Wednesday, July 16, 2025

"Call it what it is." New message from Steve Martin, Love For His People

 

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July 16, 2025


Greetings to you once again.


This week marks the start of a hectic month ahead for Laurie and me. I hope to keep up with the social posts, messages, work requirements, travel, and the ministry times. I am sure you, too, have a busy schedule, and I appreciate you taking the time to allow me to share this.


My new message below is "Call It What It Is". After struggling with a situation, I sought the Lord, and He answered me. I am grateful. You can be too.


New photos from old times. New videos. All along with my message. Be blessed in your blessing, too.


Ahava and Shalom,


Steve Martin

Love For His People Ministry


P.S. View the photos below and watch the new videos below. You can see all my videos on our YouTube channel, Love For His People/Steve Martin—over 2,900.

Bird Photo of the Week: I love my bird feeder in our backyard. Especially the North Carolina state bird—the cardinal. The males are so bright red, and they love sunflower seeds. Steve Martin

Israel Photo of the Week: Timmy Bryant, a coworker at Vision For Israel in Charlotte, North Carolina, experienced a taste of life in the Judean desert. We joined others who were on tour at the time. I love seeing young people visit Israel. (Steve Martin photo: Oct. 2010)

Call It What It Is

   

“For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15, NASB


As a rule, Americans today no longer call “sin” sin. Even in the Christian churches, we have developed another name for it, such as “a mistake,” “I failed,” “it is because of my parents,” or whatever other excuse we use to cover up sin.


We even go back to the old standby, which Adam used. “She made me do it.” That really doesn’t work if you want to stay married for long. (I have learned that these past 47 years.)


In May of 2025, I repented, publicly on Facebook (the new “women at the well” gathering place) of my sin of gluttony. Sure, I could have blamed my 220 pounds I carried, on a male frame of 5’9 ½”, on heritage, depressive “comfort food” eating, or just plain laziness. Besides, “that guy” is heavier than I am, so no big deal”, as I compared myself to others.


People even tried to provide an excuse for me, or comfort me, saying to try this or that diet; that it is not you, “it is the food we eat”. (Maybe, but still not the root cause.)


But the Lord looks at the heart. He knows our hearts. And He loves us too much to leave us in our sin, which brings us down, tears us apart, keeps us from walking in His plans and purposes for each of our lives. We will not be able to complete the mission He has for us, and desire to reveal to us daily, if we allow sin to hold us back, keep us unfit (physically and spiritually), and keep making excuses for that which we may actually hate, but can’t stop.


As Paul himself said, in Romans 17:17-20, “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I choose not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me, and it gets the better of me every time."


I repented, and I am glad I did. By His forgiveness and grace, I am now under 200 pounds since my return from Israel in May 2025. I will keep going. I am on a mission for God, and I need to be fit to accomplish it.


I hope you are, too. Complete the call He has on your life by being in good health, both spiritually and physically.


Ahava and Shalom,


Steve Martin


We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Contributions are welcome online by clicking here on our webpage: DONATE HERE.

 

Are you new to these messages, or has another shared them with you? Sign up here to receive it directly. Go here and click on the coffee mug! Sign Up for Steve Martin's Messages

 

Love For His People Ministry

12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA


Message #7 in my new series (2025): "Call It What It Is" July 10, 2025

Steve Martin on the scale, July 7, 2025. From 220 pounds to 199.2, since my repentance from gluttony in May 2025 and my return from Jerusalem, Israel. The Lord meets me there often.

OLD AND NEW PHOTOS AND VIDEOS!


First photo: Rick Ridings introduces Joshua Aaron at the Succat Hallel/Jerusalem Praise 24/7 prayer room in Jerusalem, Israel. (Steve Martin photo, Nov. 4, 2013)


Second photo: Savannah, Georgia. Laurie and I met these fine people at the Wilkes Restaurant entrance, as we also were going in. Fresh from revival meetings! (July 25, 2025)

Carry My Bags - when the Lord speaks.

