Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, can I go with Max to Pete's Game Place?" asked Tony. Mom shook her head. "Why not?" asked Tony. "We just want to play the video games in the back room. What's wrong with video games?"

"The games may be okay," said Mom, "but I don't think the atmosphere of that place is very wholesome. I've heard that kids who drink, gamble, and curse hang around there. Don't you think going there might be a poor testimony for a Christian?"

Tony shrugged. "Why would it be a poor testimony?"

"Well, other kids might think you participate in all that goes on there," suggested Mom. "They might think that if it's okay for you, it's all right for them, too."

"Aw, Mom," protested Tony, "if anybody follows me there, they'll see that I'm just playing video games. That other stuff there doesn't even tempt me."

"That's good, but in the wrong atmosphere, you might be surprised to find that you are tempted," said Mom. "Besides, by following you there, someone else might find himself in a situation where he's not strong enough to say no." Tony scowled and left the room.

At supper, Tony's father talked about his day as a wildlife officer. "What do you think we hauled out of Cotter's Creek today?" he asked.

"Probably someone's pet," Tony suggested.

"It was no pet," said Dad with a smile. "It was an eight-foot alligator." He frowned. "There are houses along there, and several kids were playing out in their yards. In fact, some of the bigger boys were getting as close to the critter as they dared, while trying to persuade the younger kids to stay away."

"Wow! If those boys aren't careful, they might get hurt-or a little kid might get hurt on account of them!" exclaimed Tony. "An alligator's okay in a swamp or zoo, but not in a creek near houses."

"That's kind of like what I was trying to tell you this
afternoon," said Mom. "Some things may not be wrong in themselves, but if
they're in the wrong place, they can be dangerous and should be
avoided-especially if participating in them might encourage others to get into
dangerous places, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you go to places where you're tempted to sin or where your presence may be a bad testimony? God tells us to care for our "weaker brothers" and not cause them to stumble or fall into sin. Would they do that if they followed you?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 10:23)
"All things are lawful for me, but   . . . all things edify not."

[Soldier4Christ]

Amanda held a ruler at the top of Jessica's head. "Hold still," she ordered as Jessica stretched up and leaned against the growth chart. "Almost forty-nine inches," announced Amanda, drawing a line on the chart.

"Your turn. Take off your shoes!" demanded Jessica. Amanda giggled and removed her shoes. She stood with her back against the chart. "Fifty-one and one-half inches," said Jessica, and she marked the chart with Amanda's height.

Grandma smiled as she watched the girls. "You two have really grown a lot this year," she said.

"The verse at the top of the chart says, 'Grow in grace,'" observed Jessica. "What does that mean?"

"Well, just like your body grows each year, you should grow to be more like Jesus," explained Grandma. "Have you measured that growth lately?"

"We can't measure how much we grow to be like Jesus, can we?" asked Amanda.

"Not in inches," agreed Grandma, "but we can tell a little bit about our growth by changes in the way we behave." She smiled. "Would you like to make a spiritual growth chart?"

"Okay," said Amanda, "but how do we do that?"

"First, think of things you shouldn't do," suggested Grandma. "What would some of those be?"

"Hitting each other," said Jessica. "Telling lies."

"Sneaking cookies," added Amanda, "or talking back to Mom and Dad."

"Okay," said Grandma, "and what are some things you should do?"

Amanda spoke first this time. "Obey our parents and teachers and do chores without complaining."

Jessica nodded. "Do homework the first time we're told. And . . . how about reading the Bible?"

"Good," said Grandma. "Let's get some poster board, and
you can make columns for these things and others that you think of. Make other
columns to record how well you do each week. Ask Jesus to help you become more
like Him as you depend on His power to do that. Then check your chart with your
improvements to help you see how much you 'grow' in a month's
time."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Can you see differences in the way you used to act and the way you act now? Do you make changes when you learn new things from God's Word?Make your own spiritual growth chart and see how much you grow in becoming more like Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Peter 3:18)
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge.of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

[Soldier4Christ]

Kurt was having a great time spending the summer with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Ann on their sheep ranch out West. "I like everything we've done so far," he told his uncle as he and Uncle Jim rode horses through the hills several miles from the ranch house.

