~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
It is His church and His people
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A weekly newsletter from Sarah's Tent, an online
ministry tailored towards Pastor's Wives.
_______________________Isa 51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3
/ Heb 10:24 ,25
______________________
POSSESSING THE LAND
By JoyfulArt
Deut 11:10-17
10 "For the land which you go to
possess is not like the land of Egypt from which
you have come,
As Pastors, we see "land" that needs
to be possessed with the Kingdom of God. That
land may be as broad as government issues that
affect the whole of the United States, or the
state you live in. Your land could be the city or
town that you live in, or it may mean something
even more abstract, such as the marriages in your
community. Whatever the call of God is on your
church body, THAT is the land that the Lord your
God has called you to possess. This land is not
like the world. It may be in the world, but to
possess it for God's Kingdom requires Kingdom
strategy, not the strategy of worldly systems.
where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot,
as a vegetable garden;
11 "but the land which you cross
over to possess is a land of hills and valleys,
which drinks water from the rain of heaven,
There are highs and lows in possessing this
Kingdom land of His, and it is nourished by the
Word of God and His guidance which comes directly
from the throne room of Heaven. All the things
that you desire to accomplish in your kingdom can
not be done with ways of man. This Kingdom must
be conquered by Godly, supernatural means, again,
not natural means. All the building programs and
advertising campaigns in the world will never
measure up to doing things God's way. How easy it
is to ignore what God is saying to us and
directing us to do because it does not make
sense, causing us to say out loud, "That
just isn't the way things are done!" (How
right you are!! If God did things the way that
man thought they should happen, man would get the
credit, and God would be forgotten, then where
would we be?)
12 "a land for which the LORD
your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are
always on it, from the beginning of the year to
the very end of the year.
God watches over this Land of HIS. He cares
for His subjects and His eyes go to and fro
constantly from end to end of that which is His.
Nothing escapes His notice. From the beginning of
a thing to the end , God will see His plans out
to the harvest.
13 'And it shall be that if you
earnestly obey My commandments which I command
you today, to love the LORD your God and serve
Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
This is not as easy as we think it is!! We are
a proud people, and when you care as much as a
pastor, giving your whole life to the call that
is on your life, you may be tempted to possess
that which does not belong to you. God has called
us to be focused upon obeying His voice and
commandments, the greatest of these to be to LOVE
GOD & SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. Not to
love the ministry, not to love the title you now
possess, or the fame you think you have. Nothing
else matters in this life than to Love our God
with all our hearts, souls, minds and bodies. To
love Him and to serve Him in that love...taking
no credit for ourselves, nor demanding that
things be done our way. But releasing ownership
to the rightful owner and obeying whatever it is
that HE tells us to do with the Kingdom He has
given us to watch over.
14 'then I will give you the rain for
your land in its season, the early rain and the
latter rain, that you may gather in your grain,
your new wine, and your oil.
When we give up ownership of this land, and do
all that He commands us to do, without our puny
plans interfering, God will rain His Spirit upon
His land. He will sustain the land with His early
rain, and His later rain so that you may be
productive in all that you do in the ministry
that God has called you to. This is so that you
will be productive in all you do, and TRULY make
a difference.
15 'And I will send grass in your
fields for your livestock, that you may eat and
be filled.'
Pastors and their families suffering, churches
not able to meet mortgages, apathy, and lack of
growth is hardly a sign that the land which was
given to them is blessed and prospering. Perhaps
it is time to take a look at the way we do
things. Good intentions and hard work may be a
good thing, but is it a GOD thing? Is what you
are doing really what GOD has told you to do? Is
the mortgage on your building worth the life that
is being sucked out of you and your people? Did
God tell you to pay for that building at all
costs, forsaking the work of the ministry,
salvations, healings and growth of people? How
easy it is to become so focused on money issues
which are temporal, and totally forget eternal
issues, such as the forgotten children, the
marriages falling apart, and a community that is
Godless and crime ridden! Where are our
priorities? How often do we find ourselves
beating our heads against the wall with strife
and frustration in our congregations because of
the pressures of ministry?
But wait!!
16 "Take heed to yourselves, lest
your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and
serve other gods and worship them,
Could it be that we have turned aside and
begun to worship other gods? In not taking care
of ourselves with a life filled with the love of
our God, rest, peace and obedience to what HE has
commanded us to do, have we turned astray and
begun to serve other gods? How about the god of
prosperity? "The more people I have the more
we can buy and the more we will have what we
need....(or is it desire)" What are we
focusing on? THINGS to fill our own desires? Or
ALL THAT WE NEED to fulfill the call upon our
lives, lacking nothing?
What about the god of fame and glory? In our
desire to be a validated being, have we slipped
into the witchcraft of control and manipulation
over Gods people, accepting glory which does not
belong to us? God forbid!! This is a fearful
place to be!!
How about something as simple as a good old
fashioned work ethic? We care and are men and
women of integrity, totally devoted to serving
our God....or is it "our god"? There
never seems to be enough time to spend with our
families and the work at the church is never
done. We grow angry at the people because they do
not want to help. There is no joy in what we do,
and we are constantly exhausted and poor in
spirit. Now tell me, what is in our countenance
that would cause our people to WANT to work in
the ministry? Who are you serving? Who told you
to do all that you are doing? Is this something
YOU have put upon yourself and why? "Take
heed to yourselves.." What is your TRUE
motive? To have a big church? To be well known?
To speak on radio and television? To be able to
hold your head up in meetings where other pastors
compare the size of THEIR work? (Lord God,
forgive us!!)
17 "lest the LORD'S anger be
aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens
so that there be no rain, and the land yield no
produce, and you perish quickly from the good
land which the LORD is giving you.
Have we found ourselves in a place where God
does not seem to be listening to us? Nothing that
we do is prospering? Apathy, control and strife
are running rampant? We are exhausted and without
hope, wondering what in the world we are doing
behind the pulpit in the first place? Have we
left our first love? Are the rains being held
back for a reason? Are you perishing?
Luke 8:14
14 "And the ones that fell among
thorns are those who, when they have heard, go
out and are choked with cares, riches, and
pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to
maturity.
Precious brothers and sisters in the ministry.
Jesus said that HIS yoke was easy, and HIS burden
light. He said that HE came to give us LIFE and
give it more abundantly. If we are not
experiencing HIM in our lives, and to give out
the Word to God's people is no longer a joy to
us....could it be that we have not taken heed to
OURSELVES and have begun to serve other gods?
Marriages in ministry take a terrible beating and
church splits are common place. Perhaps it is WE
who need to take a look at our own hearts...and
not point the finger to those God has placed in
our care. If the land that was given to us is not
yielding life, grain, grapes and new wine, then
perhaps the windows of Heaven have been shut up
for a reason. Perhaps it is time to HUMBLE
OURSELVES. (In other words, get off our thrones
and give up the reign to the King of kings and
the Lord of lords. After all, WHOSE Kingdom is it
anyway?)
1 Pet 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time, casting all your care upon Him, for He
cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist
him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the
same sufferings are experienced by your
brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all
grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord
and He shall lift you up James 4:10
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chosen Vessel
(Submitted by: Bdwchr)
The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He
choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I’m shiny and
bright,
I’m of great value and I do things just
right.
My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be
the best!
The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I’ll serve You, dear Master, I’ll pour
out Your wine
And I’ll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.
Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like
glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.
Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so
clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I’m sure I’ll be happy in Your
house to abide.
The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl
said,
But I’d rather You used me for fruit, not
for bread!
Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of
clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might
choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been hoping to
find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and
loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just
right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power
and might.
Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. There’s work you must
do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.
