Saturday, December 7, 2019

“An Ahava Adventure – The Four Louis Brothers in Israel” by Steve Martin

“An Ahava Adventure – The Four Louis Brothers in Israel” by Steve Martin

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31 chapters, 170 photos from Israel!
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Dec. 7, 2019
It all started back in October 2018 when I made, what I thought was going to be the finishing one, my last trip to Israel. Since my inceptive journey in 1987 with the first ministry I served with, Mahesh Chavda Ministries (living at the time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), I had since that time made 19 trips to the Holy Land, the Promised Land of the Jews. This October 2018 trip was my 20th, and just prior to going I had decided it would be my last.
A few months ahead of this trip, discouragement had come upon me, and I felt I could no longer continue the work of the ministry, Love For His People, which my good wife Laurie and I had founded in April 2010. That had been, quite literally, following the inspiration of the Lord Jesus, after I had continually cried out to Him for many years, wanting “my own vineyard.” It was a dream of myself, like others, to be “fulltime” in ministry, but after the longevity serving under the leadership of others, I longed for my own.
That can happen to one after serving long and hard for and with three other well-known men (and their wives) in their ministries.
Oh, how the Lord loves us. Oh, how He leads us in His paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Oh, how He directs our steps and leads us in the way we are to go. He is Faithful, and He who called us is ever True. He does not ever give up on us.
Sometime during the latter part of those 10 days in October 2018, walking by myself down the ancient streets of Jerusalem’s Old City to visit friends and familiar sites; traversing the bustling sidewalks and side streets of the newSometime during the latter part of those 10 days in October 2018, walking by myself down the ancient streets of Jerusalem’s Old City to visit friends and familiar sites; traversing the bustling sidewalks and side streets of the new portions since 1948 when Israel’s declared its independence as a nation once again; or riding the light rail train from Jaffa Street to the end-of-the-line drop off point, near the Yad Vashem’s (Holocaust Museum) entrance, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. It was a clear word, though not audibly. But being His friend too, I knew it was Him.
“This is not your last trip to Jerusalem. In fact, from now on you will be coming twice a year.”
“I will?” I responded skeptically, internally. “And if so, then You are going to have to help me pay for it. I cannot.”
“You do as I say out of obedience. I will take care of the provision.” He made sure I understood what He had just said, with a firm, “make sure you get this” response, but with plenty of hope, faith, and love covering His words.
That was then. And today, as I write these first words of my next prophesied book (#25!) on September 11, 2019, Wednesday early morning at my home near south Charlotte, North Carolina (the day when Americans remember the attack of 9-11, 18 years later), the plans have been tediously put together for my 22nd trip back to Israel, and our Lord’s beloved city of Jerusalem, it’s capital, and His chosen people dwelling there. And coming along with me this time are three other men.
I will tell you that story as time goes by, as you read of the “rest of the story” – as Paul Harvey, the Chicago area radio and TV man, liked to say decades ago. But what follows is just an inkling of what is yet to come.
Steve Martin, Love For Hus People ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina
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Friday, November 22, 2019

Love For His People ministry free app downloads for Android, iPhone



Love For His People ministry free app downloads for Android, iPhone




App preview on Apple Store


Nov. 22, 2019
Apple App Store (iPhones)https://apps.apple.com/app/id1487691637
Now available free download for your smartphone – the Love For His People ministry app. Keep easily updated daily for Israel, international, and USA news. Watch the latest “Walk With Me” short videos with Steve Martin, along with the Now Think On This messages.
Donate online using PayPal or Givelify. Search for previous posts, music, and photos.
Thanks for sharing in our support of Israel and the nations.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin, Founder/President
Download from here:
Apple App Store (iPhones)https://apps.apple.com/app/id1487691637



Photo: Apple Store app preview
Apple App Store (iPhones)https://apps.apple.com/app/id1487691637

Sunday, November 17, 2019

“On His Terms” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“On His Terms” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Yes, he (Jacob) wrestled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is His name.” Hosea 12:4-5, NASU
Rather than ask if you have ever wrestled with God yourself, the proper question would be, “How many times have you wrestled with God?”
We all have if we are honest with ourselves. The Lord speaks something to us, and rather than just say, “Yes, Lord” like Mary did when the angel came to her with the news of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) coming birth, we act as if He isn’t speaking to us, or He probably is asking the wrong person to do it.
“Let Thomas do it” may be what comes to our mind. Or, “I think Suzie should be the one, not me. After all, look at what she has already done.”
We often choose to dismiss or even ignore, when the Holy Spirit prompts us with a word, giving us an assignment or asking us to perform a task that might take us out of our comfort zone. And then, where is our faith?
It is often thought that if we allow the Lord to speak to us, however He wants – through His Word, another person, or circumstances, as He did with Jonah, Jacob, or any number of examples that have been given to us in the Bible – He might ask us to go to Africa, or speak a word to our neighbor, who we really don’t care for any (if we even know our neighbor these days.)
My response regarding the “Africa” word was always, “Sure. Send me.” I have always wanted to go since I was a 10-year-old. But that is not the general case with people. (And in time I will!)
When it comes to who is Lord, do we decide when and where He has rule in our life? Do we tell Him, “Yes I will” for this but “No I won’t” for that? On whose terms do we make the decisions we do, when He directs our steps?
Jesus knows us. He knows before we respond how we will respond, but He keeps giving us opportunities to make the right response. Or at least He will for a while before He leaves us to do as we want, and reap the consequences of the choice we made.
He told the parable about the two sons, after each hearing a command of their father, as follows in Matthew 21:28-32.
“Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’ “The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went.
“The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went. “Which of the two sons did what the father asked?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God’s kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn’t care enough to change and believe him.” THE MESSAGE version
Wow! Notice who Jesus said would precede ones into God’s kingdom? The crooks and the whores. They believed, and thus did what He asked. What does that say about us when we hear and turn a deaf ear to what the Lord is speaking to us?
And then on whose terms will we carry out His desires? Do we put parameters around it, just enough to make it palatable, and easy to do?
Our walk with the Lord will take us off the convenient path, the easy way out, the comfortable couch that we love to sit on. Faith is an act of obedience.
Decide to choose to walk in faith next time the Lord gives you the privilege of hearing His voice, His Word, by choosing to give it to you. The more you respond in a positive, obedient manner, the more you will see the perfect will He has for your life being carried out.
It is up to you.
And if you have said no in the past, there is room for repentance. Ask for His forgiveness, and He will once again show you the way you are to go.
Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Founder/President, Love For His People, Inc.
SPECIAL NOTE: Our ministry’s new mobile app is available for Android smartphones, on Google Play store, or click here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.itsapp2you.lfhp
The iPhone mobile app is also a free download on the Apple Store. Look now.
Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On ThisThe sign-up form is on our new ministry website: https://loveforhispeople.com
You are welcome to help support the families in Israel that we do. Give now. Givelify.

