~ 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

NUTTIN' SQUIRRELLY ABOUT IT!
By Shannon Parish

Ever read something that really sticks with you for a long time? 
Something that makes you laugh, and then think, and then changes your 
whole life because of it's simplicity? 

It was just one of those funny little 'telling on myself' stories 
that Reader's Digest prints at the end of their stories as fillers. 
The author wrote that she and her family were enjoying a summers 
picnic in a park when a friendly squirrel scampered near them, 
begging for crumbs. She cooed to the squirrel, asking if it would 
like a piece of bread, a piece of apple, a nut...

After a short while, a Hispanic family came with their picnic lunch. 
They laid out their blanket and set out their food a short distance 
from this other family. After watching the squirrel respond to the 
woman's voice to snatch crumbs, the family began to call out after it 
too - in Spanish.

The woman found herself indignant and thought, "Now that's silly - 
Don't they know that squirrels don't speak Spanish?"

After she thought about it, she laughed as she realized that 
squirrels don't speak English either!

It's silly, isn't it? We make things so much more complicated than 
they really are - including our relationship with God and whether or 
not we say our prayers 'properly' or not. Did we get up in the early 
morning hours and speak reverently? Did we sing our prayers? Did we 
say "Our Father, which art in Heaven?"

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps we have limited how, when or 
why God might listen to us? Have you ever had so much joy, or so 
much heartache that you just didn't have words to express it? Maybe 
you just didn't feel like praying at all? Maybe you just wanted to 
sit quietly and weep - or moan - or sway and hug yourself?

Do you realize that all of those things are prayers? When your 
attention is towards your Heavenly Father, His attention is towards 
you. He responds to the sound of your heart. Not your formalities 
and perfect words. He knows your thoughts, and He knows your heart. 
Don't waste time thinking that somehow He is limited in what He 
understands. He understands YOU.
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"IF YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK FAITH WITHOUT LOVE, IT WON'T WORK."
-Marilyn Hickey
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"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-
edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of 
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of 
the heart." Heb 4:12-13
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MOSES

What do you suppose Moses felt when he returned to Egypt to be God's 
spokes person? Remember he was raised in that city...The only family 
he had ever known was there...I imagine he felt as if he were hurting 
people he loved and cared for...Sometimes, God asks us to do things 
that are beyond imagination... Sometimes, when God moves us, people 
get hurt...

When the plagues began to fall on the only brother Moses had ever 
felt, how do you think he felt? I imagine he knew it was God's will, 
but it must have made him feel terrible inside...It had to....
Is God asking you to do something that seems too hard? 

Sometimes, doing what we know is right for ourselves, or just doing 
the right thing is unbearable....That's when we have to push forward 
and press towards the mark...This may mean little to anyone out there 
in computer land...but it just struck me at how hard it must have 
been for Moses to do what God had asked him to do....and I marveled 
at his character for going ahead, even as it must have tortured his 
soul to do so....

It made me ask myself, what is it that God wants me to do that seems 
too hard? Or, what doesn't He want me to do that I want to do anyway, 
to make things easier on myself?

Christine K. Horne ~ just some thoughts....
http:www.geocities.com/ru4Crist
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"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and 
offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their 
own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the 
hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. 
Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what 
is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush 
Satan under your feet shortly."  Rom 16:17-20
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WHAT DOES 
A SQUIRREL, 
MOSES,
AND AN ENCOUNTER WITH A DIVISIVE PERSON 
HAVE IN COMMON?

 ... Simplicity

SQUIRREL = He does what's naturally, and receives provision gladly.

MOSES = A simple man, called of God, delivers a nation with no prior 
experience.

A DIVISIVE PERSON = The opportunity to keep your own heart pure and 
simple. The challenge to set clear and distinct boundaries. A 
reminder to let go - and let God.
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GOD DOESN'T CALL THE QUALIFIED, HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED.
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WHAT'S NEW?
Visit our new Guest Gallery!

Last week, we shared a testimony from a young woman who is also a 
Christian Musician out of Nashville. The first to grace our pages, 
we encourage you to visit www.sarahstent.com and click on the text at 
the top of the page listing our new Guest Gallery. 

Now we invite you to hang your pic and testimony as well! Let's just 
say, we are family sharing family - and friends who love Christ and 
want to share His love.

Guests will be showcased for one month - so come back often!
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BUDDY GROUPS

Familiarize yourself with our Buddy Groups Page on www.sarahstent.com.
You will find your own Internet Buddy Chat, exclusive to members of 
your individual Buddy Group alone. 

You can also select how you will receive your emails - one letter at 
a time, or summarized once a day! 

Share pictures, favorite URL's, birthday reminders via your own 
private calendar!

Just register with www.egroups.com and all the Buddy Groups you are 
listed with will be at your fingertips to enjoy!
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To the world you might be one person, 
but to one person you might be 
the world.
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DOES YOUR CHURCH OR YOU HAVE A WEB PAGE?
If you have a ministry web page that you would like listed through 
www.sarahstent.com send it to: Shannon@sarahstent.com
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DOT'S DELIGHTS 
DOTMI@aol.com)
--Need a last-minute, easy Easter Salad?? This is one I 
make especially when our youngest daughter is with us for Easter. 
There isn't much to it, but it's one of her favorites...

SEA-FOAM SALAD
Dissolve 1 c. pear juice (or water)
1 lime Jello
8 oz. cream cheese
1 small Cool Whip
2 T. cream or evaporated milk
1 large (16 oz.) can pears
Put hot liquid in blender. Add Jello. Add pears, cream 
cheese, milk. Refrigerate. Chil til slightly thick and fold in Cool 
Whip. You may wish to double this recipe. Use your prettiest glass 
bowl. 

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RELAX YOUR FACE, IT DOES WONDERS FOR THE SOUL!
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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!!

LOVE TO PRAY?

There is always a need for prayer warriors! If you would like to be a 
part of the intercessors at Sarah's Tent, then please drop us a note, 
and we will add you to our Intercessors Group!

Shannon@sarahstent.com
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CHUCKLES & THOUGHTS
Submitted by Michelle Smith

A father took his 5-year-old son to several baseball games where
The Star-spangled Banner was sung before the start of each game. Then
the father and son attended a church on a Sunday shortly before
Independence Day. The congregation sang The Star-spangled Banner, 
and after everyone sat down, the little boy suddenly yelled 
out, "PLAY BALL!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church
service: And forgive us our trash passes as we forgive those who
passed trash against us."
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"FAITH SINGS IN YOUR HEART, NO MATTER WHAT ASSAULTS YOUR SOUL."
Lester Sumrall
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WANTED! WANTED! WANTED!

A funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit...

Do you have a funny story of something that happened to you or your 
minister husband? (You know we all want to hear about it) Laughter 
does good like a medicine!)

Send your funny story in 100 words or less to: shannon@sarahstent.com

We will print them all in the next edition of the JITK!
<Here's grinnin atcha!>
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WEB SITES & RESOURCES

Jo Cudney wrote us to share with us two of her favorite web sites. 
She writes:

"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."

Joy in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 9