Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can I go to the store with you, Mom?" asked Matthew.  "You need me along to make sure you get the right cereal."
 
Mother laughed.  "Come along," she agreed.
 
Shortly after arriving at the store, they met Chad, a classmate of Matthew's.  "Hey, Matthew," called Chad, "my mom says I can go to Sunday school with you tomorrow."
 
"Great!" exclaimed Matthew.  "It starts at nine-thirty.  We can pick you up. . .can't we, Mom?
 
"We sure can," agreed Mom.  "Can you be ready at 9:15?"
 
Chad nodded.  "I'll be ready," he said.  "Want to know why I decided to come?"  Without waiting for an answer, Chad rushed on--his words tumbling over each other.  "I know I've teased you about being a sissy because you go to Sunday school.  But these last few weeks--well, what can I say?  You helped me with my paper route and with my homework when I was sick.  And you stood up for me when the guys gave me a rough time about striking out three times the other day.  Anyway, if it's Jesus Who makes you act this way, I want to know more about Him."  Chad looked embarrassed after his long speech.  "Gotta go," he mumbled, heading for the door.  "See ya."
 
As Matthew and his mother turned down another aisle, they saw a lady handing out samples of ice cream bars.  "Yummy!" exclaimed Matthew, taking a bite of the sample she handed him.  "Let's get some of these, Mom."
 
"They are good," agreed Mother.  "Okay, choose the flavor you want.  I need just a few more things, and then we'll be ready to go."
 
"How can the store afford to give away so much ice cream?" asked Matthew as they approached the checkout counter.  "Look at all the people getting samples now."
 
Mother smiled.  "The samples cause people to want the product, and the store will sell lots of ice cream bars today," she explained.  "You know, Matthew, this reminds me of you."
 
"Me?" asked Matthew.  "What do you mean?"
 
"You've been a 'sample' Christian," said Mother.  "Remember what Chad said when we met him?  Your life gave Chad a taste of what it means to be a Christian, and now he's wanting more.  You've been a good sample."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know that you, too, can be a "sample" for Jesus?  People around you need to know what a real Christian is like.   They need to see Jesus in you.  Your words and actions should cause them to want to know Him.  Be the kind of person Jesus wants you to be--the kind of person that makes others want to know Him, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 4:12)
But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Michael stood at the window, watching a rabbit kick dirt with its strong hind legs. What's he doing that for? wondered Michael.  I'll ask Jeff when he gets home.  His older brother usually knew the answers to Michael's many questions about nature.
 
The rabbit, noticing movement at the window, suddenly sat still.  After watching a while longer, Michael returned to his play, forgetting all about the rabbit.
 
When Michael was mowing the grass a few days later, he noticed a small bare spot with a little dried grass over it.  It was where the rabbit had kicked up the grass and dirt.  "Jeff, look here," he called.
 
When Jeff came, he carefully lifted the dried grass, and Michael saw fur in the little hole.  With a big smile on his face, Jeff pulled out a handful of the fur.  Peering into the hole, Michael saw four tiny rabbits.  "So that's why the rabbit was digging here!" Michael exclaimed.
 
"The babies are called kittens, and the nest is called a form," Jeff explained.  "The mother rabbit pulls fur from her chest so her kittens will stay warm even when she's not with them."  He carefully put the fur back over the baby rabbits, then covered everything with the dried grass so it looked just as before.
 
"I ran the lawn mower right over that spot and didn't even see the nest. . .uh, I mean the form!"  Michael was amazed.  "How did the mother rabbit know how to make such a good hiding place for her kittens?"
 
"God made His creatures in a wonderful way," Jeff said.  "Each kind of animal has its own type of protection, each eats the kind of food God intended for it, and each cares for its young in just the way God planned.  God's wisdom is shown in all His creation."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What can you find today that shows how wonderfully God made the world?  All around you are signs that He made the world in a very wise way.  Each of His creatures have special habits, and each brings glory to God in its own way.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 104:24)
Oh Lord, how manifold are Thy works!  In wisdom hast Thou made them all.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, Mom, look!" exclaimed Kylie.  She held up a carton of milk.  "Noah and I were going to have a glass of milk, but it's all frozen!"
 
