Prepare for the Battle ~ Linda K. Milam

Prepare for the Battle ~ Linda K. Milam
Original Blog posted on March 27, 2011 and updated on 4/30/18

Prepare For A Battle

Used with Permission
https://unsplash.com/photos/j_Ch0mwBNds

The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.   

1 Samuel 17:37

 

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.  1 Samuel 17:47

 

My husband is always saying, and I have heard many others say, "Christians are either going into battle, in the midst of a battle, or coming out of a battle!"  This last week we attended one of the most Holy Spirit Lead Revivals we have been to in a long time.  Pastor Greg Booher of Faith Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, preached every service reminding us of the magnitude of lies that Christians have been inundated with by the devil himself, the master liar ~ regarding Revival in The Christians Life!  Most Christians have been made to believe that we can't have REVIVAL as the old saints saw years ago, A LIE!

 

Tom and I have challenged each other, that this Pastors HEARTS messages will not go unheard, unheeded, or non-life changing for us and our ministries.  We desire the Lord to work and use us in our lives.  Time is so short and we see signs all around us of the end days.  (If this confuses you as to what are the end days, please write us via email and let us talk with you and using the Word of God, remove your confusion.)  We pray every day for the next lost soul we meet, that we might be used to share the Gospel and insure them of their home in heaven.  But it is a battle.

 

We are at WAR with the devil himself.  We look at the atrocities of war every day on the news, the loss of life, limb and liberty and we are horrified.  The enemy would do all, say all and be all to convince us that we are at wrong.  A Lie!  But the most horrific lie of all is the one the devil uses to keep Christians from fulfilling their commission, spreading the Gospel, and leading the lost to Christ.  If we find ourselves slipping, or becoming “comfortable” just going to church once or twice a month, not reading our Bibles, praying, and living a Christ like life in our everyday life, we might need to check out where we have come since the precious day the Lord made us one of his own, insuring our salvation!  We have to revive our own hearts and spirits before we can reach others!

 

Just before I close, I want you to think just a moment; think about heroes of the Bible, such as David, we might be tempted to think that they were born with the ability to jump into the work of the Lord. But that’s not true. Throughout Scripture, you and I can clearly see the principle of preparation at work in the lives of God’s people. Look at the life of David. Before he battled Goliath, David had fought many smaller battles as a shepherd on the humble hillsides of Bethlehem. Alone with God in obscure, isolated places, David honed his battle skills killing the creatures that threatened his sheep; and these times of preparation were essential to becoming a giant slayer.

 

How about you? Are you prepared for the giants that are coming your way? Have you “honed” your spiritual skills?  The reason many people feel overcome by towering challenges is because they have failed to prepare in the smaller places. Become consistent in the routine, smaller battles that come your way. Your confidence in God will grow and you will become increasingly adept at waging spiritual warfare. Start today. Prepare for great victories by faithfully fighting the smaller battles of life; and when it’s time to face the giants, you will be ready to win.  God prepared me for the work I am in with my husband for over 35 years.  Believe me, when I say, I would not have been ready not even 10 years ago to do what we do today, if I had not surrendered my life wholly to him!  

 

We will leave Florida again, on April 14^th, and Tom is scheduled to be in 14 churches and ministries all up and down the Appalachian Mountain Range preaching the Gospel, encouraging and  lifting up the saints, and leading the lost to Christ, and I will be by his side.  Our last trip took us over 10,000 miles in 4 months.  God wants to use you to reach the lost the same as us.  But you need to get ready and BE ready at all times.  I must share this story to emphasize again the importance of being ready.  

 

Just this week,  my husband shared with me a conversation he had with a couple of other preachers.  Tom told them that he never goes to a meeting not prepared to preach.  He is always ready to step up and into a pulpit at a moment’s notice.  He believes this is what God would have him do.  One of the other preachers was shocked; “Why, when you aren't on the schedule?” was the question?  Tom answered, “I am always ready and prepared to be used in any way for the Lord, and I am a Preacher of the Gospel. Why wouldn’t I be ready to preach, if He needed me?”  I appreciate that.  It is not a brag on Tom, but rather a brag on God.  God has instilled a great desire in Tom's heart to preach the Gospel, he is compelled to be ready to serve at a moments notice. Are we ready for anything God would have us to do?  Where are our talents; in music, preaching, teaching, praying or something else? No matter what your talent is, be PREPARED to be used of God.

