Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

The wind lashed at Sam's hair, and salt water splashed on his face as the boat approached Ellis Island.  "Look!  There she is," he called.  "Get your camera ready, Dad."

 

"The Statue of Liberty is beautiful!" exclaimed Mother.

 

  Soon the boat docked, and Sam skipped down the gangplank.  The family enjoyed a guided tour.  Then they headed back to the mainland and their motel.  "I can remember my great-grandparents telling what it was like to come to America from Holland," said Dad.  "They said the Statue of Liberty was the first sight to welcome them to a new land."

 

"I'll bet they were glad to get here," said Sam.

 

"Yes, they were," Dad replied, "and they were also glad when they became citizens of this country and could finally call America their home."  He nodded.  "Immigrants still come to America," he added, "but not as many as in times past."

 

"Why not?" asked Sam.  "Aren't many people interested in peace and freedom anymore?"

 

"Sure they are," said Dad, "but things have changed now.  The poem on the statue says, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,' but since so many people have wanted to come to America, our government has had to put restrictions on the invitation.  The door is no longer open to everyone.  Criminals and the insane aren't accepted, and there's a quota now on the number that can come each year from any one region.  It seems rather sad, but I suppose it's necessary."

 

"That reminds me of another gateway to freedom," said Mother, "and it is open to everyone.  Jesus invites everyone to come to Him.  He offers freedom from sin, and He grants citizenship in heaven to anybody who will come.  He won't turn away anyone who asks for salvation."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your citizenship in heaven?  God's offer is open to everyone.  There's no limit to the number of people He will accept.   Come to Jesus today.  (For more help, see the last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 3:20 Fo)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oooh!" exclaimed Sandy when a commercial came on the TV screen.  "That jewelry looks so pretty!  Could we order some for Mom's birthday, Dad?  She'd love it!  They're selling those diamonds and rubies and pearls so cheap--and they're genuine, too.  It says so right on the screen, see?"

 

"There's another word on the screen, too," Dad pointed out.  "It's spelled f-a-u-x, and it's pronounced 'foe.'  Did you notice that?"  Sandy shook her head.  "Get the dictionary and look it up," directed Dad.

 

After finding the word, Sandy looked up in surprise.  "It means 'false' or 'imitation'!" she exclaimed.  "Genuine imitation stones!  Wow!  They really fooled me."

 

"A lot of people will spend their money on that jewelry, and then some jeweler will tell them that the jewels aren't real," Dad said.  He got up and went to answer the doorbell.

 

"Who was that?" Sandy asked when her dad came back.

 

"Some people who wanted to leave literature and tell me about their religion," Dad answered.  "But I already know what those people believe, and it's false teaching.  It fools a lot of people, though."

 

"How come?" wondered Sandy.

 

"Well," said Dad, "remember the commercial we just heard, and how good it made the jewelry sound?  It was easy to believe, wasn't it--until you looked up the word 'faux'?  The people who came to the door make their message sound good, too.  They even quote Bible verses and imitate the true ministers of the gospel.  That often fools people who don't check to see if the verses are used correctly."

 

"So people should look the verses up, right?" asked Sandy.

 

Dad nodded.  "We need to know the Bible well so we can be on guard for false teaching," he said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware that false teachers may try to get you to believe as they do?  Study the Bible to know what is really true.  Notice that today's memory verse talks about people who searched the Scriptures daily.  Do that, too.  Don't let false teaching fool you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 17:11  T)
They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can you recite the next verse, Mark?" asked Dad.
 
"What?"  Mark looked up at his dad with a blank look.  The Bible was open to the day's Scripture passage and the family was watching him, waiting for an answer.  "Um, I missed the last part," he mumbled.
 
"Did you hear any of what I just read?" Dad asked suspiciously.
 
Mark tried to recall even a little bit of what his father had read, but he couldn't remember a word.  He shook his head.  "I was watching the puppies," he admitted.  In a box next to his chair, his dog was feeding her newborn pups.  He leaned down and picked up the smallest puppy.  "Little Rusty still won't eat," he said, stroking the puppy's fur.  "Maybe he's sick."
 
Dad closed the Bible and took little Rusty in his big hands.  "He will be sick if he doesn't eat, soon," Dad agreed, "but there's nothing we can do since he won't drink from a bottle."
 
