Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

As Sheryl lay across the bed sobbing, a tattered pink blanket was shoved under her nose.  "Sissy, you can have my blanket."  A tiny hand patted Sheryl's head, and she looked up into the troubled eyes of her little sister, Cynthia, who added, "My blanket will make you feel all better."
 
Sheryl felt the bed sag as her mother sat down beside her.  "Missing Lindy?" asked Mother softly.
 
Sheryl looked up and nodded.  "She was my best friend.  I think about her all the time," she said.  "Will I ever quit hurting?  It's been three months since she died."
 
Mother handed her a tissue.  "It's always hard to lose someone we love," she said, "especially someone as young as Lindy."
 
Sheryl took the tissue and blew her nose.  Then she handed the blanket to Cynthia.  "You can have your blanket now, honey.  Thanks."
 
With a contented sigh, Cynthia hugged her blanket to her.  Mother pulled the little girl onto her lap.  "That's your comforter, isn't it, honey?" she asked.
 
Cynthia looked puzzled.  "No," she said.  "It's my blanket."
 
Sheryl smiled and lifted the edge of the comforter that was spread across her bed.  "See this, Cynthia?" she asked.  "This is called a comforter."
 
Mother looked thoughtful as she spoke.  "You know, Sheryl, the Holy Spirit is my Comforter -- and yours, too."
 
Sheryl sat up.  "Is that why I feel better after I pray?" she asked.  "I know when I prayed this morning, God seemed to tell me to remember the good times.  I did for a little bit, and then I felt better.  I was still sad, but it was a . . . a warm and soft sadness."
 
"Warm and soft?  Like my blanket?" asked Cynthia.  Then she jumped down and ran from the room, not waiting for an answer.
 
Mother smiled, then patted the bed.  "This comforter makes you feel warm and protected, and Cynthia's blanket makes her feel secure," she said.  "For the Christian, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter.  He's always with us and reminds us of God's promises and care.  Some day Cynthia won't need her security blanket, but no matter how old we are, we'll always need our Comforter, the Holy Spirit."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel sad because someone you love has died?  Have you lost a pet?  Or has a special friend moved away?  If you know Jesus as Savior, you have the Holy Spirit.  Let Him comfort you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 14:18)
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mother and Julie finished washing dishes after their Sunday evening snack and then went out to sit in the back porch swing.  They enjoyed the night sounds that came from the pond and the open fields behind their house.  Tonight the bullfrogs were taking center stage with their music.
 
After relaxing for a while, Mother spoke.  "Did something go wrong today, honey?" she asked gently.  "You've been so quiet all day -- ever since we got home from church this morning."
 
"Oh, Sunday school was okay, I guess," muttered Julie, "but Mrs. King assigned parts for the Sunday school program.  I'm supposed to sing in a trio, but you should hear my part.  It's horrid.  I sound like a . . . like a fog horn or a bullfrog or something."
 
"Surely it's not that bad!" said Mother.  "Who's singing with you?"
 
"Laurie and Suzy.  They sing the pretty parts while my part is just a boring drone sound.  It's not fair!"  Julie stormed.  "I don't want to sing in the dumb old program at all."
 
Mother put her arm around her daughter. "Honey," she said quietly, "I'm sure your part sounds nice with the other parts.  And I think God is pleased when you use your voice to praise Him."
 
"But my part is ugly," protested Julie.  "How can that honor God?"
 
"Even bullfrogs sing praises to their Creator," replied Mother with a smile.  "We've been hearing them all evening."
 
Julie giggled.  "All right, Mother," she said after a moment.  "I'll do my part -- and be the best bullfrog the church has ever heard."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel jealous of other people who seem to get nicer or more important or more interesting tasks than you?  All of God's children have a necessary place in the body of Christ.  To us, some people may seem more special than others, but everyone is equally important to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 12:6)
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I hate homework," complained Becky as she and her brother sat at the kitchen table.  She jabbed the sharp tip of her pencil at a long division problem.
 
Tom lifted his nose out of his science book.  "I don't mind doing science homework," he said.  "These magnets are interesting.  Watch this."  He picked up a nail and rubbed it across a magnet several times.  Then he held the nail close to a straight pin.
 
