Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Mature Tastes

"Mom, my Sunday school teacher says we should read some verses from the Bible every day," said Paula, "but I think it's just too hard for me to read. It has so many hard words, and some of it isn't very interesting."

"Some parts may be difficult for you," agreed Mom as they began to set the table for dinner, "but there are plenty of verses you can read and understand."

"But not as easily as I could understand a Bible storybook," insisted Paula. "Can't I just read that instead?" Then she frowned as she looked at the table. "Do we have only white bread? I like wheat bread better."

Mom smiled as she got out the wheat bread. "Remember when you were little and white bread was the only kind you wanted?" she asked.

Paula nodded. "Back then I didn't like many things at all," she said. "I didn't even like ham or steak-just soft stuff, like bologna and hot dogs."

"Right." Mom grinned. "I'm glad your tastes have matured. Natural foods and things like this wheat bread are so much better for you." A moment later she added, "I think the same principle applies to God's Word, honey. When you were little, we read the Bible out loud to you and explained all the hard words. We skipped doctrinal passages and stuck to stories like David and Goliath, or Daniel in the lions' den."

"I know," said Paula. "I still like those stories."

"Well, I'm sure there are many things about them that you haven't learned yet," said Mom, "so it's good to go over them again. But now you're ready for other things, too. When you read only the 'easy' parts of the Bible, you miss a lot of important truths God has for you. The stories in your Bible storybook may be easier to 'chew'-like soft foods-but if that's all you read, you'll miss a lot of the nourishment God has for you in His Word." Mom pulled a roast out of the oven. "Your dad and I will be glad to help you understand anything you find too hard," she added, "and don't forget that you have the Holy Spirit to help you, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are some words or ideas in the Bible hard for you to understand? It's true that there are difficult passages in the Bible, but all of it is important. When you read it, ask God to open your spiritual "eyes" to understand His truths. Ask parents or teachers to explain the verses you don't understand. Be patient, and as you grow older, you'll develop a more "mature taste" and find that the challenging parts of God's Word have important lessons for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18

[Soldier4Christ]

 Credit Due

"Mom!" Taylor yelled breathlessly, running up the driveway after school. "Guess what? I got the part-the main part-in the Christmas play!"

"Oh, honey! That's terrific!" Mom stopped painting the window trim of their new house as she congratulated her daughter with a hug.

"It's about time my teachers realize how smart I am," declared Taylor proudly, "and how well I can memorize-and how much drama talent I have. Oh! And you know what else? We got the results of our band try-outs today. I'm first chair flute! I did it!"  Taylor was dancing around. "This is the best day of my life!" she exclaimed. "I got an A on a tough math test, too.''

"Wow, honey! That's great," said Mom, "but . . ." She motioned for Taylor to sit down beside her on the porch swing.

"What's up?" asked Taylor cautiously, sensing her mother's seriousness.

"You do so well in math, and you're also very talented in music and drama," replied Mom, "but how much credit can you actually take for that?"

 Taylor was puzzled. "How much credit can I . . ." she began slowly. Suddenly her face broke into a smile. "Oh, sorry, Mom!" she exclaimed. "You helped me with the audition lines for the play, and Dad quizzed me in math. Thank you . . . thank you . . . thank you!'"

"Okay! Enough!" Mom laughed. "But that's not what I meant. Let's see . . . Think about it this way. We're enjoying our brand new house, right? Well, if it could talk, should it be boasting because it's well-built and beautiful?"

"Course not!" Taylor giggled. "Dad should get the credit! He built it."

"So you think it would be ridiculous for the house to praise itself for its lovely design and structure rather than give credit to the builder?" asked Mom. Taylor nodded, and her mother continued. "The Bible says we are 'God's workmanship'-He's the one who created us and gave us any talents we have. Sounds to me like we need to praise Him for anything good in us. What do you think?"

"I . . . I . . ." mumbled Taylor. She sighed. "Well, instead of bragging about what I can do, I should give credit to God," she admitted. "Right, Mom?"

"Right!" Mom agreed. "Exactly right!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you take credit for things God has done? Do you brag about yourself? Remember that everything good comes from God. He has given you a mind . . . talents . . . possessions . . . everything that you have. It all comes from Him. So thank Him, and yes . . .  even brag about Him to others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
In God we boast all the day long. Psalm 34:2

[Soldier4Christ]

What's In A Name?

