Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Making Excuses

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)

I am sure that all of you have been absent from school. As you know, when a child is absent from school, his parents must write an excuse so that the school will know why the child was absent. Sometimes the excuses are pretty hard to believe and sometimes they can be very funny. I have some notes this morning that are good examples of excuses that parents have written for their children.

"Please excuse Josh for being absent. I forgot to wake him up and I did not find him until I started making the beds -- by then it was too late for him to go to school."

"John didn't come to school yesterday because he was feeling like he was going to be sick. Thankfully, he wasn't!"

"Please excuse Janet's absence from school. It was Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Since I don't have a job, I made her stay home and do housework."

"Please excuse Ricky from school yesterday. He spilled gasoline on his stomach and I was afraid he might explode."

This one is my all-time favorite!

"Please excuse Mary for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch and when we found it on Monday, we thought it was Sunday."

Making excuses is not new. People even made excuses in Jesus' day. One day, Jesus was walking along the road with a group of people. Jesus turned to one of the men and said to him, "Follow me."

The man answered, "First let me go and bury my father."

That sounds like a good excuse, but we don't even know that the man's father was dead. He may have wanted to wait until his father died before he began to follow Jesus.

Jesus answered him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Jesus then turned to another man in the crowd and said, "Follow me."

The man answered, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go back home and say goodbye to my family."

Jesus did not like this man's excuse either. He said to him, "No man who starts to plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Jesus was calling those who would give up everything -- family, friends, their job -- and follow him. What he got instead was excuses.

Jesus is still calling today, "Follow me!" Will you follow, or will you make excuses?

Dear Jesus, when you call us, may we never offer excuses. Instead, may we be willing to give up everything and follow you. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Fallen Tree

"Why do we have to go to church every Sunday?" Paige grumbled. Her glum face pressed against the car window, and her attitude and grouchy mood reflected the dismal, gray weather. "On a stormy day like this I'd rather be sleeping in."

"I like Sunday school! Don't you want to learn about God, Paige?" her younger brother Eric asked innocently. A twinge of guilt pricked Paige's conscience, but she ignored her brother.

"Wow! Look at that tree!" exclaimed Dad, pointing to a large tree that lay uprooted along the roadside.

"That was quite some wind we had last night," Mom commented. "It ripped that tree right out of the ground."

"It couldn't survive the wind because it had shallow roots," Dad stated.

"Another good reason to stay home today," grumbled Paige. "It's safer."

"But I want to go to Sunday school," insisted Eric.

"Paige, did you know one of the Psalms compares a person to a tree?" asked Dad. Paige squirmed and shook her head.

"Psalm One says a wise and righteous man is like a well-watered, healthy tree," continued Dad. "Such a person would be like a deeply rooted tree that's nourished by the soil and water. God's Word is a delight to him, and he's nourished by it day and night. A good tree produces fruit and doesn't wither. It prospers as God intended. I'm sure that kind of tree could withstand powerful winds."

"Life is full of storms," Mom mused. "Storms of temptations, storms of lies, storms of grief, storms of pain, and storms of difficulties will blow against us. If our lives are rooted deeply in God's truth, we'll be able to stand firm against the storms. If not, we will fall, just like that tree."

"Is Paige a tree?" Eric asked seriously.

Paige smiled a bit. "No, Eric, I am not a tree. If I were, I probably would fall in the storms," she admitted. "I get the point, you guys." As Dad drove into the church parking lot, Paige smiled. "I'll get some watering today to help my roots go deeper-and I'm sorry I was so grouchy."

"I think I'm beginning to see some fruit already," Dad teased.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel like skipping church? Do you neglect reading the Bible or memorizing verses? Your life needs to be watered with the Word of God at church and in your own quiet time. Ask God to help you have a better attitude about attending church and studying His Word. Each time you do those things, ask God to teach you at least one lesson to help you grow stronger in Him. Then you will grow deep roots to stand firm in the storms of life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 2:6-7)
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

"No-no, Janey," said Beth. She was baby-sitting her little brother and sister, and the three-year-old had pulled a stuffed monkey away from her baby brother, causing him to cry. "It's not nice to grab things from other people."