"Whew!" exclaimed Becky. "That nail picked up the pin just as if it were a real magnet.  Why does it do that?"
 
"Some magnetism gets rubbed off onto the nail," explained Tom.
 
"Can I try it?" asked Becky.  She took the nail and held it over a few paper clips.  She giggled as they sprang up toward the nail.
 
"My book says the nail will soon lose its power to attract things if it isn't rubbed against the magnet again," said Tom.  "You have to do that quite often."
 
Becky reluctantly turned back to her math paper while Tom continued to tinker with the magnet.  A few minutes later, he broke the silence. "This nail is just like a Christian," he said.
 
"What are you talking about?" asked Becky.
 
"My Bible teacher used a magnet like this for an object lesson," said Tom.  "Look -- this magnet is like God, and the nail is like us. When we get saved we get close to God."  Tom illustrated by rubbing the nail against the magnet as he continued.  "We receive power from God to act like Jesus, and that attracts other people to Him as we witness."
 
Becky listened closely, then suggested, "And if we don't stay close to the Lord by obeying Him and reading the Bible and praying, we begin to lose our power to attract others to Jesus."
 
Tom nodded.  "Then we're more like a plain old nail.  I'd rather be like a magnet."
 
"Me, too," agreed his sister.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Will you be like a magnet today, attracting people to Jesus and witnessing to them?  To do that, you need to receive power from God.  Read your Bible; think about what it says; obey it; talk to God in thanksgiving and prayer.  Don't be a "nail" which has lost the ability to attract.  Be a magnetic Christian.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 1:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Want to load the trunk, Lena, or would you rather finish washing the car windows?" asked Dad.
 
"I'll load the trunk," said Lena.  She sighed as she dropped beach toys, snack food, games, and books into the car trunk.
 
"You don't seem very excited about going to Family Bible Camp this year," observed Dad.  "I thought you liked going there."
 
"I do, but I have to do so many things this summer," said Lena.  "I have to help paint the new clubhouse and practice diving and there are going to be sleep-overs and. . ."  Lena hesitated while she tried to cram the suitcases on top of all the other things.  She finally set them down on the ground.  "I can't fit it all in," she complained.
 
"The luggage or your activities?" asked Dad.
 
"Both," said Lena.  "My summer's too full, and these suitcases are too big."
 
"Well, then let's make some choices," suggested Dad as he walked to the back of the car.  "What is most important of all these items in here?"
 
Lena looked at the things in the trunk.  "Our clothes," she decided, taking some items from the car trunk.  She held them up.  "We could leave these beach toys behind.  The camp has lots of them -- and lots of life jackets, too."
 
"Okay," said Dad.  "Let's start over."  So they emptied the trunk and then began refilling it -- this time putting the luggage containing their clothes in first.  Then Lena helped Dad fit the smaller things into the spaces around the suitcases.  Soon everything was in, except the few items they felt they could do without.
 
"After we took care of the big things -- the really important ones -- most of the little things fit into the empty spaces," said Dad.  "That principle will work for your summer schedule, too.  What is your first priority in life this summer?"
 
Lena shrugged.  "I don't know," she said.
 
"Well," said Dad, "then I'll remind you that God created us to fellowship with Him, so that should be our first priority.  That's one reason why we all go to camp for a week.  It gives us a special opportunity to fellowship with God."
 
Lena nodded.  "If we planned all our other activities first, we would never find a whole empty week to fit it in, would we?" she said.
 
"No, but if we fit in Bible camp first," said Dad, patting the big suitcases, "there will still be lots of 'empty spots' left for other activities this summer.  Let's put fellowship with God and service for Him first all summer, and we'll find that there's also time for other activities."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is your first priority in life?  Does God come before everything else?  He never demands your time, but He longs for it, and He blesses you in many ways when you put Him first.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 6:33)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

[Soldier4Christ]

One day when Nathan and his father were shopping, an elderly man walked up to them.  "Excuse me," the man said.  "My name is Bill Cook. I've been watching the two of you, and I can't help but notice how much both of you look like a school chum I had years ago.  His name was Nathan Nobel.  Are you related to him?"
 
