Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Brad, please take the dishes out of the dishwasher and put them away," said Mother one afternoon.  "And be sure to check over the glasses.  I've noticed water spots on them lately.  If you hold them up to the light, you'll be able to see if they're clean or spotted."
 
Brad carefully checked each glass by holding it up to the light coming in from the window.  As Mother had mentioned, a few had water spots. "What should I do with these?" asked Brad.
 
"If there are spots, just leave them in the dishwasher, and I'll add some rinse solution and wash them again," replied Mother.
 
Brad finished his work and had started to close the dishwasher when Dad came into the kitchen.  "Hold it, Son," he said.  "There are glasses in there yet.  Put them away before you quit."
 
Brad grinned as he picked up one of the glasses.  "You're sure you want me to put this in the cupboard?" he asked, holding the glass up to the light for his father to see.
 
Dad grinned back. "Hmmm," he murmured.  "Thanks, Son.  Let me borrow one of those spotted glasses.  That illustration is just what I need for my Sunday school class tomorrow."
 
"Illustration?" asked Brad.  "What illustration?"
 
"If we're not sure whether a glass is clean or dirty, we can hold it up to the light to find out," replied Dad.  "And if we aren't sure whether something we want to do is right or wrong, we should hold it up to God's light -- to see if it's 'clean' or 'spotted.'"
 
Brad thought he knew what Dad meant.  "God's light is the Bible?" he asked.
 
"Exactly," agreed Dad.  "We should see which principles in God's Word will help us make the right decision.  If it looks good when God's truth shines on it, then we know it is good."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you check to make sure your activities and attitudes do not break God's commands and principles?  Do you check them in the light of His Word?  As you read your Bible or hear lessons and stories from it, ask God to show you how the things you're reading or hearing apply to your daily activities.  Ask Him to show you what is right and clean and good for you to see and do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:9)
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Mom," said Andrew when he came in from school.  "We talked about euthanasia in current events class today."  He laughed as he added, "I always thought euthanasia was some youth group in China."
 
Mother, who was cleaning the refrigerator, laughed, too.  "Tell me more about the discussion you had in class," she said seriously.
 
"Well, Mrs. Grant asked what we thought should be done with old people in our country," explained Andrew.  "She said the cost of keeping all those people in nursing homes is getting to be a real problem and that more and more people think we should stop paying all that money for their care.  She wants us to write a paper giving our ideas about it."
 
"Is that right?" asked Mother with great concern.  "What does your teacher think should be done?"
 
"I'm not sure," answered Andrew, "but she explained 'euthanasia' --  she called it 'mercy killing' -- and said it might be a solution for people when they get old and useless.  She said most people like that don't really want to live anyway."  He frowned.  "That sounds terrible to me!"
 
Mother nodded as she wiped a refrigerator shelf.  Then she took an orange from the refrigerator and held it out to Andrew.  "Before you write that paper, have a little snack," she suggested.  "Have this orange."
 
"This orange!" exclaimed Andrew.  "How long has this been in there?  Five years?  It's old and brown and wrinkled!"
 
"Cut it open," suggested Mother.
 
Andrew obeyed reluctantly.  To his surprise, the orange was juicy and tasted sweet.  "Oh, this is really good," he said.
 
"Right," replied Mother, "but you almost threw it away -- and then you'd have missed a real treat.  I have more oranges like that, and we'll squeeze them for juice."
 
"Mom, are your trying to tell me something with this orange?" asked Andrew suspiciously.
 
"When you write your paper," said Mother, "I just want you to remember that 'old' does not mean 'useless.'  These people may be considered 'useless' by today's culture, but they are valuable to God and to us.  They give us the chance to practice God's love -- showing kindness and gentle, loving care.  God will reward us for that."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard people talking about euthanasia or "mercy killing"?  That is murder!  Remember that all human life is sacred to God.  Only He may decide when it should end.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Exodus 20:13)
Thou shalt not kill.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A-vee-air-ee," read Paul, looking at the sign above the door of one of the buildings at the zoo.  "What does that mean?"  He was visiting the zoo with his uncle.
 
