Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Passenger trains no longer stopped at the little town of Judson, but for the city's anniversary celebration, there was a train running on the old tracks once again. "Look, Dad!" exclaimed John, pointing to a sign.

"Free Rides!" Dad read aloud. "Climb aboard the train to Rock Island and enjoy an old-fashioned train ride."

John and Dad got on the train. They waited for what seemed like a long time. "Shouldn't we be going by now?" John asked.

Dad looked around. "Maybe they're waiting for more people," he suggested.

Just then a conductor stepped into the car. "Guess you folks didn't read the sign carefully," he said. "This car's not going anywhere."

"How come?" asked John in surprise.

The man laughed. "Because it's not hooked up to the engine," he said. "It's on a second track. The train on the track we're using will be back soon, and then you can have a ride."

John and his father felt a little foolish as they and the others got off the train to wait. "Good intentions didn't get us there, did they?" asked Dad, and John looked at him curiously. "We had good intentions of taking that ride," explained Dad, "but that didn't help us. We sat on the train, but it didn't go anywhere because we were on the wrong track and weren't attached to the engine. It reminded me of Uncle Perry. He told me just last night that he expects to go to heaven because he attends church regularly. He needs to understand that going to church doesn't mean you're going to heaven."

John nodded. "Being connected with the 'engine' to get to heaven means knowing Jesus as Savior, right?" he asked as he looked down the track and saw the train coming.

"That's right," agreed Dad. "If you haven't come to Christ and trusted in Him to forgive your sins, you're not on the right track."

"You'll have to tell Uncle Perry about this train ride,"
suggested John as they boarded the car right behind the engine. "I know we're
going somewhere this time," he added. "This car is hooked up to the
engine."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you accepted Jesus as the way to heaven? God's Word says there's only one way to get there, and Jesus is that way. Get on the right track-trust in Jesus as your Savior from sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Jesus said . . . "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6

[Soldier4Christ]

"Wow! Look at that bear yawn!" exclaimed Cameron as he and his parents moved from one area at the local zoo to another. "See all those teeth? I bet he could really hurt someone with them!"

A short time later, Cameron was equally impressed with a large tiger who scowled warily at them. "Imagine something like that sneaking up on you in the jungle!" exclaimed Cameron.

When they started for home, Cameron was still thinking about the fierce animals they had seen. "Dad, which of the animals do you think is the most dangerous?" he asked.

"Well, I don't really know, but I guess I'll vote for the lion," replied Dad. As they drove through a run-down section of town, he added, "There's something even more dangerous than lions or bears. Look out the window and tell me what you see."

Cameron looked around. "Well . . . I see old stores and theaters," he replied. "Over there, a policeman is talking to someone who's acting funny. And it looks like there's an accident up ahead, next to that burned-out building with broken windows."

"This surely has become a poor section of town," murmured Mom. "Everything is so shabby."

"But there aren't any animals here, Dad." Cameron wanted to get back to the subject.

"No, but this street shows the effects of Satan's work," said Dad, "and the Bible refers to him as a 'roaring lion.' We wouldn't want to get too close to dangerous animals like the ones we saw in the zoo, but we need to be far more cautious about getting close to Satan. More people die-and more hearts and homes are broken-due to man's sin than from all the animals put together."

"Yes," agreed Mom. "Satan is the most dangerous 'animal'
of all. I think one reason is that he knows how to make himself look good to
people, and they like to try the things he offers. That's a very dangerous thing
to do! We need to be alert and resist him no matter how he presents
himself."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Would you be frightened if you met a lion or bear? You should be much more frightened of that "dirty" book or movie, the beer or drugs your friend wants you to try, or even a "little white" lie that seems so harmless. These are things Satan uses to destroy you and others. Be smart-stay away from sin as much as possible!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's not fair!" Shelly complained as she and her mother walked into the supermarket. "It's just not fair! When Mr. Benson said we could have free time to study, I opened my history book, and my pencil fell off my desk. I couldn't reach it from where I was sitting, so I stood up to get it, and he yelled at me! He didn't ask why I was standing up or anything-just told me I had to write 'I will stay in my seat' fifty times! It's ridic . . ." Shelly's voice stopped in the middle of the word as she spotted Mr. Benson himself at the produce counter.

