~ There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
Nothing expands our horizons more than having tea with
another at our table.
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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
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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!
What Makes America
What makes America wondrous and grand?
The smile of a child and a kind helping hand,
The soft glow of summer beneath a blue sky,
A moon round and golden as evening draws nigh.
What makes America lasting and real?
A hope and a faith and a dream that's ideal,
A land filled with wonders, a mountain, a stream,
A nation of people with courage supreme.
What makes America? Living and zest,
Baseball and football, the dearest and best,
A freedom unequaled wherever you go,
Our dream for the future, to live and to grow.
What makes America? so many things...
A brighter tomorrow that each dawning brings,
A peace and a love and and a home bright and free,
These make America so dear to me.
(Garnett Schultz)
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BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
By JoyfulArt
Little more than a year ago, the Lord birthed
Sarah's Tent Online Ministry to Pastors Wives. Never
in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned such rich
relationships and wondrous testimonies!! My life will
never be the same! I found as I reached out as a
wounded and discouraged pastor's wife to another who
was going through what I had already come through,
that I was healed in the process.
There was something about sharing what I'd learned
on my journey that helped me to see God in looking
back at the footsteps I'd taken. As I shared, the type
I saw on the screen before me responded with "Yes!
Yes! I know just what you are saying!! Let me tell you
what happened to me!!" So began a wonderful
conversation that lasted for more than three hours!!
The next morning I received an e-mail from her husband
saying thanks, that the conversation we had that night
had released his wife from some issues that had been
pent up inside of her. Together they had finally
talked and been able to make peace with issues that
had threatened to destroy their marriage. . .All
because of two women sharing, crying, laughing and
praying together.
Consider the possibilities! Just one woman
stumbling upon another of like calling, just being
themselves, sharing their walks with Jesus together,
simply, unconditionally loving one another. No
programs, no denominational barriers, just Christ.
What would happen if we were to reach out to one
another in our own cities? How about sending
invitations to some of the pastors wives in your area
for a picnic and fellowship? No cost, neutral ground,
fellowshipping around Jesus...wow....just think of the
possibilities!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 Pet 1:22 Since you have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere
love of the brethren, love one another fervently with
a pure heart, (NKJ)
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AMERICA!
America! From coast to coast,
What is there here I love the most?
The frenzied cities' bustling crowd...
The noisy tempo beatin loud,
The quiet little town and glen
That takes you back to childhood when
You strolled along the country road
And watched the farmer's haying load,
A running brook to cool your toes,
And there in tangled mass, a rose...
Then climbing to the crest of hill,
The view so vast you stand quite still,
The stretch of blue far out to sea,
A tiny island that could be
Another land, another dream.
America! You always seem
To have more beauty round a turn.
We really love you, and we yearn
For mountaintops with crest of snow
And wooded stream in moonlit glow.
But sight serene all beauty holds...
The stars and stripes in waving folds!
(Barbara Moran)
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WHAT COLOR ?
by PattieRWR
All right now, let's be honest. How many of you in the
Tent either do or have ever colored your hair? Raise
your hands . . . okay, thanks.
I would have to be one of those who raised her
hand. See, I am a "used-to-be-blonde"--that is, I was
a blonde-haired child and my hair darkened as I grew
older. After I got married, it kept getting browner
and browner. I even remember one time visiting with
family when my uncle, who hadn't seen me since I was a
teenager, said "Hey Pattie, whadja do to your hair?"
"Nothing," I replied.
The years went by as a brunette, until a few months
after my daughter was born. I decided it was time for
a change. I bought that first box of hair color:
"Natural Golden Blonde" (Ever notice how many boxes of
hair color have "natural" in the name? If you don't
believe me, just go to the store sometime and look!).
For one year I kept up with coloring my hair blonde,
which is a pain when the roots grow in and you have
that annoying "ooh she colors her hair" look. This
past spring I decided to give up and "go natural."