"He can have one of my pancakes," offered Mark's little sister, April.
 
"No, honey," said Mom, "he needs milk to survive."
 
Dad put Rusty down.  "If you kids were starving and all you had to do was drink the milk in front of you, would you do it?" he asked.
 
"Sure," Mark answered, and April nodded agreement.
 
"Well," Dad continued, placing his Bible in the middle of the table, "this is the richest source of spiritual 'milk' there is.  As we 'drink it in' and 'digest' it each day, it helps us stay spiritually strong and healthy."
 
Mark knew Dad was talking to him.  "I'll try harder to listen," he promised.
 
Dad opened the Bible and read a few verses again.   "Now I know the next verse!" exclaimed Mark.  "It's my memory verse from last Sunday!"  He quickly recited it.  Then he looked at Rusty, and his eyes lit up.  "Look!" he shrieked.  "Rusty is eating!"
 
"Not just Rusty," said Dad with a smile.  "Now you're both eating!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you enjoying the "milk" of God's Word?  Do you take time each day to read your Bible and learn from it?  As you learn what pleases God, do you obey Him?  Thank God that you have a Bible to read.  Read it as though you're starving.  Then as you practice what it teaches, you'll see how good it is!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 2:2  A)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Bette felt discouraged and out of place, but her father felt the Lord wanted them to begin a brand new church in a small town in Florida.  I sure wish we could go back to the city where Dad's church was full every Sunday," she thought.  Here, only a few families seem interested in church, and they don't come very regularly.

 

One Saturday, Bette's family went to the beach, where they were all amazed to see numerous starfish lying on the sand.  "Maybe they got stranded by the tide," suggested Dad as they strolled along the beach, "or maybe they got washed up during the storm last night."

 

As they walked, they saw a man picking up things and tossing them into the water.  When they approached the stranger, they greeted him.  "What are you doing?" Dad asked.

 

"I'm putting starfish back into the ocean," the man told them.  "If they don't get into the water soon, they'll die!"

 

Bette looked at all the starfish on the sand.  "But there are so many!" she exclaimed.  "You can't save them all, so what difference will it make if you save just a few?"

 

The man smiled.  "It will make a difference to this one," he said, as he picked up a starfish and put it in the water.

 

That evening as Bette sat on the front steps, she saw a girl coming down the sidewalk.  "I suppose I should invite her to Sunday school," she thought, "but what difference will it make anyway?  Even if she does come, church still will be practically empty."  Suddenly she sat up straight, remembering the starfish.  Jumping up, she ran toward the girl.  "Hi," she said with a bright smile. "I'm Bette.  My dad preaches in that church over there, and we have such a good time in Sunday school.  Will you come tomorrow?"  Maybe this was the one person to whom her invitation would make a difference.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever complain about being the only Christian at home?  In your neighborhood?  In your classroom?  Does winning others to the Lord seem like too big a task?  Maybe God has put you there because He wants to use you to make a difference in just one life.  If only one person trusts the Lord as a result of your witness, it will be worth it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 15:10  T)
There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Want this quarter, Terri?  You can have it if you can get it."  Terri's big brother, Tony, held out a quarter on the palm of his hand.  Terri hesitated, knowing how her big brother loved to tease, but Tony just stood smiling at her.  She walked slowly toward him.  When she was close, she made a sudden, quick lunge for his hand.  But just that quickly, Tony's fist closed over the quarter, and the battle was on.
 
There was a lot of laughing and squealing as Terri tried to open Tony's fist.  "I got two fingers up," she panted in glee.  "I'll get it yet!" But a moment later, Tony's fingers were down again.  The quarter was as secure as ever.
 
"That's enough," said Mother at last.  "You know you might as well give up, Terri.  Tony's a lot bigger and stronger than you."  She turned to her son and added, "You shouldn't always be teasing your sister."
 
"Teasing her?"  Tony slapped his forehead in mock dismay.  "I'm not teasing her.  I'm just giving her an object lesson like any good brother should do."
 
"Oh, yeah?" asked Terri.  "Tell me about it."
 
"Well, I heard you learning your Sunday school memory verse, see?  The one about nobody being able to pluck us out of God's hand," explained Tony.  "So I just gave you a demonstration of what a safe place a hand can be."
 
