Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Shannon stood still as her mother pinned up the hem of her colonial costume.  She was going to wear the brown dress in a "Faith of our Fathers" program at church.  "Mom, do you remember Cathy Paige?" Shannon asked.  "She's dropped out of Sunday school.  She says she's got better things to do than hang around church."
 
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," replied Mother.  She eyed the hem line. "Okay.  Your dress is ready for hemming."
 
"I saw Mrs. Paige today," said Shannon, slipping her costume off.  "We talked a while; she's real nice."  She handed the dress to her mother and picked up a book.  "Mom," she added hesitantly, "I'm sure Cathy's using drugs.  In fact, I know she is.  She as good as admitted it when I asked her about it the other day.  But I don't believe Mrs. Paige suspects a thing."
 
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Mother.  "don't you think we should tell her?"
 
"No way," said Shannon.  "I'd get a reputation for snitching."
 
"Hmmm," murmured Mother as she began hemming the costume. Then she asked, "What part do you play in the program tomorrow night?"
 
"Paul Revere's wife - you know that," replied Shannon.  She grinned.  "My husband," she said, "is noted for having warned his fellow Americans that the British were coming.  Thanks to him, they were prepared for the battle."
 
"Well, Mrs. Revere," said Mother, "you can get out the iron and get ready to press this dress."  She smiled.  "And tell me, wasn't your husband a snitch when he carried his message?"
 
"Some people said so," replied Shannon.  "But his country was in danger, and he was being patriotic."
 
"So sometimes people should tell, right?" asked Mother.
 
Shannon was startled.  "I. . .well. . .sometimes, I guess.  But what in the world do I say to Mrs. Paige, Mom?"
 
"I'm not sure," said Mother.  "Let's pray about this and then let's get some advice from our pastor or from the Christian counseling service downtown.  I'm not sure just how to handle it, but I do know that we must do something to help Cathy."
 
Shannon nodded.  "Even if she does think I'm a snitch." 



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a friend or relative who uses drugs?  Is anybody doing anything about it?  Do you know a caring adult who'd try to help if he knew?  Ask God if it's time for you to speak up.  When such a serious problem is involved, telling is helping, not snitching.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Esther 4:14)
Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Aliens!  There go the aliens!"
 
Ginny and her friend Alicia cringed as the taunting cries followed them.  They had once again refused to join the activities of a certain group of classmates.  They had so often separated themselves from the bad behavior of other kids their age that they had been dubbed "aliens" by some of them.  Ginny sighed.  "My mother keeps reminding me not to give in to the temptation to be like those kids," she remarked, "but I don't think she knows what it's like for us in school these days."
 
"Yeah," agreed Alicia.  "My mom keeps saying I should 'just say no' to drugs, but nobody has asked me to say 'yes,' yet.  I don't think it would be so hard to say 'no' anyway - I don't want any part of drugs.  But sometimes I feel like giving in to some of the other stuff - like looking at the magazines the kids are passing around.  Then maybe they wouldn't call us names all the time."
 
At home that evening, Ginny told her mother about what happened. "Ever since those kids went to see the movie, 'Aliens from Outer Space,' they call Alicia and me aliens because we don't do the things they do," she complained.  "I wish that dumb movie had never been made."
 
Mother nodded.  "I can understand how you feel," she said.  "But I guess it's not so strange they call you that.  You really are aliens, you know."
 
"Mom," said Ginny, "we are not!"
 
Mother smiled.  "Yes," she insisted, "in a way you are.  You girls have both accepted Jesus as Savior, so now your citizenship is really in heaven.  You're different, because you live for Christ.  You're not of this world, which lives for the devil.  You're just passing through it."
 
"Wow!  I'll have to tell that to Alicia," said Ginny with a sigh.
 
Mother nodded.  "Let the name-calling remind you that you have a home in heaven," she suggested.  "Perhaps that will make it easier to bear."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do other boys and girls pressure you to join them in some ungodly ways?  Do they tease you when you refuse?  Perhaps you don't find it hard to say no to such things as smoking, drinking, or doing drugs, but you're tempted to laugh at dirty jokes, show disrepect to a teacher, or do some other thing you really know is wrong. don't do it. If you belong to Jesus, you don't really belong to this world. Act the way a citizen of heaven should act.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 3:20)
For our conversation is in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, I don't like Renee," Teena announced one day.  "Her hair is gross, and she's so fat."
 
