Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mother, what's wrong with these ice cubes?" asked  Jill.  "They're all brown!"
 
Mother glanced at the dark cubes and grinned.  "I used iced tea to make those," she explained.  "I made them for Grandpa.  You know how he loves good, strong iced tea on hot summer days."
 
Jill nodded and smiled at her grandfather who was sitting at the kitchen table.  She knew he disliked his tea watery and weak, the way it became when too many ice cubes melted in it.  She popped several of the brown cubes into tall glasses and poured fresh iced tea over them.  "Here you are, Grandpa.  Pure tea, undiluted by ordinary ice cubes."
 
Grandpa took the tea and thanked Jill politely.  "Just the way I like it," he said, enjoying a big swallow.  "This reminds me of a Scripture passage that urges Christians to be pure and undiluted by the world." Mother and Jill exchanged knowing glances.  Grandpa could make a spiritual lesson out of anything.  "It tells us to come away from sinful things and be separated unto God," continued Grandpa.  "We're not to have anything to do with sinful things, because righteousness and unrighteousness don't belong together.  Iced tea becomes weak and tasteless when ice melts into it, and our lives become weak and ineffective when we allow worldliness to come into them.  Living like the world dilutes our Christian testimony."
 
Mother nodded agreement.  "There's so much pressure to dress, act, talk, and think like the world," she said.  "If we're not careful, we forget that we belong to Jesus and should live to please Him.  When Christians let the world dilute their testimony, it weakens their effectiveness!"
 
Jill chucked.  "Now there are two in the family making up spiritual lessons!" she teased.  But she knew they were right.  She made up her mind to not let sin ruin her testimony but to obey God and keep her life pure for Him.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are such things as selfishness, bad TV, or foul language diluting your testimony?  Do you try to dress like and act like the popular kids you know, even if their ways are displeasing to God?  Don't pollute your life with impure things.  Ask God to keep you true to Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Melissa curled up on the couch with her new story book.
 
"Enjoying the story?" asked Mom.
 
"Oh, yes," said Melissa.  "I've just finished it.  It's all about a baby eagle who thought he was a chick."
 
"How come?" asked her brother Brian, curiously.
 
"Well, when he was still inside an egg, the egg was stolen and taken to the hen-house," Melissa informed him.  "The hen didn't know it wasn't one of her eggs and she sat on it with the rest of her eggs.  And after the egg was hatched, she brought him up exactly like one of her chicks."
 
"Someone should've told him he was an eagle," said Brian at once.
 
"Someone did!" said Melissa quickly.  "The wise old owl who lived near the farm told him he was an eaglet -- and that he could fly high in the sky like the great eagle -- but he didn't believe it; he lived like a chicken until the day he died."
 
"Dumb!" pronounced Brian.  "To think he could have soared the skies and all he did was scratch the sand!"
 
"We do that sometimes, too," remarked Mom.  "In a way, we 'scratch in the sand' when we are free to soar."
 
"We do?" asked Melissa doubtfully.  "I don't scratch in the sand."
 
"Me, neither."  Brian shook his head disbelievingly.
 
"No, not literally," agreed Mother, "but the Bible tells us that once we all were enslaved by sin and under the law, but Jesus came to redeem us from the power of the law.  He set us free from the power of sin."
 
"So. . .we don't have to sin anymore?" asked Melissa thoughtfully.
 
"That's right," agreed Mom.  " We don't need to be ruled by sin any longer.  But often, we are!  Although we have been set free, although God has given us the spirit of sonship. . .and daughtership. . . ." she added, glancing quickly at Melissa, "like that foolish eagle who lived the life of a chicken, we often choose to live like captives to sin."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you trusted in Jesus?  Then do you appreciate the wondrous fact that you are a precious son or daughter of the greatest, wisest, most powerful king there ever was or ever will be?  Do you know that this King has made you His heir?  Are you trusting God for power to soar above evil?   You can.  God's children have been freed from sin's power.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 5:1)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

[Soldier4Christ]

It was a beautiful day for a picnic at the beach.  The Parker family spread out a tablecloth and put up sun umbrellas in their favorite spot.  Then Gina and Judy dashed for the water, but Phil looked fearfully at the waves. "The waves are so big today," he murmured.
 
