Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Special Tool

After using his router to shape edges of a board, Mark made sure the groove was straight. Hearing someone come into the room, he turned his wheelchair around and greeted his friend Jason. "Your mom told me you'd be here," said Jason, giving Mark a high-five. "What are you building?"

"Some shelves for my dad," replied Mark.

Jason examined the board. "These are great," he said. "You're good at this."

"Yeah, whatever," mumbled Mark.

Jason glanced at his friend with concern. "What's wrong?" asked Jason.

"I'm so useless," said Mark. "Ever since the accident, people have to do so much for me. I'll never get well without a miracle. I'm just a . . . a burden."

"That's not true!" objected Jason. "We learned in Sunday school that God has a reason for everything. Don't you believe that? I do!"

"Oh, yeah?" retorted Mark. "Try sitting in this chair for your whole life!"

Tears appeared in Jason's eyes. "You're right. I have two good legs, and you don't, so I can't really know how you feel," he admitted. "But you're not useless, Mark!"

"I sure feel useless," insisted Mark.

"Well, but . . ." Jason paused and gazed absently around the room. What could he say? "You know what, Mark?" he asked after a moment. "I heard a story once that compared people to tools. We use tools, and God uses people, right? They're His tools."

"So?" asked Mark. He wasn't impressed.

"Well, what would you do for a screwdriver if you didn't have one?" asked Jason.

Mark shrugged. "I'd use the edge of a dime or a knife. That would work."

"But what if you needed a router and didn't have one?" asked Jason.

"Then I'd . . . I'd have to get one," replied Mark. "A router is special; I don't know of anything else that could do its job."

Jason nodded eagerly. "Most of us are like screwdrivers," he said. "Anybody could probably do our job, but you . . . you're like a router-a special tool. Because of your accident, you have a job to do for God that no one else can do."

Mark smiled a little. "You really think so?" he asked. Then he grinned at his friend. "Well, thanks, but you know what? Nobody else could do your job, either!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has something made you feel useless? In fact, you're not useless at all! God has a special job for you. If you have difficulties to overcome, God can use you in a special way-perhaps to comfort and encourage someone with the same problem, because you can really understand what that person is going through. Think about it, and look around to see who God wants you to help. If He doesn't show you someone today, be patient. Some day, He will.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
God . . . comforts us . . . that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.

[Soldier4Christ]

Judy was trying to concentrate on her math lesson when Mother appeared in
the doorway of her room. "Hi, Mom." Judy greeted her mother with a big sigh.
"We're having a test tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't pass it. I can't seem to
study. My mind is always somewhere else ever since Dad left."

Mother entered the room and put her arm around Judy. "I understand, honey. I miss him, too," she said sadly. "Now that he's gone, we tend to forget your father's drinking problem and how he was always losing his temper and getting angry with us. We weren't happy then, either, you know."

"I know," replied Judy. A tear slid down her cheek. "It makes me mad every time I think about the way he treated you and Ben and me. Sometimes I think I hate Dad." She slammed her book shut. "Oh, Mom, I'm so mixed up -- sometimes hating, sometimes loving. I'm miserable." Mother pulled up a chair and sat down, taking both of Judy's hands in hers. "Mom, why didn't God answer our prayers?" asked Judy. "Didn't we pray enough? Is it our fault Dad didn't change and stay with us?"

Mother shook her head. "No, Judy. We did all we could do," Mother assured her. "You mustn't blame yourself, and you mustn't blame God, either.  When a person is determined to go his own way, God allows him to do it. God does answer our prayers, but in His time and His way."

"But what about us?" cried Judy sadly. "Doesn't God care about us?"

"Oh, Judy, the same God who loved us so much that He gave His Son to die for us loves us just as much now as He always has," replied Mother. "I know it's hard, but just like we trusted Jesus to save us from our sins, we can trust Him now to take care of us. He can give us peace -- He's the only one who can. Do you remember what it says in 1 Peter 5:7?"

Judy nodded. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you," she quoted slowly. "I'll try to remember that God does care, Mom. Then maybe I can settle down and study."

