Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Clop, clop, clop. Bartholomew, the ancient farm horse, plodded along slowly. Drew pressed his heel lightly into the side of the old animal, but Bartholomew refused to walk faster. Drew didn't really mind-he had a lot to think about. I've been here at Uncle George's dairy farm for two weeks, and today Dad's coming to pick me up and take me home, he thought. Why is it taking him so long to get here? I can't wait to get home again-but I hate to leave here, too.

Drew had felt sad that morning as he fed the chickens for the last time during this visit, pitched hay to the cows, and now took one last ride on old Bartholomew. Drew fingered the cap Uncle George had given him-one with the words "George's Dairy" on it. He did like being here. Still . . . at breakfast his thoughts about Mom and Dad and home had made Aunt Millie's pancakes stick in his throat. I want to see Grandma, too, he thought. I wish she'd start feeling better!

Just then, Bartholomew turned down a lane going toward the barn. Drew tried to turn him around. "Bartholomew! I'm not ready to go to the barnyard yet," said Drew, tugging at the reins. But old Bartholomew tossed his head and plodded on. Suddenly, Drew was glad he did, for there at the barn, sitting on a bale of hay, was Dad!

All the way home, Drew talked about the farm. "It was cool being there," he said, "but I missed you and Mom and Grandma . . . a lot!"

Dad smiled. "I think that's the way Grandma often feels," he said.

"She does?" asked Drew. "I just wish she'd get better."

"I know-I do, too," agreed Dad, "but she often says she's eager to get to heaven and enjoy everything Jesus is preparing for her. I know she hates to think of leaving us, but she's also looking forward to seeing others who have already gone to heaven-and she especially wants to see Jesus. She'd like to stay here, but at the same time, she's eager to go home to heaven."

Drew nodded. He knew that kind of feeling. He removed
his cap and put it on the seat beside him. He was going home!




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does heaven seem a bit unreal and far away? Do you hate the thought of leaving those you love-or of having them leave you? Remember that Jesus is waiting in heaven for His children. If you're one of them-a Christian- enjoy life now, but look forward with joy to the life to come. It's like going home.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 1:21)
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Jacelyn as she and her parents walked INTO the house. They could hardly believe their eyes. Pink yarn was wound around TABLE and chair legs and over and under the chair rungs. The yarn went FROM the kitchen to the dining room where it went over and around more chair legs and rungs. Then back to the kitchen again!

It didn't take long to know where to pin the guilt. Patches, Jacelyn's kitten, had to be the culprit. "But how could one little kitten make such a mess?" groaned Jacelyn. "And look at my yarn! I just bought it for my school project!"

"I'm sorry, Jacelyn," said Mom, "but it looks like you'll lose most of it. We might as well get a scissors and start cutting."

"Wait," said Dad. "That's a lot of yarn to waste. Let me try to untangle it." With that, he went to work. Jacelyn and Mom helped, too. It was difficult, but the yarn finally was rolled INTO a ball.

"Well," said Jacelyn, looking doubtfully at the yarn, "I'm glad we could save this, but it doesn't look like it did when it was new. Look . . . some of the threads are pulled apart."

Mom nodded. "I guess Patches' claws did that," she said. "It looks a little dingy, too, doesn't it?"

Jacelyn sighed. "It won't ever be quite the same again, but I'll still use it," she decided.

"Tangled threads," murmured Dad. "It's kind of like what our speaker talked about last Sunday, isn't it? Only that was worse-he talked about tangled lives."

Mom nodded. "He reminded us that sometimes people, especially young people-even Christian young people-mess up their lives when they rebel against parents and become entangled with the world and Satan's way of living."

"Like kids who use drugs?" asked Jacelyn.

"Yes," agreed Dad, "and others who harm their bodies
with cigarettes or alcohol or sinful activities. God can still use them if they
come back to Him, but there are often scars left FROM a life of
sin."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you say no to the temptations Satan puts before you? If you keep your life untangled FROM the world and Satan, you'll be able to enjoy God and His plan for you. Ask Him every day to help you live for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Abby, shouldn't you be studying your spelling?" asked Mom one evening.

