Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Mom, can I stay over at Kristi's house next weekend? asked Eva when she arrived home from school. "Her mom says I can go home from school with Kristi on Friday. Then we'll all come in for church on Sunday, and I'll come home after Sunday school. Is that okay?" Eva waited eagerly for her mom's answer. "Kristi lives on a farm, you know," she added, "and she has a pony."

Mom smiled. "We've gotten to know Kristi's parents quite well, and I'm sure that will be all right," she agreed.

When the girls arrived at Kristi's home on Friday afternoon, they ran straight to the corral. The pony was beautiful and so gentle that Eva wasn't afraid of him at all. They fed him sugar cubes and brushed his golden mane. Then they changed clothes and took turns riding him. "Kristi, you're so lucky," Eva called out as she rode by. "I'd love to have a horse of my own."

When the girls went to bed that evening, Eva looked around at Kristi's room. "This looks just like something out of one of Mom's magazines!" exclaimed Eva. "I love your canopy bed-I've always wanted one. Your whole room is perfect! I love it!"

"Thanks," said Kristi.

"Your dad must make a lot of money!" exclaimed Eva. She clapped her hand over her mouth. "Not that it's any of my business," she added. "It's just that your whole house is so beautiful! You have everything I've ever dreamed of."

"I like it, too-especially my room," said Kristi. "We didn't always have such a nice place. Dad inherited this farm when Grandma died last year." Tears came to her eyes as she looked around her beautiful room. "I'd give it all up, though, if I could just have Grandma back!"

Eva lay awake a long time that night, thinking of her own grandmother. She wouldn't give up her grandma for anything, either. Before falling asleep, she asked the Lord to comfort Kristi. And thank You for my grandma, she prayed silently. Thank You for my family and my home-and my room. It's nice enough! Thank You. Amen. Then she turned over and went to sleep.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have friends who seem to have everything you ever dreamed of? Perhaps they wish they had something you have. God wants you to quit wishing for things other people have and be content with what He has given you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 13:5)
<p>"Be content with such things as ye have."

[Soldier4Christ]

Isn't our new pig just darling, Mom? squealed Mary as a big crate was unloaded from the truck.

"We're going to call her Annabel," added Eliot.

"I'd have preferred a lamb for your 4-H project," Mom said, "but go put her in the pig pen. The gate is standing open-be sure to close it when you leave her."

"The pig pen!" exclaimed Mary as Mom returned to the house. "Annabel would hate the dirty pig pen."

"Yeah." Eliot nodded. "Let's give her a bath and fix her a nice bed of straw."

It wasn't easy, but the children managed to get the pig reasonably clean, and Mary tied a pretty pink bow around Annabel's neck. Then they left the pig in the rose garden while they ran to get their mother. When they finally persuaded her to come out to see Annabel, disaster met their eyes. "Oh no! Look at my roses!" moaned Mom. Plants were uprooted, the yard was a mess, and the pig was gone! "Well, we'd better find her," added Mom. "Maybe she found the pig pen where she belongs and went in."

"No way!" exclaimed Eliot-but that's where they found Annabel, and she was covered with mud!

"Annabel!" cried Mary. "Why would you leave the rose garden and come here?"

"It's her nature to like mud," said Mom. "It's natural for birds to fly. It's natural for fish to swim. And it's natural for a pig to wallow in the mud." She paused. "Did you know," she asked with a twinkle in her eye, "that kids are like pigs in some ways?"

"Mother!" protested Eliot. "How can you say that?"

Mom laughed at his indignant tone. "Well," she said, "it's natural for children to say things they shouldn't say and do things they shouldn't do-like putting pigs in rose gardens, for instance. Of course, that's a small thing, but the point is that it's natural for people-big and small-to wallow in the filth of sin."

"But we cleaned Annabel all up," cried Mary, "and I even gave her a pink bow."

"But that didn't change her nature," replied Mom.

Mary looked at Annabel and sighed. "What a dirty pig," she said. "I hate to think that I'm like you."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that just like it's a pig's nature to wallow in mud, it's your nature to sin? A bath and a pretty bow can't change the pig's nature, and trying to clean up your life with good deeds doesn't change your nature. Only the blood of Christ can do


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 14:3)
<p>"There is none that doeth good, no, not one."

[Soldier4Christ]

. . . and please forgive me. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Hannah sighed as she climbed into her bed. After lying to her mother a few days before, Hannah had asked God to forgive her, but every now and then she still felt so guilty that she would ask Him again. Mom smiled, gave her a kiss, and turned out the light.

