NOW Is The Time - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

NOW Is The Time

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

 “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Ecclesiates 3:1 NAS

When the Word of the Lord comes to you and speaks softly in your inner spirit, saying, “NOW is the time,” you know that you know it is time. Something in your spirit then responds “Yes!” He doesn’t have to spell it out for you. That “it” – that something you have been waiting for, is now going to happen. You just know that it is the time. He has spoken.

Each of us are waiting on something. Some of you for a decent job, to replace the one or two part-time ones that you have had for awhile. Or the current job that you now have causes you to drag yourself out of bed each weekday morning, hoping that soon another will soon come along.

Others are anticipating the day when they will meet “the one”, trying not to lose hope in the process.

One of you reading this just wants the Lord to heal that nagging, hurting nerve. It has been painful for over a year now, causing loss of sleep and all that comes with a chronic issue. Enough already with the Aleve twice a day.

And yet several of you have been waiting for that release into your God-given dream; to touch the nations, to help the helpless, to have your life count for something, for all eternity. After all, the prophetic word came when you were 24. Now you are almost 40. What is up with that?

Waiting on the Lord and His timing can do one of two things. One, it can make you resentful that it hasn’t happened already, eventually turning your heart into bitterness for the Lord and His people, which then ultimately has you believing nothing that the Lord has spoken to you will ever come to pass.

Or two, you are maintaining that trust in His faithfulness, knowing deep down that though you can’t see the promise fulfilled, which may yet be far off, you keep pressing on. Because He has proven Himself to you in your past, you know that somehow, someway, someday He will be there to do it again. You are believing the Scripture for what it exactly says, and which has been speaking directly to you. 

You really believe the Scripture, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1. NASB)

I especially like these following verses that talk about Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith. Being in my “latter” years, or better yet, my “fine wine prime time golden ways of gray hair days” years, they are especially meaningful to me.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12 NASB)

The Lord understands our weaknesses. He knows where we are at. After all, He created us.

Today I heard the Lord say, “NOW is the time.” I have been waiting. Let it now be done according to your word, my Lord.

He is speaking to you too. The waiting is over. NOW is the time.

Now think on this,

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 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 #184 “Now Is The Time” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (10.05.15) Monday at 6:00 pm in Charlotte, NC

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

Are You Listening?- Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Are You Listening?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing. I'll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I'll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left just as God said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan and arrived safe and sound.” Gen. 12:1-5 THE MESSAGE

Have you ever wondered what Abram (later to be called Abraham) was doing when He heard the Lord call His name? The Scriptures do not say much about him prior to that, except that he was with his father Terah, on their way to live in Canaan, when they then settled in Haran. His father died there.

“Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there. The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.” Gen. 11:31-32 NASU

The Torah doesn’t tell us how long they had lived in Haran before God speaks directly to Abram personally. Had it been a few years? A decade? Maybe it had been 20 years or more he lived there? I guess that part of his story isn’t important info needed, otherwise the Lord would have had Moses (Moshe) write it down. But it does say enough to us about how the Lord moves in our lives.

We may be going along in our day, “minding our own business” as they say, believing that we have gone far enough in our walk with the Lord. We are ready to settle down in the comfy place we have arrived at. “Retirement” may even be on the near horizon. After all, 50, 60, 70 years of walking with the Lord has gotten us this far. Surely that must be enough until our time ends here on this planet.

But just as a side note - time with God doesn’t really matter when it comes to new assignments for us, and the age of our body. Moses was 80 when he got his new mission, remember? That would mean he had already completed 2/3 of his life, knowing he lived to be 120. If we do some simple math, Moses would have been around 60 years old on his timeline if calculated using our expected life span years, assuming we generally now live to be around 88 or 90 ourselves. Get my point?

Now back to Abram. After a time of settlement, the Lord spoke a clear word to him, as head of his household. To Abram, the husband of Sarai, He told him to move on.

We come to a point on our journey when we can become content with life as we know it. We have accomplished a few goals; we have raised a family who are now raising their own; we have reached destinations that have been good. Now we feel the time has come to sit back, relax in that good ole’ leather recliner, and let the baton be passed on to the next generations. It’s their turn after all, right? Let them do the work now.

But is that it? Have we already completed the race, reaching the finish line, and just wanting to wait for the last song to be played?

I think not. I believe the Lord has new assignments for the 50+ generation. I personally am ready to get one myself.

The Lord is speaking. He is even wanting to speak a word to you personally – through His Word, by His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), or through another person or message heard today. Hey, maybe even through a movie of all things!