Mother frowned.  "That's odd," she said.  She bent down and peered inside the refrigerator.  She checked some of the other items there.  "Uh-oh!" she said.  "We have a problem.  Other things are frozen too."
 
"Shall we move the refrigerator out from the wall?" asked Noah.  "If I look at the back, maybe I can tell what's wrong."
 
Kylie laughed.  "I doubt that," she said.  "You don't know a thing about refrigerators and what makes them run."
 
Mother smiled.  "I think we should call a repair man," she said.  "Someone who knows exactly how to fix broken refrigerators."
 
When Kylie got home from school the following day, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out the carton of milk.  She shook it.  "The repair man must have been here," she said as she found a glass.  "I'm glad we called an expert and didn't try to fix it ourselves."  She sighed.  "I wish I knew an expert I could call to fix a problem I'm having at school.  I try so hard to get along with both Molly and Sara, but they don't like each other and they want me to take sides.  Sometimes I don't know how to handle it."
 
"I know an expert who can help you," said Mother.
 
Kylie was surprised.  "You do?  Who?" she asked.
 
"God," replied Mother.  "He's the best 'repair man' we could ever call on.  Sometimes, when we have problems, we want to fix them ourselves, but calling on God to help us is always the best way."
 
"That sounds good," said Kylie, "but does it mean that my problem will go away if I just pray about it?"
 
Mother smiled.  "No," she said, "though God does sometimes change the circumstances that are troubling us.  Other times He shows us the way to handle them and gives us strength to do so.  Sometimes He uses teachers or parents or a Bible verse to show us what to do.  Sometimes He apparently wants us to use good common sense and to simply do our best and trust Him to work things out for His glory."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you have a problem, do you remember to call on God, the greatest "repair man"?  Trust Him to show you  how to take care of the problem in His way and in His time.  Be willing to do whatever He shows you is right.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:5)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, why must we have devotions every day?" asked Bette as she sat down on the couch.  She picked up a book with colorful illustrations of birds and flowers.  "If we go to church and Sunday school every week, isn't that enough?"  She studied a picture of a beautiful, red cardinal.  "I'd sure like this picture for my bird project at school," she said.
 
"Well, why don't you trace it?" suggested Mother.
 
"Good idea."  Bette jumped up and got some paper.
 
Mother watched as Bette worked.  "Why do you put the paper right on top of the picture?" asked Mother.
 
"So I can see the picture through the paper," replied Bette, surprised at Mother's question.
 
"But you just saw the picture a minute ago," argued Mother, "and you can look at it every now and then."
 
"I'm tracing it, not copying it," said Bette.  "When you trace, your paper has to touch the picture."  She looked at her mother suspiciously.  "I'm sure you know that--and since you're the one who suggested I trace it, I have an idea you're asking those questions for a reason.  Right?"
 
"You're right," admitted Mother.  "You see, the Bible says that our lives should be like Christ's--that we should follow in His steps.  Just as you need to touch the picture with your paper in order for you to trace it, we need to 'touch' Jesus--to live so close to Him that our lives are copies of His.  We do that through constant contact with Him.  Church and Sunday school are great places to help us with that.  Bible reading and prayer help, too.  Christian fellowship is another thing that helps us be continually aware of God and of what pleases Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize that you should spend time each day with God?  You can't expect to live the way He did if you think about Him only occasionally.  Constant contact with the Lord is important.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 2:21)
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

[Soldier4Christ]

Boomp, boomp, boomp!  Jared broke away with the basketball and headed down the court.  A second later a big Royals' guard blocked his way.  Jared picked up the ball, ducked left. . .right. . .then aimed and let it fly.  The ball arched through the air and descended perfectly through the hoop, whooshing past the net.
 
The crowd went wild.  Jared grinned and glanced up at the bleachers where Mom and Dad were sitting.  But then his shoulders sagged.  His Dad was walking to the exit.  He had missed seeing Jared make his basket.  I suppose the hospital called him again, thought Jared.
 
After the game Jared's friend Chris approached him.  "Want to shoot some baskets with me tomorrow night?" Chris asked.
 