"That's not bad," commented Mother.  "Tony is a lot stronger than you, Terri, and God is much stronger than anybody or anything.  You couldn't force Tony's hand open, although there are lots of people who could.  But nobody--not even Satan--is strong enough to open God's hand."  She smiled at Tony.  "Good job, Tony."
 
"Well, now, that's better." Tony grinned at his sister.  "And just to show you what a good guy I am, you can even keep this quarter!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Aren't you glad that God holds His children securely?  You may get discouraged over things that happen, but God loves you and holds you.  You are His.  You may--and should--feel sad when you disobey, lie, or sin in any way.  Satan may tell you that God can't love you anymore.  But He does.  You're His forever.  As you ask God's forgiveness for sin, thank Him for loving you and keeping you safely in His hand.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 10:29  N)
No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I just hate my name," Edna told her grandfather one day.  "I wish I had a name that wasn't so old-fashioned!"
 
"Well now, I think 'Edna' is a pretty name," replied Grandpa.  "Your mom named you after your great-grandmother, whom she dearly loved.  She wasn't thinking of how up-to-date your name would be.  The name 'Edna' just reminded her of the sweetest person she'd ever known."
 
"But I have to live with kids at school like Jason McCormick and Tyler Bristol," complained Edna.  "They keep asking me how things were in the 'olden days.'  I think I really will change my name someday.  After all the Bible even says a good name should be chosen rather than riches, and I want to choose a good name!"
 
"Oh, Edna, that verse isn't talking about changing your name!" Grandpa said.  "It's talking about what people think of your character when they hear your name."
 
Edna pouted.  "They think of 'old lady,'" she grumbled.
 
Grandpa laughed.  "I doubt that," he said.  "I'll bet they think of what you're like as a person.  Are you friendly, mean, kind, bitter?"  Edna shrugged and didn't say anything, but she still scowled.  "What do you think of when you hear the name Jason McCormick?" asked Grandpa.
 
"I think of a boy who picks on girls and calls them names," Edna answered with a hint of anger in her voice.
 
"Exactly!"  Grandpa nodded.  "Funny that you never mentioned him as a boy with an up-to-date name.  It was his personality you described.  So, even though you don't like your name, try to live in such a way that when people think of Edna Grant, they think good thoughts.  That's what 'a good name' means in that Bible verse."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Today's Scripture gives examples of two very different reactions to a name.  "Saul" brought thoughts of evil, while "Dorcas" brought thoughts of good.  What do people think of when they hear your name?  Do they have good thoughts or bad thoughts?  Live your life so people will think of a godly person when they hear your name--a person who loves the Lord and lives to please Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 22:1 A)
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. A good name is more desirable than great riches.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Want to play Fooz Ball, Judson?" asked Mr. Tim, the counselor at Camp Faith.  "I'll show you how to play."
 
"Sure!" Judson agreed.  "I've wondered how this game works."
 
"Those handles on your side of the table control your team," explained Mr. Tim.  "You try to move the ball past my goalie and into the pocket on this end of the table.  I'll try to stop you and to get the ball into the other pocket."
 
"I think I'm missing a man on this rod," said Judson.  "Isn't it supposed to have two?"  He twirled the rod around.
 
"Yes, but I have a man with no legs.  See. . .that makes us even because he can't help his team very much either, can he?"  Judson shook his head.  "I'll drop the ball in," said Mr. Tim.  "Are you ready?"
 
Judson grabbed the poles.  He stared at the ball as it dropped onto the table.  Then he twisted the rod, making one of his men push the ball toward Mr. Tim's goalie.  Mr. Tim took careful aim and spun the metal pole.  The ball shot through the hole where Jason's missing man should have been.  Clunk!  It fell into the pocket.
 
"Let's try again," said Judson, picking up the ball and putting it back into play, and this time he won the point.  "That was fun," he exclaimed when the game was over.  "It sure would help if I had the missing man, though."
 
"It hurts to have one missing, doesn't it?" agreed Mr. Tim.  "It reminds me that, as Christians, we're on God's team.  If we're missing from our place in church, we're like the missing man on your rod.  If we're in church but not doing what we should be doing for God, we're like the figure on my rod with no legs.  The whole team suffers when one person doesn't do his part.  Others have to try and fill in the empty area, and sometimes they can't move fast enough."
 
