Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

As Andy delivered his papers, he remembered what Dad had said about telling the good news of Jesus to someone. So far, there just didn't seem to be any opportunity-and actually, he was rather relieved, though he wouldn't admit that to anyone.

Just as Andy reached Mr. Watkins' steps, the door opened, and there was Mr. Watkins himself. "Saw you coming," he greeted Andy. "I suppose you're bringing me lots of gloomy news again tonight." He accepted the paper from Andy's hand. "Sure would be nice if you'd bring me some good news for a change."

Andy gulped. Here it was-his chance to tell the good news! He wished Mr. Watkins would go in, but the elderly gentleman seemed to be waiting for a reply. "I . . . ah . . . I do know some good news," began Andy fearfully.

"You do? What's that?" asked Mr. Watkins.

Andy didn't know just what to say. "Well . . . ah . . . it . . . it's the good news found in the Bible," he stammered. "Jesus died on the cross."

Mr. Watkins looked surprised. "Well, that doesn't sound like such good news to me-another death."

"Oh, but Jesus died for you-He paid the price for your sins," explained Andy. "And . . . and He didn't stay dead. He rose again, and lots of people saw Him. If you'll believe on Him, you'll go to live with Him in heaven some day."

To Andy's surprise, Mr. Watkins seemed interested. "Well, now, young man, I suppose I've not always done the right thing, but I'm not so bad," argued Mr. Watkins. "I don't think it was necessary for anybody to die for me. I'm a pretty good guy."

"You still have to believe in Jesus if you want to go to heaven," Andy told him firmly.

Mr. Watkins smiled. "You're a very persuasive young man," he said. "I learned about Jesus when I was a boy, but I never did anything about it. I'll think about this some more. Thanks for reminding me." He went into the house, and Andy hurried home with a smile on his face and a prayer in his heart for Mr. Watkins. Maybe Dad will go and talk to him, too, he thought.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Perhaps you've heard the good news of salvation many times, but do you believe it was for you that Jesus went to the cross? Do you know that you're a sinner and need Jesus to save you? Do you trust in Him as your Savior? If not, acknowledge your need today. Invite Jesus into your life.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Mark 1:15)
"Repent ye, and believe the Gospel."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Those loaves look so little," said Janice as her mother formed loaves of bread and placed them in pans to bake. "Shouldn't you put more dough in the pans?"

Mom laughed. "Come see them in about an hour," she said as she set the loaves aside.

Janice's friend Audrey came over a little later, and the girls decided to use some of Mom's old dresses and high heels to play "dress up." As Janice teetered down the hall, she saw a small bottle of perfume on her mother's dresser. We should have some perfume, she thought. We'll use just a teeny bit. She knew she wasn't supposed to touch Mom's things, but she tiptoed quietly into the bedroom, opened the bottle, and put a little perfume on her wrist. She shared it with Audrey, too.

"Come have a look at these loaves now, Janice," called Mom a little later. "They're ready for the oven." The girls went to the kitchen and saw that the loaves had risen higher than the top of the pans. Mom sniffed. "What do I smell?" she asked. "Did you use perfume?"

Janice was startled. "N-no," she stammered.

Just then her little sister, Hannah, came into the kitchen. "Smell me!" she exclaimed. "I smell good." She held a half-empty bottle, and she definitely did smell good! As Mom began to scold Hannah for using the perfume, tears filled the little girl's eyes. "Janny used it," she said, "so I thought I could, too."

Mom looked at Janice. "I . . . I . . ." stammered Janice. Soon Mom heard the whole story. "It seemed like such a little thing," said Janice. "We used such a tiny bit."

Looking stern, Mom pointed to the loaves of bread. "The small amount of yeast in the bread dough grew and made the loaves big," she said. "Sin is much like yeast. There isn't any such thing as a little sin-it grows, too. Your sin of disobedience grew and caused you to lie to me. It also spread to your little sister who was watching you and followed your example."

"I-I'm sorry," said Janice.

