Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Aaron threw himself onto the couch and wiped away an angry tear with the
back of his hand. He listened to the rumble of thunder and the pattering of
raindrops against the big picture window. "This weather is the worst!" he
declared as his father walked into the living room.
 

Dad stood with his hands on his hips, looking out the window. "Well, we certainly won't be going to the amusement park today," he said.

"We won't be doing anything but wasting a day of vacation," snapped Aaron. "We can't go swimming; we can't ride bikes or play tennis; we can't even go for a hike."

"Whoa there, partner!" exclaimed Dad, holding up both hands toward Aaron, like a policeman stopping traffic. "This rain may dampen everything outside, but let's not allow it to dampen our spirits."

"How can we help it?" asked Aaron as he sat up.

"Easy!" replied Dad. "We change our point of view. You're looking at all the things we can't do because of the rain, Aaron. Let's look at all the things we can do in spite of the rain. For instance, we haven't had a good game of Monopoly for a long time. And the last time we played Taboo, your mother and sister blew us away. Do you think we could get revenge today?"

Aaron leaped to his feet. "Sure we can!" he said. "Good idea, Dad! We've got some other games we haven't played for a long time, either. Let's get them out, too." He paused. "I suppose Beth will want to save some time to read -- but then can you maybe help me with my new model ship, Dad? Let's get out a big puzzle, too. And tonight we could have popcorn and pop." Suddenly, Aaron looked troubled again.

"What is it now?" asked Dad.

"What if we run out of time before we get finished with everything?" asked Aaron.

Dad laughed as he put his arm around Aaron's shoulder.
"Well, then I guess we'll just have to pray for rain tomorrow, too," he said.
"Come on -- let's go find the competition."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When things don't go as you want them to, do you grumble and pout? Ask God to help you display the kind of attitude Paul and Silas had. Ask Him to help you discover the good things in your situation. Ask Him to change your point of view.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 9:
God is able to make all grace abound toward you.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I get the top bunk!" yelled Lori.
 

"No, you don't. I do!" declared her sister Jan. "You always think you should get your way."   "I called it first," insisted Lori. "Get your crummy stuff off my bed!" Next, the girls argued over the closet space in the room they would occupy during their week of vacation. They hurled unkind words and barbed comments back and forth.

"Try to get along!" ordered Dad. "Before you know it, you'll be throwing things and breaking something." 

Lori shrugged. "Sorry," she said in a shrill, impatient voice, "but I guess we'll always fight." Jan nodded. 

Dad frowned. "My boss is doing us a real favor in letting us stay here for a week," he said. "We're responsible for keeping this place clean and in good shape." 

When another argument broke out a little later, Lori flung a magazine toward Jan, who promptly threw it back. It hit the glass of red punch in Lori's hand. The glass crashed to the floor, and in an instant, numerous bright, red splatters appeared on the light colored carpet. "Look what you did!" Lori yelled at once.

"It's all your fault!" retorted Jan. "You started it!"

Dad and Mom grabbed towels, and they all worked to soak up the stains. They did their best, but those red stains wouldn't come out -- not even after Dad ran out and got some special detergent. Dad finally made some phone calls and found a company that promised to send someone to clean the carpet the next day.

Lori looked at the stains and then at the detergent bottle. "That stuff sure wasn't any help," she said.

"No," agreed Mom. "It's apparently too weak -- something like the weak efforts you girls have been making to stop your quarreling. You carelessly splatter ugly, angry words all over the place. Then you try to scrub away those splatters with flip apologies, insincere promises, and half-hearted efforts."

Dad nodded. "You need to ask the Lord to come with His
powerful forgiveness and grace and do a thorough cleaning job on you!" he
said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find it hard to stop quarreling with your family or friends? Good intentions aren't enough. Ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you. Ask Him to replace your angry words with positive ones. You be the peacemaker.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 4:3)
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

[Soldier4Christ]

Joey watched as his Uncle Stan put a bone right in front of Tippy. "No,
Tippy! No!" Uncle Stan sternly commanded the puppy. "Look at me!" Tippy looked
straight at his master's face, then glanced down at the bone he wanted so very
much. "Tippy, no! Look at me!" repeated Uncle Stan. Tippy raised his eyes and
gazed again at his master, ignoring the bone.
 

