Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"This meal looks delicious,"  said Mike's father, as they began to eat.  There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked at Mike.  "Please pass the watermelon, Mike."
 
Mike paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.  "Watermelon?"  He looked around.
 
"Right there in that bowl in front of you," said Dad.
 
Mike looked at the bowl heaped full of golden squash.  He was about to protest when he suddenly understood.  "Oh, sure, Dad.  Here's the watermelon."  He laughed as he passed the squash.
 
"I don't get it," said Mike's sister, Melanie.  "That's squash.  Why are you calling it 'watermelon'?"
 
Dad grinned and waited for Mike to explain.  "Well. . .ah. . .I just made a little mistake when we were planting the garden," said Mike, "and Dad won't let me forget it."
 
"He wanted to plant watermelon," explained Dad, "and I told him he was using squash seeds.  But would he believe me?  Oh, no!  He insisted they were watermelon seeds."
 
"A perfectly understandable mistake," murmured Mike.
 
"He said if I'd just be patient and wait until they grew, I'd see for myself," continued Dad, "and here's the finished product."  Mike laughed good-naturedly with the rest of the family.
 
"Whatever a man sows," murmured Mother, "is what he'll also reap.  That principle is true, both in a garden and in life.  Even as Christians, we need to be careful to sow the right kind of seeds."
 
"That's right," agreed Dad.  "If we sow evil, we can expect to reap evil and sorrow.  If we sow good things, we can expect to reap the joy and blessings that follow them."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What are you sowing in your life?  Are you sowing evil seeds, such as selfishness, disrespect for authority, and lies?  Or are you sowing good seeds, such as obedience, cheerful giving, and reverence for the things of God?  The things you do now, good or bad, may seem small and unimportant.  But little seeds grow, and whatever you sow, you will reap.  Make sure you sow things now that you'll want to reap later.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 6:7)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Taylors were on their way to a cottage they were renting near Sunshine Lake. "Oh, I can hardly wait to get there!" exclaimed Suzie.  "It seems like years since we've been on a real vacation!"
 
"I know."  Mother nodded.  "We've been so busy getting your father's business started and redecorating the house.  Then with piano lessons, Little League games, housework, and homework, it's hard to find a time when we're all free to take a vacation.  I'm glad we're getting a few days together before school starts."
 
When they arrived at the cottage, Suzie and her brother, Jimmy, helped Dad unpack the car while Mother swept and dusted inside the cottage.  "Who would like some hot chocolate?" asked Mother when they had finished.  She put some water in a teakettle, set it on the stove, and turned on the burner.  Immediately, all the lights went off.  "Oh, no!  I must have blown a fuse," she moaned.
 
"I'll check," said Dad, getting the flashlight and going to find the fuse box.  A few minutes later, he called, "Looks to me like there are too many things on one small circuit.  You'll have to turn off a few lights before you can use the stove."
 
Later, they sat together near the fireplace, enjoying the hot chocolate.  "You know," said Mother thoughtfully, "that overloaded fuse reminds me of our family lately--I think we're overloaded, too.  We've been so busy that we don't have much time to spend together anymore.  "
 
Dad nodded.  "I think we should take some time during this vacation to evaluate our activities and see which ones we could cut out of our schedules," he said.  Then he picked up the Bible from the magazine rack.  "Let's have family devotions right now--that's one activity we should always take time for."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been too busy lately?  Make a list of things you do and put the really important ones first.  Be sure to put daily devotions near the top, along with time spent with your family, proper rest, and meals.  Make sure those things get done first.  And don't forget your homework!  If there isn't time for everything on your list, decide which ones can be omitted or done another time.  Don't get overloaded.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Mark 6:31)
And He (Jesus) said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, Tony," whispered Ryan long after the two boys had gone to bed, "I forgot to pack my fishing gear.  Let's run to my house and get it."  Ryan was spending the night at Tony's home, and early the next morning the boys were leaving with their Sunday school class on a three-day fishing trip.
 
"Isn't it too late?" Tony asked.  "Everybody will be sleeping."
 
"We'll sneak in," said Ryan.  "Come on."
 
