Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Hot Air Balloon

"Dad, did you see that play I made? It's what really won the game!" Alyssa exclaimed as she met her family after a soccer game. "Aren't you proud of me?"

"Yeah, you made a great play," agreed her big brother Luke. "That was cool."

"Your team has been playing well," said Dad. "That's great!"

"I won that game for us," Alyssa bragged.

For days, Alyssa boasted about her winning score, but toward the end of the week, her parents noticed that she seemed unusually quiet. "Is something wrong?" Mom asked after dinner one evening.

"I don't think my friends like me anymore," Alyssa pouted. "I think they're just jealous because I'm so good at soccer!"

"Hardly!" protested Luke. "They just don't like your swelled head! You're always telling them how great you are."

"Am not!" Alyssa scowled at her brother. "Besides, I am the best soccer player!"

"Maybe Luke's right," said Dad as he took a large balloon from a drawer and handed it to Alyssa. "Blow it up, honey."

"What for?" asked Alyssa, but she took the balloon and started to blow it up. When she stopped for air, Dad told her to keep blowing. As the balloon got bigger and bigger, Luke put his hands over his ears. BANG! The balloon finally burst, scattering several yellow fragments. Alyssa looked startled. "What's the point?" she demanded.

"I think your pride grew bigger and bigger like that balloon did, honey," Dad told her. "When people boast, they're sometimes said to be 'full of hot air.' Do you think that might be the way your friends think of you? Do they, in a sense, 'cover their ears' because they're tired of hearing how great you think you are?" Alyssa looked at the tattered balloon in her hand. Then tears trickled down her cheeks. Dad patted her shoulder. "Maybe the next time God gives you success, you'll remember that any skills you have were given to you by Him. Boast about Him and not yourself, okay?"

Alyssa nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "I'm sure I'll remember."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever brag about your achievements? Everyone enjoys recognition for successes, but who really deserves the praise? God created you and gifted you so that you could bring praise to Him through your life. Remember that all the abilities you have come from God. Thank Him for them and boast about Him. A grateful, humble attitude is much more appealing to others than a bragging spirit. Don't destroy your reputation-nor God's-with self-centered boasting.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

[Soldier4Christ]

As Blake and David were studying, their father came to their room, waving a rusty hammer. "I told you boys that if you use my tools you must return them to my toolbox," Dad said sternly.  "I found this down in the woods by the fort you were building."

 

"We're sorry, Dad," said David quickly. "We won't leave them out again, will we, Blake?"

 

"No, you won't," growled Dad, "because you are forbidden to use them again!" Blake began to protest that he was not to blame, but Dad didn't seem to hear as he turned and went out to the garage.

 

Blake glared at David. "Why didn't you tell Dad I wasn't using those tools?" demanded Blake, angrily. "You're the one who took them and left them outside."

 

David shrugged. "You use Dad's tools as often as I do," he said. "Besides, you saw how angry Dad is! I'm not about to take the blame by myself."

 

As Blake raised a clenched fist to punch his brother, in the back of his mind he remembered his youth leader kneeling down by a small fire at a recent campout. "What happens, guys, when I place wood on the fire?" Pastor Bill had asked.

 

"The fire gets bigger," someone had answered as the dry kindling started to burn, causing the fire to grow.

 

"That's right," agreed Pastor Bill. "What will happen if no more wood is added?"

 

"The fire will go out," came the quick response.

 

"Right." Pastor Bill nodded.  "I want you to remember that Proverbs 26:20 compares a fire to an argument or a quarrel. Without wood a fire goes out, and without angry words or attitudes, a quarrel dies down. God doesn't want His children to quarrel. He commands us to be gentle and to love one another."

 

Blake knew a big fight would erupt if he continued arguing with David -- it had happened many times before. In fact, he could see that David was braced for an angry confrontation now. Blake hesitated only a moment. Then he turned and walked away muttering quietly, "This time I'll do what God says I should!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
If someone does or says something you dislike or that hurts your feelings, what do you do? If someone starts a quarrel with you, do you add "fuel to the fire" by saying something nasty in return? Obey God and be gentle, kind, and patient.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 2:24)
The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all.