"That's interesting," said Judson.  "I never thought about being on God's team and how important each person is."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you on God's team?  You are if you're a Christian.  How well do you get along with your teammates?  Are you in your place each time you're needed?  Are you doing what God wants you to do?  His team is the best there is, and each team member is needed.  Always be ready to do your part.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (I Corinthians 12:27  N)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Gently Dad shook Todd's shoulder.  "Time to go," he whispered.  "Fishing is best in early morning, you know."
 
Todd groaned but rolled out of bed.  Before long, he and Dad were pushing off in a rowboat.  The sky was growing lighter, but a foggy mist hung over the still waters of Winfield Lake.  Todd yawned as he pulled at the oars.  "We can't even see where we're going," he complained.
 
"What happened to all the enthusiasm you had yesterday?" asked Dad.  "Seems like I heard you tell your friends you were going to catch the most fish."
 
"Yeah, and I am, too," Todd boasted.  "You'll see."
 
Dad was the first to reel in a good-sized bass, and then he caught several others.  Todd snagged a small sunfish which he threw back into the water.  Soon the mist disappeared as the sun came out.  After a few hours in which he caught little, Todd was discouraged.
 
"I'm ready to quit," he grumbled.  "I've gotta call Bill.  We're gonna toss a few balls before our game today."  He looked at his father.  "Are you coming to the ball game?  We're really going to beat those guys.  I'm gonna knock one right out of the ball park!"
 
"I wouldn't want to miss that," said Dad with a smile.  "But you'd better be careful about what you say.  Not long ago you were going to catch the most fish.  Now you're going to be the best ball player.  It's a little embarrassing to boast like that and then come up empty-handed."
 
Todd grinned.  "That's for sure," he admitted, glancing at the few small fish he had caught.  "Okay.  Maybe I should say I'm going to strike out every time I'm up to bat."
 
Dad laughed.  "Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," he replied.  "Seriously, though, the Bible warns against boasting about plans without considering God's will.  We can't be sure what will happen today or tomorrow, you know.  Life is like that mist over the lake early this morning."
 
"It sure didn't last long, did it?" asked Todd.
 
"No," agreed Dad, "and our lives don't last long either.  We need to live each day with a desire to do God's will instead of bragging about our own plans."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have plans for today?  For tomorrow?  For next week?  Do you consider God's will for you when you make plans?  He is in control of all that happens, and your plans will come to pass only as He allows them to.  Make all your plans with that knowledge in mind.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:14-15  Y)
Your life . . . is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishe

[Soldier4Christ]

Connie shuddered as she watched her father put cheese on the mouse trap and set it.  She hated to think of the trap snapping down on a mouse--but she hated the thought of mice living in the house, too.
 
"Dad," she said, "may I go roller skating with Ellen tonight?  They're going to Colewell, and she asked if I could go, too."
 
"Well, honey," said Dad, "I'd like to say yes, but I'm afraid I'll have to say no.  We've heard that things sometimes get pretty wild at that rink, so we'd rather you didn't go there."
 
"Oh, you never let me do anything!" stormed Connie.  "What's wrong with going skating?"
 
"Nothing that I know of," said Dad.  He held up the mouse trap and pointed to the cheese.  "What's wrong with this cheese?" he asked.
 
"There's nothing wrong with it, is there?" asked Connie in surprise.
 
"You're right," agreed Dad.  "It's good, wholesome cheese, and when a mouse comes along, that's all he'll care about.  He won't notice the spring or the wood or the wires that make up the trap."  Dad took a pencil and touched the cheese.  SNAP!  Connie jumped as the trap closed on the pencil.  "But when he takes a bite, he'll be caught," finished Dad.  He set the trap aside.  "Roller skating is fun and good exercise," continued Dad.  "The trouble is, it could lure you into a trap.  It could place you in bad company where worldly music influences you and where your companions would be doing things displeasing to God.  From what we hear, there are often fights at the Colewell rink, and drugs and alcohol are widely used.  If you want to skate, you can go to the local rink.  I haven't heard any bad reports about it."
 
