The Martin Family - from Minnesota, Iowa, North Carolina
Family
"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to
the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship
before You." Psalm 22:27, NAS
Sitting on the back porch of my brother Tom Martin’s house
in Cedar Falls, Iowa, as the sun rises in the east, brings back memories of our
days growing up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, just north up the road on Hwy. 218 an
hour or so
Tom and I, along with our little brother Rob, had five
sisters between us. Sue, Mary, Colleen, Janet, and Lynn completed the sibling
count of eight. Dad and Mom raised a good Catholic family during the 1950s and
1960s.
Family and the memories they bring can be a solid
foundation for each of us. Though some are happy to get on with life, leaving
their childhood years behind with all the trauma and conflict that went with
it, the Lord desires His children to be raised in a good family, with a loving
Dad and Mom in the home, and children that honor, respect, and cherish their
parents, brothers and sisters.
"Children, do what your parents tell you.
This is only right. Honor your father and mother” is the first
commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well
and have a long life.” Ephesians 6:2-3, The Message
I could speak on the problems destroying family life today,
as there are many, but I choose to consider the blessings that do come when men
and women have families, seeking to follow the Lord and His ways.
There are good families in our society these days. There
are those who have committed themselves to know the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) and
walk in His ways, as He intended.
The man and woman who come together, in godly marriage as
set by the Creator, will in turn give themselves, in sacrifice, to have
children, with the full intent of raising them to know and fear the Lord.
They will seek to forgo worldly pleasures, to lay down
their needs and wants for the sake of the ones the Lord has given into their
care.
These men and women believe that children are a blessing
from God. They “go without”, as my parents did, to give more to the boys and
girls they have in their care, so they too learn the purpose of family and the
love it expresses from the Father’s heart.
A society with strong families has the strength to resist
ungodly principles, withstand attacks from unruly individuals, and the
fortitude to stand firm when forces rise against them from all sides.
I am always encouraged when I see young Israeli families
walking the streets of Jerusalem, carriages being pushed by fathers, mothers
walking alongside in their place of dignity, honor, and love for all.
This is the intent of our heavenly Father, who looks down
with pleasure and enjoyment Himself on those who choose to walk in His plans
and purposes.
For those of us in our later years, we can encourage the
younger generations to have families, as the Lord
purposed. To live for others whom He would place in their care. To reveal His
heart to the nations, through the prime example of godly families.
I also want to thank you, who are now grandparents, for the
tremendous sacrifices you made years ago, giving of yourselves for your
children, and who now enjoy the fruit of your labor as your grandchildren rise
up among you.
“Well done, good and faithful servants!”
Ahava and Shalom,
Steve Martin
P.S. Laurie and I are volunteering in Jerusalem, Israel,
with Christian Friends of Israel for three months, Oct. 15, 2025 – Jan. 12,
2026. Read all about it! Steve & Laurie - Time Coming for Jerusalem Volunteers.
We welcome your prayers and support as we together bless
Israel and His people in their Land.
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Message #9 in my new series (2025): "Family" July
27, 2025
#Family #SteveMartin #newmessage #parents #children #generations
