Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"I know how to hook up this baby," Dave told his father as they unpacked a new DVD player. "I helped Tony get his hooked up last month. He loaned me a DVD with the story of Babe Ruth on it. I can't wait to see it!"

Dad smiled. "Okay," he agreed. "You can work on this while I take care of some other things." He turned to leave. "I'll be in the garage if you need me."

After twisting several small wires around the screws and reattaching them to the TV, Dave popped the DVD into the player and turned it on. He waited for the picture to come into view. When it did, it was very blurred. "Need some help?" asked Dad as he came back into the room. Dave shook his head and pressed one of the buttons on the machine. The picture was still out of focus.

"Are you sure you've got it hooked up right?" asked Dad.

Dave nodded. "I'm sure," he insisted. "It's practically the same as Tony's. There's got to be something wrong with this machine."

Dad picked up the instruction booklet. "Did you check this?" he asked. "Our machine could be a little different from Tony's."

Dave took the booklet and began to read the instructions. Then he switched some wires. The improvement of the picture was outstanding. "Oops! I guess I messed up," admitted Dave. He was embarrassed. "If all else fails," he added, a smile playing on the corners of his mouth, "read the directions."

"Better yet," said Dad with a grin, "read the instructions first. Then maybe you wouldn't have 'messed up' at all." Dave had to agree it would have been better if he had done that. "And that reminds me . . ." added Dad. "The principle of reading the instructions first is important for Christians, too. God's instruction book, the Bible, tells us how to know Jesus as personal Savior and also how to live the Christian life. Let's not assume we remember what it says. Let's faithfully read and follow its teaching."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
How often do you read the Bible? It explains what you should do if you sin. It tells you to be an example to those who do not know the Lord. It commands every believer to love, to give, to witness, and to do many other things. God's instruction book is very important, but in order to be helpful, it has to be read. Read it daily!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Make me understand the way of Your precepts." Psalm 119:27

[Soldier4Christ]

"Robert says he's going to get a tattoo when he's thirteen-and his parents don't care," announced Mike one evening. "He has it picked out already!" Mike paused. "Next month when I'm thirteen, I'm gonna to get one, too," he added.

"A tattoo!" exclaimed Dad. "Why would you want one?"

"They're cool!" replied Mike. "Everyone is getting them!"

"Oh, now, Mike," said Dad, "you know not everyone has one." He shook his head. "I can't give my permission for you to get one."

"I don't see what's wrong with it!" protested Mike.

"Well, for now you'll just have to accept my decision on this," said Dad firmly. Mike started to argue, but then he turned angrily and left the room.

After school a few days later, Mom noticed a tattoo on Mike's arm. "Michael!" she said sternly. "You know what Dad said about getting a tattoo!"

Mike scowled. "Oh, Mom," he said crossly, "you always over-react! This isn't a real tattoo-it just looks like one. It'll wash off."

"I know, but look at it! It's not the kind of image you should be wearing even temporarily. Go and wash it off," ordered Mom.

Mike hesitated and then went to wash off the tattoo. When he came back, he glared at his mother. "Now are ya happy?" he asked.

Mom frowned. "Mike, I'm concerned about your rebellious attitude lately," she said. "You could wash off that kind of tattoo, but your rebellion can't be washed away with soap and water. You need a change in your heart."

"Oh, Mom," grumbled Mike.

"Do you think witchcraft is serious?" asked Mom.

"Well . . ." Mike hesitated. "Yeah, I guess so."

"God says rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft," Mom told him. "They're both from Satan. Long ago he rebelled against God, and now he works to get people to rebel. You may not see your attitude as serious, Mike, but God does. You need to seek His forgiveness and help."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is your attitude toward your parents and teachers and others in authority over you? What tone of voice do you use when you talk to them or talk about them? Rebellion begins with an attitude. Check yours. God hates rebellion and takes it very seriously. You should, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"An evil man seeks only rebellion." Proverbs 17:11

[Soldier4Christ]

Alexa was enjoying the family reunion. People were everywhere-old people, young people, laughing people, quiet people, aunts and uncles, and lots of cousins. Alexa loved it! There was always someone to spend time with her.

