~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
Being at peace with yourself
is a direct result of finding
peace with God.
WHY SO DOWNCAST OH MY SOUL?
There is a song we sing in our services that
says, "Why so downcast oh my
soul. . .put your hope in God! Put your hope in
God!" To often we mindlessly
sing our songs in service, yet if we pay
attention very carefully while in the
midst of a desert, we just might hear that song
being repeated in the depths
of our souls. Our spirits cry out to the heavens
and Heaven responds with
just the melody we need to encourage us on our
way.
The desert. Is there a dryer, more trying place?
While in the women's chat
on Wednesday morning, it came to me that when a
person is caught in a desert,
he or she must begin to lay things down. The
pilgrims began their long
journeys by covered wagon with all their
heirlooms and precious belongings
packed safely away. As their journeys progressed
those things began to loose
value as priorities for survival took precidence.
One by one those cherished
'heirlooms' that had been passed down through the
ages, were cast overboard in
order to finish their journey. Sometimes even
loved ones were laid to rest
along the way because they could not survive the
desert. So much pain in the
desert!!
I read once that when the Titanic was sinking, a
couple who had much wealth
and jewels laid out on their dresser, ran back to
retreive the oranges that
were in their welcome basket before they took
refuge on the life rafts rather
than their jewels and money. Funny how things
exchange value when your life
is at stake!
Why so downcast oh my soul? David cried out in
despair this very phrase - and
then told his heart how to respond. "Put
your hope in God!!" "Put your hope
in God!". Could it be that when we feel dry
and overburdened, and it seems as
though we are in a terrible desert. . . that it
is time for us to re-evaluate
those things we insist on clinging to? Perhaps
our being downcast at times is
because somewhere along the way we have taken
control away from God and things
are suddenly loosing the life in them that we
once enjoyed. God is our refuge
and a very present help in time of trouble. Now,
THAT'S hope!! Nothing else
matters in the desert, but Living Water. Flesh is
burned off and pain can
result from the dying of that flesh - but oh,
when we reach the other side!!
We are not the same!
What are you holding on to? What has been passed
down to you from your family
and friends that has become a heritage of sorrow?
What has meant more to you
than life itself? Cast them all over board. Put
your hope in God!! Put your
hope in God!!
And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
TAKING A TRIP?
Life's journey IS a trip!! You can't go around
it, and your can't go under
it. You can't go over it and you can't go around
it. What is left is that
you go THROUGH it. Ever notice how a long trip
seems much shorter when you
are with good company? The long miles melt as you
share stories, thoughts,
and laughter. You point out the things you see
and take mental notes of
places you've been that you want to remember.
Together you will help those
memories come to life later on. Before you know
it, you are at the end of
your destination, they time has flown. Your
companion and you are much closer
now than before you left. So many things have
been shared and experienced
together along the way.
In life's journey there is a companion that will
never leave you nor forsake
you. In the beginning you may be unsure of His
company, but I guarantee you
that at the end of your journey - you will be
intimately involved with Him.
His name is Jesus Christ. He is the author AND
finisher of our faith. If you
involve Him in your trip - it will seem to go so
much more smoothly, and the
miles will melt away. Share your dreams, your
thoughts, your experiences and
deepest desires with Him just as you would the
companion that you were
traveling with on that long trip. He will never
force you to share - and He
will take the long journey with you in silence.
Always ready, always waiting,
always knocking at your door of your heart.
Oh, and don't forget!!! Be sure to laugh together
- He has a terrific sense of
humor!!
To know the will of God is the greatest
knowledge,
to find the will of God is the greatest
discovery,
and to do the will of God is the greatest
achievement.
If anyone serves Me,
he must continue to follow Me
(to cleave steadfastly to Me,
conform wholly to My example in living...)
and wherever I am,
there will My servant be also.
If anyone serves Me,
the Father will honor him.
John 12:26
What has Sarah's Tent meant to me?
WOW, where to start? As I have thought and prayed
about this I realize that
the Reader's Digest Version will be the best.
I found Sarah's Tent (before it was named) in
June of 97. I was on the boards
in the CO COnnection and found a board about
Pastor wives. I wrote a couple
things on it and received several replies. But I
also found a posting by
Shannon (JoyfulArt). That is how I started. I
wrote her and BOOM, instant
family. I received JITK, read it page to page and
just let it sink in. I was
so excited that there was something out there of
"us". A support, that
different women in different denominations all
over the country, was
experiencing some of the same things that I was
(or had). They began to be
great support for me. The nicest thing was it was
positive and focused
support. Sometimes you find that a group like
this can be negative. A
dumping and griping ground. I have found this to
be a spirit filled group
that is focused on the REAL thing...GOD!!!! This
has helped me in my journey
and spiritual growth in the last 8 months.
