Ahava Love Letter - “Disappointed with Small Beginnings?” (Steve Martin)

“Disappointed with Small Beginnings?” “The Lord is close to those who have suffered disappointment.  He saves those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18

Dear family of friends,

Disappointments happen to each of us. We work long and hard for a special event, a needed life change, a relationship gone sour needing to be rebuilt…and yet we so often experience hurt and frustration when it doesn’t happen the way we had hoped. And even expected the way it should have. 

Then we want to blame God, while asking the question which often haunts many, “Why God?”

It happened to me again. But by this time I had learned not to question the One who loves, the One who cares, the One who I know had asked me to do something, and so I did. It didn’t turn out the way I had expected, or at least had hoped it would. But then after many starts and finishes now, you get back up and go on. Persistence will pay off if we don’t quit.

When only eight people showed up for the event (and five were from my own family), for which I had been planning for months, and had spent time, energy and money on while expecting at least 30-50, I was truly disappointed. As I sat there on the table, before the cars would start pulling up, after the final two hour long decorating and other preparations had been done, I fought against that which I knew wanted to attack me. 

Disappointment. Rejection. The lying voice whispering, “You really didn’t hear His voice, did you?”

Several times over the years, I knew that I knew - in my “knower” as one Bible teacher used to say – that I had heard the Lord, did what He asked, and then didn’t get the expected results. At least not at the start.

Whether it involved a ministry job change, a major move for the family, a purchase of great value, or sharing a word with someone and then getting some backlash, it took time before the real purpose of the Lord was understood and the promise fulfilled.

I have learned, after much practice of course, that His ways are not our ways. He led Moses to the Red Sea, with what seemed to be an impossible way of crossing, after leading the Hebrews out of bondage. Joshua had to march his army around a stronghold city seven times. What was he thinking after the 6^th lap? Daniel was placed in the lion’s den. Did it at any time first cross his mind, “If only I had obeyed the king and avoided this.” 

Really God? Is this how you operate?

It sure is. They were able to face that because of the lessons they committed themselves to learn in the long process leading up to that point.

The Lord God Almighty wants to teach us to simply obey His word first. He wants us to step out and do what we believe He has called us to do. The results are to be left in His hands; not in our well planned out ones. As we learn to walk through that which we face today, the bigger giants yet coming will be looked at with faith and courage too.

It may be years before we realize that the seed planted in the dirt will become a mighty tree, or the word spoken to that person will long settle in their spirit, and they become the next Billy Graham.

(Photo by Steve Martin - in Charlotte, NC)

The Lord is not short on time, or bringing about His planned purposes. He knows the beginning from the end. After all, He IS the Father of time, the Creator of all things. And His plans and purposes will come about, even as He truly has spoken. After all, Jesus (Yeshua) rose from the dead, proving that He is true and we can eternally believe His word.

Take courage in hearing His voice. Don’t give up or allow disappointments in small beginnings to keep you from seeking the Lord with your whole heart, mind, will and emotions. He is the Rewarder, and you will see the good results.

It just takes a little more time.

Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

 

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

 Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com   martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People    

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com     

   

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Ahava Love Letter #67   “Disappointed with Small Beginnings?”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (08/11/13 Sunday at 7:30 am in Charlotte, NC)

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog:

 http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com   

     

Here are the last few:

Rise Again (#66)

The Cities (#65)

How can You Mend A Broken Heart (#64)

Anxious (#63)

Hidden (#62)

Get Back in the Boat (#61)

Need Money? (#60)

Rejected? (#59)

In Your Building – Guard Against Distractions (#58)

Connections (#57)

Your Name (#56)

Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends (#55)

The eight who came! (L-R) Faithful friends Sandra McCain, Josh Martin (our oldest son), Susan & Mike Greene (blessings on ye heads!), Logan Martin ( a fun-loving grandson - in front), Laurie Martin (my good wife!), Dylan Joy and Logan Martin (grand kids whom we love!)

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The Site of the Tabernacle When the Israelites Arrived in the Holy Land

Before There Was Jerusalem, There Was Shiloh
-- The Site of the Tabernacle When the Israelites Arrived in the Holy Land


Interior of old Temple at Shiloh (1908, Library of Congress).

