A Picture Does Say… Now Think On This by Steve Martin

A Picture Does Say…

by Steve Martin

“The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” (Proverbs 2-:5 ESV)

They say a picture tells a thousand words. Well, “they” is right.

I posted this photo of one corner of my home office on Facebook in February, 2014. Except for major family events, such as births and weddings, which we have had a few lately, it has gotten more “likes” and “shares” than any other photo I have placed on my FB wall.

The home office

I can understand why. People are looking for something good to believe in, to stand on, to support, in their knowing that what they believe is what they should believe, no matter what the surrounding culture says otherwise. Or is trying to push down their throat and into their minds.

People still believe in supporting Israel, the family, and the good things that God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has given to us to enjoy. Thus this photo touched the hearts of people, and they responded.

You and others may wonder, “What, where or why on earth did you get, and have, all that stuff?” Well, let me tell you, so that the thousand words in the photo become a little more understood.

If you take a little time (a good song title Amy Grant has used) to look at it as best you can in print, here are some of the thousand words you might read.

1.      The Jerusalem flag draped over one of my office chairs - it has the Lion of the Tribe of Judah symbol on it. It is the capital city of Israel, the Lord God of Israel’s eternal city, Yerushalayim in Hebrew. We believe in THE Lion of Judah – Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) – the Messiah of both Jew and Gentile believers.

2.      The Israeli national flag – the Star of David on a tallit (prayer shawl) – hanging in the window over the other curtains (so as not to have the sun fade it). We stand on the Scripture, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

3.      Many clocks are sitting on a shelf in the corner, while two are hung on the wall above. I have collected them over time. (pun intended!) The largest clock has the All Nations Church logo on it, which I had made while I was the Administrator there with Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda (1987-2000). 

      We are to make wise use of our time, for each one will give an account of how we spent the time we have been given here on this planet. How are you spending your time? Are you storing up treasures in heaven with it?

4.      The clock next to the All Nations Church one has the face of David Ben Gurion, who declared Israel’s independence as the Jewish nation in 1948 (though this Promised Land had been given by God to the Jews since the time of Abraham. Roughly 5000 years ago. Give or take an eternity.

5.      Abraham Lincoln’s portrait is on the wall in front of myLove For His People, Inc. office desk. Our American 16^thPresident stood for the freedom of all people, and fought to see it happen. He also wanted to go to Israel before his death, but never made it.

6.      On the wooden oak, two drawer lateral file cabinet under the Israel flag is a NASCAR #24 Jeff Gordon lamp (south wall). On it sits a black hat I got at Masada in the Judean desert in Israel in 2010. The lettering on the cap says, “Masada”. Both Jeff and the Jews are winners.

7.      There are two shofars just behind the lamp. Intertwined on purpose. They represent the One New Man – Jew and Gentile coming together as the Bride of Yeshua, the Bride of Christ. Je is coming back the second time to receive His bride the Father has been preparing for Him. Soon and very soon.

8.      There is a laptop on the desk to the right. I actually have three laptops – one for the ministry work of Love For His People, one for my sole proprietorship small business called Martin Lighthouse Services, and the other for our personal home items. And all are loaded with photos, of course!

9.      On the right wall (which faces west in our home) are several 8” x 10” framed photos of our family over the years. Ones with our children (Josh, Ben, Hannah and Christen), our families on both sides, and special events of all.  The very top photo was taken over 36 years ago (at the time of this writing) on Oct.7, 1997, when Laurie and I became man and wife. Forever while here on earth.

10.  Below the family photos and above Abe’s head is a very large painting of a lighthouse out in the storm at night. Shining in the dark. I have always appreciated the continuing work of lighthouses, as they symbolize what we are to be in the nations. This particular painting is entitled “The Watchman”. That is what we are to be also. 

      You may also see that it has 4” x 6” pictures stuck in the frame on all four sides. I ran out of room on the office walls, and being I like to utilize every inch of space that I can, where I can, they ended up here. Just a few historical reminders of life moments.

11.  Also on the wooden file cabinet, where the NASCAR lamp resides, are Jewish books from Hebron, Judea, Israel where the Tomb of the Patriarchs is. There is a great little gift shop there where I have bought several leather bound Hebrew books – the Tanakh (Bible) and others. Along with the English Bible, they sit on this lateral file cabinet.

12. Two chairs. Two desks. Two lamps. Whatever it takes, right??!!

      In case you want to see more “thousands of words” in photos, I have added the other three corners and walls of the room. You can see those below.

Thanks for looking!

Now, what’s on your wall? (And more importantly, in your heart?)

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 letters minister to you, 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. 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 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: Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #126   “A Picture Does Say…”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.28.14) Friday at 3:33 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: Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters

      

AMEN!

