Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom," called Gina, lowering the telephone receiver, "Sara and her folks are in town. She wants to know if she can stay with me for the weekend. Can she, Mom -- please?"

 

Mother laughed. "Sure, honey," she said. "That will be fine."

 

Gina put the receiver to her mouth. "Mom says that's fine, Sara. How soon can you get here?" After the girls chatted a bit more, Gina hung up the phone. "Oh, Mom! I'm so excited!" she squealed. "Sara will be here in a couple of hours. It'll be the first time we've seen each other since we moved here. I'm so glad they're in town. Sara can stay until Monday."

 

"Great," said Mom with a smile, "but right now you'd better get out fresh sheets for the other bed in your room."

 

Gina dashed off. At the doorway of her room she stopped, dismayed. How did my room get this messy? she wondered. She quickly grabbed arm loads of clothes from the chair and the floor. Dirty jeans went into the hamper . . . clean socks into a drawer . . . shoes into the closet. She walked past her desk, and papers slithered off in all directions.

 

As Gina was picking up the fallen papers, she noticed her Sunday school paper among them. "Jesus is coming soon," she read as she opened a drawer to put the paper away. "We don't know when, but we need to be ready." Gina skimmed through the story that followed. Then she got back to cleaning, but the words she'd read echoed on in her mind.

 

Will I be ready if Jesus suddenly arrives? she asked herself. She knew He could come any time, but somehow it was easy to be careless about keeping her life clean -- just as easy as being careless about keeping her room clean. I got a phone call telling me that Sara is coming, so I have time to clean up my room. But I won't get a phone call to tell me the Lord is coming, and I won't have time to prepare my heart. As Gina thought about it, she made up her mind to live every day in such a way that she would be ready to welcome Jesus at any moment.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Would you need time to clean up your life if you knew Jesus were coming today? Should you apologize to someone? Is there a sin you need to confess to God and stop doing? Do you need to become better acquainted with Him through reading His Word? You won't be given advance notice of Jesus' coming. Live each day to please Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 12:40)
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!" groaned Maria. "I'm counting the money for our Young Conqueror Club. I've gone over this and over this, and I just can't get it to balance." Maria pointed to the coins and bills on the table. "We're saving to buy a VCR for church. I'm treasurer, and Miss Schmidt gave me the money to keep until tomorrow after school when we'll put it in the bank. This paper says I'm supposed to have $27.75, but I have only $22.25. I've counted it six times!"

 

Mother came over to the table. "Let me count and see if I get the same thing," she suggested. So she counted the money, and her total was the same as Maria's.

 

"What if I get blamed for the missing money?" moaned Maria. "Miss Schmidt trusted me."

 

The telephone interrupted the conversation, and Maria answered it. She talked a few minutes, then hung up the phone and turned to face her mother with a big smile. "What a relief!" she exclaimed. "That was Miss Schmidt, and she called to apologize. She said a bill of $5.50, which was used for our party, slipped her mind, and so it didn't get written down. That means there's supposed to be a balance of $22.25 -- just what's here."

 

When Dad came home, Maria told him how worried she'd been before Miss Schmidt's call. Dad nodded. "So how do you like being responsible for reconciling the money with the recorded amount?" he asked.

 

"Reconciling them?" asked Maria. "I think I've heard that word in church, too. What does it mean?"

 

"It means to settle or to restore to friendship or harmony. The money you actually had did not add up to the amount you were required to have -- there was no harmony between them -- so those two amounts had to be reconciled," explained Dad. "And, yes -- you do hear that word in church because as a sinner, you didn't have the righteousness God requires for salvation and a home in heaven. You and God had to be reconciled. That happened when you accepted Jesus as your Savior --  that's when you received the righteousness God requires you to have." Dad smiled. "As you reconcile your club accounts from now on, it can be a reminder to you that you're reconciled to God."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you reconciled to God, or is your sin still separating you from Him? Accept Jesus as Savior and receive the required righteousness to put you in harmony with the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 5:20)
We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Grandma, I love you, but I miss Mom so much," said Judi as she entered the utility room where Grandma was taking towels from the dryer. "I wish she could have come home from the hospital today."

 

"I know, honey, but she'll be here tomorrow," encouraged Grandma, "and just think -- she'll bring your brand new brother." Grandma closed the dryer and gave Judi a hug before she began to fold the towels.

