Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Lucy and Nick helped their dad load groceries into the car. "I hope it
stops snowing soon," said Nick as he closed the trunk. Hearing the sound of
spinning tires, he looked around to see who was stuck. He saw that a car a few
rows over was having trouble moving.
 

"Let's give that driver a hand," said Dad, and the three of them walked across the snow-covered parking lot to a gray car. The elderly driver rolled down the window. "I don't think you're stuck too bad," said Dad. "We'll give you a push." As the man stepped on the gas, the others pushed. The car moved slowly ahead, and the driver was gratefully on his way. 

"You know what our Sunday school teacher said a few weeks ago?" asked Nick as they walked back to their car.

"How would we know what your teacher said?" teased Lucy. "Do you think we're mind readers?"

Nick ignored her. "My teacher said that sometimes people get stuck in life and just spin their wheels."

Dad nodded. "I guess we all have times when we need a little push in the right direction," he said as they started for home. "Can you think of some practical ways we might give that kind of help to someone? Besides giving them a shove when they're stuck in the snow, that is?"

No one spoke for a few minutes. Then Lucy had a suggestion. "I know," she said. "Nick gave me a push when he helped me with my homework the other day."

"Good," said Dad, "and you gave me a push when you told me your friend's parents enjoyed my Sunday school class. I was getting a little discouraged about my teaching."

As they turned into their driveway, Nick had one more idea. "I guess Mom gave me and Lucy a push when she made us take a time out from fighting yesterday," he admitted.

Dad smiled. "I think you're right," he
said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Can you "give someone a push"? Can you give a little help or a word of encouragement to someone who seems to be "spinning his wheels"? God is pleased when you encourage and help others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thess. 5:11)
Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Patrick!" Mom's voice startled him as he stepped into the kitchen. "Look
at your shoes!" Patrick looked down at his feet and then at the trail of mud
behind him. "Where have you been to get so dirty?" asked Mom.
 

Patrick shrugged. "I haven't been anywhere special," he said. "Just outside."

"Well, please go back outside and clean off your shoes," Mom said as she opened the door for him.

A few minutes later, Patrick walked back into the house. Mom was on her knees, wiping up the last bit of dirt. "I'm sorry," apologized Patrick.

Mom smiled. "No harm done," she said. "I know it was an accident. How about some milk and cookies?"

"Sure!" Patrick grinned.

When he had finished his second chocolate chip cookie, Mom smiled and said, "It's pretty easy to get dirt on your shoes without knowing it, isn't it?"

Patrick nodded. "Uh-huh," he said. "I don't know how they got so dirty. Honest."

"Well," said Mom, "at least it was just mud dirt -- not sin dirt." Patrick looked puzzled. "Getting your shoes dirty with mud is a little like getting your life dirty with sin," explained Mom. "Sometimes you don't even realize what's happened until suddenly you see that something you've done is not right -- it's not what God would want you to do."

"Does that ever happen to you?" asked Patrick in surprise.

Mom nodded sadly. "Yes, I'm afraid it does. Then it's as though my life has gotten dirty with sin."

"But how can you get clean again?" asked Patrick. He knew a person couldn't go outside and brush sin off like he could brush dirt off his shoes.

"The Bible says if we confess our sins, God will forgive
and cleanse us," said Mom. "We get clean again when we're sincerely sorry and
ask Him to forgive us. We need to yield to Him as He works in our
lives."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware of some sin in your life? Have you gotten in the habit of doing something wrong? Ask God to show you what changes you need to make in your life. Confess your sin to God and turn from it. When you do that, He will forgive you and make you clean in His sight.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 51:2)
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Lynne put a paper packet into the microwave oven, set the timer, and
waited. A few minutes later she removed a plump bag filled with steamy hot
popcorn from the oven. "That's not how we made popcorn when I was your age," Dad
told her, reaching for a few kernels. "We had to put oil in a pan, set it on the
stove, wait till the pan was hot, pour in the kernels, cover it, and shake it
like crazy so the popcorn wouldn't burn."
 

