Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Brenda was in a bad mood.  "I don't see why I have to go to the special service at the nursing home Friday night," she grumbled.  "Cathy and I wanted to go skating then!"
 
"But you told your youth leader you'd be there," said Mother.  "He's counting on you.  When you joined the choir, you knew it would cost you some of your free time."
 
"What free time?" grumbled Brenda.  "Church takes up most of Sunday.  Then there's youth meeting Wednesday night and choir practice Saturday mornings.  Besides that, we have family devotions every day, and I pray and read my Bible before I go to bed. . .sometimes, anyway."  She sighed.  "It doesn't seem like it should take all my time to do things for the Lord."  Brenda turned to her little sister, Tammy, who had come into the room, holding a small box.  "Is that your present for Grandma's birthday?" asked Brenda.
 
"Yeah.  Want to see it?"  Tammy smiled and lifted the lid off the box.  "I hope Grandma likes it."
 
"Oh, a scarf!  That's pretty," Brenda said, "but don't forget to take off the price tag before you wrap it."
 
Tammy shook her head.  "I'm going to leave it on, so Grandma will know how much I paid for it.  It cost a lot!"
 
"Don't do that, silly," Brenda scolded.  "Then it will seem like you're bragging about how much it cost."
 
Mother nodded.  "I agree with Brenda, honey," she said.  "The important thing is not the price of your gift, but the fact that you love Grandma and want to please her."
 
As Tammy left the room, Brenda laughed.  "How goofy can you get?" she said.  "If Tammy only knew how much Grandma has spent on gifts for her, she wouldn't think what she paid for that scarf was such a big deal."  She glanced at Mother.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"
 
"I was just thinking that Tammy isn't the only one who leaves her 'price tags' showing," replied Mother.  "I believe I just heard you talking about how much you're doing for God and how much it cost you.  Perhaps you need to remember just how much God has done for you, and what it cost Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you've made a lot of sacrifices for God?  Remember, everything you have was given to you by God.  He even gives eternal life to those who trust in Him.  He sacrificed more for you than you could ever understand.  If you truly love Him, you'll serve Him willingly and cheerfully.  Don't brag or complain--just be thankful for all He has done for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God loveth a cheerful giver.

[Soldier4Christ]

"What's it like in a cave?" asked Robb excitedly.  "I've never been in one before."  He and his family were on vacation, and Dad had said they'd be attending church services inside a cave.
 
Dad chuckled.  "You'll soon know," he promised.
 
Early Sunday morning, they were on their way.  Robb watched puffy clouds float in the sky, while the rising sun flung its rosy colors.  He felt close to God as he saw the beauty around him and it made him think of God's greatness.  He was eager to get to the cave where the church service was being held.  However, when they were finally down in the cave, Robb shivered.  It was totally dark, except where electric lights lit the way.  Huge stone formations hung down, while others rose up from the floor, casting gloomy shadows.  The air was damp, and water dripped down the rocky walls.
 
In his seat, Robb pulled his jacket close around him to keep out the cold, clammy air.  Although it was rather interesting, he didn't really like this dark, gloomy place, and he hoped the sermon wouldn't last long.  He glanced anxiously at the dark shadows cast by the stones.
 
Suddenly it was pitch dark!  "Dad! Dad!  Where are you?" Robb whispered loudly, reaching out toward where his father was sitting.
 
"Right here beside you," Dad whispered back, taking Rob's hand.  He squeezed it.
 
The minister had paused in his message, and some children began crying.  Some of the adults nervously tried to calm the children.  "Don't be afraid.  God is here, too," said the minister.  "He can see you just as well in the dark as in the bright sunlight.  He's omnipresent."
 
"What does that mean--that big word?" Robb whispered to Dad.
 
"That means God is present everywhere at the same time," continued the minister.  "There's no place in this entire universe where God isn't present, even way down in this dark cave.  He's watching over you right this minute."
 
Robb felt glad that God was right there beside Him.  He didn't feel so afraid anymore.  And he was sure he would never forget that big word--omnipresent!