"Oh, come on in," called Gina.  "They're fun.  Don't be so scared."
 
But Phil shook his head.  He sat down on the beach and began to build a sand castle.  "Dad," he began after a little while.  He hesitated.  His voice trembled as he added, "I feel rotten inside.  I think God has quit loving me."
 
"God has never quit loving you for a minute in your whole life," Dad assured him.  "What makes you think He has?"
 
"Well, my Sunday school verse was, 'Keep yourselves in the love of God.'  I figure that means I have to keep God loving me, but I don't think I've done that," replied Phil.  He looked at the ground.  "I. . .I lied to you and Mom the other day, so I just know I haven't kept God loving me."
 
"I remember the incident," said Dad, "but you confessed that to us, and we forgave you."
 
"That's right," said Mom.  "And when you confess your sin to God, He forgives you, too."
 
Dad nodded.  "But all through this time, God has never quit loving you," he said.  He waved a hand toward the ocean. "God's love is something like the ocean," he added.  "Just think of how much water there is out there, and you're not enjoying any of it.  Why not?"
 
"Because I'm afraid, so I'm not in it," answered Phil.
 
"Exactly," agreed Dad.  "Your fear of the big waves keeps you from enjoying the water.  And unconfessed sin has kept you from enjoying the love of God.  But, His love for you is there, just as it's always been.  The Bible doesn't say, 'Keep God loving you.'   It says, 'Keep yourselves in the love of God.'"
 
"But how do you do that?" asked Phil.
 
"To 'keep yourself in the love of God' is to do the things God loves -- to live the way He wants you to," replied Dad.  "Then you can enjoy the love that's there for you."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you wondered if God still loves you? Perhaps you've disobeyed, been unkind, used bad language, or allowed some other sin to come into your life.  Make things right with God and with others and enjoy the love that is there for you.  God always loves you, but sin will keep you from enjoying His love.

[Soldier4Christ]

BOOM! BOOM!  Thuan cringed as explosions rocked the orphanage.  Her parents had been killed years ago, and now the war had found her again.  Suddenly, several foreign soldiers rushed into the building.  One of them picked up Thuan to carry her to a waiting helicopter.  As he ran, an object -- a hand grenade -- landed near them.  The soldier pushed Thuan away and threw himself on the grenade, absorbing its blast.  After that, things were a blur of soldiers running, a bumpy helicopter ride, a crowded city, and then, the quiet of a new orphanage.
 
Many months later, Thuan was adopted by a family in a country far away.  Though she was a stranger in a strange land, the Jeffersons, whom she now knew as "Mom and Dad," treated her with a gentle kindness which overcame her fears.  They took her to church and Sunday school and taught her about Jesus.  "Mom," she said one day, "my Sunday school teacher says that when a sinner asks Jesus to forgive him, God adopts him into His family.  Why would God want to do that?"
 
Mother looked at Thuan thoughtfully.  "Let me tell you a story, honey," she said at last.  "Many years ago, God gave us a son whom we named Michael, and we loved him very much.  Mike grew into a fine young man, and when our country called upon him to serve, he went into the army without complaint.  He was sent to a country far away, and there he was killed saving the life of a little girl."  Mother paused as she went over to a desk and took out a picture.  "This is Mike," she said.
 
Thuan studied the picture.  Suddenly, she understood.  "I was the little girl he saved, wasn't I?"
 
Mother nodded and hugged her close.  "A Red Cross worker told us your name, and we had you traced.  Since our son died to save your life, we considered you the most important person in the world, and we wanted you to be part of our family," she said.  "Now we love you with all our hearts.  It's the same way with God.  His only Son died to save you from your sins, and now God wants to make you part of His family.  He wants to take you to live with Him in heaven some day.  Would you like to become part of the family of God?"  With a tearful smile, Thuan nodded.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a part of God's spiritual family?  He loved you enough to send His Son to die for your sins.  He wants to make you His child -- to adopt you into His family.  He'll do that when you admit your need and accept Jesus and what He has done for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 3:26)
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

"It smells smokey in here," said April, holding her nose.
 
"A friend of mine who smokes visited this afternoon," Aunt Mindy explained.  "I didn't open the windows, because there are no screens on them, but I did leave the door open a while this evening, hoping it would air out before you arrived for the weekend."
 