Mother frowned.  "Sit down, Teena," she said after a moment.  "I want you to try some bananas."
 
"Bananas?" asked Teena.  "How come?"
 
"I went shopping today with Maria Sutton, our church missionary to Panama," replied Mother.  "She told me about four kinds of bananas they have in Panama - red crinkly ones, small yellow ones with big brown blotches, tiny green ones, and yellow ones like we buy at the grocery store.  Then she took me to a health store where we could buy all four kinds, so I got some this afternoon."
 
"Are they good?" asked Teena, becoming interested.
 
Mother went to the kitchen and returned with four bananas, a knife, and a plate.  "Let's try the pretty red one first," suggested Teena.  Mother agreed, so Teena peeled it and popped a good-sized piece into her mouth.  "Yuk!  That's bad enough to choke a cow!" she sputtered.
 
Mother laughed.  "Here," she said.  "Try the brown, blotchy one."
 
But Teena shook her head.  "No, it looks awful," she said.  She picked up the small green one and Mother cut off a piece for her. "Nothing special," she decided, "but at least it's not as bad as the red one."
 
"How about the brown one?" urged her mother again.
 
Teena hesitated.  "Well, all right," she agreed, "but it looks so horrible."  Wrinkling up her nose, she gingerly peeled the banana.  She tasted a tiny piece.  "Ummm, good!" she exclaimed.  With Mother's permission, she finished the whole thing.  "Let's get more of those," she said.  "They look so bad, but they taste so good!"
 
Mother nodded.  "The outside isn't so important, is it?" she said.  "it's the inside that counts.  That's a principle we find in God's Word, and I hope you'll remember it when you look at Renee.  You know very well that she's a sweet girl.  Remember how valuable her friendship is and what a really beautiful person she is."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you judge others by the way they look?  Think hard now!  Is there someone you've judged that way?  God says beauty is vain.  it's unimportant.  Follow the advice found in today's Scripture and achieve inner beauty.  Ask God to help you recognize the value of everyone and to accept each one as he or she is.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 7:24)
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey!" said Penny.  "What's going on here?"  She had turned the kitchen faucet as far open as she could, but all she got was a sputtering sound.  She thumped her glass on the counter with disgust.  "I'm so thirsty I could croak!"
 
"Sorry," replied Mother.  "When I got home from town, I found a notice on the door saying the City Water Department would be working on our street today.  If I had known it earlier, I would have filled some containers.  But you won't die of thirst.  There's some orange juice in the fridge."
 
Soon Penny's thirst was satisfied, but her brother, Mike, was not so fortunate.  When he came in and reached for the juice jar, it was empty.  "Do we have some milk?" he asked hopefully.
 
"Sorry.  I emptied the carton this morning," said Mother.
 
Mike swallowed hard, groaned, and staggered to a chair.  "Water!  Water!" he cried weakly.
 
Penny laughed.  "Cut the dramatics," she said as she went to answer a tap at the door.
 
It was Molly, their next-door neighbor.  She walked in with a gallon jug of water.  "I thought you might be needing this," she said, pouring some into a glass.
 
Mike quickly reached out and eagerly drank the whole glassful of water.  Then with an ecstatic sigh, he said, "Oh, thank you, Molly.  You saved my life!"
 
"Oh, brother!" groaned Penny, giving Mike a playful shove.  "Here we go with the dramatics again!"
 
"Well, a person dying of thirst can be saved by getting a drink of water," said Mike.  He looked thoughtful.  "Is that why Jesus is called the Living Water?" he asked.  "Because He can save people who are dying?"
 
Mom nodded.  "Good thinking," she said.  "People have a spiritual thirst that's even more terrible than the thirst for water.  They have a thirst for love, for forgiveness - for God.  Just like a drink of water can save us from physical death, Jesus, the Living Water, can save us from spiritual death.  But what would have happened if Molly had offered you water and you didn't reach out for it, Mike?"
 
"I'd still be thirsty," declared Mike.  "But a bright boy like me would never be that foolish."
 
Mother smiled.  "Well, it's even more foolish when people don't reach out and take the Living Water that Jesus offers," she said.  "it's free and good, and it will give everlasting life - but only to those who drink it!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel unsatisfied even though you have many good things in your life?  Then you have a thirsty soul.  Jesus can satisfy that thirst.  Will you trust Him and in faith accept Him as Savior? He wants to save you from eternal death and give you the gift of eternal life!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 4:14)
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, I know some rough kids hang out at Hamburger Haven," admitted Leah, "but my friends and I will just drink pop and talk.  We won't do anything wrong."
 