"Thanks, but I can't," said Jared, remembering he had a youth group meeting at church.  Ask Chris to come along, a little voice seemed to whisper.  Jared had felt before that he should invite Chris to join him at some church activity.  But like all the other times, he said nothing.  After all, he thought, if Chris wants to go to church he'll go on his own.
 
When Dad came home later that night, Jared was still sulking.  "You missed the basket I made, and most of my game, too," he told Dad.
 
"I know, and I'm sorry," said Dad, "but tonight I had more than a medical emergency to deal with.  I had a beeper call from both the hospital and from the Lord.  I was able to talk to a lady about Jesus before she died."
 
Suddenly Jared didn't feel angry at Dad any more.  He felt proud of his father and ashamed that he had been so selfish.  He also felt a little uneasy.  His remembered feeling that he should invite Chris to youth group.  Maybe that was God's beeper call to me, he thought, and I just ignored it.  But maybe it's not too late!  I can talk to Chris tomorrow and ask him to come to youth group with me.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you on call for Jesus?  Can He count on you to hear His voice and do what He asks you to?  It may not always be convenient or easy, but your obedience is important.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 6:
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Our team won!" shouted Eric as he dashed into the house.  "Look what I got!"  He held out a first-prize ribbon.  "We had an archery competition at school today, and my team won!"
 
"And you always say you're no good at archery," said Mother.  "How many points did you make?"
 
"Only two, but it didn't matter, because I was on Mark's team," replied Eric.  "He's the best shooter in school, and he made enough points for all of us."
 
"So he really did the winning, but the whole team shared the victory, right?" asked Mother.  "Well, I'm glad you had a good time today."
 
That evening, Eric and his parents attended a special service at their church.  "I thought of your friend Mark while the speaker was talking," said Mother on the way home.
 
"You did?" asked Eric curiously.
 
Mother nodded.  "Rev. Matthews talked about Christians being righteous in God's sight," she said.  "After we accept Jesus, God sees His righteousness instead of our sin.  I think we could say we're on Jesus' team.  Just like Mark's points counted for all those on his team, the holiness of Jesus counts for everybody on His team.  All Christians share in Jesus' victory over sin."
 
"So we'll all get a blue ribbon when we get to heaven?" asked Eric with a grin.
 
Mother laughed.  "The prize will be much better than that," she said.  "When we become children of God, we become heirs of all the riches of God."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you on Jesus' team?  There's no way you can "win points" on your own.  Jesus has already won the victory, and He invites you to share in it.  Will you accept Him today?  Then you'll be on the very best team!  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 15:57)
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I had two cavities!" exclaimed Andrea as she and Dad drove home from the dentist's office.  "I can't believe it!  I didn't think I'd have any at all!"
 
"Too many sweets, I guess," suggested Dad.
 
"Well. . .maybe.  I do like candy," said Andrea, "and cookies and ice cream and. . . ."
 
"And cavities?" asked Dad. 
 
"No, not cavities," said Andrea.  She sighed.  "How can teeth rot like that, and you never even feel it?"  she grumbled.
 
Dad shook his head.  "I don't know," he said, "but I once heard someone compare that to sin.  Sometimes we lie, steal, or cheat, and when we seem to get away with it, we continue to do wrong.  Like with eating too many sweets, we often don't reap the consequence until much later."
 
"Like me," said Andrea.  "Since I didn't get cavities right away, I thought I was getting away with eating all that good tasting stuff."
 
"Right," said Dad.  "But every action--good or bad--will  bring a consequence, no matter how long it takes to show up."
 
"Well, I think I'll give up sweet stuff for good," declared Andrea.
 
Dad smiled.  "Oh, I don't think you need to give it up completely," he said, "but when you do have sweets--or anything else for that matter--maybe you can brush a little more often and more  carefully."
 
"Oh, yeah," agreed Andrea.  "I could do that."
 
