Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Sally and her little brother, Joey, watched the ants scurry up and down the tiny tunnels in her ant farm.  "Look!" said Joey, pointing to one of the ants.  "That one is carrying food down the tunnel."  After a moment, he added, "And why is that one digging a new tunnel?  Oh!  Is that one cleaning up?  Ants are neat.  Did God make ants, too?"
 
"Such a lot of questions from such a little boy," teased Sally.  "Yes, God made ants, too."
 
"Are these ants just like the ones outside?" asked Joey.
 
"Well, yeah, I guess so.  I'd say they're cousins anyway," replied Sally with a grin.  She stood up.  "I have go study now," she added, "but if you'll be careful, you can watch my ants some more."
 
Sally was in her room only a little while when she heard Joey run outside.  Minutes later, she heard him slam the screen door, stomp up the steps, and scurry into his room.  When she went to check on him, he had his head under the sheet, with his legs sticking out.  Sally knew Joey thought he was hiding when he did this.  "Joey, I see you," she said. "What happened?  Why are you hiding in your bed?"
 
Slowly Joey pulled his head from under the sheet.  He looked like he might cry.  "I wanted to show your ants to their ant cousins outside.  But I   dropped the ant farm," he confessed.  "It broke, and lots of ants ran away."
 
"Oh, Joey!" cried Sally.
 
Joey looked at the floor, and tears ran down his cheeks.  "I didn't want you to see what I had done," he said.
 
"Well, you might have hidden it from me, but you know that God sees all you do.  You can't hide from Him," scolded Sally.  "Just like you could see the ants and everything they did in the ant farm, God always sees you and everything you do.  In fact, He sees you better than you saw the ants."
 
"I'm really sorry," Joey said anxiously.  "Really, I am."
 
Sally sighed.  "I know, and I forgive you," she replied. "I don't like what happened to the ants, but I hope you'll remember that God always sees you -- and that you can't ever run away from Him."
 
"I'll remember," promised Joey.  "Will He forgive me, too?"
 
"He will if you're really sorry and ask Him to," said Sally.  "Now . . . let's go and pick up what's left of the ant farm."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes forget that God sees everything you do?  Would He be happy or sad with the way you acted today?  Ask Him to help you live your life in a way that shows you are a Christian.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Genesis 16:13)
Thou God seest me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Do you have your offerings to put in the collection?" Mother asked Joanne and Betsy.
 
Joanne nodded, but Betsy shook her head.  "I don't have anything.  I  spent all my allowance this week," she confessed.  "Will you give me some money for the offering, Mom?"  Mother frowned, but she reached into her wallet, took out some money, and handed it to Betsy.
 
That afternoon, Betsy had a suggestion for her mother.  "If you can't think of anything to get me for my birthday, I have some ideas," she said.
 
Mother looked thoughtful a moment.  "Well, if I'm not mistaken, JoAnne has some socks in her drawer that she doesn't care for," said Mother.  "Maybe I'll just give you those."  She smiled brightly at Betsy.  "Or maybe JoAnne has something else she wouldn't mind giving up."
 
"Mom!" exclaimed Betsy.  "I'm serious."
 
"What's wrong with my idea?" asked Mother, pretending  surprise.
 
Betsy frowned.  "You're just kidding, right?" she asked.  "I mean . . . it won't really be from you if you give me something that belongs to JoAnne."
 
"You're absolutely right, Betsy," agreed Mother.  "I'm not truly giving if I present you with something that doesn't belong to me --  something to which I didn't give any thought or effort or money.  You wouldn't be happy about that, would you?"  Betsy shook her head.  "At church this morning, you were satisfied to offer God a gift that wasn't really from you, weren't you?" asked Mother gently.
 
"But you used to always give us money for church," protested Betsy.
 
"When you were too young to have your own money, I gave you some so you'd get in the habit of giving to God," replied Mother.  "Now that you have a little of your own cash, it's up to you to willingly give some of that to the Lord.  Then you'll be giving a real offering instead of simply dropping some money into the plate."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you give the Lord a portion of money you've received?  Everything you have is from God, and the Bible teaches you to return a part of it to Him to spread the Gospel of Christ.  When you give to the Lord, give from your heart and from your blessings rather than from your parents.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, my skin is getting all itchy," said Allen, holding out his arms. "I have bumps on my legs, too."
 
"Oh, Allen," said Mother, "your allergies are acting up again.  But I haven't changed the laundry detergent or any of our soaps.  I can't imagine what has caused an allergic reaction this time, can you?"
 
Allen rubbed his arms.  "When I was over at Bob's this morning, we dressed up in some of his dad's old camouflage clothes.  I guess they may have been washed in something that caused my reaction."
 
"I expect that's it," agreed Mother.  "Go take a shower, and then we'll go and get your prescription refilled."
 
As Allen and his mother drove home after picking up the medicine, Allen sighed.  "It's hard to remember that I need to be careful about stuff that touches my skin," he said.   
 
"I know," said Mother.  "Dressing in those old clothes was innocent fun, and it seems too bad you have to avoid things like that.  But if you don't, you're generally sorry later because you get this negative reaction."
 
"Yeah," groaned Allen.  "We were just having so much fun this morning, that I didn't even think about it."  He rubbed his arm.  "My allergies are reminding me now, though," he added.  "It's too bad they don't remind me ahead of time!"
 
"Isn't that the truth!" agreed Mother.  She smiled at her son.  "You know," she added thoughtfully, "we always need to think ahead about the consequences of things we do.  There are other things all of us need to avoid, even though they may seem like innocent fun."
 
"Other things?" asked Allen.  "Like what?"
 
"Well . . . things like watching bad TV programs, reading bad books, or going places where we'll be tempted to do wrong," replied Mother. "Things that bring a negative reaction in our lives, such as yielding to temptation and giving in to sinful activity that spoils our close fellowship with God.  We need to ask the Lord to help us avoid things that will harm us." 



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you allergic to something?  A kind of food?  Bees? A medicine?  Weeds?  Soap?  If so, you know it's best for you to avoid those things.  You also need to avoid sin -- it can cause a very bad reaction in your life.  Avoid sinful activities, and you will avoid their  consequences.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

[Soldier4Christ]

Joey ran from the store with tears running down his cheeks, his feet barely touching the pavement.  He felt like his heart was about to explode. Reaching home, he collapsed on the sofa where his mother found him. Putting an arm around him she asked, "Whatever is the matter, Joey?"
 
"Hank . . . at the s-s-store said . . . said . . ."  Joey's voice shook.  "He said . . ."  As Joey remembered, his eyes widened.  "But I didn't, Mom.  I didn't!" he choked.
 
Mother held Joey tightly and asked calmly, "You didn't what?"
 
Joey took a deep breath.  "I didn't steal candy from the store after school yesterday -- or any time!  Hank is the new clerk, and he said I did. He said he wouldn't tell anyone if I gave him five dollars."  Joey searched his mother's face.  "You do believe me, don't you?" he asked.
 
Mother's mouth tightened.  "Certainly I believe you."  She stood up. "I see Grandma turning into the driveway," said Mother as she glanced out the window.  "I'm going to the store, but you can stay here with her."
 
When Mother returned later, Joey asked, "What happened?"
 
Mother smiled grimly.  "When I talked to Hank, he smirked and asked how I knew you hadn't stolen the candy.  I told him, 'Because I know my son.'  Just then your teacher came in.  When he heard what had happened, he said, 'Joey didn't take that candy. He was with me after school.  But even if he hadn't been, I'd never believe you, Hank, because Joey is one of the most honest boys I know.'  Hank didn't know what to say then."
 
Joey's mouth fell open.  "I was so scared, I forgot about being with Mr. Johnson at the library after school yesterday."
 
Mother squeezed Joey's shoulders.  "Hank was very embarrassed. He's been getting money from other little kids by threatening them.  But he picked the wrong one this time."
 
Joey hugged his mother.  "Thanks for believing me," he said.
 
Mother ruffled Joey's hair.  "Thanks, Son, for being trustworthy."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
If something like this happened to you, could your parents believe you?  Are you trustworthy (worthy of their trust)? It's important to build a good reputation -- for your own sake, for the sake of your parents, and also for the Lord.  Your reputation reflects on Him, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 8:21)
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

[Soldier4Christ]

Eric and Sean were walking home from school.  "Oh, no," groaned Sean.  "Here comes David.  Let's cut between these houses so we can get away.  Hurry!"
 
Sean quickly dodged across the lawn, but Eric lagged behind.  He didn't want to irritate Sean, but he didn't think it was right to run away from David, either.  "Eric, come on!" Sean hissed, and Eric reluctantly followed him.
 
