Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Aaron woke up early, dressed quickly, and hurried down to eat breakfast.  This was the big day he'd been looking forward to -- his family was planning a trip to the fair.
 
When they finally arrived there, Aaron went to look at all the horses, cows, and other show animals.  He rode the scrambler, and he threw darts at balloons and won a prize.  As he and his family walked through the fairgrounds all afternoon, he searched for a place to buy the biggest and best caramel apple.  Then when it was almost time to go home, he quickly ran to a booth at the far corner of the fair.  "I came to buy a caramel apple," he told the lady.  "May I pick out a big one?"
 
"Sure," she replied.  "Help yourself."
 
Aaron carefully studied the apples on display.  He found a huge one loaded with nuts and caramel, and he asked for  a box in which to take the apple home.
 
Later that evening, Aaron settled down to read a book and eat his prized apple.  He took a big bite.  "Oh, yuk!" he groaned as he looked at the apple.  He ran to the kitchen for a paper towel.
 
"What's wrong, Aaron?" asked Dad.
 
"This apple was the biggest, best looking caramel apple in the whole fair, but when I bit into it, I found a worm hole," moaned Aaron.  "It's soft and mushy inside, too."  He looked sadly at the apple.  "It was such a pretty one," he added, "but it's no good."
 
Dad nodded sympathetically.  "It's the inside that counts, isn't it? That's what God says about people, too."
 
"People?" Aaron looked at Dad in surprise.
 
"That's right," said Dad.  "We can look neat and clean -- and we may even act nice -- but God looks at our hearts.  He knows all our secret thoughts and feelings.  It's important to be clean on the inside."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you carefully combed your hair, brushed your teeth, and put on clean clothes?  Do you put on a smile and act nice when your around other people?  That's good.  But are your thoughts also what they should be?  Are your secret desires pleasing to God? Ask God to help you keep your heart pure and clean. When you sin, ask Him to forgive you and make you beautiful and good inside.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Samuel 16:7)
For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ramone, called Mom from the den, "keep away from the cookie jar. Supper
will be ready soon."
 

    "Uh-h-h. . .how'd you know I was checking out the cookies?  You weren't even here," said Ramone as Mother came into the kitchen.

    "Oh, I have eyes in the back of my head," joked Mother.  "Every mother does."

    Dad laughed as he came in the back door.  "I heard that!" he said.  He grinned at Ramone.  "Mom may not really be able to see in two directions at once, but your chameleon can," he added.  "Have you noticed his eyes?"

    "Yeah!" said Ramone, going over to the terrarium to check out his new pet.  "His eyes are really weird.  His left eye is looking at me but his right eye is looking at that fly out on the window screen!"

    "Each bulging eye can move independently and can rotate in every direction," said Dad.

    "Wow!  It would be cool to have eyes like that!" exclaimed Ramone.

    Dad smiled.  "Well, I'm sure God gave us just the kind of eyes we need," he said.  He paused, then he added, "But some Christians seem to think they have chameleon eyes.  They seem to try to look at two things at once, too."

    "They do?" asked Ramone in surprise.

    Dad nodded.  "Christians kids sometimes 'look' at all the things unsaved kids are doing, and they wish they could be involved in it all.  Yet they want all the benefits of being a Christian, too."

    Mother nodded.  "I'm afraid it isn't only Christian kids who do that," she said.  "Christian men and women are also guilty of the same thing."

    "That's right," agreed Dad.  "As Christians we should keep our minds focused on godly things.  We shouldn't be watching wicked or evil things.  We certainly shouldn't wish we could participate in them!  " 






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you read the Bible and try to focus on doing good?  But do you also sneak a look at dirty magazines in the store?  Do you wish you could watch movies you know your parents and God would not approve of?  Ask God to help you look only at those things that are pleasing to Him. He didn't make your eyes like a chameleons. You cannot look at two things at once. Keep your eyes focused on things that please God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 4:25)
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's not fair," grumbled Angie, pacing up and down the lawn. "Nothing good ever happens.  First we leave our home and move to a new town, then I get sick and miss school and fail that stupid math test. . . ."
 
"Look, Angie!  A bird's making a nest in our garden," interrupted Mom.
 
