  White Rhino
Kruger National Park in South Africa is the primary home of the black and white rhinoceros. This endangered species has been a primary target of poachers from around the world. These killings brought the rhino to the brink of extinction as they sought the highly prized horn for Asian customers. Pictured is the massive, square muzzled white rhino. This gentle giant has an obvious hump on its shoulder, large pointed ears and two horns. The prominent horn on the tip of his snout can grow up to 5 feet long! The rhinoceros appears to be very passive. It’s slow lumbering feeding can be very deceptive. It has a portly demeanor, with a dull sense of sight. On numerous occasions Cathy and I have sat and watched a white rhino lazily graze a short grass field near us. Over 30-minute period two rhinos foraged closer and closer to our vehicle. Suddenly, a male rhino raced forward with a rumbling growl and deep bellowing call. The mother and child rhinos quickly raised their heads to locate our car only a few meters away. The mother rhino danced and raced to guide her youngster away from our car. It took our breath away to watch the quick speed of the lumbering giant. We had no idea that this massive gentle giant could reach speeds of 40 km an hour. When surprised and provoked the rhinoceros is a highly aggressive adversary. We have seen it battle with Cape Buffalo and prevail in the deadliest encounter. Take notice of God’s creation around you today. You may find yourself surprised by the variety and abilities demonstrated by God’s creatures. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.
0 Comments
Report from Africa #4!
On Sunday afternoon, we sat in the volunteer house opening the Word of God and conducting Bible study. Our focus was on Jesus healing a paralytic in Mark chapter 2 verses one through 12. Four men came bringing this paralytic at the home where Jesus was living. We were making observations, asking questions and looking for an application to life today. Our discussion focused on verse five where it said Jesus saw their faith. Whose faith was he talking about? Was it the four men who came prepared to dig through the roof and lower this man to the feet of Jesus? Was it the paralytic? Apparently, Jesus was talking about more than one person when he saw their faith. Jesus forgives the paralytic for his sins. But then astoundingly Jesus told the paralytic to get up take your bed and go home. It appears that it was the faith of the four men that moved the Lord to forgive and heal the paralytic. Then Snowey began to remember the experience they had as a volunteer team. His eyes got wide and he became very excited as he recalled the incident. He said I remember the little boy who came to our kid’s club last February. He was always in a wheelchair and limited in his ability to be involved in the activities. The young missionaries discussed what to do to help in this situation. That day the volunteers had a prayer session asking God to heal this young boy. The week after their prayer the boy showed up without the wheelchair. His walking was labored and slow. However broken and unbalanced, he could walk! He recalled from the club meeting the day before how little boy was now running during the meeting. The faith of the volunteer team had brought the Lord to touch and heal him! Snowey said, we’ve never talked about this but I will never forget the experience. Maybe our faith contributed to his healing. It is nice to see the spirit of God move among these young volunteer missionaries! Cathy and Danny Sartin  A Kingdom Leader is keenly aware of the limitless ability of the power that is at work within us. He can do more than we ask or imagine! That power works within our inner being.
Does Christ dwell in your heart through faith? Are you able to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ? Do you share that love with those who hurt and disappoint you? What about those who you call an enemy? Do you feel comfortable, confident and established in the love of Jesus? Who have you shared that love with today? What about in the last hour? Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Has God surprised you and blessed you beyond all measure? Has he done more than you ever dreamed? Did you see it coming? We pray that you will be strengthened with His power to love those who hurt you. Live a life that is worthy of the calling you have received. Then watch God do exceeding, abundantly above all that you think or dream. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ o Ro 16:25; 2 Co 9:8 p 1 Ki 3:13 q ver 7 The New International Version. (2011). (Eph 3:20). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  God's Story
See what He has done! I am pictured with Ronas Marule of Mpumalanga YFC along with Bishop Israel Malele of the Word of Life Bible Churches in Northern South Africa. Israel is a true pioneer of the Christian church in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Over the last thirty years he has planted fifteen churches in various villages around Bushbuckridge. Amazingly he comes from a family where his father was a pastor in the ZCC. That is called the Zion Christian church and is a mixture of Christianity and the Bantu ancestral worship. Israel stepped away from the cultural roots of Africa and elevated the Word of God to its appropriate position. Thus, came the Word of Life Bible Churches. Ronas guided those contacts and selected places for me to preach and share the Word of God. In my mind’s Eye, I can see the growth of those churches in the northern section of Mpumalanga. The first year I visited a village where the church was under a tent. The second and third year I visited the building was little more than a shack. Gumtree poles were used to construct the frame, roof, joists, windows and doors. Random boards and a tin roof completed the structure. I’ll never forget the Sunday morning when a rooster landed on the open window while I was preaching. He began to crow and announce the rising morning sun. The fourth time I had the privilege to open God’s word at this location, I arrived at a completed building that had been constructed on the original site of the tent. Unfortunately, the night before heavy winds and a strong storm came through the area. The roof had blown away in the uncontrolled gusts. I walked into the shell of a church structure and thought to myself. . . how amazing! Jesus knew that I would be preaching on John the disciple whom he named Boanerges or Son of Thunder! Jesus nicknamed James and John with this unique label. The word meant wild, stormy, emotional, passionate and uncontrolled. God provided the damaged roof to illustrate the nature of John! What a joy it is to come beside such great pioneers in the Christian faith. Our friendship, respect and love has grown by leaps and bounds. We thank you for sending us and allowing us to share the Word of God in so many remote places! Cathy and I are deeply grateful. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
April 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed