Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"No, Katie!"  Teddy's words startled his little sister as he pulled her hand away from the lamp.  Katie started to cry and squirmed out of her brother's grasp.
 
"What's going on?" asked Mother as she entered the living room.
 
"Katie almost knocked the lamp over," said Teddy.  "She was trying to reach the light bulb."  He lifted her in his arms and kissed her cheek, but she only cried louder.  "I guess she doesn't know the bulb is hot and would burn her hand."
 
"No, Katie doesn't realize she could be hurt," Mother answered.  "She wants to touch everything she sees.  That's why you and I are here to take care of her."
 
Teddy smiled at his little sister.  "You might not think I'm being very nice, but someday you'll understand."
 
Later that evening, Mother came into Teddy's room to say good night.  She found him sitting on the bed, a frown on his face.  "What's wrong?" Mother asked.
 
"I'm worried about going to the dentist tomorrow," replied Teddy.
 
"We could pray about it," suggested Mother.
 
Teddy's frown deepened.  "Yeah," he said softly, "but sometimes God doesn't answer my prayers the way I want Him to."
 
Mother put her arm around Teddy's shoulder.  "Remember this afternoon when Katie tried to touch the lamp?"  Teddy nodded.  "You knew your little sister could get hurt," Mother said, "so you stopped her before anything bad happened."
 
"What's that got to do with my going to the dentist?" asked Teddy.
 
Mother smiled.  "When God doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should, it could be because He knows more than we do."  She pulled Teddy closer.  "As Katie gets older and realizes you want what is best for her, she will learn to trust you more."
 
Teddy thought for a moment.  "And I should trust God more, too, right?"
 
	Mother nodded.  "So shall we talk to Him about it?"
 
	"Yeah," agreed Teddy.  "Let's pray and ask God to. . . ." Teddy stopped in mid-sentence.  "I was going to say, 'Let's ask God to make sure nothing hurts me at the dentist.'  But I guess I really should pray that God will do what He thinks is best for me, right?  That's hard!"
 
Mother smiled and gave Teddy a big hug.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Things may not always go the way you wish they would in the coming year.   Don't be afraid to tell God how you feel about things.  Believe that He hears your prayers and wants to help you.  Then trust Him even if you don't get your way.  He wants the best for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Jeremiah 29:11)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jenny was gardening with her mother.  "I don't like weeds," she said, pulling one of the many tiny green weeds that had sprung up in the flower-bed.  "And it takes a lot of work getting them out."  She scowled. "Why do weeds grow anyway?" she asked.
 
"Well, if the soil is good enough for the flowers, I guess it's good enough for the weeds!" said her mother.  "As long as they get sunshine and rain just like the flowers do, they grow, too.  In fact, it seems like they grow even better than the flowers!"
 
"Well, I wish God would make only the flowers grow," declared Jenny.
 
Mother laughed.  "That would be nice, wouldn't it?" she agreed.  "But when it comes to sunshine and rain, God doesn't make distinctions between flowers and weeds.  He makes the sun shine on everything.  And when He sends rain, He doesn't pick and choose.  His rain waters weeds as well as flowers.  So the weeds flourish and grow, just like the flowers."
 
"Mmmm."  Jenny was quiet for a few minutes, digging busily, uprooting weeds and tossing them onto the rubbish heap.  Then she sat down on the grass and looked up at her mother.  "That's kind of like us, isn't it, Mom?  God loves and cares for all of us, no matter what we look like or what we do, whether we are ugly or pretty, clever or stupid, pleasant or unpleasant."
 
"That's a very good point, Jenny," said Mother.  "We're often attracted to people who look nice, and especially to those who are nice to us.  But God loves everyone, even those we consider our enemies.  He wants us to show love to them, too.  It may be that He wants to use us to win them to Himself."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you make distinctions between people?  Do you show concern only for people who are friendly and loveable and easy to get along with?  Do you make friends only with the kids who are good-looking or rich or popular?  How about those who seem like "weeds" and don't look attractive or act nice--those no one likes?  Remember, God loves everyone.  Demonstrate His love to them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 5:45)
He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mother and Cindy finished arranging the folds of the freshly-laundered curtains in the guest room.  "They look so pretty," remarked Cindy.  "I'm glad Grandma's coming for a long visit."
 
