Zebra Ministries: Expectations

Friday, May 11, 2012

Expectations

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Good morning Zebras,

Sorry I haven’t written. I ended up in the hospital last Thursday for emergency surgery and although I was discharged on Friday and I am doing well, writing e-mails under the influence of Vicodin is a very foolish thing.

But last night Laura posted this quote on her Facebook page and I knew it was God using her to prompt me to get back to writing, because “expectations” is what He had been talking to me about.

“Expectation is the root of all heartache”--William Shakespeare.

And I agree, worldly expectations are the gateway to disappointment. Nothing and no one is this world will live up to our expectations. Everything and everyone in some way will let us down. And our expectations of God can also be the “root of all heartache” if our expectations of God are not in line with Scripture. God did not promise that everything would “go our way” He promised that He would always go with us, and those are two VERY different promises.

One is what we want, one is what is true.

Last Wednesday night I was reading James 4:13-16, about boasting about tomorrow and praying for the retreat I was supposed to facilitate the next day, when I was struck by verse that says: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”

It was one of those moments when I knew God was showing me something I do without really even thinking about it. I count on things going as planned, instead of counting on God and being open to change.

The next day I ended up in the hospital.

One of my constant prayers is that God will direct my path, and although this was not the path I had planned, God gave me an overwhelming sense of His presence and the assurance that is was the path He had planned, which might sound weird, but it allowed me to relax and “count it all joy” because God had reassured me He was in control.

We should not expect everything in our life to go smoothly or expect that each day will go as we had planned. Nor should we expect to get everything our hearts desire or that people will behave the way we want them to. What we should expect is that in this world we will have “trouble” and we will “face trials of many kinds”, but no matter what happens we should also that God is always with us and He has everything under control.

And I find those expectations incredibly encouraging.

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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