Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Bobby shrieked in protest as his mother got up to lead him into the doctor's examining room.  His older sister, Lisa, looked at him sympathetically.  "Don't cry, Bobby," she said.  "You haven't even gotten your shot yet!"
 
"I don't wanna get shot!" screeched the little boy.  But Mother sent Lisa a warning glance and urged him along.
 
When they returned to the waiting room, Bobby wore a big smile and admired the Snoopy bandage on his arm and the little toy car the nurse had given him.  "That wasn't so bad, was it?" asked Lisa.
 
Bobby frowned.  "I still don't like shots," he complained.  "They hurt."
 
"We know, honey," said Mother soothingly, "but the hurt lasts only a little while, and the medicine in the shot helps you stay healthy.  If you didn't get shots, you might get a sickness that would hurt far worse than a shot."
 
"Bobby's too little to understand," remarked Lisa as she watched her brother play with his car.  "But someday he'll be glad he got 'hurt' today, won't he, Mom?"
 
"Probably," agreed Mother.  "And you know, this can serve as a lesson for you and me.  When we're going through hard times, we may wonder whether or not God really cares about us.  But everything He allows us to experience -- even moments of pain and sadness -- are for our good and His glory.  If we could see things from His point of view we'd think about our earthly trials in a completely different way."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard to be patient when  things aren't going well?  When you feel sick?  When you have to go to a new school?  When you have to get used to a new baby in the family or to a new stepparent?  Perhaps God wants to teach you something, or to allow you to be an example of His grace.  Maybe He wants to cleanse you of some sin in your life, or to protect you from an even greater problem in the future.  Whatever His purpose is, you will find peace and joy when you fully submit to Him.  He knows best!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:28)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jared rinsed soap suds from the hood of the car and moved the hose to the other side.  He picked up his portable radio and moved it, too.  When he set it down again, it suddenly stopped playing.  As he shook it, his father came outside.  "Got a problem?" Dad asked.
 
Jared nodded.  "The radio quit," he explained, "but it was playing fine till I moved it.  Maybe it needs new batteries."
 
"Try turning it in a circle," suggested Dad.
 
"A circle?" asked Jared.  He didn't think that sounded like very good advice, but he tried it.  Amazingly, the radio began to play again!  But when he set it beside a tree, it quit once more.  "I give up!" cried Jared.
 
Dad walked over.  He picked up the radio and slowly moved it.  The music blared!  "This is an old radio, and it helps to turn the receiver toward the broadcasting tower," he said.
 
"Oh, I see!"  This was beginning to make sense.  "When I put it by the tree, I turned it away from the station's signal again."
 
"Right!" Dad looked at the little radio.  "Maybe I could use this in my Sunday school class this week."
 
Jared began to wash the car door.  "What does the radio have to do with the Bible?" he asked.
 
"Our lesson is going to be about the help God gives us when we look to Him," explained Dad.
 
Jared wiped his hands and picked up his radio, slowly turning it.  The station went off.  "I still don't see what that has to do with the radio!" he said.
 
"We're like the radio," explained Dad.  "Our hearts and minds need to be turned toward God.  When we trust Him rather than other people or things, He gives us the help we need and the power to live for Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder why God hasn't helped you with a particular problem?  Are you sure you're turned toward Him?  Have you prayed about your problem?  Have you looked into His Word for guidance?  Are you really trusting Him to help you?  He'll do His part.  Your part is to completely trust in Him and allow Him to direct your life.  Then you'll find that you can do things you thought impossible.  God has a plan for you.  Stay tuned in to Him!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 123:1)
Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.

[Soldier4Christ]

A total failure, that's what I am, Tim thought as he slowly walked home after school.  When Carl asked why I always go to church, it was a perfect chance to tell him I'm a Christian and that Jesus--not the church--saved me.  But I just shrugged and changed the subject.  I wish I could talk about the Lord, but I never know what to say.
 
That evening, Tim heard someone talking in his brother's room.  He went to see who was there.  "What are you doing?" asked Tim when he saw his brother standing in front of the mirror, talking out loud.
 
Kyle turned around and laughed.  "Practicing," he said.  "Remember when I first started speech class?  I hated it.  I was scared silly of getting up in front of class, but you know what?  I kind of like it now!"
 
"Aren't you scared anymore?" asked Tim.
 
