~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we allow God to blow away our dead leaves
of life.
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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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The Beauty of Fall
By TentDwellr
Once again it has come the time of year here
in Washington that I love the most... Fall. I am
in awe of all the beauty that surrounds me. The
reds, oranges, yellows, and browns portrayed in
such an awesome display, direct from the hand of
God. Each time I get in my car, I find it hard to
continue to my destination... I just love to
watch the leaves falling. There are certain
places that have so much color that I just want
to park my car and stare.
As I think about fall there are a lot of
things that we could use to relate to our lives
as Pastor's wives.. or Christians for that
matter.. The color of the leaves.. changing from
their normal green to the fall colors represent
the different events in our lives that have
changed us. These changes may bring happiness..
as seen in the yellows, like the birth of a child
or a grandchild, a prayer answered, a sickness
healed, a friend accepting the Lord, or various
other blessings that the Lord brings to our
lives.
The reds might represent a time of our life
when we had so much love displayed to us that it
changed us. Times where God's blessings upon us
were so apparently clear. Times when our love and
understanding of God grew by leaps and bounds.
The orange could represent a time of our life
where God took the attributes we had and blended
them into a new color to be used for His glory.
Whether this be in witnessing to another, sharing
our life with a friend, discovering our
"gift" and using it, or ministering in
a way that we knew we had the ability for, yet
had never applied.
The brown could represent the times of sorrows
in our lives. The loss of a loved one, the loss
of a job, a child going off to school, a child
turning his back on God, hurts, heartaches,
fears, anxieties, loneliness, despair, and all
the other feelings that seem to pull us into
ourselves more and away from God. These are the
leaves most of us least like, for this is the
time when we are the most vulnerable and the most
open.
The next thing that happens to a tree after
the leaves have changed is that they begin to
fall off. Watching a tree on a somewhat windy day
gives a peaceful feeling to my heart. There is a
certain peace that can be felt as leaves gently
fall away from the tree. There are times in our
walk when God gently removes the leaves from our
tree. This is meant to be a peaceful thing. The
leaves falling are a way of God removing that
thing from our life.. a letting go so to speak.
And with this letting go there is a gentle,
loving peace that is meant to be felt. However,
many times, like the leaves piled at the bottom
of a tree, we do not want to let go of the
beautiful leaves. For whatever reason we do not
want these "leaves" of our life to blow
away. It may be a fear of letting it go, a
sorrow, or a desire to hang on to the good
feeling that that "leaf" brought.
Whatever the case, many of us pile our leaves at
the bottom of our trees in order to hang on to
those "leaves".
Praise the Lord that despite our stubbornness,
our fears, our anxieties, our anger, our holding
on to the good, our wanting things to remain the
same, whatever holds us... He knows what is best
for us. God knows our hearts and our desires. He
knows what is the best for us and desires to give
us what is best for our lives. Because of this,
the time comes when He blows our leaves away.
This may be in a gentle breeze, as we gladly give
up the "leaves" of old, or with a
torrent, as we try with all our might to hang on
to the "leaves"of the past. God wants
to carry this burden of leaves away for us. It is
His desire to carry it... not for us to hang on.
What is left... a barren tree. Just as we are
naked and barren before the Lord when we humbly
come before him in true harmony and love. It is
in this barren season that we can prepare our
hearts for the new growth, the spring, that will
lie ahead. During the barren times is when God
speaks to us all the more clearly, and IF our
tree is truly barren we will here His gentle
still small voice speak to us through the
quietness of the winter of our life.
Dear friend, as God lets loose your leaves of
life, do not be afraid to let them blow away. Let
go and allow God to prepare you for what lies
ahead. For in the growth that lies ahead you will
see God in a new light.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For it is God who works in you both to
will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all
things without complaining and disputing.
Phil 3:13-14
~~~~~~~~~~~
Breath of Heaven
Submitted by: Ru4Crist
No way to hide the emptiness within,
drowning in an ocean of dark and willful sin.
I've seen the wickedness that lies here deep
inside,
my complaining, and oh yes, even foolish pride.
Change me Lord make me a new,
make my desire, to be consumed by you.
Breath of Heaven, come cover me,
roll over me like the mighty sea.
Nothing brings me joy, there's no laughter from
my lips,
but I know pure joy is at your finger tips.
Pleasures that I seek have all come to naught,
and all I that I held dear, has become a passing
thought.
Breath of Heaven, flow through me,
make me everything I ought to be.
Life giving power, come cleanse my soul.
Jesus, my sweet Jesus, come make me whole.
Blanket me in your mighty hand,
pick me up Lord, help me to stand.
Hide me deep inside your might,
Breath of Heaven come, that my wings might take
flight.
