Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Well?" Lisa looked at her sister, Beth.  "Do I look like Tara Tarton?" Lisa held a picture from a magazine under her chin as she gazed into the mirror.  She had worked a long time trying to get her hair arranged like the famous movie star's hair.
 
Beth shrugged.  "A little, maybe.  Come on -- we've got to go.  Mom and Dad are waiting."  The girls hurried out to the car.
 
On the way to the lake, Lisa mentioned the movie star again.  "Tara's so beautiful."  She sighed and stared at the picture, which she had brought along.
 
"Why do you want to be like her?" asked Beth.  "She's weird."
 
"Hasn't she been married several times?" asked Mom.
 
"Yes," said Beth, "and she's been arrested for drugs."
 
"This magazine says she has the most exciting life in the world," insisted Lisa.
 
"It may seem exciting to the person who wrote that article," said Mother, "but that doesn't mean it's a good way to live.  Judging from what I've heard and read, her life style is not one that a Christian should copy."  Lisa sighed and changed the subject.
 
When they reached the lake, everyone piled out of the car, and soon they were enjoying a picnic lunch.  "The lake's lovely today," observed Mom as they munched on fried chicken.  "Look how blue it is."
 
"The water isn't really blue, though," said Dad.  "The lake is reflecting the sky."
 
After the picnic, they were busy with hiking, fishing, and other activities when Dad noticed the gathering clouds.  "It looks like rain," he said.  "We'd better go."
 
Soon they were in the car.  "Look at the lake now."  Mom pointed toward the water as they started to drive away.
 
"Wow!  It isn't very pretty anymore," said Lisa.  "It sure isn't blue now -- it's gray.  What made it change so much?"
 
"The lake is still reflecting the sky, but now the sky is cloudy," explained Dad.
 
"You know, the lake doesn't have a choice about what it reflects," said Mom thoughtfully, "but in our lives, we can choose."  Lisa was quite sure Mom was thinking about Tara Tarton.  "Sometimes people are idolized -- people like movie stars or sports figures -- and their admirers try to copy them.  But the lives of those people are gray compared to the beautiful life of Jesus.  We should be reflecting Him and no one else."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your life reflecting the beauty of Jesus? Compared to Him, the life of any singer or ball player, or of any friend or relative, is gray.  Reflect Jesus and His way of life, not that of someone else.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 2:6)
He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did

[Soldier4Christ]

"Jim, are you sure we're on the right road?" Mom sounded worried. They were driving through rugged mountains with tall trees on each side.  The road was becoming narrower, and there were no houses and no other cars on the road.
 
"I was sure this was the right road," answered Dad, "but now I'm beginning to wonder.  I think we should have been at the campsite by this time.  See if you can find the road map in the glove compartment."  Mom turned on the overhead light and found the map while Dad stopped the car.  Together, they studied the map.  "Here's the town where we bought gas," Dad said, pointing to a spot on the map.  "And here is where we want to go."  He moved his finger along a line on the map.  "Oh, no!" he exclaimed as his finger came to a stop.  "I thought the camp was on this road, but there's a turnoff here.  We'll have to go back."
 
In the back seat, Jeff and Tracy looked at each other and groaned.  They had been riding for a long time and were tired.  This meant more hours of driving.  Their vacation wasn't starting out to be much fun.
 
When they finally reached the campground, Mom made sandwiches and heated some soup.  How good it tasted!  Then, when they were finished, Dad reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small New Testament.  "There's one more thing we must do before we go to sleep," he said.  "I made a big mistake today when I didn't look at the map soon enough.  When I did, we got back on track.  The Bible is our guide through life.  If we neglect it, we may find ourselves going in the wrong direction in our lives.  Let's make a promise to read the Bible together every day.  Agreed?"
 
Mom, Jeff, and Tracy all nodded.  It was no fun being on the wrong road on a vacation trip.  Being on the wrong road in life would be even worse.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you following the "map" God has given?  You need God's guidance every day as you go through life.  He speaks to you through His Word.  Read it and follow the directions you receive.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 48:14)
For this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our guide even unto death.

[Soldier4Christ]

It was raining, and Sam was bored.  "Grandpa, this weather has ruined our fishing," he complained.  "What can I do now?"
 
Grandpa settled back in his rocker.  "Know any good riddles?" he asked.
 
Sam thought for a minute.  "What is black and white and red all over?"
 