April plopped onto the couch.  "Aunt Mindy, did you ever try smoking?" she asked.
 
"No," Aunt Mindy said.  "I never wanted to."
 
"Not even when you were a kid?" April challenged.  "Didn't you wonder what it would be like?"  She thought about the times that kids at school tried to persuade her to smoke.  Sometimes she was curious to find out what it was like.  April rested her head on the arm of the couch.  "Just trying it wouldn't hurt, would it?" she added.
 
Aunt Mindy frowned.  "Why don't you open the windows after all?" she suggested.  "I'd like some fresh air in here."
 
"But you said you didn't have screens" protested April in surprise. "Bugs will come in, especially with the lights on now."
 
"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a few bugs in here," replied Aunt Mindy.  "Maybe they wouldn't even come in much.  I don't know.  I haven't tried it before.  Why don't we find out?"
 
"Let's not find out!" objected April.  "Mosquitoes love me.  They always eat me up."
 
"Hmmm.  I think maybe you're right -- it would be better not to find out.  Bugs don't belong in here."  Aunt Mindy paused.  "It isn't worth finding out what cigarette smoking is like, either," she added positively.  "The contents in cigarettes don't belong in our bodies.  They harm the internal organs that God so carefully designed.  We should be even more determined to keep harmful substances out of our bodies than we are to keep bugs out of the apartment."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been tempted to use drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol?  God did not make your body for those harmful things. Ask Him to help you say, "No!" when anyone tries to persuade you to use such things.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:15)
But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Emily sat on her porch step, staring out into space.  She sighed.  "What's wrong, honey?" asked her dad as he put down the garden hose.
 
"Daddy, this girl in my class Jan says there's no God," replied Emily.  "I told her there is, but she said, 'Prove it.'  I didn't know how. We can't see God.  How could I show her proof?"
 
Dad nodded.  "You may not be able to prove it to her satisfaction," he admitted, "but there are things she can see that may convince her of the truth.  Come with me."  Dad reached for her hand.  Emily stood up and followed her father into the house.  He pointed at the embroidered tablecloth on the dining room table.  "Who made this?" he asked.
 
"Grandma did," Emily replied.
 
Dad nodded and removed a drawing of a flower from the refrigerator door.  "Who made this?"
 
Emily grinned.  "I drew that in art class," she said.
 
"What about this pie on the cupboard?" asked Dad.  "Who baked it?"
 
"Mom did," Emily answered.
 
Dad smiled.  "See, no matter what I point to in this room, somebody made it," he said.  Then he took Emily outside again.  He told her to look around.  "What do you see?" he asked.
 
"I see the little birds in the trees," said Emily, "and a bumble bee on a pink rose.  And I see the sky and the sun shining and the grass and. . .and all kinds of things!"
 
"Who made them?" Dad asked.
 
"God did, of course," replied Emily.
 
"Yes, indeed He did," agreed Dad.  "Everything made has a maker.  Some things are made with human hands and others by the infinite wisdom and power of God.  One way we know God exists is that our eyes see the things that only God could make.  Nature and our own bodies give us proof of God's existence and love for us."
 
Emily grinned.  "That's true," she agreed.  "I'll tell Jan about that."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know someone who doesn't believe in God?  Even though we can't make people believe in God, we can help them by pointing out the wonderful things that only God could have made.  The Bible teaches us that God is the creator of the universe.  Let the wonders of His creation encourage you to speak about Him to those who doubt His existence.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 111:4)
He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered.

[Soldier4Christ]

Steven and his whole family were on their way to see six-year-old Sammy's very first soccer game.  "Keep the ball in front of you and run fast!" advised Dad as they drove to the park.
 
The game began, but it wasn't until the beginning of the second period that the ball came to Sammy.  Then he kept it in front of him and ran as fast as he could, just as his father had told him.  "Oh, no!" moaned Steven.  "I think Sammy's forgotten whose side he's on!"  Little Sammy  had done everything exactly right, only he had kicked the ball into the wrong goal!
 
On the way home, Sammy's family did their best to comfort him.  "It's only your first game.  You'll learn," said Dad as they drove into their yard.
 
"Yeah," said Steven.  "You just gotta remember which side you're on and which goal is yours."
 
