Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mommy, I want that 'brella," pleaded four-year-old Hannah, pointing to a brightly colored umbrella on display in the children's department.

Mom laughed. "Well," she said, "the way it's been raining lately, it might be a good idea for you to have your own umbrella. We'll see how much it costs." The price was right, and the saleslady showed Hannah how to put the umbrella up and down and how she could carry it by a strap over her wrist when it wasn't raining. Hannah walked proudly from the store, merrily swinging the umbrella back and forth.

The next day, to Hannah's delight, it rained, so her mother helped her eager little daughter get dressed to go outdoors. Mom helped Hannah put the umbrella up, and watched as she went out and walked around the back yard. When Mom looked out a little later, however, Hannah was hurrying up the front walk, her new umbrella swinging on her arm while the rain pelted down on her head. Mom hurried to the door. "Why aren't you using your umbrella?" she asked.

"I like it on my arm, so I put it down. But now I'm all wet!" pouted Hannah. Mom helped her change into dry clothes.

That afternoon, Hannah wanted to go out in the rain again. "You may go out for a little while, but this time leave the umbrella up," ordered Mom.

"I will," promised Hannah, and she did.

That evening, the rest of the family laughed when they heard the story of Hannah and her umbrella, but Hannah pouted. "It's okay, honey," Dad told her, reaching for the Bible he used for their family devotions. "There are times when we all act like you did."

Hannah's face brightened, but her brother Dan scowled. "Not me!" he said.

Dad smiled. "Hannah carried her umbrella closed even though she needed it open, and too often we carry this Book closed," he said, holding up the Bible. "When the umbrella was open, it protected Hannah from the rain, and when we open and obey God's Word, it protects us from sin's harm and we are blessed." Dad smiled at Hannah. "Just like you needed to open your umbrella to get any use from it, we need to open our Bibles. Let's do that right now."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you open your Bible and read something from God's Word every day? Or does it lie closed on your dresser or book shelf throughout most of the week? You don't need God's message only on Sunday. You need it to help you as you go through each day. So open your Bible daily, read it, and follow its instructions.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Search from the book of the Lord, and read. Isaiah 34:16

[Soldier4Christ]

"You should have seen all the turtles and frogs down at the pond," said Kyle when he and Janae returned from a walk on their grandparents' farm.

Grandma smiled. "It's fun to see the things in nature that God created, isn't it?" she said. "All the living creatures and the flowers and trees and other plants."

"My science teacher says everything began with a big explosion-something about a big bang," said Kyle. "Mr. Watson says there's not any God."

"Does it make sense that everything just . . . fell into place?" asked Grandma.

"We-e-ell, probably not," replied Kyle. "I don't know."

"Let's try an experiment," said Grandma. She handed the children small cards. "Write the letters of the alphabet from 'A' to 'Z' on these-one on each card."

When they were finished, Grandma took the cards. "Okay, Kyle," she said as she pulled a chair out from the table. "I want you to climb up on this chair."

"You're sure? You won't yell at me?" teased Kyle.

Grandma laughed. "Not this time," she promised. So Kyle got up on the chair and Grandma handed him the cards. "Toss these up and let them fall," she said. Kyle did as he was told. "Now look at them, kids-they're all in order from 'A' to 'Z,' right?" asked Grandma.

"Of course not," said Janae. "You're kidding!"

"Let's try again," said Grandma. "Janae can toss them this time. If we try often enough, they'll eventually land in the right spots, don't you think?"

"No, I don't," grumbled Kyle. "This is silly, Grandma. They'll never fall in order, no matter how often we do this."

"You're right," agreed Grandma. "It's silly to think it could just happen. And it's just as silly-in fact, more so-to believe the magnificent world in which we live just 'happened' to come into being by itself. Common sense will tell you it took an intelligent Being-God-to create and plan the world and to make us."

Janae laughed. "There's the problem," she said. "Kyle doesn't have much common sense."

