Good morning ladies,
Many of you have shared that you always pray on your knees so yesterday when I went to pray I decided I would try it. Now it is not that I have never prayed on my knees, I have, but my current routine is to pray sitting at a table surrounded by my books: the Bible, Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest, and Stormie Omartian’s The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent. I also journal while I pray because I find writing keeps my mind from wandering, but I was willing to change if kneeling was going to be more honoring to God.
I knelt down beside my chair and started praying with: “Lord, I don’t know if this is what you want or if I am doing this to please men but…” I didn’t get any farther.
“When” God asked, “have I ever asked you do something that pleases men? I don’t care about the outside, I care about the inside (1Samuel 16:7) There are people who are praying on their knees, but on the inside they are standing up and there are people who are praying standing up but on the inside they are flat on their face. I care about the condition of the heart. A heart that is yielded to me in every area is pleasing; no matter what position their body is in.”
I got back in the chair.
Today Oswald Chambers starts off:
We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives.
Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do.
November 3, 2007 at the Precept training in Washington God drove me to my knees and then to my face. Here is my journal entry:
Thank you Lord for this retreat time, thank you for putting into me the desire to do this. Thank you Lord for giving me encouragement (2Thess3:3-5) Lord I will continue to do what you ask-one day at a time-no grandiose plans-just one day after the other.
(OC) The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bond servant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that I will not begin to be a saint.
Lord you know the hard part is my family-to give them the quality time that they desire. You have placed me in all of these positions; You know what You are expecting of me. I love You Lord, I feel like I am on the edge of a cliff, or maybe I have already jumped and the ride is exciting. Lord I pray for a gradual decreasing of me and a gradual increasing of You-like the man who learned to replace cells with plastic.-I pray that you replace my self will with Your will down to the cellular level. I pray that there is not a part left in me that loves and desires the world. Lord, let me work to be a model to others, not so they can see the wonder of me-but so that they can see the wonder of You.
Everything that I have done since then is a result of that prayer.
Love,
Jill
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Kelly Patchin, Pastor
New Harbor Community Church
Zebra Events
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Zebra Basics:
* Accepted Christ as Savior.
* Agree the Word of God is true.
* Desire to grow in your walk
* Be transparent
* Willing to speak and hear truth.
* Agree the Word of God is true.
* Desire to grow in your walk
* Be transparent
* Willing to speak and hear truth.
Why Zebras?
In the summer of 2008 I was looking at a herd of zebras in a wild animal park and commented to my son that I didn’t understand why the lions didn’t just eat the zebras because their markings make them so obvious. He told me that the opposite was actually true. God has marked zebras so when they hang together in a herd, their stripes create the illusion they are one large animal and therefore too big to attack. It is the lone zebra that is usually eaten. The same is true of Christians; we must hang together and encourage each other to fight off the lions. The lone Christian is easy prey.
1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Therefore:
Zebras was started to encourage women who desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who want their lives to be transformed to honor God and who are willing to be “zebras” in a world of “horses”. Zebras exists to reassure you that you are not alone and that God has called you to be peculiar. As a peculiar person you should look different than the world
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Vision
The vision of Zebras is to unite all God's people in a single goal; to love, honor and serve Jesus Christ. To give them a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves and the strength and support to grow in their faith.
Mission
To fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Pastor Endorsement
Jill Getchell speaks from her heart and from God’s word in a way that brings encouragement and hope to God’s people. I’ve been blessed to hear her at Awana conferences, a women’s retreat, and from the pulpit of our church. I am confident your people will be equally blessed by spending the day with Jill at We Have Hope...your church will be blessed as well.
Pastor Al Marks
First Baptist Church Vallejo
I have known Jill for many years now. She truly desires to encourage the churches in our community and to strengthen the believers that attend our churches. Her passion for Jesus comes out in her ability to speak, and her heart is to encourage all those that attend to go back into their churches and be a blessing.
Pastor Kelly Patchin
New Harbor Community Church, Benicia
Kelly Patchin, Pastor
New Harbor Community Church
Testimonies
The Zebra herd has given me the opportunity to be myself. I think we all have a face we put on for others, especially on Sunday. We don’t want to let anyone see the pain or hurt we’re suffering because we feel that it’s a reflection on our walk with Christ. I now have a group of loving Christian women with whom to share the joys and sorrows equally… Without the Zebras, I’d still be wearing my Sunday face. ...............Dawn C.
The Zebra ministry has deepened my relationship with Christ and the women at my church beyond what I thought possible... Most importantly, it has given me a safe place to be very, very real… I have learned how to be transparent and allow my fellow Zebra sisters to support me in prayer and God to minister to the deepest part of my soul--the part that needed it the most.................... Jennifer H.
When I came to New Harbor Church I was so lonely. I knew I needed the fellowship of other Christian women but did not know if I could break out of my self-imposed isolation. I felt unworthy of anyone’s friendship, let alone" godly people"... But Zebras has made me feel the true acceptance of these wonderful women. I have slowly opened my heart to them, with their encouragement and love! I don't have that heavy ache of solitude anymore. ................Barbara B.
I was with you in the beginning meetings of the herd and watched it evolve into a place where we as sisters in Christ could share our burdens without judgment. Being a Zebra helped me through a very trying time- Leap of Faith– leaving a relationship, selling my home and trusting in God. It was encouraging to know that I was not alone and being a part of a group where women could feel understood, comforted, and lifted up spiritually. .................Tracy M.
The Zebra ministry has deepened my relationship with Christ and the women at my church beyond what I thought possible... Most importantly, it has given me a safe place to be very, very real… I have learned how to be transparent and allow my fellow Zebra sisters to support me in prayer and God to minister to the deepest part of my soul--the part that needed it the most.................... Jennifer H.
When I came to New Harbor Church I was so lonely. I knew I needed the fellowship of other Christian women but did not know if I could break out of my self-imposed isolation. I felt unworthy of anyone’s friendship, let alone" godly people"... But Zebras has made me feel the true acceptance of these wonderful women. I have slowly opened my heart to them, with their encouragement and love! I don't have that heavy ache of solitude anymore. ................Barbara B.
I was with you in the beginning meetings of the herd and watched it evolve into a place where we as sisters in Christ could share our burdens without judgment. Being a Zebra helped me through a very trying time- Leap of Faith– leaving a relationship, selling my home and trusting in God. It was encouraging to know that I was not alone and being a part of a group where women could feel understood, comforted, and lifted up spiritually. .................Tracy M.
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