"That David is so dumb.  He's way slower than the rest of the class in every single subject!  He's no good at sports, either.  In fact, he's no good at anything!" Sean declared as he led the way to his house.  "Hey, want to see our new puppies?"
 
"Yeah, sure," replied Eric, and soon they were bending over a box in the family room.  Daisy, the mother collie, was surrounded by four little balls of fur.
 
Sean pointed to one that was smaller and weaker than the others. "That's Carmel -- she's the tiniest one," he said.  "Mom calls her the runt of the litter.  She can't move around as well as the others.  I hope she'll be okay.  Dad says if Daisy didn't help her and protect her so much, she wouldn't have a very good chance to make it."
 
As Eric walked home later, he was thinking about Carmel and how that puppy was weaker and different from the others.  It occurred to him that David was something like Carmel.  It was true that David wasn't as smart or as coordinated as his classmates.  He's still part of our class, though, thought Eric, and it doesn't seem right to shut him out.
 
As he approached David's house, Eric saw that David was outside. As Eric came closer, David turned away.  On impulse, Eric walked toward him and called, "Hi, David.  Can I play catch with you?"  A smile broke out on David's face, and he tossed the ball to Eric.
 
Eric felt good because he knew he had made the right choice this time. I'll have to talk to Sean about this, he decided.  It seems pretty silly to be worried about a runt of a dog but not about a kid who's different.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you accept those who aren't quite like you? Are you friendly -- even to those who are not as smart or dressed as nicely or can't do things as well as you?  God wants you to accept all the people He made.  He loves them and wants you to show His love to them, too. Think of something you can do to show you accept someone who may not be well liked by others -- someone who needs extra help.  Then do it to bring praise to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 15:7)
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

When Kellie returned home from school, her face was glum. "I can't believe it," she said.  "Sally decided to take a babysitting job on the day of my party.  You'd think she could turn down one job!  And Ann isn't coming because her favorite movie is showing on TV."  Kellie looked at her guest list and crossed off the names "Sally" and "Ann."
 
The next day, Kellie was again unhappy.  "Sandra wants to hit a big sale at the mall on the day of my party," she reported to her mother.  "And Liz says she has to take care of her little sister."  Kellie slumped into a chair.  "What's a party with no guests?  I'm calling the whole thing off. Why throw a party for only a few people?"
 
"Well, now wait a minute!" said Mother.  "Some of your friends may be refusing other invitations in order to attend your party.  It wouldn't be fair to them if you cancel.  Besides, if you want more people, there's still time to invite some other classmates."
 
"Oh, Mom!" wailed Kellie.  "Just forget it."  But she knew Mother was right, so plans for the party continued.
 
On Sunday, Kellie was surprised when she heard the pastor's message in the morning service.  "God has issued an invitation," said Pastor Grey. "He offers an invitation for salvation to whoever is willing to come to Him.  But many people make other plans. They'd rather live for themselves here on earth than accept eternity in heaven."  Mother smiled at Kellie, and Kellie knew they were both thinking of Kellie's party invitations. "Wouldn't that be discouraging?" continued Pastor Grey.  "We might feel like withdrawing the invitation, but God leaves it open to anyone who will accept Him.  He's also willing to receive those who change their minds and decide to follow Him after all.  Still, don't you think it must hurt Him when people refuse to accept His invitation?"
 
Kellie remembered her own pain over a few friends and a simple party. Silently she prayed that many people would accept God's invitation by trusting Jesus as Savior that very day.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been hurt by others who have let you down or have rejected something you've offered them?  If you have, can you understand a little how grieved God must be when you refuse what He offers you?  Don't reject Him any longer.  Accept His invitation today.  (See the last page of this booklet.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 6:37)
Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

[Soldier4Christ]

Chip was sitting on the sofa with his grandmother as she read aloud from her Bible.  The thunderstorm outside made him glad to be safe and warm in the house, but Chip would have preferred to hear Grandma read something from his new story book.  All of a sudden, there was a flash of lightning followed by a loud crack of thunder.  All the lights went out. "Whoa!" exclaimed Chip.  "It's dark in here!  Do you have a flashlight somewhere around here, Grandma?"
 
"In the kitchen," said Grandma.  "There's a flashlight in the top drawer next to the stove.  Do you want to go find it?"
 
