~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
Letting Go and Letting God is ok.
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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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"I Will Move The Rock"
Submitted by: MultiHatz
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when
suddenly his room filled with light and the
Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had
work for him to do, and showed him a large rock
in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that
the man was to push against the rock with all his
might.
This the man did, day after day. For many
years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his
shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive
surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all
his might. Each night the man returned to his
cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole
day had been spent in vain.
Seeing that the man was showing signs of
discouragement, Satan decided to enter the
picture by placing thoughts into the man's mind
such as: "You have been pushing against that
rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why
kill yourself over this? You are never going to
move it."
Thus giving the man the impression that the
task was impossible and that he was a failure,
these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the
man even more. "Why kill myself over
this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my
time, giving just the minimum effort and that
will be good enough."
And that he planned to do until one day he
decided to make it a matter of prayer and take
his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored
long and hard in your service, putting all my
strength to do that which you have asked. Yet,
after all this time, I have not even budged that
rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am
I failing?"
To this the Lord responded compassionately,
"My friend, when I asked you to serve me and
you accepted, I told you that your task was to
push against the rock with all your strength,
which you have done. Never once did I mention to
you that I expected you to move it. Your task was
to push. And now you come to me, with your
strength spent, thinking that you have failed.
But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your
arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and
brown, your hands are callused from constant
pressure, and your legs have become massive and
hard. Through opposition you have grown much and
your abilities now surpass that which you used to
have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your
calling was to be obedient and to push and to
exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This
you have done.
"I, my friend, will move the rock."
At times when we hear a word from God, we tend
to use our own intellect to decipher what He
wants, when actually what God wants is just
simple obedience and faith in Him... "By all
means, exercise the faith that moves mountains;
but it is still God who moves the mountain."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me
...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Delivery Room
by Cheryl Ann Bisera
Its the place a woman becomes a hero,
Its the place she'll agonize,
then cry and smile a tired smile.
This is where her shaking hand
runs fingers tenderly
over a tuft of hair, over a swollen brow.
She faces the unknown, pays a price,
and then cradles an eternal reward in her arms.
In the presence of those not known before,
the most tender moment is shared.
its the place all thoughts are turned from self.
Its the place a family is born,
a father, a mother, a child.
Its the place careers take turns,
and lives are never again ones own.
And just when her strength cannot take her any
further,
She gathers the last of her courage
and births a child.
And just when she thinks she will perish,
life emerges from her body,
Her voice is gentled, her countenance
transformed.
Pain and exhaustion melt into joy, relief, and
awe.
Then a silent promise is made:
to never forsake this one,
to ever protect, ever guide this life,
even if it costs her, her own.
This is where the fragile become strong,
the strong are made weak,
the young become wise,
and the wise see what they did not know.
This is the place where tears are pure joy.
ITS THE PLACE A WOMAN BECOMES A HERO!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into
a living hope..
1Peter 1:3
~ ~ ~ ~
Psalm 69:30 "I will praise God's
name in song and glorify him with
thanksgiving." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What's New?
HELP WANTED....
Sarah's Tent is looking for help from
pws in the following areas.. (If you are
interested please contact Christina or Shannon at
SarahsTent@aol.com
)
1. Help in putting together the family
newsletter that comes out once a month...
includes a few articles.. some funnies.. craft
ideas.. information that is of use to others ..
and birthday and anniversary lists.
2. Sending out encouragement cards, birthday
cards, anniversary cards .. to our pws that are
celebrating.
3. We would like to open the chat rooms every
Thursday and Friday night from 5-9 Pacific time
zone... if you would like to be a host... or just
be there and drop in at those times... we would
like to encourage more of you to stop by and just
chat.
4. Looking for someone to send out a weekly
reminder to all the pws .. concerning scheduled
chats.
5. Are you too busy to go into the chat
rooms.. but would love to speak with other
pastor's wives? We are looking to start an email
group for the pastor's wives to get to know one
another better... are you interested? contact
SarahsTent
Sarah's Puptent is an email
discussion group designed to minister and connect
those in start up and small churches (30 or under
in regular attendance) who need or want
encouragement, advice, Godly prayer, etc to each
other. Pastor's wives of these churches often
feel they are alone in the kind of work they do
and need the knowledge that they aren't the only
pw in their situation. Topics for discussion are
put out weekly to the group for all to respond.
Email Exousia113aol.com to join and get that
week's topic.
Calling Staff Wives! Do people in your church
refer to your husband as the "song
director" or "youth guy"? Do your
friends and even your family ask when your
husband is going to get a "real" job?