"Yeah, I s'pose," agreed Abby. "I'll do it as soon as this program's done."

Just as the program ended, one of Abby's friends called, and she spent the next half hour chatting on the phone. After that she had a bedtime snack, and then it was time to turn in. No time to study now, she thought sleepily. I'll just have to ask the Lord to help me if I get stuck on my test tomorrow. She jumped into bed, snuggled down, and went to sleep.

When Abby took the test the next day, she quietly asked God to help her do well. Several times during the test, she again talked to Him about it.

When the tests were corrected and returned, Abby was disappointed in her grade-a D! "Doesn't the Bible say that if we lack wisdom we should ask God for it?" she asked her mother when she got home. "Well, I asked, and I expected Him to help me do better."

Before Mom could answer, the phone rang. Abby ran to answer it. "That was Marielle," she said when she returned. "May I go to town with her? And may I have money to buy a lock for my school locker? Kids are getting their pencils and things ripped off, and we want to make sure it doesn't happen to us."

"Oh, that's a shame," said Mom. She reached for her purse, then changed her mind. "I have an idea. Why don't you pray about it? Ask the Lord to protect your things."

"Mother!" exclaimed Abby. "It's all very well to pray about it, but it only makes sense to put a lock on it, too."

"In other words, even though you pray, you should also do what you can to take care of the problem? You should do your part?" asked Mom. As Abby nodded, Mom added, "And wouldn't that be true regarding your spelling test, too? You didn't study. You didn't do your part, yet you expected God to help you remember things you never learned."

Abby knew what Mom said was true. "It's my own fault,"
she admitted with a sigh. "I really knew better."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you pray about your schoolwork? About unsaved friends? About money? Prayer is only part of the battle. You also need to study, to witness, to try to earn money. When the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt, God's people prayed and they posted a guard. Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray. We, too, must pray and also work.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 26:41)
"Watch and pray."

[Soldier4Christ]

At the dinner table, Lana talked excitedly about the Valentine party her Sunday school class was planning. "I'll wear my new outfit," she announced. "It's just the right color for my hair. Mallory and I plan to go to the party together unless she has to baby-sit. If she can't go, I don't know what I'll do!" Lana sighed dramatically.

"Can't you go by yourself?" asked Mom. "Or maybe you could go with Brooke." Lana made a face. "Just what is that supposed to mean?" Mom wanted to know.

"Oh, Brooke is so . . . so plain, if you know what I mean," muttered Lana. "Actually, she's really homely."

"She looks all right to me," said Lana's brother Josh as Mom looked sternly at Lana.

"And she has beautiful feet," put in Dad. Lana stared at him. Beautiful feet? Brooke? thought Lana. I've never noticed that.

The next day, Lana was again chattering at the dinner table. "Everyone loves my hair this way," she said. "My art teacher said it suits my face and that I'm really blossoming."

"Humph!" snorted Josh. "Girls!"

"Oh . . . and Mallory can go to the party! I'm so relieved." Lana turned to her father. "By the way, Dad, I looked at Brooke's feet today. They look like ordinary feet to me. I didn't see anything so beautiful about them."

Dad smiled and reached for the Bible. "For devotions tonight, let's read Romans 10:13-15," he said. (See today's suggested Scripture reading.) After reading the passage, Dad spoke. "I can think of at least two people that Brooke brought to church and Sunday school. And I know she has also witnessed to Mrs. Clark. The Bible says Brooke has beautiful feet, and I think that's far more important than a beautiful face."

Lana looked thoughtful as Mom nodded and Josh
cheered.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have beautiful feet? You do if you are witnessing for Jesus. The Bible doesn't commend a beautiful face, but it speaks in praise of beautiful feet. You can have them. Start witnessing today!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 10:15)
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

[Soldier4Christ]

Lana carefully arranged and rearranged her hair as she prepared for her Sunday school class party. I love the way my bracelets jangle every time I move my arm, she thought. She stood before the mirror for quite some time, admiring her new clothes and jewelry.