The next day, Steven was playing out in the yard when he heard Dad's voice.   Dad didn't sound very happy.  "I told you to mow the lawn," said Dad.  "Instead, I find you playing ball."  Dad looked at the unmowed lawn, then back at Steven.  "Yesterday Sammy seemed to forget which side he was on and which goal was his.  Seems to me that you're forgetting which goal is yours, too.  Is it a Christian's goal to obey or disobey his parents?"
 
Steven looked at the ground.  "To obey," he said.
 
"Well, were you aiming at the right goal, Steven?" asked Dad.
 
Steven shook his head as he took off his baseball mitt.  "I'm really sorry," he said. "I'll get the lawnmower out right now."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you living as though you're on the world's side or on the Lord's side?  The world teaches that it's okay to tell "white lies."  God says, "Thou shalt not lie."  The world teaches you to do whatever "feels good" to you.  God says "Be ye holy as I am holy."  The world teaches you to disobey and to be disrespectful to your parents.  God says, "Honor thy father and thy mother."  Don't listen to the world's view or be swayed to their side in any area of your life.  Be strong in the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 6:10)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, boy!  Oh, boy!  It's a boy, isn't it?" Jeremy was jumping around the kitchen while his grandmother talked on the phone to Jeremy's father at the hospital.  He was so excited, he almost dropped the apple he was holding.
 
Grandma hung up the phone.  "You now have a beautiful baby sister," she said gently.  "Her name is Melissa."
 
"That can't be!" Jeremy dropped his apple.  "I've been praying for months for a brother.  It's not fair.  Cory got a baby brother, and he didn't pray at all.  How could God send me a dumb girl?"
 
Grandma sat down in the chair by the coffee table.  "I remember how happy your mom and dad were when they were expecting you," Grandma told him.  "When people asked if they wanted a girl or a boy, they said they just wanted a healthy baby."
 
Jeremy picked his apple up from the floor.  "I'm sure they were glad I turned out to be a boy."
 
"They were mighty proud of you, but I was a little disappointed.  I was hoping for a granddaughter," confessed Grandma.
 
"Grandma!" Jeremy was shocked.  "Didn't you want me?"
 
"Oh, yes," Grandma assured him, "but I already had five grandsons.  I thought it would be nice to have a girl in the family."  She gave Jeremy a big hug.  "But you know what?  Now I couldn't love anybody more.  You'll love your sister, too.  You'll see.  Thank God for her."
 
"I still don't think it was fair of you, Grandma, to wish I was a girl," Jeremy pouted.
 
Grandma's eyes twinkled.  "Less fair than for you to wish your sister was a boy?" she asked.
 
Jeremy looked surprised.  "I guess I'm unfair, too," he admitted.  He bit into his apple.  "When can Melissa come home?" he asked eagerly.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you blame God if He doesn't answer your prayers your way?  Do you ask for things to satisfy your own selfish desires, or do you ask for God's will to be done?  He has a purpose for everything -- He even knows how many sisters and brothers you should have. So trust Him when He answers His way, and be thankful.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why do we have to pick up Mr. Adams?" asked Bob.  "The nursing home is a long way from our house."
 
"If we don't pick him up, he won't get to come to the church picnic," answered Dad as he drove.  "Besides, it makes him happy to be with a family from time to time.  This is a small job we can do for the Lord."
 
Bob thought about that.  "It seems like a funny way to help God," he decided.  He grinned as he added, "I mean, God could take Mr. Adams to the picnic on a flying carpet if he wanted to.  He doesn't really need us, does He?"
 
Just then they drove up to the nursing home.  Mr. Adams was standing outside, waiting just as he did each Sunday when they picked him up for church.  But today he had a small brown bag which he waved in the air.  "I remembered it was a picnic," he said.  "I brought some lunch."
 
At the park, Bobby's family spread their lunch on a picnic table.  They had brought fried chicken, potato salad, rolls, pickles, crisp celery and carrots, a giant chocolate cake with cherries on top, lemonade, and a watermelon.  Bob saw Mr. Adams open his bag at the next table.  He took out a bologna sandwich.  Bob's mother walked over to Mr. Adams.  "Please don't eat all by yourself, Mr. Adams," she said.  "Come on!  Bring your lunch and put it with ours.  There'll be plenty."
 
