Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Megan brushed tears from her eyes as she sat next to her mother on the couch.  I've been looking forward to my birthday party for weeks, she thought.  It's not fair that anything should ruin it!  Megan's mother could see that something was bothering her.  "Did something happen at school today that upset you?" asked Mother.
 
Megan nodded.  "Instead of coming to my birthday party next Saturday, Shari is planning her party for the same time," she said.  "She's inviting the same kids, too. . .she even invited me!  Why would she do that?"  Megan wiped her eyes.  "Since Shari's having a skating party and I'm only having pizza and games, everyone will choose her party instead of mine."
 
Mother hugged Megan close.  "I think we can solve this problem," said Mother after a moment.  "Since Shari's party is in the afternoon, we could change your party to Saturday evening.  We could help pick up the kids from the skating rink and bring them over here for pizza and games.  Shari could come then, too.  Don't you think they'd like two parties in one day?"
 
Megan smiled.  "That's a great idea!  Thanks, Mom!" she exclaimed.  "I can always count on you to think of a way to help me."
 
"I'm sorry you had a problem, but I'm glad you felt you could count on me," said Mother.  She looked thoughtful as she added, "Do you remember when you asked last week why God let hurtful things happen to Christians?"  Megan nodded.  "I can't tell you exactly why God lets them happen," continued Mother, "but I do know that just as you came to me with your problem, God wants us to come to Him.  I think it brings us close when you come to me for help, and I think we feel closer to God when we turn to Him for help, too.  As we trust Him, He gives us comfort and strength.  But if we never had any problems. . . ." Mother paused.
 
"We probably wouldn't go to God as much," Megan finished, "or learn to trust Him as much."
 
"That's right."  Mother nodded.  "I believe that one reason God allows Christians to have problems is to teach them to depend on Him.  He has the answers and will meet our needs if we only trust Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you see your problems as a way to grow in trust?  God will bring blessing from any difficulty when you lean completely upon His understanding.  He will be faithful to meet your needs.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Psa 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom," called fourteen-year-old Suzie as she ran into the house, "I might have a job this summer.  The Webbers and the Kings are both looking for summer baby-sitters."  She frowned as she continued.  "But there are four of us who applied for the two jobs," she added.  "We should know in a couple of days which ones they pick.  I really hope I get to work for the Kings.  They pay more and have a swimming pool."
 
A couple of days later, Mrs. Webber called.  "You're my first choice," she told Suzie.  "Would you like the job?"
 
"I sure would!" exclaimed Suzie.  Though it wasn't the job she preferred, she was thrilled to have been chosen.
 
    When Suzie got home from school a few days later, she found a note from her brother.  It read:  Mrs. King called and wants you to baby-sit for her this summer.  "Oh, Mom," wailed Suzie, "what shall I do?  The Kings have such a gorgeous house, and the pool would be great on a hot day.  I really want to work there."
 
"I can understand that," said Mom, "but how do you think Mrs. Webber will feel if you back out on her now?  You made a promise when you accepted the baby-sitting job from her, and you really don't have a good reason to change your mind."
 
"But I didn't know I'd hear from the Kings," moaned Suzie.
 
Mother picked up her Bible.  "I was reading in Nehemiah this morning," she said.  "Read this verse--Nehemiah 7:2."  She handed the Bible to Suzie.
 
Suzie read, "I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many."  She looked up at her mother.  "I don't get it," she said.
 
"Let's put that verse in our own words, using your name," Mother suggested.  "How about, 'I gave Suzie the job as baby-sitter for the Webbers, because she is faithful and can be counted on to do a good job, and she fears God.'"
 
Suzie frowned.  "You're saying if that verse is really true about me, I'll keep my word to Mrs. Webber, aren't you?" she asked.  She sighed.  "I know that's really the right thing to do.  I'll call Mrs. King and let her know I've already accepted a job with Mrs. Webber."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard to do what you've agreed to do, when something you'd rather do opens up?  Be careful about what you promise.  If you've made a commitment, God wants you to keep it.  Occasionally, a compromise may be agreeable to both parties involved, but as a rule you need to follow through on what you have said.  Be known as a faithful Christian and friend, not as someone who goes back on his word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 10:9  He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I know I should keep inviting Missy to Sunday school," Holly told her mother as they walked to the grocery store, "but I don't really want to anymore.  I don't see how I could ever be her friend, anyway.  When she sees me, she always says, 'Holy Holly.  Holy Holly.  Ho!  Ho!  Ho!' I just hate that!  I don't think God is going to use me to get her to Sunday school."
 