"Why must Tippy look at you?" asked Joey.

"If he looks at me instead of at the bone, he's more likely to obey me," replied Uncle Stan, "and I want him to learn to do that." He patted and praised Tippy and gave him some doggie treats. Tippy gobbled the treats, then settled down close to Uncle Stan. "Tippy gives us an example of how we should act when we're tempted to do something wrong," said Uncle Stan. "If we look at the thing or activity that's tempting us, it will be easier to give in to that temptation. If we keep our eyes on our Master -- Jesus -- we're far more likely to obey Him."

"I don't get what it means to keep our eyes on Jesus," said Joey. "We can't really see Him."

Uncle Stan smiled. "Well, let's see," he said. "I'm thinking of that tennis competition you played in a few weeks ago. You worked so hard to be in shape -- you even gave up desserts so that you'd be ready when it was time to play. Why did you do that?"

"I wanted to win the trophy," said Joey. He grinned. "And I did, too!"

Uncle Stan nodded. "Would you understand what I meant if I said you had your eyes on the trophy?" he asked. Slowly Joey nodded. "You couldn't really see it, but you kept thinking about it and about what you had to do to win it. We keep our eyes on Jesus by thinking about Him and what He'd want us to do. For example, if we think about the way Jesus feels about certain TV shows, we'll turn them off, but if we forget about Him, we may keep watching." Joey remembered how hard it was to turn off a show once he had started watching it.

"The same could be said about wrong books or videos or
improper activities," added Uncle Stan. Joey nodded. He decided that from now
on, he'd "look" at Jesus, his Master.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you keep "looking" at your Master, Jesus Christ? He can give you strength to fight against every temptation you'll ever meet and keep you from yielding to it. Look to Jesus -- not to the thing that tempts you to sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 105:4)
Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek His face evermore.

[Soldier4Christ]

Amy stuffed a kernel of popcorn into her mouth. She sat forward in her
seat, her eyes riveted to the TV screen. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed. "Did you see
that? Hugo was trying to get the sail down, and he fell right into the ocean.
There's nobody to rescue him, either! He was sailing alone!"
 

Her brother Mark grinned. "Don't worry about it," he said. "He'll get rescued. Just wait."

The music played. Excitement mounted. Amy nibbled on a handful of popcorn as she watched the man on the screen struggle for his life. He kicked and splashed, searching for a lifeline as angry waves rolled about, threatening to drown him. A shark's fin sliced through the water behind the man. "Look out, Hugo!" exclaimed Mark.

"Now who's worried?" teased Amy. But her heart pounded as the shark came closer and closer to Hugo. He fought the sea, unaware of the danger behind him. Just when it seemed the shark would surely gobble him up, a boat roared into view, and a lifeline was thrown out.

"He's got it!" yelled Mark. "They're reeling him in! He's safe!"

"Wow!" exclaimed Amy when the program had ended. "It was a good thing that boat came when it did. It brought Hugo his . . . his lifeline to safety! I guess that's why the story is called 'Lifeline for Hugo.'"

Mark nodded. "That was a good story," he said. 

Amy yawned. "Yeah," she agreed, "it sure was." She got up and adjusted an ornament on the Christmas tree. "It was a good story, but not a very 'Christmassy' one," she added.

"Nope," said Dad, who had watched the program with the
children, "but as you think about the story, maybe you can make it seem more
'Christmassy' by remembering that tomorrow we celebrate the day God sent us our
'lifeline' to safety. God knew we would all 'drown' in a sea of sin, so He sent
His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. When we receive Him as our personal
Savior, He 'reels us in' and gives us eternal life."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you still "drowning" in your sin? Jesus offers a lifeline. He came as a baby to Bethlehem. He grew up and lived a perfect life, then died on the cross to take the punishment for your sin -- and He rose from the grave to give you eternal life. Trust Him as Savior today.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 5:12)
He that hath the Son (of God) hath life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"This is my worst Christmas ever," Brittany complained to her teenage
brother Logan, who was rearranging some pieces of the nativity set. "Here we are
in a strange town because Dad got transferred, and the only place we could find
to live is this crummy apartment. The heat isn't working right, and we don't
even have a TV. We won't get to see Grandma, and . . ."
 