"And when it comes to sin in our lives," continued Dad, "we do need to give that up completely.  But when we sin, there's cleansing for that, too.  We need to repent and confess our sins.  We need to ask God to 'cleanse' our lives and then make up our minds to please Him in our actions."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
If you receive no immediate consequence or punishment for wrong actions, such as gossiping, cheating, or stealing, do you think you're getting away with it?  No one gets away with doing wrong.  Your consequence or punishment will come.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:25)
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the  wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of persons.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Carrie and her father drove slowly along, they saw some children dashing back and forth across the busy street.  "It looks like those kids are having some kind of contest or game.  I think they're trying to get as close to the cars as they can without getting hit!" exclaimed Carrie.  "That's dangerous!"
 
"It certainly is," agreed Dad.  "I dare say none of them have ever known someone who was hit by a car.  If they had, I don't think they'd do that."  A little farther along, Dad pointed to a liquor store they were driving by.  "That store reminds me of a dangerous game I used to play," he said.  "I was a lot like those kids playing in the street."
 
"You mean you dashed in front of cars to see if you could beat them?" asked Carrie.  She looked to where Dad was pointing.  "The people going into that store aren't running in front of cars."
 
"No, but drinking is as dangerous as an oncoming car," said Dad.  "When I was younger, I would go into the bars with my unsaved friends, but I'd drink pop.  I was trying to get as close as possible to the things in the world even though I was a Christian.  Can you see why that was very dangerous?"
 
"Well. . .ah. . . I guess you might have been persuaded to drink, too," suggested Carrie.  "Maybe you could even have gotten addicted to it!"
 
"That's right," agreed Dad.  "When I finally decided to give my life completely to Christ, I had to learn some new rules.  My question no longer is, 'How close to the world can I get?'  My question now is, 'How close to Christ can I get while I live in this sinful old world?'"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think it might be fun to do things you've been told are wrong?  Do you feel it's all right to be in places where ungodly activities are going on, as long as you don't join in?  Sometimes it seems that people in the world--and Christians, too--are having a wonderful time, but they don't realize how close they are to disaster.  Stay as far away from temptation as you can.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:4)
Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Stephanie clapped a hand over her mouth.  She had said a word she knew she should never use.  "Oops!  I'm sorry, Mom," she said when she saw her mother's stern look.  "I didn't mean to say that.  It just slipped out, I guess because I hear it so much at school."  Stephanie shrugged.  "I don't really know what I can do about that, do you?"  She watched as Mother put a white paper into the basket of the coffee pot.  "What's that thing for?" asked Stephanie.
 
"This is a filter," said Mother.  She began to spoon coffee grounds into the basket.  "The filter lets the water through but keeps the coffee grounds from going into the coffee."  She plugged the coffee pot into the outlet.  "This is a pretty good demonstration of what you need to do when you can't help hearing bad words," Mother added.  "You need to learn to 'filter out' all the bad things you hear and see and think.  Just because you see someone do something wrong, you don't have to do it, too.  And just because you hear bad words, you don't have to say them.  Allow only the good things to settle down and stay with you.  Filter out the rest."
 
"But how do I do that?" asked Stephanie.
 
"You ask God to help you, not only ahead of time, but also whenever a temptations arises," said Mother.  "You'll need God's help, but you can do it."
 
"Okay, Mom," agreed Stephanie.  "I'll try."  She showed her mother a listing in the TV section of the paper.  "Can I watch this program tonight?" she asked.
 
Mother read the description and shook her head.  "I'm quite sure this isn't the type of program you should see," she said.  "It sounds very violent to me, and I'm sure the language and morals will be very ungodly." 
 
"Oh, it'll be all right if I watch it, Mom," teased Stephanie.  "I'll just 'filter' out all the bad stuff, okay?"
 
Mother shook her head.  "Not okay," she answered.  "Not okay at all!  When we can't help what we see and hear, that's when we should use our filters. But we shouldn't dump 'garbage' into our minds on purpose.  That would be as foolish as dumping garbage into this coffeepot and expecting the filter to make it fit to drink!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find yourself automatically saying or doing something you know is wrong?  The best policy is to avoid being where you will hear or see bad things.  If that's impossible, ask the Lord to help you filter out the bad influences and to keep only the thoughts and ideas that are good and pleasing to Him.  One way to do this is to deliberately think about other things--wholesome things.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 4:
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

[Soldier4Christ]

"I've never seen so many cows before in my life," observed Mark as he strolled across the pasture with his Uncle Steve.  "I'm glad I could come and visit you here at the ranch."  Just then Mark noticed something unusual ahead.  "Uncle Steve, it looks like that cow is caught in the fence!" he exclaimed.
 