"Don't be so sure," cautioned Mother.  "I remember how excited you were when you told me God brought her to your mind when Pastor Jim challenged your class to think of a friend you should witness to."
 
"But she's so mean," said Holly.  "I think I might as well give up."
 
"Hmmmm," murmured Mother as they approached the store.  She stopped and looked at the door.  "Do you think we can get in?" she asked.  "That door is in the way."
 
Holly eyed her mother suspiciously.  "What of it?  It swings open by itself--almost like magic!"
 
"But how do you know it's going to open for you?  These electric doors can fail, you know," persisted Mother.
 
Holly frowned at her mother.  "What are you getting at anyway?" she asked.  "I know you're not really worried about the door opening."
 
Mother chuckled.  "True," she agreed, "and obviously you're not either.  It seems that your faith in the store manager to keep door in good working order so it will open for you is greater than your faith in an all-powerful God to open doors He tells you to go through."
 
"What do you mean by that?" asked Holly.
 
"Just that if God wants you to do something, He'll make a way!" replied Mother.  "He'll 'open the door' to make it possible."  She paused.  "Holly, we both know God wants you to keep reaching out to Missy, don't we?"
 
Holly sighed.  "Yeah," she admitted.  "I guess 'Holy Holly' isn't such a bad name after all!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you discouraged and ready to give up doing something God wants you to do?  Don't quit.  Pray about it and trust God to open doors at just the right time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Col 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

[Soldier4Christ]

Lindsey frowned as she looked at herself in the full length mirror.  She had recently been walking around with slumped shoulders, and she was not her usual friendly, cheerful self.  "I'm ugly," she said sadly.  "Everyone laughs at me because I'm short and chubby.  My eyes are too small and my nose is too big.  My nails aren't pretty, either, and my teeth are crooked.  I'm ugly, and that's it." 
 
Mother frowned.  "That's nonsense," she said.  "You change as you grow, but you are definitely not ugly."  She picked up her purse.  "Come on.  Let's go to the store."
 
In the produce department of the store, Mother pointed toward some strange, brown fruit.  "Please get two kiwi for me," she said.
 
Lindsey picked up a piece of the fruit.  "I've never seen kiwi before," she said.  "Are you sure you want these funny-looking things?"  Mother smiled and nodded as she added some bananas to the basket.
 
After dinner that evening, Mother set out a colorful bowl of cut fruit for dessert.  "What a pretty green color this fruit is, Mom," observed Lindsey, picking up one of the pieces.  She took a bite.  "Oh, and it's so good!  What is it?"
 
"It's kiwi," Mom informed her, smiling.
 
"You're kidding!" Lindsey gulped.  "You mean this is that ugly, fuzzy, brown thing we bought?"
 
"That's right," said Mom.  "There's another example to show that what's on the inside is what counts, not what's on the outside.  That's true for people, too.  The Bible says that beauty is vain but a woman who fears God will receive praise.  Keep working on that.  Look your best, and then be content with the way God made you.  You've been too concerned about your looks lately, and much of your inside sweetness has been covered up.  I really miss my old Lindsey."
 
"I think I like the old Lindsey better, too," Lindsey said.  She grinned at her mother.  "You can serve me kiwi, Mom, whenever you think I need a reminder."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you unhappy with the way you look?  Learn to accept the way God made you, and be content.  Most of all, work at becoming a beautiful person inside by living the way God's Word tells you to live.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Eat a well balanced meal, get to bed early, and be sure to . . . ."
 
Kim was interrupted when her brother Tom snatched the paper from her hand.  "Who said you could read my mail?" he asked
 
"It was right here on the table," said Kim.  "Who's it from anyway?"
 
"My track coach," replied Tom.  "There's an important track meet tomorrow, so he sent a letter to everybody on the team.  He's really pushing for us all to follow what he calls the 'basic rules for health and fitness.'"  He scowled as he looked at the letter.  Then he grinned at his sister and held it out.  "Here," he offered, "you can have all this good advice."
 