"Good," said Uncle Jim, but he frowned as they spied something white in the grass a little way off the trail. Uncle Jim got off his horse and went to see what it was. "It's a dead lamb," he said, shaking his head sadly. "A mountain lion must have gotten it."

"That's awful!" cried Kurt in dismay. "How could that happen? You've had two men with the sheep all the time, and Shep is such a good watchdog. He'd never let a mountain lion near the flock."

"Yes, that's true," said Uncle Jim. "A lion wouldn't dare go near the sheep with men and dogs around. But this little lamb must have wandered away from the others. Once he left the safety and protection of the flock, he was no match for the lion. The ranch hands have been telling me that they've seen tracks lately, and they've taken extra precautions, but every now and then, a lamb or sheep still manages to wander away."

When they returned to the ranch house, Kurt told Aunt Ann about the lamb they had found. She shook her head. "Well," she said, "I guess we'll have to be careful not to let something like that happen to us."

"To us!" exclaimed Kurt. "Will mountain lions come after us?"

Uncle Jim smiled. "I think your aunt was talking about a different kind of lion," he said. "The Bible says Christians are like sheep, and Jesus is our Shepherd. Satan is referred to as a lion, and he's a dangerous one!"

Aunt Ann nodded. "Sheep need to stay together-not wander
off alone where they're easy prey for the enemy," she said, "and Christians need
to stick together, too. If they don't, they often become easy prey for the
Devil-they find it easier to do the things he wants them to do. That's one
reason why church attendance is important. It's a place where we get help and
encouragement from one another."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know that Christians who stop meeting with other Christians are often more easily attacked by Satan? You need the friendship and help of other children of God. Going to church regularly will help you stay with the "flock."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 5:
"The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

[Soldier4Christ]

Michelle sighed as she struggled to her feet. Why do I have to wear these horrid leg braces? she thought. Mom and Dad say I should be thankful that they make it possible for me to walk, and I am glad for that, but why didn't God just make me with good, strong legs like all the other kids? Michelle looked at herself in the full-view mirror. They look dumb, too, she thought. I wish I could wear a swim suit without looking like a robot. As she thought about it, she felt like crying.

When Michelle went to the grocery store with her mother that evening, they saw a friend from their church. "Mrs. Barker! Hello! How are you?" Mom greeted the lady. "You recently moved into an apartment, didn't you? How do you like it?"

Mrs. Barker laughed. "As a matter of fact, we don't like it very much at all," she said. "The furnace doesn't work half the time, and we're tired of the constant dripping in the bathroom sink. The color of the walls is ugly, and the rent is much too high."

"That's too bad," said Michelle's mother, "but you sure seem cheerful about it."

Mrs. Barker grinned. "I guess that's because it's not our final home," she said. "It's just a place to live till the builders are finished with our new home. Every time I feel discouraged because of all that's wrong with the place, I just think of how happy I'll be in our new home. Then I feel cheerful again."

That evening, Mom told Michelle's dad what Mrs. Barker had said. "Good for her!" approved Dad. He grinned. "That's a good way for Christians to think, too. In fact, the next time my back hurts, I'll have to remember that my body is just a temporary home. As long as we're on this earth, we're all living in 'temporary housing.' Someday we'll have a new home in heaven-and even new bodies."

   Hey, that's right, thought Michelle. I guess I shouldn't
complain so much about all that's wrong with me, either.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you unhappy with your looks? Do you have a health problem? If you're a Christian, you'll have a new, perfect body someday. Don't be discouraged about the old one-it's not your final home!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 3:21)
"Who (God) shall change our vile body . . . like unto His glorious body."

[Soldier4Christ]

"I don't care what you say, Mom!" grumbled Brad sullenly. "You can defend Dad all you want. He might be Mr. Wonderful to you, but he's not a good father to me!"

"What's bothering you, Brad?" asked Mom, sitting down beside him. "Why are you so angry with Dad?"

