Long time no see everyone.
If it has seemed like I have been absent from social media for a while, you are right. Our base is participating in a 40 day fast in the anticipation of God starting a revival here in South Africa that will spread like a wild fire to all the nations.
In my case, I have been fasting social media- hence my silence. Although, I’m learning just how easy it was to disconnect from people by diving into my phone to avoid others. Now that I don’t have that escape, I have been much more intentional with my free time and how I interact with others. I have been able to do so much more with my life since I started fasting. There’s more time to do activities that actually give me life (quiet time with God, dancing, reading, painting, etc.)
In fact, a couple weeks ago, one of my staff and I joined S-Cape Home, a non-profit that brings holistic restoration to woman who have been victims of human trafficking and exploitation, and Food Forward, a non-profit that collects edible surplus foods and distributes them to community organizations like S-Cape Home. We spent half the day taking in food donations at a local grocery store. Some people were dismissive, but most were surprisingly supportive and caring. It was cool to hear that a handful of people were already working with organizations like Food Forward in their own communities. Not having my phone that day and talking to strangers was actually really nice because I was able to connect with people I would never have encountered before.
Outside of that, my weekly ministry has been incredible. The girls that come in are so intelligent and creative. Whether it is reading a story or making arts and crafts, they are always engaged and willing to learn. These last couple weeks we have been reading different stories about the Shepherd and His Sheep. Sometimes the story was from the lost lamb’s point of view. Another time it was read from the Shepherd’s point of view. No matter what, these girls really soaked up the stories. We asked them a couple weeks later what we had read and they still remembered the stories and the meanings behind them. Their revelation of who God is and what he says about them grows every single week, Little did I know that these little children books would be so relevant in my life. Currently, we are studying the Gospel of John which is where these books stem from. In John 10:1-18 there’s just a huge figure of speech section that Jesus uses to describe his own character and the deep love he has for us.
This is one of my applications that I took off John 10:11:
App: In my ministry these past couple weeks, we have read multiple stories about the Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep. Somehow the sheep always wanders off and finds itself hanging off a cliff or surrounded by a storm and darkness. In both stories though, the sheep cries out and the shepherd comes and saves it. Sometimes we can over complicate God with theologies and ideas, but this is the simple truth. No matter what storm your surrounded by or cliff you are hanging off of, call out to Jesus who hears and he will come and rescue you. (For those of you who need an encouragement this week. Boom. There it is.)
So as our base starts leaning into God and we wait expectantly for revival to come, I think it is important to remember where true revival comes from. The true source of what we are hoping for is Jesus, our Shepherd, and that not only we would be brought back, but all those who don’t know him may be brought back to the one who gives life.
My prayer for YWAM Muizenberg (and for you guys) is that we can all learn to soak in who God is no matter what season we are in our lives. I believe that when we do that, it won’t matter what obstacle or season we are in because we are firm in our foundation in Christ.
I hope you all are well. Although I am off social media right now, feel free to reach out and email me. I’d love to personally catch up with you.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Blessings,Catherine H. Fisher