Janey clutched the cuddly toy that had been in one-year-old Davy's arms. "Janey wants it," she said stubbornly as she tried to hide it behind her.

"You'll have to wait until Davy is through playing with it," replied Beth. She gently pried the monkey out of her sister's chubby fingers and returned it to Davy. "Let's play with these blocks, okay, honey?" Janey nodded, and they stacked blocks up high. Davy, however, promptly grabbed some of them.

"Mom," said Beth when her mother got home, "Janey and Davy are always taking each other's things. What one has, the other one wants."

"I know." Mom nodded. "We have to teach them to not be greedy."

A few days later, Beth went straight to her room after school. BANG! She slammed her bedroom door, causing the windows to rattle. She angrily kicked a stuffed bear that was on the floor. THUD! It bounced off the wall.

Mom knocked, then opened the door. "Beth!" she exclaimed. "What's going on?"

Beth scowled. "It's Sara. She was voted in as class president today. You should see her strutting down the hall at school, wearing her designer label clothes!" Beth's face puckered. "I wanted to win so bad!" she pouted.

"I'm sorry you didn't win," said Mom, "but being bitter will only make you feel worse."

"Oh-h-h-h!" A loud wail echoed through the hall as Davy toddled into the room, clutching a storybook. "Davy took my book!" cried Janey, following close behind him. "Give it to me, Davy!"

After settling the problem, Mom shook her head. "Babies tend to want what someone else has," she said. "That's coveting. They need to learn to be content with what they have." She solemnly looked at Beth. "Are you a baby, Beth?"

Beth glanced at Mom in surprise. "Me!" she exclaimed.
"What do you mean? I . . . Oh!" She sighed. "Okay. I get the point," she said.
"You're saying I need to be content and not be jealous of Sara or pout because I
didn't win."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you angry because someone else got picked for a part you wanted? Are you cross because all your friends got new outfits but Mom said you didn't need one? Maybe you didn't make the basketball team, but your best friend did. Are you learning to put away the frown and wear a smile? To be thankful for what you have? Being happy with your circumstances may not come easily, but you need to learn to be content with what God gives you. Thank Him today for some of His gifts.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. Hebrews 13:5

[Soldier4Christ]

Mindy sniffed. "I told all my friends I was going to see the Niagara Falls and Canada this summer," she said, "and now . . ."

"Dad can't help it that one of the guys at work broke a leg so we had to change our plans because of his job," interrupted twelve-year-old Jeff. "He said he was sorry."

"I think we have two choices here," said Mom. "We can feel sorry for ourselves and mope around all summer, or we can be thankful for the things we are able to do. We can have a 'celebration summer' with mini-vacations."

Mindy frowned. "What-and how-would we celebrate?" she asked.

"We can celebrate having good health and being together," suggested Mom. "We can spend some time at the lake and in the woods and enjoy the beauty of God's creation around us."

"Can we do some of the special things we always say we want to do 'someday'?" asked Jeff. "Like taking a tour of the bakery?"

"Yeah, and how about the museum and the pottery factory?" asked Mindy, starting to feel a little excited at the idea.

Mom nodded. "This year we'll make time to go to the steam engine show, too," she promised.

"And let's go camping at the pond on Mr. Bixby's farm," Jeff suggested. "He invited us to come and do that sometime."

"Let's take Grandpa James with us," Mindy added. "He knows a lot about camping, and he offered to teach us. I'm sure he'd love it."

Mom smiled. "That's a splendid idea. Why don't we include a friend or two on each of our mini-vacations? Let's share with others the good times God gives us."

"All right!" Jeff grinned broadly. "This sounds like lots more fun than riding day after day in the car," he decided.

