Showing posts with label home groups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home groups. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

“Us Four and No More” – Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 

“Us Four and No More” – Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

Our home group, led by David Peterman and Steve Martin
Worship during our home group.
Sept. 28, 2022 Charlotte, North Carolina USA

Greetings to my family and friends of Love For His People Ministry.

We all need friends, community life, and those with whom we can live His life together. Our Lord Jesus (Yeshua) His Father, and the Holy Spirit all love family, and They want us to experience it here before we do for all eternity. And so I wrote, “Us Four, No More”. See below.

David Peterman and I have also recorded several new videos (6 in fact) of our series, “Ahava Moments With You“. We now have recorded 62! Check them out, and be sure to “Like” and “Subscribe” so you know when new ones are released. (Everybody says that, so I best do so too!) I have a favorite one that I also included below, entitled The Falls Feasts of the Lord.

Be involved in celebrating the Feasts of the Lord these coming days. Along with our Jewish friends, who have been the lights as the Lord directed them to be, these feasts have continued on for centuries. All believers can take part in them. They are the Lord’s feasts.

Ahava and shalom,



Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry



P.S. Please pray for our good friends for over 35 years, Edgar and Indira Persad, of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with their family (Nadira & Alan, Shamila and Joel, Robbie and his). Edgar has been in the hospital for 7 days now with a tumor in his brain. He is supposed to go on his first trip to Israel with me in late October. Our Lord creates miracles!



P.S. S. Laurie and I celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary on October 8, 2022. You can blow the shofar for that event too!


Us Four, No More  

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…” 1 Peter 1:22-23, NKJV   

Growing up it was our family practice, as often as we could, to gather together for supper around 5 pm, when my Dad was home in between his Viking Pump maintenance job and his evening entrepreneur electrical work, Martin Electrical Services. With a tribe of eight kids, the extra money was most needed. My two brothers and I think maybe some of my five sisters, helped him pull electrical wires, and such as he re-wired homes and churches and installed lawn light poles in the Cedar Falls, Iowa, community, and surrounding towns. 

When all 10 of us were seated at the dinner table, we prayed together the common Roman Catholic prayer, “Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.” A good, short prayer of thanks. Families were very important then. And we each had our place at the table. 

Jokingly, or so I thought, I would sometimes hear how others prayed. “Bless us four and no more.” (That worked with those who had two kids.) When I heard it, I remember thinking to myself, “That’s not really a good prayer.” 

As Laurie and I had our own four kids, we were committed to raising them to know the Lord Jesus and His ways, along with those others in our “extended family” – ones in the church community who believed likewise. And so, we would have gatherings in our homes, as members of the “home group”, with me as the “shepherd”, teaching and leading, both in LaSalle/Peru, Illinois in the late 1970s and then again in East Lansing, Michigan in the 1980s.

We wanted to be as “Acts 2” taught us. 

Acts 2:40-47, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” NKJV

I recently heard a message from a local church pulpit that you can’t have the last part of that historical fact, “the Lord added to the church daily” until after you have done the first part, “continuing daily…broke bread together…praising God.” 

As part of the Victory Church Community (we actually did the “common purse” stuff in name as well as in deed with about 40 others) in LaSalle/Peru, and later moving to be a part of life at Shiloh Fellowship/New Covenant Christian Church in East Lansing, it was our common practice that we truly expressed love in action, and not just in lip service only. 

When a woman in the home group had a newborn baby, all would take turns bringing supper to their home to help the family. It was also our common practice to visit each other at home or in the hospital when sick, to bring encouragement, joy, the healing of the Lord, and maybe even flowers and a card (or even a stuffed “Lion of Judah” animal…) 

Being in a committed community was important back then. We knew each other. We cared for one another. We actually loved, and liked, one another. 

We practiced what our good Lord had taught His people. Yeshua did teach us to love. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35, NASU 

A prophet named Bob Jones, a good friend of many in these parts of the South and beyond, once asked us what the Lord had asked him, “Did you learn to love?” (He is now rejoicing in heaven.) 

For love to be seen it must be shown. Makes sense to me. If we say we love, then we must “do love” by actually displaying it to one another. And then the world will know, “all men will know” as Jesus promised, that we were His disciples. 

Do some love today. Call that one whom you know needs to hear a voice of love, or even a short, meaningful text, or through another messaging media. (But I sincerely hope it is more than that. In-person is really what matters.)

Go out of your way and visit that other, who really wants to have a friend, just like you do. Be the one the Lord has called you to be. Today. 

And…don’t ever pray that prayer, “Us four and no more.” We are much more than that as a community reflecting the Father’s love! 

Ahava and shalom, Steve Martin

Love For His PeopleFounder 

P.S. I really encourage each of you to get in a home group. If your church, congregation, or community doesn’t have one, go to one that does. You are always welcome to come to ours! 