 

Pastor Booher talked this week about training ~ if you’ve ever done any weight training; you know that you can’t start out with the heavy weights. You must start small and light. A day by day building up of muscles/Christ like life, must occur for us to be used as God would use us.  Watch for how God gives you opportunity to lift spiritual weights by practicing principles taught in God’s Word. The more you do it, the stronger you will become. 

 

I do pray this has been of some help to you, I know God spoke to my heart as I wrote.  May the Lord bless you this day – and use us all to His honor and Glory.

God Bless,

Linda K. Milam

Read 1 Samuel 17:41-51

“It’s Not Too Late to Make a Difference In Our Generation!” ~ Dr. H Tom Milam

“It’s Not Too Late to Make a Difference In Our Generation!”

(What will be said of us in our latter years?) (How will I die?) (Ps. 71:18) What will our children and grandchildren remember about us? (Did we plant right seeds for right memories?) What will be said of me at my Death?

Was I:

1.   Working or Whining? (Ephesians 4:12) “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

          a.  Did I show an example of maturity (Rom. 12:1-2)?

          b.  Did I teach them enough how to serve in the ministry? (Eph. 5:11) “And having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

          c.  Did I endeavor to motivate anyone “to keep the unity of the Spirit. . .” (Eph. 4:13 “In the bond of peace?” Did I work or whine!

Was I:

2.   Climbing or Contentious? (Joshua 14:12) Caleb said, at “85 years” young: “Give me that mountain!” While others wandered and complained.  Did I spend my time Fighting The Good Fight of Faith, or did I go around “Picking a fight” (Numbers 12 and 14), and here is God bragging on His servant Caleb?  (He wholly followed God!)

          a. Test Time: (Num. 13:20) (1.) Courage (2.) Wholly follow the Lord. (Did I show Holy Boldness in my walk as a Christian?)

          b. Tidings: (NEWS) – An intelligence report – Sounds like God wanted them to tell the “TRUTH!” Good News. Are we telling what God says about the: The Old Book; The New Birth; The Blood and the Blessed Hope?      “. . .and glorious appearing?”

          c. Temptations: They came back boasting of the Grapes of Eshcol, and the whole land flowing with milk and honey . . . . But, there was a price to pay: (1) Giant killing would have to be done: (2) Strong people looking for a Fight; (3) Large cities with walls around them! The Complainers caused a meltdown among the people and the word spread to where people just got tired of hearing it and said, “do whatever you want, we are tired of hearing the drama!”  So they chose them a Captain to lead them back into Egypt. (Gal. 5:7) “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth.” (vs. 8) “This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.”

          d. A Turning Away: All those above 20 years turned their backs on Gods will and commands, but Joshua and Caleb wholly followed God and rent their clothes in (Numbers 14:6-9). And turned it all over to God. (Num. 14:24) “God said, Caleb had another spirit; followed me fully; him will I bring into the land where into he went, and his seed shall possess it.”

Was I:

3.  Depending or Depressed? (Jn.  13:23) Jesus said in vs. 21, “. . . One of you shall betray me.” As the disciples looked around at one another, they saw “. . .leaning on Jesus bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” You will find as you study, that was John the beloved.

          a. Did I stay close Enough to hear Him Whisper? (Prov. 3:5) “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

          b. Did I hear Enough to challenge those that would listen? (Mt. 6:33-34) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

          c. Did I Call Out and Trust Enough That Another Might Be Stirred and Changed? (Jer. 33:3) “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Was I:

4. Determined or Disappointed? (Phil. 3:10) “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.”

          a. Could they clearly see where my affections were set? (Col. 3:2) “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.”

          b. Did I show them God’s Endearing Love? (Col. 3:15-16) “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (vs. 16) “And let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

          c. Did I leave with them a sincere testimony of longing to get God’s Best? (vs. 23-24) “And whatsoever Ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto man. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Did they: See Him Clearly; Serve Him Dearly; Love Sincerely?