Mom nodded. "Okay," she said, "but you'll have to use your allowance to replace the perfume. I hope that will help you remember that no sin is small and that you need to get rid of any sin in your life."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did some wrong thing you were tempted to do seem very small-so small that you gave in and did it? Clean out that yeast (sin) before it can grow. Get rid of it by confessing and forsaking it. God will forgive you, and you can have a new start.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Corinthians 5:7 "Purge out . . . the old leaven (sin), that ye may be a new lump."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why can't I watch that, Mom?" demanded Holly when her mother told her to turn off a TV program she wanted to see. "It's just a talk show. All my friends at school say it's really funny."

"It may be funny," said Mom, "but I've read reviews about that particular program, and the writer frankly referred to the fact that there was a lot of swearing and Ôdirty jokes.' There were pictures showing some of the recent guests whose clothing was indecent."

"Aw, Mom, you're just too picky," complained Holly. "It's not like I'm going to start talking or dressing like that. Can't I please watch it? Just this once?" But Mom could not be persuaded.

In Sunday school that week, Holly's teacher talked about the importance of watching only those things that do not make sin look good. "Television has become a major part of most of our lives," he said, "and let's admit it-many TV shows have wicked plots and use language Christians shouldn't willingly hear. We should be careful to watch only things we'd want God to watch with us."

"That's like the song my little sister's always singing," said one of the boys with a grin. "'Oh, be careful little eyes what you see'!"

Mr. Green nodded. "You probably consider that to be a little kids' song," he said, "but it's still a good one to remember. Let's sing it, and then as you go through the week, think about the words again."

Together the class sang, "Oh, be careful little eyes what you see . . . for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see!"

When Holly's parents were busy outdoors one day that week, she turned on a program she had wanted to see. In the show, an unmarried lady was trying to steal another lady's husband. Holly knew God wouldn't like to look at that. She tried a comedy program, but several of the characters used God's name in a wrong way. As she tried one channel after another, the words of the "little kids' song" kept ringing in her mind. Holly jumped up and turned off the set. Finding a program is too much trouble, she thought. Mom said there was a good one coming on in an hour. I'll go out and help her until then.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about what you let your eyes see? Would you be happy to have Jesus sitting in the room and watching with you? Choose programs that would not dishonor Him. Often it's a good idea to simply turn off the television set and find a more worthwhile activity.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 101:3)
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ah-h-choo," sneezed Karen as she settled down at her school desk. She felt lousy, but she hadn't wanted to stay home. She was too "mad" at her mother.

Mom had caught Karen copying a book report that her brother had written the year before. "Copying is cheating and stealing. You will read that book yourself and do your own report," Mom had said sternly, and she had punished Karen. Karen knew she should be sorry, but she wasn't. She didn't want to read that long, dull book! "Ah-ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ah-choo! " Karen sneezed again and again.

As the morning passed, Karen continued to sneeze and sniff. Her nose was so stuffed up! Her throat was sore, too, and she coughed a lot. As she sniffed and coughed, she noticed that several of the kids sitting near her scowled. When recess finally came, even her best friends seemed to avoid her.

Soon after recess, Miss Wilson called Karen to her desk. "Karen," she said, "don't you think you ought to go home? Your cold sounds terrible!" Karen reluctantly agreed, so Miss Wilson sent her to the office with a note. Before long, her mother arrived to pick her up.

When Karen was comfortably settled at home, she let out a long sigh. "It's sure good to be here," she said. "Everybody avoided me at school. I felt so unwanted."

Mom smiled. "You can't really blame them," she said. "Nobody wanted to catch your cold, so they stayed away." After a short pause, Mom added, "Your cold reminds me of sin."

Karen looked at her mother in surprise. "Why would a cold remind you of sin?" she asked.

 "Well, your cold separated you from your friends, and sin separates us from fellowship with God," explained Mom. "He always loves us, but when we refuse to do anything about our sin, it spoils our fellowship, or our friendship, with Him."

   Karen knew it was true. She knew she needed to confess some things to God-and to apologize to her mother, too.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a sin that is separating you from fellowship with God? Those who never accept Jesus as Savior will be separated from God forever, but even if you're a Christian, your fellowship with Him can be spoiled. If you're aware of sin in your life, confess and forsake it today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 59:2)
"But your iniquities (sins) have separated between you and your God."

[Soldier4Christ]

Karen's cold kept her home from school a second day, but she was feeling much better. Toward noon, the phone rang, and Mom answered it. "For you," she called to Karen.

