Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look!" Dad pointed to the sky as he and Jeff walked home together. "That flock of geese is flying south. Winter must be coming."

Jeff had been waiting for this chance all day. "Speaking of winter," he began hesitantly, "hockey season starts soon." He paused. "The thing is," he added, "practice will be on Sunday mornings this year."

Dad frowned. "That's too bad" he said. "You know that won't work for you. Your mom and I believe our family belongs in church on Sunday mornings."

"But it's only for a few months," pleaded Jeff. "I won't miss church very often! And I promise I'll read my Bible at home."

Jeff and Dad looked up as another flock of geese flew over, honking loudly. "Do you know why the geese fly in a V formation?" Dad asked. Jeff shook his head. "An article I read said the air behind the leader spreads into a V . . . something like the wake of a speed boat," continued Dad. "It said that when the other birds follow in that V, a swirl of air actually gives them a shove forward, making it easier to go a long way and not wear out."

"They're pretty smart," observed Jeff. Then he pointed to a bird trailing behind the others. "I wonder why that one isn't in the V."

"He may have been distracted, or maybe he slowed down to rest," suggested Dad. "Now he's probably having a hard time catching up."

"I bet he'll be pretty tired when he gets there," said Jeff.

"If he gets there at all," agreed Dad. "God didn't design geese to go the distance alone." He looked at Jeff. "God didn't design Christians to go it alone, either," he added. "We gain strength from the support of other believers. Without it, we would be like that last goose-alone and struggling. And the church would be one goose short."

"Oh, Dad! The church doesn't need me," protested Jeff.

"Sure it does," said Dad. "We all need each other. So why don't you look for a different hockey team to play on this year?"

Jeff sighed. After a moment, he exclaimed, "I've got an idea!" Jeff's eyes lit up. "Why don't we start a church team-one that holds practices on Saturday?"

Dad smiled. "Now you're talking like a member of the flock!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you part of your church "flock"? Do you attend your Sunday school and church regularly? Do you go to your weekly youth group? Or do you let sports and other activities with your friends get in the way? God didn't intend for Christians to live their lives alone, but to gain spiritual strength from the friendship and fellowship of other believers. When you meet with them, you'll encourage them, too. So stay with the flock. You need them, and they need you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Hebrews 10:25

[Soldier4Christ]

As Scott stood in his front yard, tossing a baseball into the air and then catching it, he grinned at a longtime friend who pulled up on his red bike. "Hi, Bryan!" Scott greeted him.

"Hi, yourself!" Bryan dismounted and kicked the bike stand into place. "What did you get for your birthday yesterday? Anything good?"

"You bet!" Scott lifted his left hand and displayed his new baseball mitt. "How about this? No balls are going to get away from me now!"

"Cool," approved Bryan. "I could really use a mitt like that."

"My grandparents gave it to me," said Scott, "and my brother gave me this baseball. Mom and Dad gave me a skateboard."

"Wow!" Bryan let out a long whistle. "I could use all those things."

Scott laughed. "Sorry, pal. You can't have 'em." Suddenly, he remembered he had never told his friend about another gift he'd recently received-the gift of eternal life. I should tell Bryan about that, he thought. It's a gift he can have, too. "I . . . ah, I have something to tell you," added Scott.

"What's up?" Bryan asked as he dropped down on the grass and stretched out.

Scott took a deep breath as he sat down, too. "You can't have my birthday gifts," he said, "but I got another gift not long ago . . . one you can have, too. I got . . ." Scott paused, afraid to finish. "I . . . ah . . . I got a gift from God-eternal life."

"Huh?" Bryan looked startled. "What are you talking about anyway?"

"About a month ago," Scott said, "my Sunday school teacher explained that we're all sinners but Jesus took the punishment for our sin. If we believe in Him, He forgives us. I do believe, so God gave me gift of salvation. You're my best friend, so I wanted you to know you can have that gift, too."

Bryan looked thoughtful as he chewed on a blade of grass. "Well . . . ah . . ." He stood up. "Maybe you can explain more about it later. I have to go home now."

