Walnut Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil1/2 cup walnut pieces
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7
As humans, we worry and get anxious. If we were perfect, we would fully rely on God 100% of the time without ever dwelling on what might be or could have been. However, since we are imperfect beings, that is impossible. Here in verse 6, Paul advises the church of Philippi to pray about everything. Children are very good at this. If you've ever listened to a young child pray, you know that they will pray about everything and for everyone. As adults, we tend to think they are wasting their time or spending too much time. In all reality, the kids are the ones who have it right! Most kids aren't worried about a whole lot of things because they pray about so much and put full faith in God to answer those prayers! Turn to your family right now and make a list of EVERYTHING that has been weighing on your minds. EVERYTHING that you've been worried about. Now, as a family, lift each and every single item up in prayer to Jesus. Don't just say an empty prayer; pray with passion believing that God will answer those prayers.
The beautiful thing about prayer is that God ALWAYS answers. When we lift our concerns, worries, and anxieties to Christ He will replace them with His peace. Peace is defined as untroubled; tranquil, content. When Paul talks about Godly peace, this definition is a good start, but it goes much deeper than that. We will never truly be able to understand this peace because it goes beyond our human understanding. The importance of this verse is to show us that when we release our cares, concerns, and worries to Christ, He will give us an amazing peace and carry those burdens for us.
Questions for the Week:
1. Do I really believe that God will answer my prayers?
2. What am I still worried about even after I pray?
3. How can I help others to release their worries to Jesus?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Don't Worry About a Thing...
Pecan Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1/4 cup pecan pieces
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and marshmallows and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1/4 cup pecan pieces
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and marshmallows and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” ~Matthew 6:25-27
Worry, or anxious, is defined in the dictionary as, “Feeling nervous: worried or afraid, especially about something that is going to happen or might happen.” So, when we worry, we are concerned about what could happen in the future. [Parents- Talk with your child about things they might do the next day. Ask them if there is anything they wouldn’t want to happen. Explain that if they only think about that thing or things, that is what worry is.]
The Bible is full of important truths from God. He tells us in verse 25 not to worry about what we will eat or wear. This means that God is going to provide for all of our needs. He knows what they are and He will meet those needs. [Parents- make a list of the things you need to survive and discuss how God provides them for your family.] Jesus says in verse 26 that God takes care of the birds by meeting their needs to survive. He then compares the value of these birds to you and me. God loves the birds because He created them, but the birds do not have the capacity to decide to love him back. Humans are the only creation that has the ability to choose to love our creator. Our value is much greater to God that that of the birds. [Parents- talk about a current, past, or hypothetical pet and discuss how much more valuable your child is to you than your pet.]
Lastly, in verse 27 Jesus asks a pivotal question: If you worry, what will it add to your life? Jesus knows that when we worry it does us no good. It will not change the future or the past. When we worry, it only makes us unhappy and causes us to not enjoy the life that we have.
Questions for the week:
- What are some strategies to help you not to worry?
- Why is it important not to worry?
- How do we know God will provide our needs?
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Plans Plus!
MIxed Berry Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/2 cups mixed berries- strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries (frozen or fresh)
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Blend berries and milk in a blender until smooth. Add egg, and oil to berry mixture in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
** Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' " ~Jeremiah 29:11-13
God has a plan for all of our lives. We do not get to see the whole picture, we see one piece of the puzzle. When you have a 1,000 piece puzzle and you only look at one or two pieces of it, it will not make much sense. If you compare that to the picture on the box of the finished product, you are much more likely to be able to get a sense of where those pieces go. [Parents- if possible, get a puzzle and show your child only one or two pieces and have a guessing game of what it might be.]
The cool thing about God is that He can see the big picture. He knows what is in store for our lives and guides us through prayer, other believers, and the Bible. I've always loved verse 11. The fact that God has wonderful plans for me makes me super excited! However, last week I read verses 12 and 13 and had some even better realizations!! A) When we pray to God, He listens to us. Verse 12 is His promise of that. B) We can only find out the plans He has for us when we seek Him with all of our heart. How awesome is that?!
God has such great plans for us, but only if we choose to follow them. We have to follow after God's will for our lives with all of our hearts. That means that we must trust God even when our puzzle piece that we have doesn't make sense. [Parents- tell your child what the full picture is and see if they can make some sense of it.] We must believe and have faith that the One who loved us enough to create us and sent His son to die for us has these wonderful plans!
