Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips

Steve Martin

“I and My Father are one." Spoken by Jesus (Yeshua) in John 10:30, NKJV.

There is a way to get mad about something in order to get the right thing done. Anger isn’t always wrong. It can be, if not used properly. But there is a time to get angry against that which is just wrong. God did. His Son Jesus did too. And together they both still do, along with the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we need to understand that there are proper times when to stand up, tell it like it is, and let the world know that we are not sissies, tip-toeing through the tulips, in order to not “offend anyone, or hurt someone’s feelings.”

Enough is enough.

How many Christians had been taught far too long that Jesus (the eternal God in the flesh), is “all loving, at all times” (which He is), but because of our inerrant understanding of love, which isn’t His, we think He is therefore not the same God that is revealed in the Old Testament (Torah, Tanakh, Prophets, and Psalms), bringing judgment and dealing with sin righteously. We have been taught that “that God” certainly is not the same God that exists now. How advanced we have become in our pride and arrogance.

We have been taught that the God people knew then is not the same One we should know now. Did not Jesus repeatedly reaffirm to those He walked with that He Himself is God? Did God somehow change between the Old and the New Testament?

I think not. Because He did not.

“I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God (Jesus) has not changed from the time He was revealed in the Old Testament to the time He came in the flesh in the New Testament.

How foolish have we become when we use the excuse that we can’t say this, or do that, because we are Christians, followers of Christ, and therefore must “love all people at all times”. Yes, we are to love, but godly love doesn't just permit people to do anything they want to do when they want to do it.  While “God is love”, we can't use our misunderstanding as for the excuse we so often use to allow all things to be as they continue to be, which in turn is leading our nations down the road to ruin, destruction, and death.

It is past time not speaking out against those perverse actions that others continue to espouse and push on our society, which is horribly not biblical. It is past the time for us to simply “be sensitive to others, be kind and permissive for how they feel and act, and continually turn the other cheek”, letting God’s way of life be cast aside, because "Que sera, sera" (what will be, will be.)

What Bible are these people reading, who preach this stuff in our Sunday pulpits and synagogues?

To quote one popular TV celebrity (which I heavily resisted doing, but it gets the point across) – “Where has that gotten you?” 

Has it not occurred to us that when Jesus (His real name is Yeshua) walked on earth, He did not go around apologizing for any actions His Father did in the Old Testament, the exact same God of the New Testament as He is of the Old?

When God brought judgment upon people, cities, lands, and nations, He was indeed acting as the God of Love, as He still is. But with His righteous anger, and to deal with sin as it is, He must act accordingly. That doesn’t stop Him from being God. It places Him above all things, all people, all acts that mankind commits, BECAUSE He is God.

Is it a different God Who brings judgment in the Book of Revelation, which is coming soon in prophetic fulfillment, then it was the same God Who brought judgment during Noah’s time during the

earth’s destruction by rain and flood; Moses’ deliverance in Egypt, or Joshua’s taking of Canaan from the inhabitants who dwelt there? The God they knew and obeyed is the same God Whom we are called to follow now.

If we just sit by and let the world go to hell, falsely believing that we will be rescued out of here any day now, by some false teaching which has stymied the Church for decades, called the rapture (which didn’t start to be spread until the late 1800’s), then we are again among the most foolish of them all.

If God our Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit (God – all three in one) are the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), then we too must understand that right is right, wrong is wrong, and we better know the difference, and respond to people and situations as they do, God the Trinity.

I pray that we will not be totally shocked when we see God act as He will, as He won't be fitting into our perfect religion that we have made Him out to be, trying to dictate and regulate in our minds what He can and can’t do.

We have got to stop “tip-toeing through the tulips” around those who continually speak out against life, liberty, and upholding godly principles. 

We must be the ones conducting ourselves, our families, our churches and our congregations as we should be doing, basing our lives on God’s Word and ways, and not on those of the current windblown non-believers, pushing their societal beliefs on our nations.

For far too long we have sat back and let the unrighteous take over.

No more.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 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.

  

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

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Now Think On This #397 - in the year of our Lord 03.06.19 – “Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips” – Wednesday, 5:45 pm

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

40 Something? - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

40 Something?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. The period which he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.” (1 Chronicles 29:26-27, NASU)

Have you ever wondered what 40 will get you? No, I am not thinking about what prison sentence comes with what crime. I think about all the times the Lord God of the Living Bible uses numbers to get across His point, or to bring about His purpose in a person, people group or nation.

When I use my PC Bible Study software to give me all the references to the number 40, it stops after just one Bible version. There are just too many to list them all! And that is just with the number 40!

Here are a few samples of the ones most known about, which are historical facts, not just figments of imaginations, or used just to give some idea of the length of time. No, they are real periods that occurred in history. And they meant something then and can serve as a measure of time for us today.

The following are all from the ERV version, which uses “40” instead of “forty”.

1.      Gen 7:11 “The rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.”

2.      Gen 25:20 “When Isaac was 40 years old, he married Rebekah.”

3.      Ex 16:35-36 “The people ate the manna for 40 years, until they came to the land of rest, that is, until they came to the edge of the land of Canaan.”

4.      Ex 24:18 “Then Moses went higher up the mountain into the cloud. He was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.”

5.      Numbers 13:25-26 “The men (10 spies) explored that country for 40 days, and then they went back to the camp.”

6.      Joshua 14:7 “(Joshua speaking) Moses, the Lord's servant, sent me to look at the land where we were going. I was 40 years old at that time.”

7.       2 Sam 5:4-5 “David was 30 years old when he began to rule. He was king for 40 years. In Hebron he ruled over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, and in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.”