When Lana saw Brooke come in with three girls from school, she remembered Brooke's "beautiful feet." But she forgot them when the games began. Soon everyone was busy laughing and having fun. Then their teacher gave a short devotional talk.

Mr. Perry held up two heart-shaped cookies. One was beautifully decorated, and the other was plain. "Which of these would you like to eat?" he asked. Several kids quickly indicated the fancy one. Mr. Perry grinned and took a bite of the plain one. "Delicious!" he exclaimed. "I'll be glad to give this other cookie to anyone who will eat it. It's actually made of cardboard, but it looks good, doesn't it? Who would like it?" There were no takers. "I hope we're not like this cookie," continued Mr. Perry. "It looks good, but it's not good all the way through. Many of us spend a lot of time making sure we look good, too, but what about our hearts-our innermost being? I'm sure God wants us to be neat and clean and look our best, but nice clothes and pretty things must never take first place in our lives."

Lana glanced over at Brooke. I don't know her very well, thought Lana. I still don't think she's really very pretty, but maybe she's nice. I know she cares about people.

That evening, Lana told her mother about the party. "I
talked with Brooke while we ate," said Lana. "She's nice." She hesitated, then
added, "I'm going to start working on beautiful feet tomorrow-I'm going to
invite one of the girls in my class to come to Sunday school."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is important to you? Things like good looks, the latest hair style, or clothes should never become more important than developing attitudes and personality characteristics that please God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 3:3-4)
Whose adorning...let it be...a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, Jared, look!" Derek pointed excitedly. He and his brother were exploring the field behind their grandparent's home.

"Look where?" Jared asked. "What do you see?"

"That bird! Over there! Sh-h-h-h!" Derek's attention was on a little bird floundering on the path ahead.

"It has a broken wing!" exclaimed Jared. "Let's catch it. I bet Grandpa can set its wing so it will heal."

"Good idea," agreed Derek.

 The boys walked quietly toward the bird, but it hobbled away from them, covering the ground quite quickly in spite of its handicap. They stood still for a moment, and the bird did, too. "Stay put," whispered Jared. "Let me try." He took a few very slow steps toward the bird, then made a quick grab toward it. The boys were astonished to see it fly off with no sign of weakness or injury.

"That bird wasn't hurt after all!" exclaimed Derek. "I wonder why it acted that way?"

When they got home, Jared and Derek told their grandfather about the bird. Grandpa nodded. "Some birds protect their young that way," he said. "When anything gets too near her nest, the mother bird pretends to be wounded in order to distract the enemy. Then when the enemy is lured far enough away, she flies off to safety."

"Do you think a mother bird ever died doing that?" Derek asked.

"Quite possibly," Grandpa replied.

"Wow!" exclaimed Jared. "The mother bird is willing to risk her life for her babies!"

Grandpa nodded. "That's real love, isn't it? It reminds
me of what Jesus did for us," he said. "He didn't just risk His life, He
actually died for us! Jesus died so we can have eternal life." Grandpa smiled.
"We receive that life when we accept Jesus as Savior," he added. "What He did
should cause us to love Him-and let's be sure to thank Him,
too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Can you imagine someone loving you enough to die for you? That's how much Jesus loves you! He died to take the penalty for your sins and give you salvation. No one loves you more than that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 5:
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Mom came down the stairs and headed for the kitchen, she heard loud voices. "That's not fair! You've got your shoes on, so that makes you a little taller," wailed Lucas. "Take them off!"

"Okay . . . okay," replied Jaedyn. Then Mom heard the shoes plop on the floor. As she reached the kitchen, she saw what the commotion was all about. Lucas and Jaedyn were measuring each other's height against the door post. "See there! I'm still taller than you!" boasted Jaedyn. "And I'm a year younger!"

The children turned as their mother came into the room. "We wanted to see how much we had grown," Jaedyn told her. "I'm taller than Lucas! See!" He pointed to the mark on the door post.