Kyle grinned at her. "I've heard that common sense is misnamed because it isn't very common," he said. "I guess what you need is uncommon good sense, and I have lots of that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder about the world and where it came from? Have you heard that it evolved-came into being on its own? Look at the wonders of nature and space. Read a little about the marvelous way your body is made. Common sense will tell you that only an all-powerful God could have put everything together. He is definitely real. You can learn much about Him through nature, but your Bible is the best place to learn about Him. It includes the account of His creation of all things.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no! This letter to Grandma is all messy," Sheila wailed. "I made a mistake, so I erased a few lines and did them over. I tried to erase carefully, but the page still looks messy."

"Well, the mailman is coming down the street now," said Mom, glancing out the window. "If you want to send that today, you'll have to leave it the way it is. I think Grandma will understand." So Sheila reluctantly sealed the envelope and hurried to put it in the mailbox.

When Sheila came in from playing outdoors later that afternoon, she restlessly picked up one book after another and leafed through them. Mom glanced at her. "Is something bothering you, honey?" asked Mom. "You don't look very happy."

"I . . . I don't think Jane likes me anymore," replied Sheila. Her voice trembled. "She doesn't want to play with me-I can tell. I guess it's because I took her doll a couple weeks ago. When I returned it and told her how sorry I was, she said she forgave me, but she doesn't act like she did." A tear rolled down Sheila's cheek. "I asked God to forgive me, too," she added. "He did, didn't He?"

"Are you really sorry for what you did?" asked Mom. Sheila nodded. "Then God has forgiven you," said Mom. " I believe Jane has, too, but it may take time to gain her trust again." Mom put an arm around Sheila. "Remember what happened when you wrote to Grandma this morning?"

"My letter to Grandma?" Sheila wrinkled her brow. "I made a mistake and erased part of it."

"Yes," agreed Mom, "and how did the page look after you erased those lines?"

"It . . . it looked a little messy," replied Sheila.

"Yes, and life is a little like that," Mom told her. "In a way, we're 'writing' a page in our lives each day. Sometimes we make mistakes-even those of us who know Jesus. God graciously forgives us completely, but as far as people are concerned, that 'page' in our lives may not seem quite the same. Sin-even though it's forgiven-often leaves a mark on our lives here on earth. It may take time before people can fully trust us." Mom gave Sheila a hug. "Be patient with Jane," she advised, and show her that you can be trusted."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you messed up a "page" in your life? If you're truly sorry, confess it to God and ask people who are involved to forgive you, too. As far as God is concerned, that sin is totally blotted out. Ask Him to help you live a pure life each day before Him and before others. Be patient with them, remembering that even when others are willing to forgive you, it may take time before they fully trust you again.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Acts 24:16

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb . . ." Kelli stopped singing as she entered the kitchen. "Hi, Mom," she said. "I'm going to go play with Josie as soon as I get my Sunday school lesson done, okay?"

"Sounds fine," agreed Mom.

"I'll do my lesson right now," said Kelli. She resumed her song as she went to her room and got out her Sunday school book. "It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day . . ." Then there was silence as Kelli got busy with her work.

Before long, the song began again. "It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play . . ." In the kitchen, Mom smiled as the singing got louder. "Hi, Mom, I'm all done." Kelli stood in the doorway. She grinned at her mother. "Mary had a good disciple, didn't she?"

"A good what?" asked Mom.

"A good disciple. My Sunday school lesson is about Jesus' twelve disciples. It says a disciple is a follower-and Mary's lamb followed her wherever she went," explained Kelli. "It was a good disciple."

Mom laughed. "I guess you're right," she said. "The lamb was so eager to be with Mary that it even followed her to school. It didn't seem to be bothered by the children's laughter or jokes."

"Yeah." Kelli nodded solemnly. "We should follow Jesus like that, shouldn't we? We should do what He wants, even if kids at school think we're weird."

"You're right about that," agreed Mom.