Love For His People ministry
P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134
Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.
Now Think On This #469 – in the year of our Lord 11.17.19 – “On His Terms” Sunday, 7:00 am

Monday, November 11, 2019

Running From God? – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Running From God? – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3, NKJV
God spoke. Jonah heard. Jonah ran from God.
Ever happen to you? God speaks a word to you, either through another person, reading His Word in the Bible, or through a circumstance which you know is from Him, giving you a directive, and yet you run from Him?
Your response was “No. I am not going to do that.”
We all have done it at one time, and more. We heard the word. And then we ran from it. Fear. Uncertainty. Laziness. There is always a “good” reason not to do it.
The Lord speaks to us through His still voice, or we receive a prophetic word. We deny it. We say, “It isn’t so.” We do everything we can to pretend we didn’t hear it, so we can believe we don’t have to respond in obedience to Him.
And yet, He doesn’t give up on us. He has a very good reason He has given the word to us. And as the “hound of heaven”, He still seeks after us to reveal His will and direction for our life, knowing there will always be life in obeying the word, that “this is the way, walk in it.”
“O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:19-22, NASU
It reads in Jonah 1:1-3, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” NKJV
Jonah heard the Lord speak a word of direction, and yet he did as we do too many times ourselves, we run from it. We tell ourselves that “That word isn’t for me, I can’t do it, what will people think?” Or, “How can I walk in faith when I am too fearful to step out and obey? It will cost me too much.”
And yet the very word the Lord is giving us too is the word that will change our life. And at the same time, it will change the lives of those He wants you to be the one who will bring the word of change to them.
As I read the first chapter of Jonah, it is very interesting that Jonah was very clear in what the Lord told him to do. There was no uncertainty. There was no ambiguity. He just didn’t want to do it. He ran from the Word. He ran from God Who gave it. “But Jonah rose up to flee…from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3
It was only after the fierce wind came down upon the ship he was hiding in, the other men found out it was he who was the cause of this before throwing him overboard, and the large fish swallowed him up.
“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17, NKJV
I like how the Lord had already prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. He knew the plan. He was making the way for it to be done. Jonah still had a choice all along, but the Lord was setting him up to make the right choice.
The Lord spoke a clear word to Jonah (whom I believe was a real person, and the book of Jonah is a real, historical book of the Bible and not a fictional story.) It took a while, but Jonah finally did respond the way he should have in the very beginning and save himself from a lot of trouble.
He knows His plan for us. He will do all He can to get our attention and accomplish His will in our life. If only we quit fighting His plan, His purpose, and do what He has called us to do.
You may have known the Lord for a year, and after the excitement wore off and the challenges became too great, you quit the zeal and the adventure.
You may have followed the Lord for 10 years, 20 years, or even 40 years, and the vision you once had has become too dim, the zeal has been lost, the disappointments too many, or the wind of opposition in your face has been more than what you now think you can take.
But the Lord is still calling you. The Lord is still making a way where there seems to be no way. The Lord has not given up. He is calling you back. He is telling you to still “Come, follow Me.”
The decision is yours. But the gift and grace of God is always available to help you make the right one. I hope you choose life and walk continually in His ways.
Run to God, not from Him.
Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
Thank you for reading! PLUS: Our new mobile app is for Android smart phones, on Google Play store, or click here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.itsapp2you.lfhp
The mobile app for the iPhone on the Apple Store will be available in a few days.
Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On ThisThe sign-up form is on our new ministry website: https://loveforhispeople.com
You are welcome to help support the families in Israel that we do. Give now. Givelify.

Love For His People ministry
P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134
Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.
Now Think On This #468 – in the year of our Lord 11.11.19 – “Running From God?”, Monday, 7:30 am

Love For His People – mobile app available on Google Play

Love For His People – mobile app available on Google Play

Soon we will also have the Apple iPhone version ready for free download. Be watching!
Thanks to our Israeli developer!
Shalom,
Steve Martin, Love For His People ministry