[Soldier4Christ]

Derek ran to answer the phone. It was his friend Bret. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow," Bret told him.

 

"Tomorrow!" exclaimed Derek. "Tomorrow is the day we're having our Kids' Bible Club picnic. It can't rain then!"

 

The next day, the cloudy skies became darker and darker as the morning wore on. By the time Derek and Bret boarded the church bus to go to the picnic, it had started to sprinkle. When they reached the picnic grounds, it was raining hard. "I don't see how we can have a picnic today," grumbled Derek as the bus stopped and Mr. Flanigan stood up and faced the group. "I guess you'll have to just take us all back home, right?"

 

"No, no, no! We'll have our picnic in spite of the rain," Mr. Flanigan assured him. "See that big pavilion over there? That's where we'll have our picnic." So the kids all jumped off the bus and ran to the pavilion. There they arranged picnic tables and set out the food.

 

Before they ate, Mr. Flanigan thanked God for the food. He prayed that they'd all learn something special about God before the day ended, but Derek silently prayed that the rain would stop.

 

As they ate hot dogs and potato chips, they looked out at the pouring rain. Then Mr. Flanigan conducted games and Bible drills. "This is fun!" declared one of the kids. "A little rain can't stop us from having a good time!" Derek had to agree. He was surprised at how much fun he was having -- even though God hadn't made the rain stop.

 

Just before they left to go back home, the rain quieted down and the sun came out. "This pavilion kept us dry as long as we needed it," Mr. Flanigan told them. "Did you know that there's always a pavilion where you can take refuge when you face stormy times in your life?God is like a pavilion -- He's a refuge for you. Run to Him when you're troubled. Tell Him your problems, and trust Him to help you through them. Ask Him to teach you lessons about Himself, and trust Him to make the sun shine for you again."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have problems that seem to have no solution? God knows all about them, and He cares about you. Go to Him with your troubles and trust Him to take care of them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 62:
Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jon watched as his baby sister greedily drank her bottle of milk while he ate chocolate pudding. "Can I give Sarah some of my pudding?" he asked.

 

Mom smiled. "No, I'm afraid not," she said. "Sarah is just a baby and the chocolate might give her a tummy ache."

 

"But all she ever has is milk!" exclaimed Jon. "I bet she's tired of that."

 

"Milk is always the only thing babies eat at first," Mom told him. "That's all you had at first, too. Then a little at a time, we added cereal, vegetables, fruit, and finally meat -- and of course, chocolate pudding!" Mom smiled at Jon. "We fed you very carefully," she added, "and look at what a big, strong boy you've become."

 

Jon grinned and sat up a little taller as Mom added, "Did you know, Jon, that your dad and I are 'feeding' you God's Word -- the Bible -- in much the same way?"

 

"You are?" asked Jon. He looked surprised.

 

Mom nodded. "We're giving you more and more of God's Word -- adding a little at a time," she said. "When you were very small, we began reading to you from a very simple Bible story book. After that, we read from the Bible story book Grandma bought for you -- it has bigger words and gives more details than the earlier one. We also read the easier stories right out of the Bible."

 

"Now I can read some of them myself from my own Bible," said Jon.

 

Mom nodded. "We want you to love God's Word," she added.

 

Jon grinned. "As much as I love chocolate pudding?" he asked.

 <p >"Yes," agreed Mom. "That much -- and even more!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
<p>Have you learned to feed yourself -- spiritually, that is?Or are you still a "baby" Christian, depending on someone else to feed you? To grow up to be a mature Christian, learn to read God's Word for yourself and "feed" your soul every day.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Leslie was excited about the excursion being planned by Miss Webber, her Sunday school teacher. They were going to visit the Statue of Liberty and then have a picnic lunch, followed by games! "But this won't be quite all play," Miss Webber had said. "In class next Sunday, I'm going to ask for some of the information about the statue." How odd, thought Leslie. That kind of information doesn't sound like Sunday school material to me.

