Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Lori carefully measured a cup of sugar into a bowl.  "I like making cookies," she said, "and Dad says my cookies are second only to yours."  She grinned at her mother as she cracked an egg.

    "You do a good job," agreed Mother, "and I appreciate your taking that task off my hands today.  I need the extra time to prepare for my Bible study."

    "Yeah," murmured Lori.  She looked thoughtful as she stirred the mixture.  "Mom, how do you know the Bible is true, anyway?  I mean, couldn't it have some mistakes?"

    Mother looked surprised.  "No, it couldn't," she said.

    "Well, Janie's father is a preacher, and they believe most of the Bible," said Lori, "but her father says some of the things just couldn't have happened. . .like the story of Jonah and some of the miracles.  He says God has set up certain laws of nature, and those things don't fit in."

    "God did establish laws of nature," agreed Mother, "but God, Himself, is not limited by them."  She paused as she watched Lori take the baking soda from the cupboard.  "Lori," said Mother, "why don't you put in a few extra teaspoons of soda today?"

    Lori stood still.  "Why?  What for?" she asked in surprise.

    Mother shrugged.  "It might make the cookies taste even better.  And maybe if you'd add an extra cup of milk to make a nice soft dough, you'd get some nice soft cookies."

    Lori stared at her mother, then she laughed.  "Either you've gotta be kidding, or you're afraid Dad will like my cookies better than yours, so you're trying to ruin them," she teased.  "Won't work, Mom!  I've used this recipe often enough to know it's just right the way it is."

    "In other words, you've tested it and found it to be accurate," said Mother, "just as I've tested many other recipes in that cookbook."  Then she pointed to the Bible lying on a kitchen shelf.  "There's another book that's been tried and proven to be accurate.  Many things the Bible said would take place already have happened.  That's just one of the reasons you can be sure that all it says is true.  And in spite of evil men who have tried to get rid of it by forbidding people to read it and persecuting those who do, God's Word lives on." 




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you wondered if the Bible is really true?  It is.  The Bible has changed the lives of people throughout the world.  Even science, as it has developed, proves the truth of the Bible.  The Bible has stood the test of time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 40:8  T)
The word of our God shall stand for ever.

[Soldier4Christ]

Once upon a time there were three Baars:  Mr. Baar, Mrs. Baar, and their daughter, Merry.  Amy snuggled close as her mother continued reading from Amy's favorite storybook.  "One day while driving home from church, Mr. Baar growled, 'I'm never going back there again.  No one spoke to me this morning.'

    "Mrs. Baar nodded her head until her curls bobbed.  'Me, either!  Not one person talked to me,' she declared.

    "Merry Baar bounced up and down in the back seat.  In her little, high voice she said, 'Nobody spoke to me.  Let's not go back there.'

    "So the Baars tried several other churches, but they were always disappointed when no one paid much attention to them.  All the Baars agreed that churches were most unfriendly.

    "One day the pastor from the last church they visited came to their home.  'We have so many nice people in our church,' he said.  'Did you meet any of them?'

    "Mr. Baar shook his head.  'No one talked to me.'

    "'No one welcomed me,' added Mrs. Baar.

    "'Me, neither," Merry said in her high, little voice.  'We squeezed in the back seat just before church started, and we ran out as soon as it ended.'

    "'Ahhhh!'  The pastor smiled.  'Perhaps you'd like to try a little experiment.'  Mr. and Mrs. Baar and Merry looked puzzled.  'I find that the people who always seem to have a good time with others at church are those who look for someone who seems lonely,' continued the pastor, 'and they talk with that person.  Would the three of you try that this Sunday?'  All the Baars nodded.

    "That Sunday the Baar family went to church a little earlier and looked for someone who seemed friendless.  A family with a girl about Merry's age stood in the back of the auditorium, looking uncertain as to where they should go.  Quickly, the Baars went to talk with the family and found they were very nice people.  Then they all sat together during the church service.

    "'This is a friendly church,' Mr. Baar said later, beaming at the pastor.