Mother smiled as she unwrapped a bar of delicately scented soap.  "So am I, Cindy."  She handed the soap to Cindy.  "Tuck this between the pillows," she said.
 
"Put soap in Grandma's bed?" asked Cindy in surprise.  "What's that for?"  Cindy sniffed the bar before tucking it in.
 
"That scented soap will make the pillows smell sweet and fresh for as long as we leave it there," replied Mother.  "We're not quite sure just when Grandma will arrive, but we can have the bed ready ahead of time, and the soap will make it seem 'same-day' fresh."
 
"Oh," said Cindy.  "Just like getting ready for Jesus."
 
Mother looked puzzled.  "What do you mean?" she asked.
 
"Pastor Banks said in his sermon last Sunday that Jesus is coming back to earth someday, but nobody knows when.  If we want to go to heaven, we need to get ready now, because when He comes there will be no time to get ready then," explained Cindy.  She grinned into Mother's surprised face.  "And I bet you thought I didn't listen!" she teased.
 
Mother smiled back.  "And do you know how we get ready for the Lord's return?" she asked.  "A bar of soap won't help."
 
"No," agreed Cindy.  "We need Jesus in our lives."
 
Mother nodded.  "Good," she said.  "No one needs to be left behind when Jesus comes."
 
"I'm ready for Grandma because I put soap in her bed," said Cindy, "and better yet, I'm ready for Jesus because I have Christ in my heart."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
If Jesus comes back today, will you go to heaven to be with Him forever, or will you be left behind in the world of confusion, without a Savior?  Ready or not, He'll come some day.  The foolish virgins in today's Scripture missed a marriage because they weren't ready.  Don't miss heaven because you're not ready.  (For more help, see the last page of this booklet.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 25:13)
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I can hardly wait to see that old mansion!" exclaimed Ashley.  She and her family were on their way to visit Grandma and Grandpa White, who had recently become caretakers of a large estate.  As they drove, Ashley talked about her day at school.  "There's a new girl in class, and her clothes are totally out of it!" declared Ashley.  "I was so-o-o embarrassed when our teacher asked me to show her around the school."
 
Mother frowned.  "Sounds like you have an attitude problem," she said.  Ashley scowled but said no more.
 
Several hours later, Dad turned down an over-grown lane.  "This looks a lot more like a dump than a mansion!" Ashley exclaimed when she saw the house.
 
But when her grandparents welcomed them and led them inside, Ashley could hardly believe her eyes.  The floors glistened, and carpeted steps curved from the hallway to the second floor.  "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed.  "I can't believe how nice this is!  The outside's so awful."
 
Grandpa smiled.  "Yes," he said.  "The old place is being restored, but the firm that was hired for the outside work can't begin till next month.  That's why there's such a difference between the inside and outside."
 
"Just like the inside and the outside of some people," commented Mother as she looked at Ashley.
 
"What do you mean?" asked Ashley.
 
"I was thinking of that new girl at school," Mother said.  "Didn't you just assume she wasn't a nice person because of the way she dressed?  I think you forgot that the Lord says the heart of a person is much more important than the way he or she looks."
 
Ashley looked around the beautiful house and then out the window to the overgrown front yard.  Mother is right, she thought.  I did judge the new girl by the way she looked on the outside, and that was wrong.  When I get back to school, I'll try to get to know her.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you reject people just because of the clothes they wear and the way they comb their hair?  Think about the boy or girl in your class who's left out because of the way he or she looks.  Remember, God says it's the inside that counts.  A kind, considerate attitude is more important than the latest fashion.  Will you be a friend to that lonely boy or girl?  Find out what he or she is really like.  Do it for Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 7:24)
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

[Soldier4Christ]

Katie was impatient to get home and ask Mother an important question.  "Have Martha's chicks been born yet, Mom?"
 
"Not yet," replied her mother.
 
"Can we go and see right after lunch?" asked Katie eagerly.
 
Mother nodded.  So right after lunch, they went down to the hen house.  "No chicks yet," said Katie, turning away, disappointment clouding her big brown eyes.
 
"Wait a minute," said Mother.
 
Katie turned around, surprised to hear a note of excitement in her mother's voice.  "Look at that egg, Katie, the one near Martha's leg."
 