"That's a building with all kinds of birds," answered Uncle Mike. "Let's go see them."  They opened the door and heard a lot of chirping and squawking, and as they walked through the building, they saw many different kinds of birds.  "Look over there," said Uncle Mike.  He pointed toward a flamingo standing on one leg with its head on its back.  "That one is asleep."
 
"What a funny way to sleep," said Paul.  "How can that skinny leg hold up that big bird?"
 
"God made it that way," answered Uncle Mike.  "It's amazing, isn't it?"  Paul nodded.
 
After leaving the aviary, Uncle Mike bought them each a snack.  As they sat on a bench and munched their chips, Paul was very quiet. "Thinking about your parents again?" asked Uncle Mike.
 
"Yeah," Paul answered.  "I just know they're going to get a divorce."
 
"Now you don't know for sure, Paul," responded Uncle Mike.  "The reason you're here with me this weekend is so they could go to that marriage seminar.  I believe they'll try to work things out."
 
"Yeah, I know," replied Paul.  "But I wish I could do something to help them."
 
"You can pray," answered his uncle.
 
"Oh, I do that," said Paul.  "I pray all the time!  But that's such a little thing."
 
"That's just what you said about that flamingo's leg," Uncle Mike reminded him, "but that little leg held that bird up, didn't it?  And your 'little' prayers can do great things, too.  God made it that way."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have problems you can do nothing about?  Nothing, that is, except pray?  You need to remember that God made prayer very powerful.  It's always the best thing you can do for any of your problems.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 5:16)
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

[Soldier4Christ]

Supper was ready, and Mother called everyone to the table.  After Dad prayed, Jill was the first to notice that something was wrong.  "Yuck!" she exclaimed.  "These dishes are dirty.  Why are they on the table?"
 
Mother looked at her plate.  "Oh," she gasped.  "I told Grandma to use the plates from the dishwasher.  If they're not clean, I must have forgotten to turn it on last night."
 
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Grandma, who was nearly blind.  "They must have been rinsed off good, and I couldn't see well enough to know they were still dirty.  I'm so sorry!"  After a good laugh, everyone helped remove the dishes and replace them with clean ones.
 
After reading the Scripture for family devotions later that evening, Dad closed his Bible thoughtfully.  "In the verses we just read (see today's Scripture reading), our bodies are called 'vessels' -- vessels to be used by God," he said.  "At supper tonight, we all saw how unpleasant it would be to eat out of dirty vessels, right?  We want clean dishes for our food."
 
"That's for sure," agreed Dana.
 
Dad nodded.  "When God says we should keep our 'vessels' -- our bodies -- clean, do you suppose He means we should take a bath?"
 
"Well, when I'm dirty, Mom tells me that cleanliness is next to godliness," said Jill.
 
"Is that in the Bible?" asked Dana.
 
Dad laughed.  "No, it's not," he said.  "We should keep our bodies clean, of course, but I don't think that's what is meant in these verses."
 
"God is concerned that we live clean, pure lives," suggested Mother.
 
"Yes," said Dad.  "The Apostle Paul is telling Timothy to do that by 'fleeing' evil desires that are typical for young people to have and by developing virtues such as faith, love, and peace.  Keep that in mind when you're tempted to do such things as smoke, drink, use drugs, or commit immoral, impure actions with your body.  When you're faced with those temptations, remember the dirty dishes we had today.  I'm sure you don't want to be like them.  Am I right?
 
  Jill and Dana nodded their heads vigorously.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you keeping your "vessel" -- your body -- clean and pure?  Follow Paul's advice to Timothy.  Then you'll be a vessel God can use.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 2:21)
Be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Joshua and his father stood watching a tall, old building.  Suddenly, with a loud BANG, the bricks of the huge structure tumbled down like toy building blocks.  They all fell right where the building had stood. "Wow!" exclaimed Joshua.  "How do they make it do that?"
 