Grandpa snapped his finger.  "A newspaper," he said.
 
"Nope."  Sam grinned as he shook his head.  "It's an embarrassed zebra."  Grandpa laughed.  "I know another one," said Sam.  "What happens to a blue shoe that is thrown into the Red Sea?"
 
"Well. . .I believe blue and red mixed together make purple," said Grandpa, "so I guess the shoe turns purple."
 
"No, it gets wet," said Sam.  They laughed together, and then Sam asked, "Do you know any riddles, Grandpa?"
 
"Well. . .let's see."  Grandpa reached into his pocket, pulled out his hand, and held out a closed fist.  "In my hand there is something no one on earth has ever seen," he said.  "The farmer who grew it, the grocer who sold it, your grandma who bought it -- none of them has seen it.  I have it in my hand, but I've never seen it either."
 
"Aw, that can't be!" protested Sam.  Grandpa opened his hand.  "A peanut!" yelled Sam.  "Lots of people saw that."
 
"Lots of people have seen this peanut shell, but who has ever seen the peanut inside the shell?" asked Grandpa.  Sam hadn't thought of that.  "There is one Person who knows exactly what this peanut looks like, though," added Grandpa. "Do you know who that is, Sam?"
 
"God!" answered Sam promptly.  "He knows everything, doesn't He?"
 
Grandpa nodded.  "He sure does.  He even knows what you're feeling and thinking.  God loves you, and His love is very, very special because He knows you so well."
 
"He knows I needed a riddle to laugh about on a rainy day like this," agreed Sam.  He eyed the peanut.  "And He knows I'm hungry."
 
Grandpa laughed and tossed him the peanut.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel alone and disappointed, as though no one understands your problems?  God does.  He knows you better than anyone.  He knows and shares your happy times, and He also feels your pain and your loneliness.  He cares when you hurt.  Aren't you glad you can always count on Him?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look, there's a ladybird!" cried Kristie.
 
Annie dropped her doll on the grass and ran across the lawn. "Where?" she demanded, looking up at the sky.  She frowned.  "I don't see any birds or any lady, either," she protested.  "Besides Mom, that is," she added, smiling at her mother.
 
Kristie squealed with laughter.  "Annie, you're such a baby!  A ladybird isn't a bird -- or a lady."  She pointed to a small red and black creature crawling its way up the stem of Mom's tomato plant.  "That's a ladybird."
 
Annie stared.  "Well!" she exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips. "How was I to know that?  Why is it called a ladybird when it's not a bird at all?  It's a bug."  She tossed her head and picked up her doll again.
 
"Some people refer to it as a 'ladybug,'" said Mom.  "That name really does fit it better, doesn't it?"  She smiled.  "I can think of another creature with a name that doesn't really fit.  What did Dad show you last night?"
 
"Fireflies!" squealed Annie.
 
"Oh, yeah," said Kristie.  "Dad said they aren't flies at all. They're beetles."
 
"That's right," said Mom.  After a moment she added, "Sometimes people use names that don't match what they really are, either.  For example, we can call ourselves 'Christian,' but that doesn't make us Christians."
 
"I get it!" said Annie.  "Just like calling that creature a 'ladybird' doesn't make it a bird, or saying 'firefly' doesn't turn a beetle into a fly!"
 
Mom nodded.  "We need to examine our hearts and make sure we really trust in Jesus.  We don't want to be among those who call Him Lord, but don't really know Him at all."
 
Annie touched the ladybird gently with one finger.  "I'm not going to be like you!" she declared.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a Christian?  If you answered, 'Yes,' try these questions:  Are you a Christian only by name?  Or have you really committed your life to Jesus?  Do you really try to live as He has asked you to live?  Jesus doesn't want you to just be called a Christian.  He wants you to be a Christian -- a follower of Him.  He gives that privilege to those who receive Him as Savior.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 1:12)
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Looks good, guys."  Brent stood back and surveyed the side of the barn.  "Be sure to brush the paint out nice and smooth."  He and his younger brothers, Pat and Sean, were busy painting, and Brent was in charge of the project.  He had helped Dad paint before, so now he was showing his brothers how it should be done.
 
As they worked, the boys started talking about their friend Paul, who lived nearby.  "Paul asked me about our church and what we believe," said Sean.  "I didn't really know what to say.  I was afraid I might not answer right, so I gave him my Sunday school teacher's phone number.  He probably won't call, though.  He's shy and doesn't know Mr. Haney."
 