The teacher greeted Shelly and her mother and then looked awkwardly at his cart. "I'm not used to planning meals and doing the grocery shopping," he said, "but my wife is in the hospital for surgery. Actually, the biggest challenge each day is getting two of my kids to the day care center, and the third to kindergarten." He sighed. "Teaching, parenting, and trying to spend as much time as possible with my wife keeps me busy!" After talking with Shelly and her mom for a few minutes, Mr. Benson turned back to his cart and moved on.

"I think you know now why Mr. Benson scolded you unfairly today," Mom said as she and Shelly drove home. "He looked very tired and worn out."

"I know. I never thought about a teacher having problems before," said Shelly. "I guess I shouldn't have gotten so mad at him, should I?"

Mom smiled. "I've had the same kind of experience," she said gently. "There have been times when I felt someone acted unfairly toward me. I got upset about it, only to discover later that the person I was angry with was reacting to a serious personal problem. We need to remember that God wants us to be patient and accept other people. We should be kind and help them through their difficulties instead of becoming angry."

"I'll ask God to help me be nice to Mr. Benson," Shelly
said thoughtfully. "I'm not mad at him anymore." She grinned at her mother and
added, "I'll try to remember that teachers are people, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do people sometimes treat you unfairly? It's easy to get angry in such a situation, isn't it? Remember that the Lord tells you to have patience with others and to be forgiving. Perhaps they have a problem you don't know about. Your friendly attitude could help them feel better. Who knows-it could even make them more open to your witness for the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Ephesians 4:32

[Soldier4Christ]

When Mallory got home from school, Mom was taking chocolate chip cookies from the oven while Mallory's little brother Logan watched. "Those smell so good," said Logan. "Can we have some?"

Mom smiled. "You can each have a glass of milk and two cookies for a snack," she said.

Logan got his milk and eagerly took two cookies, but Mallory shook her head. "I'm getting ready to run an important track race, so I'm going to have healthy snacks for the next week," she declared. She chose a banana and took it into the living room, where she turned on the television and settled down to relax while she watched a program.

After a few minutes, Mom came into the room. "What are you watching?" she asked. "I haven't heard much of that program, but what I did hear didn't sound very good."

Mallory blushed. "It's just an afternoon talk show. I'm going to turn it off and start on my homework as soon as I finish my banana," she said.

Mom frowned as she watched the program a little longer. "You know we don't allow you to watch most of these shows," she said. "They're not the kind of thing you should be feeding your mind, Mallory."

"But I'll watch it only a few minutes," objected Mallory. "I don't think it's going to hurt me."

"You were careful to choose a healthy snack today, and that was smart," said Mom. "You shouldn't feed your body a diet that's not healthy, and you shouldn't feed your mind a diet-even a snack-that's not healthy, either. In fact, the things you feed your mind are more important than the things you feed your body. What you listen to and think about determine what kind of person you become. Proverbs 23:7 says as a person 'thinks in his heart, so is he.'"

Mallory sighed. "Well . . . okay," she said as she
turned off the television. She frowned as she added, "I really don't want to
become like the people on this program. From now on, I'll try to be more careful
about what I watch."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about what you feed your mind? It's good to take care of your body and keep it healthy. It's even more important to take care of your mind. The television programs, movies, music, and books you "feed" your mind can change the way you live and think. God says your mind should be filled with thoughts that encourage you to live the way He desires.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

[Soldier4Christ]

Little Troy let out a loud scream and Mom hurried to the back yard to see what was happening. "I just took this piece of glass away from him," Tami explained, holding out a glittering piece of broken glass. "He found it on the ground and was about to put it in his mouth when I stopped him."

Mom picked up the little boy. "Thanks for watching him so carefully," she said to Tami. "You probably saved him from being cut very badly."

Tami shrugged. "Yeah, but Troy sure didn't appreciate it," she said. "He thought I was being mean."

"I know. That's because he's just a baby," said Mom, "and babies don't always understand that you're helping them." She smiled at Tami. "You've helped me a lot by watching Troy today," added Mom, "but now it's time for his nap. Would you like to go play with Carrie for a while? Or ask her to come over?"

"Carrie is mad at me," replied Tami. "She was mad at her mom for making her turn off a TV show their family used to watch before they were Christians. When I agreed with her mom that it was a bad show, Carrie got mad at me, too."

