Good morning to all on this first Sunday in May. Waine and I are in Thomaston, GA. I couldn't believe that I didn't enter my Spiritual Journey in March. My walk has increased in determination. My faith has been tested which is a good thing. Like Elijah with his great victory with the agent of Baal, I think March has been my "cave". But just as God called out Elijah, so too have I been called out to walk the talk Trust and Believe for God and He only is the author and finisher of my story. Hallelujah. No man, woman or evil doer will write my story. Only God. So what God has placed His hand too will prevail. Amen
I am continuing my journey with Paul with his last letter to Timothy. II Timothy 4 verses 1 -22 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His Heavenly Kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all." Amen. May God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Fight the Good Fight, Keep Your Head Up and Finish the Race! Paul's message was directly for me today! My faith lead Waine and I to Thomaston, Georgia in 2011. I promised God in the back road of Louisiana in 2011, driving from Baton Rouge to Greenville, that I would toil in the "Fields" of His choosing, which as it turns out was located in Thomaston. I remember the road I was on when I made this promise, I remember I was listening to a tape by Crefelo Dollar which talked about the ZOe available for Christians, I remember pulling off the road and praying the prayer of commitment.
On the 1st Monday of April 2012, God, Waine and I opened ZOe Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Health in Thomaston, Georgia. On my first day I saw 8 patients in the rented building we now own. I walked around that building 8 times, praying as Joshua did around the walls of Jericho so that any walls that Satan had affecting our success would be removed. The patients began to come and we now have over 2,000 patients who have selected ZOe Pediatrics as their Medical Home.
We opened ZOe Pediatrics - Barnesville, Georgia in November 2012 in a rented Suite from Upson Regional Medical Center. We now own our Building in Barnesville and our patients enjoy a wonderful practice.
In April 2014, we opened ZOe Pediatrics - Columbus, Georgia. We have quickly overgrown the 7 exam rooms in our rented building so God lead us to open another site in Columbus with 20 exam rooms. We own this new building and will move into in by June 15, 2016. God parted the waters for us to find this location, buy this location and find the staff to run this location.
So why am I sharing this story. With every decision, I openly talked about God's plan for ZOe. When meeting hospital officials who asked me why our practice was called ZOe, I was able to witness to them and talk about this story. I have been bold every step of the way and have seen with my own eyes God parting the waters of defeat and obstacles. I have had my Elijah moments too, when I want to flee into a cave after my mountain top experiences BECAUSE I TAKE MY EYES OFF JESUS and focus on the waves. God never promised us Blue Skies and Smooth Sailing. He promised us a Boat, Jesus and a Rainbow! Hallelujah!
My experience is not unique to Christians. If you find yourself on your Emmaus Road, have faith because God goes before you. He desires your obedience and your faith. He doesn't need us but God DESIRES us to be in a relationship with Him by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. He desires us to be a WITNESS for HIM. He desires all to come to a knowledge of Him through Christ so that satan can be defeated and we can live with God through Christ in the Eden of Heaven. Order has been and will be restored for us. We will walk with God as He intended in a Garden called Eden.
If God can use someone as flawed as me just imagine what He can do with you. Be blessed TODAY. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Stephanie