"And this year it won't be just a two-week vacation,"
said Mindy as she went to find a calendar. "It will last all summer
long!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your family unable to take a big vacation this year? Then why not ask your parents if you can take mini-vacation trips? Even if that doesn't work out, you'll be surprised at the good times you can have in your own neighborhood. Open your eyes. Enjoy the things God has placed around you. And in your planning, don't forget to include someone who may be lonely. Most of all, don't forget to thank God for the many good things He has provided for you to enjoy.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits. Psalm 68:19

[Soldier4Christ]

The man on TV waved his arms as he spoke. "Do you have health problems? Money problems? Family problems? Do you want to get rid of your troubles? Just follow Jesus," he shouted. "He'll take your troubles all away."

As the speaker paused, Mary heard the tap, tap, tap of a cane outdoors. It was old Mrs. Koning, who could see only dimly. Mary jumped up and ran outside. She skipped up to her neighbor and put her small hand in the wrinkled one of the old lady. "What do you think I just heard a man on TV say?" asked Mary.

Mrs. Koning chuckled. "I can't guess," she said.

"A preacher said all your troubles will be gone if you follow Jesus," Mary told her. She peered in curiosity at Mrs. Koning. "You follow Jesus, don't you?"

Mrs. Koning smiled. "I certainly do, Mary," she said.

"Then why doesn't God help you see again?" asked Mary.

"He could," Mrs. Koning told her. "He's strong and powerful enough to make the blind see. But He never promised all my troubles would go away if I follow Jesus. What He did promise is that He'd be with me in times of trouble. He promised to be my friend and take care of all my needs."

"But the preacher said you could be well," protested Mary, "and rich, too, if you trust Jesus."

Once more, Mrs. Koning chuckled. "In a way, he may be right," she said. "My sins are gone, so my soul is healthy. That's more important than being physically healthy, don't you agree?"

Mary nodded slowly. "Are you rich, too?" she asked.

"I don't have a lot of money, but I'm rich in blessings
from God and also in love for God and others," said Mrs. Koning. She squeezed
the little girl's hand. "Never try to use Christianity as a way to have smooth
sailing through life, Mary," she advised. "Christians experience troubles,
too-God often uses them to teach valuable lessons. The difference is that
Christians have God to help them through their troubles. Following Jesus does
make them both healthy and rich-but not necessarily in the way some people want
you to think."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard that God wants Christians to have lots of earthly goods-money, beautiful clothes, adoring friends, and perfect physical health? This may be God's plan for you-or His plan for you may be to come to know Him in a special way through troubles. Accept whatever plan He has for you, confident that He knows what is best and will be with you through hard times as well as pleasant ones.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
My (God's) grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

[Soldier4Christ]

Drums beat, flags waved, and trumpets blew! Bethany and Brad's eyes darted here and there trying to capture all the excitement. Suddenly, a shot split the air! The Fourth of July parade had begun!

The school band proudly marched down the street in new uniforms. When they began playing "The Star Spangled Banner," the crowd stood at attention and then sang along.

"Our class read about the man who wrote the words to our national anthem," said Brad as the family drove home after the parade.

"Why don't you tell us about it?" suggested Mom.

"They were written by Francis Scott Key," Brad told them. "While British ships were firing at Fort McHenry all through the night, Mr. Key watched from a ship off shore. He knew that if Fort McHenry fell, Baltimore and other key cities would probably be captured, too. The guns stopped at dawn, and when the smoke cleared away, what do you think Mr. Key finally saw?"

"Ah-h-h-h . . . I don't know. I give up," said Bethany. "What was it?"

"The American flag," Brad replied. "The story said when he saw it, he shouted, 'The flag still stands!' Right after that, he wrote the song."

Bethany was impressed. "The flag still stands!" she repeated. "Will the flag always stand, Dad?"

"We pray it will," answered Dad.

Brad was more confident. "Sure, it will! We're the strongest nation in the world," he declared. "We proved that, and if anybody would dare to . . ."