"I'm sorry," sympathized Mom, "but try to be patient with her, honey. She's only a baby Christian, you know, and sometimes they react like Troy did when you took the broken glass away from him. When someone tries to help them and protect them from dangerous things, they may resist and become angry because they feel they're not being allowed to live the way they want to. They may resent guidance from older Christians." Mom shook her head. "Even those of us who have been Christians for quite a while often don't like to accept help."

When Tami thought about it, she knew she didn't always
want advice from her parents or other adults, either. I hope I don't act that
way too often! she thought. I'll try to be more patient with Carrie-and I'll try
to listen better when older Christians tell me something!




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you accept the advice and help that is offered to you by your parents? By your pastor? Your Sunday school teacher? They are more experienced in life and know more than you do about the dangers and tricks of Satan. Be open to their guidance.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who heeds council is wise. Proverbs 12:15

[Soldier4Christ]

"How was school today?" Mrs. Grady asked cheerfully as Ryan shuffled in.

"Fine," answered Ryan, avoiding the gaze of his new foster mother. He hurried to his room and shut the door before throwing himself on the bed. He was dreading Mother's Day. As usual, his class was doing a project to honor mothers, and it embarrassed him. Hot shame washed over him as he recalled the way some of the kids had made unkind remarks about his family.

Hearing a knock on his door, Ryan sat up quickly. "Come in," he called.

Mr. Grady entered the room. "How about some warm chocolate chip cookies?" he asked as he perched on the edge of the desk. Ryan shook his head."Want to talk about what's bothering you?" asked Mr. Grady.

"It's nothing," muttered Ryan, but he couldn't keep a tear from trickling down his cheek. He brushed his eyes angrily and burst out, "Why was I even born? Nobody wants me!"

"God thought you were special when He created you," Mr. Grady said quietly. "He still thinks so, and we do, too."

"Neither my mom nor dad want me," mumbled Ryan. "Even my other foster family got rid of me!"

"Ryan, Mrs. G. and I are glad you're with us," said Mr. Grady gently, "and you need to know that God wants you, too. He always cares about you, even when people hurt you."

"How do you know?" Ryan asked doubtfully.

"He proved it by sending His Son Jesus who thought you were worth dying for. We talked about that, remember?" asked Mr. Grady. Ryan nodded. "Trust in Him, Ryan. The Bible says God will never leave His children." Mr. Grady put a hand lightly on Ryan's shoulder. "Want to look up some of God's promises with me?"

Ryan sighed. "Okay," he agreed.

"How about a cookie while I get my Bible?" suggested Mr. Grady.

Giving Mr. Grady a tiny smile, Ryan followed him to the
kitchen.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been hurt by someone you love? Do you think nobody cares about you? People make mistakes that hurt innocent individuals. Jesus understands how it feels to be forsaken. He loves you so much He died to pay the penalty for your sin-trust Him. Perhaps you aren't lonely-you have a loving mother and father. Thank God for them-especially for your mom on this, Mother's Day. If you know someone who doesn't have a loving parent, be sure to show Christ's love to that one.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The Lord . . . will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

[Soldier4Christ]

Karen walked out to the back yard where her grandmother was pruning a rosebush. "Hi, honey," Grandma greeted her. Seeing Karen's unhappy face, she asked, "What seems to be the trouble, dear?"

"Oh, Gram!" Karen exclaimed. "It's Morgan! I thought we were best friends, but she hardly even speaks to me lately!"

"Really?" asked Grandma. "And what caused that?"

"Well . . . Janie said Morgan's outfit looked dumb," replied Karen, "and I said I thought so, too. We were just teasing!" Karen sighed. "We all make fun of each other. The others say I have a weird way of eating ice cream, and we tease Janie about her laugh-she sounds just like a donkey! Morgan sometimes dresses goofy. I don't know why she got so upset when we said so this time!"

"I see," murmured Grandma. She hesitated and then picked a rose and handed it to Karen. "I want to see how long it will take you to pull all the petals off this flower," said Grandma. She looked at her watch. "Ready? Go!"

Karen looked at Grandma curiously, but began to tear off the petals as fast as she could, finishing soon after she began. "Good. That took only eighteen seconds," said Grandma. "Now I want to see how long it will take you to put all the petals back on the stem. Ready?"

