Happy New Year!
I wish you health, the love of friends and family, a heart of peace, time to enjoy God's handiwork through the beauty of nature, wisdom to choose priorities for those things that really matter in life, generosity so you may share what comes to you, happiness, and much joy in the new year. May all the blessings you wish for others, by His grace, come to you. May we be more determined to spend more time in prayer, in His precious Word, and living in His will every day. Let's love more, laugh more (it's healing!), and lift Him up more.
Together in His Service,
Malinda
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DEVOTIONAL
Jesus is standing in Peter’s home, talking with Peter’s wife, Eden. Eden is standing over a table, arms holding her up, noticeably burdened. Her shoulders sagging, her head bent. You can hear coughing in the background. Simon Peter is there; he says he’s going to the market to try and sell fishing nets to make extra money to leave behind with his wife and mother-in-law to help them survive while he is gone on the road, with Jesus.
Jesus has called Peter to be one of His disciples, and both Peter and Eden are realizing the depths of the sacrifices that Peter is going to have to make as one of Jesus’ chosen followers. Jesus tells Peter to go to the back room and sit with his ailing mother-in-law.
Eden and Jesus are now alone and Jesus addresses Eden. He says that the qualities that He sees in Peter - the fire, loyalty, courage, and authenticity - all the things that will make him a powerful apostle, Eden saw first. Jesus acknowledges that Eden saw those qualities even when everyone else could only see Peter’s hot temper and brashness. Jesus says thoughtfully, “That connects us.” Eden smiles.
Jesus' face turns a little more somber and He tells Eden that He has asked Peter to make a lot of sacrifices, but understanding that Peter and Eden are one flesh, Jesus says, “He [Peter] cannot make sacrifices that are not also yours. You have a role to play in all of this.”Eden’s eyes mist and she asks, “Do I?” Jesus continues, stating that life going forward won’t be easy; life in ministry never is. Then Jesus tells Eden, “But I see you. Do you understand?”
My eyes were brimming with tears, and when the scene reached this point, all the tears just spilled over. This moment is depicted in the TV series, "The Chosen," a series about the life of Christ. This moment is set in the context of Luke 4:38-39.
Jesus continues on and tells Eden that He understands it’s not easy to be on the home-front while Peter is away from home; that even during the times when Eden is happy and
excited for Peter, it does not take away the hardships that will come from being the wife of a disciple. Then Jesus tells Eden that He would not ask her to do “this” - to be called to the ministry of being a ministerial spouse - without easing some of the burden she is carrying: worrying about her ailing mother. Hope sparks in Eden’s eyes and she realizes that Jesus is meaning He will heal her mother.
And then, we know what happens. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law of fever and she is restored. So much so that she gets up and starts making food to serve to everyone.
While we don’t even know the name of Peter’s wife or have actual recordings of conversations Jesus may have had with her, I believe it is completely plausible that Jesus had
one-on-one conversations with the wife of one of his foremost disciples. And believing in the loving nature of my Savior, I believe that is plausible He spoke words like this to her. "I. See.You."
And I believe that Jesus is speaking those words to every one of our ministerial spouses in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. He sees the sacrifices you make, the burdens you carry, the tears you shed, and the victories in which you rejoice. He understands the significant role you play in your husband’s ministry and acknowledges that something being asked of your husband is also something being asked of you. He sees you.
There will be trials in this life; we all know this. We all have experienced or are experiencing trials. The promise is not that the trials will not come or even that Jesus will take them away. The promise is that “When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2.
Dear sister, take comfort and courage in knowing that your Savior Jesus sees you and is proud of all you do. Take a moment to thank Him for being with you through the fire and the flood, and relish in the truth that He loves you dearly.
Chelsea
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“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
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From the Pen of Inspiration
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In all ages the Savior’s chosen have been educated and disciplined in the school of trial.......Having been partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory.
E.G. White
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"Heaven is open to our petitions and we are to come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in time of need."
E.G.White, Prayer, p. 15.4.
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An anonymous sister in the midst of health challenges.
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Note: You may send your prayer praises or requests to ministerialspouses@kytn.net.
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The North American Division will be publishing a devotional written by pastors' children and are looking for willing writers. If your child is interested in being a published author, please submit to: ministerialspouses@kytn.net. These will be sent to our Southern Union Representative for the Division.
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Brittany and her husband Timothy Osborn come to us from Nebraska, and are serving the Jackson and Leach churches.
Brittany was born in Elmira, New York, and attended Saranac Lake High School, Corning Community College, and University of Phoenix. She earned a nursing degree.
Brittany says the following about how she became a Seventh-day Adventist: "I spent every weekend with my grandparents who were Seventh-day Adventists and was baptized as a teenager at Camp Cherokee in upstate New York."
Brittany shares that she and her husband met through friends at Camp Meeting in upstate New York. The couple now have a two-year-old son named Noah Stephen.
Brittany's hobbies include reading, hiking, painting, music, quilting, and photography.
As a family they like to go for walks in the park or on a nature trail.
One of Brittany's favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 43:1-3 (NKJV)
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
Brittany, we welcome you to the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference and are happy you are now a part of our team! May God bless you in your new home for ministry.
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Debbie Hill and her husband Glenn come to us from Springfield, Illinois, and are serving the Ridgetop and Cross Plains, Tennessee, churches.
