Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Jamie and her sister, Kellie, could hardly wait to get to Sea World and their motel.  "Two whole days in a motel with a pool!"  Kellie giggled. "We're going to have a ball!"
 
"We're here, girls," announced Dad as he turned off the highway toward a building where a sign proclaimed, "Welcome Inn."  The weary family tumbled from the car, stretching stiff arms and legs.
 
Inside, Dad approached the desk.  "My name is Gardiner," he said. "We have reservations for two nights."
 
The receptionist punched some keys on her computer.  "I'm sorry," she said uncertainly, "but I don't find your name here."
 
"Please look again," Dad said patiently. He showed her the con- firmation numbers, assuring him that a room was reserved for them. But after another search, the receptionist shook her head slowly. "I'm very sorry," she said.  They talked with the manager who apologized and offered two nights of free lodging in the future.  But he informed them that there was a convention in town, and all motels were full.
 
"Oh, Jay, what will we do?" Mom asked.
 
"It would be awful to go back home now," wailed Jamie.
 
Dad nodded.  "There's been a mistake," he said, "but don't worry. Let's have a snack while we think about what to do next."
 
Seated in the restaurant, Dad suddenly said, "If this seems bad, think how it would be if we arrived at heaven's gates someday and discovered that our names had never been registered there."
 
"But, Daddy," Jamie said thoughtfully, "that won't happen.  The Bible says Jesus has gone ahead of us and has already written our names down because we're trusting in Him.  He knows we love Him."
 
"You're absolutely right," said Dad with a smile.  "We're already registered there, and God never makes a mistake.  Let's thank Him for that and then trust Him to find a place for us to stay tonight."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your name registered in heaven?  Or if you died today, would you hear the awful words, "Depart from me.  I never knew you"?  If you're not absolutely sure about that, make sure today.  Admit your sin and need of a Savior.  Ask Jesus to forgive and save you.  (See last page.)  Then your name will be written in heaven -- in the Lamb's Book of Life -- and you'll never be turned away there.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Revelation 21:27)
There shall. . .enter into it (heaven). . .they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

When Bill's mother reminded him that he hadn't studied his Sunday school lesson or learned the memory verse, he looked up from his work on an airplane model.  "Aw, Mom, I know all that stuff," he argued.  "I don't need to study.  I go to church and Sunday school, to Boys' Club, and even to a Christian school."  But when Dad gave him a stern look, he obediently worked on his lesson until bedtime.
 
The following morning when Mother told Bill to get ready for church, he protested that he already knew "all that stuff the pastor says." Unwillingly, he went to his room to change, but in a few minutes was back again.  "Look at these pants!" he exclaimed.  "They're getting awful short on me."
 
Mom nodded.  "So they are," she agreed.  "You've grown right out of them.  We'll look for a new pair this week."
 
"Good idea," approved Dad, who was listening.  He grinned.  "I guess those pants must have shrunk," he said, "or could it be that you're growing up?"  Then he became serious.  "But, Bill, I'm concerned, because lately I get the feeling that you think God is like that old pair of pants."
 
Bill looked at Dad.  "What do you mean?" he asked.
 
"Well, you've implied that you know all there is to know about God," explained Dad.  "You seem to think you've outgrown Him.  Actually, you'll need a whole lifetime to learn about God and His Word, and then you'll still know only just a little.  God is so great and so wonderful, we'll never know all there is to know."
 
"That's right," said Mom.  "That's something you ought to remember while you're sitting in church this morning. . .and when it's time to do your Sunday school lesson and learn Bible verses, too."
 
Bill looked down at the short pants he was wearing.  "Okay.  I'll remember," he promised.  "I get the point!"  And sure enough. . .as he thought about the words of the songs and as he listened to the pastor and Sunday school teacher that morning, he heard several things he hadn't known before. 



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think your Bible lessons are dull and that you've heard all the stories before?  Listen carefully next Sunday and see if you don't discover new things about God and His ways.  When you pay close attention, you'll probably be surprised at what you learn.  You can never outgrow God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 11:33)
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

[Soldier4Christ]

Brian squirmed impatiently in his chair.  One foot slid down to touch the floor so he could make a quick getaway.  "I've got to get my things packed so I'll be ready when Aunt Marge comes for me in the morning," he said.  Brian was completely off his chair now, excited about going to visit his aunt and uncle and spend a whole week on their farm.
 
"We're going to have our Bible reading first, Brian," replied Dad.  His voice was firm, and Brian reluctantly slid back onto his chair.  He sat quietly, but his mind was still planning what he would take to his aunt's home.
 
The next day, Brian was waiting when Aunt Marge pulled up in her new car, and soon they were on their way.  Brian looked at the car clock. "Aunt Marge, your clock is wrong," he said as they drove down the street. "It says it's only nine o'clock, but it's really ten o'clock already."
 
"Oops!" said Aunt Marge.  "Looks like nobody changed the clock when the time changed this spring."
 
"Can I fix it?" asked Brian.  "How do you do it?"
 
"Actually, I don't know," said Aunt Marge.  "I'll have to get out the instruction manual to see how it works."  She glanced out the back window, then over toward Brian.  "Brian, will you please roll down your window and adjust that side mirror?" she asked.  "It needs to be tilted up a little."
 
"Don't you have a button that moves it from the inside?" asked Brian as he opened the window.
 
Aunt Marge shrugged.  "I don't know that, either," she said.
 
Brian grinned.  "You better read your instruction manual, Aunt Marge.  It sure won't do you any good in the glove compartment," he teased as he adjusted the mirror.
 
Aunt Marge grinned.  "That's true," she agreed.  "Instruction manuals are meant to be read and followed, not just stashed away.  This reminds me that just last Sunday our pastor pointed out the importance of reading our 'manual for living.'  Do you know what that is?"
 
"It must be the Bible," guessed Brian.   "I guess that's why Dad makes us read it every day."
 
Aunt Marge nodded.  "It gives operating instructions for our lives."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you listen carefully when God's Word is read?  Do you follow its instructions?  Use it regularly so that you will know how God wants you to live and what He wants you to do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 2:2)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

[Soldier4Christ]

Eight-year-old Jason bounced into the kitchen from the back porch where he had been talking to his friends.  "Mom, can I go sliding with Tommy and Austin?" he asked.
 
"Empty the ashes first, and then you can go."  Mother smiled at his eagerness.  "Dress warmly now; it's colder than it looks."
 
Jason quickly filled a bucket with ashes from the fireplace.  Then he slipped into his snowmobile suit and boots.  Grabbing his mittens and the ash bucket, he hurried out the back door and trudged through the deep snow to the garden.  The bright winter sun shining on the new fallen snow nearly blinded him at first.  It made him squint until his eyes were almost closed.
 
Standing at the edge of the garden, he tossed the ashes from the bucket and watched as the wind scattered the dark soot across the white snow, covering the sparkles and destroying the beauty.
 
"Those ashes are sure messing up the beautiful snow, aren't they, Jason?"  Jason's father had come to stand beside him.  They quietly watched as the wind continued to scatter the ashes all across the garden. "It reminds me of what sin does to our lives," added Dad.  "When we sin, it leaves dirty marks, too.  The only way we can have our lives clean again is to confess our sin to God."
 
Jason looked up at the sky.  "It's starting to snow," he said.  "Maybe the new snow will cover up those old ashes."  He paused.  "But we'll still know they're there, won't we, Dad?"
 
Dad nodded.  "Yes.  That often happens in our lives, too.  God promises that when we're sorry for our sins and ask Him to forgive us, He does, and He 'remembers our sin no more.'  However, even after God forgives our sin, we often remember the blot on our lives."
 
"So it's best if we try not to sin in the first place, isn't it, Dad?"
 
"That's true, Jason," agreed Dad.  "That's definitely true."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have your sins been washed away by the blood of Jesus?  Then thank Him for making you "white as snow."  Ask Him to help you keep your life free from the mess sin makes.  If you do sin, quickly go to Him for forgiveness and cleansing.  He promises to give it. Believe Him and know that you are cleansed.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 51:7)
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Good morning, Hendrick," Brent greeted his lamb as he entered the fenced enclosure.  "C'mon.  I'll brush your nice, wooly coat.  You're going to win that blue ribbon at the fair in a couple of weeks."  He then groomed Hendrick until Mother called him for lunch.
 
"Hendrick is going to win that blue ribbon, Mom.  I just know he is," Brent said as he tackled the sandwich and chips his mother had prepared.
 
Mother smiled.  "He just might," she agreed.  When Brent finished his lunch, he got up and headed to the door.  "By the way, have you called Kevin to see if he'll be going to church with us tomorrow?" asked Mother.
 
