~ JOY In The Kitchen ~ 
A FREE weekly newsletter from Sarah's Tent, a Loving Internet Community of Pastor's Wives. 
Isaiah 51:1-2 ~ Isaiah 54:2-3 ~ Heb 10:24 ,25

Shifting Gears & Gaining Speed
by Shannon Parish 

It was on a whim that I asked my son if he would like to shift the gears of my red LeBaron. We were traveling on the highway, and I thought it would be a thrill and something to 'bond' over.  At first he was terror stricken and shocked that I would ask him.  So we drove on. 

After having a couple of minutes to think about it, he asked, "Is it hard?" "Not at all!" I replied.  Then while we drove along, I talked my steps through the gear shift out loud for him.  "You go to first when you come to a complete stop. See how it looks like we are tracing an "H"?  The top left is first, straight down is second, upper right is third, and lower right is fourth....got it?" He bit his lip and nodded.

Placing my hand over his on the gear shift knob we shifted and talked out our paces. "First ... Second ... Third ... Fourth ..."  "This is fun!" He said, his smile lighting up his whole face, the look of boredom gone." Before we had arrived home, I had taken my hand off the knob and allowed him to do it himself, while I continued to couch him verbally. 

The next day I had to run another errand and as I stepped out into the garage, he came racing up the stairs breathlessly yelling, "Can we take the red car Mom?"  I laughed and said, "Sure."  I got in, put the key in the ignition and turned to look at him to see if he was buckled in.  His hand was already placed firmly on the knob and he was looking at me with testosterone grinning from one ear to the next.

"You think you can handle this?" I asked.  "Oh yeah Mom! I've been practicing in my head!"  "Okay then...let me get it out of the garage, and you can take it from there."  Once on the street he grabbed the knob and slammed it into first.  "Uhh...you don't have to hit it so hard" I teased.

Now  it's impossible to drive the red car on my own with my son alongside.  He has mastered the gear shift!  Without saying a word, he has learned to sense what gear I need to be in, when, and is able to anticipate traffic for any changes.

It's hard to believe that he was just a little kid afraid to touch the thing just a short couple of months before. It's been told to me that if he is in the car with another adult, he asks to shift their car too - and they are surprised that he can do it so well.  Sigh...before you know it, he will be asking for the keys!

"So what's the moral to the story?"  you ask. It's simple actually.  Life is all about changing gears.  With the Lords help (if we will listen) He guides us and shows us the steps we need to take to go from one place to another, to anticipate the flow of 'traffic' and to sense the speed of our 'vehicle'.  If we do not focus on the next step, we can stall out and may even crash, or cause someone else to crash. We learn not to drive when we are exhausted too. More than one driver has made that fatal mistake when he or she fell asleep at the wheel.  

So too, will we make a fatal mistake if we allow ourselves to be lulled into reasoning away the Holy Spirit's instructions and warnings. If you are overworked and distracted by many things - pull over. It's time to rest.  If not, what gear are you in? What's happening on down the road? Who's coming along side of you, and who is screaming up to the rear? Wait! Remember, it's not a race. We are getting from one place to the next. That's it, pause and relax, that car will pass ...
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Ps 37:23-24
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way. 
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 Where Oh Where?

... Is your church or ministry located? Do you have any idea what a terrific opportunity awaits you through Sarah's Tent? Traffic is picking up rapidly.  More than just a few pastors wives have found this place because a congregational member found it first and told them about it.  

Wouldn't it make sense to you then, that if a congregational member can find this web site - so too might someone who is looking for a place to fellowship at? Or another church who is looking for a ministry to come for a special day?

Where oh were then are your addresses? There is no charge to have your address and web site listed on our Church and Ministry Locator page!  This service is free! Just think of the possibilities - and the friendships you might find through Sarah's Tent as well - why, you might have a Buddy living within just a short distance!

