Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Holly was ready for Sunday school -- at least she thought she was.  "Oh, no," she said with a sigh.  "How did I get that?"  She had caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror.  There was a black smudge across her forehead.
 
As Holly went to wash off the smudge, three-year-old Kara stopped her.  "Holly, help me, please," said Kara.  She had managed to get her shoes on, but she couldn't buckle them.  So Holly helped her sister, and the smudge was forgotten.
 
On the way to church, they passed the home of Barb, a new girl in the neighborhood.  Holly felt guilty.  Recently she had been memorizing verses about winning others to Jesus, and all week she had felt she should invite Barb to Sunday school, but she had not done so.  Oh, well, she thought, she probably wouldn't come anyway.
 
"Be sure to wash that mark off your face before you go to your class," said Mom when they arrived at church.  Holly nodded, but in the hallway, a bulletin board caught her attention and she again forgot the smudge.
 
When Holly walked into her classroom, her friend Kaley laughed.  "You should see yourself," said Kaley.  "You look like you forgot to take a bath this morning."  Suddenly Holly remembered the smudge on her forehead.  She hurried out to wash it off.
 
When Holly returned, her teacher was reading some verses from the Bible.  It was about a man who looked in a mirror, but when he left the mirror, he forgot what he had seen.  That's like me this morning, Holly thought, stifling a giggle.
 
"When you learn what God wants you to do, but you don't do anything about it," the teacher said, "you're like that man.  You're a hearer but not a doer of God's Word."
 
Wow!  That really is like me!  Holly thought.  It wasn't the smudge on her forehead that came to mind now.  It was a smudge in her life --  something she knew God wanted her to do but she hadn't done.  She knew she ought to invite Barb to Sunday school.  She had taken care of the smudge on her forehead, and she knew it was time to do something about what she saw in the mirror of God's Word, too.  I'll go see Barb this very afternoon, she decided.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have any forgotten "smudges" in your life?  Has God shown you from His Word that you should not lie?  Cheat?  Lose your temper?  Has He shown you that you should be friendly?  Helpful?  Obedient?  It's wonderful that you are learning how God wants you to live.  But if you don't do anything about what you learn, He isn't pleased.  Look in the mirror of God's Word, and don't forget what you see there.  Do something about it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:22)
But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ann stomped into the house, slamming the door behind her.  "Ellie bugged me all day yesterday, and now she's wearing my very best shirt!" she stormed.  Tears streamed down her face as she kicked a nearby chair.  She had been angry at her sister Ellie all week and had "blown up" several times.
 
"Pick up that chair, sit down, and cool your temper," Mother ordered.  "I'll be right back."  Soon Mother returned with a photo album.  She pulled up a chair, opened the book, and began flipping the pages.  "One summer my friend Carolee and I rented a place for a week," Mother said, pointing to a picture of a small cottage.  "It was great, until we decided to bake stuffed pasta shells.  I opened the oven while Carolee lit the match.  All of a sudden. . .BANG!  Whoosh!  A bright yellow flash smacked our faces and forced us across the kitchen and out the door."
 
"Were you hurt?" Ann asked.
 
"We both had deep burns," Mother said.  "And the kitchen was a mess."  She pointed to another picture.
 
"What made it do that?" Ann asked.
 
"We learned later that the oven hadn't been used for a very long time, and dirt had clogged the gas line," Mother explained.  "When the gas forced its way through, it came with a rush and caused an explosion."  Mother closed the album.  "Do you know why I told you this story?"
 
Ann looked at the floor.  "Because my temper exploded?" she guessed.
 
Mother nodded.  "If the oven had been cleaned and the dirt hadn't been allowed to build up, the explosion would have been prevented," she said.  "I think the same thing may be true in your life.  Are there feelings you could have handled sooner -- anger that should have been cleaned out of your life by giving it to the Lord instead of letting it build up?"  Ann sighed and nodded.  "Shall we talk to Him about it?" suggested Mother.  "And then we'll talk with Ellie and get the whole thing straightened out."  Again Ann nodded, and they bowed their heads.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you let bad feelings build until your temper bursts and you're out of control?  Holding on to anger creates a bitter heart.  When you feel irritated or upset with someone, pray right away.  Ask God to help you deal with both the situation and your feelings.  Then work out the conflict in a loving, forgiving manner before the day ends and the bad feelings grow.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:26)
Be angry, and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

[Soldier4Christ]

After traveling all day, Jan and her parents stopped at a motel.  "Dear God," Jan prayed at bedtime, "please help my friends Kristen, Katie, and Robby to accept You as Savior.  In Jesus' name, Amen."
 
"Have you been talking to your friends about Jesus?" Mom asked as she tucked a blanket under Jan's chin.
 
"Well. . .no," Jan replied, "but I pray for them all the time."
 
"Prayer is important," Mom said, "but we also need to share the Gospel with others."  She kissed Jan good night.
 
Before long the travelers were asleep.  But suddenly, a loud, blaring noise burst into the night.  Jan, Dad, and Mom jolted straight up in their beds.  "The car horn must be stuck.  There's always something wrong with that car," Dad grumbled, half asleep.  He grabbed his bathrobe and the car keys and dashed out the door as the blaring sound continued.  He ran to his car and fumbled in the dark to get the key in the car door.
 
People in neighboring rooms were also stirring, and a couple of other men came out.  "That isn't going to work."  A man spoke loudly at Dad's shoulder.  "You're trying to open my car," continued the man with a chuckle.  Dad was embarrassed.  In the dark, the man's car looked just like his own, which was parked in the next space.
 
At bedtime the next day, Jan again prayed, "Please help my friends accept Jesus as Savior."
 
Mom looked at her thoughtfully.  "Remember all Dad's frantic efforts to get the car open and turn off the horn last night?" she asked.  "They were of no use at all.  His keys wouldn't open that car.  He needed someone to tell him that.  It reminds me of unbelieving friends who need someone to tell them that Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Just as Dad needed someone to point out his problem, your friends need you.  Pray for them, and witness to them.  Point out to them that they need the Lord Jesus in their lives."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid to share the Gospel at school because kids might laugh?  Do you realize the importance of telling others about Jesus?  How else will they know they need Him?  Rather than sitting quietly while your friends run around seeking happiness in things that will not last, you need to pray and then obey God's command to tell others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 28:19)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mother came to tuck Wayne in -- a nightly ritual in the Bronson home.  "Wayne, you used to have your Bible propped on your lap when I came in to say goodnight," said Mother.  "What's happened lately?  Don't you still have devotions before you go to sleep?"
 
"Oh, sure.  I pray after you leave," replied Wayne as he sat on the edge of his bed.  "But I don't read anymore," he admitted.  "I can't understand the Bible anyway."  As he spoke, Heather, his golden retriever, came in.  She tipped her head and looked fondly at her master.  "Hey, Heather, old girl," he greeted her.  "Nice girl, Heather."  As Wayne spoke, Heather inched closer and her tongue began to lick the air, itching to "slobber" her affection all over Wayne's face.  Suddenly she could contain herself no longer.  She leaped up, and all seventy pounds of Heather landed on Wayne's lap.  Wayne fell back against the pillows laughing while Mother coaxed his pet out the door.
 
Mother came back and closed the door.  "Wayne, why do you talk to Heather?" she asked.  "Do you think she understands every word you say?"
 
"Well, no, but I like to talk to her anyway," replied Wayne.  "She always listens.  And she does understand a lot of things -- like 'come,' 'sit,' 'fetch,' 'walk,' and 'roll over.'  She keeps learning new words, too."
 
Mother picked up Wayne's Bible.  "Wayne, do you know that God talks to us through His Word?"
 
Wayne looked at the Bible in his mother's hand.  He nodded.  "Okay.  I get the point, Mom," he said.  "God likes to talk to me even if I don't understand everything, just like I like to talk to Heather."
 
	Mother nodded.  "And like Heather, you do understand some of God's commands," she said.  "You need to keep learning new things from Him."  She smiled, kissed Wayne good-night, and handed him his Bible.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you stopped reading God's Word just because you can't understand everything?  The more you let God speak to you, the more you will understand.  He's pleased when you "listen."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 3:14)
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I wish I'd been alive 2000 years ago," said Julie.  "Jesus was living on earth then, and I'd have been able to see Him and talk to Him, but now He's left us and gone to heaven."  As she spoke, the phone rang.  	Julie ran to the hall to answer it.  When she returned, she greeted Mother excitedly.  "That was Melissa, and guess what?  She said Lynn VanDyke is going to be in town and give a concert next week!  Can I go?  Ple-e-e-ese?"
 
