![]() Greece Danny is feeding a vulture at a rehabilitation center in Africa. The bird was heavy and strong. His claws could be felt through the thick leather glove. He pulled at the meat between my thumb and fingers. His size and power was a surprise as he jumped on my arm and went after the raw meat. Once he gobbled the small snack I dropped him to the ground. He could have easily turned and pecked at my face. It was certainly an uneasy feeling once he latched on to my arm. Cathy and I are traveling on Monday to a volatile area of the world. A large portion of the refugees escaping the Middle East are coming through the Island of Lesvos in Greece. We will be going to visit missionaries on the island and in Athens. This will take us to parts of the world that are deeply troubled. The places we will go and some of the people we will interact with have seen the atrocities first hand. Many have never met a Christian before. The stories they tell are moving and powerful. We will see some who have witnessed visions from the Lord. Pray for our understanding, wisdom, graciousness and courage as we come alongside Christians and Muslims who have seen this tragedy up close and personal. Pray that we encourage and guide everyone's heart toward Jesus. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. Photograph was taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Central America. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our 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.
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![]() God's Window Graskop, South Africa Cathy is standing at a beautiful spot in the Drakensberg Mountains of Mpumalanga. The local people call this spot God's Window. It provides a panoramic vista of the Limpopo valley. You find yourself looking East toward Bushbuckridge and the Kruger National Park. This stunning view can take your breath away. It feels like you can see forever from this perch on the mountain side. Africans imagine this location as God's window into the world and the souls of men. Not everyone who reaches such a lofty position sees the same thing. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to reach space and orbit the earth in Vostok 1. His flight took only 108 minutes to circle our planet. Gagarin was reported to say that he had not seen God above the sky. The statement implied that this proves that God does not exist. The origin of the statement is disputed. But it was mentioned by the Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev at the Plenom of the Central Committee. He said, Gagain flew into space and didn't see any God there! Psalm 19 tells us that God speaks to us through nature and the magnificent wonders of our sky. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. (ESV) Do your eyes see and perceive His presence? Look around you. He is there. Do you hear and understand His love for you? Cathy sees God everywhere in nature. His creativity is so awesome. She marvels at the unique beauty He reveals when you take the time to look. Each of us need to take the time to see from God's Window. His window can see forever! Cathy and Danny Sartin Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. Life Nuggets 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. ![]() Report from the Field Mpumalanga, South Africa Today we are on a bus riding to Johannesburg, South Africa. Tomorrow we will catch our flight to Atlanta. Then we will be home within twenty-four hours. It all happens so quickly. The last two months have been filled with beautiful sunrises, stunning sunsets and precious moments with friends and co-workers in the vineyard. Words seem to fall short as we consider all of the ways it has impacted our lives. Yesterday was a microcosm of these last two months. We felt the thrill and joy of a new birth. We also felt the agony of the death of a granddaughter. Two meetings yesterday reflected those themes as we met with close friends and missionaries serving on the field. Lunch was a time of heaviness laced with joy at each others presence. This couple had buried their first granddaughter that come prematurely. Issues in the ministry compounded the sadness and left us with heavy hearts. But the laughter and joy of sharing together lifted our spirits. The value of looking into each others eyes and encouraging one another is eternal. The afternoon was punctuated with a special meeting. Eight day old Nathan nestled in the arms of Cathy. The little gentleman only weighs 1.8 KG. She touched his hair and spoke about its softness. Oh he is so cute, she remarked. This missionary family had gone through a similar time of great stress but thankfully the little one made it. Timing has been perfect as the author of eternal life has appointed each meeting and opened the windows to people's hearts, minds and souls. It seems almost uncanny that the creator of the universe is placing us in the correct places to sit, actively listen, thoughtfully question and lovingly encourage missionaries and pastors. Going deeper still into the lives of ministry people on the field is such a privilege. You have put us in the perfect position to love, support and uplift others. Thank you for that vision. May you see today His touch behind the tears and smiles of your life. Cathy and Danny www.deeperstillmissions.com ![]() A Kingdom Leader desires to carry the Cross of Christ up the hill. He is so committed to that Cross that he lifts his own on a daily basis. Do you remember the wet sensation and warm blood of Jesus? His shredded back soaked blood into the wood. Do remember visiting the Cross in your spiritual journey? Has it become a distant memory that no longer affects your thinking, feelings and behavior? Have you forgotten? 32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.1 Amazing! The man who carried the Cross of Christ was an African! You should see the eyes of present day Africans when they hear those words. Unaware that an African was an intimate part of the most powerful battle of all time. Satan thought he won! Simon was allowed direct access into the inner circle of this historic event. I believe he remained to see the man who walked beside him to Calvary. He was able to watch and hear from an intimate position. I wonder if the guards would allow him to wipe the blood from his back and shoulders? Questions race through my mind as I contemplate the event moment by moment. We pray that your personal experience of approaching the Old Rugged Cross has not faded into the pages of memories. We remember his gift and sacrifice for us! Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com 1 The New International Version. (2011). (Mt 27:32). 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. |
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
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