Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Vacation time is the best time of the year," Traci declared as they neared the Rocky Mountains.

"Except for Christmas," said Trent. "That's even better."

Dad glanced at Mom. "Where's the map?" he asked. "See how far it is to Garden City. The gas is getting low faster than I expected."

Mom reached under the seat. She looked puzzled. "Is the map in the back seat, Trent?" she asked.

Trent glanced around him. "I don't think so, but I guess it could be under some of the stuff back here."

As they all searched, looking through the books, snacks, and souvenirs, Dad pulled to the side of the road and stopped. "I really need that map," he said. "There's an intersection ahead, and I don't know which way to go."

"Here it is," announced Mom triumphantly. She handed it to Dad who silently studied it for several minutes.

Dad folded the map and started the car. "We turn left at the next intersection, and then it's only twenty miles to Garden City," he said. "We should make it easily."

Mom picked up her Bible. "Losing our map reminds me of a Bible story," she said. She flipped the pages. "Here it is-I'll read it to you. It's found in Second Kings 22:8-13."

When Mom finished reading, Dad nodded. "Because the nation of Judah lost the Word of the Lord, the people lost their way," he said. "They didn't know how to serve God or worship Him. The Bible is God's map for our lives."

"That's why you tell us to read it every day. If we don't check God's map, we could lose our way," Traci said thoughtfully.

Trent chuckled. "You're a poet, and don't know it," he said.

Mom smiled. She started to sing a chorus, and they all
joined in.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you study the Bible-the "map" God has given for your life? Do you read it every day? Do you follow it's instructions? Don't take a chance on losing your way.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 27:11)
"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Riding this old train is going to be fun!" said Trent. "Best part of our vacation yet, I bet."

"Yeah," agreed Traci as they all settled into their seats in an open car behind an old engine.

The engineer served as the guide. When they reached a section of tracks that ran through a valley, he stopped the train. "This is Echo Valley," he told them, and he sounded the whistle. A mournful "Oo-o-o-o-o-o" filled the air. A few seconds later, they heard a faint reply. "Oo-o-o-o-o." The engineer smiled at the kids. "Give it a try," he urged. "Make an echo."

Children on the train took turns calling out something and listening for the echo to come back. It was great fun. When it was Traci's turn, she cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hello!" she called loudly.

"Hello," came the faint reply.

Trent was the last to try it. "Good-bye!" he called.

"Good-bye," the echo repeated.

When the train ride ended, the Jackson family piled back into their car. "Shall we eat now, or shall we drive on and stop a little later?" asked Dad.

"Now," said Trent at once, while Traci promptly said, "Let's stop later."

"But I'm hungry now," whined Trent.

"Big baby," taunted Traci.

"Big baby yourself!" responded Trent, and insults began going back and forth between the two.

Mom frowned. "Listen to the echoes," she said.

"Echoes?" asked Traci. "I don't hear any."

"I do," said Mom. "I hear ugly, hateful words echoing through this car. Echoes come back as they are sent. When Traci called out, 'Hello,' the echo did not reply, 'Good-bye.' When we send out nice, kind words, we get nice, kind words in return. When we spit out ugly, hateful words, ugly, hateful words come back."

Dad nodded. "For the rest of this vacation, let's all try to send out only words we would want returned to us," he suggested. "Better still, let's send out only words that please God-words He'd want repeated."

Traci and Trent looked hesitantly at one another. Then
they grinned. "Okay," they agreed. "We'll try."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of words do you send out? Is God pleased to hear them? The kind of words you send out are the kind that will echo back to you. Today's verse can apply to words as well as actions.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Luke 6:38)
"With the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Yummy! I love this cereal," declared Philip, and he took a big, crunchy mouthful. "Crispy Pops are the greatest!"

"You eat so many that I'm lucky to get a bowlful or two before the box is empty," complained his sister Jenna. "You should enter the contest they're having." She pointed to the back of the box. "All you have to do is write and tell them why you like their cereal."

"Good idea," agreed Philip, and he sent his letter right away.

To everyone's surprise, Philip was a winner-a winner of a hundred boxes of Crispy Pops cereal! "Wow!" he exclaimed. "Now I can eat all the Crispy Pops I want, and there will still be plenty left for Jenna!"

There was, in fact, plenty left for everybody. They all ate the cereal, but the stack of boxes Philip had won didn't seem to be getting any smaller. Mom started making Crispy Pops cakes, Crispy Pops cookies, and even Crispy Pops meatloaf. Soon the whole family was absolutely sick of Crispy Pops!

One evening, Philip gazed sadly at the plate of roast chicken with Crispy Pops stuffing. "I never thought I'd say this," he said with a sigh, "but I hope I never see Crispy Pops again!"

"I know. I think we're all tired of it," agreed his mother, "but since God supplied us with all that good cereal, we can't just let it go to waste."

"Hey! I've got an idea," said Dad. "Nobody said we had to eat all of those Crispy Pops by ourselves. In fact, I'm sure the Lord would be pleased to have us share them. Why don't we call the city mission and see if they could use some?"

"Wow, Dad! That's a great idea," said Jenna. "And we could call the director of our church camp. They'd probably like some, too."

   "I'm sure they'll all be happy to have us share," agreed Mom. "Maybe after we give away a lot of those boxes of cereal, Philip will learn to like Crispy Pops again."

"Maybe." Philip grinned. "But I doubt
it!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Isn't it true that God has given you more "stuff" than you need? Is there something you can share-money, toys, food, clothes, free time? Do you know someone who needs some of those things? When you share what God has given you, you'll be happier than if you keep it all for yourself!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Cor. 8:14)
"Your abundance may be a supply for their want."

[Soldier4Christ]

Eric and Lyndon got off the bus at their grandparents' farm. "Did you ever see such a wimp as that new boy in school?" asked Lyndon as they walked up the driveway. "He's afraid to do anything!"

"Yeah," agreed Eric. "Did you hear what Brad and the other guys are planning to do tomorrow?" Lyndon nodded, and the boys laughed about the practical joke Brad had planned for the newcomer.

 "Hi, boys." Grandma greeted them with a smile as they came into the kitchen. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, just a trick Brad's going to play tomorrow on the new kid at school," Eric answered as he reached for a cookie. "It'll probably scare him half to death."

 "Are you boys in on it?" Grandma asked.

"Well . . . not really," said Lyndon. Then he quickly changed the subject. "Did your chicks come in?"

Grandma nodded. "They're in the garage," she said.

"Come on, Eric. Let's go see them." Lyndon was already out the door with Eric close behind.

Soon the boys burst back into the kitchen. "Gram! Come quick!" they urged. "There's one poor little chick about to die!" Eric grabbed his grandmother's hand.

"The others are pecking it to death!" exclaimed Lyndon. He was horrified. "It has blood all over it."

Grandma hurried out and gently picked up the wounded chick. She took it into the house to care for it.

"Hateful chicks!" raged Eric. "Picking on a little one!"

Grandma looked Eric straight in the eye. "Chicks are not the only creatures who can be cruel," she told him.

 "What do you mean?" Lyndon asked.

"I know what she means," Eric said slowly. "She's talking about us picking on the new boy in school."

"Oh . . . but we aren't going to hurt him," protested Lyndon. "Just tease him a little."

   "There are other wounds besides those that leave bruises, and other cuts besides those that bleed," Grandma reminded him. "And don't forget-Jesus teaches that the way we treat others is the way we treat Him."

As the boys followed Grandma into the house, Eric
whispered, "Let's get Brad to change his mind."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know someone who is "picked on" by others? Do you refuse to join in the teasing? Remember that the way you treat others is the way you treat Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 25:40)
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

[Soldier4Christ]

Sonya watched anxiously as her family sat down to a supper of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, carrots, and salad. She had prepared it all by herself. "Everything tastes wonderful, honey," said Mom.

Sonya's brother Isaac made a face. "Yeah, it's great-if you like vegetables and mushy meat loaf," he teased.

"All right, smarty," said Sonya with a frown. "I'd like to see you try to cook a meal."