"Carry My Bags" by Steve Martin


These two video segments (they total just 8 minutes of the full 20-minute talk due to “technical difficulties”) are a part of my life in how the Lord led me to “carry His bags” and stand strong with Israel. (Part 1 is 4:12 min. Part 2 to follow is also 4:12 min.)


The Lord will lead us down a path we may not want to go on, but if we hear and obey...He will never lead us astray!


Videos recorded by Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry, in Charlotte, North Carolina. We stand firm for Israel and His people the Jews.

With all our hearts we draw near. Jason Upton leads us.

Music videoJason Upton live - "Whisper" - music - MorningStar New Year's conf - 12.31.15 morning


Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin - to give appreciation to and love for those we support, through Love For His People

Worship with us in various locations.

Above video: Enjoy the variety of Christian worship music the Lord has blessed us with! This playlist begins with Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina.


The first video: 1,894 views, May 21, 2017

Transformation Church - Your Glory/Holy, Holy/Glory Is Beautiful/Nothing But The Blood of Jesus/Worthy Is The Lamb medley. 521 Indian Land, SC - Sunday, 10 am service


The video was recorded using my iPhone 6. I was in the middle, top section of the auditorium behind the sound board crew. The sound is relatively good, but the visual keeps blurring in and out as the camera tries to adjust to the dark room with spotlights on the stage. But the Holy Spirit still moved!



Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry Founder in Charlotte, North Carolina

As in many of Steve's previous books, he continues to share experiences and inspiration in being faithful in the Christian walk - hearing the voice of the Lord, knowing His written Word, adhering to the teachings of those who have gone before - in order to stand strong in the midst of societal changes with the truth of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua.


As you read these chapters, may the Lord's encouragement through His Holy Spirit strengthen your inner being to walk out the calling He has on your life, among your family, and others surrounding you.


Being faithful to the end is possible only because of His grace and mercy working through us daily.


Buy now on Amazon HB $14.95, PB $9.95, Kindle $2.99

We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Contributions are welcome online by clicking here: DONATE HERE.

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#callitwhatitis #Newmessage #Steve Martin #LoveForHisPeople #faith #Jesus #Yeshua #Israel #Jerusalem #sin #hearts #SuccatHallel #JoshuaAaron #carrymybags #JasonUpton #TransformationChurch #Christianmusic

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

"Carry My Bags" (the full video) - Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry


"Carry My Bags" full video - Steve Martin, Founder, 
Love For His People Ministry

July 12, 2025
Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina

Steve Martin shares a message to encourage all those who have sought the Lord and found Him, after taking the journey He had prepared. Entitled "Carry My Bags", this was given at the Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, during the July 2025 monthly Men's Breakfast meeting. A part of my testimony includes working with eight ministries over the past 34 years. Three of them (Derek Prince Ministries, Mahesh & Bonnie Chavda Ministries, Vision For Israel with Barry & Batya Segal), together, had a profound impact on the Land and people of Israel, which helped build a solid foundation for the love of His Chosen ones, the Jewish people, in my heart. The visual recording is off (with Steve's head cut off!), but the sound is good. I hope you are encouraged as you listen. Ahava and Shalom. Video shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.


You can read the full account of this story, and many more, in my autobiography. 

Throughout our lives, God keeps His hand on our shoulders and nudges us toward more than we could ever realize. I am excited to share how He did it with me, and am confident mine will be a story you’ll be able to relate to.

As I unveil my story, think back to those times when you knew there was something more, but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. You knew deep down that life wasn’t what the TV sitcoms portrayed it to be. In our souls, there is the hope, the cry for more, that someday questions will be answered and promises fulfilled if we just keep plugging away at what we know to do.

In 
The Promise, I share my first 40 years of journey with you and show you that dreams do come true. Though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, indeed is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us. When you have finished reading this story, I pray that you, too, will come to know more of God's good plan and His purpose for you.

