Zebra Ministries: Gentle

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Gentle

Matthew 21:5 (NIV)

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

Good morning Zebras,

Today’s attribute is Gentle.

My first reaction when Nick picked “gentle” from the Christmas tree ornament box was, “Well, that explains it. Gentleness combined with patience explains a lot about how God deals with me. If God was a violent, impatient person things would be a lot different.”

But then I started thinking. Is gentleness really an attribute of God? It isn’t listed in any of my attributes of God books and just because it is written on an ornament doesn’t make it true so I decided to do a little research.

Turns out there are a few Greek and Hebrew words that get translated as gentle. And there are other closely related words which get translated humble or meek. In the ESV and ISV today’s verse is translated “‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” But the NASB agrees with the NIV and uses the word gentle. So which is it? Is God humble or gentle or both? Are humble and gentle the same?

Obviously at this point I was in over my head so I sought the advice of my pastor.

One of the questions I asked him was could Jesus possess an attribute that God the Father did not have. It is easy for me to see the gentle nature of Jesus, but gentle is not the first thing that comes to mind when describing God.

He responded with: I would go the route that Jesus suggests - "If you know me you know the father." Therefore - if Jesus is meek, God has meekness as a quality.

But I still wanted to find a reference to the gentleness of God in the Old Testament. This morning I found two. The first is when God speaks to Elijah on Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19. God could have spoken through the wind, the earthquake or the fire, but He didn’t, He chose instead to speak to Elijah through what the Bible describes as a gentle whisper.

But the second one was a verse that I had never really seen before. Written by David and recorded twice, it says “your gentleness made me great.”

Isn’t that encouraging?! God’s gentleness can make us great.

My first thought was “Oh goody, through the gentle instruction of God I can become great,” but then I realized that was probably not right. What makes us great is not what we do but our faith in the gentleness of God as revealed in Jesus.

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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