2021 has now set!
​What will be different in 2022?

Cathy and I stood at the top of Victoria Falls in Livingston, Zambia and watched the sun set. We were spending time with Janet and Butch Berner at the largest waterfall in the world. The sun slowly set in the West and gave us this wonderful view.

All of us saw the sun set soon on another odd year of the pandemic. We reflect on 2021 and see the exciting fruit of God's hand. Water wells and special projects to assist our missionary families warm our hearts. God used the pandemic to allow us the opportunity to seek his resources to meet needs that have been outstanding for many years.

The Bible talks about the fruit that is produced in our hearts, minds and relationships. Gosh have we been blessed! Again God has shown us the eternal spiritual principle of effort. Do what is possible and God does the impossible! 

Consider what fruit you will produce in 2022. What can we do differently to reflect the love and truth of Jesus Christ?

Luke 6:44 (NIV84)
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

One poor pastor in the village of Chivuh, Zimbabwe said, God has not forgotten us! We are thankful to Him for this gift that has been so badly needed. Look for opportunities in your year to bless others and just do what is possible. God will continue to show up and do the impossible.

Thank you for partnering with us in Deeper Still Missions. We are deeply humbled and grateful for each of you. May you be blessed in this new year.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
________________________
The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Lk 6:44). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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.

Which path?
How long will we waiver?

We are coming to the end of another year. Reflection on 2020 and 2021 have been unprecedented times due to the worldwide pandemic.  Our home, work, schools, church and economy has been affected!

Change is all around us and is forcing us into choosing a path that is not clear like a road. At times it seems like only a constricted path is available to us. I would go so far to say that we are in the position of forging a new trail where no one has ever gone before!

Jesus tells us that pestilences will be a sign of His return to the earth.  What will that mean for each of us? Theologically, deeply committed Christians differ on the understanding of the end times. What should we do?

New Years is the time to make changes with what we all call resolutions. We resolve to reset our lives on a path of balance, health, and fulfillment. Where is Jesus in the middle of your mind, heart, and soul? We do have decisions to make in a tall forest of competing viewpoints.

I like the way Eugene Peterson gives a contemporary view of Elijah in the Old Testament. People were at a turn in the road and the decision was simple in his mind.

1 Kings 18:21 (The Message)
Elijah challenged the people: “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!”
Nobody said a word; nobody made a move.

We pray that your decisions become clear in this tall forest of issues. But I like how it is stated. If God is the real God, follow him!

Jesus is the way! We are thankful for everyone who walks with us down the path of faith. May the Lord give us a resolve to forge a trail together.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
________________________
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (1 Ki 18:21). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This photo is taken by us in Germany.
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.

Watervall Church
Necessary for the Kingdom!

​I arrived at a small village church in Northern Mpumalanga of South Africa. It was September 2018 and a special holiday was being observed. It was Heritage Day. People came dressed in traditional clothing representing their various tribes. Tradition was their focus.

I was surprised when I drove onto the property. The structure had been partially destroyed during a storm that came through that week. I thought to myself, "Is there anyone here?" It didn't look as if any activity would transpire there. I got out of my car and walked to the open door and found a group of people under the final remaining roof.

Stepping inside I was aware of a strong odor. I had not seen a floor mixed with dirt and dung to give it a finished look and stability. But I learned this is the "dirt floor" in their huts also. This group could not afford a nice wood floor. But their love of Jesus was contagious as the children sang a special song just for the pastor. It was in English! They captured my heart!

I opened God's Word to Revelation and read the following description of saints in heaven.

Removal of the RestrainerThe End Times continue to be a topic of discussion among many people. We believe that the rapture of the church is coming soon due to the signs explained by Jesus himself. But when does the rapture happen? There are many answers about that event among many strong Christian theologians. Consider the following

2 Thessalonians 2:5–7 (ESV) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him nowso that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrainsit will do so until he is out of the way. 