"That's my name, and my dad's, too!" exclaimed Nathan.  "Dad is Nathan Nobel, Jr., and I'm Nathan, the Third," he added proudly.  "But you look too old to have been in school with my dad."
 
The two men laughed.  "I'm sure this gentleman is talking about your grandfather, Nathan," explained Dad.
 
"I just knew you must be related," said Mr. Cook after they had talked a few minutes.  "Your boy here, with his red hair and freckles, looks very much like old Nate did in grammar school.  Both of you walk and talk like him, too."
 
After Mr. Cook left, Dad smiled at Nathan.  "It was a real compliment, Nathan, to be recognized as my father's son," he said.  "I've always admired my dad very much, and I guess I've mimicked his ways more than I realized.  I'm really proud to be just like Dad."
 
"Yeah -- that was amazing!" exclaimed Nathan.  "Mr. Cook hasn't seen Grandpa in years, and yet he recognized how much we were like him."
 
Dad looked very thoughtful.  "There's someone else we should be like, Nathan," he said.  "The Bible says we should be 'followers of God as dear children.'  People should be able to tell that God is our Father just by watching our actions and hearing our words."
 
"But God is perfect, and He can do all kinds of miracles," said Nathan.  "We can't be exactly like Him."
 
"That's true," agreed Dad, "but if we show His love, kindness, and forgiveness to others, and if we do our best to live without sin, surely some people will say, 'There goes a child of God.'"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been told that you look, sound, or act like one of your parents?  Can people also tell by watching you that you're a child of God?  In every way possible, Christians are to be like their Heavenly Father.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 5:1)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!" groaned Dana as she and her mother stood looking at the dent in their car.  "What happened?"
 
"Apparently someone backed into the car while we were shopping," replied Mother.  "Whoever it was didn't leave a note admitting his fault." She sighed.  "Well, there's nothing to be done, I guess, but I suppose we should make a police report."
 
After the report was made, Dana and Mother hurried home to tell Dad about the accident.  "Well," he said as he looked at the car, "this isn't major damage, but the body work will be quite expensive.  I'll call our insurance agent.  I think this will be covered."
 
"The person who did it ought to pay the bill," declared Dana.  "It was his fault."
 
"Yes, but we can't get him to pay when we don't know who he is," replied Mother, "so if the insurance doesn't cover it, we'll just have to take care of it ourselves."
 
 "That isn't fair," insisted Dana.  "You shouldn't have to pay to get the car fixed when it's not your fault." 
 
"No," agreed Dad, "but there's nothing we can do about that.  We can be thankful, though, that the damage is minor and the car can still be driven.  And let's remember that it's just a car that's damaged.  Nobody got hurt."
 
Mother nodded, but Dana still scowled.  "Well, it makes me mad," she said angrily.  "Whoever hit us shouldn't just get away with it."
 
"No," said Dad, "and I must admit that I'm not happy about paying for repairs due to damages that are someone else's fault.  But there's no use wasting our energy being angry about it.  Instead, let's let this remind us to be thankful that we don't have to pay for everything we deserve to pay for either.  Jesus paid the price for our sin, even when He knew who was at fault -- us.  He did that willingly.  Let's never forget to thank Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does paying the cost for something that was someone else's fault make you feel angry?  That's natural.  But just think!  Jesus died willingly to pay the price for your sin.  His love for you is that great!  If you haven't already accepted Jesus as your Savior, do so today. (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 5:
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

It was three o'clock in the morning, and all the campers were finally asleep.  "Molly, what are you doing?" murmured one of the girls groggily when Molly woke her by sitting down on her bunk.
 
Molly got up, turned, and walked toward another girl's bed. "Aaaah!"  The girl screamed and jumped up when Molly sat down on her arm.
 
"What's all the noise?" asked Miss Ellen, their counselor, as she rubbed her eyes.  Seeing Molly curled up on the other girl's bed, Miss Ellen got up to investigate.  "Molly's walking in her sleep," she whispered, and soon she had Molly back in her own bed.  The next morning, Molly didn't remember anything about her excursion.
 
During cabin devotions, Miss Ellen asked the girls to share some of the problems they faced as Christian kids in their schools.  "We have to learn about mythology and Greek gods," offered one girl, "but we aren't allowed to talk about our God."
 