After Bryan left, Scott felt lighthearted because he had taken the first step in witnessing to his friend. I'm going to invite Bryan to Sunday school this week, he decided. I'll ask him tomorrow. I'll pray that he'll be saved soon, too.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you talk with your friends about anything and everything-even the Lord? Or are you afraid to tell them about Jesus? If you know Him, He's given you the gift of eternal life. It's a wonderful gift that they can have, too. Don't be afraid to share that information with them. Witness for Christ by living a life pleasing to Him and by telling others about Him-at home, at school, and in your neighborhood.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15

[Soldier4Christ]

Raelyn reached for a bowl of nuts and placed a pecan between the jaws of a nutcracker. "Mom, in Bible club today, we had a lesson on hell," she said in a troubled voice. "It scared me. What if I go there when I die?"

"Hell is a scary place," agreed Mom. "God created it for the devil and his angels. People who refuse to accept Jesus as Savior will join them there, but if you've trusted in Jesus and asked Him to forgive you and wash your sins away, you'll go to heaven instead."

Raelyn frowned. "I've asked Jesus to be my Savior, but I still worry about hell sometimes," she said. She held the pecan with her fingers as she squeezed the nutcracker. The nut slipped away, and the jaws of the nutcracker closed on her finger. "Ouch!" she wailed, and tears filled her eyes.

"I don't think I want to crack nuts anymore," Raelyn decided after nursing the finger for a few minutes. "I don't want to get my fingers pinched again."

"I'm not scared to put my finger in the nutcracker," boasted her brother Andy. "Watch!" He grinned as he put his finger between the jaws of the nutcracker, but before squeezing down on it, he placed a thick knife handle beside his finger. When he squeezed down, the knife handle held the nutcracker jaws open, preventing them from touching his finger. He laughed. "See, it doesn't even hurt!"

Mom grinned. "You've given us a good illustration," she said. "Thank you, Andy." Mom turned to Raelyn. "You see, honey, Andy's finger deserved to be hurt since he was so cocky, right?"

Raelyn nodded. "That's right!" she agreed.

"But the knife handle took all the pressure-all the punishment-his finger deserved," Mom continued. "It's an example of what happens with Jesus and us. We've all sinned and deserve to be punished in hell, but just like Andy took that knife handle as his protection from the nutcracker, we must receive Jesus into our lives as our protection from hell. Andy trusted the knife handle to keep his finger safe, and we can trust Jesus to keep us safe, now and for all eternity. He died on the cross and took the punishment we deserve. Now we can have the joy of knowing we won't go to hell, but will be with Jesus in heaven."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you worry that you might go to hell? It's a terrible place, and you're right to be concerned. Everyone has sinned and deserves to go to hell, but Jesus took that punishment when He died on the cross. If you've accepted Him, you don't need to worry about going there. Jesus will take you to be with Him in heaven. If you haven't accepted Jesus, don't wait any longer. Trust Him as your Savior now and experience the joy of having your sins forgiven.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions (sins), He was bruised for our iniquities. Isaiah 53:5

[Soldier4Christ]

The music stopped, and Sally frantically tried to sit down on the chair she had just passed. She was too late, and she laughed with the other kids when she saw she was out of the musical chairs game! The kids, each wearing a brightly colored paper hat, were having a great time at their Sunday school class party.

 Finally, their teacher announced the last game-a treasure hunt. "This may sound strange to you, but the treasure hunt is part of our devotional time this afternoon," said Mrs. Weston. "Let's see who can be the first to find a gold star."

The kids ran all around the yard, looking for the star. They scanned the trees, poked around the flowerbeds, hunted in bushes, and searched the lawn. There was no star anywhere. Suddenly, Annie squealed in delight. "Oh, I see it!" she cried. "I see the star!" She laughed as the kids came running to see what she had found.

"I see it, too!" yelled Darrin after a moment. "It's really in plain sight."

Sally looked at Annie and Darrin, who seemed to be looking over her head. As she turned around to see what they were looking at, Peter ran up from that direction. "Do you see the star?" she asked him. "I still can't find it."

He looked at her. "I see it now," he said.

One by one, the children gathered around. They checked to see where the other kids' eyes were focused, and then they saw the star, too . . . all except Sally. She was puzzled. "Why can't I see it?" she wondered out loud. With a laugh, Annie walked up to Sally. She reached up and took the paper hat that had been perched on Sally's curly, blonde hair. There, on the bright blue hat, was a single gold star. Sally had the treasure, but she hadn't even known it.

Mrs. Weston joined the group with two brightly wrapped packages in her hands. One was a prize for Annie for finding the star first. The other was for Sally. "Sally wasn't able to see the star on her own head," said Mrs. Weston, "and that's understandable. But sometimes we all fail to see treasures God has given us. Some treasures are the people or things we enjoy. Some are talents or abilities God has given us. Let's ask Him to open our eyes to see and appreciate the many treasures and blessings we've received from Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a treasure you have failed to see? Maybe you take for granted a person in your life who is really a "treasure"-a family member, a pastor, or a teacher. Maybe you take God's blessings for granted-things like your home, clothes, and food. They are all treasures. Perhaps you've failed to realize that there's something you do well. Don't look at others and wish for the things they have. Ask God to help you see and enjoy all the treasures He has already given you. Thank Him for them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
God . . . gives us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

[Soldier4Christ]

"That's eight seventy-five, nine dollars, ten, and twenty dollars," the clerk counted as she placed the money into Daniel's hand. His eyes widened as he glanced at the ten-dollar bill she was placing in the cash drawer. Daniel quickly stuffed the money she had given him into his pocket. Picking up the small sack of groceries he had bought, he hurried out the door.

Wow! thought Daniel. She must have been day dreaming or something. She gave me change for a twenty-dollar bill and didn't even notice it was a ten dollar bill she was putting away. Now I'll be able to buy that skateboard I've been wanting.

When Daniel arrived home, he gave his mother her change and hid the extra ten dollars in his desk drawer. He didn't feel very comfortable all evening. Daniel usually read from a devotional book and from the Bible before climbing into bed, but that night, he skipped devotions-he didn't feel like thinking about God. But he couldn't shut out the voice in his head, which said over and over, That was stealing. Take it back! Take it back!

As Daniel entered his classroom the next day, he overheard Shelby talking to their teacher. "I can't get one of the class tee shirts," said Shelby. "My dad's out of work, and my sister was going to buy it for me. But at her job yesterday, her cash register was ten dollars short. She had to pay it."

Daniel felt like his heart almost stopped. It was Shelby's sister who had given him too much money. But it's not my fault, he tried to tell himself. I didn't take it-she gave it to me. But he really knew that by keeping money that didn't belong to him, he was stealing just as surely as if he had gone into the store and had taken it out of the register himself.

As he glanced at Shelby, Daniel realized that any time something was stolen, someone had to pay. If I keep the money, Shelby is the one who will have to pay for it by not getting a shirt, he thought. Then I'll think of that every time I wear mine-and every time I use my skateboard. I'll know God isn't happy about it, either.

Daniel had planned to go to the sporting goods store after school, but instead he went to the grocery store. After returning the ten dollars to Shelby's sister, he went home with a happy smile instead of a skateboard.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that it's possible to steal in different ways-not only by taking things that don't belong to you, but also by failing to return things that belong to someone else? God is just as displeased with one method of stealing as with another. Do you need to return something? If so, don't wait. Return it today. Then instead of facing the world with guilt, you'll be able to face it with a happy smile.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 2 Corinthians 8:21

[Soldier4Christ]

Michelle plopped down across from her brother Anthony at the breakfast table. "I had another nightmare last night," she said with a sigh.

Anthony looked up from his cereal. "The one about a giant, hairy bat with a gazillion, bulging eyes-like the creature in that book your class had to read?"

"Yep," Michelle said, wearily. "That's the one."

"What's the big deal, Michelle?" asked Anthony. "You shouldn't think about that thing right before you go to sleep. In fact, you shouldn't think about it anymore at all. Right, Mom?"it any more. Right, Mom?"

"Yes, but . . . if it's that easy, Anthony, let's try something," said Mom. "Right now, I want you to not think about . . . about a walrus with a red, polka-dot swimsuit on." She paused a moment, then asked, "So what's on your mind?"

Anthony hesitated, but figured he'd might as well admit the truth. "In my mind, I see . . . um . . . well, a fat old walrus splashing around in the water and wearing a really funny-looking swimsuit," he said.

"Exactly! Sometimes just saying, 'I won't think about that anymore' isn't enough," said Mom. "If you really want to stop thinking about something, try replacing that thought with something else."

"Like what?" Michelle asked.

"Oh, I don't know. How about something that's beautiful?" suggested Mom.

"Like the woods around Grandma's cottage by Lake Havenhurst?" asked Michelle.

"Or a humongous pepperoni pizza?" asked Anthony with a chuckle.

Mom laughed. "Yes, both of those pictures are beautiful in their own way. Another idea is to start thinking about a good song-you know, something you learned in Sunday School. Maybe try to think of one that begins with the letter A, then B, and so on.You can do the same with Bible verses."

"So it's kind of like crowding out the bad with the good, right?" asked Michelle.

"You've got the idea," agreed Mom. "Crowd out those bad thoughts."

Michelle nodded. "Okay. Tonight when I go to bed, I'm going to try it," she decided. "Before I go to sleep, I'll try to think of . . . of Bible characters starting with all the letters of the alphabet-all the way from Andrew to Zacharias!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you struggle with unwanted thoughts that pop into your head? Have you tried to not think about those things, and you ended up thinking about them even more? Try replacing them in your mind by saying the words of good songs or Bible verses. See how many Bible stories you can remember. Or simply think of beautiful things or good times you're enjoyed. Put good things into your mind to crowd out unwanted thoughts.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties. Psalm 139:23

[Soldier4Christ]

As Travis headed outdoors to play, he spied a plate of candy on the kitchen counter. Oh-h-h-h! That looks good! he thought. Maybe Mom will let me have a piece. But Mom had gone upstairs, and he was sure she'd say no, anyway. He walked closer. I'll just take a peek, he thought. Um-m-m! It looks so good! He reached out and picked up a green piece. I wonder if this one's mint. He smelled it. Then he broke off a tiny corner and tasted it. It was as good as it looked! He nibbled another corner. Soon the whole thing was gone. Guess I'll try a little piece of fudge, too, he decided. The fudge was also delicious, and when that was gone, Travis tried some peanut brittle. Almost before he knew it, he had eaten several pieces. He moved the remaining pieces around a little so the plate wouldn't look quite so empty.

After dinner, Mom picked up everyone's plates. "Wait till you see what Mrs. Anders, next door, gave me," she said. She went to the kitchen and brought back the plate of candies, but Travis noticed that she looked a little puzzled. "I thought this plate was fuller. But isn't it lovely?" she said as she handed the plate to Dad. "You can each choose a couple of pieces for dessert."

Travis tried to "oh" and "ah" with the rest of the family, but he felt so guilty! All evening he tried to forget it, but he couldn't. "What's the trouble, Travis?" Mom asked when she noticed how unhappy he appeared.

"I . . . I did it," he blurted out.

Mom looked at him in surprise. "What did you do?" she asked.

"I ate some of the candy," confessed Travis. Tears filled his eyes. "I didn't mean to. I was only going to look at it," he said, and the story spilled out. "I'm so sorry," he said when he finished.

Mom nodded. "Okay, but do you see how, little by little, you gave in to temptation? How looking led to handling and smelling and tasting and eating?" she asked. "That's how Satan works. He gets you to give in, just a little at a time, so it doesn't seem so bad. He does that with other things that tempt us, too-not just with candy. We need to resist him, and the best way to do that is to refuse to take even one small peek." Solemnly, Travis nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there things you think you'd like to "try"-maybe "just the beginning" of a TV show you're not allowed to watch? Do you wish you could take "just a peek" at pictures in some magazine you'd "never" buy? Would you like to take "just one puff" on a cigarette to see how it tastes-or "just one sip" of an alcoholic drink? Be very careful! Satan wants you to try "just a little." He knows you might try a little more the next time. Follow God's advice. Resist Satan. Say no right from the start.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

[Soldier4Christ]

Ethan was so excited! He and his dad had come to watch a basketball game, and Ethan hoped to get close enough to his hero, Buzz Howard, to speak with him. Buzz was considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time! Ethan knew all the "stats" about Buzz by heart. He hadn't missed a single televised game. He had sent Buzz scores of fan letters and pictures of himself, but he hadn't received a reply . . . yet. After all, Buzz is a very busy guy, thought Ethan, but I'm sure he'll answer my letters after the season is over.

"Daddy, can I go stand over there?" asked Ethan, pointing to a group of people standing close to the place where the players would enter. Dad nodded, and Ethan squeezed to the front of the group. Suddenly, the crowd cheered as the team appeared. One by one the players ran out, waving.

Buzz is going to run right past here, Ethan realized. "Buzz!" he called. "Hey, Buzz! It's me, Ethan!" Ethan thrust his hand up for a "high five," but Buzz ran past, not even noticing the small boy. "He ran right by! He didn't even look at me!" exclaimed Ethan, feeling crushed.

"Yeah, so what did you expect, kid?" said a tall boy behind him. "He's a celebrity; he doesn't know you." The boy chuckled, and Ethan slowly walked back to his seat beside his father.

"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" asked Dad. "You did see your hero run by, didn't you?"

"Yeah . . . right," mumbled Ethan. "Even after all the letters and pictures I sent, he doesn't even know who I am."

"Well, Ethan, he's only human. He can't possibly know all his fans, even though they feel as though they know him. But I'm sure if he did know you, he'd want to be your friend," comforted Dad. He gave Ethan a hug. "That's the trouble with human heroes."

Ethan looked at Dad. "What other kind is there?" he asked.

"There's Jesus!" replied Dad. "He's is the greatest hero and the best friend anyone could ever have." Dad nodded. "He knows you, buddy, you can be sure of that! He knows everything about you-and the best part of all is that He loves you. He's the hero we all should admire the most."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of person do you admire? Do you think talent or good looks make a person great? The world is full of all sorts of heroes and celebrities, but there is only one person who is truly worthy of your praise. That person is the Lord Jesus. He cares about you, and He died to give you salvation! He is a true hero! He is a true friend!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

[Soldier4Christ]

Dad sighed when he arrived home and found Monty sweeping the garage. When Monty did work without being asked, it usually meant he had done something wrong. "Hi, Monty," Dad greeted him. "What's new?"

"TJ has chickenpox," announced Monty, putting the broom away, "and I . . . ah . . . I sort of hit Mr. White's dog with a little stone."

"Sort of?" Dad frowned. "You threw stones at Blackie? Did you hurt him?"

"No-just scared him," said Monty as they went into the house, "but Mr. White got mad. He said he'd come over tonight."

"Hi, Daddy," four-year-old TJ greeted his father mournfully. "I'm sick. I got the chicken poxes, but I fixed 'em. I put Band-Aids on 'em, see?"

"TJ!" gasped Mom, turning from the stove. "How many did you use?"

"How silly can you get!" grumbled Monty when he saw his brother. "You can't cure chickenpox by covering up the spots! That might hide them a little bit, but it sure won't make them better!"

"That's true," agreed Dad, "and another thing you shouldn't try to cover up is sin. You can't cover it by being good. When you try to, the best you can hope for is that the sin will go unnoticed for a bit. Keep that in mind, Monty. Don't try to cover up your sins with 'Band-Aids' of good deeds."

"What do you mean?" asked Monty.

"I've noticed that when you've done something wrong, you often try to cover it up by doing something good," said Dad. "When you disobeyed me last week, you raked the leaves. When you disobeyed your mother, you washed dishes. Today you were sweeping the garage, as if that would make up for what you did this afternoon."

"I only threw a little stone-it wasn't big enough to hurt Blackie. Besides, Kyle dared me, and he said . . ." Monty stopped.

"When you do something wrong, Monty, don't blame it on anyone else. Be big enough to admit it," Dad said sternly. "Repentance is the only cure for sin." Dad picked up TJ. "You go to your room and think about it, Monty," he added, "while I take care of this 'Band-Aid' kid."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a "Band-Aid kid"? It's great to do good things, but don't ever think that the good deeds you do can cover your sins. It doesn't work that way. You need to repent-to be sorry for the wrong thing you've done. God promises mercy when you're truly sorry for sin-sorry enough to confess what you've done wrong and to forsake it. That means to turn from it and not do the wrong thing again.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

[Soldier4Christ]

Six-year-old Jessica pressed her nose against the car window. "It's a long way to the bottom!" she squealed. "Be careful, Daddy!"

"I will," Dad promised. "This mountain view is beautiful, but it would be dangerous if the guardrail weren't there. It will keep us from going over if I'd happen to slip off the road."