Kyle nodded.  "Yeah, but not quite so bad, thanks to my teacher.  He said you have to practice in order to sing or to play a musical instrument, and you have to practice to become a good speaker, too.  He told us to 'practice, practice, practice,' so I do."  Kyle grinned at Tim.  "I practice in front of the mirror so I can see how I look and what gestures I use," he said.  "Not everybody will be equally good, of course.  I may never be a great speaker, but at least I'm improving.  I'm getting better at expressing what I want to say."
 
Tim watched as Kyle turned back to his mirror and began his speech again.  Practice, thought Tim as he went to his own room.  That's what I have to do, too.
 
When Kyle passed Tim's room a little later, Tim was standing in front of his mirror.  "I'm a Christian," Tim was saying, "and you can be one, too."  He cleared his throat.  "I'm a Christian," he repeated, "and you can be one, too."  He paused.  "The Bible says. . . ."  Kyle smiled and walked on as Tim continued to practice witnessing.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid to speak up for the Lord?  Do you have trouble knowing what to say?  Practice at home--try talking to yourself in front of a mirror.  Then when you've gotten used to the sound of your own voice talking about the Lord, you may want to practice with a friend or with a parent.  It will seem strange at first, but try it.  And then speak up for the Lord whenever you have a chance.  You can be a witness for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 145:5)
I will speak of the glorious honor of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Dad, may I use your oil can to 'unsqueak' the cupboard doors for Mom?" asked Bill.  "She says the hinges need a little oil and that I can be the 'oil man.'  She says if they don't get it soon, they're going to drive her wild with their squeaking and rasping sounds."
 
Dad laughed as he took the oil can from the workbench and handed it to Bill.  "Then by all means, take it away!"
 
When Bill returned the oil can a little later, Dad was still at his workbench.  "I oiled the hinges all over the house," Bill reported.  "I told Mom that if she heard any squeaks now, she could figure we have mice.  She says that would really drive her wild."  Bill and his dad laughed together, and then Bill went out to play with his friends.
 
At dinner that evening, Bill shared the neighborhood news.  "Todd and Jim are mad at each other again," he said.  "And did you know Mrs. Gentry broke her arm?  She fell down her basement stairs.  And old Mr. Snell stood at his window for half an hour and watched us sliding.  He's probably got nothing better to do."  Bill nibbled his salad.
 
"I guess the people in our neighborhood could use some oil," observed Dad.
 
"Oil?" asked Bill.  "What do you mean?"
 
"The Bible speaks of the 'oil of gladness,' and it sounds to me like some of our neighbors could use a little gladness," said Dad.  "Since you're the 'oil man' today, I think you should be the one to spread it around the neighborhood."
 
"Yeah?" Bill looked thoughtful.  "I know what I can do," he said, eyeing the dessert on the cupboard.  "I can take a piece of pie to Mr. Snell.  And I can offer to run errands for Mrs. Gentry."  He paused.  "I don't know what can I do about Todd and Jim, but I'll think of something!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you spread gladness?  God's Word says Jesus was anointed with the "oil of gladness," and if you belong to Him, there should be gladness in your heart, too.  Will you share that with others?  Offer a cheerful smile to help someone feel better.  Take time to chat a few minutes with a lonely person.  Lend a helping hand to take the harshness out of somebody's day.  Do it for Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 1:9)
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed Thee (Jesus) with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jordan's parents were missionaries in Africa, and he was learning so many new things.  One day his friend, Paul, helped him make a trap to catch a monkey.  "It's easy," said Paul, handing Jordan a gourd.  "First, make a hole in this gourd--make it just big enough for a monkey to put his paw through."  He supervised while Jordan worked.  "There," Paul said, "that's big enough.  The gourd is hollow, so now we'll put some nuts and fruit in it.  Then we'll fasten it to a branch of a tree at the edge of the village."  Soon the trap was ready.
 
"I don't get it," said Jordan as the boys walked to the tree Paul had selected.  "How will this work?  Even if a monkey reaches into the gourd to get the food, what will keep him from getting away with it?"
 
"When he has nuts in his fist, his paw won't go through the hole," explained Paul.  "If he'd just let them go, he could get away.  But he won't.  I guess he wants them so bad, he hangs on even though it means he gets caught."  Paul helped Jordan attach the gourd to a tree.  "There.  By tomorrow morning, you'll probably have a monkey."
 