Angie stopped complaining and watched.  "Little bird!" she cried suddenly, "that tree's no good; its leaves have all fallen off and it hasn't any fruit.  Make your nest in the apple tree!"  But, of course, the bird ignored her.  Angie stood on tiptoe, picked up a few twigs from the nest the bird was making, and carried them over to the apple tree.  "Here, bird, build your nest here," she said.  The bird twittered angrily and carried the twigs back.
 
Mom laughed.  "It's no use. . .it's made up its mind to nest there," she said.  Angie got so interested in watching the bird finish its nest that she forgot to grumble any more that evening.
 
That night, there was a storm.  The wind howled outside Angie's window and the rain fell down in great torrents.  When Angie gazed out the window next morning, she saw that the tree with the bird's nest lay flat on the ground and bits of straw and twigs were scattered nearby.  "Mom, the bird's nest is broken," cried Angie.  "Poor bird!  Whatever will it do?"
 
"I suppose it will build another," replied Mom.
 
Angie watched the bird fly round and round the fallen tree, twittering and chirping.  Then it began to collect the twigs and straw, and to Angie's surprise, flew across to the apple tree.  "Well!" exclaimed Angie, "I guess it's a good thing that old tree fell down and the bird's nest got broken -- now it will have a home with lots of leafy branches for protection."
 
Mom smiled.  "God gave the bird wisdom and ability to make something good out of apparent disaster," she observed.  "And He'll give us the ability to do that too."  She gave Angie a hug as she added, "Even disasters like moving into a strange place and falling sick and failing exams can work for our good."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When bad things happen in your life -- you lose a friend, you have to move to a strange place, you fail an exam or you get sick -- do you think things are hopeless?  Or do you remember that God can work something good even out of what seems like disaster to you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:28)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"You can't do that!" exclaimed Larry as his friend Dennis moved his marker on the game board.  "Don't you know the rules?"
 
Dennis looked up.  "Yeah, but we always play it this way at home," he said as Mark, another friend, took a turn.  "Hey," he added, "what are you doing, Mark?  You landed on 'Skip' last time, so you have to skip three turns.  You've skipped only once so far."
 
Mark continued to play.  "We always do it that way at our house," he said.  "We only skip once, else you have to sit and wait so long."
 
Then Dan took a turn.  He landed on a space that said, "You lose ten points."  Dan was scorekeeper, but he didn't subtract any points from his score.  He just nudged Larry and said, "Your turn."
 
Mark frowned.  "You have to subtract ten points," he said.
 
Dan shrugged.  "At my house we just skip those penalty points."
 
"This is no fun," declared Larry.  "Everybody plays by his own rules.  We might as well quit."
 
"Or play by the rules of the person who made up the game in the first place," suggested Mother, who had just come in.  "There's a little rule book right there in the box."
 
"Good idea," agreed Larry and his friends.  Soon the game was again in progress, with frequent references being made to the rule book.
 
When Larry's father came home, he greeted Larry with a grin. "Well, what did you learn today, Larry?" he asked.
 
Larry explained what had happened that afternoon.  "I learned," he said, "that it's important to play by the rules."
 
"Well, good," approved Dad.  "I wish everybody would learn that."
 
"Not everybody plays games," Larry pointed out.
 
Dad raised his eyebrows.  "Well, in a way they do," he said. "We could say that everybody plays the 'Game of Life.'  If we'd all follow the rules of the one who 'invented' it, this would be a happier world.  Do you know who I'm talking about?"
 
Larry nodded.  "God," he said.  "He gave His rules in the Bible. Everybody ought to follow them."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know God's rules?  Do you follow them, or do you change them to suit yourself?  You need to refer to His "rule book," the Bible, so you'll know what He says.  But knowing isn't enough.  You need to follow His rules -- to do what He says, as well.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:22)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rodney rolled a piece of paper into a ball, took aim, and flicked it toward Jeremy in the row ahead.  It hit its mark, but by the time Jeremy looked around, Rodney was staring straight ahead.  Next to him, Eric snickered.
 
Rodney turned toward Eric.  He was glad Eric had come along to Sunday school today to hear the missionary speaker from Africa.  Usually he refused to come, saying the Bible was too hard to understand.
 
Something the missionary was saying now caught Rodney's attention, but he didn't understand a word of it.  Mr. Telsen was speaking in one of the tribal languages.  "How many of you understood what I said?" asked Mr. Telsen a moment later.  When no one raised a hand, Mr. Telsen again spoke in the foreign tongue.  This time, he asked Mrs. Telsen to translate it.  She repeated his words in English, and they all understood.
 