Mother sighed.  "You may be influenced more than you think," she said.  "Besides, even if you don't do anything bad, you may influence younger Christians to go there - like your friend Heidi, for example. She's just a new Christian and may not be able to resist temptation."
 
"Well, okay," grumbled Leah.  "But I don't see why I have to be responsible for the actions of others."  She put on her boots and coat. "I'm going to see if the ice is hard on the pond."
 
When Leah reached the pond, she tested the ice with her foot, and it cracked.  No skating yet.  She headed home, taking the back way.  As she reached the house, her mother was just coming out.  "Melissa was playing out here, but I don't see her anywhere," Mother said with a worried look.
 
 Leah stood still as a thought struck her.  The pond!  She knows she's not allowed to go there alone, but maybe she followed me.  Leah ran and looked at the place where she had left the yard to go to the pond.  Seeing not only her own footprints in the snow, but also a set of tiny ones, she scurried down the hill as fast as she could.  As she approached the pond, she saw the little girl step out onto the ice.  It seemed to be holding, and Melissa took another step.  Just as Leah snatched her up, the ice broke and one foot went into the freezing water.
 
Melissa's teeth chattered as Leah carried her home.  "I just wanted to be with you," said Melissa.  "I didn't know the ice would break."
 
Back home, Leah was quiet and thoughtful.  "I see what you were talking about now, Mom," she said finally.  "I knew I shouldn't step on the ice, but Melissa didn't.  And as an older Christian, I know the danger in certain situations, but younger Christians might not.  I'll be more careful where my footsteps lead from now on."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you setting a good example for others, especially those who have not been Christians very long?  Could they easily go wrong if they follow your footsteps?  Be sure you lead them into good situations.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 4:12)
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation (actions), in charity (love), in spirit, in faith, in purity.

[Soldier4Christ]

The big garbage truck Brent and his mother were following slowed down as it approached the stop light. Brent strained forward against his seat belt so he could read the bumper sticker on the back of the truck.  "This truck has bad breath," he read.  Brent laughed.  "Cute!"
 
The light changed, and the truck stopped at a house.  They passed the truck just as it opened its huge jaws and a man dumped bags of garbage into its big mouth.  "No wonder that truck has bad breath," observed Brent.  "It swallows gross garbage."
 
Mother nodded.  "Yes," she agreed, "and I'm reminded of a conversation we had just last night."  She glanced sideways at Brent.
 
"That wasn't a conversation, Mom," said Brent.  "That was a lecture.  You said I would become a garbage collector if I filled my mind with junky stuff like that movie all the kids are going to see."
 
Mother smiled.  "Well, those weren't my exact words, but I see that you do understand," she said.  "Actually, there's nothing wrong with being a garbage collector.  That man is getting rid of garbage for us, and I'm thankful for him.  But I was saying that you would really be more like a garbage container - like that truck that's swallowing the garbage."
 
"And then I guess my life would have bad breath," said Brent.  He wrinkled his nose.  "Well," he said, "I don't want that to happen.  I told the guys today that I wouldn't be going to see that movie."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do friends encourage you to watch bad movies or TV shows or to read dirty books?  The temptation to follow the crowd may be strong, but God wants you to keep your mind and body pure.  Remember the wise words found in Proverbs 4:14-15:  "Go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it...turn fro it." Fill your mind with worthwhile thoughts that will be pleasing to your Heavenly Father. Memorize the passage below, and use it whenever you are faced with temptation.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 4:
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

[Soldier4Christ]

Jan clasped her hands together nervously as the plane taxied down the runway.  She had always wanted to fly, and here she was -- flying with her brother Don to visit their grandmother.  But now she was nervous.  There had been so many plane crashes in the news recently!
 
After they were airborne, Jan didn't relax at all.  "Do the engines sound funny?" she asked several times.  "Should we be flying so high?  We're not going to go through clouds again, are we?  What if there's another plane in the clouds?  Won't we crash?"  Don tried to assure her that everything was fine.  "Are you sure?" she asked.  "I think they should try to stay away from the clouds."
 
"Why don't you go up to the cockpit and take over the controls?" Don finally asked in disgust.  "You seem to think you know more about flying this plane than the pilot does."
 