Katie looked.  The egg was cracked.  As she watched, the crack widened.  "What's happening?  Why is the egg breaking?" asked Katie, alarmed.
 
"The little chick is trying to come out," said Mother.
 
After a short time, Katie went down to the hen house again.  A moment later, she was yelling at the top of her voice, "Mom, the chick is trapped.  He's struggling so hard, but he can't get out of the shell!"  Mother came to look.  Katie's eyes filled with tears.  "Look, Mom.  The poor little chick! Can't we break the shell for him so that he can come out?"
 
Mother put her arm around Katie.  "I know you don't like to watch the chick struggle, but we can't interfere," she said.  "The struggle to break the shell makes the chick strong.  If we break the shell for him, then he won't go through that struggle, and he might come out weak."
 
"But Mom, it's so hard for him," protested Katie.
 
"God knows that sometimes hard things are good for us, Katie," said Mom.  "If we accept hard things without complaint and face up to the challenges they bring, God helps us become stronger people."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you grumble and complain when you face difficulties and hardships?  Or do you accept them and ask for God's help to overcome and grow through them?  Christ's resurrection came about only after His death on the cross.  If you face up to struggles in your life--moving to a new place, failing an exam, illness, losing a friend--and trust God to help you through them, you will become a stronger person.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 5:3)
We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jeremy stopped in at the jewelry repair shop where his Uncle Don was just lifting a large metal clock down from a shelf.  "Hello, there," called Uncle Don.  "Did you come to help me fix the chimes on this old clock?"
 
Jeremy grinned at his uncle.  "I'll just watch," he said.
 
Uncle Don opened the back of the clock, and in a few minutes he had found the problem.  "Look here, Jeremy," he said.  "These gears are the ones which control the chimes.  They have little cogs that interlock, and as they turn, each gear turns the next gear.  Then these tiny hammers can strike to sound the chimes.  Can you see what the problem is here--why this old clock can't chime?"
 
Jeremy leaned closer.  He liked to see all the little wheels and gears that moved in the old clocks.  "Looks like there's dirt inside there," he said.
 
Uncle Don nodded.  "That's right.  And all that dirt prevents the cogs from fitting together properly."
 
"Can you fix it?" asked Jeremy.
 
"Sure," said Uncle Don.  Jeremy watched as Uncle Don began to clean each cog.  He talked as he worked.  "Got any dust in your gears, Jeremy?"
 
"Huh?" Jeremy was surprised.  "What gears?"
 
"Well, these clock gears are a lot like people," stated Uncle Don.  "Those who read their Bibles and put God first keep 'dust' from gathering in their 'cogs.'  What do you suppose that 'dust' is?"
 
Jeremy thought about it.  "I guess it must be sin."
 
"Right."  Uncle Don nodded.  "When we let sin build up in our lives, it keeps us from functioning properly and from fulfilling God's purpose for us."  He put the back on the clock, and adjusted the hands.   "There," he said, and the clock began to chime.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have any "dusty cogs"?  Is there anything keeping you from living for Jesus?  Perhaps there's unconfessed sin--a lie, a time you disobeyed, a nasty remark you made, or a person you need to forgive.  Keep your life running smoothly by confessing the things you do wrong and seeking God's help so that you won't repeat them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 51:2)
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom,  look!  I've got an application to work at the corner store doing sweeping and stuff.  See. . .here it is."  Craig was so excited, he couldn't stop talking.  This would be his first job.  "Who can I give as references?" he asked.
 
"How about the Smiths?" suggested Mother.  "And maybe the Days."
 
Craig looked a little sheepish.  "I cut in front of Mrs. Smith at the store the other day," he said.  "I was in a hurry so I pretended I didn't see her, but I think she knew.  I'm not sure I should ask her.  And. . .ah. . . well. . .Mr. Day saw me hit a little kid over the head with my  lunch box."  Mother frowned  "It was empty," Craig hurried to say.  He paused.  "Do you think that matters?" he asked.  "I didn't hurt the kid."
 
"Well, you hurt yourself," said Mother.  "You hurt your reputation.  But put the application away for now--it's time for supper."
 
After the evening meal, Craig's father took the big family Bible, and together they read from the sixteenth chapter of Acts.  "Hmmm.  That's interesting," murmured Mother.  "It seems that before Paul took Timothy with him on a missionary journey, he asked for references."
 
