“Be Not Caught Unaware” by Steve Martin

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​Be Not Caught Unaware

The unexpected happens. That which you “just knew” was going to happen, happened.

Were you ready? Did your foundation shake? Were you still standing when the dust had settled?

Every day dramatic and unexpected moments come about. You dread expecting them. You believed you were better prepared, but it turns out you were not.

The car accident. The tragic weather storm. The phone call from the hospital. The terrorist attack out of nowhere.

So, what do you do? What can you do?

Can we be best prepared for the news we do not want to hear or receive?

Strong foundations need to be established so that when tragedy does strike, even for “good people,” we are not caught unaware.

How can we be prepared with a solid rock to stand on?

The strongest, tallest buildings are not built over night.

When I worked uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, and a massive, tall building was being built, I was literally amazed when I looked through the peep hole in walled metal surrounding, keeping the area safe. The massive hole being dug went multiple stories down. It was incredibly deep!

The same can be said for our spiritual foundation. If a great strength, stance, and very secure position is going to be needed, as great a foundation must be in place to hold it.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ...” Matthew 7:24-27, NASB

Happy building. Be ready, for that time will surely come.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

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

“Direction - Get Some” - new book by Steve Martin

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Amazon for $5.95 paperback

Click here:  https://a.co/d/00iBJ5k9

In these times of the unexpected and the unknown, it is good to have the Solid Rock on which to stand. To have His direction, the Lord Jesus (Yeshua), and His Word is necessary for our lives these days.

Publishing life’s journey, for others to follow, has been a joy to share with you. This book contains some of what I have experienced.

A few of these messages were written while with the Christian Friends of Israel ministry team from Jerusalem; I have included them as they were sent out via email.

I hope you are blessed and encouraged, and that your walk with our Lord is strengthened in your reading time.

And…I included photos and images which I enjoyed taking and creating!

Buy now on Amazon: paperback for $5.95

Click here. https://a.co/d/0gbCJh0S

“Commitment - To Do or Not To Do” - message by Steve Martin

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Commitment - Do What Is Right

 

Walking the laps at the local gym sometimes (not always) reminds me of those high school days when practicing on the baseball or football teams. That was a long time ago, so I don’t think of that many times.

 

But as you will read more below in this message, Commitment - Do What is Right”, I trust your memory banks might be woken up for times of remembrance for you.

 

Before I pulled out of the drive to come to the gym, the Holy Spirit had me stop and go get one of my books. The young black man at the gym reception desk, Benjie, (“Benjamin” he said when I asked how he wanted it autographed when I saw him) might just read it. All Men Rise Up!

 

Be blessed, encouraged, and know more the love of our Lord today.

 

COMMITMENT- DO WHAT IS RIGHT

“Don’t stop. When you get to third base keep running!”

I am sure my Columbus High School baseball coach in Waterloo, Iowa, Brian “Duke” Dutkowski, yelled this a few times, wildly waving his arm in a circular motion as each of us ran the bases in practice.

And when it came to “game time” we already knew what to do. Keep running.

(It paid off. In 1971-1972 in my junior year, we went to the state finals. Though we lost the semi-final game 1-0 to the eventual champion.)

Being trained in the way we should go does not start the moment the game has already begun. Then it is too late. It must start long before, during the training season. When you have time to get it right.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

And then you are prepared to play properly when the umpire yells, “Play ball!”

Commitment must start at the beginning. It is extremely hard to change course in the middle of the crucial game, strategic battle, or when an unforeseen circumstance occurs at home, when the pressure is applied. Especially when you are unprepared, or non-committal.

The biblical writer of Hebrews tells us correctly.

“So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as God’s still calling it Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.” Hebrews 3:12-14, The Message

“Keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with.” Heed that word. Keep it close to your heart and in your spirit.

If we learn to do right at the start, when the time comes to apply the right choice, it will be done.

Commitment. Do what is right.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

“Be Encouraged” message by Steve Martin

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BE ENCOURAGED

 

 

As I wrote previously, I love August. Not because of the heat (preferable to bitter cold) but because the Lord has done great things for us in previous August months.

 

Moved at least two times; saw prayers answered like never before; and this August a “new” (only 37 years old) Chevy Silverado Sidestep 4x4 truck for $1,200! I have named it The GOLDEN CHARIOT. (Thanks Keith for the find!)

 

“What a beaut, Clark!”

 

And then… another “new treasure” - a five-year old Honda lawnmower (thanks son-in-law Andrew!) being my other Home Depot one said it was “too hot” to run.

 

We are all blessed when we are thankful for what the Lord gives us. New or “somewhat used.”

 

So be encouraged and read my message for you, BE ENCOURAGED below.