When she and her cousin Lauren began to play a game, Alexa's little brother kept crawling right onto the game board on the floor. The girls laughed, but they were glad when Uncle Paul came along and scooped Stevie out of the way. They began their game again, but then Taylor, a very small cousin, dashed around the corner and fell flat on her face. Alexa jumped up to go and help her up, but before she got there, Grandpa picked up Taylor and comforted her. Alexa and Lauren happily played the game right up until lunch time.

After lunch, Alexa and another cousin watched the smaller kids while their mothers cleared tables. Alexa had fun pushing some of the little ones in the swings, helping them get drinks, and playing "kiddie games" with them.

When it was time for the small children to take naps, Alexa looked around, trying to decide what to do next. "I saw wild flowers down at the end of this lane," said Aunt Sara, who was walking by. "I'm going to go have a closer look at them. Want to come along?" Alexa nodded eagerly. As they walked and talked, Alexa discovered her aunt had enjoyed the same books she liked.

"This family reunion is so cool," said Alexa. "There's always someone to play with and talk to."

"I'm quite sure your mom and dad are always willing to take time for you, too," said Aunt Sara. "Right?" With a grin, Alexa nodded. "I imagine they are pretty busy sometimes, though," added Aunt Sara. "But don't forget-like a big family, God is always there to help you or to comfort you-even while He's putting His arms around millions of other people. Any time you turn to Him, He is there."

Alexa thought about that. She smiled. She had forgotten what a good friend and comforter God is!


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you lonely sometimes? Do you feel all alone if your parents are busy or go out, or if your best friend won't play? Does it sometimes seem like nobody cares when you get hurt, get a bad grade-or even when something goes especially good? Jesus cares. He wants to help you, comfort you, and rejoice with you. He wants to be a part of your everyday life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"I (God), even I, am He who comforts you." Isaiah 51:12

[Soldier4Christ]

Jason left Keith's house and ran all the way home. He hadn't been so excited since moving to Kentucky. "Mom!" he yelled as he entered the house.

"I'm in the laundry room," called Mom. "Come help me fold this sheet."

As they worked, Jason told Mom the exciting news. "Keith's family invited me to go with them to Mammoth Cave a week from Saturday. May I? Please?"

"Sounds like fun," said Mom. "I'm sure it will be fine." She smiled. "And then why don't you ask Keith if he'd like to stay here overnight and come to Sunday school and church with us in the morning?"

"Well . . . I guess I could," said Jason, but he wasn't so sure he wanted to. He'd heard Keith say Sunday school was a great place for babies. Jason sighed. If I tell that to Mom, she'll remind me of the verses we read this morning about letting our lights shine for Jesus, he thought. Then he frowned. I don't think the little light I could give would make much difference anyway.

The trip with Keith's family was as much fun as Jason expected it to be. Exploring the cave was a real adventure. When the group reached a room deep in the cave, the tour guide turned out the single bulb in the area. "I want you to experience total darkness," she said.

"Are you there, Jason?" whispered Keith.

"Yeah," Jason whispered back.

Then the tour guide lit a match, and every eye focused on the tiny flame. As they stood there, Jason was surprised at how much difference that one little flame made.

On the drive home, Jason thought about the tiny flame. I guess small things are important, he admitted to himself. "Keith," he said finally, "you wanna stay at our house overnight and go to Sunday school and church with me tomorrow? Mom said it would be fine with her."

Keith was quiet for a moment. "Sure," he agreed. "I'll ask my mom."

Maybe my small light will make a difference after all, thought Jason.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does your light-your witness-make a difference in anyone's life? Ask God to show you how to let your light shine for Him. Maybe it will be by talking to someone about the Lord, inviting a friend to church, handing out a tract or a copy of Keys for Kids, or just being kind and helpful. Even so-called "little" lights can make a great difference.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14

[Soldier4Christ]

Katie and Scott had spent a whole day at the zoo with their Uncle Bill. "It was so much fun to see the animals," declared Katie when they returned home. They had seen many different kinds-big ones, tiny ones, scary ones, and some very funny ones. Katie tugged on Uncle Bill's arm. "Draw them for us," she begged. So taking the pencil and paper Katie offered, Uncle Bill, who was an artist, sat on the couch and drew pictures of animals they had seen. Katie and Scott sat close beside him and watched. Each wanted to be the first to guess what animal it was. "I know! That's a bear!" said Katie as he drew the first one.