    "'I think you may have found the secret to finding a friendly church,' the pastor said.  'It's not so much who talks with you, as whom you try to talk with.'  All the Baars nodded happily."  As Mother closed the book, she saw that Amy had already fallen asleep.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel left out and friendless at church?  It could be because you don't give others a chance to meet you.  Enjoying the fellowship of other believers helps you fellowship with God as well.  So don't quit going to church.  Instead, make an effort to greet others, especially those who seem to be in need of a friendly smile.  You'll find that they usually respond to you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 2:42  A)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Christy was sorry when she heard that Nicole's mother had been in a car accident and was in critical condition in the hospital.  Many of the kids in Christy's class stared curiously at Nicole but stayed away from her because they didn't know what to say.  And most of those who did talk to her felt very awkward about it.  I don't know Nicole very well, but since Dad was in a serious accident last year, I think I know just how she feels, thought Christy.  I remember how hard it was--and still is sometimes, since there are still some things he can't do.

    At lunch time, Christy sat next to Nicole.  "I know how hard it is," she said softly.  "My father was in a car wreck last year."

    "Oh."  Nicole sighed.  "Then you understand how I feel!"

    "Yes, I do," Christy agreed.  "Lots of people prayed for us, and we'll be praying for your mom and your family, too."

    "Really?" Nicole's face showed her first smile of the day.

    When Christy got home from school that afternoon, she told her dad about Nicole's mother.  "I told her that knowing the Lord helped me.  She listened to what I had to say, Dad, because she knew I understood how she felt."

    Dad smiled and nodded.  "It often happens like that, Christy," he said, "and it's what the Bible teaches.  God says we can comfort others who are going through hard times because He comforts us during our hard times.  One way we can do this is by telling them about the Lord."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you experienced some hard times?  Maybe your dad or mom has been seriously sick, or maybe someone close to you has died.  Maybe your family is going through an especially difficult time.  No matter what your situation, God loves you.  He cares and He offers His comfort--sometimes through His word, sometimes through other people, sometimes just in talking with Him.  Then you, in turn, can comfort others with His love.  Even if nothing really bad has happened to you, you can still pray for those who are going through a tough situation.  You can let them know you're sorry about their problems.  And you can tell them about God's love.   


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 1:4  W)
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jan sat at the kitchen table lost in thought, while her mother put away the dinner dishes.  Finally Jan sighed.  "My Sunday school teacher said something that I still can't figure out," she announced.

    "Oh?  What did he say?" asked Mother.

    "Well," Jan replied, "he said the only way to be really happy as a Christian is to do what God wants us to do all the time, instead of doing what we want.  It doesn't make sense.  How can we be happy if we're always doing things we really don't want to do?  I think that would make me miserable, not happy!"

    "I understand what you're saying, and in a way, you're right," agreed Mother.  "If the Christian life were just a matter of forcing ourselves to do unpleasant things, it certainly wouldn't be very enjoyable, would it?  But it seems to me you're overlooking something important."

    "What's that?" asked Jan.

    Mother smiled.  "Remember how you reacted when I asked you to wash the dishes after supper tonight?"

    "Uh. . .I suppose I complained a little," Jan admitted sheepishly.  "I'm sorry, Mom.  I guess I just didn't feel like doing them."

    Mother smiled.  "I know that doing dishes isn't your favorite job," she said, "but what about last night, when I wasn't feeling well?  You came in from school and cleaned up the whole kitchen, just to surprise me.  And after supper, you jumped right up and said, 'I'll do the dishes tonight.'"

    "That's right."  Jan grinned.  "And I really didn't mind.  But I did it to be nice, not because I had to."

    "In other words, you did it out of love," explained Mother.  "And that's the real secret of a happy Christian life.  If we try to serve God out of a sense of duty, we'll never be truly happy.  But when we serve Him out of love and gratitude to Him, He gives us joy and contentment.  That's what makes the difference!" 




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever serve God grudgingly, just because you feel you have to?  When you don't feel like doing the things you should, admit it to God and ask for the help of His Spirit.  Then do what He wants you to do out of love for Him.  That way you'll truly be a happy Christian instead of a miserable one!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 5:3  F)
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandment

[Soldier4Christ]

Bethany fought the urge to bite her nails as Miss Lewis told the older girls what would be expected of them as church-camp counselors.  "You'll be teaching Bible stories to the younger children, and it's important that your behavior is a good example to them," said Miss Lewis.  Bethany was excited about the opportunity, but she also felt like a huge block of responsibility rested on her shoulders.  Some of the kids who are going to be counselors act like we're just going for a good time.  What if they tempt me to goof off? she worried.  I don't want to disappoint Miss Lewis--or God!