I am listening. I hope you are too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Note: This is my 144^th message I have written. Originally published as Ahava Love Letters until January of 2014, when I changed it to Now Think On This. I like numbers. I like 144.

  

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.

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 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 PeopleNo Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #144 “Are You Listening?” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (04.20.14) Resurrection Sunday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC.

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

Blessed To Be A Blessing - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Blessed To Be A Blessing

Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Abram, whom later the Lord changed his name to Abraham (see added note below), was a blessed man. When he was called, he heard and obeyed. He left his known surroundings, his extended family, his father’s relatives, and began the journey.

Did he know where he was going? No. Had he done this before? I don’t think so. But I do believe the Lord had asked him to do smaller acts of obedience prior to this time, to build his faith up for this, one of “the big ones”. (Later, when asked to sacrifice, literally kill his only son Isaac, his faith had by that time grown even more, for that level of commanded obedience.) That is usually how the Lord works, even in our lives today. For He is the same – yesterday, today and forever.

Was Abram a great man before he was chosen? We are not told that he was. But based on the examples of other men and women, chosen by God over the centuries to fulfill a great purpose of our God - most likely he was not. He was probably just an “average Joe”, living and trying to be faithful daily to his wife Sarai (later Sarah) and his children in their provision and care.

The Lord chose this man Abram to be blessed, so Abram in turn would be a blessing. It was not solely for Abram’s own present and eternal joy and happiness alone, nor just for his family, but primarily so that all the families on the earth, throughout the centuries, would be blessed. The goal was to have him blessed, so he would be a blessing. That is God’s purpose in our lives today too.

History proves over and over again that the descendants of the Father of Faith, as Abraham is now known, have certainly blessed the nations. The Jews have given the world untold new inventions, technology, cultural and societal foundations, while continuing life even when being surrounded by all seeking to destroy them.

“Abraham believed this, and because he believed, he was blessed. All people who believe are blessed the same as Abraham was.” Galatians 3:9 (Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version)

As fellow believers in the One True God, the God of Israel, Who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, we are called to walk in obedience as Abraham did. We too have been chosen by God, not because of our greatness or accomplishments, or because we were born in this country, to this family, with this education, etc., but because the Lord’s heart wants to bless, and use us to do so.

God our Father wants to bless the nations, His creation, for eternal enjoyment with Him. Having a true Father’s heart, we have been chosen to receive His blessings, so we in turn can bless those we are among, and those we are going to, all the while extending His Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.

“Give us this day our daily bread” - part of the Lord’s prayer Himself while walking the streets of Jerusalem, and training men and women to be His disciples - is included in His priestly prayer. Receiving daily gifts in order to sustain life, to give out of that which we have received, continues to be His heart. His children, His disciples, receiving from His heart, to give to others who will then come to know of His love.

In your seeking His daily path today, be aware of that placed within you, given to share with those He brings you in contact with. Seek to be a blessing, as you have been blessed. In this way the nations of the world will be blessed too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Note: Abraham was originally named by his father as אברם (Abram) and later changed to אברהם by God. As every Hebrew name has a meaning, always related to the character of the person, it is important to know what their names mean. In the case of Ya'acov (Jacob - he grabs the heel) it was changed by God to yisrael (Israel - turns the head of God). As there was a change in character, there is also a change in the name.

While many suggest that Abram means "exalted father" and Abraham means "father of a multitude", both names in fact mean exactly the same thing "father lifted up" or "exalted father". The beginning of both names is אב (AB) meaning "father". The "ram" in Abram is דם meaning "lifted", a parent root. The "raham" in Abraham is רהם also means "lifted", a child root derived from the parent root Mr.

It does not make much sense to change a name if the new name means the same thing. This is why many attempt to make a change in meaning. But, to understand the real meaning behind a name change is important for understanding why God changed his name and the names of others such as Jacob to Israel.

In Genesis chapters one and two we have the naming of all of creation. We find that Adam named Eve, his children and all of the animals, while God named the light, darkness, sky and land. From this we find something very interesting. Adam had authority over his wife, children and the animals, while God has authority over the light, darkness, sky and land.

If you have authority over something, you have the right and responsibility to name it. Abram was named by his father Terah, the one who had authority over him. But, when Abram left his father's house and headed out on his own, God, who respected the authority of Terah previously, now takes the role of his authority and changes his name indicating a change in authority, not necessarily a change in character.

(Source: Jeff A. Benner, www.ancient-hebrew.org/emagazine)

   

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 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 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

No Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #136 “Blessed To Be A Blessing” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.31.14) Monday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

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