 

The Saturday of the outing arrived. The weather was beautiful, and everyone was able to go. Leslie thought the tour of the Statue of Liberty was very interesting, and the picnic and games were great fun. She had a wonderful time.

 

True to her word, Miss Webber quizzed the class the next day. She asked about the poem inscribed on the statue and about the kind of people invited to come to America. One of the girls raised her hand. "The poem was something about those who are poor and tired and want to be free," she said.

 

"That's right," agreed Miss Webber. "For many years, all kinds of people came and began a brand new life in a brand new country." She paused, then asked, "What invitation did Jesus give that is similar to those words on the Statue of Liberty?"

 

After thinking a moment, Leslie raised her hand. "Is it our memory verse?" she asked. "Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

 <p >Miss Webber nodded. "When you come to God through Jesus Christ, accepting Him as your Savior, you begin a new life -- just like immigrants begin a new life in a new land," she said. "One important difference is that there are now laws limiting the number of people who are allowed to come to the United States, but there are no restrictions on the number of people who may come to Christ. There are no quotas. Everyone is welcome."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you accepted the invitation to have your sins forgiven? Who you are, how old you are, what color your skin is -- all this makes no difference. The invitation is for you.  Come toJesus today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 11:28)
Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

[Soldier4Christ]

Julie, who was helping her mother in the garden, was puzzled when she saw Mom pinch off several small stems from the tomato vines. "Why are you breaking off parts of the tomato plant, Mom?" Julie asked. "Won't that hurt them?"

 

"No, I'm just pruning them -- removing the suckers," replied Mom.

 

"Suckers?" asked Julie.  "What are they?"

 

"Look here," directed Mom, and she reached to the center of a plant. "See this large stem with the blossoms on it?" Julie nodded. "And see this small sprout growing just below the place where that flowering branch joins the main stem?" Julie nodded again. "Well, if we let that sprout grow, it robs the stem with the blossoms of some nutrients. But if we snap the sprout off, bigger and better fruit can develop on that larger stem." Mom snapped the sprout off as she spoke.

 

"So pruning is good for the plants, right?" asked Julie.

 

Mom nodded. "It is, and I find it interesting because it's a picture of what God does with us. He helps us get rid of things that keep us from developing good fruit."

 

Julie laughed. "You make us sound like tomato plants or apple trees or something!"

 

"God wants our lives to show what the Bible calls the 'fruit of the Spirit,'" said Mom with a smile. "They're things such as love, joy, peace . . . you learned them in Sunday school, didn't you?"

 

Julie nodded. "Well, how does God help us get rid of the . . . ah . . ." She grinned. "The 'suckers' in our lives?" she finished.

 

"He uses lots of different methods," Mom replied. "Sometimes he uses parents or teachers to help young people get rid of bad habits. That's why there are rules for you to follow, both at home and at school -- and why there is discipline. God also uses both difficult and pleasant times in our lives to teach us and mold us into the people He wants us to be."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there things in your life that rob you of the ability tobear good fruit? Is there laziness, a bad temper, or grumbling in your life? Ask God to prune those things out, so that the fruit He wants you to bear can grow in your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 15:2)
Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

[Soldier4Christ]

Cody wasn't sure exactly what a stroke was, but his grandmother had had one several months ago. Since then, she couldn't walk very well and her left arm hung loosely at her side. Mom said the stroke had partly paralyzed one side of Grandma's body. "Grandma, I pray for you every day," Cody told her one afternoon. "I've been praying that you'll get all better."

 

"Thank you, Cody. I've been praying, too," said Grandma, "but I knew this old body would give out sooner or later. It happens to the best of us, you know." Grandma smiled -- she always had a smile, even though she was unable to do many of the things she had always done before. "That stroke paralyzed some of my muscles. That's bad enough," she continued, "but did you know that lots of people in the world are paralyzed in a different way -- and some of them don't even know it?"