Steve Martin
Charlotte, North Carolina




Click Here: The Promise: Journey of a Lifetime in HB $19.95, PB $12.95, Kindle $2.99

#carrymybags #Video #SteveMartin #Founder #LoveForHisPeopleMinistry #AntiochInternationalChurch #FortMill #SouthCarolina #testimony #faith #hope #WesternWall #Jerusalem #Israel #DerekPrince

Stevens Creek Nature Preserve in Mint Hill (Charlotte), NC - Come Walk With Me and two grandsons (6 short videos and photos)

(L-R) Grandsons Levi Avalos, Jack Blade, Steve Martin (Grandpa!)

We had never been to this nature reserve in western Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mint Hill. We enjoyed it and walked a whole 4-mile round trip on the beautiful groomed trails. Shorter trails are also easily accessible. Come walk with me and the boys as we first tour the reception area, with hands-on stations for the kids, and then proceed outside into the beautiful Carolina nature preserve. Very enjoyable. And the snakes were an added sight to see also. Videos recorded by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry
in Charlotte, North Carolina.


We had never been to this nature reserve in western Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mint Hill. We enjoyed it and walked a whole 4-mile round trip on the beautiful groomed trails. Shorter trails are also easily accessible. Come walk with me and the boys as we first tour the reception area, with hands-on stations for the kids, and then proceed outside into the beautiful Carolina nature preserve. Very enjoyable. And the snakes were an added sight to see also. Videos recorded by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina.








Black snakes are good. Eat mice.

Bible - wherever your foot shall touch shall be yours.

#StevensCreekNaturePreserve #Mint Hill #Charlotte #NC #North Carolina #WalkWithMe #two #grandsons #shortvideos #photos




Monday, July 14, 2025

"Call It What It Is" - Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry


Call It What It Is

For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15, NASB

As a rule, Americans today no longer call “sin” sin. Even in the Christian churches, we have developed another name for it, such as “a mistake,” “I failed,” “it is because of my parents,” or whatever other excuse we use to cover up sin.

We even go back to the old standby, which Adam used. “She made me do it.” That really doesn’t work if you want to stay married for long. (I have learned that these past 47 years.)

In May of 2025, I repented, publicly on Facebook (the new “women at the well” gathering place) of my sin of gluttony. Sure, I could have blamed my 220 pounds I carried, on a male frame of 5’9 ½”, on heritage, depressive “comfort food” eating, or just plain laziness. Besides, “that guy” is heavier than I am, so no big deal”, as I compared myself to others.

People even tried to provide an excuse for me, or comfort me, saying to try this or that diet; that it is not you, “it is the food we eat”. (Maybe, but still not the root cause.)

But the Lord looks at the heart. He knows our hearts. And He loves us too much to leave us in our sin, which brings us down, tears us apart, keeps us from walking in His plans and purposes for each of our lives. We will not be able to complete the mission He has for us, and desire to reveal to us daily, if we allow sin to hold us back, keep us unfit (physically and spiritually), and keep making excuses for that which we may actually hate, but can’t stop.

As Paul himself said, in Romans 17:17-20, “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I choose not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me, and it gets the better of me every time." The Message

I repented, and I am glad I did. By His forgiveness and grace, I am now under 200 pounds since my return from Israel in May 2025. I will keep going. I am on a mission for God, and I need to be fit to accomplish it.

I hope you are, too. Complete the call He has on your life by being in good health, both spiritually and physically.

Ahava and Shalom,

Steve Martin

We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Contributions are welcome online by clicking here on our webpage, when you look for the little DONATE button on each side column, Love For His People to use. DONATE HERE.