"Right, Gram!" exclaimed Karen. "You know that's impossible."

"Yes, it is," agreed Grandma. "Remember this rose whenever you're tempted to be careless with your words. It's easy to hurt people's feelings, but often it's impossible to undo all of the damage you caused."

"You mean . . . like with Morgan?" asked Karen. "But I didn't mean to make her feel bad!"

"No, but you did, didn't you?" replied Grandma. She put an arm around Karen. "So what do you think you should do about it?"

"Apologize, I guess," said Karen, "only I'm not sure Morgan will listen."

"Maybe not, but you can try," said Grandma. "After this,
think before you speak-be careful to not hurt anyone by what you say-so that
apologies aren't necessary with either Morgan or Janie."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think before you speak? Carelessly used words can hurt others, even if they're meant only to tease. The book of James says the tongue is like a fire, able to destroy more than we realize. Ask God to help you guard your tongue and speak positively about other people.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Psalm 19:14

[Soldier4Christ]

Wendy eagerly answered the door as her friends began to arrive for the slumber party. "Take your stuff to the family room-we're sleeping in there," she told the girls, "and help yourself to the 'munchies' till everybody's here. Then we'll play some games."

Soon the family room was filled with sleeping bags and girls in pajamas. Wendy glanced around. "I wonder why Julie isn't here," she said. "I'm sure she was planning to come. I'm going to call and see if she's sick." Wendy went to the phone and dialed Julie's number. She was surprised when Julie herself answered the phone. "Hi, Julie," said Wendy. "You didn't forget about my party, did you? I thought you'd be here long ago! Aren't you coming?"

"Well . . . I . . . uh," stammered Julie. "I . . . I didn't get an invitation or anything, so I didn't think I was supposed to come."

Wendy's heart sank! "Of course I want you to come! I've talked to you about this party so much that I thought you automatically knew you were invited. Please come!"

"Okay!" Julie exclaimed eagerly. "Dad will bring me right over!"

Later that evening, Wendy's mom gathered the girls together for a time of devotions. "I think we can all learn something from the little mix-up that took place here this evening," she began. "Julie knew about the party, and she knew Wendy liked her, but she hadn't actually been invited. She didn't come until she received an invitation-and we're so glad she's here now." She smiled at Julie, then continued speaking. "Just like Julie didn't come to the party uninvited, Jesus doesn't come into our lives uninvited," said Mom. She went on to explain that Jesus on the cross so they could have eternal life in heaven.

"Jesus never turns down an invitation to come into
anyone's heart and life," Mom added as she closed her Bible. "If any of you
girls would like to invite Him into your life tonight, see me after we pray.
I'll be glad to talk with you about it."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you asked Jesus to come into your life? You invite Him in by believing on Him, accepting what He has done for you. Until you do that, He'll still be waiting. When you trust in Jesus, He comes into your heart and life, and He promises to stay forever! Why not invite Him into your life today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone . . . opens the door, I will come in to him. Revelation 3:20

[Soldier4Christ]

Emma and her brother were helping their dad pull stumps in an area behind their house. Emma leaned on her shovel and looked at the one she was digging around. "Is this stump ready to pull yet?" she asked.

Dad came over and checked it. "Not quite ready," he said. "Keep digging." Emma groaned as she dug out another shovelful of dirt.

"I've got a root ready for you to chop, Dad!" called Tim.

Dad grabbed the ax and went to Tim's stump. Chips flew as he chopped the root. "This one looks ready to pull," said Dad. He hooked a chain to the stump and to the truck. Tim and Emma cheered as he pulled the stump out easily.

Emma kept digging, and Dad came over and chopped the roots she had uncovered. When the stump was finally ready to pull, he hooked it up to the truck. This time, the tires spun, but eventually the stump came out.

After supper, Dad reached for his Bible. He turned to Ephesians and read several verses emphasizing one phrase-"being rooted and grounded in love." Dad looked up. "Does this verse remind you of anything?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Emma and Tim groaned and rubbed their sore muscles. "It reminds me of all the roots we had to dig up and chop out," said Emma. "Those stumps were 'rooted and grounded' in the back yard."

Dad smiled. "Digging them out was such hard work because the roots were strong and went deep into the ground," he said. "Now . . . this verse is talking about having strong roots in love. God is love, so how do we get strong roots in Him?"

