Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

We Are One

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 (NIV)

Do you enjoy working jigsaw puzzles?  Jigsaw puzzles can be a lot of fun.  (Open the box to reveal the pieces of the puzzle.)  Wow!  Look at all the pieces of this puzzle.  The pieces of this puzzle are in many different sizes,  shapes, colors.  If you look at one piece of this puzzle, you don't get very much of the picture, do you?  No, the pieces are not very important by themselves, but when they are all joined together and become one, they show the total picture.

This jigsaw puzzle can teach us an important lesson about the church.  The church is made up of many individual members.  Like the pieces of this puzzle, the members of a church come in different sizes, shapes, and colors.  Jesus himself prayed that the church would be one so that the world would see God's love in us.  You and I are part of the picture.  Jesus wants us to love one another, help one another, and serve one another.  When we do that, we become one, just as Jesus prayed we would be, and when we are one, the world can see God's love in us.

Unfortunately, just as it is sometimes difficult to put all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together, the individual members of the church sometimes  have a hard time being one with each other.  We may hear people in the church saying things like "I don't like the songs we sing" or "The preacher preaches too long."  When we say things like that and concentrate on our own likes and dislikes, we are no longer being one.  We are like the individual pieces of the puzzle.  The world cannot see God's love in us.  They don't get the whole picture.

If you ever find yourself thinking about yourself, rather than being united with others in the church, remember that Jesus prayed that we would be one.  When we are one, bound together by Christ's love, the world will see God's love through us.

Dear Father, help us to be one so that the world may see your love in us.  Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Triune God

"Rock, paper, scissors, show!" John and Omar were playing the "hand game" during their lunch break one Friday. Forgetting the rule that they couldn't play noisy games or talk too loud during lunch, they laughed uproariously. A moment later, Miss Pamela-the teacher in charge of the lunch room-was in front of them. John and Omar sat frozen, with startled eyes.

"John Owen! Omar Khan! You both know you're not supposed to play that game during lunch time," scolded Miss Pamela. "Now finish your lunch! No more of that game. If I catch you one more time, I'll have to send notes to your parents."

Knowing Miss Pamela meant what she said, the boys talked very quietly as they continued their lunch. "John, are you a Christian?" Omar asked after a moment.

"Yep." John nodded.

"My dad says Christians worship three gods . . . gods that are called God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit," Omar informed his friend. "We don't believe that. God is only one, and he cannot have a son."

For a couple seconds, John didn't know how to answer such a statement. Then he calmly said, "No we worship only one God. We call Him the 'Triune God.' Like you said, He's God the Father, God the Son-that's Jesus Christ-and God the Holy Spirit.

"Don't you know that one plus one plus one is three? Come on, John. You're worshipping three gods," insisted Omar.

John shook his head. "No, I'm not!" he denied rather loudly. He stood up. "Do you see this table? It has one length, one width, and one thickness . . . but it's just one table." John used his pointer finger on the sides of the table.

"John Owen!" exclaimed Miss Pamela, frowning as she walked toward him.

John sat down with his chin on his hand. Oh, no! he thought. Another note to take home! He glanced at Miss Pamela. "I'm sorry," he said humbly. And he silently prayed, Dear God, please let what I said help Omar understand.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has your faith ever been challenged? Christians in many parts of the world face neighbors of other religions every day and are challenged each time. Sometimes they're asked the same question that is in today's story. If you're asked about that, don't hesitate to speak up and say that your God is the "Triune God." That means He has three parts, or aspects-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Bible, all three are spoken of as "God." There is no god like Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
There is no one like the Lord our God. Exodus 10:8

[Soldier4Christ]

Anna sat down looking very mournful.  "Why does everything have to go wrong?" she moaned.  "First my kitten disappeared, then I ruined my favorite blouse, and now my best friend is moving away.  it's just not fair!"
 
"I'm sorry, honey," soothed Mother.  "Can you trust God to teach you through these things He's allowed to happen?"
 
"I don't want to learn," mumbled Anna.  "I just want things back the way they were before."
 