"Whoa!" cautioned Mom. "God's Word teaches that nations do not rise or fall because of their own great strength. It says safety comes from the Lord, not from special equipment or large, well-trained armies."

Dad nodded. "God has been very good to our country and
blessed us in many ways. We should thank Him every day for the privilege of
living here," he said, "but we should also pray for our leaders and our people.
When I see the attitude of so many toward such issues as abortion and other
immoral things, I fear for our land. Our nation needs to turn back to
God."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you thank God today for your country? Did you pray today for its leaders? Will you pray for them? Pray, too, for all the people-your neighbors, your town, your state, and yourself. Pray that you and your nation will put away the things that displease God and will trust Him to keep you free. The nation "whose God is the Lord" is the nation He blesses.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12

[Soldier4Christ]

"Yummy! This popcorn is so good!" exclaimed Marissa as she stuffed more kernels into her mouth at her Sunday school class party. "I could eat a whole pan of it."

"Me, too," agreed Sally. Several other girls laughed and nodded.

"Ow!" exclaimed Kim a few minutes later. "I bit into a hard, burnt kernel!" She took a napkin, got rid of the hard kernel, and munched on some good ones.

The teacher, Miss Jones, gathered the girls together shortly before it was time for them to leave. "Let's talk about the Lord for a few minutes before you go," she said. "Who knows what made the difference between the hard popcorn kernels like the one Kim got and the tasty ones we all enjoyed?"

Sheri grinned. "That doesn't sound like talking about the Lord," she said, "but I bet you're going to use it for an illustration, aren't you? Okay . . . the good kernels popped, and the ones like Kim bit on didn't."

Miss Jones smiled. "Right," she agreed. "Do you have any idea why those like Kim's didn't pop?"

The girls thought it over. "I don't know," said Emma. "They all got thoroughly heated, but it didn't seem to make any difference."

Miss Jones nodded. "It takes heat to change the corn-to make it pop," she said, "but some of the kernels didn't respond to the heat. It occurs to me that people are sort of like popcorn." The girls looked at their teacher in surprise.

"Popcorn people?" asked Marissa. "I don't get it. What do you mean?"

Miss Jones smiled. "The popcorn needs to be changed," she said, "and people do, too. Popcorn changes as it responds to heat. What do you think changes people?"

"God?" asked Sheri. "They're changed when they become Christians, right?"

"That's right," agreed Miss Jones. "People who hear the
message of salvation from God's Word and respond to it are changed. Those who
don't yield are like the hard, unpopped kernels that felt the heat but didn't
respond." She looked around at the group. "It's my prayer that each of you girls
will be like a popped kernel-that you will respond to God's love and put your
faith in Jesus."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of "popcorn person" are you? You've heard the Gospel. You know you're a sinner and that Jesus died for you. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? Have you become a child of God? Or do you remain unchanged-hard and unyielding? Won't you yield to Jesus in faith today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation . . . behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

[Soldier4Christ]

The sound of breaking glass brought Dylan running into the dining room. "Oh, Megan!" he gasped. "Look what you've done!" Megan stared in horror at the shattered pieces of crystal on the floor. "That's the vase Uncle Don gave Mom just before he died!" Dylan exclaimed. "Boy, will she be mad!"

"I . . . I . . . c-c-couldn't help it," said Megan nervously. "I . . ."

"What's the matter?" Both children jumped at the sound of their mother's voice. A look of sorrow spread over her face as she saw what had happened.

Megan burst into sobs. "I d-d-didn't mean to break it, Mom. I was just looking for a pencil, and it . . . Oh! I'm s-s-so sorry."

Mom put an arm around Megan. "There, there, honey. Don't cry!"

"She'll have to buy you another one, won't she?" asked Dylan. "It'll probably take all her savings to replace it."

"No," Mom said sadly. "Some things can't be replaced, and this is one of them."

"Then are you going to ground her?" Dylan wanted to know. Mom shook her head. "Spank her?" was Dylan's next question. When Mom shook her head again, Dylan frowned. "Aren't you going to punish her at all?"