Message #113 in this series – in the year of our Lord 09.28.2022 – “Us Four, No More”, Wednesday, 6:22 am in Charlotte, North Carolina
Our combined “Ahava Moments With You” and “Walk With Me”

Watch here: Walking in the Spirit (2) – Walk With Me, Ahava Moments With You, Steve Martin, David Peterman

Steve Martin

STEVE & LAURIE MARTIN - LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FOUNDERS My good wife Laurie and I (45 years in October 2022!), through the ministry of Love For His People we founded in 2010, give love and support for our friends in Israel and in other nations with friendship, humanitarian aid, and social media support, along with Steve's messages, and our Ahava Adventures trips to Israel. Steve has also authored and published 34 books. We live in the Charlotte, NC area. We have four adult children, spouses, and eight grandkids.

Monday, August 15, 2022

“Small is Good” – Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

 

“Small is Good” – Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry

Leading worship at a combined home group gathering. (L-R) David & Luana Peterman, Laurie & Steve Martin

Aug. 15, 2022 Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Greetings to my family and friends of Love For His People Ministry.

What a joy it was to join our home group with Highway to Zion’s gathering this past Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, here in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have gotten so much life out of our own regular home meetings, and at the request of Cathy Hargett (founder of HTZ), had a special time joining with them. We now hope to do this at least 3x annually now. You are certainly welcome to come! Here is a taste: Ahava Moments With You worship time.

Cathy wrote the following in a subsequent email:

Blessings and love to you, Mishpacha (Hebrew: a family of believers)!

Yesterday at Kehila was such a blessing! As you know, we had a combined meeting of our HTZ Kehila group with the small group that meets at the homes of Steve and Laurie Martin and David and Luana Peterman. We were so blessed to worship Him together with all our hearts. We are already planning for future times when we come together with other small groups to worship Him.

The Lord is raising awareness in our hearts of other small groups of true Yeshua-followers, many of whom have heard the Lord, like we have, in a unique and “revived” way in these days. Many have gone through a revival fire during these last couple of years and are walking in an end-time renewal of their devotion to Elohim. It is our heart to gather from time to time with other Yeshua followers, combining our smaller groups in worship, so that we continue to meet in our separate smaller groups and also have times when we come together in a larger group.

During the coming days, we believe it is important to know each other and to be able to connect with each other and encourage and help each other when the challenges of the end times become more intense. Our drash (Hebrew: discussion) was on Ps. 133, and I pray that the unity of our love for Him and each other was truly like Oil poured over the head of our great High Priest, Yeshua. There was much interactive sharing and encouragement in the Word. We love you, Lord.

Worship was so beautiful, genuine, pure, and free. The ministry of the flags and silks was so anointed. And the hearts of every single person there were so unified in the worship of our King. Yosefa led a beautiful song, called “Kehila in Yeshua” during our communion time.

Then we were so very blessed to be led in worship by Steve, Laurie, David, and Luana. These beautiful friends are so anointed to lead worship. We praise Him for them. It is so time for “new wineskin worship”! The Lord bless you and keep you! Have a wonderful week! Shavua tov!!I love you!!

Cathy

Cathy Hargett Highway to Zion Ministries, Inc. www.highwaytozion.org Charlotte, NC 

After seeking the Lord more on what He is doing and how He is doing it, in conjunction with these gatherings, I wrote this message below, Small is Good. Be encouraged in the life found in Him.

And…one more time. One of the three messages David and I recorded for our series, Ahava Moments With You, entitled Friends, is a favorite of mine. In order to have a friend, you need to be a friend. Listen to it again, or for the first time.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People MinistryP.S.In less than three weeks my good wife Laurie and I head back to Jerusalem to spend time with our friends living in His Land. I look forward to sharing many photos and videos with you from there!
Small is Good 

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10, New Living 

Americans like big. Real big. In fact, the bigger the building, the bigger the group, the more of whatever it is, if more is more than the other, the better it is. Or so we think.I am not sure when this idea of “bigger is better” came into our culture, but I sense it began out of a source of pride, affluence, and seeking to be quite well off, more so than the Jones.

Remember that old saying? How we must “keep up with the Jones?” Says who?

In these last days, when the shaking and rattling and rolling is occurring, by the Lord’s design and in His perfect timetable, that which has been looked upon as His will to build it all bigger is getting a re-work. In fact, He is taking us back to the original plan of the gathering of believers, in what we have come to call “church.”

“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:43-47, NASU

During the birth of these first gatherings of believers in Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, they met from home to home. It was a pattern that had already been established by the Jews, as they generally kept their synagogues, their shuls, small. It provided more of a sense of belonging, family, and not getting lost in a big crowd. There were the times of the Lord’s appointed feasts for that. The main purpose of the smaller gatherings, in homes, was to give each an opportunity to share their Holy Spirit-inspired gifts and have real fellowship with one another while sharing a meal with gladness and sincerity of heart more fully.