Kelli stood thoughtfully beside the door. Then she gave a happy little skip. "I'm going over to Josie's now, Mom. I'll tell her about being Jesus' disciple and see if she wants to come with me to Sunday school tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," agreed Mom. "That's a good idea."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your classmates laugh if you talk about Jesus? Do they think you're a little strange when you bow your head and pray before you eat your lunch? Does anyone call you a "goody-goody" because you go to church and Sunday school regularly? Be a good disciple-a good follower-of Jesus. Do the things that please Him, no matter what anyone says.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ouch!" Carter stopped sanding the wood on the porch swing and looked at the sliver in his finger. He put his tools down and went to show his mother.

She met him at the kitchen door. "I was coming to look for you," she said. "I was just informed that you've been teasing Todd Berry and calling him names. Is this true?"

"I . . . I . . . Eric and Jason started it," murmured Carter. "Besides, Todd is such a sissy!" Suddenly he remembered the sliver and held up his finger. "Look, Mom. The rough wood on that old swing did this to me. It hurts!"

"We'd better get that sliver out," said Mom. She frowned thoughtfully as she got a needle and tweezers. "Don't you think the injury you gave Todd hurts even more than your finger does?" she asked as she gently worked on Carter's finger.

"What are you talking about?" asked Carter. "I just teased him a little. I didn't hurt him."

"Yes, you did," insisted Mom. "You hurt him by your words and actions. They're probably still bothering him-something like a sliver. If this finger starts to fester, it will hurt much worse than it does now, and if your teasing starts to fester in Todd's mind and life, it will hurt him really bad, too." Mom finally succeeded in removing the sliver and held it up in triumph.

Carter looked at his sore finger. "Thanks!" he exclaimed. "I'll finish sanding down the rough wood on that swing and get it painted so it won't ever do that to anybody again!" He started for the door. "And I'll work more carefully this time."

"Just a minute, young man," said Mom. "I'm glad we could remove that sliver, but now you need to think of a way to remove the hurt you caused Todd."

Carter looked at his feet. "I'll . . . I'll tell him I'm sorry," he promised.

"That should help some," said Mom. "I think you need to talk to the Lord about it, too. And one more thing-your dad and I have talked with you about this problem before, and this time we'll have to do a little 'sanding' to help you avoid giving any more 'slivers.' That means being grounded for a few days."

Solemnly Carter nodded. He knew he had done wrong. "Okay,"
he said humbly. "My sore finger will remind me that I deserve what I'm
getting."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have "rough edges" that give "slivers" to other people? Do you say unkind things? Refuse to share? Snub others? Are your parents or other adults working to help "sand you down" into a likable, useful person? Thank God for them and for the discipline you receive. Ask Him to help you improve your behavior.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Chastening . . . yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebreww 12:11

[Soldier4Christ]

"Camping is fun, but it's easier to do the washing at home, isn't it?" observed Jody. She continued to slosh clothes around in a bucket.

"Yes," agreed Mom as she wrung out socks, twisting them tightly. "Would you hang these up for me, please?"

"Sure." Jody hung the socks on the clothes line. "Can I wring out this sweater now?" she asked.

"Oh, don't wring that," said Mom. "Just squeeze it gently and then roll it in a towel. Wringing wouldn't be good for that material." She turned to a third bucket. "Now these," she said, "are drip-dry. We'll hang them up dripping wet. The water will just run right out of them and leave them almost wrinkle-free."

"Sounds great," said Jody. "Wrinkle-free and work-free!" She began to hang up the clothes, and soon the washing was finished.

Later that day, Dad gave Jody her allowance. She looked at the money in her hand. "You know what? We're having a special missionary offering in Sunday school next week," she said. "Since we're camping, I don't really need any money this week, so is it okay if I put all of this in the offering?"

"Of course you can do that," said Dad, "if you really want to."

Mom smiled. "You've come a long way in your giving," she said.

"What do you mean?" asked Jody.