"In science class, my teacher talks about evolution," said another, "but she doesn't want to hear about God creating the world."
 
"Sometimes kids use God's name like a swear word," said Molly, "and if you say anything about it, they tell you to wake up and join the real world."
 
Miss Ellen nodded.  "The idea of waking up and joining the real world makes me think of something," she said.  "Remember how Molly walked in her sleep last night?"  She paused as Molly and the girls laughed and nodded.  "Molly's body was awake and walking around, but her mind -- her consciousness -- was asleep.  She didn't know she was walking, and even now she doesn't remember anything about it," continued Miss Ellen.  "Well, in a way, your unbelieving friends and teachers are walking in their sleep, too.  Their bodies are awake and walking around, but their hearts and souls are still sleeping in the world's darkness.  The sad thing is that they don't even know it.   Ask God to help you show them that they're the ones who really need to wake up."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard to be patient and loving when classmates think your beliefs and ideas are odd or "unreal"?  Realize that the devil is doing his best to keep their hearts asleep.  Be willing for God to use your testimony to awaken them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

[Soldier4Christ]

Gina and her mother stopped at the center square in the mall and watched a ventriloquist perform.  "That was fun!" Gina said later.  "I know that man was really doing the talking for the dummy, but I couldn't ever see his lips move.  It  really seemed like the dummy was actually talking."
 
That evening, Gina had a big argument with her brother, Lyle.  "You pig!" Gina shouted at him.
 
"Gina!" exclaimed Mother.  "Watch your tongue.  You know we don't tolerate that kind of name calling."
 
A little later, Gina and Lyle were fighting again.  "You're an ugly rat," grumbled Gina.
 
"Gina!" Mother called sternly.  "Come here right now and sit on this chair for a while."  Embarrassed, Gina did as she was told.  "Where are those words coming from?" asked Mother after a while.  "Have you forgotten that you're a Christian?"
 
Gina sighed.  "I just say them without thinking," she said.  "But why doesn't God stop me?  I don't understand why He lets bad words come out of my mouth."
 
"Well," said Mother,  "God isn't a big ventriloquist in the sky, you know."
 
"What do you mean?" asked Gina.
 
"That man we saw at the mall worked his dummy like a puppet and spoke for it.  The dummy had no control," explained Mother.  "But God gives us the responsibility to move our own mouths and choose the words we speak."
 
"I'm not a dummy, am I?" murmured Gina.
 
"If you were, you wouldn't be a free child of God -- serving Him out of a willing, obedient heart," replied Mother.  "Instead of spouting out whatever you want, you can choose to say words that are pleasing to God. Ask Him to help you do that."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful to say only things that are pleasing to God?  When you say unkind words, you're making a poor choice.  Ask God to help you speak for His glory.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:29)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Fifty cents is all the money I have left, and that won't buy much of a gift for Mrs. Morgan, thought Angela as she skipped along past Mrs. Morgan's house.  It was just the kind of day her friend and neighbor liked -- cool air and lots of bright sunshine.  But Mrs. Morgan was sick and in the hospital.  I hope she has a window in her hospital room, thought Angela.
 
When her dad came home that evening, Angela was still trying to figure out what gift she could get for Mrs. Morgan.  She told Dad about her problem.  "I could give you some money," he suggested.
 
"But then it wouldn't really be from me," protested Angela.  "I want to buy a gift with my own money."
 
"Then how about an advance on your allowance?" asked Dad.
 
Angela hesitated.  "I'd rather earn some money," she said, "but Mrs. Morgan is the only one who ever hires me to help her."
 
Dad smiled.  "You realize, Angela, that there are many ways of giving," he said. "Your gift to Mrs. Morgan doesn't have to be purchased.  The Apostle Paul tells us to 'bear one another's burdens.' What do you think that means?"
 
Angela thought for a moment.  "I think it means we should help others when they're going through hard times," she said.
 
"Right," agreed Dad.  "Maybe your gift to Mrs. Morgan could be something that will show her you're sharing her troubles."  He playfully tousled Angela's hair as he went out to the garage.
 
