Kill It So It Can Live. Again. (Part 1 of 2) - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Kill It So It Can Live. Again. (Part 1 of 2)

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…” (Romans 6:5, NKJV)

Life. Death. Burial. Resurrection.

As I read Don Moen’s new autobiography, “God Will Make A Way” (Thomas Nelson, 2018), I was struck by a paragraph in which he explains how typically the Lord works, when He gives us a vision for our life.

“There seems to be a pattern that the Lord often uses in our lives. He will birth a vision in us. Then there will be a point where we feel led to lay it down, even to the point of letting it die. Once we believe the vision is dead and gone, He will revive and restore it in us, often making our passion stronger than ever.” Don Moen

He reveals the vision. We start to see it happen. He asks us to kill it. (Or He does.) And then months, years or decades later He resurrects it.

It happened with Moses. So too with Joseph. Many of the prophets. And of course Jesus. Life. Death. Burial. Resurrection. Ever happen with you? If not yet, it will. If it is God from the beginning.

Personally, I can relate. Yes, indeed. I got it.

Music has always been a joy in my heart. Beginning with the period of time that I took basic chord guitar lessons on my cheap, Gibson starter guitar (rented, if I remember right) in 6^th grade, going to the YMCA building in Waterloo, Iowa (thanks Dad and Mom for always driving me the 15 miles, waiting the half hour during the group lessons, and then taking me home every week!) Mrs. Fullilove, a rather robust, jolly black lady in her mid-40’s I think, taught me the G, C, D, and minor chords. I learned how to play “Red River Valley” and a few more during those months with her small group.

Then it was onto 7^th grade, carrying my guitar, that I had bought with my Waterloo Courier paper route money, the one and half miles (yes, even in the snow at times in Cedar Falls, Iowa!) to the single man who taught me even more, with picking, songwriting and such. At $15/half hour, that was a stretch for me way back in 1962. Again, thank you Lord for my paper route!

A song I played at the 8th-grade talent show encouraged me to continue, singing Song of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. Somewhat in high school and a small bit in college, I led worship at small Christian home groups. I regret I never learned bar chords though. I could never wrap my wrist far enough around the neck it seemed to master that essential part of playing more songs than I ever did.

After Laurie and I got married in 1977, we sang together in choirs and led worship many times in churches, with me strumming the guitar along with both of us singing lead vocals. By 2002 we also formed the “Steve Martin & the Raiders” band, wanting to hit the “secular” scene with Gospel praise and worship. My thought was to “Be as David did, and go out into the highways and the byways, “raiding” the lost souls for Jesus.” With Steve Martin being my actual name, I felt that would be a name catch too and get people’s attention to come to check us out. That lasted two years.

Finally, around 2011, we brought together Jew, black, white, Indian, male and female, to form the “Ahava Love Band” (“ahava” being love in Hebrew, so we had the real One New Man band – both Jew and Gentile!) Through 2013 we enjoyed the joys, struggles, and commitment it took to keep the band team together.

Steve & Laurie's music...over the years.

Then we quit it all. 

Right before a Saturday night Messianic Jew-led gathering, in August of 2013, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Lord told me that this was it for the worship band. End of the road. Time to lay it all down. Bury the band.

And He was right. Right before the meeting started, the keyboard player/singer told me she was leaving because the band was “under our non-profit” Love For His People, Inc. ministry, a 501©3 tax-exempt organization, and thus essentially “controlled by the US government”. Because of that, she said she could no longer be a part of us. I said, “OK”, but even before then the Holy Spirit had told me that this was the end. So it didn’t crush me as I would normally have experienced.

And so for the next five years, neither Laurie or I sang again. My Takamine guitar had long before been laid down, but now even my tambourine, orange shaker, and “lead vocal” instrument was laid to rest. Laurie’s beautiful alto voice no longer sang publicly, except as part of the full church congregation worship during Sunday morning services. We had no plans to ever sing again – as a duet, band vocals, or as a worship team backup or lead singers.

But…never say never if you walk with the Lord Jesus!!!

And so, this week of November 26, 2018, I shall continue this real, right now story in my next Now Think On This message. I am thrilled to share it with you!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

P.S.S. I hope you get my latest book, Adventures in Courage, just out this November. Paperback or Kindle versions. My 19^th authored publication. (Yes, this is an advertisement!)

  

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #371 - in the year of our Lord 11.25.18 – “Kill It So It Can Live. Again. – Part 1 of 2)”  Sunday, 4:10 pm

Knots on the Rope - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Knots on the Rope

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Far more blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” (Luke 11:28, Complete Jewish Bible)

A special “Now Think On This edition.

Nov. 20, 2018

Greetings friends of Love For His People ministry.

