Yummy Healthy Recipe (:

BLUEBERRIES WITH COCONUT

2 1/2 cups of blueberries

1- can coconut milk

1/2 lemon

1/2 c sugar

2 tablespoons water

Heat 2 cups of blueberries, sugar and water until softened.

Squeeze lemon and remove from heat.

Add coconut milk, put in freezer.

Life with fork every 1/2 hr to add air.

Hardens in 2-4 hours.

Add remaining berries at serving (:

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Lesson Notes Understanding the Purpose of Pain

Pain is God's instrument to expose who we are, explain how life really is, and brings us to a junction where we seek Him for answers.

God may be using your child to teach you something as well, conflict and pain is always a precursor to change.

As God never leaves us, we will never leave our kids.

Foolishness leads to more pain. Wisdom leads to more pleasure.

"Foolishness" is that determined conviction that happiness must be gained on my own terms without significant dependence on God.

"Wisdom" is knowledge of principles of right living that's gained through observation, reflection, and experience.

Pain comes...when there is confrontation for foolish thinking.

Pain comes...when they don't agree with you.

Pain comes...when discussions get heated.

Pain comes...when the authority of the goal-keeper is established or re-established.

Pain comes...when the wrong motives, demeanors or desires are exposed.

Overindulgence doesn't change the pain.

Ignoring or avoiding your child will not change the pain.

Walking away from a relationship with a rebellious child is not an option.

Compromising your standards is foolish parenting.

If we rescue our teen, or lessen consequences, the immaturity will continue.

Foolish behavior will always get worse when not confronted.

Facing the pain....brings significance.

Pain is essential in the life of your child to bring about maturity and responsibility.

When you throw yourself in the pit

I had to share all of this today as I sat reading my devotion today...

Unlike the pit we get thrown into, we put ourselves into this one. But here's the catch: we didn't mean to. We just weren't watching where we were going. We got distracted, taken in by new sights. The path didn't seem bad; it just seemed new. Exhilarating. We thought we were still okay, but the next thing we knew we were in a hold, our feet ankle deep in mud. The cell phone was dead, and suddenly we didn't have a clue what to do.

Yes, you got into this pit yourself, but it certainly wasn't planned. It wasn't what you wanted. In fact, the possiblity of falling into a pit may never have entered your mind. You certainly didn't mean for things to turn out the way they did. You didn't see it coming, but now you're in a hole.

You'd give anything if someone else had thrown you in, because you hate being the one to blame. In fact, at first you tried to think it was somebody else's fault. Anybody else's fault. But then you spent enough time in that pit for the noon sun to peak straight over your head, shedding the first direct light you'd seen form in there. That sick feeling in your stomach tells you that-no matter who else was involved-nobody pushed you into this pit. You got yourself into this one. And you're not even sure how.

Traps get set. Feet slip. And I hate how the enemy uses the guilt over how you got into a pit to trap you into never getting out! Hear me clearly; you cannot let him get away with that. No matter how guilty you feel for sliding your way in, GOD WANTS YOU OUT!

IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. STAND FIRM, THEN, AND DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE BURDENED AGAIN BY A YOKE OF SLAVERY. GALATIONS 5:1

God still has a vision for you. No matter where you've been, God's full intent is for you to live effectively and abundantly. He loves you dearly, and the fact that you've been foolish doesn't diminish His love one single ounce. Talk to God.

If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughs multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 94:18-19

If you don't soak your brain in the truth that you are absolutely secure in the unchanging love of God, you will never feel worthy of getting out of the pit. Satan will keep your feet on slippery ground. When you want out of a pit, you've got a golden opportunity to seet he grace of God as you've never encountered it. Let God's loving-kindness hold you up and ask Him to make His consolations your delight.

For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

GOD LOVES US!

He proved it when He sent His Son to die for us. And He went to that extreme measure because He wants to have fellowship with us. And because God loves you so much He has many blessings He wants to give you. But you need to be walking with Him, obeying Him, trusting Him, in order for Him to be able to bless you.

So keep yourself in the love of God. Keep yourself in the place where God can do the things for you that He wants to do.

(Jude 21)

What about being thrown into the pit by someone?


How 'bout someone else's sin-a family member or a loved one?


Like Joseph- His brothers, stripped off his robe, threw him in a pit and then ate a meal...


What we must do: forgive


"Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Genesis 50:17





See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

You can know you're in a pit when...

YOU FEEL STUCK.
There is no living at maintenance level in a pit.

YOU CAN'T STAND UP.
You feel powerless against attack.

A pit is an early grave that Satan digs for you in hopes he can bury you alive. Should you fall in he cannot make you stay! But on the same God will not make you leave. Some things are simply up to us.

YOU'VE LOST VISION.
We can no longer see things that may have once been obvious to us. That is one reason we often stay in the pit. We can always look up but we're often too focused on our sinking feet.