"No."  Brent shook his head.  "But it doesn't matter, because he got saved last week," he added.  "I'm going to see what Hendrick's up to."
 
When Brent reached the enclosure, he saw that he had left the gate open, and the lamb was gone.  Quickly he ran to the house.  "Mom," he called.  "Hendrick got out.  Will you help me find him?"  So Mother  and Brent searched for his lamb.  Before long they found him in a field -- right in the middle of nettles and spiny flowers which caught and stuck in his coat.
 
"Oh, Hendrick, you naughty lamb," moaned Brent.  "I had you all cleaned and brushed.  Now look at you!"
 
Mother stood and eyed the lamb.  "We wouldn't want this to happen to your friend Kevin, would we?" she said.
 
"Kevin?" Brent was puzzled.  "What do you mean?"
 
"Hendrick needs guidance and restrictions even after he has been brushed and fed.  Left to himself, he gets all messed up again," explained Mother.  "And Kevin -- even after he's saved -- needs guidance, too.  He needs to be around people of God, who can guide him in the way he should go.  God wants you to be your lamb's keeper, and He also wants you to be your brother's keeper."
 
Brent nodded slowly.  "I get it," he said.  "I'll ride over to Kevin's and ask him to go to church with us -- as soon as I get this naughty lamb locked up."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel that it's not important to keep asking someone to go to church once he is saved?  Do you think a newly saved person should take care of himself?  All Christians need help and guidance, especially those who are new converts.  You can help them. Jesus' advice to Peter is good advice for you, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 22:32)
(Jesus said)  When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

[Soldier4Christ]

Julie quickly ran to answer the telephone.  It was her friend Susie.  "I'm sorry, Susie, but I can't come over now," said Julie after listening for a few minutes.  "My mother has work for me to do.  She needs my help with the laundry."  Julie hung up the phone and began helping Mom fold clothes.
 
"Why, Julie," Mother said in surprise, "I never mentioned needing help with the laundry.  Why did you tell Susie that I needed you?"
 
"Don't you want me to help you?" Julie asked.
 
"It's nice having you help," agreed Mother.  "However, what you told Susie wasn't really true, was it?"
 
"In a way it was true, even though you hadn't asked for my help," argued Julie.  "If you needed me to help I would.  Besides, a lot of people say things that aren't completely true, so is that so bad?"
 
Mother frowned.  She pointed to a couple of pillow cases.  "What color are these?" she asked.
 
Puzzled, Julie looked at the pillowcases.  "They're white, Mom," she replied promptly.
 
"Now get the pillowcase that's on the top shelf in the linen closet," said Mother.  Julie looked puzzled but did as she was told.  "What color is that one?" asked Mother.
 
Julie looked at it.  "It's white, too," she said, "but when it's next to these others, they look yellowish-white."
 
"That's right, Julie."  Mother nodded.  "Until you had a really white pillowcase, you couldn't tell that the first one was actually old and yellow. It's the same with our lives.  If we compare them with the lives of people around us, we may think we're doing all right.  But when we compare ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, we see just how sinful we are. People may think it's all right to tell what they call 'little white lies,' but God says, 'Thou shalt not lie.'  Period!  Jesus, the Son of God, never lied or sinned in any way.  He left a perfect example for us to follow.  Be careful to use the Lord Jesus as your example instead of watching how others live."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you try to live like Jesus?  Don't compare your life with anyone else.  He is the only perfect pattern after which to shape your life.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Michael stood on the lawn, wishing he had someone to play with.  "Timmy!" he called out to his friend next door.  "Tim-m-my!"
 
Michael's mother appeared on the back porch.  "Michael," she said. "Go over and knock on Timmy's door.  It's not polite to just holler for him."
 
"But what if his mom answers?" protested Michael.  "What if she gets mad at me for bothering her?"
 
"Oh, Michael!" scolded Mother.  "Timmy's mom is a very nice lady. She wouldn't get angry.  Don't be so bashful."
 
"Mothers are nice people, but I think I'll just play here.  Maybe Timmy will see me and come out," decided Michael.
 
Michael wandered behind the house to the tall maple tree in which a black squirrel lived.  He often tried to get close to watch Blackie get the kernels from the ear of corn Dad had nailed to the fencepost.  At first, Blackie always ran away.  Now the squirrel watched with his beady black eyes, but he didn't run until Michael was only a few feet away.  "I think Blackie's starting to trust me," Michael told his mother at lunchtime.
 