"In Africa we are involved in translation," said Mr. Telsen a little later.  "We translate the Bible into the African languages so the people can have it in their own tongue.  But many of our people cannot read, and even those who can often don't understand.  So we translate God's message to them in another way -- by our lives.  You see, we not only tell them what it means to be a Christian; we show them by such things as helping them with their work, treating them fairly, avoiding quarrels with them or with each other, sharing with them, and being kind to them."
 
Mr. Telsen looked around the group.  "Maybe you have friends who don't understand the Bible," he said.  Rodney looked at Eric out of the corner of his eye.  "Maybe you need to translate to your friends what it means to be a Christian," continued Mr. Telsen.  "How can you do that?"
 
Mr. Telsen waited.  Jeremy, in the row ahead, raised his hand.  "By sharing our toys and stuff," he said.
 
"By never cheating on a test," suggested someone else.
 
"By bringing them to Sunday school and church," added Rodney.  He sat a little straighter.  But he gulped when he heard the next suggestion --  "By sitting quietly so they won't be disturbed and can hear the message."
 
Mr. Telsen nodded.  "Good!" he said.  "Let's ask God to make all of us good translators of His Word."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of "translator" are you?  Are you kind?  Forgiving?  Willing to share?  Obedient?  Friendly?  Do those around you get a correct idea of what it means to be a Christian?  Think about it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 1:
Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"That Chad is the wildest kid I've ever seen," complained Lynn as she sat at the table one evening.  "I don't know why Miss King gave him the part of Governor Bradford in our Thanksgiving play."
 
"Maybe she thought he'd act in a responsible manner if he had a responsible part," suggested Mother.  "Sometimes that happens."
 
"Well, at first I thought maybe he was getting better," admitted Lynn.  "He was actually polite for a day or two.  But now he's horrid.  Having the part of Governor Bradford really didn't change him at all.  He goes around saying he's the governor and we'd better listen to him.  What really bugs me is that some kids in our class go along with him -- especially the little kids.  He seems to really have some of them fooled."
 
"Oh?" asked Dad.  "What do you mean?"
 
"Well, he gets them to think it's okay to do the things he does.  Like at recess. . .Chad persuaded some of the kids to walk like Mr. Cronk, the janitor -- he limps," explained Lynn.  "I'm sure he knew what they were doing."
 
"You didn't join them, did you?" asked Mother.
 
Lynn shook her head.  "No, but Missy Jones did.  When I said something to her about it, she just laughed and said it didn't hurt anybody and that even Governor Bradford -- meaning Chad -- walked that way."
 
Dad frowned.  "As you pointed out, wearing the costume obviously didn't change Chad's character," he said.  "You know, Lynn, this reminds me of the greatest deceiver of all.  The Bible says that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  He wants to make wrong things look right to us.  But no matter what disguise he wears, his intent is always evil.  We need to continually be on our guard against him."
 
"I will be," promised Lynn, "and I'm going to be on my guard against 'Governor Bradford,' too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel it's okay to sneak some cookies as long as you plan to share them with someone else?  Or to cheat on schoolwork in order to help someone else get the right answer?  Or maybe to tell a lie to keep a friend out of trouble?  Be careful.  Satan is putting a nice disguise on something that is really sinful. Don't do the things you know are wrong, no matter how good they may seem at the time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthains 11:14)
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Mom," called Tracie as she opened the front door.  "We had the best class today!  We learned about volcanos."
 
"That sounds interesting," replied Mother.  "Volcanos are a fascinating part of nature."
 
Tracie nodded.  "My teacher had a small model of a volcano.  He could even make it erupt.  Do you know what erupts from a real volcano?"
 
"Lava, hot gasses, and rock fragments," answered Tracie's brother, Jason, who had also come in from school.
 
Tracie frowned.  "I asked Mom, not you, you big show-off," she growled.  Then she went on telling about the volcano.  "Pressure builds up and the red hot ash blasts through the surface.  Do you know where it erupts from?" she asked, looking at her mother.
 
Jason answered again.  "From the mouth.  It's at the top of a cone-shaped mountain," he said.
 