 

"Yes, but . . ." Judi hesitated, then added, "Grandma, I'm worried about something." She looked down at her feet. "I guess it's nice to have a little brother, but I . . . I wonder if Mom still loves me. I mean -- as much as she did before the baby came."

 

"Why, of course she does, honey," Grandma said promptly. "Why did you think she might not?"

 

Judi frowned. "Oh, I don't know. I just keep wondering about it."

 

"Well, Judi, let me ask you something," said Grandma. "You've been wanting to take a trip back to Springdale where you used to live, right?"

 

Judi nodded. "Dad says we'll go when the baby is a little older."

 

"Well, why do you want to go back there?" asked Grandma.

 

"Oh, Grandma, Kayla lives there, and she's my very best friend!" said Judi. "You know that!"

 

"But you moved from there three months ago," replied Grandma, "and you have new friends now."

 

"But, Grandma, I didn't forget Kayla when I got new friends," Judi protested. "Don't you understand?"

 

"You mean you still love her?" asked Grandma. Judi nodded, and Grandma smiled. "Then why do you think your mom will stop loving you?" asked Grandma. "She has enough love for both you and your baby brother -- just like you have plenty of love for both Kayla and your new friends."

 

Judi smiled, too. Then she gave Grandma a big hug. "I get it," she said. "I can't wait to see my little brother."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wonder if your parents would love you more if you had no brothers or sisters? God gives parents plenty of love to go around to every family member. Best of all, God deeply loves each of His children. He is love, and He wants you to not only know that, but to rely on it every day and every moment.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 4:16)
We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why are you watching the Tigers' baseball game?" Alicia asked her brother. "You said you wanted to watch the Bears."

 

"Yeah, but I'm taping that game on the VCR so I can watch it later," replied Ben as he munched some popcorn. Just then a commercial came on the TV screen, and Ben turned the sound off on the TV and turned on a portable radio. He grinned at his little sister. "Our high school team is playing out of town tonight, so during the TV commercials I turn on this radio to see how they're doing," he said. "I keep tabs on all three games I'm interested in. Have you got a smart brother, or what?"

 

Before long, it was Alicia's bedtime. "Come tuck me in tonight, Daddy," she called when she was ready to sleep.

 

"Ready for bedtime prayers?" asked Dad when he reached her room.

 

"Okay," agreed Alicia, and they knelt together beside her bed. "Daddy, we always pray before I go to sleep, but aren't a lot of other kids praying right now, too?" asked Alicia.

 

Dad nodded. "Yes, I imagine lots of kids pray at bedtime," he said.

 

"Well, then it seems like God would need a big VCR so he could record them and listen to them later," said Alicia.

 

Dad smiled. "Sounds like you've been talking with Ben," he replied, "but God doesn't have to use a VCR and listen to one prayer at a time. He can hear everyone's prayer at the same time."

 

"Well, what if my prayers aren't very interesting? Does He switch to someone else?" asked Alicia. "Like Ben switches over to the radio when the boring TV commercials come on?"

 

"Oh, honey, God isn't like Ben or any of us," said Dad, giving Alicia a hug. "God is God. Like I said, He can hear all the prayers of the world --  all at the same time. He hears everything we say and even knows everything we think, and He's interested in everything that concerns us. We can never really understand how He does it, but we know He does because He said so, and He is God."

 

"I'm glad," said Alicia. "Okay, let's pray, Daddy."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder how God can hear your prayers when so many other people are praying, too? Do you wonder if what you pray about is important enough for Him to listen? Don't worry; God cares about every detail of your life, and He hears all your prayers. Pray right now; God is listening.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 139:4)
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can I skip my Bible study group tonight?" asked Ryan as he got up to help clear the supper table. "I didn't have time to do my lesson this week, and I know Pastor Frank really doesn't like it when that happens."

 

"Well," said Mother, "I'm glad Pastor Frank expects you to study on your own, but you should go to the class even if your lesson isn't done."

 

"I don't know, Mom," said Ryan doubtfully. "I've been thinking about quitting. I don't have time to do all those assignments."

 

Mother frowned as she turned on the radio. "This radio isn't working," she said after a moment. She turned the dial, then clicked the on/off button. "I wanted to listen to music while I clean up the kitchen."