Mother smiled.  "I don't know why not," she said.
 
"All right!" exclaimed Julie.  "Imagine being able to see Lynn VanDyke -- live!  I can't think of anything better than having her in our own town and seeing her concert for myself."
 
	Mom smiled.  "I can," she said.  Julie looked at her in disbelief.  "How about having her stay with us?" continued Mom.
 
	Julie's mouth fell open.  "Here?  In our house?" she asked.
 
	"I told you that Lynn and I were in school together, remember?" asked Mom.  "When I heard she was going to be in town, I invited her to spend a week with us."
 
	"And she said yes?  She's actually going to stay with us?  In our own home?  Oh, wow!"  Julie danced up and down in delight.
 
	"That reminds me of what you were saying a little while ago," said Mom thoughtfully.
 
	"About what?" asked Julie.
 
	"You were wishing you'd been living when Jesus was on earth," Mom reminded her.  "That would be even better than seeing Lynn VanDyke, but I think we've been forgetting something important."
 
	"Like what?" asked Julie.
 
	"Well, Jesus promised that when He left, He would send the Holy Spirit to us," said Mom.  "The Holy Spirit lives, not just in our town, not just with us, but within the hearts of those who have trusted in Jesus.  I know it's hard to understand, especially at your age, but that's even better than having your favorite singer here."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you, too, wish you'd been alive when Jesus was here on earth?  Don't forget that when Jesus left this earth, He promised to send the Holy Spirit.  Jesus paid a brief "visit" to this world and lived with the people for a short while; but the Holy Spirit is not just with us, He lives in us.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthains 6:19)
Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's not fair," said Kate as she stormed up to her teacher's desk.  "I don't have any wrong answers on these word problems, but you still gave me a 'B' instead of an 'A.'"
 
"But you didn't show your work," Mrs. Anderson replied patiently.  "I told you that you needed to show me how you got your answers or you would not receive full credit."
 
"But on my last assignment I didn't show my work, either, and you didn't lower that grade," complained Kate.
 
"That's true, but I can't continue to be that lenient," replied Mrs. Anderson.  "I warned you about that."
 
"But I deserve. . . ." Kate began.  She was interrupted by the school bell.
 
"You'd better hurry, or you'll be late for your next class," said Mrs. Anderson.
 
That night at dinner, Kate told her parents about her talk with Mrs. Anderson.  She ended her story by saying, "But I deserved to get an 'A' just like on my other paper."
 
"I disagree, honey," said Mom gently.  "You knew the penalty for failing to show your work.  What you really deserved was to loose points on both assignments.  You should be grateful that Mrs. Anderson went easy on you the first time."
 
During family devotion time that evening, Dad read a few verses from Psalm 103.  When he was finished, he said, "This reminds me of Kate's problem with Mrs. Anderson."
 
"What do you mean, Dad?" Kate asked.
 
"The Bible clearly says that we are all sinners, and we deserve death and eternal separation from God.  But listen to verse ten again.  'He does not treat us as our sins deserve.'  As Christians, we will go to heaven, not because we deserve to, but because of God's mercy."  He closed his Bible.  	"Let's pray and thank God for His gift of salvation," Dad suggested.
 
"And for not giving us what we deserve," added Kate.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you "deserve" to go to heaven?  Remember that God's word says we deserve death.  If you trust Christ as your Savior, God will show mercy and give you eternal life.  Don't ask God for what you deserve.  You don't really want it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 6:23)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't think I'll go to church tomorrow," said Rodney.  He was lying on the floor in front of the fireplace, watching the flames shooting toward the chimney.
 
Dad put down his newspaper.  "Why is that?" he asked.  "We let you stay home last Sunday because you had a sore throat.  What is it this time?"
 
Rodney rolled over on his back.  "Dad, I've gone to church all my life," he said.  "Why do I have to listen to the same things over and over again?"  As he saw Dad frown, he quickly added, "I can read my Sunday school lesson and do my workbook here at home just as well, can't I?"
 
"Rodney, in this family we all attend church together," replied Dad firmly.  He returned to his newspaper.
 