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV) Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

The Restrainer Is the Holy Spirit: Notes from John Walvoord
Who is it, after all, that really restrains sin? The answer found in the Bible is that God is the one who restrains sin. In Genesis 6:3 it is declared that the Spirit of God was restraining sin in the days of Noah. It was predicted that instead of striving with sin God would judge it in the flood.
In the Book of Job it is recorded that Satan wanted to afflict Job, but God had built a hedge about him. Satan testified that he was restrained by God from trying Job. When Satan accused Job of serving God because God had been so good to him, God took down part of the hedge and permitted Satan to take away all of Job’s property and all of his children in one day. He left Job only his wife and his own life. When the Lord called Satan’s attention to Job’s faithfulness in affliction, Satan said it was because God had preserved Job’s health. Then God permitted Satan to afflict Job’s body, but not to take his life. Satan then brought severe physical affliction upon Job, and Job was in torment in his body. But in it all Satan could not go any further than God permitted him. Satan was restrained by God Himself.
It would not be possible for any believer to do any work for God if it were not for God’s protecting hand. It is God who restrains. God may use varying means. He may use the government which maintains a certain amount of law and order. In the end, it is God who does it. It is God who provides protection for the Christian.
More specifically, in this present age it is the Spirit of God who provides protection. As it is revealed in Genesis 6:3, the Spirit of God strives with men and opposes Satan and his program and his hatred of the children of God.
While the Holy Spirit has always worked in times past, on the Day of Pentecost the Spirit of God came in a special way. Christ, who had always existed and was always present in the world, came into the world, was born of the Virgin Mary, and in a special sense left the world when He ascended and went back to heaven, even though He said, “Lo, I am with you always.” So also the Spirit of God came on the Day of Pentecost and now indwells the church and is present in the world. The Spirit will return to heaven at the rapture.
The most natural explanation of the taking away of the restrainer is to identify this particular action with the time when Christ will come to take out His church. If the Spirit of God indwells the church and the church is taken out of the world, then the Spirit of God will also be taken out of the world. This does not mean that the Spirit will not continue working in the world in some way; but it will mean a reversal of Pentecost. Just as the Spirit came on Pentecost, so He will leave when Christ takes the church out of the world.
The very removal of both the church and the Spirit from the world will release the world to sin as it never has before. The presence of believers in the world exerts a great influence upon the wicked world. Christians who have stood for civic righteousness and law and order will no longer be in evidence. For the time being at least, there will be no one except unsaved people to run government. The net result will be that evil will be manifested beyond anything known in the history of man. The “mystery of iniquity” is, of course, already working as mentioned in verse 7, but the Holy Spirit is now restraining sin until He is taken away at the translation of the church. When this occurs, it is revealed in verse 8 that “then shall that Wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”
There are, then, three good reasons why the Day of the Lord and the tribulation time could not have begun in the time the Thessalonians lived: first, the apostasy had not come; second, the man of sin had not been revealed; and, third, the Spirit of God had not been taken away. In a large sense, those unfulfilled conditions are still true today. While there is apostasy in our midst, the man of sin has not been revealed, and the Holy Spirit has not been removed. All of this constitutes real evidence that the tribulation time has not come and that it cannot come until Christ comes and takes His church home to glory.
 
We know this commentary will give you some thoughts to consider. I am thankful for the life and teaching of Dr. Walvoord. Pray for Christ's coming as you serve Him today.
 
Cathy and Danny Sartin
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Walvoord, J. F. (2007). The Thessalonian Epistles (pp. 77–78). Galaxie Software.
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.

Derembwe, Zimbabwe

The tap is flowing!

Life has now changed for the small village of Derembwe. For the first time in their history they now have a functioning well that has a tap for water. The delay due to Covid-19 stopped all work one week after hitting the water you see pictured. The government stopped all travel within the country. The gusher that hit in December had to be capped until further notice.

I received word yesterday that they are back at work and the water is flowing for the village. The final steps will be the installation of two 5,000 liter tanks which will allow them to irrigate fields for planting.

Life has now changed for these people. Thank you so much for your prayers! Our God is so good.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
_________________________

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.

The Swiss Alps
Tranquil, serene and beautiful!

Cathy and I sat on the grass to soak in this beautiful location. It reminded us of the Sound of Music. Rich green grass with the snow covered mountains as the backdrop of Allmannsried. 

The view alone brings a measure of splendor, calm and peace. The crisp air and beauty causes us to take a deep breath and feel relaxed from the cares of life. Boy do we love those moments!

Christ gives us a deeper and more vivid peace that is hard to describe. As Jesus prepares to leave earth he talks of that peace. A special peace that the world cannot give to you.

John 14:27 (ESV)
27 ePeace I leave with you; fmy peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. gLet not your hearts be troubled, neither hlet them be afraid.

Cathy is holding a lamb which is the picture of Jesus as described by John the Baptist. The lamb of God! May you experience His peace today.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
_________________________
e  ch. 20:19, 21, 26; Luke 24:36
f  ch. 16:33; Col. 3:15; [Eph. 2:17; Phil. 4:7]
g  ver. 1
h  2 Tim. 1:7
  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 14:27). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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.