"Well," said Mom, "that may be true, but in another year Lucas may pass you again. And don't forget-there are more important things to be concerned about than just growing physically. I'm pleased to see from your last report cards that you're both growing in knowledge."

The boys grinned as Mom spoke again, "There's another important way in which I hope you two are growing. You both know Jesus-you've received Him as your personal Savior-but are you 'growing in the grace and knowledge' of Jesus as the Bible says you should?" The boys shrugged uncertainly. "And do you glow for Him-do you let your lights shine for Him so others will glorify Him, too?" asked Mom.

"I . . . I guess I could do better," admitted Jaedyn.

"Me, too." Lucas nodded.

"Keep those three words in mind," said Mom. "Know, grow,
and glow. Know Him, grow in Him, and glow for Him."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Are you growing in Him by studying and obeying His Word? Are you glowing for Him by telling others about Him? Know Him, grow in Him, and glow for Him.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

Shawn and Kerianne were always arguing. They also were constantly interrupting their mother to tattle on one another. Often the things they complained about were very little annoyances. "Do you think your attitude pleases God?" Mom asked them. "Don't you think He'd want you to work out those problems and forgive one another and get along together?" But the children kept on tattling.

"I'm tired of all this!" declared Mom one day. "I'm going to give each of you a notebook. Instead of coming to me with all your complaints, write down anything the other one does that bothers you. After supper next Friday, Dad and I will look at your lists and give out any punishment we feel is necessary."

All right! thought Shawn. Is Kerianne ever going to get it! He could hardly wait till she did something wrong   . . . and he didn't have to wait very long before he saw his sister playing with his cars without asking. He ran to get his notebook! All week he watched, and by Friday, Shawn had listed over twenty things he thought Kerianne should not have done.

Just before supper, Kerianne came to him. "I'll show you my list if you'll show me yours," she said.

"Okay," agreed Shawn. "Let's see it."

Shawn was surprised to see almost thirty things on Kerianne's list! Among other things, he read, "Shawn slammed the door in my face . . . Shawn messed up my doll house today . . . Shawn called me names." And worst of all, "Shawn hit me when I wouldn't give him some of my candy."

"Oh, no!" moaned Shawn. "If Mom and Dad see this, I'll really get in trouble!"

Kerianne was busy reading Shawn's list. "I will, too," she said. "Shawn, I'm sorry I did all these things." She gave him a pleading look.

"Me, too," said Shawn. Then his face brightened. "Hey,
let's tear up these lists," he said. "Being a tattletale isn't as much fun as I
thought it was!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you like to tattle? Wouldn't it be better to forgive others and try harder to get along? Think of all the things for which God has forgiven you. Will you forgive, too, and not be a "tattletale"?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:13)
"Forbearing (putting up with) one another, and forgiving one another . . . even as Christ forgave you."

[Soldier4Christ]

Little Sara and her daddy had a special daily habit. She would sit on his knee when he came home from work, and he would say, "Sara, do you love me?" Sara would say, "I love you, Daddy." Then she would reach into his coat pocket and find a little gift. It might be a quarter, or a toy, or candy-just a little treat.

   One day Sara's daddy said, as usual, "Sara, do you love me?"

   As usual, Sara answered, "I love you, Daddy." Reaching into his pocket she found a little ring he had bought at a discount store. "Oh, Daddy," exclaimed Sara, "it's just beautiful! I'm going to wear it and wear it and never take it off." And after that, Sara wore that ring everywhere. She wore it to bed! She kept wearing it even though it made a green mark on her finger.

   When Sara's daddy realized just how much the ring meant to his little girl, he decided to buy her one made of real gold. And that afternoon, as always, Sara sat on her daddy's knee. "Sara, do you love me?" he asked.

   "I love you, Daddy," answered Sara.

   "Then give me your ring," her father said with a twinkle in his eye.

   But Sara didn't notice the twinkle. "Oh, Daddy, please," she protested. "I love my ring. Why do you want it?"

   "Just give me the ring," Daddy insisted.

