March 1, 2023, ~ Linda K. Milam March Devotions: "First Mary, Then Martha"

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

Luke 10:38-39 ~ 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. KJV

I have 8 sisters. Some are in heaven right now, and in a way, I envy them. Not much though, I want to go but I don't want leave anyone behind. Although I can't wait to be there with them, it is Jesus that will have my full attention, BUT when I can take my eyes off of Him, I'll be looking for them. 

But this morning, I am thinking of them like Mary, Martha's sister. "She sat at Jesus' feet!" I can see my sisters - Darlene, Gladys, and Jean all sitting at Jesus' feet. How happy I am for them. They are not struggling to breathe, or worried about heart attacks, or strokes. They are not coughing and choking or looking for an oxygen tank - they are happy, strong, healthy completely cured of the diseases that plagued them here on earth, gazing on the face of the One that gave them eternal life in Heaven. I am thankful they all knew the Lord when they took their last breaths and that I will surely see them again. 

Jesus came to Martha and Mary's home in Bethany just a few miles outside of Jerusalem. He came for a reason; He came to see His friends. They loved Him, welcomed Him every time He came and took great care of Him. But on this day Martha was a little tired, stressing a little about all that had to be done for her guests, so maybe not feeling so great physically or spiritually. Let me borrow your imagination; let me see if you relate to WHY Martha was feeling the way she was. 

She likely was the oldest over Mary and Lazarus and she felt a great responsibility. Their parents were not mentioned, so she probably had taken over the household and had a great responsibility towards her siblings. There was always something to do. Cook, clean, laundry, shop; all those things the head of the home would have. She likely paid the bills and did all the housework - with a little help from Mary.  She was a wonderful homemaker. But she also had another side. She loved Jesus, her family and was thankful she could serve them; but just sometimes don't you think she might have felt like just sitting back and letting others wait on her?  Ok, I just described myself. :) I told my dear husband just this week how tired I was in my body. I sit down, I'm asleep. They wake me up for a while, and then I sit down and fall asleep!  I think I need a longer nap or a good rest! I just want somebody to SERVE ME. :)

Martha was watching Mary at Jesus feet, adoring Him with all that was in her. Here was her Saviour and Lord. But Martha was still in the kitchen, cooking, washing dishes, setting the table for her guests. "Really Mary! Can't you help me?" I can just hear her... That was how Martha was feeling. Let me just say, we are all human, and we probably would have said the same thing. But Mary! O to have her seat at that time. . . at the feet of Jesus. We can learn lessons from both of these ladies! There is a time and place for everything. . .and we need to make sure Jesus is dead center.  Martha loved Mary, but at that time, she just wanted a little help. Jesus knew Martha's thoughts and He knows ours. No matter the task, let's do all for Jesus' sake. Don't get the poor me attitude, be thankful you can do all you do. When I went to my daughter Lita's house this morning to take care of a few things, I know she wishes she could get up off her bed and wait on her momma versus me waiting on her!  

I am thankful I still have my health and energy that I can serve others in any capacity. And I can't tell you how blessed I am to be able to do that shoulder to shoulder with my husband. Let's be thankful for every moment we can serve others, no matter the purpose or reason.

HE LOVES US!

PLEASE PRAY WITH US THAT GOD WILL GIVE US A HOME OF OUR OWN SOON. THANK YOU! We looked at an option Friday. We are asking God for wisdom, trusting Him for our every need. 3/1/23 Please continue to pray that God will work out this "Option" to His honor and glory!

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!

• David Harrison - cancer 3/1/23 UPDATE - Pastor Harrison has stage 4 cancer CAT SCAN revealed NO CANCER IN ANY MAJOR ORGANS! PRAISE THE LORD.   A praise - His health team are phenomenal - that is so important!
• 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
  
• 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! 
• 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 moved to rehab for a period of time. Continue to pray for her husband, family, and church family. 2/16/23 

• SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:  'PRAY BIG'!

• Gladys, Hand surgery to remove a cyst on March 3rd.
• David Pierce, Sr. - Losing his vision 3/1/23.
• Dave DeCaire in ICU - septic UTI infection - Amy Elea's dad 
• Diane Hip treatment on 2/27/23
• Chloe Rochester - surgery successful, waiting on results from tumor
• Missionary Stan Skriloff recently diagnosed CANCER free, rang the bell yesterday after taking his LAST CHEMO treatment! PRAY God will give him strength to carry on the work He loves so much!
• Pam Shumate - health (our niece) Her mom says she is not doing well at all.
• Linda Sue Williams - Please pray Doctors can find answers to her illnesses. 
• John Barton - heart health
• Sheila Paynter - health
• Please, pray for our daughter Lita in her health journey with Guillain-Barré syndrome. ANSWER TO PRAYER - A new bed arrived yesterday. Please pray that God will move with regards to her future situation in health and finances. Thank you for praying. 
• 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) pray for her health.
• PAPER FOR PRINT SHOP - is a big prayer request! God knows.
• Edie Smith (my sister) needs a touch from heaven to heal her body.
• David Douglass - had a knee replacement surgery and has had complications and much pain.
• 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.
• Brady Rochester - diagnosed with Parkinson's and Neuropathy.
• 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.
• 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.
• Brenda Milam - wisdom and health (Tom's sister)
• The Henshaw's health
• 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. UPDATE: Radiation treatments still going well. Continue to pray for God to heal her cancer. 
• Connie - continued healing. Pray for continued success for Nana's Legacy as well.
• LeeAnn health.
• Pastor Greg Booher - health
• David Wiles - Cancer recovery and healing.
• 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 Kruchkow family, the Clingaman family, Carter Family, Mary Nutter 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 Sister Cora and her hip healing from a fall and surgery. Keep her in your prayers please. She is still experiencing a lot of pain. She has contracted a cold, please pray it will not get worse. Hard on a 91-year-old. 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, AND THE LOSS OF HER FATHER-IN-LAW.
• 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.
• 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.