 

Ryan looked at the radio, too -- clicking the switch and turning the dial. Then he noticed the cord lying loosely across the counter. "Here's your trouble, Mom," he said with a laugh. "The radio isn't plugged in. You need power to run this thing, you know. No power, no music."

 

"Oops!" Mother laughed, too, as she set the dial. "This radio reminds me of you," she said as she began to run water into the sink.

 

"What do you mean?" asked Ryan.

 

"Well," replied Mother, "like the radio, Christians need to be 'plugged in' to their power source so that they can live for God and witness for Him. They plug in by spending time in Bible study and living in obedience to God. Worship, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians help, too. Yesterday you mentioned that it's tough trying to be a witness to your friends at school, and that you feel like you're the only Christian in your science class. I think the Bible study group can help you stay 'plugged in' so that you can be a real witness there."

 

Ryan sighed, but he knew his mother was right. "Okay," he said, "I'll go." As he left to get ready for the Bible study group, he looked at his mother suspiciously. "Mom, did you know all along that the radio was unplugged?" he asked.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you doing things that help keep you "plugged in" to your power source? Reading the Bible, attending church and Sunday school, and being encouraged by other Christians and by prayer will help keep you connected. Put God first in your life so you will have His power.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 2:13)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tom loved to go to Grandpa's muffler shop. Sparks flew when torches cut through metal. Rusty old mufflers came off, and shiny new ones went on with a loud buzzing noise as the air gun tightened bolts.

 

At home, Tom pretended he owned a muffler shop. His customers were his younger brother and sister, Zach and Jodi. When Zach called on the toy phone, Tom would ask, "How may I help you?" That was the way he often heard Grandpa answer the phone. Then Tom would wait for Zach to bring his bike for make-believe repairs. Jodi came, too, riding her tricycle in for a pretend new muffler.

 

One evening, the three children were ready to play muffler shop when Dad said, "Time to get dressed. Our church families take turns visiting the elderly people at the nursing home, remember? Tonight is our turn to visit."

 

Tom groaned. "Why do we have to go there?" he asked. "Those old people are no fun. Can't we skip it?"

 

Dad shook his head. "They look forward to our visits," he said. "They especially like seeing children. It brightens up their whole day."

 

"Well, it doesn't brighten my day to go there," grumbled Tom. "It ruins my fun."

 

Suddenly Dad changed the subject. "Tom, how does Grandpa answer the phone at the muffler shop?" he asked.

 

"He says, 'How may I help you?'" replied Tom with a grin.

 

Dad nodded. "I've heard you answer the same way when you have a pretend shop here at home," he said. "It's a good way to show that you're willing and eager to help someone. But isn't it too bad that we sometimes give customers a better answer than we give God?"

 

"What do you mean?" asked Tom.

 

"Well, the Bible teaches us that God wants those who love Him to serve Him willingly," explained Dad. "He'd like us to say to Him, 'How may I help You, Lord?' Tonight I think He'd answer, 'You can serve Me by bringing cheer to those at the nursing home -- without grumbling.'"

 

Tom was thoughtful. Then he headed to his room to change clothes.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you eager to serve the Lord in any way He wants? Even when He wants you to do something you don't really want to do? He can see into your heart, and He knows when you serve Him with a happy and willing spirit.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Chronicles 28:9)
Serve Him (God) with a perfect heart and with a willing mind.

[Soldier4Christ]

The door banged shut behind Peter as he raced into the house after the first day at his new school. "Mom!" he called. "Guess what! I made some friends today, and they're coming over in a minute to play baseball!"

 

"That's great!" replied Mother. She followed Peter into the living room. "We'll be having supper a little early. The special youth meetings at church start tonight."

 

Peter hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. "I don't think I'll go after all," he said slowly. He looked at his mother anxiously. She was silent, and his gaze shifted to the carpet. "See, Mom -- I'm trying to fit in with the guys," explained Peter, "and I don't think any of them go to church."

 

"Well," responded Mother, "that won't keep you from going, you know. By the way, who was the boy you started talking to when I dropped you off at school this morning -- the one with the leg braces?"

