Only the Beginning - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Only the Beginning

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“The end of something is better than its beginning, so the patient are better than the proud.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, Complete Jewish Bible)

There are times the Lord will give me a word that I “hear” in my head, and I know He has something for me to share in writing. At other times I will ask Him for a word, and then He tells me. This time He gave me the words, “Only the beginning.”

Now I know that that is in the lyrics of the song Beginnings, sung by the band Chicago in the 1970’s. But I don’t think it has anything to do with that. I believe there is something else the Lord wants to speak at this time.

My sense is that there are some of us, myself included at times, who may think our “assignment”, whether it be on a job, in a particular situation we have been in for a period, or even near the completion of this life, is done. We get the feeling that it is over, the season has passed, and now it is time to move on. For some it may be we are wanting it over, out of discouragement or disappointment. We may really hope it is.

That may be true. That aspect of your life, or mine, may be done. But it does not mean that our long term purpose and plan of the Lord is over. It may be it is only the beginning of something new; the next challenge we are to face and be as a conqueror in and through it. We may be close to finishing the one assignment. We have gone through it in preparation for the next.

When I meditate on the ways of the Lord, and read of His actions in the many lives of the biblical characters, I find peace and hope that He fully knows the beginning and the end for each of us. As we put our trust in Him, we can be certain that what may have been seen as bad will prove in the end to be good.

The Word does say clearly, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30, NASU)

When I consider the works of His hands, such as how a mountain stream begins as a small trickle and gathers momentum as it works its way down the slope, I am confident of this. Those things which may seem unimportant at first, due to lack of size or notice, will one day be the full, finished product the Maker had in mind all along.

Look at how many times a large corporation “started off in the garage” of its founder.

Whether you are hoping to finish something now in your life, and glad it is almost over, or just beginning something new, be reassured that the Lord has promised to be with you every step along the way. In good and in bad, in sickness and in health, our Bridegroom will remain steadfast to see us through. He has promised to be there, from the beginning to the end.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, 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 Year of our Lord 04.22.17 - #280 – “Only the Beginning” – Saturday, 1:40 pm

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

Again, 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

When It Hasn’t Happened Yet - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

When It Hasn’t Happened Yet

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“My soul, wait in silence for God alone, because my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I won’t be moved.” (Psalm 62:6-7 Complete Jewish Bible)

Disappointment and discouragement go hand in hand. You had put your hopes on an expected desire to be fulfilled, and it didn’t happen. Discouragement then followed, and you even wondered if what had been promised to you would ever happen. It has been two years, five years, even seven years since the word was delivered to you. Might it even be 40? What is going on Lord?

Thinking back, you believe you did all the right things along the way. You prayed, you fasted, you gave yourself to everything you knew to do. And yet in the time you thought it would have come by now it had not. The right person to marry, that move to another location to start over, the beginning of a new work that had been burning in your heart since youth.

“Surely this was you Lord, and yet when will it come to pass? Why is it taking so long?” you cry silently in your heart.

We all know the stories of Moses and Joseph, who each were given a word that they would do something great for God. For Moses, it was to lead God’s people out of the long-endured suffering in Egypt. For Joseph, it was to rule a nation in order to save his family, and many others. Both of these would be mighty accomplishments if they ever happened. But years into the struggle to believe, it hadn’t. I can imagine Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) saying to himself in the 39^th year, “I am quitting. This will never happen. How could I have been so wrong?”

And Joseph, in prison for two years, previously spending 11 with the Egyptian Potiphar after being bought as his slave, could have said the same. “It won’t happen. The dream was just a dream. What was I thinking?”

How many times have we come so close to seeing something completed, a dream come true, and then we gave up hope just short of it? Probably more that we would know, by not allowing the Lord’s time period to be completed. But even in those times we missed it, the Lord was still directing our steps. He realizes our weaknesses, and accomplishes His will in spite of those shortcomings.

Knowing that our Lord Jesus knows all, I am encouraged that He will indeed finish what He started. The hope within, to keep on pressing on, even when it seems nothing will change, in and of itself is a gift from the Lord. His Holy Spirit within us is there to help us keep believing, trusting, and seeing our dream accomplished. After all, He is the One who gave us the dream. And when it hasn’t happened as yet, He will give us the grace and fortitude to keep hoping and trusting until it does.