To make it easier on you, we've added a special form just for you to add your church address.  Click on the button on the Church Locator page, and fill in the blanks if you wish to be included in this free advertising opportunity!
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It only takes a spark - to get a fire going. 
What kind of fire are you building?
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Retreat!
Are you aware of an exciting retreat or ladies conference tailored especially towards pastors wives or ministry women? 
We'd like to share this with the rest of the ladies in Sarah's Tent.
Please send us the information or URL advertising the information regarding the retreat or conference.
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BUDDY GROUP TIPS

I would like to become more involved in Sarah's Tent. What all is involved in becoming a Moderator for one of the Buddy Groups?
Being a Moderator is fun!  All you have to do is let us know what group you are interested in, and we will take the next step to making you a Moderator.  Think of it as being a Hostess.  When you have a guest in your home, you make them feel welcome and introduce them to your other guests.  If the conversation slows down, you keep it running by asking a question or sharing something interesting or fun with your guests to get the ball rolling again!  Thanks for asking! It's a terrific way to sow seeds into the lives of others. 
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WHAT'S NEW?

 TAKE A LOOK!  Did you realize that we change or add something new to the Sarah's Tent web site weekly? Be sure to stop by often to see what's happening! You might miss something! While you're at it, be sure to visit our Guest Gallery where a special guest will be featured monthly.  This new feature was added in mid April, but ran through May so that we could begin fresh in June, offering you a featured guest for a full month.  All previous guests will remain in our gallery for a full year! Perhaps YOU might be our next guest for the month of July?
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BUDDY GROUPS OF THE WEEK
(Groups marked PRIVATE are for members of Sarah's Tent)

Fellowship
Church Planters = This Buddy Group is for those who are called to begin church plants. What a great place for you to meet others with a similar calling and to share resources, stories, prayer and encouragement! PRIVATE
 

Support
MPD Support = Multiple Personality Disorder strikes hundreds of people and their families more often than we ever discuss. Yet it is terribly misunderstood and feared. This group is TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL due to its sensitive nature. A safe, loving atmosphere has been created for you here to help you feel accepted for who and where you are as you share your own story, resources, and encouragement with others who can relate. (Not for counseling, this group is for support only.) PRIVATE  

Special Interest
Women Of Excellence = This Buddy Group is a Bible Study group which teaches and encourages women to not only pray and support their husbands, but to become women of excellence as well. This is a HUGE Buddy group and has been divided into five additional groups under the same name in order to keep the group numbers down. PRIVATE
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John 15:12
This is My commandment, 
that you love one another as I have loved you.
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I hope you enjoy long-standing, tried and true recipes as I do. The following is one that I've used for several years, but it came from my sister who has used it as a stand by many more years (she's 15 years older than I am!).

Vi's Buns

7 c. flour
1 stick oleo
1/2 c. dry milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. Salt
Cut/blend together with a pastry blender. 
(I use the large Tupperware bowl to mix this).

2 c. warm water
1 t. sugar
2 packets dry yeast
2 eggs
Add to the above mixture. Let rise until double; stir down. 
Let rise again. Make buns or caramel rolls.

2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 stick oleo
Boil one minute, put in two 9 x 12 pans. 
(use this as the bottom mixture to lay the cinnamon rolls on top).

If you are not a bread maker, feel free to e-mail me, 
and I will give more detailed instructions. DOTMI@aol.com 
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CHUCKLES & THOUGHTS
From the Tent
By glojwall@aol.com
My husband decided to preach a sermon on 'Releasing the Power of the Holy Spirit." So he brought a skill saw to church with him and a big 2 x 4 to saw into symbolizing power. His late father was a carpenter and I am sure he would have laughed when my husband started sawing into that wood, preaching as hard as he could above the sound of the saw, and a big piece flew off and hit one of the elderly ladies in one of the front pews. After making sure she wasn't harmed, the whole congregation started laughing so hard that my husband (who was trying to keep his dignity) finally dissolved into laughter with them. To this day, every time we have an illustrated sermon, that poor lady moves back several pews! - 
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WEB SITES & RESOURCES

 Visit our LINKS page at: www.sarahstent.com!

Joy in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 14