Mr. Adams grinned and came to Bob's table.  He carefully placed his sandwich next to the basket of golden rolls.  He might as well not have bothered with that, thought Bobby.  They prayed and began to eat.  To Bobby's surprise, his little sister, Susie, immediately reached for the bologna sandwich.
 
Bob's father leaned toward his son.  "Bob," he whispered, "we 'help' God in much the same way Mr. Adams is 'helping' us.  God has all the power and all the resources, but He allows us to put in our small effort, too.  We bring almost nothing to God, yet He uses what we bring, and we receive great blessings from Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel as though the Lord doesn't need you to help Him perform His will on earth?  He is all-powerful, yet He has chosen to use your small efforts to bring about large blessings.  Thank Him for the privilege of serving Him.  Be a "helping hand" for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 4:7)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

[Soldier4Christ]

The boys of Bay Street were at it again, cursing and telling dirty jokes and stories.  Andy stood there, hating it all, but saying nothing.  "Didn't you get the point?" asked one of the boys when Andy didn't laugh at his joke.
 
Andy swallowed hard.  "I got it," he said.  "It's late; I have to go."  He mumbled a good-by and hurried away.  Why didn't I tell them I'm a Christian and don't like their dirty talk? he thought.  And why did I hang around so long?  It's sure hard to be the only Christian kid in the neighborhood.
 
Running fast with his head down and his mind on his troubles, Andy didn't see Pastor Flint until he smacked right into him.  "Oh, I'm sorry, Pastor!" he exclaimed.
 
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked the pastor.
 
"No place -- just getting away from the guys.  They're talking dirty," said Andy.  He hesitated.  "I should have told them why I don't like such talk, but I didn't," he added.  "It's really hard to stand for the Lord all by yourself."
 
"Yes, it is," agreed Pastor Flint.  He took a toothpick from his pocket.  "You're like this toothpick.  Here -- see if you can break it." Andy took the toothpick and broke it easily.
 
"Yeah, I'm like that," he agreed.  "I'm the only Christian, and I'm not strong enough to say anything."
 
"Oh, but you're not alone," said the pastor, holding out a nail and another toothpick.  "Now, can you break this toothpick with the nail alongside it?"
 
"Course not," answered Andy.  "I'd have to break the nail, too, and I can't do that!"
 
"Well," said Pastor Flint, "as I said, you are like a toothpick -- but you're like the toothpick with the nail beside it."
 
	Andy frowned.  "But who's like the nail then?  Dad?  Or you?  I'd feel much stronger with one of you around, but you're not always there."
 
"No," said Pastor Flint, "but Jesus is.  Ask Him to help.  He's always there to give you strength to resist evil."
 
Andy was thoughtful.  "Yeah, you're right," he admitted, looking at the nail.  "Say Pastor, how'd you happen to have a nail in your pocket?"
 
"I brought it to show this object lesson to Ralph Burns," said Pastor Flint.  "He's having trouble with the Bay Street boys, too.  You see, he thinks he's the only Christian boy in the neighborhood."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have trouble standing up for what's right?  You can have the strength you need if you trust Jesus.  With His help, you can find the courage to speak out against sin.  And when you do, you may even discover there are other Christians around.  You can encourage them to take a stand, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 1:11)
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look, Dad!" Ken grinned mischievously.  "Smokie's playing dead, just like I taught him."
 
Dad laughed as he saw the dog stretched out lazily on the front porch.  "I think he's just resting," he said.  "Let's go for a walk and see if we can teach him to heel."
 
When they started out with Smokie on a leash, the dog plodded along willingly at first.  Then he began to strain at the leash, trying to go out to the street.  Ken scolded and tugged, but the dog paid no attention. Suddenly Smokie turned and ran in the direction Ken had been pulling. "Look, Dad!  He's minding me now!" Ken called.
 
"Who's leading who?" Dad called back, watching Ken puffing along beside the running dog.  When Smokie came to a trash can, he stopped short, sniffing at the contents.  No amount of coaxing by Ken could get him to budge.
 
"I don't understand it," moaned Ken as Dad walked up.  "Sometimes Smokie minds me, and sometimes he doesn't."
 
"I don't think he's obeying you at all," Dad remarked.  "I think he does whatever he wants, and sometimes he just happens to want the same thing you do."
 