"When Mary and Joseph got to Bethlehem, all they could find was a stable," interrupted Logan. "At least we have a bed. They probably just had straw."

Brittany looked at the angels in the nativity set. "Well, Mary and Joseph had angels singing," she said. "And the wise men brought presents."

"It was the shepherds, not Mary and Joseph, who heard the angels," Logan told her. "Besides, we had carolers last night. And when we open our gifts after breakfast, I'm sure we'll both get more presents than we deserve." He grinned at his sister. "Especially you," he teased. Then he added, "You keep saying this Christmas is the worst, but it won't be unless you let it be -- unless you make it a crybaby Christmas."

"What do you mean?" asked Brittany.

"Well, frankly, I get tired of hearing my friends complain every year at Christmas time," said Logan. "They grumble about not having enough money to buy Christmas presents, or they complain about the part they do or don't get in the church pageant. A lot of times they complain because they don't get every gift they want, or because somebody else got more gifts than they did. They're just crybabies!"

Brittany made a face at her brother. "Well, I'm not,"
she told him. "At least, I'm not going to be." She grinned as she added, "And
I'd better not hear you complain about having to write thank-you
notes!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been complaining this Christmas season or have you been rejoicing in the birth of Jesus? Think about the fact that God gave the greatest gift possible -- He gave His Son to be your Savior. Celebrate Christmas with joy. Don't have a "crybaby Christmas" at your house.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 2:10)
The angel said . . . I bring you good tidings of great joy.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom!" called Jodi, "Mrs. Berg is on the phone." As Mom came to take the
call, Jodi added loudly, "Again!"
 

Mom quickly took the phone. After talking with Mrs. Berg a little while, she hung up and turned to her daughter. "Jodi," she said sternly, "you should be ashamed of yourself. I'm sure Mrs. Berg could tell that you were annoyed with her. You hurt her feelings."

"But, Mom, she calls all the time," protested Jodi. "Why can't we just let the answering machine get her calls?"

"Because Mrs. Berg is lonesome," replied Mom, "and she's worried about her husband in the hospital. Besides, she isn't well herself, and I never know when her call might be an emergency."

"Well, she always talks to me forever before she asks for you," grumbled Jodi. "It's so boring! She always asks if I like school and what my favorite subject is. As if she cares! She just wants to talk about her problems."

"Oh, honey, I'm sure she's interested in what you have to say, too," said Mom. After a short pause, she added, "Actually, you've been acting a lot like Mrs. Berg."

Jodi frowned. "I act like Mrs. Berg?"

Mom nodded. "I'm thinking of a prayer request you've had for quite a while," said Mom. "I know you've been asking God to help you understand the things you've been studying in science."

"Why is that like Mrs. Berg's calls?" asked Jodi.

"Well, you've asked God so many times -- you keep going to Him again and again with your problem," said Mom. "Aren't you glad that He's never too busy to listen when you talk to Him, and that He never loses patience with you or thinks you're boring?"

Jodi was silent a moment. "I . . . I see what you mean, Mom," she admitted.

"God doesn't give us a 'busy signal,' or put us 'on
hold,' -- nor does He make us talk to an answering machine," said Mom. "He's always
available to us, and we need to be available to others. Mrs. Berg is going
through hard times and needs someone to listen to her."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know people who seem "boring"? Do you ignore them -- or are you willing to listen, knowing that it's one way you can follow God's example? Be interested in others. Often you can help them by simply being friendly and listening to them.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't want to go to Sunday school tomorrow," Sarah told her
grandparents. "Can't I just stay home?"
 

"We don't want to go, either," announced Brendon and Scott, Sarah's younger brothers.

"We'll all go," said Grandpa firmly, "but right now I have the dogs hooked up to the sled -- and it's your turn for a ride, Sarah."

"All right!" exclaimed Sarah. Dogsled rides were a special treat they enjoyed at Grandpa's house, and Sarah eagerly followed him outdoors. "Just a minute -- I want to hook up Kodiac, too," said Grandpa.

