New Shoes - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

New Shoes

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“And no one puts new wine in old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is for freshly prepared wineskins.” Mark 2:22 CJB

I put on my new pair of work dress shoes recently. At first they felt over tight, uncomfortable, and squeezed my big toe into the corner spot so much that it couldn’t wiggle if it wanted to. They just didn’t fit right, as I thought they would once home, after that brief moment I tried them on at the store, just before I picked out an extra pair of gray socks, and the loaf of whole wheat bread my wife asked for as I went out the door.

But then that was last month. Today, after wearing them and having “broken them in”, they are just like my favorite old pair that I had to throw out, due to wear and tear after seven years.

If you think about it for a moment, it is like a new job, a new home setup, a new car (even if the new one is just a little younger than the previous one), or anything we now have that is different than what we had become used to. Until we gave it some time to work out the kinks and the normal, uncomfortable newness, which we had really appreciated with the old that we had, it didn’t feel right, or as good as the previous one. But having given it some time to grow on us, it surely does now. It has become even better than what we had before.

When the Holy Spirit brings revival again, knowing He certainly has promised to do so, as written in His Word for these last days, it will not be what we are used to. In fact, He may even get rejected by the old guard as He did when He came in previous visitations, as the experiences are not what we have now become accustomed to, since the last time of touching this planet in a major way.

“You are not from these parts, are you?” could be the response of some who look on from a distance, upon that which will be going on. Ruach HaKodesh, and those He has put new wine into, could easily be dismissed as just having another emotional experience or fanatic outburst, as the new movement overshadows the previous ones from the Pentecostal decades, the healing years, or the last, great Charismatic Movement I was involved with in the ‘70’s and onward.

This coming revival, effecting the nations with the powerful Good News of salvation, healing and the love of the Father God, will so impact people, that the new wine will cause the old to be done away with, replaced with a fresh fullness that we didn’t think could, or would, happen again. Because we had not seen it before, it will transform our lives in such a way that we will boldly face the enemy, confidently proclaim the Gospel, and tear down the walls that have surrounded the cozy churches, keeping us from effecting the world as we have been called to do.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 NASU

We will be getting out of the pew and into the pasture, going where the lost sheep are throughout the world. Some are even right next to us in the office desk, or the one occupying the white house down the street.

Those blinded by the spiritual forces of Islam, Hinduism, secular humanism, “sexual freedom” and other lies of the enemy will be set free, as the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, moves in to break the bondages and strongholds that have ravaged the nations we have been called to be in and shine throughout.

As the old pair of shoes has worn out, it is time to get on a new pair. They will feel uncomfortable at first, but once our feet adjust to them, by His grace working within us, they will take us to places we had only dreamed of going before.

I am looking forward to this next revival outpouring movement of the Lord and His Holy Spirit, to bring it on and get us going.

Thank you Lord for new shoes!

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
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.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
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Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This
Full website: Love For His People
YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #159 “New Shoes” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (06.27.14) Friday at 5:10 am in Charlotte, NC.

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

Expressions & Diversity - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Expressions & Diversity

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others. But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us.” Romans 12:4-6 CJB


Walking down any city street, especially in a major urban area, you see all kinds of people. In Charlotte, North Carolina’s uptown, or Center City as some would call it, you can also observe many nationalities – those from India, Africa, Southeast Asia, China, South America, and of course different sections of America. (I know this due to the Anglo-Saxon ancestral accents I hear!) Personally, I love them all.

In the business office I work at in uptown Charlotte, as the Accountant since 2012, we regularly have interns who come for the summer months. Some of them are still in college, while others have just completed their upper level education and are ready to hit the marketplace. They just haven’t gotten hired quite yet, so this will look good on their resume.

Often we have a wide diversity of these young “millennials”, those in the 20’s age group. They have come to serve with us from different Carolina colleges, having diverse cultural and societal backgrounds. This particular summer we have some whose grandparents were from China, India and Scotland. Each one brings a specific skill, knowledge base, and educational training, which are used to enhance the labor force the company already has. Having them around certainly drops the average age of the staff, at least for these few months.

It amazes me how diverse the Lord has created mankind. From every tribe, nation and group He has delighted Himself with such a rainbow of colors, languages and gifts. One country’s people may be advanced in mathematics, while another is known for their agricultural products. Some nations specialize in manufacturing, and some in high adventure, using their natural resources for the excitement and enjoyment of their visitors.

Can you imagine if we were all Anglo-Saxon Americans, or all Chinese, or possibly everyone was an African? In my perspective I would find that quite boring. I think that is why the Lord God of Israel created so many features, colors, talents and skills that each one possesses. Though twins are very close to being exactly alike, the wide variety of men, women and children are not, and it is awesome. What a creative God there is!