"You mean when he's good, he's just accidentally good?" asked Ken.
 
Dad laughed.  "You could say that.  Here. . . ."  He took the leash and showed Ken how to direct the dog, giving the leash a firm jerk every time Smokie went the wrong way.
 
"You know, people often behave the way Smokie did," observed Dad as they walked.  "When they're in a good mood, they're nice to others. They go to church when they feel like it, and they contribute money or time if they happen to feel generous.  But that's not really obeying God. The true test of obedience is how we respond to God's commands when we don't feel like obeying."
 
"I get it," Ken replied as he jerked the leash.  "I'll try to remember that.  I don't want to be just accidentally good."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you're obeying God because you sometimes do things that please Him -- whenever you feel like it?  That's not really obeying; it's still just doing what you want to do.  You need to follow Jesus' example.  He became a servant and was "obedient unto death -- even the death of the cross."  You need to obey God all the time, regardless of how you feel or what it might cost you.  Only then can you be truly happy.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 16:24)
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself. . .and follow Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mary was sitting at her desk, surrounded by books and papers, when her father walked in.  "What are you working so hard on?" he asked.
 
"I'm doing a project about famine," replied Mary.  "My group has to pretend that we're rulers in a country where there's a great famine.  We have to decide what to do about it.  Any ideas?"
 
"Not any of my own, but I know what one wise man did," said Dad.  "The Bible tells of Joseph, who prepared for a famine in the land of Egypt by storing up food for years beforehand."
 
"How did he know it was coming?" asked Mary.
 
"The king of the country had a dream, and God gave Joseph the wisdom to understand that it meant a famine was coming," explained Dad.
 
Mary sighed.  "That doesn't really help me," she said.
 
"Not with this project," agreed Dad, "but it occurs to me that the idea of storing up could be applied to another kind of famine, too.  One that would affect you."
 
"Like what?"  Mary turned from her books to listen.
 
"Like a famine for the Word of God," said Dad.  "It doesn't seem like it now, but actually, it's quite possible that the time will come when it will be hard to get your hands on a Bible.  In some countries, it's almost impossible now.  How do you think we can prepare for that kind of famine?"
 
Mary thought.  "Well, I guess we should save up a little at a time, like Joseph did," she decided.  "That would mean memorizing lots of Bible verses so that we we'll know them even if our Bibles are taken away."
 
Dad nodded.  "Right you are!" he said.  "In countries where Christians are persecuted, they'll do anything to have the Word of God. Some even risk their lives to get it.  Wouldn't it be wise to fill your mind with Bible verses and passages now?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you prepared for a famine of the Word of God?  It has happened in many countries.  It could happen to you.  If the time comes when you are left without a Bible, will you have enough of God's Word hidden in your heart to help you through the trials?  Take time now to learn all you can -- learn a little each day.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:165)
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Oh, no, Brett thought as he looked at the school library clock.  My time is up, and I haven't copied all the information I need from this book.  I can't check it out, because I haven't paid my fine from last week.  Brett's paper on the history of airplanes was due the next day.  I'll just take this book to history class without checking it out and bring it back when the bell rings, he decided.  Mrs. Martinez, the librarian, was busy helping another student and didn't notice Brett as he left the room.
 
In history class, Brett worked swiftly, copying data about the Wright brothers and other flight pioneers.  When Mr. Jordan, the teacher, went to the door to talk with the principal, Craig turned around and quickly took the book from Brett's desk.  "Hey, I need that for my report," Brett whispered.
 
Craig opened the cover of the book and noticed that the library card was still in it.  "I see you Christians steal books just like everybody else," he taunted.
 
"I didn't steal it.  I just borrowed it until the bell," protested Brett.  But he felt guilty.  He had been inviting Craig to Sunday school, and now it was obvious what Craig was thinking.
 
"Well, I'll just borrow it from you then," said Craig with a smirk.  Brett grabbed for the book.  As he tried to pull it away from Craig's grasp, he realized that Mr. Jordan was standing beside them.
 
A few minutes later, Brett found himself being marched in to see the librarian.  "Mrs. Martinez," said Mr. Jordan, "your books are so popular the students fight over them.  Brett has something he wants to say." 
 