Instead of the zebra look as my hair grew out, I
bought a box of "Natural Golden Brown" (there's that
"natural" again!) and colored it brown again. No
problem.
This past week, as I've been fixing my hair in the
mornings, I've noticed something odd: gray hairs. One,
two, three, sometimes more. This may not seem like
much to some of you, but to a 28-year-old who is
frequently mistaken in the hallways at school for one
of the teenaged students, this is a jarring
experience.
The dilemma remains: do I let it go, or do I go buy
another box of "natural" hair color?
How many of us want to use "spiritual soul color"
in our lives? We don't like the gray hairs, or we're
dissatisfied with the color, so we get a box of
another color we like better and use it. We think we
look better this way, and no one is brave enough or a
friend enough to tell us "Hey, you look better when
you're yourself."
God wants us to be natural, where it counts, in our
souls. No color, no mask, nothing but us and Him. He
knows what color our soul is anyway, doesn't He? He
created us in His image, in His likeness, and if He
knows what our real hair color is, don't you think He
knows our real souls too?
I don't think it's wrong to color your hair, but I
do think it's wrong to color your soul. Let's vow to
be "natural" before Christ and before each other in
His body.
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America
America you sparkle in the sun,
A paradise
Our forefathers sought and found.
With justice in your power,
With hope and love
You send your echoes far and hold a light
That worlds shall see and feel that liberty
And brotherhood are one.
For you, we live
And pledge ourselves to stand undivided.
You are a freeman's choice, America.
Yesterday, our fathers;
Ours today;
Our spirits in unison
Look forward
America, you sparkle in the sun.
(Grace Orme)
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SHE'S LENGTHENING HER CORDS
By Nets4Him
On May 27-May 30 our denomination, United
Methodist, had their annual conference. On May 30
there was a breakfast held for spouses. When we
planned this breakfast, we did not know what to
expect, but at the end of the breakfast we had many
women and a few men excited to continue a spouse group
and ready to attend a retreat. This is a big blessing
to our area. There used to be a spouse group here in
NCNY (North Central NY) but with time, the members
dwindled and interest did too. So, we are rejuvenating
this group.
As you spouses all know, there needs to be support
for us. I have found this support in Sarah's Tent and
in a small group of spouses that I see once a month.
This new group is part of a bigger picture now, and I
wanted to share with you all the joy that I am feeling
in being part of this. I was one of the gals that
traveled to Colorado for the first retreat of Sarah's
Tent and I really feel that I am following God's will
and starting to branch out in our area to give others
support. There are several of us here in this area
that have formed friendships and support for each
other. These ladies and I have a common interest of
getting a group together for us in this area.
I just wanted to share with you that this group,
Sarah's Tent, is a great springboard. You catch a
vision and hold on tight, cause God has plans for
you!!!
In His Grip,
Nettie (Nets4Him)
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Believe in America
Believe in America.... her wisdom and her truth,
Her ever-reaching progress and her ever-searching
youth,
The ills she strives to conquer and her aim for all
things good,
Her promise of tomorrow for a stronger brotherhood.
Believe in America and help each new year find
A fortress for her freedoms and more love for all
mankind;
Show zeal to meet the challenges and make all doubting
cease
To sanction ever effort for a bright new land of
peace!
(Frieda Jo Hawes)
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Letter's To The Editor
>From Lovesme761
In reference to the last article in last weeks issue
"Thoughts To Ponder"
I agree wholeheartedly!!! A few weeks ago I came
home from work and was in a very "grumbly" mood, since
I had to go teach a Bible study that night. My husband
listened to me complain for a few minutes about "all I
had to do" (Like he doesn't have anything to do!).
Then he told me, "You have a few hours before the
Bible study, and you'll be able to prepare better if
you're not so tired. I'll watch the kids so you can go
get some rest." I protested, arguing that I had too
much to do to go take some time off, when he gave me
some very wise advice. He said, very firmly,
"Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to
take a nap." I realized that the Lord was speaking
through him to me. There had been a lot of short
nights and long days, and I needed to catch up. I went
and took a nap, awoke refreshed, and had a very
anointed Bible study. Sometimes the most spiritual
thing you can do is take a nap!