 Are you new to these messages, or has another shared them with you? Sign up here to receive it directly in your email InBox. Click on the nice, full of brew coffee mug with the Love For His People logo on it, found on each side column of the webpage. You will be glad you did! Sign Up for Steve Martin's Messages

Love For His People Ministry 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA

Message #7 in my new series (2025): "Call It What It Is" July 10, 2025, 7:24 pm



My weight was 220 pounds before May 2025, before my repentance and my trip to Jerusalem, Israel. July 7, 2025, Charlotte, NC

#CallItWhatItIs #sSteveMartin #LoveForHisPeopleMinistry #feet #repentance #gluttony #Yeshua #Jerusalem #Israel #scale, #sin

Sunday, July 13, 2025

“Take My Yoke” Cathy Hargett, Highway To Zion

“TAKE MY YOKE”

Cathy Hargett, Highway To Zion

As I was studying the words of Yeshua in Matthew 11:28-30, the Holy Spirit showed me that I have only fully “heard” part of these verses. I have heard His compassion and His love and His caring in that He desires to give us “rest for our souls”.

But this time I heard more. I heard about the level of devotion that He is requiring of those who follow Him. I learned about the “Transcendent Torah” and what it means to take His yoke upon us.

Like He always does, He transforms us with His Word. It is so amazingly breathtaking to see the intricacies of what He speaks. God decided to humble Himself and to take on the form of a man and to enter history as a Jewish man in the culture of Israel.

Using every Word of Torah, He revealed Himself as Elohim, the God of Israel, the Father, Son, and Ruach ha Kodesh. He lived the Word in perfection, explaining Himself in ways that His chosen ones would understand.

Many times, He spoke in parables and with idioms that they would have known and understood to be Messianic. He was clear about the Truth. He showed them that He is Torah. He is the Living Word. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

He said this –

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Yeshua was acknowledged as a rabbi, a rabbi who had authority. He was recognized as a rabbi by His disciples, lawyers, scribes, the common people, and even by the leaders of the Pharisees.

The issue for the Pharisees was, “by whose authority?” was He recognized as a rabbi? Yeshua told them plainly that His authority was not the authority of men.

“My teaching is not My own. It comes from the One who sent Me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own.”

(John 7:16)

There was a system of education among the Jewish people. It was the highest priority of the people of Israel to educate their children. Even though there are passages in the Bible that shed an unflattering light on the people who lived in the Galilee as being “unlearned”, the historical evidence reveals that this was an area of conscientious learning and following of Torah, the Word of God.

The youngest children, from age five or so until about age ten went to Beit Sefer, the House of the Book and these little ones, even the girls, were taught Torah. In fact, they were tasked with memorizing the entire Torah.

The next level (the girls didn’t go to this level) was the House of Learning, where from about age ten to about age fourteen, the students memorized what we know today as the prophets and the writings. If a student excelled, they could be eligible to go to the next level, which is the study to become a rabbi.

It is thought that most students made it through the first level. So even the first-level students had memorized all of Torah! After that, there was a filtering-out process. Only the very best students would make it to the level of actually taking on the “yoke of a rabbi”.

When a disciple took on the yoke of a rabbi, it meant much more than sitting in a classroom learning. In order to be eligible to follow the rabbi, the rabbi would have to deem a student capable of learning and following him to the point that they would be exactly like him.

They were expected to think like him, walk like him, speak like him, live like him, act like him, and to imitate him perfectly. This was a highly selective process.

This is the meaning of “take my yoke upon you”. It means “be like me” in all your ways. At some point, those who followed the rabbi could become rabbis themselves.

A person who was given this authority would then be able to teach his own interpretations of the Word, and his disciples would then follow him.

It was into this culture that our Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God, the Son of Man, lived His life on earth. He was a Rabbi like no other. His teaching came directly from God. His students were like no other – and this, my friends, is still true today!

The ones He selected were those that He knew would be able to hear Him and to follow Him, and to take His yoke upon them. These were those who would seek to be just like Him. Do we really understand that Yeshua chose us for Himself and that He believes we are capable of following Him by the power of the Holy Spirit?

