~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.
Henry J. Kaiser * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * *
As you read this week's newsletter, you will
notice that there have been a couple of changes.
In order to bring more great articles and items
of interest, we have eliminated the section on
chat information. This information will now be
made available to you as a separate document. All
you have to do is drop me a line, and I will send
one to you.
Growing in size is not the only area we are
growing in. Relationships are developing and
experiences with one another constantly surprise
and thrill us, at times, even, frustrate us. One
of my favorite ways of putting things in
perspective is to call my more challenging
moments as "CHARACTER 101". It is in
this "class" that my true self comes to
the surface for the Spirit of God to shape and
mold. In His loving graciousness, He has given me
His Word to help guide my way. Whether it is
online, or in your marriage, or with a difficult
congregational member, always remember that God
is more interested in HOW you respond to one
another, more than the circumstance that arose.
Take your responses and compare them to 1 Corin.
13:4-7, and Galatians 5:7-26 (my favorite). . .
.(and for those of you who skim over the
references like I have been known to do, and
think, "Oh, I know that reference, I don't
need to read it. . ." Put your pride down a
minute and go refresh your mind. You will be
surprised at what God will most likely show you
about yourself! After you have done that, and
sighed deeply knowing you still have more work to
do, encourage yourself with this reference:
Romans 715-25. ~ JoyfulArt (Shannon)
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Vessels of God
By Sanorma (Sherry)
A few weeks ago during one of our Monday
evening chats, the subject came up of
"finding my place in the ministry". As
I thought on the things that were brought up, the
Spirit of the Lord reminded me of a potter's
house that Jeremiah visited.(Jeremiah 18:3) As
Jeremiah watched the potter at work, the Lord
spoke to him about the vessel that was being
molded and shaped. And as the potter worked with
the clay, he noticed a flaw in the vessel, and as
Jeremiah watched, the potter took the clay that
was still plyable and reshaped it into a vessel
that could be used.
We as ministers, are like the vessel Jeremiah
saw the potter making. we are molded into vessels
as He wills, As it seems good in His sight. As
the clay was plyable in the potter's hands, so we
need to be moldable and changeable to what the
Master wants our lives to be. The clay didn't
chose what shape or for what purpose it was
intended, but was yeilded in the hands of the
potter as he willed. Sometimes we have a set
image of what we think we ought to be, or what we
have seen him use others in the ministry to do,
but God has something different in mind for our
lives. As vessels being molded in the potter's
hands, We should be willing to change and develop
as the Master shapes our ministries.
The Lord reminded me of another vessel, this
vessel was hard and dried when the flaw was found
in it(Jeremiah 19:11) It could not be reshaped
and could not be used, and was only fit for the
trash. As ministers wives, We must guard our
hearts from becoming hardened, Satan sends
problems and sometimes even church people, to try
and hurt, discourage and sidetrack us from the
very thing that God has called us to do. God help
us to be of a tender heart and of a willing
spirit that God can use for His glory. As we
yield to the Spirit of God, He will mold us into
what He wants us to be, and as we stay yielded to
His Spirit, He will show us our place in His
plan.
Paul spoke of vessels of honor and dishonor in
Romans 9:21, some that could be used for the
purpose that they were intended and some that
could not. It is my hearts desire to be a vessel
used for His honor, so that my life above all
reflects the Father to a world, lost and dying
without Him. But most of all, a vessel that He
looks upon and says, Well Done, my child I am
well pleased. It is my heart's cry to be a vessel
of honor used by the Lord for His glory, and I
pray that it is yours.....
Have thine own way Lord, Have thine own way,
Thou art the potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, Yielded and still.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WHO DOES GOD'S WORK
(Submitted by Lorianncal)
Who does God's work will get God's pay.
However long may seem the day,
However weary is the way.
Though powers and princes thunder, nay,
Who does God's work will get God's pay.
God does not pay as others pay,
In gold or land or raiment gay,
In things that vanish and decay;
But God in wisdom has a way
And be assured, let come what may,
Who does God's work will get God's pay
~ unknown ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DIFFICULT WATERS AHEAD
No one wants to hear that. But like it or not,
those waters do come. Whether it is by trials and
strife in the church, or by the temptations that
arise while in the midst of those trials. . .
what is truly in our hearts is exposed and
revealed. In God's grace, mercy and incredible
love, He will always reveal our hearts to us
first. Always allowing us to offer up to Him our
lives, will, emotions and struggles.
My commitment to you in this ministry and in
writing these newsletters is that we would not
become "just another newsletter or
ministry" but evolve into a thriving, alive,
relevant source of discipling, mentoring and
covenant relationships. Real issues come our way
in our journey as God's Shepherd's and we would
be doing a terrible injustice to pretend that
some of those issues do not exist. God's
General's, AND their ladies, struggle with fear,
discouragement, addictions, loneliness,
confusion, self esteem issues, death, physical
challenges, mental challenges, emotional
challenges. . . . . oh and the list can go on and
on. I choose to believe that the day of hiding
behind our "high and mighty RELIGION"
is quickly passing away as we step into the
abundant life and UNCONDITIONAL love of Jesus
Christ.
The following letter came to me from one of
our ladies. The name of the person who sent this
prayer request to her remains anonymous, for
obvious reasons. I print this very difficult
letter for several reasons. The first and for
most is to pray for this Pastor, His wife,
family, and their church. Those of you who have
encountered such darkness in the church are well
aware at the damage that can be caused. The next
reason is that there are testimonies among us.