"She sure is!" agreed Uncle Steve.  "How about giving me a hand at getting her loose?"  Mark nodded and they hurried towards the struggling cow.  "Bessie, you sure got yourself in a mess," Uncle Steve said, as they untangled the strands of wire that pinned the cow's foot and head.
 
When they had loosened the last wire, Bessie loped back to join the rest of the  cows.  "How did she get caught in the fence?" Mark asked.
 
"Well," replied Uncle Steve, "Bessie has a bad habit of trying to reach through the fence to the grass on the other side, and you saw what can happen."  He chuckled.  "You know that 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,' don't you?" he asked.
 
Mark grinned.  "I've heard that old saying," he said.  "I guess Bessie doesn't know it isn't true."
 
"Unfortunately not," said Uncle Steve, "so she gets into trouble.  But what's even worse is that sometimes we don't seem to know it, either, and then we act like Bessie."
 
"How?" asked Mark.  "What do you mean?"
 
"Bessie thinks something is better than the good grass I've provided for her, and we sometimes think something else would be better than what God has provided for us," explained Uncle Steve.  "When we aren't content with what God has given us, we're apt to get ourselves into a mess, just like Bessie did."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you learned to be content with what God has given you?   No matter what the circumstances, God will never leave you or forsake you.  That's reason enough to be content.  Next time you feel like complaining, take a moment to thank the Lord for what He has given you.  You can begin by thanking Him for always being with you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 13:5)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and  be content with such things as ye have for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I'm full!" declared Cassie, pushing away from the table.
 
"Me too," agreed Jacob.  "That turkey was yummy!"
 
"Would you all like pie now?" asked Mother.  "Or would you rather wait till a little later?"
 
"Later!" chorused everyone. 
 
Mother began to clear the table, and everybody pitched in to help.  "Let me pull the rest of the meat off the turkey bones," offered Grandma when the table was empty.
 
"Thanks.  That will be a big help," said Mother.  "I'll put the leftovers away, and you kids can load the dishwasher.  I think you better scrape the plates first today."	
 
Cassie sighed.  "Jacob, you scrape, and I'll rinse," she said quickly, and they got to work.  "Oh, Mom," wailed Cassie after a bit, "there are so many dishes to do today."
 
"Oh, that's not so bad," said Grandma.  "At least you have a dishwasher and don't have to do them all by hand."
 
"Yes," agreed Mother.  "That's definitely something to be thankful for!"
 
"I still hate dirty dishes," insisted Cassie stubbornly.
 
"You hate them!" said Jacob.  "I absolutely despise this job!  I think doing dishes should still be girls' work."	
 
"Hmmm," murmured Mother.  "A long time ago I read a little poem that has always stuck with me.  I tried to find out who wrote it, but I never did.  It goes like this:  'Thank God for dirty dishes. . .they have a tale to tell.  While other folks go hungry, we're eating very well.  With health and home and happiness, we should not fret or fuss.  For by this stack of evidence, God's very good to us.'"
 
"Oh, that's good!" exclaimed Grandma.  "Say that again. . .I need to learn it."  She looked at Cassie and Jacob.  "And know what, kids?" she added.  "I think you should both learn that poem, too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever thanked God for dirty dishes?  How about dirty clothes?  Maybe you can think of other things that seem like a trial but really are a blessing.  All that God gives you is good, and He gives so much!  Be sure to thank Him for all things-- things both big and small.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 136:1)
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Daddy," called Kara as her father worked in the garden,  "Mom wants eight ears of corn for supper."  She watched eagerly as her father laid his hoe aside and began checking the ears of corn.  She could almost taste the corn dripping with butter, and she could hardly wait.
 
"When I was a boy," said Dad as he picked off an ear, "we used to have large fields of sweet corn."
 