 

"Oh, that's Andy," replied Peter. "I like him; he's one of my friends, and I play with him a lot. But some of the kids make fun of him and won't play with him, so then a lot of the others avoid him, too. It's kind of sad."

 

"I agree," said Mother. "It's a shame that kids would miss out on a friend like Andy just because they're concerned about what others think." She frowned as she added, "But isn't that what you want to do, Peter? You want to miss out on spending time at church with your best friend, Jesus, because your new friends might not approve of Him."

 

Peter blushed and was quiet. "I guess you're right, Mom," he admitted after a moment. "I'll tell the guys I'm going to church tonight."

 

Just then Jeff and Mike arrived with their baseball equipment. "Let's get going, Pete," said Mike. "We can't stay very long tonight. We've got to leave early for a special meeting at our church."

 

"Really?" exclaimed Peter. "I'm planning to go to a meeting at my church, too." He and his mother shared a smile.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you talk about Jesus when you're with friends, or do you keep your friendship with Him a secret? Are you afraid others will laugh if they find out you're a Christian? No earthly friend is ever as important or precious as Jesus. He gave His life for you. Let your friends see that you love Him.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"I spy something red," said Jon. With their parents, he and his sister Janelle were on vacation, and the two children were playing a game.

 

Janelle looked around. "Is it that red truck in front of us?" she asked. Jon nodded, and it was Janelle's turn.

 

Before long, the children got tired of their game. "How many more miles till we stop?" asked Jon.

 

"I'm not sure," said Dad. He glanced across the seat and grinned. "Mom hasn't been watching road signs, either," he added. "She's asleep."

 

Dad's voice woke Mom, and she sat up. "I'm not asleep," she said, and the others laughed. "Let's stop for something to eat," she suggested. "Did you see any signs for restaurants coming up soon?"

 

No one had, and Jon sighed. "Dad was busy driving, Mom was sleeping, and Janelle and I were playing a game," he said, "so we all missed the signs for restaurants, if there were any. Maybe we'll see some before long. Hey -- let's see who can find a restaurant sign first."

 

"This experience reminds me of life," said Dad. "Make a note of it for me, please." He pulled a little notepad and pen from his pocket and handed them to Mom. Jon knew what that was for -- Dad was always looking for illustrations for his sermons. "God gives signs along the road of life," continued Dad, "but if we're too busy with the things of the world, we may miss the signs He has for us."

 

"What signs does God give us, Dad?" asked Jon.

 

"You can all help me think of some," said Dad. "One that comes to my mind is, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' That's the most important one because it tells us the way to heaven."

 

"I know one," said Mom. "It's 'Study to show thyself approved unto God.' Both new and old Christians need to study God's Word as they travel that road to heaven."

 

"Is 'Pray without ceasing' one of God's signs?" asked Janelle.

 

Dad nodded. "It sure is," he said. "Your turn, Jon."

 

"Forgive and it shall be forgiven unto you," suggested Jon, then he exclaimed, "Look! That sign says there's food at the next exit."

 

Dad smiled. "You see," he said, "it pays to watch the signs."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you watching for God's "road signs" by reading the Bible and by listening to teachers and preachers who help you understand it? That's very important for your journey to heaven.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I thought this vacation was supposed to be fun," grumbled Jason through chattering teeth. It was damp and chilly inside the tent as rain beat against the canvas sides. "Why does it have to rain today?" he moaned.

 

"God didn't promise us sunshine for the trip," replied Dad. "We'll just have to make the best of the rain and try to think of some good things about it." He grinned. "It's giving our dusty, dirty van a much needed washing," he added. But Jason didn't smile.

 

"I want you and Doug to get your pajamas on," Mom told the boys. "Then we'll have devotions and sing some choruses. That will help us forget about the rain."

 

The boys did as they were told and slid into their sleeping bags. "I'm finally getting warm," said Jason. "Maybe the rain will be gone by the time we wake up tomorrow."

 

"Maybe," agreed Dad, "and then we'll enjoy some fishing. Now . . . what shall we sing tonight?"

 

"I know," exclaimed Jason. "Let's sing, 'What can wash away my sin?' We're learning it in Sunday school."

 

Doug laughed out loud, and Dad chuckled. "Why are you laughing at me?" demanded Jason. "What's so funny?"

 

Mom smiled as she explained. "We've got all this rain, and you want to sing about sin being washed away," she said.