The building is now closed. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the Tabernacle there, and the land was subdued before them. (Joshua 18:1)

When Joshua brought the children of Israel across the Jordan River he was really leading a new nation, born in Egypt and Sinai but forged for 40 years in the furnace of the desert.

Their journey had started hundreds of years earlier when Jacob's sons, grazing their flocks near Shechem (Nablus), sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Their descendants returned to the same area in Samaria bearing Joseph's body for burial in Shechem. They chose the nearby village of Shiloh as the resting place for the Tabernacle which housed altars, the menorah, the ark of the Covenant and more.



Ruins of Shiloh (circa 1910, Library of Congress)

There the Tabernacle would remain for almost 400 years, the place for pilgrimages and sacrifices. In Shiloh, Joshua drew lots to divide up the land among the Israelite tribes. Eli the High Priest officiated.

A woman named Hannah came to Shiloh to pray for a son and promised he would serve the Lord if he was born. Samuel was born to Hannah. He served in the Tabernacle and was the prophet who anointed Saul and then David as kings. David shifted his capital first to Hebron and then to Jerusalem.

Archaeologists today have little doubt that the area known as Sailun was the location of biblical Shiloh. Evidence



Tourists/pilgrims at Shiloh (1891, with permission of the

  New Boston Fine and Rare Books) of early

  synagogues, churches and mosques can be found there.

In the Talmudic period and the Middle Ages Shiloh was a destination for pilgrims.

We recently discovered online an antique book, "A Month in Palestine and Syria, April 1891," posted by the New Boston Fine and Rare Books. The book includes a travelogue and several dozen photographs of tourists and pilgrims. They also visited Shiloh.

Unfortunately, the antique book shop does not know the name of the photographer or author. We would welcome suggestions from our readers.

Today, religious pilgrims are usually found in the south, in a place called Jerusalem.


Group from the American Colony visiting the
"sacred circle" in Shiloh (1937, Library of Congress)


Ancient Shiloh today (photo courtesy of Yisrael Medad)

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Click on caption to view the original picture.

New Pictures Added to Shiloh Feature,
Snapped 135 Years Apart



Ruins of ancient Shiloh (circa 1870, Palestine Exploration Fund, 

taken by British Sgt. Henry Phillips)



Shiloh today (picture by David Rabkin, 2006)

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Ahava Love Letter (#59) - Rejected?

“Rejected?” "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord,  choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:  whether the gods which your fathers served which  were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites  in whose land you are living; but as for me and my  house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh 24:15 NASU)

Dear family of friends,

When my pastor this past Sunday morning spoke of having to battle against rejection at times, I was a bit surprised. One normally thinks and believes that our pastors, or any leader of any organization for that matter, rarely deal with rejection. We think that it is a concern only us “little guys” and “average Joe Christians” deal with. Often, for that matter.

But then I could understand why. Even remembering what I had read about in regards to other leaders in the past. Both throughout the days when the Torah/Scriptures were written, and all the centuries since, it was common. Rejection happens.

If you stand for truth, you will be rejected most often. If you believe and take the opposite flow of what is daily becoming the “accepted norm” in many cultures, you soon become the outcast. As I saw in a cartoon many years ago, in the first segment the sheep were encircling a lone wolf. In the second slide, the wolves were encircling the lone sheep. Seem true today? It is.

 So what do we do about rejection, for we will surely encounter it - in subtle ways, and in outright confrontations. It will occur in the office, in the school, classroom, on the city street, and even in some churches and synagogues.

We stand. We keep our eyes fixed on Yeshua (Jesus), the Author and Finisher of our faith, and we hold our position. We acknowledge that truth isn’t a gray situation. It is black and white. There is a foundation that has been laid, and on which we can be certain it will hold steady. That foundation, after all, is the Creator, He is the Supreme Being, He is the living God of Israel.

I have told people that I expect to be martyred for my faith. If you are going to die for something, it better be worth living for, for dying may be the ultimate price you will pay. Choose to live a meaningful life, that will count for eternity. Stand strong for the truth.

As the world continues to turn against the Judeo/Christian principles, as the nations vehemently oppose the nation of Israel, as the dark clouds grows stronger on the horizon, I do not fear rejection. I expect it. And I know in Whose loving and protective arms I rest in, and where my eternal spirit/soul/resurrected body will reside.