"Oh, Grandpa, let's just leave him here," objected Sarah. "When we take him, the other dogs don't run as well." But Grandpa already was putting a harness on Kodiac. Sarah gave a big sigh and went to sit on the sled. Why does Grandpa want to take him? she wondered. He'll probably decide to stop and dig at something. Then the other dogs will stop, too, and their harness lines will get all tangled.

Grandpa hopped on the runners and shouted, "Let's go!" Out of the driveway and down the snow-packed road they went. They raced to the top of the hill. Sarah clapped her mittened hands with excitement. Just then Kodiac spotted an old branch sticking out of the snow. He pulled hard toward the side and stopped. For a minute, the other dogs tried to go on, but soon they were just as distracted as Kodiac, and they got tangled up in each other's lines. Grandpa got off the sled to straighten them out.

"I knew this would happen! Why did we even have to bring Kodiac?" asked Sarah.

"Well, I need to train him -- he needs the practice," said
Grandpa. As he worked, he added, "You should be patient with him. After all, you
do the same thing he does. You both distract others from doing the right thing."
Sarah stared at Grandpa. "Kodiac distracts the other dogs, and you distract your
brothers," explained Grandpa. "When you grumble about going to Sunday school,
Brendon and Scott don't want to go, either." He got back onto the sled runners.
"Kodiac will learn," he said. "I hope you will, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a good example to your brothers and sisters and friends? Be sure you don't distract them from doing what is right. Think about your actions. When others copy you, will they be acting in a way that will glorify God?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 4:12)
Be thou an example of the believers.

[Soldier4Christ]

With her sidewalk chalk, Kelli colored in the flowers she had drawn along
the edge of the driveway. Then she stood back and frowned as she looked at them.
Dad came out of the house and smiled at Kelli. "What lovely flowers!" he
exclaimed. "The best part is that I won't even have to water them."
 

"No . . . but I'm going to," said Kelli. "I just decided I want them a different color." She took the garden hose, aimed the stream of water at her artwork, and . . . whoosh! All trace of the chalk soon disappeared down the driveway and into a storm drain! Kelli grinned at Dad. "Now I can start all over," she said. "Cool, huh?"

"Cool," agreed Dad. "It's a picture of what God does for us. He gives us a chance to start over when we confess our sin to Him."

"Oh, no! I can already see that my chalk flowers are going to be used in a sermon illustration," teased Kelli. Dad was a pastor, and Kelli knew that he often used everyday happenings to illustrate what he was teaching.

Dad nodded. "Sometimes it's hard for us to forget the bad things we've done," he said, "and we wonder how God can forgive them. You just demonstrated what happens to them. Where are the flowers you drew?"

"Where are the flowers?" repeated Kelli. "Well, they're . . . they're gone."

"Bring them back for a minute," said Dad.

"I can't!" said Kelli, aware that Dad knew she couldn't get them back. "They washed down the drain, and they don't exist anymore."

"No, they don't," agreed Dad. "They're gone, never to be
seen again. That's what happens to our sins when we repent and confess them to
God. The Bible says God forgives and forgets them." He smiled at Kelli. "Another
verse says they've been removed from us as far as the east is from the
west -- that's even farther than down the drain!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you done something wrong -- perhaps even without thinking? Does it make you feel bad? It should! If you're truly sorry, confess your sin to God, and believe Him when He says He forgives you. Thank Him for removing your sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Jeremiah 31:34)
I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Abe stared out the window, watching the icicles drip in the afternoon sun.
"Christmas doesn't seem very real after the decorations and presents are gone,
does it, Grandpa?" he said.
 

"Not real?" asked Grandpa, turning from the football game he'd been watching. He rubbed his bald head for a moment, then motioned toward the TV screen. "Is that football game real?" he asked. Puzzled, Abe nodded. "As real for you as it is for the people in the stands who are watching the game?" asked Grandpa.

"Well . . . probably not quite," said Abe.

"As real for you as for that player who just made a touchdown and got hurt?" Grandpa asked next.

"Someone got hurt?" asked Abe in surprise. "I wasn't paying attention." He looked at the TV screen and saw that several people were crowded around a player lying on the grass. "Whew! I guess the game's real to him, but right now, he probably wishes it weren't!"