Mother looked at Anna thoughtfully and then left the room.  Soon she returned, carrying a box which she placed on the table.  "These are some stones your father and I picked up long ago when we were on a trip to the Black Hills," said Mother.  "I thought maybe you'd be willing to trade your new bracelet for these stones."
 
Anna looked at her bracelet which was made of polished stones and shook her head.  "Why would I do that?" she asked.  "The stones in this box are rough and dull and dirty.  Mine are smooth and shiny."  She glanced at her mother suspiciously.  "What are you getting at, Mom?"
 
Mother smiled.  "Well," she said, "when we brought these home long ago, we intended to have them polished and made into jewelry, but we never got around to it.  So they've just been laying around, enjoying an easy life.  Now those used in your bracelet have been tumbled around with sand and other stones.  The rough edges have been ground off, and they've been rubbed until they shine."  Mother paused.  "Our lives are something like that," she added.  "When difficult circumstances come to us, some of the rough edges get polished off.  We learn lessons from our troubles.  Although we may not like what's happening, we become more like Christ as we allow Him to 'polish' us."
 
"I don't see how," mumbled Anna.
 
"Perhaps losing Whiskers helps you understand how others feel when they lose someone they love," suggested Mother.  "I believe that ruining your blouse has taught you to be careful.  Having your best friend move may help you be more friendly to children who don't have a best friend.  All those things will make you a more caring person."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel like you're being bumped around by circumstances?  Maybe the Lord wants to polish off a few more rough edges.  What lesson can you learn from what is happening in your life? </P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 5:3)
We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Mike cleaned his bike, his father was listening to a preacher on the radio.  Mike heard snatches of the message -- something about a very important book God keeps, called the "Book of Life."  The preacher said that only people whose names were written in that book would be allowed in heaven.  Mike wanted to be sure his name was there, so decided he'd be very good.
 
When Mike started to tease his little sister later that day, he thought about that "Book of Life," and so he gave Susie a ride on his bike instead. He also took out the garbage without being asked, and he didn't fuss when his mother said he couldn't have a cookie so close to supper.  That week he ran an errand for Mrs. Nelson, their neighbor, and he behaved himself at school, too.
 
Mike made a list of all the good things he had done and proudly showed it to his Sunday school teacher.  "I think God will write my name in His book now, don't you?" he asked.
 
"Well, let's think about that," said Miss Lewis.  She put her arm around Mike.  "Let me ask you something," she said.  "Do you think I should write down your name as one of the winners in our Bible memory contest because you have done all these good things?  Would that be fair?"
 
Mike looked puzzled as he shook his head.  "I didn't learn enough verses yet," he said.
 
Miss Lewis nodded.  "That's right," she agreed.  "You have to meet the requirement to be a winner in our contest, and the requirement isn't  that you be good.  It's that you learn the assigned verses.  In the same way, you must meet God's requirement to get your name in His book -- and it's not that you be good, either."
 
"Really?" Mike's spirits fell.  "What is it then?"
 
"I'll tell you," said Miss Lewis.  "You see, God knew that no one could ever be good enough to go to heaven.  We're all sinners, and heaven is a perfect place.  Do you understand that?"
 
Mike nodded.  He knew that even in the past week when he was trying hard to be very, very good, he had still done some wrong things.
 
"God's requirement is that you trust Jesus to be your Savior," explained Miss Lewis.  "He took the punishment for your sin.  Will you trust Him as Savior?  Would you like to ask Him to take your sins away?"  Again Mike nodded, and together they bowed their heads and prayed.
 
&#9;"Dear God," prayed Mike, "I'm sorry I did so many bad things. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my punishment.    Please forgive me and put my name in the Book of Life."  As he prayed, in his mind's eye he could see Jesus writing in a big book in heaven:  "Mike Roberts."  He was in --  not because of what he had done, but because of what Jesus had done for him.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your name written in the Book of Life?  If not, receive Jesus as your Savior now.  Then thank Him for writing your name in His Book and preparing a place for you in heaven.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 10:20)
Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Would you like to include a visit to an old battlefield on this trip?" asked Dad after everyone finished lunch.
 