What a humbling privilege to be chosen by Him to take on His yoke.

And this is where I find my total amazement today, at this very moment – this is the level of life with Him that He is requiring of me, and of you, if we profess to be His disciples. Yeshua wants us to live like Him, walk like Him, talk like Him, think like Him, love like Him, heal like Him, and to do the things He does.

He is not asking us to follow a rule book or live a legalistic life of ritual obedience. He is requiring much more than that. He is telling us to take on His yoke, which far surpasses rules, regulations, and following the traditions of men. God, in His mercy, saw it was impossible for man to do this.

He came Himself to make a way for us to do even more than this! His burden that is easy and His yoke that is light requires of us this one thing – love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself. He says that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40).  

And He, through his sinless life, receives you into Himself to live. You live in Him. You live in His heart. You are alive inside of the “Transcendent Torah”, the perfect One, the sinless One, the Savior of your soul, the Living Word.

Yeshua quoted vast truth from the passage in Jeremiah 6:16 when He gave us the words of Matthew 11:28-30. Compare those Scriptures and you will see. Here’s Jeremiah 6:16:

“This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls..”

(Jeremiah 6:16)

Yeshua revealed so much with these few words. He said that He is the Ancient Way. He is the Way. He is the One of Whom the prophets spoke. He is the Messiah of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

In the Torah/the Law, the Writings, and the Prophets, He is revealed. He is God. He is the God of Israel. He has fulfilled every requirement to reconcile man back to God. We learn of Him from following the Ancient Way. We see Him as the revelation of the Living Word, the Transcendent Torah. Without Torah, we do not see or comprehend the “real Jesus”.

“..This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

(Luke 24:44)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.”

(Matthew 5:17)

This yoke He is giving us is easy, and this burden is light because He has paid the price to mark you as one who has fulfilled Torah. We are counted as righteous and justified as if we, ourselves, had perfectly kept all of Torah.

Wearing the yoke of this Rabbi means that you are looked upon as having fulfilled all the requirements of Torah because you are marked with the blood of the covenant of Messiah Yeshua.

You have now been accepted, you take on Yeshua, you clothe yourself with Him. You die with Him and you live with Him – your whole life is His. There is nothing more important, more significant, more intimate, more desirable than this one thing, not your family, not your vocation, and not your personal desires.

You leave all these things to follow Him. He is above all and in all. In this way, we find rest for our souls.

Cathy Hargett, Highway to Zion Ministries

http://www.highwaytozion.org


#CathyHargett #HighwayToZion #Yeshua #TakeMyYoke #Torah #parables #humbleofheart #takemyyoke 



Worship music from around Charlotte North Carolina and South Carolina locations

Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC 2017. Wonderful song medley.

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Carry My Bags - Steve Martin message at Antioch Intl. Church Men’s Breakfast, Fort Mill, SC (2 short videos)

                                                             Steve Martin - Video Part 1

Carry My Bags - Steve Martin message 

at Antioch International Church Men’s Breakfast, Fort Mill, SC (2 short videos)

July 12, 2025

These two video segments (they total just 8 minutes of the full 31-minute talk due to “technical difficulties”) are a part of my life in how the Lord led me to “carry His bags” and stand strong with Israel. (Part 2 is also 4:12 min.) 

Side note: I was later told that the full message was recorded, and I hope to get that up on this site real soon.

The Lord will lead us down a path we may not want to go on, but if we hear and obey...He will never lead us astray! Videos recorded by Steve Martin, Love For His People Ministry, in Charlotte, North Carolina. We stand firm for Israel and His people the Jews.

Steve Martin - Part 2 video of my message is below this brief explanation.

The part “missing” in the message not recorded was how I had asked Mahesh Chavda, whom I had served with at that point for 13.5 years, if I could go with him on an international trip, and he answered, “What would you do? Carry my bags?”