Mom nodded. "And then," she said, "we put the popped corn into a bowl, added melted butter, and sprinkled it with salt."

"This is a lot easier," Lynne said, "and I eat it right out of the bag. No mess! Nothing to clean up!"

"It tastes good, too, although I'm not sure it's quite as good as popcorn made the old-fashioned way," said Dad as Lynne's brother came in, slamming the door behind him. "Something wrong, Tony?" asked Dad.

"It's Ethan," Tony complained. "The guys in our club always raked leaves and picked up trash for the senior citizens, but he thinks we should do something different this year."

"So what does he want to do?" asked Mom.

"He wants us to have a car wash and use the money we make to buy books and videos for the library," said Tony with a frown. "He says it would be a big help to the seniors because they could check them out and it would provide entertainment for them."

"Well . . ." Dad tapped the popcorn bag, "we were just talking, Tony," he said, "about the old way and the new way to make popcorn. We decided it tastes delicious either way, and each way has its good points."

"You mean . . ." Tony began slowly.

"I just mean you should consider Ethan's idea," said
Dad, "and he should consider yours. It might be good to meet with your leaders
and discuss the pros and cons of each way. Your way of doing the service project
worked fine, but maybe his would, too. Do your best to figure out which plan
would be best."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you insist on doing things your way? God has given people many different ideas of ways to serve Him. Cooperate with others in serving God. Share your good ideas and listen to theirs. Try to determine the best way to serve God, and then work -- and play --  in unity.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 3:
Be ye all of one mind . . . love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Luke," called Mom as he started to leave for school, "you forgot your
backpack!"
 

"I don't want it today, Mom," replied Luke. "It's so heavy it slows me down, and I'm already late." He grabbed his lunch and books and was gone.

Mom unzipped Luke's backpack and began piling the contents on the table. "Hmmm," she murmured. "An overdue library book, a pair of running shoes that he doesn't need now that track season is over -- even some rocks. No wonder this backpack slows him down!"

That evening, Mom noticed that Luke didn't seem very happy. "Is anything the matter?" she asked.

Luke sighed. "Lance Gordon wants me to come to his birthday party," he said, "but I still don't like him."

Mom frowned. "It's been three months since he accused you of stealing his bike, and he has apologized, hasn't he?" she asked.

Luke nodded. "Yeah, but it still bugs me," he said. Then he added with a scowl, "Besides, Greg's going to be there. He didn't come to my party -- said he had to go to his grandma's house! I think he just didn't want to bring a present!"

"I see," said Mom. "Anything else?"

Luke hesitated. "Well," he said finally, "today Jake wore the championship sweatshirt that he got when the softball team won two years ago. I missed it because that was the year I broke my leg and couldn't be on the team."

"That's quite a load you're carrying," said Mom. "It reminds me of your heavy backpack."

"My backpack?" repeated Luke.

"Do you know why it was so heavy?" asked Mom. "It's because it was still loaded with things you should have gotten rid of long ago." She told him about the book, the shoes, and the rocks.

"I guess it was pretty dumb to carry around that heavy stuff day after day," admitted Luke.

"Yes," said Mom, "but if you don't mind my saying so,
it's even 'dumber' to keep old hurts from the past and carry them around in your
heart. Unload them, and you'll find it much easier to run the race Christ calls
you to run -- to have an attitude and actions that please Him."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you remember disappointments? Do you hold on to anger? Do you store up hurts? Are they a heavy weight in your heart? Forgive those who hurt you and pray for them. You'll feel better and have more energy to serve the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 12:1)
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Less than halfway up the mountain, Bryan struggled to keep up with Dad. He
wondered why he'd ever thought it would be fun to climb Squaw Peak. Of course,
he hadn't been in a happy mood when the day began -- he had been feeling upset over
seeing Grandpa in the nursing home the day before. "Why does Grandpa have to
suffer so much?" Bryan had asked Dad as they left the nursing home.
 

