~ There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
GOD WILL MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE...POSSIBLE....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Who IS He Anyway?
By Shannon Parish
It is refreshing to know that God is always God.
No matter what we feel like, or what we think.
He is still God.
In those horrible storms of emotions.
God is GOD.
When everything seems rosy.
He is still God.
When I loose my way and my attitude sinks,
He is still God.
As I look at the wonders that are in this earth.
The blue and purple mountains . . .
Billowing clouds with form and fashion . . .
A child's laugh and the kindness of a stranger . . .
God reminds me, He is there,
And He is still God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A Near Miss
By Christina Weimer
It was Friday night, I didn't feel good and had a
terrible attitude. Tomorrow, was Saturday. Sacred
Saturday, otherwise known as "Family Day" in my house.
But!! not anymore, not tomorrow. I was expected to go
to a conference, for our Awana, kids club, program. An
all day conference, which meant I had to get up at 5
to get there on time. For those of you who know me
well, Saturday is the only day of the week that I
don't have to get up before 6. I was definitely not
looking forward to this.
To make things worse, my husband said that he was
not going to be able to go with me. Great, I thought,
that was my only saving grace.. I thought surely it
won't be so bad if my husband goes.. Now I really had
a bad attitude.
I woke up at the dreaded hour.. and not feeling
good and totally exhausted, threw myself into the day.
I prayed, Lord help me with this rotten attitude, help
me get some Joy out of the day..
Stopping off at the store, on the way, I got a
latte (A coffee drink for those who are unaware). I
started up the highway for my hour drive to the
conference. As I put the cruise control on, I popped
in a tape I had recently made of my favorite Christian
songs.
As the words poured into my car I suddenly realized
how foolish I was.. Here before me was a beautiful
morning. The sun was just coming up upon all the
beautiful trees and mountains.. Fall colors were all
around me.. and in the morning sunshine they seemed
even more enhanced.. I had the car on cruise control..
I was sipping my latte... there were no kids in the
car... no husband to talk about the affairs of the
church... WHAT A FOOL I WAS... This was a near miss...
I almost decided not to go.. I almost allowed my bad
attitude to keep me from a wonderful blessing that the
Lord had in store for me... How could I have been so
foolish?
I listened to the beautiful songs, one after the
other, saying things such as: To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give to show us the reason to
live; and Lord I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't
rescued me.. I don't know what I'd do without you...
Right there, in the car, with goose bumps, I
thanked the Lord that despite my rotten attitude, He
still showed me how much He loved me... I couldn't
help but think of all the other times in my life where
my bad attitude might have hindered me from such a
wonderful time with the Lord.
Yesterday was truly a blessed day with the Lord..
My heart grew so much.. I was continually blessed
throughout the day...and just to show you that God has
a wonderful sense of humor.....Right before returning
home I was stopped at a light. Beside me was a very
nice car.. looked like a Mercedes or something of that
nature... As I looked over to see the driver, I
noticed an older gentleman. He smiled at me and held
up a jar of Grey Poupon... I laughed so hard I almost
couldn't drive.
I praise the Lord that, despite my nearly missing
this day, and my rotten attitude before hand.. His
love poured out upon me in ways that I could never
have imagined. What an awesome God we serve!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ps 100:3-5 Know that the LORD, He is God; it
is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are
His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into
His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with
praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For
the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and His
truth endures to all generations. (NKJ)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WHEN NOTHING WORKS, GOD IS
Submitted by Kellie Stevenson
How many times in life do you sit yourself down and
say, "Nothing is happening. Maybe even God forgot to
punch in today."
Oh really? Go figure, as the teens say today. Go
figure what happened with Joe seated in Egypt's
jailhouse cell. Nothing was going. Nothing. Rats ran
across the floor. Water gathered flies in the corner
bowl. But God had failed to punch in.
Go figure what was going on with Job seated on an
ash heap. Nothing was moving but his squirrelly wife
who wound his ear drums up tight. "Curse God and die!"
Nice woman. Really one sweetie pie of a gal. In other
words, from all appearances, nothing at all was
happening in that man's life but the worst of times.
Go figure with Dan being led to the den. Hands tied
with rope. Burly soldiers tossing him about the
footpath. Am empire breathing down his slender throat.
And lions salivating all over the cave floor.
Obviously, God had forgotten to punch in. Go figure
with Noah and Mom Noah and three sons with
daughters-in-law. Nothing really was happening but
more sweat pounded into a backyard boat. And for what?
For a "rain" that had never been? For "drops from
above" that were mere fiction? Noah had ringing in his
ears night and day due to the clamor of neighbors'
pans clanging ridicule till dawn. Evidently God had
forgotten to punch in.
Go figure with Paul, stoned and left for dead. For
doing what? For preaching love, joy and peace. For
showing a village how to find their ways to heaven.
For befriending Jews and Gentiles alike for Jesus'
sake. The end of it all was a ministry of stones
pounded into his flesh. God--why don't you remember to
show up for work when Paul needs you?
