~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
The mightiest oak was once a little nut that held
its ground.
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A weekly newsletter from Sarah's Tent, an online
ministry tailored towards Pastor's Wives.
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Isa 51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24 ,25
______________________ A WALK IN THE
GARDEN
By JoyfulArt
When I received the next article in the mail,
I had major flash backs of a dream that I had
once. God is so good to bring encouragement to us
through our dreams! This dream came at a time
when I felt like I really didn't have much of a
future, and prayed only to make it through the
next day.
Just like in the Wizard of Oz, my dream began
in black and white. I was above and looking down
(as you do in dreams), and saw myself in a small
round sort of house, dusting, cleaning, over and
over. A knock came on the door and I opened it.
The sunlight came streaming in and almost blinded
me. This was a door that I did not know existed!
Jesus stood before me, and as I held the door
open, I saw BEAUTIFUL flowers. Giant magnificent
flowers of ever color and hue imaginable. The
fragrances wafted in through the door and I was
instantly intoxicated by the wonder of it all.
Jesus exclaimed to me, "Come see!! I have
so much to show you, and I've been waiting for so
long!" He took my hand and led me into the
sunlight. I shielded my eyes, and once again
watched my self in a brilliant beam of Heavenly
light, an IV (intravenous line) coming down and
into my arm. My body was dehydrated and
shriveled, with barely any life at all remaining.
As I received the Heavenly fluids, I began to
take shape and life swelled inside me.
Again, He took my hand and gleefully began to
skip and run through this incredible garden,
pointing to this flower, then that flower,
teaching me about each one. I asked him where we
were - what was this garden? He answered softly,
"This is you Shannon. This garden is you,
and each flower is something inside of you, and
the fragrance of what is in your garden reaches
Heaven." "I have so much to show you,
it's been so long." We continued to skip
through the garden in wonder, and I awoke.
What God was telling me was this: I had
accepted a meager existence and believed every
lie and accusation that had been leveled against
me. Thinking that I didn't deserve anything more
than this, I had made a 'nest' in my black and
white existence. God has created so much more
within each one of us. He stands at our door,
knocking...waiting....perchance that we would
open up to Him.
Rev 3:20-22
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will
come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat
down with My Father on His throne. "He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. "
(emphasis, mine)
This verse is most often quoted as being for
the unbeliever, the unsaved. Of course it could
be used for that, but taking it in context, Jesus
is speaking to the CHURCH. He desires to come in
and fellowship with us. He has so much to show
us.....and it's been so long.
* * * * * *
THE MASTERS GARDEN
By Skylark265
This is fresh Word from the Father this
morning. I felt so instructed to send each of you
this Word. It may not be for you, but maybe for
someone you know who is in need. Blessings to
each of you!
I saw a garden. He said the He gives us our
original gardens. Genesis 2:8, "and the Lord
God planted a garden" We are commanded to
tend our gardens. To sow seed into it, that it
will produce fruits and vegetables. Things that
we can *chew on*. We are also called to water it,
and tend it, until those fruits come to their
ripeness, so that they may be picked and produce
more seeds! And fill the body and soul.
In Gen 3:16 He says that we may eat freely.
BUT Gen 3:1 "we shall not eat of every tree.
In other words all trees that are in front of us
are not good for us, even though they may have
the appearance of good fruit, they may only bring
trouble and destruction to us. PAIN
Your garden is looking beautiful. It is
flourishing but all the sudden the enemy comes
along and throws tree seeds into your garden.
These trees grow and produce large root systems
and they block the light of your garden. The
Lights is what causes the plants to first shoot
out and then bloom, then produce the fruits and
vegetables. Without the Light, they will either
wither, or they will produce small puny fruits.
In other words, they will be edible but being so
small they will not be satisfying to many.
And besides, you have known your garden paths
soooo well, UNTIL the trees started growing. Then
all the sudden you are having to look for the
pathway as it has been obscured from your sight.
You know you planted this one fruit right there,
but now you cannot see it. It is not gone but the
trees are obstructing your sight.
The roots may cause you to loose your footing
and you may fall down. the Word says, "My
feet shall stand in a sure place, they shall not
slide" Well then clean out the pathway that
is before you. Keep it free of stones and roots
that are blocking the plain path. for we are not
just cleaning our own pathway but we are also
making clear the pathway for those who follow us.
