Dreams From A Father’s Heart
- Sharing the love of a father to the next generation
In a time when they are needed the most, 1 Cor. 4:15 talks about the lack of fathers among us. The verse that rings so true today reads “there are not many fathers among you.”
My wife Laurie and I have raised four children (two sons and two daughters) to adulthood. By the Lord’s grace, they came through those growing years. One has now been married for over 10 years. The youngest one is about to, and the middle ones are progressing along nicely.
As a parent, in the back of my mind, I thought that once they turned 18, our job was over and they were now out there on their own. But a father will always needs to be a father. In fact, as our years extend forward, the Lord just may add more “under our wings”. Those with the heart will know and be receptive to this ongoing role. Being there are truly not many fathers, especially of the spiritual kind, those of us who have any knowledge and understanding of His ways must step forth and fulfill our calling.
There is a classic book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. Lewis, writing from his Christian perspective, pens it as a series of letters, from a head demonic force to a younger one learning the ranks. Insightful and thought provoking, one can learn how training is passed on from one to another.
My desire for these messages that I write will be to encourage many. They will be addressed to those who have a father, need a father, or, if a man, want to become a father.
My prayer is that these messages I share will have the “positive” results, from one generation to the next.
Through stories and events that experiences have brought my way, I look to the Lord to be able to pass truth and encouragement to those who follow after.
Be encouraged.
Steve Martin
Note: The following is part of a series of ongoing e-mails from Ephraim Shaul and myself. Ephraim, a 28 year old Messianic Jewish man in Liberia, has been faithful for these past several years to care for eight orphans. After having to make an unexpected move from Ghana to Liberia a few months ago, they find themselves with still no place to live. I share this with you, coming from a father’s heart for them, as they see me in their situation.
Ephraim’s Letter
Orphans Without A Home
April 29, 2011
Dear Dad,
How are you and your family doing today? I hope and pray that you all are doing great there.
Dad, it has been raining here since yesterday. And we're facing more problems here right now. We want to make a move to one of the Villages here. But we need your help to establish if we get in the village. We want to buy few pieces of zinc, and mat for I and the kids to be sleeping on. We want to use zinc to roof the mud house then it'll still longer. And we need to pay those that will build the mud house also.
Dad, it's not my aim to always ask you for funds. As you been trying your best to help us through out, since we came across you. Things are very hard with us here in Liberia. That's why I really want you to help us to get out of here.
Please, try your possible best to send us $350 so that we'll move into the village to stay there. So you'll add $250 to the food money you need to send us for this month to reach $350.
Sleeping outside here in this city will not help us. Any thing can happen to I and the kids which we're not wishing for. So I pray that the Lord will bless you with the $350 to send us.
The raining season is already here.
This is our morning prayer: “Our heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us to see this other day. There are many that wanted to see this day, but the death did not permeate then. But for us you make us to enter this day. It's not that we're so important than those that die. But it's your great love you have for us through Christ Jesus that enables us to see this day.
Yahweh our Abba, I leave my voice before You, to once again thank you for the life of Steve Martin and his family. I pray that you'll bless the entire Martin family and increase then in wealth. May they keep on doing your will until your kingdom comes. Let their path be yours Father. May you provide for him as he is helping your children around the world through Ahava love for Your people. As you're seeing us and know our present condition, I pray that you'll touch the heart of your servant Steve to help us with the amount of $350 so that we'll leave this place where we're facing so much difficulty.
Father, I know that there is nothing impossible with you. As I'm praying, may you provide for Steve Martin to bless us with this amount to leave from here. The kids’ future is in your hands and may You keep on blessing them. You know the reason You have been keeping us alive. They were to die with their parents, but you keep them alive, because You know their destination and the purpose for which You keep them safe. Let Your will be done.
May you bless dad Steve Martin with a good job to keep on helping Your people. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.
Dad, I wish you all a blessed day and may YHWH bless us all.
Ahava and Shalom,
Son
Liberia, West Africa
My response:
April 29, 2011
Greetings Ephraim, my son and faithful servant of the Lord God of Israel.
I am grateful to always hear from you, knowing the struggles you and the orphans continue to endure. I pray that the Lord's provision is made known to all of you soon, in ways only He can accomplish. I am learning in my own faith walk that Yeshua is the only One we can always count on. Even when it looks like He is slow to respond to our requests, we must continue to believe Him for His protection and guidance in all.
My faith grows deeper, though at times I struggle with believing as I should. Again, it is only by His grace that I keep looking up.
Love For His People will be able to send the monthly food amount of $100 on May 1. Anything beyond that, as much as I want to, we just don't have to send. It breaks my heart that I can't send more at this time.
So son, we both continue to seek the Lord's face, that we also might know of His provision. We must continue to thank Him for what He has given us thus far, as I know you do.
We will pray for housing, as I can only imagine how all of you are living now without it. I pray that the Lord sends quickly someone there who has His heart to share a place of shelter for all of you. It will happen Ephraim! You have been very faithful to care for the orphans, and He will show you His favor!
Someday we will meet and be able to hug, and share in person what He has taken us both through. We will be able to share with others the testimony of His love.
My heart goes out to you and the orphans. We share what we have, and know He is keeping you for His eternal purposes. Someday too, when we are together in heaven, we will rejoice and be glad that He gave us life, and His salvation is ours.
With all my ahava and blessings,
Dad
Dreams From A Father’s Heart is brought to you through the ministry of Love For His People, Inc.
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©2011 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
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