Kim looked at the letter.  "I'll read it," she said, "but the advice is for you.  I wouldn't want to have to miss my pizza party at church tonight."
 
Kim went to her party and had a wonderful time with her friends.  Before dismissing the group, Pastor Blake led them in a time of devotions.  "How many of you like to get mail?" he asked.  All hands went up.  "What do you do when you get a letter?" he continued.
 
"Open it," the children chorused.  "Read it."
 
Pastor Blake nodded and held up his Bible.  "This is God's letter to you," he said.  "Do you open it often?  Do you read it often?  And do you apply what God says to your own life, or do you read it as though you were reading someone else's mail?"  He paused while the kids thought that over.
 
It was easy for Kim to see what Pastor Blake was getting at.  When she had read the track coach's letter to Tom, she hadn't thought much about the advice it contained, because that was directed to Tom, not to her.  Do I read the Bible that way, too? she wondered.  I'm going to be careful, after this, to see what God is telling me.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you read today's Scripture, did you think, "Oh, my friend should read this"?  Or, "My brother ought to pay attention to that"?  Don't read the Bible as if it were someone else's mail.  Realize that it is God's letter to you.  Go back over the verses you read today and see what good advice God is giving you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Melody stomped down the hall and slammed the bedroom door.  She flung herself down on the bed.  "Someone is always on my back!  Nothing I do is right anymore," she muttered angrily.  "Everyone is mad at me."  Then she heard Mother call for her to come and practice her piano lesson.  Melody grimaced, but she got up and went to practice.
 
After practicing only a short time, she crashed her hands down onto the keyboard.  She scowled at her little brother who was playing with some trucks on the other side of the room.  "Why don't you get out of here?" she shouted.  "You're making me hit wrong notes!"		Mother came into the room.  "What's going on here?" she asked.
 
"Ben's bothering me.  I can't get this music right with him here," grumbled Melody.
 
"You've been hitting just one note wrong," said Mother, "but it's one that is repeated often.  Each time you hit it, it throws everything else out of harmony.  Listen."  She sat down beside her daughter and played several notes.  "One wrong note in a chord causes a 'dis-chord.'  And, honey. . . ."  She turned to Melody as she added solemnly, ". . .one member of a family out of harmony with the other members causes discord in a home."
 
"Oh!" sputtered Melody, jumping up and walking out of the room.  "You always blame. . . ."  She stopped when she saw her own angry face in the hall mirror.  Melody felt foolish.  She had to admit that her attitude had been bad lately, and she had been grinding on everyone's nerves.  She had tried to blame everyone else, but she knew she was the problem.  She was the "wrong note." 
 
Mother came into the hall.  "I think you need to ask the Lord Jesus to 'tune' your attitude, honey," she suggested.  "It would be nice for our family to be in harmony again."  Melody nodded and went to her room.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you out of tune with everyone?  Do you feel and sound "off key"?  Maybe you've been blaming everyone else, when you're the one who needs tuning.  Get in tune with God and your family.  Help produce a beautiful, harmonious home life.  Don't be a "wrong note. "

[Soldier4Christ]

"Don't talk to me about religion, Chad," said Jeff as the boys were leaving school. "You know how I feel about all those 'You shall nots' you have to follow.   'You shall not do this.'  'You shall not do that.'  'You shall not lie, even if it would keep you from getting into trouble.'  That's crazy!  I like my freedom."  Pointing to the parking lot, he added, "I've gotta run.  My mom's waiting for me.  See ya tomorrow."
 
Chad sighed as he walked home.  Whenever I invite Jeff to Sunday school or something, all he can think of is what Christians can't do.
 
The next week, Chad went boating with Jeff and his father.  The wind was blowing, and the waves were choppy, but they had fun.  When they came back to the dock, Jeff said, "Dad, we'll tie the boat down."  He showed Chad how to knot the rope to tie the boat to the dock.
 
"Why tie it down?" asked Chad suddenly.  "Why not give it its freedom?"
 
Jeff laughed.  "Are you kidding?" he said.  "It would drift out into the lake and be lost in no time.  Or else it might end up hitting another boat."  He lifted the rope and pointed to the knot he had just made.  "But this little knot, made by 'yours truly,' will keep all that from happening," he said.  "It will protect this boat from harm."
 