"Yeah!" agreed the twins, Josh and Jonathan.  "Where is it?"  They leaned over Dad's shoulder to see the map better.
 
"Right here."  Dad pointed to a dot on the map.  "And here's where we are now," he said, pointing to another dot.  There was about an inch between the two.
 
Soon they were on their way.  "I hope they have some literature I can take back to my history class," said Jonathan a little later.  "Might help my grade.  Mr. Grant's a hard teacher."
 
"He doesn't believe in giving 'A's,'" added Josh.
 
Jonathan leaned over the front seat.  "He doesn't even believe the Bible.  He says his grandmother did, and that she was already expecting Jesus to come back to earth when she was a little girl.  Now she's dead, and Jesus still hasn't come."
 
Josh pressed his nose against the window.  "Aren't we about there, Dad?" he asked.
 
Dad glanced at the odometer.  "About twenty-five more miles."
 
"Twenty-five miles!" exclaimed Josh.  "It looked like such a little way on the map."
 
Mother smiled.  "The map is drawn to scale," she said.  "One-fourth of an inch represents ten miles.  If we forget that, the distance will seem long to us even though it looks short on the map."
 
Dad nodded.  "Maybe that's Mr. Grant's problem."  The boys looked at Dad curiously.  "The Bible is our map to heaven," explained Dad, "and it tells us Jesus is coming again.  It seems to men that they have been waiting forever for the Lord to return.  Maybe Mr. Grant forgot that on God's scale of time it hasn't been long at all."
 
Jonathan wiggled and turned.  "How close are we to the battlefield now, Dad?" he asked.
 
Dad chuckled as he replied.  "About two miles closer than we were the last time someone asked," he said.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wonder if the Lord Jesus will ever come?  What sounds like "just a little while" in the Bible may actually be many years, but compared to eternity it is "just a little while."  So don't fret about it; just be ready.  Jesus could come any day.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 24:42)
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

[Soldier4Christ]

When the Wrights arrived at the battlefield, the twins tumbled out of the car and followed their parents through the gate.  Jonathan looked puzzled.  "This is a cemetery!" exclaimed Josh.  "I thought we were going to a battlefield!"
 
"Yeah," agreed Jonathon.  "The only soldier around here is a concrete one in the middle of the graves."
 
"That's a memorial," said Dad as they moved toward the statue.  "In fact, the whole battlefield is a memorial."
 
"What's a memorial?" asked Jonathan.
 
"Well, it could be a monument, or a holiday, or even a service designed to remind us of someone or something," explained Dad.
 
Josh's eyes brightened.  "Like Memorial Day," he said.  "On that day we remember people who have died."
 
Mother nodded.  "Right," she agreed.  "We especially remember those who died while fighting for our freedom, like the soldiers buried in this cemetery."
 
The boys began roaming around, reading the tombstones.  "Hey!" Jonathan called.  "Look here.  Here's a guy with the same name as mine -  'Jonathan Wright.  Born 1760.  Died 1778.'  Then that means he was only. . .uhh. . . ."  Jonathan counted on his fingers.  "Eighteen years old when he died.  He wasn't very old!"
 
"Do you know how old Jesus was when He died?" asked Dad.
 
"Thirty-three," remembered Josh.  He rolled a pebble under his shoe.  "Why don't we have a memorial day for Jesus?" he asked.
 
"We do have a memorial service," Dad replied.  "Every time we take the Lord's Supper, or communion, at church, we are remembering the Lord's death and the sacrifice He made that we might be free from sin."
 
The twins skipped beside their mother as they started for the gate. "And we do have a memorial day for Jesus," she added, "but it's to remember His resurrection, not His death.  And we call it. . . ."
 
"Easter!" the boys sang out.  Mother smiled and nodded.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Men have died to give you freedom to worship God.  Jesus died to give you freedom from sin.  Have you trusted Him to do that?  Give thanks for the sacrifices which were made so you can be free - especially the sacrifice made by Jesus.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 11:25)
(Jesus said) This do (take communion) in remembrance of Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

Marcy really wanted to win the ten dollar prize that would be given for the best costume in the Christmas parade.  She had decided to go as a giant gift, so she decorated a huge box.  When she got inside, it covered all but her feet.  Two peepholes allowed her to see, and there was a hinged door in front for throwing out candy to the judges.  How will Jill be dressed? Marcy wondered as she joined the other costumed students.  She never would tell me even though I let her see my costume.
 
