ADVENTURES IN THE KITCHEN

Rukini, my cook, screamed as she fled from the kitchen, where she had been preparing vegetables for dinner. ‘Quick! Come quickly!’, she called. Hearing Rukini’s anxious call, I ran from my room to the kitchen. our children scurrying along with me.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Such a noise - it was rather frightening. No wonder Rukini had fled , although she soon slipped alongside us. Walking over to the stove, I quickly lifted the pressure cooker from the kerosene stove, gently raising the escape knob to release the stream. Then I poked a skewer through the small hole in the knob, dislodging any gooh. Being clogged, it had prevented the steam from escaping, causing hissing from the side of the cooker, frightening us all.

Just a little bit of dirt! Rukini smiled at last, as I showed her how to clean the hole in the knob. She edged closer, padding on her bare, brown feet. About 50 , quite old for her community, she was a very helpful, hard-working woman, who first heard about the Lord Jesus when she became my helper. For three hours nightly, Subandi, her 12 year-old-son, read to his parents, who had never learned to read. Holding his Indonesian New Testament, earned for learning 25 verses, close to the kerosene lamp, Subandi read to his Mum and Dad. Rukini listened eagerly night after night,

Turning to Rukini, ‘Sometimes we let off steam - we get angry, or cross with people, saying harmful things, often using unkind words. If we are clean in our hearts, our speech will be pure, too.’

Had not the pressure cooker been clogged with such a little bit of dirt? It certainly let off steam. However, when we cleaned it with the skewer, it was ready to work again, and cook meals for lour family.

God’s Word reminds us to let off steam the right way, ’Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.’ Happiness and gladness come from a heart that is clean and pure, and is the fruit of your life, when filled with the love of Jesus.

Psalm 66:1,2 ’Make a joyful noise unto God all you lands: bring forth the honour of His Name: make His praise glorious.’

When you feel a little angry,

And everything seems wrong-

Ask Lord Jesus to come in

And give your lips a song.

Bring joy to other people

Show them what the Lord can do.

Cleansed and filled with God’s own Spirit,

Share His love with others, too.