"Pressing On – Encouragement for the Long Haul” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

"Pressing On – Encouragement for the Long Haul”

“My times are in Your hands…” (Psalm 31:15 NAS)

Dear family of friends,

As I sat in my prayer chair that Saturday morn, having already read the Lord’s Word which I keep beside me on the lamp stand, and now accompanied with a fresh cup of java my good wife had brought me, I pondered on what the new year would bring. Weariness had taken a bit of a toll on my body, my mind and even my spirit. I looked forward to the road ahead, but as many of us do, we wonder what is on that road. Is it good? Will we make it? Will our faith be strong enough? And so I asked Him for more strength and hope.

In a brief message I had written to one of my five sisters that week, who was anxious about an upcoming job situation, I encouraged her to daily pray His words, one of many given to us in His Book of Promises. He simply says for us to believe, “My times are in Your hands.” 

I found myself praying that same prayer again – for her, others on my prayer list, and for myself. As Derek Prince once said about receiving Scripture, it is like taking daily medicine. Here is an excerpt from a devotional he wrote.

Daily Devotional by Derek Prince.

God’s Medicine Bottle

Proverbs 4:20–22
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” KJV

For many years I have known those three verses from the fourth chapter of Proverbs as “God’s medicine bottle.” God declares that if we will rightly receive His words and His sayings, they will be life to us and health to all our flesh. The marginal translation for the word that is translated “health” is “medicine.” That’s why I say it’s “God’s medicine bottle.”

And God says His medicine will provide us with health in all our flesh. In every area of our physical body it will provide health, but remember, the directions are on the bottle. The medicine only works if you take it according to the directions. There are four directions.

First, attend to God’s word.
Second, incline or bow down your ear and listen to His sayings.
Third, let them not depart from your eyes, keep them before your eyes continually.
And fourth, let them settle and abide in the midst of your heart.

If you take the Word of God according to those fourfold directions, you will find, as I did many years ago, that God’s medicine bottle produces just the results that He claims. It brings life and health to all our flesh. I found that after a year on end in a hospital when doctors couldn’t heal me, God’s medicine did the job.

Whitaker House Publishers, 1996

Personally I can’t comprehend how people who do not know the Lord God of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus), make it through their day to day life. It astounds me how many keep trusting in their own abilities or someone else’s, which will ultimately fail, when they too could be having ongoing faith in their Creator, and Knower of the road ahead for them. I am so thankful we can know His will, walk in His ways, and gain daily encouragement through His Holy Spirit.

For the long haul, for the marathon we run, we must keep pressing on in our faith and hope in Him. Our Good Lord will see us through. He will provide daily strength for the journey, to the end of time. His reward will be great.

Keep your eyes fixed on Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Keep pressing on to the mark He has set before us. His promises are sure. We can count on Him. Thank you Lord.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

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 the 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. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

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

I hope you read my first 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: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

           Ahava Love Letters

           

  Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Steve Martin/Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #96   “Pressing On”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (12.28.13 Saturday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

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

"Joy. You Can Grow It." - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

“Joy. You Can Grow It.”

“The people were filled with joy, because they had given willingly — wholeheartedly they had given willingly to Adonai; and David the king too was completely filled with joy, as he blessed Adonai before the entire community: “Blessed be You, Adonai, the God of Isra’el our father, forever and ever. Yours, Adonai, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is Yours.

The kingdom is Yours, Adonai; and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, You rule everything, in Your hand is power and strength, You have the capacity to make great and to give strength to all.  Therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.”

Complete Jewish Bible Chronicles 29:9-13 )

Dear family of friends,

Over a period of three years, in a time not so far past, after coming through a time of seemingly lack and uncertainty, I found something that I never thought I would find during those days. It was joy.

It wasn’t a “happy” time, as most would consider, being without a fulltime job and with the inability in my own ability to provide as I thought I was most expected to. But looking back now, it was His time for me to be with Him. I had a lot of time to do just that, not having the 40-hour a week job to contend with. So I made the most of this time - to press into Him.

Making, by choosing to use the time to seek God the Father daily, by pressing in for more of His direction and purpose, caused me to increasingly know Him and His Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew). I was expecting just comfort and an increase in faith. I discovered He gave me joy.

