Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Clay Pots

"I'm prettier than Lisette," said Rachel, tossing her head. "Sally says she's never seen such glossy hair as mine!" Rachel began to flatten a stick of red modeling clay. "And I can sing better than anyone in my class," she added proudly. "My Sunday school teacher says God has given me a talent for music."

"And a talent for boasting!" muttered Brian as he heaved a loud sigh.

Rachel scowled at her brother and started shaping the clay into a slender vase. "I'm smarter than you are, Brian," she said, "even though you're older than me." Brian frowned impatiently and left the room. Rachel's lips curved into a smile as she stood back to admire her handiwork. "I wish I could fire this in a kiln so it would hold water," she said, "but it doesn't really matter. Pottery can be used for all kinds of different things. This vase will look pretty just standing on the shelf, and that's just as important. Mrs. White says I make better pottery than anybody in our class."

Mom glanced over at Rachel's work. "Well, I don't know how well the other kids do, but that blue bowl you made yesterday looks great!" exclaimed Mom. "And this red clay vase is turning out so well, too. Both of those pottery pieces must be very, very smart to be so nicely made."

"What do you mean?" asked Rachel, frowning, "Things aren't smart. I am-I made them. They were just sticks of clay. I'm the one responsible for the way they turned out."

"That's true," said Mom softly. "That's rather like people, isn't it? For example, you may be pretty and smart and sing well . . . but who is responsible for that? Who made you that way?"

Rachel shuffled her feet uneasily. "God did," she mumbled at last.

"So who should receive the credit and praise?" asked Mom.

"God should," admitted Rachel.

"So," said Mom, "there's nothing for you to boast about. I want you to remember another thing-God gives everyone talent and ability. Not all have the same talents. You have certain skills, and other kids have different ones. As you pointed out, some vases hold water and some don't, but it really doesn't matter. Everyone's talents or skills are equally important, too. Be sure to remember that!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you pretty? Clever? Do you sing, draw, or speak well? Whatever abilities or gifts you have were given to you by God. They are not given so that you can boast about them. They're given so that you can use them for God's glory. He gives everyone talents as He sees fit, and they are all equally needed and important. Thank Him for the ability to serve Him, and bring Him praise as you use the talents He gave you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
What do you have that you did not receive (from God) . . . why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7

[Soldier4Christ]

 Invitation to Join

"Did you invite Corey to the game?" asked Adam's father one morning.

"Yeah," Adam answered, "but he can't come. He has a Boy Scout meeting."

"Oh, really?" asked Dad in surprise. "I didn't know he was a Scout!"

Adam nodded. "He's been one for quite a while, I guess. Corey talks about fun stuff they do . . . like they have campouts and learn how to find their way out of the woods if they get lost-things like that."

"Sounds interesting," said Dad. "Wouldn't you like to be a Boy Scout, too?"

"Yeah, I might," replied Adam. "I don't know how you join, though." Adam frowned. "Besides, maybe Corey doesn't want me to be in his group," he added. "If he did, it seems like he'd have told me about it and asked me." Adam jumped up to answer the phone, and the subject didn't come up again.

A few days later, Adam and his dad were at a sporting goods store when they met Justin, one of Adam's classmates. "Hey, Adam, want to go with my dad and me to the Rockets' game next Sunday?" asked Justin.

"Sounds like fun, but I can't, Justin," replied Adam. He hesitated. "I go to church and Sunday school on Sunday."

"You do?" asked Justin. "I didn't know that." He turned to go. "Okay. See ya later," he said.

As they started home, Dad spoke thoughtfully. "Do you suppose Justin thinks you don't want him to come to Sunday school?" he asked.

"Don't want him to come?" Adam frowned. "I don't know why he would think that."

"Well, I remember that you were a little annoyed with Corey for not asking you to join the Scouts," said Dad. "You thought maybe he didn't want you to join because he never asked you to. Apparently you've never asked Justin to come to Sunday school."

