Ahava Love Letter - “Love The One You Are With” (Steve Martin)

                  

“Love The One You Are With” 

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…” (Cor. 2:15 NAS)

 ^“For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost; (2 Cor. 2:15 Complete Jewish Bible – CJB)

Dear family of friends,

Sometimes I feel "conflicted" in my soul. I want to be out with the people, for His heart for them burns with love and compassion; and at other times I want to be with His people, for His heart burns with love and compassion for them.

Over the many years of walking with the Lord, I know His heart is the same for both – those who know Him and seek His face continually, and those who don’t know Him, and are lost, seeking that which can’t fill the void in their hearts. But this I know – His immense heart of love beats with compassion for both groups of people. He is the God of Love, the God of Ahava - that beautiful word in Hebrew for love.

So what do I do when I feel torn, wanting to be with those who don’t know of His love for them, and the time that it takes to be with them? Or use the time to be gathered with His people, whom I have a strong kinship with? How do we know what time it is to do what, when?

Remember the song of years gone by, “Love the One You’re With”?  ("Love the One You're With" is a 1970 single by folk rocker Stephen Stills. The first release from his solo debut Stephen Stills, it peaked at No. 14 in the Billboard Hot 100.) Though I don’t remember the lyrics that once were in my memory banks, I can agree with the title words. The younger generation, my children’s age, may not know this song. But more and more my heart goes out to them, as they try so many things which can destroy their lives.

My current job puts me in contact with college age interns, trying to get their foot in the door for the career they seek. Most often they do not have a clue as to what they really need, in order to be fulfilled. I can at least be a father image to them (who many have not really had) and share His love for them. Even if I don’t say the words, they know the difference. One 20 year old intern wrote in a thank you note to me, sent after she left, of how she had not met many people who had the “spirit” I have. I hope the next place she is at has someone who can plant another seed in her heart. The One she longs for is not far away from her.

I give thanks to my friend, Holy Spirit, Ruach KaKodesh, Who has been given to us to be as our Guide, as the One who will help direct our steps, and our hearts. He will let us know when, where and how, so we can truly love the ones we are with. His timing, as we listen for His Voice, will direct our steps as to when and where we are to be during our daily walk.

Time we spend with those who may have no knowledge of the Lord Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) heart for them will enable them to “see” Him, as the presence of His Holy Spirit in us counters that of other spirits. As the Bible says, we are “a fragrance”, “the aroma” to those currently lost.

Working in the marketplace gives us the opportunity to be “in the world, but not of the world.” Our presence among the people opens a door to share the love of God with them. Sometimes, as it is said, we need to use words when necessary. How will they hear without us being the ones who share His love with them? The ones I work with don’t step foot in a church building. We must step foot into their buildings.

The Lord’s heart burns for the unsaved. His desire is to see all come to know Him, and receive eternal salvation. If you are out there in the world, the marketplace, be the light He has put in you, for them. Shine and allow His Holy Spirit, living within you, to draw them to the Messiah. Then they too can join the community of saints, that we long to be with even more so.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

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 Israel with our humanitarian ministry. 

Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: www.loveforhispeople.org/support

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 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com   

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Ahava Love Letter #81   “Love The One You Are With”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (10/20/13 Sunday at 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC)

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog:

 http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com   

What Do You Want (#75)

The Hiding Place (#74)

Why Is A Gentile Like You Celebrating the Feasts of the Jews? (#73)

They Are Loved Too (#72)

Oskars Needed Again? (#71)

Little Orphan Chuckie (#70)

Demons & Fire Trucks (#69)

I Like Mike (#68)

Disappointed with Small Beginnings? (#67)

Rise Again (#66)

The Cities (#65)

How can You Mend A Broken Heart (#64)

Anxious (#63)

Hidden (#62)

Share His love today. 

Love the ones you are with!

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

Ahava statue in Israel (Love)

"Ahava" in Hebrew

- statue on Israel

"Ahava" in Hebrew

One more Ahava!

One Grape at a Time

Volunteers Fulfill Prophecy, One Grape at a Time

By Julie Stahl CBN News Jerusalem Correspondent

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JERUSALEM, Israel - Hundreds of Christians travel to Israel each year to help farmers harvest crops. This additional help is not only appreciated, it also fulfills Bible prophecy.

A volunteer Christian group called Hayovel, which means Jubilee in Hebrew, provides volunteers to help Israeli farmers bring in the grape harvest.

"We're a group of Christian volunteers from America and from Canada and from all over the world," David Johnson, a Hayovel, volunteer explained.

