Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 No Looking Back

Scott had been a Christian only a short time.  He really wanted to live for Jesus, but his old friends kept after him to join them in things they used to do before he was saved.  Although he knew from experience that they often got into trouble, the old life still sometimes looked like fun.  When that happened, making the right choice was a real struggle for him.

    "Scott, I need some help getting my garden ready for spring planting," said Mr. Lockwood, Scott's Sunday school teacher.  "Would you care to come over after school tomorrow and help me?"

    "Sure," responded Scott.  He really liked Mr. Lockwood.

    The next day, Mr. Lockwood started the garden tiller and showed Scott how it worked.  "Start here, and don't take your eyes off that post down there," said Mr. Lockwood, pointing to the other end of the garden.  "Make a straight row toward it.  When you come back this way, you can follow the furrow you've just made."

    Scott began eagerly, hoping he would do a good job.  Soon his confidence began to build as row after row of neatly turned earth appeared.  He was almost finished with the garden when he heard Mr. Lockwood calling his name.  Turning his head, he saw that his teacher had a big glass of lemonade for him.

    "Shut it off, and take a break," shouted Mr. Lockwood.

    Grinning, Scott turned back to shut off the machine.  To his dismay, he saw that the tiller had made a big swerve to the right while he had been looking back.  Mr. Lockwood saw what had happened, too.  "Come and have your lemonade," he said, "and then we'll see what can be done to straighten this last row."

    As they sat under a tree and drank the lemonade, Scott mentioned the problems he was having with his old friends.

    "Hmmm," said Mr. Lockwood thoughtfully as he gazed over the garden, "looking back when you're working the garden, may mess up a field, and looking back at your old lifestyle, may mess up a life.  Sometimes we have to break close friendships to serve the Lord -- especially if the old friends cause us to do things that are wrong.  Don't look back on your old life, Scott.  Look to Jesus and God's Word for direction in your new life."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have old friends who want you to join them in doing things that would displease the Lord?  Do those old ways seem attractive?  Ask the Lord to help you to not look back.  It may be necessary to replace old friendships and old habits with new ones.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Fishing Trip

Jack could hardly keep his head on the pillow, much less go to sleep.  He was so excited, because the next day he was going fishing very early with his dad and Uncle Bill!  We gotta be the first ones into Grasswater Cove so we can get that old mossback bass, he thought.  He pictured himself pulling in the big fish while the others clapped.

    The next thing Jack knew, a hand was shaking him.  "Jack, wake up!  Time to go after Old Mossback," Dad whispered.  "Uncle Bill will be here soon."

    Jack jumped out of bed.  He quickly got into his fishing clothes, and soon they were traveling in the pickup truck toward lake.  Jack could see Grasswater Cove in his mind.  Why, he could almost feel his line go tight with a solid, hard strike, and then he'd. . . .

    "Hey, what's that?" Uncle Bill's voice broke the humming sound of the motor.  The pickup's headlights lit up a car lying on its side just off the road.

    "Looks like a wreck," Dad said as he stepped on the brakes.  "Wait here," he ordered, jumping out and running over to the car.  Soon he returned, accompanied by a man who was limping.  "This is Mr. Jackson," said Dad.  "We can be thankful no one is seriously hurt, but this man's ankle needs attention.  I think we'd better take him back to Rockville to get help."

    "I hate to put you to so much trouble," protested Mr. Jackson.  "Why don't I just wait here 'til I can catch a ride with someone going toward town."

    "That could be a long time.  At this hour, most folks on this road are headed toward the lake," said Uncle Bill.  "Besides, we're glad to help our neighbor."

    Jack's heart sank as the truck turned and headed away from the lake.  "Good-bye, Old Mossback," he whispered.  But he began to feel better about the delay in their fishing trip as he listened to Dad explain to Mr. Jackson why Uncle Bill had called him their neighbor.  "The Bible teaches that our neighbor isn't only the person living near us," Dad was saying.  "It can be anyone we meet.  God is pleased when we act in a good, neighborly manner whenever we see someone in trouble."

