There
are times in ministry when the weight of the world becomes
more than we can bear.
As a wife and mother, we know more tragedies it
seems than victories.
We watch helplessly as members choose a poor path
in life and reap tragic results.
Or we may spend more hours in a hospital watching a
family struggle with grief over the death of a loved one,
than most people will experience in a lifetime.
At
night, sitting next to our weary husbands we sit, glued to
the television set and watch the “News at Eleven.”
Soothing bedtime stories, it isn’t!
With our hands covering our mouth and eyes wide, we
hear of yet another baby abandoned in a garbage can, wars
overseas, a mother taking the life of her children as she
runs the family car into a lake to commit suicide, or the
father who kills another father at a child’s game in a
fit of rage. Hey,
better than No-Doze wouldn’t you agree?
Just
that very morning, we may have sat at the kitchen table,
paper laid out, milk dripping from our spoons as we read
in horror of yet other events unfolding in our city that
made our heart cry out in despair. And don’t forget that movie we paid good money to see,
against the advice of our own spirit!
How
are we, as pastors wives, to protect our hearts and minds
and still have the faith to share with others in desperate
need? Our
children ask innocently if they can walk around the block
to mow someone’s lawn and we instantly experience a wave
of panic at the thought of ‘who might be out there’
and whether we will ever see our children again. Ever
been there?
WYSIWYG
(Wizeewig) is a term that is used to describe web
development programs that are formatted in a “What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get”
manner. Philippians
4:9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these
things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in
me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
What
we focus on becomes the very thing we have the greatest
faith in. If
we consume reports of death, fear, destruction, spoil,
abuse, violence, filth, sex…we will reap the harvest
that comes with those things.
No peace. No
power in prayer, no faith.
But
if we choose to focus on God Almighty, the Creator of the
Universe and all that is within it, our faith will grow
strong and we will know the God of peace.
Each
moment is a struggle of faith in the ministry.
Has your diet of faith been on the power of the
enemy and his works?
Or have you fed our spirit, mind and soul on the
magnitude and strength of a Majestic God and Loving
Savior?
We
are given a choice. Do
we use ministry as an excuse to watch in fascination, the
wages of sin and death?
Or do we trust God with those things, and focus on
His provisions, His grace, His mercy, His deliverance, and
His?
I
can focus on the bully, or I can focus on the Hero –
which one do you think I will have the most confidence in?
___________________
Col
3:2-3
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the
earth.”
________________________
GUEST GALLERY & SPECIAL
GUEST CHAT!!!
We are pleased to announce to you
our first special guest chat with
Published Children’s Author, Susan Taylor Brown!
NEXT TUESDAY EVENING, JULY
18TH
Check out the times by
visiting:
July
Guest
__________________
What
you focus on, you believe in!
____________________________________
Our Sponsor
_________________________________
OOPS!!
No winner this week!
Click Here to
learn more.
Contributing a prize is a great way to show off your talents or business!
Contact Sarahstent@sarahstent.com
for more information.
___________________________________
“Fear and worry are interest paid in
advance
on something you may never own.”
________________________________
Our Sponsor
Click
Here
______________________________
Deut
30:19-20
I
call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that
I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your
descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God,
that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to
Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;
________________________________
I
made this Taco Appetizer Platter for our Care Group last
night from the June/July issue of Taste of home.
(its on page 18 if you have the magazine).
It is definitely a keeper and one I'll probably use
often.
TACO
APPETIZER PLATTER
1
1/2 lbs ground beef
1/2
cups water
1
envelope taco seasoning
2
packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4
cup milk
1
can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
2
medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1
c. chopped green onions
(I used less)
1
1/2 cups chopped lettuce
1/2
cup honey barbecue sauce (I did not use)
1
to 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Large
corn chips
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no
longer pink; drain. Add
water and taco seasoning; simmer for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, combine the cream cheese and milk;
spread on a 14" serving platter or pizza pan.
Top with meat mixture.
Sprinkle with chilies, tomatoes, onions and
lettuce. Drizzle
with barbecue sauce.
Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
Serve with corn chips.
Yield: 8-10
servings.