"When you're involved, you get knocked around and feel some pain, but you also win victories -- and you know the game is real," said Grandpa. He looked at Abe. "For Christmas -- and for all of the Bible and Christianity -- to be real to you, you need to be involved, too. Believing the Bible is true is a little like watching the game from home. What do you think might compare with getting together with others at the game and cheering for the team?"

"Ah . . . maybe going to church," said Abe. "I do that, too. I always go to church and Sunday school."

"Good," said Grandpa. "You're in the stands then." He leaned closer. "Do you actually practice the plays and run with the ball -- not just on Sunday or on Christmas, but every day, no matter how much it hurts?"

"Well . . ." Abe hesitated.

Grandpa nodded. "Be a player, Abe,"he said. "Be
involved. Learn about God. Serve Him -- witness and be faithful in everything you
do. That's when the Bible and Christian living become real to
you."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you believe the Bible is true? Good! Do you attend church and Sunday school? Great! Do you get involved in church activities? Do you talk about Jesus, pray to Him, and obey and serve Him as best you can? God's truth becomes real to you as you become involved in it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 4:10)
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another.

[Soldier4Christ]

Christmas was over, and Blake and Molly carefully helped their parents
unhook the ornaments and remove the lights and strands of garland from the
Christmas tree branches. Soon the shimmering and festive tree looked bare,
except for the white sheet surrounding the tree stand.
 

"Hey," Blake called out, pointing to a small box wrapped in green and red paper that was peeking out from under a fold in the sheet. "Look at that!"

"Where did that come from?" exclaimed Mom as she bent down to pick up the box. "We must have missed this last week when we opened our gifts." She held the box in her hands and looked for a name. "Why, it's from Aunt Martha for me," she said in surprise. "I didn't think she had sent anything this year, and here it was under the tree all this time."

When Mom opened the gift, her eyes brightened. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "How lovely!" She held up a pretty gold necklace.

"Do you know what this reminds me of?" asked Dad after everyone had admired the necklace. No one could guess -- not even Mom. "That gift was here all this time, waiting for Mom to receive it, but she didn't know it was there," said Dad with a smile. "God's gift of salvation is like this necklace. The gift is available, but many people don't even know it's there. It remains hidden until someone shows it to them -- like you showed the package to Mom, Blake."

Molly and Blake looked at Dad for a moment while they thought about what he was saying. Then Blake nodded. "And when we tell people about Jesus, they can receive their present from God, too -- the gift of eternal life," he said.

Mom and Dad smiled. "That's right," they agreed. "Let's
all be sure to tell them about it."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you discovered God's gift of eternal salvation? Do you tell others how they can get this wonderful gift, too? He wants so much for everyone to have it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 5:18)
By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Dad. What's new?" asked Kristi as Dad came in from work. "Do you have
to go back to the store after dinner?" Dad was the manager at a large department
store.
 

Dad smiled. "Nope -- it's New Year's Eve," he said, "and I'm glad we're closed tonight. All week we've been busy with Christmas present returns and exchanges. We've been having our annual after-Christmas sales, too. We like to sell as much as possible before we take inventory next month."

"Inventory?" asked Kristi. "What's that?"

"Oh, you know," said her brother, Brent. "It's when they count everything in the store to see how well they did. They need to find out what sold and what didn't so they know what to order for the next year and what to skip -- stuff like that. Isn't that right, Dad?"

Dad smiled. "That's a pretty good description," he agreed. "We do that once a year." He paused, then added, "It would be a good idea for all of us to take an inventory of our lives at least once a year -- and New Year's Eve would be a good time to do that."

"How would we do that?" wondered Brent.   

"Should we count how many pairs of shoes and jeans and shirts we have?" asked Kristi. "Hey, that might be a good idea. Then maybe Mom would see that I need some more!"

"I bet she'd see you have too many already," scoffed Brent. "Then you wouldn't get any new clothes for a whole year." He grinned at his sister.