"So," said Chad, "you have your knots and I have mine!"
 
"What's that supposed to mean?"  Jeff looked puzzled.
 
"Well, you say you don't want to be a Christian because there are too many 'you shall nots.'  But God tells us not to do certain things, like lie or steal, for our protection--to keep us from ruining our lives or hurting others.  That knot in the rope protects your boat, and the 'nots' God gives protect us."
 
Jeff looked thoughtful.  "That does make sense,"  he admitted.  "I guess I really should learn more about what the Bible teaches."
 
"How about coming to church with me tomorrow?" suggested Chad.  	"Well. . . ." Jeff hesitated.  "Okay," he agreed.  "That should be a good place to start."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you resentful because of the things God says you are not to do?  You need to realize that He made you, and He knows what will help you and what will hurt you.  When He tells you not to do something, it's to keep you from trouble.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

[Soldier4Christ]

Dave wiped his hands in the dirt.  He gripped his bat tightly and took a practice swing.  "Dave!"  The sound of his mom's voice reached him.  "Dave, it's time to come in and do your reading."  It was summer, and Dave's teacher had suggested that he read one story each day to help improve his reading.
 
"Aw, Mom," Dave moaned, "do I have to do that right now?"  By the look on his mom's face, he knew that he did.  So Dave went in and sat down with a book, but he didn't read.  He watched a fly climb up a wall.  "Mom, can I go clean my I room now?" he asked.  "It really needs it."
 
"No, Dave, you must read that story," answered Mom.  "The only way you'll get to go anywhere is to finish reading that story."
 
Dave counted the tiles on the ceiling.  "What if I wash the dishes?"  Mom shook her head.  "What if I write a letter to Grandma or vacuum the living room?"
 
"No," said Mom.  "Just read your story."
 
Dave turned back to the story and read two lines.  "Mom, I'll take out the trash," he offered a minute later.
 
"Dave, read that story!  That's the one thing you have to do," said Mom, "and then you may go outside."  She sat down beside him.  "Do you know what this reminds me of?"  Dave shook his head.  "Most people want very much to go to heaven," continued Mom, "and God has clearly told us there is only one way to get there.  John 3:3 says, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'  Some people say, 'But, God, I'll be so good!'  God says, 'No, you must be born again.'  They say, 'I'll join the church and I'll give money.'  God says, 'No, you must be born again.'  Some say, 'I'll obey the Ten Commandments.  I'll be baptized.'  God says, 'No, you must be born again.'"
 
"Those people are even more silly than me, because God won't change His mind, will He?" said Dave.  But he knew his mom wouldn't change her mind, either, so he settled down to read. 



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you one of those people who try different ways to gain eternal life?  Do you think you can be saved by being good, getting baptized, or going to church?  These are good things, but they are man's ways, not God's ways.  They do not lead to eternal life.  You must accept Jesus as Savior and be born again.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look at these pretty stones!" called Lily.  She and her parents were enjoying a visit to a park, and she had run ahead down the path.  She held out the rocks for her parents to see and then slipped them into her pocket.  "I'm going to put these in my aquarium," she said.
 

"Hold on," Dad said.  "I'm afraid you can't do that."
 

"Why not?" asked Lily.
 

"We're in a national park, and we walked past several signs warning tourists that it's illegal to remove anything from this property," explained Dad.  He pointed.  "In fact, there's another one now."
 

"But I need these for my art class," whined Lily.  "I found some other neat stuff, too."  She pulled several rocks, leaves, pieces of wood, and other things from her pocket.  "Can't I take at least a few of these home?" she begged.  "I want to make drawings of some of them."  Dad shook his head, and Lily sat down on a log and crossed her arms angrily across her chest.
 

"Sorry," said Dad, "but I'm afraid that's the way it has to be."
 

After dinner that evening, Dad read from the book of Matthew.  "These verses make me think of all those things you picked up this morning, Lily," he said. "You spent a lot of time collecting them.  Would you have done that if you had thought about the signs?"
 

"Of course not," Lily answered.  "I would have taken my art pad and made sketches of them right there.   I sure wasted a lot of time, didn't I?"
 