"We've come to help the Jewish people, specifically in Samaria and Judea, usually referred to as the West Bank," he continued.

The vineyard is in Ofra, not far from biblical Shiloh. More than 300 volunteers worked 30,000 man hours to bring in nearly 400 tons of grapes across Judea and Samaria during the last three months.

"You get to see the thankfulness on the owners' faces when you help them out," Hannah Pauls, a 15-year-old volunteer, said.

Zach Waller directs Hayovel. His parents came up with the idea as a way to serve Israel about nine years ago.

They hoped actions would speak louder than words to help repair relations between Jews and Christians caused by 2,000 years of persecution.

"Dad said, 'Hey this is an opportunity that we have as believers in Yeshua, Messiah, that we can come and serve and try to restore this relationship,'" Waller said.

But they discovered they were actually fulfilling Bible prophecy, such as Isaiah 61:5 and Jeremiah 31:5: "You will see nations coming to the land, working in the vines, helping the Jewish people."

Local Jewish resident Aaron Lipkin sees the Christian love as a healing ointment. He said everything that is happening is a big miracle, it's part of a process called redemption.

Team leader David Johnson oversees about 30 volunteers. This year is the third season for he and his wife.

"We have a heart for the Jewish people settling the land of Israel and it's a heart that we've been given by our Messiah and we're here to help them," he said.

They work hard. They also worship and declare Scripture.

"We thought, hey, you know, we should set up some kind of prayer shifts so that somebody's praying while they're working," Waller recalled.

"So we sent guys to go pray and we actually ended up picking twice as much that day than normal. And that touched vineyard owner Rafael Kadmon," he said. "I happy very much because when we work, we sing, we see the man is very, very happy."

Rick Pauls said he feels so strongly about the work that he brought his wife and children to pick grapes for a second year.

"We feel very protected by God and by Israeli security," Pauls said. "It's amazing to be here because as you read the scriptures here in this place it just comes alive."

His wife Karen called it an opportunity to give, but she said the biggest impact was just meeting the Jewish people.

"Their faith is absolutely unbelievable. No one has been untouched by something pretty intense in their life, losing someone, and they just believe," she said. "I mean it's not for fame or glory, it's hard. And they just believe in the promises of God."

Her son said the experience for him has been equally as powerful.

"Just being here has blown me away," he said. "Just being able to serve the Jewish people, to enhance His kingdom here on earth."

CBN.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2013/October

Flags of the nations in Charlotte Chamber of Commerce hallway

Walls & Gates of Jerusalem -- More Pictures from the Emory University Collection

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta) It's the final countdown... 1,000,000 visitors to Israel Daily Picture Tell us why you enjoy viewing Israel Daily Picture in the comment section below. Recommend Israel Daily Picture to your friends and family. The Walls & Gates of Jerusalem -- More Pictures from the Emory University Collection, Part 3 Damascus Gate 1. (Emory Collection, circa 1905) Note shops on the right. Was this the first "strip mall?" We present part 3 of the digitalized photos of the Underwood & Underwood stereoscope collection, Palestine through the Stereoscope, from Emory University's Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology. In this feature we present the pictures of Jerusalem's walls and gates. By comparing the photos to the photo essays presented here over the last two years we are able to date the pictures. Click on pictures to enlarge. Click on captions to view the original pictures. Damascus Gate 1: The shops on the right of the square belonged to a Jewish banker name Chaim Aharon Valero (circa 1905). The domes of the Hurva and Tiferet Yisrael synagogues are on the horizon on the left of the picture. Both were destroyed by the Jordanian Legion  in 1948. Read more about Valero here.  Damascus Gate 2. photographed by Mendel Diness. Note how barren the area outside of the wall was. (Fine Arts Library, Harvard University, circa 1856) Damascus Gate 2: Mendel Diness, a Jewish watchmaker,  became Jerusalem's first Jewish photographer and is credited with photographing the Damascus Gate in the 1850s. Later he left Palestine and became a Christian preacher in the United States named Mendenhall John Dennis. Read more about Diness/Dennis and his photo collection  found in a Minnesota garage sale.  Damascus Gate 3 Construction of the row of Valero's shops outside the gate. (Library of Congress, circa 1900) Damascus Gate 3: The picture shows the construction of Valero's shops. In the 1930s, the British authorities ruled that the area should be zoned for use as "open spaces" and they demolished the shops in 1937. The Valeros were not compensated. View pictures of the demolition here. MOREL http://www.israeldailypicture.com/

A Special Word to the Women of God - Francis Frangipane

Francis Frangipane -

A Special Word to the Women of God

Intro From Julie A. Smith:

Women fulfill many roles, whether personal or professional: mother, wife, best friend, and ministry/business leader to name some. AND there is one role they are especially good at as Francis Frangipane shares here – being intercessors that birth revival. Women naturally birth and can also do the same spiritually, by birthing revival movements on the earth.

