July 17 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“Belief, The Power to Produce Effective Results”
I Corinthians 2:4

If I am only out to impress people, my impression of God is not valid. I would become a hypocrite and would draw people away from the gospel, rather than to it. I must be an instrument to draw people to believing Christ, not turn them away. I must have the power of God in my preaching, and believe that when I preach it, others will believe it. I pray that people can see enough of Jesus in me, that they will be persuaded to follow Him.

If there is anything in my life that makes me to be seen more than Jesus’ redemptive work in me, I must get rid of it immediately. It would surely hinder the gospel being presented. I am here to show God to others, to preach the gospel, and that is it. My prayer is that I can preach and present the gospel, so as to draw them to a willingness to change. 

I hope that people will not see me as something I am not; O God, that they may see Jesus and the plan of salvation in my preaching, or I have failed. If I ever cease to lift up Jesus, with honor and praise, I don’t want to be here, my work will be finished, and I’ll be of no benefit.

 “The Heart Room”

If I were a stalk,

And gave forth no bloom, 

No fragrance could lift a 

Desperates’ gloom.

The gospel must flourish 

To relieve man's doom,

 And fill with its odors,  

An empty heart room.

                                ~ Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:
“I am here to show God to others.”

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 132-138

Weekly Memory Verses:  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

July 16~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“Perfect Trust in Asking and Seeking”
Matthew 7:7-11

When I’m out of control, God is very much in control. I must trust Him. When I’m down and out, He is up and about. I must trust Him. When I need an answer and I need many, He has the answer - it is never too hard for Him, but I must trust Him. When I need a father, He is there, when I need a friend, He is there, when I need fellowship, He is there. He is where the need is. Thank God.

Answers to my hard questions lie not in the minds of men, but in my Heavenly Father. What kind of Father would He be, that a son could not go to Him with anything, any problem, any question or any proud moment to give praise? I need not to worry about things I can do nothing about. I must give it to God.

Many times, we must walk through shadows that give us an eerie feeling, we wonder, is He really there behind such a dark place in life? We can count on it because He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He gives us the ability to always abound by His gracious and wonderful Holy Spirit.

 “Asking” 

We wonder why He answers not;

It might be that we’ve failed to

ask, seek and knock.

                             ~ Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:
“Many times we must walk through shadows.”

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 120-131

Weekly Memory Verses:  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

July 15 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“An Honorable Servant and Friend”
Romans 1:14

The best way that I know to pay Jesus back for what He has done for me, is to try to win others to Him. I owe Him and I’m too broke to pay Him back. Hear this! The Holy Spirit indwells me and gives me the desire and ability to go to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe; I owed a debt that I could never pay.

My daily prayer is to be burdened for the lost in light of what Jesus did for me. I surely owe Him everything and I truly desire to know the full impact of the plan of redemption. I must be able to show others this plan and by the power of God working in me, convince them not to make light of the call of God.

I am a servant and I surely owe the gospel to all men. I therefore am willing to spend myself for that cause. I’m not proud at all that I used to be a slave to the devil; But I’m very proud though to be a slave to Jesus, hallelujah! I count it a great honor to be in this position. I’m willing to be taught about how to be this broken bread and poured out wine for Christ and His cause.

“Teach Me” 

Thank you for the honor, 

To be able to serve you;

To go up higher, 

but never above you.

Lord, I’m little, weak and in need,

Show me sweet mercy and teach me to heed.

                                                                                                    ~ Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:
“I owe Him and I’m too broke to pay Him back.”

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 119

Weekly Memory Verses:  Romans 10:9-13  

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12  ¶For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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July 14 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“Humility Is Not Duty”
Matthew 5:39

I desperately want the love of Christ living in me and shown through me. I may be called names because I won’t stand for certain worldly rights and be cut down by those around me; But “on Him I’ll take my stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

If we can’t show Jesus in our lives as a presentation of holiness and right then we don’t have anything at all on the inside. We are still corrupt. But thank God, I have Jesus dwelling in me and I’m proud to show off His sweetness.

Jesus went a little farther for us, shouldn’t we be more than willing to go an extra step for His cause or for a troubled brother. Whether people see my good works or not, I’m still going to work for Jesus. I will not be stopped because I’m not appreciated by man. If I receive no honor at all, I’m still going with God, because I’ve made up my mind to follow Jesus. He has settled down inside of me and I can sing sweet peace in my soul. All of my rights are in Jesus, I have no earthly ones.

“A Christian”

Doing your duty is a rightful thing;   

But humility will get you an audience 

with the King.

-Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:
“I can sing sweet peace in my soul.”

 Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 108-118

Weekly Memory Verses:  Romans 10:9-13  

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12  ¶For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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July 13 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“The Removal of a Friend” Isaiah 6:1

In 1993 my first wife died (my friend), I saw the Lord as at no other time in my life. He filled a void that I could never cope with, loneliness. He came into a place that no human could touch and prepared me to get closer for the sustenance I needed. I was fainting and failing, also ever discouraged. He gave me a new life, a new wife who after several years died of a massive stroke, in 2009.  

When much grace is needed, much grace is given. Thank you, Lord, for your strength, a new outlook on life and a new vision concerning my spirituality, the Church and soul winning. While I was actually not looking to marry again, God was polishing a rare jewel just for me. One with a price far more than rubies and diamonds. Someone with great values, faithfulness and a rare, selection of facets that would lift me and secure the vows of matrimony with excellence and nobility; someone that would add to my part of Gods great ministry, and I could not be more satisfied or happy. Love brought us together; love and respect are our faithful companions. Love, fellowship, honor, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is the bonds of our betrothal. God brought us together; Tom and Linda Milam, till death us do part.

I desire that my character correspond with the character of Jesus, so that I can live the life that is pleasing to him. As I think on this, I’m reminded that a thought becomes an act, an act becomes a pattern, a pattern becomes a development of character, and our character becomes our destiny. I must look to know God in the fullness of His power. I pray for an inner-purification to handle the circumstances that surround me - I look at Psalms 23 and I’m reminded of God’s eternal security plan and my ever-increasing dependence on Him. I can do nothing without Him, I am nothing without Him. Sometimes I see nothing but shadows, nevertheless here I am, to be used to God’s glory and honor.

Daily Jewel:
“He came into a place that no human could touch.”

 Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 106-107

Weekly Memory Verses:  Romans 10:9-13  

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12  ¶For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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July 12 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“Personal Development or Building the Church?”
Ephesians 4:13

We are reconciled unto God by what Jesus did, we have accepted this through faith and now stand redeemed by the complete work that He did for us. It has been said that each Church should have its own identity. Well, it does - lifting up Jesus Christ! If we can’t honor and lift up Jesus in all things of our lives, then we need to check and see who our real father is. My greatest goal as a preacher of the gospel is to lift up Jesus, not to put Him back upon the cross, but that people might see Him as He is - the Saviour of those that will trust Him to deliver them from eternal separation from God and Heaven. 

If we fail in presenting Jesus and Him crucified, buried and then glorified to soon come again and receive us unto Himself, then we need not to call ourselves a blood - bought Church. My desire as a preacher, missionary and person, is to lift up Christ, not just for myself or my own prestige but to the glory of God and for the sake of those on their way to hell. For the confused, wayward brethren that have lost hope. I therefore must know Jesus and be given totally to Him. I want what pleases God!  I want His presence; I desire to have His very life. And I don’t even know how to ask for what is best for me; But here I am Lord, use me, I want to be a vessel of honor.

“He Does It”

Do I measure myself, 

By what I have done? 

Or am I trusting Jesus,

That we two might be one.

                    ~Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

“I must know Jesus.”

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 101-105

Weekly Memory Verses:  Psalms 32:1-6

1 Psalm of David, Maschil.>> Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

July 11 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“The Aim of The Saint”
Philippians 3:10

Knowing Jesus is the ultimate in knowledge; Oh, that I may know Him in all things around me and all that is brought my way. Thank God that the Holy Spirit is persistent, guiding to realms of ecstasy and leading me in paths never thought of in the natural realm. I must always realize all of my circumstances and see Jesus in them -- if He is not, then I’m not to fret with it.

I’m careful not to let drudgery change me; but to allow even the smallest, weakest tasks to enlighten me and strengthen me in knowing more of the life of the Master - O, “that I may know Him.” I must ask myself; do I know Him in what I’m doing today? If I can’t get Christ in what I’m doing, then what I’m doing is of no benefit. I can’t get bogged down in worrying and wondering about myself, if I’m getting this or that done. But to know Him and lift Him up in my everyday walk is what needs to be done, regardless of circumstances. May I look at everything in the light of Jesus Christ and His glory.

“Knowing”

It’s not so much of what we do, 

That God will richly bless us;

It’s more of what we are becoming, 

as we get closer to knowing Jesus.

-Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

"Knowing Jesus is the ultimate in knowledge."

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 92-100

Weekly Memory Verses:  Psalms 32:1-6

1 Psalm of David, Maschil.>> Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.