Connie sighed, but as she looked at the mouse trap, she knew her father was right.  Going to the big city sounded exciting, but nothing was worth getting caught in a trap.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you like to skate?  Good--unless it puts you in a place displeasing to the Lord.  Do you like to bowl?  Fine--unless the people you bowl with tempt you to do wrong things.  Do you like to play ball?  Great--unless it keeps you from church or some activity where the Lord wants you.  Do you like to chat with friends?  Nice--unless they tempt you to gossip or displease God in some way.  Make sure the wholesome activity you choose does not lure you into a trap where you'll be tempted to sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:31  W)
Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Matt's cousin, Eric, was spending the week with him.  After supper the first evening, the boys were eager to go swimming, but Matt's mother asked them to help with the dishes first.  "Aw, do we have to?" groaned Matt.
 
"You'll survive," Mother replied with a smile.  "Just rinse the dishes in the sink and put them in the dishwasher.  Then wash the cupboard and clean the sink, and you may be on your way."''I'll survive if I can get past all that food in the sink!" Matt told Eric.  "Look at those pieces of soggy lettuce, potato peelings, and mushy celery.  Yuck!"
 
"Yeah, and there are noodles and bits of hamburger!" added Eric, "That mess makes me sick to my stomach," groaned Matt.  "Mom, if you'll clean the sink,  I'll gladly do the rest of the stuff you said."
 
Mother laughed.  "Okay, no problem," she agreed.  "I'll just rinse that stuff down the garbage disposal.  But remember--no more complaints about doing dishes this week!"
 
"Right," chorused the boys, and Eric added, "There's nothing worse than all that garbage in the sink!"
 
"Actually, there is," said Mother.  "Sin is much worse.  It's so bad, God can't stand to look at it."
 
"Oh, no!  While we wait we're going to get a sermon from the Rev.  Mrs. Crawford!" Matt teased his mother.
 
Mother gave him a playful swat.  "Seriously," she said, "you say you can't stand looking at the sink until the garbage has been washed away.  Well, God can't be happy with us unless our sin is washed away with Christ's blood."
 
"But isn't God happy with us if we do good, and try not to be bad?" asked Eric.
 
"A lot of people think that," said Mother, "but the trouble is that people are totally sinful.  The Bible says that even things they consider 'good' are as 'filthy rags' in God's sight, and He can't stand sin."  Mother turned on the faucet.  "Just as this water is available to clean the sink, Christ's blood is available to cleanse our lives.  And just as you boys asked me to clean this sink, you need to ask God to cleanse your lives from sin.  He will do it.  The choice is up to you."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you're pretty good?  The fact is that you are sinful.  God hates sin.  He loves you, however, and He has made a way for your sin to be washed away.  Confess your need to Him.  Ask Him to cleanse you from sin, and He will do it.  (See the last page of this book for more help.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Habakkuk 1:13  T)
Thou (God) art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity (sin). Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.

[Soldier4Christ]

Linda was making a new shirt.  It was the first time she was doing a sewing project all by herself, and she began to carefully sew the first seam.  After only a few stitches, however, the thread broke and pulled loose from the needle.  Linda threaded the needle again.  After a few more stitches, the thread pulled loose again.  Linda sighed and tried again.  But the thread kept breaking.  "What's wrong with you?" she demanded angrily, pulling the shirt from the machine.
 
She found Mother putting away groceries in the kitchen.  "Mom, something's wrong with the sewing machine," complained Linda.  "I can't finish my shirt."  So Mother went to check.  Linda followed her to the sewing room.  "I prayed so hard that this shirt would turn out good," said Linda with a sigh.  "When the thread started breaking, I even prayed that God would make the machine work so I could sew this seam!  But He didn't."
 
Mother checked the machine.  "Oh, it's threaded wrong!" she exclaimed.  She showed Linda where she had made a mistake in threading the machine, and then she looked at the seams Linda had started.  "You know, honey, I think maybe God answered your prayer after all," she said.  "You're sewing the wrong pieces together." 
 
"I am?" asked Linda in surprise.
 
Mother nodded.  "If you had finished that seam, you would have had to take it all apart again," she said.  "What you saw as an irritation saved you lots of work."
 
  Mother showed Linda how to correct her mistake.  Then she said thoughtfully, "This reminds me of how we often pray for God to help us, then become irritated when things don't go the way we plan.  Sometimes when God says no to our prayers, it keeps us from making a mistake that would prevent us from getting what we really want."
 