5. Faithful Or Fallen? (1 Cor. 4:2) “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (Not only service but substance). Not as I deem necessary to give or live, but to realize the need is the call for action of giving what I have, and who I am!

          a. Did I Give Without A Grudge? (2Cor. 9:7) “Every man according as he purposeth in his HEART, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (Joyfully Hilarious)

          b. Did I Grudge (complain) About Why Or Why Not Others Did or Did Not Give; Service or Substance? Humility: (James 5:9) “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” (1 Pet. 5:6) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (vs. 7) “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

          c. Did I Go Beyond Myself In Hospitality? (Did I Love Without Return”) (1 Pet. 4:9) “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” (vs. 10b) “. . . as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (May I finish my time a trophy of grace!) 

Dr. Tom Milam

Missionary Evangelist to America

Phil. 2:16

A little humor today ~ “A Letter From a West Virginia Mother To A West Virginia Son!” ~ (anonymous)

April 10, 2018

“A Letter From a West Virginia Mother To A West Virginia Son!” ~ (anonymous) 

Dear Son,

   I am writing this slow cause I know you can’t read fast.  We don’t live where we did when you left.  Your dad read in the paper where most accidents happen within twenty miles of home, so we moved. 

I won’t be able to send you the address cause the last family that lived here took the number with them for their next house so they wouldn’t have to change their address.

  This place has a washing machine.  The first day I put four shirts in it, pulled the chain and haven’t seen them since.  It only rained twice this week……..  three days the first time, and four days the second time. 

  The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.  

  We got a bill from the funeral home.  It said if we didn’t make the last payment on Grandma’s funeral bill, up she comes. 

  About your father…….  He has a lovely new job.  HE has over 500 men under him.  He is cutting grass at the cemetery. 

  About your sister……   she had a baby this morning.  I haven’t found out whether it is a boy or a girl, so I don’t know if you are an Aunt or an Uncle.

  Three of your friend’s went off the bridge in a pickup.  One was driving; the other two were in the back.  The driver got out……..  he rolled down the window and swam to safety.   The other two drowned.  They couldn’t get the tailgate down.

Love, Mom      

P.S.  I was going to send money, but the envelope was already closed…

"I didn't Believe it!" ~ Linda K. Milam

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.                           John 6:40 KJV

    A couple of summers ago, we were in Columbia SC staying in a Comfort Inn. It was early in the morning, and we were up preparing for our day, when the fire alarm went off, on the phone and in the hall.  At first, we couldn't figure out what was going on, but I stuck my head out our door and saw people vacating their rooms carrying all of their important items; we realized we needed to get ourselves together and get out. This was a fire alarm. 

NO elevators they said, so we trudged down the stairs with our Bibles, luggage we could grab quickly and my laptop and said to each other it was probably a false alarm, but we didn't want to take a chance.  As we exited the building we could see that during the night, many guests had arrived, as the parking lot was full.  We walked to where our vehicle was and put our things in it for safe keeping, and I remember we even moved it away from the building, in case a great fire were to erupt. We were preparing for the worst and praying for the best. 

As we stood and waited, the fire department began to arrive, many trucks and men were ready to do their job. Hotel guests were standing around ~ waiting as we were.  Then I said to my husband, "There doesn't seem to be many people out here based on the cars that are parked in the parking lot."  As we were discussing this, a few more people came out. Probably forced out by the firemen until an all clear could be announced. As they stood around talking we could hear them say, "It's a false alarm for sure, that's why we didn't come out earlier.  We didn't believe it was a real fire."

I told you this story because after I witnessed to a lady yesterday the story came to my mind.  Not so much the incident itself, but the reactions by the people.  "I didn't believe it was a real fire alarm!" 

I shared the Gospel with this lady, who works on the grounds where we have our mission home in FL.  She is responsible for cleaning the sidewalks, the laundry rooms, and general cleaning around the outside of our buildings.  I met her in our laundry room.  She was on the phone, but quickly hung up and continued to clean up the room.  I told her I appreciated her hard work, many times our laundry is left a complete mess, and now I met the lady who cleaned it all up. 