I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV)

The promise, the dream, the desire of your heart will come to pass. The Lord Himself gave that to you, and He was not kidding around. What He says He will do, He will do. Keep strong in your faith, and don’t give up.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily 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 02.23.16 - #246 –“When It Hasn’t Happened Yet” – Tuesday at 11:15 am

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

Again, 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

You’ve Got Mail - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

You’ve Got Mail

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

  

One of my good wife’s favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. It is considered one of those drama/romance genres. A rather cute movie, a love story about a struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) who meets, and then hates (or the other way around) Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of the corporate Foxbooks chain store that just moved in across the New York City street.

It is a classic movie which I enjoy watching also. Occasionally we’ll pull the video out, or maybe the DVD. I forget what format we have.

Short version, so as not to spoil it if you choose to check it out on Netflix or Redbox - Joe takes all of Kathleen’s customer business, and then they end up in love. But that only happens after they unknowingly exchange some emails with each other, which in 1998 was still new to some people. If my memory serves me right, and 9 out of 10 times it still does, the story develops in such a way that you keep hoping they will discover who the other one really is that they are communicating with, and that they would fall in love. In the end they do, and you get all teary eyed. At least my wife does. (And I think I have too.)

I thought it was rather odd that Holy Spirit (notice He is not “the” or “it” but a real person) would drop that movie into my mind as I finally woke up, after being woken up at 1 am this morning by Him. He is known for that. Giving you a random thought, even in the middle of the night, but then explaining it more after you spend a little time in waiting, and seeking, the purpose He had in giving it to you.

His communication style is fun at times. It reminds me of playing hide and go seek as a child, or even now with a grandchild. He will say something, wait for you to acknowledge Him, and then give you a little bit more to keep you hearing. Hide, seek, and find.

For me, it is how He gives a prophetic word for someone – just a picture in my mind, a single word, or a short sentence, and then as I speak it forth, He gives me more to share with that one He is wanting to bless. Moving in faith brings reward, and blesses others in the process.

So what about “You’ve Got Mail”? I just believe the Lord is wanting to get someone’s attention who is reading this, and let you know that it is actually He Who has been speaking to you all the time. You thought it was just you.

He wants you to know He loves you, knows where you are at, and is already working out the situation far better than you could hope or imagine.

You are not alone. You have not been abandoned. He knows the pain, hurt and sorrow. He has been there. Done that.

He loves you so much, and is so happy that you are His child. He is not out to “get you” as some would think. He is out to get you - to share more of His love with you.

So heh! You’ve got mail!

Now treasure this.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:31-39 NKJV)

Touch them even now Lord. Let them know of Your awesome love.

Love you,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We support Israel.

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 #204 “You’ve Got Mail” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (11.10.15) Tuesday at 2:31 am 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

Again, 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

Expectations - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Expectations

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:2-4 NASU

Expectations come and go, rise and fall, and can be fulfilled or left hanging as we press forward. We experience different levels of expectations during our lifetime, as we seek to know the will of our Father, Who knows all and desires to see us walk in His way. Along that way, each of us will be given the opportunity to learn to trust in Him, expecting His promises and purposes to come about as He has said. Often that trust and faith in Him is tested, even as disappointments and setbacks occur.

In times past I have been told that my expectations were too high, that I need not hope as much as I did. Most often it was because I was looking at people to bring about a certain fulfillment in my dreams, rather than the Lord Himself. There had been opportunities to experience something different and new, but when circumstances or the people I looked to did not bring about the expected result I was hoping for, I had to guard my heart from disappointment and press hard into the Father’s heart for an answer. 

At times it was not easy. At times it seemed that I had gone as far as I would or could go, and really didn’t want to believe again for a better result. The temptation was to settle for things as they were, and be content with that. But we all know that that doesn’t bring fulfillment, does it?

After spending another time slowly re-reading the biblical story of Joseph and his expectations, and the resulting situations, I once again became encouraged to trust that the Lord does redeem our times and seasons. It is though in His time. Those pits and prisons are real. But also the release and triumph can be just as real. It becomes a matter of time for His plan to become reality for us.

As we hear or read of others who have gone before with their life stories, we realize that they too had to overcome the disappointments, the failures of oneself and others, the unfulfilled expectations that they had placed their hope in. They had to daily press on, to push forward, to contend for the prize set before them, in order to gain the higher ground. It was a battle, in an even great spiritual war.