Mother smiled.  "He's learning that you're not there to hurt him," she said.  "He reminds me of you.  You're still learning to trust Timmy's mom. When you know her, you'll see that she's kind, too.  The better you know someone, the easier it is to trust him."  She started clearing the lunch table. "You know, Michael," Mother continued, "God's like that, too.  The better I get to know Him, the easier it is to trust Him.  I learn about Him by reading His Word and learning about Jesus, who loved me so much that He gave His life for me.  I know I can trust Him to do what's best for me."
 
Michael thought about how Blackie was learning to know and trust him.   I should learn to trust Timmy's mom, too, he decided.  I need to get to know her better.  And I gotta get to know God better, too.  It's even more important to trust Him!



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid to trust God?  Are you afraid that if you yield yourself to Him, He'll send things into your life that you don't like (such as sickness)?  Or that He'll ask you to do something you don't want to do (like volunteer to do the dishes)?  Or to go somewhere you don't want to go (like to the mission field someday)?  When you know God's love and learn about His kindness, you'll be able to trust Him.  Your Bible tells you all about Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 11:29)
(Jesus said)  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me. . .and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Grandma, will you read me the story of the 'Princess and the Pea' before I go to bed?"  begged Alonya.
 
"Oh, you know that story," said her sister Tanya.  "The princess couldn't sleep good because there was a pea under her mattress.  Even though there were lots of mattresses on her bed, the pea still kept her awake, and she. . . ."
 
"Don't tell it!" protested Alonya.  "I want to hear Grandma read it."
 
"I'll read it," agreed Grandma with a smile, and she did.  When Grandma tucked Alonya into bed a little later, she began feeling under Alonya's mattress.
 
"What are you doing, Grandma?" Alonya asked.
 
"I'm looking for peas, Princess!" Grandma replied.
 
Alonya giggled.  "There aren't any there, Grandma," she said.
 
"Good," said Grandma.  "I hope there aren't any in your life, either."
 
"My life?" asked Alonya.
 
Grandma nodded.  "The pea in the story reminds me of a time when I did something wrong," she said.  "I told a little, bitty lie.  I thought it wasn't important and it didn't hurt anyone.  But what does God say about lying?"
 
"He says we should never tell lies," replied Alonya.  "Lying makes God sad."
 
"That's right," agreed Grandma.  "My lie was like the pea in the story.  It was hidden, but it really bothered me.  Sometimes I would lie awake at night, tossing and turning, thinking about it."
 
"Just like in the Princess and the Pea!" Alonya cried.  "But you're not a princess."
 
"In a way I am," said Grandma.  "Our Heavenly Father is the King of Kings and we're His children, so doesn't that make us both princesses?"
 
"Wow!  I never thought about that before," said Alonya, her eyes wide open in awe.
 
"Finally, I couldn't stand trying to hide my lie any longer.  I had to ask Jesus and my mother to forgive me," said Grandma.
 
"And did you live happily ever after?" Alonya asked, grinning.
 
"I must admit I still sin sometimes," said Grandma, "but it's been a good reminder to always confess my sin.  I don't want any more 'peas under my mattress.'"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have any "peas under your mattress"? Are there things you have done that you feel guilty about?  Sometimes we say it's our conscience, or inner policeman, that bothers us.  If you're a Christian, it's the Holy Spirit who makes you feel guilty when you sin. Confess your sin and get right with God.   It's the only way to have peace.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 24:16)
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

[Soldier4Christ]

Joey liked to visit Great-Uncle Hank's dairy farm.  He liked to help with the work in the barn.  He liked to swing on ropes in the hayloft.  He liked to ride on the tractor.  But most of all, he liked to work with Uncle Hank on an old car in the shed behind the tractor barn.
 
Uncle Hank enjoyed restoring old cars, and now he was patiently working to restore another one to its original condition.  First it had been taken apart piece by piece.  Then each piece had been cleaned.  Worn parts had been repaired or replaced. The old paint had been stripped off the body, the rust removed, and a new coat of paint had been applied. Now the work was almost done.  As Uncle Hank put the engine back together, Joey polished the car until it shone.
 
As they were working on the car one day, Uncle Hank turned to Joey and asked, "How would you like to have this car?"  Joey grinned, and his eyes lit up.  Uncle Hank smiled.  "Someday it will be yours," he promised.  "It's going to be your inheritance from me."
 