I thanked her for her excellent service then the Lord opened our meeting up with a few more words of general conversation when I began to share my own personal relationship with God.  I asked her if she knew she would go to heaven when she died or if the Lord Returned!  "Oh My Goodness, nobody can know that! You aren't one of those fanatics, are you?" she asked.  I quickly shared with her that I was not a religious nut, but I was a fanatic when it came to my Saviour.  I told her why.  That He gave His own life for me and all mankind so that we could have a home in heaven without the penalty of our sins and hell. And because of that I believed and repented of my sins, asking Him to be my Saviour.  And He is.  One day, I told her, He is coming again to get His children and I would be one of those.  I wanted her to be one as well! 

She told me that she believed in God, and that she had heard about Jesus returning for years and, "He hasn't come yet".  She would wait on this religious stuff,  since he obviously wasn't coming anytime soon.  Kind of hard to believe she said, "I just don't believe He is coming!"

Thus my fire story.  She doesn't believe He is coming any more than most of the people in that hotel believed the fire alarm was real.  They have heard it so often, they just don't believe.

Folks, may I say, whether You believe it or not, Jesus is coming soon. And when he does we will all be changed.  The saint shall be changed in a twinkling of an eye and the sinner will bow his knee to our Lord and recognize Him for Who He is, but unfortunately, eternally to late.  In 1 Corinthians 15:52 the Bible says ~  "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."  I am so thankful that I know Him as my Saviour, but my heart is sad for those who do not know Him.

Pray with me for this lady that I might be able to reach her for the cause of Christ.  God certainly wants the lost to be saved, and He uses us as His tools to reach them.

I am praying for the lost and that God would give me every opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you today. I hope they help you in some way.  Have a blessed day!

LKMilam

Tom & Linda Milam
Missionaries to America
Phil. 216

Friends and Prayer ~ Linda K. Milam

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  Colossians 1:9

Friends ~ I have a few that have been my friend for years, and then some not so long, but I call them my friend.  Time has a way of defining a true friend. The love between true friends does not dissipate over a period of time, either short or long. Many of my friends walk the walk I walk, with the Lord. Some do not. I pray for both equally.  Why? That is what a true friend does.  I take each one of them to the throne in prayer on a daily basis. For those that are saved, our love will continue for an eternity. For those who are not saved, the love will die one day.

From my own personal opinion, the more I pray for them, the more I love them. It is a way that I continue the bond of love and friendship. I may not see my friends often, but I know they are a call away, this is the bond we share equally.

Paul tells us of a true bond of friendship with a people he had never even met as he shares theses verses with us telling us he is praying for the Christians at Colosse.   Colossians 1:2-3  "2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,"  If Paul can pray for those he had never met, can't we pray for those we have met?

Prayer is a way to strengthen my relationship with the LORD, and who better to pray for than my friends. I am so blessed to know that many of my friends pray for me on a daily basis.  If you don't have a prayer time that you can pray for others daily, why don't you start today.  Make it a habit to think on your friends and as you do ask God, in prayer, to:

• fill them with spiritual wisdom and ask God to give them discernment with regards to His will for their lives.
• to give them a desire to walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord
• to give them a burden to bear fruit in all their works and as they themselves, increase in the knowledge of God
• to give them strength and power reaching for and attaining a steadfastness and patience in the Lord.

I want a right relationship with Christ, I desire also to have a right relationship with friends.  They are near and dear to my heart. But we can take it even further.  We could apply these same prayer suggestions to our husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, any family member. And we should.

There is no one better that we could model our prayer life after than Jesus Himself.  We cannot be just like Him, for He was perfectly sinless, but we can use the Word and example He gave us in the Bible regarding prayer, and make prayer a very present part of our lives.

Praying for you my friends and family.  I love you all.

Linda K. Milam

Tom & Linda Milam
Missionaries to America
Phil. 2:16

". . .therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." ~ Linda K. Milam

". . .therefore will I call upon him as long as I live."  Psalms 116:2b

Although, I please my Lord when I call on Him, I am the one who benefits from our relationship.  In Galatians 5:22, Paul writes  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

When I think of this verse and all the wonderful positive attributes Paul calls out, I realize that with my prayer time, the Holy Spirit delivers these.  I have called out in anger over some horrible hurting situation and asked God WHY! But I didn't benefit from that approach.  Instead, when I humble myself before my Holy God in prayer, I am blessed beyond measure.  He loves me!  He REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, loves me and I KNOW it.  He shows Himself and His love every single solitary day of my life!