Mother nodded. "Passing the test of remembering God's promise is just as important as passing that math test tomorrow," she said. "I dare say that if you can manage the first, you'll manage the other, too."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you worry so much about the behavior of someone that you forget how much God cares for you?  Satan wants you to be frustrated and unhappy, but Jesus wants to give you His joy and peace.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:31)
If God be for us, who can be against us?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Guess what," said Mike one evening. "Pete Blackburn invited a bunch of us guys to spend the weekend at his ranch.á There'll be horseback riding and a barbecue and everything. May I go? Please?"

"Tell us more," replied Dad.  "Are these boys Christians?"

Mike shuffled his feet uneasily.  "I don't know. Not all of them I suppose." However, after more discussion, Mike admitted that after the barbecue, the boys planned to go into town with Pete's dad. While he took care of some business, they were going to play video games at a place known to be a hangout for rough, older boys and men -- a place where alcohol flowed freely. "But we'll keep away from those guys. I won't do anything I shouldn't," pleaded Mike.

"Don't be too sure about that," Mom told him. "You'd be putting yourself in a position where there could be strong peer pressure. Resisting something wrong might be much harder than you think."

"But, Mom," protested Mike, "there are temptations everywhere I go. I can't help that."

"You're right, Mike," replied Mom, "but you don't have to hang around places where temptation might be especially hard to resist. When my grandmother was a girl . . ."

Mike sighed. "Here comes one of your stories," he said.

"But it fits this occasion," insisted Mom. "When my grandma was young, a barefoot girl walked to her house across a field where there were many sandspurs. 'Clara, didn't the sandspurs hurt your feet?' Grandma asked. 'Oh, no,' said Clara, 'I gits where they don't be.' That's the way a Christian should walk in this world, Mike. The temptations to sin are there, but as much as possible, you should stay where they are not."

"Tell you what, Mike," said Dad.  "You may go with the boys, but I'll pick you up right after the barbecue Saturday evening. How's that? You can still have a good time, but as for the temptations -- well, you'll 'git where they don't be.'"

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there strong peer pressure for you to do things that are wrong?   It's hard enough to resist any evil, but there are some situations where temptation can be especially strong.   Avoid such places.  Choose Christian friends.  Join Christ-honoring, wholesome activities. Give your sinful nature less chance to yield to temptation.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 13:14)
Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

[Soldier4Christ]

Suzy watched eagerly as her grandmother began to pop some corn. "Tell me about school, Suzy," said Grandma.  "Have you made new friends?"

Suzy sighed. "Not really," she said. "I've tried to make friends, but it's not easy to move to a new town and go to a new school, Grandma."

As Suzy talked about the kids she had met, Grandma noticed that she complained about many of them. "Are you being friendly to them?" Grandma asked.  Suzy shrugged, watching as Grandma poured popcorn into a bowl and handed it to her. Without answering, Suzy stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth.á Suddenly she frowned and put the bowl down. "Ready for more?" asked Grandma.

Suzy shook her head. "It needs salt," she said.

"Oh, that's right!" exclaimed Grandma. "How could I forget that?" She reached for the salt shaker. "I'm wondering if your attempts to make friends might be something like this popcorn," she added.

"Me? Like this popcorn?" asked Suzy. "What do you mean?"

"Well, without salt, there isn't much flavor to popcorn," said Grandma. "Our speech is something like that, too. Colossians 4:6 tells us that our speech needs salt, and I'm wondering if you're using it."

Suzy laughed. "So I should carry a salt shaker and sprinkle some salt on my tongue before I talk?" she asked.

Grandma laughed, too. "No," she said, "but you need to recognize that if your words are negative or complaining, people won't care for any more after the first taste. On the other hand, if your words are 'seasoned with salt,' --  if you're saying things that are positive, things that are kind and make people feel special -- they'll like talking with you and will be back for more." She handed Suzy the bowl of popcorn. "Try this again," suggested Grandma. "See how it is now."

Suzy took the bowl, and put some in her mouth. "Salt really makes a difference," she said. "I'll be back for more." She grinned at Grandma as she added, "I'll try using a little 'salt' at school tomorrow, too."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you talk, do you often complain?  Do you put others down?  Or do you say things that are kind and encouraging to others?  Take God's advice and add a little 'salt' to your words by saying things that are positive.  Then people will be back for more.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 4:6)
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rex was angry! His little sister, Lisa, was on the front porch playing with her new kitten, but he was pouting in the living room. If Lisa can have a kitten, I don't see why I can't have a puppy! he thought.