"Hello," said Karen, wondering who would be calling her during school hours. There was a moment of silence, and then she heard, "Ah-choo!"

Karen was puzzled until she heard Aimee's voice saying, "Hi, Karen."

"You have a cold, too!" exclaimed Karen. "I'm sorry, Aimee. I'm afraid you caught that cold from me. How are you feeling?"

"Not so great," answered Aimee, "but I'll live. I should be mad at you, though. This cold isn't all I caught from you!"

"It isn't?" asked Karen.

"No, it isn't," said Aimee. "You told me you were going to copy your brother's book report, remember? Well, that seemed like a good idea, so I tried it, too."

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Karen. "I got caught and Mom punished me. Did you get caught, too?"

"Yes," said Aimee. "My mom found out, so now I'm being punished for dishonesty. Next time you have a dumb idea, keep it to yourself, please!"

"I'm sorry I got you in trouble," apologized Karen. She hesitated. "My mom says my cold is like sin," she added, and she went on to explain what she meant. "And now I've learned something else," she concluded. "My cold is like sin in another way. They're both contagious."

As Karen hung up the phone, her mother smiled at her. "I
heard what you just told Aimee," she said, "and I think you've learned a couple
of valuable lessons. Every time you get a cold, let it remind you of the
seriousness of sin. Remember that it not only affects your life, but it affects
others, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think that your disobedience, lying, cheating, or selfish attitude affects only you? Even the sin of Adam and Eve was something of a "copy cat" event. Eve sinned, and Adam followed. There are always others watching you. When you sin in any way, you influence them whether you mean to or not.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 14:7)
"For none of us liveth to himself."

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's not fair!" grumbled ten-year-old Mike as he dumped his school books on the table. "Why can Taylor go and play outside right after school and I can't?" Mike glared with irritation at his math book.

"Your brother is in first grade, Mike," replied Mom, "and Dad likes to help him with his reading after dinner. On church nights, you need to get your homework done in the afternoon. You won't have time later."

"I still think I get the worst deal," complained Mike again. "It's not fair! You should treat all us kids the same!"

"Really?" asked Mom as she put Mike's little sister in her high chair and opened a jar of baby food. "Very well." She took another bowl from the cupboard. "This is for you," she said as she spooned baby food into the bowl.

"For me!" Mike looked at his mother in amazement.

"Well, according to you, it really isn't fair for Beth to be the only who eats it," said Mom as she pushed the bowl toward Mike, "so you can have that for supper. You can have a bottle of milk a little later." Mike rolled his eyes, but Mom just smiled at him. "I'll put you down for your nap when you're finished."

"Mom!" Mike protested loudly. "This is getting ridiculous!"

"I know, but you're the one who said you should all be treated exactly alike or it wouldn't be fair," said Mom. "Did you change your mind?"

Mike nodded. "I guess being fair doesn't mean everyone gets exactly the same things," he admitted.

"No, it doesn't," agreed Mom. "It means that each one
gets treated according to what is right." She gave him a hug. "We all
occasionally make the same mistake you did," she added. "When other people seem
to be getting a better deal than we are, we sometimes think that God isn't
treating us fairly. Dad and I are doing our best to treat each of you fairly,
but we are human and sometimes do make mistakes. Unlike us, God is always fair
and just in all of His dealings. Aren't you glad you can trust
Him?"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel like other kids are treated better than you are? Things may seem unfair, but remember that God uses parents and teachers to help prepare you for life. He never makes mistakes. Trust Him to work all things for your good.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Deut. 32:4)
"He is . . . a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He."

[Soldier4Christ]

"O-o-oh, Mom! I don't feel good," moaned Natalie one morning. "Can't I stay home today?" She sat down and clutched her stomach. Looking concerned, Mom agreed that she could stay home from school.

An hour or so later, Natalie's stomachache seemed to be gone, and she went to help her mother make some cookies. After putting on one of Mom's aprons, she tried to crack an egg into a bowl. "Oops!" she squealed as the egg broke, slid down her apron, and landed on the floor. "Good thing I'm wearing this apron."

   As Mom helped clean up the mess, she looked at Natalie thoughtfully. "Do you think you really were sick this morning, honey, or were you just nervous about going to a new school?" she asked.