 

Jason grinned. "I guess maybe that is kind of funny," he agreed.

 

"Actually," said Dad, still smiling, "it's a very good song to sing tonight. Remember how dirty our van was? The rain washes away the dust and dirt, and the blood of Jesus washes away our sins. Instead of being unhappy about the rain, maybe we ought to let it remind us of Jesus and what He did for us when He died on the cross."

 

"Right. Thanks, Jason, for choosing the perfect song," added Mom.

 

Together the family sang the old hymn. As the rain pattered on the tent, Jason remembered that every one of his sins was washed away by Jesus. How wonderful that God would forgive the bad things he did!




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have your sins been washed away? Have you confessed them to Jesus? He died and shed His blood on the cross so you can be forgiven. Every bad thing you've done can be washed away.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 1:7)
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Peese come to school next Fwiday! Peese! Peese!" begged Aaron, wildly waving a printed reminder of the special Family Day at pre-school.

 

"Of course I'll come," answered Mother, giving three-year-old Aaron a hug. "Janna can come, too. She doesn't have school next Friday."

 

"Yippee!" hollered Aaron as he went off to play with his toys.

 

Janna smiled. "It will be nice to see Mrs. King again," she said. "I still remember being in pre-school. I had so much fun there."

 

When Mother and Janna visited Aaron's school, they watched as Aaron and his classmates colored a picture, listened to the story of The Little Engine That Could, and found things in the room that were blue.

 

After enjoying cookies and juice, Mrs. King clapped her hands for attention. "It's time to line up to go to the playground," she announced. She took two long ropes out of the closet. The boys lined up on one rope, and the girls on the other. Each child held tightly to the rope. Mrs. King took a rope in each hand and led the way out. "Be sure to watch for cars," she reminded the children as they started across the parking lot. The three and four-year-olds made their way past several parked cars and a big yellow school bus. Their feet kicked up small clouds of dust from the gravel, and they giggled as geese honked from above.

 

"I remember that rope," Janna told her mother as they followed the children. "I held on to it for dear life." Then she laughed and added, "The playground seemed much farther away then, and walking past all the cars scared me."

 

Mother smiled. "We may be older, but we still need to hang on to a rope," she replied. Janna looked puzzled, and Mother laughed. "Not a literal rope," she said, "but in a way, God's Word is like a rope. We don't have to hold on to it to keep our salvation -- the Bible says we are 'kept by the power of God.' But the Bible also tells us to hold fast to what is good. We do this by reading, memorizing, and obeying what God says in His Word."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
First Thessalonians 5:21 says, "Hold fast on to the good." Do you do that? Do you "hold tightly" to what God says? No one can plant God's words into your heart, except you. No one can make you memorize it. No one can force you to think about what God says in His Word and apply it to your heart and life. You must make the choice to do it. It takes time and effort, but you will be rewarded. Make Psalm 119:16 your promise to God --  "I will not neglect Your word. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:16)
I will not forget Thy word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Timothy picked up a shoe from the display table. "This is the one I want,
Mom," he said. Mother looked doubtful. "They're the best," insisted Timothy.
"All the guys are buying this brand. The TV ad says this special sole reduces
the pounding you get from the gym floor." Timothy shut his eyes, imagining what
his friends would say if he arrived at practice wearing these shoes. He looked
hopefully at his mother, but she was moving away.


 

"How about this one?" asked Mother, showing him a shoe almost like the one Timothy held.

 

"Yuck," protested Timothy. "Nobody buys that brand."

 

Mother spoke quietly. "I want to buy shoes you like, but you know I won't pay a lot of extra money for a brand name."

 

"But I don't want any other shoe," wailed Timothy, thinking of his friends. He began to complain loudly.

 

Mother looked unhappy. "Then you can just get along with your old ones," she said firmly, and she hurried him out of the store.

 

At dinner that night, Dad asked, "Who was at the door a while ago?"

 

"It was Joey -- that old showoff," answered Timothy with a scowl. "He just came to brag about his new skateboard. He got a new one only a few months ago, and now he bought another one just to impress the guys. It's disgusting."