When he returned home, Jordan told his mother about the foolish monkeys.  Mother nodded.  "They certainly are silly," she agreed.  "But do you know I was just as foolish myself once?"  Jordan looked at his mother in surprise.  "I wanted certain things," she explained.  "A nice home, pretty clothes, a nice car, a grassy lawn.  I wanted to hang on to them--I didn't want to give them up and come to the mission field.  But the Lord showed me that by following His will, I wasn't really giving up anything important.  I was just letting go of those things for something better.  I've never been as happy as I've been here in Africa, bringing the message of salvation to these people."
 
Jordan grinned, looking around the small but cheerful room.  "We have a nice home," he said.  "I like it here."
 
Mother smiled and gave him a hug.  "So do I!" she said.  "So do I!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What things do you want very badly?  What are the goals for your life?  Good grades?  Pretty clothes?  Money?  Fun?  A big car?  Don't set your heart on the things of this world.  Don't let them trap you into missing what God intends for you.  It may be that He has those things in His plan for you, but you need to be willing to let them go.  If they are not in His plan, you can be sure He has something even better.  Don't miss it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:2)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I'll get it!" David jumped up as the teakettle started to whistle.  He had been waiting for the water to boil so he could fix himself a cup of hot chocolate.
 
"Careful!" called Mother.  "That handle gets very, very hot.  Better use a pot holder."
 
But David wasn't paying attention.  He put a scoop of hot chocolate mix into a cup and then reached out to pick up the teakettle.  "Ouch!" he wailed.  He dropped the kettle almost as soon as he touched it.  "Oh, that burns!"  He ran cold water over his hand as Mother came to help.
 
"I tried to warn you because I've gotten burned on that teakettle myself," said Mother as she checked his hand.  "Too bad you couldn't learn from my experience."
 
At school the next day, David's teacher showed him a baseball mitt.  "You said you lost your mitt," said Mrs. Wiley, "and this one was found out on the playground.  Is it yours?"
 
The mitt Mrs. Wiley held out was just like David's, only his was more worn.  Should I say it's mine, anyway? he wondered. He felt guilty even thinking about it.  Just the night before, he'd read about the lies Ananias and Sapphira had told.  Still. . .well, he was sure God wouldn't strike him dead for telling a little lie.  As David took the mitt, he felt a bit of pain in his burned palm.  He made up his mind.  I didn't learn from Mother's experience, but I am going to learn from Ananias and Sapphira, he thought.  He handed the mitt back to Mrs. Wiley.  "It's like mine," he said, "but mine isn't this new."
 
As David walked back to his seat, he felt happy inside.  He didn't have a mitt, but he had a clear conscience, and that was even better.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you learn from examples and experiences of others--especially those recorded in God's Word?  The Bible gives many examples from which you should learn.  For instance--Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were punished; Noah worshipped God and was saved in the ark; Abraham listened to God and was blessed; Lot lived too close to the world, and it cost him part of his family.  The list could go on and on.  Read about these and others in the Bible.  Pay attention to what happened to them and profit from their experiences.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:11)
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition.

[Soldier4Christ]

At the Sunday school class party, Lori listened eagerly as Miss Ellen explained the next game they would play.  "Tom will be 'it' first," said Miss Ellen.  "He'll pretend to be an animal.  The first one to guess what animal it is will be 'it' next.  Then that person may choose an animal to imitate.  You'll catch on--go ahead, Tom."
 
Tom dropped to his hands and knees.  He walked a few steps on "all fours," then opened his mouth and barked.  "You're a dog!" Pete shouted quickly.  Tom nodded and got to his feet.
 
Pete thought for a moment.  He got down on his stomach and wriggled his way across the room.  "Are you a worm?" someone asked.  Pete shook his head.  As he crawled along, he rapidly stuck out his tongue several times.  "A snake," squealed one of the girls, and it was her turn.
 
After several children had a turn, Miss Ellen was "it."  The children watched as she began her act.  She folded her hands and bowed her head.  "You're a praying mantis," suggested Tom.
 
Miss Ellen shook her head.  "I'll give you a clue," she said.  "I'm a human, but what am I pretending to be?"  She picked up her Bible and pretended to read.  Next she stood up, patted her hair, tugged her clothes into place, and solemnly walked to a chair.  She sat down and appeared to be listening to someone.  She made motions as though she were opening a book.  She also opened and closed her mouth several times, but no sound came out.  "She's singing," whispered someone, and Miss Ellen nodded.  Again she seemed to be listening.  "She's in church," whispered someone else.  Again Miss Ellen nodded.
 