In the 7th Year by Steve Martin

In the 7^th Year

by Steve Martin

 “This charge, son Timothy, I put to you, in keeping with the prophecies already made about you, so that by these prophecies you may fight the good fight, armed with trust and a good conscience.” 1 Tim, 1:18-19 Complete Jewish Bible)

I am a firm believer in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Since my own Baptism in the Holy Spirit in my senior year of high school (Roman Catholic - Columbus High School in Waterloo, IA in 1973), I have received, and practiced, several gifts given by the Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew). First I had received the gift of speaking in tongues, then words of knowledge, along with the gift of prophecy and the interpretation of prophecy. Sharing and growing in the practice of these spiritual gifts, with several others over these years since then, has been a joy.

Seeing the gifts in operation has been both a faith builder personally and a testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus). Healings, deliverance from evil spirits, words of wisdom and knowledge, and the gifts of administration have been practiced by many leaders I have served with in my Christian walk. I do not doubt that these are as real and needed in our time as they were in the first century by the first believers in Yeshua.

On Saturday, Feb. 9, 2007, a few of us had gathered in a friend’s house in Charlotte, NC. Robbie Phillips, from the Columbia, SC area, had driven the hour and a half north to minister to us. He had a widely known prophetic ministry. After first meeting him about five years earlier, and seeing him minister often since, I had a high level of trust in what he spoke to people using his spiritual gift. On several occasion I myself was encouraged from a spoken word of prophecy to me directly.

That night my wife Laurie and I led the group in worship, followed by a word from the Word from Robbie. I don’t remember what he shared during that time, but when the ministry in prophecy began, the tape recorder was ready, and the record button was pushed for every word given to those receiving this ministry. The tape was then given to them to take home, listen too, pray over, and trust the Lord for His timing in its understanding and fulfillment.

I was genuinely hoping to receive a word from the Lord myself. I was at that time in the position of Director of the Vision For Israel USA ministry office (founded by Barry and Batya Segal from Israel). Even those in leadership need to hear a directive from the Lord. Again, I truly appreciate the prophetic gift, and was about to get one from the Lord’s servant that night.

The word I received seven years ago (as of this writing on Feb. 25, 2014) I am now seeing it come to pass. I can share it verbatim now because, as a practice, I have always had recorded and transcribed words I received, or taken extensive notes while the words were given These are stored in several three-ring binders, from 1987 through today. I re-read them often, even as Timothy was reminded by Paul to do, as in the verses at the beginning of this writing.

Robbie Phillips

Here is what Robbie Phillips spoke to me:

“We call for the blessings of God. Everything he puts his hands to, bless. Everything he puts his hands to, bless, in Jesus’ name.

It seems to me in your work – talk about plowing – brother it seems to me that you have been plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing and plowing. And there is a verse in Haggai. In Haggai it is in the negative sense but in your case it is in the positive sense, where the word of the prophet was that you have sown much but have harvested little.

And it seems to me that in the ministry that you have been in the last few years, that you have sown far more than what you have seen coming back. But it’s almost like as I see you are going down, like you have one of the old time plows and you have an oxen or a mule or something ahead of you, and here you are, just getting it done day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

And it’s like I see this tremendously long row, and there is this man standing there, and he has a linen garment on, he’s right out of Ezekiel, and you recognize that this is an angelic visitor, and you stop, and he says, “Steve, look behind you. And you look back and you thought you had been plowing, but in the distance, where you had plowed a long time ago, whole forests have sprung up, and they are seeding new forests, and right behind you there has been an acceleration of what God is doing in your ministry, so that it’s not just a place where you just plowed, but there are already small trees that have sprung up even a few feet behind you.

And I see about you, I think it is just trickling in now, but I see the blessings of God beginning to come now, to the point where they are going to overtake you. It talks about when you are faithful to the Lord, and in the 7^th year when the land has the Sabbath, that you don’t need to worry about plowing and harvesting in that 7th year, because what you sowed three years before, and the next year and the following year, will all seem to come in on top of you at one time, and you will have more than enough, in fact you will have so much coming in, that you will have to move out some of the old to bring the new in.

And I see the blessing of the Lord and it’s like you have been looking and trusting God for His faithfulness and you are going to see a demonstration of the faithfulness of God and not just in spiritual things but in financial ways and material ways.

Feb. 9, 2007 - Robbie ministering to Steve Martin

I see you, brother, you riding the high places of the earth with the Lord. I see you at 50,000 feet in jet liners just about all the time, flying all over the world. I see you a connector in the hand of the Lord. I see you being behind the scenes man, much of the time, major conferences and things like that, but the people that really know, the people that are the shakers and the movers in the Kingdom, the people that are well known, they’ll say that if you really want to meet a shaker and a mover, then you go and meet Steve Martin. He’s the guy behind the scenes, and he’s the guy that really gets things done.

