'Cuz Every Little Thing's Gonna Be Alrigh-igh-ight!

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?

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**

“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:

1. What are some strategies to help you not to worry?
2. Why is it important not to worry?
3. How do we know God will provide our needs?