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

What's your name? That is a question we hear quite often, but has anyone ever asked you what your name means? Do you know what your name means? When your mom and dad found out they were going to have a baby, they spent a lot of time choosing a name. They may have looked through a book that gives the meaning of names. I looked up a few names to see what they meant. (You might like to look up the meaning of the names of several of the children that are in your group. If you do not have a book, there are numerous sites on the Internet that give the meanings of names.).

John is a very popular name for boys and Joan or Joanna for girls. Their name means "God's gracious gift."

Have you ever known anyone named Daniel or Danielle? Their name means "God is my judge."

I have known quite a few boys named Michael and girls named Michaela. That is a great name that means "one who is like God." One of the angels in the Bible was named Michael.

When Mary and Joseph found out that they were going to have a baby, they didn't have to go to the library and get a book to choose his name. In fact, they didn't choose his name at all. God sent an angel to tell Mary and Joseph, "You will have a son, and you will call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sin." You see, the name Jesus means "the Lord saves." God loved us so much that he sent his only Son to die on the cross to save us from our sin. The Bible tells us that there is no other name that can save us.

What's in a name? If the name is Jesus, there is salvation!

Father, we thank you that there is salvation in the name of Jesus. During this holiday season, help us to remember that it is his birthday that we celebrate. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Jalapeno Christian?

"Come on, Mom," pleaded Holt. "I just need to download this one song. Everyone at school is listening to it. It's really important that I have it."

"Are the words appropriate?" asked Mom.

"No!" Holt's sister Holly answered for him. "They're ba-a-ad!"

Holt scowled at her. "Most of them are okay," he insisted. "I'll turn down the volume and won't listen to the ones that are bad." But Mom shook her head, and Holly grinned. Scowling, Holt stormed off to his room.

For supper, Mom ordered pizza-their usual order of one cheese pizza, with jalapenos on half of it. When it was delivered, they paused to thank God. Then Holt opened the box and couldn't believe what he saw. "They put jalapenos over the entire pizza!" he exclaimed in dismay.

"Oh, no," groaned Holly. "What can Holt and I eat now?"

"Why don't you just pick off the jalapenos?" suggested Dad.

"Pick them off?" Holt grunted. "Even if you get all of the jalapenos off you can still taste them. The juice gets through the whole thing, and it's ruined!"

"That makes me think of the music you've been wanting," said Mom. "The tiny bit of jalapeno juice is like a 'few words' that aren't good in a song. So how would they affect the whole song for us?"

"It . . . it . . . well, it . . ." murmured Holt.

"I know," said Holly. "They ruin the whole thing!"

"You've got it," agreed Mom. "So do you think God would want you to listen to the song you've been begging to download, Holt?"

Holt was quiet for a moment, then he spoke slowly. "I guess not," he admitted.

"We need to honor God in all things-even the music we listen to," said Dad. "We don't want to be 'jalapeno juice Christians,' right?"

Holt nodded, and Holly laughed. "Jalapeno juice Christians? That's funny," she said. She turned to her mother. "But what can we eat, Mom?"

Mom smiled. "Maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" she suggested.

"Sounds good," said Holt as Holly jumped up to get the peanut butter.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful about your choice of music-as well as your choice of reading or TV listening? Don't be a "jalapeno juice Christian"-one who goes along with a little wrong action or a few bad words in order to fit in with others. God wants to enjoy fellowship with you in every part of your life. Pray for help in making wise choices in all your activities. Make a decision today to be a "100% Christian."


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense. Philippians 1:10

[Soldier4Christ]

 Maybe Today

After finishing their picnic lunch, Alex and Nick leaned over Dad's shoulder to see the map. "Where's the space center we're going to see on this trip?" asked Alex.

"Right here." Dad pointed to a dot on the map. "And here's where we are now," he added, pointing to another dot about an inch from the first one.

"Well, let's get on our way," said Mom, and soon they were back on the road.

"I hope they have some literature that I can take back to my science class," said Nick a little later. "Mr. Grant would probably like to see it."

"Yeah," agreed Alex. "My teacher would, too."

"You know what, Dad? Mr. Grant doesn't believe the Bible," added Nick. "He says his grandmother did, and that she was already expecting Jesus to come back to earth when she was a little girl. Now she's dead, and Jesus still hasn't come. Mr. Grant says it's silly to believe He'll ever come."

Alex pressed his nose against the window. "Aren't we almost there?" he asked.