The next afternoon, Mom suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, Hannah, I was supposed to ask if you wanted to go shopping with Grandma this afternoon, and it slipped my mind! I'm afraid it's too late now. I'm so sorry."

"O-o-o-h," wailed Hannah, "I wanted to go!"

Mom felt bad. "Can you forgive me?" she asked. Hannah sighed, but she nodded.

As Hannah sat down for supper that evening, Mom looked at her. "Hannah," she said. "I am sorry about the shopping trip. Forgive me for not remembering."

"That's okay, Mom," Hannah replied. She looked at the dishes on the table. "That chicken looks so good!"

After supper, Hannah helped Mom clear the table. "Honey, I do feel bad that you missed the excursion with Grandma," said Mom. "Will you forgive me?"

Hannah gave her mother a puzzled look. "I told you-it's okay," she said, not noticing Mom's smile.

When Hannah was ready for bed that night, she once again confessed the same lie she had prayed about before. Then she happily jumped into bed. "About the shopping trip, honey," began Mom as she tucked the blankets around Hannah, "can you forgive me for . . ."

"Mom! You've apologized over and over!" objected Hannah. "I forgave you the first time, but you treat me as though you don't believe me!"

Mom smiled. "Isn't that how you've been treating God?" she asked gently. "You sinned when you lied about where you had been the other day. You were sorry and confessed it to me and to God, and I think you know I forgave you. God says He forgives you, too, yet you continue to confess the same thing again and again-as though you don't believe Him."

Hannah was startled. Then she grinned. "I guess you're right," she admitted. "I'll just thank Him for that instead-and thank you, too, Mom!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you still feel guilty after you have confessed a sin to God? Do you continue to ask forgiveness over and over? God says He forgave you the first time you sincerely asked Him to. Believe Him. He's pleased when you do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 1:9)
<p>"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."

[Soldier4Christ]

Melissa, you know the rule, said Mom. "You do not go to sleepovers unless we know the adults who will be present. So, no, you cannot go to Vicki's on Friday night." Melissa recognized the "that's final" tone. Mom changed the subject. "Have you fed your fish?" 

"I feed the fishes!" exclaimed little Jordan. "I feed the fishes!" He headed for the den.

"No!" Melissa ran after him. "You don't know how." As she got out the fish food, Melissa scowled. "I thought this was a free country," she grumbled angrily, "but there's sure not any freedom around this house! 'No, you can't go there.' 'Do this.' 'Don't do that.'"

"What's feedom, Sissy?" asked Jordan.

"Freedom," corrected Melissa. "Freedom is getting to do what you want to do when you want to do it." 

"I want to feed the fishes," Jordan said. "Now!"

"No!" Melissa snapped.

Jordan watched as his big sister dropped tiny grains of fish food into the water. The fish quickly swam to the top. "I like your fishes," the little boy said. "They like me, too." He pressed his nose against the glass. "Fishes, do you wantta come out and play with me?" 

"No, they don't," Melissa said crossly. "They're perfectly happy where they are." She put the fish food in a drawer, slammed it, and stomped from the room.

Melissa was in her room, pouting, when Jordan came in. He held out his hand. "This fishy won't play," he said sadly. Melissa gasped. Jordan was holding a dead fish. "He want out of bowl. I gave fishy feedom, but he won't play with me."

Anger rose in Melissa. "What a stupid . . ." she began. She stopped speaking as she suddenly realized something important. The fish was safe and free only as long as he was in the aquarium, she thought. I guess I'm safe only when I'm in the right environment, too. That's why Mom and Dad make rules. She took a small box from her desk drawer and handed it to Jordan. "He is dead, Jordan. Fish die when they stay out of water. Put him in here. In a little while, we'll go bury him."

Melissa sat at her desk and wrote, "Dear Vicki, I can't come to the sleepover, but thanks for inviting me."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do the rules at your house seem to threaten your freedom? True freedom has boundaries. Rules and laws actually safeguard freedom. Thank God for parents who establish rules to help keep you safe. Thank Him for rules He shows you through His Word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:45)
<p>"I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts."

[Soldier4Christ]

Wow, Dad! Did you see those fish? Adam's eyes sparkled as he lifted his face out of the water and adjusted his snorkeling mask.

"I sure did!" Dad grinned. "Those little blue ones look like some we've seen in aquariums at the pet store."