    By the time Mr. Jackson had been taken care of, it was quite late and the fishing had to be postponed.  "I'm sorry about that," Dad told Jack.  "But I think Old Mossback will wait for us, don't you?"

    Slowly Jack nodded.  He was disappointed, but he remembered how their "neighbor" had listened while Dad and Uncle Bill talked about the Lord.  Mr. Jackson was more important than Old Mossback, anyway.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been a good "neighbor" lately?  Helping others isn't always easy, and it may cost you something.  But when you do it for Jesus, you'll find that it's worth whatever it costs.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

[Soldier4Christ]

 No Results

Cheri walked into the house more briskly than usual.  "I've had it with her," she said, pulling up a kitchen chair.

    "You've had it with who?" asked Mother.

    "Jolene Andrews -- that's who."  Restlessly, Cheri pushed the chair back and fiddled with a strand of her hair.  She bit her lower lip before starting to explain.  "You know what I gave her for her birthday?  You remember?"

    Mother nodded.  "Yes.  You gave her a year's subscription to a Christian magazine.  And I remember that you used your baby-sitting money to get it."

    "That's right," Cheri replied.  There was still anger in her voice.  "She was always reading my magazine whenever she was here, so I spent my own hard-earned money to get it for her.  Well, I overheard her telling some girls that I was pushing religion on her and that she hasn't read either of the two issues that came to her house!"

    "Well, I'm sorry about that," said Mother, "but I hope you won't let it keep you from being friendly with Jolene.  As I recall, you said you gave her the magazine subscription because you hoped it would be a witness to her -- that maybe it would help her come to know Christ."

    "But she's not reading them," Cheri complained.  "And she's making accusations about me!  Some friend she is!"

    "Honey," said Mother, "you gave her that subscription because you knew she needed the Lord.  Well, she still needs Him, doesn't she?  And, you know, it's possible that her reaction to your gift may be partly because she sees her need.  Don't be angry.  You've planted the seed, but when all is said and done, it's God who must work in her heart."  Mother paused waiting for Cheri to comment, but she said nothing.  "And don't forget, Jolene has had only two issues; there will be ten more months of witness coming to her house," added Mother.  "Let's pray that she'll read those, and that God will work in her heart."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you tried to witness and seemingly had no results?  Don't get discouraged or angry.  Continue to show love and friendship.  God asks you to be faithful in witnessing.  He brings about the results.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Old Enough

One evening at dinner, Adam's older brother, Mike, told the family about a friend of his.  "Lance doesn't go to church or Sunday school anywhere," he said.  "I've invited him before, but he never wants to come.  But after school today, I invited Lance to our Bible study group, and this time he agreed to come along!"

    "That's great!" exclaimed Dad.  "We'll pray that he'll enjoy it.  And that he'll understand his need to be born again."

    Adam nodded eagerly.  "Yeah," he said, "and when I'm in high school, Mike, I'm going to the Bible study group just like you do.  Then I can invite my friends, and they'll be able to learn about Jesus, too."  Adam often talked about how great it would be when he was grown up.  He wanted to be a pastor.  He'd study his Bible every day.  Then he'd talk to his friends about the Lord.  The people in his church would call him with special prayer requests.   

    Mom smiled at him.  "You sure do seem to be thinking a lot about growing up lately," she said.  "Don't be in such a hurry."

    "But, Mom," protested Adam, "I'm too young to be a pastor, or a Sunday school teacher, or even to lead a Bible study.  I just want to be bigger so I can start to serve God."

    "Wait a minute," said Dad.  "Did you know that one of the most godly kings in Bible times began his reign at the age of eight? (See today's Scripture.)  He showed great respect for God's Word.  He didn't let his age stop him from doing what the Scripture said, and his example influenced many people to live for God."

    "Wow!" Adam was surprised.  "Will you read the story of that eight-year-old king, Dad?  If he could serve God, I guess I'm old enough to serve Him, too.  After all, I'm almost that old!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel too young to serve God?  The things you say to others, the love and kindness you show on the playground or at school, and the helpful things you do for your family and others are all ways of serving Him.  Don't dream about being old enough to serve God.  Instead, serve Him now!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Foolish Choices

Come on, Dan, Uncle Pete called, "let's take a ride."

