~ There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
When We Reach Beyond Ourselves, We Touch The Face
of God. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
"When I Was In Jail. . . You Visited Me.
. ."
By Bdwchr
The weekend is called the "Bill Glass
Weekend of Champions". It involves bringing
several big name athletes, coaches,and performers
to draw prisoners out of their cells and to the
scheduled programs. Each of the programs serves
as a sort of icebreaker for us, the counselors,
to share Christ with the inmates.
I was assigned to the Harris County Jail, 12th
floor. They said that these were labeled
"violent offenders". The women were
housed in what they call "tanks". Each
tank held about 30 women. The bars are at the
entrance to the tank, and the ladies can move
about the tank between their rooms and a another
area with tables, benches.TV, showers, and
toilets. This was the first time that Bill Glass
ministry has ever been to Harris County Jail. The
amazing thing was that for the weekend,all of the
counselors were allowed to enter any tank at any
time. The guards were a little puzzled at first
because this was so rare. When I asked to enter
one tank, the guard said "are you sure you
want to go in there?"
Friday afternoon was spent visiting the
different tanks, meeting the women, and inviting
them to the programs. No one had prepared them
for our visits, so it was interesting at first
when the guard would open the gate, we (in pairs
at first) would walk in, the gate would close,
and the women would just look at us, then say
"who are you?", or "why are they
letting you in here?" Though that itself was
the scariest part, there was actually not a time
all weekend that I felt really nervous or
threatened. The women were very gracious hosts.
Most of the women that I met talked of their
involvement with drugs, and how their addiction
had in one way or another led to repeated visits
to jail, and some long term sentences. We were
instructed not to ask about their crimes, so I
mainly asked about their families, where they
were from, and how long they expected to be
locked up. Because this was a county jail, many
were waiting for trial, others had been sentenced
and were awaiting transfer to prison. There were
some who had been there for 2 months, some for 2
days, and some to be released within days. For
most of the women I met, being in and out of jail
is a way of life for them. They simply cannot
escape the draw to drugs which leads them to
prostitution, theft, violence, child abuse, and
many other things that put them where they are.
In the three days that I spent there, there
were some women that I spent more time with than
others. I want to tell you about them.
Laura was a very very worn faced gal, 30 years
of age. Long dark hair..missing front teeth. My
first thoughts upon meeting her were " this
woman's brain is fried" It was not hard to
tell that drugs had robbed her of much. She had a
hard time staying on one subject, but would
constantly bounce from one thing to another. She
said that at age 30, she has been a drug addict
for 19 years. The second day she shared her story
with me. She was raised in the home of a Satan
Worshipper. She was raped repeatedly as a child
and taught self mutilation. Her arms, legs, neck
and face were all scarred from repeatedly
slashing her skin with razor blades. She said
that she has given birth 3 times to crack
addicted babies. One was sold for $1000 to a
relative, the others were taken from her by child
protective services. She showed me pictures of
these beautiful children who she knows are now in
good homes. She talked of her trust in God, and I
really felt that she is a believer, but has been
unable to withstand the temptation of the outside
world. We talk a lot about God and his protection
in her life, and agreed that He must have a plan
for her life for her to have survived all that
she has. If God brings Laura to you mind, pray
for her. Her face, and that toothless smile, her
openness, friendliness, and laughter remain in my
heart.
The "baby tank" was another place
that touched me deeply. It is named the
"baby tank" because the girls there are
young--their first time in "big girls
jail". There were four girls there...with
hearts that were eager to learn about God. My
partner and I spent many hours in here sharing
the gospel, praying for them, and answering their
questions. They were so open and honest. Monica a
10th grade girl prayed to receive Christ and
holding up her crossed fingers said "I want
to be this close to God". She may be
released soon...her trial is this month, but the
environment that she will go back to is not in
her favor. Michelle is 17 gang member with a
sentence of 50 years. She never shared her crime,
but I had a good idea what it was. She shared
with us that she had recently trusted Christ with
one of the Chaplains that is working with her.
She is sooo young, and I got the feeling that she
has no idea how long 50 years really is. The
third "baby" was Sunni, a tall thin
black gal with a shaved head about 17 . She was
full of questions, and so open with her doubts
and thoughts. While sharing the Four Spiritual
Laws tract with them we were sidetracked many
times. Sunni kept saying " lets finish this
book..I want to hear the rest". At the end
of the book I asked her if she wanted to pray to
ask Christ into her heart and she said that she
was not ready...but we left a Bible Study with
them and they completed the whole first lesson
together before we came back the next day. She
remained open the entire weekend. It was her
honesty and the tears that endeared me to her.
Kashima was the last of the "babies".
Had been open to God at other times in her life,
and knew more about God than any of them, but was
rather closed and hard. She joined us each time
that we came to visit, but admitted that she had
things in her life that she would not give up to
follow God.