Do other people ask you when your husband is
going to be promoted to Senior Pastor? If you've
been asked these or similar questions, we've got
a special ministry for you.
"Run with the Vision"
is designed to encourage and support nonpastoral
staff and their wives. If you are interested in
joining us or if you would like more information,
contact Kellie ( PrasHm@aol.com
) or Teri ( teriunderwood@mindspring.com
).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The quiet words of the wise are more to
be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Ecc 9:17
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Book Review
by: PattieRWR
The Left Behind Series
1. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last
Days
2. Tribulation Force: The Continuing Saga of
Those Left Behind
3. Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist
4. Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides coming
next summer: The Assassins
If you have not read these books, then I
strongly urge you to buy
them (the first three are in paperback now),
check them out at the library, or borrow them
from someone. THESE BOOKS ARE WONDERFUL!!!
I was thinking about how to write a book
review for these, because I hate to give any of
it away. So I really cannot give you any plot
summary. I will say, though, that the main
characters are continuous throughout the series:
Rayford Steele, airline pilot; his daughter,
Chloe, a college student; Buck Williams,
hard-nosed and cynical journalist; Hattie Durham,
flight attendant; Bruce Barnes, a pastor who
really begins to pastor after "the
disappearances;" and Nicolae Carpathia, a
young charismatic politician. These are real
characters, drawn believably from real life. None
of them are perfect people, and none are
Christians when the Rapture happens.
The first book begins with the world in shock
as millions of people have disappeared. Theories
abound, but those who were familiar with the
Bible knew the truth: Jesus Christ had returned
for His church and the rest were left behind. The
series tells their story.
The other books continue with the stories of
each of the characters I mentioned, along with
many others we meet along the way. At the end of
the fourth book, only two years of the
Tribulation had passed. I am not sure if the
authors intend to cover all seven years in the
span of the seven-book series or not.
The plot is gripping, even more so because of
the strong Biblical ties. If you really get into
books, watch out--these are all difficult to put
down! In fact, I have always steered pretty clear
of the book of Revelation because it's a
difficult book. I have read it, however, after
reading these books because I wanted to check up
on the story!
I highly recommend these books; they're good
reading for all, Christians and non-Christians
alike (one woman at my church whose husband is
not saved has seen him reading these books!).
-PattieRWR
Web sites of interest:
Left
Behind Series Featured Books Reviews and
synopsis of all three books.
Click
here: leftbehind.com (www.leftbehind.com)
Welcome
to LeftBehindTheMovie! (www.left-behind-the-movie.com)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christmas Craft Idea...
Spoonful of ...
Great simple gift idea to give members
or people you are visiting
Things you will need: Plastic spoons (red or
white), Hershey kisses, Hershey hugs, red (or
white) netting, green ribbon, red paint(only if
using white spoons), you will also need a label
(explained below), hot glue (or tacky glue)
What to do:
1. make a small label... using your
computer...(you could do this with stamps and
your own handwriting as well) the size of this
label will be approx 1/2" X 2" On the
left side place a Christmas graphic... such as an
angel.. a snowman, candle.. etc.. on the right
side put the following saying. "Here's a
spoonful of love, a kiss and a hug Merry
Christmas". Once printed off.. I had these
laminated... then cut them out with fancy
scissors.
2. If using white spoons (red ones can get
spendy).. paint a red heart in the spoon and let
dry. 3. Place a Hershey kiss and a Hershey hug in
the spoon.. wrap with the netting..(only wrap
bottom of spoon) Tie netting with a piece of
ribbon. 4. Hot glue or tacky glue the label on to
the top of the spoon.. and waaaa lahh there you
have it..
A cute simple gift to give anyone... enjoy.. (
TentDwellr@aol.com
)
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)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If the ax is dull and its edge
unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill
will bring success.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
From: Hammertor
THINGS YOU NEVER HEAR IN CHURCH
1. Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew.
2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your
sermon went 25 minutes over time.
3. Personally I find witnessing much more
enjoyable than golf.
4. I've decided to give our church the $500 a
month I used to send to TV evangelists.
5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for
the junior high Sunday school class.
6. Forget the denominational minimum salary,
let's pay our pastor so he can
live like we do.
7. I love it when we sing hymns I've never
heard before!
8. Since we're all here, let's start the
service early.
9. Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible
seminar in the Bahamas.
10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my
commitment like our annual stewardship
campaign! __________________________________________________________________
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
Joy in The Kitchen Volume 2
Issue 41
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