Mistakes that Minister
By Shannon Parish

The atmosphere of our worship service was filled with the sweet, heavy presence of the Lord.  With the final notes of the previous song still echoing in the sanctuary, we paused breathlessly awaiting the clear distinct notes of "Our God is an Awesome God" from John's trumpet.  Taking a full breath to begin blowing the melodic announcement, a horrendous squawk erupted from John's trumpet instead. We all cringed in horror and dismay for poor John.  Not a sound could be heard from our congregation as we all moaned and inwardly grieved for John at his glaring mistake.

"WELL!" John cheerfully announced in the microphone, "I guess we better try THAT again!" A cheer erupted from his words and the congregation  applauded his good natured acknowledgement of those sour notes.  Then began the most glorious, cheerful praise I've ever heard in a church building!

I was sharing this story with a young group of actors who had come to our church to minister through drama.  During their presentation, they were frustrated with one of their cassettes that failed to play the music to one of their most profound and touching skits, correctly.  Now, they were sitting across from us during lunch, apologizing for this embarrassing mistake.

Years after John brushed off his sour notes with humor and grace, I've heard people comment on how his handling of that mistake so ministered to their hearts. They realized that there is no such thing as perfection - that the world didn't end - and that God is big enough to cover any problem we may stumble upon.

I shared with these dear saints that sometimes our mistakes (and how we handle them) minister more to those who are watching us, than a thousand words ever could.  How sad it would have been if they had left, not knowing how precious their gift of drama had been to us, and how deeply we had been touched as well.  Who knows, but that a young person might have been sitting in the audience that day who was struggling with perfectionism? Who knows, but that because of their gracious handling of the 'mistake', that same young person might have experienced a release from the fear that prevented them from trying anything, and instead drank deeply of the freedom that Christ proclaimed when He said that He came to set the captives free?

Perfection was only manifested through Jesus Christ, and how foolish I would be, to think that somehow I had to achieve that perfection in order to bear witness of Him?  I would think that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is big enough to get past any little mistake I might make - don't you? The next time you make a horrifying mistake, step over it with humor and thankfulness. Your God is an Awesome God!

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Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me 
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives 
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 
NKJV

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NO MATTER WHAT A MAN'S PAST MAY HAVE BEEN,
HIS FUTURE IS SPOTLESS.
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Phillippians 3:13

"... forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." 

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How would you like an easy, but delicious supper idea for tonight!!! This recipe is from Easy Skillet Meals - May 2000.

HASH BROWN FRITTATA
Prep 10 min. Cook 25 min.

2 c. refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 t. onion salt
4 eggs
1/4 c. milk
1 1/2 t. chopped fresh or 1/2 t. dried marjoram leaves (I'm sure fresh would be best--I used dried and it tended to darken the color)
1/2 t. red pepper sauce
1/3 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Mix potatoes, corn and onion salt. Spray 10" nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Pack potato mixture firmly into skillet, leaving 1/2" space around edge. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered about 10 minutes or until bottom starts to brown.

2. While potato mixture is cooking, mix eggs, milk, marjoram and pepper sauce. Pour egg mixture over potato mixture. Cook uncovered over medium-low heat. As mixture begins to set on bottom and side, gently lift cooked portions with spatula so that thin, uncooked portion can flow to bottom. Avoid constant stirring. Cook about 5 minutes or until eggs are thickened throughout but still moist. Sprinkle with cheese.

3. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook about 10 minutes or until center is set and cheese is bubbly. Loosen bottom of frittata with spatula. Cut frittata into 4 wedges. 4 servings

1 serving: 295 calories

And a desert from Exousia113@aol.com:

DUMP CAKE
1 20oz can crushed pineapple with juice
1 16oz can cherry pie filling
1 18.5 box yellow cake MIX
3/4 cup butter

in buttered 9x13 pan.. DUMP pineapple and spread evenly, DUMP pie filling and 
spread, Sprinkle cake mix, slice butter thin and distribute over top. Bake 
350 for 45min. ENJOY! 
________________________________

BNDLight writes:

God is talking to one of his angels.
He says, "I just created a 24-hour period of alternating light and darkness 
on Earth." The angel says, "What are you going to do now?"
God says, "Call it a day." 

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Joy in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 28