Zebra Events


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Gary or Jill Getchell at zebraministries@gmail.com


Zebra Ministries

Welcome to the herd!

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Stiches


Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Good morning Zebras,
Thank you to all who prayed for me while I was away at camp. It is hard to explain how well it went, but it went really well.  God’s presence guided me from the time I stepped into camp until I left and it was an amazing experience of walking in the spirit.

Hopefully today’s z-mail will give you a taste of how God guided the week.
On Thursday Nick, my son, and I were walking along the edge of the lake. We were discussing how much fun we were having and we came to a point where a very small fence blocked our path and the only way to continue was to wade into the lake.

Nick, who was already wet, saw some friends standing on the beach on the other side of the fence so he continued on wading into the water.  I decided not to get my shoes wet so I turned and walked up the steps into Reflection Circle.

As I was nearing the top I caught my shoe on the last step and fell cutting open my knee.  As I lay there on the ground, four junior high boys offered to help me up.  And as I limped down to the medical station someone saw me and radioed ahead to make sure a nurse was there. Penii Jo gave me clean socks and Nurse Julie drove me to Redding for stiches, overall it was a great experience.
The next morning, as I was praying and preparing for Bible Hour I asked God to show me how He wanted me to use my fall and today’s verse came to mind.  If I had walked into the water with Nick I would not have fallen, and if Nick had come with me he would have caught me when I stumbled.  Either way if I had been with Nick I would not have fallen.

Which was a great lesson for our last day. 
Camp is a wonderful experience but sometimes it is not easy to walk out what God told you on the mountain when you get home. Writing it down and telling someone else will help.  God did not mean for His people to walk alone and just like zebras we are stronger when we are together. And if we do stumble and fall there will be someone there to help us up.

Thank you West Coast Honor Camp for letting me come and thanks to all of you for praying, it couldn’t have been done it without you.

Love,
Jill

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Count the Cost


John 14:1 (NIV84)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

Good morning Zebras,

I promised my son something without really thinking it through.  I didn’t realize how difficult or expensive it was going to be and although I can do it, I’m fighting a very human urge to wiggle out of it.  I know he would understand, but that really isn’t the point.  The point is I promised it and IF I can deliver I need to.

To highlight the importance of keeping my promise, I had someone renege on something they were going to do for me.  It might have been a misunderstanding, but I think they just decided they had promised me more than they were willing to deliver. And although I was upset, it was hard not to see myself in the situation.

And I thought:  I sure am glad God isn’t like us. I sure am glad He isn’t sitting up in heaven debating with Himself if He should actually fulfill His promises.   Or changing His mind and not doing it at all.

Jesus tells a parable recorded in Luke where He warns the disciples about counting the cost of following Him.  Most commentaries say the point of this parable is that we need to examine ourselves closely to see if we are willing to pay the price of being a disciple.   Are we willing to die to self and live only for Jesus?

Which is a good thought, but that isn’t how it worked for me. God didn’t show me in advance everything I was going to have to give up to follow Him.  If He had I might have backed out. Instead He just said follow me-and the path unfolded.  There was no way I could have counted the cost, because I didn’t know what the cost was.

However I recently read one commentary that says the parable is not referring us but to God. It is God who had to count the cost of finishing the work of salvation. He counted the cost of giving His Son from the very beginning and He was willing to pay it.

I like that interpretation because only God can really sit and assess what it is going to take to accomplish a task and have the power to follow through.

If I logically look at something and decide I have enough strength and resources to accomplish it, then I am a fool.  I know how quickly my best resolve gives way to failure.  It works much better if I focus on God, trusting He has the strength and resources to finish the work He has started in me. As Paul says I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Personally, I find it that very reassuring.

Love,

Jill