    When Bethany got home, Mother was just getting ready to leave for a meeting at church.  "While I'm gone, I'd like you to fix a meatloaf for dinner," said Mother.  "The directions are in the cookbook."

    Bethany sighed as Mother hurried away.  I hope I can do this right, she thought.

    When Mother returned, dinner was all ready.  Everyone complimented Bethany on doing a good job.  Even her little brother, Pete, had two helpings of meatloaf.

    As they washed the dishes, Bethany told Mother about her concerns regarding camp.  "Hmmm," murmured Mother.  "Tell me. . .did you have any trouble making the meatloaf?"

    "No," replied Bethany.  "It was easy.  I just looked in the cookbook and found the recipe."

    Mother smiled.  "And you followed the directions, right?  I knew you could," she said.  "There are also directions for us to follow when we're worried, afraid, or need encouragement to remain strong.  Do you know where to find them?"

    Bethany nodded.  "I bet you mean the Bible," she said.

    "That's right," said Mother.  "Think of the verses you've memorized and use them as recipes while you're at camp.  They'll help you find faith and courage to do what you know is right."  Mother dried the last plate.  "Follow those directions, and you can't help but do a good job."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know where to turn for directions when you're worried, afraid, or tempted?  The Bible has verses to help you know what to do no matter what problem or worry you might face.  Memorize verses that are especially helpful to you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:105  T)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

[Soldier4Christ]

Liz glared at her mother.  "You have no good reason to make me miss Sara's slumber party next Friday," she insisted.  "You don't even know her, and I think you're being very unfair."

    "Maybe you're right, Liz," admitted Mother.  "Perhaps it's because I don't know Sara that I feel you shouldn't go.  I'm not trying to ruin your fun.  I'm just trying to protect you from a possible bad influence.  Why don't you invite Sara over for dinner sometime?  Then I can get to know her better."

    Liz agreed to Mother's suggestion, and Sara came the next evening.  "You and Sara go ahead and play a game," said Mother after dinner.  "I'll clear the table and do the dishes."  As she worked, she enjoyed hearing the giggles and chatter of the two girls in the next room.

    "Sara seems like a nice girl," said Mother after Sara had been taken home, "but I still feel uneasy about the slumber party.  I really need to meet Sara's parents, or at least know more about them, before I can allow you to spend the night there."  Liz sighed.  She was quite sure there would be no slumber party for her this week.

    After school the next day, Liz's dog, GG (short for Good Girl), was making a terrible commotion.  "Mother, what is wrong with GG?" asked Liz.  "Ever since she had her puppies she's been going wild every time someone comes to the door.  Make her quiet down!  She should know the postman won't hurt her.  She never used to bark at him."

    "GG just isn't going to take any chances with her babies," explained Mother as they settled the dog with her puppies in the kitchen.  "She'll try to keep anyone who isn't family away from them."  She paused, then added, "I guess all mothers are that way, so do please be patient with GG--and me--as we mother our children!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wonder why your parents seem so protective of you?  Do you feel like they just won't let you grow up?  God has given them the great responsibility of keeping you from evil influences.  They're just doing their job.  Honor them for that, and be patient with them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deuteronomy 5:16  H)
Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tim ran into the house.  "Mom," he said excitedly, "you know Brandon--that new boy down the street?  He and I want to go for a hike in the park, okay?  He's my age and he's the nicest boy I've ever met!  I bet he's a Christian."

    Mother looked up at Tim.  "That will be fine," she said.  "Just don't be back too late."  She smiled.  "Brandon does seem very nice.  Maybe you could ask him if he knows the Lord."

    "Well. . .I did ask him," said Tim hesitantly.

    "Good!  And what did he say?" asked Mother.

    "He just said he tries his best to be real good," admitted Tim.

    "I see.  But you know that doesn't make a person a Christian, fit for heaven," replied Mother.  Tim just shrugged and hurried out to meet Brandon.

