~ There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
It's best to listen much, speak little, and not
become angry.
A Word from
JoyfulArt
Many a time when we were first married,
we would have some - well, shall we say -
aggressive discussions? Nothing frustrated and
angered us both more than the other partner not
hearing what we were trying to say. Voices would
raise and tempers flare as irritation and
frustration mounted.
Ahhhh, now there's a
word - FRUSTRATION - Joyce Meyers, a well known
national teacher and speaker once pointed out
that the Word says that God FRUSTRATES the PROUD.
That is such an annoying comment!! Many times we
KNOW that we are right, that our spouse has
misunderstood or assumed something that was
incorrect and in trying to prove our point, were
frustrated in the process. . .hmmmm, now, I
wonder why?
Ever have one of those
days where you find yourself in a heated
discussion only to discover that you were both
arguing the same point? Just saying it
differently? What a waste of relationship!! So
consumed we become in proving OUR points - that
we never once stop to really HEAR what the other
person is saying. Even if we do pause for a
moment, we are thinking of what we are going to
say next. Or perhaps you have great self control
and you are trying not to think of what you are
going to say, you still become angry at
everything the other is saying.
You know, pride has a
way of blocking our 'receptors'. We have a
tendancy to think that we are always right and
it's our opinion that counts. Pride keeps us from
considering what our spouse is trying to say, and
it keeps us from extending grace to the one who
is so hurt by our previous actions. God resists
the proud - or God frustrates the proud (James
4:6). Perhaps we need to pay closer attention to
our emotions!! Could our frustration be a sign
that we are walking in pride? God gives GRACE to
the humble. Right or wrong, when we lay it all on
the altar and trust God to handle things with the
other person - He gives us grace to do so. A
humble heart recognizes that it has faults too -
and is not beyond wrongful judgement. A humble
heart will lay down it's 'rights' in order to
extend grace and unconditional love to the other
party. "Love does not demand it's own way.
(1 Corin. 13:4-8) We have a long way to go just
to get our own hearts right before God, let alone
try to correct someone elses.
The greatest gift you
can give your spouse this Valentine's weekend is
not a night out, or a card, a box of candy, or an
expensive diamond. The greatest gift you can give
is to lay your pride down and LISTEN, don't speak
or interrupt, and don't become angry. LISTEN to
what your loved one is trying to tell you, be
patient. If you don't understand - repeat back to
them what you thought you heard. When you begin
to see your spouse relax and trust return, you
will know that God has extended grace to you. You
see - whatsoever a man (or woman) sows, that will
they also reap (2 Corin. 9:6, Galations 6:7)
Marriage is a COVENANT,
a TEAM effort. Your spouse is not your problem -
the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy is
your foe. If one can put a thousand to flight,
two can put ten thousand to flight, and a three
fold cord is not easily broken ( you, him and
Jesus). The enemy has no tools but suggestions,
accusations and thoughts. Know your enemy!! Your
battle field is in your mind - and pride covers a
multitude of evil, or should it be, "love
covers a multitude of sin?"
Eph 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also
loved the church and gave Himself for her, that
He might sanctify and cleanse her with the
washing of water by the word, (NKJ)
A loving husband is as
careful with his wife as he is with his favorite
tools, golf clubs, or new car.
A loving wife will be
careful of what she reproduces in her family, and
will nurture tenderly what God has given her.
WHAT'S NEW??
Sarah's Tent FIRST Annual PW Retreat Only $125
for two nights, three days Vintage Resort in the
mountains of WinterPark, CO Thursday through
Saturday April 30 - May 2 Check for terrific air
fares NOW!!! (Ladies, watch your e-mail for
further information and pre-registration form)
If you are interested in
helping to sponsor a pastors wife to one of our
retreats, please contact us at
SarahsTent@aol.com. You will not only be sowing
into a faithful warrior in the Kingdom - you will
be sowing into a whole congregation!