Brett explained what he had done.  "I didn't mean to steal it," he said, "but I can see that it amounted to almost the same thing, since I knew I wouldn't be allowed to take it if I asked."  He placed the book on the charge desk.  "I'm sorry."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you "borrowed" something without permission?  At worst, that's stealing.  At best, it's a poor example to others -- it doesn't honor Jesus Christ.  If you've taken something that way and haven't returned  it, be sure to do so right away.  Then ask God to help you resist the temptation of "borrowing" without permission.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 37:21)
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again.

[Soldier4Christ]

Aaron was excited as he and his father took their places on the tree stand.  It was the first time Dad had taken him bow hunting.  As Aaron squinted into the low sun, he noticed rows of standing corn in the field nearby.  Glancing around, his gaze froze on something large and black among the trees.  Black?  Deer are tan, so what is that thing? he wondered.  Aaron shivered with something close to fear.  He nudged his father, and whispered, "Dad, look!  What's that?  It's coming this way!"
 
Just then the animal stood on its hind legs, and they saw that it was a  large black bear.  It raised its head and sniffed the air.  Aaron and Dad stood still in shocked amazement; this was a rare sight in that area.  Still sniffing, the bear cautiously moved to the edge of the woods.  Checking for danger, it sat on its haunches where field and woods met, gazing longingly at the luscious corn.  After several minutes of checking and smelling, the bear ventured cautiously toward the field.  Soon, however, it returned to the safety of the woods.
 
Driving home later, Dad and Aaron talked about the animal's interesting behavior.  "Did you see how much that bear wanted to get that corn?" asked Aaron.  "But he didn't go get it."
 
"No, apparently he sensed danger, and he was too smart to take a chance by staying out in the open," replied Dad.  "We could take a lesson from him."  Then he quoted a Bible verse that summed up the situation:  "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."
 
"What does that mean, Dad?" asked Aaron.
 
"Well, it means that, as Christians, we are to be very careful how we live and where we go -- looking all around and being alert to every temptation -- so we don't get trapped by some sin or trick of the devil," explained Dad.
 
When they got home, Mother asked about their hunting trip.  "Don't make up some big story about hundreds of deer," she joked.  "Just tell me the bare facts."
 
Dad grinned and winked at Aaron.  "That's what we'll tell you," he replied.  "Just the 'bear' facts."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you foolish about the way you live, or are you careful in all that you do?  Do you stay away from places where you might be tempted to do wrong?  Do you avoid people who encourage you to sin?  Be careful to live as God wants you to live.  Be wise.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 5:15)
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, who do I look like?" Theresa asked while her mother fixed her hair.
 
"Who do you look like?" repeated Mom.  "Duck," she added, aiming the hair spray.
 
"I look like a duck?"  Theresa laughed, knowing Mom meant "move or get sprayed."  Mom laughed with her, and Theresa repeated her question.  "You know, do I have your eyes, or Dad's nose, or what?" she asked.  "Do I look like you or like Dad?"
 
Mom took a long look at Theresa's face, then at her own reflection in the mirror.  "I'd say you look more like your father -- more so every day," she said thoughtfully.  Theresa's father had died when she was very small.  "You remind me of your dad very much.  You not only resemble him in appearance, you act like him, too.  You eat just as fast as he did," teased Mom, as they walked to the kitchen to eat breakfast.
 
"Isn't it strange," said Theresa as she set the table, "that I hardly knew Dad, but now I look like him, and act like him?  And you say I like the same foods he used to eat -- asparagus and beets and even sandwiches with pickles and peanut butter on them!  How can I be so much like him, when he's not here to show me how?"
 
"I believe you come by those things naturally because you are a part of Dad," said Mom as she poured the orange juice.  "I've shared my memories of Dad, too, and you've read his letters to me and seen our photo albums."  She smiled at Theresa as she added, "Being a child of God is something like that, too.  We don't see God, but we act like Him because we are a part of Him, and He is a part of us.  We read about Him in His Word, we see glimpses of Him in other Christians, and we talk about what He has done."  Mom squeezed Theresa's hand.  "Let's ask God to help us be more like Him today!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Can others see that God is your Heavenly Father? Does the way you live and talk make it easy for them to identify you as a child of God?  Ask the Lord to help you be like Jesus, so others will recognize your heavenly Father in you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 2:15)
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.