Looking at things with a different perspective allows you to see things with a different perspective. Sounds strange to say that, but it is true. When my heart was given more of the fruit of joy, by being in His presence, my attitude towards those who also walked in earthly lack, changed. My heart for those who know not the Lord, lost in their own methods of filling the void within, changed. My concern for those who chased after that which will never fill their heart’s desire; well, it changed.

Having a joy in our heart is not produced from happy moments, or from not having difficult times. But rather it is having our loving Father draw us closer to Him, as we spend time with Him, and allow His heart to expand within ours. Joy then comes. It is grown as fruit.

“You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.

You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.” Luke 6:21, THE MESSAGE)

I heard a recent message in church that the time will come when people knowing us may think we are weirder than normal, due to the joy that will bubble up from our spirit. They may even think we are “retarded”, lacking understanding for why we have any reason to be filled with joy in the midst of it all. I now understand that. He has given me His joy.

Joy will be our strength in the hard times to come. Being with Him now, as we take the time each day to spend with Him in prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His face, will further grow the fruit of joy within. I have found this to be true. I hope you do too.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USAorganization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

Please consider sending a charitable giftof $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless the known families inIsrael, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receivea receipt for each donation.

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

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

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thankyou very much.)

Be sure to get my two books The Promise(CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Bothavailable 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 tothe 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 withyour friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous,LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

           Ahava Love Letters

           

Full website: LoveFor His People

YouTube: Steve Martin/Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #95   “Joy”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013(12.15.13 Sunday  at 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC).

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

Grow some fruit today!

“No More Namby Pamby Christians” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

“No More Namby Pamby Christians”

“Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.”    (Rev. 3:2-3 The Message)

Dear family of friends,

Some call it “fire in the bones”. Some say “I’m steamed up” or that "burns me up."  Others use words I was raised not to even think about saying. But however you express the attitude of “I am just tired of it”, that will move you to move, that will be better than to waste your God-given life away as the world dies away.

On the way to work this morning, having again donned my “Jeff Gordon NASCAR helmet”, for the trip north on I77 in Charlotte, NC even at 6 am, I was flashed twice with the bright lights from behind, for no apparent reason. But then I knew it must be because of the Israel flag sticker on my left rear window, or the “I Love My Wife” one on the opposite side. Facts that I stand for. Loves that I will die for.

My car's rear window.

You know, I have had enough of those who keeping telling me, and our country, and the world, that historic truths are lies; that standing for righteousness is pushing my beliefs on others; that sharing a word of hope and love on the job isn’t permitted, because it might offend someone else. Really? Well then so be it.

Christians around the world are being hammered, murdered, tortured for their beliefs, and many of us in the USA are just content to sit in the Sunday pew, hear a nice song, and then join the rest of them as if we ourselves have never “seen the light”, or have been saved from the lukewarmness that has engulfed so many of us these past twenty years. We have been fogged over.

Becoming so content to just lay around waiting for the rapture, when the King of kings and Lord of lords, who saved us from that dead beat life we had, has already given us the command to “Get up and get out there” to the dying world. (Just as a side note: General George S. Patton knew how to get the job done in World War II. I know the Lord used him and pray He gives us leaders again who are willing and able to do the right thing as required.)

How we have chosen to just pass the days, night after night, watching TV shows that leave you with no meaning and no purpose, while at the same time just letting the ungodly thoughts come into our homes and numb our minds without us thinking twice about it. How we have become namby pamby*, afraid to speak a word, declare His truth, or spread the gospel to those who need to hear it before eternity hits them tomorrow.

“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

“The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” (Revelation 3:15-22)

As for me and my house, I for one am going to talk louder, share more often, help those who want help, and do that which I have been called to do. Feeding my self-love is not the answer I want. I hope you are so moved to do what you have been saved from, and called to do. If you don’t, we all will suffer from your inaction.

The world doesn’t need any more namby pamby Christians. They need God-fearing, not man-fearing, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to do what He has already commanded us to do. Get up and get going.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People

NOTE: This was published on Dec. 10, 2013, before the Duck Dynasty/A&E issue over Phil Robertson's stand on Biblical beliefs. It is good to see believers and families speaking up in support of our right to share the truth.

Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty on A&E TV

*Namby Pamby is a term for affected, weak, and maudlin speech/verse. However, its origins are in Namby Pamby (1725), by Henry Carey. Another: lacking in character or substance

Related Words
unexciting, uninspiring, unrewarding; bland, boring, drab,dreary, dry, dull, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, lifeless,monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, tedious, tiresome,tiring, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying;inane; innocuous, inoffensive; mild, soft, subdued, tame,weak; common, commonplace, ordinary, stale,unexceptional

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

“Miracles Occur” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

“Miracles Occur”

“Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.” (Acts 3:6-8, The Message)

Dear family of friends,

Checking Facebook to get an update on a friend’s situation, I saw her last post describing the current status. Cancer had been attacking her body. She and her husband had no insurance. Both were out of a job. They were in the process of having to sell their house. The doctor and the insurance company said it was going to cost thousands to do what they could. They didn’t have the money.

My heart was filled with sorrow and compassion, while at the same time not knowing what we ourselves could do to help them.

Facing situations that are overwhelming come along in our lives. Sometimes they are devastating. They just happen, for we live in a mortal body, in a temporal state. It is almost like death would be better than to go through what we think will happen, if nothing better will seem to happen. Or we hear only what the “professionals” are telling us will result.

In times like these, the one thing I know to do is pray. Pray for a word from the Lord. Pray for courage for them to walk through it. Pray for something to happen that will let them know, “It will be all right.”

Pray in tongues, for the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, the Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew), does know.

And so I did. I cried out to the Lord from my heart, asking Him to intervene in their situation. “Please do something, Lord,” was the prayer in my mind, as I continued praying in tongues.

Then He spoke quietly, relating His response to the season we were in, “Hanukkah was a miracle. Christmas was a miracle. I AM their miracle.”

Yes you are Lord! You are the miracle, our answer for everything we face! For them now!

When we face the brick wall, the edge of the cliff, the point where, “Lord, if YOU don’t do something, I am not going to make it!” - our hope, faith and assurance must rest in Him, for He is the Giver of Life, and knows what we need, when we need it.

“…and a large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miracles He had performed on the sick.” John 6:2 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Jesus (Yeshua) performs miracles. He did then. He does now. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Believe Him in your need.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People

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 the 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.

"Pass the Test" - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

“Pass the Test” 

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3, NASU

Dear family of friends,

Sometimes one wonders (me too) how long situations are going to last before a resolution comes. It seems like we each have a few going on at one time or another.

During those times of waiting for the finale’, which may take a day, week, month or even years, the Lord does a work in our hearts. He's looking for something. He's checking us out to see how much resolve we have; how long will we endure; will love or bitterness win out? Will persistence through the grim and grind prove we are willing to be a worthy fulfillment of His plans and purposes in our lives, and those around us? Every good parent does this with his/her child. It makes them strong. It causes them to grow up into the mature men and women we need.

Employment situations, family relationships, church congregations, government policies, the world in general for that matter - each offer opportunities to test our hearts, to show us what we are made of in the very depths of them.

Your heart has ached at times, just like others who want to please the Lord, while pushing forward through the head winds that come at you and I more often than we’d like. But we keep pushing on. We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Yeshua), Who has the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) walking with us on this planet.

At the end of the journey we have the promise, we have His trustworthy commitment that we will hear God the Father say, both to you and I, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I have passed a few tests. I have failed a lot. So I keep taking them, because ultimately I want to be one of those "standing" when He gives out the rewards. My eyes are fixed on Him, and He will provide the grace to endure what He has directed for us during our journeys.

Our faith, our grounded and yet heavenly trust in Him, will be the fuel burning in our spirits on this unpaved, often uncharted road we travel.

Pass the test. Complete the grade you are currently in. Move on to the bigger challenges that come with the bigger rewards.

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.)

I hope you 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

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

            Ahava Love Letters

           

  

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Steve Martin/Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #92   “Pass the Test”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (12/1/13 Sunday at 7:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

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