Zebra Ministries: Us, God, and Others

Friday, November 11, 2011

Us, God, and Others

2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV 84)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…so that you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world…For this reason add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measures, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good morning Zebras,

Today’s passage is of my favorites. I have shortened it down so that you can digest the main parts, but if you have time I recommend you find your Bible and read the entire passage yourself.

I still remember vividly when God showed me these verses and told me He had given me everything I needed for life and godliness. We had quite the discussion at Bible study because I sure didn’t feel like I had everything I needed. And of course we all know if it doesn’t “feel” true… I mean I felt like I had one or two things, but certainly not everything.

However, the thought of being unproductive and ineffective in my knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ struck fear in my heart and got me motivated to do my part.

The qualities are not listed in order of importance and we are told to develop them all in increasing measure so I started with the one I liked best: knowledge. Since God had already given me a great love of His Word making myself spend more time studying the Bible was not a hardship at all.

Perseverance came next, “to keep on keeping on” as they would say, to get up every day and choose for myself who I would serve. I learned serving God really is a daily decision and perseverance requires that I consciously choose Him every day.

Self-control was a little more difficult. I kept trying to control the wrong things. Finally, God showed me that I needed to start by controlling my tongue and then controlling other things would get easier. He was right.

Then two weeks ago I taught on this passage at Colusa. At the time I noticed I only emphasized three items on God’s list of important qualities to work on but I wasn’t sure why. I told the ladies it was because those were the only ones I knew about and that I was finding godliness, goodness, brotherly kindness, and love came as a result of knowledge, perseverance and self-control.

Which, I still believe is true, but only half right because yesterday God showed me the other half.

The reason I focus on knowledge, self-control and perseverance is because I can work on those qualities alone. The other qualities; goodness, brotherly kindness, love, and godliness require that I interact with others. I can be as loving as I want when it is just me and God, but the real test is when someone else gets involved. Which is confirmation for me that God never intended for us JUST to have a wonderful relationship with Him, He also wanted us to have wonderful relationships with others.

Remember it is the lone Zebra who gets eaten.

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.

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