"He missed my football game yesterday afternoon!" Brad blurted out. "He said he'd be there!"

"Yes," agreed Mom, "but why didn't he come?"

"He . . . ah . . . he . . . he went to the hospital with Grandma in the ambulance," mumbled Brad.

Mom nodded. "Next complaint?" she asked.

"Dad never listens when I talk to him," said Brad. "The other night I told him I was going to a party this weekend. He just said, 'No! End of discussion!'"

"Wait a minute! Wasn't that after you told him who would be at the party and what the activities would be?" asked Mom.

"I . . . I guess so," admitted Brad.

"Dad tried to explain why going to that party wasn't a good idea, didn't he?" asked Mom.

"Well . . . well . . . maybe," Brad stammered, "but I never get to see Dad!"

This time, Mom nodded. "At least, not as often as you'd like," she agreed. "He'll have extra responsibilities at work for a few more months. But what about last night?"

"Last night?" asked Brad. "Dad wasn't here, and I was bored, so I went out to find my friends!"

Mom laughed. "You sure do see only what you want to see!" she said. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe it was you who breezed right past your father on your way out!"

"I did?" Brad thought for a moment. "Oh, I guess I did," he admitted. "He was late getting home, though."

"True," said Mom, "but he was planning to help you with
that new Lego toy you got for your birthday, and he was home in plenty of time
to do that." She shook her head. "I think you'll have to admit that it's often
you who doesn't spend much time with your father, not the other way
around!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever think that your Heavenly Father doesn't care about you? Since you can't see Him, does it seem like He's far away? Actually, God loves you and tells you about it in the Bible. Do you read it? Do you talk with Him? Or are you too busy? He's always available. Are you?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 4:
"Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh to you."

[Soldier4Christ]

 Two Friends

"We're almost to the little town of Centerville," Mom told Rick as they were on their way to his grandparents new home. "I'm not sure if they have a speed limit there. Tell me if you see a sign."

"Okay," agreed Rick. A few minutes later, he pointed. "There's one," he said. "It's forty-five miles an hour ahead."

"Thank you, honey," said Mom, and she slowed down.

After driving a few miles farther, Rick looked out the back window. "Oh, no, Mom!" he exclaimed. "There's a police car . . . and it's right behind us!"

"There's nothing to worry about," said Mom.

"But what if we get a speeding ticket?" asked Rick.

Mom answered by asking Rick a question. "How can we get a speeding ticket when we're going forty-five miles an hour?" She chuckled, and Rick began to smile, too, as he realized his mother was right. "Actually, that policeman is helping us," Mom added. "He sees to it that we drive at a safe speed and that others do, too. That helps prevent people from crashing into us-or us into them."

"So . . . we think the policeman is our friend when we're going the right speed," said Rick thoughtfully, "but if we're going faster than the speed limit, we're afraid of him."

"That's right," said Mom. She glanced in her rear-view mirror. "In a way, God is something like a policeman," she added. "See if you can think of some reasons why."

Rick thought about it. "I think I know," he said after a while. "Is this right? If we're doing something wrong, we feel afraid of God-like people who are speeding are afraid of the police."

"That's right," said Mom with a nod. "And . . . ?"

"And if we're doing right," Rick continued, "we can feel good that God is watching us because He'll be pleased. Besides, He protects us from a lot of bad things, doesn't He?" Mom nodded, and Rick looked out the back window once more. "The policeman and God," he said slowly. "They're both our friends."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think of policemen as friends? Or do you feel afraid of them? Do you think of God as a friend? Are you afraid of Him? It's good to fear those in authority in the sense that you respect them. When you're tempted to do wrong, it's good to remember that God is watching and will know all about it even if no one else does. When you obey laws and rules, you don't need to feel afraid of those in authority. The same is true of God. Policemen and God are your friends.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good. Romans 13:3

[Soldier4Christ]

Just as Kraig picked up his science book, there was a knock at the door. He peeked out. "I'll get it," he called. "It's Brent. He said he'd come over tonight so we can study science together."