"Wrong!" declared Tracie triumphantly.  "That's what it looks like, but the actual opening is lower than the top, or mouth.  It's called a vent."  She made a face at her brother.  "Shows how much you know, dummy.  Next time mind your own business and don't answer unless I ask you."
 
"Tracie," Mother scolded, "a volcano isn't the only thing with a mouth -- we have mouths, too.  Perhaps eruptions don't come from the mouth of the volcano, but our mouths can erupt with hot, vicious, unkind words that hurt other people.  I'm afraid you've been allowing that to happen.  We can't control volcanic eruptions, but we can learn to control our tongues and our mouths."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do unkind words sometimes slip out of your mouth?  Remember that God made your mouth to praise and glorify Him.  Words that hurt others don't please God.  Ask Him to help you control your tongue when you feel a hot, vicious eruption building up.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 3:10)
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Just look at Sally's hair," Marcia whispered to Stacie.  Sally had come to their Sunday school class for only the second time.
 
"Yeah," Stacie whispered back.  "It must have been made with left-over straw from Farmer Brown's hay loft."  The girls snickered,  and then quieted down when they noticed their Sunday school teacher looking their way.  They hadn't noticed her come in, and they wondered if she had overheard their remarks.
 
"I'm happy to see each of you today," said Miss Ruth.  "I'm especially glad you're back, Sally.  We hope you'll become a regular member of our class."  A few girls nodded, but Marcia made a face and sighed.
 
After telling the Bible story, Miss Ruth said, "Today we're going to draw numbers and divide into teams to make a mural of the story we just discussed."
 
Soon the girls were involved in the activity.  Each girl drew a slip of paper.  Marcia drew number six, and so did Sally.  "Want to trade?" Marcia whispered to Stacie.  But then she noticed Miss Ruth looking at her and frowning.  "Never mind," mumbled Marcia.  She turned to Sally. "Come on then," she ordered.  "This says we have to draw the part where the younger son in the story is taking care of pigs.  You draw the pig pen.  I'll draw the son and the pigs."  Marcia soon discovered that Sally was a very good artist.  So what? she thought.  My pictures look good, too.
 
"Hey, that's good drawing," said Stacie a little later, pointing to the pig pen. "Really good!"  Then she giggled as she looked at the pigs Marcia had drawn.  "Is that a two-legged pig or a four-legged man there in the middle?"  Everyone laughed -- everyone except Marcia and Miss Ruth.  Marcia felt like she'd been hit in the stomach.
 
When the dismissal bell rang, Marcia sat slumped in her chair, tears filling her eyes.  After everyone left, Miss Ruth put her arm around the girl's shoulders.  "It hurt you when the girls laughed at your picture, didn't it?" she asked.
 
Marcia sniffed.  "That was mean," she said.
 
Miss Ruth nodded.  "Yes, but do you think the way you feel may be something like the way God feels when we make fun of His handiwork?" she asked gently.  "You created the picture, so it hurt you when the girls laughed at it.  God created Sally, and it must hurt Him when you laugh at her."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
You don't laugh at God, do you?  Are you sure you don't?  Are you guilty of making fun of God's creation?  Today's verse refers to the "poor," but it could apply to other characteristics or handicaps, too.   Remember that you not only hurt others when you laugh at them, but you laugh at their Creator.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 17:5)
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker.

[Soldier4Christ]

Lori and her brother Ron liked riddles! "How's your math?" Lori asked Ron
one day.
   

    "Got an 'A' on my report card," Ron answered proudly.

    "Well, let's see if you can figure out this riddle," suggested Lori.  "Listen carefully now, okay?  A bus with ten people on it stopped and picked up five more.  It went two blocks where it let off three people and picked up four.  Then it went another block and let off four passengers.  Finally, it made one more stop and picked up two."  Lori grinned, "Now if you've been listening carefully, you should be able to tell me how many times the bus stopped."

    "Fourteen!" Ron promptly shouted.  Then his triumphant grin faded as he realized he had been fooled.  "Hey!  I thought you were going to ask how many people were left on the bus.  I was keeping track of that in my head, but I don't remember how many times the bus stopped."

    Lori laughed.  "Gotcha!" she exclaimed.

    Mother overheard the conversation, and she grinned.  "I have a riddle for both of you," she said.  "Remember the people who came to the door the other day selling religious literature?"  Lori and Ron nodded.  "Okay. . .in what way are Ron and those people alike?" asked Mother.  She smiled at their puzzled expressions.  "Guess I'll have to tell you," she said.  "Ron and those folks were all guilty of hearing only what they wanted to hear."

