February 16, 2023 ~ Linda K. Milam February Devotions: "Compassion"

And so, I continue. . .That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works.  Psalms 26:7 KJV 

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.   KJV  

In the beginning of this chapter, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and the multitude, He tells them that the scribes and Pharisees are "in the seat of Moses" and they were to do as they were told, but not to do as they did. They were to give respect due them, only because of the seat they held, the seat of Moses. They were in a seat ordained by God, but Jesus is warning them of their misdeeds and the fact that they spoke the law but did not observe or obey the law themselves. Isn't that where we are today? In many churches and yes in many government held seats our leaders have stepped off of the true track and gone to the far left of what God intended. I just want to remind you, these people think they are in control, but they are where they are because GOD allows it. His plan is in place and working and we know from the Word of God, our Bible, that these times we are living in are a fulfillment of prophesy. 

Jesus warned the disciples and the people in the beginning of this chapter of these people and now in verse 23 he addresses the scribes and Pharisees directly and calls them "hypocrites." This is why they hated him so much. Reminds me of President 45 ~ just as Jesus called out the "hypocrites" so did President Trump. The left hates him for revealing their misdeeds and their greed as they amass, and continue to amass, great fortunes using the hard-working American People, and the Pharisees did the same. 

The Pharisees were rightly called out, and so was the "deep swamp" of America. No one likes to have someone tell them of all their hidden deeds performed in the dark depths of their hearts or to reveal their sin. We bury it so deep because WE don't want to see it, so we really don't want it revealed to the world. Jesus is speaking in strong terms and actually calls them hypocrites to their faces. Can you imagine how they must have hated Him? This is exactly why we need to obey the law of the land but be careful to NOT follow the corrupt people in our government and sadly, in some churches. 

I thank God every day for my Bible, and the teachings of Jesus. He did come to die for all men, and He could have died when He was born, but God knew His teachings and the recording of these teachings, would help us today and they were for all generations after Jesus' death. So blessed are we to have our Father plan our steps as He does. Read it, study it, love it, share it "publish" it. You will gain all the benefit! 

In the name of Jesus, may we be HIS emissaries and used by Him to help others.

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! 

Listen to Bro. Tom on www.wbofradio.com "The Jewel For The Day" program, every Monday - Friday at 6am and 2pm EST.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

• Levi - teen burned 1st & 2nd degree burns on his hands, when his derby mower caught fire. Healing from burns is ongoing. UPDATE ON LEVI - HIS WOUNDS HAVE HEALED AND HE IS DOING GREAT! PRAISE THE LORD!
• PRINT SHOP PUNCHER ISSUE IS RESOLVED! PRAISE THE LORD, ALSO OUR TRIMMER IS REPAIRED AS WELL AS THE LAMINATOR! ALL the result of that good meeting you helped us pray about last week. God provided and we were not charged one penny! 
• Also, praise the LORD for the paper Maranatha Baptist IN Princeton WV gave us - Gospel tracts are on the way to the cartel on this paper. . . pray for souls saved and safety for the missionaries who carry it with God's protection. This trip they have been approved by two heads of state in these cartels, to set up a "church" building. They have been meeting in open air areas, and many have trusted Christ as their Saviour! The more that are saved, peace reins in their homes and communities. O the stories that can be told! Pray that God will provide all that is needed! 
• Pastor Weido is now cancer free! 02-02-23
• Pastor Cooper did well in surgery 2-7-23 pray for complete healing
• Walter's surgery was a success! He is continuing to recover but still needs our prayers! 2-15-23
• Brian McBride's surgery went well, waiting for tests. 02-02-23
• Stan Skriloff - Cancer FREE 2-2-23 his last treatment is today 2-16-23 which are so hard, so keep praying for him! HIS LAST TREATMENT IS TODAY, AND THE TREATMENTS HAVE TAKEN a great toll on his body. Pray for strength and comfort. Pray for his caregiver with Caren!
• Pray for the Printing Ministry and all that goes on with it.  Miss Shirley came to volunteer along with Miss Elaine for 5 days straight! They finished up 60,000 Gospel Tracts, and 50,000 to go! Praise the Lord! 2-15-23 we are picking Miss Shirley up for work again! Keep on praying, God is moving!
• PRINT SHOP ANSWER TO PRAYER!  NEW PAPER PALLET ARRIVING TODAY, GIVEN TO US BY AN ANONYMOUS donation.  Praise the LORD! 

