Friday, July 29, 2016

The Elections - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Elections

Now Think On This
Steve Martin


“Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage.” (Romans 13:3-4, The Message)


Every four years in American politics the voting age population has a choice to make in the selection of the one who will sit in the presidential office seat. Voting for our elected officials is one of the many freedoms that our founding fathers fought so hard to obtain, and many, many since then have fought to maintain. The freedom to choose is not found in all nations. But in this country, since 1776, it has been one of the great freedoms we have as a people.

Sad to say that too many choose not to exercise this democratic freedom. Since I turned the voting age of 18 in the early 70’s, I have not missed a presidential election, going to the voting booth every time. I am proud, if I can say that humbly, to have done that.

The opportunity taken to vote or not to vote was never a decision I considered not doing. As a citizen of this nation, while I still abide here, I will always feel it is included as one of my basic responsibilities. No doubt I will continue to vote at every opportunity I have. If I am going to pray for our government leaders (not as much as I should), I believe it is also my responsibility, every time I am given the choice, to also vote for the ones who adhere to the principles I stand for. I find it hard to think that other believers often choose to not participate.

How can those who say they are walking in the Lord’s ways not also take the time to know the candidates and then vote for those they want to see lead our local, state, and national offices? Even if our choice we voted for does not win, at least we can say we participated in the process.

Believing that the Lord sets in place those in authority who govern, He also wants us to take part in bringing that about. We are not just to sit it out and say that whatever will be will be, or to glibly say that our actions do not matter in the outcome, so why bother? Does the Lord not tell us to be a light on a hill? Is not the government realm another area where that light is so sorely needed in our time, where we can participate in taking His principles into all areas of life? Even to this one area.

If and when you are given the opportunity, take it, and do one more thing in extending the Lord’s kingdom on this earth. As an American, do the right thing, and vote for those who will act on our behalf. As a big election block voting in unison, we carry a lot of influence, and can do a lot of good. Many have gotten elected because of us. Others have lost because we have not done our part.

If we don’t exercise this freedom, we cannot rant and rave when the darkness even more so penetrates the halls of our government buildings.

We can participate in what the Lord desires to yet do in this nation. This is one opportunity He freely gives you and me to do, as we go to vote, with His wisdom and guidance leading us.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
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 support the families that we do, primarily 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 

Full website: Love For His People

Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 07.22.16 - #262 –“The Elections” – Friday at 7:40 pm

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

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Work Is Work - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Work Is Work

Now Think On This
Steve Martin


“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17, NASU)


Let’s face it. Work is work. For those of us who are blessed to have a job in this financial climate, and especially one that actually enables one to pay the bills, work is work. It is a must if we are going to feed the family, provide covering, and experience the daily provision that is necessary, day in and day out.

When Adam was kicked out of Eden after the original sin, he no longer had the joy of living in the garden that had been given to him to flourish in. He was then told, as written in Gen 3:17-19, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, ‘You are not to eat from it,’ the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground — for you were taken out of it: you are dust, and you will return to dust.” (Complete Jewish Bible)

Work resulted as a result of his disobedience to the Lord. Instead of heeding the instructions to not do something, he went ahead and did it. The consequences still live on for all of mankind.

With over 45 years of work “under my belt”, I can say there were times when work was a joy. You can be fulfilled in setting a goal, working hard at completing it, and then receiving the rewards that accompany it. But more often than not, if I am sharing honestly, work was difficult, at times boring, and often not what my heart dreamed of doing. Indeed, the “sweat of your forehead” didn’t seem to bring the life many spoke of in the Sunday morning messages. The Monday through Friday job was a necessary, not the choice many of us would have made if given the opportunity.

We seek the Lord to understand the meaning of the job we daily have to put our hands to. We often think of what is the eternal meaning of doing the same tasks that in the long run we wonder why it is done at all. What purpose is accomplished for civilization if what we do today is gone tomorrow? It is a question faced by many as they go about their work.

Solomon felt the frustration, as he wrote this, now recorded in Scripture for all time. “So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17, NASU) Something was missing in his life. Futility and strife was all he could see as the result.

For most of us, 50-60 years of work is enough. If that what we have done has brought some good for those around us, we can find fulfillment in what has been accomplished. Trusting in the Lord during that time can be a main hope that His will and purpose for us did occur, and that our reward awaits us in heaven. For those who have not this hope, then what they have done will be gone when they are gone. Burned up forever at that point to come.

I am grateful for the job that I have been given as my trade, and the resulting provision given for this life. But I look forward to that day when all labor has been completed, and the eternal reward awaits.

Understanding the whys and why nots may only be known when we have reached the other side. In the meantime, keeping our eyes on the Lord must be our daily task, while doing our daily tasks.

May it be said of us also, as Jesus prayed, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4-5, NASU)

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
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 support the families that we do, primarily 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 

Full website: Love For His People

Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 07.09.16 - #261 –“Work Is Work” – Saturday at 9:15 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