    The children still looked puzzled.  "I know what you mean about Ron," said Lori.  "He heard only the numbers he was listening for, and he didn't pay any attention to the rest of the story."

    "Right."  Mother nodded.  "And that's not so serious--it was just a riddle.  But the people who were canvassing the neighborhood the other day claim to base their beliefs on what the Bible says, only they don't hear the whole story.  They pick out isolated verses or passages and don't use them 'in context.'  That is, they don't study the meaning in light of the whole Bible."

>    Ron nodded slowly.  "So we shouldn't believe someone just because he tells us the Bible says it," he observed.  "We should look it up and make sure it agrees with what the rest of the Bible says."

>    "That's right," agreed Mother.  "Listen to everything God has to say on the subject."






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you "hear" what you want to hear from God's Word instead of hearing what the Bible is really saying?  It's amazing what people think they find in the Bible--excuses for staying home from church or for not giving to God's work, so-called proof that good works will get them to heaven, and many other things. Pay careful attention to what the Bible really says. Don't be fooled by those who claim the Bible but refuse to believe all of it. And remember, anyone who denies that Jesus is God is a false teacher.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 John 9)
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Come on, Jenny," called Marty.  "Mom said we cold play with the old clothes in the attic."
 
"All right!" exclaimed Jenny as she put her book aside.
 
The clatter of feet echoed through the house as Marty and Jenny climbed the steep steps to the attic of the old family home.  Soon they had the wardrobes opened and were trying on a variety of clothes their grandmother and mother had saved through the years.  They laughed at one another as they paraded back and forth before an old cracked mirror.  "Let's go show Mom our latest fashions," suggested Jenny at last.
 
Tipping an old hat to the back of her head, Marty agreed.  They trooped down the stairs, where they found both Mother and Dad in the kitchen.  "I wore those old saddle shoes when I was a teenager," said Mother as she observed Jenny, "and I believe that dress belonged to my grandmother.  And Marty's old-fashioned hat is simply charming with that old purse!"
 
"Those styles were 'fads' once," commented Dad with a smile, "and everyone wanted them -- just like there are clothes today that everyone wants."
 
Mother nodded.  "When it comes to styles, people always seem to want the latest thing," she said.  "That's not so bad unless it becomes too important in our lives."
 
"Yes," agreed Dad thoughtfully, "or unless we apply the principle of copying the latest fads when it comes to some of the sinful activities of the world."
 
"You mean sinning is a fad?" asked Marty.
 
"Not exactly," replied Dad, "but sometimes wrong things seem to be very popular.  The world changes as far as the things it likes to do, but God's principles never change.  As Christians, we need to be careful that we measure the 'in' activities against what He teaches.  Right now, the world seems to be teaching, 'If it feels good, it's okay,' but that's not what God says.  We must never follow immoral fads."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
When other kids use bad words, are you tempted to do the same?  If a friend gets away with telling a lie, does lying seem like a good idea to you, too?  Don't try to be like others when what they do is wrong. Styles of clothing or behavior may change, but God's ways never change.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 33:11)
The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Do you really think this thing is ever going to turn into something beautiful, Grandma?" asked Nathan, bringing a jar to the davenport where his grandmother was resting.  He had caught a caterpillar, and it had spun itself into a cocoon.  "We've been watching it for so long." Nathan liked to share things with Grandma.  She was always interested even though she was sick.
 
Grandma smiled as she looked at the dried-up, greenish thing in the jar Nathan held.  "Oh, yes.  Just wait," she answered.  "Sit down a minute, Nathan, and let's talk."  She patted the seat beside her.  "Nathan, that cocoon reminds me of myself," Grandma continued. "It's going to change soon, and I am, too.  The doctor says I won't be here much longer -- I will die soon."  A big lump came into Nathan's throat, and tears sprang to his eyes.  Grandma patted his hand.  "I don't want you to feel too bad when that happens, Nathan, because I'll be going to heaven.  My old body will be buried in the ground, but the real me will be with Jesus, because I have received Him as my Savior.  And some day I'll get a wonderful new body that won't get sick anymore.  You keep watching the cocoon, and when you see the beautiful creature that comes out of it, think about the beautiful new body and new life your grandma is going to get."
 