Adam looked at Dad in surprise. "No," he admitted, "I guess I haven't. I don't remember ever asking Corey to come, either." After a moment, Adam spoke again. "I think I'll ask Corey how to sign up with the Scouts, and I need to invite both Corey and Justin to come to Sunday school. I . . . I think I need to talk to them about Jesus and make sure they know He wants them to come to Him, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you attend church and Sunday school or Bible club? Do your friends know? Do they know they are welcome to come, too? Could your name and the names of your friends be substituted in today's key verse? Let them know you're a Christian and invite them to join you in places where they can learn the most important things in life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He (Andrew) brought him (Peter) to Jesus. John 1:42

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Little Dirt

Trevor poured himself a glass of apple juice. He enjoyed having a snack each day after he finished his paper route. As he drank his juice, he wandered out to the garage, where his mother was repotting an African violet at Dad's workbench.

As Trevor watched, his father drove up and got out of the car. "I see my workbench is being put to good use," said Dad with a grin, "and I'm glad you're here, too, Trevor." Dad held up some magazines. "You left these in the car," he said. "They're the cartoon books you got in your trade with Conner. I've been looking at them. Some are all right, but others contain language a Christian shouldn't read, let alone use."

"Aw, Dad," Trevor protested, "you know I don't use that kind of language. A lot of guys do, so that's why the characters in the cartoons talk that way."

"So you really think it's okay to read them?" asked Mom, who had looked up from her work. She pointed to some vulgar headlines on the cover of one of the booklets. "Foul language doesn't honor God," she added.

Trevor's face turned a little red. "I like to read the jokes-they're funny. Besides, there aren't very many bad words," he argued. "I just ignore them."

Dad frowned. Then he took about half a teaspoon of potting soil and dumped it right into Trevor's apple juice.

"Dad," protested Trevor, pulling his glass away. "What did you do that for? You ruined my juice!"

"There's not much dirt in there. Let it settle at the bottom and then just drink around it," suggested Dad. "Just ignore it."

"Some dirt will mix with the juice!" exclaimed Trevor. "It will still be dirty!"

Dad nodded. "The Bible says a little leaven, or yeast, 'leavens the whole lump'-that happens in baking. In this case, a little dirt dirties the whole glass of juice." He handed the magazines to Trevor. "Just a little dirt can do a lot of damage, can't it?" asked Dad.

Trevor was thoughtful. Although he was careful not to use the bad words he'd been coming across in the books he read, he knew they often popped into his mind when something bad happened. "I see your point," said Trevor. He went to the trash can and dumped the magazines. "Now can I have some clean juice?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you read magazines or books that contain bad language? You may not intend to use profanity or other bad words, but if you read them or listen to them, such words enter your mind and may slip out of your mouth. Sometimes you can't help hearing words that are dishonoring to God. When that happens, set your mind on other things. You can control what you programs you listen to and what you read. Refuse those that use bad language. Honor God with the words you speak.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Coach's Voice

The referee's whistle for time-out sent Dave and his four teammates to the sidelines. "Dave, stay to the outside where you get your best shots," said the basketball coach. "Tom will pass to you. Pete and Bob will handle rebounds, and Reuben will be free to move. Listen closely for my directions."

When play started, the crowd was shouting advice. "Dave! Get under the basket!" he heard. "Get the rebounds, Dave!" The voices echoed in his ears. It was hard not to listen when he heard his name, but he concentrated on one voice, the voice of his coach, calling directions. Dave's four baskets helped carry his team to a lead at half-time.

Dave sagged onto a bench, already feeling the heaviness in his chest and weakness in his legs from playing two full quarters. "Pete, you look like you just started," he said, watching his friend, who seemed eager to get going again.

"I feel great!" replied Pete. He leaned closer. "My mother has these pills she takes when she just needs a little boost. I've been trying 'em on game days," he confided in a whisper. "I could run forever!" He laughed loudly. "Do you want one? It'll do you good. It might even be the difference between our team winning the game or losing it."

Thoughts filled Dave's head like the voices of the crowd. I sure do hope we win, he thought, but I really am awfully tired . . . and the guys are counting on me. Dave sighed. Pete does look great! All the voices in Dave's head were shouting, Take a pill! Take it!