   Natalie sighed. "Oh, Mom, I feel so strange in this school. I don't have any friends here!" she said.

   "It will get better," Mom assured her. After a moment she added, "Natalie, just like you have that apron to protect your clothes as you work in the kitchen, you have Someone to protect you as you go to school. Did you know that?"

   Natalie looked surprised. "You mean . . . you and Dad?" she asked. "But you can't go to school with me!"

   Mom smiled. "No," she said, "I mean God. That apron protected your clothes-nothing can get to your good clothes without going through the apron. God is your protector in life. Nothing can happen to you without Ôgoing through Him.' In other words, nothing can happen unless He allows it."

Natalie looked thoughtful. "Yeah . . . but He does allow some things to happen that we don't like."

Mom nodded. "Yes, but only things that are good for us in the end," she said. "Nothing to harm us." She put an arm around Natalie's shoulder. "Let's ask the Lord to help you remember His promises," she said, "and then I think you should get ready and go to school this afternoon, don't you? When you feel nervous, remember the apron-and that God's protection is far better!"

Natalie nodded slowly. "Anna and Barb were really friendly yesterday," she said. "Maybe I could take a cookie for them. Okay?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid of something? A difficult class? A bully at school? The dark? If you're a Christian, God is your protection in whatever situation you face. Trust Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 5:11)
"Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice . . . because Thou defendest them."

[Soldier4Christ]

"I see it, but I don't believe it!" exclaimed Angela. She stared at her brother who had just come into the room wearing a basketball uniform.

Ravi laughed. "The Slam-Ballers are putting on an exhibition game at the gym tomorrow night," he said. "They were at our school today, and we all drew a number for a door prize. Yours Truly got the lucky number! I get to play with their team for a few minutes tonight, and I get to keep the uniform."

"But you always say you're no good at basketball," said Angela.

"I'm not," said Ravi with a grin. "This is really going to be good! The biggest basketball klutz in the world playing with just about the most famous team in the world! You don't want to miss it!"

During the short time Ravi was in the game that evening, the Slam-Ballers managed to pass the ball to him several times. Once he dropped it, once he threw it to a member of the wrong team, and once he even took a shot at the wrong basket. Fortunately, he missed. Ravi laughed with his friends and family at all his mistakes, and he had a great time.

Ravi's Sunday school lesson that week was about the need for everyone to be saved. "But I go to church all the time. My folks do, too," protested Joshua, a new member in the class. Mr. Martin raised an eyebrow and seemed to be waiting. "I've memorized a lot of verses, and I pray a lot, too," added Joshua. "I do my best. My dad says a person's best is all anybody can ever do."

Mr. Martin smiled. "How many of you saw Ravi play
basketball the other night?" he asked. All the boys raised their hands, and Ravi
laughed along with them as they remembered the game. "That uniform made him look
like a basketball player, but it didn't make him one, did it?" asked Mr. Martin.
"I wonder if some of you are wearing another kind of 'uniform'-one that makes
you look like a Christian. You may look like one, and even act like one, but are
you really a Christian? A Christian is someone who has accepted Christ as
Savior."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you really saved? Or are you just wearing the uniform-doing good deeds and living a "good" life? That can't make you a Christian even if you "look like one." You must trust in Jesus. (See page 64.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Titus 3:5)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Guess what, Mom!" Mark exclaimed, as he dropped his books on the table. "Our whole school is having a poster contest. There will be a winner from each grade, and there will be prizes and everything! And I'm going to win!"

Mom laughed. "That's the spirit," she said. "What kind of poster do you have to make?"

"It's to be about conservation-protecting and saving our natural resources such as water, trees, and wildlife. I got an idea before Mrs. Larson even finished reading the rules. On the top I'll write, ÔHere today-Gone tomorrow.'" Mark sat down on a kitchen stool as he continued. "I'll put a picture of some trees on one side of the poster, and on the other side, I'll put some blackened tree stumps. In the middle, I'll draw a lighted match."

"Not bad," Mom agreed. "You just might have a winner."

"Sure I do!" exclaimed Mark. "Can I have some money to buy poster board?"