Suddenly Lori knew the answer.  "I think you're pretending to be a Christian!" she exclaimed.
 
"That's it," agreed Miss Ellen.  "Now. . .it's time for you to be leaving, kids, and as you go, I want you to think about this:  pretending to be something doesn't make it so.  You're not a dog unless you are 'born' into the canine family, and you're not a Christian unless you are 'born' into God's family.  Jesus says you have to be 'born again' by accepting Him as Savior."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been born again?  You may act like a Christian, but you're not one unless you've trusted Jesus and have been "born" into His family.  Stop pretending and accept Him today.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 3:7)
Ye must be born again.

[Soldier4Christ]

"We sure had fun at school today," said Denny as he sat down at the dinner table.  "Mrs. Edwards had to go to the office for something, and everybody ran around and talked while she was gone.  She was mad as a wet hen when she  got back--said she could hear us way down at the office.  She told us to sit with our heads on our desks while she went back to the office.  When she left, everybody went wild again."
 
"Including you?" asked Mother.  "Did you talk and leave your seat, too?"
 
Denny looked startled.  "Well. . .yeah.  Everybody did."  He quickly thought of a new topic, hoping to avoid a lecture.  "Can I turn the heat up a little?  I'm cold."
 
"When the sun goes down, it does get cold pretty fast," agreed Dad.  "Go ahead--turn up the thermostat a bit."  Denny went to do so.  "A thermostat is a great invention," observed Dad when Denny returned to his seat.  "It's a controlling device.  It doesn't just read the temperature in a room; it does something about it.  It tells the furnace when to go on and off."  He paused.  "Some people are like thermostats," he added.
 
Denny grinned.  "They tell the furnace when to go on and off?"
 
Dad smiled.  "What I meant is that some people do something about what is going on around them," he said.  "They control what is happening.  They don't just go along with the crowd.  As a matter of fact, Christians should influence those around them instead of being swayed by unbelievers.  They should be good examples in the things they say and the way they behave."  He paused.  "I'm thinking of your behavior in school today," he added.
 
Denny gulped.  "Oh," he said.  "Maybe you're right.  Maybe if I had been quiet and stayed in my seat today, some of the other kids would have done that, too."
 
"Maybe," agreed Mother.  "I suggest that you try it next time.  I think you owe your teacher an apology, don't you?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you go along with the crowd?  Do you think the fact that "everybody is doing it" makes it okay for you to follow in their footsteps?  If so, you have things backwards.  If you're a Christian, you should be like a thermostat.  Decide how God wants you to act.  Then behave in that manner yourself and influence your friends to follow your example.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 12:21)
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

[Soldier4Christ]

Will it be so awful if I cheat a little just once?  thought Jon as he walked home from school.  I don't know why Mrs. Gray has that stupid rule anyway.  The rule was that those who got a hundred percent on a trial spelling test in the middle of the week could go out early for recess on Friday while the rest of the class repeated the test.  Jon and his friends seldom got out early, but this week they figured out a way to "sneak a peek" at the answers so that they'd all get extra time to play.  Jon had enthusiastically agreed to the plan, but his conscience started to bother him almost immediately.  He was a Christian and knew it was wrong to cheat.
 
As Mother was cleaning up after dinner that evening, the lights suddenly went out.  "Oh, no!" she exclaimed.  "I guess I tried to use too many appliances at once."
 
Jon went to the basement with his father and watched him reset the circuit breaker.  "How do those things work?" Jon asked.
 
"Well, it's a little complicated," said Dad.  "You see, there are wires running through the walls to various switches and electrical outlets.  If too many things are turned on at once, it requires so much electricity that the wires could get very hot and even cause a fire.  But we don't have to worry about that, because the circuit breaker will shut off the flow of electricity when there is too much being used.  It won't let more electricity go through the wires than is safe."
 
Jon and Dad started back up the stairs.  "The circuit breaker reminds me of what God does for us," Dad added.  "He'll never let such a great temptation come our way that we can't handle it.  If we'll just look to Him, He'll show us a way to avoid it and give us strength to do so."
 