"Remember when you first got an allowance? We insisted that you give a tenth to the Lord, so you did. But you weren't happy about it," Mom reminded her. "It was kind of 'wrung' out of you, like we had to wring the water out of the cotton socks and some of the other things this morning. Later, you gave your tenth willingly, but that was all you'd give-it was as though you were 'gently squeezed' into giving that much. But I know that you frequently give extra money now. That reminds me of the drip-dry clothes where the water just runs out." Mom smiled. "Which material did we decide we preferred?"

Jody grinned. "The drip-dry!" she said.

"Right," agreed Mom. "That's the kind of giver God prefers, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of giver are you? Do you give some of your own money to the Lord? Do you give only because you have to? Or do you gladly give a small portion of your money to be used in God's work? Best of all, do you give generously and cheerfully? That's the kind of giver God loves.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Give . . . not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

[Soldier4Christ]

"Valerie! Over here!" Deep in thought, Valerie looked up in surprise as she heard her mother's voice. Mom was waiting in a car at the curb."I thought you might like to go to the gift shop with me," said Mom as Valerie got in the car.

Valerie was still quietly thinking as they left the schoolyard. "Mom," she said after a moment, "I'm the only one in my class who doesn't watch those horror cartoons on Saturday morning. Not that I want to see them, but it's no fun being the oddball." She sighed. "Our Bible verse on Sunday was about Christians being 'a peculiar people,' and I sure do feel peculiar sometimes."

Mom chuckled. "I'm sure you know 'peculiar' doesn't mean 'weird' in that verse," she said. "Some translations say a 'chosen' people or a 'special' people. One says we're God's own 'purchased, special people.'"

After arriving at the store, Mom began to look at vases. "I want to make a new flower arrangement for the piano," she said.

Valerie pointed. "Look at this one, Mom! Can we get it? It's so pretty!"

After checking the price tag, Mom laughed. "Leave it to you to pick out the most expensive one in the shop," she said. "That vase costs four times more than this one next to it."

"Well, I think it's worth more than the others," declared Valerie, "though I'm not sure it should be that much more expensive!"

Mom picked up the vase and turned it over. "It says 'hand-crafted' here on the bottom," she replied, showing the label to Valerie. "Apparently these others were made in molds, so they're basically all alike. This one is different-it's special." She smiled. "It's a 'peculiar' vessel."

Valerie grinned. "Just like me, right?"

"Right! Just keep on being 'peculiar,' honey. Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold." Mom handed the vase to Valerie. "Let's buy this even if it is expensive," she added. "It will be a constant reminder to us of how special we are to God."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel like an "oddball" because you take a stand for what's right? It's sometimes necessary to be different from almost everybody in order to please God. So don't try to be like everyone else. If you're trusting in Jesus as Savior, you are one of God's own "special people." It's often okay-even good-to be different from most of the world. Be the kind of person God wants you to be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His (God's) own special people. 1 Peter 2:9

[Soldier4Christ]

"Did you know that Jana refused to join our choir?" Nan asked her friend Ava. The girls talked about their youth group as they baked cookies at Nan's house. "Isn't that terrible?" continued Nan. "We need all the kids."

Ava sighed. "I know. Mary isn't joining, either-says she's not musical."

"Like Paster Cole said last Sunday, it's too bad when no one wants to do things for the Lord," said Nan. As she rummaged through a drawer, her mother came into the room. "Mom, do you know where the cookie cutters are?" asked Nan.

Mom found a cheese cutter. "Use this," she said, handing it to Nan.

Absentmindedly, Nan took it and walked to the table. Then she looked down. "Mom!" she said, laughing. "You can't cut out cookies with a cheese cutter!"

Mom acted surprised. "Well, here then," she said, taking a kitchen scissors from the drawer and handing it to Ava. "Or you could use Dad's razor."

As Ava held the scissors uncertainly, Nan frowned. "Mom, what are you talking about?" she asked. "You know we need the cookie cutters!"

Mom smiled. "I'm just trying to show you something," she said. "In a way, these tools all have the same job-they cut. And yet their jobs are all different. Each one is good for its own particular purpose." Mom handed the cookie cutters to Ava. "Christians are something like that. In a way we all have the same task-to glorify the Lord and bring others to Him. But that doesn't mean we all have to do exactly the same thing. Each of us may serve in a different way. I wasn't sure you knew that."

