“Blaze the Trail” by Steve Martin

Blaze the Trail

As a young boy I loved reading biographies of Christian explorers and missionaries, who went to places never gone before, as they knew it, to take the Gospel to the nations.

I enjoyed the exploits and explorations of David Livingstone in Africa, Chariots of Fire Eric Liddell in China, and the various saints who lived for the Lord Jesus and followed His leading daily.

These were ones who blazed the trail, which meant being among the first to step out and do that which was beyond the norm, facing the fears, and praying daily for courage, boldness, and just plain sheer determination to fulfill their calling from the Lord.

As spoken in the “Star Wars” TV series words, by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in the original 1966–1969 television series, the full speech is:

"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before!"

 

“To boldly go where no man has gone before” is truly an adventurous calling one receives when the word is spoken by the Captain of Hosts to you.

Ruth in the Bible also spoke it correctly when she said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Ruth 1:16, NASB

Will you blaze a trail? Will you be one available to go when called and do what needs to be done in His Name?

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

“All in the Lord’s Hands” by Steve Martin

All in the Lord’s Hands

I can’t say this was the “best trip” I ever had to Israel (and there have been dozens.) Three days after landing in Jerusalem (by train) I get the beginning of pneumonia which lasted past three weeks. No fun.

Not what I had planned on, as I had come for six weeks to serve with Christian Friends of Israel. My plan was to be continually on the go, doing the marvelous work.

In an earlier message I had written, “Why Ask Why,” we often proclaim that our times are in our Lord’s hands. As for me, my times still are. His hands are certainly big enough, as His heart is always for us, so our trust in Him and His care must grow even as affliction comes our way.

I most likely won’t be writing my 44th book, with chapters of this time, least of all about the events that never happened on this trip. There is just not enough material after spending those first three weeks sick and not doing much.

A personal prophetic word received before coming on this adventure was about “noticing.” I must say I have noticed more than one important thing in these days.

As a Christian, my support for Israel and the Jews remains strong, as the world, deceived in so many ways, continues going the wrong way. Now more than ever believers must stand with the Lord’s choice, those He has brought back to their Land of Israel.

I also noticed that I can bless Israel from my home in the United States. These past 31 trips over the decades enabled me to make many one on one friendships, in person, Jew and Christian, that will last for eternity.

Now I will still encourage them. Only it will be just a bit farther away on this small planet. Words written and hearts shown go a long way.

And here is another final thought as I close out this journey and head home. We each are called to give an account of our days, seeking the God of Israel to know what those days are to be, as clearly as we can.

Following in obedience will take you places you never dreamed of; blessing people you never knew but now do; and seeing His miracles happen right before your eyes, in those places He has and continues to direct your steps.

 Maybe even in the land where Yeshua (Jesus) is returning to. And soon.

My beloved friends here, in good cheer, have said to me, “Next year in Jerusalem.” I smile and quietly say to myself, “Lord, Your will be done. You lead. I will follow. And may that be so all the days of my remaining life.”

“The Lord will send His goodness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8, NASB

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Jerusalem, Oct. 18, 2026

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

Our last Friday in Jerusalem - photos

Jerusalem door in beautiful neighborhood.

Photos from our last Friday in Jerusalem, Israel here on Oct. 17, 2026.

Steve Martin

Jewish neighborhood across from the Old City.

The Montifiore windmill in Jerusalem

Marriage proposal in Jerusalem park!

Shabbat meal gathering

Eliora Hall plays keyboard for our Succat Hallel Friday night watch worship team 10-11 pm.

Steve Martin, Eliora, father Tristan Hall - worship team at Succat Hallel

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

Worship the Lord with me in Jerusalem. Steve Martin

Worship the Lord with me in Jerusalem.

Steve Martin, October 2026

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

Tiberias, Israel videos

Some videos from our trip to Tiberias Oct. 10-11, 2026.

The first two are just audio as the Russian Jewish congregation did not want video taken.

Be sure to view the walls along the Sea of Galilee and more.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, in Jerusalem

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

“Why Ask Why” by Steve Martin

Why Ask Why?

Having had pneumonia the first three weeks of those 24 days in Jerusalem was not expected. 

Something one just never plans for, given the time we have in Israel doesn’t occur every day.

I guess I could do what comes natural and ask, “Why, God?” but then we don’t always need to know why, do we?

Have we not often prayed and declared with all our faith, “My times are in His hands!”

