~There
is Joy in the Kitchen~
~When we realize that ~ Jesus is the
Reason
************** Dear friends,
If you are wondering why you are receiving
this from me this week ... Shannon's computer
modem is on the fritz again.. She may be down for
as much as 2 weeks... Everyone say a big
AWWWWWWWWWWW!! If you have any questions please
send them to me or some of the other people
listed at the end of this newsletter.. Now is the
time to stand in the gap for Shannon who so
faithfully gives of her time and energy each
week. Please hold her and her family up in prayer
this week. Perhaps God is allowing this time for
us to give back to her for all she has given to
us. Try to avoid sending her any mail until she
returns. Thankyou so much ... Christina PS This
is a long but wonderful one this week.
CWEIMER4
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The Gift
Forgive me, oh Lord
For being so dim.
I've embraced all your gifts,
Put my arms around them.
I was holding so tight;
It was all I could do.
I forgot that my arms
Belong just around You.
Now Jesus has taught
To let everything go.
All the things that you own.
All the people you know.
If you stop asking questions
And simply obey,
You'll possess them in a much
More beautiful way.
Michael Card
*********************
Greater Love has no man than this..
that he lay down his life for a friend
**********************
The Gift
I suppose it is common this time of year to
reflect. The new year is coming, the old is put
to rest. We look back at accomplishments,
milestones, and all that Lord has done for us.
This year was special for me. The Lord gave me a
gift. I don't recall asking for it. I don't think
I even realized that I needed it. However, when
it came, it changed everything for me.
I have always been amazed at what can result
from a small seed of discontentment. If you are
like most, you see it all around you. Broken
marriages sparked by a small irritation or
disappointment that grew into depair and
abandonment. An unfulfilled dream or failure that
journeyed down the road of depression and
hopelessness. In the most secret places of our
hearts, I would guess that all of us have
struggled with the "what ifs" and the
"if only's". I know that I have. As a
mom, consumed by the unending needs of my family,
without a moment to myself, I have allowed my
heart to wander. As a wife, at times of distance
and alienation from my husband, I have traveled
in my mind. Although this was not a huge,
consuming problem for me, still it was there.
Moments of questioning "Why is that I cannot
give this my whole heart?" It was at times
as though something were missing inside me.
The Father met me this year. At a moment that
I cannot define He gave me a gift. The gift was
contentment. I do not recall reaching out for the
hem of His garment, yet I feel as though I have
touched it. Suddenly I have come to see it all
more clearly. I have realized the value in all
that I have...my husband...my children...our
ministry. I have only now taken notice that my
husband makes the effort to kiss me each time
that he leaves the house. Now, rather than simply
receiving his kiss, I give one as well, amazed
that he never stopped after all of those times
that I never gave it my attention. I watch him
with an overflowing heart, as he plays and
wrestles with the children. Where does he get
such energy after a long day of work? My
"mother heart" is renewed to look
beyond the hassles and find the fun. Laughter is
back.
I am so grateful this year for a Father that
knows me and what I need. One who has chosen to
give me a gift of contentment.
********************************
What Does CHRISTMAS Really Mean?
by PattieRWR
Around Halloween time every year, the stores
begin setting up their Christmas
displays--decorations, candy, wrapping paper,
cute ornaments, trees, and everything else
imaginable. Visions of sugar plums dance in and
out among the leftover Halloween candy
(half-price) and a few forgotten Thanksgiving
turkeys dressed in Pilgrim attire.
Your Christmas list begins to form in your
head, and you mentally calculate the money you
have available in your wallet, your checkbook,
and on your parents' credit cards you are so sure
they will lend. Your parents set up the Christmas
tree the day after Thanksgiving and you help them
decorate it (it's a family tradition). After
numerous trips to the mall, everyone in the house
sneaks around, wrapping presents behind closed
doors and hiding them in the most obvious places.
Around December 20th you realize you need to
go to the store and buy a few last-minute
presents, but the place is a riot. People are
everywhere, pushing, shoving. A little old lady
almost runs you over with her shopping cart, and
the store just ran out of your mother's favorite
perfume. You wonder with a sigh if the Christmas
spirit could be like the Wicked Witch of the West
instead of the seemingly mythical peace on earth
and good will to men.
At last--that day, that glorious day, arrives!
Your little sister wakes you up at 3:30 a.m.
screaming "WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S
CHRISTMAS!" After several futile attempts to
show her how early it is, you help her drag your
parents out of bed. Then they insist that you
can't open any presents until they fix some
coffee (but they never drink it any other morning
of the year!). After an eternity, they announce,
"Okay, kids!" (the predetermined cue),
and you dash over to the Christmas tree and tear
open your gifts in a frenzied five minutes. Paper
and ribbons are streaming out of your ears, and
cries of "Look what I got!" fill the
house. The manger scene at the foot of the tree
is buried under mounds of crumpled wrapping
paper.
Later, after a midmorning nap, your mom starts
cooking the turkey, dressing, rolls, cranberry
sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Relatives
stream into the house, complete with bratty
cousins lugging their Christmas treasures to show
how much nicer Santa was to them than to you, and
generally making pains of themselves. In the
afternoon, everyone eats until they are stuffed,
but at the end you manage to find a little room
left for a piece of pumpkin pie.
Too soon, the day is over and gone.
In the midst of all the general hustling and
bustling of Christmas, did you ever stop to think
about what it really means?