"Of course we . . ." began Nan. Then she stopped. "I guess you heard us talking, didn't you?" she asked.

Mom nodded. "Mary's mother told me that Mary has a hearing problem. Because of that, she has trouble learning music. But I've seen some of the pictures she drew, and they were excellent! Maybe she'd like to help with posters for the concert. As for Jana, I believe her Sunday school teacher said she brought more visitors to class this year than any other person did."

"So we should let everyone serve in his own way, right?" asked Nan. "We'll try to remember that, won't we, Ava?" Solemnly, Ava nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think everyone should serve the Lord just the way you do? Remember that God has given different talents to different people. All Christians should serve the Lord, but they may not all do it your way. That's okay-just so each one serves God's way. Don't judge them. Let God be the one to do that. Let Him be the one to decide what each person should do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:6

[Soldier4Christ]

Stephen burst into the family room. "Mom, Melissa hit me!" he yelled.

"He hit me first." Melissa followed close on Stephen's heels.

"Well, I owed you one from last time," Stephen roared. "The Bible says if someone hits you, you have the right to hit him back!"

"Steve!" gasped Mom, who was trying to balance her checkbook with the bank statement. "That's not what the Bible teaches at all."

"Yes, it is," replied Stephen firmly. "In the Old Testament it says, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' I read it myself."

Dad looked up from his newspaper. "That passage isn't talking about personal vengeance," he said. "It was meant as a civil law, to insure justice in the nation of Israel. People who return blow for blow find the score is never settled. Someone always owes someone else a blow. It's like . . . like your mother's checkbook and the bank statement." All heads turned to him in surprise. "They don't balance," added Dad.

"Balance? What do you mean?" asked Stephen.

"We put a money into a checking account and then keep track of how much is spent," explained Dad. "The bank keeps track, too. We should agree with them on the amount, but Mom's been complaining that they don't come out the same."

"That's true," admitted Mom with a rueful smile. "Trust me-you don't want your lives to resemble my checkbook."

Dad nodded. "Jesus did away with the law of revenge. He told us to return good for evil. That's the only way to settle the score."

"You mean whenever Stephen hits me, I'm supposed to do something good for him?" Melissa asked with a frown. "That would be hard!"

"God says to overcome evil with good," repeated Dad. "Nobody said it would be easy, but the results are worth the effort."

Stephen and Melissa looked at each other. "We'll try," they said in unison.

"Hey, this will sure be different," added Stephen.

Mom smiled. "Great," she said. "That balances one account. Now if I could just get this checkbook and the bank statement to balance . . ."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you keeping track of the wrong treatment others give you? Are you figuring out how you can get back at them? God's way to settle the issue is for you to do something good for them. Think of someone who recently wasn't very nice to you. Then think of something you could do that would be nice for him or her. Now go and do it. You'll feel a lot better when you use God's way to "balance your account" with that person.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

[Soldier4Christ]

"Jon hoed carefully around the special plants Mr. Rand, his employer, had pointed out to him," read Mom. "Then as he stepped back, he tripped and fell right on one of those plants. Very upset, he sat down and stared at it." Mom paused to show the picture of the broken plant to the children.

"Did he get fired for breaking it?" asked Sammy. "Read what happened, Mom."

Mom smiled. "Suddenly a young man stood before Brian," she read. "'What's the trouble, buddy?' the stranger asked kindly. Jon told him what had happened. 'I see,' said the young man. 'Well, don't worry about it. It will be all right-I promise you. You'd better get on with your work. I'll check on you later.'

"Jon sighed and got busy again, but he was very unhappy, knowing he'd have to tell Mr. Rand what had happened. About noon the young man returned. 'Come with me,' he said, and he led Jon toward the place where he had fallen. As they approached, Jon was surprised to see that a lovely, blooming shrub, just like the one he had broken, now stood in its place. 'Do you like the plant I ordered for you?' asked Jon's new friend.

