Love For His People

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Shabbat Candle Lighting & Prayers - during Hanukkah

Beit Yeshua's (Lincolnton, NC) celebrated Hanukkah's third night, with the lighting of the Shabbat candles and prayers. Paul and Susan Miles shared with the gathering, after all first lit their Hanukkah menorah (hanukiyah) that they had brought.

Video and photos by Steve Martin, Love For His People.

Paul & Susan Miles with Beit Yeshua in Lincolnton, NC

Curtis Loftin, Co-Founder of Beit Yeshua

“Alone and Lonely” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

“Alone and Lonely”

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10 (NKJV)

Dear family of friends,

It was early on a Thursday morning as I walked the main street in uptown Charlotte. The sun hadn’t risen as yet. Hardly a car, or human, was up at this hour. Being I had a part to play in a Thanksgiving/Christmas festival event, I parked my car and walked the few blocks needed to get there. The cold night was biting my uncovered face. At least I had our warm bed for a few hours prior to getting out and coming here.

Sitting on a metal street bench, across the eerily quiet, dark street at this hour, was a figure slouched over, under a layer or two of ragged blankets. I didn’t know if it was a man or a woman. They had to be really uncomfortable. These benches were constructed in such a way as to prevent any prone position sleeping, at any hour of the day or night. Beside them was a bag stuffed with their entire worldly possessions.

Knowing that the 22 F temperature was only adding pain to what must be a terrible way to live, I said a quick prayer of mercy for them. But I didn’t know what else to do, and having little money in my pocket, I kept walking.

(The Charlotte Rescue Mission, where I have worked at, is not far from the grandiose Charlotte Panthers football stadium from which I now hurried in the opposite direction. They do a great job in helping those in need of “two hots and a cot.” They also provide recovery assistance from drug addiction, getting people back on their feet. But that person may not have been aware of that help. As for now, “Lord, help them,” was all I did, and kept moving on.)

During holiday seasons my heart especially goes out to those who are alone and lonely. Personally, I have always had family and friends, but I have also known the ache and discouragement that others feel at times, increasingly around these times. Depression, despair, and destitution can crush the human heart. Having the hurt from lack of love, expressed in a caring way, takes its toll on the spirit in man.

So what do we do? What can we do?

Yeshua (Jesus) showed us the way. He came that we might have life, and have it abundantly. These are not just nice words that sound good in a Sunday sermon, shared by an over zealous speaker. This can be reality in each of our lives. Hope can always spring forth in our hearts, for He knows of the pain, the hurt, the rejection. He experienced it when He came the first time. That is why He came. He gives life and ongoing hope always.

During the festival and holiday seasons, we are made more aware of those needing our help, and many will ask you for help. Do as you can. Maybe even do more than you normally would.

But remember that salvation is of the Jews, and our first command in assistance is to the “household of faith,” as we are instructed again in Galatians 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” My understanding of this verse is that the household of faith, in Israel, are the Messianic Jews. They are the ones who have received Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, and are also part of the Church Body, the One New Man. We have been grafted in among them.

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. But if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” (Rom. 11:17 NASU)

We have a debt to the Jews. They gave us the Bible. They gave us the prophets. They gave us our Savior, the Messiah Yeshua. We have an opportunity to now give back, and bless the believers among them.

This isn’t an Ahava Love Letter appeal, but it is an opportunity reminder, to share with you that we do send monthly support to Messianic Jewish believing family of friends, in Israel in particular, and in the USA. They are of the household of faith.

The ones we regularly support include Heart of G-d Ministries, Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem, Israel Media Ministries, and Christians for Messiah Ministries.

Please remember Love For His People, Inc. in your regular and year end giving.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve & Laurie Martin

Founders

Love For His People, Inc.

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

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available).

Contribution checks can be sent to:

Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

Be sure to get my two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com , plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for $14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email addresses: loveforhispeople@gmail.com

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

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Ahava Love Letters

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Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (11/30/13 Saturday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC).

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

Hanukkah Time at Beit Yeshua - 3rd night of the Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights

Laurie and I enjoyed our evening on Nov. 29, 2013, the third night of Hanukkah, with our friends in Lincolnton, NC for the Hanukkah evening. Below are a few photos I took. I recorded 9 videos which you can see on the Love For His People YouTube channel also.

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People