That evening, Joey excitedly told his parents about Uncle Hank's decision.  Mom smiled.  "What a nice thing for Great-Uncle Hank to do," she said.
 
Dad nodded.  "It certainly is," he agreed.
 
"Yeah!  I'm glad I'm related to Uncle Hank," said Joey.  "I don't know anybody else who would leave me such a nice inheritance."  He grinned at his dad.  "Except maybe you and Mom," he added.
 
Dad smiled.  After a moment he said, "Actually, there's an even better inheritance waiting for all of us who know Jesus as Savior.  He has promised that whoever trusts in His Son, Jesus Christ, will someday enjoy all the blessings of heaven, just like you'll someday enjoy owning that car.  Aren't you glad you belong to Him?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there an inheritance waiting in heaven for you? There is if you've asked Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.  If you haven't yet done that, do it today!  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:3-4)
God . . .hath begotten us again. . .to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't see why I always gotta put some of the money I earn in the church collection," grumbled Julie.  She fumbled in her pocket and reluctantly took out some coins, which she set aside.  "I've only a couple of dollars left," she complained.
 
"Julie," began Mom, but before she could continue, the kitchen door jerked open and Melissa tumbled into the room, flushed and panting.
 
"Mom!  Julie!" gasped Melissa, leaning against the fridge to catch her breath.
 
Mom dropped her long, wooden cooking spoon in alarm.  "Melissa!  What's wrong?" she asked.
 
Melissa shook her head so hard that her long, brown curls streamed down over her face, muffling her voice.  "Nothing," she said, flashing her mother a triumphant grin.  "Look!"  She held out her hands.  In each small sunburnt hand lay a big, red tomato!  "My very first tomatoes are ripe already!"
 
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Mom.  "Don't they look delicious?  Would you like to have them for dinner?"
 
"Mm-m-m!  Yeah," said Melissa, smacking her lips.
 
Julie frowned at her sister.  "I think you should give these two to Grandma and Grandpa," she said.  "After all, Grandma gave you the plants, and Grandpa helped you plant them and taught you how to take care of them."
 
"Hey, that's a neat idea," agreed Melissa.  "I'll wait for the next ones to get ripe.  Grandma and Grandpa get these!"
 
Mom smiled a secret smile.  "That was a good idea, Julie," she said gently.  "Now here's something else to think about. . .God has given you everything you own, right?"
 
"Sure, Mom," replied Julie easily.
 
"Then," said Mom, "why do you grudge the few cents  that you give back to Him as your thank-offering?"
 
"Oh," mumbled Julie.  She touched a tomato gently with one finger. "I guess I didn't think of it like that."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you give a portion of your allowance or earnings to the Lord's work?  Do you give it willingly and cheerfully or grudgingly?  Remember that everything you have is God's good and generous gift to you, and when you "give" to Him -- to His needy people, or to His work here on earth -- you are only "giving back" what you received from Him in the first place.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Chronicles 29:14)
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?  For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

Richard slammed the screen door as he bolted into the kitchen.  "Did I get any mail?" he asked anxiously.
 
"No," replied Mom.  "Are you expecting something important?"
 
"Just hoping."  Richard sighed and trudged to his room.  An hour later, he came bounding back down the stairs.  "Can we have tuna casserole again tonight?" he asked hopefully.  "Is that what you're making?"
 
"No, I'm not," said Mom.  "Why are you asking for that?  You don't even like tuna casserole.  What's going on?"
 
Richard slumped into a chair.  "I'm waiting for a sign."
 
Mom frowned.  "What kind of sign?" she asked.
 
"Some of the guys in my class are starting a new club.  They're calling it 'The Cycle Club,' and you can't be in it unless you've ridden on a motorcycle.  But I haven't."  Richard sighed.  "I prayed for a sign that I should join anyway.  You know. . .just tell them that I've ridden.  It's not like they'd ever know.  First I asked God for some kind of sign in the mail, but that didn't work, so I thought I should be a little more specific."
 
"And since I make tuna casserole so often, you decided that would be a good sign for you to lie?" asked Mom.  Richard nodded.  It did sound a little silly now.  Mom put her hand on Richard's shoulder.  "You don't need to play games like that to know what God wants you to do," she told him.  "Most of the answers to life's questions are in the Bible.  Do you know what it says about lying?"
 
"Yeah."  Richard nodded.  "I was just hoping God would have a special answer for me."
 