Francis Frangipane shares a great word of how women have birthed movements on the earth through prayer...BUT that doesn't excuse men of their prayer role as Francis explains. Both men and women – be encouraged in your roles of intercession and the importance of it in this day. I've talked with people who've told me that they are being called like no other time to fasting and prayer in this hour.

Blessings,

Julie A. Smith, Managing Editor
The Elijah List

The Days of His Presence (Revised and Expanded) by Francis Frangipane $12.99 Book

NEW! Spiritual Discernment and the  Mind of Christ: Possessing the Mind of the Redeemer in an Age of Negativity and Deceit by Francis Frangipane $12.99 Book

Francis Frangipane:

A Special Word to the Women of God

Before I begin this message, let me provide a short disclaimer: although I do encourage women to move freely within the order provided by God in their local churches, my goal is to exalt and celebrate a primary grace that God has placed specifically within women, which the Lord Himself has used in past times to release revival.

The Genesis Distinctions

When the Lord created humankind, He placed unique graces in man and separate but equally unique graces in woman. He told Adam to name the species of life on earth "and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name" (Genesis 2:19). 

This "naming" was much more than calling the dog "Spot." Adam was created with an organizational, administrative capacity that enabled him to identify and define the world around him. By naming the living things, Adam not only brought them into his consciousness, but he introduced order and structure to the human experience. 

Adam did not create the world, of course, but by defining the things God brought to him, he helped establish reality.

Within the genetics of this original man, there also existed the powerful, but dormant, qualities of the woman.

While Adam slept the Spirit took from the man a rib. Fashioning it into a woman, the Lord created for Adam a companion. Not only was she suitable for him, but she powerfully expanded man's creative capacities. Indeed, the woman brought many new graces into Adam's world that did not formerly exist – the foremost of which was the power to conceive and give birth.

It is important to remember: God created male and female in His image, according to His likeness (Genesis 1:26). Of course, in certain ways, both Adam and Eve as individuals possessed reflections of the divine nature. 

They each could think, speak, dream and create.

However, it was in the union of Adam and Eve, in their mutual respect of one another's strengths and graces, that mankind would possess a more perfect expression of the fuller nature of God.

As Adam beheld this first female, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2:23). 

The term woman was a delineation used by Adam, identifying her as a unique variation in the species of man. My wife says, "Think of her as the upgrade." In some ways, she is right, for the nature of the woman was twice refined. Adam was created of earth; the woman emerged not from the earth but from the man. She is both more complex and emotionally sophisticated.

Soon Adam began to understand the greatest power of his counterpart: her ability to conceive and bring life into the world. Recognizing this quality, Adam named her Eve, which meant "life." Eve would play an integral part in the unfolding of life's new beginnings. "She was the mother of all the living" (Genesis 3:20).

The Power of a Woman's Prayer

The Lord gave Adam a primary ability to name and establish reality; He gave to woman the unique capacity to conceive and then birth reality. The primary strength of each gender is that man establishes, woman births.

Remember, these qualities are not merely "human": they are reflections of the divine. Man's ability to bring order to one's world, to take what was random and give it definition and structure, is a divine facility. 

Woman's ability to conceive and incubate life, and then deliver life through birth, is also an aspect of the divine nature.

Note also that Adam named the woman Eve (or "Life") before they had children. God gave the woman an ability not just to have babies but to release life in a variety of its expressions. In fact, one translation says that Eve means to "enliven."

Alone, Adam had been downcast; it was not good that Adam was alone. Eve enlivened Adam in ways no other creature on earth could. 

Adam could build a house; Eve made it a home. When Adam named Eve "Life," he was not only speaking prophetically of the first mother, but he was speaking out of his own experience: Eve brought life into the structure of Adam's world.

We are speaking in generalities here, but when we observe the spiritual realm, we see this same divine encoding replicated in the ministries of men and women. 

Jesus laid the foundation of the Church with twelve men whom He called to be apostles. This didn't mean there would never be women in leadership, but that one of the better skills given man from God was the ability to bring order and structure. 