"I don't know, Bryan," Dad had answered. "I know it hurts to see Grandpa the way he is now, but it helps me to know that he'll soon be in the wonderful place Jesus has prepared for him." Bryan had nodded, but actually, the thought that Grandpa would go to heaven didn't seem to make much difference in the way Bryan felt.

Bryan's thoughts were interrupted by Dad's voice suggesting that they take a break, so they stopped and rested for a while. After a bit, Dad got up. "Ready to go?" he asked.

Bryan hesitated. "Maybe we should just go back down," he said.

Dad rumpled Bryan's hair. "You're not going to quit on me now, are you, buddy?" he asked. "When we get to the top, you'll see that it was worth the effort."

Bryan wasn't so sure about that, but he trudged along, and they finally reached the top. Dad found a nice spot and spread out the lunch Mom had sent with them. As they ate, they could see the whole city below, surrounded by hills and desert. A sense of wonder came over Bryan. "You were right, Dad!" he exclaimed as he enjoyed the last morsel of home-baked cookies. "This is awesome! It's worth the struggle of getting here."

Dad nodded. "I've been thinking," he said as he placed the empty soft drink cans in his backpack. "What's happening to Grandpa is a lot like climbing the mountain."

Bryan had to think for only a moment before he caught
on. "You mean Grandpa has a tough journey, but it'll have such a good ending
that it's worth it." That was really what Dad had said the night before, but now
Bryan understood a little better.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When someone you love dies, it's hard to say good-bye, but if you're both Christians, you'll meet again in a place that's worth whatever struggles you may have to go through.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:18)
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"How pretty!" breathed Jessie as she stood at the rope barricade and
stared in wonder at the shiny balls, the glittering stars, the miniature angels,
and the sparkling snow on a Christmas tree at the mall.
 

"We can get snow like that to put on our tree," said Rodney, her older brother.

"We can?" asked Jessie. "How? Why doesn't it melt?"

"You just buy it," said Rodney. "It comes in a spray can, and you just spray it on."

"It looks so real," said Jessie, sounding disappointed. After a moment, she asked, "Who are all the presents under the tree for?"

"They're not real presents," said Rodney. "They're just empty boxes wrapped to look like presents -- just part of the decorations. They're supposed to get people in the mood to buy Christmas presents."

Jessie could hardly believe that the beautifully wrapped boxes were empty. She wanted to reach over the barricade, pick one up, and shake it.

Back home, Jessie and Rodney told Mom about the tree. "The snow looked so real," said Jessie, "and the presents did, too. Are they really just empty boxes?"

Mom nodded. "Do you realize that for people who don't know the real reason for Christmas, all of the celebrating they do can be just as empty as those phony presents?" she asked thoughtfully.

"The real reason for Christmas?" asked Jessie. "You mean they don't know it's Jesus' birthday? I thought everybody knew that!"

"Some don't," said Mom. "Others know it's His birthday,
but they don't realize who He is. They don't understand that God gave His Son
Jesus to be our Savior, and that He offers us the free gift of eternal life.
That's what we really celebrate at Christmas."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you celebrate the real reason for Christmas? God gave His best present when He sent Jesus to be your Savior. He offers the gift of eternal life. It isn't a fake. It doesn't wear out or get old, and you can't outgrow it. If you haven't accepted that gift yet, do so today by receiving Jesus as Savior. (See page 66.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 6:23)
The gift of God is eternal life.

[Soldier4Christ]

As the TV show ended, Nan pushed the "off" button on the remote control.
Julie looked at her older sister in surprise. "I always watch the next show,
too," said Julie.
 

Nan smiled. "Let's go downstairs and play a game of ping pong instead," she suggested.

"Okay," agreed Julie. "Hopefully, you're out of practice since you've been off to college. Maybe I can beat you now."

"Did you notice that the story in the program we just watched was based around a lie?" Nan asked as they got out the balls and paddles. "One lie led to another until it got so ridiculous that, in the end, they had to tell the truth."

Julie laughed. "They lied to keep out of trouble," she said, "but they needn't have bothered. When the truth came out, they didn't get in trouble anyway."