"Do not," retorted Jan.
 
"Well, you sound like it, and that's dumb," Don informed her.  "The pilot knows what he's doing."  He turned to the window.  "I'm having fun."
 
"Me, too," said Jan, but she was very glad when they were finally back on solid ground.
 
"Did you have a good flight?" asked Grandma.
 
Don nodded.  "I did.  But Jan was nervous as a cat.  I told her she should take over for the pilot."  He grinned as he added, "I'm glad she didn't, though, because then I'd have been nervous."
 
"I guess so!" exclaimed Grandma, putting an arm around Jan's shoulders.  She gave her a little squeeze.  "I'm afraid we all lack trust in our Pilot from time to time."
 
Jan looked at Grandma in surprise.  "Are you afraid of flying, too, Grandma?" she asked.
 
Grandma smiled.  "Not really," she said.  "I was thinking of how we sometimes fail to trust our Pilot through life.  Do you know who I mean?"
 
Jan nodded.  "God," she said.
 
"Yes," said Grandma.  "When we've accepted Jesus into our lives, we need to let Him be our Pilot -- it's foolish for us to try to take over.  I think Don must have enjoyed the trip a lot more than you did, even though you were just as safe as he was.  I'm reminded that when I trust God, my Pilot, I can also enjoy my trip through life."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you enjoying your "trip through life"?  Have you received Jesus as Savior?  (See last page.)  Without Him, there is no real peace.  Trust Jesus.  Then stop fretting about things that happen over which you have no control.  Remember how much God loves you and how He knows what is best for you. Trust Him -- your Pilot through life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 26:3)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I saw that new boy -- Lon -- come out to slide today," announced Beth one evening, "but Jerry and his friends were mean to him, Dad."  Jerry scowled at his sister.
 
"Is that true?" asked Dad, looking at Jerry.
 
"We weren't that bad," growled Jerry.  "But they must be poor or something.  Lon was using the cover of a plastic garbage can to slide on!"
 
"You could have shared your sled," said Beth.
 
Jerry glared at her.  "I didn't see you share," he retorted.  "Besides, just wait till his sister comes out and wants to play with you. . .he has a sister, you know."
 
"I know that," said Beth.  "She wears funny clothes, too."  She made a face.  "I think you're right.  I think they are poor."
 
"I think you're both forgetting something," said Dad.  "Just yesterday we talked about how tennis balls, footballs, bowling balls, and golf balls are all different, but that doesn't make one better than another, remember?  And it's the same with people, right?"
 
"Well. . .I guess so," said Beth uncertainly.
 
Dad continued.  "You know,  some balls have inexpensive covers. . . ."
 
"Yeah, Beth, like your cheap, fuzzy, tennis balls," interrupted Jerry with a grin.
 
"Well, I bet bowling balls cost more than your old pigskin football," put in Beth.  "So there!"
 
"As I started to say, the cost of the covering is not the important thing," said Dad.  "it's not what makes a ball valuable.  And neither does a person's 'covering,' or wealth, determine his or her value."
 
"Right," agreed Mother, who had come in.  She looked straight at Jerry.  One person can afford a sled, and another can afford a snowmobile.  Does that make one better than the other?"
 
Jerry blushed and shook his head.  "I hope not," he said.  "I know I'm not the one with the snowmobile."
 
"And," continued Mother, now looking at Beth, "some people buy rings at the discount store, and others own expensive ones.  Are people with cheaper rings less valuable than the others?"
 
Beth looked at the cheap ring on her hand.  She was glad that didn't make her a less valuable person.  "Okay," she said.  "I get the point."
 
Jerry nodded.  "Me, too."  After a moment, he added, "Actually, it was pretty clever of Lon to use that can cover.  It worked really good.  Maybe I'll try ours."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you judge people by the material things they have?  God doesn't.  In fact, He's very specific about the importance of treating all alike.  Be very careful about this.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 22:2)
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Kip and his sister Margie drove home after a shopping trip with Mother, they saw a couple of kids walking along, holding hands.  "There go Mr. and Mrs. Glue," said Kip.  "They're so sticky."
 
"Mr. and Mrs. Glue?" asked Mother.
 
Margie nodded.  "That's what the kids call them because they're so stuck on each other," she said.  "Yvonne thinks everything Clay says is so-o-o cute.  And she's always running her fingers through his hair."
 