    "Okay," agreed Dan.  He enjoyed his uncle's company.  Uncle Pete was Dad's brother, but they certainly were not alike.  For one thing, Dan's dad was a Christian, while Uncle Pete seemed to have no interest at all in the things of the Lord.  But then, Dan wasn't a Christian either.  Maybe that was why he enjoyed Uncle Pete so much.

    As Dan reached for the seat belt, Uncle Pete turned to him.  "You don't need to fasten those things," he said with a laugh.  "We're just going a short distance."

    But Dan buckled up just the same.  "In school we were taught that seat belts save lives," he said.  As he spoke, he noticed that his uncle had pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

    "I suppose now you'll tell me that smoking is hazardous to my health, too," said Uncle Pete.

    Dan grinned.  "As they say, 'If the shoe fits, wear it.'  It makes sense."

    Uncle Pete turned and glanced at the boy.  "You're getting to sound more and more like your dad," he snapped.

    "Well, Uncle Pete, you know you should use seat belts, and you know smoking is dangerous," retorted Dan, "so how come you ignore all the statistics?"

    Dan's uncle took a firmer grip on the steering wheel.  He was quiet for a long time.  "The truth is," he said at last, "I don't really know.  If your dad were here, he'd also want to know why I haven't become a Christian since life is uncertain and death could come at any time."  He turned and looked at Dan.  "And," he added, "he'd ask the same question of you!  See -- in some ways you're just like me!"

    Dan had no answer to that, but he thought about his uncle's words long after they returned home.  Uncle Pete knew it was foolish not to use seat belts, yet he never used them.  He knew that smoking could cause cancer, but he continued to smoke.  Worst of all, both Uncle Pete and Dan knew they would be eternally lost if they did not accept Jesus as Savior, yet they never made the decision to trust Him.

    "I'm going to do it!" Dan decided suddenly.  "I'm not going to be like Uncle Pete any more!  At least not in this."  He jumped up and went to find his dad.  He knew Dad would explain to him once again just what it meant to trust in Jesus.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ignore warnings concerning your physical welfare?  That can be dangerous.  It's even more dangerous to neglect your spiritual welfare.  Felix heard God's message and trembled (see today's Scripture), but he put off a decision, thinking he'd wait for a "more convenient season."  As far as we know, that time never came.  You, too, have been warned that you are a sinner and need Jesus as your  Savior.  Don't wait for another time.  Accept Him today.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

[Soldier4Christ]

God Will Not Forget You

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you." (Isaiah 49:15)

Ellen rang the doorbell. She was shivering inside her raincoat, but she wasn't sure whether she was cold or just excited. She was standing on the front porch of the music teacher's house, ready for her first lesson. Today a dream she'd had for many years was just beginning to come true. She rang the doorbell again. No answer.

Ellen tried knocking. Nothing. She even went around to the side door and rang that doorbell a few times. But no one came to let her in. When she finally turned away from the house, the gray dampness of the day seemed to seep right into her heart. Ellen's teacher had forgotten about her lesson.

Have you ever been forgotten? Sometimes adults forget the promises they make to kids. Maybe someone promised you a trip to the ice cream store. Maybe someone promised to take you fishing, teach you how to play basketball, or pick you up at a certain time – and he forgot. The Bible tells us that even our parents can sometimes forget about us!

But there is Someone who will never forget you. In Isaiah 49, God comforts His people by saying that He has graven them on the palms of His hands. He promises that He will never forget them. If you are His child, you will never be out of His loving care. All of the promises He makes to you in His Word are true. He will never forget one of them. And He will never forget you – ever.

God will never forget His children.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Binoculars

Alex eagerly tore the wrapping paper off the birthday present his parents had given him. "Oh, wow! Binoculars! Thanks!" He quickly pulled them out of the box, then went to the window and scanned the yard. "Cool!" he exclaimed as he looked at a bird near the top of a neighbor's tree. Alex turned to his parents. "Can we go to the state forest?" he asked. "It has some good lookout points where I could try these out. I bet I could see a long way."