"Well, the men who prepared that building for demolition knew how much dynamite to use and just where to place it," answered Dad.  He grinned at Joshua.  "Seeing this reminds me of God's dynamite."
 
"God's dynamite?" asked Joshua.  "What's that?"
 
"Let me explain with a story," replied Dad.  "There was a boy who took his first drink of beer while in high school.  Soon he was drinking regularly.  In college he drank more and more and did many wicked things, until finally he was kicked out of school.  Then he heard the gospel message from the Bible.  He believed it and asked Jesus to save him.  His life was completely changed, and he never drank again or did the other terrible things he had been doing.  He graduated from college with honors."  Dad stopped and looked at Joshua.  "I was that young man," he added.
 
"You!" exclaimed Joshua.  "It's hard to believe you were ever that bad."
 
"The wonderful part is that God changed me," said Dad.
 
"Yeah."  Joshua looked at the rubble of the old building.  "But what does that have to do with dynamite?" he asked.
 
Dad smiled.  "The Bible calls the gospel the 'power of God.'  It's the good news that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again.  It's the power -- or dynamite -- of God that brings salvation to all who believe on Jesus.  When I received Jesus as my Savior, God blew to pieces all the awful sins of my old life.  Then, just as they'll build a beautiful new building in the place of that old one, God gave me a new life.  He's still working on me, making me what I ought to be as I yield to Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has a change taken place in your life?  If you will believe the gospel message and receive Christ as your Savior, God's dynamite -- His power -- will take away your sin and give you new life.  But not handling dynamite correctly, is dangerous.  And not responding correctly to God's message -- rejecting Jesus -- will be death to your soul. Don't do that.  Trust Him today.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 1:16)
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, Eric, don't you think that's funny?" asked one of Eric's classmates after another boy had told a dirty joke.  "Or are you just a baby who doesn't understand jokes like that?"
 
"Baby!" echoed some of the others.  "Sissy boy!"
 
Eric said nothing as he left to go home, but he felt a little guilty.  He hadn't laughed at the dirty joke, but he felt like he should have told them why he hadn't.  Next time I get a chance I'll witness to them, he thought.
 
It happened the very next day.  "Let's hide Joe's cap," said one of the boys as they walked down the hall.   "It'll make him really mad.  Here, Eric . . . put it in your desk.  Nobody will look there."
 
"Yeah," agreed several others.  Eric shook his head.  "Eric's a sissy!  Eric's a baby!" the boys chanted over and over when they couldn't persuade him to join them in their unkind prank.  Eric's knees shook.  He opened his mouth, but no words came.  The boys walked away, laughing.
 
That night Eric told his father what had happened.  "I remember a winter day when you were very small," Dad said thoughtfully.  "You couldn't walk by yourself on the icy spots -- even holding on to me -- and you fell twice before you finally let me hold your hand."  Dad smiled as he remembered.  "I think you're trying to 'go it alone' again -- this time in your spiritual walk," he added.  "God says He'll 'hold your hand.'  In other words, He'll help you.  Ask Him -- and trust Him -- to do that."
 
When Eric saw the boys the next day, he prayed, "Lord, please help me to be a brave witness."  When the boys asked if he'd grown up enough to join their gang, Eric took a deep breath.  "I'm a Christian," he said, "and God won't be pleased if I join in some of the things you do."  He took another deep breath and hurried on.  "Why don't you join me instead?" he asked.  "I'm going to Bible Club tonight -- you'd like it."
 
