Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look what Grandma gave me," said Katie when she came home after spending an afternoon with her grandmother. She showed her mom a plant. "Grandma says it will have flowers," added Katie. "I'm going to keep it in my room and take care of it myself." So she made a place for it on her dresser.

From time to time, Katie checked her plant for buds, but there were only the stems and leaves-and they seemed to be turning brown. "How's your plant?" asked Grandma when she came over one day. "Are there buds on it?"

Katie shook her head. "No. In fact, it looks like it's dying," she said.

"Have you been watering it regularly?" asked Grandma.

"Well, I . . . " Katie hesitated. "I forget sometimes, but then I make up for it later. Want to see it?"

Grandma followed Katie into her room to check it out. "Oh, my!" exclaimed Grandma. "This poor plant is drowning in water!"

Katie shrugged. "If I forget to water it, I just give it twice as much when I do remember-like today," she explained, "but it doesn't seem to help."

Grandma shook her head. "Katie, how would you like it if your mother forgot to fix dinner for about three days, and then when she remembered, she made you eat enough for all the meals she had forgotten?" she asked.

Katie laughed. "I wouldn't like it," she said. "I'd be starving on the days she forgot, and I'd get way too full when she remembered again."

"Your plant doesn't like that kind of treatment, either," said Grandma. '"You need to water it regularly." As they turned to leave the room, Grandma noticed the Bible on Katie's desk. "I see you have your Bible handy," she approved.

Katie nodded and picked it up. "This is one thing I haven't forgotten, Grandma," she said. "When you gave it to me, you told me to read it every day, and that's what I've been doing."

Grandma smiled. "Good!" she said. "It's the best book in
the world-full of spiritual food for you, and I'm glad to see you're getting a
regular diet of that."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you read your Bible every day? Or do you sometimes forget-or neglect it even when you do remember? Do you try to "catch up" by reading faster and reading a lot at a time? That doesn't work well. The Bible gives you spiritual food. If you want to see growth in your Christian life, set up a schedule for regular Bible reading. Read it, meditate on it, and follow its teaching.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"I have treasured the words of His (God's) mouth more than my necessary food." Job 23:12

[Soldier4Christ]

"Wow! You can see a long way from up here!" exclaimed Bridget when she finally reached the top of a steep, rocky hill. She grinned at her cousin Amy. "You can see almost all of your dad's farm-and even some of the neighbors' fields."

Amy nodded and pointed toward the valley below. "Look at Brett," she said. "He's got the cows almost to the corral." Looking down, Bridget watched Amy's brother dart around behind the cattle, herding them toward the gate.

Bridget noticed a dog running toward the animals, and she heard Amy gasp. "Coco got out!" exclaimed Amy. "He's headed straight for the cows!" Amy and Bridget waved and shouted, trying to catch Brett's attention, but he didn't seem to see or hear them. When Coco reached the cattle, he barked wildly and the cows scattered. Brett had to round them up all over again.

When the girls got back down the hill, Brett had finished his chores and dinner was ready. "Bridget and I were on top of the hill, and we could see the whole farm," Amy told her brother as they sat down at the table. "We saw Coco coming, too. We shouted and waved, but we were too far away for you to notice us."

Brett sighed. "Actually, I did see you. I knew you were trying to tell me something," he admitted, "but I figured if I took my attention off the cows, they'd scatter again. Now I know you were trying to save me a lot of work."

Dad smiled. "What a good illustration of how God sees our whole lives just like the girls could see the whole farm," he exclaimed. "When sad things happen, we're often reminded that God cares for us and knows what's best. He knows what will happen, and we should trust Him . But I'm afraid we often forget that we need to trust Him through ordinary days as well."

"Trust Him through ordinary days?" asked Brett. "What do you mean?"

"Well . . . for example, we might be afraid to witness or stand up for what we believe, because we think we'll be laughed at," said Dad. "God knows what will happen, and we should trust Him and do what we know we should do."

Amy nodded. "Hey . . . how about if we think studying won't help us, so why bother? We really should trust God to help us with our studying, right?"

"Right!" Dad nodded. "He knows what will happen when we
obey Him. That's a good reason to pay attention when He's telling us something,
and to trust Him enough to do whatever He prompts us to do, isn't
it?"