"The guardrail offers some protection," Mom agreed, "and driving cautiously and obeying the road signs do, too."

In a corner of the back seat, Jeff scowled. "Who cares?" he mumbled. "I wish I were staying with Lane, instead of going on this boring picnic."

"Your aunt and uncle weren't going to be home," Dad reminded him. "You know you're not allowed to stay with your cousin when an adult is not home."

"You treat me like a little kid," Jeff grumbled. "Rules, rules, rules!"

"Rules are boundaries for your safety and protection," Dad explained. "We all need them-just like drivers need the boundary of that guardrail." Jeff just sighed and stared out the window.

Later that night, Jeff helped unload the picnic supplies from the car. "The picnic really was fun," he admitted. "I'm sorry I grumbled." He grinned. "I especially liked fishing in that mountain stream."

As the family reviewed their day, the phone rang. Dad went to answer it. "Bad news," he announced when he rejoined them. "Your cousin Lane had an accident on his dirt bike this afternoon. He's at Mercy Hospital with some rather serious injuries."

Jeff stared at Dad in horror. "Uncle Lee doesn't let Jeff to ride without supervision," protested Jeff.

"Remember our discussion about how rules are like guardrails in your life?" asked Mom. "Kids don't always like the rules, and Lane chose to ignore that particular boundary his parents had given him. God commands children to listen to and obey their parents. Sometimes the consequences of not doing so are pretty severe."

"Maybe we can go visit Lane," suggested Dad. "He'll need forgiveness, love, and encouragement. Your aunt and uncle could probably use some company, too."

"Okay . . . and thanks for putting up guardrails in my life," whispered Jeff.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you grateful for the wisdom and guidance of your parents? God has given them authority over you for your protection and for your good. Rules are intended to guide you away from dangerous and harmful behavior. The next time you're tempted to disobey, remember that God often uses parents like guardrails to protect you from danger.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 6:2-3)
Honor your father and mother, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rob and his father were having a serious discussion as they took advantage of a lovely fall afternoon for one last fishing trip before winter. "I know we're supposed to love everyone," said Rob as he stared at the river, "but to tell you the truth, I don't think I'll ever love Bruce.

"Love Bruce?" asked Rob's little brother Chris. "You're supposed to love a guy?"

"Not in a mushy way, silly," replied Rob. "We're supposed to care for people like God does. But Bruce is such a bully, and he makes me so mad. How can I care for someone who acts the way he does? It's impossible!"

Dad was thoughtful as he reeled in his line. "Rob," he said, taking out a small pocketknife, "what do you think will happen if I toss this knife into the water?"

"It will sink like a rock, of course," said Rob promptly.

"That's for sure," agreed Chris.

"I disagree," said Dad. "I think it will float. I'll show you. Just watch."

"Dad! Don't throw it in the water," protested Rob. "You know it won't float!"

"If you don't want it anymore, can I have it?" asked Chris eagerly.

But Dad had turned to his tackle box. He took out the biggest cork bobber he could find there and tied it to his fishing line. He added another above that, and then attached the knife just above the bobbers. The boys watched as Dad threw the whole assembly into the river. It sank beneath the water, but then it reappeared and began to float.

"Oh, no fair!" protested Rob. "The bobbers are floating, and the knife is just riding along."

"Well, I didn't say it would float by itself," replied Dad, reeling it in. "It would be impossible for it to do that-it would go against nature. But with the help of the bobbers, it just floats. They carry it along." Dad grinned as he removed the knife and bobbers from his line and dropped them into the tackle box. "This reminds me that nothing is impossible with God," he added. "God gives many commands that I can't carry out by myself, but when I trust Him to help me, He just 'holds me up and carries me along'-even when it's against my natural instincts." Dad grinned at Rob. "Pray for Bruce and ask God to help you treat him kindly and to demonstrate God's love for him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it unnatural for you to do something you know you should do? Perhaps to love someone? Or to witness for Jesus? To quit complaining and be cheerful? To be unselfish? God gives many commands that go against your natural inclinations. By yourself, you can't obey them-but with His power, it's possible. Go to Him, admitting your need. Then trust Him to help you, even when it's necessary to do some seemingly impossible thing in order to honor Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

[Soldier4Christ]

Matt gloomily followed his mother into the garden. She glanced at him as she started picking tomatoes and putting them into her basket. "Something wrong?" she asked.