"Yeah," said Chip.  He jumped up and started toward the kitchen, but he bumped his knee on a small table.  "Ouch!" he yelped.  He took a couple more steps and bumped into the couch.  Then he had an idea.  He dropped down onto his hands and knees and crawled the rest of the way to the kitchen.    He opened the drawer, found the flashlight, and switched it on.  "This is better," said Chip.  "I can see where I'm going now.  I don't like the dark -- it's scary."  As he spoke, the lights came back on.
 
"Some people live in the dark all the time," Grandma told him.
 
Chip looked at her in surprise.  "You mean like way up north where the sun doesn't shine for weeks?" he asked.  "But it does shine some days of the year.  They're not in the dark all the time."
 
Grandma smiled.  "People who live without the Bible live in the dark all the time," she told him.  "Do you know why?"
 
Chip looked uncertain.  "Well . . . I guess you're saying the Bible is like a light," he said.
 
"Exactly," agreed Grandma, "and that's what God says, too.  The Bible gives light to our lives.  It shows us the way to know and love God -- and how to live for Him as Christians."
 
Chip set the flashlight on the table.  "I think we should  keep this right here, Grandma, just in case the lights go out again."
 
"Okay," agreed Grandma with a smile.  "And let's keep God's Word in our hearts for times of spiritual need."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you read take time to read the Bible?  Do you memorize portions of it so that you'll never be without the light of God's Word?  Do you apply it to your own life?  When reading the Old Testament, you learn how God worked in people's lives.  In the New Testament, Jesus Himself is your example.  Use your Bible each day to light up your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:105)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tiffany pushed the food around on her plate.  "I've got so much stuff on my mind that I can't eat," she said with a sigh. "I didn't sleep very well last night either.  I keep thinking about Dad going off and marrying someone else.  And now he's going to court to try and get custody of me.  I don't want to live with him."  Tears welled up in her eyes.
 
"I know, honey, but I don't believe God is going to let that happen," Mother replied gently. 
 
Tiffany wiped her eyes.  "I thought maybe I could persuade Dad to stay with us," she said, "but I couldn't."
 
"Try to remember that you're not at fault for the things that have happened, and you can't change them," said Mother.  "We need to trust God to use this difficult situation for our good."
 
After dinner Tiffany turned on the TV.  "There's a new game show I want to see," she said.  But instead of the game show, a different program was on -- one that Mother never let her watch.  Tiffany quickly switched the channel.
 
"Aren't you going to watch that show?" asked Mother.
 
Tiffany looked at her suspiciously.  "Of course not," she said.  "You never watch that show, nor let me watch it either.  I don't want to anyway.  They use so many bad words and do terrible stuff.  It sure won't make me feel very happy."
 
"You're right," agreed Mother.  "What do you suppose we could watch to make us feel good?"
 
"Well . . . I don't know.  Maybe the Christian channel," suggested Tiffany.  "Maybe there will be some good music on it."
 
"Good idea," agreed Mother.  She smiled at Tiffany.  "Honey, I want you to know that when things are troubling you, you can 'switch channels,' in your mind, too.  You don't have to keep 'listening' to the  things that cause pain.  Doing that makes you worried and depressed.  The Bible says we can have 'perfect peace' if we keep our minds on the Lord and trust Him."
 
"You mean I should quit thinking about all the bad things and think about good things instead," Tiffany said slowly.
 
Mother nodded.  "I know it's hard to learn to do that," she said.  "I'm learning it myself.  First, talk to the Lord about your problems.  He cares about you and about all that's going on in your life.  Trust Him to meet your needs.  Then start praising and thanking Him for the many good things He's done for you.  When you do that, you'll find that you just can't worry."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you letting your problems keep you from being happy or from eating and sleeping?  Switch channels.  Turn your mind off your troubles and begin thinking about the Lord and all He's done for you and given you.  It's not easy to do, and it's something you'll have to continually work at throughout your life.  But it always works.  If you keep your mind on the Lord, He gives you peace.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 26:3)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

"This sure is a good breakfast, Grandma," exclaimed Andy as he took another helping of ham and eggs.  "This is the best ham I ever had!""
 
"Well, thank you," said Grandpa.
 
Andy grinned at him.  "I thought Grandma cooked this breakfast," he said.  "Sounds like you're taking credit for it."
 