 

Mother looked surprised. "But weren't you begging for a certain brand of shoe because you wanted to impress your friends?" she asked. Timothy stared at her. "Just think about it," continued Mother gently. "Do you really need that particular brand of shoe, or are you -- like Joey -- trying to use possessions to build yourself up in the eyes of your friends?"

 

Timothy chewed his food slowly. It was true. He had wanted his friends to notice his shoes. He knew he was acting like some men he had learned about in Sunday school -- his teacher had shown the class how the Pharisees had tried to impress others, too. "I guess Joey and I have a lot to learn," he admitted.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you nag your parents for clothing with popular brand names? Do you plead for certain things just because "everybody else" has them? Examine your heart. Do you really need those items? It's good to dress neatly and look nice, but you should never dress just to show off.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 23:12)
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Becky walked home from Sunday school with Janie, her next door neighbor, they talked about the lesson they had just heard. "I don't know if I really believe there's a God," confided Becky. "Do you, Janie?"

 

Janie's brown eyes opened wide. "Of course I do!" she exclaimed.

 

Becky frowned. "Well, you've gone to church all your life," she said. "I guess that makes it easier, but you've never seen God, have you?"

 

"No," admitted Janie, "but I still know He's real."

 

Becky shrugged. "How can you be so sure?" she asked, but they had arrived at her home, and she turned up the walk before Janie could give her an answer. "See you tomorrow," she called.

 

The next day, Becky's mother picked up the girls after school. She greeted them and then asked, "Becky, do you remember the magazine with the pen pal column in it?"

 

"Oh, yes! Did anyone write?" asked Becky eagerly.

 

"What's a pen pal column?" asked Janie.

 

"One of the magazines we get lists the names of kids who want to exchange letters with other kids," explained Becky. "It tells their ages and hobbies and stuff. I sent in my name, and it was in this month's issue." She turned back to her mother. "Did I get a letter, Mom?" Her mother nodded and handed Becky an envelope. She quickly tore it open and began reading the letter from a girl named Susan. She let Janie read it, too.

 

Later that evening, the girls talked about the letter again. Janie looked thoughtfully at Becky and asked, "Do you think Susan is real?"

 

Becky stared at Janie as if she had lost her mind. "Real?" she asked. "Of course she's real. I got her letter, didn't I?"

 

"Well, you said you didn't know if God was real," Janie reminded her, "but my dad says God wrote us a letter, too. We call it the Bible."

 

Becky looked surprised. "Well, you can't see God, but I could go to where Susan lives and see her," she said.

 

"If she's real," said Janie.

 

Becky started to speak; then she grinned. Suddenly she knew that God was very real, just like Susan was.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have trouble believing in an invisible God? Look around at all the things He has made -- the beauty of a sunset, the rainbow in the sky, the growing plants, the animals, and even yourself. Read the Bible, God's letter to you, and believe in Him. You don't need to see God to believe.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 20:29)
Blessed are they that have not seen (Jesus), and yet have believed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Noelle dropped her book bag on the corner of her grandmother's kitchen cupboard. She shook her head when Grandma offered her milk and peanut butter cookies. "No, thanks, Gran," she said. "I don't feel like eating." Sighing, she added, "Nothing is going right! You even prayed with me that I'd pass my math test -- but it didn't do any good." A tear slid down her cheek. "Oh, Gran, I hate school. I didn't even like gym today --  we had to do all kinds of exercises! And Mom and Dad won't let me get a puppy. The doctor says I'm allergic to them."

 

Grandma handed Noelle a tissue. Then she slowly twisted the diamond ring off her finger. "Take a look at this," she said, holding out the treasured ring. "Do you know anything about diamonds?"

 

Noelle took the ring. "Well, I know they're beautiful and expensive," she said, "and they come from mines. I think it takes a long, long time to make a diamond." She slipped the ring on her finger and held it up to the light. "Oh, look at it sparkle!" she added.

 

Grandma nodded. "Diamonds don't look like that when they come from the ground," she said. "It takes an expert stonecutter to take a diamond in the rough and very carefully cut and polish it and make it look beautiful."

 

"I remember studying that in school," said Noelle. "It takes a very sharp tool, and one slip can cause a diamond to shatter and be ruined."

 

"That's right -- and did you know that we are like 'diamonds in the rough,' Noelle?" asked Grandma. "God is the Master Stonecutter for us. Although the tools He uses -- like disappointments -- may seem painful to us, He uses them to make us strong and beautiful, and He never makes a slip. If we trust Him, He'll never allow us to be shattered."

