The Greyhound of the Cats


I remember the day we saw our first Cheetah in the wild. He was at Renosterpan in the South West corner of Kruger National Park. Our guide had heard of the cat from another person who spoke Afrikaans. She turned our car around and moved to the water hole quickly. There it sat a short distance away.

The beautiful and majestic feline was panting and quietly resting. Then to our surprise only twenty yards away stood an Impala buck. He was snorting and stomping his feet on the ground. The Cheetah barely took notice of him. I thought to myself, this Impala is crazy!  That cat is one of the most specialized animals in the world. It is the fastest land animal anywhere. He can run up to 70 miles an hour!

What we did not understand is that the cat had been in a chase only minutes ago and had not caught his prey. The body of a Cheetah can only sustain bursts of speed for about 100 yards. It the prey can outlast that burst then it can escape. It requires the cat to rest for thirty minutes so that its body can recover from the chase. Many times other carnivores will take a Cheetah's kill because she is too spent to fight for the food.

The picture above is a Cheetah looking for a potential target. He jumped up on a fallen tree seeking to identify potential prey in the distance. Then a slow stalking will ensue until the Cheetah is close enough to spring at the target. Usually it is within a few yards when the chase begins.

The Bible speaks of numerous predators who have their eyes on us. Satan is compared to a roaring lion who seeks someone to devour. Not nibble or play with! He wants to consume our heart, mind and soul! Where are the eyes of the Lord?

Psalm 33:18–19 (ESV)
18  Behold, ethe eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, fon those who hope in his steadfast love,
19  that he may gdeliver their soul from death and keep them alive in hfamine.

The eye of the Lord is on those who have reverence for him. Respect is what all of us want. If you give God that respect His eye will be upon you. Consider your posture toward God. Do you snort and stomp your feet because you are upset with Him? Are you willing to allow God to be God?

Where are your eyes fixed? On Christ. . . or yourself?

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
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e  Ps. 34:15; Job 36:7; 1 Pet. 3:12
f  Ps. 147:11
g  [Acts 12:11]
h  Ps. 37:19; Job 5:20
  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 33:18–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.
Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Photos are taken by Danny and Cathy Sartin in Africa.
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.

Continually Cathy is pointing out the different trees we come across in Africa. Their assortment is so varied that I am amazed at the creativity of God. Notice this beautifully shaped tree we saw in Kruger National Park. As you can tell, trees become an important source of shade during the blistering heat of the African summer.

The Baobab tree seems odd when you first see one. It appears like an upside-down tree. A huge trunk with some thin sprinkled limbs on top seem out of place. It is the iconic “tree of life” for the continent of Africa. But, it produces the most nutrient rich fruit in the world in a very difficult dry climate.

Consider God’s interest in the garden of trees he created in Genesis chapter two. He creates the garden as a distinct place where God and man can have a close relationship. The garden was a place where God’s presence dwells in a special kind of way so that his people can be with him and worship Him.

Two of the most important spices used in the Bible are frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin that is ground into powder and burned to produce a balsam-like odor. Myrrh is also a resin found in various bushes.  It was used for worship in the Tabernacle and Temple over the centuries.

Had it ever occurred to you that the wise men brought remembrances of the Garden of Eden when they visited the Christ child? Gold, frankincense and myrrh were brought to the new born king! All of which were included in the Garden!

I think therefore a walk among the trees can be relaxing. It can help you feel close to God. Take time to be aware of God's presence.

May this Christmas remind you of the blessings and gifts of God. He is a sweet fragrance among us all.

Have a blessed Christmas,
Cathy and Danny Sartin
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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.

Kudu
Glimpse at an Icon

​The African Kudu is a large sized antelope with spiral horns. Cathy and I consider it one of the most beautiful antelopes in the world. We have seen them many times in the Kruger National Park of South Africa. The silhouette of this majestic animal has been adopted for South African game parks. 

We have been served many exotic animal meats during our visits to Africa. We think that Kudu, which is very lean and tasty, is our favorite.

We have also discovered that they can sometimes be difficult to spot. Its markings make the Kudu more concealing than revealing. They serve to break up the animals’ form with disruptive coloration and enabling it to blend into the background. Even the spiral horns seem to be out of place in the bush.

That is exactly what Satan attempts to do in our lives. Blend in so we don’t recognize his presence. He uses every method to dull our sight and blur the reality of our lives. Unfortunately, we begin to feel safe from the evil one.

I have heard many people say, why would Satan want to get me? I am not important to the Kingdom of God. That thought pattern can be the first sign that you believe you are just blending in. Lions use other forms of detection to recognize the presence of prey. Smell and hearing are just as important as sight.

Are you a complacent Christian? Do you think you are safe from the enemy? Take a closer look. Pray for us as we board a plane for Africa today!

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
​
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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.