"Rex," said Dad when he saw his son's unhappy face and heard his complaints, "you don't have any excuse for acting the way you do. You had the same chance to have a puppy as Lisa did to have a kitten. If you had taken good care of your goldfish, we'd have allowed you to get a puppy. Instead of caring for the fish, you failed to clean its bowl and feed it. Lisa had to take over and do your work as well as hers."

"But I don't like goldfish!" wailed Rex.

"You didn't have to like the fish," said Dad, "but you brought it home from the penny carnival, so you did have to take good care of it. If we can't trust you to take care of something small, how can we expect you to care for something bigger and more complicated -- like a dog?" Dad paused, then added, "You know, Rex, it's a good thing to remember that this is how God often works, too."

"What do you mean?" asked Rex.  "Are you saying I shouldn't ask Him for a puppy?"

"No," replied Dad, "but I'm saying that God usually trusts His children with small tasks before giving them bigger things to do. I've known people who had dreams of doing great things for God, but they lacked the discipline to follow through on things that seem small -- like studying and obeying the Bible, praying, witnessing to friends, or doing everyday tasks faithfully and cheerfully." Dad squeezed Rex's shoulder, and added, "Doing well in small things -- even things like caring for a goldfish -- helps us prepare for bigger tasks God might give us."

"Such as going out and saving the world?" asked Rex.  He thought about his father's words.  "Dad?" he said after a moment, "can I have my goldfish back?"

Dad smiled. "I suppose we could give it another try."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you do your best in small tasks that are given to you?   Do you do a good job with your chores?   With your school work? With piano practice?  Be faithful in whatever God gives you to do now.  Then you can be trusted with even greater things in the future.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 4:2)
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why do we have to get rid of Chomper?" Phil asked his dad. "Why can't we save money some other way?"

"I'm sorry about Chomper," responded Dad. "I know you've enjoyed having a pet goat, Phil, but he has cost us quite a bundle with his mischievous ways." Phil knew that was true. Their two sheep ate only grass, but the goat preferred to snack on the neighbors' flowers and shrubs. Chomper had also eaten two apple tree saplings that Dad had planted. They tried to keep Chomper tied up, but he always got loose. They penned him in, but sooner or later, the clever goat managed to get out.

"The worst was today," Dad continued. "Look at this."  As Phil followed his dad out the side door, he saw what Dad meant. Over a dozen wooden boards had been pulled from the side of the toolshed. Several chewed pieces lay scattered on the ground.

"Chomper does get into trouble a lot," admitted Phil, "but he seems much smarter than the sheep. He thinks of more things to do. The sheep are kind of boring."

"Chomper is an interesting animal," agreed Dad, "but he's also annoying. He's clever, but cleverness isn't everything. Goats can be useful and a lot of fun, but generally speaking, they have a reputation for their wilfulness and for getting into trouble."

"That sounds like my friend Tyler," said Phil. "He and a bunch of other kids got into trouble for chewing gum yesterday. Miss Granger had given us a lecture about chewing gum in class -- it's not allowed. Tyler started the whole thing. He passed out the gum, and the other kids just went along with him. Miss Granger said what he did was wrong and that they should have chosen to obey her and not copy what someone else did."

"It sounds to me like she's right," said Dad.

"Tyler's always so much fun, though," said Phil. "He's smart, too."

"Well, some people seem to be especially smart and entertaining and nice," said Dad, "but we have to be careful not to let their charm fool us and cause us to follow their lead in doing wrong things."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you encourage a "class clown" to disrupt your classroom?   Do you admire the daring of children who break the law or disobey their parents?  Are you attracted by glamorous-looking boys and girls who do things that are wrong?  Don't follow their example.  If you're a Christian, Jesus Christ should be your leader.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 5:22)
Neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

[Soldier4Christ]

It was almost supper time, so Molly and Joy started walking home from their friend's house. As they passed an empty lot, they heard the sound of crying. And there, in the empty lot, was Ricky Taylor -- Icky Ricky, the neighborhood children called him. Not only was he usually dirty and smelly, he was also the school bully.  Yet here he was, crying like a baby! Nearby, a badly wrecked bike lay in a heap. The boy had a skinned knee and some blood on his cheek. The girls looked at him and hurried on by, secretly thinking that "Icky Ricky" finally had gotten what he deserved.

