Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Closed Door

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV84)

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

Good morning Zebras,

Waiting on God is a completely underrated discipline. We think of waiting as wasting time, but in reality it is giving God time to work. We think we are so clever and necessary to God’s plans when the actual truth is we often get in His way.

Recently I have had the unpleasant experience of watching God shut a door in my life. It wasn’t a quick slam; it was a slow, creaking closure that I think I could’ve prevented. But God didn’t want me to.

He told me if I stuck my foot in the door to prevent it from closing, either my foot would get crushed or I would be trapped doing something that He no longer wanted me to do.

After much prayer, I officially resigned as commander of our church’s Awana program, and I prayed someone else would step up. No one did. This Sunday my home church, of fourteen years, announced they wouldn’t be offering the Awana program for this school year. And the door was shut.

Christians often say in these situations “When one door closes another opens” but that isn’t found in the Bible. God does not promise an open door, He promises to make our paths straight, He promises knowledge and wisdom, and He promises never to leave us or forsake us. He does not promise to immediately open another door. Sometimes He does, but sometimes He wants you to sit in the room for a while and wait.

But waiting is hard. It is much easier to squeeze out the first open window we see rather than wait upon God’s revealed will. Yet everyone who has waited on God has experienced the blessings that come from it.

Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” And I think that’s too often true.

Like Lot’s wife we look back at what God has “taken” away instead of looking forward to what He has for us.

So have a great day little Zebras,waiting on God and looking forward with expectation to the blessings He has in store for you.

Love,

Jill

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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.

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.

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

I believe women are vital to the unity and health of the church. They bear the image of God and serve Him in a great way within His church. Zebras has the ability to unite and excite women to grow in their faith and in their relationships with each other. In John 17:20 Jesus says, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” One of Christ’s last prayers for His church is that they would be one as He is with the Father. And through our unity the world can come to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Unity is essential for a healthy church and healthy relationships between women. Zebras can stimulate healthy growth in the spiritual lives of the women in your church too. It is a blessing at New Harbor and I believe it would be a blessing for any pastor to have in their church.

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.

Zebra Events

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Zebra Ministries

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Closed Door

Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” And I think that’s too often true.

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Post a Comment

Pages

Zebra Basics:

Why Zebras?

Therefore:

Vision

Mission

Blog Archive

Pastor Endorsement

Testimonies

Zebra Events

Contact information

Zebra Ministries

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Closed Door

Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” And I think that’s too often true.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Pages

Zebra Basics:

Why Zebras?

Therefore:

Vision

Mission

Blog Archive

Pastor Endorsement

Testimonies

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