Dad glanced at the odometer. "Well, we have about fifteen more miles to go," he replied.

"Fifteen miles!" exclaimed Alex. "It looked like such a short way on the map."

Mom smiled. "The map is drawn to scale-that means every inch represents several miles," she said. "If we forget that, the distance will seem long to us even though it looks short on the map."

Dad nodded. "It's like that with time, too," he said. "Maybe Mr. Grant doesn't realize that on God's scale of time it hasn't been long at all since Jesus made the promise to return." The boys looked at Dad curiously. "The Bible is our map to heaven," he explained. "To people, it seems like a long time ago that Jesus promised to return, but as God sees it, it's been only a short time."

Nick nodded. "How close are we to the space center now, Dad?" he asked.

Dad chuckled. "There's another example of how time doesn't seem the same to everyone," he said. "I thought I had just answered that question-we're only a few miles closer than the last time someone asked-but to you, it seems like a long time has passed, right?" Nick nodded again. "So don't doubt that Jesus will come back," added Dad. "In fact, He may even come today!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wonder if the Lord Jesus will ever come to earth again? To you, a couple thousand years seems like a very long time, but compared to eternity, it's not long at all. Jesus will come again. It may be that He'll come this very day. Are you ready? Are you trusting Him as your Savior? Are you living to please Him instead of yourself? Joyfully do what you can to serve Him, and look forward to His coming again.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 Grandma Redwood

"Isn't Grandma too old to be teaching Sunday school?" Ryan asked one day. "I mean, she's almost seventy!"

Mom smiled. "No, she's not too old at all!" she replied. "Her first graders are crazy about her. And she tells me she's learning and growing as much as the kids are." Ryan's eyebrows raised a little. He clearly was not convinced.

Some weeks later, Ryan and his parents were enjoying a vacation in the Redwood and Sequoia Forests in California where they saw majestic, old trees. "These trees grew from a seed so tiny that it takes more than twelve of them to completely cover a penny," a guide told them. "They are the tallest and the oldest living things on earth. Some of these trees were probably already two thousand years old when Jesus was a boy in his father's carpenter shop."

"Wow! What makes them live so long?" asked Ryan.

"The bark of these trees is sometimes two feet thick," the guide answered. "That helps them resist attacks from forest fires, insects, and diseases. And they're still growing. They grow very slowly, but they never stop growing as long as they live."

"Old, but still growing," Mom said softly to Ryan. He looked puzzled. "Like Grandma," she reminded him.

Ryan grinned. "Well, she's not quite this tall, and she hasn't had her 2,000th birthday, yet," he said.

Mom smiled as they walked along the path. "God's power put life into a tiny seed and caused it to grow up into a monarch of the forest," said Mom, "and God's power also works in Grandma's life. As a child, she accepted Jesus by faith, and God's power caused that seed of faith in her heart to grow and change her into a strong, mature Christian."

"Well, the thick bark on these trees protects them while they grow," observed Ryan. "What protected Grandma?"

"The unfailing love of God," replied Mom. "God's love protects His children in times of temptation and during the attacks of disappointment and sorrow."

"And now, even though Grandma's getting old, she's still growing and being useful," Ryan concluded. "Maybe I'll call her 'Grandma Redwood!'"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know elderly Christians who are serving the Lord? Thank God for them. How about yourself? Are you regularly learning from God's Word and growing into a mature Christian? Do you trust God to surround you with His love during difficult times? Do you turn to Him for help in overcoming sin? Prepare now for a long life of growth and service to Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing. Psalm 92:14

[Soldier4Christ]

 Best Friends

Marcy really wanted to win the twenty dollar prize that would be given for the best costume in the Christmas parade. She was dressed as a giant gift. She wore a decorated refrigerator box her dad had brought home for her. It covered all but her feet, and two peepholes allowed her to see. There was a hinged window for throwing out candy to the people along the parade route. I wonder where Jill is, Marcy thought. She looked all around as she joined the other costumed students. She never would tell me how she'd be dressed, even though I let her see my costume.

"Hi! Is that you in there, Marcy?" Recognizing Jill's voice, Marcy slowly turned around to look through her peepholes. She almost bumped into . . . another box! Jill had a costume almost identical to her own! "I decided to surprise you so we could be the Boxy Twins," said Jill. "Aren't we magnificent?"

Marcy was furious! Jill copied my idea! she thought angrily. But the parade was beginning, so they marched off together. They awkwardly bowed before the judges, tossing candy to them, too. The judges laughed, and the audience cheered.