"Sounds great!" agreed Dad. "Let's go!"

Dad, Alex, and six-year-old Tyler hurried to the car, and before long, they stood on one of the lookout points and took turns checking the view through the binoculars. As Alex took a turn, he silently watched something for a moment. "Dad! I see a doe and twin fawns," he whispered. "They're so cute! Look!" Dad took the binoculars and soon located the animals. He watched them for a minute. "Aren't they cool?" whispered Alex.

"I want to see them, too," said Tyler. "I want to see the little deer."

Dad laughed and handed the binoculars to Tyler. "They're cool, Alex," Dad said out loud, "but they're far away. You don't need to whisper."

"Oh! Right!" Alex looked a little sheepish. "They just seemed to be so close when I saw them through the binoculars," he said.

"They don't know we're watching them, do they?" asked Tyler.

Alex shook his head. "We can see every move they make, but they're so far away that they don't even know we exist!" he said.

Dad smiled. "Does it remind you that we're being watched, too?" he asked.

"We are? Who's watching us?" Tyler wanted to know.

"God is," said Alex. "Isn't He, Dad?"

Dad nodded. "We're often unaware of God's presence, just like the doe and fawns are unaware of us, but He sees every move we make," said Dad. "He sees the good things we do and also the mistakes we make."

"We should be careful of what we do, since God is always watching," said Tyler soberly.

"Yep," agreed Alex, taking the binoculars. "And He doesn't need these, either!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware that God sees you twenty-four hours a day? Knowing that His presence is always with you should help you make right decisions. Next time you're tempted to do something wrong, remember that God is watching! Next time you become discouraged in your efforts to do what is right, remember that God is watching! Next time you do something good, remember He's watching and sees that, too. He sees you all the time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Helping Hand

"Clumsy! Can't you even stand on your own two feet?" Kim heard jeering voices as she lay on the sidewalk, pain shooting through her skinned knees and hands. Her bulky, corrective shoes made it difficult to go down steps, and she had tripped and fallen. Several girls glanced back as Kim lay sprawled on the ground. Then, except for one, they all sped off to the playground.

"Are you all right?" asked the girl who stayed. Kim nodded bravely but was too winded to answer. "Let me help you up," offered the girl. "Give me your hand. My name is Michelle. What's yours?"

Kim extended her hand. "K-K-Kim," she gasped, finally able to get her breath. "Thanks for helping me, Michelle. You're a real Good Samaritan."

"Good Samaritan? What's that?" asked Michelle as they went into the school so Kim could wash up.

Kim smiled at her new friend. "We learned about him in Sunday school," she said. "Do you go to church and Sunday school?"

Michelle shook her head. "Tell me about your good Samaritan," she said.

And so Kim told her the story. (See today's Scripture.) "The man who took care of the one who was hurt is called the Good Samaritan," explained Kim, "and you really are like him!"

Michelle smiled. "I'm glad I could help you," she said, "but most anyone would do that."

Kim shook her head. "Two girls from my Sunday school class were in that group that saw me fall, but like those religious leaders, they didn't stop to help. You don't even go to Sunday school, but you stopped. According to Jesus, you were a 'neighbor' to me." She paused for a moment, then added shyly, "But, you know, being a good neighbor isn't enough. You need to know Jesus and love Him, too. Would you like to come to Sunday school with me and learn more about Him?"

"Sure," agreed Michelle as the girls went out to play. "Sounds like you have some good stories there."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you see someone in trouble, do you stop to help? That isn't always the easy thing to do-especially when you're the only one who helps. The Bible teaches that helping those in trouble is an important part of a Christian's life. If you love God, show His love to all those around you by being a good "neighbor" to them. If you do that, you may also have a chance to tell them about Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You shall love the Lord your God . . . and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

[Soldier4Christ]

 Too Far Away

Ron's radio-controlled car zipped down the driveway. He pushed a lever on the control box to turn the car around and guide it back to the garage. "Ready, Dad?" Ron asked as his father came out with a similar car in his hand. "Let's hit the parking lot!"