"Yeah," said Craig, "and I'll bet Timothy was relieved when he found that the men gave him a good report.  It would be pretty exciting to go on a missionary trip with the Apostle Paul!"
 
"It sure would," agreed Mother.  "Can you imagine what would have happened if they had said, 'Well, Tim's usually a pretty good kid, but we saw him hit a little boy over the head with his lunch box'?  Or, 'I like Tim, but sometimes he pushes people out of his way if he's in a hurry'?"
 
Dad looked puzzled, and Craig laughed nervously.  "I think you're finding out how important all your actions are," added Mother.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
If you needed a good reference for something that was very important to you, would you have a difficult time finding one?  Do you tend to forget that people are observing your actions?  Do you sometimes say unkind things or tease other kids just for fun?  Little things that don't seem so bad to you at the time can affect other people's opinions of you.  Ask Jesus to show you things you do that may be hurting your testimony to others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 4:12)
Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Nancy," called Mom, "the guests are arriving for our good-bye party.  Are you coming  down?"
 
"Soon," Nancy mumbled from up in the tree fort, but it was the last thing she wanted to do.
 
Mom climbed the ladder and crawled into the fort.  "You're going to miss this place, aren't  you?" she asked.  "You had a lot of good times here."
 
Tears welled up in Nancy's eyes.  "I still don't understand why we have to be  missionaries," she said.
 
Mom put her arm around Nancy.  "I know it's hard to say goodbye."    Mom looked fondly around until her eyes rested on a flower  growing in the corner.  "Is that one of my old shoes you're using for a flower pot?"
 
Through her tears, Nancy smiled proudly.  "It looks good doesn't it?"
 
"Yes," Mom said, "but I gave those shoes to you to wear for make-believe dress up parties."
 
"I know," said Nancy, "but I really needed a flower pot."
 
"Nancy," Mom said thoughtfully, "when someone gives a gift, who owns it and gets to decide how to use it -- the one who gives the gift or the one who gets it?"
 
Nancy answered quickly.  "The one who gets the gift.  So I can use the shoe for a flower pot if I want to, right?"
 
"Yes," Mom said, "it's your shoe now -- I mean flower pot.  You can use it however you think is best.  And that reminds me of another gift we once gave.  Do you remember when we all gave our lives to Jesus?"  Nancy nodded.  "After we did that, God let us continue to live our lives pretty much the way we did before -- same school, same house, same job--for a long time.  But now God has  another use for us.  He wants us to go to the mission field.  If our lives really belong to Him, do we have any right to argue?"
 
"N-no," admitted Nancy, "but it's so scary."
 
"Maybe a little," Mom agreed, "but God is never careless with His belongings.   Just like you care for all your treasures up here in your tree fort, He'll take care of us wherever we are."
 
After a moment, Nancy giggled.  "I guess I should be grateful that He didn't pack us with dirt and plant a flower garden on top!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you moving, changing schools or going through other  changes in your family?  Your life is God's special treasure.  He knows what is best for  you, and He will take care of you, no matter what happens.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Ye are not your own.  For ye are bought  with a price.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Okay, kid.  We've been watching you.  Come with us."  Cold fear chilled the back of Bob's neck when he heard the quiet voice.  The woman who had spoken signaled a big man nearby, who immediately moved to Bob's side.
 
Where's Justin? wondered Bob.  Taking a few candy bars was his idea, and now he's just disappeared into thin air.  Bob's thoughts raced through his mind as he walked with bent head between the two security guards.  Oh, how he wished the floor would open up and swallow him.
 
"Open your jacket and put everything on the table" said an unsmiling woman when they reached a small room.  Then, for what seemed like ten hours but in reality was probably ten minutes, Bob was asked questions about everything:  his name, address, school, parents, friends.  Had he ever shop- lifted before?  Was he alone in the store?  On and on!  Bob thought it would never end.  "Okay, Bob.  Call your parents," the lady guard said finally.
 
"Oh, no, please," protested Bob.  "I'll never do. . . ."
 
"Call them," interrupted the woman. "You're accountable to them."
 
When Bob heard his mother's voice on the phone, he tried not to cry while he explained what had happened.  And when she came to the store, Bob couldn't look at her.  She spoke gently.  "Why, Bob?  You know better."  The sadness of her tone made him feel terrible.
 
