The
invitation had been extended more than once, and more
than once I found an excuse to decline. How it was
that God had placed these four amazing women in my
life was a wonder to me. I had not met all four
of them at the same time. Jenny was the first to
grace my life and stir my heart to areas I didn't
think I needed to go. A counselor by trade and
spirit, and a fellow artist by talent, I told her that
she was like a terrific novel - full of surprises and
discoveries as each page is turned.
She
spoke of her friends with great love and
respect. The moments she had shared with her
three friends was rare and brought me to wonder if
they could possibly be the only women on earth with
such a holy relationship. When going through
terrible life experiences, they gather around one
another to intercede, love and uplift the other until
victory is obtained - however long that might
take. They celebrate life together through their
outings, praise and worship, drama and art, and
intercessory prayer. Having met at a church
several years earlier they had shared common pain from
strife and division in their congregation and were
working through their experiences with honesty and
humility.
Now
an invitation was extended to me to join them in one
of their special celebrations of feminity and life.
One of Jenny's friends had planned a very special
candle light dinner at her house and had gone to great
lengths to prepare her home, her table, and her menu
with great love and creativity. Setting out her
finest crystal, laying beautiful linens on her table,
and setting a centerpiece that was comprised of a
mirror, glass beads, silk flowers and a symphony of
lighted candles, Cindy had transformed her entire
dining area into an exquisite room of love and
delightful aromas. At each seat, a small
red foil gift box sealed with a rose was laid on top
of a handmade Valentines card, each card a work of art
from Jenny's artistic hands. Between Jenny and Cindy,
I felt terribly out of place ... (quite like the
proverbial ox in the china shop.)
Cindy
was amazing! Her home was one of the older homes
in Denver in a historic part of town. A talented
decorator, she had spent countless hours texturizing
and painting her walls in warm colors, choosing
antique furniture and carefully placing lighting and
greenery to create a cozy place of refuge and peace
for her family. We were now beneficiaries of her
blessed gift of hospitality and love.
Putting
on my best behavior, I'm proud to say that I
only stuck my foot in my mouth no more than three
separate times. (A world record for me!) I
watched and observed with great admiration as the four
friends gathered, hugged, teased and laughed.
Julie, with her mischievous laughter and prophetic
insights, and Tricia with her robust laughter and
refreshing honesty. Another pastor's wife had also
received an invitation to dinner, who became a
delightful experience in her own right. A native
Australian, Cathy had been raised on a boat, moved to
England where she and her husband pastored and then
moved to Colorado to pastor south of Denver.
We
shared stories and intimate moments moistened with a
few tender tears and not once did I feel judged or
looked down upon - not even when I made an awkward
gesture with my hand that knocked over one of the
lighted candles from it's crystal stand and into
centerpiece - setting the silk flowers on
fire!
As
I left Cindy's house that night, my eyes got misty
over the memorable evening I had just experienced and
when a fleeting thought of intimidation crossed my
mind, God reminded me that even if I had not been
given the gift of hospitality to this degree, He HAD
given me grace to partake of Cindy's and Jenny's gift
of love. It was by this grace that I was able to bless
them with my thankfulness and not my envy. How close I
had come to missing out because of my cautious
behavior!
Thank
you Cindy for a memorable evening that will stay with
me for the rest of my life - and thank you Jenny, for
your persistence and prayers .. what a testimony of
Christ's love you all are! Julie, Tricia and Cathy, I
am speechless at your testimony of Christ's love and
faithfulness. May you reap abundantly what you have
sown into my life!
Rom 12:9-13
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
NKJV
Prayer
Ministry Training
From Pastor
Cathern Patterson-Bitely
I am a
missionary pastor in Canada. My husband and I
pastor Fredericton Word of Faith Family Church here in
the capital city of New Brunswick, Canada. My
latest book entitled, "Counsel is Mine" is
about prayer room ministry and how to train your
congregation for effectual altar ministry. If
you need any help in your church to help bring in the
harvest in these last days, contact Pastor
Cathern;
I am available for teaching seminars at churches or
Bible Training Centers. 2001-let's get the job
done!
Painless
Giving
From Kat
Many
of us are bi-vocational. Through our other
employer, we contribute through paycheck deduction to
United Way or other employer sponsored charities.
