Luke 10:40-42 ~ 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. KJV
We have many choices in life, because of our loving God. The most important choice we will ever make is regarding our salvation. Once we have confirmed with God that our souls are safely IN HIS HANDS, we are compelled to obey the Word of God, do His will, learn more about Jesus, and win souls. It can be a very delicate balance when we are actively serving in the ministry in any capacity. Don't let your "duties" get in the way of your worship for our Saviour.
Martha is a prime example of how this can happen to the very best of us. Martha had the GREAT HONOR of having God the Son sit in her living room and be very near to her and her family! She could reach out and touch Him, worship Him, and bestow her love for Him. She was so excited knowing He was coming, and she had much to do to prepare for this auspicious visit. She began to prepare a menu, shop, clean the house, and make everything "just so" for the soon arrival of her special guests. We do the same thing, don't we? When you are expecting invited guests in your home, don't you rush around getting ready for them? I do. I used to get so wired up on is the "house clean" that sometimes I would miss the actual purpose of the guests; and that is sweet fellowship around the table and God's provisions. I just read a little quote you might find funny, but true. "I can get more done in 10 minutes in my house when I know the Preacher is coming for a surprise quick visit, than I can all day long!" ME! I admit it.
Martha had a "chore" to complete, a "task" that she took on herself. And when her guests arrived, she was still at it. Molding the loaf of bread for the oven, setting the table, making things ready for her guests to have a wonderful meal. All of this is good, but she lost what should have been her main focus. She was so involved in preparing the home - she forgot to prepare her heart. Folks, when we have a task before us in the ministry ~ we PRAY BIG! Our God is our Guide and our Leader, and we want most of all to please Him and perform our duties and service as He guides us! Martha I am sure knew that, but she got caught up in her "duties" vs. sitting at the feet of Jesus as Mary did.
We start our day at 6am to insure we get our 2-3 hours of study, meditation, praying, and reading and studying the Word of God. Most days we don't go to bed till midnight, and by the way, this is getting a little more difficult as our age carries on. I am grateful for this time; it makes my day complete before it even begins. I love Martha's work ethics, but I love more Mary's devotion to the Lord as she sat at His feet. Here comes Martha's thorn, of which the Lord knew all about to begin with. She wanted Mary to get up and help her. . . and she complained to the Lord about the fact that she was still sitting at Jesus feet.
Folks it is all good to serve the Lord, but as Mary, it is better to serve Him completely and devotedly letting nothing else get between her and the Lord at particular times. O that we would take this great advice and do the same; put Him first. Martha chose her path to serve Him, and that was good, but she lost her focus when her service became more important than her worship to the King of Kings! It is ALL ABOUT HIM! Let's remember that in our own lives.
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 - 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.
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