There were many more women, but those were the
ones that I spent the most time with. It was
overall an experience that touched me deeply, and
has changed me as well. God did a work within me
when I stepped out of my comfortable, happy, rich
life and look into the face of hurting,
desperate, drug addicts, prostitutes, and
murderers. As is so often true with God, I was
the one who was blessed, touched, and changed.
It has taken a few years for me to come to the
point that I was finally able to go with the
prison ministry. I have felt the pull for a long
time. Even as I was accepted and making plans I
was feeling apprehensive at times. I was afraid
mostly that, put in the situation, I would not be
able to make a difference, or lead anyone to
Christ. I comforted myself by knowing that all
that Jesus asked was "When was I in prison,
and you visited me?" I knew that I could
visit....I love to visit...in fact, I have the
spiritual gift of visiting (ha ha). So I removed
all other expectations and told myself I was
going to "visit" . My prayer was "
God if you should chose to use me there, then I
am eager and willing ". I knew that I could
place my physical body in that prison....but knew
nothing else...only trusted Him for the rest. I
am humbled and touched that He did choose to use
me. And I place the results....their faces that I
keep seeing.....in His hands.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Isa 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a
road, and it shall be called the Highway of
Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but
it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road,
although a fool, shall not go astray.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You are Worthy
Submitted by Karinlaine
Do not undermine your worth
by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
that each of us is special.
Do not set your goals
by what other people deem important.
Only you know
what is best for you.
Do not take for granted
the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
for without them,
life is meaningless.
Do not let your life
slip through your fingers
by living in the past
nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.
Do not give up
when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over
until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread
that binds us to each other.
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
that we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life
by saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love
is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love
is too hold it too tightly;
In addition,
the best way to keep love
is to give it wings.
Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams
is to be without hope;
To be without hope
is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life
so fast that you forget
not only where you have been,
but also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
but a journey
to be savored
each step of the way.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The actions of men are the best
interpreters of their thoughts. John Locke
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I am the wife of an assistant pastor. Am I no
longer welcome in Sarah's tent? Is it now
exclusively for senior pastors wives? How can I
get in touch with this new ministry? I do
understand that we have different needs. If
anyone out there is feeling very stressed or
depressed or burned out, you may be the victim of
church abuse or spousal abuse. If you want more
information and support, please e mail me and Meg
4ASL@AOL.com.
I was and my husband changed some behaviors
for me and allows my daughter and I to be less
involved in church because our mega-church has
some abuse-control issues that have been quite
harmful to our daughter and ourselves. There is
help. ~ MG
What it does is provide even more options and
resources for all to make use of. Staff wives are
still welcome to any chats sponsored by Sarah's
Tent, as well as receive the newsletter. Nothing
is being taken away. . . just more being added!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The greatness of a leader is in his
humility before God, not in his eloquence before
men.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THINK OF THIS. . .
Submitted by HOME RN97
Throughout our lives, from birth to the grave,
Our Impressions of others come from how they
behave.
We can touch them, feel them, see them and hear
The truth of their words through a multi-sensed
ear.
We can tell by their eyes, or their language, or
look,
If their words are sincere, or out of a book.
But Online, the words we read on the screen,
We Interpret to say what we want them to mean.
Our innermost feelings are brought forth there,
From the words that appear on the screen where we
stare.
Does "I Love You' from them, mean the same
as from me?
Or am I only a game to them, and should I then
flee?
Are they laughing, or joking, or smirking, or
worse...
While I pour out my heart in short little
spurts...
And that night, on the phone, when we spoke those
same words,
Did they hang up and say " Good God, What a
Nerd .." ?
In All other places, we choose friends with
care...
Online, It is sad, We must truly BEWARE...
To all of you whom I've poured out my heart...
Remember, be gentle, even though far apart...
Because " I LOVE YOU " from me, comes
from deep down inside,
Where Trust, and Hope, and my true feelings
hide...
And no matter the image, I show to the rest...
My Online Friends know the real me the best...
While with you I share my fears and my dreams...
And I pray when we meet, I am all that I seem...
Author unknown
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
POT LUCK!
Karinlaine just blessed us with TWO
Great Recipes!!!
DEE DEE'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES
This recipe is about 100 years old.
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 c butter (I use real butter) softened
3 eggs
1 tb milk
1 tsp of cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract (not lemon juice)
3 cups or more flour to make a soft dough
Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one
at a time, beating well after each addition. Add
all ingredients, except flour. Beat well. Add
flour, a cup at a time, until a soft dough forms.
You might have to add a bit more, depending on
the humidity level that day. Chill for 4 hours or
overnight while tightly covered with plastic
wrap.
Take out a portion to roll out and return the
rest to chill. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick on a
floured surface. Cut out. Place on ungreased
cookie sheets. Decorate and cook in a 350 degree
oven till barely brown on the edges. Cool on wire
rack. Hints: Try not to overwork the dough or the
cookies will be tough. They cook best on those
airbake cookie sheets.
THESE COOKIES A BIT MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE
AVERAGE SUGAR COOKIE BUT THE RESULTS ARE
FANTASTIC.