"And I almost touched one of those yellow and black striped ones." Adam was bubbling with excitement.

Dad looked at the setting sun. "Well, it's getting late," he said. "We'd better start swimming back to shore. Are you ready?"

"So soon?" asked Adam. "Okay . . . let's go. Bet I can beat you back." They started toward shore, but it was farther away than Adam had realized. "Dad, can we rest a minute?" he called out after a while.

Dad stopped swimming and shook his head. "If we do, this current may take us too far off shore. Here . . ." Dad stretched out his arm for Adam to grab. "Hold on to me, and I'll pull you along." Soon they reached shore, tired but safe.

When they got home, Adam told his mother about their afternoon. "It's a good thing Dad was there to pull me along," said Adam with a grin. "I was really tired!"

Mom smiled. "You know, I think living the Christian life is sometimes a little like swimming," she said. "Once in a while you may get a little weary of doing things you know are right. Where do you suppose you can get encouragement and help then?"

"From you and Dad," Adam answered promptly.

Dad chuckled softly. "Good," he said. "We'll help all we can. As we struggle against the current of difficult things in our lives or against temptation, God often does use other Christians to help us, but there's an even better source of help-the Lord Himself. Sometimes it almost seems as if He says to us, 'Here . . . I'll pull you along.'"

Mom nodded. "Just this afternoon, I was preparing for the Sunday school lesson I have to teach next week, and I felt like quitting," she said. "God used Grandma Jones to encourage me today, and He also encouraged me through some verses I read in His Word. We need to learn to depend on Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you get tired and discouraged in living for the Lord, do you look to other Christians for encouragement? They can be a lot of help. Be sure to ask the Lord Himself to help you, too. He will always help you when you depend on Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 41:10)
<p>" I (God) am with thee . . . I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee."

[Soldier4Christ]

Dad, can you help me with something on the computer? asked Janet. She explained what she wanted it to do. "I heard you tell Uncle Bob that computers can do that," she added.

Dad smiled. "Yes-but our computer hasn't been programmed for that," he said. "I can fix it for you." Then he sat down at the keyboard and began to type. "I'll write a program to tell the computer what you want. It responds only to what it has been told." Soon Dad stood up. "Try it now," he suggested, and he showed her which keys to use.

The new program worked fine, and the computer did just what Janet wanted. "Wow, Dad!" she said. "That's amazing!"

"Not really," her father replied. "It's a basic law of computer science that you can only get out what you've put in."

"I think I know what you mean," said Janet. "At school we say 'garbage in, garbage out.' If we put good information into the computer, we get good information out."

"Just like life," commented Dad.

"Like life?" asked Janet. "What do you mean?"

"Your mind is sort of like a computer," replied Dad. "It's a fabulous data base that stores everything you put into it, and it responds to the instructions you give it. In a way, you're programming-or writing-your own future right now by what you put into your mind and life."

"So if I store up good things in my mind, it will result in good actions on my part, right?" asked Janet. "But if I store up a lot of junk, that's what determines how I act."

Dad nodded. "To a large extent, what you put into your mind determines what comes out in your life," he said, "so it's important that what you put in is pleasing to God. You do still have a will to make choices, however. You need a good data base to make those choices from, and you need to depend on the Holy Spirit to help you in making them."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you put good things into your heart by putting wholesome ideas and thoughts into your mind? Good friends (especially Christians), good books (especially the Bible), and good TV programs (with Christian morals and values) will help prepare you for a who


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 4:23)
<p>"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

[Soldier4Christ]

Brett was helping his father shingle the garage roof when Mom called Dad to come in and take a phone call from his boss. "This may take a while," said Dad. "Why don't you take a rest, too, Brett?"

"Can't I do a few rows by myself?" asked Brett.

"Well . . . okay, but we're just starting a new row, so remember to line the shingles up with the row below-the way I showed you-or you'll get them on crooked," Dad warned. "Then all the rest of the rows will be crooked, too. The farther you go, the worse it will get."

"I'll watch it," said Brett. "Don't worry."

After Dad left, Brett worked hard. He wanted to show his dad how much he could do alone, but as he hurried, he became less careful. When he started his second row, he found that the previous row ran just a little crooked. It's not very bad, he thought. I'll try to do better now. He took his hammer and continued his job.

"Wow! You've done three whole rows by yourself!" exclaimed Dad when he got back, but right away he noticed that the shingles weren't on straight. "Climb down and look at this," said Dad.