"Hi!  Is that you in there, Marcy?"  Recognizing Jill's voice, Marcy slowly turned around to look through her peepholes.  She almost bumped into. . .ANOTHER BOX!  Jill had a costume almost identical to her own. "I decided to surprise you so we could be the Boxy Twins," said Jill. "Aren't we magnificent?"
 
Marcy was furious!  How dare she copy my idea! she thought angrily. But the parade was beginning, so they marched off together.  They awkwardly bowed before the judges, tossing out candy.  The judges laughed and the audience cheered.
 
"We all agreed  the two boxes were the best," said a judge when it was time to announce the winner, "but there is only one prize, so we're going to divide it among the two - each will get five dollars."  Marcy forced a smile on her face, but she was fuming inside as she walked up and accepted her money.  Not a word was said about whose idea the boxes had been.
 
"Mom, I'll never speak to Jill again," declared Marcy when she told her mother what had happened.  "Can you believe what she did?  Why should she share in the prize?"
 
"Easy, honey," cautioned Mother.  "You've been best friends for years.  don't be too hasty."  She gave Marcy a hug.  "Think about Jesus, your very best friend, for a moment," she suggested.
 
"What about Him?" asked Marcy.  "He's not like Jill.  He's never done anything wrong to me."
 
"But you wronged Him, Marcy," said Mother, "and still He forgave you and saved you.  That's the way He wants you to treat others."
 
Marcy was silent.  "That's hard to do, Mom," she said finally, "But I will think about it.  I promise."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard to forgive someone who has wronged you?  You'd usually rather get even, wouldn't you?  But aren't you glad Jesus doesn't treat you like that?  Being true friends means forgiving when you've been wronged - and loving just the same.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 17:17)
A friend loveth at all times.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Isn't Grandma too old to be teaching Sunday school?" Ryan asked one day.  "I mean, she's almost seventy!"
 
"Not at all!" Mother replied.  "Her first graders are crazy about her. And she tells me she's learning and growing as much as the kids are."  Ryan's eyebrows raised a little.  He clearly was not convinced.
 
Some weeks later, Ryan and his parents were enjoying a vacation in the Redwood and Sequoia Forests in California.  There they saw majestic, old trees.  "These are the tallest and the oldest living things on earth," a guide told them.  "And they grew from a seed so tiny that it takes more than  twelve of them to completely cover a penny.  Some of these trees were probably already two thousand years old when Jesus was a boy in his father's carpenter shop."
 
"Wow!  What makes them live so long?" asked Ryan.
 
"The bark is sometimes two feet thick," the guide answered.  "That helps the tree resist attacks from forest fires, insects, and diseases.  And they're still growing.  They grow very slowly, but they never stop growing as long as they live."
 
"Old, but still growing," Mother said softly to Ryan.  He looked puzzled.  "Like Grandma," she reminded him.
 
Ryan grinned.  "Well, she's not quite this tall, and she hasn't had her 2,000th birthday, yet," he said.
 
Mother smiled as they walked along the path.  "God's power put life into a tiny seed and caused it to grow up into a monarch of the forest," said Mother.  "And God's power also worked in Grandma's life.  As a child, she accepted Jesus by faith, and God's power caused that seed of faith in Grandma's heart to grow into a strong, mature Christian.  Like the thick bark on the redwood tree, the unfailing love of God protected her from the fires of temptation and the attacks of disappointment and sorrow."
 
"And now, even though she's getting old, she's still growing and being useful," Ryan concluded.  "Maybe I'll call her 'Grandma Redwood!'"



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know Christians who are serving the Lord in their old age?  Thank God for them.  How about yourself?  Are you beginning to grow into a mature Christian?  Do you trust God to surround you with His love and keep you from sin?  Begin preparing now for a long life of growth and service to Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 92:14)
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Isn't this fun?" said Tracie as she tramped along through the snow with the others from her church.
 