One night while Nathan was asleep, it happened just as Grandma had said it would.  Grandma died.  When Nathan saw her lying so still in her casket, he knew it was only her body and that Grandma was with Jesus. Thinking about that helped, but he still felt very sad.
 
The morning after Grandma's funeral, Nathan noticed something that made him very excited.  "Mom! Dad!" he called.  "Look at my butterfly!"  Sure enough, a beautiful butterfly had emerged from the cocoon.
 
As they admired the lovely creature together, Nathan decided to let it go free.  "Just like Grandma," he said as he watched the butterfly stretch its wings and fly away.  "Some day she'll have a new body, too."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize that you don't need to fear death when you have trusted Jesus to be your Savior?  Just as the caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly, so you will receive a new body that will live forever.  Thank God for this wonderful hope.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 15:52)
For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I wish I was a few years older so I could drive," said Joel.  He and his father were looking over their shiny new car as it stood glistening in the sunshine.  "It's a great machine, huh, Dad?"
 
"Yes, Joel, it sure is," agreed Dad.  "Want to help me wash it?"
 
"Sure!" exclaimed Joel, and they were soon busy at it.  When they finished, Dad turned and walked into the garage.  He came back with a large hammer, which he held out to his son.  "Here.  Would you like to slam this into the windshield?" he asked.  "Just for the fun of it?"
 
"Dad!" Joel gasped in astonishment.  He put his hands behind him and backed up a step or two.  "You've gotta be kidding!" he exclaimed.
 
Dad smiled.  "I'm glad you have better sense than to do that," he said.  "Let's talk a minute."  He set the hammer down and put his arm around the boy's shoulders.  "When you were born, God gave you a beautiful, precision-built 'machine' -- your body," said Dad.  "He asks that you treat it well.  That's not expecting too much, is it?"  Joel shook his head, smiling at the comparison, and Dad continued.  "You've seen the TV ads showing young men and women who have drug problems, haven't you?  Those that talk about sharing needles and about ways to protect themselves against some awful diseases?"  Dad's voice was quiet, but Joel could hear the urgency in the questions.
 
Joel nodded.  "Yes, Dad, I've seen them," he said.
 
"Well, Joel," continued Dad, "please remember that there may come a time when some friend of yours will suggest that you 'try it' just once. 'Just for kicks,' he may say, or maybe to prove you're not 'chicken.'  But just like it would be crazy for you to slam that hammer into our beautiful new car," Dad nodded toward the automobile, "it would be even crazier to deliberately do something destructive to the wonderful 'machine' of your body."
 
Joel nodded.  "You can trust me to keep my 'machine' in good shape," he said.  Then he added, "And thanks for talking about this.  I'll remember."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been asked by friends to do something you know is wrong? It may happen, and if it does, "just say no."  The Bible says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139).  And if you're a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Use it to glorify God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 1:10)
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

[Soldier4Christ]

Why didn't God give me musical talent, too? thought Melissa as she listened to her family give a musical program.  They can all sing so good, but I couldn't carry a tune if it were in a bucket!
 
After church, she complained out loud.  "It's not fair.  All of you can play and sing, and I can't," she grumbled.  "I feel dumb sitting there -- the only Miller not in the program.  I wish I could have a part, too."
 
"We'd like you to join us, Melissa, but. . .we don't know how to use a bullfrog," teased her brother.
 
"That was uncalled for, Bill," said Mother, noticing the hurt look on Melissa's face.  "Melissa may not have a musical talent, but she has other talents."  She turned to her daughter.  "You like to draw pictures," she reminded Melissa.  "That's a special talent God has given you."
 
"But I want to be musical, like all of you," protested Melissa. 
 
The next afternoon when Dad came home, he handed Melissa a box. "Here are some paints for you," he said.
 
"Thanks, Dad," squealed Melissa.  Quickly she opened the box. "There must be a mistake," she wailed.  "There's only blue here.  I can't paint pictures with only one color."
 
"It takes different colors to paint pretty pictures, doesn't it?" agreed Dad.  He handed her another box.
 
Melissa nodded as she eagerly looked over the variety of colors in the second box.  "But why did you give me only blue at first?" she asked.
 