And I see you being able to go to Scandinavian countries, European countries, the countries of the Far East, South America, all over the world, and I see you having contacts all over the world, and I see you being able to be used of the Lord to connect this person on one end of the world to a person over here and to bring things together in just the right timing of the Lord.

I see a tremendous amount of influence in your life, and I see that teaching anointing of your life. I see situation, particularly with leadership, it seems to me the Lord, just like with Elijah, suddenly “Boom!” out of nowhere Elijah appears, he wasn’t there one day and suddenly he’s the talk of the nation and I see the Lord just suddenly revealing you, revealing a teaching anointing, particularly for leadership and with leaders. 

A lot of it having to do with the holiness of God, and your own personal, their own personal walk with God, the things that are near and dear to your heart, about right relationships with your wife and your family. How your relationships with that, how those dynamics work, things that really matter. The nitty gritty stuff that drive the kingdom. These things being those that are really near to your heart.

Being able to be a real impact to people who are key leaders. But I see that in a teaching format, even more so than your own personal encouragement and strengthening. I see the Lord giving you teachings to begin to bring to leadership, in due season.”

Several of these words have come to pass already since then. I have been to Israel five times since 2007. Many of these words have especially been coming into being this seventh year after that word came. I am trusting that many more of those words will also come into be, as I continue to give myself to the Lord’s Word, in faith and obedience.

Many of you reading this have received prophetic words. You have written them down, or had them recorded. Maybe you just have a few notes scribbled on a piece of paper tucked in your Bible. Almost forgotten, but still there.

I would encourage you to locate those words, written or recorded, and read/listen to them again. I would think you would be surprised at what was spoken to you.

There are many good teachers who have written books on the gift of prophecy. To name a few that I know or have known personally – Rick Joyner, Derek Prince, James W. Goll, Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, Bob Mumford, and Larry Randolph have excellent books for your to read.

So I would encourage you to 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 letters minister to you, 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. 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 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: Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #124   “In the 7^th Year”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.25.14) Tuesday at 8:45 pm in Charlotte, NC).

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

Robbie Phillips and Michael Blade

Robbie ministering to Andrew and Christen Blade

God Must Love Drummers - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

God Must Love Drummers

by Steve Martin

“David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before God.” (2 Samuel 6:14 THE MESSAGE)

Drummers fascinate me. They beat on those skins. They bang on the cymbals. They give it all with such passion. Even as King David danced with great abandon before God, I know drummers who have given it their all, also in worship.

God must love drummers.

Laurie and I have led bands through two decades - in churches, conferences, and in public places outside of the church walls. Whether it was leading the Steve Martin & The Raiders band back in 2002 (did you get that CD? Well, no one else did either!), the Ahava Love Band from 2011-2013 (we did get some recordings with these great guys) or the worship teams with All Nations Church (1994-2001), Cornerstone Fellowship (2002-2004) or Antioch International Church on occasion (2011-2013), one thing I really appreciated were our drummers.

I remember all well, for each one had a special style. Combined with their joy and commitment to keep the foundation of the music going steady, the sound they generated would fill the place. Often during the set I would look back from my position in the front, give them a big smile of encouragement, and continue leading, along with them, the listeners and participants into the presence of the good Lord.

The list is long. Ron Bowen from Rock Hill, SC has probably played the most hours with us. Beginning with All Nations Church in 1998 or so, he was on the team for the Friday night all praise and prayer times we called The Watch of the Lord, with Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda. We’d lead worship from 10 pm until 6 am for years. Ron would be one of those banging on the drums. 

Ron Bowen on the drums

Steve Martin & The Raiders - 2002

When we started the Raiders, Ron was our drummer. Who was the drummer for Ahava Love Band? Ron Bowen of course. His heart for the Lord was contagious, and I loved seeing his big grin from behind the glass in the corner, filling the room with his joy and zeal for the Lord.

Steve, Laurie, Wane Daroux on bass...

and Ron Bowen on drums!

(both photos) 

Gilbert Crespo, All Nations Church, now playing in person for the Lord Jesus in heaven, was a perfectionist. His Caribbean flair just added immensely to his renditions. When we had guest worship leaders at our Mahesh Chavda Ministries conferences from 1995-2001, Gilbert was the drummer of choice. He recorded several CDs with Robert Stearns of Eagles Wing, and others.

Brian Cockfield of Cornerstone Fellowship, a mature drummer in his late 40s, seemed to always have this real seriousness about him. All knew it was coming from a firm love for the Lord. James DeVito, also at Cornerstone at the time we were, was a young guy with big aspirations. But getting him there on time was a challenge we helped him work through, because the Lord had His hand on James.

Matt Wyns of Antioch International Church was another favorite of mine. He had that particular look while playing, occasionally sharing a smile which you might catch coming out of the corner of his mouth, that let you know this was good stuff. I like Matt.