 

As Noelle continued to admire the diamond, Grandma placed the cookies on the table. This time Noelle thoughtfully reached for one.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been disappointed when you asked God to help you pass a test or hit a home run -- and it didn't happen? Do you think He doesn't seem to care that you don't have a friend? Trust Him anyway, and let the Master Stonecutter turn you into a beautifully polished "diamond. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 25:2)
O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"That Austin Cooper sure makes me sick," grumbled Chad. "He thinks he knows everything. He's a great big know-it-all!" Chad took a heaping spoonful of lasagna and looked around the table for sympathy.

 

Mom sighed, and Dad frowned -- but Gina nodded knowingly. "Allison Summers is like that, too," she said. "And then there's Audrey. She's not a snob -- she's just the opposite -- but her clothes are awful! Someone should teach her how to dress."

 

Dad reached down for a small brown package lying beside his chair. "Kids," he said, "I have something for you." Opening the bag, he brought out two small notebooks and handed one to each of the children.

 

"Oh, thanks, Dad!" exclaimed Gina. She flipped through the pages eagerly. "I needed a new notebook for Science."

 

"Sorry," said Dad. "These notebooks are for a special purpose."

 

"Yes," agreed Mom. "Lately you've talked so much about the shortcomings of the kids you know, so Dad and I decided it would be good to take a closer look at what's happening. The notebooks are to be used each day to record the names of those who have annoyed you and what it is that you didn't like."

 

"And then," added Dad, "list every good thing you know about them. Please don't leave the book empty and say you don't have any complaints. We won't believe that, because you've been critical for several weeks. Next Monday night we want to see your notebooks, so bring them to the dinner table." Both Chad and Gina looked rather sheepish as they took the notebooks.

 

When they came to the table the next Monday, Gina smiled as she opened her notebook. "Know what I found?" she asked. "I found that when I really try to find good things to write, my list of good things about the kids who annoy me is always a lot longer than my list of their faults."

 

Chad nodded. "Same here," he said, "so can I quit writing in this now?"

 

"Not yet," said Mom with a smile. "Keep this going until you have the notebooks filled -- it should help you break the habit of criticizing."

 

"Right," agreed Dad. "Now let's find a Bible verse to help us, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you so annoyed by the faults you see in others that you don't notice their good qualities? Do you find it hard to love some of them? Remembering that God loves you even though you don't deserve His love will make it easier for you to love others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 4:11)
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

[Soldier4Christ]

Samantha had a funny feeling in her stomach when her friend Marnie taunted her for refusing to act up in class. "What a goody-goody you're turning out to be," scoffed Marnie. "You think you're so much better than I am because you go to church all the time now." Marnie scowled and turned her back to Samantha.

 

"You just . . ." began Samantha, a sharp retort on her tongue. But she bit it back, knowing it would make Marnie even more angry. Although she really wanted to speak up and defend herself, she just stood there quietly.

 

That afternoon, Samantha talked to her mother about the problem with Marnie. "I felt so stupid," said Samantha. "I looked like I was too dumb to think of anything to say. Actually, I could think of plenty. After all, I was right and the other kids were wrong to act like they did. But I figured if I told her that, she'd just get madder yet."

 

Mother nodded understandingly. "It's hard to keep your mouth shut when you know you're right, isn't it?" she sympathized. After a moment, she added, "Often people don't understand that it takes God's special strength to keep quiet when you want to react angrily. Jesus gave us a good example to follow in that regard. How do you suppose He felt when He didn't argue with those who told lies about Him? He knew He was innocent. Since He's God, He could have stopped the lies, but He was strong enough to control His power."

 

Samantha thoughtfully twirled a strand of red hair around her finger. "I guess I never thought that Jesus had to be strong to be able to do nothing," she said.

 

Mother smiled. "Always remember, honey, that being patient and controlling your tongue is not being weak," she said. "It's being strong -- stronger than the urge to sin. Every day ask God for strength to exhibit self-control."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you're acting strong when you are loud and angry? Jesus demonstrated that true strength is shown by self-control, not by getting angry and telling someone off. Ask God to help you control yourself.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:19)
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.