Brett went down the ladder and stood back to look at his work. "Oh, no," he moaned. He saw that, just like Dad had warned, each row got "off" a little more.

"I think I can guess what happened," Dad said. "You probably went a little too fast, and by the time you finished the first row, the shingles weren't on quite right. Instead of taking time to do it over, you ignored it and tried to make the next row straighter . . . only things got worse instead of better."

Brett nodded. "What can we do to make it right?"

"There's only one thing to do," replied Dad. "We'll have to take the shingles off-all the way to where they start to go wrong-and nail them back correctly. Let's do it together. It won't take too long."

As they removed the crooked rows, Dad spoke thoughtfully. "You know, Brett, there's a good spiritual lesson here for us," he said. "When we go wrong-when we sin-it doesn't work to ignore it. We need to make things right before going on. We need to confess our sin to the Lord, and receive His forgiveness."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ignored some wrong thing you've done and figured it doesn't really matter? Don't do that anymore. As soon as you know you've done something wrong, that's the time to confess it and make it right with God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 38:18)
<p>"I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."

[Soldier4Christ]

Hey, Kyle, wait up, Julian called as he ran to catch up with a new boy in his class. "Didn't you just move here from Wyncote, Pennsylvania?"

"Yeah," replied Kyle. "Got here last week."

"Isn't that the hometown of Wilt Smith, the baseball player?" asked Julian. "Do you know him?"

"Oh, yeah, I know Wilt," said Kyle, happy to meet a new friend who was interested in baseball. "He hit a grand slam to win last year's World Series." Kyle was eager to share all he knew. "I have all Wilt's baseball cards," Kyle told Julian. "I saw him play lots of times, and he even autographed a ball for me. I have all his books, too. He taught me all I know about baseball."

Julian and Kyle became close friends. If they weren't playing ball, they were talking ball-and making plans to see Wilt Smith play. Kyle always spoke proudly of his friendship with the famous ball player. "My mom says I listen to him better than I do to her," he said with a grin.

Plans were finally completed for the boys to see a game in which Wilt Smith would play. On the Sunday before the game, Julian could hardly contain himself as he shared the news with the boys in his Sunday school class. "Guess what! I'm going to meet Wilt Smith!" he told them as they waited for class to begin.

"The baseball player?" asked his teacher.

"Yes! My friend Kyle knows Wilt," said Julian. "We have tickets to see him play at Riverside Stadium!"

"Great!" exclaimed Mr. Jones. "That's exciting."

"Kyle talks about Wilt all the time," said Julian. After sharing some of the things Kyle had told him, Julian added, "Since Kyle knows him, I'll get to meet him!"

Mr. Jones held up his Bible. "Our lesson today deals with the importance of telling others about Jesus," he said, "and your friend Kyle is a good example of someone who is eager to talk about an important person he knows. Those of us who know Jesus should be like that-eager to tell others about Him. Let's pause for prayer and ask God to help us learn to do that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you eager to tell your friends about any important person you meet? Do you tell them about Jesus? Today's Scripture tells how Andrew brought his own brother to Jesus. Will you introduce a brother or sister or friend to Jesus, too?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 8:4)
<p>"They that were scattered abroad (Christians) went everywhere preaching the word."

[Soldier4Christ]

Julian and Kyle joined thousands of other fans who had come to Riverside Stadium to see the Major League baseball game. They cheered loudly for their team-especially when Wilt Smith was up to bat.

In the bottom of the last inning, with the score tied and two outs, Wilt Smith was batting again. Julian and Kyle could hardly stand the suspense. "Come on, Wilt! You can do it," shouted Kyle.

"He hit it!" yelled Julian. "Look at that ball go!" He jumped up. "They won! They won!" The boys stood with the crowd as Wilt rounded the bases and then was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates.

"Let's go to the locker room," said Julian as the crowd began to leave. "I want to meet Wilt! Come on, Kyle!"

"Nah," said Kyle. "He'll be too busy." Kyle headed toward the gate.

"Oh, come on," insisted Julian. "I've been waiting for this." He grabbed Kyle's arm.

Kyle pulled away. "We can't do that, Julian," he said.

"Why not?" asked Julian. "You know Wilt. You can get us in, can't you?"

"Aw, I don't know him that good," replied Kyle, and suddenly Julian realized that Kyle didn't really know Wilt Smith at all-he just knew about him.