"I'll be glad when I'm old enough to do as I please," Rodney mumbled to himself.  	The fire crackled cheerfully for a while, but then it died down to a few embers.  "There's one log left, Dad.  Shall I put it on the fire?" Rodney asked.
 
Dad shook his head.   "Just let it burn there in the wood carrier by itself."
 
Rodney stared.  "You're kidding, aren't you?" he asked.  "That log won't burn unless it's put in the fireplace," he said.  He sat up and gave Dad a quizzical look.  "Oh. . .you're trying to tell me something, aren't you?" he asked, a bit puzzled.
 
Dad chuckled.  "Yep," he admitted.  "Just like that log needs to be placed with the other logs in the fireplace, a Christian needs to be with other Christians.  God tells us in his Word not to neglect getting together with them.  We can grow by studying the Bible by ourselves, but God knows we also need to fellowship with other believers."
 
Rodney stood up.  "All right," he said with a sigh.  "I get the point.  I'll be ready for church tomorrow."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you grumble about going to church?  Or do you go cheerfully because you love God and want to learn more about Him?  Thank God for the opportunity He has given you to fellowship and grow with other Christians.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 10:24-25)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can you get the prize out for me?" Geri eagerly asked Dad.  She pointed to the back of her cereal box.  The picture showed a huge pile of colored candy pouring out of a package.
 
"Well, let's see if we can find it," said Dad.  He shook the box.  It sounded nearly empty. He tipped it this way and that, then reached in and brought out the prize -- a small, sample size package of candy.  He tossed it to Geri.  "Save it till after breakfast," he said.
 
When Geri tore open the package a little later, she poured out the tiny pieces of candy.  She counted every piece -- only twelve.  She started to count the pieces in the picture on the cereal box.  She stopped counting at fifty, and there were still more.  "I thought I would get as much candy as there was in the picture," she told Dad.
 
"The people who make the cereal wanted you to think you'd get a lot so that you'd persuade someone to buy the cereal for you," explained Dad.  "They deceived you."
 
Geri frowned.  "What does 'deceive' mean?" she asked.
 
"It means to lead someone to believe something that isn't true," explained Dad, and Geri sighed.
 
That afternoon, Geri's friend Ashley came to play.  Geri had recently begun taking piano lessons, and she showed Ashley what she had been learning.  "I'll be your pupil," said Ashley, so they pretended that Geri was the teacher.
 
Before long, Dad called Geri to the kitchen.  "Beth is here looking for you," he said.
 
Geri looked at Beth, who lived a few doors away.  "Can you play?" asked Beth.
 
Geri didn't want Beth to join them.  She wanted Ashley all to herself.  "We're having a piano lesson," Geri said, choosing her words carefully.  This sent Beth on her way.
 
"Did you tell Beth the truth?" asked Dad who had observed what happened.
 
Geri shrugged.  "I didn't lie about it," she said.
 
"What picture did Beth get about the piano lesson?" persisted Dad.  "Do you think you deceived her?"
 
Geri blushed.  She knew Beth thought her piano teacher was there.  The picture she'd given Beth was just as deceiving as the picture on the cereal box.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever deceive people by giving them the wrong idea?  Do you give your parents the impression you're one place when you're actually somewhere else?  Do you get out of doing something by making excuses that aren't quite accurate?  You can lie in ways other than saying something that isn't true.  God is as displeased with one kind of lie as with another.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Leviticus 19:11)
Ye shall not. . .lie one to another.

[Soldier4Christ]

"There's a 'For Sale' sign at the house on the corner," called Margie as she burst through the door.  "Can we look at it again, Mom?  Can we buy it now?  It's so neat!"
 
 "It is lovely," agreed Mother, "but it was too expensive when we looked at it before, and I'm afraid it still is.  But I love this house, too.  God has provided well for us."
 
"But that one is so much bigger!" said Margie.
 
Mother smiled.  "I think the only way we could pay for that house would be to live on canned spaghetti and powdered milk for twenty or thirty years," she said.  "How does that sound to you?"
 
Margie laughed.  "Not so good."  She sighed.  "I wish we were richer.  Hey. . .couldn't you get a job maybe?  Lots of mothers work."
 
"Margie," said Mother, "do you remember what happened when we tried to make a super-duper buffet lunch last week?"
 