So the boys quietly left the house and hurried to Ryan's home.  As they expected, the house was dark.  Ryan tried all the doors, but they were locked.  "I'll pry the screen off my bedroom window," he whispered.  "I've climbed in there lots of times before."
 
Ryan tried to be quiet, but the noise woke his parents.  His father grabbed a bat and went to investigate.  Ryan had one foot in the window when Dad yelled, "Stop!"
 
Ryan froze when he saw his father towering over him, bat raised high.  "Don't hit!  It's me, Dad," he said quickly.
 
His father flicked on a light.  "Ryan?  What's going on here?" he asked.  "Why are you sneaking in the window?  Why didn't you come through the door?"  Ryan gulped.  He knew he had a lot to explain.
 
The next morning, the boys told their Sunday school teacher about their adventure.  "Climbing through the window was a bad idea," Ryan said.  "My dad thought I was a burglar.  If he had hit me, I could have been a goner!  He says I better come in through the door next time and not try to sneak in!"
 
"That's a good example of last week's Sunday school lesson," said Mr. Bates.  "Jesus is called the 'door' or 'gate' because it's only through Him that we can enter heaven."
 
"Yeah, I remember," said Ryan.  "You said some people think they can sneak into heaven by doing good works or going to church or being baptized.  But that won't work, right?"
 
"That's right," agreed Mr. Bates.  "You must enter heaven by the door--by accepting Jesus as your Savior, or you won't get in."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trying to "sneak" into heaven?  You can't do it.  On earth, a person might be able to sneak into a house and get away with it, but the only way to get into heaven is through the door, Jesus Christ.  Come to Him today.  (See last page.)


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Chad eagerly tore open the envelope he had received in the mail.  "Here's the pencil I ordered," he said.  "See--it has my name on it."  He pointed to his name, stamped in gold, on the side of the pencil.  His little sister Caryn, reached for the pencil, but Chad pulled it back.  "You can't use it," he said.  "This pencil cost me money, and nobody gets to use it but me."
 
"I can use it, too," insisted Caryn.  "Can't I, Mommy?"
 
"Maybe Chad will let you use it later," said Mom, "but not right now.  I'm sure Chad will let you look at it though, won't you, Chad?"
 
Reluctantly, Chad handed Caryn the pencil.  "I want to write with it," she declared stubbornly.
 
"Well, you can't," said Chad, taking the pencil back.
 
Caryn pouted.  "Can, too," she said.  "I'll ask Daddy."  And when Dad came home, she did just that.  "Chad has to share with me, doesn't he?" she asked.  "I can use the pencil, too!"  But she was disappointed to see her father shake his head.
 
"It's Chad's pencil," said Dad.  "He paid for it and his name is on it.  He has the right to control that pencil."
 
"Hey, that's like my lesson last Sunday," said Chad.  "My teacher says God has the right to control us because we belong to Him."
 
Dad nodded.  "Good point," he said, "although He doesn't control us like a puppet on a string.  He also gives us free choice.  But this pencil can remind you that just like you bought it, making it yours, God bought us, making us His.  It cost the blood of Jesus to purchase our salvation."  Dad smiled at Chad.  "Your name is stamped on the pencil, marking it as your own.  When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us, marking us as 'Christians.'  We should always remember that we belong to God and give Him control of our lives."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you belong to God?  You do if you've accepted Jesus as your Savior.  So don't allow the world to "use" you.  Don't be guilty of the negative things listed in today's Scripture reading.  In short, don't do the things Satan wants you to do.  He has no claim on you.  Instead, realize that you are God's and allow Him to control you.  Live to please Him by following the positive things in today's Scripture..


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. . .and ye are not your own?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Are you ready for Bible club?" asked Chad's mother, "or should you learn your memory verse before you go out to play?"
 
Chad looked at the ball and mitt in his hand, then back at his mother.  "I don't mind going to Bible club and church and junior choir and everything," he grumbled, "but I wish I didn't have to spend so much time doing things for them.  Sometimes I wish we could just go to church without getting so involved."
 
"Chad, you had plenty of time to learn that verse last night," said Mother, "but you chose to play a game on the computer.  It's not like you never get to play."  With a sigh, Chad headed toward his room.
 