In my Bible today, I found prophetic Words From 2004. It was for someone back then, but maybe it is for you today?

As many of you may know, Laurie and I came back home to Antioch International Church, here in Fort Mill, South Carolina, after a four year "wandering in the desert as Jews", so to speak. (I still think there is a Jewish connection someone. When my DNA comes back in two weeks...)

Our home is also four miles away, as the crow flies. Something about "fours" this spiritual season. I am sure there is more to come on that.

And as you may have seen, I was brought on staff on Oct. 1, 2018, to assist the pastors and leadership with accounting and more. Check out my new office, but only after you finish reading this.  Steve's Antioch office

This morning I brought in a few more items to add to the collection, including a small Bible I had in a black case. When I opened it (NKJV in case you ask) I found a few inscriptions, and several 3" x 5" note cards. The Bible I had received as a gift from Mahesh Chavda Ministries in 1994, two months before we relocated to the Charlotte, NC area from Fort Lauderdale, FL with that ministry and two other families. (See photo here, which includes the note I wrote on the inside page when Laurie and I were in China, back on Aug. 16, 2002. Interesting to me. And fulfilled many times since then. The 40th year noted was since birth in 1954.)

I also found another note card, written by me on Jan. 18, 2004, of a prophetic word I received to share with another. As you read it, maybe it is for you too, even these 14 years later. (There's a "4" in there again...)

The word as written follows. You can also see the actual card photos below.

"The Lord gave me a word for a lady in Charleston, which may encourage others. I saw a rope, hanging vertically, with knots evenly spaced. At first, I had no understanding, but the Lord spoke to me the next morning in prayer, as to its meaning.

The knots were actually "nots". The lady would respond to the Lord, as He requested things of her, with "nots" - she 'couldn't do it', 'it can't be done", or another excuse.

But the Lord was saying to her, that as she grabbed hold of each "not", trusting Him to do it, she would climb upward, one "not" at a time.

As she climbed, she was to "keep her eyes fixed on Him" as she pulled herself upward. This too would enable her to overcome the "nots."  Steve Martin

  

I hope you are encouraged today. Say “YES LORD!” when He speaks to you. And then He will keep speaking, as you hear and obey. His grace is plentiful and ready to act. You will be amazed at what He has called you to do, and will bring fulfillment in your lfe as you do so. 

Ahava and shalom. And Happy Thanksgiving too!

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #370 - in the year of our Lord 11.20.18 – “Knots on the Rope”  Tuesday, 8:15 am

Intimate - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Intimate

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, NASU)

Most people fear to be intimate. Decades of rejection, initially in our lives due to the separation we had with our God until new life, rebirth took place, kept us from having honest, soul to soul communication with Him and with each other. I know I do, struggling at times to express what I really want to. It’s that sense of uncertainty of what the other may think, feel, or want to share with us in return.

It is quite common I believe among us. We want to. We need to. But we somehow can’t. (Especially for us macho men!) So we have the small talk, the short quips, the “meet and greet” five minutes during the church service.

We are missing out on being intimate, especially with our Lord Jesus. And that is the One we really need to start with. If we can’t be intimate with our Creator, our Father, the One who gave Himself totally for us, how can we be intimate with one another? I am still seeking to find out what all is missing. The lack, I need. The love and intimate cup need to be filled more often than it has been.

There have though been real moments in being with the Lord, those times when touching His heart has just been a real, reachable joy. Those “almost raptured” times during God-filled worship in a large gathering of His people, when the anointing of the Holy Spirit just comes over us. It seems as close to being with Him that we may know, this side of eternity. It’s as if we just can’t hug Him enough; speak words of built-up heart thanks to Him; crawl up in His lap and sit, staying in His presence, not wanting to leave that place for a long, long time.

Sounds too heavenly, right? Not attainable you say? But it is.

Because of His tortuous pain on the brutal cross, we can now receive healing.

Because of His tearing down the huge curtain of separation, we can now touch Him.

Because of Who He is and what He has done, we can be as close as we want to be with Him.

“But I'm in the very presence of God — oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home.

God, I'm telling the world what you do!” (Psalm 73:28, THE MESSAGE)

David need not be one of the few who knew what it was to be close, to draw near, to really get close to God. It is not a scary thing. It is an awesome thing. We CAN know, deep in our soul, deep in our spirit, close to our heart, His presence.

Let me share something personal as if I usually don’t most often.

Zoe Girl Martin - pure love

I can finally declare that I am thankful for my dog, especially with this particular action on her part. It has taken me a few months to come to this point where I can say, “Thank you Lord for Zoe, this 12-year old Dachshund you created, who has to get up now once or twice in the middle of the night, drink a big bowl of water, and then let it all out. Yes, I can finally say, “Thank you, Lord.”” (She has Cushing’s. You’ll have to look that up if you are curious enough.)