"Yeah," answered Sarah.  "it's neat.  Mr. Bailey is a good camp director."
 
Soon they came to a fork in the path.  The kids ahead of them took the path to the left.  "Wait!" called Tracie.  "Mr. Bailey said to turn right at each fork, and then we'll end up back at camp."
 
The other campers hesitated.  "Yeah, but look - this path on the left is full of footprints, but there aren't nearly as many in the right-hand path," argued one of them.  "I think we should take the one everybody else has used."  The others agreed and started down the well-trodden path again.
 
Tracie and Sarah didn't know what to do, but they finally decided to take the path on the right for a little way.  "If we don't get back to camp soon, we'll turn around," they agreed, and they started off.  To their delight, it wasn't long before they did, indeed, arrive back at the camp.
 
When Mr. Bailey heard that the other campers had taken the wrong path, he shook his head.  "They'll come to a dead end and have to turn around," he said.  "But I'll send someone out on a snowmobile just to make sure they're all right.  I guess I should have sent a guide along, after all."
 
That evening, Mr. Bailey conducted a devotional time.  "We have some tired campers tonight," he said.  "Most of you took a longer hike than you planned."  He opened his Bible.  "I believe there's a lesson in this experience," he told them.  "Most of you didn't follow the directions you were given and chose to follow where others had gone.  Those you followed probably didn't know where they were going, either. Fortunately, they just led you out of your way and not into any danger. But I want you to remember that when you're tempted to forsake the teachings of God's Book in favor of following the crowd, the well-worn path may lead to disaster.  Choose God's way every time.  The crowd could be wrong, but He's always right."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard for you to go a different way from others around you?  Do you hate to be called "chicken"?  Sometimes it's easier to go along with the crowd than to stand up for what is right.  But it pays to go God's way, for "the way of the ungodly shall perish."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 4:14)
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

[Soldier4Christ]

Kevin listened politely as his elderly neighbor chattered on.  "I just know you and my grandson, Allen, would like each other," Mrs Crane was saying.  "He really enjoys skating.  And I believe I told you that he plays football?"
 
Kevin nodded.  "And that he's in my grade in school," he said.  "And that he has a baseball card collection."
 
Mrs Crane nodded happily as she left.
 
Kevin turned to his mother.  "I don't know how often Mrs. Crane has told me about her grandson," he said.  "I must know just about all there is to know about him.  He sounds like a nice guy, but to tell you the truth, I'm tired of hearing about him.  I wish she'd either introduce us or forget the whole thing."
 
The next Saturday, it happened!  The doorbell rang, and there was Mrs. Crane and a boy about Kevin's age.  "Hi, Kevin," said Mrs. Crane. "This is Allen, my grandson."  She smiled at Allen.  "And this is Kevin."
 
Allen was visiting his grandmother for a week, so the boys played together often.  Both had a great time.
 
"I'm glad Mrs. Crane finally introduced Allen and me," Kevin told his parents one day.  "I knew all about him for a long time, but now I actually know him."
 
Dad nodded.  "You can 'know about,' or you can 'know.'  The elimination of one small word makes a lot of difference, doesn't it?" he asked.  "it's that way when it comes to Jesus, too.  Some people know all about Him, yet they don't know Him personally."
 
"I often think of that at this time of year," added Mother.  "Many have heard the Christmas story over and over.  But 'knowing about' Jesus isn't enough.  it's as useless as 'knowing about' Allen."
 
Kevin nodded.  "That was really getting boring," he said.  "Knowing him personally is so much better.  I'm glad I know both Allen and  Jesus."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard over and over about how Jesus came to earth as a baby?  Perhaps you've also heard about how He died on the cross to save sinners.  Is it getting boring to hear the same old stories again and again?  Maybe that's because you only know about


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 1:12)
I know whom I have believed.

[Soldier4Christ]

"oohhh!" Mark screamed as his bike flipped through the air.  A searing pain ripped through his palms and knees.  Angrily, he brushed away his tears.  "I will not cry!" he said aloud.  Picking up his bike, he hobbled home.
 