"Jon nodded 'But why would you pay for what I broke?' he asked. 'Who are you?'

"The man smiled. 'I'm Jason. My father owns this place,' he said. 'I wanted to help you because I understood how bad you felt when you broke that plant. I once broke something I couldn't fix, and the son of the owner took care of it for me.'

"'What did you break?' asked Jon eagerly.

"'I broke God's greatest commandment-to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind. His Son, Jesus, paid for my sin and gave me a new life,' Jason told him.

"Jon had heard a little about Jesus before, and as he looked at Jason, he realized that Jesus had done something wonderful for him. 'Thank you for helping me,' said Jon. 'Now will you help me with something else? Will you tell me more about Jesus?' With a big smile, Jason nodded." Mom closed the book and reached for Sammy's Bible. "Tomorrow we'll read another story about Jon," she said, "but right now we'll take a little time to learn more about Jesus."

"Just like Jon did," said Sammy, "only we'll read about Him from the Bible instead of having somebody tell us. Okay, Mom. I'm ready to listen."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize that you have broken God's commandments-His rules? Jesus, God's Son, paid the price to remove your sin and give you a new and clean heart. Confess to God that you are a sinner, and accept what Jesus did for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
God . . . gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should . . . have everlasting life. John 3:16

[Soldier4Christ]

On the way home from church, Greg excitedly told his family that his friend Logan had accepted Jesus during Sunday school.

Dad smiled. "That's great!" he exclaimed.

"Wonderful!" added Mom enthusiastically. "Your prayers have been answered."

But Greg's sister Erin frowned. "Why doesn't God answer my prayers, too?" she wondered. "I pray for my friend Lynn, but I'm not sure it does any good."

"Don't be discouraged," advised Dad. "Sometimes it takes a long time before a person will accept Christ."

"Yeah," added Greg, "I talked to Logan and invited him to Sunday school a whole year before he ever came at all. It's only just lately that he's come very much."

Mom nodded. She turned to Erin. "What kind of response do you get from Lynn when you talk to her about the Lord?" she asked.

"Well, I haven't really said much," admitted Erin.

"How often have you invited her to church and Sunday school?" asked Dad.

"Why . . . I . . . I haven't actually invited her," stammered Erin, "but I let her know I was going."

"You didn't ask her to come?" said Greg. "Or tell her about Jesus?"

"Well . . . not exactly," admitted Erin. "I pray for her, though-all the time!"

"Hm-m-m," murmured Dad. "Remember the Bible story of Nehemiah and the people of Israel building a wall around Jerusalem? When they heard their enemies were coming, they prayed-but they didn't just pray. They also prepared to fight. It's great to pray for Lynn, honey, but sometimes the Lord wants to use us to help answer our own prayers."

Erin was silent for a while. When they arrived home, she jumped out of the car. "I want to call Lynn right now," she said. "I'll invite her to come to church with us tonight, okay?"

Dad nodded. "It sure is," he agreed, "and we'll all pray with you that Lynn will come-not only to church, but also to know Jesus as her Savior."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you praying for something special-for someone's salvation, for money you need, or perhaps for help with your schoolwork? Prayer is very important, but don't "just pray" if there's something you could also do to help. Maybe the Lord wants you to talk to somebody, to mow a lawn, to be a friend, to study hard. Pray, and then with the Lord's help, do all you can to accomplish the task.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
We made our prayer to our God, and . . . set a watch against them day and night. Nehemiah 4:9

[Soldier4Christ]

"Where is Jenna?" called Grace in a singsong voice as she played with her baby sister one day. "Where is Jenna hiding?"

Jenna peeked through the chubby little fingers she was holding in front of her face. Suddenly she dropped her hand. "There she is!" exclaimed Grace. "There's Jenna!"

The baby squealed in delight and promptly placed her fingers back over her eyes, ready to play the game again. Grace laughed, too. "You really think you're hiding from me, don't you?" she said. "Babies are silly, aren't they, Mom?"