When they arrived home, the girls hurried to wash up for supper. Soon they heard their father coming home.  When they returned to the kitchen, they were amazed to find Dad helping Ricky Taylor into the house.

"Look what happened to this poor young man," said Dad, pulling up a chair for Ricky. Mom quickly began cleaning Ricky's knee and face. The girls hung back near the wall as Ricky told Dad that he lived with his grandmother.  Dad got her phone number and called her to let her know where Ricky was, and soon Ricky and his wrecked bike were on their way home in Dad's car.

"Well! It surely was nice for Ricky that your dad came along when he did," declared Mom happily. "Not everyone helps people out like your father does. He's really a Good Samaritan."

"A Good Samaritan?" asked Molly guiltily.

"You mean like the man in the Bible?" asked Joy. Both girls had  heard the story many times, and now they felt ashamed.

"That's right." Mother nodded. "You know, many people are like the priest and Levite in that story -- they pretend not to see the person in trouble. But your dad knows that God loves all people, and because Dad loves God so much, he has learned to love all kinds of people, too. God is pleased when we show His love to others -- even to those who seem unlovely to us."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you help other people whenever you can, even when they seem "icky" to you?   God loves them.  He wants you to love them, too -- to treat them as neighbors and love them as you love yourself.  That's loving them quite a lot, isn't it?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 19:19)
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

[Soldier4Christ]

Lou Ann stood outside the door to one of the rooms in the aquarium.  "I don't want to go in there," she protested. "It's full of sharks."

"Oh, come on, Lou Ann," said Jeff.  "The sharks are behind thick glass walls. There's no way they can get out."

"It's perfectly safe, honey," Dad assured her.

"Well, I won't like it," Lou Ann said fearfully, but she joined her family as they entered the room.

On either side of the aisle, glass walls rose from floor to ceiling, and beyond the glass was a magnificent reproduction of life beneath the sea. Lou Ann felt like she had sunk to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Hundreds of glittering fish swam about, taking no notice of her. "Oh, look!" she exclaimed. "There's a giant sea turtle!" Lou Ann stepped forward and watched with her face close to the glass as the turtle swam away.  She did not see a dark shape emerge from the dim shadow at the side of the tank. It grew larger and larger as it swam toward her. A shark! Lou Ann screamed and darted back as the creature glided by right before her eyes.

Dad put an arm around his shaking daughter. "There's nothing to be afraid of, honey," he said. "He can't sink his teeth into you." Lou Ann knew that, but she was glad when they left the area.

That evening there was a lot of excited chatter as the family discussed the events of the day. "I still don't like those sharks," stated Lou Ann.

Dad smiled. "That type of shark doesn't worry me as much as the 'shark' that preys on our family every day," he said, reaching for his Bible and a devotional book.

"You mean the devil, don't you?" asked Jeff.

"Yes, I do," agreed Dad. "Satan would like nothing better than to 'sink his teeth' into us, in a spiritual sense. But God is like the thick glass that kept the shark away from us. He's a shield for our protection."

Mother nodded. "We stay behind that shield by learning God's Word and obeying it," she added. "If we ignore it, it's as though we step out from behind the shield and become easy prey for the 'shark,' -- Satan."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you staying behind God's shield?  Do you read your Bible and obey it?  Learn to follow God's guidelines for daily living, and you'll save yourself from receiving some nasty "bites" from Satan.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 3:3)
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Let's read bumper stickers," suggested Jason as the Sheldon family traveled on the last day of their vacation.  "Let's try to decide what kind of people are riding in the cars that have the stickers."

"I see one already," Melody called out. "It says, 'We're spending our children's inheritance.' Those people must be retired and rich."

Mom laughed. "Well, rich or not, apparently their children won't inherit whatever they do have," she said.

Dad tapped the horn just then.  "Wave to the people in the car we're passing," he said. "Their bumper sticker says, 'Honk if you love Jesus,' so I'd guess they're probably Christians."

Soon Jason saw another sticker.  "There's one that doesn't make sense," he said with a frown. "It says 'I' and 'New York,' but there isn't a word between them -- just a drawing of a heart."