The other thing that I have really benefited from
are the friendships. You
women that are there at chats or that I have been
corresponding with over the
months. All these "faceless" ladies
have friendships that are engraved on my
heart!!!! This is a wonderful connection for me!
I have enjoyed being an
active member on Sarah's tent, through greeting
and hosting chats. This is a
true blessing to me and I want to thank you all
that have come into my life
this last year!!!
God Bless Sarah's Tent and the 1 year of touching
lives. Here's to many
more!!!
Peace,
Nettie
"...Blessed is the man who trusts
in the Lord...
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7,8
LETTERS PENNED FROM FAR AWAY
Perhaps you may not know that there are several
Pastors Wives and Missionaries
(or Foreign Ambassadors) connected with Sarah's
Tent. We have sisters in
Albania, Indonesia, and Africa. All too often it
is easy to forget to pray,
or support in other ways our fellow Ambassadors
who give up all to go out on
the foreign mission field.
This portion of the Joy In The Kitchen newsletter
is reserved for letters from
our sisters on the mission field. I encourage
you, if you are one of these
faithful few, to please write and let us know
about your country and all that
you desire to share about your life there.
Drop them a line and let them know they are not
forgotten.
-----------
>From AFRICA:
Please pray for John and Joshua. Both are being
treated for malaria. The
blood smears came back negative - but the doctor
says that the blood tests
aren't really reliable - and since they both have
the symptoms of malaria they
are being treated for it. If they have malaria,
the treatment will help them.
If they don't have malaria, the treatment will
not hurt them.
We would also like to thank God for the
procurement of a generator. We have
been without electricity for 7 days. Not only is
the power being rationed;
but we are also in an area where some of the
wires have gotten knocked down.
The man responsible for fixing these wires is ill
and cannot get it done. But
now we have a generator that allows us to have
power for some time during the
day - just enough to keep our fridge going. The
Lord does provide!
Dacia
Dalton J. Noack
mailto:djnoack@africaonline.com.gh
CORRECTION
Last week I mentioned Dacia and Dalton as husband
and wife. As one of our
dear PWs pointed out:
"Dacia (in Africa) is married to John
Reinke......Dalton J. Noack is the
missionary whose computer and screen names they
are using. Dalton is on
furlough here in America while the reinke's fill
in for them. In fact....the
Noack's are in turn using the Reinke's screen
name for this amount of time."
(Now, I knew that. . . sorry Dacia!! Thank you
Michelle!)
Sarah's Tent FIRST Annual PW Retreat
Vintage Resort in the mountains of
WinterPark, CO
April 30 - May 2
If you would like more information on this OR 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!
Laughter Does Good Like a Medicine!
* * *
Welcome to the
First Church of the Frigidaire
By PrasHm
Today Bro. Frostbite will be speaking on
"Hope to see you in the Sweet By
and By, if you make it through the Nasty Here and
Now".
And a few exhortations from the Encyclopedia
Britannica and Reader's Digest.
The choir will be singing "Our Four and No
More".
Special offertory music will be provided by the
group "The Chosen Frozen".
This will immediately be followed by a recitation
by Sister Bucketmouth on
the "evils of gossip". She will be
taking confessions after service.
***Special note***
The Lord will not be in the service this morning,
but for those of you wishing
to see Him, there will be special visiting times
set up through out the
afternoon---today only in the choir room.
by: Kellie ;)
"Be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of HIS might."
Ephesians 6:10
Joy In The Kitchen on the World Wide
Web!
Sarah's Tent and the Joy in the Kitchen
newsletter now has it's own web page.
Although still in construction, you may still
access it and watch it grow!!
The creator of this wonderful piece of artwork is
a company called Ionanet.
Iona is not only creating the web page for this
ministry, but has been good
enough to re-do my personal web page as well.
Please be our guest and check
out these sites. The Joy In the Kitchen is an
archive page which will carry
all of our back issues. Again, this site is still
under construction. . .but
what a JOY!!!
JoyfulArt's Personal Page =
JoyfulArt
(http://ionanet.com/ppl/Shannon/shannon.htm)
Joy In
The Kitchen
(http://ionanet.com/sarah/joy.htm)
Ionanet
(http://ionanet.com)
...Write the vision, and make it plain
upon tables, that he may run that
readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:2
POT LUCK!