"Sometimes," agreed Mom. "Almost as silly as adults who try to hide."

Grace looked at her mother suspiciously. "I guess some adults try to hide from the police-or maybe even from each other now and then," said Grace. "But adults don't try to hide by covering their faces with their hands. At least none that I know of do that. So what do you mean?"

"They may not use the same method of hiding," agreed Mom, "but I was just thinking of how we sometimes try to hide from God."

Grace frowned. "Nobody can hide from Him, right? He knows everything," she said.

"Yes, He does, but we often seem to forget that," said Mom. "We do something wrong, and we think nobody knows about it. Even Christians, who should know better, act as though they can hide what they've done. Isn't that silly?"

Grace nodded. "I know I've tried to do that myself," she admitted. She laughed as she saw Jenna once again peeking through her fingers. "It's cute when a baby thinks she can hide, but it's not cute for us to think that way, is it? I'll have to try and remember not to be as silly as Jenna is right now." Grace grinned at her mother. "I guess the good news is that God sees when we do nice things, too," she added. "My Sunday school teacher says that's something else we often forget."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think nobody knows you did something wrong? Broke that dish or toy? Told that lie? Snitched that cookie? Whatever you've done, God knows. Mom and Dad and your friends may never know, but you can't hide anything from God. If you've done something wrong, confess your sin to Him and to the person you've wronged. Ask for forgiveness. You'll be glad you did. Then remember that God also sees the good things you do. Live to please Him!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Can anyone hide himself . . . so I shall not see him? . . . Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

[Soldier4Christ]

Megan's cousin, Ava, was spending the week with her. After supper the first evening, the girls were eager to go swimming, but Megan's mother asked them to help with the dishes first. "Aw, do we have to?" groaned Megan.

"It won't take you long," Mom replied with a smile. "Just rinse the dishes in the sink and put them in the dishwasher. Then wash the cupboard and clean the sink, and you may be on your way."

Megan took plates to the sink. "Gross!" she exclaimed as she set them down. "There's soggy lettuce and potato peelings and mushy celery in the sink. Yuck!"

"Yeah, and there are noodles and bits of hamburger!" added Ava.

"Mo-o-o-om," groaned Megan. "That mess makes me sick to my stomach. If you'll clean the sink, I'll gladly do the rest of the stuff you said."

Mom laughed. "Okay, no problem," she agreed. "I'll just rinse that stuff down and let the garbage disposal take care of it. But remember-no more complaints about doing dishes this week!"

"Right," chorused the girls, and Ava added, "Nothing's worse than all that garbage in the sink!"

"Oh," said Mom, "sin is much worse!"

"Oh, no! While we wait we're going to get a sermon!" Megan teased her mother.

Mom laughed and gave Megan a playful swat. "Seriously," she said, "you say you can't stand looking at the sink until the garbage has been washed away. Well, sin is so bad, God can't stand to look at it. He can't be happy with us unless our sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus."

"Isn't He happy if we're good and try hard not to do anything bad?" asked Ava.

Mom shook her head. "That's what a lot of people think," she said, "but the Bible says that even things we might consider to be 'good' are like 'filthy rags' in God's sight." Mom turned on the faucet. "I am willingly washing the stuff down the drain with water, and Jesus willingly shed His blood to wash away your sin. Trust Him to do that and to make your lives clean and pure." She turned away from the sink. "Think about that while you finish the dishes."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you're pretty good? The fact is that you are sinful. God hates sin. He loves you, however, and He has made a way for your sin to be washed away. Confess your need to Him. Ask Him to cleanse you from sin, and He will do it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You (God) are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Habakkuk 1:13

[Soldier4Christ]

Jack wiggled impatiently as his Sunday school teacher tied a blindfold over his eyes. A big picture of a donkey without a tail was tacked on the wall. Each of the kids was getting a turn to be blindfolded and turned around a few times before attaching a tail to the donkey.