The Lord told me then to go to Jerusalem and meet Him at the Western Wall. I went with Martin Berger, the Chavda England director, and we went to Jerusalem. I walked to the Wall from the Mount Zion Hotel, and when I stood at the Wall, I placed both hands on it.

The Holy Spirit came down like a waterfall, gushing down on me. I wept just as much. The Lord then said, “Your labor has not been in vain.” I then knew I was leaving All Nations Church and Mahesh Chavda Ministries.

Within 6 months, I had given my notice and left, having my job back at Derek Prince Ministries for 5 more years.

In 2003, Laurie and I participated in a DPM China outreach, distributing Derek’s Mandarin-Chinese translated books and Bibles throughout the Chinese mainland, concealed in our “tourists’ bags”. At stops along the 17-hour train ride, the books were passed on to underground Chinese Christians.

Upon reaching Beijing, we had a scheduled “tourist trip” to the Great Wall. It was at that point, on the bus, when Laurie leaned over to me and said, “The Holy Spirit spoke to me, and He said, “You can carry His bags.”

I knew exactly what He meant!

In 2004, following the successful DPM completed conference, which featured Barry & Batya Segal of Vision For Israel, Barry approached DPM’s International Executive Director, David Selby, to request that I join the staff as his USA Director.

In the first year of the next 5 years, I relocated the ministry office of Vision For Israel from Savannah to Charlotte, before leaving in 2010 to found Love For His People.

 

Steve Martin - Video Part 2 

I

This testimony is all written in my autobiography book, “The Promise - Journey of a Lifetime” (Amazon HB and PB)

#carrymybags #jerusalem #israel #jesus #yeshua #antiochinternationalchurch #FortMill #southcarolina #faith #encouragment #walkwithme #walkoffaith

Friday, July 11, 2025

"Reckless Love" Sung by Logan Martin (Grandson of Steve and Laurie Martin)



Logan and his wife Arysa Martin

Provided to YouTube by DistroKid Reckless Love · Logan Martin ℗ Sent One Studios Released on: 2025-07-11 Auto-generated by YouTube

Watch more here: Logan Martin Playlist



Watch more here: Logan Martin Playlist

#RecklessLove #LoganMartin #DistroKid #SentOnestudios #Christiancontemporatymusic #Christian #worshipsong #jesus

 

God Changes People Through His Word One by One - Dennis McCleod, CFI-New Zealand

July 11, 2025

Dennis McLeod, New Zealand

Blessings from a wet and cold day, but the Word can warm a heart at any time, correct? The area where I was in America is where the horrific floods occurred. In Gaza, young soldiers continue to fall, and street riots are continuing in several countries. We live in perilous times, so maybe we should be spending more time on our knees and less time on our feet, just a thought. The Word of God is beyond question, so when the world is falling apart, His word can hold us together, praise His name, yes?

Many Blessings,

Dennis McCleod


God Changes People Through His Word One by One

There has been much said about the Bible, especially the fact that it has been the best-selling book ever since the invention of the printing press, year after year. Millions of copies, in nearly every language of the world, have been spread from nation to nation, from person to person. In Africa, in many cases, there may be but one Bible in a church, where it is being read until it falls apart. In the West, there may be a Bible for every person in the household, gathering dust on some lonely bookcase hidden away in the dark corner of the room. 

I left a Bible on the table in a church, so people could come and read when they had time. There were no doors or windows, just holes where they should be, so the Bible had to be stored at night to prevent it from being destroyed by roaming wild animals. I heard later that one of the local chiefs came every day to read the scriptures; after doing this for a while, he accepted Jesus as his Lord. Being an influential chief, what effect did his acceptance have on the rest of the people in his village?
 
With the coming of God’s Word, the greatest word ever extolled to the people of the world. Whole societies have been changed from just one word of scripture. My life was saved by using the name of Jesus at a man wanting to cave my skull in with a rock. They say the teachings from the word of God, by John Wesley, stopped a French-like revolution in England. 