[Soldier4Christ]

"Wow! You can see a long way from up here!" exclaimed Bridget when she finally reached the top of a steep, rocky hill. She grinned at her cousin Amy. "You can see almost all of your dad's farm-and even some of the neighbors' fields."

Amy nodded and pointed toward the valley below. "Look at Brett," she said. "He's got the cows almost to the corral." Looking down, Bridget watched Amy's brother dart around behind the cattle, herding them toward the gate.

Bridget noticed a dog running toward the animals, and she heard Amy gasp. "Coco got out!" exclaimed Amy. "He's headed straight for the cows!" Amy and Bridget waved and shouted, trying to catch Brett's attention, but he didn't seem to see or hear them. When Coco reached the cattle, he barked wildly and the cows scattered. Brett had to round them up all over again.

When the girls got back down the hill, Brett had finished his chores and dinner was ready. "Bridget and I were on top of the hill, and we could see the whole farm," Amy told her brother as they sat down at the table. "We saw Coco coming, too. We shouted and waved, but we were too far away for you to notice us."

Brett sighed. "Actually, I did see you. I knew you were trying to tell me something," he admitted, "but I figured if I took my attention off the cows, they'd scatter again. Now I know you were trying to save me a lot of work."

Dad smiled. "What a good illustration of how God sees our whole lives just like the girls could see the whole farm," he exclaimed. "When sad things happen, we're often reminded that God cares for us and knows what's best. He knows what will happen, and we should trust Him . But I'm afraid we often forget that we need to trust Him through ordinary days as well."

"Trust Him through ordinary days?" asked Brett. "What do you mean?"

"Well . . . for example, we might be afraid to witness or stand up for what we believe, because we think we'll be laughed at," said Dad. "God knows what will happen, and we should trust Him and do what we know we should do."

Amy nodded. "Hey . . . how about if we think studying won't help us, so why bother? We really should trust God to help us with our studying, right?"

"Right!" Dad nodded. "He knows what will happen when we
obey Him. That's a good reason to pay attention when He's telling us something,
and to trust Him enough to do whatever He prompts us to do, isn't
it?"

[Soldier4Christ]

"I get that one," said Mike, grabbing the biggest piece of pie.

His sister Megan scowled. "You always take the biggest piece for yourself," she grumbled.

Their brother John joined in. "Yeah," he said. "Can't you think of anyone but yourself?" Mike just scowled at John and went out to play.

After dinner, some kids came over and played games in the back yard. Mike's voice could be heard over all the others. "Me first!" he shouted whenever a new game began. Megan and John were embarrassed and ashamed of their brother. "We gotta do something about him!" declared Megan. So they thought up a plan.

After hearing Mike say "me first" several times the next day, Megan and John put their plan into action. When Mike came in from play, they were ready. A plate holding three shiny, red apples stood on the table.

"Oh, yummy!" exclaimed Mike. "I get to choose first." He grabbed the biggest apple, and Megan and John quickly took the two smaller ones. Mike started to put the big apple to his mouth, then pulled it away and looked at it suspiciously. He tested it with his teeth. "Oh, you jerks!" he sputtered. "You tricked me! You served a plateful of wax apples."

"Maybe you really tricked yourself," said John, biting into his apple. "O-o-o-oh! This one's sweet and juicy. How's yours, Megan?"

"Delicious!" Megan declared. She looked at Mike. "If you hadn't been greedy and taken the biggest one for yourself, you could have been eating one of these apples." With a scowl, Mike stalked out of the room. "Do you think he learned anything from that?" asked Megan.

"I hope so," said John. "I guess time will tell. We'll
just have to wait and see."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you willing to take turns being first? Are you willing to sometimes let others have the biggest or best things? In today's Scripture reading, God warns against "exalting" yourself-thinking you're the best and putting yourself first. He says the way to be first is to be a servant. So put God first of all in your life, and then make "You first," not "Me first," your motto.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35

[Soldier4Christ]

"What are you doing, Mr. Ward?" asked Scott when he saw his neighbor-who was also his Sunday school teacher-getting out some tools.

"I'm going to use my garden tiller to get rid of some weeds," said Mr. Ward. "Do you want to help?"