[Parents- show your child the full picture on the box of the puzzle and have them try to guess where their piece might fit.]
Questions to Discuss This Week:
1. What might God have in store for my life?
2. What does following God with all my heart look like?
3. How can I help others to follow God too?
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/2 cups mixed berries- strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries (frozen or fresh)
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Blend berries and milk in a blender until smooth. Add egg, and oil to berry mixture in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
** Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' " ~Jeremiah 29:11-13
God has a plan for all of our lives. We do not get to see the whole picture, we see one piece of the puzzle. When you have a 1,000 piece puzzle and you only look at one or two pieces of it, it will not make much sense. If you compare that to the picture on the box of the finished product, you are much more likely to be able to get a sense of where those pieces go. [Parents- if possible, get a puzzle and show your child only one or two pieces and have a guessing game of what it might be.]
The cool thing about God is that He can see the big picture. He knows what is in store for our lives and guides us through prayer, other believers, and the Bible. I've always loved verse 11. The fact that God has wonderful plans for me makes me super excited! However, last week I read verses 12 and 13 and had some even better realizations!! A) When we pray to God, He listens to us. Verse 12 is His promise of that. B) We can only find out the plans He has for us when we seek Him with all of our heart. How awesome is that?!
God has such great plans for us, but only if we choose to follow them. We have to follow after God's will for our lives with all of our hearts. That means that we must trust God even when our puzzle piece that we have doesn't make sense. [Parents- tell your child what the full picture is and see if they can make some sense of it.] We must believe and have faith that the One who loved us enough to create us and sent His son to die for us has these wonderful plans!
[Parents- show your child the full picture on the box of the puzzle and have them try to guess where their piece might fit.]
Questions to Discuss This Week:
1. What might God have in store for my life?
2. What does following God with all my heart look like?
3. How can I help others to follow God too?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
For Parents Only: True Love Waits
Cinnamon Pancakes
1 cup whole milk
1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp butter, melted
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.
2. Heat a frying pan or skillet on the stovetop. Spray with cooking spray or grease with a little extra butter. Ladle out 1/4 cup of pancake batter at a time, and cook about 1 min on each side, flipping each pancake midway through. Repeat about eight times, until batter is gone.
5. Serve with maple syrup, honey or extra butter. Enjoy!
Makes about 6 large pancakes.
**Recipe found at http://www.sugarlaws.com/**
TRUE LOVE WAITS....This is a very intimate and touchy subject, especially for parents. It is important that we discuss this topic with our children, even if they are young. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." (NLT)
As parents, we need to make sure that our children know exactly what we expect of them in life. My father, before accepting Christ, drank and was addicted to cocaine (not at the same time). As far back as my memory goes, I can recall my father repeating over and over again to not drink or do drugs. In the same fashion, my parents also instilled in me to save myself for marriage. These values were taught to my brother and I along with doing our best in everything we do, to obtain higher education after high school, and to follow our dreams.
Even if you or your spouse were not physically pure when you were married, it does not mean that you can't teach your children to be pure when married. We always want the best for our kids, better than we had. That should pertain to the important things more than perishable things that don't really matter. The next set of devotions are going to be centered around waiting until marriage to have sex. I urge you to review each post before sharing with your family and personalize it to meet your family's needs and level.
God wants our children to know His truth. His truth includes waiting to have sex until marriage. Remember Proverbs 22:6. Your parenting will not be perfect, your children will not be perfect, but they will remember what you teach them. Do you need some proof? My husband and I were BOTH virgins when we married because our parents taught us God's law, expectations, and the importance of following these.
1 cup whole milk
1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp butter, melted
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.
2. Heat a frying pan or skillet on the stovetop. Spray with cooking spray or grease with a little extra butter. Ladle out 1/4 cup of pancake batter at a time, and cook about 1 min on each side, flipping each pancake midway through. Repeat about eight times, until batter is gone.
5. Serve with maple syrup, honey or extra butter. Enjoy!
Makes about 6 large pancakes.
**Recipe found at http://www.sugarlaws.com/**
TRUE LOVE WAITS....This is a very intimate and touchy subject, especially for parents. It is important that we discuss this topic with our children, even if they are young. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." (NLT)
As parents, we need to make sure that our children know exactly what we expect of them in life. My father, before accepting Christ, drank and was addicted to cocaine (not at the same time). As far back as my memory goes, I can recall my father repeating over and over again to not drink or do drugs. In the same fashion, my parents also instilled in me to save myself for marriage. These values were taught to my brother and I along with doing our best in everything we do, to obtain higher education after high school, and to follow our dreams.
