Him. He wants us to be His friend that we talk to and spend time with. In Song of Solomon we can consider the relation of the bride to the bridegroom. Our relationship with Jesus is not just between a usual bride and bridegoom.

We see here that there is a deep relationship, where the bride and the bridegroom love each other. They do not just have shallow conversations. In Song of Solomon 6:2 we read, "I am my beloved`s and my beloved is mine." Here we see that close relationship.

In Song of Solomon 2:14 we understand that Jesus loves to have fellowship with us. I looked at a picture of a white dove one day and thought the bird was very beautiful and got inspired to paint a dove. It is written in this Scripture, "Oh, my dove, in the cleft of the rock. In the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely." Jesus does not want us to be just any face, but He is longing to see our face and hear our voice. He loves us so much; each and everyone personally. 

In Isaiah 62:5 is written about God's love for us, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." It means a bridegroom who loves his bride from his heart. Sometimes men treat women bad and look down at them, but in Song of Solomon we see that the bridegroom treats a woman with respect and love and does not look down at her. God also made Eve from a bone close to Adam's heart. She would be close to his heart and show his love for her. He would not rule over her in a hard, wrong way, but was to have a heart of care, giving to her from his heart.

The woman at Jesus' feet had seen Jesus' attitude. He did not look down at her. He did not look at her with a hard attitude. He had a heart of love and compassion to her. There were people who looked down at her and saw her like trash. They thought their sin was less than hers and did not have love for her. This was the attitude the woman had met. But when she met Jesus, His attitude was different. He did not have a hard attitude condemning her. 

The woman at Jesus' feet had seen that Jesus loved her and dared to come to Him. She was touched by His great love for her and she cried at His feet. She cried, thinking of Jesus' great love. She was thinking that her sins were many but was touched by Jesus' forgiveness of her and His love for her. Jesus said that anybody who has been forgiven much will show more love. The man thought he had less sin. Jesus wanted to teach him to be humble. The man came with his own works. The woman did not come with her own works. She was just aware of Jesus' grace who had forgiven all her sins.

She was humble and her heart was deeply touched by Jesus' heart. It was not like "dry bones" in the law but  life in a heart which was deeply touched by Jesus. She felt His love so strong that she just went down crushed at His feet. Before Jesus she felt like nothing in her own strength but just to rely on Jesus' grace and love. She felt so accepted and loved by Jesus, she wanted to give Him anything precious from her heart. She gave him precious oil from her heart to show her love and was glad that He had forgiven  her sins.

The woman had a heart who was touched in tears by the love Jesus gave to her. We can read in Song of Songs about the bride's relation to the bridegoom. Here we see that her heart was touched. It was not a heavy burden, not in the law, but in freedom of love.

The bride expressed her love to the bridegoom in Song of Solomon 5:10, "My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand." In the text you can see that the bride loves the bridegoom, from the words she expressed and her desire to have a close relationship. She loves the bridegoom and has met his love in their relationship.

Jesus our bridegoom loves us so much and loves when we have a close relationship in being His friend. Song of Solomons says, "My beloved is mine and I am his."

He loves us so deeply.

Eva Haglund

Sweden

Let it shine.

 

Let it shine.

His light

into your heart.

And then to others.

Steve Martin

Founder/Author

Love For His People, Inc.

Leadership Through Love - Chapter 2 "Use the Tools, Not the Staff" by Steve Martin

The following are a few paragraphs taken from Chapter 2.

Use the

Tools, Not the Staff

The Lord Jesus Himself gave us valuable lessons, while He led His band of men and women on earthly team, which has proven itself to be most applicable in my leading of business and ministry staffs. These very effective truths in administrating were spoken by Him, when He said to His small band, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)

These were two of my key attitudes I took early on in my management positions, as I learned how to be a “manager of the people”, as one other executive team member put it, during one of my years with Derek Prince Ministries (1987-1990 and 2001-2005).

Not wanting to be one who “lords it over others”, demanding my own way and using the “staff rather the tools”, I took the posture of treating the staff who served with me as I desired my boss to treat me - honoring them as I wanted to be recognized and honored, and uplifting them as I often needed, but rarely received, in some cases. As I sought to encourage each one in my care, even as a pastor does his flock, I found that the love grew between them and I. When those bonds were established, staff readily would give beyond the call of duty and pay, as they knew my heart was not just for the job to be done, but for them in helping me get it done.

Not only did we labor together for the cause of the Lord in the ministry, with me as the recognized leader and their boss, but we became friends for the long haul. I still treasure and continue to keep relationships with those who were in the same office setting with me, or on the church volunteer teams, as fellow servants. Taking a heart position of being their servant, and not one seeking to be served, created and maintained unique, precious, and long term relationships. 

