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~ JOY IN THE KITCHEN ~
Isa 51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24, 25
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
by Shannon Parish
"I guess it's just not the Lord's will that I meet with Mr. Abernathy. This probably just isn't the job for me after all." The woman sitting across from the table wrung her hands and sighed deeply. Picking up her spoon, she began to stir her cup of coffee while she stared distantly into the swirling black liquid.
"What did you say?" I exclaimed. "How could this not be a job meant for you? No body has qualifications like you, nor the passion to do what this particular position requires! Why, you have come up with more ideas on how to promote this company than anything I've ever seen come out of their advertising department!"
"I just feel that this can't possibly be God's will. More than once a day, I've called his office and he's not returned one of my calls. The secretary just keeps saying he is out of the country and can't be reached right now. After all, I put in my application well over a week ago, I should have heard something by now." Lifting the cup to her lips, she took a sip and sighed. "I believe this silence from the company is confirmation that I'm not to have this job, even though I want it more than anything, and we have no money in the bank left to pay our bills or feed our family." "God must have a reason for this ...."
Leaning back in my chair in disbelief at what I was hearing, another voice carried over across the isle from where we were seated in our favorite restaurant as Sunday patrons. " ... Oh yes, that's exactly what the Doctor said. He said that I would have to undergo
aggressive treatment or I will be physically challenged within six months without his intervention and the treatments he's prescribing. I believe this is God's way of bringing back together our family. Families usually grow closer in a crisis, and we've been so distant lately ... yes, I believe this is God's way of using me to bring together my family ..."
The two characters in the paragraphs above are fictional, however the situations are repeated daily everywhere. For some reason, we as children of the Most High God have come to understand that He somehow enjoys teasing us with careers and dreams we can never have, or inflicting pain and suffering on us to 'glorify' His name.
I'm not sure about you, but I think there is something wrong with this kind of thinking. Either that, or there is something wrong with this kind of God who calls Himself Father. (Between me and you, I believe it's our thinking!)
As I read my Bible I read about a Heavenly Father who lavished gifts upon His children, who raised the dead and healed the sick. Who gave guidance and wisdom, and courage to boot. What has happened to our relationship with Him? When push comes to shove, will we reason out our fears and apathy by resigning ourselves to defeat in the battle? Or will we ask for guidance and wisdom and act accordingly? Ah...that's the word...ACT. Act or react!
God told us that life and death were in the power of the tongue (Deut. 30:19-20), then He went a step further and told us what to choose - life! But we still have the choice. Jesus told us that He came to give us LIFE and to give it more abundantly (John 10:10-11).
When the enemies came and destroyed David and his men's city, burning it to the ground and taking all of their wives and children, as well as all their possessions, the men were tempted to lay blame and resign themselves to what had happened. Yet David went to God and said, "What do I do Lord? Do I go after them and take them back?" God told David, "yes - go and pursue, and all that was taken will be returned to you without loss." (1 Samuel 30)
Are you looking at a burned city? Have all your possessions and peace been stolen? Are you at a loss of what to do? Tell me, dear friend, are you tempted to resign yourself to the loss with a sigh, and give God the credit for your destruction? I challenge you, when push comes to shove, will you continue to allow the enemy to shove you around? Or will you push him out of your way? Take courage, gather your facts, gain wisdom from authorities on the issue you are up against (get a second opinion). What ever it takes to regain your health, your wealth, your family ... go and pursue! You are well able to regain all that was lost. It's your choice...life or death.
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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;
NKJV
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"The only limitations you have are the ones you acknowledge." - Buddy Harrison
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
"Hello!
I have enjoyed Sarah's Tent. I'd like to suggest two websites I enjoy.
www.IBelieve.com and www.ccel.org.
I also highly recommend two books I have added to my daily "Quiet Time." "31
Days of Praise" and "31 Days of Prayer" by Ruth Myers, published by
Multnomah. They cost about $10 each and are worth every penny. Dr. Pamela
Reeves wrote the forward to "...Praise". She wrote in part, " As a teacher,
conference speaker, and former dean of women at Multnomah College, I have
had the opportunity to review many excellent books over the years. Yet, "31
Days of Praise" is the only one that inspired me to state at my conferences:
'Forget my books, this is a book you must get. In the last year I have seen
easily over one thousand copies purchased at my seminars'." I was introduced
to "31 Days of Praise" by a good friend a few weeks ago. I have not failed
to read from it daily ever since.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your encouragement to all of us in
ministry.
Jo "
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John 10:10-11
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
NKJV
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"Act by faith, and the feeling will follow."
- Marilyn Hickey
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WHAT'S NEW ?
www.sarahstent.com !
What's new? www.sarahstent.com is what's new! Our website has finally been moved and is in the process of being updated daily. Check it out and be sure to bookmark it for future reference, because you will be sure to want to visit often to see all the changes!
A bit of a forewarning though ... you know that article I wrote at the beginning of the letter? That's straight from the heart. Each day I'm learning to not accept helplessness, but rather to go and pursue the education I need to accomplish the dreams that God has placed in my heart. As I am learning how to create web pages, I can guarantee that you will find a few rough areas. Please be patient - it's coming! But I need your help. I need you to write me at webmaster@sarahstent.com to let me know of links that don't work, pages that don't come up, etc.
One more thing. For three years now, you've heard my heart. Have you ever wondered what I looked like? Thanks to a glamour photography studio, I have placed my photo on the first page for you to see. Now, as my co-hort in stinkiness so eloquently pointed out "it's a bit unrealistic, don't you think?" (Of course it is! Who wants to be realistic right off the bat? LOL ) Don't worry though, the realistic pictures will go up as well. We've just had too much fun not to share more photos with all of you. (You might even get to see three year old retreat photos!)
Now then...we will have to get Christina to get her glamour photo too - before the baby arrives!
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"One with God is a majority." - Billy Graham
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DOT'S DELIGHTS
Several years ago I had the privilege of tasting the recipe I'm going to share (or very similar) at a fancy restaurant in Minneapolis when my girls took me out for lunch. Since then it has become more common, but yesterday as I served this at a company dinner, I decided this might be one you'd like to put in your permanent recipe collection, if you haven't already done so. Try it, and let me know if you like it!
STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
2 bunches fresh spinach
1 pt. fresh strawberries (or less)
Dressing:
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. poppyseed
2 green onions, thinly chopped
1/4 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. paprika
1/2 c. oil (I use l/4 c. or less)
1/4 c. vinegar
Wash spinach and pat dry. Wash strawberries. Mix the dressing and pour over salad just before serving. (Note: I double the dressing and keep in refrig to use over lettuce, etc.)
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"The atmosphere of expectancy is the breeding ground for miracles."
- Rod L. Parsley
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CHUCKLES & THOUGHTS
Submitted by Jimmie Ruth
TROUSERS
Two pastor's wives sat mending their husbands' pants. One of them said to the other: "My poor John, he is so discouraged in his church work. He said just the other day he was considering resigning. It seems that nothing goes right for him."
The other replied, "Why, my husband was saying just the opposite. He is so enthused, it seems like the Lord is closer to him than ever before."
A hushed silence fell as they continued to mend the trousers; one patching the KNEES and the other the SEAT.
(Author Unknown)
Joy
in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 7
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