Dad laughed. "That's not exactly what I had in mind," he
said. "I'm talking about looking over the things we've done this past year and
taking note of what was good and pleasing to God and what wasn't. I'm also
talking about determining, with God's help, to repeat those things that were
good and to avoid the others. That kind of inventory would be
worthwhile."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
As you look back, do you see times when you were obedient, helpful, and loving? Do you also see times when you were thoughtless, unkind, or selfish? Ask God to help you repeat those things that pleased Him and to avoid those that did not. Strive to love and serve Him better each year.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deuteronomy 8:2)
Remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Twinkle, Twinkle All the Stars

Mitch leaned against a tree trunk, his hands behind his head. He loved the annual family camping trips. This year they had seen deer when they hiked in the woods. They had explored the river gorge and found fossils, and they had climbed some of the rocks. They had also fished and waded in the river. Mitch sighed with pleasure. "This sure is a cool place!" he exclaimed out loud.

 It was too dark to see, but Mitch could hear the smile in his mother's voice. "You seem to be enjoying yourself in spite of no playgrounds or ice cream stores or TV or video games."

"Yeah." Mitch nodded.

Late that evening, the family sat contentedly by the smoldering campfire, listening to it crackle and hiss. Crickets chirped, and small creatures scurried by, rustling the leaves. In the background, the river murmured as it flowed over the rocks. "Wow! Just look at all those stars!" Mitch spoke as he gazed up at the sky. "We sure can't see this many stars at our house. They seem closer to us here than they do at home!"

The others laughed. "The stars aren't any closer," replied Dad, "but we're out in the country now, away from all the city lights. When there are a lot of bright lights around, we can't see the light of the fainter stars."

"Oh, I get it." Mitch nodded, still looking upward. "I like it here-it's . . . peaceful," he added. "It's kind of nice to have it quiet-a guy has a chance to think out here."

"That's one of the reasons I like to come here, too," said Grandpa. "The glaring lights of the city make it hard to see the stars, and the 'busy-ness' of everyday activities can make it hard to see how God is working in our lives and blessing us. It's good to get away from the daily routine."

Dad nodded. "It's good for all of us take time each day to concentrate on God's Word and our relationship to Him," he said.

Grandpa turned on his flashlight and searched through his duffel bag. "This would be a good time to do that," he declared as he pulled out his Bible. "Tonight, let's read together and talk about some things God is telling us."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is "busy-ness" interfering with your time with God? Is your time so filled with school activities, sports, and recreation that you hardly ever think about God or the Bible? Be careful! It's a good idea to set aside "quiet times" to think about God's Word and to share your thoughts with Him. You don't have to go out to the country to do that. Just find a place where you can forget about all the busy activities and give attention to what God says as you read your Bible and talk with HIm.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray. Psalm 55:17

[Soldier4Christ]

With his books scattered all around, Austin hunched over the library table.
"May I sit here?" asked his sister Shelly. Austin nodded and kept reading.
"Isn’t this rain yukky?" Shelly whispered, looking out the window.


Austin jumped as a clap of thunder startled him. "Uh huh," he muttered. "Now
leave me alone."


"This rain will ruin our family reunion," Shelly complained. "We’ll be stuck
inside listening to Uncle George’s stupid jokes. We . . ."


"Will you shut up?" Austin demanded loudly. The librarian gave him a stern
look. "Can’t you see I’m working?" continued Austin, speaking softer, but with a
threatening glare.


At the supper table that evening, Shelly’s complaining increased. She listed
all the problems the rain caused her. "I wish it never rained!" she declared.



"Places where it never rains are called deserts, dum-dum," Austin told her.
"That’s what my report is about. Deserts are so dry that hardly any plants can
grow there. The mesquite tree sometimes sends its roots hundreds of feet into
the ground to search for water. When it does rain, the barrel cactus swells with
water and then shrinks again as it uses the water. And the . . ."


"Austin told me to shut up at the library," tattled Shelly, interrupting her
brother. Austin kicked her under the table.


"Austin! You know better than to talk like that!" scolded Mom. 
<p>"Well, she’s always a pest," grumbled Austin.


Mom frowned. "Watch your tongue, Austin," she said. "I’ve noticed that you’ve
been having trouble with it lately."