 

Cody was surprised. "How could anyone not know that he's paralyzed?" he asked.

 

"Well, sometimes sin works like a stroke -- it paralyzes people," said Grandma.

 

After considering Grandma's words, Cody frowned. "I don't get it," he said.

 

Grandma took a pair of scissors from a nearby table and gently poked her left arm with the sharp point. "My arm has lost both its strength and its feeling," she said. "When I poke it, it doesn't hurt anymore. It's like that with sin. Sometimes people just keep on doing something wrong until it doesn't 'hurt' any more. They lose the feeling of guilt, just like I've lost the feeling in my arm."

 

Cody nodded solemnly. "That's even worse than being paralyzed the way you are, isn't it?"

 

"It surely is," agreed Grandma. "I pray daily that whenever you're tempted to do something wrong, you'll turn from it quickly and never become paralyzed by it."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you done something wrong a number of times and become less and less concerned about it? Have you even begun to think that the wrong thing is right? Don't allow sin to paralyze your conscience. When you're tempted to do something wrong, turn away from it immediately.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"Peter, don't forget that we promised to help Mrs. Jordan clean out her garage today," said Dad. "Don't run off to play until it's done."

 

"Do I have to help?" groaned Peter.

 

"I heard you tell her you'd come," said Dad firmly. "We've been praying for Mrs. Jordan since she hurt her back. One way God can help her is by using us."

 

"Sometimes I think God doesn't want me to have any fun," grumbled Peter.

 

"Sure He does," said Dad. He motioned to Peter. "Let's try an experiment," he added as he led the way to the work table in the garage. "Bring me a couple of those empty jars." Peter did so, and Dad took off the lids. "Pretend that these jars are your life," he said, "and pretend that the golf balls over there are the more serious things you should do. We'll fill one of the jars with them. Can you name some of them?"

 

"Go to church?" guessed Peter. "Study the Bible?" Dad nodded. "Pray . . . and do what you and Mom tell me to. Be nice to other kids. Help people." With each idea, Peter dropped another ball into the jar. Soon it was filled.

 

"Now we'll fill the other jar halfway up with birdseed," said Dad. "It will stand for things you consider to be fun."

 

"Like riding my bike and playing video games," said Peter. Dad nodded, and Peter poured birdseed into the jar until it was about half full.

 

"Now . . . try moving the golf balls into the jar that's already partly filled with the things you want to do," said Dad. Peter tried, but only a few balls could go in. "Okay, now put those golf balls back and pour the birdseed into that jar, too," instructed Dad. Peter's eyes grew wide as a lot of the birdseed poured into the jar, right along with the golf balls.

 

"You see, God doesn't disapprove of those things," said Dad, "but it really matters what comes first -- in life as well as in the jars. When you take care of the more serious tasks God has for you, you'll find He's often pleased to have you do things you especially like, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What has first place in your life? Do you feel like God doesn't want you to have any fun? That's not true. If you put your own fun first, there may not be room for serving God. If you put Him first, there will be room for many good, fun things. God blesses those who put Him first.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 6:33)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, everyone!" called Dad. "Guess what happened!" Wearing a big smile, he walked into the kitchen where Kadie and her mother were working.

 

"What happened?" asked Kadie eagerly.

 

"Kadie, do you remember when you and your Sunday school class went out for pizza after your skating party last month?" asked Dad. Kadie nodded, and Dad continued, "Pastor Williams just called, and he told me a man named Joseph Parr came to his office today. Mr. Parr was in the pizza shop when you all walked in."

 

"How did he know who we were?" asked Kadie.

 

"He saw the church name on the van you were using that night," explained Dad. "Anyway, he was annoyed when he saw all you young people come in, because he was afraid you'd be too rowdy. But you weren't. The man said that when you all bowed your heads to thank the Lord for the food, he was reminded of the days when he was a kid in Sunday school."