"No," said Mom. "I'm going to show her mercy. Megan has already learned that she needs to be more careful."

Dylan shrugged in disgust. "If I had broken the vase, I wouldn't have been able to sit down for a week!" he grumbled.

"That's not true!" said Mom. "Don't be jealous when mercy is shown to someone else. Mercy is something for which we should all be very grateful. Except for the mercy of God, we would all receive the eternal punishment we deserve. So thank God for His mercy to you, and be glad when mercy is given to others, too. Who knows-tomorrow you may need it again yourself."

As Dylan was thinking about this, Megan got the broom and
dust pan. "I'll get the trash can," Dylan decided. "I can help
you."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you grumble when others are not punished as you think they should be? God tells you to "love mercy"-even when it's given to others. Remember . . . you never know when you will need mercy yourself.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

[Soldier4Christ]

"We're lost-or at least we will be if we choose the wrong path," Austin said slowly. He and Carter had just realized they didn't know which fork in the trail led back to camp. "I'm not even sure this is the right trail at all."

"Oh, no!" groaned Carter. "Nobody knows where we are since we didn't get permission to go hiking. We should have asked if it was okay."

"You know the rules say no hiking without a counselor," grumbled Austin. "They shouldn't make such strict rules!" He thought for a few minutes. "Let's pray for help," he suggested. Carter nodded, so the boys bowed their heads and asked God to help them find the way back to camp. Then Austin studied each of the two paths again. "Hey, look!" He pointed. "This is the path we came on! There's the candy wrapper you dropped when we came this way."

Carter grinned sheepishly. "I guess it's good I was a litterbug today," he said.

When the boys arrived at camp, everyone was relieved to see them safely back. They had been missed, and a search party was being organized to look for them. The boys exchanged worried glances when Mr. Heston, the camp director, told them he wanted to see them in his office. "I think we're in trouble," whispered Austin nervously.

"Let's tell Mr. Heston how we prayed and God answered," Carter whispered back. "That should make him forget we broke the rules."

Mr. Heston listened soberly as the boys told him about praying. Then he said, "I'm not sure God answered your prayers." Austin and Carter could hardly believe what they heard. "I didn't hear any indication that you boys were sorry you broke the rules-only that you got lost," Mr. Heston continued. "You didn't ask me to forgive you, and as far as I know, you didn't ask God to forgive you, either. He says if we 'regard iniquity' in our hearts-that is, if we aren't sorry for our sin or we refuse to give it up-He won't hear us."

"But after we prayed, we found the right path," argued Austin.

Mr. Heston nodded. "While you prayed out there in the
woods, the counselors and I prayed here at camp," he said. "I wonder . . . Do
you think God answered your prayers, or ours?"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you get into a tight spot, do you quickly pray for help? That's good, but as you pray, be sure to examine your heart. Is there unconfessed sin there? Are you willing to turn from it? If you are, confess it to God and ask Him to forgive you. Then you will be ready to pray.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Psalm 66:13

[Soldier4Christ]

As part of a community awareness program, the newspaper carriers in Molly's town made a weekly check on the senior citizens who lived on their routes. At first, Molly resented the extra time it took-especially when it was the day to check on Mrs. Deaton. The old lady talked and talked while Molly impatiently waited to go home and play.

One day, Mrs. Deaton showed Molly some faded photographs. "Who are these kids?" Molly asked, pointing to a picture of four little girls.

Mrs. Deaton smiled. "They're my children," she replied.

"How come they never visit you or take care of you, now that you're old?" Molly blurted without thinking.

"They aren't living anymore, dear-they all died in a boating accident many years ago," explained Mrs. Deaton. "Then it was just George and me until he died about twenty years ago." Molly fidgeted when she heard that. "Now don't fret," Mrs. Deaton added. "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, but He never forsakes! He's been with me all these years."