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid in the dark?  God is there with you.  Although you cannot see God because He is a spirit, He's close beside you, caring for you.  The Bible tells us He is everywhere.  He's omnipresent.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 139:12)
The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

Matt," Mother called.  "I told you to get up long ago.  Now hurry!  We'll soon be leaving for church!"  Matt sleepily opened his eyes.  It was so hard to get up in the morning!  He put one foot on the floor, then the other.  It was cold.  He wrapped his blanket around him.  "Matt, are you hurrying?"  Mother called from the hallway.
 
"Yeah, yeah, I'm hurrying," Matt answered, but he didn't hurry at all.  He put on his shirt and pants and then flopped down on the bed again.  In fact, the next time Mom checked on him, he was fast asleep.
 
"You're just going to have to get to bed earlier," said Mother with a sigh when she woke him again.
 
The following day was Matt's birthday, and as soon as he heard his dad and mom get up, he jumped out of bed, too.  He didn't mind that it was early and cold.  He threw his clothes on as fast as he could and then ran downstairs.
 
"Hmmm," Mother said.  "This is funny."
 
"What's funny?" asked Dad.
 
"It's funny how easy it was for our sleepyhead to get out of bed this morning," said Mother, "when yesterday it was so hard."
 
"Today's a special day, Mom!" said Matt, eyeing the big box standing in the center of the table.
 
"Sundays are special days, too," replied Mother.  "Sundays are days we set apart to learn more about God's Word and to worship Him."
 
"Well, I. . .ah. . . ."  Matt didn't know what to say as he looked at his birthday present.
 
  "Mother's right," agreed Dad.  "Going to church is a privilege we take too much for granted.  We forget that it's special. . .that it should be at least as important to us as a birthday!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have trouble getting up for church?  Maybe sometimes you sleep so late that you don't get to Sunday school and church at all!  Or maybe Sunday morning is a hassle at your house because your dad and mom always have to be "yelling" at you to hurry up and get moving.  Treat Sunday as a special day.  Get to bed early on Saturday so you'll be ready to serve and worship the Lord on Sunday.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 118:24)
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Gary looked at the keys he held.  His grandparents had dropped him off at their house.  They'd be home after Grandma had her checkup at the doctor's office.  In the meantime, he planned to enjoy a glass of milk with some of Grandma's nice, big, chocolate-chip cookies.  "Grandpa said the silver key with the round top is his house key," he murmured, "but I can't find one like that."  One by one he slid the keys around on the ring.
 
Gary tried each key in the lock, and nothing worked.  Oh, why didn't I let Grandpa open the door before he and Grandma left? he thought. Grandpa had offered to do it, but Gary had wanted to feel grownup and independent.  Now he walked around the house, checking every window and door.  They were all locked securely.  I'll just have to sit down on the steps and wait.  How boring!  Besides, I'm hungry.  Thirsty, too!  As he waited, Gary thought about the games and books he could have been using inside.  And out on the steps, a sharp cold wind made him shiver.
 
After two long hours his grandparents arrived.  "Hey, what took you so long?" Gary asked.  "I've been outside the whole time.  You didn't give me the right key."
 
"Oh, no!" exclaimed Grandpa.  "Now I remember!  I took it off that ring when I had a duplicate made.  I must have forgotten to put it back.  I'm sorry, Gary."
 
"Well, I have a key," said Grandma, and they used her key to open the door.
 
"It sure was tough sitting out there with all those keys, and not one would work!" said Gary as he watched Grandma begin to make supper a little later.  "I thought I could get in!"
 
Grandma nodded.  "Do you know there's something worse?" she asked.  "It's expecting to get into heaven and then finding too late that you have the wrong key."
 
"What do you mean?" asked Gary.  "You don't get into heaven with keys."
 
"No, not actual keys," agreed Grandma.  "But many people think being in a Christian family or living  a good life will get them into heaven.  These things are a little like wrong keys.  Jesus said, 'No man comes unto the Father but by Me.'  The right key is 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.'"  She paused and then asked, "What key do you have, Gary?  How do you expect to get into heaven?"
 