Have we not said, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8, NASB

We pray for guidance and protection. We ask for His Holy Spirit to direct our every step. We seek to know His will and walk in it.

And then the unexpected happens; that sickness, that accident, that moment or lengthy time of the “this won’t happen to me” happens to me.

So, what do we do? Moan and groan? Complain? Yell at the Lord for “not being who I expected You to be” and keep me from all harm, injury, and difficulties?

We are here for a certain time. We are called to walk as we know to do, heeding His Word and listening to His voice.

Even after decades of doing just that, we are not “guaranteed” the life of a perfect life. No beloved of the Lord has. 

We are guaranteed that He will always be with us and not forsake us.

We may not know why now. But someday we will. And in Him we shall trust everyday, until that day.

Until then we keep saying, “My times are in Your hands” and believe Him.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Jerusalem 10.10.26

“Now What?” - Joni Ames

NOW WHAT? (10/9/26), Article by Joni Ames 

Dear Friends,

I laid in bed thinking about what all I’ve done in my life. I was a single mom who worked for other Ministries, eventually went into my own ministry, and even trained others for ministry. And now in my 70s, I said to God, “Now what?“

Do you know what He said to me? “That’s up to you.“

That was a mic drop minute for me. 

At the end of everything is a new beginning. If we will allow ourselves to not quit, not feel sorry for ourselves, not give up, but to step into it, our life still has value and meaning.

We may be slower, but we don’t have to be done and over with.

Age does not equal stupidity. It equals experience. 

When I was in the hospital, one person came around and was asking me my background. They asked my highest level of education, and I said I have a doctorate in theology, an associates degree in business, and a certificate degree in computer operations. She about flipped out. She said she had never before met a patient with a doctorates degree in anything, let alone to have two other degrees as well.

When she left the room, that caused me to feel pretty good about myself and my life. It got my mind off of my health situation and onto the fact that no matter what my health situation is, my life and education and experience is still worthwhile.

When we go through life-changing experiences, we have a choice as to what our life will change into. Will we sit and rot, or will we use the experience and life we have left for the good.

I developed a saying earlier on in my life and it goes like this, “If you let anything start stopping you it will never stop stopping you, so don’t let it start.”

So even though I can’t travel all over the country like I used to, I have continued to teach and minister and council utilizing Zoom and other means of communication. 

You would be surprised as to how that works. Because you can be having a rough day and feel down on yourself, but when you give out what God has in you, the return is that it encourages you as well. 

Other people can give up on you if they want to. That’s their problem. But don’t you give up on you.

Write articles and let them become books. Speak what is on your mind and let it become teachings for the younger generation. 

My students at the schools of ministry that I teach at over Zoom have told me that the stories of my life encourage them to know that God is real and helps them to continue to press on in life.

I remember Rick Joyner saying that in the very areas where we have been wounded, once we are healed, we then have authority to heal others. 

We don’t just wear scars. We wear badges of courage from days gone by. From the battles and victories we have experienced throughout the years.

In other countries, they value their elders. They know that they have wisdom to pass on to the younger generations. For some reason in America, they often throw the older folks away and forget them. How sad. 

I love it when a younger person asks me for my advice. Even if it is just about cooking. Because I love to cook and I am a good cook.

When I lived in South Carolina, I would cook lasagna or meatballs or some favorite dish and put it into containers and give it away to the workmen in my apartment building or my neighbors. They loved it. So did I.

At Christmas time over the years, a couple of my aunts would bake Christmas goodie boxes of cookies, cakes, and candies and send them to me. Those became my favorite things to receive.

With platforms such as Instagram and TikTok and Facebook, your wisdom has a place to be shared. Whether it is about cooking or just life in general. Don’t let it go to waste. Use it. 

So in answer to the question, “Now what?“ - the answer is, “That’s up to you.” and the question is, What will you do?

Do what makes you happy and what will make other people happy. Fill your days with good things. It’s up to you. 

Love and Blessings to you!🙏 

Joni 

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JONI’s INFO

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Cash App: $joniames

Venmo: @Joni-Ames

Zelle: joniames@aol.com

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Joni Ames

P.O. Box 58026

Charleston, WV 25358

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Joni’s ministry bio

http://eepurl.com/jrq-ig

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To schedule a zoom meeting with Joni, email her at:

joniames@aol.com

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@everyone 

@followers 

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Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA