Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ouch!" yelled Julie. She had tripped over one of the many boxes stacked up in the hallway. Moving day was only five days away, and the house was a mess. "Mom, I hate having to move," she said. "I don't want to leave my friends. And I don't want to go to another school!"

Mom sighed. "Honey," she said, "I realize this is difficult for you, but as you know, Dad's job requires him to make this move. Worrying about it and getting angry won't help."

"Well, what will help?" Julie wanted to know. She was close to tears.

Mom gave her a hug. "Trusting God even when you can't understand," she replied. "I know that's often hard to do, but He loves you and will take care of you, even in a new school." Mom pointed toward the window. "Do you see that sparrow on the feeder in the backyard, Julie?"

"Yes." Julie nodded.

"Look at it," said Mom. "A sparrow isn't considered a beautiful bird-not a bird of much worth. But God says He takes care of those little birds and gives them what they need. He also says He loves you and me much more than those birds. That's one reason we know He'll take very good care of us."

Julie thought about what her mother had just said. "Do you think God will help me make new friends?" she asked.

"I'm sure He will," replied Mom. "He knows you need friends. Have you talked to Him about it?"

Julie shook her head. "No, but I will," she said.

Before leaving for school the next day, Julie showed her mother a little booklet she was taking to school with her. "It's an address book," explained Julie. "I'll have my friends write down their addresses, and then we'll write to each other. That way I'll keep my old friends, plus I'll be making new ones!"

"What a good idea! That's the spirit, Julie," said Mom. "Now you're looking on the brighter side of things. When we take our worries to God in prayer, He helps us see that everything has a good side, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you worry about things like going to a new church or having a new teacher? Remember, God loves you and promises to take care of you. He wants only what's good for you. So tell Him about your worries. Then instead of going over and over all the hard things involved in your situation, ask God to help you look on the bright side and see the good things in connection with what's happening in your life. Trust Him to work out all the details for the best.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Casting all your care upon Him (God), for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, I got it!" announced Kathy after school one day.

"Got what?" asked her brother Ben. "Is it catching?" He moved to the other side of the room, pretending to be afraid of her.

   "Silly!" Kathy held up a book. The picture on the jacket showed a girl in a long skirt cooking over an old-fashioned stove.

"Oh, lovely!" Ben clasped his hands together. "Can I read it, too?" he pleaded mockingly. "It looks so-o-o-o interesting."

"It's the book I was telling Mom about," said Kathy. "It tells how to make 'vanity cakes' like they did years ago. Mom said she'd help me make some if I brought home the recipe . . . and you'd better be nice and not make fun of me or I won't let you taste any." She grinned and turned to her mother. "Can we make them today?"

"Right after supper," promised Mom.

After the meal, Ben was put on "dish duty," and Kathy ran to get the book she had brought home. She eagerly opened it. Then she closed it and looked at the cover. "Mom," she wailed, "this is the wrong book! This book jacket is a phony! It says, 'Old Time Cooking,' but it's really a book about antique cars! I can't believe I didn't notice that before!"

"That might be a good book after all!" said Ben.

Mom looked at the book. "Somehow it got the wrong jacket on it," she said. "I guess this proves the old saying, 'You can't tell a book by its cover.'"

"Nope, nor people, either," observed Dad. The others gave him a questioning look. "People sometimes put on a good 'cover,' too," he said. "They go to church and do all sorts of good deeds. Those who see them may be fooled and think such nice people must be Christians. But God isn't fooled. He knows what's inside. He knows whether or not they've accepted Jesus-whether they're really Christians or just pretending to be something they're not."

"I get it," said Kathy. "Well, getting fooled by the cover on this book isn't so serious, but I guess we won't be making those cakes tonight after all."

"Hey, does this mean I get out of doing dishes?" asked Ben hopefully.

"It means you get some help," answered Mom. "Let's all get at it."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you do things that make you appear to be something you're not? Others may think you're a Christian because you go to church, behave nicely, and talk about the Lord. But God is not fooled by some "cover" you might be wearing. He sees the real you. He knows if you've really trusted Jesus as your Savior. If you haven't done that, stop pretending. Accept Him today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men. 1 Kings 8:39

[Soldier4Christ]

Cassie stood at the entrance to the flea market. "Wow! What a lot of stuff!" she exclaimed, glancing over the rows of tables and booths. She ran to catch up with her mother. "Are you looking for something special?" asked Cassie.

"A candy dish for Aunt Helen," replied Mom. "She likes old-fashioned things. She says they have character."

"I remember that." Cassie nodded. "That booth over there has some candy dishes," she added. "Maybe Aunt Helen will like one of these."

They stopped to look, and before long, Mom had made a purchase and was ready to go. "May I look at those books first?" asked Cassie, pointing to another booth. "Maybe they have something interesting."

"Okay," agreed Mom, "but don't go out of this aisle. I'll look at some other things along here, too."

Among the old books, Cassie found one still in a box. It was a Bible and she could see that it looked new. If it's old, maybe it's worth a lot, she thought. I wonder if I can afford to buy it. When she learned that it was only fifty cents, she promptly bought it and went to show her mother. "Look, Mom," she said. "Do you think this book is old enough to be worth a lot of money?"

"Did you check the date to see when it was printed?" asked Mom.

"I didn't think of that," admitted Cassie. She checked the date in the front of the Bible and was disappointed to find that it wasn't very old at all.

That evening, Mom showed Dad the candy dish she had bought. She smiled at her daughter. "Cassie bought something, too," said Mom.

Cassie laughed. "Yeah. I thought I might be getting a priceless treasure," she said, "but I forgot to check the date and see if the book I was buying really was old."

"Oh, but your Bible is a priceless treasure," Mom replied.

Dad smiled. "You bought a Bible?" he asked. "Well, then Mom's right. You sure did buy a priceless treasure, whether it's old and worth a lot of money or not. The Word of God is truly priceless."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a priceless treasure-a Bible? No matter what you paid for your Bible, it is priceless. The paper may not be the finest, and the binding may not be the softest leather. It may not have cost you much money-and if you wanted to sell it, you probably couldn't get much for it. But the Word of God-that which is written inside-is priceless. It's full of God's treasure, but you have to read it to find those treasures. Do you do that? If not, start today!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. Psalm 119:162

[Soldier4Christ]

Tears trickled down Kelsey's cheeks as she repeated her argument. "It wouldn't be a real date-just Jeff and Shana and Mark and me. And like I told you-Jeff's parents would be there."

Mom sighed deeply. "Kelsey, I'm sorry. But twelve is too young, even for a chaperoned double date."

"I'm too young for everything!" Kelsey wailed.

Mom put her arm around Kelsey's stiff shoulders. "Not too young to make fudge for your entry in the pecan show. You'll find the pecans on the table. If you need help, call me. I'll be in the back yard."

Kelsey twisted away from Mom's arm and began to get out the things she needed for her fudge. As she worked, she sniffed, muttered, and slammed pans.

The fudge was in the refrigerator, and Kelsey had cleaned up the kitchen and was reading when Mom came in with a pail of pecans. "Do you remember when we planted our pecan tree, Kelsey?" asked Mom. "It took so long for the tree to grow, and when it finally produced pecans and I picked some, they were green. I had to learn to leave them alone until they dropped."

Kelsey ignored her mother and opened the refrigerator to check on the fudge. "I don't think my fudge is ever going to get hard!" she whined.

Mom looked over her shoulder. "I'm afraid you didn't cook it long enough," said Mom. "You can't hurry fudge."

"Should I put it back in the pan to cook some more?" asked Kelsey.

"You could try that," said Mom, "but since this is for the pecan show, you might want to make a new batch." Kelsey nodded, and began to gather the ingredients once again. "Trees, fudge, and growing up have something in common," said Mom softly. "Like many things in life, we often ruin them if we rush them. Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for, so be patient, honey."

Kelsey sniffed and nodded as she gave her mother a tearful smile. "I'll help you decide when the fudge is ready this time," added Mom. "I've had more experience with it than you have. And I'll help decide when you're ready to date, too. I've also had a lot more experience with that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you fretting and stewing about something-perhaps wanting to do something your parents say you're not old enough to do? Ask the Lord to help you be patient. Whatever you're waiting for will be more enjoyable and valuable because of the wait. Meanwhile, use the experiences God is giving you right now to develop Christian virtues-including patience.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Sara was in a terrible mood. She sat at the kitchen table, criticizing and complaining. "I just hate school! Mr. Martin is a jerk-and so are Paige and Jodi! They're both so stuck-up. They think they're so-o-o special."

Mom frowned. "Sara, that's enough!" she said sternly. "You . . ."

"Got anything to eat?" Blake's entrance into the room interrupted her. As he took an apple from a bowl on the cupboard, he talked excitedly. "Brad and I are doing a science project about air waves. We found a book that says scientists believe every word that's ever been spoken is still somewhere in space-and that some day they may find a way to make it possible to hear it again."

"Ah-h-h," Sara scoffed, "I don't believe that."

Blake pulled up a chair. "Well, I don't know," he said. "Mr. Newkirk read a book about one of the first space flights. According to that book, the astronauts' radio picked up a program that had been aired twenty or thirty years before. Wouldn't it be cool to develop a device that could pull voices out of the air?" He grinned at his sister. "How would you like everyone to hear everything you've ever said?"

Sara frowned. "I wouldn't," she said. "What I say in private is nobody's business."

"I think we should always remember," said Mom, "that words, once they are spoken, never die. I don't know if scientists will ever find a way to retrieve them, but God knows what they are. Some day we'll give an account for every word we've said."

"I didn't know that," said Sara. She felt guilty as she remembered what she had been saying just a few minutes before. She shuddered at the idea of a "replay" of her voice repeating those things. Sara turned to Blake. "I know what you should invent," she told him. "A tongue guard-a device that would stop me from saying things I shouldn't."

 Blake laughed. "I'll have to work on that," he said.

"There's already something you can use, Sara," said Mom. "It's called self-control. You need to put that into practice when you talk about other people. You may not like everyone equally well, but in our family, we show respect for teachers and other kids as well. Remember that after this!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about the words you use? Do they please God? Or do you often criticize people, grumble about the circumstances in your life, and say things you should not say? How would you feel about having a replay of any or all of your words? If you have a problem in this area, use the words in today's key verse to ask the Lord to help you say only things that bear repeating. Remember, some day you'll have to answer to God for the words you use.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

[Soldier4Christ]

"Go, Jon! Go!" yelled Derek, jumping up and down in his enthusiasm. "Make that touchdown!" He watched breathlessly. "All right!" He cheered wildly as his teammate scored the first touchdown of the game.

At the dinner table that evening, Derek gave his family a blow-by-blow account of the afternoon's game. Over and over they heard the name "Jon" as Derek described the various plays.

Finally, Derek's sister Kara looked at her brother in disgust. "I'm sick and tired of hearing about all the wonderful plays Jon made," she declared. "I was under the impression that you didn't even like him, and frankly, I agreed with you. But now all you do is sing his praises."

"Well, he may not be my favorite person in all the world," admitted Derek. "He's not my best friend or anything, but he's on our team. We're working for the same cause. We're both Coreyville Cougars!" He paused. "You should have seen him run this afternoon," added Derek. "Peter passed the ball to Jon, and he was off and down the field like a streak. The other team didn't even . . ."

"Oh, help me," moaned Kara with a sigh. "Here comes another episode in your 'Jon, the Football Player' story."

Mom laughed. "I'm glad you enjoyed your game so much, Derek," she said. "It's nice that you were able to win, and it's also nice that you've found something to admire in Jon. We should always look for positive things in others."

"I think Derek has given us a good example of how we should view other Christians," observed Dad with a smile. "We don't have to like everything about them, and they don't all have to be our best friends, but we should remember that we're on the same team. We're fighting for the same cause-that of winning others to Jesus and bringing glory to God. We should regard other Christians as our teammates. We should love them, and I believe we can also find something to admire in each of them."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a fellow-Christian whom you dislike? Look for some good quality in him, and then concentrate on that rather than on the things that annoy you. Remember, you both belong to Christ, and that should bind you together. You are teammates. Work together to glorify the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

[Soldier4Christ]

Emma slammed her books down on the table. "That Lonnie!" she exclaimed. "I know he accepted Jesus as his Savior just last month, and I know it will take a while for him to learn a lot of things about living in a way that pleases God. But honestly-when I hear the language he uses sometimes, I almost wonder if he's really a Christian at all. It's disgusting!"

Mom looked up from her work. "That's too bad," she said. "Maybe you should talk to him about it. Then try to be patient with him, and be sure to pray for him."

"But, Mom," said Emma, "why would he even want to talk like that? I can't imagine ever saying those words-even if I weren't a Christian!"

"Perhaps he does it without even thinking-out of habit," suggested Mom. "Or maybe, when he's with his old friends, it makes him feel like he's 'one of the guys.' I'm glad to know that using such language is no temptation to you, but remember . . . the things that tempt you probably don't tempt him."

Emma frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Remember when Dad went fishing for bluegills last week?" asked Mom. "Do you remember what kind of bait he used?"   

Emma made a face. "Yeah . . . it was those yucky red worms," she said. "He says bluegills like them, but if I were a bluegill, I'm sure I'd rather have a nice little minnow. I'd rather eat a fish than a worm any day."

Mom laughed. "But the bluegills wouldn't, and that's my point exactly. A good fisherman knows the right bait to use." She paused. "In that sense, Satan is a good 'fisherman.' Maybe he doesn't tempt you to say bad words because he knows they don't appeal to you anyway. Instead, maybe he tempts you to . . . ah-h-h-h . . . oh, let's say to be unhappy unless you can have the very latest thing in fashion. Now that probably wouldn't tempt Lonnie at all."

Emma blushed as she recalled her attitude and how she had pouted when her mother refused to buy her a pair of certain brand-name shoes. "Well . . . okay. I guess you're right," she admitted. "I'll try to be more patient after this."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What "bait" does Satan place before you? Clothes? Good grades? Sleeping in on Sunday morning? Playing ball instead of going to a church activity? Skipping choir or some other responsibility if you "just don't feel like" doing it? Satan knows your weakness and will use it to his advantage. But God is your strength. Ask Him to help you when you're tempted to do wrong.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 5:8-9)
The devil walks about . . . seeking whom he may devour. Resist him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Emma climbed into the car after Sunday school and shut the door. "May I go fishing this afternoon?" she asked, grinning. "My teacher said I should."

Dad laughed as he started the car. "There's got to be a catch," he said. "Are you going to tell us what it is, or must we guess?"

"Well, our Sunday school lesson was about being 'fishers of men,'" explained Emma. "I told the class that we had to use the right kind of bait when we went fishing, and we decided we should think about what would be the right 'bait' to use when we 'fish for men,' too."

"Hm-m-m," murmured Dad. "And did you think of anything more wonderful to offer than what Jesus offers-eternal life in heaven?"

"No, that's the best thing, of course," said Emma, "but Mrs. Parsons pointed out that lots of people live so much 'in the present,' as she put it, that they often don't even pay attention when we tell them about what they can have in heaven some day. So we decided we should also use some other bait to make people want to listen when the way of salvation is explained to them."

"So what bait are you gonna use?" asked Emma's brother Jake.

"Love," replied Emma.

"Love!" exclaimed Jake, making a face. "Ugh! I don't like mushy stuff."

"Not mushy stuff," said Emma. "Mrs. Parsons says love can take different forms. Next Saturday it's going to take the form of a party."

"That's more like it!" declared Jake. "What kind of party are you going to have? And how can a party be 'bait'?"

"It's a skating party. We figure it's something our friends will want to come to. We're all supposed to try to bring an unsaved friend, and the way of salvation will be presented during the devotional time," explained Emma. She grinned. "I plan to go next door this afternoon and invite Sierra to come to the party."

"Good," approved Dad, "but I hope the 'fishing' won't end with the party."

"No." Emma shook her head. "Mrs. Parsons says the party is just a start. Afterwards, we still need to offer the bait of loving acts if we want to see our friends come to know Jesus."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you "fishing for men"-for boys and girls? What are you using for bait? Winning someone to Jesus often begins with being a friend. Something as simple as a cheerful smile, helping with a problem, or sharing a special treat may be the thing that causes someone to listen when you tell him or her about Jesus or invite that person to Sunday school or Bible club. Will you go "fishing" by using a loving act today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19

[Soldier4Christ]

Nadine pointed to a picture of flowers in the seed catalog. "Mommy, can we get seeds for these?" the little girl wanted to know.

Her mother looked at the picture. "Those are tulips, and they grow from bulbs, not seeds," she replied. "And yes . . . we can plant some tulip bulbs."

"Goody!" Nadine smiled and clapped her little hands.

A few days later, Nadine showed her mother a spot near the back fence. "I planted bulbs here," she said. "Mr. Jenks, next door, was throwing them away."

"Really?" asked Mom. "Are they tulip bulbs?" Nadine just shrugged in response.

Every day Nadine checked to see if the flowers were coming up. When the dirt became dry, she carefully watered it. After a couple of weeks, Nadine stood looking at the bare spot on the ground. "Nothing's growing," she said sadly.

"Maybe they're planted too deep. Let's see if they've started sprouting at all," suggested Mom. She took a trowel and dug into the dirt. To her amazement, she uncovered two Christmas tree light bulbs. "Are these the bulbs you planted?" Mom asked. Nadine nodded. "Oh, honey!" Mom gave her a hug. "These are light bulbs, not flower bulbs. There's no life in these, so they will never sprout. I'll tell you what-we'll go buy some flower bulbs, and you can try again."

That evening, Nadine proudly showed her father where she planted the flower bulbs. "The man at the store said these will really grow, Daddy," she said.

Dad nodded. "When there's life, there should be growth," he replied.

"You're growing, too, Nadine," said her brother with a grin, "because you're alive!"

"That's right," agreed Dad. He looked thoughtful. "People who are alive spiritually-those who have trusted Jesus as Savior-should also be growing in the Lord and learning to live to please Him." Dad shook his head. "Sometimes people who haven't accepted Jesus as Savior expect to grow when there's no life there. A friend of mine at the office often tells me how he struggles to do good, but he can't seem to understand that he's dead in sins . . . as dead as those light bulbs Nadine planted. I pray he'll realize he needs the new life that only Jesus can give."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you "growing in the Lord"-or have you not been made alive spiritually? You can't grow in Jesus and develop the characteristics He wants to see in you-such as love, kindness, helpfulness, honesty, and a desire to serve Him-unless you have His life "planted" in your heart. You receive that life when you receive Jesus as your Savior. Won't you do that today?

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You He (Jesus) made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Jana sighed as she sat down at the table one morning. "I wish I could do something important for the special services at church," she said. "Carl and Jack are going to play a trumpet duet, and Holly's playing the piano. Baylee, Sherri, and Tara are singing a trio number one evening, and Danielle was asked to read her poem on prayer. I could go on and on. Everybody's going to be doing something-except me."

"I thought you were helping in the nursery," said Mom.

"Oh, I always do that," said Jana, "but I'd like to do something really important for once."

Jana's older sister, Traci, limped into the room. "How's the toe you hurt yesterday?" asked Mom.

"Much better," said Traci, pushing a strand of hair from her face. "Before long, I'll be able to walk normally." She stuck out her foot. "I never realized before how important a little toe is," she added with a grin. "I recommend that everyone pay more attention to their little toes!"

Mom smiled. "Did you look at your little toes this morning, Jana?" she asked.

Jana laughed. "Probably not," she said.

"Did you comb your hair?" asked Mom. "Did you look at your face?"

"Of course I did," said Jana. "What are you getting at, Mom?"

"Well," said Mom, "I'm just trying to point out that although we normally pay more attention to some parts of our bodies, like our hair and our faces, every part is important. Even our little toes. It's like that with believers, too-with the body of Christ."

"I know what you're going to say," said Jana. "That my job in the nursery is just as important as the stuff the other kids are doing, right?"

"You're right," said Mom. "We tend to pay more attention to those who play or sing or speak. But those who work in the nursery or sweep the church or pray as they sit quietly in their seats are just as important. We often notice them only when they get 'hurt' and can't perform their jobs, but God notices them all the time. That's what counts-not the attention or praise of people."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel unimportant? Some jobs may seem more exciting or important to you than others do, but God won't reward you according to how glamorous your task is. He'll reward you according to how faithfully you perform the work He has given you to do. Each job is important in God's sight-and so are you!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 1 Corinthians 12:22

[Soldier4Christ]

"A letter came for you, honey," said Hannah's mother. "Looks like it's from Ellie. It will be nice to see what she's been up to."

Hannah, whose parents were missionaries in the Central African Republic, eagerly opened the envelope Mom handed her. "Yesterday we took a trip to an amusement park," wrote Ellie. "I wish you could have been with me, Hannah. You're missing so much by being in Africa." Hannah sighed. The exciting rides Ellie had enjoyed did sound like fun!

"The African Safari river ride was the best one of all," Ellie wrote. "It was so much fun! There were make-believe elephants that sprayed water at us, and mechanical monkeys were chattering in the trees. It seemed so real."

 Hannah laughed out loud when she read that. Ellie should come visit me here, she thought. Then she could see real elephants and monkeys. Just then Benji, Hannah's pet monkey, snuggled up to her. Benji loved being around Hannah and would often follow her to church and school. Of course, that was a no-no, and when that happened, she had to chase Benji back home. Hannah gave him a little squeeze. "You're better than a mechanical monkey," Hannah told him. "You're real."

Hannah thought about all her other pets. There were some unusual ones. Frisky, a baby antelope, was a pretty brown color, with a black stripe. And Rollo, a mongoose, was a family favorite-they all thought she was so cute. One of her favorite foods was eggs. Hannah smiled as she remembered the time Rollo had found a ping-pong ball on the floor. She apparently thought it was an egg and smacked it down hard. She jumped back in surprise when it bounced high up. Rollo sometimes annoyed them by chirping a lot, but she made up for it by eating cockroaches and other insects. When Rollo got bigger, she would eat snakes!

Hannah grinned. Not many kids have a pet like that! she thought. I'm not missing anything important, and God is giving me all kinds of fun things to see and do right here! Besides, I know He wants our family to tell the people here about Him, so this is the best place for me to be. As she turned back to Ellie's letter, she was smiling. She had learned to be content where she was with what she had.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wish you could be somewhere else-or even be someone else? Or have you learned the secret of being content with what you have and where God wants you to be? Write down some special things He has given you and several people you're glad to have as part of your life. Thank God for each blessing you've noticed today. Thank Him for the opportunity to be a testimony for Him right where you are. The place where He wants you is the best place to be.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content, Philippians 4:11

[Soldier4Christ]

"Don't be scared, Danny." Erica comforted her little brother. "Jesus will be with you when you're getting your teeth fixed. Remember the song we sang after breakfast-'God is with me today'? He's with us all the time."

Mom smiled at her small son. "Erica is right," she agreed.

Danny's lip quivered, but he managed a tearful smile as he followed the dentist's assistant into the inner office. And when he came back out a little later, he was smiling. "It didn't hurt bad at all," he said as they left the office.

"See? I told you Jesus would be with you," replied Erica. She began to run ahead to the car. "I get to sit in front," she called back.

"No! I do!" protested Danny. He was close behind her.

"I said so first," insisted Erica.

"But I had to go to the dentist, so I get the front seat. Mommy said so when we left home." Danny tried to push past his sister.

"That was just on the way down here," retorted Erica. She shoved him away, and he shoved back.

As she went to her own side of the car, Mom began to sing, pretending not to notice the two of them fighting. "God is with me today," she sang. "God is with me alway. He's with me when I work, and He's with me when I play. He sees all I do, and He hears all I say. God is with me right now." As she emphasized the words "right now," Danny and Erica looked uncertainly at each other. "Sing it with me, kids," encouraged Mom. Erica didn't join in the singing as she climbed slowly into the back seat. "Are you glad Jesus is with you right now?" asked Mom.

Erica sighed. "I know Jesus is with us when we're afraid or need help," she said finally, "but I guess I didn't think about Him being with us when we fight."

"He is, though, isn't He?" said Mom. "He promised never to leave us. That's comforting when we're afraid. But there are times when we seem to forget that He's with us-and even act as though we don't know Him at all."

"I'm sorry, Danny," said Erica.

"Me, too," said Danny. They both began singing again. "God is with me . . ."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you remember that God sees everything you do-and hears everything you say? It's a great comfort to know Jesus is with you when you take a test or go to a new school. It's great to know He's there when you're home alone or out in the dark. But don't forget-He's there through all the ordinary, routine things you do, too. Take comfort in that, but also let it remind you that you should do and say things pleasing to Him at all times.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He (God) Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

[Soldier4Christ]

"The time is six twenty-one," announced Tim as he got up from the table. "Oops! It just changed to six twenty-two."

"Well, thanks heaps for keeping us informed," said his sister Meg sarcastically. She sighed. "I'll be glad when that digital watch of yours isn't so new. I don't need to know the exact time every minute of the day." Meg got up to answer the phone. "For you, Tim," she said.

Tim took the phone. "Hello . . . oh, hi, Camden." He glanced at his mother. "No, I can't play tonight . . . Yeah. See ya later."

"Why did you tell Camden you couldn't play?" asked Mom. "I thought you and some of your friends were going to the park to play football for a while."

"Oh . . . well . . . Camden is such a klutz," said Tim. He glanced at his watch. "The time is now . . ."

"Don't change the subject," said Dad. "You lied to Camden, didn't you?"

"Oh, Dad, it was such a little thing," protested Tim. "I mean it's no big deal-just a little white lie." But Mom and Dad didn't see it that way, and they reminded Tim that God didn't, either.

Although Tim didn't admit his parents were right, he agreed to call Camden back and invite him to join the football game. He went to the phone and dialed Camden's number. He listened a few moments, then hung up. "No answer," he said, grinning. "Well, at least I tried." He put on his jacket. "Bye," he called. "The correct time is now . . ." His voice faded as he closed the door.

When Tim returned home he wasn't quite so happy. "What's the problem?" asked Dad when he saw Tim's face.

"I fell, and look what happened to my new watch." Tim held out his arm. Across the face of the watch, Dad saw a scratch.

"That's too bad," said Dad, "but it's only a little scratch. No big deal, is it?"

"Yes, it is!" said Tim. "It goes right across the numbers!"

Mom had come to look. "A little scratch mars a watch," she murmured, "and a 'little' sin mars a testimony for the Lord. It does matter." Tim thought of his conversation with Camden and knew exactly what she meant.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you told a "little" lie? Failed to obey in some "small" way? Been a "little" unkind? Do you think a "little" sin doesn't matter? Actually, sin doesn't come in sizes or colors. Every sin mars your testimony for the Lord. Confess all of them-God hates them all-and ask Him to help you overcome them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, look at Tommy!" Marisa laughed as her one-year-old brother waved his spoon and rubbed mashed potatoes all over his face. He dipped the spoon back into his bowl and then put it to his mouth. "Big boy!" cheered Marisa. "You got it all in, that time."

"Soon he'll be eating everything all by himself," said Mom. She patted Tommy's curly head as she reached for a spoon to feed him the last bit of food from his bowl. Then she handed him his glass of milk. "There you go," she said. "You can finish that while Mommy clears the table."

"Can I be excused to finish my history project for school?" asked Marisa.

Mom nodded. "Yes," she said, "and if you haven't done your devotions yet, you should do that, too, before you play a game or work a puzzle."

Marisa sighed. "Sometimes I think I might as well skip devotions," she said. "I don't understand the Bible very well when I read it by myself. I get a lot more out of our family devotions because you and Dad explain things I don't get it. Why can't I just wait till I get bigger-till I'm an adult-before I try reading it on my own?"

"Marisa, what would you think if Tommy refused to try to feed himself?" asked Mom. "Do you think Dad and I would be happy about that? Would you be happy?" Marisa slowly shook her head. "You're right," said Mom. "We're glad to help him when he needs help, but we're also glad to see him try to feed himself-even when he makes a mess-because it's a sign that he's growing as he should. And as he practices, he'll become better at it."

Marissa smiled. "He's getting better already," she said.

"Yes, he is," agreed Mom. "Now regarding your devotions . . . you've heard the Bible called 'spiritual food,' haven't you?" Marissa nodded. "Well, it's fine for you to be fed 'spiritual food' by going to church and Sunday school and by having devotions with the rest of us," continued Mom, "but God wants to see signs of growth in His children, too, so you also need to learn to feed yourself. Sometimes you may 'miss your mouth'-you may not understand what you've read. Then you can ask for help. But don't stop trying. Learn to get some spiritual food all by yourself."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you learning to feed yourself spiritually? If you know Jesus, you should be learning to do that. You may not understand everything you read, but as you keep at it, you'll understand more and more. The Holy Spirit will teach you. He may sometimes use parents and pastors and teachers who are willing to answer your questions when you need help. Take time to read God's Word every day, and ask for help when you need it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:2

[Soldier4Christ]

Bette was ready to leave the church building with her friends when the nursery class teacher called to her. "Bette, will you help me with a party for the little ones next Saturday?" asked Miss Penny. "It will be held here at church."

"Next Saturday?" echoed Bette. "I . . . ah . . . I think my family might be out of town." Bette knew it was a lie. But I want to be free in case one of my friends wants to do something special, she thought. Besides, who wants to help with a bunch of whining kids?

Two days later, Bette stormed into the kitchen where her mother was fixing supper. Plopping down in a chair, Bette sat and sulked. "What's wrong, honey?" asked Mom after a minute or two.

"Oh, it's that Julie Peters!" Bette hit the table with her fist. "She got a hundred on her English test. She wouldn't have done half as well if I hadn't spent two whole hours helping her study." Bette held up two fingers. "Two hours!" she repeated. "But when I asked her to help me with my science project, you know what she said? She said, 'No way! I hate science!'" Bette scowled. "Julie's supposed to be my friend. You'd think friends would be there for you when you need them-but not Julie!"

"I can understand how you feel," sympathized Mom, "but try not to be angry. Try to use this experience as a reminder to be a faithful friend yourself." Mom turned away from the stove. "You know," she added, "it makes me wonder if God feels the same way sometimes." Mom shook her head. "Think about it, Bette. Think how many times God has done things for us or gotten us out of trouble. Yet, when He calls on us to do something, we often split and run. When we do that, we're not very good friends to Him."

As Mom spoke, Bette remembered what Miss Penny had asked her to do. Could that be the same as God asking me to do it? she wondered. She also remembered many times when she had prayed for God to help her-perhaps to pass a test or to keep her from falling on the monkey bars-things like that.

Quickly, Bette got up and grabbed the phone. "I've got to call Miss Penny," she said. "I want to tell her I can help with the little kids party after all."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you step up and help when God asks you to do something for Him? Or do you split and run? God is always faithful and is available to help you when you need Him. He's the most loyal friend you can have. Will you be a loyal friend, too-not only to your friends at school or in your neighborhood, but especially to God? Be available when you're given opportunities to serve Him-be a friend He can count on.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14