~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
The Way To Get To The TOP Is To Get Off Your
BOTTOM. Dr. Eugene Swearingen
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A weekly newsletter from Sarah's Tent, a
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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GETTING TO THE TOP
By JoyfulArt
Usually when we think of getting to the top,
we think of a business man, carrying a dark
attaché' case, white shirt, red tie, slicked
down hair, stepping over bodies on the way to the
top of the corporate ladder. Or perhaps we think
of a weather beaten mountain climber, squinty
eyes, sun- reddened, leathery, wind-burned face
and brightly colored cap, with stick in hand. .
.on his way - to the top.
As for me, I would just like to unload a few
defeating habits that keep me on the ground
floor. Habits such as a tendency to whine,
complain and murmur. WHOOPS!! Did I say that? Of
course, I'm sure YOU never have a problem with
that! Me? Now that's another matter, and it
really gets to me when my God blesses me above
and beyond anything I could ever ask or think
that I would continually fall into this. (Oh
dear, there I go again, complaining and
whining...can't win for losing!)
This morning I picked up a devotional and read
an article questioning why we ask WHY, when
calamity strikes us. If an earthquake shakes our
town and many houses fall under the vibrations
affecting many people, we ask "Why ME?"
If a flood hits our neighborhood taking with it
everyone's home, we ask, "Why ME?" If
we fall prey to something as simple as a roving
flu bug, we ask, "Why ME?" As if we
personally were singled out of the masses to
receive these curses more than anyone else. The
writer went on to say that it is interesting to
note that we hardly ever ask, "Why ME?"
when we see a homeless person, and ask why it is
that WE are blessed with a roof over our heads
and three meals a day. When we see someone who
has no legs, do we stop and ask why it is that we
do?
It has struck me that one of the greatest
things a child of God can be, is THANKFUL. There
is something about being thankful that will take
you from the bottom of the heap and place you on
top of the mountain. When snowed under by
frustrating circumstances, it is a wonder that
when we begin to thank God for all that we are
truly blessed with, that we find our hearts
suddenly filled with hope and praise for a God
who provides generously. Somehow our once clouded
and depressed minds discover that problem solving
is a snap and inspiration comes easily. God is an
Awesome God, He is not limited, with God, ALL
things are possible.
Perhaps we need to be more aware that when we
are at the bottom of the heap our heap seems to
be bigger than our God. But when we point out all
that God has made and blessed us with, HE
suddenly becomes bigger than our 'heap', and
solutions are possible. Hmmmm, let me think this
through....if my heap is bigger than my God, does
that mean that I am worshipping my 'heap' instead
of worshipping my God? OUCH!
Funny how easily we slip back to the bottom!
King David cried out, "Why so downcast, oh
MY soul! Hope Thou in God!" He knew that the
only way to get off the bottom of the heap was to
speak to HIMSELF (not others) and encourage
HIMSELF in the Lord, reminding himself who he
belonged to. No one can encourage you and lift
you up. No person on this earth can pull you out
of the heap you choose to remain under. Only YOU
can lift up YOUR eyes to the "hills"
where your help comes from. It IS a choice! We
can choose life or death. It is OUR choice.
Deut 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and
death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose
life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Getting to the top is really quite simple. The
only thing you really have to lay down to get
there, is your pride. You see, you cannot take
any credit for getting to the top. Only by
exalting the One who IS at the top will bring you
up to the high places. For some reason, we like
to take credit for everything that comes our way
and we freely complain about things that do not,
that we think should. Why else would we try to
earn Gods UNMERITED favor? Could it be that our
motives are not always as pure as the driven
snow?
Excuse me, I don't know about you, but I think
I need to repent. Want to join me? We are a
spoiled generation. I believe it's time to give
credit where credit is due, and let HIM worry
about the rest. After all, don't we believe that
HE has a plan for our lives? I CHOOSE this day to
exalt Him before I curse what He has given or
whine about what I do not have. I thank God that
I am breathing His breath in me. What ever
condition I am in, He loves ME. NOW, I can ask,
"Why me?" Before the words are finished
echoing off my walls, I hear the answer.
"Child, because I LOVE you!"
Lord, let me HEAR the words that proceed out
of my mouth, may they be pleasing to you. Holy
Spirit, echo back to me the words that I speak,
BEFORE I speak them. Take the coal, cleanse my
lips, may I speak blessings and not cursings all
the days of my life. "Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not
thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy
of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free
spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver
me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my
salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy
righteousness.O Lord, open thou my lips; and my
mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou
desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering. The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken
and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise." (Ps 51:10-17) (KJV)
~ Amen ~
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Ps 121:1-2
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from
whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the
LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is
impossible, but not with God: for with God all
things are possible. (KJV)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FREE NEWSLETTER!