Think about this, You are telling all about this
wonderful garden you have and all the fruits
there. You invite them over to walk your garden,
and BLAMM, they trip and fall on the debris on
the pathway. What will they remember? Not the
fruits for sure, but that you lead them into a
place where they fell and got hurt! OUCH
Now He just said that in Isiah 1:29-30 that
some people want to be tall OAKS in their OWN
gardens. BUT, "they shall be ashamed of the
oaks which you have desired, and ye shall be
confounded for the garden that you have chosen. v
30, For ye shall be as an oak who's leaf fadeth,
and as a garden that hath no water" WOW
But He also said to take an axe to the root of
those trees that are hindering your garden, at
the root. Matthew 3:10 "And now also the axe
is laid unto the root of the trees, therefore
every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit IS
hewn down and cast into the fire" in verse
12, He says "that He will gather His wheat
in the harvest but He will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire." Time to clean the garden
so we do not have chaff that has to be burned at
the end.!
The taking of the axe , does not mean that we
are bringing death to someone who is nothing but
a tree causing our our garden to whither. but in
our minds and hearts we are taking an axe to the
root of the things they they say and do, so that
those roots will not affect our gardens fruits.
We must lay aside those things which so easily
beset us, and press on towards the mark of the
high calling of Christ Jesus.
~ ~ ~ ~
We have a Father who is filled with
compassion, a feeling Father who hurts when his
children hurt. We serve a God who says that even
when we're under pressure and feel like nothing
is going to go right, he's waiting for us, to
embrace us whether we succeed or fail.
-Max Lucado-
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sarah's Tent Book Club
Meeting THIS Thursday!! Sarah's Tent
Book Club
Meeting THIS Thursday!!
8:00 PM Eastern
7:00 PM Central
6:00 PM Mountain
5:00 PM Pacific
2:00 PM Hawaii
The
Book Club
Contact WeesaS@aol.com
or SarahsTent@aol.com
for more information.
* Many have expressed an active interest in this
chat, but have had trouble attending once a
month. We are considering changing our format for
our Book Club and are open to suggestions. One
thing that was suggested is an e-mail chat (an
ongoing letter that is sent to all on the list).
It's so good to be able to share books with one
another that have given much needed answers, or
changed our lives! If you are interested in this
format, or have another suggestion. Please send
your interest, or comment to WeesaS@aol.com
and SarahsTent@aol.com
. We look forward to hearing from you!
~ ~ ~ ~
But that as a matter of equality your
abundance at the present time should supply their
want, so that their abundance may supply your
want, that there may be equality.
2 Corinthians 8:14
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
POT LUCK!
Recipe provided by:
Doffycook's
Nethome
This recipe given by Peggy Ross, First United
Methodist Church, Pocahontas, Arkansas.
Polynesian Chicken
2 1/2 lbs. Meaty chicken pieces, skinned
1 14 oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 small jar peach, apricot or plum preserves
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray rectangular
baking pan with vegetable oil cooking spray.
Arrange chicken pieces in pan and spray them
lightly. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Turn
chicken and bake for an additional 15 or 20
minutes, until tender. Drain off pan juices. Mix
the pineapple with the preserves. Pour over
drained chicken and bake for another 15 to 20
minutes or until hot and bubbly.
For even MORE recipes, click on these!! More
Recipes and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Some people are always grumbling because
roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have
roses.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ PRAYER ~
Sarah's Tent Prayer Chain
Send requests to SarahsTent@aol.com
(Especially tailored prayers for Ministry
Leaders)
~ * ~
C.O.P.E. Ministries (Christians Online Praying
by Email)
C.O.P.E.
Ministries Home Page
http://members.aol.com/PrayWOCsng/COPE
Prayer requests: Michelle at LazarusArb@aol.com
or to Sherry at Jcjspj@aol.com
.
~ * ~
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: http://www.bornagainmarriages.org/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FINAL THOUGHT
Take a look at the greatest Gardener of all
time. His greatest creation - began in a garden.
The greatest love story ever written expressing
the love between a Bride and Groom was expressed
as a garden (Song of Solomon). Finally, His
greatest passion was given in a Garden. Birth,
Covenant, Death. All in a Garden setting. God's
creativity, His covenant of love, and His final
gift, redeeming us by His own blood. He has never
done anything in a small way. Everything God
creates expresses His life, His love, His
personality, His gifting, His PLAN. What did He
plant in you?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pattie's Picks
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Just for fun, I thought I would do a search on
Pastors Wives on Yahoo, and see what came up.
Here is the result!!! Have fun!! ~ JoyfulArt Yahoo!
AltaVista Search Result
If you have any web sites you would like to
recommend, please send them to PattieRWR (Pattie)
We'll be happy to write reviews for the
newsletter!
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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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