Then, just like he had made a decision to listen to his coach and ignore the advice of the crowd, Dave decided to listen to the voice of God speaking to Him. It wasn't as loud in his mind as the other voices, but sure enough, it was there when he listened. You made a promise to Me and to your family that you would never use drugs, God reminded him. Remember, My Word says, 'You were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body.'

Dave looked at Pete and shook his head. "I don't want any," said Dave.

"Aw, c'mon," Pete coaxed. "I bet Coach wouldn't even care."

"My 'Coach' would care," Dave said. "He told me so!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does it seem like everyone tries to give you advice? Does that advice sometimes contradict what you've been told by God through His Word? God wants to lead you in the right path. Listen for His voice, and He will speak in many ways. He will guide you with His Word and through the Holy Spirit as well as through other Christians He puts in your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth. John 16:13

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Flame

Oh, not another essay! Shelly groaned to herself as the teacher wrote the subject on the board: What I Want to be When I Grow Up. I hate writing essays. Besides, I don't know what I want to be. Shelly sighed and wrote down the topic.

At home that evening, Shelly complained about the assignment. "How do I know what I'll want to do when I'm older?" she grumbled. "I'm just a kid!"

Dad smiled. "You don't have to commit to any career at this time, but it doesn't hurt to think about what you might enjoy doing-or what you wouldn't enjoy," he said. "In fact, I think you already do that. I've heard you kids pretending to be a number of different things. Just a couple days ago you and your sister hauled me into your 'clinic' to get a shot. A day or so before that, you and your brother were talking about settling on the moon."

Shelly grinned. "Maybe I will be a doctor some day," she said, "or a nurse. Maybe even an astronaut. I don't know. I can tell you what I don't want to be-an author. I don't like writing."

"That's okay, but who knows? That may change," said Dad. He pointed to the flame of a candle burning on the table. "Long ago, someone told me our lives are like a flame," he added. "Is a flame a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Well . . . it could be either one," replied Shelly. "It could light a fire to cook food or to warm people-that would be good. But it could do really bad things, too, like start a fire that burns down a house or injures someone."

Dad nodded. "Exactly," he said. "So . . . how is your life like a flame?"

"It's like a flame because . . ." Shelly paused. "Because I can use my life for either good or bad, right?" she finished.

"Yes," agreed Dad. "Life is a very precious gift from God and must be lived carefully. It can be used for great good or for evil. You don't need to know right now what you want to be in the future, but if you keep yourself available for God to use, you can be sure your life will be used for good. That's true, not only for some future day, but for where you are now, too! As you obey God each day, you'll be using your life to do good."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you plan to use your life? Will you use it for good? You don't need to decide right now what you'll do or be when you're grown up, but it's not too early to make up your mind to do whatever God wants you to do. It's not too soon to begin asking Him to show you what He wants you to be. First of all, use your life for good where you are right now. Be available to God-willing to serve Him, both now and in the future.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Turn away from evil and do good. 1 Peter 3:11

[Soldier4Christ]

Knock, Knock. Who's There?

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)

I like "Knock, Knock" jokes, do you? I hope so, because I have some to tell you. Are you ready? OK.

Knock, knock. (Who's there?) Tank. (Tank who?) You're welcome!

Knock, knock. (Who's there?) Canoe. (Canoe who?) Canoe come out and play?

Knock, Knock. (Who's there?) Boo. (Boo Who?) Why are you crying?

Knock, Knock. (Who's there?) Orange. (Orange Who?) Orange you glad this is my last knock, knock joke?

That's enough knock, knock jokes -- now I have a riddle for you. Do you know how a knock, knock joke is like a prayer? If you don't go knock, knock, nothing happens. What do I mean? Let me explain.

One day Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray. He said, "Suppose you went to a friend's house late at night and said to him, 'I need to borrow some bread. I have a friend visiting at my house and I have nothing to feed him.' The friend answers, 'It's late and we are already in bed. I am not going to get out of bed and get you some bread.' He might not give you any bread just because he is your friend, but if you keep knocking on the door and wake everyone in the neighborhood, he will get up and give you some bread." Then Jesus said to them, "Ask, and what you ask for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, will receive what he asks for. Everyone who looks, will find what he is looking for. Everyone who knocks, will have the door opened to him."