"Yuck!" responded Kip.  Just then he spotted someone else.  "Oh, and there goes Mr. Know-It-All," he added.
 
Margie looked.  "That's Bud," she said. "He's okay.  You just don't like him because he's smarter than you."
 
"Nobody likes him," retorted Kip.
 
"Brenda does, and that makes you mad, because you like Brenda," taunted Margie.  "I don't see why you like her.  She's a snob."  Kip pulled a face at his sister as Mother pulled into their driveway.
 
In the kitchen, Margie pulled a big bottle of glue from a bag.  "I really need this for my science project," she said.  "Snobby Brenda used up half of my last bottle."
 
"She's not a snob," said Kip.  "She's pretty, and you're just jealous."
 
Mother sighed.  "I have no doubt that the couple we saw earlier is too 'sticky,' as you put it," she said, "but I get the feeling that the two of you are not sticky enough."
 
"What do you mean?" asked Margie.  "You don't want me running around holding hands with some guy, do you?"
 
Mother smiled.  "No, I don't," she agreed, "but I still think you need a little more 'glue' in your lives."  Margie looked a the bottle she held in her hand.  "Not that kind," continued Mother.  "But tell me - what does glue do?"
 
"It holds things together," replied Kip.
 
Mother nodded.  "And the best glue - the best thing for holding people together - is love.  God says we're to love each other.  Were you two displaying God's love when you talked about your classmates?  Were you showing love by fighting with each other?  Think about it!"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there plenty of "glue" - plenty of love - shown in your life?  Are your words and thoughts loving and kind?  Obey God's command.  Display His love in your life.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 13:34)
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.

[Soldier4Christ]

Karen burst through the front door.  "Mom," she called, "guess what we talked about in school today?"  Without waiting for an answer, she continued.  "The underground railroad!  They helped slaves escape.  I wish I could have lived then and helped the slaves."
 
"Are you sure you'd have wanted to be part of that group?" asked Mother.  "Being a part of the underground railroad was very dangerous. Some people were put in jail or even killed for what they did."
 
Karen thought about that for a minute.  "I still would have done it, because no one should have to be a slave," she declared firmly.  "I wish we could go back in time so I could help."
 
Mother turned to her work.  "You don't have to go back in time to help free slaves," she said with a smile.
 
Karen's forehead crinkled.  "What do you mean?"
 
"What is a person before he accepts Christ as Savior?" asked Mother.
 
"A sinner," Karen replied promptly.
 
"Exactly," said Mother, "and Satan is a cruel master who enslaves people in sin.  Only Jesus can set them free.  Workers are needed to help them, but I'm glad it isn't necessary to work undercover.  We can help people escape by telling them about Jesus and what He has done."
 
"Like how He died on the cross and rose again?" asked Karen.  She hesitated.  "I guess the kids might make fun of me if I did that."
 
"Yes, they might," agreed Mother, "and they might try to stop you. But you must keep at it if you want to help the slaves of sin escape to freedom in Christ.  You are an important part of God's 'railroad' - His system for moving slaves of sin into the freedom He offers."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trying to help point the slaves of sin to freedom in Christ?  Or are you afraid someone will make fun of you?  Be a part of God's "railroad" - help "free the slaves."  Tell someone about Jesus today.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Acts 4:29)
Grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word. Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I guess Jana's okay, but. . .&#9;well,  having a new kid join your class in the middle of the year just spoils everything," complained Kara as she and her mother drove away from the school.  "I mean. . .we're in the middle of our science projects, and we have our parents' night skit almost all practiced.  We have nice, even teams in gym, too.  And now somebody new comes along, and we have to make room for her."
 
"Surely adding one to your group can't be that bad," replied Mother as she slowed the car to turn onto the ramp leading to the highway.
 
Kara shrugged.  "Well, it's not fun," she insisted.  She braced herself as Mother slowed almost to a stop.  "it's nothing personal.  it's just that we're already set with our groups."  She frowned as the cars on the highway roared by in the lane Mother needed to use.  "Hey!" exclaimed Kara as Mother came to a complete stop.  "What's with all those drivers on the highway?  They're not moving over to let us in.  We shouldn't have to stop.  don't they know they're supposed to let us merge in?"
 