As His child, He wants to bless me with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, and so much more.  I have his guidance, wisdom, hope and I gain a deeper and closer relationship with Him every time I kneel before Him in prayer.  I want that.  Those are my most important times of the day.  I can then go to Him with my concerns and prayer requests for others, who cannot pray.  The sick, the hurting, the lonely, the needy! I want God to meet others needs through my submission to Him in prayer!  Don't you?

You may say, I do pray, but do you PRAY! My husband always says that it usually takes him 10 - 15 minutes of prayer time, before he can really pray.  Most people say they don't have the time! My 'To do List' is always longer than my day. How can I fit in that much prayer time?  Maybe we should check up on our list.  Are we doing what's important in our day - or only what is urgent at the time. GUILTY! I want to please my Lord in all my ways, but I must start my day in prayer, in between my tasks pray, at the end of the day pray, before I sleep pray! 

We will do what we want to do.  All of us have choices to make and when we don't make time for God in our day,  we are not making time in our lives for the most important relationship in our lives.  He loves us, and He gave His only Son for our salvation.  He wants to know you personally.  He wants you to KNOW HIM!

Maybe you are that prayer warrior who is forever before the Lord with your petitions, praise, thankfulness, and confessions. Pray that others would do the same.  Time with our Heavenly Father is never wasted. If we spend time with God when we start our day, refreshed and ready, God will meet our needs.

There is no set time to pray.  I pray all day long off and on.  I don't necessarily have to be in a room alone (although I think this quiet prayer time is where I am most benefited) but you can pray in school, at work, on the road, at home - and I pray about everything. 

Let me challenge you.  I like challenges.  They keep my feet to the fire, so to speak :) - If you are not already spending time with God each day, make today the day that you decide that you will do that.  Try it for one whole month, don't fail. I know that you will be the benefactor of God's great blessings.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Pray for Tom and I as we serve the Lord apart.  Our hearts are at peace with God's guidance in our lives, but we do miss being together.

Have a BLESSED and prayer-FULL day.

Linda K. Milam

Tom & Linda Milam
Missionaries to America
Phil. 2:16

Church Attendance - LKMilam

CHURCH is not the building!

Church Attendance - LKMilam

Hebrews 10:24-25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁴And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It is apparent as we draw closer to our Lord's return, Christians are becoming more and more complacent or distracted with the things that they have in their lives and missing out on in the greatest "time" in a Christians Life by MISSING church. Even worse, we stop serving with the talents that God has so richly blessed us with.  Sunday School Teachers, musicians, singers, soul winners; is this what has happened to us?  

Oh, it starts out slow you know. First, we stay home on a Wednesday, then we start skipping Sunday School, and those nights you missed Sunday evening service.... and the next thing you know, it isn't important enough to come at all.  When we do come, we see all the negative and don't allow God to bless us.  Why?  and what happens in our lives that could cause this to happen. Certainly, God or HIS Word has not changed; so, we better examine our own spiritual selves. 

We all have our problems, worries, and issues. We even become a little disillusioned with the "way things are going around the work God has placed you in." So, we stay away. . . Be honest with yourself here; How many times have YOU seen that happen to others and you have said, "Now is the time to be in church, NOT stay home?"   And now that person is you.

I know I have said it.... we need to Go Back, my friend to the time when God had our WHOLE heart and no matter what came our way, we allowed Him to use us. This is written not just for others but for me. I have to examine myself on occasion, and then I look around today and see vacant seats in church, Sunday school, the choir loft, orchestra and musician seats and wonder why I keep hanging in there? It would be easy to just pick up and leave and let someone else do the work that I am doing. 

We are busy, busy, people, but so Happy in the LORD. The Church has many out reaches - and as missionaries we serve and wear many hats. But the most important one we believe is the hat of "encouragement". To the Saint that is weary of it all, don't give up. We are almost there. To the layman who looks around him and says where has everyone gone, don't stop - bring someone with you the next time you come to church..... JUST DON'T QUIT! 

 May you be encouraged and blessed is our prayer for you today!

God Bless,

Tom & Linda Milam

Missionaries to America

Phil. 2:16