Jesus was trying to make the disciples understand, and he wants us to understand, that when we ask the father, we receive. When we seek God, we find him. When we knock, God opens the door.

Knock, knock. Who's there? God is there -- and he answers prayer! That is why we should pray as Jesus taught us...

    Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom
    come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
    day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
    those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
    deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the
    glory, for ever and ever. Amen

[Soldier4Christ]

 Who's the Thief

"Mom, guess what happened in school today!" Elayne excitedly flung her bag onto a hook in the back hallway. "A box of felt pens got stolen from our teacher's desk, and you know what? I'm sure Kylea's the thief!"

"Elayne! Do you have proof of that?" asked Mom.

"No, but it must be her," insisted Elayne. "She stole my felt pens just last year!"

"Yes, but she was sorry and returned them," said Mom. "Just because she did that once doesn't mean she'll do it again. Please don't start spreading stories about her. That's something God definitely does not want you to do." Mom looked at Elayne. "You haven't told anyone what you were thinking, have you?"

"She told Noelle . . . I heard her," reported Elayne's brother, who had come in.

"Mind you own business, Aaron," grumbled Elayne.

"David and Ricky were nearby, so they probably heard her, too," added Aaron. Elayne frowned as her mother again warned her not to gossip.

When Elayne and Aaron got home the next day, Elayne slipped quietly through the kitchen and hurried upstairs to her room. "Elayne, is that you?" called Mom. Elayne sighed and went back down. "How was school?" asked Mom.

"It was fine," said Elayne listlessly.

"Did your teacher find out who stole her felt pens?" Mom asked.

Elayne nodded. "They weren't stolen after all," she admitted reluctantly. "We found out that another teacher had borrowed them."

"Yeah," Aaron piped up, "but before that, half the kids at school were calling Kylea a thief because of what Elayne told them. Kylea was really upset, and I don't blame her!"

Mom shook her head. "And to think," she said, looking at Elayne, "you're the one who turned out to be a thief rather than Kylea."

"Mom!" gasped Elayne, shocked. "I didn't steal anything! I'm not a thief!"

"I'm afraid you are," said Mom. "You stole Kylea's reputation by spreading that story about her. You need to apologize-both to her and to the Lord." Through her tears, Elayne nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you hear something bad about someone else, do you repeat it? If your friends start gossiping, do you join in eagerly, or do you move away and refuse to spread the story? Gossip and idle talk can destroy a person's reputation. If you have to talk about someone's faults, talk to the Lord about it first, and then talk to that person and not to anyone else.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor. Proverbs 11:9

[Soldier4Christ]

 Designer Label

As Nathan headed for the rack of designer jeans, Mom headed for the table of sale items. Nathan found the jeans that were just like his friend Cory's and took his selection to his mother. "These are the ones I want," he said.

   Mom checked the price tag. "Nathan," she said, picking up a pair from the sale table, "they look the same as these but they cost twice as much!"

   "But, Mom," protested Nathan, "everybody wears this kind. The kids will think I'm a nerd if I don't get these!"

"You mean kids are accepted or rejected depending on the kind of jeans they wear?" asked Mom. "I hope you don't judge that way!"

Nathan shrugged. "If I pay the extra, may I get them?" he pleaded.

Mom frowned. "Let's go have lunch while you think about whether that's really the way you want to spend your money," she suggested.

For lunch, they went to a small cafŽ nearby. "Mom," whispered Nathan, pointing toward two women in the next booth, "they're talking about church."

Mom nodded as one woman clearly said, "I haven't figured out religion yet."

"Well, it doesn't really matter what you believe just as long as you're sincere," replied the other.

The waitress came, and Mom and Nathan ordered. By then the conversation in the next booth had turned to another subject, but Mom took a tract from her purse and approached the women. "I overheard part of your conversation and thought you might be interested in reading this," she said with a smile. The women merely nodded.

