- Lesson Taught. Lesson Learned.
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:6, NKJV)
In prayer this morning the Lord reminded me of my dad, Louis James Martin, who graduated to his heavenly reward over 15 years ago at the age of 67, as a result of lymphoma cancer. I was giving thanks to my Father that my Dad had taught me practical things while growing up – like putting away the wrench tool after I used it, so it wouldn’t rust in the rain. You know – just practical, common sense things like that.
As I continued praying, I realized that many of the current generation we gave birth to don’t have a “real” Dad, or Mom, who were/are around to teach them even the basic, practical things in life. Sure, each of us had at least one parent in the beginning at the hospital, but not many then had a father or mother, who loved them enough to train them, encourage them, or show them how to live, after they left the place of their birth.
Few had a real mentor to teach them that they weren’t given life to just exist for themselves. But their life is to have life, a life with purpose, and understanding of the Creator’s plan, as they were created to be. Not only in the natural realm, but especially even more so in the spiritual one.
I mean – how many of this generation now in their teens, including even those hitting their 40’s, know what life is all about, other than playing video games for hours, standing in line for the latest hot movie a day before it opens, or getting drunk, taking drugs of all kinds, or having sex (with whomever), beginning in their middle school years?
Where are the fathers? Where are the mothers?
How far we have fallen.
The verse written just before Malachi 4:6, before the restoration of the fathers to their children, says it even more which is worth noting.
"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6, NASU)
Our Father in heaven clearly states that He is going to do something about the mess our kids, and their kids, are in. God the Father says He is going to send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. To do what? To restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.
As for me, I think that day is now. Certainly we are approaching the great and terrible day of the Lord, in these last days. Thus so, I am looking, I am expecting, I am believing the Lord is going to keep this promise, His promise to His people.
Will each child have a father and mother to train them, to teach them, to instruct them in the ways of the Lord? I don’t think so, but I do believe that those who are longing for such a one in their life will certainly be given one – a “parent” who will care for them. Teach them right from wrong. Black and white. No gray stuff here.
And for those of us who know what to do, how to do it, and when to do it – live as we were created to live– we will be given these ones to do just that. Show them the way they are to go.
I am glad my Dad taught me the basics of life. That wrench that I would have left out in the grass, after adjusting the motor on my lawnmower, would have rusted after the first rain. And then I would have had to buy another one, using money I would have spent on a nice hamburger and French fries.
I am very grateful for that, but even more so, how he taught me, by example, how to live right.
Lesson taught. Lesson learned. We have to do the same for those who need it now.
My eyes are open. My heart is ready, as a father, to teach those who want to be taught.
My heart has been turned to my children, and those who need a dad.
So think on this, in the love of Jesus,
Steve Martin
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to bless the families that we do in Israel, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.
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.
Click 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
Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 01.18.16 - #235 –“Need A Dad? Lesson Taught. Lesson Learned.” – Monday at 6:30 am
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FEATURED BOOK
Paperback $5.99
Kindle: $1.99
Buy here: The Promise by Steve Martin
Throughout our lives, God keeps His hand on our shoulders and nudges us on to more than what we could ever realize. I am excited to share how He did it this with me, and am confident mine will be a story you’ll be able to relate to.
As I unveil my story, think back to those times when you knew there was some¬thing more but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. You knew deep down that life wasn’t what the TV sitcoms portrayed it to be. In our souls there is the hope, the cry for more, that someday questions will be answered and promises fulfilled if we just kept plugging away at what we know to do.
In The Promise I share my 40 year journey with you, and show you that dreams do come true. Though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, certainly is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us. When you are done reading this story, my prayer is that you too will know more of that good plan and His purpose for you.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC
No comments:
Post a Comment