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THIS IS MY COUNTRY
"This is my country," I say with pride,
Whether it's desert, vast and wide,
Or mountains, pine covered, or iceberg bound,
Wherever my native home is found.
This is my country! And all I do
Should built it stronger, finer, more true,
Should hold its flag, colors unfurled,
In honor in any part of the world.
This is my country! Wherever it be,
Let all its people be honest and free.
(Gabbott)
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CHUCKLES
Sent in by Phywmgf
You know you're married to the minister
when. . .
. . . you regularly check the fellowship register
"I'd like a visit from the pastor."
. . . your daughter shrieks "But I wanted to buy
bubble gum!" as she delays the offering plate.
. . . your family gets every disease in vogue at
hospitals in four counties.
. . . you hear your "new" car (a '93) discussed two
aisles over in the grocery store.
. . . your kids receive batches of cards, books and
flowers when they're housebound with the chicken pox.
. . . the alarm in your bedroom rings at 4 a.m.
every Sunday.
. . . your spouse, although coveting red plaid,
buys navy blue.
. . . your co-workers planning a conference can't
understand why you don't know the date of Easter three
years hence.
. . . you're consoling a sobbing parishioner on the
phone while your baby drinks from the dog's dish, the
dog unravels your toddler's sock, your toddler
polishes her nails with her sister's markers, the
sister loudly protests this abuse to you, and two
callers are perched at your door to ask if you know
the peace of Jesus.
. . . you reserve one room in your house to save
cardboard boxes for the next time the bishop orders a
move.
. . . your second Sunday in a new parish you are
challenged by at least three persons: "Bet you can't
tell me my name!"
. . . your kids argue over who gets to say grace.
. . . your license plate reads "PKs' Parent."
. . . you set off the smoke alarm trying to prepare
a gourmet meal, and the next Sunday morning a third of
the state hears about it on the radio.
. . . your kindergartner tries "God doesn't want me
to do that" as an excuse to avoid chores.
. . . you get in earshot of people telling jokes
and they change the punchline in mid-sentence.
. . . your daughter belches royally into the lapel
microphone during her baptism.
. . . you find a beautiful rose bowl in your milk
chute.
. . . your spouse is savagely attacked by a chancel
Christmas tree during silent prayer.
. . . you get to watch a self-righteous soul, an
avowed non-smoker, quickly stuff a live pipe into his
back pocket at your approach. You get to watch his
eyes widen and body squirm while your mate
deliberately engages him in a twenty-minute
conversation about the last board meeting.
. . . your daughter says, "I dropped my bear." You
say, stupidly, "Bear? Where?" She says, "There." She
points over the balcony railing into a praying
congregation.
. . . seventy more people come to your Christmas
open house than planned. You run out of punch, but
concoct a rather delicious substitute that looks like
dishwater. You add food coloring. Dozens of
green-toothed people all over town greet each other
with "Oh, I see you've been to the parsonage."
. . . your nearly-two kid sings out in the 7-11:
"Who made the Slurpees? God did!"
. . . your precocious kid loudly argues the
theological parameters of the quest for the historical
Jesus -- in the pew during silent prayer.
. . . your youngest gets a very small timepiece
from his grandpa for his birthday. Your first Sunday
in a new parish, toward the end of the sermon at
precisely noon, you find out why they call them
"alarm" clocks.
. . . you find that leprechauns have pruned your
shrubs in your absence.
. . . your three-year-old at a potluck elaborately
decorates her nose with mashed potatoes and two
strategically placed green peas. She is seated next to
the district superintendent.
. . . you find yourself privileged to have a unique
position in a community of concerned caring
Christians, not by your own merit, but only by having
the sense to marry the person you did!
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LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR ~ IT'S WHAT MAKES
AMERICA GREAT!
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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