At Sunday school the next day, Julian told his teacher about the game. "Kyle sure had me fooled," said Julian. "He said he knew Wilt, but he really doesn't."

"Well, Julian, people often say they know a person when they just know about him," replied Mr. Jones.

"They do?" asked Julian. "I would never do that!"

"Many people who call themselves Christians do that," said Mr. Jones. "They read about Christ's miracles and hear about His death on the cross. They go to church and may even quote from the Bible. They claim to know Jesus, yet they've never invited Him to be their Savior. They don't know Him personally-they only know about Him." Mr. Jones paused and looked intently at Julian. "Don't make that mistake, Julian. Don't just know about Jesus. Make sure you know Him personally."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know Jesus as your personal friend and Savior, or is He just someone you know about? He wants to be-and can be-your very best friend. Know Him personally-trust Him as Savior. Then get to know Him better by reading His Word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 3:10)
<p>"That I may know Him (Jesus)."

[Soldier4Christ]

Nathan watched little Nikki. The baby blinked, then nodded, and finally her eyes closed as she snuggled back in her car seat. When he was sure she was asleep, he spoke softly to his mother. "You know, Mom, I keep thinking about Pastor Ryan's sermon about heaven yesterday," he said, "but I don't think I really want to go to heaven very soon-not for a long, long time."

Mom glanced at him. "And why is that?"

Nathan squirmed. "Well, I know preachers always say heaven will be so great, but all that music and singing sounds boring to me," he confessed. "I like church okay, but I don't think I'd like to be there all the time. I'd miss baseball and hamburgers and TV. This is a great world right here!"

Suddenly Nikki jumped in her sleep and cried out. Mom looked thoughtful as she reached back to pat the baby. "Do you suppose Nikki was thinking something just like that a few months ago?" she asked.

Nathan was puzzled. "She's only two months old!"

"Yes, but she was alive before she was born, you know," replied Mom. "Maybe she liked being right where she was then."

"Well . . . I doubt it," said Nathan. "She was in the dark and couldn't move much before she was born."

"True," agreed Mom, "but she was warm and comfortable and never hungry. I imagine she might have thought her life was very good. If someone could have asked her if she wanted to be born and be part of a brand new world, she might have said, 'No. I'd rather stay here.'"

"If she did that, she'd miss out on an awful lot," declared Nathan.

"I agree," said Mom. "We couldn't even begin to describe sights, sounds, and tastes to her-things she would have to experience for herself to understand." She smiled at Nathan. "I'm sure it's that way with heaven, too, Nathan. When the Bible talks about heaven, it describes things that will be far more fantastic than we can imagine and far better than we can understand down here."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid that heaven won't really be much "fun"-that it might even be boring? God created you and all the things that give you enjoyment here, and He is responsible for heaven as well. We don't know everything we'll experience there, but you can be


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 14:2)
<p>"(Jesus said) I go to prepare a place for you."

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi, Mom. Shelly put her books down. "Hi, Gram."

"Why are we all dressed up?" asked Grandma.

"We're having dinner with the Hoyles," said Mom.

"The Hoyles are so nice. I remember when we spent a week with them at the lake. It was so pretty . . ." Grandma's voice trailed off, and Shelly sighed. "Why are we all dressed up?" asked Grandma again, and Mom again answered patiently. "The Hoyles are such nice people," said Grandma. Shelly scowled, picked up her books, and went to her room.

"How can you be so patient when Grandma repeats the same things over and over, Mom?" Shelly asked later.

"I just remind myself that Grandma can't help it," said Mom. "She has Alzheimer's disease-it's like a short circuit in the brain-and so she forgets things."

Shelly frowned. "I know, but why does she have to live here?" she asked. "My friends laugh at her."

"You and your friends need to understand that we love Grandma and this is what's best for her," said Mom.

"I wish I were old enough to live away from home-I wish I could go to the mission field like Miss Borelle, who spoke in church last Sunday," said Shelly. "Then I wouldn't hear Grandma's stories a hundred times over."

"There are difficult people on the mission field, too," said Mom. "Miss Borelle said one lady looked in her window and stared at her every day. I'm sure that's just as annoying as hearing the same story over and over."

"But I'd be doing important work for God," said Shelly, "so it would be worth it."

"Grandma is important, too," said Mom. "Through our family situations, God prepares us for other ministries later. The patience you learn at home will help you through the difficult times in the future."