   When Sara saw that he meant it, tears came to her eyes. "Oh, Daddy, I do love you, but please let me keep my ring," she pleaded. Daddy still held out his hand. Sara slowly removed the ring from her finger. She was trying not to cry as she gave it to him.

   "Now reach into my pocket," said Daddy with a smile.

   Sara could hardly believe her eyes when she pulled out
the shiny gold ring. "Oh, Daddy!" she exclaimed. "It's so much prettier than the
other one." With a squeal of delight, she slipped it on her finger. "I love it,"
she said. "If I had known you had this for me, I'd have given you that old one
right away!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid God will ask you for something you don't want to give up? Perhaps some money you'd rather spend on yourself? Or maybe some time serving Him when you'd rather be playing? Whenever you give your life, time, and talents to God, you can be sure He'll give you back something far better. Trust Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 85:12)
"The Lord shall give that which is good."

[Soldier4Christ]

It was Friday, and the last bell had rung. Rick and Steve Thompson headed home, each carrying a letter from the principal. "Mom!" called Rick excitedly when he reached home. "Guess what! I was chosen to be student of the week!"

   "That's wonderful!" exclaimed Mom. She took the letter Rick held out and opened it. "It says here that you've been an outstanding example to the entire school. That's great. Congratulations!"

   When Steve arrived home, he quietly laid his envelope on the table where Mom found it later. She looked concerned as she read that Steve and some other boys had been caught writing on the bathroom wall. They would be staying after school the following week to help the janitor. She showed both letters to Dad when he arrived home.

   At the dinner table, Dad congratulated Rick on his achievement. Nothing was said about Steve's problem until after dinner when Dad took him aside for a talk. "I see I have two outstanding sons this week," began Dad, "but they are outstanding for such different reasons."

   Steve looked angry and defiant. "The other guys started it," he said. "I don't see why old man Croswell had to get so upset about it." He stuck out his chin.

   "Steve," Dad spoke sternly, "you will not speak of your principal in that way! As for whose fault it was . . . the other boys are responsible for what they did, but you are responsible for what you did. It doesn't matter who started it. I'm very disappointed that you're angry you were caught and not sorry for what you've done."

"I suppose you're going to ground me," grumbled Steve.

"Yes, I am," said Dad. "You knew that what you were
doing was wrong. Your attitude toward your discipline will tell me if you accept
the responsibility for what you did."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
In what way are you "outstanding"? The Bible says you should not behave in such a way that you'll have to suffer for doing wrong. You're responsible for your actions. Admit when you are wrong, and ask God to help you correct your behavior and do the things that honor Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Peter 4:15)
"Let none of you suffer as an evildoer."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Sam! David! Get up," urged Mom early one morning. "I've laid out clothes for you. Just put them on and go out to the car." Sam and his brother moved slowly, trying to rub sleep from their eyes. Mom waved off their questions. "I've got to get your sisters up," she said. "Just get ready and go on out. Dad will be out there."

Sam blinked his sleepy eyes."It's still dark outside," he murmured. "Whatever has gotten into Mom and Dad?"

Soon they were all in the car, and Dad drove out of the yard. "Where are we going, Dad?" asked Sam.

"Just trust me," Dad told him.

"But where are we going?" persisted Sam.

Dad grinned. "Have I ever taken you anyplace that wasn't a good place for you to be?" he asked.

"I'm sure we have a driver we can trust," added Mom.

Sam and his brothers and sisters tried to be patient as they rode along, but they were eager to know where their parents planned to take them-especially when they hit some bumpy roads. It seemed like they drove a long time. "Put your heads back and rest a little while," suggested Mom. "Have a little nap. You'll see soon enough where we're going."

The kids were still sleepy, so they did close their eyes to nap. Then before they knew it, they arrived in a huge parking lot. When they sat up straight and looked around, they realized their parents had brought them to an amusement park! They all shouted in delight.

The next day was Sunday, and Sam told his Sunday school teacher about their adventure. "We had the best time!" said Sam. "It was extra special because it was a surprise for us."

