That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7 KJV
Genesis 49:29-30 ~ 29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. KJV
As Jacob draws near death, he makes his sons promise to bury him in Canaan. Even though Jacob was in Egypt, he wanted he sons to know his body was to be buried in a cave in Canaan. Jacob was confident that his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham continued to live in the eternal state, and that he would be gathered to them. He called upon the compassion of his sons to make sure this would happen, and it wasn't long before his death came. They had a long journey to be able to fulfill their father's wishes and they were willing to do so.
We will all face death someday, if the Lord tarries. Some of us may have had the difficult task of taking care of funeral arrangements for others, and sometimes, if unprepared, it was a difficult task. It isn't something we want to think about, but we should. If we are to be compassionate to our own families, we will have made arrangements so that during that time they don't have to worry about anything when it comes to a funeral, services etc. Funerals are a time when compassion abounds in the hearts people. We don't want to even face the departure of that loved one, but as Christians knowing our loved one is with the Lord, it makes it so much easier. The Holy Spirit which indwells us, gives us peace and comfort. But not knowing if that one laying there in that coffin is saved or not, brings heartbreak.
Through the verses previous to these, we find that Jacob is dying and he has called his sons to him. He is preparing for that time by calling his sons to will gather around his bedside so that he can tell them of what was to come, what blessing he was leaving with each one, and then he makes them promise to take him "home" to bury him. He had time to prepare. But many do not, and when death comes others have to deal with our unpreparedness. Tom and I have voiced and shared our desires and we will trust our family to carry through. Our compassion and love for them compel us to do right by them.
We also know that some of our loved ones are not saved, even today, and sadly some have gone on before us without knowing Jesus as their personal Saviour. We see signs all around us telling us the LORD is coming soon, and our hearts are anxious and concerned for these people we love most in all the world. We continue to lift them up to the Lord, begging for HIS compassion and help for their souls. We must do this, we must. If you are saved, you carry the Gospel with you wherever you go! Share it with someone who does not know Jesus. Death is imminent. Be prepared! Share with others and love the Lord will all that is in you. Serve Him and Him only.
HE CARES!
Do You Know HIM?
Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.
With love and prayers,
May we be your faithful Philippians 2:16 Missionaries?
Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Tom and Linda Milam
Missionaries to America and around the world
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Prayers for Walter, Pastor Weido, Dolly ~ God knows and has the answers.
- Kaycee Scalise and pregnancy.
- Pray for the Jerry Kruckow family. Went home to be with the LORD 1.31.23
- Missionaries to Guam the Clingaman family - tragic accident has their 16-year-old son Caleb 2/1/23 - his father, Bruce, in hospital with lung damage from trying to save Caleb from rip current.
- Barbara - last stages of organ cancer.
- Lorraine - recovery from surgery
- Lorrie - salvation.
- Wayne Corfman - pacemaker check tomorrow. It is hard to believe it is time (this year) to get a new one. Please pray for wisdom for his caregivers!
- Sharon J. Her mom Kathryn's health.
- Larissa, Helene, Calvin, Dominic, Rocky, Cindy - Our group home folks.
- Pastor Mike Schneider, power and confidence to preach the whole counsel of God!
- Judy Lewis - praise the Lord, released from the hospital. Pray that her health continues to improve.
- David Harrison - cancer UPDATE - CAME THROUGH SURGERY WELL, WILL HAVE TEST RESULTS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS
- Please pray for our daughter Lita in her health journey with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Pray that doors open on her healthcare needed. Click on the link to learn more about this awful disease. Guillain-Barre syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
- Mary Nutter, cancer treatments and hospitalization.
- Carl Odell - Knee surgery 1/27. SURGERY WENT WELL, PLEASE PRAY FOR FULL HEALING
- Levi - teen burned 1st & 2nd degree burns on his hands, when his derby mower caught fire.
- Dickie and Debbie Reynolds - Dickie's pacemaker replacement and full recovery.
- Reggie Parker - very sick, emergency surgery, kidneys failing, needs a special touch from heaven through the prayers of saints like you! His father is the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Elizabeth City, NC. Please pray for this young man!
- Robbie Colt ~ needs double lung replacement after total damage of lungs by covid, also pray in the loss of his father to covid, and his stepmother.
- Walter - serious health
- Dr. Melvin Aiken - heart pacemaker surgery is complete, and he is home soon.