"I'll take partial credit," said Grandpa, "and Grandma can have the rest.  You see, I cured this ham myself."  He took another slice.  "And it is good, if I have to say so myself."
 
"You cured it?" asked Andy.  His eyes twinkled.  "Was it sick?"
 
Grandpa grinned.  "I think you know that curing a ham refers to the process of preparing it so that it doesn't spoil and has a delicious flavor," he said.  "But did you know that you're supposed to be a little like this ham?" Andy looked puzzled.  "One main ingredient in the curing process is salt.  It helps keep the ham from spoiling," explained Grandpa.  "And in the Bible, Jesus called believers the 'salt' of the earth."
 
"Does that mean that we're supposed to keep other people from going bad?" asked Andy.  "How could we ever do that?"
 
"When we do our small part by witnessing and being an example of right living, some of those around us may be saved from a life of sin," said Grandpa.  "They may be won to Jesus."
 
"I'd like to win Jeremy to Jesus," said Andy.  "He's my best friend."
 
"Then be a 'salty' Christian, Andy," replied Grandpa.  "Obey God and your parents cheerfully.  Refuse to do things you know are wrong.  Jesus said that if salt has lost its 'savor' -- its saltiness -- it's good for nothing.  It becomes tasteless.  And when a believer falls into sin, it spoils his testimony, making the Christian life seem tasteless -- or undesirable -- to sinners."
 
"Grandma, may I have some more milk?" asked Andy.  "This ham makes me thirsty."
 
"And why do you suppose it does that?" asked Grandma.
 
"Because of the salt," answered Andy.  "Popcorn does that, too."  He paused.  "Hey!  I get it!" he exclaimed.  "If we're 'salty' Christians, we make others thirsty for Jesus."  Grandma nodded as she filled his glass.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your friends see a good example when they see the way you live?  Do your actions and attitude cause them to want to know Jesus, too?  Follow Jesus cheerfully -- be a "salty" Christian.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Timothy 4:12)
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Yummy!  Those hamburgers smell really good!" exclaimed Wendy as Mother turned the meat on the grill.  "I'll call Dad and Jason."  The family was camping in a mountain canyon, and Wendy's father and brother were out hiking.  Wendy faced the high cliffs opposite the campsite, took a deep breath, and loudly shouted, "Yoo-hoo!"
 
"Yoo-hoo!" came back to her, clear as a bell.
 
"Supper!" yelled Wendy.
 
"Supper!" was the immediate response.
 
Wendy looked a little puzzled, and then she grinned at her mother. "When I heard 'yoo-hoo' coming back from the other side of the canyon, I thought Jason was answering me."  She giggled.  "But I'm sure that wasn't him calling me to supper.  That was my own echo."
 
Just then Dad and Jason walked into the campsite.  "What's going on?" asked Jason.
 
"When Wendy called you for supper, she got acquainted with a friendly echo who lives on the canyon wall," Mother told him.
 
"That's ridiculous," grumbled Jason.  "Friendly echos don't live on canyon walls.  Echos are made by sound waves bouncing back to us so that we hear the sound again.  Now, may I please have a hamburger?  I'm starved."
 
After supper, a more pleasant Jason joined Wendy in talking with the canyon echo.  Finally, Wendy called, "Good night," and then she listened as the echo repeated the message. "Echos are fun," she declared.
 
Dad smiled.  "Did you know that we should be echos, too?" he asked.
 
"What do you mean?" asked Jason.  "How should we be echos?"
 
"Well," replied Dad, "People don't actually hear a voice when God speaks to them today.  His words are found in the Bible, but many people don't read the Bible.  Those folks will hear of God's love only as we who know God's Word echo it back to them."
 
"I get it," said Wendy. "It's like we're God's echo."
 
"So people hear what God says by listening to us," added Jason.
 
"Amen," Dad said loudly -- and they all listened quietly as the answering "Amen" wafted back from the canyon wall.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is someone hearing about Jesus as you echo God's Word and His love?  How else will people get to know Him?  It's your privilege and responsibility to be God's echo.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 10:14)
How shall they hear without a preacher?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can you guess what I just did?" Brett asked his mother.
 
"Well, I don't know, but judging by your beaming face, I'd say it must be something good," said Mother with a smile.  "What did you do?"
 
"Well, Grandma and Grandpa will be home tomorrow, so even though we mowed their lawn a couple days ago, I mowed it again," said Brett. "Now when they get home, they won't have to work so hard right away."
 