Author Unknown
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is through the cracks that we shine
Patsy Clairmont
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Gardener
By: Sharon Sparks
I peeked through the curtains at the garden
that grew outside my window and cringed. A mosaic
of cracks in the hard-packed dirt held brown,
brittle weeds, or were they once flowers?
Impossible to tell. It was surrounded by a high
brick wall with an old rusty gate. No one would
ever open that gate again. The whole scene was
lifeless and offered no hope that it could ever
be anything else.
I was startled by the doorbell. "Who is
it?"
"I am the Gardener," a voice
answered. "The Gardener? I don't have a
Gardener." I said, as I opened the door.
"How do you know I have a garden?"
"My Father created your garden," he
said, "Each one He creates is unique and has
a special purpose."
"But it is completely dead. I have ruined
it."
"None are hopeless. Ask me to come in and
I will restore your garden for its original
purpose."
"No, I think this is hopeless." I
closed the door. "That Gardener cannot ring
this place back to life," I said out loud.
I passed several days without thinking about
my garden. But one morning, I could not ignore
it. The hopelessness of the garden pushed in all
around me. I could see only wasted life, dead
dreams, and dried-up hopes. Nothing in that
garden was redeemable. Nothing.
He said he could restore this garden, but once
he saw it, he would say, "I'm sorry, I was
wrong. I did not realize how bad your garden was.
It is not worth saving." I sat down on an
old bench and began to cry. "Oh, Gardener, I
want to believe you could save my garden." I
heard a rusty creak and lifted my head. The gate
was opening! The Gardener stood outside.
"How did you know I wanted to see
you?"
"I heard you ask for me."
He began to look around my garden. I watched
his face to see the inevitable look of
disappointment and resignation. He raised his
eyes to mine and I saw... joy! He was smiling! I
looked around and wondered what he saw that could
make him smile. I was afraid to ask him what he
thought of my garden, but anxious to know if he
really could save it. I could not speak.
"I would love to save this garden,"
he said quietly.
I felt a swelling of certainty that he could
save my garden. That he wanted to save my garden,
and that he loved the garden his Father had
created.
"Oh, please," I cried, "please
come in and save my garden. Show me your Father's
original purpose!" I held out my hand and
invited him inside.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wise people store up knowledge, but the
mouth of the foolish is near destruction Prov.
10:14 NKJV
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NEXT RETREAT
July 30 - August 1 1998
Dothan, Alabama
Host for this time is: Carol (Justaservn)
For more information:
SarahsTent@aol.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous spirit Ps
51:12 NKJV
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Any Time Recipe
4 cups Love
2 spoons of Hope
2 Cups Loyalty
2 spoons Tenderness
3 Cups Forgiveness
4 Cups Faith
1 Cup Friendship
1 Barrel Laughter
Take love and loyalty and mix thoroughly with
faith. Blend with tenderness, kindness, and
understanding. Sprinkle abundantly with laughter.
Bake it with sunshine. Serve daily with generous
helpings.
Be sure to check out ministry tested recipes
at: Doffycook's
Nethome
For even MORE recipes, click on these!! More
Recipes and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It is the deliberate verdict of the Lord
Jesus that It is better not to live than not to
love
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ 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/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah's Tent Book Club
Contact WeesaS@aol.com
or SarahsTent@aol.com
for more information.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CHUCKLES
(From: Justaservn) When my daughter was
about five years old we came out of church on a
Sunday morning into quite a summer storm. Most of
the congregation was huddled together on the
front steps of the church when to my great
chagrin my daughter says in a loud and melodious
voice, "Look Mommy ... it's raining like
hail!"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After church on Sunday morning, a young boy
suddenly announced to his mother, "Mom, I've
decided I'm going to be a minister when I grow
up. That's okay with us," the mother said,
"But what made you decide to be a
minister?" "Well," the boy
replied, "I'll have to go to church on
Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun
to stand up and yell than to sit still and
listen.
________
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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