 

"Really?" asked Kadie. "That's good, isn't it?"

 

Dad nodded. "Mr. Parr told Pastor Williams that when he went home, he couldn't stop thinking about God. He said he had strayed far from the Lord, and now he wants to come back. Isn't that wonderful?"

 

"That's great!" exclaimed Mom. "Kadie, you kids were being a witness without even knowing it!"

 

"Yes, you were," agreed Dad. "The seed of God's Word was planted in Mr. Parr's life a long time ago. You kids 'watered' it, and God made it grow -- He brought the change in Mr. Parr's thinking."

 

Kadie was delighted. "Do you mean we watered it just by thanking God for the pizza and behaving ourselves?" she asked.

 

Dad nodded. "That's right, honey. We never can tell how God will use even the smallest act of faithfulness on our part to bring glory to Himself."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you witness for Christ by your life and your actions? A friendly word, a kind act, a prayer of thanks in a restaurant . . . God uses these things, and many more, to touch people's lives. God will bless you when you're faithful in even small ways.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 3:6)
I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Megan, I'd like you to put Matt down for his nap today, please," said Mom. "I need to make an important phone call."

 

"Okay," agreed Megan. "Nap time!" she announced to the energetic toddler. Laughing, Matt toddled away, wanting his sister to chase him. Megan caught him quickly. She took him to his crib, set him down, and raised the side. Little Matt scrambled around on the mattress, ignoring soft toys and stuffed animals. "Sweet dreams," Megan whispered, backing out of his room.

 

"Blankee!" Matt protested. "Blankee!"

 

As Megan peeked in, Matt pulled himself up and began to shake the rail. Megan frowned and shook her head. Where did he leave his blanket? she wondered. She checked the TV room. She dug through the toy box. She searched the hall closet. She looked under the dining room table and on the chair seats. Finally, she found the blanket in a lower cupboard in the kitchen.

 

As soon as Matt saw his "blankee," his crying stopped. He dropped to the mattress, clutching the blanket in his arms. After a few shaky breaths, he smiled contentedly at Megan. "Sweet dreams," Megan said again as she left.

 

"Matt had to have his 'blankee' before he settled down," Megan told her mother later. "Good thing I found it, or he never would have gone to sleep."

 

Mom nodded. "That blanket is his security," she said. "I guess we all need security -- even grown-ups! What's your security, Megan?"

 

Megan shrugged. "You, I guess," she said. "I know you're here to help me if I need you."She grinned and added, "You're my 'blankee,' I guess. What's yours?"

 

Mom smiled. "Well, we all find some security in family and friends -- but a Christian's real security is in God and in His love and forgiveness," she said.  "He's always available." She ruffled Megan's hair. "Quite frankly, I don't know how I'd manage without Him!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or toy? Do you have a special adult in your life to help you? Even parents can't be with you all the time, but God can. He's with you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! Depend on His unfailing love and presence in your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 28:20)
Lo, I am with you alway.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom!" called Anna. She was making party invitations on the computer. "Something's wrong!" Mom came and looked over her shoulder. "See?" Anna pointed to two words at the top of the screen. "It says, 'Invalid request.'   What does that mean?"

 

"It means you pressed a key that asked the computer to do something it's not programmed to do," explained Mom. "Here . . . I'll get you going again." Mom helped Anna, and soon the invitations were nicely printed.

 

Anna could hardly wait for the day of her party -- and when she prayed, she even asked God to make her party the best party ever! But it wasn't. It stormed the day of the party, Anna's best friend was sick and couldn't come, and Patty spilled punch on the carpet and went home in tears! "What a flop!" moaned Anna when the last guest had gone. "All summer I've been hearing how neat Gina's party was, and I wanted mine to be better than hers. I even prayed it would be."