"Right," said Uncle Bill. "How about this?" He made some marks with his pen.

"A giraffe!" shouted Scott. He grinned. "You're good, Uncle Bill. It's easy to tell what you're drawing."

"Yeah," chimed in Katie, "all your pictures are so cool! I think you're the best artist in the world!"

Uncle Bill laughed. "Thanks for the compliments," he said, "but you know, if it weren't for the greatest artist of all, I wouldn't have anything to draw."

"What do you mean?" Katie wanted to know.

Uncle Bill motioned toward the living room window. "Look out this big window," he directed. "It's sometimes called a 'picture' window, and I think that's a good name for it. What do you see?"

"Lots of things!" exclaimed Katie. "There's the apple tree, the flower garden, and even a robin in the birdbath."

"And there goes Jon's dog running across the lawn," added Scott.

"And who made that big picture?" asked Uncle Bill.

"God did," said Scott. "He's the artist you were talking about, right?"

Uncle Bill nodded. "I love to look at God's pictures. He created so many things, and each one is just the right color, just the right shape, and just the right size! He's the greatest artist, and His pictures really are the very best!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you thought of God as an artist? Have you noticed how creative He is? He made cold white snow and warm summer sunshine. He made oceans wet and deserts dry. Kittens are soft, and porcupines are all prickly! And aren't you glad He didn't leave everything in black and white? His rainbow is beautiful! Enjoy God's "pictures" each day, and thank Him for them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Kelli was thoughtful as her family arrived home after church. There had been a communion service that morning, and she had some questions. "I know when we take communion it reminds us of Jesus' death-and we're to do it until He takes us to heaven," she said. "But will we take communion when we get to heaven, too?"

Dad shook his head. "No, Kelli, we won't."

"Why not?" asked Kelli. "I don't understand."

Dad thought for a minute, then pointed to a picture on the piano. "Before Uncle Doug and Aunt Laura left to be missionaries in Africa, they had that picture taken. It reminds us to pray for them as they tell people about Jesus, right?" Kelli nodded. "Remember when they were home on furlough last summer? They spent a couple of weeks with us right at the time all our rose bushes bloomed," continued Dad. "Mom picked so many for the house, we had vases of roses everywhere!"

Kelli laughed. "I remember! We even put Uncle Doug and Aunt Laura's picture away for a while because we needed the space on the piano for another bouquet. But it didn't matter then. We didn't need their picture because they were here in person. That's better than a picture anyway!"

"That's exactly it, Kelli-and the communion service is like a picture to help us remember that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins," Dad explained. "When we're in heaven, we'll be with the Lord Jesus. We'll no longer need the 'picture'!"

"Oh, I get it!" exclaimed Kelli. "That makes sense."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you take part in the communion service? Before you do, it's important to know what it means. Talk about it with your parents, your Sunday school teacher, or your pastor. They'll help you understand. When you participate, do so with thanksgiving, joyfully looking forward to the time when the "picture" won't be needed because you'll be seeing Jesus in heaven.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26

[Soldier4Christ]

Evening devotions were a regular event at the Smith's home, and Dad liked to have all the members of the family participate. "Tonight," said Dad, "let's each quote a verse from the Bible. Choose one with special meaning to you."

Uh-oh, thought Andrew, I haven't learned any new verses in a long time. He listened as his older sister recited Psalm 119:97. "Oh, how I love Your law!" Paige quoted. "It is my meditation all the day." She smiled. "I thought of that verse last Sunday-it reminded me to keep my mind on God during the sermon instead of just day-dreaming."

"A good lesson for all of us," responded Dad. "Do you have a verse, Andrew?"

Andrew took a deep breath and tried not to squirm. "I like John 3:16," he said. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"Don't you learn new verses?" asked Paige. "You always say the same one."

"I like John 3:16," said Andrew, trying to defend himself.