Mr. Holt nodded. "You know, that's kind of like what our
Heavenly Father does for us," he said. "In life, sometimes He 'drives' us to
places we don't know about ahead of time. Sometimes we don't actually like the
places we think He's taking us. We need to learn that as long as we keep Him in
the driver's seat of our lives, we can rest safely. The places He takes us will,
in the end, be good places for us to be."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When God allows things in your life that you don't understand, do you still trust Him? When you have to say good-bye to someone you love, when you feel sick, when you have to face scary situations, do you go on trusting God? When you do, you'll find that He will bring you to a "good place."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 3:5)
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Keenan," said Miss Evert, his school teacher, "I see you wasting a great deal of time. You have got to settle down and study-and you need to do your homework or you're going to find yourself staying in at recess." Keenan shrugged and nodded, but he didn't improve his study habits. He goofed off, did failing work-and he did have to stay in at recess and make it up.

"Your teacher warned you," said his mother when Keenan complained about her at home. "And by the way, I have a warning for you, too. Stay off the ice at Burney Creek. It's been thawing."

In spite of the warning, Keenan decided to check out the ice on the small creek near his home. When he ventured out on it, he found out that Mom was right. He broke through the ice, fell, and got soaked. He scowled when his parents grounded him for disobeying.

A few weeks later, Keenan was walking home from school, and he saw that the traffic light at the next street he had to cross was yellow. I gotta get across there before that light turns red, he thought, and he started to run. The light turned red, but Keenan kept on running. He figured he had plenty of time to cross before the cars would start up. As he raced across the street, a car lurched ahead and ran right into Keenan. The next thing he knew, he was in the hospital with a broken leg.

"Honey, didn't you see the light change?" asked Mom several days later when Keenan was feeling better.

"Yes, but . . . well, it was yellow at first, and I thought I could beat it," moaned Keenan. "I should have stopped."

"Yes, you should have," said Mom. "The yellow light was
a warning, and you didn't obey it." She frowned. "I'm afraid you've disobeyed
several warnings recently. You don't seem to realize that warnings are given for
your own good. When you ignore them, you invite trouble into your
life."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize that, along with promises and comfort, God gives warnings? Some things He warns His children about are disobedience, lying, cheating, hating, stealing, and following evil companions. Never try to see how much you can get away with. That's dangerous! Obey God's warnings. They're for your good.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Cor. 4:14)
"As my beloved sons I warn you."

[Soldier4Christ]

Keenan was in the hospital for several days with a broken leg. He was glad when he was finally able to go home-but he still was rather uncomfortable for quite some time. He soon discovered that it wasn't easy to get a pair of jeans over a cast. Then he had to learn how to walk on crutches.

   As Keenan watched his friends play baseball one day, he started feeling very sorry for himself. "I hate having a broken leg," he complained. "I don't know why God made it happen."

   "God didn't make it happen, but He did allow it," his mother replied. "He allowed it for your good-though I'm sure you can't see that right now."

   "No, I can't," grumbled Keenan. "Using crutches might not be so bad, but this cast is heavy!"

   "Your cast weighs you down, doesn't it?" asked Mom. "It keeps you from going out and enjoying time with your friends." With a sigh, Keenan nodded. "It reminds me of sin in a Christian's life," added Mom. "Sin weighs us down and keeps us from enjoying the good things God has planned for us."

   "Sin?" asked Keenan. "Like . . . what kind of sin?"

   "Any kind," replied Mom. "Impatience, for example. Disobedience."

   Keenan frowned. "And doing things my own way instead of listening to warnings, I guess," he said slowly.

Mom nodded. "It will be a while before you can get rid
of the weight of that cast, but you don't have to be weighed down by sin any
longer. Confess it to God and ask Him to help you do better." Mom smiled at
Keenan. "I have a feeling that you will eventually be able to see that this
truly is all working out for your good."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What does God bring to your mind when you try to think of a sin that "weighs you down"? Are you willing to confess that sin to God and get rid of it? When you turn from sin, He will bless you and fill your life with good things.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 12:1)
"Let us lay aside . . . the sin which doth so easily beset us."

