'Passion, Persistence and Perseverance' - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

 

Passion, Persistence and Perseverance

by Steve Martin

 “I see everything you're doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day.” (Revelations 2:19 THE MESSAGE)

(Note: I wrote this in Feb. 2014. Looking back it was our last Christmas with Laurie's Mom Lorraine Unzicker, who went to be with the Lord Jesus on July 31, 2014 at age 92. We are grateful we had this special time with her, until we see her again!)

Ben Martin, Lorraine Unzicker and Laurie Martin - Christmas 2013 in Peru, IL

“If the passion isn’t strong enough, the perseverance won’t last enough.”

That thought came as I was meditating on…or rather silently fretting about…the 14 hour drive ahead of us. Heading out on the long road ahead, in the middle of winter, through the Carolina mountains, to the plains of the Midwest, wasn’t what I wanted to be doing these next short days. But that’s where Laurie, my son Ben and I were headed.

We were spending Christmas with the family in Illinois, after not getting up there for the past five years, for this special holiday. I was keeping my word made to Laurie the previous spring, when the daffodils were blooming, the robins were singing, and life all around was fresh and abounding.

No longer did I desire to get out on the open road, as I did years ago, and drive 12-14 hours straight. It just didn’t appeal to me anymore, and I was dreading the long two days behind the Hyundai Elantra wheel. Not only that, but leaving on a Saturday, driving for two days, and having to start the return back on Christmas Day afternoon, to be in the office for one day, Friday, because my boss wanted me back for an upcoming event…

Well, I just wasn’t rejoicing and singing songs of merry.

“If the passion isn’t strong enough, the perseverance won’t last enough.”

When what I knew was the Holy Spirit speaking this word right about then to me, my attitude began to change. It was important to keep my word. It was indeed going to be special to be with Laurie’s mom Lorraine Unzicker, now 92, and her two sisters (Linda and Judy) and their families. That was what my heart and head were to focus on right now. Not the physical cost of getting there.

When faced with a situation that you know will take some stamina and persistence, we need to dig deep into our soul and count on the Lord to give grace and provision for the task ahead. Often we are given the choice to take the easy road, stay in our comfy chair wasting time in front of the TV, or move forward with what we know will count for eternity, by doing that which we are called to do. A simple choice, at least it should be. Too many times we take the easy path, which will be easier on our flesh.

The Apostle Paul had a mighty mission he had been apprehended for. The passion burning in his heart kept him going when it would have been easy to stop, count the harvest already accredited to his account, and call it done. But he didn’t.

“I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.

And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. 

When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut.” (2 Cor. 11:24-29 THE MESSAGE)

In no way am I comparing a 14 hour drive to what the apostle Paul had to endure to fulfill his calling at times. We want to think so, though.

In your ongoing walk with the Lord Jesus, consider that price which He paid for us. Receive encouragement from Him, from the other examples given to us throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Read about the martyrs who have gone before us through the centuries, giving their lives for the eternal passion instilled within them. Then we can find that which is necessary to continue pressing on to the mark, to win the prize, to reach the final destination.

The reward will be great.

Now think on this.

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

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Ahava Love Letter #121   “Passion and Perseverance”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.20.14) Thursday at 5:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters

Synagogue Where Jesus Preached Uncovered

 David Lazarus  ISRAEL TODAY

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Yeshua

A synagogue where Jesus likely preached has been uncovered on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. The 1st century Jewish house of prayer was discovered amidst the ruins of the ancient town of Magdala, home to the most well known female disciple of Jesus, Mary Magdalene.

"This is the first synagogue ever excavated where Jesus walked and preached," said Father Eamon Kelly of the Catholic organization developing the property. "This is hugely important for both Jews and Christians,” he added. The synagogue is one of only seven dating back to the time of Jesus uncovered anywhere in the world.

There is a very high probability that Jesus preached in this very synagogue. Before Tiberius was built, Magdala was the only town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 15:39 tells us that Jesus landed here as he "he took a boat, and came to the coast of Magdala." According to the New Testament, Jesus traveled extensively through this area teaching and preaching in local synagogues.

Magdala is just a few kilometers south of Capernaum, the fishing village where Jesus met Simon Peter, and not far from the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached his legendary Sermon on the Mount. The town is also situated on the road that Jesus walked from Nazareth and Bethsaida to Capernaum.