"It's a good verse," Mom assured him, "and I'm glad you like it. But you should be adding new verses to your memory, too." She turned to pick up the baby, who was starting to fuss. "Think of it this way," she added. "I give Amber milk and baby food, right? But what if I gave all of you strained food?"

"Oh, yuck!" exclaimed Andrew, and Paige wrinkled her nose.

Dad smiled. "Baby food was all you could handle when you were babies," he said. "You still drink milk, but now you need solid food, too, so you can grow strong." He looked at Andrew. "See what we're getting at, Son? John 3:16 is a wonderful verse-a great verse for us to learn and meditate on. It tells of God's great love and how we can be saved. But as we grow in our Christian lives, we should also add other 'solid foods'-other verses-to our spiritual diet. God's Word teaches many important principles. Committing them to memory and meditating on them is a good way to help us understand the things of God and not remain 'spiritual babies.'"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
When did you last learn a Bible verse? Are you regularly adding to your Bible knowledge by memorizing verses? Throughout the day, do you think about what God says in the verses you learn? As you memorize them and practice what they teach, you will grow stronger spiritually.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law." Psalm 119:18

[Soldier4Christ]

Daniel and his friend Shane were riding their bikes past the neighborhood schoolyard when Daniel began to talk about the coming school year. "I'm going to be in Mr. Simon's class," he said. "How about you, Shane?"

Shane grinned. "I'm not going back to school in the fall," he replied.

"Aw, come on," said Daniel. "Everybody goes to school."

"My dad says God gave parents the responsibility of teaching their kids long before there were schools, so Mom and Dad are going to teach me at home," explained Shane. "It'll be different, but I think I'll like it."

Back home, Daniel thought about what Shane had said. I wonder if my parents really could teach me anything, he mused. Of course they did teach me to walk and talk and ride a bike. He went to the kitchen where his mother was cooking. "Hey, Mom," he said after watching her a few minutes, "why do you mix the flour and water together before you dump it in the pan on the stove?"

His mother was surprised at his question. "I do that so there won't be lumps in the gravy," she explained. "When I add the flour mixture to the hot liquid, I have to stir it-like this." She quickly stirred the mixture. "It needs a little more flour. Want to try stirring it?" she asked. Daniel laughed and took the spoon she offered. By the end of the impromptu cooking lesson, both were laughing and enjoying their time together.

"I'm going down to the basement and watch Dad at his workbench," Daniel decided. "You never know-I might learn something."

"Yes, you might," agreed Mom, "but right now it's dinner time. You can call your dad to the table." She smiled at him. "I'm glad you're so eager to learn, Daniel. Tell you what-right after dinner you can learn how to wash the dishes!" She laughed at Daniel's groan as he went to call his dad.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Would you include parents in your list of teachers? School teachers, Sunday school teachers, piano teachers, sports coaches . . . all teachers are important, but parents may be the most important ones God has given you. They'll teach you many ordinary, every-day lessons that will help you for the rest of your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Hear . . . the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding." Proverbs 4:1

[Soldier4Christ]

I will not cry! I will not cry! I have to keep calm, Kerry told herself. They were here just a minute ago.

While waiting in line with her sister and parents for a ride on the roller coaster, Kerry had turned away for a moment. When she looked back, they were gone! Kerry's first idea was to walk along the line looking for them. So she walked up and down the entire line four times, but they weren't there! "Where can they be?" Kerry muttered, choking back a sob. She quickly back-tracked to the merry-go-round, but Mom and Dad weren't there, either. Kerry checked out the lunch counter where they had eaten-but none of her family were anywhere in sight. What am I going to do? she wondered.

Suddenly Kerry remembered something! Mom said if we ever got separated from them, we should go to the big, double Ferris wheel and wait there. The rest of the family is supposed to go there, too, so we can all get back together. But where is the Ferris wheel? Mom thought we'd be able to see it from anywhere in the park. Kerry looked all around. There it is, she thought excitedly, way over on the other side of the park! She hurried in the direction of the Ferris wheel.

In just a few minutes, Kerry was sobbing in her mother's arms. Soon she felt better, and the family enjoyed the rest of the day at the park.