"Sure," responded Scott. He really liked Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward started the tiller and showed Scott how it worked. "Start here, and keep your eyes on the space between the plants. Walk straight down the row," said Mr. Ward, pointing to the other end of the garden. "When you come back this way, you can take the next row."

Scott began eagerly, hoping he would do a good job. His confidence built as  the weeds in row after row disappeared. He was almost finished when he heard someone call his name. Turning his head, he saw Mrs. Ward with a big glass of lemonade. "Shut it off, and take a break," she shouted. Grinning, Scott turned back to shut off the machine. To his dismay, he saw that while he had been looking back, it had made a big swerve and taken out some garden plants.

Mr. Ward saw what had happened, too. "Don't worry about it, Scott," he said. "There's not much damage-you did a great job on the rest. Come have some lemonade, and then you can finish the last row."

As they sat under a tree with their lemonade, Scott mentioned a problem he was having some of his old friends. "Those guys are always after me to do stuff I used to do before I was saved. I know it would get me into trouble, but . . . sometimes it looks like fun," he admitted.

Mr. Ward gazed over the garden. "When you looked back
while working in the garden, it messed up a row," he said. "Looking back at your
old lifestyle, may mess up your life. Sometimes we have to break friendships to
serve the Lord-especially if the friends cause us to do things that are wrong.
Instead of looking back to them, look to Jesus and God's Word for direction in
your new life."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Where are you looking? Do friends want you to do things that would displease the Lord? Do those old ways seem attractive? Ask God to help you to look forward-to determine what He wants you to do-instead of looking back. It may be necessary to replace some old friendships with new ones. For close friends, choose other kids who are Christians, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Jesus said . . .'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:62

[Soldier4Christ]

Jack and his father were going on an early morning fishing trip. We gotta be the first ones into Grasswater Cove so we can get that old mossback bass, thought Jack as he dropped off to sleep. The next thing he knew, a hand was shaking him. "Jack, wake up! Time to go after Old Mossback," Dad whispered.

Jack jumped out of bed, dressed quickly, and soon they were on their way in the pickup truck. In his mind, Jack could see Grasswater Cove. Why, he could almost feel his line go tight with a solid, hard strike, and then he'd . . .

"What's that?" Dad's voice broke into his thoughts. The pickup's headlights lit up a car lying on its side just off the road. Dad stepped on the brakes. "Wait here, Jack," he ordered as he jumped out and ran over to the car. Soon he returned, helping a man who was limping. "This is Mr. Paulson," said Dad, "and his ankle needs attention. We'll take him back to Rockville to get help."

"I hate to put you to so much trouble," protested Mr. Paulson.

"No problem," said Dad. "We're glad to help our neighbor."

Jack's heart sank as the truck turned and headed away from the lake. Good-bye, Old Mossback, he thought sadly-but he began to feel better about the delay as he listened to Dad explain why he had called the man their neighbor. "The Bible teaches that our neighbor isn't only the person living near us," Dad was saying. "It can be anyone we meet. God wants us to act in a good, neighborly manner whenever we see someone in trouble."

By the time Mr. Paulson had been taken care of, it was quite late and the fishing had to be postponed. "I'm sorry about that," Dad told Jack. "But I think Old Mossback will wait for us another day."

Jack was disappointed, but he remembered how their
"neighbor" had listened while Dad talked about the Lord. Mr. Paulson's more
important than any old fish, anyway, he decided, and like Dad said, we'll get
Old Mossback another time.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a good "neighbor"? Helping others isn't always easy, and it may cost you something. But when you do it for Jesus' sake, you'll find that it's worth whatever it costs. It may even be the thing that causes someone to become interested in knowing the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"You shall love . . . your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

[Soldier4Christ]

David gathered his dirty clothes in a basket and carried them downstairs to the laundry room where his mother was measuring detergent into the washer. "My baseball uniform is in here, Mom," he said. "It got pretty dirty when I slid into home plate." David laughed and added, "But it was worth it! We won! Now I'll need it for the game tomorrow."

Mom smiled. "No problem," she said. "It will be ready for you."

After the game the next day, David got into the car with a scowl and slammed the door hard. "Whoa, David! Why are you so angry?" asked Mom.

"Dad promised he'd come see me play this time," muttered David as he threw his mitt onto the floorboard. "He promised! He's missed every game since the divorce. It's just not fair."