"We all agreed the two boxes were the best," said a judge when it was time to announce the winner, "but there is only one prize, so we're going to divide it among the two-each will get ten dollars." Marcy forced a smile, but she was fuming inside as she accepted her money. Not a word was said about whose idea the boxes had been.

"I'll never speak to Jill again!" declared Marcy when she told her mother how angry she was with Jill. "Why should she share in the prize?"

"Easy, honey," cautioned Mom. "You've been best friends for years. Don't be too hasty." She gave Marcy a hug. "Think about Jesus, your very best friend, for a moment," suggested Mom.

"What about Him?" asked Marcy. "He's not at all like Jill. He's never done anything wrong to me."

"But we've all wronged Him-you have, too," said Mom, "and still He forgave you, Marcy. That's the way He wants you to treat others."

Marcy was silent. "That's hard to do, Mom," she said finally, "but I will think about it. I promise."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find it hard to forgive someone who has wronged you? Would you generally rather get even with the person who offended you? That's human nature, but it isn't Jesus' nature. Aren't you glad He loves and forgives you? Being a true friend means forgiving when you've been wronged-and loving just the same.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13

[Soldier4Christ]

 Which Path?

"This is such fun!" exclaimed Tracie as she tramped along through the snow with the other kids from her church.

"Yeah," agreed Sarah. "It's cool. Mr. Bailey is a good camp director."

Soon they came to a fork in the path. The kids ahead of them took the path to the right. "Wait!" called Tracie. "Mr. Bailey said to turn left at each fork, and then we'll end up back at camp."

The other campers hesitated. "Yeah, but look! This path on the right is full of footprints. There aren't nearly as many in the path to the left," argued one of the boys. "I think we should take the one everybody else used." Most of the kids agreed, and they all continued down the well-trodden path.

Tracie and Sarah didn't know what to do. "Mr. Bailey said to take the fork to the left," insisted Sarah. "I think we should do that."

"I do, too," agreed Tracie. "Let's at least take it for a little way. If we don't get back to camp soon, we can turn around." Sarah nodded, and they started off.

To the girls' delight, it wasn't long before they did, indeed, arrive back at the camp. They explained to Mr. Bailey why the other campers weren't with them. He shook his head. "They'll come to a dead end and have to turn around," he said. "I'll send someone out on a snowmobile just to make sure they're all right. I guess I should have sent a guide along, after all."

During camp devotions that evening, Mr. Bailey grinned at the group. "We have some tired campers tonight," he said. "Most of you took a longer hike than you planned. You didn't follow the directions you were given. You chose, instead, to follow where others had gone." He opened his Bible. "I believe there's a lesson for you in your afternoon hiking experience," continued Mr. Bailey after he read aloud some verses from Proverbs. "The people whose footsteps you followed this afternoon probably didn't know where they were going. Fortunately, they only led you out of your way and not into any danger. But I want you to remember that when you're tempted to forsake the teachings of God's Word in favor of following the crowd, that well-worn path may lead to disaster. Choose God's way every time. The crowd could be wrong, but He is always right!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is it hard for you to go a different way from others around you? Do kids tease and call you "chicken" if you don't go along with what they're doing? Sometimes it's easier to join in with the crowd than it is to stand up for what is right, but in the long run, it doesn't pay. The Bible says "the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psalm 1:6).


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Proverbs 4:14

[Soldier4Christ]

 Healing Tears

"Oh-h-h-h-h!" Mark gasped as his bike flipped through the air. A searing pain ripped through his palms and knees. Angrily, he brushed away his tears. "I will not cry!" he said aloud. He picked up his bike and hobbled home.

Mark's hands and knees ached almost as much as his heart did. Ever since his grandpa had died two weeks before, tears had been hiding right behind his eyes. But he was eleven now-too big to cry.

Mark limped into the kitchen. "Oh, you're hurt!" Mom exclaimed.

"I was riding my bike, and I fell." Mark's voice trembled as he spoke.

"Come into the bathroom and let's get you cleaned up. Then I'll bandage those sore spots," said Mom. Gently, she washed away the dirt and then applied disinfectant to Mark's injured knees. Mark gritted his teeth as the medicine stung. "I know it hurts a lot," Mom sympathized, "but it's cleaning the wounds so they can heal."

Mark took a deep gulp of air and sniffed. Mom put her arm around his shoulders and drew him to her. Mark stiffened and pulled away. I will not cry, he said to himself. Eleven-year-old boys do not cry.

Mom seemed to know what he was thinking. "Honey," she said, "it's okay to cry when you hurt." Mark shook his head angrily. "But it is," Mom insisted. "Did you know that your daddy cried when Grandpa died?"

Mark was startled. "He did? I-I-I didn't think men c-c-cried," he stammered.

"But they do," Mom assured him. "Even Jesus cried. Tears are like the disinfectant I put on those sore spots. Tears help wash out grief and speed the healing process." Mark kept his eyes on his stinging palms. Mom put her hands on his shoulders. "God knows we hurt sometimes," she said. "We don't have to hide our hurt. You may cry-God gave us tears to help us. And Jesus tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Wouldn't you like to tell Him right now about your hurt hands and knees, honey-and about how much you miss your grandpa?"

Mark nodded, and the tears began to flow.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
It's okay to cry-God gave you laughter and tears. Even men and boys can cry; Jesus did. Neither boys nor girls have to try to be tough and pretend they don't hurt. Remember that Jesus wants you to go to Him with all your hurts-whether they're from injury, sickness, or sad things that happen. He cares for you and wants to help you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

[Soldier4Christ]

 One Small Word

Kevin listened politely as his elderly neighbor chattered on. "You and my grandson Allen would get along so well together," Mrs Crane was saying. "He really enjoys skating. And did I tell you that he plays football?"

Kevin nodded. "And that he's in my grade in school," he said, "and that he has a baseball card collection."

Mrs Crane nodded happily as she left.

Kevin turned to his mother. "I don't know how often Mrs. Crane has told me about her grandson," he said. "I think I must know just about all there is to know about him. He sounds like a nice guy, but to tell the truth, I'm tired of hearing about him. I wish she'd either introduce us or forget the whole thing."

The next Saturday, it happened! The doorbell rang, and there was Mrs. Crane and a boy about Kevin's age. "Hi, Kevin," said Mrs. Crane. "This is Allen, my grandson." She smiled at Allen. "And this is Kevin," she added.

Allen was visiting his grandmother for a week, so the boys played together often. Both had a great time.

"I'm glad Mrs. Crane finally introduced Allen and me," Kevin told his parents one day. "I knew all about him for a long time, but now I actually know him."

Mom smiled. "You can 'know about,' or you can 'know.' The elimination of one small word makes a lot of difference, doesn't it?" she asked.

Dad nodded. "It's like that when it comes to Jesus, too," he said. "Some people know about Him, yet they don't know Him personally."

"I often think of that at this time of year," added Mom. "Many have heard the Christmas story over and over. But knowing about Jesus isn't enough. It's as useless as knowing about Allen."

Kevin nodded. "I was really tired of hearing Mrs. Crane talk about him," he said. "Knowing somebody personally is so much better than just hearing about him. I'm glad I know Allen now, and I'm especially glad I know Jesus."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard over and over how Jesus came to earth as a baby? Perhaps you've also heard how He died on the cross to save sinners. Is it getting boring to hear the same stories again and again? Maybe that's because you only know about Jesus, but you don't know Him personally. You need to realize what He did for you and get to actually know Him. Accept Him as your Savior and friend today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

[Soldier4Christ]

Angels Watching Over Me

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." Matthew 2:13 (NIV)

Have you ever heard the song, "Angels Watching Over Me?" It is a beautiful Black Spiritual which tells about how God sends his angels to watch over us. No one knows who wrote the song, but it is believed to have originated in the southern part of the United States during the days of slavery. The song goes like this: (Sing it, if possible.)

All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.

Sun is a-setting in the west;
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
Sleep my child, take your rest;
Angels watching over me.

When Jesus was born, Herod was King. When he heard about the birth of Jesus, he thought that Jesus had come to set up a kingdom here on earth and he was not at all happy about that. He tried to find out where Jesus was so that he could kill him. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him of the danger. "Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." That night Joseph left for Egypt with Jesus and Mary. They stayed there until Herod died.

When Herod died, God's angel spoke to Joseph in a dream again. "Get up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All who were out to kill the child are dead."