"Yeah."  Margie laughed.  "We had the oven going, and every appliance we own was plugged in.  And we blew one fuse after another, so we couldn't get anything done!"
 
"Yes," said Mother.  "We ended up with a lot of half-cooked food because we tried to do too much.  Can you see how we might learn something from that experience?"
 
"Sure."  Margie giggled.  "We learned that we need the big house on the corner because the electric stuff here doesn't work so good!"
 
Mother smiled.  "I had in mind a more spiritual lesson."
 
"Well, ah. . .I guess I don't get it," said Margie thoughtfully.
 
"I'm thinking that we could overload ourselves, like we overloaded the wiring," explained Mother.  "More possessions, along with more debt, might make us lose track of what really matters.  Let's just thank the Lord for a safe and comfortable home we can afford.  He knows our wants as well as our needs, and He knows just how much we can handle."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wish your parents were richer?  Surprisingly, many rich people worry so much about their possessions that they can't enjoy them.  Money provides physical comforts, but there are things that are much more important.  It's much better to be "rich toward God" than to be rich in the things of this world.  Don't overburden yourself seeking riches that don't satisfy.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 12:31)
Seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Shara watched her big sister leave the house.  "Why can't I go to the library with Tammy?" she asked.  "I'll look at books while she studies."
 
"Shara," Mother said patiently, "It's almost your bedtime, and Tammy will be gone a couple of hours."
 
"But it's not fair!  I want to go with her,"begged Shara.
 
"Of course you do, but you're eight years old; Tammy's in high school.  When you're her age, you'll go to the library at night, too."  Mother tried to soothe her daughter.
 
"Tammy has a CD player in her room, and she goes to the mall sometimes, and. . . ."  Shara's words tumbled over each other.
 
Mother got up from the couch.  "Bedtime," she said.  "Come on.  I'll go up with you."
 
At the stairway, Mother stopped.  "Shara," she said, "when you were a baby, you went up these stairs very carefully on your hands and knees.  Later, you held onto my hand very tightly so I could help you.  Do you remember that?"
 
Shara laughed and shook her head.  "No, but the little kids at church do that.  They're so cute."
 
"Now you're much bigger," Mother continued, "and you walk up the stairs.  Physically, you became able to do more and more.  That's the way God intends it to be.  And that's the way He intends you to grow up in other areas, too.  Gradually, you'll be able to do more and more things.  Why, look at all you do now!  You stayed overnight with your friend Lisa last week.  You ride your bicycle in the street now.  You couldn't do those things when you were two, or even four years old, could you?"  Slowly Shara shook her head.  "God made us in a way that doesn't require us to learn everything at once," Mother added.  "We have to just take one step at a time.  You'll be a much happier person when you learn to let God help you wait for the right time to do all the things Tammy can do."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you want to be grown up right now?  Do you think you should be allowed to do everything a big brother or sister is allowed to do?  God has a time for everything.  He has many things for you to learn right now.  Other things are to be saved for later.  Take just one step at a time with Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Are you coming to the concert at school this afternoon?" asked Katie as she finished her breakfast.  "Megan and I are playing a flute duet, you know."
 
"I wouldn't miss it," Mother replied.  As Katie stood up from the table, Mother gasped.  "Where did you get that short skirt?" she demanded.
 
Katie shrugged.  "Cindy gave it to me -- it was too small for her," she explained.
 
"Well, it's too small for you, too!" declared Mother.  "Please go up and change into something decent."
 
"Oh, Mother!  You're so old-fashioned!" whined Katie as she stomped out of the room.  "All the girls in the band will be wearing skirts like this.  Why can't I be like everybody else?"
 
When Katie and Megan began to play at the concert that afternoon, they realized at once that something was wrong.  The notes they played just didn't sound right with the piano accompaniment.  Embarrassed, the girls began to make mistakes.  They were glad when the song was over and they could sit down.
 
"It was so humiliating," groaned Katie that evening.  "Megan and I made sure our instruments were in tune with each other, but we didn't tune them with the piano.  I don't know how we could have forgotten to do that."
 
"Katie, this reminds me of what we were talking about this morning," said Mother.  "You seemed to feel that going along with the popular fads was okay because 'everyone was doing it.'  Can you understand that you might be 'in tune' with the standards of the world but 'out of tune' with God's standards?"
 
"I guess you're right," said Katie with a sigh.
 