As Jon went to his room, he thought about the things Dad had said.  He knew he didn't have to cheat.  God would help him be honest.  He took out his list of words and began to study.  He would pray about it, then do his best.  But, with God's help, he wouldn't cheat.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel that you can't help doing something wrong?  That the temptation is just too great?  You're wrong.  No matter what the temptation, you can be sure that God will help you overcome it if you are willing to let Him do so.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God. . .will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Andrea could hardly wait for Grandpa to finish building the play- house he was making for her.  She watched as he raised his arm to the top of the wall he was erecting.  In his hand he held a long cord with a weight attached at the bottom.  "I know what that is," said Andrea proudly.
 
Grandpa was surprised.  "You do?" he asked
 
Andrea nodded.  "It's a plumb line," she said.  "The weight at the end makes the string hang straight down.  When you hold it along the wall, you can tell if the wall is straight or not.  And that one is."
 
"Well, I'm impressed!" exclaimed Grandpa.  "Where did a little girl like you learn about plumb lines?"
 
"In Sunday school," replied Andrea.
 
Grandpa was even more surprised.  "In Sunday school?"
 
"Yep."  Andrea nodded.  "My teacher talked about the prophet Amos.  She read from the Bible about how God showed him a plumb line and told him He would check the people to see whether or not they were living as they should.  He was going to punish them if they didn't measure up to what they should be."
 
"Very good!" approved Grandpa.  He wound up the cord.  "Did you talk about the 'plumb line' God uses to measure His children today?"
 
"My teacher said God tells us in the Bible that He expects us to live godly lives--to be like Him," replied Andrea.  "That's hard."
 
"Yes, it is," agreed Grandpa.  "His standard for us is to be holy, just as He is holy.  We can't do it without His help.  I'm very thankful that He's willing to forgive us when we ask Him and to give us the help we need."  He smiled at Andrea.  "When your playhouse is finished, would you like a plumb line to hang on one of your walls as a reminder of God's standard for your behavior?"
 
Andrea nodded.  "I'll decorate the weight on the end," she said eagerly.  "Can I start now?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware of God's standard for Christians?  Maybe you think you're better or worse than your neighbors or than other kids in your class.  Perhaps you think you behave better or worse than other Christians you know.  But God isn't comparing you to any of them.  He isn't comparing you to your parents, teachers, or pastor.  His standard is Himself.  Ask Him to help you measure up and be the person He wants you to be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:16)
Be ye holy; for I am holy.

[Soldier4Christ]

"How come you have to work so much, these days?" Eddie asked as he watched  his dad load up the car.
 
"You know that winter is a busy time for chimney cleaning," Dad answered, "but I'll be home before dark.  Aren't you and Mark going to play hockey together this afternoon?"
 
"Not anymore," Eddie said angrily and kicked the car tires.  "He called it off again!"
 
"Did he have a good reason?" asked Dad.		"I don't know," growled Eddie.  "I'm not talking to him anymore."
 
"That can't feel very good," said Dad.
 
Eddie shrugged.  "There are lots of other guys to play hockey with," he said.
 
Dad opened the trunk of the car.  "Do you know why I clean chimneys every winter?" he asked.
 
"Sure," said Eddie, glad to be talking about something else.  "When it's cold, people build fires, and if the chimney is clogged and dirty, the smoke sometimes can't go up.  Then it all comes back in the house.  Sometimes dirty chimneys cause fires, too."
 
"Exactly," Dad said.  "Keeping a chimney clean is hard work, but it needs to be done."
 
Eddie picked up one of Dad's brushes and raised it above his head.  "These are heavy, but it's not hard for you, is it?" asked Eddie.  "You're strong!"
 
Dad chuckled.  "Thanks for your confidence," he said.  "Yes, it's true that I don't find the work as hard as when I first started."  He surprised Eddie with another question.  "Do you know that our relationship with God is a little like a chimney?"  Eddie looked at him curiously.  "When we pray, God sometimes answers immediately," Dad continued, "but if sin is clogging our hearts, it may seem like our prayers aren't getting through--just like smoke can't get up a dirty chimney.  Then we end up with a dirty, stinky mess in our lives."
 
"Sin?" asked Eddie.  "Like lying?  Or cheating?"
 
Dad nodded.  "And like not forgiving those who hurt us.".  	
 
"You mean I should forgive Mark," Eddie mumbled.  "That's hard."
 
"The first time it will be," Dad agreed, "but just like chimney sweeping, it gets easier if you keep practicing it.  Okay?"
 