"Maybe we should ask Pastor Gray to call on his family," suggested Brent.
 
"Yeah," agreed Pat.  "They need to know about Jesus, and it's Pastor's job to tell them."
 
Soon Mother came out with a tray of cookies and milk.  While the boys were eating, she talked with them.  "Brent," she said, "since you were the only one who knew how to paint, why didn't Dad tell you to paint the barn alone?"
 
"Because the job was to big for one person," said Brent.
 
"Dad figured Brent could teach Sean and me to paint," Pat added.  "Aren't we doing okay?"
 
"Oh, you're doing fine," Mother assured him.  "But I overheard you say that it's the pastor's job to tell people about Jesus.  He should do that, of course, but that job is too big for one person, too.  The Bible says the pastor's primary job is to 'equip the saints for the work of ministry.'  He is to teach Christians to serve God."
 
"He does lots of that in his sermons," observed Sean.  "He teaches those special evangelistic training classes, too."
 
Mother nodded.  "The pastor teaches us how to tell others about Jesus, just like Brent taught the rest of you how to paint the barn."
 
"That makes sense," said Brent.  "I guess we'd better pay more attention so we'll be ready to answer Paul's questions ourselves."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you listen carefully to your pastor?  Are you doing your best to serve God?  It's not just the pastor's job.  You need to be equipped, or prepared, to serve, too.  The Lord uses pastors to help with much of that preparation.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:11-12)
And He (God) gave 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]

Brent ran excitedly into the house.  "I'm going over to play with Paul pretty soon, Mom," he said.  "If I get a chance to talk to him about God, what should I say?  How can I get him to understand?"
 
"Well," said Mom, "how did you help your brothers know how to paint the barn?  Did you tell them how some of the world's great artists mix colors?  Or did you explain various types of strokes and painting techniques?"
 
"Of course not."  Brent gave her a puzzled look.  "I just told them what Dad told me, and I showed them how I did it."
 
Mother nodded.  "You started with your own experience, didn't you?  Why not do that when you talk to Paul about the Lord, too?" she suggested.  "Tell him how you became a Christian.  That's what the Apostle Paul often did."
 
"Okay, Mom," agreed Brent.  "I'll try."
 
Later that day, Brent went over to Paul's house.  "Hi, Brent," said Paul.  "Come on in and see the model airplane I've been working on."
 
Brent looked at the model.  "Wow!" he exclaimed.  "That's a great model.  Where did you get it?"
 
"My Uncle Fred gave it to me.  He was going to help me build it, but he had a heart attack and died before we could get started," said Paul sadly.  "I sure miss him."
 
"I'm sorry your uncle died," replied Brent.
 
"Me, too," said Paul sadly.  "He told me a long time ago that he knew he'd go to heaven when he died.  I wonder how he could be so sure.  I never listened very well when he tried to tell me.   Now I wish I had."
 
"I know I'm going to heaven when I die," Brent replied.  "Want me to tell you why?"
 
"Sure!" Paul exclaimed.  "How can you be so positive?"
 
"When I was younger. . . ." began Brent.  Paul leaned forward and listened carefully as Brent explained what had happened to him.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you tell your friends what you know about Jesus?  Don't feel that you have to explain all the doctrines of the church.  Just tell about what Jesus did for you.  The words in today's memory verse were given to the Apostle Paul.  Learn them and apply them to your life.  Paul witnessed by telling what had happened to him.  You can do that, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 22:15)
For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look at all the people!" exclaimed Andy.  "This traffic is terrible!"
 
"Yes," replied Dad.  "This parade had better be good, or I'll wish I'd stayed home."  He inched forward with the traffic.  "A lot of cars are turning here," he added.  "Looks like a good idea to me.  Maybe they know of a place to park around the corner."  He made a right turn, following the car in front of him.
 
Immediately the traffic speeded up, and instead of finding a place to park, they found themselves on a long ramp leading to a freeway.  "Oh, no," groaned Dad.  "I didn't see the sign for the freeway!  Now we'll have to go a few miles before we can get back off."  He scowled at the car ahead of him.  "Thanks a lot, Mister," he growled.  "You led me wrong!"
 
Mother laughed merrily.  "Oh, so it's his fault?"
 
"What about the car behind us?" asked Andy.  "I noticed that they followed along, too.  Is that your fault?"
 