"Not me!" said Isaac quickly. "That's girl's work!"

Dad shook his head. "I don't know that I agree with you, Son," he said. "After all, a lot of the world's great chefs are men."

"They are?" asked Isaac.

Dad nodded. "And do you know who I think was the greatest cook of all?" he asked.

"Who, Dad?" asked Sonya.

"Jesus!" replied her father.

"Jesus!" exclaimed Isaac. "I didn't know He cooked!"

Dad smiled. "Remember when the disciples went fishing but caught nothing all night?" he asked. "Then Jesus called from the shore and told them to throw out their nets on the other side of the boat."

"I remember the story," said Isaac. "When they did that, the net was so full they couldn't pull it into the boat, right?"

"Right," said Dad, "and when the tired, hungry fishermen reached shore, they found Jesus cooking breakfast for them over an open fire. I'm sure He must have been the best cook ever."

"Why do you think He bothered with cooking?" asked Isaac. "Why didn't He just do a miracle and make cooked food suddenly appear?"

"Maybe He wanted to teach us a lesson about serving others," suggested Dad. "If Jesus didn't think He was too important to work, we shouldn't think we are, either. We should be glad to serve others, realizing that no job is too small or unimportant for us."

"Makes sense," said Isaac. "By the way, Sis-thanks for
the supper!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there any small jobs God wants you to do today-help with the dishes, clean house, read to a brother or sister, write a note? These are simple, but good ways to show your love for others and for the Lord!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 13:15)
"I have given you an example . . . do as I have done to you."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why don't you come to the mall with us, Darla?" urged Anna. "We're going to pass out tracts after school today."

Darla shook her head. "I don't see why our Sunday school class does that every month," she said. "Do you think it's really worthwhile? I mean . . . do you think anybody reads those things?"

"Well, Mrs. Hyde says God promises that if we give out His Word, He'll use it," replied Anna. "She says we may never see anyone get saved because of our tracts, but God always blesses His Word-spoken or written."

"I bet a lot of people won't even take them-they think they're trash," said Darla. "I'm not going."

When Darla and her mother went to one of the large department stores a few days later, a lady was passing out literature describing various gift boxes of soaps and perfumes. Mom's birthday is coming up, thought Darla. I bet she'd like some of this. She quietly slipped some of the pamphlets into her pocket.

The following day, Darla took the literature along to school and spread out the papers on her desk. "Hey, Anna, help me decide which of these gift boxes to get for Mom's birthday," she said when Anna came over to look. "I have enough money saved for any one of these," added Darla, pointing out three of the boxes. "Which do you think she'd like best?"

Anna studied the attractive literature. "I know which one I like," she said, "but . . ." She frowned. "What are you doing with this literature anyway?" she asked. "Why did you take it? And why are you reading it? Don't you know that a lot of people think it's trash?"

"What do you mean?" asked Darla.

"You said people would think tracts are trash," Anna reminded her, "but I think a lot of people think this literature is trash, too-I've seen them dumping it. But here you are actually reading it!"

Darla stared at her friend. "I get the point. I guess
passing out tracts is worthwhile after all," she admitted. "Maybe some people
won't read them, but others will."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find it hard to speak up and tell kids about Jesus? Perhaps using Gospel tracts would make it easier for you. Keep a few in your desk or pocket, and be ready to hand one out or enclose one in a card or letter. Remember that God will use His Word to accomplish His purpose.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 55:11)
"My word . . . shall accomplish that which I please."

[Soldier4Christ]

Kyle climbed up the stepladder, washed the window, and then dried it with a clean, soft rag. When he was finished, he proudly looked up at the window. He didn't wash windows often, but when he heard his mother say it needed to be done, he decided to surprise her.

   Kyle went into the house, called Mom to the living room, and pointed to the clean window. "Why, Kyle! What a nice surprise!" exclaimed Mom. She gave him a big hug, and Kyle felt really good.

   It had been a dreary, gray morning, but the sun finally came out, and the afternoon was beautiful. As Kyle walked through the living room, he glanced at the large window. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed. He could not believe his eyes! Now, with the sun shining so brightly on the glass, he saw big streaks all over it. "Mom!" he called. "What happened to this window?"

