Good morning Zebras,

I love you.

Recently a friend was hospitalized with intestinal issues. To allow his body to heal they had to take him off food.  He said it was rough for the first few days, but then he felt so much better it was difficult to start eating again because he didn’t want to do anything to make the pain come back. 

And I thought “That is what it is like to walk in the Spirit.”

It is tough at first to learn to walk in the Spirit, to reorganize your life to pursue God, to love Him more than your own life, but when you finally get there it is so wonderful you don’t want to do anything to grieve Him.  You really are as the Bible says, “a new creature in Christ” and you have no interest in going back. 

Fortunately, for us, we don’t have to.  We can choose to stay in the light of God, to always walk in the Spirit. 

To get there, quit eating the wisdom of the world and feast instead on the things of God.  Learn to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind and soul, and to rest in His presence.  And the fruit of the Spirit will grow. 

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

And once the love and peace of God take root in your life and you love Him more than anyone or anything, you won’t need anyone to tell you how to stay there because you will never want to leave.   

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Am I the only one who thinks this situation would be a whole lot better if some humility was introduced?

Under the heading of “Practical Warnings” or “Warnings Against Folly” depending which version you are reading Solomon gives this advice: “if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!”  (Proverbs 6:2-3)

And then he goes on to list the things God hates: There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

God hates lies, pride and people who stir up dissension, to me that sounds like both sides.

I believe this is God’s “war” orchestrated for His honor and glory, for a goal I cannot see, because I believe the Bible teaches God is sovereign, which means nothing happens He does not allow.

 “God’s sovereignty means that if there’s anybody in this wide world of sinful men that should be restful and peaceful in an hour like this, it should be Christians.  We should not be under the burden of apprehension and worry because we are the children of a God who is always free to do as He pleases.” A.J. Tozer

However, for your peace of mind, it doesn’t matter what I believe, and it doesn’t matter what Tozer believes, it matters what God says and what you believe.

If you believe God is in control of all things and you know that He is both loving and good, then you can be at peace even if the world goes to war.

If you don’t, but you think you would like to, there are four videos on YouTube under “Zebra Ministries” that might help. 

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

If you need more encouragement about the situation in North Korea, I recommend clicking on the link below and reading  Oswald Chamber’s  because God has told me write about something else. 

In hindsight, I guess it is rather funny that I would start my “speaking career” with Moses’s last address.  (Dt. 30:11-20) I was so excited.  I rented a “Moses” costume and memorized the whole passage.   I was so sure if people knew what the choice was-follow God with your whole heart or die-they would choose life. I was wrong.

Joshua was more realistic. 

After his famous declaration “As for me and my house we will follow the Lord” he told the Israelites: “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.”  But of course, they insisted they could and they became witnesses against themselves by making a promise they could not keep, a promise to serve God and obey Him. 

None of us can do that, none of us can live a life that pleases God without the power of the Spirit because the life that pleases God, is a life like Jesus’s, a life that does not care about itself.

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

Every day you have to choose who you are going to serve, yourself and your own concerns or God, the two cannot coexist because Jesus said everyone can only have one master. 

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

You have to choose, the lukewarm sit the fence.    

Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

If dying to self seems undesirable to you, or impossible, be honest, don’t be an Israelite and become a witness against yourself making promises you can’t keep. Or worse a Pharisee that only looks good on the outside but on the inside, is full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Matthew 23:27–28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

Instead acknowledge to God the truth He already knows and beg Him to change you. 

Love, 

Jill

https://utmost.org/classic/the-theology-of-rest-classic/

Good morning Zebras,

Yesterday in a situation unrelated to what is going on in North Korea God prompted me to pray the lies that were being told would be revealed because a person’s life was at risk if the lies remained hidden.  Immediately God told me that is what I needed to be praying for this current world crisis as well.

Truth is in short supply everywhere, which is heartbreaking because truth is God’s language, and it should be the language of His people as well, along with love, kindness, forgiveness and patience. Everything else gives Satan a foothold. 

Ephesians 4:25–32 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

I love you Zebras, and I believe with my whole heart this is God’s war to free His people from Satan’s lies, here and abroad, therefore be at peace and pray. 

Love,

Jill 

Good morning Zebras,

I love you.

Oswald Chambers: The saint who satisfies the heart of Jesus will make other saints strong and mature for God.  But the people used to strengthen us are never those who sympathize with us; in fact, we are hindered by those who give us their sympathy, because sympathy only serves to weaken us.

It was once said about me, that if you wanted sympathy, don’t go to Jill.  At the time it hurt my feelings, but not anymore, because that is not my job.  People don’t need more sympathy they need more faith.

When Jesus saw a man laying by a pool making excuses He did not lay down with him, He told him to get up and walk. 

John 5:6–9 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

American Christians can’t afford to be lazy and self-focused anymore.  The world is on the brink of a nuclear war but God can stop it for His honor and glory.   

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Some people believe there is going to be a world-wide revival before Jesus returns, personally I am praying this is the beginning. 

Oh, Dear Heavenly Father, please let people see that this is not a battle between the U.S. and North Korea.  “Our” honor is not at stake, Yours is because a nuclear war would allow man to destroy all that You have created.  Lord, I refuse to believe You would allow that to happen.  When You destroyed the world in Noah’s time, everyone knew it was from You and I believe You have said the same thing will happen again.  You will destroy the world, by Your hand, when You choose.  Lord, I love You so and I pray for the sake of all Your people everywhere, You have chosen this time to reveal Your majesty to the world.  And, Heavenly Father, just like when You parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could walk to freedom on dry ground, I pray You are planning a miracle not only to stop this war, but also to set Your people in North Korea free.  Amen. 

Love,

Jill 

Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Good morning Zebras,

Please look at current events as God’s opportunity for His people to show the faith we claim to have.  God is in charge.  Nothing that happened yesterday changed that.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I love you Zebras and pray you choose to have God’s peace.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…it is a choice. 

Jill