Dad grinned.  "No," he said.  "They should have watched where they were going."
 
Again Mother and Andy laughed.  "Sounds a little like someone else I know," observed Mother, looking at Andy.
 
Andy blushed.  Just the night before, he had excused his rowdy behavior at a Sunday school picnic by saying that some older boys were doing the same thing and he was only following their example.  At the same time, he had insisted that he was not responsible for the way his little sister had copied his actions.
 
"We all tend to forget that God has given each of us a measure of intelligence.  He wants us to use it instead of blindly following the crowd," said Dad.  "On the other hand, God expects us to live in a way that would be good for others to follow."  They were approaching an off ramp.  "I don't know about that guy ahead of me, but I'm going to get off here and turn around."  As they left the highway, Andy looked to see if the car behind them would follow.  It did.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
God gave you intelligence.  Are you using it to think for yourself?  Are you also accepting your responsibility to be a good example to others?  Don't use the excuse that "everybody's doing it."  Instead, be able to say, "I believe this is what God wants me to do."  Others are following you.  Lead them in the right way.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"I'm ready to go to the store, Mom," said Darla.  "You said you needed some milk, right?  Anything else?"
 
Mother nodded.  "I need a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and a package of cheese," she replied.  "Can you remember that?"  She glanced at her daughter.  "What are you doing?" asked Mom.
 
Darla lifted her head and grinned at her mother.  She turned her hand to show her mother what she had done.  "I wrote the list on my palm with this pen," she said, "so I'll be sure to know what you need."
 
"That's a unique idea, but you could have used a piece of paper instead of your hand," suggested Mother.
 
Darla shook her head.  "This is better.  I might have lost the piece of paper, but I can't lose my hand."
 
Mother laughed and gave Darla a hug.  "Okay," she agreed.  "Wait a minute -- I want to show you an interesting verse in the Bible."  Walking over to her desk, Mother picked up her small, black Bible and opened it to Isaiah.  "Read this," she said, pointing to a verse.
 
Darla read it aloud.  "'Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.'"  She looked up at her mother.  "Hey, that's neat!  God writes on His palms, too."
 
Mother nodded.  "Actually, He does more than just write.  After all, that ink will wash off your palm -- at least I certainly hope it will.  But God said His people, Israel, was 'graven,' or engraved, on His palms, and I believe we can apply that to Christians, too.  Engraving goes deeper than writing.  It won't ever come off."
 
Darla was silent for a moment.  She looked down at the black writing on her hand.  "That makes me feel good," she said.  She closed her hand over the writing.  "It's a safe place to be, isn't it?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever written on your palm to remember a school assignment or someone's phone number?  Your palm is a safe place for such things, isn't it?  Are you engraved on God's palms?  If not, why not ask Jesus to be your Savior today?  (See last page.)  God's palm is the safest place to be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 49:16)
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Mom!"  Tina hugged her mother who had come to the Girl Scout leader's home to pick her up.
 
"It's great to have you back from camp, honey," Mother said warmly.  There was a sudden blast of music from the scout leader's porch.  "What's all the noise?"
 
"Oh, just somebody's radio," answered Tina.  "We listened to it a lot, especially on the bus ride.  Actually, we weren't allowed to play it so everybody could hear it, but the kids who brought radios had earphones, too.  They let me use them sometimes.  That was neat.  Can I get a radio with earphones, Mom?"
 
Mother raised her eyebrows.  "Not if that's the music you plan to listen to," she said.  "Did you notice the words of that song, Tina?  You know your father and I don't approve of that kind of music."
 
"Oh, Mom!"  Tina frowned.  "It's just music.  No one pays any attention to the words."
 
Later that day, Tina told her mother all about camp.  She talked about swimming, hiking, games, and about the night it stormed and some of the tents leaked.  "We sang a lot of songs around the campfire, too," Tina went on.  "One song was really strange!  The scout leader said it was a Bible song about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But the song said they were 'fishermen' who 'sailed to Jericho'!"
 
To Tina's surprise, Mother just shrugged.  "So?  What's wrong with that?" Mother asked.  "I've head that song, and the tune is really 'catchy.'  It's fun to sing."
 
"Mom!" Tina couldn't believe her ears.  "The Bible doesn't say those men were fishermen.  That song's not true."
 
"Does it matter?" asked Mother.
 
"Of course it matters!"  Tina wondered what had gotten into her mother.
 