Mark's hands and knees ached almost as much as his heart did.  Ever since Grandpa had died two weeks ago, tears had been hiding right behind his eyelids.
 
Mark limped into the kitchen.  "Oh, you're hurt!" Mother exclaimed. "Come into the bathroom and let me take care of you."  Mark obediently followed her.  Gently, she washed away the dirt and poured disinfectant into the wounds.  Mark gritted his teeth as the medicine bubbled and fizzed.  "I know it stings a bit," Mother sympathized, "but it's cleansing the wounds so they can heal."
 
Mark took a deep gulp of air and sniffed.  Mother put her arm around his shoulders and drew him to her.  Mark stiffened and drew away.  I will not cry, he said to himself.  Eleven-year-old boys do not cry.
 
Mother seemed to know what he was thinking.  "Honey," she said, "it's okay to cry when you hurt."  Mark shook his head angrily.  "But it is," Mother insisted.  "don't you know that your daddy cried when Grandpa died?"
 
Mark looked startled.  "He did?  I-I-I didn't think men c-c-cried," he stammered.
 
"But they do," Mother assured him.  "Even Jesus cried.  Tears are like the disinfectant I put on your wounds.  Tears help wash out grief and speed the healing process."  Mark kept his eyes on his stinging palms. Mother put her hands on his shoulders.  "Look at me, Mark," she ordered softly.  Mark raised his eyes.  "God knows we hurt sometimes," she said. "We don't have to hide our hurt.  You may cry - God gave us tears to help us.  And Jesus tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us.  Wouldn't you like to tell Him about your hurt right now?"
 
Mark nodded, and the tears began to flow.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
God gave us laughter and tears.  Even men and boys can cry; Jesus did.  You don't have to try to be tough and pretend you don't hurt.  it's okay to cry. . .and remember that Jesus wants you to go to Him with all your hurt.  He cares for you and wants to heal your hurt.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 30:5)
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

[Soldier4Christ]

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

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

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

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

"What do you mean?" asked Brittany.

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

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

</BODY></HTML>


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


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"Gram," said Ellie, "I think Mrs. Craft is a Christian, don't you?"  Ellie was referring to a next-door neighbor.
 
Grandma looked up.  "Well. . .I don't know, but I'm afraid not," she said.  "I've talked with her about the Lord, but just last week she told me she believes that anybody who does his best to live a good life will surely go to heaven."
 
"But she's so nice," said Ellie.  "She's a lot nicer than some of the Christians in our church."
 
Grandma sighed.  "I guess that could be true," she agreed, "but you know that being nice is not what makes a person a Christian."
 
"I know," admitted Ellie, "but it just seems like somebody as nice as Mrs. Craft would have to be okay."
 
Grandma's glance fell on the poinsettia plant standing on the dining room table.  She turned it around.  "I love poinsettias," she said, "but this isn't the prettiest one I've ever had.  Do you know where I received the prettiest poinsettias of all?"
 
"In South America," said Ellie promptly.  She remembered hearing Grandma talk about her trip to a mission field in South America where she was so impressed with all the beautiful flowers that grew there.
 
Grandma nodded.  "Yes," she said.  "And do you remember what was unusual about the poinsettias I received there?"
 
"You got a poinsettia bouquet," remembered Ellie.  "I've never seen a poinsettia bouquet here."
 
"No," said Grandma, "but the flowers grew in such abundance there that they often cut them for bouquets, and they were gorgeous."  She looked at the plant on the table.  "I've had this plant for a long time - much longer than I kept my bouquet.  Why do you suppose this is lasting so much longer than those flowers did?"
 
"Because those were cut flowers," said Ellie.  "This one is rooted in the soil, so it goes on living."
 