"Hey, I won't be left outside heaven's door!" exclaimed Gary.  "I do believe on Jesus, and I'm trusting Him to save me."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What "key" are you counting on for entering heaven?  Good works?  A Christian family?  Your church?  These are useless in opening heaven's door.  Jesus is the Door to heaven.  Believing on Him as your Savior is the only key.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 16:31)
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, may we buy this cereal today?" Stephanie asked.  She held a brightly colored box over the grocery cart as though she were going to put it in.  She giggled at Mother's raised eyebrow.  "Just kidding, Mom," she said.  "I know this one has too much sugar."  She replaced it with a different kind.  "Is this better?" she asked.  Then, with a twinkle in her eye, she parroted Mom's often repeated words: "You are what you eat."  Mom smiled and nodded.
 
When they arrived home, Stephanie flipped on the radio.  They listened to a weather report, which was followed by a musical program.  Stephanie hummed the melody of one of the numbers being sung, but Mom reached out and turned off the radio.  "The words of that song encourage a kind of life that isn't pleasing to God," she said with a frown.
 
"But it has such a pretty tune," protested Stephanie.  "Can't we just ignore the words?"
 
"Listening to that kind of music is like eating food that isn't good for us.  Our minds 'eat up' the words whether we pay attention to them or not," Mom explained.
 
Stephanie thought hard while she helped Mom put the groceries away.  She remembered how she often listened to the radio at her friend Nancy's house.  She and Nancy were always busy with something else while they listened, but even though she seldom paid attention to the words of the songs they played on Nancy's favorite station, Stephanie knew all of them.  Something about the music made the words stick in her mind.
 
"Physically, we are what we eat, and mentally, we are what we think about," added Mom.  "We should fill our minds with thoughts that are pleasing to God so we'll grow spiritually."
 
Stephanie found the box of cereal she had chosen and put it in the cupboard.  "No more junk food for my mind!" she said, chuckling at the idea. 



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you listen to music or anything else that encourages a way of life that doesn't please God?  He is pleased when you listen to things that are uplifting and that help you grow spiritually.  What you hear gets into your mind whether you are aware of it or not.  God sees what's there.  Make sure He is pleased when you "become what you think."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ezekiel 11:5)
I (God) know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

[Soldier4Christ]

arissa, Natasha, and Darren decided to work their new 500 piece picture puzzle.  The cover showed a picture of three sailing boats out at sea.  "Let's empty all the pieces onto the table and turn them up the right way first," suggested Darren.
 
"There sure are a lot of different colors in this puzzle," observed Marissa as she tipped the box over and pieces of all shapes and colors tumbled onto the table.  "Some of the pieces are black or a dull grey.  I like the ones with the pretty, sunshiny yellow color."
 
"I like the reds and oranges, too," said Natasha.  "I want to work with them.  The ones with a lot of brown and dark blue and black are dull and ugly."
 
"Maybe so, but they're all part of the puzzle, and we need them all to finish the picture," Darren reminded her.  He pointed to the cover of the box.  "We couldn't make a picture like that if all the pieces were red and orange!"
 
"Like people," murmured Mother, who was working nearby.  The children looked at her curiously.  "We're all so different--tall and short, thin and heavier, quick and slow--but if we know the Lord, we're all part of His family," she explained.  "We all look different and we all have different abilities, but we're all needed."
 
"Yeah.  Imagine if everybody were preachers or teachers--who would there be to listen to them?  And who would grow the food for us to eat?" asked Darren.
 
"Trust you to think about food!" teased Natasha.
 
"Well, I know what you'd think about!" retorted Darren, with a grin.  "You'd worry about who would make clothes for you."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What has God called you to be?  You don't have to feel unimportant or inferior if He hasn't called you to be a preacher or teacher;  nor should you think that only professions such as medicine or law are important.  God calls different people to all different kinds of work.  If you are faithfully carrying out the task He has assigned to you, then you are doing the most important work you can do!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:11-12)
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

ohn stumbled into the house.  "I don't want to die, Mommy!  I don't want to die!" he cried.  He was an MK (missionary's kid) who lived in Chicosa, a Campa village deep in the Peruvian jungle of South America.
 
"John!" exclaimed his mother.  "What happened?"
 