A few moments later, Mother heard angry voices.  "Give that to me, Caryn," demanded Chad.  "It's mine."  Mother couldn't hear Caryn's reply, but she heard sounds of a scuffle.  She hurried to see what was causing the problem.
 
"Caryn's got my pencil," explained Chad.  His little sister looked guilty as she stared at him defiantly, hands behind her back.
 
"Give me the pencil," ordered Mother, and Caryn reluctantly handed it over.  Mother looked at Chad's name stamped on it.  "Well, Chad," she said," suppose I break this in half and give you each a piece.  Would that be all right with you?"
 
"Yeah!" said Caryn eagerly.  "Do that, Mommy."
 
"No way!" Chad said quickly.  "Breaking it in half would ruin it.  I want my whole pencil."
 
"Chad is right," Mother agreed, handing the pencil to him.  "It's his--the whole thing."  She saw his Bible and Sunday school workbook lying closed on the floor.  "The pencil belongs to you, Chad, and you belong to God.  Not just half of you--half of your talents, money, and time--but all of you.  It wouldn't be right to give God only half.  That's why just going to church and Sunday school really isn't all we should do.  I believe God wants us to get involved in activities that please Him."
 
Slowly Chad nodded.  "Like church activities, right?" he said.  "And like learning my verse.  Okay."   He picked up his Bible and workbook.  Then he looked at the pencil.  He grinned.  "Here, Caryn," he said, "you can use my pencil a little while, too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a "Sunday Christian"?  Do you want to do things your own way the rest of the week?  Do you want to go to heaven, but serve the Lord only when it's convenient for you?  You belong wholly to Him, and He wants you to love and serve Him with your whole heart.  Ask Him to help you do that each day.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deuteronomy 10:12)
What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Cindy!" exclaimed Josh.  "You messed up our puzzle."
 
"I help," insisted Cindy, stirring the pieces around.
 
"Tell you what."  Beth took a simple puzzle from a shelf and helped three-year-old Cindy get started on it.  "You work this puzzle.  Ours is too hard for you."
 
Josh and Beth enjoyed watching their puzzle picture develop.  Then trouble started again.  "Cindy, that piece belongs in your puzzle, not in this one!" protested Beth as the little girl tried to fit a piece from her puzzle into the one her brother and sister were doing.
 
"Here, Cindy.  Help me open the mail."  Mother had just come in with several envelopes in her hand.  While Cindy struggled with one envelope, Mother opened another.  "Oh, dear," she said with a sigh.  "A wedding invitation.  Your cousin Paula is getting married, and in this case, I'm afraid it isn't good news.  Dave, her fiancé, isn't a Christian."
 
"She thinks he'll attend church with her more often after they're married," remarked Beth.  "She's sure he'll be saved soon."
 
"Yeah, and he's really a nice guy," added Josh.
 
"Well, I hope and pray Dave will become a Christian," said Mother, "but they're starting out in opposition to God's command.  He says Christians should not be 'unequally yoked' with unbelievers."
 
"Cindy, don't!" exclaimed Josh as his little sister once again tried to fit her puzzle piece into the wrong puzzle.
 
"You see," said Mother, "just as pieces from two different puzzles will never really fit properly together, a believer and an unbeliever do not fit together.  This is especially true in marriage, which is a lifetime relationship, but it's also true in business and in friendships."
 
"That's why you don't like me to spend too much time with Zach, isn't it?" asked Josh.
 
Mother nodded.  "You can be friends, but your best friends should be Christians.  And when you're old enough to date, all your dates should be Christians."
 
"Dates!"  Josh pulled a face.  "Forget it!"
 
Mother laughed.  "That time will come before you know it," she said.  "I hope you'll both firmly decide, even now, that you'll follow God's plan in this matter."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are your best friends Christians?  Are you determined that, when the time comes, you will choose a Christian mate?  Don't disobey God on this important issue.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Be ye not unequally yoked together.

[Soldier4Christ]

Beth and Josh raced to put in the last few pieces of their puzzle.  Finally, Beth picked up the very last one on the table.  She saw, however, that there were still two pieces missing from the puzzle.  "You're hiding a piece," she accused Josh.  "You always think you have to put in the last piece."
 