I wrote this in high school and revised it a
little in 1993 for a church bulletin. I hope it
speaks to your heart and that you take the time
to celebrate the One for Whom we celebrate
CHRISTmas!
***********************************
Announcing: Sarah's Tent Family News
Ladies... as a reminder.. there is now an
extension to the newsletter called Sarah's Tent
Family News.. This is a listing of all new
members, birthdays, and anniversaries. If you
would like to be put on the mailing list to
receive this, in addition to the weekly
newsletter, please contact Christina, CWEIMER4.
The first copy was sent out this week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Run With The Vision
Run with the Vision is a chat offering
fellowship, encouragement, and sound information.
Last night, the vision for this ministry was
realized as the room quickly filled up with
people with one main goal in commonÉto minister
the Word of God to others.
The special guest was Dcalla9175, a pastor
with a heart for the ministry of God. There were
many questions asked, ieÉ"How do you get
your people to get involved that feel
inadequate?" "What is one of the
hardest things you have had to deal with in the
ministry?" Pastor Don answered all these and
many more with his heart and sometimes humor.
The chat was officially over after an hour,
but with no one wanting to leave, we allowed it
to continue on.
We had a few fellow pastors stop in and enjoy
the fellowship also. Many had good input to add
as well.
Everyone said to have thoroughly enjoyed the
time and will return next week.
***************************************************
"What Really Matters?"
There are lots of things that money can't buy
To get ahead and be rich, we continue to try.
Happiness and contentment are continually sought
These are two things which can't be bought.
Money and riches are full of deceit
All this can be had and life's still incomplete.
We have a hole in our soul that we try to mend
With material things again and again.
There are so many things that matter far more
To love and be loved is one thing for sure.
It doesn't take wealth to do a good deed
We don't need money to help those in need.
A smile, a kind word, to sit and just listen
The things in this world that are too often
missing.
We will be judged by our deeds and not by wealth
We should think more of others and less of self.
There are so many things that are ours for the
giving
A family, good health, the simple joy of just
living.
The song of a bird, the leaves on a tree
The best things in life, and they are all free.
When hard times come and discontentment abounds
Take two steps back and just look around.
It is the free gifts in life that are far more
lasting
These are the things which are worth for our
grasping.
~by Karen L. Brewster
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "
And in whatever you have done for the
least of my bretheren you have done it unto
me." Jesus
**************************
Another Night Before Christmas.......
Twas the night before Christmas
And I was uptight.
There WAS something missing.
Felt something’s not right.
The holiday fluff was hung up with care.
Retailers were glad. For sales goals were there.
I with my aspirin. Wife under stress.
Guests were obnoxious. A fine Christmas mess.
With Christmas depression, I happen to spy.
A dusty old Bible. Without knowing why.
Picked up the old book and turned to the story.
Back to the time, of Christmas’s glory.
The shepherds were watching their sheep in the
night.
And LO! Up above a WONDERFUL sight.
The Angels were singing in GLORIOUS praise.
A babe in a manger, Who’ll from sin mankind
raise.
And up in the sky. Beholding afar.
O’er mother and babe, a BRIGHT shining star.
Leaving their flocks, to see that night.
Our tiny Savior, Who’ll set evil to flight.
With tears in my eyes, I remembered the reason.
This tiny child, was the cause for the season.
I called out through the house. And gathered my
clan.
And read from the Bible, so they’d
understand.
We sang that night. We worshiped the King.
And we felt the JOY, of what Christmas brings.
We drew closer together. Filled with His Light.
Merry Christmas to all. To all a Good Night.
******************************
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary:
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds:
Praise Him according to His excellent
greatness....
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 150:1-6)
******************************************
*******
In my lifetime
I hope to develop
Arms that are strong
Hands that are gentle
Ears that will listen
Eyes that are kind
A mind full of wisdom
A heart that understands
A tongue that will speak softly
*******************************
CHOCOLATE CRACKLES (Christmas
cookies)
Dot Miller (DOTMI)
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. oil
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. chopped nuts
Powdered sugar
Melt chocolate. Combine with sugar and oil. Add
eggs one at a time. Beat
well. Add vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder,
salt, etc. Chill doug.
Drop by teaspoons in powdered sugar. Roll to
coat. Bake 350 degrees 10-12
minutes.
(greased cookie sheet) Send me a sample!
~ 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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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.)
Here are a couple of Christmas Fun
things....Have a great week all!!!
The
Christmas Trivia Quiz - http://www.familygames.com/quiz/
Victorian
Christmas http://www.victoriana.com/christmas/index.html
Advent
Calendar http://www.cyberramp.net/~billde/advent.html
LAST WEEK: Hi Ladies! Here are Pattie's latest
web picks for your perusal...
Greeting
Cards, Postcards, Awards by Awesome ... - I
had a friend send me a card from this site, done
by someone named Marlo. The cards are a little
simpler than Blue Mountain Arts and a little more
complicated to retrieve, but it's free. It's
worth checking out.
Internet
for Christians Newsletter - I think this is
an interesting site to check out. It has lots of
links to other pages and interesting things on
the Web for Christians. This is a good place to
start surfin'.
Today's
Christian Woman Nov/Dec 1997 - The latest
issue, and as usual it's a great one. I don't
know what I'd do without this magazine! It's
always an encouragement.
MOPSHOME
- I happened to find this site after reading an
article about MOPS. I think it's a great
organization, and I have certainly enjoyed the
book by Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall called
What Every Mom Needs. This site is a good
resource and link to other resources. PattieRWR
___________________________________________________________________
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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