Dad nodded. "Yes, and I'm afraid you're no different than many Christians.  We're ignoring God's signs when we are too busy collecting things.  For example, we see signs that Jesus is coming soon, yet it's easy to spend a lot of time collecting money and lots of possessions."
 

"None of that stuff is really important, right?" asked Lily.
 

Dad nodded.  "Knowing God, obeying Him, and sharing Him with others is what matters," he said.  "When we do that we're storing treasures in heaven--just like these verses say we should."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you dream about the things you want to own?  A new bike?  Video games?  Design shoes or clothes?  God doesn't want you to become attached to these things, because He has something so much better.  Think of something you can do today that will be of value when you get to heaven.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Nick, leave Goldy in the fishbowl!" Josh ordered his little brother.  In the kitchen, Mother stopped working to listen.
 
"I just want to pet him," whined Nick.
 
Mother went to check.  "Don't take Goldy out of the water," she told Nick, raising the bowl to a higher shelf.  She turned to Josh.  "You need to go mow the lawn now," she said.
 
"Aw, Mom.  It's too hot to mow the lawn," groaned Josh.
 
"Well, you've got to do it, and it's not going to get any cooler, so you'd better start now," advised Mother.
 
"Mom, the Bible says, 'Provoke not your children to wrath,' but you're making me feel angry right now," grumbled Josh.
 
Mother frowned.  "The same chapter says, 'Children, obey your parents.'  Now. . .I think I hear a lawn mower calling!"
 
After finishing his work, Josh played with his little brother again.  Soon Mother heard Nick crying, so she went outside to see what was wrong.  "Josh pushed me down," sobbed the little boy.
 
"Well, Nick ran into me," Josh defended himself.  "The Bible says, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,' so he just got what was coming to him."  But he felt guilty because he knew it wasn't right for him to hurt his little brother.
 
"The Bible also says 'Be kind' and 'Do not take revenge,'" said Mother firmly.  "You've been taking verses out of context."
 
"What does that mean?" asked Josh.
 
"Taking something out of its context means to take it out of its proper surroundings," Mother explained.  "We might say that this morning Nick wanted to take Goldy out of his context.  If you do that--if you take a fish out of water--it will soon die.  If you take a Bible verse out of its proper surroundings--that is, if you use it any way you want, without considering other Bible verses--you can make it seem like the verse is saying something different from what it really means.  That's taking it out of context.  It's not right to do that."
 
That evening, Mother smiled when she again overheard the boys as they were playing.  "Nick!" exclaimed Josh.  "Mom told you just this morning that you can't take Goldy out of his context!  You have to leave him in his fishbowl."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you use Bible verses to try and get your own way even when you know there are other verses that teach something different?  God's Word is sacred, and you should never use it in a wrong way.  Study it so you'll know what it says.  Don't use it in a way that doesn't agree with principles taught in other places in the Bible.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

One morning during family devotions , Kendra felt a sharp poke under the table.  Glaring at her brother, she whispered, "Knock it off, Kyle."
 
"A friend loves at all times," Dad read from the book of Proverbs, "and a brother is born for adversity--that is, for hard times."

"You can say that again!" exclaimed Kendra.  "Brothers are good for nothing but giving you a hard time."

"Hold it!" said Dad with a smile.  "That's not what the verse is saying.  By 'hard times' it means, well. . .like the time you fell down the stairs, Kendra, and your brother felt so bad he cried harder than you."

"And when you dropped your notebook yesterday," Mother reminded Kendra, "who ran after the papers that went blowing away?"

"Yeah!" Kyle piped up, poking his sister again.  "I ran way down the street after 'em!"

"And you, young man," Dad continued, catching his son by surprise, "who helped you rake leaves so you would finish in time to go to the zoo with your friend, Todd?"

"Uh. . .Kendra," mumbled Kyle.  Then he quickly added, "But that verse isn't talking about sisters."

