The Little Foxes - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Little Foxes

Steve Martin

“Catch the foxes for us, yes, the little foxes! They are ruining the vineyards when our vineyards are in bloom!” (Song of Songs 2:15, Complete Jewish Bible)

It’s the little things, right? Those small words or actions that at times we may overlook, allowing them to slide off our back or pushed aside as meaningless, but at other times they hit you with that thought, “Who does she think she is?”, or “You know, he always does that to me, and I am tired of it.”

As a society we have become so easily offended, having thin skin, and thus we let little things get under it. One word or action directed our way, not taken right, can set us off. If something is spoken or done to you one more time, the scale is tipped. Those little foxes have caught us off guard, and we let the offense come.

It has happened to me. It has happened to you. Right?

In the past few days, I got smacked twice by this. Usually, it comes by someone close, and you take the word or action wrong. You may expect these things to occur from others, but when a family or friend’s actions don’t quite line up with your expectations, it strikes and can wound the spirit and soul. And rather than let it go (“Let it go, let it go…”) you react, and most likely strike back.

Sometimes it was never meant as an offense by the other, but because of who you or, how you were raised, or what has happened in the past by another, you take it to heart, and get offended.

We know the devil hates us, or at least we should. We must know that the spirit of offense will attack, looking to stir up trouble and get us off our straight and narrow. At times the little foxes cause no problem, darting back and forth, as we maintain our alertness to their schemes. But at other times they can ruin a day, week, or even longer. We get hit by an offense and it knocks us off course.

Relationships, even the ones that are strong and bullet-proof, are hit by this spirit at any time. If we are caught unaware, the effect of the attack can be long-lasting. If we walk in forgiveness, we can overcome the hit and move on. If we don’t, it may ruin our “sweet wine” of friendship in the vineyard of life. We must not let the foxes, the little ones, get to us. Otherwise, the hit can be the start of a small, downward spiral, possibly ending in broken ties. We must continually be on our guard. The strengthening bonds of our relationships, as we are being knit together in fellowship, must be strong enough to hold off the attacks that come our way.

There is a reason we are told in Scriptures to put on the armor of the Lord which He provides. It is because we need it. It will if worn properly, protect us daily.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:11-18, NKJV)

Don’t let the little foxes outsmart you. We wise. Be alert. Know that we have a target on our back, as the enemy of our soul seeks to strike and divide us. We must not let that happen.

If you get hit, and most likely you will, be prepared to walk in forgiveness so you can keep moving on. There is too much at stake in our lives and those around us to let the little things stop us from loving and letting His life flow in and through us.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

By the way, 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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Now Think On This #389 - in the year of our Lord 02.01319 – “Little Foxes” – Wednesday, 4:25 am

Intimacy - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Intimacy

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“My beloved responded and said to me,

'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,

And come along.

'For behold, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone.

'The flowers have already appeared in the land;

The time has arrived for pruning the vines,

And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

'The fig tree has ripened its figs,

And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.

Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,

And come along!'"

Song of Songs 2:10-13 NASU)

As my bride came down the church aisle that beautiful early evening, I sang these Scriptural words to her that I had written in my song, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along.” Though I had intended to sing several verses, I choked up on the second one. My heart was just overwhelmed at her beauty, her movement in that flowing white laced gown, and the presence of the Lord’s Holy Spirit in that place of matrimony. The time had come for us to be joined together as man and wife.

What seemed to have been a decade long wait was about to be fulfilled in that moment, as we were acknowledging the Lord’s plans and purposes for unity. Out of our desire to share the love in our hearts, He would also bring forth a family to demonstrate His love on the earth, in preparation for the eternal love in heaven.

From that day forward, we have grown in our care and provision for each other, sharing the gifts and spiritual fruit we each have had to give. In physical, emotional and spiritual intimate moments, we have experienced a touch of what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have shared for all eternity. Believing that through the times of trials and required persistency, our hearts have been bonded together, the intimacy becoming more real in our lives together.

Being intimate with one other is not an “overnight sensation” that one can have with another simply out of a physical act. To participate in the intent of the Father’s love for mankind, there must be that commitment to be joined together for the long haul; to stand strong when the temptation is to flee; to keep the promise that was spoken at the altar years before. Intimacy is not for those who are looking for a quick satisfaction of one’s emotional lust, but is given to committed hearts who have been and continue to be willing to sacrifice for each other, time and time again. From that solid promise to stay through sickness and health, riches or poverty, until death do we part, the intimate moments are fully experienced, fulfilling the longing in each heart to be accepted, nourished and kept in committed and submitted love.

In today’s society there is the prevailing belief that there can be emotional intimacy without having a strong commitment to one another beyond a sexual act. When the Lord says that sex outside of marriage is wrong, it is because the Creator knows that a deep soulish tie will occur, bringing hurt and lasting pain when an improper joining happens. We were not created to share this intimate act in a non-binding relationship.

The emotional and physical act also carries with it a spiritual bond that has to be kept within the protected walls of marriage. Thus doing that which was intended only within the committed relationship of sacred marriage will produce an emotional scar, keeping us from experiencing real love. It will also leave a strong imprint that will need to be healed later. Our loving Father thus has warned over and over again that sexual intimacy is for the marriage bed only.

Laws are made to protect us, not to keep us from the Lord’s goodness and favor. Abiding in His laws of love and protection will bring eternal satisfaction, keeping our hearts pure and emotions strong. Breaking His loving laws will produce destruction in our spirit, soul and body.

Intimacy between a man and a woman is a beautiful gift from God. Keeping it that way is a protection for our society and the good of all mankind.

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.

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Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

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Now Think On This #169 “Intimacy” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (03.29.15) Sunday at 12:30 pm in Charlotte, NC

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