newsletter
Servant Ministries, Inc.
Issue No. 104 Ira & Judy Milligan Jan 1, 2007


Advanced Dates for 2007 Conferences
 
It is not too early to go ahead and register for our 2007 Branson United Ministers’ Fellowship conference. The dates are the last three days of March. (29th – 31st). As always, it will be at the Honeysuckle Inn and Conference Center. The number to call to make your reservation is 1-800-942-3553.

Every year someone asks about registration fees, etc. All our conferences are free and we don’t have a formal registration. If you desire to stay at the Honeysuckle Inn, you must reserve your room at the number given above. If you let them know that you are attending the United Ministers’ Fellowship conference they will give you the reduced rate of $35.00 per night. If you can, come early and enjoy the fellowship. We always go a couple of days early. We’re looking forward to seeing you in Branson!

If you are planning on attending our fall conference in Joshua, Texas, the dates for it are September, 20th –  22nd, 2007. More about it later.
 
Recommendations

As we announced last month, our long time friends and fellow laborers, Kenneth and Matha Skinner, are taking our place on the road. You can contact them by calling 830-935-4714 or 830-237-2038. We would also like to recommend Rex and Shirley Bryant. They have been a blessing to many. Call them at 251-380-2010 or 251-458-5414.
 
  The Prophet’s Perspective
 Blessed are the Peacemakers
 
We’re living in stressful times, and sooner or later, stress invariably leads to strife. Strife explodes all around us. Contention in the work place; rage on the highways; frustration in the market place; tempers flare and anger spreads like burning embers on a windy day. Strife even finds it way into the Body of Christ. Brothers disdain brothers and sisters turn against the very ones they once thought so highly of. Tempers flare and accusations fly. Even friendships that were forged over long periods of time are sometimes destroyed this way. Our hearts are wounded with piercing words that without proper attention soon fester into deadly wounds. Paul warned us that if instead of walking in love we “bite and devour one another”, we would be “consumed one of another” (see Gal. 5:14-15).

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:7‑9). Christians are supposed to be longsuffering and show love and mercy toward one another. God’s true children hate strife and love peace. They are peacemakers at heart. We are called to be fire fighters, not fire igniters!

The only way to kill the demon of strife is to love him to death. Love drives out strife as effectively as light obliterates darkness. Paul gave us this simple formula in Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Evil doesn’t overcome evil – love and mercy does.

Paul said, “Recompense to no man evil for evil... If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:17-18). Although we cannot make others be at peace with us, we can choose to live peaceably toward them! Additionally, when strife does occur, we can be quick to take the first steps to initiate reconciliation – that is, we can if we will humble ourselves.

Proverbs 13:10 says that pride breeds contention, then the writer goes on to say, “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease” (Prov. 22:10). When we get into strife the spirit of strife will quickly perish for lack of support if we will crucify our prideful spirit.
Christ left us little wiggle-room. Whether we are offended at someone, or have been offended by someone, the burden of reconciliation rests squarely upon our shoulders. He said the Father doesn’t even want our offerings until we do our part toward making peace. He said, “if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23‑24; see also Matt. 18:15).

Hebrews says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). God is a God of peace, and His children are peacemakers!

    “Helping Hands”
 
God has made it clear that He is redirecting our ministry but we still don’t have many specifics. We are praying about starting a school of ministry... How to start one; when and where to hold it (or them); how to finance it, etc. There are still a lot of questions we need answers to before we can start. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more about what is ahead. Thanks, everyone, for your help. God bless.
 
       Prayer Partners’ Update
 
God must be up to something wonderful because Satan has called up his reserves and launched an all out attack! Most of you know that I am exceptionally healthy (and I pray that God will help me keep it that way) but Satan isn’t happy with it, for sure. It has been years since I’ve had to fight sickness as I have in the last couple of months – and Judy has been under attack too. Something really special is in the making because “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Thanks for your prayers, friends! God bless you!

              Just Thinking
 Every Good Gift
 
I trust that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a blessed New Year. God was certainly good to me and Judy. In the midst of all our fellowship and sharing gifts with family and friends, I was reminded of James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”.

God enables us to obtain some-thing and then puts it into our heart to give it to someone else, and we think the idea originated with us – that the gift actually came from us! How often we take credit for God’s goodness! When the rich young ruler came running to Jesus and called out, “Good Master...”, Jesus stopped him and asked, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:17‑18).    Paul said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing (Rom. 7:18).

It is difficult, if not impossible, for us to give without expecting something in return – although the desire for recompense is so subtle that we are often unaware of its existence – that is, we are until we suddenly realize that we aren’t going to receive anything – then we become offended. This is the reason it is so hard to forgive someone that wrongs or betrays us that we’ve done a lot for. We don’t expect recompense from strangers. They don’t “owe” us anything. But (we think) friends do! Indeed, “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). Only God gives without expecting something in return.