Good morning to all on this wonderful Sunday morning. Waine celebrated his birthday on Friday. I actually think we have been celebrating all weekend. My birthday was last weekend and Freddie, Kai and Hailie came down to celebrate with me. Many things have happened since my last blog entry. We were able to purchase the building that our Thomaston practice is in. Aleron completed the purchase of the Atlanta house and our offer for the property to move the Barnesville practice to, was accepted. I think we are scheduled to close in a couple of weeks. Thank you all for your prayers for us. Continue to send them our way. God is a Good God and continues to bless us and you.
I am continuing my journey in Acts, chapter 26 verses 1-32 " Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities. On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to His own people and to the Gentiles. At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Amen and may God a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
God always brings Good out of the evil intent of men! The Pharisees and Sadducees that wanted Paul dead actually ending up spreading the Gospel of Truth to even a larger group of people, even the Jewish King. King Agrippa's question, "Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" says it all. The King had been listening to Paul and was being convicted by the Holy Spirit--I am sure the king had heard of all the converts that were accepting Christ as Savior and was not ignorant to Paul or his ministry. However, when the king was confronted with the challenge to turn from his own sin and turn to God, he could not humble himself to accept Christ as Lord. The King's question shows you the mind-set of the Jews. Since they were caught up in the Mosaic Laws, where they were commanded to live in a certain way by obeying laws, the king couldn't imagine that salvation was so easy. That's the key to salvation. It is free and easy! The hardest part is the FIRST step of faith when you humble yourself before the Cross of Jesus and then accept His forgiveness for your sins. Once you do that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and begins the work of transformation that allows others to see The Light--The Candle of faith. Our job at that point is just to let the Light Shine.
It is just that easy and for many just that hard. They can't imagine that they are not in control of their own destinies. They can't imagine that it only takes, faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains. This life for Christ is not hard at all--as I grow in my own faith the hardest challenge is just to leave my cares and burdens with Him and get out of the way. When problems come, I don't have to waste time trying to fix them. I only need to 1) take them to Jesus (the act of faith), 2) believe that Jesus will take care of my problems, 3) live as if my prayers have been answered, and 4) not take back the problem from the feet of Jesus when I think He is taking too long. God's plans are not based on us--His plans will go forward despite of us--His desire is for us to be part of the process through our faith. That is all we have to bring to the table--our Faith. It allows God then to work miracles in us and through us.
When God put it is our hearts to establish ZOe, there was no earthly way to be successful. This meant that Waine and I had to rely on the promises of God DAILY. We had to pray for patients, we had to pray over staff, we had to pray for income to meet the obligations of the practice. We had to pray over every aspect of the practice, Hallelujah! Even as I write this blog entry, I was bothered by a couple things concerning the practice and this profession of my faith brought clear thinking to me. When I finish with this entry I am going on my knees and leave these items at the foot of the Cross of Jesus and will trust that God will bring us through. Even though ZOe is up and running, He wants me to trust Him with the small and the large decisions that are made. ZOe continues to be God's BLESSING to me and my family. ZOe started as a thought and a prayer and continues to humble me. God isn't finished with me yet. He continues to do great thing for me and through me. Yes it is just that easy to be a Christian and easier yet to be the son or daughter that God intended when we humble ourselves at the Throne of Grace daily.
To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
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