"No, but they should have," said Nan. "They should have been in trouble for lying, too!" She frowned. "There's another thing that bothers me about a lot of TV shows," added Nan. "Kids in them are often rude and use bad language -- like in the program we saw last night. Afterwards, I noticed that you . . . well, you sort of copied the way the kids in the program talked."

"I . . . I . . . " sputtered Julie. She scowled at her big sister. "You're acting like . . . like you're my grandmother or something," she grumbled.

"Sorry," said Nan. "I just want you realize that the stuff you watch affects your life. I'm not picking on you, Julie. I have the same problem with TV that you do."

"Really?" asked Julie in surprise.

"Sure," answered Nan. "There are shows I don't intend to watch because they're full of immorality or violence. I don't even want that junk in my mind, but when my college friends all watch them, it's really hard not to watch, too."

"So do you?" asked Julie.

"Sometimes," admitted Nan, "but I try to remember that a
verse in Psalms says, 'I will set before my eyes no vile thing.' It helps to
quote that verse -- then walk away and find something else to
do."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever found yourself copying what you see on TV even though you know you shouldn't? What you see and hear influences your thoughts and actions. Don't just lazily watch whatever comes on TV. When you see story characters doing immoral, wicked things, take action -- turn that program off!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 101:3)
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I knew I'd win a prize. I just knew it!" exclaimed Corey as he and his
father drove home from the horse show. He stroked the silky blue ribbon he was
holding and grinned as he remembered how quickly his horse had stood straight
and still, with his ears flicked forward. "Blaze was the best because he had the
best trainer -- me!" Corey bragged.
 

"You did a good job training your horse," Dad agreed, "but remember, you didn't train him alone."

"Sure I did," said Corey. "No one helped me -- at least not much. I don't need help. I know all . . ." He paused as Dad suddenly slowed down and stopped at the side of the road.

Dad backed up. "Aha!" he exclaimed. "I thought I saw something odd."

"What?" asked Corey. Curious, he peered out the window.

"Come and see," said Dad, opening the car door. Corey followed Dad to the fence that ran beside the road. "Look." Dad pointed to one of the thick, round fence posts. A big old turtle sat on top of the post, sleeping in the sun.

"How did he climb up there?" wondered Corey.

"Well, I'd say someone must have put him there," said Dad, "but I'll bet he never even saw the hands that picked him up." He lifted the turtle and set him on the ground. "Nor the hands that put him down," he added. "When he sees his friends again, maybe he'll tell them -- in turtle language, of course -- that he got up on that post and back down again all by himself." Corey had a feeling that Dad was talking about more than just the turtle. "Invisible hands," said Dad softly, "and I'd say that's what you had to help you train Blaze -- God's invisible hands."

"You mean God helped me?" asked Corey. "God helped me train a horse?"

Dad nodded. "God gave you a brain and arms and legs and the ability to train Blaze," he said. "Right?"

"Right," acknowledged Corey thoughtfully. "So . . ."

"So feel good about what God allowed you to accomplish,
but don't brag," suggested Dad.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever get so excited about good grades or winning a game that you forget about God? Are you proud of what you did? It's okay to feel good about your accomplishments, but don't forget to thank God for your success. Every ability you have is a gift from God. Give Him the credit He deserves.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Cor. 10:17)
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hurry up, Jason!" Emily skipped to her brother's side. "Clean up your
mess so we can have lunch!"
 

"Oh, be quiet," grumbled Jason angrily as he carefully put a piece of his model car in place. "You're not my boss! I'm tired of you telling me what to do!" Emily's eyes filled with tears as she left the room.

That afternoon, Jason went along with his mother to do some shopping while Emily played at a friend's home. When Mom stopped at a greenhouse to buy a poinsettia, Jason wandered around, looking at various types of plants. A greenhouse attendant noticed Jason's restlessness. "Did you see our mimosa plants?" asked the attendant. "Come look at them." After getting permission from his mother, Jason went over to see the spiky green plants. "Blow on one of the plants," invited the attendant with a grin.