Bear one another's burdens, Angela said to herself.  She could imagine a little of what Mrs. Morgan must be going through.  She was a widow with no family living close by.  Who will water her houseplants and weed her flower garden?  wondered Angela.  Then she made up her mind -- she would do those things.  And I'll try to go see her every day, too, she decided.  I think that's the kind of gift Dad meant -- a gift of myself.  I'll do all I can to help Mrs. Morgan.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know someone who is sick and needs help?  Maybe you can rake leaves, shovel snow, or run errands.  Maybe you can take in the mail or take care of the dog.  Whatever you decide to do will cheer your friend.  It will please God, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 6:2)
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Lizzy stared thoughtfully at her dad's computer screen.  "A boy in my class -- Jared -- says people don't need religion anymore because we're smarter than God," she said.  "He says if we can invent computers, we can do anything.  I told him he's not as smart as he thinks he is.  We'll always need God, won't we, Dad?"
 
"Yes, we will, but I'm afraid quite a few people think the way Jared does," answered Dad.  "Let's see . . ."  He pointed to his computer. "This machine can give us a lot of information," he said.  "Do you think it can give us the answer to the question you just asked?"
 
"Not unless somebody programed it to answer that question," Lizzy replied. "Even then, the answer would depend on who programed it.  The computer can't think for itself."
 
Dad rubbed his chin,  "So the computer can't be any smarter than the person who programs it, right?"
 
"Right," agreed Lizzy.
 
"Do you know when the first computer was built?" asked Dad.  Lizzy shook her head, and Dad continued.  "It happened thousands of years ago. It was built into a man named Adam, and that first computer was called a 'brain.'  Do you know who programed it?"
 
"God did," answered Lizzy promptly.
 
"Right," agreed Dad.  Then he asked, "Do think the human brain could be smarter than the one who 'programed' it?"
 
"No," Lizzy said, "that isn't possible."
 
"No, it isn't," said Dad.  "You know, Lizzy, when the mechanical computer was first invented, people called it an electronic brain.  They were copying God's idea.  God thought of it first, and He made it better than man ever will.  In fact, the human brain is still much more powerful than any electronic computer."
 
"Really?" asked Lizzy.  She sighed.  "It doesn't seem that way sometimes.  I can hardly remember my locker number, but this computer remembers everything."
 
"That's because we humans only use a very small percentage of our brain power," Dad told her.
 
"Why is that?" asked Lizzy.
 
Dad looked uncertain.  "I don't know.  Maybe God decided we weren't responsible enough to use it all," he suggested.
 
Lizzy grinned.  "Yeah," she said.  "If we did, maybe more people would get the idea that they were smarter than Him."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that you own one of the most powerful computers in the world?  You brain is more cleverly designed than anything man can create.  Nothing has been done that God hasn't thought of first.  People believe they can do anything with computers, but the truth is, they can't do anything without God.  He is -- and always will be -- the all-powerful and all-knowing God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 15:5)
Without Me ye can do nothing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ginny took a damp sponge and carefully wiped her entire drymark board.  "I like washing my marker board instead of just erasing it," she told her mother.  "Washing it makes it look brand new."  She stepped back and admired her work.
 
During family devotions that evening -- and for each of the next few days -- Ginny confessed a sin to God.  It was something for which her parents had already punished her.  "Please forgive me for lying to Mom and Dad," she prayed each day.  "I'm so sorry I did that.  Please help me not to do it again."
 
Ginny's parents heard her prayer, and they assured her over and over that the sin was forgiven by them -- and by God -- but Ginny wasn't sure. "When someone asks me to forgive her for something, I say I will, and I mean to, but sometimes I have trouble really forgetting it," she told them one evening.  "I just want to be sure God knows I'm really sorry."
 
Mom and Dad were thoughtful.  "Ginny, before you go to bed tonight," said Mom, "I want you to wash your drymark board so it's nice and clean."
 
"I washed it already," replied Ginny.  "It's clean."
 
"Well, why not do it again, just to make sure," suggested Dad.
 
"But that would be silly!  I haven't even used it since I washed it," protested Ginny.  "If it had been only erased, you probably could still see some smears of the markers.  Sometimes you can even figure out what words were erased, but now it's washed -- it looks brand new."
 