"Wow!" said Mother.  "How nice!  I know they'll appreciate it."
 
After supper that evening, Brett sat at the table with his homework. He frowned.  "This takes way too long!" he complained.  "I'm tired of doing it.  I'm missing my favorite sports show."  He sighed.  "My teacher gives us too much work!  She doesn't want us to have any fun."
 
"Oh, I'm sure that's not true," said Mother.  She sat down beside Brett.  "Remember how excited you were this afternoon when you mowed Grandpa's lawn?" she asked.  Brett nodded.  "Usually you don't like mowing lawns -- especially ours," said Mother, "but you had fun mowing Grandpa's.  Why was that?"
 
"Well . . . I know it will make him and Grandma happy," said Brett.
 
Mother nodded.  "Did you know that doing your homework makes someone happy, too?" she asked.
 
Brett frowned.  "I guess I'm not all that interested in making my teacher happy," he said.
 
Mother smiled.  "I think you should be," she said.  "Besides, doing a good job on your homework makes me and Dad happy, too.  But what I was thinking about is that it makes Jesus happy."
 
"Jesus!" exclaimed Brett doubtfully.
 
Mother nodded.  "God's place for you right now is in school," she said, "and since He wants you there, don't you think He wants you to do your best?"  Brett was silent.  "If you knew that doing your homework would make Jesus very happy, wouldn't it be easier to do?" asked Mother.
 
Brett slowly nodded.  "I guess so," he said.
 
Mother smiled.  "We all sometimes have to do things we don't feel like doing," she said.  "Right now I don't particularly want to cook dinner.  But I love you and Dad and I know it makes you both happy.  So I'll go do it!"
 
Brett laughed.  "And you don't want us to starve!" he added. "Besides, it will make Jesus happy, too, right?"  He turned to his books. "Okay," he said.  "I'll get this homework done."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Work -- even schoolwork or chores around the house -- can be fun if you're doing it for someone you love.  If you really love Jesus and believe you're doing those things for Him, you won't be so tempted to complain.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"This shirt is so wrinkled," complained Ashley.
 
Mom looked up and nodded.  "Better get out the iron," she said.  "I'll press the sleeves for you, and I think you can handle the rest."
 
When the shirt was pressed, Ashley held it up to admire it.  "Wow," she said, "this looks much better now.  The iron sure straightened out those wrinkles."
 
"Yes . . . like the Holy Spirit straightens out our 'wrinkly' prayers," Mom said thoughtfully.
 
"Wrinkly prayers?" repeated Ashley.
 
Mom smiled.  "I was thinking of my lesson for Sunday school this week," she said.  "I've just been going over it.  It's about prayer."
 
"What have we said that would make you think of prayers?" asked Ashley as she unplugged the iron.  "And what are wrinkly prayers?"
 
"Well, sometimes when we pray, we aren't sure what to say," replied Mom.  "We may know only a part of someone's problems.  And we may not be quite sure what we should ask for regarding those needs.  So when we pray about those things, our prayers seem unclear and confused.  Other times we actually ask for the wrong things because we don't know what the best solution for the problem would be."  She folded up the ironing board.
 
"And so our prayers are kind of messy, like a wrinkled shirt?" asked Ashley.
 
"Exactly," said Mom, "but the Holy Spirit straightens out those prayers so that when they get to God the Father, they are all 'neat and smooth' and make perfect sense."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel like you're not sure what to say when you pray?  Have you heard people ask for prayer for an "unspoken request" and wondered how you could pray for something when you don't know what that something is?  Don't worry if you are unsure what to tell God.  He wants you to come to Him with anything and everything that concerns you.  The Holy Spirit knows exactly what you should pray.  Trust Him to "smooth out the wrinkles."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:26)
The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

[Soldier4Christ]

Keith, Heather, and Kevin had enjoyed watching the spring flowers unfold their pretty petals.  "I love the hyacinths," Heather told her mother as they were looking at the flowers one day.  "They're so pretty!"
 
"I like those yellow flowers," said Kevin, pointing to the daffodils.
 
"My favorites are the tulips," declared Keith.  "They have so many different colors, so they're not all the same."
 
"There are lots more flowers than there were last year," observed Heather.  "Did you plant more, Mom?"
 
Mother shook her head.  "No," she said, "but over the winter, they multiplied."
 