    The boys had a great time hiking, and before they knew it, it was time  to head for home.  "We'd better be going," said Tim.

    "Yeah," agreed Brandon.  He looked around.  "Hey, Tim," he said. "Look!  From up on this hill you can see a long way."

    "You sure can," agreed Tim.  He pointed.  "See that yellow dot over there?  That's your neighbor's house."

    "Wow!  Yeah!" said Brandon.  "Let's take a shortcut down the side of this hill and across that valley.  It should bring us right to our road, and it will be much shorter than going the other way."

    "You're right," agreed Tim.  "Let's go!"

    The boys set off, and as they expected, they soon came to the road on which they lived.  "Oh, no!" groaned Tim.  "I forgot about the high chain link fence between the road and this park.  We won't be able to climb over it, either.  There's barbed wire at the top."

    The boys followed the fence for a while, looking for a hole, but there was none.  They had to go all the way back to the path which led out of the park.

    "I'm really tired," said Tim when he reached home.  He explained what had happened.  "We were sure we could get home this other way.  We were so close, but we couldn't get here.  I guess the only way home from the park is through the entrance gate."

    Mother nodded.  "You know, I'm reminded of what we talked about earlier.  Brandon is a very nice boy.  And just as both of you were so close to home, Brandon may be close to the kingdom of heaven.  Yet the only way to get into heaven is through the gate.  And Jesus is that gate."

    Tim nodded thoughtfully.   "I'm going to pray for Brandon and tell him about Jesus," he said.  "Maybe he'll come to church with me, too."   




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you come through the "gate" for salvation?  Jesus is the only way you can get into heaven.  Trust Him as your Savior today.  (See last page for more help.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 10:9  I)
I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.

[Soldier4Christ]

Beth played the flute, and her brother Scott played the clarinet.  Since they both did well on their instruments, they were sometimes asked to provide special music for church services.  One day, when they were supposed to be rehearsing a special number for Sunday morning, they couldn't agree on what song to play.  "Let's play 'Give Thanks,'" Scott suggested.

    "Yuk!" Beth exclaimed.  "I am so tired of hearing that song!"

    "It's a neat song," insisted Scott.

    "I always knew you had bad taste," retorted. Beth.

    Scott was indignant.  "Look who's talking!" he said angrily.  "The last time we played, you decided we should play that chorus we learned at camp, and it sounded horrible!"

    "Did not."

    "Did!"

    "Well, anyhow," said Beth, "I think we should play a praise song.  How about 'I Will Praise Him'?  Something like that."

    Scott snorted, but they played through the song.  "Bo-o-r-ring," he told his sister when they finished.

    "Just forget it, then!" Beth snapped.  "I have better things to do than to sit here and argue with you!"  She placed her flute in its case and snapped it shut.

    "Wait a minute," said Mother as she walked into the room.  "What's going on here?  It sounds like war!  Why do you two bother to play at all?"

    Scott was puzzled.  "Well. . .we were asked to play,"  he mumbled.

    Beth knew that wasn't a satisfactory answer.  "It's. . .it's our ministry.  We hope others will learn about the Lord through our music," she added weakly.

    "That sounds good," said Mother, "and I like the words to the song you just played.  But I certainly didn't hear any praises when you were talking together and deciding what to play.  I think you'd better check on your attitudes."

    Mother left the room, and Scott and Beth looked at each other.  "Mom's right," Beth said.  "Let's start all over. . .you may choose the song we'll play."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is your attitude when you're asked to serve in some way in your church?  Do you think of every possible excuse to keep from joining the children's choir?  Do you slide down in your seat when your Sunday school teacher asks for someone to pray?  The Bible says we are to joyfully serve the Lord and share His Word with others.  Check your attitude and make sure it's a joyful one!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 100:1  M)
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

[Soldier4Christ]

Melinda lay across her bed as she read an exciting missionary story.  "Wow!" she thought.  "I wish I could be a missionary and serve God, but there's not much a kid can do."

    "Melinda!  Come here, please," Mother called from the kitchen.  "Mrs. Nelson is sick, and I want you to take this stew over there."  Melinda sighed but did as Mother asked.

    At the Nelson's, Melinda noticed that the breakfast and lunch dishes were still on the table.  So she loaded them into the dishwasher and set the table for dinner.  She left smiling, after Mrs. Nelson thanked her over and over for being so helpful.