Savannah (I knew her mostly as Jill before she changed her name) could keep the rhythm with the best of them. Her Caribbean heritage also added greatly to her style.

When Laurie and I go to our home church of MorningStar in Fort Mill, SC every Sunday and for conferences, my heart is so blessed to see the young kids give it their all on the drums. Their passion for the Lord is so contagious, as I see them play with boldness and immense strength. For hours on end I think, some of them could go on and on and on. Little energizer bunnies.

You know why I believe the Lord loves drummers so much? Because as hard as His heart beats for the nations, I can see His expression of that love come through them as they share their talent and skill with the church body. Whether it is playing a soft, gentle love song, or a steady, warring anthem, these men, women and kids come to play their finest for the King.

Be it a little drummer boy or a mature man, full of wisdom and sensitivity to the moving of the Holy Spirit in their movements, God is so blessed by their expression of love for Him.

Keep on drumming guys! You serve the great King of kings, Commander of the Armies of Heaven, and soon returning Messiah, full of glory and song.

You have truly been a joy to team with, and now a joy to watch and worship alongside, for the glory of the Lord God of Israel.

Thank you my friends,

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 letters minister to you, 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. 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 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: Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #123   “God Must Love Drummers”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.23.14) Sunday 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: Now Think On This & Ahava Love Letters

You Never Know Who - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

You Never Know Who

by Steve Martin

“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 The Message)

Every weekday for the past two years I’d arrive at the office building elevators around 6:40 am. The security person sitting at the front desk would give a quick greeting, and I’d greet them back, hit the “Up” button for the elevator,  and ride to the 16^thfloor above Tryon Street in Charlotte’s center city (uptown area). I didn’t think much about it in greeting them. I try to at least say hi to people as I walk by.

Near the end of 2013, a new guy on the 3^rd shift was at the front desk. He said he started at 10 pm and left at 7 am each morning, Tuesday through Friday. My guess he was 65 years or more in age. With his black rimmed glasses, color coordinated nicely with his short, gray beard, along with his matching gray hair and honest face, he reminded me of a good grandpa. As I got to know him in the following months, he was - a good grandpa to his eight year old granddaughter in town.

Mike and I would often talk about the weather, what was happening uptown that week, being that was what I had going while working with Charlotte Center City Partners, and of course, books. He would let me know what he was reading, and then I started telling him what I was writing. In time I helped add to his library, giving him copies of the first two books I had authored and published, Ahava Love Letters and The Promise.

In time, he started asking me questions about messages I had written in the Ahava Love Letters. I was glad to share further on my beliefs, the Lord’s work in my life, and the path we each had gone on in our lives up to this point. We got to know each other a little bit more as we talked each day.

In late February of 2014 he surprised me, when I stopped again for a brief conversation.  

That day he asked, “How long do you expect to be here?”

I was a bit surprised, as I hadn’t said anything to him about my future plans. My response, “As long as the Lord has me on assignment here.” And then I asked him, “Why do you ask?”

“Well, in your book it seems that you are not expecting this job to be where you will retire.”

“No, it is not,” I said. “In fact, when I left my previous job as USA Director of Vision For Israel in July of 2010, to start our own ministry, that was what I had expected to be doing the rest of my life. And I only went back to an accounting job to pay the monthly bills, as the newborn ministry got on its feet. I am here until I have completed this assignment the Lord has me on also.”

“And what is that?” he slowly asked.

“To pay the bills,” I repeated, “but more importantly to affect the lives of the people I work with here,” I stated.

“Well”, he again spoke, more slowly than before, “when you came in for work the other day, I was going to say something to you further, but you went up the elevator faster than I was hoping. I wanted to tell you that, as in most lives, there are ups and downs (as he made the motion with his hand of a straight line going up at a 90 degree angle, and then brought his hand back down at a 90 degree angle), and then there are times in your life when there are hills and valleys (moving his right hand up and down, forming curves you’d associate as in an air drawing of hills and valleys.) Sometimes you meet people that touch your life at the top of the hill. You are one of those persons in my life.”

Wow, I thought to myself, and before I looked too surprised, I said, “Thank you Mike. That is very nice of you.”

Before I started stammering further over my words, totally not expecting this from him, I quickly added, “When you get done with reading my book you have now, let me know. I will give you the next one.”

He said, “Yes.”

So I walked over to the elevators, and again hit the button to go to the 16^th floor. As my body was rising up, my spirit was rising too. Delighted to have imparted a piece of the Lord’s heart to Mike, I continued the upward journey.

“Thank you Lord” were the words I spoke to Him.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Uptown Charlotte - being a light.

(Photo by Steve Martin)

  

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 letters minister to you, 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. 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 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: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #121 “You Never Know Who”   by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.20.14) Thursday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

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