If Sarah's Tent has a "charity number" (I do
not know what the official/legal reference name to
this....) that I can enter on my payroll deduction
card, then my contributions would go to the designated
agency than some other organization that's
pre-selected for non-designated donations....
Response:
That's a terrific idea Kat, thanks! I believe the term
you are looking for is 501C-3 status. If anyone is
interested in this information, drop us a line and
we'll give you the information you need!
Needing
Encouragement
From
Martha B.
I
didn't even get to chat. Still can't figure out how to
get to the kitchen for this. But I now have
hope. I have been needing encouragement already. I
need wisdom on this step I'm taking. I kept praying
for someone to help me, teach me, and encourage me.
Response:
You are in the right place Martha! We've all been
where you are (soon to be pastors wife) and terrific
advice and encouragement has been passed around inside
this tent. The chat
room is a good place as well as our email
groups such as pw2pw. All you have to do to
enter the chat room is to register at yahoogroups.com
and be sure that you are subscribed to the Joy In The
Kitchen newsletter. Once that is done, you can
enter the chat room located on the group web site as
you wish. Be sure to check out the scheduled chat
times to coordinate times zones with others.
Dream
Retreat Wishes
From an
Anonymous Visionary PW
My
dream retreat would probably be no longer than 3 days.
( I would miss my family!) I would love to go
somewhere that I could truly be pampered. Where
those rare treats like a manicure and pedicure are all
part of the package. A place to be
"ministered" to physically and spiritually.
Sometimes alone time with God is the best ministry
you'll ever receive. I would love to lounge in a
whirlpool tub, with candles all around and the remote
control nearby just in case I want to watch Rosie! A
place where calories don't count just for those few
days! Where I could pick out something new to
add to my wardrobe! Where there is a salon
nearby that will help me find the perfect hairstyle
and show me what colors really do look best!
Where I could leave rested, refreshed , with more
confidence than I've known in a long time and the
peace of mind that only comes from those gentle
reminders from God that all things aside, I am
somebody and he loves me!
Life
in the Fishbowl-A Book for and About Ministry
Wives
From Dede
Holt
This is a site designed for ministry wives to
personally contribute to research that will be used
for a future book project. All submissions are
anonymous. My desire for this book is two-fold.
1)To show through journal submissions, and the survey
that we are not alone in our joys and struggles.
2)To allow our "flocks" into our world in
order for them to understand our lives as well as give
them vision and practical helps to bless our families
as we continue to minister to them.
Go to: http://www.fishbowllife.com
for more information.
Web
Sites to Check Out
These sites have been submitted to us by visitors and
members alike as places you might enjoy visiting.
www.LovenGodLovenPastorsWives.faithweb.com
= Not an official organization, Cindy has built a web
site of love just for pastors wives and home schoolers.
http://sharpfamilyservices.com
= We offer audio taped resources by recovery pastor
Tom Sharp, MA. We are also available to answer
your individual questions and to direct you to
resources in your area.
http://members.aol.com/joy0418/New-Life-in-Christ/MasterWeb.htm
= Joyce invites you to visit her New Women's Christian
Support Group - come, visit and sign their guestbook!
http://members.aol.com/joy0418/New-Life-in-Christ/MasterWeb.htm
= Great site found by Lambiee on "How To"
make crafts
Youth
Pastor's Wife Request
From Hope1
Hope
is seeking support and fellowship with other Youth
Pastor's Wives, Youth Pastors and those who work with
you and are working full time as well. If you are
interested in a Youth Pastor's egroup, or would like
to host one, please contact
us -in the meantime, drop Hope a line - she'd love
to hear from you!
Candle
Wax on the Carpet?
Submitted by
Kristy Smith
Let the wax harden completely.
Then take a spoon or the dull edge of a knife and
scrape off all the wax you can. Put paper towels
directly over the stain and press towels gently (do
not iron back and forth, but rather press and lift)
with an iron that has been turned on to the low-medium
setting. If there is color left on the carpet, you may
have to use a commercial spot remover designated for
carpets.
To submit other great tips, write us at
tips@sarahstent.com
Visit our LINKS page for a wide variety
of resources.
Trade
permanent links with us
Joy in The Kitchen Volume
5 Issue 3
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