In her mind, Kara pictured row after row of corn rustling in a summer breeze.  "I wish we still did," she exclaimed.  "Then I could have corn on the cob at every meal!"
 
Dad smiled.  "Did you know that you can do a lot more with corn than just eat it?" he asked.  "The cobs can be turned into charcoal; the leaves and husks are used for toys; the stalks are ground up for paper; the entire plant is used to feed hogs and cattle.  Every part of the corn plant can be used!"  Kara was impressed.
 
Soon Kara and her father were on their way to the house with the corn.   "Daddy, I asked Jimmy Eldon to come to church and Sunday school next Sunday," said Kara.
 
"Good!  What did he say?" asked Dad.
 
Kara sighed.  "He laughed and said he didn't want any part of church.  He said he thinks Christians are 'corny.'  I was kind of hurt."
 
Dad smiled.  "Well, maybe that's not such a bad description," he said.  "Remember what I just told you about corn?"
 
"You said you can use all of it," Kara replied.
 
Dad had another question.  "When you gave your life to Jesus, how much of yourself did you give Him?"
 
"How much?  Why. . .all of me!" declared Kara.
 
Dad nodded.  "And every part of you--your heart, hands, lips, feet, and mind--can be used to serve God.  Just like every part of the corn can be used."
 
Kara grinned.  "So I guess when Jimmy called me a 'corny Christian,' he gave me a compliment and didn't even know it!"  She paused, then added, "I bet he'd come to our Sunday school picnic.  Aren't we going to roast some of our corn there?"
 
Dad nodded.  "That's our contribution."
 
Kara grinned.  "Good!" she exclaimed.  "Maybe if Jimmy gets some of it, I can tell him what it really means to be a 'corny Christian'!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you giving your "all" to God or are you holding back because someone might tease you?  Don't be afraid to speak  up for Jesus.  Ask for God to guide and help you do that.  Then rejoice in the blessings that will surely result when you make a total commitment to the Lord!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 10:27)
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

[Soldier4Christ]

Patting the pocket on his shirt and finding nothing, Ramon searched all his other pockets.  "Mark, I lost it," he said, his heart sinking.
 
"Now what did you lose?" asked Mark.
 
"My brand new pen," Ramon answered.  "Dad gave it to me for my birthday.  I shouldn't have taken it to school."
 
"Not with your record for losing things," agreed Mark, as they continued walking home.
 
When Ramon reached his house, he went right to the kitchen to find Mom.  He was surprised to see his father there.  "I didn't know you were here," said Ramon.  "Your car's not in the garage."
 
"I lost my car keys so one of the men in our office brought me home to get another set," explained Dad.  "He's waiting out in front."
 
Just then Laurie burst through the back door.  "It's terrible," she wailed.  "I'm losing my best friend!  Mary Lou and her family are moving to Arizona next month."
 
"Wow!" said Ramon.  "I guess everybody in this family is losing things today.  How about you Mom?  Did you lose something too?"
 
Mom laughed.  "Not me!  At least not today!" she said.  "As Grandma used to say, it's a good thing your heads are fastened on, or you'd lose them, too!"
 
"Yeah!" exclaimed Laurie.  "That would be bad."
 
Dad smiled and nodded in agreement.  "Well, I'm glad there are some things. . .some very important things. . .that we can never lose," he said.  "Take the love of God, for example.  Each of us has accepted Jesus as Savior so the love of God is always ours."
 
"Hey, yeah," said Ramon.  "So even though we're a bunch of losers, we're really winners!  That's good!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you often lose things?  Losing some things can make life inconvenient.  Losing other things, like a cherished friend, can be very upsetting.  But the good news is that you can never lose God's love.  You can count on it for the rest of your life and for all eternity.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:38-39)
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor power, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Abigail and Staci slowly walked past Johnny Jake's run-down house.  Empty wine bottles could be spotted here and there in the yard and on the porch.  Johnny Jake was an alcoholic--the town drunk.
 
"I bet Johnny Jake doesn't have any friends," said Abigail.
 
"Not unless they're drunks, too," said Staci.
 