~~~~~~~~~~
How precious is YOUR lovingkindness, O
God! ....The children of men put their trust
under the shadow or YOUR wings. Psalm
36:7
~ ~ ~ ~
>From one of our own...
From: PVckers
I am the wife of a minister of music. I live
300 miles aways from "home". I was
wondering how many ministers' wives have good
staff relations with the other staff wives. I
can't seem to get close at all to our other 2
staff wives. Also, the ladies in our church don't
seem to let staff wives get too close to them.
It's very lonely here and I just need some
advice. I've made MANY efforts and nothing seems
to work.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Frailty of Life and the Victory in
Death
This past week has been very difficult for us.
One of our deacons was killed in a horrible
head-on car accident, and his wife is in ICU with
broken legs and a broken arm, but thankfully no
internal or head injuries. For those who have
prayed, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The question of "Why?" has come to
many minds, including my own. Why did they leave
church on Wednesday night to help a friend,
instead of staying just a few more minutes? Why
didn't I say much more than "hello"
when I saw them minutes before their accident?
Why were those two men doing methamphetamines and
who knows what else, and why did they get behind
the wheel? Why were they driving so fast in the
wrong lane?
This has been a difficult ordeal, but I can
say with certainty that if anyone was ready to go
to heaven, it was Lowell. He and his wife were a
strong spiritual influence in our church during
the past year and a half. They'd been members of
our church for years before going to another
church, then returning to our church. Lowell
served as a deacon, and he and his wife Sharon
were integral in beginning men's and women's home
Bible study/accountability groups. To watch
Lowell sing and lift his hands (even in our
conservative Southern Baptist church!) was to see
a man in love with his Lord. One time last spring
when I was having a difficult time balancing
everything, they stayed to pray with me and for
me, and I will treasure that time always.
The funeral was today, and it was a praise and
worship service more than anything. It was a
memorial to a man who lived his life in service
to Jesus Christ, and a testimony to the Lord who
is still ministering to his wife as she recovers
from her injuries.
I know others in our group have gone through
times like this before, with church members,
family members, and even spouses. This is the
first time my dear husband and I have gone
through something like this in our ministry. I
praise the Lord for His grace and mercy, and even
though I don't understand, I know He is here with
us. He is in control! Thanks for letting me
share! I love you all,
Pattie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The true test of servanthood: to act like
a servant when treated like a servant
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ANNOUNCING "ESCAPE HOUSE"
Modern, year-round hexagon shape design house
overlooking quiet lake in southwestern New
Hampshire is available for rent weekly/daily ONLY
to pastor's and their families. A pastor and his
wife in south Boston have enjoyed this ministry
for over five years, and would gladly send
details when requested. Send your name &
address to: Mrspastor7@aol.com
to receive photo and details.
~~~~~~~
Something fun.....
From:Patchwrk20
Hi. I am a pastor's wife and I love to quilt!
I was involved with an online quilt square swap
on CompuServe a couple years ago. I have a
beautiful quilt from that swap. I would like to
do it again, this time with pastor's wives.
For those of you unfamiliar with this concept,
I will explain... Everyone participating in the
swap makes a quilt square and sends it to the
recipient chosen for that month. (The recipient
chooses the color combinations they want for
their quilt square.) You then make a beautiful
quilt from the squares you've received!
If you are interested, please email me with
your color choices and birthday. I will organize
the swap and let you know when it will begin.
--Debbie
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Lord looks from Heaven; He sees all
the sons of men from the place of His dwelling He
looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He
fashions their hearts individually; He considers
all their works... Let YOUR mercy, O Lord, be
upon us, Just as we hope in YOU. Psalm
33:13-15, 22
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Skillet Dinner
>From Doffycock page
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 small clove garlic (minced)
1 6 oz. Can tomato paste
2 1/4 cups water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 dash of pepper
4 oz. medium noodles
Brown the beef, onion, garlic and parsley
lightly in skillet. Add tomato paste, water,
sugar, salt, pepper and mix well. Cover, reduce
heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add noodles,
cover and cook until noodles are tender, stirring
occasionally. Serve with Parmesan cheese.
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)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dare to dream what deity can do.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
Mom's Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.
I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where they're at
and what they're doing to the cat.
I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)
Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know--
I must have lost them long ago!
Author Unknown
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lambiee's Picks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources For
Resolving Conflict Ministry's Home Page
http://www.rrcinc.org/
"a non-profit evangelical, biblically-based
Christian ministry dedicated to assisting
congregations, ministries, businesses,
neighborhoods and families learn how to reduce
strife and experience God's full potential in
their ministries and relationships." RRCM is
available to help through periodical or regular
meetings, as well as through phone calls or
e-mail. They also offer workshops and training
seminars in conflict management.
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Finally, a way to find out if all those
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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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