"A. . .a. . .s-s-snake bit me," John explained tearfully, showing his mother two fang marks on his right foot.  A venomous bushmaster had done its deadly work, and he knew how serious the situation was.  It was too late in the evening to radio for help, and it would take eight hours to get to medical help in the motor-canoe.  "Am I going to die?" he asked fearfully.
 
"Jesus will take care of you," Mother replied more calmly than she felt.
 
When the Christians in the village heard what happened, many gathered to pray as they waited for morning when they could radio for help.  It was a long night.  But as they thought about how much God loved John and about the fact that God was in control of the situation, peace came.
 
The next morning, John's foot was swollen, hard, and discolored.  As they waited for the mission station to respond to their call, John's dad read to him about how God had kept the Apostle Paul when he was bitten by a deadly snake.  (See today's Scripture.)  "We serve the same God that Paul served," Dad reminded him.
 
John nodded.  "God was on the island of Melita with Paul, and He's also in Chicosa with me," he said faintly.
 
Finally the radio burst into life.  A rescue plane was soon on it's way to take John to the hospital.  Within a few hours, he was receiving the medical help he needed so badly.
 
After John had been treated at the hospital, he and his parents bowed their heads to thank the Lord for what He had done.  "Thank You, Lord Jesus," prayed John, "that You love me and took care of me.  Thank You that I'm already getting better."
 
"Yes, thank You, Jesus," added Dad.  "Thank You for making an escape from death for John."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has God ever delivered you from death?  Maybe you almost had a serious car accident. . .or you were very, very sick, and God healed you.  Sometimes God saves us from death, and we don't even realize it.  Now would be a good time to thank the Lord for life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 68:20)
God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

[Soldier4Christ]

"So what you're saying, Justin, is that living your life is something like driving a car?" asked Mrs. Felten.  The children in the Sunday school class all laughed, and Justin shifted his position on the chair.  "Wait a minute, class.  Justin may be on to something here.  Let's talk about it and see how far we can go with this illustration.  Let's picture each of us in a car--a 'life-car'--going down the Highway of Life.  Who's driving the car?"
 
"We are," the class called out.
 
"Okay," said Mrs. Felten.  "Now as we go along, at some point we're asked if we want to trust Christ as Savior and be assured of eternal life."
 
"And if we accept Jesus, it's like we're asking Him to be a passenger in our car," Tracy suggested.
 
"You've got the idea, Tracy," said Mrs. Felten, "but should He be a passenger?  After you invite Him in, should you still be steering and deciding how fast to go and where to go?  What do you think?"
 
Christy raised her hand.  "We should let Jesus be in control of our lives," she said.  "He should be the one driving."
 
"Right!" agreed Mrs. Felten.  "Now. . .is there anything else we can use in our picture?  How about road signs and stop lights?"  She looked at her class.  "Justin, you began this idea, what do you think?"
 
Justin sat up straighter.  "Well, I guess following road signs would be like reading the Bible," he suggested.  "It gives us directions for how to live.  And the stop lights could be when God says no to something we want."
 
"That's a good thought."  Mrs. Felten nodded.  "What happens in real life if you go through a red light?"
 
"You might get hit by other cars," Justin said, "and you might get hurt."
 
"Right," said Mrs. Felten, "but when you let Jesus drive, you can be sure He'll follow the road signs and never run a stop light.  You all ride in cars often, and when you climb into one from now on, I hope you'll be reminded that you need Jesus in your 'life-car' and that you need to let Him drive.  Thank you, Justin, for a good illustration."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you asked Jesus to get into your "life-car"?  Is He in the driver's seat, or are you?  Do you do the things that please God?  Do you stop when God says you shouldn't do something?  If you allow Jesus to "drive," you'll avoid many "accidents"--many heartaches and troubles.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:6)
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Goodbye, Marcie.  See you tomorrow," said Paige.  "And congratulations again for getting the lead in the play."  As soon as Marcie had gone, Paige mumbled, "I can't stand that girl!  She's such a snob."
 
"Why, Paige!" exclaimed her mother.  "Didn't you tell me you've been witnessing to Marcie?"
 
"I'm trying," retorted Paige.  "After all, I did walk home with her, didn't I?  I even invited her in for a snack."  A horrible clanging noise started coming from her brother's room.  "What's that noise?" she asked, covering her ears.
 