"By reading the Bible." Tim and Emma spoke together.

Dad nodded. "And by obeying it," he added. "That's one way. Can you think of another?"

"Ah-h-h . . . by praying?" suggested Emma.

"And how about by going to Sunday school and church?" asked Tim.

"Good," said Dad. "Actually, it involves a whole
life-style of dependence and trust in the Lord. It was hard to pull the stumps
in the yard because they had strong roots, and it's hard for Satan to get us to
sin and pull us out of fellowship with God when we're firmly rooted and grounded
in Him."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you growing strong "roots" in Christ? Do you have devotions regularly? Do you depend on the Lord to help you follow the direction He gives through His Word? Do you pray often and attend church faithfully? Those are ways to work on developing your "root system" so you can stand strong when Satan tempts you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast. Colossians 1:23

[Soldier4Christ]

"What are you making, Mom?" asked Jody as she watched her mother's knitting needles move in and out.

   "I'm making a baby sweater for one of the ladies at church," answered Mom. "Mrs. Pauley is having a baby next month."

   "How come you do so many things like that for other people?" Jody wanted to know.

   "I enjoy making things, and I enjoy giving them away," said Mom with a smile. "When you make something special at school, you enjoy bringing it home to me, don't you?"

   Jody nodded. "Sure, but that's a little different," she said. "I mean . . . you're my mom! But you do a lot of stuff for people you hardly know."

   "Not as much as Dorcas did," Mom answered.

   "Dorcas?" asked Jody. "Who's she? Do I know her?"

   Mom smiled. "The book of Acts tells about a lady named Dorcas," she explained. "She was a Christian and was probably one of the first women inspired by Christ to be active in works of love. She knew how to sew, and she devoted much of her energy and time to making clothes for the widows and poor people. I imagine she was also their friend and listened to them."

   "Oh, I think I remember hearing about her in Sunday school," Jody said thoughtfully.

   "I wouldn't be surprised," said Mom. "When Dorcas died, everyone was very sad. Do you remember what happened next?"

   Jody thought for a moment, then she nodded. "She died-but then she was raised from the dead, wasn't she?"

   "That's right," said Mom. "The Apostle Peter was in town, and when he was told about it, God used him to raise her back to life."

   "When I get older, I'm going to be like you and Dorcas and do things for other people," Jody decided.

   "You don't have to wait that long," said Mom. "Let's
think of something you can do for others right now."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
How can you help someone? Can you draw a picture or make a small gift and give it to your grandparents or a neighbor? Can you help them by dusting or cleaning? With your mother's help, could you make cookies for a shut-in? Make a card for someone who is ill? Mow the lawn or shovel snow for an elderly person? There are many possibilities. When you help others, you please the Lord, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
She extends her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20

[Soldier4Christ]

The Johnson family stood looking at the big oak tree lying across their yard. During the night, a fierce storm had blown it down.

"Wow!" exclaimed Natalie. "If that had fallen just a little farther this way, it would have hit the house!"

Dad nodded. "God surely did take good care of us," he said, placing his hand on Mark's shoulder.

   Mark looked at their house standing just a short distance from the fallen tree, yet not harmed at all. "Yeah," he said in awe.

   "God is so good," murmured Mom. "I hope I never forget all the things He has done for us."

"But sometimes He lets bad things happen to us," said Natalie, "like when Grandma got hit by a car!"

"Yes, but even then Grandma-and all of us-felt God's comfort and peace," said Dad. "We knew we could trust Him to care for us."

   "Whenever I'm scared of something, it helps to remember how God took care of me in the past," commented Mark.

   "We had a story in Bible Club about how Samuel once set up a stone as a memorial of how God had won a battle for Israel," said Natalie. "He gave it a name-kind of a funny name, but it meant something like 'God has helped us.'"

   "You're thinking of the name 'Ebenezer,'" said Mom. She smiled. "Were you thinking of setting up a memorial rock of your own?"

   Natalie laughed. "Well, not exactly, but I thought maybe we could make a notebook of times God helps us," she said. "We could add to it whenever something special happens-like this tree missing the house."

   "Hey! I know!" exclaimed Mark. "Let's include a picture of all of us standing in front of this big tree. Whenever we see the picture we'll be reminded of how God took care of us."