"They should know," said Mother.  "There's a sign on the highway back there to tell them, but I guess they're busy doing their own thing and don't want to bother with anyone new in their lane.  I imagine you can understand that.  I'm sure it's nothing personal."  Kara blushed as she glanced at her mother.
 
Finally, they were able to move out onto the highway.  "It doesn't feel very good when no one wants to make room for you, does it?" asked Mother.
 
Kara didn't answer immediately.  "I guess we need some 'merging traffic' signs in our class," she said at last.  "I guess I better be the one to let Jana in."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a new person in your school or neighborhood?  Has anyone "let him in"?  Is there someone who doesn't seem to have any friends?  Perhaps God wants you to be the one to make room for the newcomer or the lonely person.  Think about how you feel in his place. How would you like to be treated? God says you should treat him that way, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 6:31)
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

[Soldier4Christ]

"We'll all be late for church if Bette doesn't hurry up," complained Peter.  "She takes forever to fix her hair!"
 
When they were finally on their way, Bette scowled at Peter.  "Make Peter close his window," she cried.  "The wind makes my hair a mess."
 
"don't you ever think of anything besides your precious hair?" grumbled Peter as he closed the window.
 
Before going into the church service, Bette went to comb her hair again.  Peter, Mother, and Dad sat down before she came back.  Mother and Dad frowned as she tiptoed into the pew during the first hymn.
 
After church that night, Peter got out a magnifying glass.  "it's fun to look at stuff under this," he said.  "It really makes 'em look big."
 
"Oh, let me see, too," said Bette, and he shared the magnifying glass with her.  Observing them, Dad wrote something on two small pieces of paper and  gave them to Peter, who put the magnifying glass over the first one.  Peter looked at it and shrugged.  Then Bette looked.  "Why did you write 'GOD' on the paper for us to see?" she asked her father.
 
"Because God should be magnified," explained Dad.  "Whoa, there," he added as Peter picked up the second piece of paper.  "don't put that one under your glass, Peter.  it's not supposed to be magnified." Peter read it and handed it to his sister.  Written in small letters was the word "me."  "You see," continued Dad, "sometimes we tend to magnify me instead of God.  If we do that, we might spend too much time on appearance."
 
"Yeah," broke in Peter with a grin, "we might comb our hair all the time and make everybody late for church."
 
"Or grumble when people don't behave the way we want them to," added Dad.
 
"Yeah."  Bette spoke quickly now.  "We don't have any patience with them like we should have."
 
"On the other hand," said Dad, "when we magnify God instead of me, we try to please Him in our behavior, and we don't point the finger at someone else."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you spend too much time in front of your mirror?  God wants you to look neat, clean, and as attractive as possible, but remember that real beauty is seen in actions more than in appearance.  Behave in such a way that your actions glorify God, not yourself.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 34:3)
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Can I stay home from church tonight?" asked Ben one SUnday evening. "I want to watch the big game on TV.&quot

"No," said Dad firmly. "Worshipping God is more important than any football game.&quot

"But we already went to church once," Ben grumbled. "Where does the Bible say we have to go twice on Sunday?"

Dad sat down on the couch and looked at Ben. "That's a fair question," said Dad, "but I'm afraid the answer might be hard for you to understand. As you know, the Bible says believers should meet together. Also, we have the example of the early Christians -- they met together as often as possible, even every day. But God didn't give us an exact commandment regarding the amount of time we should spend in worship -- in church or by ourselves."

"Why not?" asked Ben. "If it's so important, why didn't He just spell it out for us?"

"Perhaps it's because He wants us to serve Him out of love, not just from obligation," suggested Dad.

Still grumbling, Ben went to get ready for church. When he returned, Dad handed him a paper. "While you were getting dressed, I wrote something for you," he said.

Ben read it aloud. "Fishing line, hunting socks, musk cologne, typing paper...." He looked up. "There must be twenty things on this list,"he said. "What's it for?"

"It's my want list -- those are the gifts I want you to buy for me," explained Dad. "Get me the first thing on the list for Christmas, the next for my birthday, the next for Father's day, and so on."

"But, Dad!" Ben frowned. "If I get you something because you say I have to, it won't seem like a real gift."

"That's true," agreed Dad. "Now perhaps you see what I was trying to say earlier -- about why God hasn't told us exactly when and where and how to worship Him. If he has, our worship might be more out of duty than out of love." He chuckled. "Do you think I would really wnat you to buy me a gift just because I told you to?"