In Isaiah 40:30-31 the Word says, “Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.” Complete Jewish Bible

Whether young or old, we must keep our hope in Adonai, our Savior, in order to renew our strength. When anticipated expectations do not come about as we had hoped, once again we must stand on the foundation He has laid. Once again we must experience His renewal, His uplifting of our wings, as we run the race set before us. Though we will become weary and tired, He will not fail us in our journey.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

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.

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,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #164 - “Expectations” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (11.11.14) Tuesday at 8:30 am in Charlotte, NC

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog.

Pick Me - Overcoming Rejection & Disappointment - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Pick Me
- Overcoming Rejection 
& Disappointment 

- Now Think On This
by Steve Martin

“You did not choose Me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16 CJB (Complete Jewish Bible CJB)


When it came time to pick teams for the grade school lunch time recess kick ball game, I enjoyed taking the ones the other team didn't want. And then beating them with a team of "rejects."

What others saw as being no good at playing ball, I liked to take those unchosen guys and girls and win the game, just by the sheer determination we had, if not because of natural talent. We didn't win all the time, but enough to gain some admiration from the opposing players, and the satisfaction of taking what others had rejected and proving them wrong.

In many ways the challenge of “getting picked or not getting picked” goes on throughout our lives. Even as an adult, I've been on the receiving end of "We don't need you," or "Sorry, but you don't have the qualifications." It hurts. Being rejected goes deep into our souls and spirits. It makes you feel like giving up in the pursuits you have been longing for. You sometimes wonder, "What is it going to take, Lord? When will I get picked?"

At times I don't have the answer, or can't seem to hear what I long to hear from the Lord when rejection occurs. The temptation is to just want to stop and say, “What is the use in trying?” We can reach a point where it is hard to continue believing it really will happen as you had dreamed, hoped, or seriously thought that it would.

So what do you do? Run from the Lord? Run to the Lord? Hide in shame because you once were convinced something wouldn't happen again, but then it did. Then you are not sure if it will ever have the promised fulfillment. Resisting bitterness at that point also becomes a challenge.

Hoping in people or an upcoming event, even trusting in one’s heart desires can't always be counted on. There are just too many circumstances that are out of our control, or so it seems to be. Thus disappointments, rejection and unfulfilled promises will continue to happen. They happened to Jesus - right down to His crucifixion.

David knew the rejection of family, in regards to his own father and brothers. He was likely sent to watch the sheep to keep out of their way. When all the others went to the battle front, it was David who had to stay behind, and do what was a meaningless job to others, a lowly shepherd, especially when one has aspirations of greater roles.

In Psalm 27:7-14, David wrote, “Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!" When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!" Don't hide from me now!

You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.

Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. Don't throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats.

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God.” (THE MESSAGE)

Throughout Scripture there are words that we must rely on. We need to learn to run to Him, for He is the Solid Rock. "My times are in Thy hands." (Psalm 31:15 NASB) It is a verse I have had to hold onto as truth often, when all else seems to be otherwise.

The Lord knows our pain. He understands the doubts and fears we face. He calls us to Himself, to help give us understanding when these times of rejection and disappointment come to each of us. They will come, but He does respond.

Disappointing experiences will pass. Another day will bring new understanding and opportunities to replace what was dreamed about. It doesn't make it any easier when we are in the midst of it, but knowing He will work it out, in His perfect timing, will help get us to the next day, and beyond.

If rejected, if disappointed, if seeing the promise unfilled...call on His Name, the Name of Jesus, Yeshua. Keep the hope He gives within, and move on with the overcoming spirit He has given to comfort us in the daily walk.

I had to again look to Him, even today, to overcome disappointment and that which I saw as rejection. Thankfully He was there in my time of need. I was able to stand and overcome the disappointment and rejection.

As the Scripture at the beginning of this message confirms, the Lord God has chosen us; He Himself has picked us to be His children. What confidence and faith for the future we can have because of this. When the times come that bring doubt, discouragement and rejection, we can stand on His Word. He has picked you and me, and He promised to see us through to the end.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

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.

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,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This #152 “Pick Me” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (05.19.14) Monday at 8:40 pm 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