In the kitchen, the two boys silently read the assigned pages and answered the questions. "This doesn't make much sense," mumbled Kraig. "Animals coming from something in the sea!"

The boys looked up as Kraig's mom came into the room with a bag of apples. "Would you like an apple?" she asked. "I just picked these from our own tree."

 As Kraig and Brent helped themselves, Mom continued. "I heard what you were saying," she said, "and I agree with you-it doesn't make sense to think that one kind of plant or animal evolved and changed into another." She picked up an apple, cut it in half, and pointed to the seeds. "If you planted those apple seeds, would oranges come up?" she asked.

Kraig laughed. "Of course not, Mom," he said. "You know the answer to that question."

"Well, when fish lay eggs, do turtles hatch out?" asked Mom. "Or when chickens lay eggs, do ducks hatch out?" Both boys laughed at that idea.

Mom looked at the apple seeds again. "In a way, seeds speak to us," she said. "They tell us that what God said in His Word is true-that He created all things, and He has placed within plants and animals and humans the ability to reproduce after their own kind."

"So this book we're studying on evolution not only
doesn't make sense compared to what the Bible says," said Kraig. "It doesn't
make sense compared to what happens in nature, either. I'm glad I know the
truth."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you believe that man's theories regarding evolution are just that-man's theories? They cannot be proved, but the truth of God's Word has been proved again and again. All of nature is evidence that we have an awesome Creator.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Isaiah 45:12)
"I (God) have made the earth, and created man upon it."

[Soldier4Christ]

Mallory walked into the house and slammed the door loudly. She looked up to see her father watching her. Mallory scowled. "I'm mad!" she announced.

   "Care to talk about it?" asked Dad.

   Mallory tossed her head. "You'll think I'm awful," she said angrily. "It's about Rhonda Kelly."

   "Rhonda Kelly," her father repeated. "She's the girl you've been witnessing to, isn't she?"

   Mallory nodded. "She just became a Christian," she told Dad.

   "That's wonderful!" exclaimed Dad. "Aren't you glad you kept on talking to her about the Lord and inviting her to Bible club and Sunday school?"

   "But that's just it," whined Mallory. "You know how long I've been witnessing to her, but now Mrs. Noll led her to the Lord-not me!"

   After a brief silence, Dad nodded, "And you thought you should be the one to that, right?" he asked.

   "Well, sure. I'm the one who prayed for her all this time and who talked to her," said Mallory. "I even gave her a Bible for her birthday."

   Dad smiled ever so slightly. "And that may be the very reason Rhonda was ready to accept Christ at this time."

   "But why wouldn't God let me be the one to finally bring her to the Lord?" asked Mallory.

   "I don't know," said Dad. "Maybe to keep you from taking
credit for it." He took the Bible from the coffee table and turned to some pages
in the New Testament. "In First Corinthians Paul wrote, 'I have planted, Apollos
watered, but God gave the increase.' It looks like God allowed you to plant and
Mrs. Noll to water. Jesus said those who sow, or plant, and those who reap
should both be happy when the harvest comes in." Mallory sat quietly thinking
about what her father had said. "You see, honey, it shouldn't matter who was
there when Rhonda decided to trust in Jesus," continued Dad. "The important
thing is that she's a Christian now." He smiled as he added, "You witnessed
faithfully for all those months, and now God has 'given the increase.' He's the
one who saved her."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When someone accepts Jesus as Savior, are you happy even if you're not given credit for your part in witnessing to that person? It's up to you to "plant and water"-to faithfully witness -but only God can "give the increase." Only He can save. Your part is to be faithful.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 4:36)
"Both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

[Soldier4Christ]

"You're ugly, Blythe!" shouted Ella. "I'm leaving!" With that, Ella dashed out the door and ran across the street to her own home, but she felt terrible. I shouldn't have gotten mad at Blythe, she thought. I'm a Christian now-at least I guess I am. She thought about the church service the day before and about her decision to trust Jesus to forgive her sins. But now she had lost her temper-as usual! Maybe I'm not really saved after all, she thought. It bothered her the rest of the week.