"I'm really s-s-sorry," sobbed Bob.  "I don't know why they had to tell you and Dad.  I told them I'd never do it again, and I never will!"
 
	"I trust not," said Mother, "but they were right to tell us."  She paused.  "You've made us very sad today, and you've made it necessary for us to punish you."  She sighed.  "How do you think God feels?" she asked.  "As His child, you're accountable to Him, too."  Bob nodded solemnly.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you do something you know is wrong, is it hard to face people?  When you know you've hurt your parents, is it hard to look them in the eye?  Is it frightening to think about the punishment you know you deserve?  Just as you are accountable to your parents, you are also accountable to God.  Confess those things you've done wrong.  Ask God to help you live in such a way that your meeting with Him will be a joyful experience, not a fearful one.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 14:12)
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Where's your Bible, Jeff?" asked his sister Jenny as they climbed into the car one Sunday morning.
 
"I dunno," mumbled Jeff.  "I can't find it."
 
"If you had been doing your daily Bible reading, you'd know where it is," Jenny scolded.  Jeff glared at her.  "Do you know your memory verse?" continued Jenny.
 
"Nah."  Jeff shook his head.  "I was too busy this week."
 
"Enough, Jenny," said Mother sternly as Jenny started to speak again.  But later that day, Jeff's parents talked to him about the way he had been neglecting important things.
 
The next evening Jeff was going with his dad to play a round of golf.  They had just started backing out of the driveway when Jeff noticed Dad's golf bag standing in the garage.  "Hold it!" he called.  Dad stopped the car.  "You forgot your golfing equipment!"
 
"Oops!" exclaimed Dad.  Jeff jumped out to get the golf bag.  "It sure would be easier not to carry all that stuff along," observed Dad as Jeff put the bag in the back seat."
 
"Yeah, but it would be pretty hard to play golf without it," said Jeff with a grin.  "You gotta be properly equipped."
 
	"Hmmmm.  That's true," murmured Dad.  "Did you know that you have to be properly equipped to be a good servant for the Lord, too?" he asked after a moment.  "That's one reason why it's important to memorize His Word and read the Bible and pray.  It helps equip you to serve Him."
 
"Well," mumbled Jeff weakly, "I-I guess so."
 
"I can't be properly equipped for golf without my clubs and golf balls.  And we can't be properly equipped to serve God without a knowledge of His Word.  We need to study it regularly and spend time in prayer."  Dad grinned at Jeff.  "Tell you what," said Dad.  "Take your Sunday school book along, and we'll both learn your memory verse while we drive to the golf course.  Okay?"  Jeff nodded and ran into the house.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you properly equipped to be a servant for the Lord?  Do you study and memorize God's Word so you can share His love with others?  Do you spend time talking to the Lord?  Don't try to "play the game"--to live a Christian life--without the equipment you need.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 3:17)
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, yummy!  Chocolate cake!" exclaimed David when he arrived home from school."  He put his books on the table.  "That is going to be chocolate cake, isn't it?" he added.
 
Mom smiled as she beat the mixture in a big white bowl.  "It sure is," she said.  "How was school today?"
 
	"Good," said David.  "Except for Jordan.  He came to Sunday school yesterday, and today he was telling all the kids that our teacher was goofy."
 
	"He was?" said Mom.  "Why does he say that?"
 
	"She used some Bible verses to show that everybody has sinned and doesn't deserve to go to heaven," said David, "but Jordan doesn't believe that.  He says he's not so bad.  Says he hardly ever does anything wrong."
 
"Your teacher--and the Bible--are right," said Mom, picking up another egg and breaking it on the edge of the bowl.
 
	"Ugh!" cried David a moment later, holding his nose and coughing.  "What's that awful smell?"
 
	"Oh no!" exclaimed Mom.  "That last egg was rotten!  Oh, it looks horrid!  I've got to get rid of this.  It's spoiled my whole cake mixture!"  She picked up the bowl, then hesitated.  "On second thought," she said, "the flour and sugar and butter were just fine.  And so were all the eggs--except just that one.  Maybe this will be okay when it gets baked."
 
	"Mom!" protested David.  "We can't eat that awful stuff, even if it's cooked!  You said yourself that the bad egg spoiled the whole mix."
 