KITTY LITTER CAKE
Submitted by Justaservn
-----------------
1 box GERMAN CHOCOLATE or SPICE CAKE MIX (any
brand)
1 box WHITE CAKE MIX (any brand)
1 (1 lb 4 oz) pkg VANILLA SANDWICH COOKIES (any
brand)
1 large pkg VANILLA INSTANT PUDDING MIX
GREEN FOOD COLORING
12 small TOOTSIE ROLLS
1 NEW KITTY LITTER BOX
1 NEW KITTY LITTER BOX LINER
1 NEW POOPER SCOOPER
-----------------------------------------------------------
Prepare cake mixes per package directions. Bake
them in any shape pan
you'd like, you'll be breaking them up later on,
so it doesn't matter what
they look like.
Prepared pudding mix per package directions.
Refrigerate until well
chilled. You may or may not need the entire
package--save the leftovers to eat
later on.
Put the cookies into your food processor (with
the filling). Pulse
until the cookies are crushed. Don't over-do it,
this is suppose to look like
kitty litter. Scrape the sides of the processor
bowl often, the crumbs tend to
stick. You'll need to do this in small batches.
To 1 cup of the cookie crumbs,
add a few drops of green food coloring. This is
the chlorophyll in the kitty
litter. I put the crumbs into a jar and add the
food coloring and shake until
it's fairly well mixed.
When the cakes are cooled to room temperature,
crumble them into a
large bowl. Toss with half of the remaining
(uncolored) cookie crumbs and
enough of the pudding to make the mixture moist,
but not soggy.
Line the kitty litter box with the new liner; add
the cake/pudding
mixture and spread it out.
Unwrap 3 of the Tootsie Rolls and heat in the
microwave until soft and
pliable--don't melt them. Shape blunt ends into
slightly curved points (use
your imagination--grin). Repeat with 3 more
Tootsie Rolls. Bury the shaped
Tootsie Rolls in the cake mixture, allowing some
of them to stick out of the
top at random intervals. Again, use your
imagination.
Sprinkle the remaining white cookie crumbs over
the mixture, then
scatter the green crumbs lightly over the top.
Heat the remaining 6 Tootsie Rolls (see NOTE
below), three at a time in
the microwave until ALMOST melted. Scrape them
over the top of the cake and
sprinkling with crumbs from the box.
NOTE: This is my idea--I save one of the Tootsie
Rolls, heat it up like
you did for the shaped ones. Roll it in a mixture
of the green and white
cookie crumbs. Hang it over the side of the pan.
I KNOW, I'm gross!!! <grin>
Place kitty litter box on two sheets of
newspaper. Serve with the
pooper scooper.
-----------------
For even MORE recipes, click on these!!
More
Recipes and
Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
AND Doffycook's
Nethome
Never allow your sense of self
to become associated with
your sense of job. If your job
vanishes, your self doesn't.
~ PRAYER ~
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
Submitted by JMT214
Getting Into Heaven
An exasperated mother, whose son was always
getting into mischief, finally
asked him, "How do you expect to get into
heaven?" The boy thought it over
and said, "Well, I'll just run in and out
and in and out and keep slamming the
door until St. Peter says, 'For heaven's sake,
Jimmy, come in or stay out.'"
Sent by: Setfree1
Team Work
At one point during a game, the coach said to one
of his young players, "Do
you understand what cooperation is? What a team
is?" The little boy nodded in
the affirmative.
"Do you understand that what matters is
whether we win together as a team?"
The little boy nodded yes.
"So," the coach continued, "when a
strike is called, or you're out at first,
you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do
you understand all that?"
Again the little boy nodded.
"Good," said the coach. "Now go
over there and explain it to your mother."
Sent by: AJokeADay
For your Exploring Pleasure,
Pattie's Picks for the Week:
>From (Christina):
Cooking-
Fine Cooking, ingredients, technique...
(http://www.taunton.com/fc/index.htm) from
cooking magazine. I didn' t have as
much time to look as I would've liked.
Sounds
Of Joy
(http://web2.airmail.net/pippin0/music/0music.htm)
As this site says, "Welcome
to the music room where joyful sounds abound in
praise of our Lord!!
Enjoy an abundance of Christian music with a
touch of classical. " There are
links with MIDI sounds and others. This is a
pretty nice site to look through.
Thanks to Christina for this link!
Doffycook's
Nethome
(http://members.aol.com/Doffycooks/index.html)-
Dorothy extends an invitation
to all of us to visit her web site with all those
wonderful recipes.
If you have any web sites you would like to
recommend, please send them to
(Nettie) or (Pattie) and we'll be happy to write
reviews for
the newsletter!
___________________________________________________________________
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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