Isn't it wonderful that God sent angels to watch over his infant son and protect him from harm? Well, God loves all of his children. He loves you and me and he sends angels to watch over us. In Psalm 91, the Bible says:

    Evil can't get close to you,
          harm can't get through the door.
    He ordered his angels
          to guard you wherever you go.
    If you stumble, they'll catch you;
          their job is to keep you from falling.
    (Psalm 91:11-12 - The Message)

I'm glad that we have God's angels watching over us as we walk – even in dangerous places. Be thankful that God's angels are watching over you today! (Sing) "All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord."

Father, we thank you for your love and protection. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The No-Feed Horse

"How much do horses eat?" asked Jared as he and his Uncle Bill walked through the horse barn.

"A lot!" Uncle Bill laughed. "It's a good thing we can put them out to pasture every day." He grinned. "Did I ever tell you about the no-feed horse?" he asked.

"No. What's a no-feed horse?" asked Jared eagerly.

"Well, I heard about a fella who figured out how to raise a horse that didn't need to eat," explained Uncle Bill. "Just imagine the money he would save!"

"A horse that doesn't eat?" asked Jared. "How is that possible?"

"This guy started out by reducing the horse's feed by an ounce a day," replied Uncle Bill. "Then he reduced it by two ounces, and then three ounces, and so on. He did that until the horse was getting by on almost no food at all."

"Wow!" exclaimed Jared. "Then what happened?"

"That's the sad part," said Uncle Bill solemnly. "Then the horse up and died."

For a moment, Jared sat open-mouthed. Then he saw his uncle grin, and he realized that Uncle Bill was just teasing. "Uncle Bill! You're kidding me!" he accused.

Uncle Bill laughed out loud. "Yep, I reckon I am," he admitted, "but I really have known some fellas who were almost as foolish as that rancher. They always tried to get by with feeding their livestock as little as possible. Then they'd wonder why their cattle didn't grow like they should." Uncle Bill chewed thoughtfully on a piece of straw. "I've known some Christians like that, too," he added. "They start off reading their Bibles and praying and going to church regularly. Then they taper off, and if they don't see any bad results right away, they assume they can get by without feeding their souls at all. But whether they realize it or not, their spiritual life is suffering. And like as not, they fall into sin sooner or later."

"Whew," said Jared, "I hope I'm never that silly."

Uncle Bill smiled at him. "I hope not, Son," he agreed. "Don't ever forget that your soul needs to be fed as much as your stomach does."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you take care to feed your soul each day? Or don't you think that's necessary? Do you feel you can live your life successfully without God's help? Watch out! Don't neglect your spiritual life. Let God feed your soul-read and obey His Word, talk with Him in prayer, and spend time in fellowship with other believers.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4

[Soldier4Christ]

 Just Like Sammy!

"Sammy is so sweet!" whispered Sally, gazing adoringly at her brand new brother. As Sally continued watching the baby, Sammy stirred and opened his eyes. He waved chubby little arms in the air. "He's so tiny!" breathed Sally in awe. Then she frowned as the baby began to cry

Mom came and leaned over the side of the crib. "Maybe it's time for a change of position," she said. She turned Sammy on his side and gently patted his back. He soon stopped crying. 

"I can't wait till he's big enough to play with me," said Sally, "but I guess that will be a long time yet, won't it?" She looked at Sammy thoughtfully. "Babies are pretty helpless aren't they, Mom? About all they do is sleep and eat."

Mom nodded. "Yes, but before you know it, he'll be much stronger and will learn to do all kinds of things," she said.

A little later, the baby began to cry again. "I think your brother is hungry," said Mom. "It's time for Sammy to eat." She went to pick him up.

"Mom," said Sally after the baby was fed and once again fast asleep, "since it's Christmas time, we've been learning about the things that happened when Jesus was born. He was helpless, just like our baby, wasn't He?"

Mom nodded. "Yes, He was, honey," she replied. "You know, Jesus could have come to earth as a fully-grown man or even as a mighty king if He wanted. But He didn't-He chose to be born as a helpless baby, dependent on His family to take care of Him."

Sally nodded. "I wonder why?" she said after a few quiet minutes.

"Well, the Bible says Jesus 'humbled Himself'-He didn't come as a rich, important ruler," said Mom. "It says He 'took the form of a servant' and came 'in the likeness of men.' Another place says Jesus is able to 'sympathize with our weaknesses.' I think we're able to understand that better and trust Him more, knowing that He came to earth as a tiny baby, just as we did." Mom smiled. "He did that for us, because He loves us so much. Isn't that great?"