Mom sighed. "Oh, honey, I know it's hard to forgive your father," she said. "Forgiving is hard for me, too, but I try to remember the Bible verse that says we should forgive 'seventy time seven' times. That's a lot of forgiving."

"I'm sure I've forgiven him that many times already!" said David grumpily.

"I know it seems that way, son," said Mom quietly, "but that verse isn't talking about a specific number. It means we should forgive every time we're wronged." After a quiet moment Mom continued. "It's like . . . well, like your uniform. I just washed it yesterday, and now you've gotten it dirty again."

"I always get it dirty when I play," mumbled David. "What does that have to do with Dad?"

"Even though I know you're going to get it dirty again, I keep washing it, right?" asked Mom. "I wash it whenever washing is needed. That's the way we have to forgive, too."

David sighed. "I . . . I think I get it," he said. "I guess it means I have to keep forgiving Dad even though it hurts."

Mom nodded. "It's never easy," she said, "but God blesses
and comforts when we honor Him by obeying His commands and forgiving as He
does."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you found it hard to forgive someone for a wrong that was done to you? That's natural. Even though it's hard to forgive those who hurt you, Jesus wants you to do it anyway. If you're a Christian, God will give you the courage and strength to obey His command about forgiveness.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Colossians 3:13

[Soldier4Christ]

"Come on, Dan," Uncle Pete called, "let's take a ride."

"Okay," agreed Dan. "I really like your new car."

As Dan reached for the seat belt, Uncle Pete turned to him. "No need to fasten those things," he said with a laugh. "We're just going a short distance."

But Dan buckled up just the same. "In school we were taught that seat belts save lives," he said.

Uncle Pete pulled out a pack of cigarettes." I suppose you'll tell now me that smoking is hazardous to my health, too," he said.

Dan grinned. "As they say, 'If the shoe fits, wear it.' It makes sense."

Uncle Pete turned and glanced at the boy. "You're getting to sound more and more like your dad," he snapped.

"Well, Uncle Pete, you know you should use the seat belts, and you know smoking is bad," retorted Dan, "so how come you ignore all the warnings about those things?"

Dan's uncle was quiet for a while. "The truth is," he said at last, "I don't have a reason. If your dad were here, he'd also want to know why I haven't become a Christian, since life is uncertain and death could come at any time." He turned and looked at Dan. "And," he added, "he'd ask the same question of you! See-in some ways you're just like me!"

Dan had no answer to that, but he thought about his uncle's words long after they returned home. Uncle Pete knew it was foolish not to use seat belts, yet he often failed to use them. He knew smoking could cause cancer, but he continued to smoke. Worst of all, both Uncle Pete and Dan knew they would be eternally lost if they did not accept Jesus as Savior, yet neither of them gave it much thought.

I'm not going to be like Uncle Pete any more-at least not
in this, Dan decided suddenly. He jumped up and went to ask his father to
explain once again just what it meant to trust Jesus.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ignore warnings about your health? That's dangerous-but it's even more dangerous to neglect your spiritual welfare. Don't be like Felix in today's Scripture and think you'll wait for a "more convenient season." Such a time may never come. The Bible says you are a sinner and need Jesus as your Savior. Don't wait. Accept Him today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Safe Place

"I'm ready to go to the store, Mom," said Amber. "You said you needed some milk, right? Anything else?"

Mom nodded. "I also need a loaf of bread and a package of cheese," she replied. "Oh . . . I could use a some cornstarch and some baking powder, too. Can you remember all that?" She glanced at her daughter. "What are you doing?" asked Mom.

Amber lifted her head and grinned at her mother. She turned her hand to show her mother what she had done. "I wrote the list on my palm with this pen, so I'll be sure to know what you need," Amber explained. "I could have made a list on paper, but I might have lost that. I can't lose my hand."

Mom laughed. "That's a unique idea," she said. "Okay-but wait a minute. I want to show you an interesting verse in the Bible." She walked over to her desk, picked up her small Bible and opened it to Isaiah. "Read this," said Mom, pointing to a verse. "Read it out loud and tell me what you think of it."

Amber read the verse. "'Behold, I have inscribed you upon the palms of My hands.'" She looked up at her mother. "Hey, I think that's cool! God writes on His palms, too."