"It embarrasses me when you do that," protested Nathan when Mom returned.

"Really?" asked Mom. "I thought designer labels were important to you-that you liked them to show." She smiled at Nathan's puzzled look. "I guess you could say my designer label is 'Christian,'" explained Mom, "and I want it to be obvious. My hope and prayer is that others will see it and want that label, too. They need it to get to heaven, but there's only one way to get it-through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Many people don't know that."

Nathan allowed the words to sink in as he continued to munch on French fries. Then he nodded. "That's one label that really is important," he said.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have the "designer label" of Christian? Do you let that label show, or are you embarrassed and ashamed to have other kids see it? It's a much more important label than any popular label you find on clothes. If you know Jesus, don't hide it. Through your conduct and testimony, let others see His "righteousness" in you. Show them that "Christian" is the best label to have.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness. Psalm 40:10

[Soldier4Christ]

 Tangled Lines

Tommy scowled as he stood on the deck of "The Merry Seaman," the boat he and his uncle would be on for the next six hours. Tommy had been getting into trouble at school ever since his dad had moved out of the house, and his Uncle Dave was hoping this trip would give them a chance to talk.

Captain Forester slowed the engine and told Tommy and Uncle Dave to get their fishing lines ready. "Like we're gonna catch anything out here, anyway," Tommy mumbled.

The captain didn't like complainers. "Everybody on my trips catches fish-big fish," he said with only a hint of a smile. Tommy wasn't convinced, but he cast his line into the water.

Captain Forester was right. Both Tommy and Uncle Dave caught fish. Tommy even started to enjoy the trip. "I guess fishing isn't all . . ." Tommy stopped suddenly. "Oh, no! My fishing line is all messed up," he exclaimed. He picked at the line, but couldn't get it untangled. "It will take all day to get this loose," he muttered.

"Let's see what we've got here," said the captain. grabbing something from the tackle box.

"Oh, good!" said Tommy handing the pole to Captain Forester, who took it and quickly cut Tommy's line just above the tangle. "But . . . you just cut it off!" protested Tommy. "I thought you'd get the tangles out."

Captain Forester tipped up the brim of his cap. "You didn't pay me to bring you out here so you could waste time picking at tangled fishing lines," he said. "You came out here to catch fish! And to do that, sometimes you've got to cut the line." He quickly replaced the hook on Tommy's line.

As they drove home, Uncle Dave and Tommy talked about the tangled line. "Reminds me of life," said Uncle Dave. "We can waste time fretting over some tangled mess in life-hopelessly picking at it-or we can 'cut the line.' God wants us to move ahead to the future instead of dwelling on the past."

Tommy knew what his uncle meant. Holding a grudge against his dad didn't please God and would never help him get rid of the ache he felt inside. He'd have to "cut the line" and forgive the one who'd hurt him.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has someone hurt you? Do you keep thinking about how unfair it was? Are you letting it affect your relationships with other people? God doesn't say you have to approve of all the actions of others, but He does teach you to forgive those who hurt you. Forgive and move on. If you don't, you're hurting yourself and people around you. Remembering how much God has forgiven you will help you be willing to forgive others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13

[Soldier4Christ]

 Inside the Shell

"Half of these nuts aren't any good," complained Katy, who had been cracking walnuts for the dessert her mother was making. "They're black and dried up on the inside." She picked up a nut and showed it to her mother.

"Don't bother to crack the bad ones," advised her brother Karl who had just come into the kitchen. "Dump those and use the good ones."

Katy scowled at him. "You can't tell which ones are good," she said. "They all look fine on the outside."

"I bet I can tell," insisted Karl, shaking one. "This one's good." Katy took it and cracked it open. Sure enough, it was good. "See," said Karl gleefully. "I'll pick them out for you." He chose another one. "This one's good too." Katy cracked it open, but it was dried up. Karl frowned and handed her another nut. It wasn't good, either.

"You can't tell any better than I can," declared Katy, taking a nut Karl had rejected. "I'll try this one." She did and was delighted to find that it was good.

"Let's choose every other one," suggested Karl. "Let's see who can find the most good ones."