The boys sneered.  But as they walked away, Eric heard one boy declare, "He's odd -- but he's no sissy!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you weak-kneed and tongue-tied when others want you to take part in wrong activities?  Is it hard to witness at school and in your neighborhood?  Remember that the reaction of those you witness to is not your responsibility.  Your obedience to God's command to witness is.  Depend on the Lord to help you.  Trust Him to "hold your hand," and then speak up for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 41:13)
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

"See my picture!"  Little Emily proudly showed Donicka her page of scribbled lines.  Red, blue, green, and yellow streaks criss-crossed the picture of balloons.
 
"Mom likes my coloring much better than yours," Donicka replied in a snooty tone.  "You don't stay in the lines."
 
Emily's lips puckered, and big tear drops crept down her cheeks. "Mommy!" she wailed and ran to find her mother.
 
Donicka took an orange crayon from the box and began coloring a stained glass window in a picture of a church.  "That looks too messy," she mumbled to herself after coloring for a while.  She ripped the page out of the coloring book, crumpled it up, and dropped it on the floor.  I think I'll try this picture of a kitten, she thought. She chose a yellow crayon to begin working on the calico cat.  But after a few minutes, she looked at the picture critically.  This looks messy, too, she decided.  Again the page was ripped out and tossed away.
 
Just then Mom walked into the room, holding Emily's hand.  The little girl was still sniffling.  "Donicka," said Mom, "do you think your words to Emily were very kind?"
 
	"I guess not," Donicka mumbled.
 
Mom picked up some of the pages Donicka had tossed on the floor. "It looks like you had trouble staying inside the lines, too," said Mother after looking at one of the pictures.  "You know, Donicka, the outlines of the pictures in your coloring book are boundaries, and as you told Emily, a picture is prettier when you stay inside the lines.  The boundaries of the pictures remind me that there are boundaries in life, too -- God's boundaries -- His rules.  When we obey His rules -- like 'Be kind to one another' -- our lives are like a pretty picture. But when we go outside the boundaries, we don't look very pretty to others or to God."   



HOW ABOUT YOU?
How does your "life-picture" look?  Today's Scripture tells about Dorcas, whose life was like a pretty picture.  She was kind; she helped others; she made clothes for the poor.  People were sad when she died.  Don't go outside God's boundaries by being unkind or hateful or by gossiping. If you love Jesus, your life  should be a "pretty picture" so others can see what He is like.  Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 5:2)
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Nothing's going my way, lately," Tim told his friend Brett.  "I want to live with my dad, but it's been decided that we kids have to stay with Mom."  He kicked at a stone on the pavement.  "Dad always took time to do stuff with me.  Y'know -- guy stuff.  Now I'll get to be with him only every other weekend."
 
"Well, you can  talk to him on the phone, too, can't you?" asked Brett.  "You still have a lot to be thankful for."
 
As Brett spoke, Tim noticed that his eyes were bright.  Are those tears? wondered Tim.  Suddenly he remembered that ever since he met Brett at the beginning of the school year, he had never seen or heard anything about Brett's father.  "Does your dad live with you?" Tim asked.
 
Brett shook his head.  "My dad died," he said softly.
 
"Oh," said Tim, not sure what else to say.  "Sorry."
 
The boys walked quietly.  "It's been tough, and I miss Dad a lot," Brett said finally, "but one day when I was trying to make a play guitar with rubber bands and a long box, Mom helped me understand how she deals with it."  He paused, and Tim looked at him curiously.  "Some of the rubber bands stretched and fit over my box easily, but others were tight and had to be pulled out thin in order to get around the cardboard," continued Brett.  "A few even snapped."  He was silent, remembering.
 
"What does that have to do with getting along without your dad?" Tim asked.
 