Debbie was born in San Jose, California, and attended Mountain View Academy and Ozark Adventist Academy, then Southern Adventist University and Andrews University. She is a hospital chaplain.
Debbie says: "I grew up in a loving Adventist home and family was very involved with church life, Camp Meeting, Sabbath School, church, VBS, church schools, Pacific Press, summer camp, etc. It was a continuation of my spiritual journey to accept Christ and be baptized but not pressured to do so. I was baptized in an outdoor baptistry in Mountain View, California.
Debbie shares how she met her husband; "In his grandma's kitchen! She wanted us to meet but we only did so out of respect for her wishes. Neither of us was interested in the other! Glenn prepared the entire meal, of which he did a great job; although it was very healthy, it was very nice. He seemed nice, but too ultra conservative! I seemed too liberal--mainstream! So here we were meeting for the first time, accompanied by his grandma--a threesome! It was best she was there since we were doing this for her sake! But... obviously some things changed over time. Letter writing, more occasions of crossing paths, etc. Four weeks after our wedding we entered mission service together in South Korea. This past November (2023) was our 35th anniversary! I've been very blessed to be married to Glenn. By the way, he composed his proposal and sang it to me!!"
Debbie's hobbies include travel, reformation history, family, piano, nature (animals), baking (and sharing with others), royalty--various countries, flowers, and singing (not professional!).
As a family, when our sons were at home, we always had memberships to museums and or zoos, aquariums, etc., traveling, camping, nature outings, and family visits.
Here are some of Debbie's favorite Bible verses. She says it is difficult to choose a favorite....there are many special ones!
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." I Cor. 13:13
"I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. Isa. 49: 25b
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3
Rev. 21:4, Gen. 1:1, etc......many favorites!
We welcome you, Debbie, to the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference! Thank you for being a part of our wonderful team! May God bless you as you minister for Jesus in your new home!
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January
Iana Sozinova
2
Rhonda Crumley
8
Heather Severance
19
Thzin Chrik
26
Florence McIntyre
30
February
Pam Serban
7
Kartini Maxson
8
Luisa Sencion (Lopez)
9
Chare Galimore
16
Young Ju Im (Cho)
26
Geraldine Foraker
27
March
Ariela Fernin (Cordero)
1
Charlotte Kholey
2
Shirley Findley
3
Rashelle Stirewalt
17
Chelsea Sutherland
22
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Take a moment to wish a friend happy birthday, congratulate her on a life event, or just let her know that you are thinking of her using the contact information linked below and the card shop links above.
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Send address updates to ministerialspouses@kytn.net
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January
Iana and Alex Sozinov
1
February
Lucy and Nelson Mercado
11
Cherryl and Trey Sharp
18
Rachel and Rocky Davis
28
March
Lucy and David Corro
2
Kristina and Daniel McFeeters
8
Chelsea and Joel Sutherland
12
Izzy and Christopher Langston
22
Pam and Marius Serban
22
Young Ju and Kwang Cho
26
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Note: Did you know you can submit counseling fees for full reimbursement (less Co-pay)?
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In the Kitchen with Erika
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Here is one of my favorite recipes. I came up with this many many years ago. My family loves this burger and I also used this in many of my cooking classes. It always was a hit.
Why do I like it??? It's easy and fast to make. Fast enough when short with time, yet very tasty! Can be made into a delicious burger lunch or served with roasted veggies and salad for dinner.
Pantry and Fridge Burger
Ingredients:
1 cup dry lentils, cooked
2-3 medium potatoes, cooked and mashed.
2 medium carrots, grated
2 celery stalks, grated
1 zucchini, grated and water pressed out
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cup quick oats, soaked with ¾ cup warm water
4 tbs ground flaxseed
¼ cup nutritional yeast
Salt, pepper to taste
½ tsp each: marjoram, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, sage, thyme
Oil to fry.
Directions:
Add the lentils to a food processor and process for 3-4 seconds. Don’t over process the lentils; you are NOT making mashed lentils! Add the lentils to a bowl with all the rest of the ingredients and the seasonings. Mix together. The texture should be that of a regular meat burger patty, only made without actual meat. If the mixture is too soft and mushy add some bread crumbs. If the mixture is too dry you can add some chopped tomatoes or a very little water or a spoon full of vegan (egg free) Mayonnaise.
Form the burgers and fry in a pan with a little oil on both sides for about 3 minutes or until the burgers have a nice golden brown color.
Notes:
In this recipe any of the ingredients can be changed depending on what's in the pantry and fridge. Hence the name Pantry and Fridge Burger.
- Potatoes for parsnip
- Lentils for beans
- Zucchini for mushrooms etc.
Other add ins: cooked rice, sunflower seeds, nuts
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January 2024 Ministers' Meetings
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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
January 22-25
Monday-Thursday
Pink Jeep Tour
for spouses
Tuesday morning the 23rd
from 8-11:30
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YOU MUST RESERVE your seat for the tour BY JANUARY 16th!
Please plan ahead of time---before coming to the meetings---The company must have a count to know how many jeeps to plan drivers for. If you come to the meetings having not reserved a space, know that I cannot do anything to make extra spaces available.
To make your reservation simply contact Malinda or Chelsea at ministerialspouses@kytn.net, mhaley@kytn.net, or chelseajsutherland@gmail.com
OR you may phone me at 423-790-9583 or Chelsea at 707-339-3251.
Note: The jeeps will be covered and heated for our tour!
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