Mom came in, looked at the window, and shook her head. "It looked great till the sunlight hit it," she said, "but the light of the sun makes any streaks show up. I've had that happen often."

Kyle groaned and went to get the ladder from the garage so he could wash the window again. As he worked, his dad came along, and Kyle told him about the problem.

That evening, Dad turned in his Bible to the Gospel of John and read several verses for their family devotions. "Do these verses remind you of anything that happened today?" he asked with a smile.

Kyle shrugged. "Well . . . I had a problem with sunlight hitting the windows, and those verses call Jesus the Light of the World," he said uncertainly. "Is that what you mean?"

Dad nodded. "You didn't see those streaks on the window
until the sunlight hit them, and people don't see the sin in their hearts until
Jesus' light shines on it," he said. "The wonderful part is that when we do
admit our sin and accept Jesus, He washes the sin and darkness from our
hearts."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has the light of Christ shined into your heart? Have you seen the sin that is there? Would you like to have your heart and life washed clean? Confess your sin and ask God to forgive you. He will.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 8:12 ()
Jesus said) "I am the light of the world."

[Soldier4Christ]

Dad's van squealed to a halt, and everyone leaned forward. In front of them, the entire road was covered with water. "Wow! That's the biggest puddle I've ever seen!" exclaimed Joel. He smiled-this looked like it would be fun! "Barrel through, Dad," he said. "We can make it."

Dad glanced over his shoulder. Behind him was the steep hill they had just come down. On either side were fences. "I don't know, Joel," said Dad. "If we get stuck, we'll be in trouble. We're miles from anywhere, it's growing dark, and we don't have a phone." He hesitated. "No, I've got to find a place to turn around," he decided, "but I don't see any such place down here. I'll have to back up the hill."

As Dad very cautiously backed the van up the hill, Mom closed her eyes. Joel knew she was praying. Finally, they reached the top of the hill, and Dad found a tiny space where he could turn around. Mom smiled shakily. "No more short cuts, please," she said quietly.

"Aw, we should have gone right through the water," said Joel. "It would have been fun."

Dad shook his head. "We don't know how deep that water hole is," he said. "Sometimes you have to know when to stop-when to turn around. What looks like fun can lead you straight into trouble-in life as well as on the road."

"In life?" asked Joel. "What do you mean?"

"I'm thinking that Satan knows how to make sinful things look like fun-things such as bad shows or wild parties or drinking or drugs or wrong friends-any number of things," replied Dad. "Just like I turned away from the water hole, God's children should turn away from situations that could end in trouble."

Joel was thoughtful. "It's not so hard to turn from things you know for sure are wrong," he said finally, "but it is hard to turn from things that could be wrong but don't really seem so bad."

Dad nodded. "Like backing up the hill, it's difficult,
but it can be done," he said. "When you face tough choices, ask God to help you
turn around and head in the right direction."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there something you'd like to do- something that sounds like fun, but you're afraid it might be wrong? Don't take a chance by doing something that could be harmful. Ask God to help you turn from it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 16:17)
"The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way, preserveth his soul."

[Soldier4Christ]

Darci stared at a painting in an art store window. It was a picture of two hands clasped in prayer. "Why would an artist paint hands, Mom?" asked Darci. "I think there are much more interesting things to paint."

Mom smiled. "That's a well-known painting," she said. "I recently read an article about it. The artist's name was Albert Durer, and the hands are those of someone very special to him. Not everyone agrees on whose hands they are, but this article said they're his brother's."

"Why didn't he paint his brother's face instead of his hands?" asked Darci. "What's the story?"

"According to the article, Albert Durer was born into a very poor family. Both he and his brother dreamed of becoming artists, and they made a pact-one would study art while the other worked to support him. Then they would trade places, and the other would study art. They tossed a coin to see who would study first, and Albert won. His brother worked hard-probably in the mines-while Albert studied. By the time Albert finished his studies, he was already becoming well-known."

"Cool!" said Darci. "Did his brother get to be a good artist, too?"