"I don't have it," said Josh.  "Maybe it's on the floor."  He looked under the table, but there was nothing there.  The children began to search the rest of the room.  Unwilling to give up, they had just removed several things from a shelf when Mother came into the room.
 
"What's going on?" asked Mother.  They showed her the puzzle with a piece missing.  "That's too bad," she said, "but I think you may as well forget it for now.  If we come across it, we'll put it in the box."
 
"Forget it?" objected Beth.  "But we need it to finish the picture."  They continued their search, and finally they found the missing piece in the wastebasket.
 
"You certainly were persistent," observed Mother when she saw the finished puzzle.  "Good for you!"
 
"Yeah," agreed Josh, playfully patting himself on the back.  He grinned at his mother.  "Hey, Mom, you always see neat little lessons in things that happen.  Don't you see one in this?"
 
Mother thought for a moment.  "Actually, I do," she said.  "I'm thinking of your friend, Jim.  I know you've been very disappointed in him since he was caught shoplifting.  In spite of that, I believe he really is a Christian, but he's like your missing puzzle piece.  Although he's rebellious right now, he belongs in the picture.  I hope you'll be persistent in 'finding' him and bringing him back to take his proper place.  Be careful that he doesn't influence you or damage your reputation.  Still, I hope you'll faithfully pray for him and encourage him to live for the Lord."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know a Christian who has strayed from the Lord?  A Christian who won't even come to church?  A Christian who does things you know are displeasing in God's sight?  Sometimes it's necessary to avoid close companionship with such a person.  But never stop praying for him.  Try to lead him back to the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)
And if any man obey not. . .have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Go, Jon!  Go!" yelled Greg, as he jumped up and down.  "Make that touchdown!  All right!"  He cheered wildly as his teammate scored the first touchdown of the game.
 
At the dinner table that evening, Greg gave his family a blow-by-blow account of the afternoon's game.  Over and over they heard the name "Jon" as Greg described the various plays.  Finally, Greg's sister, Kara, looked at her brother in disgust.  "I'm sick and tired of hearing about all the wonderful plays Jon made," she declared.  "I was under the impression that you didn't even like him, and frankly, I agreed with you.  But now all you do is sing his praises."
 
"Well, he may not be my favorite person in all the world," admitted Greg.  "He's not my best friend or anything, but he's on our team.  We're working for the same cause.  We're both Coreyville Cougars, the 'best in the west'!  You should have seen him run this afternoon.  Peter passed him the ball, and he was off down the field like a streak.  The other team didn't. . . ."
 
"Oh, help me," moaned Kara.  "Here comes another chapter of the 'Jon the Football Player' story."
 
Mother laughed.  "I'm glad you enjoyed your game so much, Greg," she said.  "It's nice that you were able to win, and it's also nice that you've found something to admire in Jon.  We should always look for positive things in others."
 
"I think Greg has given us a good example of how we should view other Christians," observed Dad.  "We don't have to like everything about them, and they don't all have to be our best friends.  But we should remember that we're on the same team.  We're fighting for the same cause--that of winning others to Jesus and bringing glory to God.  We should love them, and I believe we can also find something to admire in each of them.  We should regard them as teammates."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a fellow-Christian whom  you dislike?  Look for some good quality in him, and then concentrate on that rather than on the things that annoy you.  Remember, you both belong to Christ, and that should bind you together.  You are teammates.  Work together to glorify the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 3:28)
For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Mother arranged the new curtains, Aileen looked proudly around her room.  "It was so much fun fixing up my room!" she exclaimed.  "I'm going to be an interior decorator when I grow up."
 
Mother smiled.  "Redecorating is fun, isn't it?"
 
"I'm almost glad we didn't have money to buy everything new and ready-made," said Aileen.  "My quilt and curtains are so pretty, and they match the wallpaper perfectly.  Even my old bedroom furniture looks nice refinished."
 
Mother nodded.  "Do-it-yourself jobs are hard work, but they're so satisfying and worth the effort.  Why don't you call Josie and invite her over to see your room?"
 
Aileen snorted.  "She wouldn't come.  She's not speaking to me," she said sarcastically.
 
Mother raised her eyebrows.  "Are you speaking to her?"
 