Even if you or your spouse were not physically pure when you were married, it does not mean that you can't teach your children to be pure when married. We always want the best for our kids, better than we had. That should pertain to the important things more than perishable things that don't really matter. The next set of devotions are going to be centered around waiting until marriage to have sex. I urge you to review each post before sharing with your family and personalize it to meet your family's needs and level.
God wants our children to know His truth. His truth includes waiting to have sex until marriage. Remember Proverbs 22:6. Your parenting will not be perfect, your children will not be perfect, but they will remember what you teach them. Do you need some proof? My husband and I were BOTH virgins when we married because our parents taught us God's law, expectations, and the importance of following these.
Friday, January 21, 2011
ABC, Easy as 1-2-3!
S'mores Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 Chocolate Bar, broken into small pieces
Graham Crackers, broken into large chunks
1/8 cup marshmallows
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and marshmallows and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
Romans 10:9-10 "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
One of the first things my two-year-old daughter has learned is how to count to three and the beginning of her ABC's. The alphabet and counting are a very important foundation for life. We wouldn't get very far if we couldn't count, much less do simple math, or if we did not know the letters of the alphabet. Just as easy as it is to say your ABC's and count to 10, it's very simple to accept Christ into your life. Take a moment to sing the ABC song (if you have young children) and count to 10. Have a race (for a little older children) to see who can say their ABC's and count to 10 the quickest. You can take turns if a judge is needed.
Accepting Christ has three main components; just as S'mores have three main ingredients. The graham cracker (which is generally on the top and bottom) is the first step. A) First you must admit that you are a sinner. It is important that we admit to God that we aren't perfect and that we make mistakes. The chocolate bar is the next step. B) Next, we must believe that Jesus is God's son, which died on the cross for our sins and rose again. This is a pivotal part of becoming a Christian. Christ dying for us is the reason that we are able to be in God's family. He took all of our sins upon Himself so we could take part in Heaven! The ooey-gooey marshmallow, the part that helps it stick together, is the final step. C) Confess to God and Christ that you want Jesus to be in your heart and that you want to be a part of His family. This is the most important step. This is the glue that makes your life stick together. Discuss with your family how these steps allow God to change your life.
Things to discuss this week:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 Chocolate Bar, broken into small pieces
Graham Crackers, broken into large chunks
1/8 cup marshmallows
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and marshmallows and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
Romans 10:9-10 "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
One of the first things my two-year-old daughter has learned is how to count to three and the beginning of her ABC's. The alphabet and counting are a very important foundation for life. We wouldn't get very far if we couldn't count, much less do simple math, or if we did not know the letters of the alphabet. Just as easy as it is to say your ABC's and count to 10, it's very simple to accept Christ into your life. Take a moment to sing the ABC song (if you have young children) and count to 10. Have a race (for a little older children) to see who can say their ABC's and count to 10 the quickest. You can take turns if a judge is needed.
Accepting Christ has three main components; just as S'mores have three main ingredients. The graham cracker (which is generally on the top and bottom) is the first step. A) First you must admit that you are a sinner. It is important that we admit to God that we aren't perfect and that we make mistakes. The chocolate bar is the next step. B) Next, we must believe that Jesus is God's son, which died on the cross for our sins and rose again. This is a pivotal part of becoming a Christian. Christ dying for us is the reason that we are able to be in God's family. He took all of our sins upon Himself so we could take part in Heaven! The ooey-gooey marshmallow, the part that helps it stick together, is the final step. C) Confess to God and Christ that you want Jesus to be in your heart and that you want to be a part of His family. This is the most important step. This is the glue that makes your life stick together. Discuss with your family how these steps allow God to change your life.
Things to discuss this week:
- Is Jesus in my heart?
- Do my friends and family have Jesus in their hearts?
- What happens if I have Jesus in my heart and I still sin?
- How can I show Jesus' love to everyone around me (even people I don't like)?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Mission: Impossible...Really?