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray for our daughter Lita in her health journey with Guillain-Barré syndrome. ANSWER TO PRAYER - A new bed arrived yesterday. Thank you for praying. Click on the link to learn more about this awful disease. Guillain-Barre syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. We have some much-needed equipment arriving Tuesday, Valentines Day and we praise the Lord for His provision. She also has an appointment Tuesday at skin doctor to remove some places off her back and her face. Please pray about that as well.
• Mary Nutter - MOVED TO HOSPICE CARE - pray for them all!  Please pray for her husband, Ed, the children and THE grandchildren who are gathering in.  Please pray for their safety while they travel to a hard place of suffering. God Knows!
• PAPER FOR PRINT SHOP - is a big prayer request! God knows.
• Bro. Tom's SHOULDER - Please continue to pray for his shoulder, and that God would heal it completely. His doctor says Surgery is out of the question at his age.
• Lillian Kendall (my sister) been sick for quite a while is growing weary at 81. May God touch her in a real way giving her healing, comfort, peace. UPDATE: 2-16-23 SHE is feeling a little better today. Keep praying. 
• Edie Smith (my sister) needs a touch from heaven to heal her body.
• Shereena Hamilton Spurlock - surgery recovery
• Janie's Co-worker, urgent prayer needed. God Knows!
• Brooklyn Wurth - very sick for 3 weeks. Pray God will touch and heal her.
• Wilson Lester, hospitalized with pneumonia and other issues.
• David Douglass - had a knee replacement surgery and has had complications and much pain.
• Gladys, Hand surgery to remove a cyst on March 3rd.
• DJ needs a special touch from heaven. (Shannon's son and she has asked us to pray for DJ - God Knows!) - please pray especially for his mother who is greatly burdened for the right result for DJ.
• Pastor's wife, Mrs. Brown. Prayer Request - "Please pray for my pastor’s wife, Mrs. Brown. She is in the ER with very low blood pressure and other issues. Her hemoglobin is low, her potassium is very high, her kidneys aren’t working, and her electrolytes are all off." (Around 5am 2/8/23) UPDATE: SHE IS DOING BETTER, BUT STILL UNDER CARE OF HER DOCTOR FOR OTHER ISSUES AS WELL. 2-15-23
• David Harrison - cancer UPDATE - Pastor Harrison has stage 4 cancer and it has metastasized throughout his body! His first treatment was very difficult. Very nauseous, and feeling very bad. Please keep him in prayer as he goes through these treatments. He had strength after the treatment to travel to Louisiana where His son D. R. Harrison, is in his 6th week of a revival "under the tent"! A praise - His health team are phenomenal - that is so important!
• Frankie Sutherlands in-laws' health, and his health as he is their full-time caregiver. (West End Baptist) 
• Brady Rochester - diagnosed with Parkinson's and Neuropathy ~ they will be serving at New Testament Baptist in Okeechobee FL February 5th, and 8th if you can visit on those days, you won't be disappointed! 
• Gene Papsidero ~ update - Gene is doing much better! Thank you for answered prayer Father!
• Jim Bove ~ Needs a special touch from heaven for some personal issues. God knows! Please pray for his understanding and wisdom in health choices.
• Dolly ~ God knows and has the answers.
• Kaycee Scalise and hi-risk pregnancy.
• Barbara - last stages of organ cancer. 
• Lorraine - praise the LORD for your healing touch.
• Lorrie - salvation.
• Wayne Corfman - pacemaker check went well but, he has a few more months of monitoring and will get his pacemaker changed out soon. He will be seeing his cardiologist more often. It is hard to believe it is time to get a new one. (Ten years since he died in my car and was revived!) Please pray for wisdom for his caregivers!
• Sharon J. Her mom Kathryn's health.
• Larissa, Helene, Calvin, Dominic, Rocky, Cindy - Our group home folks. Also, please pray for all of their caregivers.
• Pastor Mike Schneider, power and confidence to preach the whole counsel of God!
• Judy Lewis - Pray that her health recovery continues to improve.
• Carl Odell - Knee surgery 1/27. SURGERY WENT WELL, PLEASE PRAY FOR FULL HEALING. Feeling better every day.
• Dickie and Debbie Reynolds - Dickie's pacemaker replacement has been a real help, praise the LORD. 
• 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 - is doing very well after treatment.
• Dr. Melvin Aiken - heart pacemaker surgery is complete, and he is now home.
• 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) and her husband Danny as he carries on in the bee industry. Pray for a truck load of hives on the road to their next destination.
• PJ - heart surgery, PRAY he can come off of the breathing machine, complications of blood clots in the brain and in his legs. Please continue to pray - for him and family!
• John Odom - aneurisms. 
• Louise Odom - cancer treatments. She begins radiation next week! Praise the Lord no chemo needed!
• Imogene Walston - in the hospital Saturday morning  for an episode with her heart. Could have been because of lack of sleep and rest due to her recent physical ailments. Her back injury and major mouth surgery on the 25th, went really well, but obviously took a toll on her body. Pray for a speedy recovery. 
• Connie - continued healing. Pray for continued success for Nana's Legacy as well.
• LeeAnn suffering from flu, was almost over it and it came back.
• Pastor Greg - blood pressure issues. Has lost almost 40 lbs and feels so much better. Please Keep Him in prayer.
• Miss Shirley-health - doing some better and able to help in the print shop some in the last couple of weeks. She had a water problem at her home and could not come in Friday - pray God will help her financially as she faces this problem at home.
• 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. And Ya'll wish her a happy birthday!
• 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, Peters Family, 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, Richard Rosenmeier family, Jerry Kruckow family, the Clingaman family, Carter Family,
• Shannon - health problems, grieving in loss of father. Pray for her son, DJ he is need of a miracle from heaven. God knows!
• Carolyn Holerger - having numerous "cancer" spots removed from her face, neck and shoulder. Please pray for her pain level, anxiety, and especially her heart. 
• Pray for our need for a home here in Florida - LORD, we know You have the supply already, help us to be patient. AMEN. 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 probably have to "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 Sister Cora and her hip healing from a fall and surgery. Praise the Lord! Keep her in your prayers please. She is still experiencing alot of pain. We are thankful for this wonderful home for a few months stay till the Lord moves us on.
• Pray for the Printing Ministry - PLEASE 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. We have started negotiating with equipment vendors, particularly for the color and black and white printers! We seek wisdom and discernment in this area!
• 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, our strength, and our service.
• Robyn-Health
• Carol and Richard-Health
• Cathy-Health
• Dicky and Debbie Reynolds - health
• Marsha-Health and ankle pain
• Pastor Johnny J. health and recovering well from surgery thank you for your prayers.
• Carol and Richard-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 home giving ministry updates and getting ready to go back to serving God in Nicaragua without his helper and bride.
• Penny - special unspoken - pray for her husband Mike - health.
• 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