Born Again Marriages now has a quarterly
newspaper called, "The Marriage
Encourager" that we would like to make
available for No Charge to any members of Sarah's
Tent for one full year.
This 20-24 page newspaper has wonderful
stories of marriages that made it through
difficult times, poems, encouraging words, and
more. To subscribe please E-mail to us and give
us your snail mail address: Directors@bornagainmarriages.org
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Dear Pastors and wives: Do you know someone in
your congregation who is looking for a ministry
opportunity as well as a job? Born Again
Marriages is looking for Area Representatives to
help us bring, "The Marriage
Encourager" newspaper into each town or city
nationwide. This person should be a strong
Christian, who presents themselves well. They
will be contacting local Christian businesses and
churches for the ministry. The part or full-time
job pays $1200-$1500 per edition. Please refer
them to our Managing Editor Mike Vroman at vro@mlode.com or
they may call us at 1-800-BORN AGAIN. Thank you
for your help in strengthening and even restoring
marriages nationwide
~ Love in Jesus Pat and Sandi Greenwell
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POT LUCK!
This week's recipe submitted by PrasHm
Hard Rock Cafe Baked Potato Soup Contributor:
MHFOOT
This is the best potato soup I've ever had.
Source: Dallas Morning News: 10/30/91
6 bacon slices (or 8) fried, crumbled
1 cup yellow onions, diced
2/3 cup flour
6 cup chicken stock, hot
4 cup potatoes, baked, diced, peeled
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons red pepper sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese; grated
1/4 cup green onions, diced; white only
Chop bacon; reserve. Cook onions in remaining
drippings over medium high heat until
transparent, about 3 minutes. Add flour, stirring
to prevent lumps; cook for 3-5 minutes, until
mixture just begins to turn golden. Add chicken
stock gradually, whisking to prevent lumps until
liquid thickens. Reduce heat to simmer and add
potatoes, cream, chopped bacon, parsley, garlic,
basil, salt, pepper sauce and black pepper.
Simmer for 10 minutes; do not allow to boil. Add
grated cheese and green onions, heat until cheese
melts smoothly. Garnish each serving as desired
with chopped bacon, grated cheese and chopped
parsley. Makes 2 quarts.
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)
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NEEDING PRAYER?
Contact Sarah's Tent at SarahsTent@aol.com
, and not only will we pray, but your request
will be sent to the proper prayer chains as well.
Just be sure to send your praise report when God
moves on your behalf!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CHUCKLES
Sent in by RxMom03
I would like to share this with everyone--I
think it is probably my favorite joke ever.
A Jewish lawyer became seriously troubled by
the way his only son had turned out, so the guy
decided to call his synagogue for a counseling
appointment with his rabbi.
"I brought him up in the faith,"
said the lawyer to the rabbi, "I spent a
fortune to educate him. And now he's suddenly
decided to become a Christian. Rabbi, where did I
go wrong?"
"Funny you should come to me," said
the rabbi, "I too brought up my boy in the
faith, put him through Yeshiva University, sent
him to Brandeis to get his doctorate. I spent an
absolute fortune educating him. Then one day, he
tells me he has decided to become a
Christian!"
"What did you do?"
"I turned to God for the answer."
"And what did God say?"
"He said, 'Funny you should come to
me...' "
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Pattie's Picks
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http://www.kidsource.com/
This isn't a Christian site, but it looks to be a
great resource for parents of kids. Many
recommendations for keeping your children healthy
and happy, as well as many discussion topics and
links to sections for kids of all ages. I thought
this was an interesting place to begin looking
for good parenting advice, and it reminded me of
the Parent Soup web site.
http://www.mountmoriah.com/
This site features art developed with
Christian themes. In the site's own words:
"Welcome to Mount Moriah Studios Online, the
Christian Art Store for the Internet. At Mount
Moriah Studios we believe that what you put in
your home matters. It matters to you, it matters
to God and it matters to the people who know you.
Browse our Main Gallery or Emerging Artists
Gallery for the best in art by Christian
Artists." You can register for membership.
"As a member, you get regular e-mail updates
of new artists and artwork. Plus when you
register as a member, you qualify for our monthly
drawing to give away our Featured artwork of the
Month." Since I happen to know many of you
talented pastor's wives are artists, this would
be something you'd probably be interested in!
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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YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT to
Sarah's Tent is used for things such as
Scholarships for Annual Pastors Wives Retreats
across the U.S., Financial Aid towards Crisis
Counseling for the Pastors Family.
Make checks payable to Sarah's Tent and send
in care of LIVING STONES CHURCH / P.O. Box 964 /
Broomfield, CO 80038-0964 / USA ~ (Sarah's Tent
is a World Wide Internet Ministry hosted by
LIVING STONES CHURCH and as a co-operative effort
of churches and pastors throughout the United
States.)
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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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