A Lighthouse & Watchman - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

A Lighthouse & Watchman

  

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations, to make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons.” 
(Isaiah 42:6-7, THE MESSAGE)

We have been hearing much in our Sunday gatherings on our roles as being watchmen. I take that word seriously, and act on it - to pray, to proclaim, to write accordingly, and then to post on our blog Love For His People. Even as the watchman of old sought the Lord, listened to His voice, and spoke out what they were told, I too want to be one who does that.

While being faithful as a watchman to bring the warnings that come with the territory, there is also always hope in the midst of it all, as that comes straight from the Father’s heart. His light brought forth, as a lighthouse, guides us through the sea of life.

Jesus’ love for the nations causes Him to bring awareness to His people of what is coming. His prophetic words, recorded in the historical Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, have proven over and over again of His loving actions. The Lord God of Israel, the Messiah, has continually sought to draw us to Himself through those writings, and current warnings.

Another practical, visual way the Lord has also demonstrated His light shining in the world has been through ocean and lakeside lighthouses. Located on many coasts throughout the world yet today, these beacons of light through the centuries have given direction to the incoming vessels, and hope to the ones anxiously watching for a light to guide them safely into the harbor. They have stood tall while withstanding the raging seas and mighty storms that have pounded and battered at their foundations through the years.

Lighthouses are a vivid example of the Lord’s hope, standing strong and tall in the battle, shining forth the beam of hope to show us the way.

One summer in the late 90’s our family took the time for a vacation trip, to do the eight hours of travel from Charlotte to the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina. Our goal was to visit all seven lighthouses, from Currituck as the northernmost one, stopping at the most famous and tallest Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks, with the final destination being close to the southern border with South Carolina. We did it in the seven days we had. 

We started at the northern end, first with Currituck Beach Light Station, followed by Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Ocracoke Lighthouse, Cape Lookout, Oak Island Lighthouse, and finally Old Baldy on Bald Head Island. Being that one is only accessible by water or air, we didn’t make it out to see that one. Someday we may!

As lighthouses and as watchmen too, we have been called upon to stand strong, prepared in our spirits to announce the oncoming storms that seek to take out or overtake the Lord’s people. As lighthouses in the spiritual realm, watchmen are to stand ready to shine the light, the silver lining of hope, as the darkness seeks to consume the continents with its encroaching power. The Lord has given us the weapons of warfare and the fortitude established in our character to be the watchmen, and the spiritual lighthouses.

We have been prepared for the war ahead.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

 P.S. A good website to check out on the North Carolina lighthouses is Visit NC Coastal Lighthouses.

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 

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 - In the New Year of our Lord 02.15.16 - #244 –“A Lighthouse and Watchman” – Monday at 8:45 am

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

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

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