"Sure," agreed Mom. "What size does it have to be?"

"Uhhhhh . . ." Mark scratched his head. "I think I'll use one of those big pieces of poster board-I'm not sure what the measurements are."

During the next two weeks, Mark worked untiringly on his poster. On the last day, he took it to school and handed it in. "Very neat, and a good idea, too," said Mrs. Larson, but she frowned as she looked at the poster. "Mark, you did get a written copy of the rules, didn't you?" she asked.

"Sure. Why?" asked Mark.

"The very first rule stated what size the poster had to
be," Mrs. Larson reminded him. "Your poster is larger than the measurements
provided in the rules." Mark felt awful! "I'll give this to the judges, but I'm
afraid it isn't eligible to win," Mrs. Larson continued. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Mark. This is nice. It might have been a winner."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you make sure you know the rules when you begin a project? How about God's rules for living? Have you been reading His rule book-the Bible? You'll be blessed as you learn and obey God's rules for your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:33)
"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end."

[Soldier4Christ]

The bright blue cup slipped from Janelle's hands and crashed to the floor. "Oh, no!" she gasped, and she muttered some words under her breath before adding, "I broke a cup!"

"Janelle Richards!" exclaimed Grandma, who was washing dishes while Janelle wiped them. "If you said what I think you did, you should be ashamed!"

"Oh, Grandma! It's not that bad. Everybody at school says stuff like that," protested Janelle as she picked up pieces of the broken cup.

"Oh, they do, do they?" asked Grandma. "Well, you're not 'everybody,' so you don't have to do what they do. Now . . . when you've picked up all the pieces of that cup, sit down here." Grandma pulled out a chair at the table and got a tube of glue out of a drawer. "I want you to put all those pieces together again." She held up a hand as Janelle started to protest. "Don't get up until you're finished," Grandma added firmly.

Janelle worked a long time. She was finally finished, but the cup didn't look like it had before. There were cracks everywhere, the surface was rough, and there were many little chipped spots. "Grandma, is this good enough?" she asked. "I can't make it look any better."

"No, I'm sure you can't, honey," agreed Grandma. "That cup will never be the same. Something like that can happen to your life, too, if you do things just because 'everyone else' does them. That attitude often results in doing things that are wrong. 'Doing wrong' is just another way to say 'sin,' and some sins have lifelong consequences. Can you understand what that can do to your life?"

Janelle looked at the cup. "I guess it could end up looking pretty ugly," she murmured.

Grandma nodded. "God forgives when you repent-when you're
sorry for your sin and turn from it-but that does not change the effect sin has
had on your life," she said. "If 'everybody else' suffers consequences because
of their sin, that won't make it any more pleasant for you. Jesus can help you
make better choices than those that 'everybody else' makes. Trust and follow
Him, not the crowd."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you follow the example of your friends only when they're doing the right things? When you see them doing things that are wrong, ask Jesus to help you make better choices. Trust Him to help you do and say the right things.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Timothy 5:22 "Neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure."

[Soldier4Christ]

"We have a visitor with us today-Mr. Peter Black," announced Jeremy's pastor one Sunday morning. "Mr. Black is going to share his testimony and tell us what the Lord has been doing in his life."

A middle-aged man went up to the platform. As Jeremy listened to what Mr. Black had to say, he learned that the man had been a criminal-in and out of prison for about twenty years! Now he was a Christian, and he now spent most of his free time telling other people about Jesus. Wow! thought Jeremy. I wish I had a testimony like that!

Jeremy's pastor and family, along with their guest, came for dinner at Jeremy's home that day. As they ate, Mr. Black smiled at Jeremy. "Your mom tells me you know Jesus, too," remarked Mr. Black.

"Yeah," said Jeremy, feeling embarrassed, "but I was only seven when I asked Jesus to save me. I didn't have any really big sins in my life, so I don't have an exciting story to tell like you do."

A sad look came over Mr. Black's face. "Son, let me tell you something," he said. "I was forty-seven when I trusted Jesus a few years ago, and I had spent nearly half of my life in jail. I've been married and divorced twice, and I have three children who hardly know me. My health is poor because of the life style I followed all those years before I was saved. Because of my prison record, many employers would not hire me." Mr Black shook his head and sighed. "You see, Jeremy," he finished, "although I finally did accept the Lord, that didn't undo all the terrible consequences of the sins I had committed. I'm so grateful to God for what He has done for me, but I wish I had trusted in Him long before I did."