A Chinese Pastor spent eighteen years in prison for preaching the Gospel. While he was incarcerated, his people tore pages from a Bible and passed them around, yes, just one page of a Bible, and revival happened. Where the authorities tried to squash the Word of God, the Church grew to many thousands, just by reading a few scriptures and through prayer. [James 5:16-17]
 
An army recruit in Russia was mocked and bullied for reading his Bible, but nothing could stop the Holy Spirit working in that young man’s life. One evening, the Lord even took him to Heaven. When he woke in the morning, he was standing by his bed, but still thought it had just been a dream, until a colleague asked him where he had been last night. When he asked why, he was told because he wasn’t in his bed during the night. He looked down at his bed, and it had not been slept in.
 
As the days passed, the beatings and abuse continued, but his reading of God’s word endured through the harsh punishment. Nothing they did could stop him from reading his most precious possession, his Bible. Then, finally, the government had a gang set upon him, and sadly, he died. His actions and the actions of the authorities were observed by all the members of the camp, which housed around 2000 soldiers. This alarmed the senior people, who saw and knew the testimony of the young soldier. He was able to bear all the attacks because of his faith in the Word of God. 

The scriptures gave him the strength to stand firm within the promises he knew from his daily readings. Without hesitation, regardless of the consequences, he accepted death, rather than deny his Lord. The government decided to break up the camp so the word would not spread, and no two soldiers would be sent to the same camp. Because of the young man’s devotion to the Word, two thousand soldiers were scattered throughout Russia, who had witnessed the actions of someone who gave his life, rather than deny his Lord, and there many did relate the story.
 
This is the power that we all have at our disposal. How well do we know that power, its inspired thoughts, its meaning behind every word, every dot, and stroke that Jesus said would never change? [Matthew 5:18] It is the light to our feet, it’s the lamp that guides us through the dangers of life, [Psalm 119:105] it can lift our spirits in the storms, [Mark 4:35-41] or calm the waters that are about to drown us in the worries of the world. [Isaiah 59:19] When Moses held up the Rod, the battle went well; when it was lowered, things turned for the worse. [Exodus 17:11] 

The word Rod in Hebrew is also known as an item of authority, a shepherd's staff, a help in guiding the flock. When the waters blocked their way, Moses stretched out the Rod to guide the way, which obviously exercised great power, and God parted the sea for them to cross on dry land. [Exodus 14:21-29] Holding the Bible high has the same power as it must, being the word of God. His word page after page, orders, [Exodus 20:1-21] instructions, [Psalm 32:8-9] correction, [Hebrews 12:7-10], and promises, [Matthew 28:20], the information needed to lead us home to be with the Father. 

No other item, person, or writing can give us the same hope. [John 14:6] The joy on the faces and in the hearts of people who have longed to have just one Bible, in their hands for the first time, is something to behold. I once went through a terrible incident, collapsed in a chair, and I asked Penny to bring me a Bible. Opening it,  I started to read, can’t remember where, I just read until my heart stopped thumping in my chest, and the tears ceased flowing, just reading the words settled my spirit. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are heavy laden" [Matthew 11:28]. What promises we miss by not opening the pages of His Word. 
 
Lord help us to open our Bibles daily, meditate on them, and accept all there is within the pages for our benefit, that will guide us in all situations, to help us and be our guiding light in the name of Yeshua. Amen. John 17:20-26


           

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Historic Jewish synagogue in Savannah, Georgia - Walk With Me, Steve Martin, and take the tour!


Historic Jewish synagogue in Savannah, Georgia - Walk With Me, Steve Martin. We take the tour! (2 of 5) The third oldest synagogue in the USA. Congregation Mikve Israel








Photos and videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry
in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.



#jewishlife #jewishsynagogue #savannah #georgia #stevemartin #walkwithme #take thetour #tour #historicbuildings