"Place of Encounter" by Steve Martin

Place of Encounter

As often as I can I make the long 12 hour plane flight to Israel, then take the high speed rail train the 22 minutes to the capital city of Jerusalem, I am on it.

Riding up the three flights of very steep escalators, then walking out onto Jaffa Street, I sense the Lord’s presence every time. He has met me here before.

I feel like I am home, though I am not a Jew. Another Gentile from the nations.

At times the Lord will take you back to a specific place of encounter, where you distinctly remember, “He met me here.”That place where you had come before, discouraged and beat down, and knowing you needed something more, a shot in the arm (a spiritual jolt, not the drugs stuff). Jacob knew that place when he had the dream of the ladder. 

“Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he [f]happened upon a [g]particular place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and made it a support for his head, and lay down in that place. And he had a dream…” Gen. 28:10-12, NASB

(My good friend Morris Ruddick speaks often in his writings of needing “something more” as he knows by experience on his many journeys back to Vietnam and Israel. Thanks Morris!)

It was from Charlotte, North Carolina to Jerusalem where the Lord had instructed me in 1999, to pay the cost, give the time, and go to the place where He promised to meet me. He then indeed gave me the word I needed to hear, which would take me on the adventure lasting the next 20-30 years. 

He took me to my “place of encounter” which I now know, looking back, as a major anchor of encouragement and foundational stone for my spiritual walk.

I know you too have a place of encounter, where you did what you had to do to keep going on, facing your own giant(s), overcoming by His Almighty grace and outpoured love He has deeply entrenched in your inner being. And if not, seek Him for it until He does reveal it.

Remember that place and be strong as you continue to fight to do that which is necessary in your walk today.

​“When I looked things over, I rose up and said to the nobles, the rulers and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:13-14 Tree of Life version

Ahava and Shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People

#encounter #morningplacetobe #SteveMartin

All Hands On Deck

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All Hands On Deck

Each of us has been given gifts (talents) as the Lord shared to the listeners in the Gospel. What they did with them (or only one) determines how their reward, or not, resulted.

We each know individuals who are using their gifts from the Lord for the good of His Body. We surely recognize the “more noticeable one” – the pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists, and even a few apostles in the church.

But I want you each to know, the ones who don’t have those “titles” ( and don’t get me started on “titles” so prevalent these days) that you are just as important.

The main leader in any church, synagogue or ministry, the visionary, certainly needs the administrator to carry out the dream. There may be the engine, but without the wheels, that vehicle is not going anywhere fast.

So you having a hospitality gift, or a child development gift, or the one who uses his skills to construct or maintain the properties the Lord has entrusted to us; or even the one who leads worship in the home group of seven – you are just as important.

Not every job is “ministry”. Trust me, I know, after having been with ministries and churches on staff for over 35 years.

The Lord and His Body needs us all, serving together, each sharing his/her talent(s) for His plans and purposes.

Serve on!

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10. NASB

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People

Go where they are…

Steve Martin with grandson Daniel Martin. Daytona 500, February 2023

Tom Bach, Steve Martin, Charlotte Motor Speedway October 2025

Hendricks Motor Sports Museum in Concord, North Carolina near Charltote Motor Speedway

Go Where They Are

There was a time when I was really into NASCAR. Now some people would say how “ungodly” that is. Mixing with all those “sinners.”

And yet it blessed me when I heard the Lord say to me, “Enjoy the time when you go. Just take Me with you.”

I thought, “Wow!” And then I realized Jesus (Yeshua) has the heart for those who walk a “different beat” and that is where He went.

Sure, He went to the synagogues, to the religious people, but He walked among the sinners, the ones who really knew they needed a savior, and He showed Himself to them - that He was the One.

We need to understand that the lost need saving. They no longer come to our big, beautiful buildings, but they do go to other big stadiums. 

I no longer feel out of place you g to where the people are and enjoying a race now and then. Opportunities do arise to share His love and compassion.