Mom shook her head. "His fingers had been injured often as he worked," she said. "They were stiff and rough, and he was suffering from arthritis in his right hand. He was no longer able to paint. To Albert, those sacrificial hands were beautiful, and he very lovingly painted them to pay homage to his brother."

"Wow! I hope he helped his brother in lots of other ways, too!" exclaimed Darci. "After all, his brother really sacrificed his own dream by supporting him."

"Yes," agreed Mom. After a moment she added, "I'm thinking of some other hands-hands of Someone Who made an even greater sacrifice, and it was for us."

"You mean Jesus, don't you?" asked Darci.

Mom nodded. "He gave His life for us. He actually became
sin for us so that we could have our sins forgiven," she said. "His hands bear
the print of the nails that held Him to the cross. Surely we should do all we
can to honor Him."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you willing to do anything for Jesus? Will you tell others about Him? Will you serve Him by serving others? When you think of all He suffered for you, does it make you want to do all you can for Him? He blesses those who faithfully serve Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Samuel 12:24)
"Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart."

[Soldier4Christ]

Morgan sighed and closed her Bible. "I've been working on my Sunday school memory verse, but it's way too long," she complained. "I'll never be able to learn it! I don't even understand what it means." She watched Mom put Baby Michael into a high chair and tie his bib. "Can I feed Michael?" asked Morgan.

"Sure," agreed Mom, and she handed Morgan a spoon. "Can I help you with the verse? What don't you understand?"

Morgan shrugged as she took the spoon. "Okay, baby brother," she said, "here we go-open your mouth!" As she gave him a spoonful of baby food, the phone rang and Mom went to answer it. "Oh, Michael, don't let it drool down your chin!" scolded Morgan. Michael kept grinning at her with his mouth full of food. It was messy, but Morgan still thought he looked cute. Suddenly Michael banged his fist right into the bowl of baby food. Then he rubbed his eyes with his grubby little hand.

When Mom returned, Morgan was trying to clean the floor with a paper napkin. "Oh, Mom, this is gross!" she moaned. "It sure was easier to give Michael a bottle. Why does he have to eat this stuff anyway?"

"Babies need milk, but they also need solid food to grow strong," answered Mom. "Here . . . why don't you let me take over? You get a washcloth and some mop rags, and we'll clean up Michael and the floor."

After dinner, Mom suggested that Morgan tackle her memory verse again. "But I told you," whined Morgan. "It's too long and hard!"

"I remember," said Mom, "but studying your Bible and learning verses helps you grow spiritually." She paused, then added, "See, honey . . . just like Michael has to get his nourishment from eating solid food as well as from drinking milk, you need to read and study the 'meat' of the Bible-the more difficult parts-as well as the 'milk,' or easier parts. All of it helps you grow strong spiritually. Okay?"

"I . . . I guess so," agreed Morgan. She grinned. "After
all, I don't want to be a baby Christian forever!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you grown spiritually? Are you willing to learn from the more difficult passages in the Bible as well as from the simpler Bible stories? All of God's Word is useful and helps you grow.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Hebrews 5:14)
"Strong meat belongeth to them that . . . have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, do I have to clean my room right now?" asked Sam. "I hate cleaning!"

"Yes, you've got to do it now," was Mom's firm reply.

With a big sigh, Sam headed into his messy room. After working for some time, he ran back to the living room, all excited. "Hey, cleaning isn't as bad as I thought!" he exclaimed. "I was cleaning a dresser drawer and found four quarters and a dollar bill! This is awesome! Now I'll have more money to spend when our class goes to the theme park. I'm going to go and clean some more." Mom laughed as Sam hurried back to his room.

When Sam returned half an hour later, Mom looked up from her sewing. "Well, did you find any more money?" she asked.

Sam shook his head. "No, but you should see how nice my room looks," he said proudly.

Mom smiled. "Being able to look around and see everything clean and orderly gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment, doesn't it?" she asked. "Better yet, it will be a lot easier to find things when you need them."

"I think I'll clean my room," decided Sam's younger brother Omar. "Maybe I'll find some money, too." He grinned. "Maybe there's some hidden treasure there."