At that moment, Johnny Jake and another man walked out the front door, laughing.  "Hey!" exclaimed Abigail.  "That's Mr. Horton!  What's he doing there?"
 
Staci shook her head in amazement.  "You don't think they're friends, do you, Abby?" she whispered.
 
"Well," Abigail gulped hard, "they're both laughing, and Mr. Horton was actually inside that awful house!"
 
"Could Mr. Horton be an alcoholic, too?" asked Staci.
 
"He must be if he's a friend of Johnny Jake!" replied Abigail.  Staci nodded in agreement.
 
"Hi, girls!" called Mr. Horton to Abigail and Staci.  "'Bye, Johnny.  I'll see you tomorrow!"
 
"Oh, great," murmured Staci under her breath as Mr. Horton caught up with them.  "We. . .we didn't know you and Johnny Jake were friends," she blurted out.
 
Mr. Horton smiled broadly.  "I've tried to be a friend to him for quite some time now."
 
"But why?" gasped Abigail.
 
"It's given me the chance to tell him about Jesus," said Mr. Horton, "and just this morning he asked Jesus to save him and forgive his sins!  There's great joy in heaven right now, girls.  What's more, Johnny Jake said he'd be in church tomorrow!"  Mr. Horton frowned.  "Why does my friendship with Johnny surprise you?"
 
Abigail knew she had to explain.  "When we saw you at Johnny Jake's house, we thought you must be a drunk, too.  I mean. . . ."  She tried to soften her words.  "We thought you must like to drink sometimes.  It just seemed like if you were there. . . ."  She didn't know how to finish.
 
"I see," said Mr. Horton.  "Let this experience be a reminder that you should never jump to conclusions about other people, girls.  But now that you know the truth, just praise the Lord!  See you tomorrow!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you quick to criticize others?  Do you make judgments before you know all the facts?  It's better to put off forming an opinion until you're sure you know the whole story.  Give others the benefit of the doubt, and leave the judging to the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:12)
Who art thou that judgest another?

[Soldier4Christ]

The back door banged shut, and Brian stomped into the kitchen where his mother was making a pie.  "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw his frowning face.  .
 
"It's Todd.  He stepped on my new remote control car," replied Brian.  "Look at it."  He held out the mangled pieces.  "He said he was sorry and that he'd pay to have it fixed, but I bet it can't even be fixed."
 
"Easy, Brian," cautioned Mother.  "Come here.  I want you to see something."  She pointed to a small, rough spot in the crust in the bottom of the pie plate  "What do you see?" she asked.
 
"I don't know," grumbled Brian.  "Looks like a patch."
 
"That's exactly what it is," Mother told him.  "I accidentally tore a hole in the crust when I was spreading it in the pan.  So I flattened a small bit of dough, dampened the edges, and pressed it over the hole.  With the patch, the crust is strong enough to hold these blueberries."  She picked up the berries and started pouring them in.  "Now. . .what kind of friend is Todd?"
 
"He was my best friend," mumbled Brian.
 
Mother nodded.  "Often something unpleasant tears a hole in a friendship, even a best friendship, and even between Christians.  So the two friends have to 'patch the hole.'  Todd did his part when he told you he was sorry and offered to pay to have your car fixed."
 
"I guess.  But this was my special car," whined Brian.
 
"What's more important?  A toy car or a best friend?" asked Mother.
 
Brian said nothing for a while.  "Okay, I'll forgive him," he mumbled at last.
 
Mother raised her brows.  "How will you forgive him?" she asked.  "What does God say about the way we are to forgive?
 
Again Brian was silent.  He sighed and looked up.  "Mom, how long until supper?"
 
Mother put the pie in the oven and smiled warmly at her son.  "You have time to go see Todd and patch a friendship," she said.
 
"Thanks, Mom!" Brian grabbed an apple from the fruitbowl on the table and dashed out the door.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Aren't you glad that God freely forgives and doesn't hold grudges?  When friends who upset you apologize, do you forgive them too?  Don't let the hurt fester until the friendship is lost.  And when you've hurt someone--or God--never be too proud to say, "I'm sorry.  Please forgive me. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:32)
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.