"When I strummed my make-believe guitar, Mom pointed out that the rubber bands that fit super-tight made more music-like sounds than the looser ones.  She said it's like that in life, too -- that as things happen, we're stretched like those smaller rubber bands," explained Brett.  "We may be uncomfortable, but we can choose to make music even during the hard times of our lives, or we can give up and snap and be useless.  Mom and I decided to trust God to use this hard part of our lives for His good."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have things happened in your life that are hard to accept?  God wants you to be content in all circumstances.  With His help, decide that you'll accept what He has allowed so that even your attitude may be a testimony for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 40:4)
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tom was having a difficult day.  In the locker room, he overheard some boys laughing because he had been friendly toward a new student who was very awkward.  At noon, some boys had told him that Christians weren't allowed to sit at their table.  The way they said "Christians" made it sound like something bad.  Even his friends thought he was "weird" because he didn't go to see the latest horror movie.  But in math class, Tom finally heard some good news.   Mrs. Brown announced that the regional math competition would be held the next week.  "The students who will represent our school are Amy, Rita, Bob, and Tom," she said.  "They'll be staying at the Grand Hotel while they're at the competition.  The winning team will get a trophy and go to the state contests next month."
 
"Lucky bums," growled one of the students.
 
"Luck had nothing to do with it," said Mrs. Brown.  "Hard work did. These students have shown that they're willing to put out the necessary effort to get ready for the competition.  We can count on them to do their best as they represent our school."
 
When Tom arrived home, he told his mother about his day. "Sometimes I wish I could be like the other kids so they wouldn't make fun of me," he confessed.
 
Mother frowned slightly.  "Tell me -- have you always felt like studying your math?" she asked.  Tom shook his head.  "But you studied anyway," Mother pointed out, "and your efforts were rewarded."  She smiled.  "Your efforts to serve the Lord and live for Him will some day be rewarded, too," she assured him.  "I know it seems hard when the kids reject you, but the reward for serving the Lord is much greater than the reward for studying math.  Keep doing what God wants you to do."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wish you could be more like other kids -- cheat a little, use bad language, or go to the same places they do -- so no one would make fun of you for being different?  When it seems too hard to do the right thing, remember that suffering for Jesus is actually a privilege -- one that will bring you rewards.  Ask God to give you strength to be faithful to Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 5:11-12)
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Here's Mom now," Julie told her little brother as the old, blue car pulled up in front of the church.  Julie opened the door and she and little Benjie got in and fastened their seat belts.
 
"How was your first day at Bible school?" asked Mother.
 
"Great," answered Julie, "except that Mrs. Wilson asked me to play the piano for the Primary Department's song time  the rest of the week."
 
Mother frowned.  "You think that's bad?" she asked.
 
Julie nodded.  "I'm not going to do it," she said.  "I just can't.  With all those little kids looking at me, I'd be so nervous that I'd mess up for sure."  Just thinking about it was making Julie's stomach feel funny.
 
Mother sighed.  "I wish you'd try it," she said quietly.
 
Four-year-old Benjie tugged at Julie's sleeve.  "Listen to my song!" he said.  Holding one chubby finger straight up before him he began to sing.  "This little light of mine -- I'm gonna let it shine. . . ."
 
When he had finished, Julie gave him a big hug.  "Good job," she said.  "When I was little like you, that was one of my favorite songs.  Let's sing the 'hide it under a bushel' verse together, okay?"
 
"Maybe you shouldn't sing it if you don't mean it anymore," Mother suggested.
 
"Wha-a-t?" Julie turned toward her mother with a puzzled frown.
 
"Aren't you 'hiding your light under a bushel,' dear?" asked Mother.  "I'm thinking of your refusal to play the piano."
 
"Oh, Mom," grumbled Julie as Benjie began to sing again.  But she didn't join him -- not until the very last line, that is.  When the song ended, she grinned at her mother.  "Okay," she said.  "I guess if God gave me the talent to play, He can give me the courage to do it in front of those kids. I'll try it."  She turned to her brother.  "My turn to sing a verse, Benjie."
 
Mother smiled as Julie sang a verse she made up to the old familiar tune.  "I'm gonna play for Jesus -- let my light shine now."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you ever afraid to use the talents God gave you?  Do your knees shake, and does your throat get dry when you get up in front of others?  Are you afraid you'll "mess up"?  God gave you certain talents.  Ask Him for the courage to use them to help other people.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 5:16)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Janie sure drinks a lot of milk, doesn't she?" observed Laura one day as she watched her baby sister.  "That's all she drinks all day."
 