Sally smiled, too, and nodded as she glanced back at her baby brother.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you realize how much Jesus "humbled Himself" by becoming human in the form of a helpless baby? This Christmas Day is a good time to thank Him for loving you so much that He was willing to do that for you. Thank Him for growing up as a human, facing all the temptations you face, and understanding all your needs and problems and questions. Thank Him for all He has done for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

[Soldier4Christ]

 The After-Christmas Sale

"Look at my new sweater!" said Brianne, holding it up for her father to see. "You should see all the stuff Mom and I got on sale today. Cheap, too!"

Mom sighed. "Yes," she agreed, "but it was such a hassle getting through the crowds at the mall and pawing through the piles of clothes, that I wondered at times if it was really worth it. But as Brianne says, it was cheap! It makes you wonder how the stores can afford to sell things at those prices."

"They know what they're doing," Dad assured her. "They're clearing out things that are no longer profitable and making room to restock their shelves with new things that people want-things they can sell to make money. Right now, they're selling off winter stuff to make room for spring merchandise." He paused for a moment. "I think we could take a lesson from them," he added.

"Like what?" asked Brianne curiously.

"There are things on the 'shelves' of our lives that we should clear out from time to time," explained Dad as he reached for his Bible. "Let's read about them for our devotions tonight." He turned to the book of Colossians.

"Hearing those verses makes me feel guilty for getting angry at some pushy women in the store today," confessed Mom. "I need to get rid of anger from the 'shelves' of my life."

"How much do you suppose we can sell our bad qualities for?" asked Brianne with a mischievous grin.

Dad smiled. "Forget having a sale and just trash them," he advised. "And let's not forget to restock our 'shelves' with things that are pleasing to God, like compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience."

Brianne nodded. "We can sell those things for a whole lot more than the old stuff we're getting rid of, don't you think?" she asked with an innocent air.

"All right! All right!" said Dad. "So my comparison doesn't hold up in every detail." He grinned at his daughter, and she grinned back. "But it is important for us to be alert and willing to replace old, bad traits with new, wholesome ones," added Dad. "Then we'll be able to keep showing God's love to others, and pointing them to Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What traits are found on the "shelves" of your life? Do you need to get rid of things like lying, bad language, or a desire to get even with someone? Do you need to add kindness, a forgiving spirit, friendliness, or some other good quality? Ask God right now to show you what changes need to be made-and to help you make them. Start the New Year by discarding old, sinful attitudes and adding the things that please God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:9-10)
Put off the old man . . . put on the new man.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Just Different

"A few more days," said Jerry, "and we can watch the best ball game of the year." He picked up the football he had received for Christmas. "The next best thing to playing football," he declared, "is watching the Rose Bowl game."

"Huh!" scoffed his sister Beth. "The best thing about football is that the season's almost over." She picked up her new tennis racquet and some fuzzy balls. "Now this is much better," she declared. "Better than your silly old football."

Mom looked up. "Well, I think my new bowling ball is the best one. It's big and beautiful and heavy! It's going to help me knock down lots of bowling pins."

Dad spoke up. "It's big all right," he agreed, "but if you want to see beauty, you need to take a look at my golf balls." Glancing around at his family, Dad grinned. "Whoever would have thought that buying everybody sports equipment for Christmas would start a family feud?"

"Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree," said Mom with a smile. "Better yet, let's agree that everybody's sport is great. Tennis balls or golf balls,  bowling balls or footballs-no one kind is better than the others. They're just all different. Each is designed to do the best job possible for its own sport."

"That's true," said Beth. "You wouldn't knock many bowling pins over with my tennis balls."

"No," agreed Jerry, "and I can just imagine you trying to play tennis with Dad's golf balls while he plays golf with my football."

Beth laughed. "And you trying to play football with Mom's bowling ball," she said. "That would be funniest of all."

"You know," said Dad, "that's the way it is with people, too. We all have talent for something. Some can sing or speak well. Still others do a good job taking care of little children or building homes. Some are good in science or sports or math. But that doesn't make one person better than another. Just like it's unfair to compare a tennis ball and a bowling ball, it's unfair to compare people with each other. God made each one different and gave each one . . ."

"Talents!" chorused the kids together. Dad smiled and nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Can you think of someone who can do something better than you? Do you think that makes him more special, or valuable, than you are? Wrong! Or do you think you're better than someone else because you can do something he can't? Wrong again! God made each person different and special. Develop the skills He gave you. Recognize that others have different abilities, and don't be envious of them.


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