Eddie sighed.  "Okay," he agreed.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your heart clean?  Or is some sin clogging it--a lie, a dishonest act, unwillingness to forgive. . .or something else?  If you cling to sin in your life, you cannot expect God to hear your prayers.  Examine your heart today, and be willing to clean out all the mess.  Ask God to help you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 66:18)
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

[Soldier4Christ]

Megan stood at the window, staring at the rain.  Her brother listlessly thumbed through a sports magazine.  "What can we do, Mom?" asked Megan.  "It's so boring when we have to stay inside all day."
 
Mother smiled sympathetically.  "Maybe you'd like to help me with this picture album," she suggested.  "Since you know most of the people in the pictures, you might enjoy it."  So Megan and Scott joined Mother at the table, and began looking at the pictures.  "By the way, have you learned your memory verses for Bible club?" asked Mother as she took out another album.
 
"I did," said Megan.  She quoted it.  "Ye are our epistle, known and read of all men."
 
"Yeah," said Scott.  "It was easy to learn, but I sure don't know what it means.  We're people, not books.  How can anybody 'read' us?"		  "Oh, look!" squealed Megan.  "There's a picture of Scott when he was two.  He's wearing some big sunglasses.  He looks so funny!"
 
Scott grinned.  "You think that's funny?  Well, look at this family reunion picture.  You're bald!"  Megan laughed with Scott.
 
"Here's Dad's aunt from Ohio," said Megan picking up another picture.  "She looks mad.  Remember her?"
 
"Sure do," muttered Scott.  "She was grumpy all day.  Complained about everything, didn't she?"  He pointed to a picture of an elderly man.  "This man with the mustache is your uncle, isn't he, Mom?  I remember that he yelled at me for getting mad at the ball game, and then he got so mad himself when the coffee was gone at suppertime.  He turned red as a beet!  What a fake."
 
Megan held up a picture of their grandmother.  "You can see, just by looking at her, that Grandma is a nice person to be around," she said.  "She's always smiling."
 
"I notice you're both 'reading' people," observed Mother.
 
"What do you mean?" asked Scott.
 
Mother nodded toward the pictures.  "As you saw the people at the reunion, you 'read' one as 'grumpy,' and another as 'fake,'" she said.
 
"Oh, I get it!" exclaimed Megan.  "The impression we have of other people is what we 'read' from their lives."
 
"And what they think of us is what they 'read' from our lives," added Scott.
 
"That's right," said Mother.  "That's one reason we need to display the 'fruit of the Spirit.'  We need to make sure others can recognize us as true Christians by the way we live."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
How are  people "reading" you?  Do your face and life show joy and contentment or do they show grumpiness?  Do your actions show obedience to authority, love for others, and honesty?  Ask God to help you live for His glory.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 3:2)
Ye are. . . known and read of all men.

[Soldier4Christ]

The hum of the sewing machine sounded throughout the house.  "This is almost ready for you to see," said twelve-year-old Kathy with a grin.  She had been measuring and cutting and stitching ever since she arrived home from school, only taking time out for supper.
 
Mother smiled.  "I'm eager to see it--whatever it is," she said.  "You've certainly spent a lot of time on it."
 
"Oh, you'll like it," said Kathy as she stood up and shook out the material she was using.  "Ta-da!  Here it is--my own special creation!  It's an apron for Dad to use when he barbecues hamburgers or steak."
 
"Just what he needs," said Mother, "especially one that has flowered pockets and a polka dot bib."  Kathy's brother Eric groaned.
 
Kathy laughed.  "Some creation, isn't it?"
 
"Hey, that's not a 'creation,' Kathy," declared Eric.  "I had that word in spelling this week, and we had to look it up in the dictionary.  It says the main meaning of 'create' is 'to cause to exist'--or in other words, to make something out of nothing.  You didn't make that thing out of nothing."  He paused.  "Though now that I think about it, it would have been a wonderful thing if there had been nothing for you to make it with," he teased.  Kathy laughed with him.
 
"I guess Eric's right about that not really being a creation," said Mother.  "God is the only one who can really create anything."
 
"Yeah," said Eric, "and if He were going to create anything now, I'm sure it wouldn't be that thing."
 