"Maybe," said Mom. "I guess we all should look for hidden treasure."

Omar gave Mom a curious look. "Is your room a mess, too?" he asked.

Mom laughed. "No," she said. "I was thinking of our lives. You see, God has blessings-we could say 'treasures'-that can be ours, but they my be hidden from us because of stubbornness or disobedience. Then our lives can be filled with chaos and confusion."

"Just like my messy room was before I cleaned it, right, Mom?" asked Sam.

Mom nodded. "We may discover those hidden blessings by
being obedient to God's commands. We need to ask Him to help us clean up our
lives."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you learned that having a clean room is worth the effort to keep it that way? Have you found that to be true in your life, too? Ask God to help you obey Him. He will bless you when you honor Him by following His commands.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 7:1)
"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look, Mom," said Mark as he handed her his report card. "I got all A's this time."

"Good," said Mom, but she sighed as she looked at the card and saw that Mark's teacher praised him for being helpful. When he was asked to help at home, he often said, "I'm too tired." Other times it was, "Can't Lana do that?" Sometimes he simply said, "I don't feel like it." He helped only because his parents insisted on it.

One day when Mark again resisted helping his mother, she told him to come outdoors with her. "Bring a cookie along," she said. "We need some crumbs." Mark looked at her in surprise, but he did as he was told.

"Do you see any ants?" asked Mom as they stood on the driveway.

Mark looked around. "I see a few over there," he said, pointing to a crack in the concrete.

"Put some cookie crumbs down there," directed Mom.

"Why are we feeding the ants?" asked Mark as he put several crumbs on the pavement. As he watched, an ant found a large crumb, lifted it up, and carried it away. "Wow! That ant carried a crumb three times its size," said Mark.

Mom nodded. "Do you know that ants can carry things up to fifty times their weight? And that they'll continue working as hard as they can until they've gathered as much as possible?" she asked. "They don't seem to ever think about themselves, but only about the colony. If they could talk, I don't think you'd hear them say things like, 'I'm too tired-can't somebody else do it?' Or, 'I don't feel like doing this!' The Bible says we can learn from the ant by noticing how hard it works."

Mark grinned sheepishly. "Do you have anyone special in mind?" he asked, knowing she meant him.

Mom nodded and pointed to a broom beside the garage door. "Yes, and you can start copying the ants' work habits right now," she said. "The garage and the driveway need sweeping."

Mark nodded and headed for the broom.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you hard-working and helpful at home as well as at school? The Bible calls a lazy person a sluggard. Don't let that word apply to you! Don't complain about chores. Instead, work hard, and cheerfully do all you can to help.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 6:6)
"Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise."

[Soldier4Christ]

"I wish we weren't moving," muttered Scott as he carried a large box out to the car.

"Me, too," said Sarah. "I like our neighborhood here, and I'll miss all my friends."

"Yeah, especially at school!" agreed Scott. "We won't know anybody in our class."

Mom tried to cheer them up. "You'll soon have new friends," she comforted, "and I'm sure you'll love our new house and yard." Sarah just shook her head as she carried a bowl with three little fish to the car.

Not long after they moved into their new house, Dad came home from work with a large aquarium. "Is that big tank for our little goldfish?" asked Sarah. "They'll have lots of room in there!"

"Yep," replied Dad. "Your little fish need a larger living space as much as we did." He watched as Scott and Sarah transferred the three fish to their new home.

A few months later, Scott and Sarah called Dad's attention to the aquarium. "Have you noticed these fish lately?" asked Scott. "They've grown a whole lot since we moved here."

Dad looked up from his newspaper. "Goldfish need space in order to grow," he said, "so the change to a bigger aquarium was good for them." He smiled at the kids. "Change is often good for boys and girls, too," he added. "It gives them new opportunities. For example, since we moved here, you've met new friends and have developed an interest in some of the things they enjoy. That's growth."

"Yeah," said Sarah. "I like it here now."

"Me, too," agreed Scott, "but I hope we don't have to move soon again."