When they reached the nearby parking lot, Ron and his father found a couple of boys already there. "That's okay. There's room for all of us," said Dad, and he and Ron went to the far end, away from the others.

They had a good time. Dad made his Chevy model jump off the curb, summersault, and flip back onto its tires. Ron skidded his Turbo through some sand, turning it sharply to catch up with Dad's car. But then he had a problem. "Look! My car is going crazy!" Ron exclaimed. "It won't follow my directions!"

Dad watched for a moment. "I think it's too far away to receive your signals," he observed. "Look-it's too close to these other boys and must be on the same frequency as one of their cars. I think it's following the directions one of them is giving."

Just then one of the boys looked up and saw what was happening with Ron's car. The boy laughed and waved. "I'll send it back to you," he called. Soon Ron's car was again under his control.

"What happened there reminds me of how important it is for Christians to stay close to the right source for guidance in their lives," Dad said as he watched Ron guide his car. "If we get too far away from the Lord-for example, if we regularly skip Bible reading and prayer and fellowship with other Christians, and if we stop thinking about God and what He wants us to do in various situations-we may not get the spiritual guidance we need. We also are placing ourselves in a position to be easily influenced in the wrong direction by unbelieving friends."

Ron looked at his car and made it turn sharply as it nearly bumped into a curb. "I'll try to remember that, Dad," he promised. "I don't want to bump into 'curbs' in my life. They would hurt!"

Dad smiled and nodded. "That's right," he agreed. "Following wrong influences often ends up causing us pain."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you getting guidance from God in your life? Or are you easily influenced to go along with the crowd and join in when friends want you to do something that isn't right? If so, perhaps it's because you've gotten too far from the Lord. Remember that steady Christian fellowship, Bible reading, and prayer will help you live as you should. Ask God for strength to stand firm against the influence of the world.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

[Soldier4Christ]

 Before The Sun Sets

A fine friend you turned out to be! Jimmy accused Joe, shaking a clenched fist in anger.  "You promised to help me work on my bike, and then you went to play ball instead!"

    "I had to!" Joe shouted back.  "They needed a pitcher.  Billy was sick, and they asked me to take his place.  You know I can throw some good curves!"

    "Well, this is the last time I'll ever believe you!" declared Jimmy.  With those words he stomped off, anger showing in every line of his face.

    When Dad read the Bible after supper as usual, Jimmy's mind kept wandering back to the angry exchange of words between Joe and himself -- but suddenly some words from the Scripture caught his attention.  "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. . . ."  The words hit Jimmy like a thunderbolt.  They were meant for him!  He could hardly sit still.  "I've got to do something real quick!" he blurted out as soon as Dad finished reading.  "The sun will be going down soon, but it won't take me long!"

    In a flash, he was up and out of the house, running toward Joe's house.  His bewildered parents looked at each other in surprise.  "What in the world has happened?" asked Mother.

    In less than fifteen minutes, Jimmy came back, whistling happily.  "Jimmy, what's up?" Dad asked.

    Jimmy grinned.  "I had a deadline to meet, and a friendship to patch up!"  As he told them what had happened, his parents looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

    "Nice going, Jimmy," said Dad.  "That's putting Scripture into action!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you lose your temper easily?  Are you willing to ask forgiveness and make up with someone you may have hurt by your harsh remarks?  Forgive that person for his part in the quarrel and ask him to forgive you, too.  Don't put it off until tomorrow.  Do it now.  Ask the Lord to help you do this, and then ask Him daily to help you keep your temper under control.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

[Soldier4Christ]

 Off The Hook

Jared, have you learned your memory verse for Sunday yet? asked Mother.

    Jared shook his head.  "I got my lesson done, but it takes too long to learn the verse," he said.  " I want to finish this."  He scowled as he held up the model plane he was putting together.  "My friend Ben was supposed to come over this morning to help me with it.  He said he'd call if he couldn't come.  It's almost noon, and he still hasn't come or called."

    "Well, I want you to learn that verse before you finish your plane," said Mother.  "You can work on that this afternoon.  Maybe Ben can come then instead.  Why don't you call him and see?"