Here is another great cookie recipe that is
fun to do with the kids and they taste great too.
I always include them in my Christmas baskets.(If
I have any left after a nibbling hubby!)
EGG NOG LOGS
1 cup butter or marg. softened 3 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp nutmeg
1 lg egg vanilla
frosting
2 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup
chopped pecans
1 tsp rum flavoring
Beat butter at med. speed with an electric mixer
until soft and creamy;
gradually add sugar beating well. Add egg and
flavorings, mixing well.
Combine flour and nutmeg, gradually add to butter
mixture, mixing well. Divide
dough into 10 portions. (Here comes the fun
part!!) Roll each portion into a
15" rope, and cut each rope into 5 (3")
logs. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie
sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12
min. Cool on wire racks. Dip log ends into
vanilla frosting, then roll in
pecans. Yield 50 cookies.
Vanilla Frosting
1/4 c butter or marg, softened
2 c sifted powdered sugar
1 tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla ext.
Beat butter at med speed with electric mixer
until soft and creamy. Add sugar
and milk alternately beating after each addition.
Add vanilla ; beat until
smooth and creamy. Yield 1 cup.
I hope ya'll enjoy these! If you need any other
recipes, give me a holler. I
got a million of 'em!
For even MORE recipes, click on these!! More
Recipes and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to
change; when I am right, make me easy to live
with. So strengthen me that the power of my
example will far exceed the authority of my rank.
Pauline H. Peters
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ PRAYER ~
Please send prayer request to C.O.P.E.
Ministries (Christians Online Praying by Email)
in care of Mama Brrr@AOL.com
DON'T FORGET TO LET THEM KNOW YOUR PRAISE
REPORTS!!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ BAMPRAYER@aol.com
For special prayer JUST for marriages. This is
a ministry from Born Again Marriages. If you
would like to visit their web page. . . click
here: BAMWEB
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHUCKLES
If you MUST speed on the highway -- sing
these hymns loudly:
but PLEASE, don't speed
at 45 mph.... "God Will Take Care of
Me"
at 55 mph.... "Guide me, O Great
Jehovah"
at 65 mph.... "Nearer My God to Thee"
at 75 mph... "Nearer Still Nearer"
at 85 mph... "This World is not my
Home"
at 95 mph.... "Lord, I'm Coming Home"
at 100 mph.... "Precious Memories"
Submitted by Beadcreat:
1. A young minister, in the first days of his
first parish, was obliged to call upon the widow
of an eccentric man who had just died. Standing
before the open casket and consoling the widow,
he said, "I know this must be a very hard
blow, Mrs. Vernon. But we must remember that what
we see here is the husk only, the shell...the nut
has gone to heaven...
2. My nephew, who has just started the first
grade, was asked to memorize the Ten
Commandments. Upon reciting the commandment,
"Thou shalt not commit adultery," he
was asked what this commandment meant. With
absolute seriousness he replied, "That means
that you shouldn't want to become an adult."
3. A man was taken to court for stealing an
item from a store. The man said to the judge,
"Your Honor, I'm a Christian. I've become a
new man. But I have and old nature also. It was
not my new man who did wrong. It was my old
man."
The judge responded, "Since it was the
old man that broke the law, we'll sentence him to
60 days in jail. And since the new man was an
accomplice in the theft, we'll give him 30 days,
too. I therefore sentence you both to 90 days in
jail."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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:
A
Christless Pentecost! - Rev. David Wilkerson
This one was sent in by Justaservn. Now look and
see what Nettie has for us!!
Hi there all... I have been playing a
bit.....so here are some sites I have found....
I know that Christmas may only be about 6
weeks away, but I thought some Christmas sites
would be fun to explore Yahoo!
- Society and Culture:Holidays:Christmas this
site is a good one to start from. It was a search
on YAHOO ,there is a lot of links from here to
surf. Then there is this site which I found very
nice and a change from a lot of the material
things out there durin gthis season. It is a good
reminder of the REASON for the SEASON. This is
also full of links to other sites that fall into
the Christian Christmas Christmas
In CyberSpace: A Christian Perspective
I am always looking for continuing information
in regards to my health as a woman. there are
links and questions and answers at this site. Yahoo!
- Health:Women's Health:Advice
There you go ladies....... Have a good week, a
surfing I will go, a surfing I will go.....
Love, Nettie
LAST WEEK: Blue
Mountain Arts' Electronic Greeting Cards I
received a wonderful online animated card today
from this site. Thought you might enjoy looking
at it too - and maybe making someone else's day!
CHURCHMOTHERS:
E- mail List
archive.html
at genesis.acu.edu These two sites are
related and are especially tailored to CHURCH
PLANTERS. This is another online ministry which
brings support to those who are church planters.
There is an extensive e-mail list and many
resources which have been archived for you to
review by topic, and from several years ago to
today. Be sure to check this one out!
__________________________________________________________________
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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