Mother laughed.  "Pete borrowed Grandpa's antique dinner gong for his science project about sound."
 
"That thing!" Paige groaned.  Grandpa collected brass antiques, and  Paige liked most of them, but she thought the gong was ugly.  Now Pete would probably be banging it all evening!
 
And that's what happened.  Pete banged the gong right outside Paige's door while she was doing her homework.  "Mom!" Paige called.  "Make him stop!"
 
Instead of saying anything to Pete, however, Mother came into Paige's room and sat down.  "I don't like that noise any better than you do," she said, "but when I thought of our conversation about Marcie this afternoon, I decided to let Pete clang it a little.  I thought it might teach you something."  She handed Paige an open Bible.  "Here--read the first verse of First Corinthians 13 (see 'To Memorize' section)."
 
Paige knew that First Corinthians 13 was often called the "love chapter," but she didn't know what that had to do with the gong.  When she saw the first verse, though, she simply said, "Oh."
 
"Do you understand?" Mother asked.
 
Paige nodded slowly.  "Yes.  Saying that I want Marcie to know the Lord and then talking about her the way I do is like the sound of that brass gong Pete is clanging.  It's just a bunch of noise without any value."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you pretend to like someone while inside you're really thinking mean thoughts?  If there's someone who "really bugs you," ask the Lord to help you sincerely care about that person so that you can show him or her God's love.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

[Soldier4Christ]

Lori skipped up the sidewalk to Aunt Joy's home.  She liked the way her aunt treated her--like a friend rather than just a child--although she did feel that sometimes Aunt Joy talked about God a bit too much.  Lori rang her doorbell.  Then after chatting with her aunt a few minutes, she asked, "May I go see the flowers?"
 
"Of course," agreed Aunt Joy.
 
Lori especially liked going into Aunt Joy's flower garden, which was surrounded by a white fence.  The only way to get in was through a charming gate.  When she lifted the latch on the gate, hanging chimes sweetly tinkled, promising wonderful scenes inside.  And just inside the gate, flowers of every color seemed to nod "hello" as they gently bobbed in the breeze, and honeysuckle vines perfumed the air.
 
After a little while, Lori ran back to the porch where her aunt was pouring tea and had set out some cookies.  "Well, did you like my flowers?" Aunt Joy asked.
 
"Oh, I just love your garden!" Lori exclaimed.  "I love the gate, too.  I like to hear the chimes when it opens."
 
Aunt Joy smiled.  "What if you didn't go through the gate?" she asked.  "What if you refused to use it?"
 
"Then I wouldn't get in and I'd miss hearing the bell and seeing all the beautiful flowers," answered Lori promptly.  She bit into a cookie.  "That would be silly."
 
"Remember what I've been telling you about God's home in heaven?" asked Aunt Joy.  "It's even lovelier than my garden.  But you can get into God's beautiful heaven only through a special gate, the Lord Jesus--only by having your sins forgiven through Him.  Do you want to be outside, never able to enjoy heaven, or would you like to come in through Jesus?"
 
Lori looked thoughtful.  "I'd be silly not to come in, wouldn't I?" she asked slowly.  "Please tell me about it once more."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you going to get into heaven?  The Bible often uses an illustration that helps you understand a truth.  When Jesus says He's a "door" or "gate," He means that you can get into heaven by believing in Him.  Do you believe?  Trust Jesus right now to be your "gate."


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Paul put his report card on the table and picked up the newspaper.  He raced upstairs, plopped down on his bed, and hurried through each page until he found what he was searching for.  It was "Part III" of "Hidden Treasures"--a five-part article about the discovery of different treasures that had been found in the seas.  Paul eagerly read the article and then cut it out.  He often daydreamed about all the hidden treasures that hadn't been found yet--and what it would be like to find one and get rich!
 
After dinner, Dad picked up the paper.  "What's been so interesting in the newspaper lately?" he asked.  "I see that another article has been cut out."  Paul's eyes got big and dreamy as he told his dad all about the treasure articles and how he hoped he could be a treasure hunter some day.
 