As Kerry and her family returned home from church the following day, Kerry was thoughtful. "Pastor David talked about people being lost," she said. "I know how that feels-it's scary! Of course, I should have remembered the Ferris wheel sooner. It was there all the time, but I didn't think about it."

"Being lost is scary, and just think-like Pastor David said, a lot of people in the world are lost spiritually," said Dad. "I'm glad Jesus is there all the time so they don't have to stay lost. They can go to Him, and He'll save them. It's sad that so many keep trying to find the way to heaven by themselves and refuse to come to Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know the way to heaven? You may try lots of ways-like doing good deeds, going to Sunday school, giving money, or making sacrifices. But unless you know Jesus, you will not reach heaven. He's waiting for you to come to Him. Accept Him as your Savior today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Jesus said . . . 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!" moaned Kurt as he looked at the swimming pool. "The water is green!" He and Kristen had the responsibility of putting the proper amount of chlorine and other chemicals into the pool when they were needed, but they hadn't done their job. This meant they had to use extra chemicals, and they couldn't swim for a couple of days. "I'll bet these days are going to be the hottest ones all summer," added Kurt, as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"I know." Kristen sighed, fanning herself. "How did it get like this so fast? The water looked fine yesterday."

"Have you been using the water tester every day?" asked Mom as she brought out a couple of ice cream cones.

 Kurt shook his head. "I guess we thought we'd be able to tell just by looking at it if the water was getting dirty. But by the time we could actually see that algae was growing, it was too late."

"Yeah," said Kristen. "All that green stuff wasn't there yesterday."

"You didn't see it yesterday," responded Mom, "but the algae was there all right. If you had used the water tester, you would have known that."

After dinner, Dad looked thoughtfully out the window at the swimming pool. "Your problems with algae remind me of a more serious problem," he said. "You didn't see the algae, so you didn't do anything about it. Some 'little' unfriendly or unkind things we do hardly seem like sin at all, so we don't do anything about them. By the time we see how ugly they really are, we wonder why we didn't recognize them as sin in the first place. If we'd use our 'sin tester' more often, we might avoid some of our problems."

"Our sin tester!" exclaimed Kristen. "What do you mean?"

Dad's eyes twinkled. "I mean the Bible," he said. "It helps us know when we're doing something wrong. Then we can change our behavior before our actions get out of hand." He grinned at Kurt and Kristen. "C'mon," he said. "Time for family devotions!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you using the Bible to test your actions? Do they measure up to God's standards? Do you know what God says about lying? Cheating? Loving? Forgiving? Use your Bible daily. It will make you aware of "little" sins. They won't get out of control if you confess them and obey what God says in His Word.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." Psalm 119:9

[Soldier4Christ]

"Let's take Elm Street to the park," pleaded Rachel as she walked with her brother. "I don't like to pass the house on this street where that big dog lives."

Steve shrugged. "Okay," he agreed, and they turned the corner. "But you really don't have to be afraid," he added bravely. "Jesus is with us, remember? Mom reminded us of that yesterday."

"Well, I still feel safer going this way," said Rachel.

 They had started past a fenced yard when they heard a deep growl. A large mean-looking dog turned toward them. Showing his teeth, he headed in their direction. "Run!" yelled Steve, and both children dashed down the street. Just as though the dog thought Steve was talking to him, he ran, too, straight toward Rachel and Steve. He ran so hard he slammed into the chain-link fence surrounding the yard. Then he stood there, fur raised, barking angrily. Steve and Rachel didn't slow down until they were several houses away. When they finally turned to look at the dog, he sat watching them, still growling.

When Rachel and Steve got back home, they told Mom about the dog. "Steve forgot all about how God was protecting him-you should have seen him run," Rachel teased her brother. "We didn't really have to be afraid, though. That fence kept the dog away from us."

"Yeah," said Steve, "but all I saw was the big dog."

"But Jesus was with us, too, wasn't He, Mom?" asked Rachel. "Would He have kept the dog from biting us?"