"I know what that means," declared Melody. "The heart stands for 'love,' so the bumper sticker says, 'I love New York.' Those people have a Florida license plate, but maybe they used to live in New York."

"Uh-oh! I see one that I'm not going to read out loud," said Jason, pointing to a truck that was speeding by.

"I should hope not," said Mom.  "That message is wicked. It shouldn't be allowed in public places."

"That driver must not love Jesus.  Right, Dad?" asked Melody.

"He certainly doesn't give evidence of it," agreed Dad, shaking his head thoughtfully. "You know, kids, we've been reading bumper stickers, and I believe we've made some pretty good guesses as to what some people are like.  And we've just been reminded again that we can be judged by people as to whether or not we're Christians. Of course, we don't go around wearing stickers, but what else do they judge us by?"

"By the way we live, right?" asked Jason.

"Right," agreed Dad, "so we need to be careful about what we say and do and where we go. Wouldn't it be great if everyone could see that we have a great big heart of love between ourselves and the Lord Jesus?"

HOW ABOUT YOU?
What do people think about you as they see your life?  Do your actions show that you're God's child?   Do your words and attitude show that you're a Christian?  Only God can see your heart, but people do judge your life.  Ask God to help you make it say, "I love Jesus. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 13:35)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mother!" called Sam as he stood at the back door. "Can you bring me a towel? I've been swimming in the creek, and I'm dripping wet." Sam waited for a few moments, wiggling his toes which were caked with mud and grass. He called his mother again, but she didn't come. "I'll have to get a towel myself," grumbled Sam, swinging open the screen door and stepping onto a freshly mopped kitchen floor. He hesitated. Then, taking long steps, he carefully tiptoed across the sparkling tiles to the bathroom. In spite of his best efforts, he left behind a trail of dirty, grassy footprints.

Minutes later, Sam stood in his bedroom in clean, dry clothes. A soiled towel lay crumpled on the floor next to his bed. "Samuel J. Smith!" he heard his mother call sternly. "Get in here right this minute!" Sam ran to obey. He found his mother standing in the kitchen doorway, pointing to his muddy footprints on her clean floor. "Just look what you did!" she scolded. "You know you can't come into the house with such filthy feet."

"But I tried to walk carefully," protested Sam.

Mother pointed to the mop behind the door. "You have some cleaning to do," she said.

Sam got busy with the mop. "You'd think I'd trudged mud into heaven itself!" he muttered under his breath. Then he grinned at his mother. "I bet they'll make you head janitor when you get to heaven, Mom," he teased.

Mother smiled as she watched Sam wipe up the dirt. "Well, muddy feet won't keep anyone out of heaven," she said, "but a sinful, unchanged heart will. Some people think they can 'tiptoe carefully' into heaven, but all their good efforts add up to nothing better than dirty footprints on a clean floor.á Unacceptable! Only a clean heart qualifies a person for heaven."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trusting in your own good deeds to get you into heaven?   That won't work.  Even your best deeds are not good in the sight of a holy God.  You can you receive the new, clean heart He requires only by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.   (See page 66.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 64:6)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Uncle Tom promised to take me to work with him at the airport today," pouted Larry, "and now he says he can't. How can he change his mind so suddenly? He promised!"

"This stormy weather delayed airplanes, and he's going to be too busy to have you along," explained Mom. "He'll take you another time."

"But he broke his promise!" insisted Larry.

"I'm not sure he actually promised," said Mom, "but in any case, I think you should try to understand. He can't help it that his plans had to change.  It's kind of like last week when I said I'd be home from shopping by five o'clock, but then I got into a traffic jam and didn't get here till almost six. You forgave me because you knew I couldn't help it."

"Well, I hate things that change plans," grumbled Larry. He looked out the window and watched the pouring rain. He had so looked forward to this special day at the airport.  A little later, Larry's face brightened. "It's still raining, but the sun's coming out!" he exclaimed. "Maybe Uncle Tom will come and get me now."

"I doubt it," said Mom. "I'm sure he'll still be too busy."

The frown returned to Larry's face. "I hate broken promises," he said, "even when they're caused by a change that wasn't planned."

"Keep looking out that window," suggested Mom. "Maybe you'll see the sign of a promise that will never be broken -- a sign that God gave."