Dad smiled, but Mother raised her eyebrows and brought out Paul's report card.  "It looks to me as if you've been concerned with the wrong kind of treasure lately," she observed.  "You school grades have gone down."
 
Paul sighed.  "Oh, well.  Treasure hunters don't have to be so smart--just lucky!" he said.
 
"The report card isn't all," said Mother.  "Your Sunday school teacher says you haven't done as well as usual there, either.  You know, Proverbs says we must seek for wisdom with the same persistence as a treasure hunter searches for silver.  Wisdom is a treasure, Paul.  The Bible describes it as being 'more precious than rubies.'"
 
"Your mother's right," agreed Dad.  "The Bible also says that the 'fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'  I think you need to get your treasure-hunting priorities in order.  I think it's time to put a little more effort into your school work and your Sunday school lessons."
 
"It's okay to dream of being a treasure hunter," added Mother, "as long as you find the treasure of wisdom first."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you search for wisdom?  Are you growing in Bible knowledge and Christian living?  Nothing can be compared to the treasure of wisdom, and it begins with learning what God wants to teach you from His word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:15)
(Wisdom) is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mother, Lenore told me I'm a TAURUS!" exclaimed Jenny as she burst through the front door.  "Her mother says the stars can tell us all about ourselves and advise us about what we should do.  What the stars say depends on what day we were born.  She says we can read the horoscope in the paper every day to find out what they say."
 
Jenny's mother looked up.  "And does it make sense to you to believe that the stars have power over a person's life?" she asked.  "Does it make sense for people to have to wait until the newspaper arrives to read their horoscope and find out what the stars advised them to do that day?"
 
Jenny thought about that.  "Well. . .I guess not," she said thoughtfully.  "I guess believing in the power of the stars to direct your life makes about as much sense as believing in a rabbit's foot."  She chuckled.  "I remember that a girl at camp last summer always wore a rabbit's foot on her belt, even to go swimming.  She believed it would bring her good luck, but then somebody said, 'How much luck can that foot bring?  Look what happened to the rabbit, and he had four of them!'"   
 
Mother laughed.  Then she glanced at the family Bible lying on a nearby shelf.  "People may say we were born under some sign of the stars," she said, "but those of us who know the Lord can tell them that we've been born again."
 
"Hey!  Yeah!" exclaimed Jenny.  She smiled at her mother.  "I'm a Christian, not a TAURUS."
 
	"That's right," agreed Mother.  "You and I have Jesus in our lives.  He's more powerful than any star--He made them!  And we don't have to wait for the newspaper.  We have God's Word to tell us how to live!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever find yourself avoiding the cracks in the sidewalk?  Crossing the street to dodge a black cat?  Reading the horoscope section of the paper?  Astrology and superstition have no place in Christianity.  Get rid of such things from your life.  God hates them!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 45:22)
Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else.

[Soldier4Christ]

Alex eagerly tore the wrapping paper off the birthday present his parents had given him.  "Oh, wow!  Binoculars!  Thanks!" he exclaimed, quickly pulling them out of the box.  He turned them over and over in his hands.  "Can we go to the state forest?  It has some good lookout points where I could try these out.  I bet I can see a long way."
 
"Sounds great!" agreed Dad.  "Let's go!"
 
Before long, Alex and his dad stood together on one of the lookout points and took turns looking through the binoculars.  As Alex took a turn, he silently watched something for a moment.  "Dad!  I see a doe and twin fawns," he whispered.  "They're so cute!  Look!"  Dad took the binoculars and soon located the animals.  He watched them for a minute.  "Aren't they neat?" whispered Alex.
 
Dad laughed and handed the binoculars back.  "Yes, they are," he said out loud.  "But they're far away.  You don't need to whisper."
 
Alex looked again.  "Just think, those animals have no idea we're watching them," he said in awe.  "We can see every move they make, but they're so far away that they don't even know we exist!"
 
"That is amazing," agreed Dad, "and it reminds me that we're being watched, too."
 
"We are?  Who's watching us?" Alex wanted to know.
 
"God is.  He's watching every move we make, whether it be right or wrong," explained Dad.  "He sees the mistakes we make, and He sees the good things we do.  Yet we're often unaware of His presence, just like the doe and fawns are unaware of us."
 