Some are old and sealed in victory. Some are
fresh and the pain is intense.
We MUST provide a safe haven for our brothers
and sisters who are struggling in these areas -
and others like them - for, as Paul said in Gal
6:1-3, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a
one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one
another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceives
himself.
* * * * * * * * * *
From: FirstPatG
To: JoyfulArt
Sorry I haven't been able to spend much time
with the group, but I have very much appreciated
the newsletters. Recently, I was sent a
confidential letter from a woman in our BAMPRAYER
group. She told me I can share her story (just
not her name). She has been a part of our group
for over 10 months, and she felt she finally
needed to tell me that she is the wife of a
Pastor (who leads a very large and visable
ministry). About a year ago he moved out of the
home and into the home of another woman (while
still maintaining the facade of a happily married
man...picking her up for church functions etc.)
She has stood for the marriage, and God is
answering her prayers. He has moved back home
(yet still is gone at least one night each week).
I am telling you all this because she made a
comment to me that really told me alot about the
situation many Pastor's wives may be in...she
didn't want to tell anyone this problem because
she didn't want to be the cause of the fall of
their ministry! It is a VERY fruitfull ministry
and she doesn't want Satan to win.
I don't know what you want to do with the
above (if anything), but I thought that perhaps
opening the door to the group to offer the
freedom to "confess your sins one to
another" might be a wonderful opportunity
(if there are those who feel they don't have
anyone they can turn to) Also, if you want to let
the group know that we are available for anyone
who is having marital problems (and has no one to
turn to)...I just cried for this woman...that it
took her over ten months to get over her fear and
to trust our ministry..there are probably many
more out there that don't want anyone to know the
truth.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By Claire Cloninger & Wayne Watson
Smile, make em think you're happy
Lie and say that things are fine,
And Hide that empty longing that you feel
Don't ever khow it, just keep your heart
concealed.
Why are the days so lonely
I wonder where,
Where can the heart go free?
And who will dry the tears that no one sees?
There must be someone
To share your silent dreams.
Caught like a leaf in the wind~
Looking for a friend
Where can you turn?
Whisper the words of a prayer
And you'll find Him there
Arms open wide
Love in His eyes....
Jesus, He meets you were you are...
Oh Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love you're longing for
Is Jesus,
Friend of a wounded heart.
Joy comes like the morning, and hope deepens as
you grow.
And peace beyond the reaches of your soul
Comes flowing through you
For love has made you whole.
Once like a leaf in the wind
Looking for a friend
Where could your turn?
You spoke the words of a prayer
And you found Him there....Arms open wide...
Love in His eyes....
Jesus, He meets you were you are...
Oh Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love youre longing for
Is Jesus,
Friend of a wounded heart.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PLEASE PRAY for pstrwf
(Cheryl) and her family, as Cheryl's mom has just
passed away. Pray for comfort and clarity of mind
in these difficult days. If you would like to
send Cheryl a card of encouragement, please
contact me, and I will send you her address for
that purpose.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Update on public chat
Christianity Online has asked us to go public
with a Pastor's Wives Chat. I spoke with them
this past week to work out some details, and we
have agreed to begin this part of the ministry in
AUGUST. This chat will take the time slot of the
Tuesday morning chat. The purpose of this is to
help expose other pastor's wives to one another
and this ministry, as well as just plain ole'
meeting a need. The flavor will be a little
different since it is in the public eye - more
structured and "G" rated. . . LOL (If
you know what I mean)
Continue to pray as this ministry continues to
grow, for wisdom, integrity, and administration,
as well as the right people to come along side as
a team.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SARAH'S TENT?
We need a name for this ministry!
Put your thinking caps on. . . . . . . . . God
has birthed a baby here and it needs a name! A
name that was suggested in a chat was
"Sarah's Tent" with Isaiah 54:2-3 as a
reference verse. How about it family? So far I
have had one vote - and it was for Sarah's Tent.
. . what is your thought?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am they God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For your Exploring Pleasure,
click on these hyper links and find
something new to investigate!
NEW!
HOME
SCHOOL
Christian Answers
Movie reviews and
a mega-site providing
biblical answers to contemporary questions with over
15-thousand pages
(If you have discovered a web site that you
think others would be interested in, please let
me know, and I will put it in our newsletter.
Just click & drag the sight from your
Favorite Places and drop it into your letter.)
_______________________________________________________________
YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT to
Sarah's Tent is used for things such as
Scholarships for Annual Pastors Wives Retreats
across the U.S., Financial Aid towards Crisis
Counseling for the Pastors Family.
Make checks payable to Sarah's Tent and send
in care of LIVING STONES CHURCH / P.O. Box 964 /
Broomfield, CO 80038-0964 / USA ~ (Sarah's Tent
is a World Wide Internet Ministry hosted by
LIVING STONES CHURCH and as a co-operative effort
of churches and pastors throughout the United
States.)
__________________________________________________________________
Joy In The Kitchen is an extension of Sarah's
Tent An online ministry devoted to gathering
together God's silent warriors, the wives of
pastors and ministers of all denominations and
cultural backgrounds, as well as their families,
for fellowship, support, laughter and prayer. Isa
51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24-25
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