"Of course not!  She'll have to speak to me first.  She's the one who's mad--and I didn't do a thing to her."  Tears filled Aileen's eyes.  "I asked God to make her apologize to me, but she still hasn't done it."
 
"Maybe He wants you to apologize to Josie," suggested Mother.
 
"But I didn't do anything wrong!" Aileen wailed.
 
"Are you sure?  It usually takes two to quarrel," Mother reminded her daughter.  "We often want God to take care of our problems when there is something He expects us to do for ourselves.  According to the Bible, one thing He wants us to do is to 'humble ourselves.'  In this case, maybe that means you should apologize.  Remember our Scripture reading this morning?  (See today's Scripture.)  Josie has something 'against you,' so you should go to her."
 
"But that's hard!" cried Aileen.
 
Mother nodded.  "It's a hard do-it-yourself job, but the results are worth the effort."
 
As Aileen dialed Josie's number a little later, Mother smiled.  And when Aileen proudly showed Josie her room, Mother heard her say, "Do-it-yourself jobs are usually hard, but they're worth it."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does God want you to apologize to someone?  It's not easy to humble yourself, but it's God's way, and it's worth the effort.  An apology is a cheap price to pay for a friend.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 18:15)
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

[Soldier4Christ]

Paul stretched and yawned.  "I gotta get to bed early tonight," he stated.  "Coach's orders.  He says it's important to work hard and eat right, but that nothing will take the place of a good night's sleep."
 
"Well then, by all means, get to bed early--after you work hard and eat right, that is," teased his sister Alyce.  "Be sure to do whatever your football coach says."
 
"You surely are putting a lot into the game," said Dad.  He looked thoughtful.  "You know, the game of football reminds me of the game of life.  God has provided a big, beautiful field on which to play the game of life.  He created the earth and everything in it."
 
Alyce grinned.  "Oh, and here's an important part--the coaches are our teachers and especially our parents.  I bet that's the thing Dad wanted to get across to us."
 
Dad gave her a playful swat with his newspaper.  "You said it; I didn't."  He smiled.  "You two are getting good at figuring out the lessons I'm trying to teach.  And you're right, so don't forget how important it is to follow the advice of your coaches!"
 
"Okay, Dad."  Paul laughed.  He stood up and yawned again.  "I'm going to do that now by getting to bed.  Good night, everybody."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you listen to your "coaches" in the game of life?  God has given you parents, teachers, pastors, and other Christian leaders and friends to help you make right choices.  Listen carefully to what they tell you.  God says to obey them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 13:17)
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.

[Soldier4Christ]

"That was a good game this afternoon, Paul," observed Dad as they ate dinner.  "You played very well."
 
"I thought the most exciting part was when the coaches from the two teams got all hyped up over that one play," said Alyce.  "For a minute I thought we were going to have a big fight on our hands."
 
"I was afraid of that, too," agreed Mother.  "They didn't calm down until the referee got out a book and looked something up.  What book was that?"
 
"Beats me."  Alyce shrugged.
 
Paul and Dad laughed.  "That was the National Football League Rule Book," said Paul.  "When there's a disagreement about something, they can look up the rule about it.  Whatever the book says, that's it!  No more arguing."
 
Dad nodded.  "It's the final authority in the game of football," he said.  He paused, then added, "God has supplied a book that is the final authority in the game of life, too."
 
"This is an easy one," said Paul.  "The final authority in life is. . . ."
 
". . .the Bible!"  Paul and Alyce finished together.
 
Dad nodded.  "Sometimes our 'coaches' disagree on something," he said.  "A preacher says one thing.  A well-known Christian leader says another.  A parent or teacher says something different still.  It can get very confusing.  We need to turn to the Bible and see what God says."
 
"But He doesn't talk about some subjects," said Alyce, "like how fast it's safe to drive or if it's okay for a twelve-year-old girl to wear make-up."  She glanced at Mother.
 