"Mulli. . .muliplied?" asked Kevin.  "What does that mean?"
 
"Not muliplied. . . . It's mul-ti-plied," corrected Keith.  "That means the bulbs in the ground produced more of their kind, so now there are more flowers for you to see.  That's right, isn't it, Mom?"
 
"Yes, it is," agreed Mother.  "And I was just thinking that the pretty spring flowers are an example of how Christians should be.  When we accept Jesus as Savior, He gives us new life, and we should 'bloom' for Him -- our lives reflect His love.  And just like the flowers multiply, Christians should multiply -- we should be bringing others to Jesus by our example and by our words.  Then they, too, can have new life."
 
Kevin bent over to look more closely at one of his favorite flowers.  "I wonder how many new daffodils there will be next spring," he said.
 
Heather nodded and looked thoughtful.  "Yeah, and how many new Christians."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and give you new life?  Then  live for Him.  Live in such a way that those who see and know you will want to have new life in Jesus, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 15:5)
He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.

[Soldier4Christ]

CRASH!  Philip's mother looked up from her sewing and listened.  "Oh, no!" came a wail from the kitchen.  A moment later, Philip shuffled into the sewing room holding a coffee mug with a broken handle.  "I  broke Dad's favorite mug," he confessed. "It fell when I was going to rinse it."
 
Mother took the cup and looked it over.  "I know it was an accident," she said, "and Dad will understand.  But I think we can fix it.  Come with me."  In the kitchen, Mom opened a drawer and took out a small tube.  She took off the cap and squeezed a tiny bead of glue onto each end of the handle.  Then she pressed the broken handle to the mug and held it for a few seconds.  Setting it on the counter, she stood back and looked at it. "There," she said.  "Now Dad can still use it."
 
Philip looked at the once-broken mug.  "What happens if the glue gets wet?" he asked.  "Won't the handle come off again?"
 
Mom shook her head.  "If this glue is as good as the man at the store says it is, nothing will be able to break the handle off that mug."  She smiled.  "All this reminds me of some verses in the Bible," she added.
 
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Philip.  "I'm sure the Bible doesn't talk about fixing mugs with super glue!"
 
Mom laughed.  "No," she agreed, "but the Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  God's love is far stronger than super glue."  She picked up the mug and handed it to Philip.  "Here you are," she said.  "Now go finish the dishes -- and try not to break anything else."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Aren't you glad that God loves you and He always will?  If you know Jesus, He may still have to discipline or punish you sometimes, but He loves you.  No matter what problems you face, He loves you and will help you through them.  No matter what happens in this world, God loves you!  What a wonderful God!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:38-39)
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesu

[Soldier4Christ]

"I hate you, Allen!" shouted Tom.  "Don't ever come in my room again!  You're a thief!"  His door slammed shut.
 
"Whoa, there," said Mother, coming down the hall.  "What's all this yelling about?" 
 
"Tom says I stole his baseball mitt, but I didn't," replied Allen angrily.  "He's just a liar, and he better stay out of my room, too." 
 
A moment later, Mother saw Tom's mitt on the hall table.  She called both boys out into the hall.  With angry words, both insisted that the other had left the mitt there.  "Quiet!  And come with me," ordered Mother.  She headed for the kitchen, where she took an egg from the refrigerator and placed it and an empty cup on the counter.  "Allen, crack this egg into the cup," said Mother.  The boys wondered what she was getting at, but Allen obeyed.  "Now, Tom," said Mother, "put the egg back into the shell again -- just the way it was, please."
 
Tom frowned.  "You know you can't fix a broken egg," he said.
 
"Like Humpty Dumpty, right?" asked Mother with a chuckle.  Then she became serious.  "The point is," she added, "that there's something else like Humpty Dumpty -- something else that can't be easily mended."  She looked at them sternly.  "I'm thinking about a person's feelings," she explained.  "You boys both said some ugly things to each other -- and taking words back is as impossible as mending an egg.  God says the tongue is like a fire that cannot be put out.  That's how much damage words can do.  Even saying you're sorry doesn't make words disappear."
 
"I am sorry, though," Tom told his brother.
 
"Yeah . . . well . . . me, too," replied Allen.  "You can come in my room if you like, Tom."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about the words you speak, or do they sometimes get away from you before you think?  It's good to apologize when that happens, but the other person may still remember the words you said.  Ask God to help you use words that are helpful and good.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:29)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good.