8.      2 Chronicles 9:30 “Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years.”

9.       Matt 4:2-3 “Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.”

10.   Acts 13:21 “Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was king for 40 years.”

As I meditate on these verses, and what transpired in each one, I see testing (40 days or 40 years) and rulership (40 years for these kings). For several there were 40 days or 40 years of testing, walking it out in faith (or until they were released from unbelief.) For others, it was 40 years of ruling as a king.

Maybe in your life, as in mine, you can see time periods of 40 days, or on a longer length, 40 years, as a time period in which the Lord was working something out, or putting something in - preparing you for the call He has on your life.

(Photo - Negev Judean desert, Israel. Steve Martin, 2017)

When I was 23, I never thought it would take 40 years to follow, in preparation for the final call on my life; when I would “retire” from one segment to begin what I consider will be the best and final one. I am “retiring” on October 31, 2017 from my accounting job that has consumed 55 hours per week of my time. When I turn 63 on November 23, 40 years will have gone by since that 23^rd year, when I got married.

Celebrating our 40^th anniversary of marriage on October 7, 2017, will be a major accomplishment for Laurie and I. Was it all a “time of testing” in order to build the foundational pad needed to launch from, out into the “promised land” (atmosphere)?  I think maybe so. Then the ruling will begin, as a king, for we have been prepared to take the Gospel even further into territories from our home base.

What has been your 40 days, or 40 years? I would bet (surely there is a verse for that!) that if you look hard enough backward in your natural and spiritual walk, you too will see what the Lord has done, where He has taken you, and who around you is now involved with the plans and purposes the Lord, God of Israel, has in store for you too.

I find it very interesting, and encouraging. I think you will too.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 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 through our website using the DONATE button on either side column.

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+ and Twitter. 9(And all other social media platforms!)

 Steve Martin

Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 08.23.17 - #309 – “40 Something?” – Wednesday, 5:40 am

Time To Move On When You Are Called To Move On - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Time To Move On 
When You Are Called To Move On

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“From one man he made every nation living on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the limits of their territories and the periods when they would flourish. God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us, ‘for in him we live and move and exist.’” (Acts 17:26-28, Complete Jewish Bible)

There have been several times in my walk with the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) over these many years when I heard Him say, “Now is the time to move.” No, it wasn’t in an audible voice (someday!), but in that sense you get when you know that it is Him. He is wanting your attention, for He has something important to say to you.

The upcoming move may mean relocating to another city, state or country; a career job change; or a change in a relationship, good or bad. My family even moved from Illinois to Michigan to be involved with a church in the 1980’s. It was after that decision had been made, to hear and obey the Lord to move our household, that I found the job He had prepared ahead of time as provision.

Hasselbring-Clark Company, Lansing Michigan

My employment as Office Manager, 1980-1987

Often, people make decisions based on the other way around – finances, climate or state benefits; or maybe even recreation opportunities. Then when it doesn’t work out as they had hoped, they blame it on God. Priorities need to be in God’s order, if you really want to succeed.

An upcoming change begins during that season of your life when the Holy Spirit starts giving you small drops in hint form, letting you know that something new is coming. For me, this usually begins a year before the actual move takes place. I start getting an uneasiness where I am at physically. If it involves a job, the grace begins to depart where I am working. Things around me that were exciting aren’t just so anymore. I get the feeling that the time is coming.

I have learned to realize that it is time to move when I am called to move.

Of course there are times and seasons when you just have to press on in a situation, to wait for the breakthrough to come. Moses certainly did. Joseph had to. Many can testify of the difficulties endured while being directly in the center of the Lord’s will. You can learn a lot of the Lord’s ways when you do so. But in this message I am not referring to those times. That is another message for another time!

The Lord moves His people around to get them in the right place at the right time. Ever feel like you are a square peg in a round hole? I have at times. Even now, very recently, as the last seven years of accounting work is just about over. The grace is gone. The work becomes very frustrating. The time to move on is now.

Hearing His voice and then obeying out of your commitment to follow Jesus, wherever He leads you, is the best, and for your own good, only path to follow. Remember back when, when you first got saved? You probably even sang the popular campfire tune, if you are around my age, “I have decided…”

Don’t let the comforts of living in the lounge chair in front of the Sunday sports game keep you from following Jesus, with all your heart, soul, and yes, even body. Don’t become so set in your ways that when He calls again, to go on the next adventure that would change your life forever, keep you from saying, “Yes Lord. Do unto me according to Your Word.”

Our good friend Hadassah in Jerusalem wrote about their family of seven making aliyah to Israel from America many years ago. I echo her urging – listen to the Lord Yeshua if that is you He is beckoning now. (Read here: Just Say Yes)

Do you realize that the verses often used in church gatherings, to call sinners to have a “come to Jesus” moment, and in paintings of our Lord and King humbly knocking at the front door, were not being spoken to unbelievers? These words were spoken to the church, those who had already believed Yeshua was the Messiah. He was talking directly to them then, and even so, you and I today.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20-22, NKJV)

It is so important for each of us to hear the Holy Spirit instruct us, and lead us in the way we are to go in these crucial, final days. It may even be a life or death decision. We best be wise in how we choose.

Choose wisely, young man, and old man, teen girls and all other ladies, and seniors too!

Better get your move on. Jesus still calls and shows us the way ahead.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

  

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families and pastors in Israel, Pakistan, Northern Ireland, and Nigeria, whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now through our website: Donate

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. Steve Martin

Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 07.30..17 - #303– “Time To Move When You Are Called To Move” – Sunday 3:10 pm

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Nigerian pastors received our books. July 22, 2017

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now through our website: Donate

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

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