Mother smiled.  "Well, I'm glad you realize that the words of  songs are important," she said.  "And that goes for all music, not just campfire songs."
 
Tina was quiet.  "You mean that stuff on the radio, don't you?" she said finally.
 
Mother nodded.  "Many of those songs talk about drugs, committing suicide, Satan worship, and all kinds of wicked things that are condemned in the Bible.  Often they have bad language in them as well.  As Christians, it's our responsibility to avoid all of that as much as possible."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about the music you hear?  There are many songs with nice tunes, but the words or messages may be evil.  Listen to the words.  If they are not good or true -- if they would not please the Lord -- turn them off.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Whew!  It's so hot!" Kyle wiped a hand across his forehead.  "I absolutely hate picking green beans, don't you?" he asked his brother, Mike, who was kneeling in the row next to him.
 
"Yeah," groaned Mike.  "You almost have to stand on your head to find them."  He waved his arms wildly around his head.  "And when you have a pesty deerfly buzzing around you, it's worse yet."
 
"Those deerflies love sweaty people," said Kyle, "and under this scorching sun, we're sweaty!"
 
Grandpa, who was picking tomatoes, had been listening to the boys.  "Hey, fellas!" he called to them.  "Listen!"
 
The boys paused from their work and then suddenly cheered up.  "It's the ice cream truck!" they squealed, running and jumping over rows of carrots and onions to reach Grandpa.  "Can we get something?"
 
Grandpa pulled out his wallet and handed them some money.  "Here you go, you poor little slaves," he teased.  "Get each of us a fudge bar."
 
When the boys came back to the garden, they all sat down under a nearby tree to enjoy their treats.  "You know," said Grandpa as he unwrapped his fudge bar, "every time I hear that ice cream truck coming down the street, I'm reminded of a verse in Proverbs that says wisdom 'calls out in the street.'"
 
"Wisdom?" asked Mike.  "Is the ice cream truck wise?"
 
"Well, I sure thought it was wise of us to get this ice cream," put in Kyle.  He took a big bite.
 
Grandpa laughed.  "I agree.  That ice cream truck 'calls out in the street' because it has something refreshing for you when you're hot and tired, and the book of Proverbs says wisdom calls out in the street with something even better for you," he said.  "I hope you're just as eager to get wisdom as you were to get ice cream."
 
Mike frowned.  "How do we do that?  Go to school?"
 
Grandpa nodded.  "To God's school -- to God's Word, the Bible," he said.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know what wisdom is?  It is knowing God's truth and doing what it says.  To know God's truth, you must study His Word and follow it.  The Bible says, "Happy is the man that finds wisdom."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 4:7)
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

[Soldier4Christ]

Megan was all excited because she was in charge of the guest book at her Aunt Sally's wedding.  She smiled and chatted with many of the guests as they came to sign the book.
 
Suddenly a big, deep voice boomed out, "Well, here's my little niece, nearly all grown up."  It was Megan's Uncle Joe, who was in the Army.  He was her favorite uncle, and she thought he looked more handsome than ever in his uniform.  "I see they have you on guest book duty today," said Uncle Joe with a smile.  "That's a mighty important job.  Here's a riddle for you:  Where is the most important 'guest book' of all?"  He tweaked her chin.  "You have until after you get off duty to tell me the answer," he added, and he went to sit down.
 
After the wedding, Megan looked for her uncle and sat down beside him.  "I've got the answer," she said.  "The most important guest book is in the White House."
 
Uncle Joe laughed and shook his head.  "Good try," he said, "but wrong.  The most important guest book is in heaven."
 
"In heaven?" asked Megan.  "There's a guest book there?"
 
"The Bible tells us of a book called the Book of Life," replied Uncle Joe, "and it says that to enter heaven, our names must be written there."
 
"Do we write them in when we get there?" Megan asked.
 
"Oh, no," said Uncle Joe.  "Your name has to be there before you can even get into heaven."
 
"Well, how do we get it written there?" asked Megan.
 
"By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ," replied Uncle Joe.  "Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior from sin?"  Megan nodded and Uncle Joe smiled.  "Then your name is there," he said.  "As an old song says, your name is 'written down in glory.'  That's great!"
 