Dad smiled.  "When we confess our sins to people and they forgive us, it might compare to the board being erased," he said, "but when we confess our sins to God, they are totally removed.  When God cleanses you, the slate is clean.  Every bit of the sin is washed away -- just like when you wash your drymark board."
 
Ginny liked that.  And when she prayed the following night, she omitted her usual confession about lying.  God had forgiven that sin, so she decided to stop reminding Him.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel like you need to keep apologizing to God for a sin you committed?  The moment you sincerely confess and forsake a sin, God forgives you and washes the sin away. After that, all you need to do is thank Him.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"What are you going to do with that?" asked Tiffany when she saw her twin sister slip some money into her Bible one Sunday morning.
 
"We're taking an offering today for our Sunday school class missions project," Tara told her.  "Did you forget?"
 
"Guess I did," replied Tiffany as she lelft the room.  But I think Tara's taking a five dollar bill.  I'm not giving that much, she told herself.
 
As the family returned from church, Mother pointed to the flowers growing along the back porch.  "Look at my pansies," she said.  "Aren't they pretty?"
 
"They sure are!" exclaimed Tiffany.  "How can there be so many flowers already?  Didn't you pick most of the pansies just a couple of days ago?"
 
"Yes, but pansies need to be picked often," said Mother.  "The more they give, the more they get."
 
"That makes me think of our gifts to the Lord," observed Dad. "When we give generously and cheerfully to Him, He gives back to us."
 
Tiffany stooped to pick a pansy as she thought about that.  "You mean God will send more money to us if we give lots of money to Him?" she asked.
 
Dad smiled.  "Well, I can't promise you that," he said, "although it does happen sometimes.  But the extra blessings God gives back to us are often in some other form.  Maybe He'll keep clothes from wearing out so quickly, or keep the car from breaking down.  Perhaps the greatest blessing would be a sense of joy and peace that comes from being generous."
 
Tiffany thought about Tara who was often generous and happy.  Then she thought about the discontentment she often felt, and she made a decision to start giving like the pansies.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you give cheerfully and generously to the Lord, or do you grumble and complain?  The Lord loves a cheerful giver (see today's Scripture reading).  He'll give you more than you give Him. It may not be money, but it will be whatever blessing you need most.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 6:38)
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.

[Soldier4Christ]

Laura scanned the hymnal pages.  Isn't Pastor Carlson ever going to end his message? she thought to herself.  Seems lik he's been preaching for hours.  When the congregation finally bowed their heads for the closing prayer, Laura went on daydreaming as she swung her legs back and forth.
 
Pastor Carlson's voice traveled over the audience.  "If you know without a doubt that you are saved, please raise your hand," he said.  Out of the corner of her eye, Laura saw many hands go up.  Quickly her hand shot up, too.  Then Pastor Carlson gave an invitation to those who were not saved, but Laura scarcely heard him.  Her mind was too busy with other things.
 
The next day, Laura went out to the garden and picked spinach for a salad.  When she helped wash the leaves a little later, Mother frowned. "Look, Laura," said Mother.  "Some of these aren't spinach leaves."
 
"I picked them out of the spinach row," insisted Laura.
 
"They look a lot like the spinach," agreed Mother, "but they're weeds."
 
"Weeds!" exclaimed Laura.  "I picked weeds?"
 
Mother nodded.  "I'm afraid so.  I guess we have imposters in the spinach row," she said.
 
"Imposters?" asked Laura as they began to sort out the weeds.  "What does that mean?"
 
"An imposter assumes the identity of someone else," said Mother. "He pretends to be someone he's not."
 
"I get it," said Laura.  "These nasty weeds are pretending to be spinach, right?"
 
"Right," agreed Mother.  She frowned.  "You know what?" she asked as they worked.  "Imposters in the spinach row remind me of imposters in the church row."
 
"Are there imposters in church?" asked Laura in surprise.
 
"Well, I was just thinking of a lady I've been witnessing to.  She thinks she's a Christian because she goes to church, and I imagine there are more people like that.  They come to church and sing the songs and bow their heads to pray and claim to be Christians although they've never trusted in Jesus.  In a way, they're imposters, don't you think?" replied Mother.   "Taking up space in the spinach row didn't turn these weeds into spinach and taking up space in a church row doesn't make anyone a Christian."
 