Because…along with the re-energization that I get each time I return from being in the land of Israel (the promised land for both Jews and those who the Lord has joined together along with them), with the Lord’s Spirit waking me up in the middle of the dark night since then, my little 14 pound Zoe also gets me up in the middle of the silence and almost deep sleep. Because of Him using her, I have had more moments of experiencing intimate times with Him these past days and months.

When all is quiet, undisturbed, and time is given for taking time to be with Him alone…putting on the earphones, tapping the praise and worship music app on the smartphone playlist, and just giving Him seconds, minutes, maybe even an hour to be with me, in intimacy, has refreshed my soul, lifted my spirit, and renewed the initial vision, purpose and plans He has to reveal even further. He has given me times of being intimate with Him.

And yes, it is possible to be intimate with each other I am certain. It starts with being intimate with our Lord, where His heart first becomes yours, and His life then dwells in ours.

I like to sleep. Most of us do. Sometimes I believe it is overrated when we could be doing so much more. But I no longer mind it when the Holy Spirit awakens me in the middle of the night, using Zoe or any other means He chooses. Being with Him is worth the time.

My prayer, both for you and I, is very simple. “Lord, we want You. We need You. Come and fill my heart with Who You are so we can love those who yet don’t know, or want to know You more.”

May He answer this prayer for you and me today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #369 - in the year of our Lord 11.20.18 – “Intimate”  Tuesday, 5:00 am

How About Some New Wine? - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

How About Some New Wine?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.'" (Luke 5:36-39, NKJV)

Personally, I am not much of a lover of wine. Not that I am against the fruit of the vine, for Jesus Himself had it for certain during the feasts of the Lord. Plus, in fact, His first recorded miracle took place at Cana, in Israel’s Galilee region, when He supernaturally turned the huge vases of water into the best wine the wedding party had that day. The Bible doesn’t say if it was red or white, but whichever fermented version it had become, the celebrators sure did like it!

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."

Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 

When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:1-11, NKJV)

Laurie, with sister Linda.

If anything, I will sip on a small glass, such as Manischewitz or a similar dessert wine. (I can just see the true wine drinkers faces now!) My good wife likes wine. She is more cultured than I am.

But this message isn’t about drinking the natural. It is about what you are doing, or going to do when the spiritual new wine comes. For it is coming, and in some places, it already is here.

The Lord usually speaks simple words to me, which I receive as the title for a new message. This morning I heard in my head, “Ride the wave” and so I thought, “The next message is of that inspiration.” But as I started writing, the Holy Spirit gave a nudge and said, “Actually, it is about the wine. It is coming like a wave, and I desire My people to drink the new that I am bringing. The old is passing. Time for the new. Write that.”

And so I had to correct the title, changing it from “Ride the Wave” to “How About Some New Wine?”

Sensitivity to the heart of God the Father, the rule of Jesus Christ the Son, and the follow-up actions of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) are a must as we get in on the next wave and share in the new wine. Some may just be satisfied with the old wine. After all, after the last wave it now feels comfortable, is finally understood and accepted, and the “current stuff that I have grown familiar with” is not asking for any risk-taking, or movement from my comfy pew, or as in most churches now, “the 2^nd chair on the 2^nd row, left side, right behind the pastor’s wife.”

Contentment is good. For a time. Paul himself said that.

“Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” (Philippians 4:11-14, THE MESSAGE)

But then the Lord will call us deeper into His purposes and plans, and if we are willing to trust Him, risk the contentment factor that we have enjoyed for a season, and get on with the next phase, then we have to drink the new wine that is being poured into new wineskins.

Walking down the road!

Let it not be said of us 10 years down the road that we missed the movement of the Holy Spirit for that long period of time. Actually, we can’t afford to miss it. Personally, I don’t have 10 years anymore to waste. In some ways, I am sure that I already have, by not being in step with the Lord in those times and seasons that have already gone by.

Are you ready for some new wine? Or you in a church, synagogue or home gathering that is actually offering it now? If not, I really hope that you find one that is. (I know of one, and my good wife Laurie and I did make that move!)

Being dead in a pew or that cozy seat isn’t much of a life. Time to find a new one.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, has new wine to offer you today. Maybe He will use this message to stir you up a bit right now. If so, be adventurous and have a cup of good, good, red red wine! (I always felt Neil Diamond was onto something.)

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. Check out my latest "Walk With Me" video series edition. A good church: Antioch International Church

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #368 - in the year of our Lord 11.17.18 – “How About Some New Wine?” Saturday, 7:00 am