Off to the races then! And Yeshua loves coming with me.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 

But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-17, NASB

Message #14 2026, March 22, 2026

#NASCAR #Jesus #Yeshua #racetrack #races #sinners #Daytona500,

Guidance. What next?

Guidance

​It is amazing how the Lord directs our steps. We think we ought “to go this way” and then, as He did with Paul on his voyages, He gives us a new directive to “go that way.”

I believe He enjoys seeing how we will respond, and also to keep us listening to His voice and His authority in our lives.

And I know it refreshes the adventurous path we walk.

 Following His Holy Spirit causes us to “be on our toes”, anticipating His next directive. And when we see the results afterwards, our faith and trust in Him grows stronger and more assuring.

We can be so grateful of His ongoing care  He daily provides. It is like walking hand in hand. I am glad His hands are bigger than mine. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a foundational Bible verse for guidance, advising to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Enjoy the Colombian brew. Maybe try the whole grain bagel today.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

#Guidance #Bible #HolySpirit

Rocking Chair Days

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Rocking Chair Days

As the days, months, and then years go by, time doesn’t slow down. But in some sense we do. The physical just can’t keep up with the desires.

I once told my good wife, Laura Jean (aka Laurie) that even though our days may be numbered, it is not my anticipation to be sitting on our front porch reading a good book. As much as I enjoy that I believe the Lord has yet more for us to do.

Wives, mothers and grandmothers have that “dwelling” heart within them, to build “the nest”, secure the home place with warmth, love and comfort.

Guys, well, we are not as prone to do that. Personally I want more adventure - to get out and get going. At least while I still can!

As the world spins faster and faster it seems, and the years continue to speed by, I recall the Bible verse from Daniel which speaks of this time we live in.

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

Times will continue speeding up the closer we get to the Lord Jesus’ return.

My prayer is that you and I will keep running the race to the end of His plan and purpose for us. To finish the race set before us.

The rocking chair on the porch is great. But as for me and my house, may we not just sit there and watch, but stand strong and keep on going to the very end.

Enjoy your blueberry bagel and hot Colombian dark roast coffee ( as I do),

Steve Martin in Charlotte, NC

P.S. Of course there are several men and women who love doing it all!

Disappointments

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We all have disappointments. Schedules get changed. Trips having spent months working on get cancelled. People leave as friends and we are left with a big hole in our life.

It’s not easy to just put on a “happy face”. So what do we do?

There are times when we will grieve, knowing that whatever caused the disappointment may come again or it may take awhile to recover from it. I believe that is a normal process, to draw us closer, not away from, the Lord Jesus.

When I was seriously praying about leaving a ministry that I had labored with for 14 years, the Lord instructed me to take a trip to Jerusalem. In fact, to the holy place of the Western Wall in the Old City where the Jews pray. 

After all the details had been worked out, I made it there. As I stood waiting at the Wall (Kotel in Hebrew), I placed my hands and forehead against it, grateful that I had heard and obeyed.

And the “flood waters” of emotion poured over me, as the Lord spoke softly, “Your years of service have not been in vain.” His heart of love was what I needed to heal the pain and make the decision I needed in this situation.

Draw near to the Lord with your disappointments. He will bring healing and renewed hope.

The Lord promises in James 4:9, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (NKJV).

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

#disappointments #healing #hope #waiting #GodtheFather #Jesus

Keep On Keeping On

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

In days gone by, when the computer monitor was the big one with the large tube, barely fitting on your home desktop, I had taped on the side, printed on a 81/2” x 11” paper, this verse, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.“ Galatians 6:9, NKJV

It was a daily reminder to keep on keeping on.

The same old same old, the daily grind, can wear us out. We need encouragement. We need renewed strength. We need grace to start each day and see through to the end.

Whatever makes you wonder, “When will a break come?” remember that our Lord is the One able to cheer us, giving us the ability to complete the race set before us to the finish line.

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy 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, NASB

Lord, bring us each renewed strength so we can keep on keeping on.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

#Keepon #keepingon #SteveMartin#loseheart#encouragement #Jesus