One day not long after that, Mrs. Deaton didn't come to the door-even when Molly pounded on it. Molly peered through a window. She couldn't see clearly, but it looked as though the old lady was slumped over a table. "Oh, no!" Molly cried in alarm, but just then Mrs. Deaton's head jerked up.

Seeing Molly's frightened face at the window, Mrs. Deaton quickly went to the door. "Land sakes, child," she said, "I was so busy, I didn't even hear you." She smiled at Molly. "You see, I may be old and unable to do much, but I can pray," she added with a wink. "I was praying for the missionaries from my church."

When she got home, Molly told her mother what had happened. "I thought Mrs. Deaton was a useless old lady," admitted Molly, "but I'm sure the missionaries she prays for don't think so."

"I'm sure they don't," agreed Mom, "and I think you've learned something from her, too, haven't you?"

Molly nodded. "If I live to be as old as she is, I hope
I'll be as caring, too-praying for people and talking about
Jesus!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you feel about older people? Do you respect them? Do you spend time with them and listen to what they have to say? You'll find that older people can teach valuable lessons from the experiences they've faced. If you treat them with dignity, they'll enrich your life. God has given His "senior saints," as well as younger Christians, a job to do. They're valuable to Him, and they can be to you, as well.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
When I am old . . . O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation. Psalm 71:18

[Soldier4Christ]

When the Sanders twins came in from school, Matt went to his room, but Mark bounded into the kitchen. "I made all A's on my report card," he announced proudly.

Mom hugged him. "Good for you! That's great!" She looked around. "Where's Matt?" When Mark shrugged and pointed down the hall, Mom went and tapped on the twins' bedroom door. "May I come in, Matt?" she asked.

"I guess so," came the muffled reply. "I suppose you want to see my report card." Without looking at his mother, Matt handed it to her.

Mom took the card and smiled as she looked at it. "You did well," she said.

"Mark got all A's," said Matt angrily. "I didn't even make the honor roll."

"Making the honor roll isn't the most important thing in life," replied Mom. She sat down next to Matt. "I'm proud of both you and Mark. You're twins, but you're very different, and that's really a good thing. Mark loves to read and study. You, on the other hand, are . . ."

". . . stupid!" Matt interrupted.

"You certainly are not!" Mom exclaimed. "You're smart, too-but in a different way from Mark." She put a hand on his shoulder. "When his bike was broken, who fixed it?"

"I did, but there wasn't much wrong with it," said Matt with a shrug.

"Last Christmas, we gave Mark a chess game, and we gave you a set of tools, remember?" asked Mom. "Did it make you mad that we didn't give the two of you the same thing?"

"Of course not," said Matt. "We wouldn't even want the same things."

"We gave you different gifts, and God gives His children
different gifts," Mom said. "Remember the verses we read from First Corinthians
this morning?" Matt nodded, and his mother continued. "Mark is good in
scholastic things, but you have mechanical abilities that he doesn't have. Don't
think less of your talents just because they're not the same as Mark's. Thank
God for the gifts He's given you, and use them for His glory."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you compare your abilities with those others have? Do you want to be able to do well in math or reading, shoot lots of baskets, or sing or play the piano well just because you have a brother, a sister, or a friend who can do one of those things? Do your best at whatever you do, but remember that God has not given you the same gifts He gave others. Use the talents God has given you-not so you can brag about them, but to be helpful to others in some way and to bring glory to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another. 1 Peter 4:10

[Soldier4Christ]

Maria took her violin out of the hall closet and set up her music stand. She began to play, but as she drew her bow across the strings, the notes that came from the violin were shaky and unsure. "I'm outta here!" exclaimed her brother Carlos, heading for the door. "Those high, squeaky notes hurt my ears!"

"Carlos is right-they sound awful!" wailed Maria. "I know just what my teacher would say-she'd call those 'sour notes'! This piece is too hard!"

"Try it again," said Mom, coming into the room. "Keep practicing."