    When Melinda got back home, Mother asked her to run some magazines over to Grannie Wilson.  Grannie was so pleased to see her that Melinda sat down and visited a while.  "You're a sweet girl, Melinda," Grannie said.  "Most young people these days don't have time for us old folks."

    When Melinda arrived home once again, she was singing.  "Well, you seem to be in a good mood," Mother remarked.  "Would you feed Robbie?"

    By the time Melinda finished feeding the baby, she was laughing.  "He's such a clown," she said.

    After dinner, Melinda returned to reading her book.  "I wish I could grow up fast so I can serve the Lord--like the missionary I've been reading about," she said when she finished the story.

    Mother smiled.  "Why, Melinda," she said, "you've been doing things for the Lord all afternoon."

    "Me?  For the Lord?" repeated Melinda.

    "You helped Mrs. Nelson," Mother pointed out.  "You visited with Grannie Wilson.  You. . . ."

    "But, Mom, that was just helping people," said Melinda with a sigh.  "I want to do something for the Lord."

    "How do you think missionaries serve the Lord?" asked Mother.  "They do it by doing things for people.  We serve God by serving others, and that's what you've been doing."

    A big smile slowly spread over Melinda's face.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What have you done to serve God lately?  You serve Him by serving others.  Make a list of two or three things you can do today to help others.  Then check at the end of the day to see if you've done them.  You'll find that serving the Lord by helping others will put a smile on your lips and a song in your heart.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 100:2  S)
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Craig frowned as he looked at the stack of church bulletins lying on the table.  The youth pastor had asked the kids to choose jobs to help out at church.  I should probably help rake the yard, Craig had thought, but that's such hard work.  I'll just offer to fold bulletins instead.  Now he began to fold the bulletins as fast as he could, trying not to feel guilty about getting out of raking.  But he did feel guilty, especially when he saw that there still was a lot of raking to be done when he left for home.

    When he got home, Craig found his little brother, Andy, in his room.  Andy grinned at Craig.  "I owed you a chore, remember?  So I took out your trash."

    Craig scowled.  "The waste basket wasn't even full," he complained.  "You should have asked me.  I wanted you to clean out my closet."

    "Well, taking out the trash was easier," retorted Andy.

    Craig had just opened his mouth to reply when Mom walked into the room.  "How did your work at church go?" she asked.

    Craig swallowed hard.  He realized that he felt disappointed when Andy took an easy job instead of asking what needed to be done.  Does God feel like that, too? he wondered.  He felt more guilty than before.  "I. . .I  took an easy job instead of what I really thought I should do," he admitted.

    "We call that taking the 'easy route,'" said Mom.  "What did you think you really should do?"

    "Rake the church yard," murmured Craig.  "I wish I had done that instead of folding bulletins."

    Mom put her arm around Craig's shoulder.  "First of all," she said, "I want to be sure you realize that folding bulletins is serving God, too.  But if raking the yard is what you felt God really wanted you to do, folding bulletins is not enough.  Why don't you ask Mr. Miller if you can help with both jobs next week?"

    Craig nodded, feeling relieved.  "Okay," he said.  "Or if the raking is all done, I'll offer to help mow the church lawn this summer."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you try to learn what God wants you to do instead of choosing tasks you think would be easiest or what sounds like fun?  Don't seek your own way.  You will find happiness, not in going the "easy route," but in doing what God wants you to do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 40:8  I)
I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

As rain pattered against Dana's bedroom window, two big tears dampened her pillow.  The storm inside her heart seemed far greater than the storm outside.  Her dad  had left the family several months ago, and Dana had been praying he'd come back to the Lord and rejoin them.  But today the awful news had come.  Dad was getting married again.  Now there was no chance of restoring the family to the way it was.  And Dana felt she would never be happy again!  Lightning flashed unheeded as Dana continued to cry.

    A few minutes later, Dana heard her door opening softly, and Mother came in.  "Is the storm bothering you, honey?" asked Mother.

    Dana sniffed.  "No.  I hardly noticed it," she said.

    Mother smiled.  "That's good.  When you were small, you were terribly afraid of thunder and lightning."