Solemnly, Jeremy nodded. "I guess I should be thankful that I was saved while I was young."

Mr. Black smiled. "Just think!" he said. "You have a whole life ahead of you to use for the Lord."






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you put off accepting the Lord as your Savior? Don't wait any longer. You may not have another opportunity. Accept Him today. If you wait, your sins may leave unhappiness and sorrow that you will carry with you all your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey Carla! I need your help!" Crystal called to her older sister.

"For what?" Carla asked from her bedroom. She looked through the open door and saw that Crystal was standing on a ladder in the middle of her bedroom across the hall.

"Come and help me put these glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling," Crystal answered. "Please?"

"I can't. I'm working on an assignment for Sunday school," said Carla. "I need to think of an object lesson to teach something from the Bible, and I haven't gotten very far."

"I'll help you later if you'll help me now!" Crystal pleaded. "I need help."

"Oh, all right." Carla put her Bible down and joined her sister. "I'll use this stool." The girls peeled the backs off the stars and stuck them on the ceiling, one by one.

"Have you seen Misty's room?" Crystal asked as they worked. "She's got the same kind of stars on her ceiling. It so cool! I wonder what makes them glow."

"I don't know exactly," replied Carla. "All I know is that when there's daylight or you have your light on, the stars absorb light. Then when you turn off the light, they shine all by themselves!"

When the girls were finished, they put the stool and ladder away. Then they pulled down the shades in Crystal's room, shut the door, and turned off the light. "O-o-oh!" exclaimed Crystal. "They look awesome!"

"Worth the work!" said Carla.

"I wonder how long they'll glow before they need to have more light," murmured Crystal.

"I don't know," said Carla, "but I have to go finish my report." She turned to leave the room, then stopped. "Hey, Crystal, I know what object lesson I can use for Sunday school-the stars. They need to take in light in order to shine when it's dark. It's the same with Christians. We need to be exposed Jesus-who is The Light-so we can shine for Him!"

"And when our light starts to grow dim, we need to be
exposed to Jesus some more-by prayer and Bible study!" Crystal exclaimed. "See,
Carla, I did help you!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you own anything that glows in the dark? Do you realize that you should glow in the dark if you're a Christian? Spend time with Jesus by spending time in the Bible. Then you can be a "light" to unsaved people who are "in the dark."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 2:15-16)
"Shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life."

[Soldier4Christ]

When Kathi got home after school, she called a greeting to her mother, grabbed a cookie, and headed for the piano. Mom smiled as Kathi began to practice her lesson. Kathi loved music and often continued to play the piano long after she was through practicing.

When Kathi stopped playing, she came to the kitchen. "Lisha asked some of us over to play games this evening," she said. "May I go?"

"I think so," agreed Mom. "By the way, Mrs. Parker called today. She said she'd like you to play for the opening exercises in Sunday school next week. I said I'd ask you, but that I was sure you would do it."

"Oh, Mom!" exclaimed Kathi in dismay. "I don't really want to do it! I'll call and tell her tonight." She scowled and left the room before Mom could protest. Mom sighed. In spite of Kathi's ability and love of music, she objected to playing in public. "I'll play when I'm older," she often said.

When Kathi returned home from Lisha's that evening, she seemed very unhappy. "Didn't you have a good time?" asked Mom.

"Oh, yeah, I guess so," mumbled Kathi, "but you know what? Some of us were getting a game from Lisha's room, and up on the closet shelf I saw the necklace I gave her for her birthday. It's still in the box! When I gave it to her, she said it was pretty and that she liked it. If she really likes it, why doesn't she use it? I spent two weeks allowance to get it for her, and now it just lays there!"

"I'm sorry," sympathized Mom. "Maybe she'll wear it later." She hesitated, then added, "Kathi, are you sure you aren't treating God's gift the same way Lisha is treating yours?"

"What do you mean?" asked Kathi.

"God has given you a gift in music, including the ability to play the piano," explained Mom. "You enjoy playing at home, but like Lisha, you seem unwilling to take your gift 'off the shelf' and use it anywhere else."