"When God set the Scriptures to paper, He knew that you were going to ask this question one day," said Mom.  "What you read there is His special answer for you."
 
Richard sighed.  "Well, if He's been planning that answer for thousands of years, He's probably not going to change His mind," he said, "so I guess I won't get in."
 
"I guess not," said Mom.  She handed him the Bible.  "Here. . .why don't you go read the answers to some of tomorrow's questions."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Your future is full of big choices and decisions --  about friends, school, and right or wrong.  God knows about these struggles and He has answers prepared for you.  Sometimes He gives specific answers and sometimes He gives principles He wants you to follow.  If you want to know God's answers, look for them in your Bible. They are especially prepared for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:22)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[Soldier4Christ]

Scott was looking at toy cars at the department store when he met two schoolmates -- Jason and Tyler.  "Hi," he greeted them.  "What  are you doin'?"
 
"We're playing five-finger-discount," Jason announced, holding up a small pocket knife.
 
"What's five-finger-discount?" asked Scott.
 
"You find something in the store that you can pick up with five fingers, and you hide it in your hand," explained Jason.  He looked all around and whispered, "The discount comes when you walk out of the store without paying for it."
 
"That's stealing," gasped Scott.
 
"Shhh," Tyler signaled.  "It's just a game.  It's okay.  Sometimes it's the only way to get what you want."  He grinned.  "C'mon.  Try it."
 
Scott hesitated.  Then he cupped his hand around a little car he had been looking at.  For a long time he had wanted a car like that for his collection.  It would be so easy to get the "five-finger-discount" -- to just take it.  If he didn't do it, it might be sold before he could earn enough money to buy it.
 
"Go on," his friends urged him.  "It's easy."
 
Scott looked longingly at the car.  "I'd better go," he said, putting down the car.
 
"Well, think about it," said Jason.  "You can come back for it tomorrow."
 
For dessert that night, Mother had made Scott's favorite -- chocolate fudge cake. Mother sat down and looked at her piece.  Suddenly she got up and put it back on the cake plate.  "When I take dessert, I take it because it tastes so good," she said.  "Then when I get on the scale at the end of the week, I get upset that my diet isn't working.  Sometimes it's hard to resist immediate pleasure regardless of what it will cost me in the long run."
 
Scott knew just what she meant.  He had been tempted to do something wrong just for the immediate pleasure of having that little car. Even if he hadn't gotten caught, the car would have cost him a guilty conscience.  It would have cost him many uncomfortable moments.  I'm glad I didn't take it, he thought, and I'm not going back for it either -- not until I have enough money to pay for it.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there things you think you really, really want right away, just to please yourself?  Are you even tempted to help yourself to some of them?  The immediate pleasure you'd receive isn't worth the long term results.  Trust God to meet your needs in His own good time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 4:2)
But (we) have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Austin and Matt were playing catch in the vacant lot behind Mrs. Randall's big house when. . .CRASH!  The baseball went right through a glass window.  Hardly believing what had happened, the boys looked at each other and made a dash for home.
 
"It's just an old storage shed," said Matt when they finally stopped running.  "They don't even use it anymore."
 
"Yeah," agreed Austin.  But their shoulders drooped, and their tennis shoes scuffled slowly in the dirt as they walked toward home.  Both boys were Christians, and they knew they should admit what they had done. "We have to go back and tell her," Austin said after they had gone a couple of blocks.  Matt nodded, and they turned around and headed back.
 
When Mrs. Randall opened the door and saw the boys, she smiled warmly.  "O-h-h-h," she said when they blurted out what had happened,  "I certainly forgive you, but that window is still your responsibility.  Do you have money to pay for it?"  Austin and Matt shook their heads.  "I'll tell you what," Mrs. Randall continued, "my rose garden needs weeding, and I don't have time to do it myself.  Why don't you boys work on that for a while?"  Relieved, Austin and Matt got to work.
 