"Oh, yes, it is," said Dad.  "It's referring to brothers and sisters.  The phrase 'a brother is born for adversity' means that God gave us brothers and sisters, not to bring us trouble, but to be there when trouble comes.  You may have some fights at times; I guess all brothers and sisters do.  But you should learn to appreciate each other in spite of that.  And be sure to thank the Lord for one another as well."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you learned to appreciate the brothers or sisters God has given you?  Did you know that one reason He gave them to you is to help you through hard times?  Today's Scripture gives the example of Joseph's love for his brothers, even after they had mistreated him.  Love your brothers and sisters, and thank God often for them.  They're an important part of your life.  And be good to them--help them when they need you.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 17:17  A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jamie was having a wonderful time at camp with her best friend, Dawn.  Every day there were new things to do, new games to play, and new friends to make.  They loved their counselor, Miss Sarah, and had many good times with her.
 
During supper one evening, the counselors disappeared from the dining hall one by one.  Then Mr. Ken, the camp director, explained that the counselors were hiding and the campers had half an hour to find their own cabin counselor.
 
"Where shall we look first?" asked Jamie as they ran out of the building.
 
"Why don't we look near our cabin?" said Dawn.  "Maybe Miss Sarah's somewhere around there."
 
Half an hour later, the kids and most of the counselors were grouped around the dining hall.  Mr. Ken rang the bell, which was the signal for the counselors who hadn't been found to come out of hiding.  Jamie and Dawn were astonished to see Miss Sarah pop out of a large cardboard box that was standing next to a dumpster outside the dining hall.
 
"We must have walked right past that box a dozen times," Jamie moaned.  "I never even thought someone might be hiding so close to the dining hall!"
 
Miss Sarah giggled.  "I heard you going by once.  I thought for sure you'd hear me laughing!"
 
When the girls in the cabin gathered for devotions that evening, Miss Sarah talked about the counselor hunt.  "I heard a lot of kids walk past while I was in that cardboard box.  In fact, I heard what many of them were saying.  I don't think some of them would have talked the way they did if they had known a counselor was nearby," she said.  "You know, when I was in that box, I think I got a little idea of how God must feel when people forget He's listening.  It's important to remember that He can always hear.  He's always with us even though we can't see Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you talk when there are no parents, teachers, or other adults around?  When you're with your friends, do you say words that you carefully avoid when your parents are with you?  Make sure your speech is clean no matter who is nearby.  Remember that God hears you even when you're all alone.  He's always listening!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Matt sat idly on the porch swing, Aaron rode by on his bicycle at top speed,  Matt almost didn't see him.  "Hey, Aaron," he called to his friend's back, "where's the fire?"
 
Aaron slammed on his brakes.  "No fire," he responded.  "I've just got a lot to do today."
 
"Boy, I don't," Matt grumbled.  "I'm so bored.  There's nothing to do around here."
 
"Nothing to do?" echoed Aaron.  "I'm really busy!  I'm on my way to mow Gramp Norton's lawn and trim the bushes.  Want to help me?"
 
"Sure," agreed Matt.  "How much will we get paid?"
 
"Nothing."  Aaron grinned.  "I'm doing it for fun."
 
"For fun?"  Matt slapped his forehead.  "You're really mowing a lawn for fun?  Does Gramps have a riding mower or something?"
 
Aaron shook his head.  "No.  I'm doing it because it's fun to do things for other people.  And, besides, we learned in Sunday school that Jesus said when we do something for others, we're doing it for Him.  I've decided to spend this summer working for Jesus."
 
Matt raised his eyebrows and moaned.  But because he didn't have anything else to do, he went with Aaron.
 
Matt also went with Aaron the next day--and the next day, too--as Aaron "worked for the Lord."  Matt couldn't believe that he was actually enjoying what he was doing.  "This is fun," he told Aaron as they cleaned his dad's garage without having been asked to do so.
 
"My mom says we get bored because we think about ourselves too much," Aaron told Matt.  "She says it's less likely to happen when we're busy helping others."
 
"Well, I sure haven't been bored the last few days," said Matt.  He grinned.  "Maybe this summer won't be so dull after all."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is "I'm bored" your theme song?  Could that be because you're thinking too much about yourself?  There are many, many things you can do to keep busy and be of help to others.  Ask the Lord to show you some way you can help another person each day.  Then do it.  When you do something for someone else, you are doing it for Jesus, too.  You may not get paid for it now, but He will reward you some day.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I get the bathroom first!" yelled Jon.  He rushed past Cindy, yanked open the bathroom door, and scurried in.  A moment later he stuck his head out.  "The early bird gets the worm!" he shouted triumphantly.  "Besides, you spend way too much time primping in here."  Cindy made a face at him, but he had already banged the door.
 