New Screen Name for
Sarah's Tent
All mail that is pertaining to Sarah's Tent now
needs to be sent to: SarahsTent@aol.com
APRON STRINGS
DEVOTIONAL
Filled with humor, thought provoking stories, and
true stories that will prick your heart, Apron
Strings is put out three times a week by pastors
wife, Carol Skipper in Alabama. The format is
easy to read and quick to digest. Treat yourself
to a terrific Bible Study tool and witnessing
aid. Write Justaservn@aol.com to request your FREE
subscription!!
TWELVE STEP
Chat Beginning NEXT Tuesday, February 17
Eastern Time = 10:00 pm
Central Time = 9:00 pm
Mountain Time = 8:00 pm
Pacific Time = 7:00 pm
Chat will be held in the
private room below:
Where We LIVE Please click and save this
hyper-link for future use.
This first 4-week
session will be informational/educational about
the 12-step recovery process, and how to help
those who cannot help themselves.
Week one - Steps 1,2,
& 3 Laying the foundation - let's talk about
God.
Week two - Steps 4,5,
& 6 From toxic shame to healthy shame
Week three - Steps 7,8,
& 9 Rebuilding relationships
Week four - Steps 10,
11, and 12 Living life successfully, one day at a
time.
This will be an open
meeting with protocol guidelines, which means it
will be structured, orderly sharing, opening
& closing prayer.
Designs for Grace
http://members.aol.com/wordwmn755 Pam is a gifted
communicator, an experienced workshop leader, and
veteran of 12-step programs. She founded a
parachurch agency in 1991 and has a heart for
helping pastors, counselors, and group leaders
create "safe places" for hurting
people." This chat will also be advertised
in the addiction & recovery community
meetings - so, we could see a mix of christians
& survivors - much like we would in real
life.
VALENTINE REFUGE
Lit candles,
Soft music,
Delicious fare. . .
Cares left by the door,
Welcoming embrace
Renewed covenant,
Basking in our Fathers love.
(Now, THAT'S a date we
can afford!!)
HAVE YOU BEEN
TOUCHED BY THE MINISTRY OF SARAH'S TENT?
We would like to hear
your testimony. Please write us a brief letter
describing what God has done for you through
Sarah's Tent. We will be celebrating God's
goodness and thanking Him for all He has done in
our first year in Issue 52. (NEXT WEEK!) We'd
like to print YOUR story in our anniversary
issue.
Has their been a
favorite article from the Joy In The Kitchen
newsletters that really spoke to you? What is one
that sticks out in your mind the most? We'd like
to know that as well. Let's celebrate LIFE
together!!
One of the ladies
suggested that we have a special chat just
celebrating what God has done in such a short
time - are you game?
Drop a line to the staff
of Sarah's Tent at SarahsTent@aol.com
Failing doesn't
make you a failure in your marriage. Giving up,
withdrawing, viewing yourself as a failure, and
refusing to learn from your experience might!
POT LUCK!
Chocolate-Mint Cookie
Crunch Fudge
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Submitted by Justaservn
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 6 min
Chill: 6 hr
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 can (5 oz) evaporated milk (not condensed milk)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter or margarine (not
spread)
1 cup (6 oz) mint-flavored semisweet chocolate
chips
16 round chocolate sandwich cookies
1. Line an 8-in. square
pan with foil; grease foil.
2. Mix sugar and cocoa
in heavy 3-qt saucepan. Stir in milk and butter.
Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring
constantly. Without stirring, boil vigorously 5
minutes. Remove from heat; add chips and stir
until melted and smooth.
3. Spread 1 cup in lined
pan, top with cookies, then spread remaining
fudge evenly over top.
4. Refrigerate 6 hours
until firm. Invert pan, peel off foil, invert
fudge and cut in 1-in. squares.
Makes 64. Per square: 55
cal, 1 g pro, 9 g car, 2 g fat, 3 mg chol with
butter, 1 mg chol with margarine, 28 mg sod.
Exchanges: 1/2 other car, 1/2 fat This recipe
came from Womans Day!!
Enjoy!!! For even MORE
recipes, click on these!! More Recipes and Once-a-Month Cooking (OAMC)
All husbands and
wives offend one another at some point. Some are
oblivious to their spouse's hurt, some ignore it,
and some admit their offense and ask forgiveness.
What has been your pattern? Practice asking
forgiveness. It will draw you closer together.
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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