Press On by Steve Martin

Press On

​Looking at that covered wagon, a prairie schooner, in the small Waxhaw, North Carolina museum got me to thinking about what character those people had to have. As I leaned over the side, on my toes to see high enough, I became in awe of their grit, courage, and fortitude.

They had little in regards to physical means. And yet they pressed on with their imbedded character.

Entire families, moving with what they owned and could fit in that space, set out for a more hopeful future.

According to Gemini, “a classic Western covered wagon, known as a Prairie Schooner, featured a wooden box that was about 4 feet wide and 9 to 11 feet long. With the canvas cover attached, the wagon stood about 10 feet tall and spanned 23 feet in total length including the animal yoke and tongue.”

Not much. But they did what they had to do, with what they had.

We got it made with our cushioned seats, power steering, more horse power than we need A/C vehicles, which can drive hundreds of miles in a single day.

We need more of their “press on” attitude in our comfortable lives. To be able to see ahead, commit to getting it done, and believing the good Lord will bless the work of our hands is needed more today than even then.

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, NASB

I hope you are too. Press on!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

You Have To Fight by Steve Martin

​You Have To Fight

Living the Christian life, as men of God, will require you to fight. We are in a constant spiritual battle. They enemy will not give up until he is thrown into his eternal damnation location as promised in the Bible.

We need to fight for our nation, our families, our communities, the nation of Israel, and our own spiritual lives.

Our enemy, the fallen angel who wanted to be the one worshiped and praised, is continually warring against the saints of our Creator. He is relentless.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8, NASB

Men should be accustomed to war. In the natural, it has mostly been the men who have gone out, leaving home and family, to wage war against those who had sought to take over, destroy, and kill off other countries. It has cost million of lives on both sides.

But as in the natural, we must fight in the spiritual, using the weapons we have been given.

With prayer (I especially use my spiritual prayer tongue daily), the Lord’s written Word, gathering with other believers – these are needed to combat the enemy in the unseen world.

We must not think we can sit on the sidelines and casually watch. We must engage the enemy to win the battle. Not just on defense, but we must go on the offense too.

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31, NASB

I am most thankful for the faithful women who have been prayer warriors.

Men, we need to step up our game!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Our President! Shabbat and prayer

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Expectations - message by Steve Martin

Expectations

Having something to look forward to is something we all need. Knowing something exciting is going to happen – an upcoming event, a family trip, the end of the school year with a full summer (but not as long as when we were young) lies ahead of us.

New horizons to foresee ahead gives us the energy, courage, and faith to press on. Knowing that good awaits us does something needed, and special, to our souls. It is very precious.

Growing up in Iowa, my dad had two weeks off every August from his job. It meant our family vacation was coming, which was very special to all of the 10 in my family. Those camping trips to Minnesota, or even the Grand Tetons in the West once, brought great expectations. We could hardly wait as we looked forward with great expectations!

But knowing that the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, is coming back, is the greatest expectation we can have. Wars will cease, evil will be thrown into an eternal hell, and His rule and reign from Jerusalem will be part of our eternal reward for trusting in Him.

The Messiah is coming! For Christians, this will be for the second time. For Jews, the first time, until they realize who Yeshua was, is, and is to come.

Expectations are needed in our hearts. He is coming back, and will fulfill all the desires He has given to us.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Responses - message by Steve Martin

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Responses

“It’s a beautiful day outside,” one says, while enjoying the day.

Then another responds, “But it is going to get hot the next week.” Bummer.

I have often wondered why some responses to a positive statement come back as negative from another. Is it how we look at life, expecting the worst? Not to get our hopes up too high, for something is surely coming that is not good?

“The hammer is going to fall,” we have heard.

When I ask the Lord about things like this, He generally reminds me that a heart that is not thankful, grateful for His provision in all areas, will tend to look at life with negative vision.

“Something will always go wrong, just you wait.” You have heard that before.

“Don’t get your hopes up too high,” is one pronounced often. “Just wait until tomorrow. Things will change. And not for the better.”

That is a hard way to live life, thinking the next day will not bring any improvement, nor should we hope for anything beyond what we have today.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34, NASB

 

Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow. He also told us to be grateful for our daily provision.

 

Knowing His faithfulness and one who keeps His promises, today, tomorrow, and forever, enables us to look to the future with hope, and thankfulness for today.

 

“Good! I like warm weather!” is a response I like to give when weather is talked about (often).

 

My hope is for tomorrow, for I know He holds it, and both you and I, in His hands.

 

Be mindful of your responses, for they come from your heart and mind.

 

Ahava and Shalom,

Steve Martin

Charlie Knows - and stirs things up!

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When I “created” this new cartoon series, “Charlie Knows”, I had no idea of the stir it would create on Facebook, as the anti-Semites came out of the woodwork.

But Charlie knows! Smart little boy. 

Sail on, Charlie!

Steve Martin

Charlotte, North Carolina

My 40th book available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook.

Why Would You? Why Would I?

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Why Would You? Why Would I?

I admit, occasionally, on rare occasions actually, I don’t mute the news cast when someone who shouldn’t be talking thinks they know enough to talk. Why do people listen to this stuff which is spoken as if the speaker actually did complete high school?

There was an article I also read, describing how Americans are increasingly, alarmingly actually, turning their backs on Israel and the Jewish people, after decades of support.

Why? Because a war goes on and gas has gone up too much. It causes us to, oh dear, have to cut back a little.

And of course, it is all Israel’s fault. Just like it has always been. The Jews are again the scapegoat.

Why should Americans continue to stand with Israel? Why should we have to pay a $1.00 more a gallon to defend these people?

And so all these know-it-alls are getting all the social media attention, saying, “There is no God!” (Of course they don’t actually say that, but what comes out of their mouths shows what is in their hearts.)

So why support a tiny nation of less than 10 million who believe there is a God?

No God? No accountability?

Why would you? Why would I?

Haven’t the “most educated” proven that man is might and each can determine their own way, their own truth, their own end results?

Without a strong foundation, anything goes. You are right. I am right. Do what you want.

The closer I get to the end, the more my faith in the Living God of Israel tells me He is right, and no one is going to tell me different. Nor tell Him different.

Such are these fools.

I support Israel. I support the Jews. Because I believe in the God who created them and will not give up on them.

Isaiah 65:22

“They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.”

 

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People