It has been a true blessing to have had friends from different backgrounds and genealogies. In travelling to foreign countries, and meeting new friends, I am very appreciate of the various cultures each has developed, with their amazing foods, clothing styles, and personalities. It is simply the work of the great God we know and serve.

As people express the various skills, talents and gifts they have, I encourage you to appreciate and respect that which each one offers to the world, for each is made in the image of our God, and has a specific purpose in God’s eternal plan. Accepting the wide variety of expressions, with multifunction and diversities, will bring more joy and thanksgiving in our lives for who they are, and what we can share together.

Give thanks to the Lord for His extravagant creation!

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
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.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople

Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This
Full website: Love For His People
YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #157 “Expressions & Diversity” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (06.21.14) Saturday at 1:45 pm in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog.

Happy To Be God’s Treasure - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Happy To Be God’s Treasure

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2 NKJV

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Complete Jewish Bible


A chosen people, called by God, to do His work – the One New Man, Jew and Gentile, saved and appointed together to be His feet and hands on this planet. That is who we are.

I like how Peter says it, being ones chosen by God as “God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others…from (being) rejected to accepted.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 in The Message version reads, “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you - from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”

We are God’s treasure, chosen by Him.

But I don’t recall thinking of myself as His treasure.

I am very familiar with the verses that speak of Him being the treasure, the One that we are to go out and seek in the field, and the verses that tell of the Jews being His special treasure above all the peoples on earth, which now also includes those of us grafted in with them into the olive tree.

But to think of ourselves also as God’s treasure? Wow, that is really special!

Knowing the high value placed on treasure of any kind - be it gold, silver, jewels, or more importantly a dear friend, one who is very close to us – for us to be known as a treasure to the Lord gives us value beyond all of these in comparison to His love He has for us.

When you have treasure, you protect it, secure it, guard it from being harmed, lost or stolen. You keep it in a safe place. But you at times also let it be displayed, for all to see the glory and the beauty that it is. Be it as a piece of art in a gallery, or an ancient artifact that has been found, making it very rare and precious, you even display it for many to see. That is how the Lord views each of us.

Along with being His treasure, we have the honor of manifesting the life of Yeshua (Jesus) in our lives too, so that those we walk among may see Him shining through us. Though “We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed” as Paul states in 2 Corinthians. We have Him, this treasure in us, to be evidence of His power working through us. That will not only give hope to us in our daily walk, but to those we come in contact with - our families, those we work with on our jobs and the ones we gather with on occasions.

I am happy to be God’s treasure. Knowing of the value He has placed on us and in us, showing forth His love for me and you, strengthens our hearts and emotions, in order to let others know of their value they also have because of Him, their Creator. They too can receive His salvation through Jesus, and be a chosen vessel for His good pleasure.

May you know deep in your heart that you are His treasure, highly esteemed and valued, loved and admired, known by Him, and thus enabled and empowered to let others know of Him.

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.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

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

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople

Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This
Full website: Love For His People
YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #156 “Happy To Be God’s Treasure” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (6.18.14) Wednesday at 5:15 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog.

I Can Relate - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

I Can Relate

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“I don’t understand my own behavior — I don’t do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate!” Romans 7:15 Complete Jewish Bible

I certainly can relate to Paul at times. When I think I have mastered something in my spiritual walk, then, boom, I react the same way as before. And here I had thought I had checked that one off the “Got It Mastered” list.

Someone at work gets a big pat on the back during the company staff meeting. My response at times? “Well, what about that great job I did last week?” Instead of being congratulatory for them, I am asking myself, “Why didn’t I get acknowledged?”

Or the emotion that arises when driving down the highway and a young kid races by, obviously going beyond the suggested speed limit. My response has been, “I hope he gets caught. I want to get to my destination just as fast. But no one is catching him now are they?"

At other moments I find myself having high expectations, believing that a person is thinking the same way I am, and then finding out later that that wasn’t even on their mind at all. And then the big disappointment sets in, as I fall to the ground with the thought, “Another hope dashed.” At least it doesn’t take me days to get over it like it used to. Now it is down to a few hours. (At least most of the time.)

Paul got it right when he said, using the same verse as above, but as translated in the New American Standard Version, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

Weariness sets in when you think you have overcome a sinful act, and yet when the opportunity arises to show that what you had desired to be the true colors by now - well, it just isn’t quite yet, but the same old same old had just come back. Why is this so?