 

Ahava and shalom,

 

Steve Martin

Love For His People

 

P. S. I have enjoyed publishing new books and updating my previous ones with new covers and updates this August too. Take a look below. Now 42 books over the last 16 years. Thank You, Lord!

 

 

BE ENCOURAGED

Who does not need encouragement from time to time?

 

As I was updating some of my previously published books, with new covers and edited chapters, I was really encouraged. What the Lord had given me to share over these past years in writing confirmed of hearing the Lord and sharing His heart.

 

“For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:11-12, NASB

 

This is one aspect of our Christian faith that we can do for one another – encourage each one in our walk.

 

Whether we use our spiritual gifts to build one another up, allowing the fruit of the Holy Spirit that our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) has grown in us over our years to bless others; to helping those in need with prayer, financial support, or physical, practical assistance - it is wonderful and usual timely for both.

 

When we give out, the Lord gives back in. We cannot out give the Lord.

 

There have been many times when you and me have needed a helping hand, an encouraging word, a text or message from another simply saying, “You got this. The Lord is with you, and He will not forsake you.”

 

This also includes standing with our friends in Israel, and Jews in the USA who need us, as Isaiah 40:1-2 also says, ““Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. Speak kindly to Jerusalem…” (NASB)

 

Encouraging each other pleases the Lord. When His sons and daughters lift one another up, the world will see our love and long for the same.

 

Ahava and Shalom,

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Book Collection

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     ALL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

In hardcover, paperback, audio and e-book versions.

(His other 29 published books also available on Amazon.)

A closed door? Wait for the open one.

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I was actually surprised at my deep reaction when the finality of it hit me.

My 14 years with an uptown Charlotte company, where I started as a “temp” in 2012, then became full time, and then repeated (4 in fact) returns to cover as they tried finding good help…was over.

When my wonderful wife Laurie and I spent three months as volunteers with Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem Oct. 16, 2015 - Jan. 12, 2026, I had told Charlotte Center City Partners that this was it with them. I cleaned my desk and left.

But to my surprise they called me back two weeks after my return home to Charlotte, and said they needed my help. In fact, the new CFO had saved and put back my photos on my former desk walls. Surprised indeed!

But all good things come to an end, so we are told, and the door has finally closed. They seem to have finally found good help.

Coupled with the closing this month of another place I had done accounting with for five years as a contractor, doors certainly have closed.

But as my good friend Mordecai had prophesied to me a month ago in home group, “Doors will be closing. But new ones will be opening.” (I call him the “Open Door” prophet.)

When, not if, you experience your closing of doors, know that our Faithful Lord has your back.

And be faithful where you are at until then. He wants to promote you.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:31, NASB

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

#ClosedDoor #wait #Opendoor #messagebySteveMartin #faith #Jesus #courage #ChristianFriendsofIsrael #Jerusalem #CCCP #CharlotteCenterCityPartners #Mordecai,\ #faithfulOne #faithfulservant

“Determination” by Steve Martin

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Determination

Our walk with the Lord will bring us to events and situations where we are going to have to either stand strong, or we will turn and run. In my life, I have made that decision already. My life is His. I will stand, so help me God.

Yeshua (Jesus) had made that decision too. He was determined to do the Father’s will, and He did it.

We must choose to be as He was, and have the determination to do what is right before that time will certainly come.

“The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning. Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.

 

The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn’t go back to sleep, didn’t pull the covers back over my head. I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard.

 

Didn’t dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced.

 

Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this. My champion is right here. Let’s take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! Look! the Master, God, is right here.

 

Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths!” Isaiah 50:7-9, The Message

 

When I was the office manager of a Canon copier dealer in Lansing, Michigan, between 1980-1987, I was asked to do an invoice for the company, billing a location that I had heard did abortions. I refused to do so. I wanted no part in it.

 

I would have been around 26, and we had three young kids at the time. I couldn’t afford to lose my job, but my Lord told me I was not to do that invoice. I told the owner as such.

 

He then made his wife, the co-owner, do the invoice. (In later years they asked me to become Vice President of the company, but even then the Lord had called me on to other work for Him, and that meant a move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to work for Derek Prince Ministries.)

 

Are we going to stand as Christians, when faced with decisions that will go against the actions and beliefs of those around us?

 

Now is the time to make that determination. Not when the time to stand faces us head on. We will need to have made that decision already.

 

Christians, and Jews, are among the most persecuted in the world. Times have not changed since Jesus’ time. We know the Bible says the same days are coming for us.

 

Decide now what you are going to do when called upon to choose.

 

Ahava and shalom,

 

Steve Martin

 

Message #21, April 14, 2026

#determination #walkwithJesus #SteveMartin #Bible #Christians #decisions #commitment #persecution #Israel #faith #courage