"Exactly," agreed Grandma.  "it's like that with people, too.  They may live in such a way that we consider them to be 'beautiful people.'  But unless they're rooted in Jesus - unless they trust Him as Savior - their beauty will wilt and die.  Mrs. Craft, like all the rest of us, needs to trust in Jesus."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Aren't you glad for Christmas - aren't you glad Jesus came and that He provided the way for you to be born again?  You may be a nice, pleasant, lovely person, but that's not enough.  Nicodemus was a good person, but  Jesus told him, "You must be born again." Unless you accept Jesus, too, that loveliness will wilt and die. don't let that happen. Trust Jesus today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 3:3)
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jay's Uncle Bill was a rough but kind-hearted rancher, and Jay liked to listen to the many interesting stories his uncle told.  "Did I ever tell you about the no-feed horse?" asked Uncle Bill when Josh was visiting him one day. 
 
"No.  What's a no-feed horse?" asked Josh eagerly.
 
"Well, I heard about a fella who figured out how to raise a horse that didn't need to eat," explained Uncle Bill.  "Just imagine the money that would save us ranchers!"
 
"How did he do it?" asked Jay.
 
"He started out by reducing the horse's feed by an ounce a day," said Uncle Bill.  "Then he reduced it by two ounces, and then three ounces, and so on.  He did that until the horse was getting by on almost no food at all."
 
"Wow!" exclaimed Jay.  "Then what happened?"
 
"That's the sad part," said Uncle Bill.  "Just when he thought he was going to make it, the horse up and died."
 
For a moment, Jay sat open-mouthed.  Then he noticed his uncle's grin, and he realized that Uncle Bill was kidding.  "Uncle Bill!  You're joshing me!" he accused.
 
Uncle Bill laughed out loud.  "Yep, I reckon I am," he admitted, "but I really have known some fellas who were almost as dumb as that rancher. Always seem to think they can get something for nothing."  He chewed thoughtfully on a piece of straw.  "I've known some Christians like that, too," he added.  "They start off reading their Bibles and praying and going to church regularly.  Then they taper off, and if they don't see any bad results right away, they assume they can get by without nourishing their souls at all.  But whether they realize it or not, their spiritual life is suffering.  And like as not, they soon fall into sin."
 
"Boy," said Jay, "I hope I'm never that dumb."
 
Uncle Bill smiled at him.  "I hope not, Son," he agreed.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you can get by day after day without nourishing your soul?  Do you feel you can live your life successfully without God's help?  Watch out!  don't let your spiritual life wither to the point where you are of little use to God.  Let Him nourish your soul.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 4:4)
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

"How was school?" Mother asked as Christy came into the kitchen.
 
"Okay, I guess," muttered Christy.
 
"What's the matter?" Mother asked, looking up at Christy.  "Your sad face tells me something is not right."
 
Christy's words came in a rush.  "I can't stand Abbie any more, Mom. She's always bragging about how much money she has, her gold jewelry, and all the places she gets to go.  Sometimes she even goes to get her hair and nails done.  I'm so tired of hearing about it."
 
Mother looked thoughtful.  "You're not jealous, are you, honey?" she asked.  Christy blushed a little.  "Christy," said Mother, "I'm going to give you two gifts.  Here's the first one."  Reaching out, she pulled Christy to her and gave her a big hug.  "I love you, love you, love you," Mother told her, using a favorite family phrase.  Then Mother went and got her purse. She handed Christy some money.  "Here's your second gift."
 
"Oh, goody!" squealed Christy.  "May I run to the corner store and get an ice cream bar?"  Mother nodded, and Christy hurried out.
 
When Mother tucked Christy into bed that night, she asked, "What do you have left of the two gifts I gave you?"
 
"Well, the ice cream is long gone - unless it made me a little fatter," said Christy with a laugh.  She hugged her mother.  "But I still have your love, and you're not getting it back.  I'll give you some of mine, though."
 
Mother smiled.  "Good - I'll take it," she said.  "Christy, I wanted you to see that you have treasure far more valuable than the things your friend Abbie tells you about.  All her 'things' are like the money.  They don't last.  Love does.  And in addition to the love of your family, you know God's love.  Because you trust in Jesus, you have eternal life which lasts forever, so you're really a very 'rich' young lady."



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you place more value on clothes, games, and activities than you do on good relationships?  don't get your values mixed up.  Earthly treasures are not nearly as important as the love of family and friends - and especially the love of God.</P>


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 12:15)
Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.