 

Mom paused in picking up plates and looked at her daughter in surprise. "You prayed that your party would be better than Gina's?" she repeated.

 

"Well . . ." Anna looked a little embarrassed. "It's just that I'm tired of hearing the girls talk about how wonderful hers was."

 

Mom looked thoughtful. "Anna," she said after a moment, "do you remember the 'invalid request' you made on the computer when you were getting the invitations ready? When you made that request you didn't get what you asked for. Now, I certainly don't mean to insult God by comparing Him to a computer, but I'm afraid your prayer was an invalid request, too."

 

Anna sighed. "You mean I shouldn't have prayed for a good party?"

 

"It was okay to pray for a good party, " Mom said, "but I'm afraid you were asking for the wrong reasons. God's Word says that when we pray with wrong motives -- for our own selfish reasons -- we probably won't get what we ask for."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Will the things you pray for bring blessing to others and honor to God? Don't expect God to answer when you pray with selfish motives. The Bible will help you determine what pleases Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:3)
Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom!" called Anna. She was making party invitations on the computer. "Something's wrong!" Mom came and looked over her shoulder. "See?" Anna pointed to two words at the top of the screen. "It says, 'Invalid request.' What does that mean?"

 

"It means you pressed a key that asked the computer to do something it's not programmed to do," explained Mom. "Here . . . I'll get you going again." Mom helped Anna, and soon the invitations were nicely printed.

 

Anna could hardly wait for the day of her party -- and when she prayed, she even asked God to make her party the best party ever! But it wasn't. It stormed the day of the party, Anna's best friend was sick and couldn't come, and Patty spilled punch on the carpet and went home in tears! "What a flop!" moaned Anna when the last guest had gone. "All summer I've been hearing how neat Gina's party was, and I wanted mine to be better than hers. I even prayed it would be."

 

Mom paused in picking up plates and looked at her daughter in surprise. "You prayed that your party would be better than Gina's?" she repeated.

 

"Well . . ." Anna looked a little embarrassed. "It's just that I'm tired of hearing the girls talk about how wonderful hers was."

 

Mom looked thoughtful. "Anna," she said after a moment, "do you remember the 'invalid request' you made on the computer when you were getting the invitations ready? When you made that request you didn't get what you asked for. Now, I certainly don't mean to insult God by comparing Him to a computer, but I'm afraid your prayer was an invalid request, too."

 

Anna sighed. "You mean I shouldn't have prayed for a good party?"

 

"It was okay to pray for a good party, " Mom said, "but I'm afraid you were asking for the wrong reasons. God's Word says that when we pray with wrong motives -- for our own selfish reasons -- we probably won't get what we ask for."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Will the things you pray for bring blessing to others and honor to God? Don't expect God to answer when you pray with selfish motives. The Bible will help you determine what pleases Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:3)
Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't see what's so bad about wearing furs," stated Emma as she and her sister came down the stairs.

 

Tenderhearted Hannah frowned. "Wearing furs is all so unnecessary," she said. "It's downright cruel."

 

Their brother, Rick, looked scornful. "Arguing about furs on a hot day like this," he muttered. Shaking his head in disgust, he left to go for a swim at a friend's home.

 

That evening, the subject came up again. "Dad, people can just as well wear fake furs as real ones, can't they?" pleaded Hannah. "Most people can't tell the difference anyway."

 

"I'd know the difference," declared Emma.

 

Dad smiled. "This family will get along with fake furs -- if they have furs at all," he said. "The price of real ones easily determines that."

 

"Well, I'd want the real thing, not a fake," insisted Emma.

 

"It's time for family devotions," Dad said, "so let's read about some other fakes, shall we?" The children looked at him curiously as he opened the family Bible and began to read from the twenty-third chapter of Matthew. (See today's Scripture.)

 

When he finished reading, Dad looked around the table. "There are still lots of hypocrites -- people who pretend to be something they're not," he said. "There are people who claim to be Christians but have never accepted Jesus as Savior. Often we can't tell the difference between them and the real thing."