Puzzled, Jason blew. He was surprised to see the plant's leaves curl up immediately. "I didn't hurt it, did I?" he asked.

"No -- it will be fine," the worker told him. "These plants respond to possible injury by curling their leaves. That keeps them from being harmed by certain insects or by rain. It doesn't take much harsh treatment to cause them to curl up."

Jason was fascinated by the plants. "Those mimosa are so cool!" he exclaimed as he and his mother drove home.

"They're interesting," agreed Mom, "and I think they must be a little like Emily."

"Like Emily?" asked Jason. "How?"

"Well, when you blow on mimosa leaves, they curl up," said Mom, "and when you say harsh words to Emily, she 'curls up,' too. Oh, she doesn't actually curl into a ball, but unkind words hurt her deep inside, and she wilts -- she withdraws from the conversation to avoid being hurt more. We've talked about this before."

"I'm sorry, Mom," Jason said quietly. "I'll try to do better. I promise."

"Good," said Mom. "Make sure your words are helping
people grow instead of causing them to wilt."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your words cause others to grow or to shrivel? God wants the things you say to build up others, not tear them down. Ask Him to help you speak kindly.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 19:14)
Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Jordan let himself into the house after school, his little brother Zeb
met him at the door. "Look what I got," said Zeb, proudly holding out his hand.
His thumb was wrapped with a thick bandage. "I banged my thumb."
 

"That wasn't smart," replied Jordan. "How does it feel?"

"Better," said Zeb, and he went off to play.

By dinnertime, Zeb was tired of his bandage. It got in his way when he tried to use his hand. But he was afraid that if he took the bandage off, his thumb would hurt again. Jordan grinned at him. "I see where the expression 'stick out like a sore thumb' comes from," said Jordan. "It would be pretty hard to miss seeing yours." He pushed his food around absentmindedly. "Reminds me of myself today," he added. "I stuck out like a sore thumb, too."

"How's that?" asked Dad.

"Well, first of all, the guys were telling some bad jokes before school, and I was the only one who didn't laugh," replied Jordan. "Then they discussed some of the TV shows I'm not allowed to watch, so I had nothing to say. I even stood out in class. Our teacher asked what we thought of the ruling that nativity scenes can't be set up in school. I said that since Jesus' birth is what Christmas is all about, a nativity scene should be allowed, but it seems like everybody else thinks the ruling is okay."

"Well, you may have stood out like a sore thumb to the
kids at school, but not to me," declared Mom, reaching over to put an arm around
Jordan. "Sore thumbs aren't the only fingers that stand out. I met our former
neighbor, Julie Richards, downtown today. Right away I saw that she's engaged to
be married -- she had on the biggest diamond you've ever seen! You couldn't miss it
even if you wanted to." Mom gave Jordan's shoulder a squeeze. "I think you stood
out like a diamond today. And you know what? I believe that's what God thinks,
too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you stand out from those who are unbelievers? You should. God says to "come out from among them." Take a stand for the things you know are right -- the things that please God. Stand out -- not like a sore thumb, but like a diamond!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Come out from among them, and be ye separate.

[Soldier4Christ]

Shelly was staring out her bedroom window when her mother came in. "How
are you feeling?" Mom asked as she sat down on the bed and stroked Shelly's
forehead. "I think you still have a fever."
 

"Why do I have to be sick today?" moaned Shelly. "My Sunday school class is putting on the puppet show at Children's Hospital, and I wanted to be there." Her lower lip quivered a little.

"And that makes you feel bad, doesn't it?" said Mom.

Shelly turned over. "Sure, it does," she answered. "My teacher said we could do this for the Lord, and I really wanted to. Now I can't."

"I know, honey," said Mom, "but you can pray for the Lord to use the puppet ministry."

Shelly thought about that. "It just doesn't seem the same," she said with a sigh.

After a moment, Mom stood up. "I'll be right back," she said. She left the room and soon returned with her strand of white pearls. She knew they were Shelly's favorites. "There's a very important part of this necklace that you can't see," Mom said.