"Austin, maybe you need to be more like that mesquite tree and barrel cactus
you told us about—maybe you need to ‘drink’ more deeply from God’s Word,"
suggested Dad. "In fact, we should all have a thirst for His Word. It would be
nice if we were as motivated to read the Bible as those desert plants are to get
water. If we were swelling up with God’s Word, good words would be coming out of
our mouths and we’d have a desire to get along with one
another."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Where is your spiritual "bread"? Is it just lying on a shelf, or are you "eating" it? As you read from this booklet, be sure to also read the suggested verses from God’s book, the Bible. Learn from it, and use it. Let God give you encouragement and direction as you think about it and obey what it says.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:133)
"Order my steps in Thy Word."

[Soldier4Christ]

"We meet people almost every day who don't know the way to heaven," said
Mr. Peterson, Aaron's Sunday school teacher, "and it's our responsibility to
tell them. That's why our class service project is going to be handing out
tracts at the mall. How many of you can I count on to come along next Saturday?"
Aaron and most of the other boys raised their hands.
 

On Saturday morning, the boys were all rather nervous. It wasn't easy to talk with people about the Lord. It even took courage to hand out tracts, but they did it. They received various responses. "God bless you. I'll be praying for you," said one person. "Keep that junk," said another. And, "I'll think about what this says," said a third.

Aaron was feeling quite comfortable when he handed a man a tract on which the question "Do you know the way to heaven?" was printed in big letters. The man smiled. "Have you ever been to heaven?" he asked Aaron.

"No, but . . ." began Aaron.

"So you don't know the way!" interrupted the man. "You've never been there, and you don't know anyone who has."

"Well, I . . . actually, that isn't true, Sir!" said Aaron. "I know Jesus. He was there, and He . . ." Aaron paused as he remembered an illustration he had heard in church. "I've never been to Chicago," he said, "but a map could show me how to get there because someone who has been there gave the directions. I have a book that has directions on getting to heaven, too -- the Bible. It was written by the God who made the world -- and heaven. If we can trust a map that was made by a man, don't you think we can trust directions given by God?"

The man listened in surprise. "I've got to admit that I
didn't think you'd have such a good answer for me," he said. "Okay, I'll take
your little paper and see what it says about getting to
heaven."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know the way to heaven? God tells us in His Word, the Bible, how we may get there. He says you must trust in Jesus, who is the only way to heaven. Trust Him today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 14:6)
I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom!" called Mark as he dashed into the house. "Jeff's riding his bike to his grandma's house this afternoon. He wants me to go, too. May I?"

Mom looked up from her work. "I don't think there's time," she said. "You have to go to puppet practice. Your puppet team has a part in the Sunday school program this week, remember?"

Mark groaned. "Aw, I'd never be missed in the program," he said. "I have only a few lines."

"Those lines are important," said Mom. "There will be other times to ride your bike with Jeff."

"I never have any fun," grumbled Mark.

Mom frowned. "You remind me of a thank you note I had to write to my Grandma when I was a kid," she said. Mark looked at her curiously. "My mother let me use the typewriter," continued Mom, "and I wrote a note to thank Grandma for some candy she had sent me, but there was a problem. The 'y' on the typewriter didn't work. This is how my note started." Mom took a piece of paper and printed, "Thank ou for the cand." She handed the paper to Mark. "What do you think?" she asked. "Would this do?"

Mark shook his head. "You couldn't write 'you' or 'candy' without the 'y,'" he said.

"But there were twenty-five other letters I could use," said Mom. "The 'y' isn't all that important, is it? It isn't used as often as the 'a' or the 'e.' Even without it, I think my grandma would have understood my message.''

"Maybe, but your note still wouldn't have been very good," insisted Mark. "The 'y' may not be used as often as some other letters, but it's just as important!"

"Exactly!" agreed Mom. "Each part of the puppet play is like that. One member may not seem very important -- especially when he doesn't have much to say -- but without his few words, the play wouldn't be as good, would it?"

"Oh! Well . . . I suppose not," admitted Mark.

"When we have a job to do, God wants us to do our part -- at church, at home, or wherever we are," said Mom, "and He wants us to do the best we can!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel like things you do at church aren't needed? Do you leave it to others to invite friends, answer questions, and join in singing? How about at home and at school? Are you helpful? Do you do your part? Whatever you do is important.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.