"If you're going to be out of tune with anybody, it had better be with the other kids and not with the Lord," added Mother.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are your clothes "in style"?  Do you listen to the same music and watch the same TV programs as "everybody else"?  That's okay if they are in keeping with God's standards, too.  He expects His children to live according to His rules and principles, not those of the world.  If you're a Christian, make sure you're "in tune" with God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 12:2)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jennifer sighed as she put down the last of the envelopes she was addressing.  "That's 215 envelopes, Mom," she said.  "I'm all done, but my hand hurts."
 
"Thank you so much, dear," replied Mom.  "I don't know what I would have done without your help.  When I accepted the job of sending out invitations for Old Home Day, I had no idea so many emergencies would come up."
 
Several months later Mom and Jennifer and the rest of the family joined the crowds at the local high school where the Old Home Day festivities were being held.  "There's Mr. and Mrs. Wood!" exclaimed Jennifer.  "I sent them an invitation and they came!"  She and her parents hurried over to greet the Woods, who were former neighbors.
 
"There's Mr. Burns," said Dad a little later.  "He used to be principal here at the school."   Dad made his way over to talk to Mr. Burns.
 
Mom headed for Mrs. Smith who had been a member of the Young Mothers' Club many years before.  She and her old friend had much news to share.
 
That night, tired but happy from seeing so many former residents of the town, Jennifer and her parents sat down at the kitchen table to talk.  "I was hoping the York family would come," said Jennifer.  "I wanted to see the twins again.  The Hills weren't there either."  She shook her head.  "A lot of the people we sent invitations to came, but there were a whole lot who didn't come, too.  I wonder why not." 
 
"Well, there are many reasons why people can't take a trip at a certain time," said Mom.  "I was just glad to see the ones that did come."
 
"So was I," said Dad. 
 
"Yeah," agreed Jennifer, "but I still would like to know the reasons why the others didn't come."
 
	Dad smiled.  "You know," he said, "we wonder why some people ignored this invitation, but I'm thinking of an invitation that's much more important than those we sent out for today's homecoming.  I'm thinking of our heavenly homecoming.  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us, so we could be with Him in heaven.  He also said, 'Whosoever will may come,' but many people pay no attention to His invitation."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard about the invitation Jesus has given?  If you accept Him as your Savior, you will also be with Him one day in heaven.  This is one invitation you cannot afford to turn down.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 3:16)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look!" exclaimed Mother.  Melissa's eyes followed her mother's pointing finger.  Her blue eyes sparkled as she spotted a striking orange and black butterfly flitting daintily from flower to flower.
 
"He's so pretty!" Melissa exclaimed in delight.  "Let's see where he goes."  So they walked on, following the butterfly's progress through Grandma's garden.  "Look at those red flowers," said Melissa a moment later.  "They're the prettiest flowers in the garden.  I'll bet that butterfly will like them."  She looked around, but the butterfly had disappeared.
 
Mom pointed toward a tiny cluster of weeds just below the red flowers.  "He's there," she said.
 
"But why is he wasting time on weeds, when there are so many beautiful flowers?" asked Melissa.
 
"That's one wise little butterfly," said Mom.  "He knows that the prettiest flowers aren't always the ones with the sweetest nectar."
 
"You mean those tiny purple flowers taste sweeter to the butterfly than the red ones?" asked Melissa wonderingly.
 
Her mother nodded.  "I expect they do," she said.
 
"I would never have guessed it," said Melissa.
 
"We should be as wise as that butterfly," observed Mom.  "Sometimes, we get carried away by how people look, the color of their skin, how tall they are or how slim they are, how they dress, how they talk. . .and we forget that real sweetness and beauty comes from their character, from the kind of people they are."
 
"Yeah."  Melissa nodded.  "Some of the least popular kids at school are the nicest ones I know," she said. 
 
"Another thing we tend to do is worry and fret and spend time and money trying to make ourselves beautiful on the outside, without giving any thought to our characters," added Mom.  "We need to remember that what we are on the inside is the thing that's important in God's sight."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
While it is natural that you would want to look attractive and wear nice clothes, remember that real beauty in God's eyes is on the inside -- in the kind of person you are.  What kind of person are you?  If you are kind and gentle and loving, then you are beautiful inside, and God, who is even wiser than the butterfly, sees that true beauty in you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 3:3-4)
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning. . .but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

[Soldier4Christ]

What a lot of neat cars, Matt thought to himself.  He picked up a bright red car from the store shelf and admired it.  Wish I had enough money to get this.  He glanced around.  No one's looking, he thought, and he quietly he put the red car under his jacket.
 