"I see it already," said Larry, pointing to the beginning of a beautiful rainbow. "That's the sign God gave when He promised to never again destroy the earth with a flood. We learned that in Sunday school."

"That's right," said Mom, "and it always reminds me that God will keep all of His promises. That's something we can always count on."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has anyone ever broken a promise that was made to you?  Have plans, relationships, or circumstances changed, leaving you disappointed?  It hurts when promises are not kept, but you'll never know that kind of disappointment in your walk with God.  People change; plans change; but God's Word never changes, and His promises are always kept.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Danny sat at his family's home computer and typed a sentence for each of
his spelling words. Looks good, he thought after he had printed his work. He
leaned back and turned on his radio.


 

"Turn that off," called Mother.  "I asked you to use better judgment when you listen to the radio. I don't want to hear that kind of music in this house again." Danny scowled, but he tuned in to a different station.

 

Later that evening, Danny packed his book bag for the following day. "I can't find my spelling sentences," he said. "I've looked everywhere, Mom. I don't want to write them all over again."

 

"Well, you did your homework on the computer, didn't you?" asked Mother. "Did you save it, or did you delete it?"

"Oh, I saved it!" exclaimed Danny.  "I forgot about that. I'll just print another copy."

After school the next day, Danny and his mother went out to rake the yard. As he worked, Danny hummed a popular song. Soon he began singing the words: "There's no meaning to this life, so do what you want; want what you do; do whatever feels good -- just do it for you."

"What song is that?" asked Mother.  "I've never heard it before."

Danny was startled. He hadn't meant to sing the words out loud. "Oh, it's nothing important," he said. "I hardly realized I was singing."

 "Well, you were," said Mother, "and I didn't like the words."She was thoughtful as she raked a while. "Danny," she said, "your mind is something like a computer. It stores things and lets you think about them again later -- kind of like a 'print-out.' You're the one who decides what the 'print-out' will be like because the things you put into your mind are the things that also come back out."

"The things I put into it?" asked Danny. "What do you mean?"

"Things you watch and read and listen to," responded Mother. "You may think it doesn't hurt you to listen to ungodly music, but when you put those kinds of messages into your mind, wrong messages are almost certain to come out -- through your mouth and through the things you do."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of material do you store in your mind and heart as you listen to music or jokes?  As you read books or magazines?  As you watch movies or TV?  Be careful to fill your heart and mind with material that glorifies the Lord.  Then what goes in and what comes out will be pleasing to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 12:34)
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can we take a break before we finish?" asked Shawn as he helped his father rake leaves into a big pile.

"Sounds like a good idea," agreed Dad. "Why don't you go and get something cold for us to drink?"

Shawn put down his rake, ran into the house, and soon came back with two cans of cola. He and Dad sat on the porch steps in the warm autumn sun, enjoying the cold pop. They talked about the ball game they had watched on TV the night before and about the Sunday school picnic to be held the next week. "By the way, have you finished memorizing your Bible verse for Sunday school tomorrow?" asked Dad.

"Well, no," replied Shawn with a sigh. "I don't see why we have to learn verses every week. We recite them in class, and that's the end of it. Why bother, when we'll probably never need them again?"

Dad sat quietly for a few minutes.  Then he pointed to a squirrel that was scurrying about and apparently burying acorns under the oak tree in their neighbor's yard. "Look, Shawn," said Dad. "Do you see what that squirrel is doing?"

Shawn nodded. "Yeah -- he's storing his food for the winter, I guess."

"Right," replied Dad, "and he's starting early. When the winter storms come and he can't find food, those acorns will help him survive." Dad looked at Shawn. "From time to time, you'll also face storms in your life -- now and in the future," he added, "and there will be times when you won't know what to do. That's when you'll need those verses you're 'storing up' now.  When Jesus lived on earth, He faced temptations and trials, too. Do you remember what Jesus did when He was tempted?"

"Yeah," Shawn said after a moment.  "He quoted Scripture to Satan."

"If He needed the Scriptures," said Dad, "surely we do, too."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you understand why memorizing Scripture is important?  Do you realize that knowing God's Word helps you when you're troubled about something or when you face temptation?  It also gives you guidance in making decisions in life.   Scripture you've learned will help you now and in the future.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:11)
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Welcome Message

"Grandma, I'm glad Mom and Dad went to that convention. Staying with you will be like a vacation for me," Morgan said happily after her parents had left her at her grandmother's home.