[Soldier4Christ]

"I can't understand Kirsten," complained Rachel as she looked down at the candy she held. "A couple of days ago she gave me an eraser to pay me back for helping her with math. Now she gave me this caramel roll to pay me back for a cookie I gave her yesterday. It's not that I don't want the candy, but it's getting so I'm not sure I should ever do anything for her because she always thinks she has to give me something back."

Mom nodded. "Some people are like that," she said, "but I don't think you should stop helping her. I think you should just graciously accept whatever she does in return."

"I guess so," said Rachel, "but you know, Mom, she even thinks she has to pay God for everything He gives. When we were talking after Bible Club the other day, she told me she didn't see how anybody could accept the idea that they could go to heaven just by believing. She says she intends to earn her way by being baptized and joining church-and by living a good, honest life. She doesn't think God would want her to take something for nothing."

"Oh, that is serious!" exclaimed Mom. "Let's pray that she'll see how foolish that is."

A couple days later, Rachel and Kirsten conducted an experiment in their science class. By combining several chemicals, they made a gas that smelled just like rotten eggs! "Oh, air! Air! Give me air!" Kirsten gasped dramatically as she rushed to open a window. Rachel laughed as she, too, eagerly gulped the fresh, cold air.

Rachel suddenly got an idea. "Hold your breath," she commanded, "until you pay for the air!"

"What! Are you crazy?" asked Kirsten.

"You said you wouldn't take anything for nothing, remember?" Rachel reminded her. "Yet every day-all day-you breathe air and don't pay for it. If you can accept God's gift of air, why is it so hard to accept His gift of salvation? It's as free as the air that you breathe."

Kirsten gave her a strange look. "You might be right,"
she said slowly. "Maybe I better think that over again."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize that the air God gives you is a wonderful gift? It would be foolish to think you could ever pay for it. Eternal life is an even more wonderful gift. You can never pay for it, either. Will you trust in Jesus and receive God's gift of eternal life?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 6:23)
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Uncle Bob makes me so mad!" said Jana as she slammed down the phone. "That was Deanne, and she was crying. Uncle Bob has gone off drinking with his buddies, and the electric company is threatening to turn off the power if Aunt Grace doesn't pay their bill by tomorrow."

Dad looked up from his newspaper. "I feel sorry for Uncle Bob and for all of them," he said with a sigh.

"Sorry for Uncle Bob!" exclaimed Jana. "Why feel sorry for him? Uncle Bob is selfish and hateful and . . . and m-m-mean!" Jana ended in a sob.

"He hasn't always been a heavy drinker," said Dad. "We need to pray for him. He's a slave to alcohol."

"He could get free if he wanted to! He just . . ." Jana was interrupted by a banging sound from the garage. "What's that?" she asked.

"I don't know." Mom looked puzzled as the sound continued. "We'd better find out. Buffy's out there."

When they opened the door, a strange sight met their eyes. Buffy, with a plastic pitcher over his head, was wildly running around, bumping into everything.

Mom called the frightened dog and gathered him into her arms. She calmed him down while Dad gently twisted the pitcher and pulled it from Buffy's head. "He must have stuck his nose into the pitcher and then pushed it up against something to hold it as he pushed his head farther inside," said Dad.

"Poor baby!" crooned Jana. "Your curiosity almost killed you that time. You could have suffocated."

Dad nodded. "What if we'd just scolded him and told him how foolish he was? Would that have helped him?" he asked.

Jana frowned. "Of course not," she said.

"Scoldings don't help Uncle Bob, either-he's like Buffy," said Dad. "I think it was curiosity that made him start drinking, and now he's caught in a trap so powerful he cannot break loose. We'll help his family, but only God can deliver him from his habit."

Mom nodded. "Don't hate Uncle Bob, Jana. He needs your
love and compassion," she said. "Let's put him at the top of our prayer
list."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know people who are caught in the trap of sin-alcohol, drugs, or some other thing? Don't excuse their sin, but don't hate them, either. Be compassionate and pray for them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Peter 3:
"Having compassion one of another . . . be pitiful, be courteous."