By the same token, prior to Christ's birth we find Anna, a prophetess, engaged in much prayer and fasting.

In my opinion, it is quite possible that this woman was not alone in her intercession, but the leader of a prophetic prayer ministry that lived in anticipation of her times. 

Women excel in intercession, in spiritual sensitivity and the release of new beginnings. Note: this does not excuse men from prayer! 

Actually, some of the Bible's best examples of intercessors are men! We are speaking in generalities in reference to the spiritual tendencies of both genders. Neither distinction is more important than the other. 

Both are absolutely vital for the unfolding of God's will upon the earth.

Today we are fighting the advance of satan in many arenas. Whether the topic is wars and terrorist attacks or the ever-increasing expansion of iniquity in our world, we need revival. 

To possess a national awakening, the "birthing" power God has placed in women must be released.

All the efforts of man to establish laws and govern righteously will not truly transform our culture. We need something greater; we need the presence of God poured out.

I believe the Holy Spirit is raising up a prayer army of women who are rising in power on behalf of their families and nations.

My Mother's Prayers

I personally know the power of a woman's prayer: my mother's. In the late sixties, I was a very lost young man living in sin and rebellion. 

Judging from my appearance, I looked hopeless. Yet in spite of my outward condition, my dear Catholic mother stood before God for me.

Resist as I did, divine power, uniquely escorted to Earth through her prayers, began to hunt me down. Her cries were relentless and unceasing; often she would pray through the night for me. 

She was pregnant with prayer for her son. In 1970 God finally answered, and during the Jesus Movement revival, I came to Christ.

Years later I asked the Lord about the Jesus Movement revival. As you may know, it has been part of my assignment to help engender citywide unity and establish prayer, things that precede revival. 

Yet, to my knowledge, no citywide unity or organized prayer fueled the Jesus Movement. So I asked the Lord how revival could occur without a prayer movement at its source. The Lord quickly corrected me, saying that there was a great prayer movement: He had heard the prayers of a million praying mothers, each crying to Him for their children.

From all denominations, in a "unity of desperation," God heard the cries of believing mothers. His heart was touched, and as a result, multitudes of sinful kids found repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ. 

This is the army God desires to release again today, but now with more vision, more power from the Holy Spirit, and with the support of men as well!

Women of God, the fact is, Heaven needs you! You have been created by the Almighty to birth breakthroughs on planet Earth! 

God has uniquely designed you with a latent ability to release life through your intercession. Together with you, we men can build and establish, and we are learning to pray, but you have a special grace to release new spiritual beginnings. 

Whether your prayer focus is for your husband or church leadership, whether you are interceding for your children, city or nation, you possess in your spirit the seed-realities that, through prayer, can release God's life into the world.

Yes indeed, a battle rages; there still exists "enmity between [the serpent] and the woman" (Genesis 3:15).

Satan especially hates you because it was your seed that bruised the serpent's head. It is amazing to me that God chose to bring His Son into the world, not through the heavens nor even through a woman impregnated by man, but through a woman made pregnant by God! God Himself came to earth through the woman's power to give birth!

Today the Lord is giving women a new grace, a new confidence against the powers of Hell. Out of their oneness with Christ, these godly women will prayer-birth powerful ministries on earth, both male and female. They will release new beginnings to the Body of Christ.

I also want to commend and personally thank the many women's ministries and prayer groups that have stood with me, interceding for my life, my family and my ministry. 

Many, many times I have suddenly experienced divine protection or unexpected spiritual breakthroughs. 

When I questioned the Lord, He's said, I'm answering the prayers of [such-and-such] ministry.To each of you, I say a special thank you. In a unique way, you have been a mother to me. May the Lord multiply His grace toward you and give you the desires of your hearts!

Finally, Revelation 12:1 speaks of a "woman clothed with the sun." This word is not only talking about Israel or the Church. It also reveals how the Most High sees spiritual women: They are honored and crowned with distinction – pure and clothed with the glory of God. With confidence, they tread upon the powers of night. 

Dear army of praying women, it is your inherent destiny to birth that which shall rule the nations.

Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, This Day We Fight!

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane

Email: francis1@frangipane.org
Website: frangipane.org

Francis Frangipane is the founder of River of Life Ministries in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. Francis' heartfelt prayer is to see established in every city Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the love of Christ to their communities. 

Since 1985, he has written fourteen books, plus a number of study booklets. Over the past decades, Francis has served on a number of other ministry boards. However, in recent years he has gradually resigned from these various boards. 