"Ah-h-h, no," Matt mumbled.

But Mom knew better, and she had a good idea what the problem was. She had seen Matt measuring himself against the door frame several times lately, and she had heard his friends bragging about how fast they were growing. She knew they sometimes teased him about being the runt of the class.

"Remember when we planted these tomatoes?" asked Mom. "The plants were all the same size." Then she pointed to the smallest plant. "This one didn't grow as fast as the others, but look at the tomatoes on it! I think we've gotten more tomatoes from it than from any of the others."

"That's odd," said Matt. "It's half the size of the others."

"Size isn't everything," said Mom. She stood up straight and stretched. "Some of these plants seem to have put all their energy into producing leaves, but this little plant produced fruit," she added. "You don't have to be the tallest or biggest to be the most productive."

Matt sighed. "Maybe not, but . . . it's still no fun to be the runt of the group," he said. He moved some dirt around with his toe.

"Don't worry about being short," said Mom. "God made us all different in some way, Matt, and our goal should be simply to do our best. So . . . you're short." Mom shrugged. "Maybe you'll be much taller before you quit growing, but maybe not. It doesn't matter. You can be the kindest, friendliest, most cheerful hard worker. The important thing is to 'bring forth fruit' for God-to do what He wants you to do. And who knows? By next year you may be the tallest."

Matt shrugged. "Maybe," he said, "but I doubt it."

"Well, character is much more important than height, so try to quit worrying about size," encouraged Mom. "Think more about all the things you can do-especially what you can do for God."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you unhappy because you're different from your friends in some way? Remember, everyone is different from everyone else. Someone has said it takes all kinds of people to make the world, and God can use all of them. So don't waste your energy worrying about your size or looks. Don't waste time wishing you were like somebody else in some way. Think about "bearing fruit"-doing something for the Lord. What are you going to do today to bear fruit for Him?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. John 15:8

[Soldier4Christ]

"Good morning, honey." Mary's mother reached out give her daughter a hug.

"Morning," Mary mumbled, sitting down quickly to avoid her mother's embrace. Mom looked puzzled but said nothing.

After school that afternoon, Mary burst through the door. "Hi, Mom! I had a great day!" she exclaimed and surprised her mother with a big hug.

As her parents were talking the next day, Mary's brother Jason came into the kitchen. "I just encountered a grizzly bear!" he exclaimed. "Mary sure is grumpy!" Just then the phone rang, and he answered it. "It's for Grizzly," he muttered, going to the door to call his sister.

Mary came in and snatched the phone from her brother. "You could have brought it to me," she growled. She cleared her throat. "Hello," she said sweetly. She listened for a moment. "Oh, I'm fantastic!" she said, laughing.

Dad, Mom, and Jason looked at one another in surprise. "Did she say she's fantastic?" murmured Jason. "How can she be so grumpy one minute and so happy the next? She sure is moody!"

A few days later, Mary hummed happily as she helped her dad get the grill ready for hamburgers. But when her little sister wanted to help, too, Mary angrily shooed her away. Then she checked the grill. "The fire is out," she said and picked up the fuel starter. "I'll squirt some of this on the coals."

"No, don't! It . . ." Dad started to speak, but he was too late. Mary had already poured the starter on the hot coals. Suddenly, flames shot up at her.

"Oh-h-h-h!" Mary exclaimed, jumping back.

Dad grabbed her. "Are you okay, honey?" he asked.

She nodded nervously. "I didn't expect that! The fire was out!"

"You know, honey," said Dad a moment later, "lately you remind me of those hot coals. You've been calm one minute and 'blowing up' at someone the next."

"I . . . I have?" asked Mary.

Dad nodded. "And the person you snap at doesn't expect it," he told her. "Just like you jumped to get away from that fire, your moodiness makes people want to avoid you. You need to ask the Lord to help you be more even-tempered."