Megan's face broke into a big smile.  It was great, and she felt happy -- even happier than when she had been hostess for the wedding guest book.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sin and be your Savior?  He wants to write your name in the Book of Life so that you may some day join Him in heaven and be happy forever.  Will you admit your need and ask Him to save you today?  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 10:20)
Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't know why we have to go to church every Sunday," Sara grumbled.  Her glum face was pressed against the car window as the family rode to church on Sunday morning.  Suddenly her attention was caught by the scene ahead.  "Look at that tree!" she exclaimed, pointing to the roadside, where a large tree lay uprooted on the grass.
 
Sara's mother looked out and nodded.  "That was quite some wind we had last night," she observed.
 
"Yes," said Dad, "but look at the roots.  Notice how shallow they were in the ground.  There's only a small circle of roots that had been holding the tree in the ground."
 
"Yeah, they do look short and stubby for the size of the tree," agreed Sara.  "Is that why it blew over when these other trees didn't?"
 
"Probably," replied Mother.  "For some reason, it didn't grow the deep roots that would make it strong.  Then, when that wind hit it last night, it toppled over."
 
"Sara, did you know there's a Psalm in the Bible that compares a person to a tree?"  asked Dad.  Sara shook her head.  "It says that a wise and righteous man -- one who meditates on God's teachings day and night -- is like a well watered, healthy tree," continued Dad.  "Such a person would be like a deeply rooted tree that could withstand powerful winds."
 
"And such a person wouldn't have been blown over if he had been out in the wind last night?" asked Sara with a grin.
 
Dad grinned back.  "I think you know I don't mean that kind of wind.  Such a person can withstand powerful winds of things like temptation or hardship or disappointment," replied Dad as he drove into the church parking lot.  "That's one reason we go to church -- so we can learn more about God and become more deeply rooted in Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel like skipping church?  That's not unusual, but remember that it's important to take advantage of opportunities to learn about God and His Word.  When you "don't feel like going to church," ask God to help you have a better attitude.  Then go. . .and ask Him to teach you at least one thing to help you grow stronger in Him.  You'll be sure to come away with something valuable -- in spite of your feelings.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 2:6-7)
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him rooted and built up in Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, why did you tell Karen she shouldn't date Steve?" asked Lisa as they waited for the three-legged race to start.  It was Field Day at the elementary school, and Lisa's little brother Jimmy and his friend Ben were hoping to win the kindergarten lap of the race.  "I think Steve's a really nice guy,"added Lisa.
 
"I know he is, honey," replied Mom, "but he's not a Christian, you know."
 
"But why does that. . .oh, look!  They're starting!" cried Lisa.  "I hope Ben and Jimmy win!"  She watched her little brother eagerly.
 
After watching a few moments, Mom began to laugh.  "What on earth is Ben doing?" she asked.
 
Lisa watched in horror.  "Mom!  He's pulling Jimmy backwards.  What's he doing that for?"  She impatiently bounced up and down in her  seat.
 
"I think he's heading for that ice-cream stand," said Mom.  The window at the ice cream stand had just opened.
 
"Oh, poor Jimmy!" cried Lisa as she watched her brother trying desperately to pull his friend forward.  "Now they're just standing still -- neither of them is moving an inch!"
 
Others in the crowd were smiling as they watched the antics of the two little kindergartners.  At last Jimmy gave up and let himself be dragged away by Ben towards the ice-cream stand.  "They're out of the race now," said Lisa, shaking her head sadly.  "Jimmy should have chosen another partner -- someone who wouldn't have dragged him away from the finish line."
 
Mom snapped her fingers.  "Honey, that's why I told Karen she shouldn't date Steve," she said.
 
"What?" asked Lisa in surprise.  "What do you mean?"
 
"Christian marriage is something like that three-legged race," explained Mom.  "With their ankles bound together, Jimmy and Ben were like one person, and when two people marry, they become one.  But if they aren't both believers, then they're like Ben and Jimmy -- pulling in two different directions and not getting anywhere."
 
"Or ending up in the wrong place!" added Lisa.  She nodded.  "I think we should tell Karen about the three-legged race.  Then maybe she'll understand about Steve, too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you thinking of getting married soon?  No, of course you're not!  You're much too young.  But you're not too young to know that when you do marry some day, God does not approve of a Christian marrying an unbeliever.  Your husband or wife should draw you closer to God -- not drag you away from Him.  Decide now, while you're young, that you'll obey Him in this matter.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I hate this school," said Judy bitterly.  "The kids don't like me, the teachers pick on me, and the work is so different from what we did in my old school.  Why does life have to be so tough?"  She collapsed wearily onto Dad's armchair.  Ben's animal book was laying there, and Judy began flipping through it listlessly.
 