Matt was hurrying down the aisle when he felt a hand on his shoulder.  "I think you had better come with me, young man."  Matt looked up to see a big security guard looking down at him.  "Let me have the car."  Frightened, Matt pulled out the car and handed it over.
 
The guard took Matt to the manager, who questioned him.  When the manager learned that he had come to the store with his mother, he paged her over the loud speaker.  Matt cringed when she came hurrying in.
 
When he finally left the manager's office with his mother, Matt was relieved that they had agreed not to call the police, but he knew he would not go unpunished.  As they left the store, he noticed some big mirrors near the ceiling.  "Oh, that's how they saw me," he said.  "They can see down the aisles and watch for shoplifters.  It's like a big eye is watching you from up above."
 
Mother nodded.  "It's a good thing to remember that Someone is always watching you from up above," she said.  "God would have seen you even if the clerk hadn't.  God doesn't need mirrors.  Even without them, He sees everything you do.  He also sees your heart and knows even your thoughts.  He also knows if you're sorry for what you did -- or thought."
 
Matt was quiet as they climbed into the car.  He really was sorry.  He was a Christian and knew he had sinned.  He had been unhappy about taking the car as soon as he had done it.  Quietly he bowed his head.  Dear Jesus, I know it was wrong to take the car, Matt prayed.  I'm sorry.  Please forgive me.  I don't want to do it ever again.  Amen.  As they started home, he felt much better.  He was actually glad the clerk had seen him in the mirror, because now his heart was once again right with God.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever taken something without paying for it?  Perhaps you think no one saw you and you got away with it.  You didn't.  God saw what happened.  He also sees your heart, and He takes that into account.  Are you sorry?  Then confess what you did and pay for what you took.  Ask God to forgive you, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 15:3)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

[Soldier4Christ]

Anna and Sue lay on the living room floor with the newspaper open in front of them.  "Mine says, 'This is a good day to start a new venture.'" said Anna with a giggle.
 
What are you girls reading?" asked Dad.
 
"It's the daily horoscope, Dad," replied Anna.
 
Dad frowned.  "That sort of thing could be the first step in getting involved in the occult," he said.  "Astrology and fortune-telling can even lead to Satan worship.  God does not want His people involved in such things."
 
"Oh, Dad," protested Sue, "it's such a little thing.  We just do it for fun."
 
Before Dad could speak again, Jon came into the room, followed by Scooter, his long-eared puppy.  "Is it all right if I practice casting with my new fly rod, Dad?" he asked.  "I'll do it in the driveway."
 
"Yes, but you better take the hook off the end of the line," Dad said.  The girls got up quietly and left the room before Dad could continue his conversation with them.
 
In the kitchen, Sue and Anna were having a snack when they heard Scooter yelp.  "Oww-oww," howled Scooter.  They ran outside.  Jon was holding the struggling puppy while Dad tried to remove a fish hook from his ear.  "Jon," said Dad when he finally got the hook out, "I told you to take the hook off the line.  Scooter had to suffer for your disobedience."
 
"I'm so sorry.  I forgot," said Jon, picking up his puppy.  "Poor Scooter.  It was such a little hook, but it hurts 'big,' doesn't it?"  He cuddled the whimpering puppy in his arms.  "I'll listen to you next time, Dad.  I promise."
 
"Little things are important," said Dad.  "They can cause a great deal of pain and sorrow.  Right, girls?"  Dad looked pointedly at his daughters.
 
Anna took Scooter from Jon's arms and held him close.  "I know what you're saying, Dad," she said.  "Reading those horoscopes could be a hook to cause trouble for us later.  She turned to her sister.  "We won't read them any more, will we, Sue?"  Sue shook her head and held out her arms for her turn at cuddling Scooter.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you read the horoscopes in the paper?  They may seem like a small and harmless thing to you, but God hates all types of fortune-telling.  Don't be caught by even a "little" hook of disobedience.  It could result in great sorrow.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deuteronomy 18:12)
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.