"I knew that, but I never really thought about it before," said Alex.
 
Dad nodded.  "I think we'd all be more careful of what we do if we remembered that God is always watching," he said.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware that God sees you twenty-four hours a day?  Remembering that His presence is always with you should help you make better decisions.  Next time you're tempted to do something wrong, remember. . .God is watching!  Next time you become discouraged in your efforts to do what is right, remember. . .God is watching!  He sees you all the time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 5:21)
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Clumsy!  Can't you even stand on your own two feet?" Kim heard jeering voices as she lay on the sidewalk, pain shooting through her skinned knees and hands.  Her bulky corrective shoes made it difficult to go down steps, and she had tripped and fallen.  Several girls glanced back as Kim lay sprawled on the ground.  Then, except for one, they all sped off to the playground.
 
"Are you all right?" asked the girl who stayed.  Kim nodded bravely but was too winded to answer.  "Let me help you up," offered the girl.  "Give me your hand.  By the way, my name is Michelle.  What's yours?"
 
Kim extended her hand.  "K-K-Kim," she gasped, finally able to get her breath.  "Thanks for helping me, Michelle.  You're a real Good Samaritan."
 
"What's that?" asked Michelle as they went into the school so Kim could wash up.
 
Kim smiled at her new friend.  "We learned about him in Sunday school," she said.  "Do you go to Sunday school?"
 
Michelle shook her head.  "Tell me about your good Samaritan," she said.
 
And so Kim told her the story.  (See today's Scripture.)  "You really are like the Good Samaritan," she said as she finished.  "Two girls from my Sunday school class were in that group that saw me fall, but like those religious leaders, they didn't stop to help.  You don't even go to Sunday school, but you stopped."  She paused, then added shyly, "According to Jesus, you were a 'neighbor' to me.  But, you know, being a good neighbor isn't enough.  You need to know Jesus and love Him, too.  Would you like to come to Sunday school with me?"
 
"Sure," agreed Michelle as the girls went out to play.  "Sounds like you have some good stories there."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you see someone in trouble, do you stop to help?  That isn't always the easy thing to do, especially when you're the only one who helps. Yet the Bible teaches that it's an important part of a Christian's life.  If you love God, show His love to all those around you by being a good "neighbor" to them.


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]

Ron's radio-controlled car zipped down the driveway.  He pushed the lever on the control box to the right, turning the car around and guiding it back up the driveway.  "Ready, Dad?" he asked as his father stepped out the front door, with another car in his hand.  "Let's hit the parking lot!"
 
When they reached the nearby parking lot, Ron and his father found a couple of boys already there.  "That's okay.  There's room for all of us," said Dad as he and Ron went to the far end, away from the others.
 
They had a good time.  Dad made his Chevy model jump off the curb, flipping it back onto its tires.  Ron skidded his Turbo through some sand, turning it sharply to catch up with Dad's car.  But then he had a problem.  "Look!  My car is going crazy!" Ron exclaimed.  "It won't follow my directions!"
 
Dad watched for a moment.  "I think it's too far away to receive your signals," he observed.  "Look--it's too close to these other boys and must be on the same frequency as one of their cars.  I think it's following the directions one of them is giving."
 
Just then one of the boys looked up.  He laughed and waved.  "I'll send it back to you," he called.
 
Soon Ron's car was again under his control.
 
"What happened there reminds me of how important it is for us, as Christians, to stay close to the right source to guide us," Dad said as he watched Ron guide the car.  "If we get too far away--for example, if we regularly skip Bible reading and prayer and Christian fellowship at church--we may not get the spiritual guidance we need.  We also place ourselves in a position to be easily influenced in the wrong direction by unbelieving friends."
 
Ron looked at his car.  "I'll try to remember that," he promised.
 
Dad nodded.  "Good," he said.  "We don't want to be controlled by wrong influences."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find yourself "going along with the crowd?"  Are you easily influenced to join in when friends are trying to get you to do something that isn't right?  Perhaps it's because you've gotten too far from the Lord.  Remember that steady Christian fellowship, Bible reading, and prayer will help you live as a Christian should.  Ask God for strength against the influence of the world.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 10:23)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.