"Aren't you afraid I'll spoil you?" Grandma asked with a wink. Morgan giggled. She knew Grandma really would do a little of that.

That morning, Grandma played Morgan's favorite board games with her. For lunch, they had chips and ham sandwiches-Morgan's favorite. Then Grandma took out her Bible. "This is when I usually have my daily Bible reading," she said. "I thought we could take turns reading to each other. I've been looking forward to sharing God's Word together."

"Oh, Grandma, I'm on vacation," protested Morgan. "I just want to have fun!" Grandma looked disappointed, but she let Morgan run outside and climb the apple tree.

As Morgan got ready for bed that night, she thought about what a nice day she had spent. But then she began thinking of her parents and she felt a little lonely. "I wish Mom and Dad were here to tuck me in tonight," she told her grandmother.

Grandma smiled. "Your mom knew you'd get a little lonesome," she said. "She asked me to give you this." Grandma pulled an envelope from her pocket. Morgan opened it eagerly and read the note her parents had left for her. She felt much better after reading their words of love.

"Some people are so important to us that we never want to take a vacation from them," observed Grandma. "Aren't you glad your parents left that message for you to read?" Morgan smiled and nodded. "Well, someone else had a message for you today, but you wanted to take a vacation from Him," said Grandma gently.

Morgan knew her grandmother was talking about God. Now she wished she had taken time to read the Bible with Grandma. Morgan sat up in bed. "I know you read your Bible already, Grandma, but can we read a few verses together before I go to sleep?" Morgan asked.

"We sure can," agreed Grandma with a twinkle in her eye. "We sure can."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you're on vacation, do you think about God? Do you spend time with Him and thank Him for the good time He's giving you? Do you read from His Word to see what message He might have for you? A break from your normal routine is good now and then, but you need to hear from God no matter where you are. Be sure to give Him an opportunity to speak to you through His Word. Be sure to think about Him and talk with Him. Don't ever take a vacation from God!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word. Psalm 119:16

[Soldier4Christ]

 Fractured Friendship

"Mom," called Madison as she returned from school one day, "can we go get my birthday party invitations?"

Mom shook her head. "I'm sorry, honey, but I promised Mrs. Kettering I'd drive her to the doctor's office this afternoon. She used to walk over there, but ever since she broke her leg last year, she's had a hard time getting around."

"Well," said Madison, "we'd better get the invitations soon. It's only two weeks till my birthday."

Mom smiled. "Have you decided who you'll invite?" she asked. "Remember, five guests is the limit this year."

Madison nodded. "I want to invite Susie, Lori, Lena, Emily, and Joanna," she replied. "I don't know Lori very well, but I heard she's fun."

Mom looked surprised. "What about Pam from next door?" she asked. "I thought you two were best friends!"

"Oh, we are," Madison said, "but I can see her any time. I want somebody different for a change." She frowned. "I suppose Pam might be mad about it when she finds out, but she'll get over it."

Mom was quiet for a minute. "I'm thinking of Mrs. Kettering's broken leg," she said. "The fracture healed, but her leg will never be quite the same. Sometimes it hurts, and she has to be careful not to put too much stress on it. She can't trust it fully. It's often the same way with friendships."

"Friendships?" asked Madison. "I don't get it. What do you mean?"

"If you hurt a friend by being selfish, or even by being careless, she may be willing to forgive you, but she may never be able to fully trust you again, and your relationship suffers." Mom sighed. "I learned that lesson the hard way. I once lost a good friend because of a cruel, thoughtless remark I made. Friends are precious gifts from God, Madison. Don't take them for granted."

Madison looked thoughtful. "I . . . I think I'd better go over my guest list again," she decided.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you take your friends for granted? Do you assume that they'll always be willing to forgive you, no matter what? Part of today's Scripture talks about how painful it is when a friend does something to hurt you. Even a strong friendship can be broken, and healing can be difficult. Friends are blessings from God. Treat them as you would want them to treat you-with kindness and respect. Don't risk causing a "fractured friendship"!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do not forsake your own friend. Proverbs 27:10