This area is on the Via Maris - an ancient trade route that ran from Egypt along the Mediterranean and then up the western shores of the Sea of Galilee all the way to Syria. Jesus spent much of his time here as it provided an important opportunity for him to teach the multitudes passing through.

People tend to think of Bethlehem or Jerusalem as central places in the life of Jesus, but actually Jesus spent most of his life and ministry in the Galilee and northern Israel. "Eighty percent of Jesus' public life was right here," says Father Kelly, pointing to the Galilee region.

In the times of Jesus, the local synagogue was not just a place for prayer, but also a community center where people would gather to discuss the news or share information about current events. Whenever a new rabbi came to town, it was custom for him to come to the local synagogue meet with the people and teach.

According to archaeologists, the Magdala synagogue was destroyed in 67 or 68 CE by the Romans. A sculpted limestone relief depicting a menorah was uncovered in the center of the synagogue. It is the oldest stone-etched menorah ever found.

Archaeologists have also found fishing pools and Jewish ritual baths at the site, which is now open for visitors.

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Jerusalem Dateline: Christmas –‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’, Handel's "Messiah"

Maurice Sklar

Published on Dec 19, 2014

This week on Jerusalem Dateline: Christmas in the Holy Land -- the greatest story ever told: Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity: where was Jesus really born? Plus a favorite carol: O Come, O Come Emmanuel; and carving olive wood into nativity ...

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Winter Seasons Produce Stronger Roots by Michelle Holderman

Winter Seasons Produce Stronger Roots 

by Michelle Holderman

Identity Network

 

When we're going through something painful, especially when it's long term, it can leave us feeling weary, frustrated, and forgotten. After so long it feels like nothing will ever change. We feel stuck in it. Stuck in a barren, lonely place. What once used to be vibrant and full of color has now muted into a hundred shades of dull gray.

 

This is actually a truth I see expressed through nature this time of year. Those vibrant, beautiful colors in the peak of fall will eventually give way to the barrenness and harsh cold of winter. And during those long winter days, it can feel like spring will never come much less summer.

 

But even winter has its beauty. Even winter holds value and significance. Winter is a season that is more about unseen preparation than outward adornment. All the action is happening underground and out of sight. The beauty of spring, summer, and fall is more tangibly visible. And although I personally find tangible beauty in it, winter is not nearly the eye candy that spring, summer, and fall are.

 

Unseen Preparations

 

But, and this is a big but, the sweet eye candy we start seeing in spring that proliferates through summer and fall would not be possible if it weren't for the unseen preparations of winter. What goes on in winter - the barrenness and dormancy - has everything to do with preparing for the budding and blooming of spring. Summer leaves, plants, and flowers cannot blossom without spring's buds and blooms. And autumn's brilliant colors would never show apart from summer's fullness. It's the cycle of growth. The cycle of life. We cannot have one without the other. They're all necessary.

 

Root systems are what nourish and anchor trees and plants. While everything above ground is in dormancy during the winter months; roots maintain a readiness to grow. In fact, winter causes root systems to dig deeper underground and expand in search of nutrients and water in advance of spring budding. What beauty we see with our eyes - the limbs, the leaves, the stems, the buds, the flowers - is but a reflection of what is unseen beneath the ground. A tree, a plant, or a flower is only as strong as its roots. Roots are the life source.

 

God is our life source. And when we are rooted more deeply in Him, we can better endure the elements and outward assaults that come our way. Including all those He allows into our lives. In fact, they can drive us deeper into Him. I know it doesn't feel like anything comforting or miraculous while it's happening. Believe me, I understand well. It can actually feel pretty harsh, agonizing, lonely, and perhaps even a bit maddening. But if I've learned one thing it's this: growth is painful but oh so necessary.

 

Pruning and Purging

 

And the Father is very interested in our proper growth. He wants us to excel and succeed in what He's called us to do for the Kingdom. That means we will all go through times of pruning and purging, as well as times when He will place us in a winter season, what appears to be a state of dormancy, in order to mature and nourish our roots deeper in Him. There isn't as much outward growth happening because it is an appointed time for inner growth. This is also a time when we can learn how to truly rest in Him. A place where we come to learn for ourselves more of who He is.

 

It's necessary.

 

He is a really good God. He is. And He loves us so much and has a deep longing for us to really know Him. He also likes to bless us. However, we aren't always ready to handle the greatness of what He desires to bless and entrust us with. So He will place us in His designated growth process. And it usually hurts. Just like we experience growing pains during the physical or natural process of growing up, so do we experience growing pains in the process of our spiritual growth.