    "Yeah, I guess I'd better," Jared agreed.  He put the model down and went to the telephone.  "Oh, oh!" Jared exclaimed.  "Now I know why Ben hasn't called.  The phone's off the hook!"

    "Someone must have bumped it," Mother said.  "Ben's probably been trying to call, but you've been missing his message."  She looked at Jared.  "I wonder if we who are Christians sometimes miss the Lord's messages because, in a way, our receivers are off the hook and He can't get in touch with us."

    Jared gave her a puzzled look.  "Our receivers?" he asked.  "What do you mean?"

    "I mean that sometimes we aren't able to hear the things that God wants us to hear, because our hearts and minds are too busy with other things," Mother answered.  "Studying God's Word and memorizing Bible verses is one way we can stay in touch with Him.  He speaks to us through His Word."

    Jared frowned.  He knew what Mother meant.  "You're talking about my Sunday school verse again, aren't you?" he asked.

    "Yes, I am," replied Mother.

    Jared sighed.  "Okay," he agreed.  "I'll call Ben and see if he's been trying to reach me.  Then I'll learn my verse."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your "receiver" in place?  God is eager to communicate with you through His Word.  Read it, think about it, memorize it, and act upon it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Bride Part 1

Oh, Lisa, gasped Tina as she entered the room she shared with her older
sister, "your dress is beautiful! You look like a princess!"
 

    Lisa laughed.  "I hope I look like a bride," she said.

    Tina giggled.  "Try on the veil, too.  I want to see it.  Please, Lisa?"  As Lisa placed the veil on her dark hair, Tina sighed wistfully.  "I'd love to wear a dress like that and march down the church aisle," she said.

>    Lisa laughed.  "Whoa, Tina!" she said.  "You're only thirteen.  It'll be a long time before you're old enough to get married."

    "With these braces and glasses, I'll probably never get married," Tina pouted.  "No guy in his right mind would even look at me twice!"

    "By the time you're old enough to get married, you won't have braces.  And glasses can look really smart -- or if you prefer, you could get contact lenses some day," Lisa encouraged.  "Besides, if a guy really loves you, he won't care if you have glasses, or braces, or warts on your nose!"

    Tina laughed.  "Well, at least I don't have warts.  Lisa, how do you know that you really love Doug?"

>    Lisa thought a while.  "Well, love isn't just a good feeling.  It includes respect, commitment, and friendship.  When there's real love between a man and a woman, they want to commit themselves to one another for a lifetime.  Never get married unless you're sure you've found someone you want to live with the rest of your life," she advised.

    "Wow!"  Tina whistled.  "Maybe I never will get married!  It must be hard to love someone that much."

>    Lisa smiled.  "God will give you love for the right guy if you'll wait for Him to do the choosing," she said.  "But the important thing to remember, Tina, is that you must be willing to do what God wants.  Maybe you'll marry, maybe not.  That's up to God.  Meanwhile, you can enjoy my wedding, okay?"

>    Tina nodded and grinned.  "Okay."






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder who you'll marry or whether you ever will get married?  Don't fret.  You have lots of time.  Remember, God says that marriage is to last as long as you both live, so it's a very serious decision.  Pray for God's will to be done.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Bride Part 2

Tina was nearly as excited about her sister's wedding plans as Lisa was.
One night not long before the marriage was to take place, Lisa looked up from
her desk with a smile. "I thought I'd read my Sunday school lesson and forget
all about weddings for a few minutes," she said, "but guess what the lesson is
about?"
 

    "What?" asked Tina, who was sprawled on her bed.

    "It's about how believers are God's Church," Lisa answered.  "They're called the Bride of Christ.  He's the Bridegroom, and He'll come back for His Bride."  She paused, a thoughtful look on her face.  "I've worked so hard to make sure everything is just right for my wedding!  I wonder if I've been as careful in preparing to meet Jesus."

    "What things are we supposed to be doing to be ready to meet Him?" asked Tina.

    "Trusting in Christ to forgive our sins is the beginning, of course," Lisa answered.  "And then, according to First John, chapter three, we should be purifying ourselves."

    "What does that mean?" Tina asked.