At the end of the morning service the next Sunday, Rev. Banks gave an invitation for those who wanted to be saved to come forward. Ella was the first to go! "Didn't you come last week, too?" asked Mrs. Davis, the counselor. Ella nodded. "Well, let me explain this again," said Mrs. Davis. She showed Ella some Bible verses about God's forgiveness, and they prayed together. Then Ella felt much better.

That evening, Mom asked Ella to do the dishes. "You know I hate to do dishes," grumbled Ella. But Mom didn't let her off, and Ella was very annoyed. "Oh, I hate you!" she mumbled-under her breath, of course. Again she felt awful. I don't deserve to go to heaven! she thought. She could hardly wait for Sunday to come along so she could "get saved" again.

After the Sunday service, Mrs. Davis again talked with Ella. "I need to get saved again!" said Ella. "I did some bad things."

"I see," said Mrs. Davis, "but, Ella, if you really meant it when said you were sorry for your sin and were trusting Jesus to forgive you, you were born into God's family-and now you're His child forever."

"Really?" asked Ella.

Mrs. Davis nodded. "It's like when you were born into your earthly family," she said. "Your parents don't disown you every time you do something wrong, and neither will your Heavenly Father disown you every time you sin. When you sin, you should confess it to God right away and depend on His strength to not repeat it, but you remain a part of God's family."

"Oh-h-h-h-h," breathed Ella. She was beginning to
understand. She smiled. "Oh, that's good!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel unsure of your salvation? God promises eternal life to those who trust in Him. His promises never fail. If you trust in Jesus, you are a part of God's family forever.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:38-39)
"Neither death nor life . . . nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God."

[Soldier4Christ]

Maria looked back at her mother who was splashing through puddles, her eyes half shut against the drizzle. When Maria had won a ribbon in the Centertown Race the year before, her mother had decided she would like to race the next time, too. But Mom didn't look nearly so enthusiastic now as they practiced in the cool, soggy weather.

As her mother slowed to a walk, Maria dropped back. "Come on, Mom," she encouraged. "You can make it to the stop sign. It's not much farther." Mom smiled weakly, and jogged to the sign. "Now let's go just once more around the block," Maria urged. "I'll be right beside you." As Mom frowned, Maria added, "It helps to think about something else while you run, and you know what I do sometimes? I recite Bible verses to myself-or maybe a whole Psalm I've learned. Come on-you can do it." A determined look crossed Mom's face, and she kept up her pace to the very end.

Back home, Maria and her mother changed into dry clothes and crashed onto the couch together. "I wasn't sure you were going to make it this time," admitted Maria, "but you did just fine."

Mom rubbed her legs ruefully. "I don't know if I would
have, honey, without your encouragement," she said. "You've been such a big help
to me." Maria smiled, and her mother gave her a hug. "I appreciate your help in
laying out a practice course and showing me how to pace myself, but most of all
I appreciate the way you encourage me when I'm about ready to give up." She
grinned at Maria. "And thanks for that suggestion about reciting Bible verses,"
added Mom. "Would you like to know which one immediately popped into my mind?
It's the verse that says children are a 'heritage from the Lord.' You proved
that to me once again this morning."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you encourage your parents and other family members? Can they count on you for a kind word or maybe an uplifting Bible verse? You may be young, but that doesn't mean you can't be a real help and comfort to those around you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 4:12)
"Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers."

[Soldier4Christ]

On the day before the big race, Maria frantically searched through her closet and drawers. "What did I do with them?" she moaned.

"What's going on?" asked her brother Jack, stepping into her room.

"I can't find my running shorts!" grumbled Maria, her head still in the closet. "Have you seen them?"

"Me?" asked Jack. "Not me!" He picked up a pair of jeans from the bed. "Here!" he said, tossing them at her. "Can't you just wear these?"

"Of course I can't wear those!" replied Maria crossly. "What a dumb idea! I can't run in those!"

"Well, you probably could," said Mom as she came in with a pile of laundry, "but it might be a bit uncomfortable and difficult. When we race, Jack, we don't want to carry extra weight, or to wear anything that hinders movement." Mom patted the neatly folded shorts on the top of the stack of clean clothes. "Are you looking for these, Maria?"