- Pam Shumate - health (our niece)
- Brenda Milam - wisdom and health (Tom's sister)
- The Henshaw's health - praise the Lord their home sold, but at the end of February they will be moving out of state. Pray for them through these great changes.
- Edie Smith - health (my sister)
- PJ - heart surgery, PRAY he can come off of the breathing machine, complications of blood clots in the brain and in his legs.
- John Odom - aneurisms.
- Louise Odom - cancer treatments.
- Imogene Walston - back injury and major mouth surgery on the 25th, went really well. Pray for a speedy recovery.
- Connie - injured back, continued healing.
- Pastor Greg - blood pressure issues.
- Miss Shirley-health - doing some better and able to help in the print shop some in the last couple of weeks.
- Pray for Richard Rosenmeier family - Passed 1/8/23 Lord, please help and bless the family and friends.
- David Wiles - Cancer
- Pastor Bernard Antonis ~ HEALTH, PRAISE THE LORD for answered prayers - Pray for Mrs. Carolyn as his caregiver and a healing touch on her body.
- These families have lost loved ones to death in the last few months: John Isler, Larry Goodman, Frank Sparks, Lucinda Lane, Randy Rolle, Ruth Kemp, Bill Alley, Keith Cook, Cathy Harrison, Rachel Vance, Gail Tipton, Bob DeSalvio, Gail Tipton, Davis and Tichnell Family, Tudino family, Fuentes Family, DeSalvio Family, Thompson Family, The Toler Family in the homegoing of Donnie, Lucinda Lane Family (my beautiful sister-in-love), Keith Cook Family (our nephew and Tom's sister Florences' son), The Leo Family, The Echeverria Vallejos family in the homegoing of Patricia's father, The Baker Family
- Shannon - health problems, grieving in loss of father.
- DJ needs a special touch from heaven. (Shannon's son and she has asked us to pray for DJ - God Knows!)
- Carolyn-health
- Pray for our need for a home here in Florida - We know You have the supply Lord already, help us to be patient. We moved Saturday the 14th, once again, to a precious saint's home for a couple of Months... at least till May when we will "move again." We are glad to be a help to Sister Cora and feel by May she will have her strength and healing by then.
- Pray for Stan Skriloff - cancer and treatments and pray for his caregiver wife Caren!
- Pray for Connie, complete healing of her back.
- Pray for Sister Cora and her hip healing from a fall and surgery. Miss Cora HAS PASSED her occupational therapy and is now working on physical therapy. She is excited that God will give her the opportunity to walk outside soon. Praise the Lord! Keep her in your prayers please. We are thankful for this wonderful home for a few months stay till the Lord moves us on.
- Pray for the Printing Ministry and all that goes on with it. BIG issue with our puncher . . . please pray we can resolve that Monday - Pray our paper supply will continue - we are still not able to purchase COVER STOCK, but we praise the Lord for our previous pastor's wisdom in buying several truckloads of this precious product. Only God knew what we would be facing today with shortages, and we have the "widows' mite" we are working from. Pray that Tom and I can work the bugs out of some of our equipment!
- Pray for the Mission Team coming in June that we will be able to finish all the work they will do for the few days they are with us.
- Pray for me and Tom; our health, out strength, and our service.
- Robyn-Health
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- Dicky and Debbie Reynolds - health
- 2-month-old great-nephew Evan. Evan is home from the hospital and doing well.
- Marsha-Health and ankle pain
- Pastor Johnny J-health and recovery from surgery - recovering well from surgery thank you for your prayers.
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- Arlene-Health
- Ruth-Health
- Brian-Health
- Lucinda Lane Family - pray for my brother Joe. This is a hard transition for anyone, but his health is poor as well.
- Paul Tipton - pray for Bro. Paul who is back on the field in Nicaragua without his helper and bride.
- Penny - special unspoken - pray for her husband Mike - health.
- Bro. Wayne-health - He turned 91 on December 24th, and is still working, but mighty slow :)
- Billy Ward - health and continued healing, Sonja his bride and caregiver.
- Benjamin - surgery went well, pray for his recovery which may be long.
- Elaine - continued good health and strength.
- Linwood - health
- Pray diligently for all those that carry the title "Caregiver"!
- Sandra Parsons - her call to encourage the servants at FBC Publications & Printing WAS a blessing. 90-year-old pastors' wife, now living alone at her church after her husband's homegoing. Saved 72 years loves the LORD God more today than ever. A real blessing and encouragement.
- Kimberly LaSage - health and John Peters and family.
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