Mom nodded. "Actually, He does more than just write. After all, that ink will wash off your palm-at least I certainly hope it will. But God said His people, Israel, were 'inscribed' on His palms, and I believe we can apply that to Christians, too. Some translations use the word 'engraved.' Engraving goes deeper than writing. It won't ever come off." Mom smiled at Amber. "It makes me feel good to think I'm engraved on God's palms."

Amber was silent for a moment. She looked down at the black writing on her hand. "Me, too," she agreed. She closed her hand over the writing. "It's a safe place to be, isn't it?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever written on your palm to remember something-a time for an appointment, a school assignment, or someone's phone number? Your palm is a safe place for such things, isn't it? Are you engraved on God's palms? That's a picture of the safety you can find by simply trusting in Jesus as Savior. Why not ask Him to save you today? No matter what happens in your life, if you're in God's hand, you're in the safest place you can be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Isaiah 49:16

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Song God Loves

"How was children's church?" asked Mom as the family ate Sunday dinner.

"Great," replied Gail. "Mrs. Simons always makes the stories interesting."

"Any new songs today?" asked Dad.

"Not today," Harvey answered. Then he chuckled and looked across the table at Gail. "Did you hear Robert singing?"

"Did I!" Gail giggled. "How could I help but hear him?"

"He sings so loud, and if he hit one correct note, it would be a miracle," said Harvey. "I can hardly stand to sit by him during singtime." The phone rang and Harvey ran to answer it, so he didn't see the frown on Dad's face.

After dinner, everyone went to sit out on the deck. Harvey and Gail began working a puzzle on the picnic table. When some sparrows settled on the nearby shrubs, Gail looked up and watched them. "Those sparrows aren't very pretty but I love to hear them chatter," she said.

Mom nodded and pointed. "There's a hummingbird drinking from that red flower. And see the magpies at the back of the yard? They're pretty, but they're not good singers."

"What bird song do you think God loves the best?" asked Dad.

"I don't know. I suppose He loves them all the same," said Gail. "He created them all."

"Yes." Dad nodded. "Is it the same with people? Does God love everybody's songs of praise?"

"Sure," said Harvey. "God loves us all the same." Harvey nodded and looked at his father. "I think I know what you're getting at! You're thinking of Robert, aren't you?" Seeing his father smile, Harvey added, "I guess God loves everyone's singing-even if they can't carry a tune. Right, Dad?"

"Exactly," said Dad with a smile. "When we sing from our hearts and mean the words of praise that we sing, I'm sure God loves to hear us."

"But . . . but . . ." Gail sighed. "I'm beginning to think maybe God loves to hear Robert more than me," she said. "I don't always think about the words I sing."

Harvey nodded. "Robert, I criticize you no more," he said dramatically.

Gail looked at the sparrows again. "His eye is on the sparrows," she sang softly, "and I know He watches me."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
As you sing songs of worship, are you singing from your heart? Do you think about the words you're singing? Do you mean them? Or do you just mouth words and pay no attention to what they say? God loves genuine songs of praise. Perhaps He gave you a beautiful voice. If so, use it for His glory by singing unto Him. Perhaps you think you can't sing well. If you sing words of praise to God and truly mean them, you are singing well and God is pleased.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord. Psalm 68:32

[Soldier4Christ]

"I'm ready to go to the store, Mom," said Amber. "You said you needed some milk, right? Anything else?"

Mom nodded. "I also need a loaf of bread and a package of cheese," she replied. "Oh . . . I could use a some cornstarch and some baking powder, too. Can you remember all that?" She glanced at her daughter. "What are you doing?" asked Mom.

Amber lifted her head and grinned at her mother. She turned her hand to show her mother what she had done. "I wrote the list on my palm with this pen, so I'll be sure to know what you need," Amber explained. "I could have made a list on paper, but I might have lost that. I can't lose my hand."

Mom laughed. "That's a unique idea," she said. "Okay-but wait a minute. I want to show you an interesting verse in the Bible." She walked over to her desk, picked up her small Bible and opened it to Isaiah. "Read this," said Mom, pointing to a verse. "Read it out loud and tell me what you think of it."