"Oh, thanks." Maria grinned sheepishly as she remembered putting the shorts in the laundry basket.

"So neither of you wants to carry my lucky horseshoe?" asked Jack with a grin.

"Pooh!" scoffed Maria. "You don't even have such a thing! And if you did, we wouldn't want it weighing us down. My coach at school says that on the day of the race we should put everything else out of our minds-and out of our pockets, too."

"That's the same advice the writer of Hebrews gives," Mom added.

"The Bible gives advice for racing?" asked Jack.

Mom smiled. "The Apostle Paul refers to the Christian life as a race," she explained, "and he urges us to put aside the sinful 'weights' in our lives, and to run patiently. The weight of any sin-such as a half-truth, an impatient attitude, or a bitter spirit-will keep us from doing our best in our 'life race.'"

"Oops!" exclaimed Maria. She patted Jack's arm. "Sorry for being crabby when you came in, brother dear!"

"Okay," Jack said, backing out the door. "Just don't
kiss me!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you running the Christian race? Are you free of the extra weight of sin? If you're weighed down with bad attitudes or unconfessed sin, talk to the Lord about it. Confess and forsake your sin, and run without those things hindering you!


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

[Soldier4Christ]

The day of the Centertown Race finally came. As Mom and Maria ran, Dad and Jack encouraged them along the way and then waited at the finish line. They cheered for Maria when she crossed it-and later for Mom, too. When award ribbons were given out, both Maria and her mother received one.

"I don't understand something, Mom," Jack said on the way home. "I didn't hear what the officials said when they gave you your ribbon. Why did you get one when so many people who were ahead of you didn't? I mean, Maria was the fifth to cross the finish line, but you were the twenty-ninth!"

Mom smiled. "Well, Jack, I got my red ribbon because I was the second woman in my age group to cross the line," she explained. "Although I ran the race with everybody, I was competing only against other women my age."

"Oh, I get it!" exclaimed Jack. "That's a good way to do it. That makes it fair."

"Judging according to talent and ability is God's way, too," said Dad. "It would be discouraging if we had to be the best in the world to be recognized by Him. But God made us in the first place. He knows our weaknesses and our strengths, and He just expects us to do our best with what we have been given." Dad smiled at Maria. "It feels good to know you've done your best, doesn't it?"

Maria nodded. She had a tight grip on the trophy she had
received for being the first place runner in the junior girls'
division!




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get discouraged in your "Christian race"? God knows when you're doing your best, so invest your time and talents wisely, and He will reward you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Revelation 22:12)
"I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

[Soldier4Christ]

One afternoon, Angela went with her mother to see some people in a nursing home. When they got there, they visited Hattie Smith, a plump, white-haired lady. "It's about time someone came to visit!" snapped Mrs. Smith. Then she grumbled about the food, the nurses, her doctor, and the rainy weather. She turned to Angela. "You just don't know how lucky you are, young lady," she added in a scolding tone. "Oh, to be young again." She sighed and wiped away a tear.

Angela felt depressed as they walked down the hall to Mrs. Jay's room. There, the scrawny old woman in the wheelchair greeted them with a smile on her rosy, wrinkled cheeks. "Praise the Lord-it's nice to see you!" she said. "I've got so much joy bubbling up in me today that I've been praying for someone to share it with." She offered them a mint and then introduced them to her roommate. "Laura, here, asked Jesus into her heart just last week," said Mrs. Jay cheerfully. "Now we're studying the Bible together."

When they left, Angela turned to her mother. "Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Jay are so different," said Angela. "They're both old, but Mrs. Jay is happy and Mrs. Smith is grumpy all the time. Why is that?"

"Well," said Mom after a moment, "remember all the things we bought when we went shopping yesterday? We got some really good deals."

"Yeah . . . but what does that have to do with those old ladies?" asked Angela.