Kathy laughed as she looked at the apron she was holding.  "Okay," she agreed.  "I'm a fashion designer, not a creator."  She looked at her brother.  "And since you like my designs so well," she said, "the next one will be for you!"  Eric rolled his eyes and groaned again.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize what a great thing God did when He "created" the world and everything in it?  When you draw a picture, sew something unusual, or cook some concoction no one ever heard of, remind yourself that you are not "creating" in the same way God did.  Only He can create like that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Genesis 1:1)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Did you deposit your money in the bank today?" asked Mother as Sherry helped make a salad for supper. 
 
Sherry nodded.  "I sure did, Mom," she replied.  "I put in twenty dollars today.  My  bank account is really growing!"
 
"Why did you give your money to the bank?" asked Sherry's little sister, Pam.   She had been busy setting the table and was listening to the conversation.  "Didn't you want to keep it?  I wouldn't give my money to the bank!"
 
Sherry smiled at Pam.  "I didn't give it to the bank to keep for themselves.  I just gave it to them to take care of for me," she explained.  "The money is still mine and I can get it back when I need it.  Right,  Mom?"
 
Mother nodded.  "That's right.  The bank is only keeping your money safe for  you."
 
"Hey," said Sherry, "that's kind of like something my Sunday school teacher said.   She said God made everything so He really owns it all. But He gives us things to use, and He expects us to take good care of them."
 
"What things?" asked little Pam.
 
"Lots of things," replied Sherry.  "Things like your bike and all your toys, and my money and books and trumpet. . .to name a few."
 
"And Waggles?" asked Pam, looking at the puppy sleeping on his bed in the corner.
 
"Right," agreed Mother.  "The bank takes good care of our money, and we should remember to do the same with all the things God has given us to use, whether they're things in nature, talents, houses, toys, or money.  All that we have really belongs to God, and we should be using it for His glory.  To do that, we need to take good care of what He loans us."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you taking good care of all the things that God has given you?  Everything you have is really just loaned to you from God, so it's important to do your best to take very good care of those things.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 1:3)
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not  any thing made that was made.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Dad. . . ."  Nathan hesitated.  "I think I'm saved," he continued.  "I've asked Jesus to come into my heart and forgive my sins, and I really meant it, too.  But how can I really know God heard me?"
 
Nathan's dad was delighted that his son was talking his problem over with him.  He smiled at Nathan.  "Who are your parents?" he asked as he walked over to his desk and took a paper from a drawer.
 
"My parents?" asked Nathan in surprise.  "Dad, you know the answer to that!  You and Mom are."
 
"How do you know we are?" Dad continued.
 
"Well. . .I just know.  You've always been my parents."  He looked at Dad suspiciously.  Then he saw what Dad was holding in his hands.  "That's my birth certificate!" exclaimed Nathan.  "It says right on it when I was born and that you and Mom are my parents.  That's proof!"  He grinned.  "I thought maybe you were going to tell me I'm adopted."
 
Dad shook his head.  "No," he said, "although I'd be just as much your dad if you were adopted.  Then I'd have a different paper, but it would still say that you belong to our family."  He looked at the paper.  "And do you believe what this birth certificate says?" he asked.
 
Nathan nodded.  "Sure, I do."
 
Dad smiled.  "So you believe a birth certificate," he said.  "Well, in a way, some Bible verses are like a birth certificate.  In His Word, God says that if you confess your sins and accept Jesus as Savior, you're saved.  You're His child--actually, you're adopted into His family.  You don't doubt what is written on this birth certificate, and you certainly don't have to doubt anything in God's Word.  Why don't you get your Bible and copy one of those verses inside the cover page."
 
Nathan got his Bible from the shelf, and Dad helped him find some verses that would assure him he was saved if Satan tempted him to doubt it.  After discussing several verses, Nathan carefully copied Romans 10:13 into the front cover page of his Bible.
 
"Now," said Dad, "are you really saved?"  Nathan nodded.  "How do you know for sure?" asked Dad.
 
"I did what the Bible says," replied Nathan.  "I knew I was a sinner and that Jesus died for me, and I asked Him to forgive and save me.  I know I'm saved because God says so."
 
"Right," agreed Dad.  "You can think of this Bible verse as another kind of birth certificate--the certificate of your new birth in the Lord Jesus and your adoption into His family."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever wonder if you're really saved?  Carefully study the last page in this book and make sure you've accepted Jesus as your personal Savior.  Then pick a verse (such as John 1:12, John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13) that  says you now belong to God.  Whenever Satan causes you to doubt it, point to that Bible verse.  If you have truly done what it says, you are saved.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 10:13)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.