This will be easy, thought Jack when he was ready. The donkey was facing to my left, and it's about as high as my shoulders. He took a few wobbly steps, reached out and . . . there! It was done. When he snatched off his blindfold, he couldn't believe his eyes. There stood the donkey with a tail growing right out of its nose! Jack joined in the laughter at the silly sight.

In Sunday school the next day, Mrs. Gates reminded the kids of the game they had played. She pointed to the donkey, which was still in place on the wall. "It would be easy to go right now and pin the tail in the right place," she said. "What made it hard during the game?"

"We were blindfolded," said one of the children, "and dizzy from being turned around."

"That's right," agreed Mrs. Gates. "Do you know that Christians are sometimes like that, too? Things that keep us from seeing opportunities to serve the Lord are like spiritual blindfolds. What do you think some of those might be?"

Jack's hand shot up. "Selfishness," he suggested, and being jealous of other kids or hating them."

"Or being lazy or stubborn," said another boy.

Mrs. Gates nodded. "What else?" she asked.

"What about watching bad TV?" offered Jack.

"Or even watching good programs or reading a good book, but doing it when we should be doing something else, like going to church or helping somebody," suggested one of the kids.

"Good thinking," approved Mrs. Gates. "Let's ask God to help us recognize the things or activities that are like spiritual blindfolds to us." She opened her Bible. "Now turn to Second Peter, and we'll read about some of the qualities God says we should have in our lives. He says it's when we lack these things that we become 'shortsighted'-as though we're wearing a blindfold."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware of things you can do to serve the Lord? Or are you so busy enjoying your hobbies, riding your bike, and just having fun that you don't notice when there's an opportunity to help someone else? Do things such as jealousy, wanting your own way, or even hatred keep you from being a witness for the Lord.? Don't wear a spiritual blindfold! Ask God to help you develop the qualities listed in today's Scripture. Ask Him to give you the desire and strength to live a life pleasing to Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who lacks these things (godly qualities) is shortsighted, even to blindness. 2 Peter 1:9

[Soldier4Christ]

A cold wind whipped through the cemetery and stung Curt's face. He tried to listen as the minister read from the Bible. I wonder if Grandpa went to heaven, he thought for the hundredth time in the last few days. On the way home, Curt finally asked the question that lay heavy on his heart: "Did Grandpa go to heaven, Dad?"

Dad looked sober. "We believe so, Curt," he answered. "You may remember that Grandpa never showed any interest when I talked to him about God." Curt felt empty inside when he heard this. "But Grandpa died on his knees beside his bed," added Dad.

Mom spoke in her gentle voice. "Just the day before that, I spent some extra time praying that he would receive Jesus as his Savior from sin, and then I went to his room and told him again how he could be saved. We can't be sure, but we believe Grandpa did put his trust in Jesus just before he died."

Curt felt a little better as he thought about that. Then with a sigh he said, "But I wish I knew for sure."

"I do, too, Curt, but we'll have to leave Grandpa in God's hands now," said Dad. "We did all we could do. We told Grandpa many times how he could be saved, and for years we prayed he would understand and accept God's gift. We were loving and kind to him, always hoping he would see the difference Jesus made in our lives and would want to know Him, too."

"There are some things we'll never know while we're on earth," added Mom. "But we told Grandpa what the Bible says, and God promises that His Word will accomplish what He sends it to do. He also says His ways are higher than ours, and He does all things right."

At home, Curt went to his room and rubbed his fingers over the worn leather of a baseball mitt Grandpa had given him. "Dear Lord," he prayed, "You know I loved Grandpa and want him to be in heaven. Thank You that he knew the way. Thank You that You loved him, too, and that You do everything right."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you wondering if someone you love went to heaven when he or she died? It always hurts when a loved one dies, but it's especially painful when you don't know for certain that person was saved and went to heaven. If you're in that position, try not to fret. Rest in the knowledge that God's ways are right. Pray for others who are unsaved. Be kind and loving, and do all you can to help them know the way to heaven.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. Isaiah 55:9