 

But here's the good news; it draws us closer to Jesus. It roots us deeper in His love, truth, hope, and grace.

 

This will produce beautiful, abiding fruit in our lives - that sweet eye candy. The harvest we reap for Him will also be greater because of it. And our faith will expand and grow stronger as well. We will have more productive and abundant spiritual seasons as a result. But never forget that eye candy is only a reflection of what's been really going on down in our root systems; deep down where the Holy Spirit has been at work in us, in our hearts. That's where the producing of greater things starts taking its form. That's the part we can't always see or fully understand during those long winter seasons. But He does. And this is where our trust in Him is required. He's safe.

 

I believe when we live and move and have our being in God; nothing is wasted. Absolutely nothing. Not even the winters of our lives.

 

Let your roots grow down into him [Christ], and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with gratitude.Colossians 2:6-7

 

There is a season for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven.Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:16-19

 

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-8.

 

Michelle Holderman

www.theragamuffinsaint.com

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See Israel's Largest Menorah! ✡ "He Has Done Gloriously"

Sing unto the Lord; for He has done gloriously; this is made known in all the earth. ISAIAH (12:5)   זַמְּרוּ יְ-הוָה, כִּי גֵאוּת עָשָׂה מידעת (מוּדַעַת) זֹאת בְּכָל אָרֶץ יְשַׁעְיָהוּ יב:ה za-m'-ru a-do-nai kee gay-ut a-sa mu-da-at zot b'-khol ha-a-retz

Today's Israel Inspiration An ancient Jewish tradition states that after the miraculous deliverance of Judah from the Assyrian invasion, God desired to crown the righteous King Hezekiah as the Messiah. Only one thing was required – that Hezekiah would sing a song of praise before Him. Instead, Hezekiah arose that morning, and continued with his regular daily routine, the study of the Torah, until Isaiah instructed him to sing. Unfortunately, once the singing was a response to a command, and not spontaneous, the opportunity was lost. In this verse, Isaiah teaches the importance of appreciating everything that occurs for us, and being able to sing praise for it before God. Just as we are encouraged to appreciate our blessings, Karmey Chesed ("Vineyards of Kindness") remembers those in need throughout Israel, supplying food and warm clothing all winter.   Bring a blessing to the poor of Israel this holiday season » It Begins With A Spark "It begins with a spark, a desire to make the world a better place," as volunteers repair used furniture and appliances otherwise destined for landfills, to brighten the homes of Jerusalem's elderly and disabled residents.   Watch here » Giving Back this Holiday Season “I also went through some hard times, and I know what it is like, most of us do. I always found myself helping those in need, and I thought we need to find a way to help all those in need across the country,” stated the founder of one very special organization in Israel.   Read more » Free Hanukkah eBook! Learn the true meaning of the Festival of Lights in our fascinating eBook.   Download our inspiring FREE Hanukka eBook » Get Your Very Own Menorah - 50% Off! Bring the light of Hanukkah into your home with this elegant nickel Menorah. With its rounded, smooth branches, it makes a gorgeous and meaningful gift from the Holy Land. Expedited Shipping to the U.S. Get 50% off with coupon code: HalfHanukkah » Israel Photo Trivia Noam Chen's photo of Israel's largest menorah. Guess where! Send me an email or post your guess on Facebook.   Guess on Facebook » Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of the Land of Israel!   Sponsor a day » “I Love Being Reminded Daily of the Wonders” It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!   Stay in Touch » I am enjoying Israel365 in Post Falls, Idaho. After visiting Israel in 2013, I love being reminded daily of the wonders of your beautiful country - Joli Thanks, my friend. I receive your emails, and I'm so happy. Thanks and God bless you, Samson S. Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Unbroken: POW Set to Capture Hearts on Big Screen

Louis Zamperini with Billy Graham

Unbroken: POW Set to Capture Hearts on Big Screen

By Efrem Graham

News Anchor & Reporter

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

NEW YORK CITY -- Louis Zamperini'sincredible story of courage has captured hearts and minds around the world. The Olympian and former prisoner of war shared his faith on The 700 Club and in his biography, Unbroken which became a bestseller.

Zamperini's remarkable life story is now hitting the big screen in time Christmas, and just five months after the 97-year-old WWII veteran died of pneumonia.