	"You're right," agreed Mom, "and you know, maybe you should tell your friend Jordan about this."
 
	"Jordan?" asked David.
 
	Mom nodded.  "Yes.  The Bible says that if we keep all the laws, except just one, we are still guilty.  That's like this cake mixture.  All my ingredients were fine, except that one rotten egg, and that messed up my whole cake."
 
	"Yeah!" said David.  "I bet Jordan wouldn't want to eat that."
 
	"You're right," said Mom, wrapping the smelly mixture and putting it in a plastic bag.  "Tell him that no matter how 'good' we think we are, however 'law-abiding' we may be, we've all done at least one thing that's wrong--something 'rotten.'  We can go to heaven only because Jesus obtained salvation for us--not because we have earned it by anything we do ourselves, but because we trust in Him.  And now. . .please take this out to the trash."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know people who think that simply because they are "good," they don't need Jesus to be saved?  Remember that even the best person still falls short of God's standard--perfect holiness.  That's why everyone, both the "good" and the "bad," need Jesus.  Salvation is only through Him, never through our own merit.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 2:10)
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

[Soldier4Christ]

Julie felt downright grouchy as she sat on the couch at the home of her Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Watson.  She didn't really want to be on what she called "this stupid old Parents' Night planning committee."  She had to miss her favorite TV program to attend this meeting.  Marla and Danny, the other committee members, seemed to be enjoying it, however--or at least they had been at first.  They had made several suggestions, but Julie just scowled about all of them.  Now the others seemed to be losing a lot of their enthusiasm, too.
 
"Julie," said Mrs. Watson finally, "why don't you help me prepare the snacks?  Marla and Danny, I like your ideas.  Keep thinking."
 
Glumly, Julie followed Mrs. Watson into the kitchen and arranged cookies on a plate while Mrs. Watson prepared hot chocolate.  "Maybe I'll add just a little lemon juice to this chocolate," Mrs. Watson said.
 
"Lemon juice?" Julie was surprised.  "Won't that make it sour?  Hot chocolate's supposed to be sweet."
 
"Do you think just a little bit of sourness would make much difference?" asked Mrs. Watson.
 
"I think it would ruin it!" Julie exclaimed.
 
Mrs. Watson looked at the bottle of lemon juice.  "You're right, of course," she agreed.  "And you know, Julie, just like a little lemon juice can ruin this hot chocolate, a bad attitude from just one person can ruin the special night we're planning.  We want this Parents' Night to be a good one, especially since we know there will be unsaved dads and moms attending.  Marla and Danny have come up with some good ideas, but you've 'soured' them all -- you've cut down everything they've suggested."
 
Julie bit her lip and stared at the floor.  "I'm sorry," she said at last, and she really was.  She had found out it wasn't very much fun being grouchy anyhow!
 
"You're forgiven," said Mrs. Watson, giving her a hug.  "Now. . . here are the cookies.  Let's see if we can sweeten up this meeting."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a complainer?  Do you often "get into moods" if things don't go the way you want?  You might be surprised how quickly your moods can spread.  Remember, too, that God hears when you murmur and complain.  He wants you to be joyful and get along with others.  Ask Him to help you have a good attitude.  Radiate joy instead of grouchiness!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 2:14)
Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mommy!"  Kelli sobbed as she struggled through the doorway with her back pack, lunch box, and doll.
 
Mother quickly dried her hands and hugged her little girl.  "What's wrong, honey?" she asked as she untied her daughter's hood and unzipped her coat.
 
"The big kids on the bus called me 'four-eyes.'"  Kelli sniffed as she took off her glasses to wipe away her tears.  "I-I don't want to wear my glasses anymore."  Mother sighed as she pulled Kelli's coat and boots off.
 
"Oh, honey, the kids just like to tease," she said.  "You have a new look, and the kids have noticed it.  Ignore them, and they'll soon get tired of it."  She smiled at Kelli.  "You look very nice in your new glasses," she assured her.
 
Kelli looked at the glasses in her hand and then slipped them back on.  "Being teased isn't as bad as not seeing good," she decided as Mother got up to answer the phone.  "I'm going to wear them tomorrow and just smile at the kids who tease me."
 
	When Mother returned a little later, she sat down with a sigh.  "My friend Rachel reminds me of you," she said.
 