The boys had just finished when Mrs. Randall came out carrying a plate of freshly baked cookies and three tall glasses of ice cold milk.  As she set the plate down, she said, "I know it was hard to come back and tell me what you had done, but you made the right choice.  Jesus says that if we confess our sins, He will forgive and cleanse us."  She waved a hand toward the roses.  "It's like my rose garden," she added.  "It was full of weeds that choked the flowers, but you got rid of them and made the garden beautiful again.  When we confess to God what we have done wrong, He removes the weeds of sin and makes our lives beautiful again, too."  She smiled at the boys.  "I believe you've more than paid for that old window.  Now how about a cookie?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you need to "go back" to someone and to God and confess something you've done wrong?  Are there "weeds of sin" that need to be rooted out?  Only Jesus can remove them.  He'll do that when you're sorry about them and confess them.  Do it today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 1:9)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[Soldier4Christ]

I wish this feeling would never end, Julie thought as she sat near the campfire with her youth group friends.  As she and her Christian friends sang God's praises, she felt closer to Him than ever before.  But she knew the feeling would end.  She'd been to retreats before, and she knew what would happen.  She'd go home tomorrow, and when the alarm woke her on Monday morning, she wouldn't feel nearly as close to God as she did now.  But, her thoughts ran on, if I don't feel close to God when I'm home, maybe this feeling of God's presence is just in my head.  Maybe He isn't real at all.  Julie tried to forget these ideas, but she couldn't.
 
When Julie arrived home the next day, Mom was busy getting dinner ready.  "My cousin Pauline called me this afternoon, and she's coming for dinner," Mom explained as she scurried about.
 
"I didn't know you had a cousin named Pauline," said Julie as she began to help.
 
"When we were kids, we spent a lot of time together," said Mother, "but in recent years, we've pretty much lost touch.  I think you'll enjoy her."
 
Mother was right.  That evening, Julie found Cousin Pauline delightful. She entertained them all during dinner with funny stories about Mom's childhood.  "I'm glad I got to know you," Julie told her.  "And just think -- a few hours ago, I didn't know you existed."
 
"I've been here all along," Cousin Pauline said with a wink.
 
The words stuck with Julie.  Cousin Pauline's existence wasn't dependent on Julie knowing about her or "feeling her presence."  It was the same with God.  I've been just like Thomas in the Bible, Julie told herself.  Thomas doubted Jesus was really alive until he saw Him, and I sometimes doubted God was real because I didn't always feel His presence.  Her thoughts were interrupted by Mom's suggestion.
 
"Tell us about the retreat," said Mom.
 
"It was great," Julie said.  "Really great!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever felt God to be especially close, and then felt doubtful of His presence when the "close feeling" was no longer there?  It's nice to feel God's presence, but it's important to know He is there whether you have the "feeling" or not.  Don't rely on feelings.  Rely on God's Word -- He's real!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 20:29)
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, why do we have to go to church every Sunday?" Chad asked at breakfast.  "Lots of my friends don't go."
 
"Well, Chad, we do," Mother answered.  "We go to be instructed from God's Word, so please get ready.  We'll be leaving soon."  She sighed.  This wasn't the first time Chad had complained about going to church recently.  When he was little, he loved to go to Sunday school and church, but as he grew older, sometimes he didn't want to go.
 
That afternoon the subject came up again.  "My friends are playing basketball tonight," said Chad.  "May I go?"
 
"Chad. . . ." Dad answered this time.  ". . .we're going to church."
 
"I don't see why we can't just read the Bible for ourselves instead of having to sit in church all the time," Chad grumbled as he slowly started getting ready.
 
After supper the next day, Chad covered a table with newspapers. "I'm going to work on my new model car -- it's going to be some car when I get it put together!  Just look at all those pieces.  And aren't these decals something!" he exclaimed.  He began to work, but soon he looked up. "Can you help me with this, Dad?" he asked.  "I can't understand these instructions."
 
Dad shrugged.  "I don't think you need me," he said.  "Just put the pieces together.  It should turn out just fine."
 
"But, Dad!" Chad was discouraged.  "How do I know how the pieces go?  I told you. . .I can't understand the instructions!"
 
Dad got up and walked over to the table.  "Chad," he said, "trying to put this model together without my help is a little like trying to live your Christian life without help from God's servants.  Lately you've not wanted to go to church, yet our pastor and Sunday school teachers help us understand God's instructions on how we should live."
 
Chad thought about it.  "I guess you're right.  There are lots of things in the Bible that I don't understand by myself," he admitted.  "I'll try to remember that.  Now -- do you think you could help me with this model?"
 
"Sure thing," agreed Dad.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you don't need to go to church?  It's great to read the Bible for yourself, and you should do that.  But God has also provided godly men and women in your church and Sunday school who can help you understand His Word.  Learn from them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 27:11)
Teach me Thy way, O Lord.