Hollywood heavyweight Angelina Jolie directed the epic drama.

"What we tried to do was the themes of Louis's story; we would put into this dramatic period of his life, but make sure all of the themes were present," Jolie told CBN News.

Survival, resilience, and redemption are themes Jolie aimed to capture in the film that takes viewers on a journey from Zamperini's troubled childhood to his Olympic journey to his time as a soldier.

During his time in the military, Zamperini's plane crashed and left him stranded him for 47 days on a raft in the Pacific. Following that time, he became a prisoner of war when the Japanese Navy captured him.

He then faced years of unspeakable torture.

British actor Jack O'Connell plays the role of Zamperini in the film. O'Connell spoke with CBN News about how he prepared for the role.

"I just had to know him. I felt like I had to at least connect with him once. And the rest was the result of Laura Hillenbrand's very informative book," O'Connell said.

"And so I wasn't short of resources," he continued. "And Angelina knew him. So, she was able to constantly refer back to the man himself. And we could make decisions based on whether that was Louis or wasn't Louis basically."

Hints of Faith

"Unbroken" is an adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling book of the same name.

But Jolie ends her cinema story with Zamperini's return home at the end of the war. That was a year before the war hero became an alcoholic and before he met a then-popular young evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham.

Still, Jolie hints at Zamperini's faith in the film.

"That is what we tried to get into the film. We wanted people to understand that it is not that you suddenly realize there is something beyond you in the world," Jolie told CBN News.

"That man is not alone is something we wanted to say from early on in the raft to the prison camp, that there is this, whatever your faith, there is something there," she added. "And whether you choose to see it is your choice and when you come to it and when you feel it, it is there for you."

"And so, it was very important to us that sometimes in the mother praying, sometimes in the sunrise, there is always what we would refer to as the light in the film," she said.

Unbroken Spirit

There is also darkness in the film.

Jolie tapped Japanese singer and guitarist Takamasa Ishihara, whose stage name is Miyavi, to play Mutsushiro Watanabe. Watanabe was also known as "Birdman" and he made it his mission to break Zamperini's spirit.

Miyavi had to learn English for this intense role, which was also his acting debut.

"Actually I was so nervous and hesitant to tackle this role," Miyavi told CBN News. "But I met Angelina in Tokyo and she said she wanted to make a creation that could be a bridge between America and Japan, countries that have had similar issues in conflict."

"So, even as Japanese I was scared, but I thought it was really meaningful," he explained. "It is not about the war. It's not about the conflict between America and Japan. It's about forgiveness and an unbroken spirit."

Jolie: 'He Inspired Me'

Zamperini met the cast before Jolie wrapped production of the film in in February. He also saw the film before he died.

Angelina showed it to him on her computer. It's a film and a relationship that deeply touched the Academy Award-winning actress.

"It made me, it made me a better person," Jolie told CBN News. "It reminded me, re-inspired me in my faith in the human spirit and the power of brotherhood and love and family and faith that we often, many people don't lean on enough in life, and we often lose and forget that it is there."

"And in Louis' story, I think and we hope that when people leave the theater, they hold themselves a little higher," she said. "And they face their next challenge with a little more strength."

Watch CBN interview: Unbroken

Faith-Friendly Film Review—UNBROKEN

As Hollywood’s self-proclaimed 2014 “Year of the Bible Movie” draws to a close, we’re pleased to share with you our Faith-Friendly Film Review of the Universal Pictures release, UNBROKEN, opening in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day – December 25th.Faith Driven Consumer™ has given UNBROKEN a faith-friendly rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Click here to read the full review for UNBROKEN.

UNBROKEN (4 stars)

Overall Rating



Leans strongly toward a biblical worldview

As you know, we’ve developed a set of five specific criteria to measure the compatibility of entertainment products for Faith Driven Consumers like you and me.

By weighing in on faith-themed entertainment like UNBROKEN with constructive feedback, Faith Driven Consumers encourage Hollywood to continue producing more products that resonate with the 41 million Americans who are Faith Driven Consumers and spend $2 trillion annually.

Share this review with your family and friends. We hope you will use it to make an informed stewardship decision about supporting UNBROKEN during its theatrical release.

Thanks for helping to create a more faith-compatible marketplace of goods, services and ideas.

Sincerely,

Chris Stone
Founder

http://www.faithdrivenconsumer.com/


Faith Driven Consumer · 3906 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609, United States

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