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?