As of June 2009, he has also retired from his position as senior pastor of River of Life Ministries. In this more simplified life, Frangipane is devoting himself to prayer and the ministry of God's Word.

For more: Elijahlist.com

Is the Church Dying or Are Christians Just Falling Away?

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Is the Church Dying 

or Are Christians Just 

Falling Away?

 10/18/2013 JENNIFER LECLAIRE, Charismanews

 

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13

 

0

 

32

 

Is the Great Physician unable to heal rifts in His church? (Stock.xchng)

Is the church dying? 

Apparently, that depends on whom you ask. Indeed, the life or 

death of the church of Jesus Christ that was founded more than 

2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost is a topic of debate in

 some evangelical circles.

Ed Stetzer, the president of LifeWay Research, author, speaker, 

pastor, church planter and missiologist, recently penned an article

 in Christianity Today entitled, “The State of the Church In America: 

Hint: It’s Not Dying.” His opening sentence makes it abundantly 

clear where he stands. There’s no tip toeing around the issue or 

trying to avoid offending anyone who disagrees.

He says, in five words: “The church is not dying.”

“Yes, the church in the West—the United States included—is in 

transition right now. But transitioning is not the same as dying, 

particularly if you hold the belief that Christianity is represented

 by people who live for Christ, not check ‘Christian’ on a survey

 form,” Stetzer writes.

“While I believe we need to understand reality inside our ranks,

 I don’t believe the situation is quite as dire as many are making

 it out to be. Actually, no serious researcher believes Christianity 

in America is dying. Not one.”

Steve McSwain begs to differ. McSwain, who describes himself 

as an award-winning author, speaker, thought leader and spiritual 

teacher, responded to Stetzer’s article with a snarky question: 

“Really? What cartoons have you been watching?”

McSwain then points to information from the Hartford Institute 

of Religion Research citing that more than 40 percent of 

Americans “say” they go to church weekly. As it turns out,

 however, he points out, less than 20 percent are actually in 

church. In other words, he notes, more than 80 percent of 

Americans are finding more fulfilling things to do on weekends.

“Furthermore, somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 churches 

close their doors every year. Southern Baptist researcher, 

Thom Rainer, in a recent article entitled ‘13 Issues for Churches in 2013’

 puts the estimate higher. He says between 8,000 and 10,000 

churches will likely close this year,” he continues. “Between the 

years 2010 and 2012, more than half of all churches in America 

added not one new member. Each year, nearly 3 million more 

previous churchgoers enter the ranks of the ‘religiously unaffiliated’.”

OK, so fewer people are going to church. That’s a sign of the 

times, if you ask me. But how does that prove that the church 

is dying? Saying the church is dying—DYING—seems like an 

anti-biblical perspective. I mean, correct me I have misinterpreted

 the holy Scriptures, but wasn’t it Jesus who said, “I will build 

My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”?

 (Matt. 16:18).

I suppose one could argue that the church that’s dying is not 

the church Christ is building. But, from my perspective, it seems

 like the church that Christ is not building—that false church 

that endorses homosexual lifestyles and refuses to otherwise

 call sin a sin—is thriving in the age of humanism.

There are many reasons why people don’t go to church. 

Pharaoh is working some of them to near death. Others have 

been spiritually abused by pastors and don’t want anything to

 do with the church. Still others are watching televangelists on 

Sunday mornings because they don’t feel like getting gussied 

up and driving across town. Yes, sometimes it’s just that simple.

The reasons why people aren’t going to church—or why people 

are leaving the church—go on and on. But make no mistake. 

The church of Jesus Christ is not dying. Jesus is still building

 His true church. That may mean in these last days that there 

are fewer believers flocking to organized religious buildings, 

but that doesn’t mean the church is dying. It may mean more 

are opting for home church or some other alternate form of 

fellowship in the name of Jesus. And it absolutely means 

we need to get out on the American mission field and

preach the gospel.

“Bad stats and hyperbole do just that—demoralize God's 

people,” Stetzer concluded. “Today, we need a mobilized 

mission force in the midst of this mission field. So, it's time 

to time to work for the sake of the gospel, and to live for 

the cause of the gospel, not run around proclaiming the 

sky is falling.”

What's your take? Sound off in the comment box below.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is

also the author of several books, including 

The Spiritual Warrior's Guide to Defeating Jezebel. 

You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com 

or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on 

Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

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From: Charismanews.com/opinion/watchman-on-the-wall