With a sigh, Maria did so. Though she still couldn't play the song perfectly by the end of her thirty-minute practice session, it had definitely improved.

"Did everyone have a good day?" asked Dad at the dinner table that evening. "What did you all do?"

"Well . . . I played and read and practiced the new piece my violin teacher assigned," said Maria. "It still needs a lot of work, but it's coming along."

"Some of us guys in the neighborhood played ball at the park," reported Carlos. "John lost his temper and went home mad. He doesn't get mad as often as he used to, but he sure blew it today."

"That's too bad," said Mom, "but I'm glad to hear he's been doing better."

"He's a Christian, isn't he?" asked Maria. "He must know it's wrong to get mad like that."

"Well, let's pray for him and be thankful he's making progress," said Dad. "It's easier to be patient with others when we remember that we all need a lot of improvement in living for the Lord."

"Right," agreed Mom. "Think about your violin practice, honey. Remember all the sour notes we heard at first? When we sin, we're like a sour note, and the harmony we had with God is gone. But when we confess our sin and ask forgiveness, our friendship with Jesus is like new."

Dad nodded. "When we accept Jesus, God begins to change
us and make us pleasing to Him," he added. "It takes time, but God has promised
to continue working in our lives. You didn't give up on your music, and I'm glad
God doesn't give up on us." He smiled. "He won't give up on John,
either."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you or your friends been making "sour notes" lately? Maybe you've heard the saying, "Be patient-God isn't finished with me yet." Ask forgiveness for your sins. Try each day to learn more from God's Word and to grow more like Him. Thank Him for His patient work in your life, and thank Him for not giving up on you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

[Soldier4Christ]

As Sandy and her brother Jim raced across the field, something suddenly moved in the long grass ahead of them! "Oh!" exclaimed Sandy, stopping in her tracks. "What is that?"

Jim stopped, too. "It's only a bird, silly. But, look! It's hurt. I think its wing is broken." They watched the bird slowly move away, dragging one wing. "Let's catch it," suggested Jim. "I bet Dad can fix its wing." He slowly walked toward the bird. When he got close, he reached for it, but it ran ahead, crying piteously. He followed to try again.

Several times, the children got almost close enough to catch the bird, but each time it struggled forward, just out of reach. At the edge of the field, it suddenly flapped both wings and soared into the air. Sandy's mouth dropped open. "I thought it was badly hurt," she muttered.

When they got home, Sandy and Jim told their parents about the bird. "That was probably a killdeer," said Dad. "It most likely has a nest in the grass and was leading you away from its babies."

Jim laughed. "Well, it sure had us fooled," he said. "We thought its wing was broken."

"God provided a unique way for those young killdeer to be protected," observed Mom.

"I guess so!" exclaimed Sandy. She grinned at her parents. "Well, I'm sure we can count on the two of you to go limping around and almost get yourselves caught if it will help protect us, right?" she teased.

Dad grinned back. "Absolutely!" he agreed. "We're willing to do anything we can to protect you, but I'm thankful someone else is protecting you, too."

"Who would that be?" asked Sandy. "Do you mean God?"

Dad nodded. "Yes, and he uses special servants-angels-to watch over you. Can you think of any examples from the Bible where angels protected people?"

"Daniel in the lion's den!" shouted Sandy just as Jim said, "Peter in prison!"

"You're both right," approved Dad. "It's comforting to
know we have angels watching over us, but always remember that Jesus is with us
at all times, too. He'll be with us no matter what circumstances He allows to
come into our lives."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has someone else gotten credit for your hard work? Did it make you angry? The reward for a job well done isn't always praise and honor from others. The satisfaction of knowing you've done your best and God is pleased with your effort is more important than praise. His approval is most important of all- it's what brings real rewards.

[Soldier4Christ]

Darien was deep in thought as he walked home from the ball park. I'm going to stop at Uncle Lyle's house, he thought. He's a doctor. He'll know the answers to my questions.