Shelly looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Mom smiled. "Everyone notices the pearls," she
explained, "but look at this." She carefully pulled two pearls apart to reveal
the thin white thread holding them together. "No one notices this plain and
simple thread, but without it, my necklace would fall apart." Still puzzled,
Shelly looked at the pearl necklace and then at her mother. "Don't you see?" Mom
asked. "Prayer is like this thread. It's behind the scenes, but it's very
important in all we do for God." Mom fingered the pearls in the palm of her
hand. "Even though you may be too sick to go with the others to the hospital,
you can have a very important part in their ministry. You can ask God to use
those doing the puppet show and to help the children there understand the
lessons being taught."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel like you can't do any worthwhile thing for Jesus because you're too young or too sick or can't sing or speak well? Does that discourage you? Remember that every Christian can -- and should -- pray. Prayer is an important part of every ministry.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Col. 4:2)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Grandpa's going to like that birdhouse you're making for him, Tom," said
Dad. "It looks great -- but not quite like the one in your woodworking manual."
 

"I know," said Tom. "I left the perch off and made the hole smaller. This way, starlings won't move in before the songbirds get a chance."

"Reminds me of the model plane you made last summer," said Dad. "You know -- the one that flew twice as far after you changed the design of the wings."

Tom grinned. "I like to make things work better. Maybe I'll be an engineer when I grow up."

"I thought you didn't like long trips," said Tom's little brother David. "Wouldn't you get bored riding on a train all the time?"

Tom laughed. "I don't mean the kind of engineer who drives trains. I mean the kind of engineer who designs things," he explained. "Take bridges and dams, for example. They don't just get thrown together. Engineers carefully figure out how to build them so they'll be strong and safe and work the way they should. Engineers draw up the plans for skyscrapers and roads and . . . and all kinds of things."

"Wow! I bet you'll be the best engineer of all!" said David. 

Tom grinned. "Thanks!" he said.

"Actually, the best engineer of all didn't just make buildings and machines," said Dad. "He designed the whole universe -- the forests and the canyons and the mountains. All the plants and animals. The sun and the moon and the stars. Even us."

"I know who that is," piped up David. "It's God!"

"Right," said Dad. "I think He knew how much we would enjoy watching the birds and animals, climbing the mountain trails, and seeing so many stars at night. God made all that."

Tom nodded. "That's an engineering job no one could ever
match," he said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you impressed by big buildings, fancy computers, or complicated objects that are made by people? Man can do amazing things, but only God could "engineer" the whole world and all that's in it. Enjoy and appreciate all the wonderful things in nature God has made.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Genesis 1:1)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's still snowing, Grandpa," said Evan. "We'll have a white Christmas
for sure." Evan had not seen much snow while he lived in the valley, but now he
was staying with his grandparents in the mountains.
 

Grandpa nodded. "It makes the whole world look so clean, doesn't it?" he said. "It reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses -- 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'" Evan didn't know much about the Bible, but he liked to hear Grandpa talk about it.

Evan went outdoors and enjoyed sliding on a nearby hill for a while. Then he joined his grandparents at the kitchen table. His mind went back to the Bible verse his grandfather had quoted. "Grandpa, you said -- at least, I think you said -- that my dad accepted Jesus as his Savior," began Evan while sipping the hot chocolate Grandma had poured for him. Grandpa nodded. "Does that mean his sins are as white as snow -- that he is cleansed from his sins?" asked Evan.

"Indeed it does," Grandpa assured him.

"Then why is Dad still in jail?" asked Evan.

Grandpa took a few sips of hot chocolate and cleared his throat. "Evan, for many years, your father didn't want to have anything to do with Jesus," Grandpa said. "He broke the law, and now -- even though God has cleansed his heart and he won't have to suffer throughout eternity -- he has to pay the penalty for what he has done."

Evan thought about that. "I don't want to wait till I'm in trouble before I ask Jesus to be my Savior," he said after a moment.