"That's true," Mom answered.  "Maybe she's getting tired of milk.  Shall I feed her a peanut butter sandwich and an apple?"
 
"No-o-o-o."  Laura laughed at Mom's joke.  "She can't eat that. She isn't big enough yet.  She hasn't got any teeth to chew with."
 
"You're absolutely right."  Mom smiled as she added, "But before too long she'll be able to have some soft cereal and some juice."
 
"How soon can she have hamburgers?" asked Laura.
 
"Not for quite a while," answered Mom. "She's got a lot of growing to do before she'll be big enough for that."
 
Dad held up his roast beef sandwich. "Well, I'm glad I'm big enough to have this," he said with a grin.  "But you know what, Laura?  Just like human babies slowly grow big enough to eat different things, baby Christians do, too."
 
"Baby Christians?" asked Laura, looking puzzled.
 
Dad nodded.  "When a person first accepts Jesus as Savior, he's called a 'babe' -- an infant -- in Christ.  Older Christians help him under- stand the 'milk' of God's Word -- the easiest verses and stories.  Then, as that person grows spiritually, we share the 'meat' of God's Word -- the deeper truths of Scripture that are harder to understand."
 
Laura thought for a moment.  Then she grinned.  "I don't think I'll ask what stage you think I'm at," she decided.  "I don't think I'm at the 'milk' stage anymore, but I'm probably not quite ready to chew the 'meat' of the Bible either.  You'd probably say I'm at the 'mashed banana' stage, and that sounds horrible."
 
"As long as you're growing in Christ -- a little every day -- it's great, not horrible," said Dad. "The only horrible thing would be if you stopped growing altogether."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you ready to not only listen to simple Bible stories but also look for lessons they are teaching?  Are you ready now to listen to sermons at church and read God's Word for yourself?  Don't get discouraged when you don't understand everything.  Keep applying God's Word to your life, and as you grow in Christ, you will understand more.   You'll begin to "chew the meat" of God's Word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Peter 3:18)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hearing her name called as she walked home after school, Marcella turned and waited for Cathy to catch up with her. "Come to my house," Cathy invited her.  Marcella shook her head.  "Oh, I forgot," moaned Cathy.  "You're a latch-key kid, and your mom wants you to stay home till she gets home from work.  You don't have any fun."
 
"I have lots of fun!" protested Marcella.  "Tonight I'm going to start supper, and I'm surprising Mom by making a special dessert.  I found an easy recipe for chocolate cream pie."  As they reached her home, she unlocked the door.  "Tomorrow I'll tell you how it turned out."
 
"I'll help," offered Cathy.  Marcella shook her head again.  "I know  you're not supposed to have anyone over unless you ask your mom first, but she'll never know.  Please?" pleaded Cathy.
 
Marcella hesitated.  "I can't, Cathy," she said.  "Mom trusts me to do what she says.  See you tomorrow."
 
After changing clothes, Marcella got busy in the kitchen.  Soon she scooped the last bit of pudding into the pie crust.  There!  All I need now is the topping!  But Marcella slapped her forehead as she realized she had forgotten to get topping.  Oh, no!  Mom's pie will be so . . . so plain!
 
Marcella sat at the kitchen table, head in her hands, and thought about her problem.  I could run to the store, she told herself, but then I'd be disobeying.  Besides, like I told Cathy, Mom trusts me.  That settles it.  She gets a plain pie.  Some surprise!
 
When Marcella served her mother the pie after their evening meal, Mother exclaimed in pleasure.  But she noticed that Marcella looked quite unhappy.  "What's wrong, honey?" asked Mother.
 
"I wanted the pie to be such a nice surprise," said Marcella sadly, "but I couldn't get topping for it."
 
