Zebra Ministries: Narrow Road

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Narrow Road

Today's post was written by Nalatie McAlpin, the herd facilitator for Colusa. She wrote this to encourage her women and with her permission I am passing it on to you. Enjoy!

Love,
Jill

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”

Last weekend my husband and I decided to take a much needed break from our family’s hectic schedule in order to reconnect and regroup. We packed up the travel trailer, grabbed the three boys after school and headed to the hills with our beagle, bikes, motorcycles and plenty of food. Destination Lower Letts Lake!!

We love to camp at Letts Lake for a few different reasons. It is beautiful, quiet, secluded and most importantly, we can ride our dirt bikes there. For our family, it’s a little piece of heaven on earth. But, the road to Letts Lake is truly the most frightening road I have ever traveled in my entire life. It is an extremely narrow, dirt road with ninety degree turns and sheer cliffs that drop hundreds of feet down. I’m not talking “Oops we went off the road and dented our car.” It would be more like “Oops we went off the cliff and now we’re dead!”

I really, really hate certain parts of the two hour drive to Letts Lake but other parts of the drive are beautifully magnificent. In the fall, the mountains are painted the warm colors of rust, gold and green. At certain points you can look back and see hundreds of miles across the valley. We always see the same herd of Elk grazing on the rolling hills and turkeys crossing at one particular turn in the road. But most importantly, it’s what is at the end of the journey that is simply amazing. I can think of many roads I would rather travel, but the final destination just wouldn’t be as spectacular.

Needless to say, our trips to Letts Lake are filled with much prayer, and I must confess, a lot of worry. I worry about meeting a truck and trailer on the one lane road and having to back up until we find a spot wide enough to pass. I worry about my husband going too fast and losing control. I worry the brakes will suddenly go out and send us plummeting over a cliff. Obviously, I haven’t quite learned to let go of worry and trust God completely in these situations! Yet I continue to go on the road willingly again and again, because I know that it is the only way to get where we want to go.

The above verses in Matthew where Jesus talks about the narrow road that leads to life remind me of the road to Lett’s Lake. Sure, the broad road might seem more appealing, easier to travel or the popular choice by the world’s standards. But, what is at the end? What does the final destination hold for those that chose the broad road? Jesus said it leads to destruction. It is a road where one chooses to live their life apart from Christ and ultimately an eternity separated from the loving mercy, grace and forgiveness of our Savior. Would anyone ever willingly choose a road knowing without a doubt that it headed straight for death and destruction? I would think not, yet so many people are doing just that. When we chose to live our lives apart from the saving grace of Jesus’ death and resurrection we are choosing the broad road that leads to destruction. So the choice seems obvious, choose the narrow road that leads to life!

Jesus never said the Christian life was an easy life. In fact he said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33 God has not promised a pain free journey but he has promised to travel the road with us and that he will never leave us or forsake us. As Christians, we are not left to wander aimlessly about on our own. We have the Holy Spirit living within us guiding us in truth and directing us along the way. And don’t forget, we have God’s word, the very best GPS system available at our fingertips each and every day.

As I was thinking about the road to Letts Lake again, I realized that the road itself is really not scary or dangerous at all. The road is actually quite comforting. You see, the road is not the problem. The frightening part, the deadly part is being off the road. As long as you stay focused on the road there really isn’t anything to be afraid of. The edges are obvious, road signs are posted and directions are clear. The driver’s responsibility is to choose the correct road and then stay on it and remained focused no matter what. Jesus said in John 14:6 , “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“ Jesus is the narrow road. Choose Him and choose life. Better yet, let him have the driver’s seat!

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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.

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