"I'm very satisfied with the way we spent that money,"
said Mom, "and in a way, I think life is like money. You get to spend it just
once." Angela looked puzzled, and Mom continued. "I think Mrs. Jay is so happy
and peaceful because she has spent her life well-in loving service to God and
others. In addition, she's spending her remaining time well. She's witnessing
and praising the Lord-and she knows He'll reward her someday. I'm not sure about
Mrs. Smith. Perhaps she looks back with regret about the way she spent her life.
That may be why they have such different attitudes now."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid of growing old and dying? Don't be! Invest your life for God, and serve Him and others. Whether your life on earth is long or short, you won't have regrets if you spend it wisely!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 16:31)
"The hoary (gray) head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."

[Soldier4Christ]

The telephone rang, and Mollie ran to answer it. It was her friend Claire. The girls hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they talked quite a while. Soon after they hung up, the phone rang again. This time it was a very important business call for Mollie's father. After several other calls came that evening, Mollie laughed. "It's a good thing we have a telephone," she said, and everyone agreed.

"You know," said Dad when they all gathered for family devotions that evening, "those phone calls remind me that God often calls, too, and He expects us to listen and obey what He tells us."

"God calls? Does He have a telephone," asked Bobby, Mollie's little brother.

Mollie laughed. "No, silly," she said, "but He has other ways to call us, doesn't He, Dad?"

"How?" Bobby wanted to know.

"Uh-h-h-h . . . yeah, how?" asked Mollie.

"One way is through His Word," suggested Mom. "Sometimes He uses it to show us things that are wrong in our lives. Other times He uses it to tell us things we should do or to offer comfort or encouragement."

"Right," agreed Dad. "He may also use people-a parent or a pastor or teacher-to speak to our hearts. Sometimes He teaches us something special about Himself. He likes to talk with us."

"Like when Claire called me today," said Mollie. "We just wanted to talk to each other."

"That's right," said Dad. "Your call was pleasure, and my call was business. In each case, we were available to listen to and talk with the caller."

Mollie thought about that. "And is that what God wants us to do, too?" she asked after a moment. "Be ready to listen to Him?"

Dad and Mom both nodded. "To listen to Him and to talk
with Him," said Dad. "God's call is the most important one we can get, so we'd
better be listening for it!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Samuel heard God speak to him. Do you hear Him, too? God doesn't speak in an audible voice, as He did when He called Samuel, but if you'll read His Word and listen carefully when verses are explained, He will often speak to you by impressing on your heart things He wants you to know or do. Take time each day to talk to Him in prayer, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Samuel 3:9)
"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth."

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's hot out today, and I'm so thirsty! May I have a glass of milk?" Becca asked her mother.

"You sure may," Mom answered. She got out a glass, went to the refrigerator, and poured some milk for Becca.

It wasn't long before Becca had another question. "May I have some soda pop?" she asked. "I'm still hot and thirsty."

Mom frowned. "How about some juice instead?" she suggested.

"Okay," agreed Becca, and Mom poured a glass of juice for her.

Becca sipped the juice. Soon after it was gone, she rinsed her glass, filled it with fresh, cool water from the faucet at the kitchen sink, and then went to the freezer and added two ice cubes to the water. Becca took a long drink of the cold liquid. "You know what, Mom?" she asked. "The milk was good, and the juice was, too. But this water works best to make me not be thirsty anymore."

Mom smiled. "I agree," she said. "I always think nothing quenches thirst the way water does. I think I'll have some, too." As she got a glass, she added, "God gave us cool water to quench our physical thirst, and He gave us Living Water to quench our spiritual thirst."

"Living water?" repeated Becca.

"That's right," said Mom. "Jesus is referred to as
Living Water." She dropped ice cubes into her glass. "All this reminds me that
people try to find peace and happiness in so many things. Sometimes they're even
'good' things-just like your juice and milk were good. But only Jesus, the
Living Water, can bring real peace and joy and happiness."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you "thirsty" for happiness? Being popular, having fun, or having lots of money may make you feel good for a little while, but Jesus is the only permanent "thirst quencher." Only He can give true happiness. Turn to Him and trust Him today.

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