Dad smiled. "Moving is sometimes God's plan for bringing
us new opportunities, but not always," he assured them. "Even when we don't
move, things around us are always changing. We need to be open to the lessons
God wants to teach us through the changes He brings into our
lives."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you like change? God says there is a "time" for everything. He can make all the changes work together to make your life more beautiful and to help you grow. Ask God to use the changes you're experiencing to help you witness, develop your talents, or learn more about Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time."

[Soldier4Christ]

David watched as a man with a seeing-eye dog approached the bus stop shelter. "There's room over here on the bench," said David, sliding down the bench to make room for the man.

The man turned toward the bench, patted it with his free hand, and sat down. His guide dog rested at his feet.

"You have a pretty dog," said David. "Can I pet him?"

The man smiled. "Sorry, but no. Rusty's on duty right now," he said. He reached down and scratched the dog between the ears. "My name's Bill," the man added. He reached his hand in the David's direction.

David shook Bill's hand. "I'm David."

"Would you do me a favor?" Bill asked. "Rusty's an excellent guide dog, but he can't read. Would you tell me when the Main Street bus stops?"

"It's pulling up right now," said David.

Bill stood and so did Rusty. "Thank you, and nice to meet you," said Bill as Rusty guided him to the open bus door.

When David got home, he told his dad about Bill and Rusty. "Bill relies on total strangers," said David. "He didn't know me. I could have played a joke on him and caused him to fall or to take the wrong bus, but he trusted me to tell him the truth." David paused, then added, "Don't you think it'd be hard to trust someone you can't even see?"

 Dad nodded. "I think he's a good example for us," he said. "We do need to trust someone we can't see."

"What do you mean?" David asked.

"We need to trust God each day," explained Dad.
"Although we can't see Him, we never doubt that He's there. We believe in Him
and trust Him to guide us in the right direction."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you trust God even when difficult things happen? If there's something you know He wants you to do-perhaps tell somebody about Him, help someone, give money for His work-do that thing. Trust Him to help you. He'll never lead you down the wrong path.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Prov. 3:5-6)
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart . . . and He shall direct thy paths."

[Soldier4Christ]

Dylan's dog, Buffy, raced around the living room, barking at the men who were carrying out the tattered old couch and chair. He romped across the faded, threadbare rug while the workmen were trying to roll it up.

"Dylan," called Mom, "please take Buffy outdoors until the men have finished."

"All right," Dylan answered. "Come on, Buffy. You're excited about the new carpet and furniture we're getting, aren't you, boy? Well, you'll have to wait outdoors for a while so those guys can work in peace."

When everything was finally done, Dylan went in to take a look. "Wow, Mom! This room looks great!" he said. "Everything looks so clean and nice now!"

"Yes, we've been needing new things for a long time," said Mom. Just then Buffy ran into the room. "Oh, no!" exclaimed Mom. "Get that dog out of here right now!"

"But, Mom," protested Dylan as he went over and picked up Buffy, "you've always let him come in here before."

Mom looked stern as she replied. "That was when we had our worn-out furniture and that grimy old rug. I want our new things kept clean! Out he goes!"

"Sorry, old boy," said Dylan as he put Buffy outdoors.

That night, Dad told the family about a man he had talked with that day. "Joe can't seem to understand that he's a sinner," said Dad. "He says he's one of the best guys this town has ever seen. He thinks he's good enough to make it into heaven on his own."

"He's like Buffy," observed Dylan. "Buffy was good enough to be allowed in the living room when the furniture and carpet were old, so he thinks he's good enough to be in there with the new stuff, too. But when he tried to go in, Mom kicked him out!"

"Right!" said Dad. "We may be 'good enough' for this
sinful old world, but God would never let us into His sparkling clean heaven the
way we are. Until we let Jesus wash away our sin with His blood, we're just 'too
dirty' to live in heaven."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you're pretty good? You may be good by this world's standards, but God's standard is absolute holiness. He cannot stand sin of any kind. You can get into heaven only by trusting in Jesus. (See page 72.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Habakkuk 1:13)
"Thou (God) canst not look on iniquity (sin)."