    "Well, think about it," said Lisa.  "I know that when Doug is coming over, I want to be always lovely and clean.  And I want to do the things that please him and go the places he likes to go."  She grinned.  "I'm even glad to go fishing with him!"

    Tina laughed with her sister, remembering how Lisa had always disliked squiggly worms.  "I think I get it," said Tina.  "If we really believe Jesus is coming, we should want to live pure, clean lives for Him and do the things that please Him."

    Lisa nodded as she climbed into bed.  "That's right." she agreed.  "Let's both remember to work on that as well as on wedding plans."






HOW ABOUT YOU?
If Jesus came today, would you be ready?  Are you keeping your life pure?  Do your thoughts and actions please Him?  Remember, Jesus is coming!  Live as though you believe that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

[Soldier4Christ]

Before There Was Anything Else, There Was God

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Psalm 90:2)

One of Martin's favorite school activities was Show and Tell Day. One time, he took his most valued treasure: a very old Indian stone. His dad had told him that Indians who lived in Florida long before the colonists settled in America had used the stone as a hammer. Every time Martin held the stone, he thought about how old the stone was.

What is the oldest thing that you have ever held or seen? Maybe you have an old baseball card, an ancient coin, or an antique piece of furniture. Can you think of anything or anyone even older than these things? The Bible verse that you read today tells you that before the mountains were formed and the earth was created, God existed.

In fact, the verse says that God is everlasting: He has always existed, and He will last forever. That is hard to imagine, isn't it? God has always been and always will be. When you try to imagine how long eternity will be in the future, it almost hurts your brain. God will not only live eternally in the future, but He has lived eternally in the past. None of us can do that!

This eternal God knows all about you, and He has given you His Word (the Bible) in order for you to learn more about Him. Today, thank your God for being the Eternal God and continue to get to know Him by reading His Word!

God has always existed, and He will never die.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Pattern for Life

One rainy Saturday afternoon, Mandy curled up on the sofa in the family room to read a book she had received for her birthday. Her mother knelt on the floor, surrounded by colorful fabric, pattern pieces, scissors, and pins. Mandy looked up from her book. "What are you doing, Mom?" she asked.

"I'm going to make a shirt for myself,"replied Mom as she pinned a pattern piece onto the fabric.

Mandy returned to her book while her mother carefully cut along the printed lines, removed the pattern piece, and opened up the sewing machine. "I don't know how you do it, Mom," Mandy said when she looked up a little later. "I don't see how you can make all those pieces come together and look like the picture on the pattern envelope!"

Mom smiled. "You could do this, too, if you wanted to," she said.

"Oh, sure!" grunted Mandy. "I'm a great seamstress."

"Really," insisted Mom. "You just have to follow the directions. If I do that, my shirt will turn out like the one in the picture."

"That's because you're a good sewer," Mandy answered. As she watched her mother stitch pieces together on the sewing machine, she asked, "Mom, do you think God has patterns for our lives?"

"Patterns?" asked Mom. "What do you mean?"

"Well, in Sunday school, Mrs. Crane said that God has a plan for each of us," explained Mandy. "Wouldn't that be like a pattern? She also said we should do what God tells us in the Bible so we can become what God wants us to be. That might be like following the instruction sheet that comes with your pattern."

Mom sat back on her heels. "That's a good illustration!" she said. "Yes, God is making each of us into something special, Mandy. Even when things look confusing or impossible-like these shirt pieces do to you just now-we have to keep following God's instructions. Then He'll make us into beautiful, finished products." Mom smiled at Mandy. "You're a smart girl. I know you're smart enough to figure out how to sew something yourself."

Mandy grinned. "Next time you go to the fabric store, maybe I can come along and find an easy pattern for me to try," she said. "It might be fun."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that God has a pattern for your life? Instructions are found in His Word-the Bible. Begin now to learn the principles He gives. Read them for yourself. Listen carefully when your pastor or Sunday school teacher explains passages in the Bible. As you learn and obey what God tells you through His Word, you will become more and more like Jesus. The pattern, or plan, He has for you will become evident in your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Psa 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.