Her father watched in silence.  He was just going to speak, when Judy pointed to a picture in the book.  "What's this?" she asked.
 
Dad looked over her shoulder.  "An oyster," he said.
 
"Oh.  That's where we get pearls from!"  Judy smiled.  "I think they're so pretty," she said.  "I wish I knew how to make them -- like an oyster does."
 
"Do you know how oysters get them?" asked Dad.
 
"Sure.  We studied that in school," replied Judy.  "The oysters have a strong, hard shell outside, but they're soft and fleshy on the inside. Sometimes, a grain of sand or something like that gets inside the oyster's shell, and that's quite painful and uncomfortable."
 
"Right," said Dad, "and what happens next?
 
"Then the oyster oozes out a liquid onto the grain of sand.  He goes on doing this, layer upon layer, and the liquid hardens.  And guess what you get in the end?"
 
"A pearl," said Dad.  Judy nodded.  "Something that began with discomfort and pain ends in producing something of great value and beauty," observed Dad, "and honey, we can have the same thing happen in our lives."
 
Judy raised her eyebrows.  "I'd love to make pearls, Dad," she said with a grin, "but I'm no oyster!"
 
Dad laughed.  "No, you're not!  But when suffering, pain, and unpleasantness creep into your life like irritating grains of sand, you can't always get rid of them.  However, if you accept them without bitterness, and ask for God's strength and wisdom to learn from them, you can produce pearls of another kind.
 
"What do you mean?" asked Judy curiously.  "What kind of pearls could I make?"
 
"Pearls of patience, endurance, trust, faith and hope -- far more precious than the oyster's pearls," replied Dad.  "Think about it."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you react to difficulties?  Do you get angry and bitter?  Or do you ask God for His strength and wisdom so that you will learn to use your struggles and trials to produce beautiful pearls in your life -- pearls of patience, endurance, trust, faith and hope?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:2-3)
Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, Laura, wait up!" Laura turned at the door of her Junior High Sunday school classroom to see Christy hurrying down the hall toward her.  "You have nursery duty with me today, don't you?" asked Christy.  "Let's go."
 
Laura dropped her gaze.  "Well. . .ah. . .Jessie is going to take my place," she said.
 
Christy's forehead creased in a frown.  "Why?" she demanded.  "You and I always work in the nursery together.  Why aren't you helping today?"
 
"I. . .well. . . ."  Laura squirmed uncomfortably.  "I just don't feel like helping in the nursery anymore."
 
Christy eyed her suspiciously.  "Laura Mc Intyre," she said firmly, "there is something funny about all this.  I've never met anyone in my whole life who likes babies more than you do.  What's up?"
 
Laura sighed.  She knew it was no use trying to hide anything from her friend.  Christy wouldn't be satisfied until she had found out the real reason she had decided to quit working in the nursery.  "Well. . .kids have so many contagious diseases," she said, "and I just don't want to come down with them myself.  There's always somebody with a cold or something.  The day after I was in the nursery last month, the Jamison's baby came down with chicken pox!  And now. . .well, there's the Johnson's adopted baby who has AIDS."
 
"So that's it!" exclaimed Christy.  She was silent for a moment before she spoke again.  "Laura, the nursery staff uses special safety precautions with little Peter," she said.  "That only makes sense.  But he needs our love and care just as much as any of the other babies.  Maybe more."  She paused, and added gently, "Remember the lesson we had in Sunday school last week?  Whatever would have happened to the leper, if Jesus hadn't been willing to help him?"
 
Laura stood silently, deep in thought.  In her mind's eye, she could see that desperate man.  Kneeling before Jesus.  Pleading for His help.  And then she saw the Savior with His out-stretched hand.  There was love in His face and in His touch.  Thinking about it, Laura made a decision.  She looked up and met Christy's gaze with a confident smile.  "I'll tell Jessie she can go on into the worship service, after all," she said.  "Meet you in the nursery in a few minutes!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there someone God wants you to help, or something He wants you to do that you've been avoiding?  Maybe you've been too busy to get involved.  Maybe you've been too proud.  Or perhaps, like Laura, you're just plain scared.  Let God's love flow through you into the lives of others who need His touch today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 4:18)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.