Go figure with you--vacuum, nobody loves you,
nothing is going right, friends have betrayed you,
enemies are screwing up their ammunition fire for
another round, skies are loaded with rain clouds, and
a dentist appointment stares you in the face for l
o'clock this afternoon!
Do you not believe that when nothing works, God is?
Have you not committed yourself to blind faith in His
doings, whether you can understand them or not,
whether you feel anything religious or not, whether
anyone else cares about your mission or not?
Do you not reckon that the journey can be a lonely
one? The way of the cross? The pilgrimage of an alien
here below? Then look back particularly on one who--go
figure--had all the reasons to conclude that Father
had forgotten to clock in on that particular Thursday
night, moving into Friday's bloodletting as well.
There He hung--messed up, unsightly, belly
bellowing to the Calvary winds, flies buzzing about
his crusted brow, arms sagging beneath nails punched
into his skin, an army of cowardly disciples hiding
out in nighttime's shelters. Nothing was going on.
Nothing. Go figure.
--JGSwank
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If The Request Is Wrong..God Says No
If The Timing Is Wrong..God Says Slow
If You Are Wrong...God Says..GROW
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
EVERYONE NEEDS SOMEONE
People need people and friends needs friends
And we all need love for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim,
Not on success for on worldly fame,
But just in knowing that someone cares
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers - -
For only the knowledge that we're understood
Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good,
And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need
When we "lock up our hearts" and fail to heed
The outstretched hand reaching to find
A kindred spirit whose heart and mind
Are lonely and longing to somehow share
Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware
That life's completeness and richness depends
On the things we share with our loved ones and
friends.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HAPPINESS VS. JOY
By Lois
Humanism/New Age is based on the happiness of man
and not the Holiness of God. Are we embracing a
comfortable Gospel? A gospel of ease? Happiness is
based on what is happening to me. It is a false sense
of joy. Joy is in the heart, and no matter what comes
it is still there. I am not saying that God does not
give us happiness. But I am saying that happiness is a
sort of self-centered idea, instead of a God -centered
idea.
I don't think Abraham brought Isaac to the altar
and said this makes me so happy. I don't think Moses
said it makes me so happy that I get to go before
Pharaoh and make a bunch of demands to set Gods people
free. I don't think Joseph said Yippee! I get to go to
the pit of happiness. David was just jumping around
yelling happy am I, I get to go slay Goliath. Or who
was the apostle that we heard squealing through the
ages with glee, I get to die upside down.
Or I bet it was those martyrs I can hear laughing
all the way up Nero's slide to go down the slide and
be sliced and diced. I am sure that the reason Jesus
was silent was he was trying to contain the giggling
just knowing what was set before him. What do you
think it means to share in His sufferings, Oh this
makes me so happy!? Does serving Christ mean, you will
have a joy and peace on the inside or does it mean
your life long pursuit should be looking and
responding to what is gonna make "ME" happy?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SMILES
'SMILES' is the longest, shortest, and
quickest word in the English language. It's the
longest because there is a mile between the first and
last letter. It's also the shortest because a smile is
an instant communicator. And It's the quickest because
smile is the easiest way to get rid or your doldrums.
On the surface, the simple act of turning up the
corners of your mouth provides an instant connection
between you and a stranger. There are no language
barriers when you are smiling. It has been said that a
smile on your face is a light to let someone know that
you are at home.
On a deeper lever, when you are smiling, you are
also triggering happier memories within your body.
According to study from Clark University, it doesn't
matter whether you are smiling for real or faking it.
A phony smile is as good for you as a genuine one..
(It takes 3 times as many muscles to Frown than to
smile)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
POT LUCK!
Apple Danish
By MrsTange
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup soft margarine
1 egg yoke, and enough milt to make 2/3 cup
2-3 handfuls of a flake cereal (cornflakes, bran
flakes)
apples (peeled and sliced)
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
ICING:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 Tbsp. water or milk
Make dough with first 3 ingredients. Divide in
half. Roll one half out to fit on a lightly greased
cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Sprinkle flake cereal
on dough. Put 2-3 layers of apples next. Sprinkle
sugar and cinnamon over apples. Roll the other half of
dough out and cover. Brush egg white on the top with
pastry brush. Bake at 350-375 degrees for 30-40
minutes. While still hot, drizzle with icing and
enjoy!
For even MORE recipes, click on these!! More Recipes
and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Deut 7:9 "Therefore know that the LORD your
God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant
and mercy for a thousand generations with those who
love Him and keep His commandments; (NKJ)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHUCKLES
Three Pastors in the south were having lunch in a
diner.
One said "Ya know, since summer started I've been
having trouble with bats in my loft and attic at
church. I've tried everything--noise, spray,
cats--nothing seems to scare them away.
Another said "Yea, me too. I've got hundreds living
in my belfry and in the narthex attic. I've even had
the place fumigated, and they won't go away."
The third said, "I baptized all mine, and made them
members of the church... Haven't seen one back
since!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For your Exploring Pleasure,
(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.)
NEW:
Gospel Communications Network
= A gospel of ministry communications.
_______________________________________________________________
|