Amber read the verse. "'Behold, I have inscribed you upon the palms of My hands.'" She looked up at her mother. "Hey, I think that's cool! God writes on His palms, too."

Mom nodded. "Actually, He does more than just write. After all, that ink will wash off your palm-at least I certainly hope it will. But God said His people, Israel, were 'inscribed' on His palms, and I believe we can apply that to Christians, too. Some translations use the word 'engraved.' Engraving goes deeper than writing. It won't ever come off." Mom smiled at Amber. "It makes me feel good to think I'm engraved on God's palms."

Amber was silent for a moment. She looked down at the black writing on her hand. "Me, too," she agreed. She closed her hand over the writing. "It's a safe place to be, isn't it?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever written on your palm to remember something-a time for an appointment, a school assignment, or someone's phone number? Your palm is a safe place for such things, isn't it? Are you engraved on God's palms? That's a picture of the safety you can find by simply trusting in Jesus as Savior. Why not ask Him to save you today? (See the ABCs at the end of this book.) No matter what happens in your life, if you're in God's hand, you're in the safest place you can be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Isaiah 49:16

[Soldier4Christ]

"Jake, have you learned your memory verse for tomorrow?" asked Mom.

Jake shook his head. "No, but I want to finish this first." He held up the model plane he was putting together. "Ethan Thompson was supposed to come and help me with it this morning," added Jake with a scowl. "He said he'd call if he couldn't come. It's almost noon, and he still hasn't come or called."

"Why don't you see if he can come this afternoon instead?" suggested Mom. "Get that verse learned before lunch."

"Aw, Mom," complained Jake, "what's the hurry?" But he put the model down and went to the telephone. When he picked it up, he heard his sister's voice as she talked with one of her friends. "Ethan's probably been trying to call and getting a busy signal!" Jake exclaimed as he replaced the receiver. "Nicole's on the phone, and I bet she's been talking all morning!" He reached for the phone again. "I'm going to tell her to get off the line."

"Hold on," said Mom. "I'll talk to her in a minute." She frowned. "I know Nicole had to make several calls today, so like you said, maybe Ethan couldn't get through to you because the line was busy. How often do you suppose the Lord gets a busy signal when He wants to get through to us?"

Jake gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

"Sometimes we don't hear the things God wants us to hear, because we're too busy with other things," said Mom. "We have homework and music practice and football games-all kinds of things to keep us from God's Word. Memorizing Bible verses is one way we can stay in touch with Him as we think about those verses and what they say to us."

Jake frowned. "You're talking about my Sunday school verse again, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," said Mom. "I'd be glad to help you learn
your verse. Then you can call Ethan about coming over."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find time to study and learn Bible verses? God wants to communicate with you through His Word. Your daily activities are important, but don't let them keep you from learning things taught in the Bible. Read it, think about it, memorize it, and act upon it. You'll find it helps you as you go about all your other activities.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." Psalm 119:16

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, Lisa," gasped Tina as she entered the room she shared with her older sister, "your dress is so beautiful! You look like a princess!"

Lisa laughed. "I hope I look like a bride," she said.

Tina giggled. "Try on the veil, too. I want to see it." As Lisa placed the veil on her dark hair, Tina sighed wistfully. "I'd love to wear a dress like that and march down the church aisle," she said.

Lisa laughed. "Whoa, Tina! You're only thirteen," she said. "It'll be a long time before you're old enough to get married."

"With these braces and freckles," Tina murmured, "no guy in his right mind would even look at me twice!"

"By the time you're old enough to get married, you won't have braces," said Lisa. She grinned. "I have freckles, too, and Dan likes them. If a guy really loves you, he won't care if you have freckles, or braces, or warts on your nose!"

Tina laughed. "Well, at least I don't have the warts." She frowned. "Lisa, how do you know you really love Dan?"

"Well . . . being in love isn't just having strong feelings for someone," replied Lisa. "It includes respect, friendship, and commitment." She paused for a moment. "When a man and a woman are really in love, they want to commit themselves to one another for a lifetime. Never get married, Tina, unless you're sure you've found someone you want to live with the rest of your life," Lisa advised. "That's God's plan for a couple."

Tina nodded. "I wonder if I ever will get married," she said thoughtfully. "I hope so."