   Mom and Dad both smiled approvingly. "We can call it our
Ebenezer Book," suggested Dad. "Get the camera, Mark. Let's start our book
today!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a way of remembering the things the Lord has done for you? Have you received a special answer to prayer, or has God protected you in a dangerous situation? Has He helped you through a hard class at school? Why don't you keep a record of what God has done for you? Don't do it to dwell on the past, but do it to be reminded of God's great help when you're faced with a difficult situation.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Remember His marvelous works which He has done. 1 Chronicles 16:12

[Soldier4Christ]

With her mother's permission, Ginger decided to stop at a store after school and spend money she had left from her allowance. She chose several items and handed them to a smiling sales clerk. But when she heard how much she owed, Ginger was surprised. "I didn't think they added up to that much," she said.

"Did you remember to add the sales tax?" asked the clerk.

"I forgot all about it!" exclaimed Ginger. "I'll have to put some stuff back."

When she got home, Ginger and her mother enjoyed milk and cookies together. "Mom, why do we have to pay taxes?" Ginger asked after showing her mother what she had bought.

"Taxes are used to pay for a lot of different things," answered Mom. "For example, they're used to keep our roads repaired and to pay salaries for public workers such as teachers, policemen, firemen, congressmen, and even the President of the United States. People have paid taxes for a long time. In fact, they paid taxes way back in Bible times."

"They did?" Ginger was surprised.

"That's right." Mom nodded. "There were taxes on quite a number of things. Taxes were collected to support the temple and build roads. During the time Jesus lived on earth, the Jews didn't like the tax collectors because they often took more money than they should and kept some for themselves. But Jesus can change anyone, and one of those tax collectors became one of the twelve disciples."

"Really? Which one?" asked Ginger.

"Matthew," answered Mom.

"The same Matthew who wrote the book of Matthew?" asked Ginger.

Mom nodded. "He had probably been a careful record keeper as a tax collector," she said. "That may have helped him record many things Jesus taught. And did you know that Jesus paid taxes?"

Ginger thought for a moment. "Oh, I remember!" she
exclaimed. "He sent Peter to find money in the mouth of a fish. It was to pay
taxes for both of them." She paused and grinned. "Well, if Jesus paid taxes, I
can, too!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard a lot of complaints about taxes? Have you complained about them yourself when you had to pay more for something than you had thought you would? Sometimes taxes seem unfair-or maybe a bit too high. Try to remember they're needed for many useful things that add to your comfort. And remember that God says you are to pay them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Render . . . taxes to whom taxes are due. Romans 13:7

[Soldier4Christ]

"It's just not fair," stormed Curt as he and Pete came into the kitchen after school. "I'm your own brother!"

Mom looked up from her work at the stove. "What are you two quarreling about?" she asked.

"Pete asked another kid to do his paper route for him while he's at school camp," Curt told her. "He could have asked me. He knows I could use the money. He's just being. . . ."

"Hey! I asked you to help me not long ago," broke in Pete. "I told you to put the papers on the porches, out of the rain. But you were in such a hurry to finish, you just tossed them toward the houses, not bothering to see where they landed. My customers weren't happy."

"I remember hearing Pete say his customers complain when their papers get wet," said Mom, "and he warned you about that, Curt. I guess it's no wonder he doesn't want to give you the responsibility of his paper route for three whole days!" Curt glared at his brother and stalked off with a scowl on his face.

After dinner that evening, Dad folded his napkin and picked up the Bible for family devotions. He read about some servants who were faithful in a responsibility they had been given. As a result they were given even greater responsibility. But one of the servants had not been faithful, and all responsibility was taken from him. "It's good for  us to check up on ourselves to see how we're handling our responsibilities," said Dad when he finished reading.

Dad went on to explain more fully. "Jesus wants us to always do our very best in whatever job we're given," he said, "whether it's school work, some kind of employment, a job in the church, or whatever tasks come our way as we live for Him each day."