Grandma came to the door and smiled. "Why are we all dressed up?" she asked.

Shelly sighed as she glanced at her mom. "We're having dinner with the Hoyles, Gram," said Shelly.

"They're such nice people. I remember the time we were at the lake together," said Grandma.

Shelly hesitated. Then . . . "Tell me about it, Grandma," she replied with a little smile.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you need to show extra understanding or patience to a family member or friend? Ask the Lord to help you develop that patience. As you honor Him by showing love and kindness now, you'll also be preparing yourself for whatever ministry the Lord has for y


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thess. 5:14)
<p>"Be patient toward all men."

[Soldier4Christ]

Grandpa, can we make our stepping stones now? begged Amanda, and Jessica echoed her request.

Grandpa agreed, so the girls took their stepping stone kits out to the patio. "We'll spread out a newspaper so we don't make a mess," said Grandpa. He set an old bucket on the paper and carefully dumped the cement powder into the bucket. The girls added water, and each took a turn at stirring. When the cement was ready, they poured it into several stepping stone molds. They jiggled the molds to get out the air bubbles, and then they went to play while the cement hardened a little.

After a while, Grandpa called them back. "It's time to make your impressions," he said.

"All right!" said Jessica. She promptly plopped her hand into the middle of the soft cement.

"Oh, yuck," cried Amanda. "Maybe I won't do that."

"When it hardens, your hand print will be set in that stone for good," said Grandpa.

Jessica nodded. "It will never change," she declared. "My hand print will be there forever!"

Grandpa smiled. "Well, it will wear down a bit as time goes by," he said, "but it will last a long time."

"I guess I'll do it, too," Amanda decided, pressing her palm into the gooey cement. "Not bad," she admitted. "Let's draw pictures in the rest of them." 

"My friend Amy says God put His finger in cement once," said Jessica. "That's not true, is it?"

"It's not exactly right," said Grandpa, "but she was probably referring to the time when God gave the commandments. The Bible says He gave Moses two tablets of stone, written with the finger of God."

"Then God's Word will never change," declared Amanda, "just like our hand prints."

"It won't change," agreed Grandpa, "but not because God wrote some of it in stone. God's Word is truth, and truth never changes." He picked up the newspaper. "The stories and articles in this paper change every day," he said, "and sometimes the information isn't even right-but you can always depend on God's Word. It is true, and it will last forever!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever put your hand print or written your name in wet cement? It's fun to look at several years later. You might say, "Was my hand really that small?" Your hand gets bigger, and your writing gets better. But God's Word never changes. It's perfect,


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:25)
<p>"The Word of the Lord endureth forever."

[Soldier4Christ]

Several days after making stepping stones, Amanda and Jessica were at their grandparents' home again. "Can we paint our stepping stones today?" the girls asked.

"Sure," agreed Grandpa. "I'll put some newspaper on the picnic table, and you can do the painting out there. Ask Grandma to help you get out the paint and brushes."

After collecting all the materials, Grandma and the girls went out to the patio. Grandpa had everything ready for them.

"I'm going to paint my name on one of my stones," said Amanda. "I'll make it pink." She dipped her paint brush into a cup of rosy pink paint and delicately began painting her name on the now hardened stepping stone.

"I like blue," said Jessica, and she brushed pale blue paint onto the circles drawn on one of her stones. "These stepping stones will make a pretty path in Grandma's flower garden."

"And we can walk on them so our feet won't get all muddy when it's wet," added Amanda.

"Right," agreed Grandma. She smiled. "If you two follow God's stepping stones through life," she said, "your lives won't get muddied in His garden, either."

"God has a garden?" asked Jessica.

"Grandma and I like to think of the whole earth as God's garden," explained Grandpa.

"Adam and Eve brought sin into God's garden," said Amanda. "I learned that in Sunday School."

"That's right," said Grandpa, "but God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross and take away our sin. He gave us the Bible to teach us how we should live. By following the commands in God's Word, we can keep our lives from being muddied with sin."

Grandma nodded. "So think of God's commands as stepping stones, girls," she said. "Follow them, and as it says in Psalm Twenty Three, He will lead you in 'paths of righteousness.'"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you made any stepping stones to look pretty in your garden or to make a nice walkway? Have you thought of the commands in God's Word as stepping stones for you to follow as you go through life? As you obey His commands, you will be led down the right


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 25:4)
<p>"O Lord; teach me Thy paths."