Rocky Road Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1/2 Chocolate Bar, broken into small pieces
1/8 cup mini marshmallows
1/8 cup walnuts (chunk, fine, or whole)
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and walnuts and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
Romans 5:8 " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Imagine, if you will, standing on one side of the Grand Canyon all by yourself. No one is with you; not even your family or closest friend. Your mission is to cross this canyon without touching any of the rocks in the revene (the part between the two edges) below. You cannot use anything to help you (no helicopters, logs to build bridges, etc.). How would you cross? You could run and jump, but would you make it? You could pretend that there was a bridge, but would it help? Discuss with your family how you would feel about crossing this great space and what you might think of to try to cross it.
God is perfect and our sins (knowing the right thing to do and then not doing it) create a Grand Canyon between us and God. There is no way to cross the canyon between us on our own. So the question remains, how can we cross this huge canyon? The answer is very simple. Jesus is our bridge. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we were still sinners. He willingly gave His life to save ours. (Rom 5:9) God gave His Son to the world so the world could cross the canyon. Discuss with your family what this means and why it is so important.
Things to think about and discuss this week:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp cooking oil
1/2 Chocolate Bar, broken into small pieces
1/8 cup mini marshmallows
1/8 cup walnuts (chunk, fine, or whole)
Combine dry ingredients and create a well. Mix milk, egg, and oil in separate bowl and pour in the well. Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Add chocolate bar, marshmallows, and walnuts and mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. When top is bubbly and sides are dry, flip until brown.
**Base recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
Romans 5:8 " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Imagine, if you will, standing on one side of the Grand Canyon all by yourself. No one is with you; not even your family or closest friend. Your mission is to cross this canyon without touching any of the rocks in the revene (the part between the two edges) below. You cannot use anything to help you (no helicopters, logs to build bridges, etc.). How would you cross? You could run and jump, but would you make it? You could pretend that there was a bridge, but would it help? Discuss with your family how you would feel about crossing this great space and what you might think of to try to cross it.
God is perfect and our sins (knowing the right thing to do and then not doing it) create a Grand Canyon between us and God. There is no way to cross the canyon between us on our own. So the question remains, how can we cross this huge canyon? The answer is very simple. Jesus is our bridge. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we were still sinners. He willingly gave His life to save ours. (Rom 5:9) God gave His Son to the world so the world could cross the canyon. Discuss with your family what this means and why it is so important.
Things to think about and discuss this week:
- Can I cross the canyon?
- How can I make sure others know how to cross the canyon?
- Am I trying to cross the canyon by myself?
- How can I be sure that I can cross the revene that was created by my sin?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
No Strings Attached
Buttermilk Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
2 tbsp cooking oil
Combine dry ingredients and make a well. Combine beaten egg with oil and milk. Pour in well. Mix ingredients until batter is well-moistened (it will be lumpy). Pour about ¼ cup of batter into skillet or griddle. Once sides are dry and top is bubbly, flip.
**Recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook**
Romans "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Christmas has just ended and most people in our society have been showered with gifts. Some of these gifts are free, but some are not. Some people give expecting you to return the act with a gift of your own. Others give because they truly want to and expect absolutely nothing in return. The best example of the second case is a parent giving presents to their child. As a parent myself, nothing made me happier than to watch my 21 month-old daughter opening her presents and seeing the pleasure on her face when she discovered what was inside the package. I had no desire for her to return my gift with a gift of her own (and that wasn’t just because she’s too young to understand).
We are God’s children and He wants nothing more than to see the pleasure on our faces when we discover that we have a free gift. God doesn’t give us dolls, puzzles, video games, or anything else temporal (that means that it doesn’t last forever). So then what is the free gift that He gives us? Take a few minutes to discuss what the verse above says is a free gift and what it means.
Over the past week, you have been discussing what sin “looks like”. Sin is when you know what the right thing is and then not doing the right thing. The first part of this verse is saying that when we sin, our wage (or what we receive) is death. I don’t know about you, but I’m very glad that the verse doesn’t end there! The second part of this verse talks about God’s free gift, Jesus. God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to live on earth (John ). He lived a perfect life, died, and then rose again (came back to life). Because of God and Jesus’ sacrifice, we are able to accept His gift of eternal life. In order to receive the eternal life that God offers, we must first accept it. At Christmas, you have the option to not open your presents. You could leave them lying under the tree or throw them away; you are not forced to open them. The same is true for the free gift that God gives. He allows you to choose whether or not you will accept it. Discuss with your family why you would want to accept God’s gift and why.
Things to discuss and think about this week:
· Why is the result of sin death?
· Do I want to accept the free gift God offers?
· Do my friends and other family members know about God’s free gift?
· How can I be sure that I’m ready to accept God’s gift?
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