Kathi was silent for a while. "I guess you're right," she
finally admitted. "I'll tell Mrs. Parker that I'll play for opening exercises
after all."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What gift has God given you? Do you use it? What good is a voice that isn't used? An idea that is kept to one's self? An ability to draw that isn't shared? God gives wonderful gifts. When they're not used, it's like storing them on a shelf. Use your gifts for God's glory.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Cor. 12:4 "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."

[Soldier4Christ]

To her surprise, Kathi found that she enjoyed playing the piano for the opening exercises. But then Caleb asked her to accompany his trumpet solo at Bible Club. She sighed, but nodded. "I suppose I can," she agreed reluctantly. Caleb suggested some times when they could practice, but Kathi was either busy or unwilling to give up her free time. She finally agreed to run over the piece just before the program.

During the next few months, Mom noticed that Kathi agreed to play for various groups, but she did so without much enthusiasm. Her face often looked gloomy, and she complained about how busy it made her. "Is it really so bad?" Mom asked.

Kathi scowled. "You convinced me that I should play the piano when I'm asked-to use my gift, as you put it-but now that I do, you're still not satisfied," she grumbled. She sighed impatiently and left the room.

After dinner that evening, Kathi spoke to her older brother. "Bill, will you help me with my math tonight?" she asked. "I just don't understand it."

"Get one of you friends to help you," said Bill.

"But you explain it so much better than they do, and I have a test tomorrow. Please help me," pleaded Kathi.

"I want to work on my new model airplane tonight," protested Bill.

"Bill, I'm sure you can take a little time to help your sister," put in Mom.

Bill frowned. "Oh, all right," he growled. "I'll be in my room. Call when you need me." He stomped out.

"Oh, Mom!" wailed Kathi. "When he's so grouchy about it, I don't even feel like having him help me, but I do need help! Why can't he be pleasant about it?"

"Are you always pleasant when you do things for people-or for the Lord?" asked Mom gently.

"I . . . I guess not," admitted Kathi. She blushed as she remembered her earlier conversation with her mother.

"You know, we like people to do things for us in a
willing, cheerful manner," said Mom, "and that's the way God likes us to do
things for Him, too. Let's try to remember that." Slowly, Kathi
nodded.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you answer cheerfully when you're asked to serve in some way? Solomon was told to serve God with a "perfect heart and with a willing mind." That's good advice for Christians, too. You should be happy to serve the Lord who has done so much for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 100:2)
"Serve the Lord with gladness."

[Soldier4Christ]

Amy and Karl went outdoors to play fox-and-geese with several of their friends. They shuffled their feet through the snow to make a huge pie-face design. It looked like a giant double wheel with eight spokes running through it. "I'll be the first fox," said Karl, "but if I catch you before you get to the safety spot in the center, you have to be the fox."

The children romped in the snow, using the escape spokes to get to the spot in the center. They were safe there until they dared to venture out again.

"You seemed to be having a good time out there," observed Mom when they went in for lunch, "but why didn't you take turns being the fox? Every time I looked out, Bryan was 'it.'"

Karl laughed. "That was his own fault," he said. "Bryan always tried to get just as close to the fox as possible before running away."

"And he never used the escape routes until it was too late," added Amy. "That was dumb of him."

"You know what I think?" asked Mom. "I think a lot of people do the same thing in life."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Karl.

"We face trials and temptations, but Jesus has given us 'escape routes.' We can run to Him for safety," explained Mom, "but sometimes we try to get too close to sin instead of running away. Then we get caught by that sin."

"Like when I sat with the older kids at the assembly even though I knew I shouldn't," Amy said, remembering the trouble she had gotten into just a week earlier.

"That's right," agreed Mom. "You could have escaped by sitting with other friends."

"And the time I listened to bad jokes instead of walking away," Karl said. "I couldn't forget them for days."

"You've got the right idea." Mom nodded. "If we read
God's Word, pray, and follow His commands, we'll understand the way to escape
sin. We don't have to get caught."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you run away from sin before you get involved? You should. Ask Jesus for help. He'll show you the way to escape.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 4:14-15)
"Go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it."