After hearing the whole story, Mother hugged Marcella tight.  "Your surprise is much better than you think it is!" she exclaimed.
 
"But my surprise has no topping," moaned Marcella.
 
"Yes, it does!  The 'topping' is the fact that you obeyed me!" Mother replied.  "You were tempted to break my rules in order to do a nice thing for me, but you chose to obey.  That makes me happier than a hundred pies with topping would!"  Marcella grinned as her mother hugged her again, and added, "Actually, honey, your surprise has double topping.  When you chose to obey, you not only pleased me -- you also pleased the Lord."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you wanted to do something nice for someone, but you'd have to disobey parents or a teacher to do it?  There is no gift you can give and no deed you can do that is better than obedience --  obedience to those in authority and obedience to God.  By obeying, you bring glory to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:20)
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Leave my stuff alone!" Jason shouted at his younger brother.  "And get out of my room, you little pest!"  As Mother walked toward Jason's room, five-year-old Lance came running out, his eyes brimming with tears.
 
"Jason!  What's the problem?" asked Mother as she sat down on the edge of his bed.
 
Jason's eyes flashed with anger.  "Lance knows he's not to touch anything on my desk, but I caught him holding my model airplane!"
 
"I can understand that it's frustrating to have your special possessions bothered," said Mother.  "I'll have a talk with Lance."
 
"Well, I'm going to do more than talk to him if he touches anything on my desk again," threatened Jason.  Mother sat silent while Jason continued to voice his anger.  At last, he was quiet.
 
"Remember that colorful butterfly we saw earlier today?" Mother asked after a moment.
 
"Yeah.  So?" mumbled Jason.
 
"Do you think it ever tries to crawl back into its old cocoon?" asked Mother.
 
"Of course not," said Jason.  "Why are you asking me that, Mom?"
 
"I was thinking about that evening a few months ago when you trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord and asked Him to take control of your life," said Mother quietly.  Jason stared at the floor as she continued.  "It's been so neat to see God's Spirit working in you since that day.  You've been changing, Jason.  You're becoming more obedient, more respectful, more patient.  Watching you change has been something like watching a new butterfly emerge from its cocoon and then begin to fly."
 
Jason looked thoughtful.  "I guess I haven't been flying very well this afternoon," he admitted.  He frowned as he added, "But Lance is supposed to leave my desk alone." 
 
Mother nodded.  "That's true," she said, "but don't you think he listens better and learns more from you when he sees Jesus in you?"
 
Jason breathed a heavy sigh.  "You mean when I correct him without shouting or calling him names."
 
"Exactly," said Mother.  "God doesn't plan for butterflies to return to their old cocoons, and He doesn't want you returning to your old ways of thinking and acting."
 
Jason pressed his lips together.  "I do feel bad about losing my temper," he said.  He paused in thought, and then his face brightened. "I'm going to find Lance."  A twinkle came to his eyes as he added, "Don't worry, Mom.  I won't yell at him this time."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you "flying" lately?  Ask God to help you develop kindness and patience and to become more like Jesus each day. The changes may seem slow to you, but those around you will be excited to see God working in your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ricky sat on the couch watching a baseball game with his dad.  "It's too bad Pete isn't here," said Ricky.  "He loves baseball."
 
"Who's Pete?" asked Dad.
 
"He's a new kid at school," Ricky answered.  "I like him."
 
Dad smiled.  "I talked to a new family at church last week," he said.  "They have a son named Pete.  I wonder if that's him."
 
"I doubt it," said Ricky.  "Our church talks a lot about Jesus dying on the cross for us, but Pete says it's foolish to believe Jesus can save you. He believes in God, though, and he's a really good kid."
 
Dad sighed.  "Pete's missing out on salvation by not believing in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross," he said.
 