Linda grinned.  "I guess so," she agreed.  "I'm glad I didn't get what I asked for this time.  If I had, I'd be picking stitches all afternoon."
 
Mother smiled.  "Trusting God means being patient when we run into a problem," she said.  "It may be God's way of getting us back on course."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you ask God to help you are you patient?  Or do you get angry when something seems to go wrong?  Remember that what you may think is a problem may be God's guidance, keeping you from making a painful mistake.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 25:9  T)
The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mommy, I want to have that 'brella," pleaded four-year-old Missi, pointing to a brightly colored umbrella on display in the children's department.
 
Mother laughed.  "Well," she said, "the way it's been raining lately, it might be a good idea for you to have your own umbrella.  We'll see how much it is."  The price was right, and the saleslady showed Missi how she could carry it by a strap over her wrist when it wasn't raining.  Missi walked proudly from the store, merrily swinging the umbrella back and forth.
 
The next day, to Missi's delight, it rained, so Mother helped her eager little daughter get dressed to go outdoors for a little while.  When she looked out a little later, however, Missi was hurrying up the front walk, her new umbrella swinging on her arm while the rain pelted down on her head.  Mother hurried to the door.  "Why aren't you using your umbrella?" she asked.
 
"I like it on my arm," pouted Missy, "but now I'm all wet!" 
 
Mother helped Missi change into dry clothes.  "You may go out again, but this time leave the umbrella up," ordered Mother. 
 
The rest of the family laughed when they heard the story, but Missi pouted.  "It's okay, honey," Dad told her, reaching for the Bible he used in family devotions.  "Sometimes we all act like you did."
 
Missi's face brightened.  "You do?"
 
"Yep."  Dad nodded.  "You carried your umbrella closed though you still needed it open, and too often we carry this Book closed," he held up the Bible, "although we need it open.  When you had your umbrella open, it protected you from the rain, and when we open and obey God's Word, it protects us from sin's harm and we are blessed.  Just as you needed to open your umbrella to get any use from it, we need to open our Bibles.  Let's do that right now."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you open your Bible and read something from God's Word every day?  You should.  It can't help you if you leave it closed.  Read it and follow its instructions.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 34:16  S)
Seek ye out the Book of the Lord, and read. Look in the scroll of the Lord and read.

[Soldier4Christ]

Kyle and Janae helped their grandmother clear the lunch table.  "I should have brought you some turtles from the pond," said Kyle.  "Frogs, too.  You could have fixed turtle soup and frog legs for lunch." Janae shuddered, but Grandma just grinned. 
 
"I wish I could have gone along on your walk," said Grandma.  "I love to see the things in nature that God created."
 
"How do we know for sure He created them?" asked Kyle.  "My science teacher says everything began with a big explosion--something
 
about a big bang.  He says there's not any God."
 
"Do you think that makes any sense?" asked Grandma.  "Can you believe that everything just fell into place?"
 
"We-e-ell, probably not," replied Kyle.  "I don't know."
 
"Let's see," said Grandma.  "Let's try an experiment.  She took out some small cards,  "Write a letter of the alphabet on each of these," she said, "starting with 'A' and going all the way through 'Z.'"  When Kyle and Janae were finished, Grandma took the cards.  "Okay, Kyle," she said as she pulled a chair out from the table, "I want you to climb up on this chair."
 
"Climb on a chair?  You're sure you won't yell at me?" teased Kyle.
 
Grandma laughed.  "Not this time," she promised.  So Kyle got up on the chair and Grandma handed him the cards.  "Toss these up and let them fall," she said.  Kyle did as he was told.  "Now look at them--they're all in order from 'A' to 'Z,' right?" asked Grandma.
 
"Are you kidding?" said Janae.  "Of course they're not."
 
"Oh, well then let's try it again," said Grandma.  "Janae, you toss the cards this time.  If we try often enough, they'll eventually move into the right spots, don't you think?"
 
"No, I don't," grumbled Kyle.  "This is silly, Grandma.  You know they'll never fall in order no matter how often we do this."
 
"You're right," agreed Grandma.  "It takes an intelligent person to put the letters in order.  It's silly to think it  could just happen.  And it's just as silly--in fact, it's more silly to believe that the magnificent world in which we live just 'happened' to come into being by itself.  Common sense will tell you that it took an intelligent Being--God--to create and plan the world and to make us."
 