Curt's thoughts went back to what had happened regarding
the paper route, and he knew it was his own fault his brother didn't trust him
to do a good job. Maybe I can find some way to show him I'll do better so he'll
let me have the job next time, he thought.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of work do you do? Do you work to the best of your ability, or do you try to finish as quickly and as easily as possible? Maybe you think the tasks you have to do are so small it doesn't matter if you do them carefully or not. It does! Whatever you do-even the "little" things-should be done in a way that brings glory to God. If you can be trusted to do a small job well, people will also trust you with bigger and better jobs. And God will, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10

[Soldier4Christ]

CRASH! The sound of shattering glass echoed through the house. Both Randy and his mother ran into the kitchen. "Oh, Jennifer, you didn't!" Mom exclaimed when they saw the little girl looking in dismay at pieces of a glass vase scattered all over the floor. "You've broken my new vase!"

"I didn't mean to," Jennifer sobbed. "I just wanted to hold it, and it slided right out of my hands."

Mom nodded. "I see that," she said. "Right now I want you to go wait in your room before you get cut on this glass. I'll be there to talk to you in a minute, but first I need to get this picked up. Randy, would you get out the broom and dustpan for me, please?"

While Mom picked up the biggest pieces of broken glass, Randy got the broom. "Jennifer should have known better than to even touch the vase," he said with a frown, "but since she picked it up, she should have hung on tight!"

"That's true," agreed Mom. She looked thoughtful. "My Bible reading this morning made me think of something else that we all are holding-something people often let slip away," she added.

Randy looked at his empty hands. "What would that be?" he asked. "I'm not holding anything right now."

"I was thinking of our souls," replied Mom. "The soul is the most valuable thing anyone has, yet people think so little about it and are so careless with it. Do you remember the story Jesus told of the rich man who was interested only in having plenty of food and having a good time?"

Randy nodded. "God called him a fool, didn't He?"

"Yes, and that was because the rich man had provided for
his life on earth but took no thought of what would happen to his soul when he
died," replied Mom. "Many people still make the same mistake and let their souls
slip into eternity without the Lord. Taking care of your soul-making sure of
heaven-is the most important thing you can do."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you concerned about your soul? It's that special something inside of you that will live forever. Having the whole world is worth nothing if you soul is lost. It's up to you to decide where you will spend eternity-in heaven or in hell. Trust Jesus right now, before it's too late, and make sure that heaven is your destination!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36

[Soldier4Christ]

"I want a volunteer to sign this paper," said Miss Steele as she showed her Sunday school class a blank sheet. "When you sign it, you will be agreeing to do whatever I write on the paper." The class members looked at one another in surprise. "I could ask you to mow my lawn, to give me your allowance next week, to come to a party, or to invite five people to Sunday school," continued Miss Steele. "I can write anything I want you to do. I might ask you to do something hard, but you'll be glad if you do it-I promise. Now . . . who will sign this?" There were several giggles, but no volunteers. "Don't you trust me?" asked Miss Steele. The kids just grinned.

Finally, Gina raised her hand. "I'll sign it, Miss Steele," she said.

After Gina signed her name, Miss Steele took the paper again and began writing. Everyone waited breathlessly. When she finished, she handed the paper to Gina. "Read it out loud," instructed Miss Steele.

"Go to the table in the corner," Gina read. "Pick up the Bible you see there, and keep whatever you find under it. It's yours." Gina quickly obeyed. "O-h-h-h," she squealed as she lifted the Bible. On the table was some money. She picked it up and smiled at her teacher. "Thank you, Miss Steele."

"Thank you, Gina, for trusting me when no one else did," Miss Steele replied.

Gina took her seat, and Miss Steele smiled at the class. "When we give our lives to the Lord Jesus, it's a little like signing a blank sheet of paper. We say, 'Lord, I'm surrendering my life to You. You write in the orders.' Before Gina could receive her reward, what did she have to do?"

"She had to sign the paper," said Tiffany.

"And she had to do what the paper said," Brent added. "If she had just read it but not done it, she still wouldn't have the money."

"Right." Miss Steele nodded. "She had to trust me, and she
had to obey me. It's like that in our relationship with God, too. We don't have
to be afraid to hand our lives over to Him. He promises to allow only what is
good for us to come into our lives. We must trust Him and obey Him. He has many
rewards for those who surrender to Him."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid to yield everything in your life to God? Do you think He'll ask you to do something hard? That could be true, but don't worry about it. Give your life to Him in unconditional surrender. As today's Scripture says, God's children are to be "led by the Spirit of God." Yield to Him and do whatever it is you know He wants you to do. You'll be surprised at all the good things He has in store for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You. Psalm 31:19