Dad's reply was muffled by loud cheering.  The batter had just slammed the ball far into right field.  The player already on first base started running to second.  "Go!  Go!" yelled Ricky, jumping up.  The runner passed second base and raced to third.  "He'll score for sure!" said Ricky as the player rounded third base and headed for home.  But Ricky's cheer turned to a groan as the runner missed home plate altogether and got tagged out.  It was the final out of the ball game.
 
"It's too bad, isn't it?" Dad remarked sadly.  "That player made a fine effort, but he didn't make it home.  At the end, he didn't score.  He reminds me of your friend Pete."
 
Ricky's eyebrows shot up.  "Why?" he asked.
 
Dad clicked off the TV.  "In baseball, you don't score if you miss home plate.  Passing first, second, and third base isn't enough.  That's a little like your friend Pete.  He may be nice and believe there's a God.  He might even admire Jesus, but that's not enough.  Pete doesn't believe in the cross -- he doesn't believe that Jesus died for him.  He's missing Jesus, the Savior.  Unless he changes, Pete won't be saved.  He'll be considered out."
 
Ricky frowned.  "Tomorrow I'll tell that to Pete," he decided.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know people who are really nice but who refuse to believe that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for sin?  Do you know kids who think that just believing there's a God is enough to get them to heaven?  Don't be deceived; don't come to the end of life and find that you're "out" -- out of heaven.  God sent His Son to die on the cross for you.  Believing on Him is the only way to heaven.  (See last page.)


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Terre didn't want to go to the family reunion.  "I can't stand to listen to Jill's bragging for two days!" she declared.  "All she can talk about is their new house, their new car, their new this, and their new that."
 
But Mother insisted that Terre should go, so Terre went -- determined to stay out of her cousin Jill's way.  Surprisingly, it wasn't too hard.  In fact, Jill seemed to be avoiding her, too.
 
  It was late afternoon before the girls met in the kitchen.  As they worked in cold silence, their grandmother frowned.  "This won't do, girls," said Grandma.  "What's wrong?"
 
"Wrong?" echoed Jill.
 
"Is something wrong?" asked Terre.
 
Grandma nodded her head emphatically.  "Sit down, girls."  Without looking at each other, they obeyed.  "Why aren't you speaking to one another?" Grandma wanted to know.  When neither replied, she continued.  "Then we'll start with you, Jill.  Why are you mad at Terre?"
 
Jill's face turned red.  "I . . . I . . . ," she stammered.  "I . . . well, I'm not mad at her.  It's just that I'm sick of her bragging."
 
Terre sat up with a start.  "My bragging?" she asked.
 
Jill looked at her for the first time.  "Yes, your bragging.  All I hear from you is, 'I made the honor roll.  I'm class secretary.  I sang a solo in the choir.  Blah-blah-blah.'  I'm tired of it."
 
Terre sat open-mouthed.  Then she started giggling and couldn't stop. Grandma and Jill stared at her.  "Would you please tell us what's so funny?" Jill asked icily.
 
Catching her breath, Terre explained.  "I . . . I, well, you see, I didn't want to come here because of your bragging, Jill," she confessed.  "I was always hearing about a new house or a new car or a new swimming pool or a new whatever. . . .  Blah-blah-blah."  Hearing this, Jill and Grandma joined her in a hearty round of laughing.
 
"Let's declare a truce, Jill.   When one of us starts to brag, the other one says, 'blah-blah-blah,'" suggested Terre after they had quieted down. "Okay?"
 
Jill nodded.  "Sounds good to me," she agreed, "but what's a truce?"
 
Terre raised her eyebrows.  "You mean you don't know what a truce is?  I learned that in third grade."
 
Jill grinned at her cousin.  "Blah-blah-blah!" she said.  Both girls laughed merrily.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you noticed that sometimes the thing you dislike about someone else is a trait in your own life?  God says to look at yourself before you criticize someone else.  He wants His children to live in harmony with one another.  He tells us not to judge, but to first take care of our own faults.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 7:1)
Judge not, that ye be not judged.