Dad smiled.  "No, but He does say we are to obey our civic rulers, so we have to abide by the speed limits they set.  And He does say you are to obey your parents, so they'll decide on the make-up issue.  God will show us principles to help us in all our decisions."  He reached for his Bible.  "Let's see if we can find some of them right now."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get confused when there is disagreement among your parents or Christian leaders as to what is right or wrong?  Find out what God says about it.  He's always right.  Look for principles in His Word to guide you in knowing the truth.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 33:4)
For the word of the Lord is right.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rob and the others in his class climbed into the bus for their field trip to the zoo.  How could I have lost my temper like that? Rob thought to himself as he looked out the window.  Doug didn't mean to break my pencil.  Why did I yell at him and say he could never borrow from me again?  I got so mad at my sister yesterday, too.  I've been a Christian for three months now, and I've still got a terrible temper.  Will I ever learn to control it?  Even after arriving at the zoo, he continued to be upset with himself and had a hard time concentrating on what Nels, their tour guide, was saying.  But when they saw a baby elephant, even Rob was interested.
 
"Awww, isn't he cute!" squealed several of the girls. 
 
"He's just learning to use his trunk," Nels told them.  "Watch."  The kids giggled as they watched the elephant calf try to drink water.  First he blew bubbles in the water rather than sucking it into his trunk.  When he finally did get some into his trunk, he missed his mouth and sprayed his face.  "It will take time for the calf to be able to use his trunk properly," said Nels, "but he'll keep trying, and it will come.  After all, he's only a few months old."
 
"Huh," murmured Rob to himself, "that's kind of like me.  I'm just a new Christian.  Maybe it's going to take more time to get rid of this bad temper than I thought.  I'll keep trying. . .just like that baby elephant.  With the Lord's help, I'll overcome the problem."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you having a hard time overcoming a particular sin?  Do you get discouraged because you find yourself doing it over and over again?  Don't be discouraged.  Old habits are hard to break.  Keep working at overcoming, but realize that you can't do it by yourself.  Ask the Lord to help you.  In time, as you learn to yield to Him, you will be victorious.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 138:
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ouch!" yelled Julie.  She had tripped over one of the many boxes stacked up in the hallway.  Moving day was only five days away, and the house was a mess.  "Mom, why do we have to move?" she asked.  "I don't want to leave my friends.  And I don't want to go to another school!"
 
Mother sighed.  "Honey," she said,  "I know how difficult this is for you, but Dad's job requires him to make this move.  Worrying about it and getting angry won't help."
 
"Well, what will help?" Julie wanted to know.  She was close to tears.
 
Mother gave her a hug.  "Trusting God even when you can't understand," she replied.  "I know that's sometimes hard to do, but He loves you and He'll take care of you, even in a new school."  She pointed out the window.  "Do you see that sparrow on the feeder in the backyard, Julie?"
 
"Yes."  Julie nodded.
 
"Look at it," said Mother.  "It isn't considered a beautiful bird--not a bird of much worth.   But God says He takes care of those little birds and gives them what they need.  He also says He loves you and me much more than those little birds.  That's one reason we know He'll take very good care of us."
 
Julie thought about what Mother had just said.  "Do you think God will help me make new friends?" she asked.
 
"I'm sure He will," replied Mother.  "He knows you need friends.  Have you talked to Him about it?"
 
Julie shook her head.  "No, but I will," she said slowly.
 
Before leaving for school the next day, Julie showed her mother a little booklet she was taking to school with her.  "It's an address book," she explained.  "I'll have my friends write down their addresses, and then we'll write to each other.  That way I'll keep my old friends, plus I'll be making new ones!"
 
"That's the spirit, Julie," said Mother.  "Now you're looking on the brighter side of things.  When we take our worries to God in prayer, He helps us see that everything has a good side, too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you worry about such things as going to a new church or having a new teacher?  Remember, God loves you and promises to take care of you.  He cares about you.  Tell Him about your worries.  Then trust Him to work things out for the best.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, I got it!" announced Kathy after school one day.
 
"Got what?" asked her brother, Ben.  "Is it catching?"  He moved to the other side of the room, pretending to be afraid of her.
 
"Silly!"  Kathy held up a book.  The picture on the jacket showed a girl in a long skirt cooking over an old-fashioned stove.  "My teacher let me bring this home.  It tells how to make 'vanity cakes' like they did years ago.  Mom said she'd help me make some if I brought home the recipe."  She turned to her mother.  "Can we make them today?"
 