"Why, Mommy?" asked Kelli.  "Does she get teased about wearing glasses?"
 
"No."  Mother shook her head.  "She has a much bigger problem.  She worries that she'll get teased about being a Christian.  I'm so glad she has come to know the Lord, but when she's with her old friends, she often acts and talks just the way they do.  She has a new life, but she's afraid they'll tease her and laugh at her if she acts or seems different.  She needs to put on her new self, just like you need to put on your new glasses.  She's not as brave as you are, Kelli."
 
Kelli smiled.  "I'll be braver tomorrow!" she declared.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid of being teased and laughed at because you're a Christian?  Are you afraid of being a little different from your friends?  God tells us to put off the old self and put on the new.  The blessings He'll give as you live for Him are worth any teasing you may be asked to endure.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:17-18)
That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk. . .because of the blindness of their heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mara sat on her bed.  Her face was red and splotchy from crying.  She had been caught cheating at school, and her teacher had called and talked to her mother about it.  Mara knew she'd be punished.
 
There was a quiet knock on her door.  Mother entered with a very serious look on her face.  "We need to talk about this problem," she said softly.  "Mrs. Davis says she's seen you looking at other student's papers before."
 
Mara burst into tears once more.  "I can't help it, Mother," she whined.  "Our tests are always so hard!  I try to stop cheating, but I just can't!"
 
Mara's mother was silent a moment, then she asked, "Mara, what would you do if we had a fire in our house?"
 
Mara looked at her mother, puzzled by her question.  She answered slowly.  "Well, I'd follow our fire escape plan.  I'd crawl on my hands and knees down the hallway to the front door, and then I'd open it and go outside--unless the fire was in that area.  Then I'd use the back door."
 
"That's right!  We've told you over and over again how to escape in case of a fire, and you've remembered it."  Mother nodded.  "God also has an escape plan for us to follow.  He tells us in the Bible that He has made a way to escape temptation."
 
Mara sniffled.  "He does?  But how?"
 
"By obeying His Word," replied Mother.  "In Corinthians it says that we don't have to let temptation overtake us; we can escape.  And when the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a young man, he told him to 'flee youthful lusts' and follow righteousness.  We need to do that, too, and with God's help, we can."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you tempted to tell a lie instead of the truth?  To disobey when you think you can get away with it?  To help yourself to something you really want?  Do you feel that you can't resist temptation?  You can.  God will show you the way to escape the temptation.  Ask Him to help you find it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:13)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful, who 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]

Darrin sat down on the living room floor and dumped out the contents of a box.  "I see you're going to work on your new model," observed Dad.
 
Darrin nodded as he began to fit some pieces together.  "Dad, there's something I've been wondering about," he said.  "I was over at Rob Taylor's house and his dad was telling about a man who was really mean to his wife and kids.  This guy excused it by saying he was just being the head of the house, like the Bible says."  Dad frowned as Darrin continued.  "I guess it doesn't always work out right when you try to obey the Bible."
 
"Now, just a minute," said Dad.  "We do need to obey the Bible, but we have to interpret and use it in the right way."  He stopped as Darrin sighed and threw down two pieces of his model.
 
"This thing won't go together right," Darrin grumbled.
 
Dad looked at the model closely.  "Are you sure you followed the instructions?" he asked.
 
"Of course!" Darrin looked at the instruction sheet.  "It says right here, 'Snap section E onto section D.'  But I tried that, and it won't work!  The instructions must be wrong!"
 
Dad pointed to another part of the page.  "Ah!  But this says, 'While attaching E to D, press down on tab C.'"  Dad quickly assembled the sections and handed them to Darrin.
 
"Wow!  That was easy.  Thanks, Dad!"  Darrin smiled.
 
"You see, it's not enough to follow part of the instructions," Dad said.  "You have to read them carefully enough to make sure you understand them completely."  Then he added, "It's the same way with the Bible.  When people take verses out of context, or when they try to follow only part of God's instructions and ignore the rest, they get into trouble."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there things in the Bible that just don't sound right to you?  The Bible is God's perfect, inspired Word, but it must be read carefully and prayerfully.  If you truly desire to do God's will, He'll help you understand more and more as you study His Word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Peter 3:16)
Some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.