Darien found his uncle mowing the lawn. "Can I ask you something, Uncle Lyle?" asked Darien. "The guys were talking this afternoon, and some of them don't believe all the stuff we hear about how bad it is for us to smoke. Does smoking really cause cancer? My friend Garrett says he knows some old people who have smoked for years, and they've never gotten it."

Uncle Lyle looked serious. "That's probably true," he agreed. "Not everyone's body works and reacts exactly the same. One person who doesn't smoke much may get lung cancer at an early age. Another person won't develop it for a longer time even though he may smoke more. And yet another may not get cancer at all, even though he smokes."

"So it's . . . it's just a chance?" Darien asked. "You might get it, but you might not."

"It's a chance not worth taking," said Uncle Lyle. "There's a much stronger possibility of getting lung cancer if you smoke than if you don't. And besides causing cancer, smoking can also cause heart damage and other lung problems."

"But it won't happen for certain?" Darien asked.

The doctor frowned. "The problem is that no one knows how his body will react. You could be the person who gets cancer at an early age with only a little smoking," he replied. "Now . . . you won't automatically live to be a hundred just because you don't smoke, but God did make our bodies to work most efficiently when we don't over-tax or abuse them. Remember, too, that smoking is habit-forming, and God is not pleased when we allow anything to control our actions in that way."

"Well. . . I guess smoking is out then," Darien decided.

Uncle Lyle slapped him on the back. "I knew you were a
smart guy," he said with a grin.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does smoking seem "smart" to you? It isn't smart; it's harmful. Decide right now that with God's power, you will not smoke. It's one of several things that are habit forming, and it's not a good habit to form! It can hurt you. The decision to not smoke may even result in a longer life for you. Honor God in the way you care for your body. He created you to be of service to Him, not to be a slave to bad habits.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

[Soldier4Christ]

As Katie stopped in the middle of the mountain trail, her friend Gretchen bumped into her. "Whoa!" exclaimed Gretchen. "Why did you stop?"

Katie pointed to a hillside across the valley. "Mom said we'd see a place where there had been a forest fire-and that's it!"

"Wow!" exclaimed Gretchen as the girls stared at the charred remains. When they moved on, she turned to Katie. "Did you know Blake cheated on a test and might even get suspended from school?" asked Gretchen.

"Yeah. He says he didn't do it, but who's gonna believe that?" replied Katie. "And what about Steve? Mary thinks he stole money from her desk. He should be suspended, too."

"Want some water?" Turning, the girls saw that Katie's mother was catching up with them. She held out the canteen, and they sat on a fallen log to rest.

"What caused that forest fire, Mom?" asked Katie, pointing to the hillside again. "It sure destroyed a lot of trees, didn't it?"

"The newspaper said it started from a little campfire spark," replied Mom. She frowned as she added, "The words we speak can have the same effect. The tongue is called a 'fire' in the Bible."

Katie grinned. "I can burn down a forest with my mouth?" she asked, knowing that wasn't right.

Mom smiled. "Your words can't destroy trees," she said, "but they can destroy friendships and damage lives. When we say unkind things, it can hurt people's feelings and their reputations."

"Isn't it okay to say things if we know they're true?" asked Gretchen, remembering what she and Katie had been talking about.

"Not necessarily," replied Mom. "Unless there's some useful purpose for repeating it, it's generally better to keep to yourself anything that would hurt another person. Like a tiny spark, a tiny unkind suggestion can spread and cause a lot of harm." Mom pointed toward the hillside. "It will take a long time for trees to grow back in that area," she said, "but it may take even longer to repair damage done by unkind words."

Gretchen pulled out her camera. "I'm going to take a
picture," she decided, "to remind myself of what a little fire-or a few mean
words-can do."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you caught yourself spreading personal information about others? Has anyone ever spread gossip about you? Sometimes you may say things without realizing the damage your words can do. It's a good idea to think before you speak and to ask God to help you keep from starting any "fires" with your tongue.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. Proverbs 26:20