"I don't . . ." began Mary. She stopped. "I'm sorry," she added. "I'll work on it."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you moody? Are you happy one minute and angry or unfriendly the next? Maybe you've been told that's natural for someone your age, but that doesn't excuse you. You may feel sad, upset, or discouraged occasionally, but continual moodiness should not be part of a Christian's life. God wants you to be joyful and self-controlled. Ask Him daily to help you control your moods.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. Proverbs 29:11

[Soldier4Christ]

Morgan was raking leaves one day when a car pulled into the driveway. The driver rolled down his window. "Is this the Peterson house?" he asked.

"Yes, it is," answered Morgan.

"Good." The man smiled. "Would you please tell your parents that George Conway and one of the men from his campaign committee are here?" He and another man got out of the car.

Morgan had no idea what the man was talking about, but she ran inside to tell her mother about them.

"Oh, I've been expecting them," said Mom.

"Who's George Conway?" asked Morgan.

"We met Mr. Conway at the school board meeting the other night," said Mom. "He's done a good job on the school board this last term, and he wants to be reelected. We told him he could put a campaign sign in our yard."

"Why?" asked Morgan as she followed her mother outside. She saw that the men were getting ready to pound a post into the Peterson's front yard. On the post was a sign that read simply, "George Conway."

"Is this spot all right?" one of the men asked.

"It's fine," said Mom. She turned to Morgan. "Mr. Conway is very capable, and he's a Christian. Some of the people who are seeking election don't care about the Lord's standards, but he does, so it's important that we support him," explained Mom.

"Why doesn't the sign have something besides his name on it?" asked Morgan.

"Well, it's intended to get people to recognize his name," Mom replied as they watched the men put the sign in place. "Hopefully, they'll check him out and discover that he's well qualified for the job."

Morgan nodded. "I wonder if he'll win the election," she said.

"I don't know," answered Mom, "but we can pray for him and support him by encouraging others to vote for him. It's a good thing for Christians to have positions of leadership in the community." Smiling, she went forward to greet Mr. Conway.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know a Christian who is campaigning for an elected position? It's good to have qualified Christian leadership. You might think that because you're too young to vote, you're too young to help. That isn't true. If the topic of leadership comes up, you can express appreciation for leaders who hold to God's standards. You can mention names of Christians you know who are seeking election. Perhaps you can help pass out literature. Most of all, you can pray for those in authority.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
I exhort first of all that . . . prayers . . . and giving of thanks be made for . . . all who are in authority.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Our Junior Church lesson today was about Jesus coming to earth again," announced Max as the family enjoyed Sunday dinner. He grinned at his two brothers. "When He comes, Jesus will take all who believe in Him to heaven."

"Yeah." Corby nodded. "Mr. Shaw read a verse that says we'll be caught up in the clouds with Jesus."

"Our teacher said it will happen really fast," added Todd. "Faster than an eye can twinkle! And . . ."

"The dead in Christ will rise first," interrupted Max. "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

"That was our memory verse," explained Todd. Corby silently pushed his food around on his plate as Todd described more of what their teacher had said.

The next day, Max and Todd stayed after school for chess club, and Corby hurried home alone. The clouds look really weird-kind of scary, he thought as he walked up the driveway. "I'm home," he announced, pushing through the door. No one returned his greeting. He entered the kitchen hoping to find his mom. The dishwasher was buzzing and a wonderful aroma came from the crockpot on the counter, but Mom was gone. Corby's heart raced. There was plate of cookies on the counter, but no note. "Oh, no!" Corby cried. He put his hands over his face and began to sob.

Just then Dad entered the room. "What's wrong, Corby?" he asked.

Corby stared at Dad. "Oh, Dad!" he blubbered. "Mom is gone!"

"Mom had to take a neighbor for a doctor's appointment," Dad explained. "I came home early to be here when you got home."

Corby's shoulders shook as he sobbed. "I thought Jesus had come, and I knew I wasn't ready. I thought He left me behind, and I was scared."

"Those who trust in Jesus shouldn't fear His coming," said Dad. "I'm excited about having Him return. So is Mom, and I think Max and Todd are ready for Him to come, too." Dad hugged Corby. "Wouldn't you like to get ready?"

Corby nodded. "When Jesus comes again, I want to go to heaven, too," he said.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Will you be ready if Jesus comes today? Have you admitted that you're a sinner and asked Him to forgive you and to be your Savior? The Lord could return at any moment. Make sure you'll be among those who go to be with Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42