Either we stand together, or we will fall by our self. It is our choice.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 

Come heaven or hell.

Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. 

Click here for  Online PayPal gifts using  your card.  Don't have a PayPal account? You can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134

      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People     

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Ahava Love Letter #59  - “Rejected?”

 Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (07/07/13 Sunday, Charlotte, NC)

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on my Blog:    http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com  

      

Here are the last few:

In Your Building – Guard Against Distractions (#58)

Connections (#57)

Your Name (#56)

Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends (#55)

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (#54)

We Speak To Nations (#53)

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Ahava Love Letter (#56) - "Your Name"

                              

                           “Your Name”


“Therefore Adonai Himself will give you people a sign: the young

woman will become pregnant, bear a son and name Him

‘Immanu El [God is with us].” (Isa 7:14 Complete Jewish Bible)

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua,

[which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because He will save His people

from their sins.” (Matt 1:21 Complete Jewish Bible.)

Dear family of friends,

The visit to the maternity ward last night caught me by surprise. The young couple, family friends of ours for over 24 years, hadn’t named their one day old son yet! I couldn’t believe it. (But, I found out this morning that his name is...ABRAHAM! I got to hold Abraham!)

As I held “To Be Named Later” in my arms, I was asking the Lord to myself, “Is this “Isaac”? Could he be “Joel” (after his uncle), “Barney” (not the TV character); Jimmie #48…? Maybe "Little Eddie” or "Joe"?"

Hey, maybe another Steven! (OK, so there are only 70 other Steve Martins in NC alone. Probably just in the greater Charlotte area itself.)

"Whom is this baby boy you have blessed us with, Adonai? What is his given name?" I pondered later.

Do you know your name is probably your most precious possession that you have been given?

Think about it. You can have a special hairdo, and change it every week. You can put all kinds of ink on your body to make you stand out, but will be gone when your grave is all we see. You can even put on the latest fad, to “keep up with the Jones’, or Robertsons’ now a days, to have that edge I guess, and make your name popular. If that is what you consider important.

But your name. That is special, and I believe the Lord Himself gave it to you.

When our four kids (now full grown adults with kids of their own) were about to be birthed, both Laurie and I were involved in choosing their special names. In our attempt to get it right, we used the “Name Your Baby” book, checked relatives names, and even noted what was “popular” at the time. But in the end, I believe we were led by the Lord in naming each of them, for He already knew them.

Josh would be a leader. Firstborn. To be like Joshua, helping Moses (Moshe).

Ben would be the “Son - of the right hand”, as it means in Hebrew, “Ben-jamin”. I know he is.

Hannah would be one who loved children. Both Hannahs in the Old and New Testaments. And she surely does!

Christen almost was named “Kristen”, but the Lord told us her name was to be spelled “Christen” – even as “Christ”, our Messiah and Lord.

If you think you were named by accident, or maybe don’t even like your name, trust that something as important as who you are, especially in the Lord’s eyes and heart, was not a mistake. 

The Lord knows you by name. When all is said and done, He calls you by your name, for He was certainly involved when you were in His heart, from the beginning of eternity.

Just let Him know, even now, how grateful you are that He knows you. That He knows your name. You are special to Him. He loves you so much.

Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

P.S. Our Lord has many names, as written in our Bible, the Scriptures, both in the Old Testament (Tanakh in Hebrew) and in the New Testament (B’rit Hadashah).

The one I like most is “Yeshua – “Adonai saves”. At the end of this letter I have included a few pieces of artwork, for you to print out along with this letter.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. You can send checks to the address below. 

Special note: My HP laptop is over 5 years old. That's ancient in tech years (as opposed to dog years.) I have asked the Lord for a new one, to handle current software. 

If you have been encouraged by my Ahava Love Letters, please consider a gift to this ministry, to keep these cards and letters coming! A check made out to Love For His People, Inc. (tax receipt always given) or a new piece of equipment will work! 

Our mailing address is below. 

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

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Ahava Love Letter #56   “Your Name” Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (05/31/13 Friday, 5:00 am. Charlotte, NC)

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