Mom smiled. "I don't know," she said. "He wants us to use good sense and be careful to avoid danger. But in a way, Jesus does have a 'fence of protection' around us all the time. Often things that frighten us, keep us from 'seeing' it-and from remembering it. In addition to following rules for safety, think of the fence whenever you're afraid. Let it remind you that Jesus has promised to take care of you."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know God has a "fence of protection" around you? Raging thunderstorms, being alone, hard tests, illness-none of the difficult situations you may face can tear down that "fence of protection." Things you consider "bad" may still happen, but God is in control-and He'll help you. If you belong to Jesus, believe His promise to keep you in His care.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

[Soldier4Christ]

Stunned, Brian stared at his dad. He had just learned that his father had a very serious disease, and the doctor could not even promise that surgery would help. "You're not going to die, are you?" whispered Brian.

Brian's father didn't answer immediately. "That's something only God knows for sure," he managed at last. "This disease may be fatal, but we need to submit to God, knowing His will is best, even if it doesn't seem best to us at the time."

"But, Dad," Brian protested, "that's not fair. Mom and I need you, and . . ." His voice trailed off.

Dad held out his arms and gave Brian a hug. "I pray God will let me stay with you a while longer," he said, "but your mother and I have come to the place where we're willing to submit to God's will, whatever it is. We're hoping and praying you can come to that place, too."

"I'm not sure I can," Brian said honestly. "It seems all wrong."

Brian's father shook his head. "God never makes any mistakes, Son." Dad smiled at Brian. "Whenever it seems to be more than you can handle, remember that I love you very much, but God loves you even more than I do. He's with you through it all."

Brian walked away, thinking about his father's words. Sure, I know God is in control of everything, he thought. And I know God never makes mistakes, but . . .

Suddenly Brian remembered what his dad had said-"God loves you even more than I do. He's with you through it all." With determination in his heart, Brian prayed silently. Lord, I can't handle this without You. Please give strength to me and Mom and Dad through this hard time. Help me to trust You, no matter what.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you react to hard things in your life-perhaps loss of a loved one through death or divorce; perhaps an illness of your own? Do you get bitter and angry? Or do you remember that God has promised to be with His children through every difficult time? He wants to help you. Tell Him how you feel-He understands. And remember that He never makes any mistakes.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look!" exclaimed Stephanie, coming out of her room with a coffee can in her hands. "I've been keeping some papers in this old coffee can, and when I was putting more in just now, I discovered they smell like coffee!"

"Too bad, Steph," said her brother Mark.

"But what happened?" asked Stephanie. "I washed out the can before I used it."

Dad looked up from a book he was studying. "Did you smell it after you washed it?" he asked.

"After I washed it?" asked Stephanie. "No, I just . . ." Suddenly, she understood. "You think the can still smelled like coffee even after I washed it?"

Dad nodded. "Apparently it did," he said. "It can be difficult to get rid of strong smells like coffee."

Mark laughed. "Be thankful it wasn't an onion can," he joked.

Dad smiled. "I was just reading over my Sunday school lesson," he said, "and you have a good illustration of something taught in the Bible."

"I do?" asked Stephanie. "What would that be?"

"The Bible refers to people as 'vessels,' or containers," replied Dad. "It even talks about how containers are made for various purposes."

"Like for coffee?" asked Mark. "I didn't know they had coffee in the Bible."

"They didn't," said Dad. "The point is that people-Christians-should be set aside to be used for God's work. But many people continue to go to places where God is not honored and do things displeasing to Him. Even after they become Christians, they still 'smell' like some of their old ways."

"Like these papers smell like coffee, right?" asked Stephanie.

"Exactly," said Dad. "We should ask God to cleanse us from anything we do or think that still 'smells' sinful. We should depend on His Spirit to help us live in such a way that others can smell the fragrance of Jesus in our lives."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is the fragrance of Jesus apparent in your life? Or even though you belong to Him, do you do things He wouldn't like? Ask Him to cleanse you of these things. With His strength, stop doing them. With His help, live so that people will find you kind, helpful, sweet and loving-always bearing the fragrance of the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15

[Soldier4Christ]

 Taking Root

Trevor stopped working and wiped sweat from his face. Grandpa stopped, too. "Gardening is hard work," said Grandpa. "Maybe we should take a break and go have a little of Grandma's cookies and punch."

Trevor dropped his hoe. "Sounds good to me," he said.