    "I was?" asked Dana.  "I don't remember that.  I wonder how I got over it."

    Mother sat in the rocker next to the bed and stroked Dana's hair.  "When there was a bad storm, I used to come and sit in this chair sometimes.  For some reason, just having me here seemed to make your fear go away."

    Dana looked up at her mother and grinned.  "That's funny!" she said.  After a moment, she added, "You really don't need to stay in here tonight, Mom.  I'll be okay."

    "I know you will," replied Mother as she stood up.  "You see, I know how upset you've been lately, and I've been praying that God's presence will help you through this tough time.  I know I'd never make it without Him, and I hope you'll always remember that He's here to help you.  Any time you go through a storm, He will be there to see you through it."

    After Mother had left, Dana looked at the empty rocking chair.  She tried to imagine the Lord sitting there, watching over her during this crisis in her life.  Suddenly she knew that even though the problems in her life were still there, things were different now because she was trusting God to take care of her.  Dana rolled over and was soon sound asleep.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there some difficult problems in your life right now?  As you go through hard times, remember that God is right there with you.  Trust Him completely.  Learning to trust God, no matter what happens, is the secret to real peace.  Remember--He's always there!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 26:3  T)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

Kraig called his mother into the living room, where he was watching a TV program showing malnourished children in an African country. "They must be so hungry!" he exclaimed. "The man said some people go for a week without food. How do they stand it?"
 
 "Well, in some cases they may not always feel as hungry as they actually are," said Mother. "I've heard that when you don't eat for a long time, the hungry feeling becomes dull and goes away after a while. So starving people may not feel terribly hungry even though they so desperately need food."
 
 After dinner that evening, Dad pushed back his chair. "Instead of our usual devotions, I thought we could each share something we've learned recently from our own personal devotions," he said. "Kraig, why don't you start?"
 
 Kraig squirmed in his chair. "Well, Dad, I. . .ah. . .I guess I haven't been keeping up with my devotions very much lately. Most of the Bible is too hard for me to understand anyway, and. . . ." Kraig hesitated. "Sometimes it's downright boring," he added frankly.
 
 "Kraig," said Mother, "do you remember the starving people we saw on TV today?" Kraig nodded, and she continued, "Even though they were starving to death and hadn't eaten for days, they may not have felt terribly hungry. It's the same with the Bible. If you stop reading it faithfully, your 'hunger' for God's teaching will fade, even though you need it more than ever. But the more you read it, the more interesting you'll find it, and the more you'll understand and be able to use it in your life."
 
 "Really?" Kevin asked. "Well, I. . .I guess I'd better start reading my Bible to work up my appetite again."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
How "hungry" are you for God's Word? Do you sometimes feel like it isn't necessary to read your Bible? Don't become an undernourished Christian. Be sure to keep your appetite sharp by reading your Bible every day. The more you read it, the more interested in it you'll become!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deuteronomy 8:3 Ma)
Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.  Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Steve," said Phillip as he sat down at the kitchen table next to his big brother.
 
"Hi, kid."  Steve put down his pencil.  "Looks like I'm still short about a thousand dollars for college next year."
 
	"If you ask me, it's bad enough to have to go to school without having to pay for it!" replied Phillip.  He sounded a little disgusted.
 
	Mother looked up from the sink.  "Steve realizes a good education is worth the price he'll have to pay," she said.  "All the effort and money he puts into it now will be more than repaid in the future."  She dried her hands and went to answer the phone.  "Phillip!" Mom called a minute later.  "Mr.  VanderStahl says Scamp got into his trash cans again.  Did you tie him up after you fed him this morning?"
 
	Phillip groaned.  "I guess maybe I forgot," he said.  "I'll go right over and pick up the mess."
 
	Half an hour later, Phillip returned with a sour expression on his face.  "Boy, that was awful," he said.  "There were old chicken bones and banana peels and everything else all over the yard.  Yuck!"
 
	Mom smiled sympathetically.  "Well, Son, maybe the Lord felt you needed another lesson in responsibility.  You do have a habit of forgetting things."
 
	Phillip sighed.  "I know, and I'm trying to do better," he said.  "But can't God teach me what I need to know without all that hassle?"
 