"I wanted you to see how uninteresting it would be if all people were just alike," answered Dad.  "God gives each person different abilities for doing His work.  How dull it would be if we were all the same."
 
Slowly Melissa nodded.  "Like having only one color to paint with," she said.  "I guess God would rather have me paint than sing, so I'll try to be the best artist I can."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you discovered your own special talents?  Maybe you can't sing or paint, but perhaps you're good at math or helping with housework.  Whatever your abilities are, develop them the best you can.  God may have a special use for them some day.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"Dad!  I don't have any clean socks!" called Steven.  A few moments later, Dad walked into the bedroom, lifted up the edge of Steven's comforter, and pointed under the bed.  There, in crumpled heaps, were several pair of socks.  All dirty!  "Oh, no," moaned Steven.  "I forgot all about them when I got stuff together for the laundry."
 
Dad's voice was solemn.  "Steven," he said, "you'll have to wash these yourself.  I showed you how to use the washer."
 
"I know, but I don't like to wash clothes," said Steven.  "I never used to have to do stuff like that."
 
"You're older now, Steven," said Dad, "and it's time you assumed a little more responsibility around here, especially now that Mother is gone to take care of Grandma."
 
After supper that evening, Steven went to the laundry room.  He piled the socks and some shirts into the washer, added detergent, and pushed the button.  As water poured into the washer, he lowered the lid and stepped back, feeling rather proud of himself.
 
When Steven took the clothes to the family room where he began folding them, Dad was at the desk, studying his Bible.  He looked up and smiled.  "Good job, Steven," he said.  "By the way, are you entering the Bible memory contest at church next week?"
 
Steven shook his head.  "Those verses are too hard," he replied, "and Mom's not here to help me."
 
"Well, I'll help you when I can," said Dad.  He watched as Steven finished folding his clothes.  "But you can learn by yourself, too," Dad added.  "I'm proud of you for the way you've taken responsibility here today, and I think maybe God wants you to take more responsibility, too."
 
"What do you mean?" asked Steven.
 
"Well," said Dad, "maybe the Lord thinks it's time for you to work a little harder at memorizing your Bible verses.  Maybe He wants you to learn more difficult verses -- even on your own."
 
Steven gathered up his clothes.  "I guess I could try," he said slowly. "I'll start as soon as I put this stuff away."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you take the responsibility of reading God's Word, praying, and learning Bible verses?  Or do you wait for an adult to prod you to do those things?  Why not talk to God today -- tell Him you're ready to become more responsible in learning His Word.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

The long procession of cars moved slowly FROM the school auditorium to the little country cemetery. There, standing between her parents, Laura held a damp, wadded tissue and struggled to keep her tears FROM overflowing again as some final words were spoken.
 
"Even now, Kim is in the presence of Jesus," said Pastor Drew. "Just think of how wonderful it is for her. Perhaps even now she sees Jesus' kind face and hears His gentle voice. A crippled body is no longer hindering her -- her pain and sorrow are gone. And God's Word says that those who belong to Jesus will see her again in heaven." The minister's thoughtful words were stated with positive assurance as he spoke to the family and friends who had assembled after Kim's funeral service.
 
For as long as Laura could remember, she and Kim had gone to school and Sunday school together. They had learned about Jesus when they were little, and each had accepted Him as Savior. But now Kim was gone, and Laura's heart was sad and lonely. The morning sun shone in a clear blue sky, and a breeze scented with flowers brushed the upturned faces of Kim's listening classmates. Each carried a single, brightly-colored balloon.
 
The minister's quiet words broke INTO Laura's thoughts. "These balloons are to picture for you the freedom of Kim's spirit today. The Bible tells us that the body is laid to rest in the earth, but the spirit of the one who believes in Jesus goes to be with Him until the Resurrection. Kim's spirit is already at home with Jesus."
 
The pastor lifted a pink balloon and held it a moment. "Let's release our balloons together in celebration of Kim's new happiness," he said. In an instant, as all eyes were raised skyward, a cloud of vividly colored circles danced in the summer breeze.
 
"Goodbye, Kim," Laura whispered. She smiled through her tears. "I'll see you in heaven some day."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you known someone your own age who has died? Perhaps you wonder what it would be like to die. It's natural to be afraid of the unknown, but Jesus has promised to take Christians to heaven when they die. Does that apply to you? Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
And so shall we ever be with the Lord.