As they headed to the house, Grandpa pointed to a single row of peas he had planted two weeks earlier. "It takes hard work to take care of a garden," he observed, "but weeds grow easily, don't they?"

"Yeah," said Trevor. "Why did God make weeds, anyway?"

"Well, they're the result of sin," said Grandpa. He looked at Trevor. "Are there any weeds growing in your life?"

"You mean like in our yard at home? Or in Mom's flowers?" asked Trevor. "I guess there probably are some."

Grandpa smiled. "Actually, I mean in your life," he repeated.

"In my life? I don't get it," said Trevor. "How would weeds grow in my life?"

"Not weeds like these," admitted Grandpa, "but 'weeds of sin.' Farmers need to destroy weeds to keep them from taking over and spoiling their crops, and we have to get rid of sinful things in our lives, so they don't take over and spoil our testimonies." Grandpa stooped to pull a tall weed. "For example, like weeds taking over a garden, my temper could take over my life and cause me to spend a lot of time being angry at people."

"Really? I didn't know you had trouble with your temper," said Trevor. He frowned. "I'm not always nice to my sister," he confessed. "Being unkind is like a weed, too, isn't it?" Grandpa nodded. "So . . . how do I kill a 'weed' in my life?"

"First confess it to God," advised Grandpa. "Ask Him to forgive you and help you to be the kind of brother He wants you to be." Grandpa sat down on a bench near the garden. "You may need to ask your sister to forgive you, too."

Trevor sat down next to him. "That's hard," he said slowly. "Almost harder than asking God to forgive me." He sighed. "But I know you're right."

"If you really mean it when you tell God you're sorry, He'll help you apologize, too," said Grandpa. "I know you don't like ugly old weeds, so why not do that?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a "weed"-a sin-that you need removed from your life? Do you have a bad temper? A habit of disobeying? A tendency to swear? Whatever it is, God says you do not have to continue doing it. Confess it to Him and ask Him to help you get rid of the "weed of sin." Follow God's instruction to consider yourself "dead" to that sin. Show your sincerity by also asking forgiveness of anyone you've hurt.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Romans 6:12

[Soldier4Christ]

"Grandma Sneller used this reader when she was in third grade," said Mom. "You may take it to school to show your teacher, Jill, but take good care of it."

"I will," promised Jill. She eagerly put the book in her backpack, and she and her brother Jason left for school.

When the children came home that afternoon, Jill was all smiles as she pulled a music box from her backpack and wound it up. "Look what Nikki brought to school today," she squealed as a little bird on the top spun around while music played. "I gave Nikki Grandma Sneller's reader, and she gave me the music box to play with tonight. We'll trade back tomorrow."

Mom frowned. "Jill, you were given the responsibility of taking care of that old reader," she said sternly. "You should have known better than to trade."

"Nikki will be careful with it," said Jill. "If she hurts it, I'm sure she'll replace it."

Mom sighed. "It's not replaceable," she said as she went to answer the phone. "It's more valuable to me that any book you could find to replace it."

When Mom returned, she was smiling. "That was Nikki's mother. She recognized the value of Grandma Sneller's reader. She and Nikki will be right over to return it, and you'll have to return the music box to Nikki." Jill sighed, but knowing how Mom felt, she quickly agreed.

"You're like the French traders, Jill," declared Jason, who had been listening. "When they first came to America, they tricked the Indians into trading furs and gold and silver for shiny little trinkets, like mirrors and worthless beads."

"I didn't trick anybody," protested Jill.

"Well, then . . . maybe you're the one who was tricked," suggested Jason. "My Sunday school teacher says Satan likes to trick us into making poor trades."

"That's a good point," observed Mom. "We often have more
time for things like TV and video games and baseball than for spending personal
time with the Lord and learning about Him and His will for our lives. We need to
be careful to not be tricked by Satan into trading away the things most valuable
to us."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has Satan tricked you into trading your "treasure" for his "trinkets"? He'd like to give you television programs in exchange for your time, dirty books for your mind, cigarettes and drugs for your health. For your soul, he'll give you the world. Don't let Satan fool you. Hold on to the valuable treasures God has given you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26