	"Well," answered Mother, "I'm sure that having to pick up all that trash really impressed upon you the need to carry out your duties properly.  But cheer up!  Only a few minutes ago we were talking about the high cost of education, remember?  And how it's worth the price?"
 
	"But I'm not in college. . . ." began Phillip.
 
	"Mom's not talking about just college," interrupted Steve with a grin.  "She's saying that if you learn from this it will be worth all that hassle!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get impatient when things don't go right?  Do you wonder why God doesn't make it easier for you to learn spiritual lessons?  Don't underestimate the value of the patience and other qualities God may be developing in you through your troubles.  Your spiritual education may cost a lot, but it's worth it!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:11)
<i>(Wisdom) is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jason climbed into the car and slammed the door.  "I don't know how Miss Carson knows everything I do," he grumbled.  "She even knew that sometimes I. . .I. . . ."  Jason stopped, suddenly realizing that his folks didn't know he did some of the things his teacher had talked about.  But she had looked straight at him and read in the Bible about some of his secret sins.  He quickly changed the subject.  "Look at Darci's face."
 
Mother smiled and handed the little girl a mirror from her purse.  "What have you been eating?" asked Mother.
 
"Chocolate cake."  Darci's voice quivered.  "We had 'freshments in Sunday school.  It was Merri's birthday."
 
&#9;When they gathered around the dinner table a little later, Mother reminded Darci that there was still chocolate on her face.  "I forgot," said Darci, and she hurried off to wash her face.
 
Jason laughed.  "How could she forget after seeing herself in the mirror?" he wondered.
 
"I'm afraid we all do that sometimes," said Dad.  "Have you ever seen yourself in the 'mirror' of the Word of God, Jason?"
 
"What do mean?" asked Jason
 
"God's Word is like a mirror," replied Dad.  "It shows us how to live.  When we read it, it often shows us things that we need to change."  Jason thought of the things his teacher had read from the Bible--things that seemed to describe him and that he knew should be changed.  "But it doesn't do much good to see our faults if we don't correct them," continued Dad.  "Then we're like Darci."
 
"Let's eat."  Darci interrupted the conversation as she came back, water dripping off the end of her nose.  "My face is clean now."
 
Dad smiled.  "Good," he said.  "And let's all make sure, too, that we don't forget or ignore the things God wants us to clean up or do."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you look in the mirror of God's Word, do you like what you see?  If you see sin in your life, don't forget it or try to hide it.  Instead, confess it to God and ask Him to forgive you.  He wants to cleanse you and help you live as you should.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jeff was on a class field trip to a lighthouse, and the caretaker took them to the top room to see the powerful light.  "This big light runs on electricity," he said, indicating the heavy cables that went into the light.  Walking over to a counter, he pointed to an old lamp that was about a fourth the size of the modern one.  "This lamp was used before they had electricity," he continued.  "It ran on kerosene, and the caretaker's most important job was to make sure it didn't run out of fuel."
 
"But that light is so much smaller," observed one of the kids.  "I guess it didn't shine very far over the ocean, did it?"
 
"Actually, the old lamp shone just as far as the modern one does," the caretaker answered.  He picked up two odd-shaped pieces of glass from the counter.  "These are prisms.  They are specially cut to bend the rays of light that hit them and reflect them back--not once, but several times.  By using prisms, the beam of the kerosene lamp could be magnified up to a thousand times.  A sailor far out at sea could see the beam of reflected light."
 
That night at supper, all Jeff could talk about was his visit to the lighthouse.  "Years ago they used a small kerosene lamp," he told his family.  "They used prisms to reflect the beam of light to make it just as strong as the big light they use now."
 
"I can see that you learned a lot on your field trip today," said Mom. 
 
Dad nodded.  "You know, that information about the prisms reminds me of something in my Bible.  It tells us that Jesus is the Light of the world.  And because we're Christians, it's our job to reflect that light for the rest of the world to see.  Each one of us is important, just like each of those prisms was important.  Each of us should be reflecting God's light to a lost world."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What are you doing to reflect the light of Jesus?  Are you using the talents He has given you to glorify Him?  Are you telling others about Him?  Are you kind and loving as He wants you to be?  God holds you responsible to let your light shine for Him in the world.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;