Katy laughed. "Okay," she agreed.

As they ate the dessert that evening, Katy told Dad about the trouble with the walnuts. "Those nuts sound like some people I know," observed Dad.

Karl's eyes twinkled. "You know some nutty people?" he asked.

Dad smiled. "What I mean is that some people appear to be Christians. They look good on the outside, but I'm not sure what we would see if we could look on the inside-at their hearts and minds," he said. "Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees were like that. They appeared to be 'good,' but they really were hypocrites."

Mom nodded. "You kids had trouble telling which nuts were good," she said, "and we really can't tell for sure which people are sincere and have truly accepted Jesus as Savior. But God knows. He sees through the 'shell' and knows what each person is like on the inside."

Katy nodded. "We can't fool God," she said soberly.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you fooling people? Do you go to church, memorize Bible verses, and look good to others? Are you honest, obedient, kind, and helpful? Those are all fine things, and they may cause your parents and teachers to think you're a Christian, but are you really? Have you truly trusted Jesus as Savior? (See the ABCs at the end of this book.) If you haven't done so, accept Him today. Don't let today's key verse be a description of you!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of . . . lawlessness. Matthew 23:28

[Soldier4Christ]

 Off the Path

Jenny fingered a pack of gum as she and her sister Carla walked down a winding forest trail in the national park where their family was renting a cabin. Mom had said they could take a hike if they stayed together and didn't go far. I wish Mom and Dad had let us buy gum when we stopped at the convenience store, thought Jenny. But their parents hadn't let them buy gum, so the girls had helped themselves-had stolen it-and it had seemed exciting. They had even decided to see what else they could pocket while on vacation. But now the gum was bothering Jenny's conscience.

 Jenny sighed and turned her attention to the trail. "Dad says there's a lake just over this little hill," she said. "I'll race you there."

"Okay," agreed Carla. "You're on." The girls took off running.

Jenny was so eager to beat Carla that she flew down the path, never looking down. She cut corners on the curves and often strayed off the trail. Suddenly, her foot hit a rock, and she went sprawling into the leaves and weeds. Jenny felt bruised and shaken as she sat up and looked around. Her knee hurt and was bleeding.

When Carla caught up, she rushed to Jenny's side. "Are you okay?" Carla asked. "What happened?"

"I guess I got off the path," replied Jenny. "My foot hit a rock, and I fell."

Carla looked thoughtful. "Does that remind you of anything? Like last week's Sunday school lesson?" she asked.

"Yeah. It was about getting off the path, too," said Jenny, "only our lesson wasn't about straying off a path in the woods. It was about getting off the right path-God's path-and we . . . well . . . we did that, didn't we?"

Carla nodded. "Has that gum been bothering you like it has me?"

"I haven't been able to chew it," replied Jenny. "It bothers me more than this banged up knee."

"Let's ask Mom and Dad to take us back to the store," suggested Carla, "so we can return it. I'd rather be punished than feel like this."

"Yeah," agreed Jenny. "Let's get back on the right path-God's path. Then we won't have to feel guilty all the time."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is something bothering your conscience? When your conscience bothers you, it's often reminding you that you've strayed off the path God wants you to take. Perhaps you've been dishonest, unfriendly, unkind, or disobedient. Maybe you tell yourself that what you've done is okay because other kids do it. Sin is never okay. Don't ignore a guilty conscience. Confess your problem to God. Ask for His forgiveness and for help in staying on His path-doing the right thing.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Proverbs 4:26

[Soldier4Christ]

 Bright but Cool

"Hi, Son! How was school?" asked Mom. She was lighting a candle that stood in the middle of the dining room table.

"Hi," mumbled Micah, without looking at his mother. He hesitated, then blurted out, "The kids at school laughed at me!"

"Really? Why was that?" asked Mom.

"I invited Darren to come with me to Sunday school," replied Micah. "He asked what we do there, so I told him that last week we had a lesson about how God created the world. Some of the other kids heard me, and they laughed and said I was crazy to believe that. Tom even said anybody who believes such stuff is a fool!"