 

"I guess that's because they put on such a good show," suggested Rick. "They go to church, give money, do good things, and look really good to other people."

 

Dad nodded. "That's true," he said, "and I'm glad we don't have to judge whether they're genuine Christians or not. We do need to check our own hearts, though. As we pray, let's all examine our hearts and make sure that we have truly trusted in Jesus."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a Christian  -- not just a fake? All the good things you do may fool people, but they can't fool God. Examine your heart. If you haven't accepted Jesus as Savior, do so today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Marta's mother was sitting on the couch, working on a needlework project, when Marta came into the room and sat beside her. She looked at the picture Mom was making on the needlepoint canvas. "Oh, cool!" exclaimed Marta. "That's going to be a cover for the pillow on my bed, isn't it? Is it almost finished?"

 

"It will be a while yet," said Mom, "but it's getting there." She turned the canvas over and cut a thread.

 

"Wow!" said Marta. "That doesn't look so good on the underside." She grinned. "Don't put it on with the wrong side out!" she teased.

 

Mom smiled. "No danger of that," she said.

 

After sitting quietly for a few minutes, Marta had a question. "Mom," she said, "I still miss Grandpa a lot. Why did God let him die? We prayed and prayed for him, but he died anyway."

 

Mom shook her head. "I don't really know why the Lord took Grandpa home at this time," she said, "but . . ." Mom paused. She held up her needlework so Marta could see the underside again. "As you pointed out, this side of the picture isn't very pretty," said Mom with a smile. She turned the cloth over to the finished side. Marta loved the cuddly kittens, puppies, and teddy bears that were included in the picture she saw there. "I'm not finished with this yet," continued Mom, "but this side looks better, doesn't it?" Marta nodded.

 

Mom laid the needle work back in her lap and looked at Marta. "Some things that happen to us -- or to those we love -- look to us like the wrong side of a needlepoint picture," she said softly, "but from God's point of view, they're like the right side. His picture of our lives isn't finished yet, and we need to trust Him to work out every part just right."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has something sad happened in your life? Things will happen that you don't understand, but you can be sure of God's great love for His children. Trust Him to allow only what is best for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:5)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

"What's wrong with the car, Daddy? asked five-year-old Kevin as the family drove to their country home after a church service in the village. "It's jerking."

 

"It sure is running rough," agreed Dad. "I think it's the spark plugs."

 

"Are we going to make it home?" Kevin peered through the window at the trees lining the steep drop at the side of the road.

 

"Sure, we'll make it." Kevin's older brother, Nick, spoke confidently. "We always do."

 

The car slowly climbed a hill. Dad pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor, but the car refused to speed up. Dad frowned. He knew the road ahead had another steep hill. "I must say, I'm annoyed with myself for not taking proper care of this car," said Dad. "I should have taken it to the garage when I first noticed it wasn't running smoothly."

 

"I think it's getting worse," observed Nick. He wasn't so sure they'd make it home after all.

 

Mom sighed. "Well, at least we're near enough to home that we can walk from here if we have to," she said, "but we'd have a long uphill hike."

 

"Hey! The car needs regular checkups just like us," observed Nick with a grin. "Like Pastor Baker said this morning -- have a checkup every day, and if you see a trouble-spot, take care of the problem before it gets worse."

 

"Our car needs a checkup every day?" Kevin asked, puzzled.

 

Nick laughed. "No, silly. We need to check our lives every day to see if we're doing what Jesus wants us to do. If we're not, we need to do something about it right away."

 

Dad smiled when they finally reached their driveway. "Well, I hope you'll remember this object lesson about getting those regular checkups," he said, "because I don't intend to give you another such lesson on the subject. Tomorrow this car goes to the garage to be fixed!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
If you don't want to be "running rough," tend to spiritual needs every day. Read your Bible and examine your life to see if it's pleasing to God. Talk with Him daily.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 139:23-24)
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me.