Steve Martin

Author

Buy now: Leadership Through Love

A Picture Does Say… Now Think On This by Steve Martin

A Picture Does Say…

by Steve Martin

“The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” (Proverbs 2-:5 ESV)

They say a picture tells a thousand words. Well, “they” is right.

I posted this photo of one corner of my home office on Facebook in February, 2014. Except for major family events, such as births and weddings, which we have had a few lately, it has gotten more “likes” and “shares” than any other photo I have placed on my FB wall.

The home office

I can understand why. People are looking for something good to believe in, to stand on, to support, in their knowing that what they believe is what they should believe, no matter what the surrounding culture says otherwise. Or is trying to push down their throat and into their minds.

People still believe in supporting Israel, the family, and the good things that God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has given to us to enjoy. Thus this photo touched the hearts of people, and they responded.

You and others may wonder, “What, where or why on earth did you get, and have, all that stuff?” Well, let me tell you, so that the thousand words in the photo become a little more understood.

If you take a little time (a good song title Amy Grant has used) to look at it as best you can in print, here are some of the thousand words you might read.

1.      The Jerusalem flag draped over one of my office chairs - it has the Lion of the Tribe of Judah symbol on it. It is the capital city of Israel, the Lord God of Israel’s eternal city, Yerushalayim in Hebrew. We believe in THE Lion of Judah – Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) – the Messiah of both Jew and Gentile believers.

2.      The Israeli national flag – the Star of David on a tallit (prayer shawl) – hanging in the window over the other curtains (so as not to have the sun fade it). We stand on the Scripture, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

3.      Many clocks are sitting on a shelf in the corner, while two are hung on the wall above. I have collected them over time. (pun intended!) The largest clock has the All Nations Church logo on it, which I had made while I was the Administrator there with Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda (1987-2000). 

      We are to make wise use of our time, for each one will give an account of how we spent the time we have been given here on this planet. How are you spending your time? Are you storing up treasures in heaven with it?

4.      The clock next to the All Nations Church one has the face of David Ben Gurion, who declared Israel’s independence as the Jewish nation in 1948 (though this Promised Land had been given by God to the Jews since the time of Abraham. Roughly 5000 years ago. Give or take an eternity.

5.      Abraham Lincoln’s portrait is on the wall in front of my Love For His People, Inc. office desk. Our American 16^th President stood for the freedom of all people, and fought to see it happen. He also wanted to go to Israel before his death, but never made it.

6.      On the wooden oak, two drawer lateral file cabinet under the Israel flag is a NASCAR #24 Jeff Gordon lamp (south wall). On it sits a black hat I got at Masada in the Judean desert in Israel in 2010. The lettering on the cap says, “Masada”. Both Jeff and the Jews are winners.

7.      There are two shofars just behind the lamp. Intertwined on purpose. They represent the One New Man – Jew and Gentile coming together as the Bride of Yeshua, the Bride of Christ. Je is coming back the second time to receive His bride the Father has been preparing for Him. Soon and very soon.

8.      There is a laptop on the desk to the right. I actually have three laptops – one for the ministry work of Love For His People, one for my sole proprietorship small business called Martin Lighthouse Services, and the other for our personal home items. And all are loaded with photos, of course!

9.      On the right wall (which faces west in our home) are several 8” x 10” framed photos of our family over the years. Ones with our children (Josh, Ben, Hannah and Christen), our families on both sides, and special events of all.  The very top photo was taken over 36 years ago (at the time of this writing) on Oct.7, 1997, when Laurie and I became man and wife. Forever while here on earth.

10.  Below the family photos and above Abe’s head is a very large painting of a lighthouse out in the storm at night. Shining in the dark. I have always appreciated the continuing work of lighthouses, as they symbolize what we are to be in the nations. This particular painting is entitled “The Watchman”. That is what we are to be also. 

      You may also see that it has 4” x 6” pictures stuck in the frame on all four sides. I ran out of room on the office walls, and being I like to utilize every inch of space that I can, where I can, they ended up here. Just a few historical reminders of life moments.

11.  Also on the wooden file cabinet, where the NASCAR lamp resides, are Jewish books from Hebron, Judea, Israel where the Tomb of the Patriarchs is. There is a great little gift shop there where I have bought several leather bound Hebrew books – the Tanakh (Bible) and others. Along with the English Bible, they sit on this lateral file cabinet.

12. Two chairs. Two desks. Two lamps. Whatever it takes, right??!!

      In case you want to see more “thousands of words” in photos, I have added the other three corners and walls of the room. You can see those below.

Thanks for looking!

Now, what’s on your wall? (And more importantly, in your heart?)

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

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 letters minister to you, 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. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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Ahava Love Letter #126   “A Picture Does Say…”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.28.14) Friday at 3:33 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters

      

AMEN!