"Then what happened?" prompted Mom gently.

 Micah scowled. "I . . . I punched Tom," he admitted. Micah looked at his mother. "We're supposed to be witnesses for Jesus-to let our lights shine for Him-aren't we?" he asked. "That's all I was trying to do, and Tom shouldn't have laughed and said what he did."

Mom was silent for a moment, then she pointed to the candle standing in its silver candleholder. "Look at this candle," she said. "It's burning very brightly, isn't it?" Micah looked at the gently flickering orange and blue flame and nodded. "And you know the flame is very hot, don't you? Too hot to touch?" Micah agreed. "But how about the side of the candle?" asked Mom. "If you touch the side, will it burn your fingers?"

"Of course not." Micah shook his head and touched the candle lightly. "It's cool," he said.

"That's how Jesus wants you to be," explained Mom. "He wants you to shine brightly for Him. You do that by witnessing in what you say and in what you do. Jesus doesn't want you to get all upset and lose your temper about it. Instead, be like that candle. Stay cool while you shine brightly!"

Micah nodded thoughtfully. "I guess I shouldn't have hit Tom," he said at last.

"No," agreed Mom. "Instead of getting angry when others don't understand, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what to say." She gave Micah a hug. "Do you think He's telling you now that you owe Tom an apology?" Micah sighed and nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you lose your temper if people don't believe what you tell them-things you know are true? Don't get angry. You can't control how they will act, but as you yield yourself to Jesus, He'll help you control how you act. Jesus wants you to stay calm and cool in both your speech and actions as you witness for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let your speech always be with grace . . . that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

[Soldier4Christ]

 Someone Cares

Everything's been going bad for Grandpa and Grandma, thought Mike a few days after arriving at his grandparents' ranch in Wyoming. I'm glad I can be here to help with all the chores around the ranch-like grooming the horses or helping in the garden.

Mike thought about all the things that had recently happened. In late May, his grandmother had become ill and had to be in the hospital. Then one day when Grandpa was going to see her, a lady had crashed into his car. Grandpa wasn't hurt, but the car had been totally wrecked. That same week, a pine tree behind the stables had been struck by lightning and burned down. Grandpa looks tired, and Grandma looks older now, but at least she's back home, Mike thought. Even after all the bad stuff that happened to them, they both talk about how good God is and how glad they are that they can trust Him!

"Care to take a walk?" asked Grandpa after dinner one evening.

"Sure," agreed Mike, so together they walked across the field toward a nearby woods. As they passed the remains of the tree that had burned, Mike pointed to the ground. "Look! Some of the pine cones here on the ground don't even look burned," he said.

Grandpa picked up one of the cones. "That tree was a lodgepole pine," he told Mike. "This kind of cone opens only when it's exposed to a great deal of heat. A fire seems like a bad thing, but because of it, there will be new trees growing." Grandpa smiled. "Through His marvelous handiwork, God ensures that even a fire will result in good."

"I guess God thought of everything, didn't He?" asked Mike.

"He sure did," Grandpa said thoughtfully. "It's been a rough summer for us. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged, but when I look at these pine cones, I'm comforted. I can have joy because I know that God can bring good out of the 'fiery trials' we face. He cares for us, Mike, and wants what's best for our lives."

Mike nodded. I'm glad God cares and is in control, he thought, both in the things that happen in nature and in Grandpa and Grandma's lives-and in mine, too!


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has something "bad" happened in your life? Have you seen something good come from it? Remember that the Lord is there for you. He cares about the forest enough to create a special type of pine cone so that even a fire has good results. He cares about you even more. As you trust Him, He gives peace and joy even when seemingly bad things happen. Ask Him what lessons you can learn from all the experiences He allows you to go through.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

[Soldier4Christ]

The Biggest Slice of the Pie

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Yum, yum! Look what I have. Two slices of pie. If I were to let you choose one of these slices of pie to eat, which one would you choose? I think I would probably choose the large slice, wouldn't you? That reminds me of a story about a brother and sister named Jessica and Will.