As Laura thought about her mother's words, she realized that she -- Laura -- was an imposter, too.  She had raised her hand in church to say she was saved, but she knew she really wasn't.  She needed to do something about that.  "Mom," she began, "I think I need some help. . . ."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you an imposter?  Do you do the things Christians generally do -- attend church, give money, pray before you eat, and, in general, be a nice person?  You may look like a Christian to other people, but none of those actions will get you to heaven.  You need to make a personal decision to trust Jesus.  Ask Him right now to forgive your sins and be your Savior.  He'll do that.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 2:8-9)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tyler ate a few small bites of his dinner, but mostly he just pushed the food around on his plate.  "You're being awfully quiet tonight, Tyler, and you've hardly touched your dinner," said Mother.  "Did something happen at school today?"
 
"Rex Cofield brought a chameleon to class," replied Tyler quietly. "A chameleon is a lizard that changes its color to blend with the surroundings.  My teacher says that protects them from their enemies."
 
"That interesting," responded Mother, "but why are you so quiet? Did anything else happen?"
 
Tyler kept his eyes on his plate as he slowly nodded his head.  "Rex took his chameleon out of the cage and handed it to me.  We were playing with it when we were supposed to be studying.  Miss Evans caught us, and now we have to stay after school every day for a week."
 
Mother frowned.  "That's the second time you've gotten into trouble at school this month," she said.  "Last time, Rex was involved, too."
 
"Well, he always dares me to do stuff," said Tyler.
 
"Seems to me that you're like the chameleon -- you change your ways to match your surroundings," observed Dad.  "When you're with Rex, it's apparently a change for the worse, because that's when you seem to get into trouble."
 
"You're right, Dad," agreed Tyler.  "Rex always gets me into trouble."
 
"No, Son.  You get yourself into trouble," corrected Dad.  "It does seem that Rex isn't influencing you for good, so perhaps you should spend more time with other friends and less time with Rex.  In any case, the way you behave is your own responsibility."
 
Mother nodded.  "That's right.  You can't blame someone else when you  do wrong," she said.  "Accept your responsibility, and ask the Lord to help you say no when temptation comes your way."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you tempted to do the things your friends are doing -- whether  right or wrong?  Don't be changeable, like a chameleon, but stand firmly for Jesus.  Do the things that please Him, no matter whom you're with.  Jesus is ready to help you resist temptation.  Ask Him to do that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 1:1-2)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom!  Dad!" called Justin as he raced into the house.  "Come quick!  I think a watermelon is growing in our back yard!"
 
"Really?" asked Dad.  "That ground out back is so poor and rocky.  I wouldn't think a watermelon could grow there."
 
"There is one, though," insisted Justin.  "Come and see."
 
"We'll look later," said Dad.  "Right now we have to get to the Rescue Mission, or we'll be late for chapel."  Justin's family had agreed to lead the mission's evening chapel service once a month.  Grumbling, Justin went to his room and got his trumpet and sheet music.
 
On the way home a couple of hours later, they discussed the service. "I don't think anyone was paying attention today, and no one accepted Jesus," said Justin.  "I think it was a waste of time for us to go there."
 
"Sharing the Gospel is never a waste of time," said Mother.  "You never know when someone's heart will be ready to accept the Lord."
 
As soon as they reached home, Justin persuaded his parents to go with him to look at the watermelon plant.  Sure enough, there was a vine with one very small watermelon on it.  "This must have grown from some seeds we threw out here last year," said Justin.
 
"I think you're right," agreed Dad.  "I thought the soil back here was good for nothing, but it looks like one of those seeds fell on ground that was just right for watermelon growing."
 
"We scattered seed today, too -- the seed of God's Word," said Mother. "As you said Justin, no one at the mission seemed to pay much attention, but we don't know the condition of the hearts of those people.  Perhaps some were ready, and the seed we planted there will bring forth fruit, too."
 
"You mean some of those people might still accept Jesus because of what they heard today?" asked Justin.
 
"That could happen," answered Dad.  "We pray it will."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel as though it's useless to share the Gospel with people who don't seem interested?  It's your responsibility to keep on sharing anyway.  You may be speaking to someone whose heart is getting ready to accept Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 13:23)
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.