Janae laughed.  "Oh, there's the problem," she said.  "Kyle doesn't have much common sense."
 
Kyle grinned at her.  "Actually," he said, "I've heard that common sense is misnamed because it isn't very common.  I guess what you need is uncommon good sense, and I have lots of that."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder about God?  Would you like to learn more about Him?  Look at the wonders of nature and space.  Read a little about the marvelous way your body is made.  Common sense will tell you that only an all-powerful God could have put everything together--but the best place to learn about Him is your Bible.  He's real.  You can be sure of that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 19:1  T)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!  This letter to Grandma is all messy," Sheila wailed.  "I made a mistake, so I erased a whole paragraph and did it over.  I tried to erase carefully, but it still looks messy."
 
"Well, if you want to send it today, you'll have to leave it the way it is," replied Mother.  "The mailman is coming down the street now.  I think Grandma will understand." So Sheila reluctantly sealed the envelope and put it in the mailbox.
 
Later, Sheila looked quite unhappy when she came in from playing outdoors.  She restlessly picked up one book after another and leafed through them.  Mother glanced at her.  "Is something bothering you, honey?" she asked.
 
Sheila's voice shook as she replied.  "I don't think Jane likes me anymore," she said.  "Ever since I took her doll, she doesn't really want to play with me--I can tell.  When I took it back and told her how sorry I am, she said she forgave me.  But she doesn't act like it."  A tear rolled down Sheila's cheek.  "I bet God hasn't forgiven me, either."
 
"Were you really sorry?" asked Mother.  "Are you determined such a thing will never happen again?"  Sheila nodded.  "Then," said Mother, "God has forgiven you.  And I believe Jane has, too, but it may take time to gain her trust again."  She put an arm around Sheila. "Remember the letter to Grandma?  You erased part of it, but it left the page a bit messy.  Life is a little like that.  We are 'writing' a page in our lives each day.  Sometimes we make mistakes--we sin.  God has graciously provided a way to have those sins 'erased,' and He forgives us completely.  But as far as people are concerned, that 'page' in our lives is never quite the same again.  Often it takes time before people can fully trust us.  You see, sin--even though it's forgiven--leaves a mark on our lives here on earth.  So be patient with Jane.  Show her that you can be trusted."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you messed up a "page" in your life?  If you're truly sorry and confess your sin to God, He will freely forgive you.  As far as He is concerned, that sin is totally blotted out.  Yet sin does leave its mark.  Be patient when others need time before they can fully trust you again.  Ask the Lord to help you live a pure life each day before Him and before others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 24:16  I)
I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. . . ."  Kelli stopped singing as she entered the kitchen.  "Hi, Mom," she said.  "I'm going to go play with Josie as soon as I get my Sunday school lesson done, okay?"  Mother agreed, and Kelli resumed her song as she went to her room and got out her Sunday school book.  "It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day. . . ."  Then there was silence as she got busy with her work.
 
Soon the song began again.  "It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play. . . ."  In the kitchen, Mom smiled as the singing got louder.  "Hi, Mom, I'm all done."  Kelli stood in the doorway.  She grinned at her mother.  "Mary had a good disciple, didn't she?"
 
"A good what?" asked Mother.
 
"My Sunday school lesson is about the twelve disciples of Jesus.  It says a disciple is a follower--and Mary's lamb followed her wherever she went," explained Kelli.  "It was a good disciple."
 
Mother laughed.  "I guess you're right," she agreed.  "The lamb was so eager to be with Mary that it followed her right into the school.  It didn't seem to be bothered by the children's laughter or jokes."
 
"Yeah."  Kelli nodded solemnly.  "We should follow Jesus like that, shouldn't we?  We should do what He wants, even if kids at school think we're weird."  She stood thoughtfully beside the door.  Then she gave a happy little skip.  "'Bye, Mom.  I'm going over to Josie's now.  I'll tell her about being Jesus' disciple and see if she wants to come with me to Sunday school tomorrow."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your classmates think you're a little strange when you bow your head and pray before you eat your lunch?  Do they laugh if you talk about Jesus?  Do they think you're a "goody-goody" because you go to church and Sunday school regularly?  Be a good disciple--a good follower--of Jesus.  Do the things that please Him, no matter what anyone says.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 9:23  I)
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.