"Right after supper," promised Mother.
 
When they had finished the evening meal, Mother said Ben should do the dishes, and Kathy ran to get the book she had brought home.  She eagerly opened it.  Then she closed the book and looked at the cover.  Once more she opened it.   "Mother," she wailed, "this is the wrong book!  This cover is a phony!  It says, 'Old Time Cooking,' but it's really a book about antique cars!"
 
Mother came to investigate.  "Somehow this book got the wrong jacket on it," she said.  "I guess this proves the old saying, 'You can't tell a book by its cover.'"
 
"That book jacket fooled Kathy," observed Dad, "until she looked inside.  I'm reminded of people who put on a good 'cover.'  They go to church and do all sorts of good deeds.  Their 'phony jackets' fool lots of people who think such fine folk must be Christians.  But they never fool God.  He knows whether or not they've accepted Jesus.  He knows if they're pretending to be something they're not."
 
"Well," said Kathy with a sigh, "I should have checked sooner to make sure I had the right book.  I guess we won't be able to make those cakes tonight after all."
 
"Hey, does this mean I get out of doing dishes?" asked Ben hopefully.
 
"It means you get some help with them," answered Mother.  "Let's all get at it."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you wearing a "jacket" that makes you appear to be something you're not?  Others may think you're a Christian because you go to church, behave nicely, and talk about the Lord.  But God is not fooled by some cover you might be wearing.  He sees the real you.  He knows if you've really trusted Jesus as your Savior.  If you haven't done that, won't you stop pretending?  Accept Him today.  (See last page for more help.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Kings 8:39)
Give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest; (for Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men).

[Soldier4Christ]

"Get out of my way," ordered Ben, reaching out to give his sister a shove.  "I can't see."
 
"Who wants to watch this stupid program anyway?" retorted Kathy.  "Baseball again!"  She turned and went to answer the phone.
 
"I'm going to sing with a few other kids two weeks from Sunday," Kathy reported when she returned.  "We're going to sing 'Get That Frown Off Your Face.'"
 
"Big deal," muttered Ben.  This time Kathy's smart reply was wasted when Ben jumped up to answer the phone.
 
Soon Ben returned.  "Guess what, Miss Smarty!  I'm going to sing, too.  Mrs. Snyder said she forgot she had two people to ask from this family."  He pulled Kathy from her chair.  "I had that chair first," he said, picking up a book.
 
"Well, you left," protested Kathy.  She grabbed for the book.  "Give me that!"  She turned to her mother who had come into the room.  "Mom, Ben has my book.  Make him give it to me."
 
"She doesn't really want to read it," grumbled Ben.  "It's the one she brought home because she thought it had recipes in it, but it has the wrong book jacket on.  It's really about antique cars."
 
Mother sighed.  "You both just said you were going to be singing in a special group.  And you're singing 'Get that frown off your face,' right?  Is that the one that goes, 'Get that frown off your face.  Put a smile in its place.  Let the love of Jesus Christ show through'?"  The children nodded and sang it together.
 
"Well," said Mother when they had finished, "then I guess you're planning to wear your jackets that day?"  Ben and Kathy were puzzled.  "You know--like that book," added Mother.  "People sometimes wear 'jackets,' too-- jackets that say they're something they're not."
 
"But we don't," protested Kathy.  "We really are Christians."
 
"Yes," said Mother, "but even Christians wear phony jackets sometimes.  In public, they smile and act sweet, but in private they quarrel and can't get along."
 
Kathy blushed.  "Well, Ben started it," she said.  "He pushed. . . ."  She stopped, knowing she had no good excuse for her own behavior.  "Sorry, Ben." she murmured.
 
"Yeah, okay," mumbled Ben.  "I'm sorry, too."
 
"That sounds better."  Mother smiled.  "Keep that up, and you won't need those 'jackets' anymore."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you say "please" and "thank you" only when you're away from home?  Do you talk nicely when you're at church, and use bad language when you're at school?  Does the way you act depend upon whom you're with?  That's called "hypocrisy," or being "two-faced."  Ask God to help you live a pure, honest life wherever you are.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 3:17)
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle. . .without hypocrisy.