Lisa smiled. "The important thing to remember is that you must be willing to do what God wants. Maybe He'll bring a special man into your life someday and give you a deep love for one another. Or maybe God's choice for you is to be single. That's up to Him. Meanwhile, enjoy my wedding, okay?"

Tina nodded and grinned. "Okay," she
agreed.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder who you'll marry or whether you'll ever get married? Don't be in a hurry and rush ahead of God. You have lots of time. For now, develop good friendships-and enjoy them. Remember, God says marriage is to last as long as you both live, so it's a very serious decision. Ask God to lead you in this choice for your future.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"What God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:6

[Soldier4Christ]

One evening not long before her marriage was to take place, Lisa looked up from her desk. She smiled at Tina. "I thought I'd read my Sunday school lesson and forget all about weddings for a few minutes," said Lisa, "but guess what the lesson is about?"

   "What?" asked Tina, who was sprawled on her bed. She was almost as excited about wedding plans as her sister was.

   "It's about Jesus and the Church-the Bible refers to believers as God's Church. It says husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church," Lisa answered. "The Church is also called the Bride of Christ, and Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom. Someday He'll come back for His bride." She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "You know how hard I've worked to make sure everything is just right for my wedding to Dan! Now I'm wondering if I've been as careful in preparing to meet Jesus."

   "I know a lot of the stuff you've been working on for your wedding," said Tina, "but what things are we supposed to be doing to be ready to meet Jesus?"

   "Trusting in Christ to forgive our sins is the beginning, of course," Lisa answered, "and then, according to the third chapter of First John, we should be purifying ourselves."

   "What does that mean?" Tina asked.

   "Well, think about it," said Lisa. "I want Dan to always be pleased with the way I behave. I want to learn to love the things Dan loves-and the places he enjoys going." She grinned. "I'm even glad to go fishing with him!"

   Tina laughed, remembering how Lisa disliked squiggly worms. "So . . . if we really love Jesus, we should want to be doing things that would please Him if He came right now. And we should be in a place He would approve of, right?"

   Lisa nodded as she climbed into bed. "That's right." she
agreed. "We should want to stay away from sin and live pure, clean lives for
Him. Let's both remember to work on that as well as on wedding
plans."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
If Jesus came today, would you be ready? Are you keeping your life pure? Do your thoughts and actions please Him? Would you be glad to have Him come and find you in any of the places you go? Remember, Jesus is coming-He could come today! Live as though you believe that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 John 3:2-3)
"We shall be like Him (Jesus), for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

[Soldier4Christ]

Todd got out his science book and sat down to do some homework. Wow! he thought to himself after reading a few pages. This sure doesn't sound like what the Bible says. He decided to ask his dad about it. "Dad, my science book doesn't teach creation like the Bible does," said Todd when he found his dad, who was working out in the garage. "According to my book, many scientists believe that the first particle of the earth just 'happened' to come into existence. They say people and everything else evolved from that."

"Well, Son, most books-including that one-have been written by man, and men can make mistakes," replied Dad. "The Bible, on the other hand, is actually the Word of God. He makes no errors. As you already pointed out, some men say everything evolved from a small particle, but God says in the Bible that everything was created by Him. So which are you going to believe? Men or God?"

"Well, I know the Bible is true," said Todd, "but those scientists have done a lot of studying. It doesn't seem like they should be all wrong."

"Actually, a lot of scientists agree with the biblical account of creation," said Dad, "and if you think about it, it's the only one that makes sense." He paused, then pointed to the car he was working on. "What would you say, Todd, if someone told you this car 'just happened'-that nobody put the engine, the body, the seats, the wheels, and all the other parts together? What if he said there was once just a little speck of iron dust and all these parts evolved from that? And then they came together by themselves?"

Todd grinned. "I'd say that was the craziest thing I ever heard," he said.

"You'd be absolutely right," Dad replied, "and the human
body is far more complicated than this car. We're not accidents-we are part of
God's plan and creation. And so is every other part of the world. The Bible
makes a lot more sense than any science book that denies God."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been taught evolution as if it were fact? Have you had to study books that say God is not the Creator? Don't believe them! The Bible says God made the whole world. He made the trees and other growing things. He made the animals and the people. He made you! He loves you, and He has a wonderful plan and purpose for your life. Believe what He says.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Key Verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1