We need to continue to practice repentance; to keep looking to the Lord to help us overcome those things that just seem to hang on and not go away. Attitudes, behaviors, wrong directions we tend to take, in our natural and spiritual walks, that we thought we had dealt with already, are going to take more practice. Our dependence on the Lord should never go away, where we think we have accomplished “it” and can walk on our own. Sure, we are to be mature. It will certainly come as our acknowledgement of Him is kept forefront in our minds, wills and emotions.

David is another person given in Scripture as an example for us to imitate. I can certainly relate to David, as He called upon the Name of the Lord. As a shepherd, and then as king of Israel, his dependence on the Lord is evident in his words I believe he continually prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 NAS) He knew that only in His Lord would he be able to maintain a proper attitude towards people and situations that came his way.

Paul encourages us with his inspired words, giving us further hope that what we experience isn’t just us going through it, but that our fellow ones also struggle with this. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NAS)

Bob Mumford, a popular Bible teacher whom I enjoyed hearing and reading his books in the 1970’s and 1980’s, liked to share experiences about how we get caught up “going around the mountain” – getting in that mode where we just can’t seem to conquer, or finish the test, but have to keep repeating it over and over again. But someday we do! Someday we will have gotten that last mountain test passed, and be promoted to the next grade, with bigger challenges.

My hope is that as I continually give myself to desiring the Lord’s cross in my life, allowing it to work the eternal effect it is to have in my heart and spirit, that the things I hate to do, will in time no longer have its hold on me.

I know you desire that too. Aren’t you glad we are not alone, that along with the Holy Spirit we will be overcomers. That is my hope. I know that He Who is Faithful and True also desires that for us too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
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.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople
Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This
Full website: Love For His People
YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #155 “I Can Relate” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (6.12.14) Thursday at 8:15 am in Charlotte, NC.

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

What Is Your Itch? Now Think On This by Steve Martin

What Is Your Itch?
Now Think On This
by Steve Martin

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thess. 3:13 NKJV

 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal. 6:9 NKJV


Day in and day out. Sometimes the mundane gets to be too mundane, and we wonder how we are going to keep on keeping on. Doing that which we know to do can get wearisome, but we do know we have to keep doing it.

Faithfulness coming from within, empowered by His Holy Spirit, enables us to keep going, even when we don’t have the strength – mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally. We can be thankful the Holy Spirit, empowering us from within, is there as our Helper. He was sent by the Father to be with us in our walk up the mountain of life.

Have you ever wondered why you get an itch? A continual irritation that doesn’t seem to go away, and it causes you to give attention to it when you’d rather not have that issue to deal with?

One simple example comes to mind, and I share this illustration because many of you also have a pet. Our mini Dachshund Zoe, going on eight years old now, either has a skin rash, an allergy, or whatever that irritation is that has continually caused her to itch all the time. Day, night – it doesn’t matter. Not only is it annoying and bothering her, but it has become that to us also.

I watch my good wife Laurie do all she can to stop the irritation that keeps causing Zoe to keep having to scratch the itch – a daily bath with medicated shampoo, prescription pills, rubbing lotion on the red area – yet nothing seems to stop it. It has been a daily, wearisome task for a long time now. But Laurie has been faithfully doing all she knows to do to. She has been very diligent in heeding advice, researching causes and remedies. By God’s grace she will eventually prevail. Her faithfulness in this regard will be rewarded with an “itch-free” dog! Yeah!

Zoe - don't you just love that face??!!

Both you and I have things in our lives that itch. They cause irritation needing our attention. We’d rather be spending energy and focus on other things having more pleasurable moments, but these “itches” are not going to go away if we don’t pay attention to them.

So what is the point in all this?

I like how Paul gives us a clear perspective on how to approach these matters that we face and must deal with, whether we like it or not.

“These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.” 2 Cor. 4:17-18 (THE MESSAGE)

Here is another version of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, from the New American Standard Bible, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Living 40, 50, 60 years is a very small time compared to the length of eternity, for time there has no end. We can’t fathom that, but at least we can comprehend that this time, on this planet, with its many trials, temptations and “itches”, is nothing compared to that time with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Keeping this firmly implanted in our brains and hearts will help us overcome that which will come our way. These light afflictions, or hard times, will come to an end. With the help of Ruach Hakodesh, the Holy Spirit given to us since Pentecost, He will see us through.

Be blessed with the itches, knowing that they are only temporary. You are made to be an overcomer, and so you shall. Be blessed in keeping faithful to the end.

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.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

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

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople

Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This
Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #154 “What Is Your Itch?” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (06.08.14) Sunday at 8 am in Charlotte, NC.

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