[Soldier4Christ]

Kadie burst into the kitchen where she found her sister Tanya. "Every time I do something-anything at all-Benny ruins it!" complained Kadie.

"Aren't you being a little dramatic?" asked Tanya. She was ironing her best dress and needed to leave in half an hour to attend a friend's wedding. 

"You think so?" demanded Kadie. "Well, just this morning I painted a picture. Benny grabbed it and smudged it. Later, he hit my softball into the lake. Just now he took the cookies I decorated for Mrs. Peters and gave them to his friends-and they ate all of them!" Tanya laughed. "It's not funny!" protested Kadie. "Benny's stupid and dumb, and I'll never forgive him!"

Tanya raised her eyebrows. "Really?" she asked.

"Sorry," Kadie said hastily, "but he's such a pest!"

"Don't forget that you're five years older than Benny," said Tanya. "You need to have patience."

"With Benny? Impossible!" exclaimed Kadie. She poured herself a glass of chocolate milk and slammed it onto the counter-hard enough to cause some of the chocolate to spatter onto Tanya's freshly-ironed dress. "Oh-h-h-h, Tanya," cried Kadie. "I'm sorry!"

Tanya pressed her lips together for a long moment, then she said brightly, "Luckily, my second best dress is in the closet and ready to wear."

"Aren't you mad at me?" Kadie asked in surprise.

"Well . . . you loaned me two dollars last week," said Tanya, "and you bake terrific cookies. You love dogs and birds and children and me."

Kadie stared. "I don't get it," she said.

"You're nice, Kadie," said Tanya, "and most of the things you do aren't stupid, dumb, or unforgivable."

Kadie blushed. "Okay," she said, "I shouldn't call Benny names."

"When you get angry at Benny, don't shout. Instead, try to think of nice things Benny's done, and your anger may disappear," suggested Tanya. "Come on-try it."

"He . . . ah . . . he gives me candy sometimes, and he likes to sing," said Kadie slowly. She paused. "Does it always work, Tanya?" she asked with a sigh.

"Not always," Tanya admitted, "but it helps."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your brothers and sisters-or neighbors and friends-do things that make you angry? Remind yourself of good things they've done. Remember what the book of Proverbs says about anger. And remember that acting out of anger does not please God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 37:
<p>"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath."

[Soldier4Christ]

When Grandpa pulled out some photos and began to tell the family about his
recent ice-fishing trip, Patrick could hardly believe his ears. "You mean you
really drove right out on the ice, Grandpa?" he asked.
 

"Yes, indeed," Grandpa replied. "I drove out on it, camped on it, and fished through a hole in it."

"But you're the one who always warns me about walking on the river in the winter!" exclaimed Patrick. "You said Dad almost lost his life one time because he trusted the ice!"

"That's true," acknowledged Grandpa, "but I was in no danger on my trip, Pat." Patrick looked doubtful, and Grandpa continued. "The difference between my safety on the lake and your father's danger on the river was the thickness of the ice." Grandpa looked thoughtful. "Do you know what this reminds me of?" 

Patrick's father laughed. "Knowing you, I expect you're thinking of some spiritual application, right?" he asked.

Grandpa chuckled. "Right! It reminds me of our trust in Christ," he said. "You see, Pat-no matter how much faith your father had in the river ice, it wouldn't hold him up. On the other hand, even if I were nervous and somewhat distrustful, the lake ice would support me. No matter how I felt about it, it was thick and strong."

Patrick nodded. "So what's the lesson?" he asked.

"That our feelings are not as important as what we are trusting," explained Grandpa. "Some people feel sure that their church membership or good works will get them to heaven-but that's like trusting thin ice that won't hold. Other people know they're sinners and are very unworthy of God's love. They know God says He loves them and that Jesus died to save them, so they put their trust in Him. Jesus is like the thick, strong ice. When your trust is in Him, you're safe."

"Even though . . . like . . . maybe when I've done something wrong, I hardly feel like a Christian?" asked Patrick. "But God says I am one because I've accepted Jesus as my Savior, right?"

"Exactly!" agreed Grandpa. "Your faith may be weak, but
Jesus-whom you're trusting-is strong and always supports and keeps
you."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trusting in good things you can do to earn salvation? That's like trusting thin ice that will not hold you. Instead, trust Jesus, who died for you. If your faith is in Him, you're safe! Leave the "thin ice" of good works and trust in Jesus today!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 16:31)
<p>"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."