For over a year now we have re-established a gathering of believers in our home, meeting regularly with 10-12 others, sometimes more. We knew them as cell groups in Michigan over 40 years ago, and the Lord has called us back to this way of “having church”. Often it is on a Friday night when we welcome Shabbat (Sabbath), the Lord’s day of rest, by lighting the two candles, as known from our Jewish roots in being grafted into the olive tree (Romans 11:16-18), praying His blessings over each other, singing worshipful and praise songs of both Jewish and Christian origins, and hearing a word shared by a teacher of His Word.

A most important part is the “breaking bread”, or oneg as is Hebrew, when we continue fellowship while eating the treats and wholesome foods that each one has brought for the enjoyment of the others. All this provides a truly shared experience of fellowship and intimacy in the ways of the Lord and with one another.

We do not despise the day of small beginnings. Neither do we look at these small gatherings in homes as just a fad that will go away. It is the Lord’s desire to strengthen, encourage, and build up His Body for the sake of all, from which we then can go into the world to share the heart of the Father, the Only Begotten Son, and His Holy Spirit.

As we see trusted relationships and standard families grow farther apart around us, we must particularly be at work among ourselves to keep our bonds of friendship and community strong. We must allow the Lord Jesus to be building us up together in the midst of how the world seeks to tear us down.

“We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah. 16 Under his control, the whole body is being fitted and held together by the support of every joint, with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows and builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:14-16, Complete Jewish Bible

I encourage each of you to become involved with a church that has a focus on small groups, in homes, and see how the Lord will grow your faith, your trust, your love for the brethren, and the world He so desires for them to know Him.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People founder 

Message #96 in this series – in the year of our Lord 08.14.2022 – “Small is Good”, Sunday, 2:00 pm in  Charlotte, North Carolina, USA


Steve Martin, David Peterman, Love For His PeopleAhava (Love) Moments With You Watch here:  Friends


Here is a taste of the worship time we shared during the Shabbat gathering our home group had with Cathy Hargett’s Highway To Zion regular bi-monthly meeting. The 23 minutes recorded was a bit cut short when the camera stopped and didn’t get started again. But be blessed as you can join in with us (as the drummer who added some background…) WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7zpd3I8QKU&t=1142s


I love recording and sharing my Walk With Me video series with you. A few weeks Laurie and I took our grandson Levi to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. What a joy to see the Lord’s creations in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Experience His love as His created beings display their glory in this wonderful zoo. Steve Martin
WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZE5eGEXYVA


Here is my latest book. SALE PRICES! Click here: Encouragement! Paperback, Kindle, and now HARDBACK!
Encouragement – first from Jerusalem, Israel, and then from Charlotte, North Carolina, USAby Steve Martin (published May 25, 2022)

In April 2022 my good friend David Peterman of Lancaster, South Carolina, and I took an Ahava Adventure (“love” in Hebrew) back to Jerusalem as soon as the skies and the Land of Israel opened up again. During those 10 days the Lord Yeshua, Jesus Christ, gave me words to share, which I wrote down each day to share with others. These make up the first part of this book.

The next section is comprised of messages inspired by the Holy Spirit from our home in Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning before and after the Israel trip. As the Lord would give me a prophetic word, I would start writing and He would further expand on it. Thus those words are written in the major section of this book.

Everyone needs encouragement. Every day. All the negative news spewed out from social media platforms and airwaves needs to be offset by the good news the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) brings to us. From the time He walked the streets of Jerusalem in the first century, to today in this 21st Century, He shares love from heaven and from this home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Until He returns soon, may these messages uplift your spirit, reveal more of His heart, and sustain you as you walk daily in the direction the Holy Spirit gives with the grace and provision that comes with His presence.

SALE PRICES! To purchase on Amazon: “Encouragement – from Jerusalem, Israel and then from Charlotte, North Carolina” – Paperback $9.95 Hardback $14.95 E-book $1.99

P.S. Thanks Grandson Levi for holding up the new hardback version!

We look forward to hearing from you if you would like to invite us to come. Contact us at either Steve Martin (loveforhispeople@gmail.com) or David Peterman (rabbiahava@gmail.com). Further details will be shared as we hear from you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, David Peterman


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Steve Martin

STEVE & LAURIE MARTIN - LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FOUNDERS My good wife Laurie and I (45 years in October 2022!), through the ministry of Love For His People we founded in 2010, give love and support for our friends in Israel and in other nations with friendship, humanitarian aid, and social media support, along with Steve's messages, and our Ahava Adventures trips to Israel. Steve has also authored and published 34 books. We live in the Charlotte, NC area. We have four adult children, spouses, and eight grandkids.