"No," replied Ben, "and I see what you mean, Dad." Then he grinned. "I'm glad I don't have to follow this list, but I'll keep it. I just might want some ideas sometimes."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you complain about learning Bible verses, spending "quite tiem" in prayer, or going to church? Do you worship only when you "have to"? If so, you're probably not really worshipping God at all. He is so wonderful and has done so much for you. Worship Him out of love, with your whole heart.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Chronicles 16:29)
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

[Soldier4Christ]

To Steve, the evening of the winter church retreat was a blur.  He dimly remembered his frantic run for help after he and his brother John ignored the "Danger" signs around the old mine and decided to explore. Steve remembered seeing John drop down inside the enclosure blocking off the mine.  To his horror, John had disappeared with a dreadful, crashing sound.  Steve vaguely recalled the uneasy wait as the men worked to get his brother out, Pastor Jack calling for help on his cell phone, the wait for the rangers to come in the helicopter, and now the wait for his father to return with news from the hospital.  How Steve wished he and John had obeyed the instructions to stay within sight of camp!  How he wished they had paid attention to the "Danger" signs at the mine!
 
When Dad finally returned, Steve was relieved to hear that John would be all right.  He told his father how sorry he was that he had disobeyed.  Dad nodded.  "Okay, Son," he said.  "I trust you've learned a lesson from what happened."
 
John recovered rapidly, and soon he was back home.  It was then that Dad had a serious talk with Steve and John about what had happened. "What did the signs at the mine say?" he asked them.
 
"They said, 'Danger.  Keep out!'" replied Steve.
 
"Exactly," said Dad, "and when you and John didn't obey them, you had to pay the consequences.  When you ignored that warning, you ignored God's warning, too.  His Word also says, 'Danger.  Keep out of sin, or you will have to pay the consequences.'  Not in those words, but one verse says, 'Be sure your sin will find you out.' Your sin of disobedience brought unhappy consequences, didn't it?"
 
"It sure did," agreed John.
 
"When you're faced with temptation, run away from it," advised Dad.  "Ask God to help you."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you can disobey, cheat, or lie - just once - and it won't matter?  Do you think nobody will ever find out?  God already knows, and very often other people find out, too. Sin is dangerous and has serious consequences.  You can't escape forever.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Numbers 32:23)
Be sure your sin will find you out.

[Soldier4Christ]

"We will pop the corn tonight," sang Gail merrily as the corn popped on the stove.  "Pop!  Pop!  Pop!"  She was at a Sunday school class party. Her sister, Nan, joined in and they finished the song together.  "See the kernels big and bright.  Pop!  Pop!  Pop!  They are dancing all about. 'Tis great fun without a doubt.  They are asking to come out.  Pop!  Pop!  Pop!"  Gail and Nan laughed at the face one of the girls made.  "Our great-grandmother taught us that song when we were little kids," explained Gail.  She stuffed some popcorn into her mouth.  "Ummm!  Good!"  But a moment later, she removed a hard kernel.  "Oops!" she added.  "This one didn't pop.  it's no good."
 
Shortly before the party ended, the teacher called the girls together for devotions.  She held two kernels of popcorn in her hand, one small and hard and dry and the other puffed and snowy white.  "I was just wondering," said Miss Martin, "how many popped kernels we have in this class and how many hard kernels are left."  She smiled at the puzzled expression she saw on each face.  "You see," she continued, "we're something like this popcorn.  When we put it on the stove and heated it, moisture inside the kernels turned to steam and caused many of them to explode.  They changed a lot, didn't they?"
 
The girls nodded.  "But how is that like us?" they wanted to know.
 
"Well, when people hear the Gospel and respond to it by accepting Jesus as Savior, a great change takes place within them," explained Miss Martin.  "God says they become 'new creatures' in Him.  There's a change in attitude and in desires - and even in actions."  She looked around the group.  "Have you experienced a change, like this fluffy, white kernel?" she asked.  "Search your heart, and see if you're different from what you would be if you didn't know Jesus.  If you're still unchanged, like this hard kernel, won't you accept Jesus tonight?"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has your life been changed by God?  If you were saved as a young child, you may not have experienced as many obvious changes as some older people do.  But there should be a desire in your life that would not be found in the life of an unsaved person - the desire to do God's will and please Him instead of pleasing yourself. If you haven't been changed, you need to be. Trust Jesus as your Savior.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.