At breakfast, Jon made a grab for the cornflakes.  "Me first!" he declared, shaking out crispy, crunchy cornflakes into his bowl.  "The early bird gets the worm--we learned that in a story we read at school," he announced smugly.
 
After breakfast, Dad had a surprise gift for Jon and Cindy  In great excitement they tore open the wrapping and peeked inside.  It was a box of magic tricks.  "I'm going to try them out first," shouted Jon.
 
"No, let me," said Cindy.  "You always get things first."
 
"Well, I spoke first," said Jon.  "The early bird gets the worm, you know."
 
"I'm getting tired of hearing you say that," complained Cindy.  "What does it mean anyway?"
 
"It means that if you're first at something, you get what you want, just like the first bird to come out in the morning is the one who gets the worm for his breakfast," explained Jon.  "I like being first."
 
"But you're older than me and quicker," said Cindy.  "So you should just let me be first sometimes."
 
"Why should I?" said Jon.  "After all, I was. . . ."
 
"Jon," interrupted Dad, who had been listening to their conversation, "it's not always best to be first.  Think about the worm."
 
"What about the worm?" asked Jon.
 
"Well, perhaps the worms were all fighting to be first--like you and Cindy.  Now what happened to the 'early worm'--the one who was first out of the ground?"
 
Jon thought for a moment.  "The bird ate him up," he said slowly.
 
"Ah!" said Dad with a grin.  "That's right!  It's not always best to be first--sometimes you might be like the early worm instead of the early bird!  But the real reason you shouldn't insist on being first is that putting yourself first is not what God wants you to do.  He wants you to put Him and others first."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you strive to be first, to reach the top, to achieve your ambitions, regardless of how you do it?  Jesus is God; He could have been first in every way, yet He chose to be servant of all.  He wants you to be like Him by putting others first and serving them.  Next time you want to be first, ask yourself, "What would Jesus do? "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I can do it, Dad.  I know how."  Bryan was eager to help trim the hedge at the back of the yard.
 
"Okay," agreed Dad.  "I've got it started, so you can see how much I want cut off.  Keep it nice and even.  I'm going to run to the store for some grass seed.  If you finish the hedge before I get back, you may cut just a wee little bit off those bushes at the side of the house."
 
Dad disappeared, and Bryan took over the trimming.  As he carefully cut the hedge to the same level Dad had started, his friend Jacob, who lived in the house behind Bryan's, came out.  He eyed Bryan's work.  		"You know what," said Jacob, "if you'd cut that down a little bit more, we'd be able to jump over it and wouldn't have to walk all the way around when we want to go to each other's house."
 
Bryan thought about that.  "You're right!" he said.  And he proceeded to follow Jacob's advice.
 
Next Bryan trimmed the bushes beside the house.  He had just put the clippers down when his sister Deb came out of the house and surveyed his work.  "I've always wished we could have these bushes trimmed so they go in points, like in formal gardens," she said.  "Can you do them that way?"
 
"Sure," said Bryan confidently, and he proceeded to show her.  The results were not quite what he expected, but he did his best.
 
When Dad got home, he looked from Bryan to the hedge, to the bushes, and back at Bryan.  "What happened?" he asked.  "You didn't do things the way I told you."  Bryan explained about Jacob's and Deb's suggestions.  "Who are you working for?" Dad asked quietly.  "For them, or for me?"
 
Bryan was embarrassed and ashamed.  "I. . .I should have been working for you, but I guess I wasn't," he admitted.  "I'm sorry, Dad.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that, as a Christian, you are a servant of Christ?  As His servant, you need to follow His instructions.  Your friends may say, "It doesn't hurt to cheat just a little."  But God says, "Be honest."  The world says, "A little white lie is okay." God says,  "You shall not lie."  Unbelievers may tell you, "God won't send anyone to hell."  God says, "The soul that sins will die--be witnesses for Me."  What worldly advice is someone giving you?  Shut it out and follow God's instruction.  Remember that He is your master.  He's the one you need to obey.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Col 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.