One day Jessica and Will came in from school and wanted a snack. Their mother had baked a pie earlier in the week and there was just enough left for each of them to have a slice. "Let's have a piece of pie," suggested Will. "I'll get the pie while you get us a glass of milk." When Will sliced the pie, it turned out like these two slices. One slice was much larger than the other one. Jessica poured each of them a glass of milk and sat down at the table. Will brought the pie and placed the small slice in front of Jessica and kept the large slice for himself.

"Look what you have done!" cried Jessica. "You gave me the small slice of pie and kept the big slice for yourself."

"Well, how would you have done it?" Will asked.

"If I were serving the pie," said Jessica, "I would have given you the large slice and kept the smaller slice for myself."

"Well, what are you complaining about? That's exactly what I did!" Will and Jessica both laughed and began eating their pie.

We might laugh at that story, but selfishness and greed is a very serious subject. Every day we see people who not only want the biggest slice of the pie for themselves, they want it all! Jesus told a story about a man who was like that.

The man in Jesus' story was very rich. He had a large, fertile farm which produced very good crops. "What should I do?" the man said to himself. "I have had such a large harvest that I don't have room in my barns to store all of it."

What do you think the man did? He could have shared some of what he had with those who didn't have very much. Do you think that is what the man did? No, instead he said, "I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I will say to myself, 'You have plenty of everything. Enjoy it. Eat, drink, and be merry.'"

God said to the rich man, "You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything?"

God is good and he has given most of us more than we need. The question is, what will we do with what God has given to us? Will we share it with those who don't have as much, or will we greedily keep it for ourselves? Remember the warning that Jesus gave to the listeners of his story. "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed."

Father, you have blessed most of us with more than we need. Help us to be generous and to share with those who may not have as much. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 One-of-a-Kind

"Oh, Mom!" said Beth as she looked through a colorful array of dresses. "I love this pink dress. Can I get it?" She slipped the dress off its hanger and held it up against her.

"It's certainly pretty," agreed Mom, fingering the soft material. She glanced at the price tag. "I'm sorry, honey, but this is way too expensive," added Mom. Beth's face fell. She stroked the pink dress wistfully as Mom moved on to another group of dresses. "Look, honey! Another pink dress," called Mom. Beth reluctantly left the first dress and went to see what Mom had found. "And it's half the price," went on Mom triumphantly.

"That one's pretty, too," agreed Beth, cheering up. "I think I like it just as much as the other one. How come it's so much cheaper, Mom?"

"I don't know, but I'd say the other one is overpriced," declared Mom. "I think a dress costing that much should be a one-of-a-kind, handmade dress."

"One-of-a-kind?" asked Beth. "That means there wouldn't be another like it in all the world, right? That would be cool, but I bet it would cost even more than that other one!"

Mom smiled as they headed for the fitting room. The dress fit Beth perfectly, so they bought it.

Back home, Beth showed the dress to her father. "Beautiful!" exclaimed Dad. "Don't you agree, Caleb?" He turned to Beth's brother.

"Oh, yeah," said Caleb, but not very convincingly.

"I like it just as well as if it were a one-of-a-kind, handmade dress," declared Beth. "I'll probably never be able to afford a dress like that."

"You may not have a handmade dress, but you are handmade and one-of-a-kind!" Dad told Beth. "That's even better."

"What do you mean I'm handmade?" asked Beth. "You're just kidding, right?"

Dad smiled. "The Bible says God knit you and wove you together-so you're His one-of-a-kind, handmade creation," he explained. "There's no one like you."

"And that's a shame," teased Caleb. "It'd be so nice to have more like you."

Beth gave him a playful swat. "And you!" she said. "After all, you're one-of-a-kind yourself." She grinned at her brother. "I guess that makes you and me a one-of-a-kind pair."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel there's nothing special about you? Maybe you think you don't have any great talent; maybe you're not particularly clever; maybe you're not even good at sports. But you are very special-you were skillfully handmade by God. There's no one like you in all the world. And you can be sure God has created you with a special talent, too. Maybe it's the talent of being a friend or helper or spreading cheer. Ask God to help you discover and use your talent as only you can do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ephesians 2:10