"You don't have to," said Grandpa. "Right now you can
ask God to forgive your sins and make them white as snow. Then you can really
enjoy a white Christmas -- inside and outside."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Will you have a "white Christmas" in your heart? Always remember that a life of sin has consequences even though God will forgive. Receive Jesus as Savior now while you're young (see page 66). Then obey and serve Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not.

[Soldier4Christ]

Michael popped a handful of caramel corn into his mouth. The lights in the
circus tent dimmed, and Michael looked down from his seat. The ringmaster,
dressed in a glistening suit, called out, "Introducing . . . Marvelous Marvin!"
There was a drum roll as a man leaped onto the stage and took a bow. The crowd
applauded.
 

"Watch as Marvelous Marvin is tied with ropes, weighted down, and submerged underwater," shouted the ringmaster. "Can he defeat the odds? Can he loosen the ropes, get rid of the weights, and swim back up?"

After the ropes and weights were attached to him, Marvelous Marvin plunged into the pool. The rustling of the crowd hushed as everyone watched to see if he would be able to loosen the ropes. The ringmaster held a stop watch and frequently announced the amount of time left. "Only ten seconds left," he finally called out. "Now five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . ."

Suddenly, Marvelous Marvin rose to the top of the water! He leaped out of the pool and took a bow. The crowd rose and cheered, and Michael jumped to his feet, too.

At dinner that evening, Dad mentioned that he had run into an old school friend. "We need to pray for Russ," said Dad."He's a Christian, but he told me that he feels like he's drowning in problems -- like he's being held slave by some habits he's developed."

"Speaking of drowning, I was afraid Marvelous Marvin might drown this afternoon!" exclaimed Michael. "He was bound up so tight. I don't know how he was able to break free from those ropes!"

Dad nodded. "When we have habits that aren't healthy, or attitudes that aren't pleasing to God, we're bound up, too," he said. "Marvelous Marvin had to free himself, but we can't do that."

"I guess you mean that God has to free us, right?" asked Michael.

"Right," agreed Dad. "He can -- and will -- give us victory
over sin if we turn our lives over to Him and trust Him to change
us."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you bound by bad habits, improper thoughts and attitudes, or sinful actions? Is it hard to change? God wants to free you from those things. Ask Him to help you, study His Word, and then obey His leading in making choices. Determine to be a slave to God, not to sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 5:1)
Be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jenny sat in front of her next door neighbor's Christmas tree and watched
the blinking lights. They might as well go off and stay off, she thought. How
can I be happy when God hasn't answered my prayer? For weeks she had been
praying that her family would have a peaceful Christmas -- one without Mom and Dad
arguing. But last night they had the worst fight ever! Then this morning, Mom
and Dad went away, and Jenny didn't know where they went. Dad had merely told
her that they were going to get help and that she was to go to the neighbor's
house after school.
 

When Jenny saw Dad's car pull into the driveway, she hurried home. Mom wasn't in the house, but Grandma was. "Where's Mom?" asked Jenny. "Is she still outside with Dad?"

Grandma sat down beside Jenny and put an arm around her. "Honey," she said, "this morning your father took your mom to a clinic -- a detoxification clinic."

"You mean . . ." Jenny was afraid she knew what Grandma meant.

"Your mother admitted she is an alcoholic -- she drinks too much -- and she has gone for treatment," explained Grandma. Jenny leaned against Grandma and began to cry. Grandma held her close.

"Grandma, I've been praying like you taught me," said Jenny as she dried her tears, "but God didn't answer my prayer." She explained what she had been praying for.

"I think God did answer your prayer, Jenny," said Grandma, "but not in the way you expected. God had a better way. One reason your parents argued so much was that your mother denied being an alcoholic and wouldn't get help. But now she's facing her problem and getting treatment. That's how God answered your prayer. With His help, things will be better -- and not just at Christmas."

Jenny sat quietly for a moment. Then she smiled faintly.
"Let's turn on the Christmas lights," she said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you know how God should answer your prayer? It may seem that He isn't answering at all, but He will answer in His own way and time. Keep praying, and trust Him to handle your problems.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 6:9)
The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.