Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Saturday Every Day?

Betsy smiled as she looked at her baby brother, still asleep in his crib. Robbie is really cute, she thought, but I'm so glad I'm not a baby. All he does is eat and sleep. How boring! I have lots more fun-swimming, biking, and even studying.

At the breakfast table, Betsy watched Mom butter toast and pour coffee for Dad. Mom's life looks boring, too, thought Betsy. She wondered if her mother knew how boring it looked. She's always doing things for us-cooking, cleaning, giving me my schoolwork, and telling Dad he needs a haircut. How dull!

Dad glanced at the clock and pushed his chair back. "I'd better go," he said. "Traffic is always heavy on Monday."

Betsy's thoughts turned to her father's life. Every week, Monday through Friday, Dad eats breakfast, grabs his briefcase, drives to the office, and spends the day doing whatever he does there. The next day, he does it all over again. I wonder if he ever wishes every day could be Saturday. I would!

"It's time for your lessons, Betsy, so let's go over our verse for today and then we'll start on fractions," said Mom soon after Dad left. She opened her Bible as she spoke. "Our verse is First Corinthians 13:11. It says, 'When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.'" Looking up, Mom asked, "What do you think that verse means, honey? What does it mean to you?"

Betsy thought a moment. "I guess it's that children and grown-ups don't do the same things or even think the same way," she said.

"That's right." Mom smiled. "God has special things for us our whole lives. When we're young, life is busy with schoolwork and chores and fun times. As we grow older, there are more responsibilities and different kinds of fun times. But all ages can be good times-parents at their work can be as happy as children are at their play. Aren't you glad Jesus will give us contentment-whether we're eight years old or eighty?"

Betsy nodded and grinned, realizing her parents' lives weren't so boring to them, after all. She reached for another book. "Ready to teach me fractions, Mom?" she asked. "I'm ready to learn."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes wish that every day could be Saturday? God has given times to work and times to play. That will be true throughout your life. God knows what is best, and every day is a special gift from Him. As the key verse says, learn to be content in whatever "state" you're in-that is, whatever circumstances you're experiencing. Learn to be content at whatever age you are. Thank God for the various activities He gives you each year and each day.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Friend to "Honk"

I think I did okay, thought Paul as he answered the last problem on the test. I think all my studying paid off! Just then Paul noticed his friend Jeff slide a small paper out of sight before jotting down some figures. As Paul watched, he saw Jeff take another secret glance at the paper, finish the test, and hand it in to Mr. Baylor. Paul's heart sank. Oh, no! he thought. Jeff cheated!

All afternoon Paul wondered what he should do. Should he tell Mr. Baylor? Accuse Jeff? Forget he'd seen anything? As he walked home in the crisp fall air, still thinking about it, he heard the familiar sound of geese honking. Paul looked up and saw them flying in a V-formation. He remembered what his Sunday school teacher had told the class just the week before. "I've heard that geese take turns leading," Mr. Kent had said, "and that their honking seems to encourage those who lag behind or get out of line. They help each other stay strong and united for their long journey. Christians need to help each other in that way, too."

As Paul remembered those words, he thought of Jeff. He knew Jeff was a Christian and that in a moment of weakness he'd given in to the temptation to cheat. Jeff needed a friend to "honk" and encourage him to be strong in his Christian life-a friend to talk to him about what he'd done. Paul sighed. I really don't want to be the one to talk to Jeff. He might get mad about it, thought Paul. Maybe Mr. Kent could talk to him. But Paul was the one who had seen what had happened, and he knew what he needed to do.

After getting his mother's permission, Paul walked over to Jeff's house and rang the bell. Jeff answered the door. "Hi, Jeff," Paul greeted his friend. "I need to talk to you-I saw what happened during the test today." Jeff looked very surprised, and Paul rushed on. "I really think you need to tell Mr. Baylor what happened and that you're sorry," he said. "I'll go with you if you want. Maybe he'll let you take another test."

"I-I . . ." stuttered Jeff. He sighed. "I'll think about it," he mumbled.

"Come over tonight and we'll study," suggested Paul. "I'll help you so you can pass because you understand, not because you cheated, okay?"

"Maybe," said Jeff, but he nodded. "I'll see."

"Try to come," urged Paul, and as he left, he felt better than he had all day.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get angry and accuse or tattle when someone does something wrong? Or do you take the easy way and pretend nothing happened? God wants His children to help each other do what is right. So when you know someone's done something wrong, ask God to show you if it's a problem an adult needs to handle. If it isn't, ask God to show you how to help the person. It's hard to do, but it will make you happier when you lovingly help someone overcome sin and get back on track.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Smell of Sin

"Wow, Uncle George! Those pigs stink!" exclaimed Brandon as they left the pig pens. He and his sister Brenda were spending a week at their uncle's pig farm.

Uncle George laughed. "You've got that right!" he agreed. "Let's go wash up."

After Brandon and Uncle George vigorously washed their hands, arms, and faces, they went to the table for dinner. Brandon sat down next to Brenda. "Ugh!" she exclaimed, leaning away from her brother. "You smell awful!"

Brandon sniffed at his hands. "I just washed!" he protested. "I'm clean."

As Brenda moved her chair away, Brandon rolled his eyes. "I can can still smell you," she said defensively, "even over the food!"

Aunt Sally smiled. "The smell of pigs is hard to get off," she said.

Uncle George nodded. "Yes, it is, and you know what that pig smell reminds me of?" he asked. "It reminds me of the way sin works."

"You mean because sin stinks, too?" asked Brenda.

"You could say that," agreed Uncle George, "and also because, like the smell of pigs, the smell of sin-the consequences-may last a while. Even though we belong to Jesus and have been washed clean, our sin may still affect our lives."

"That's right," said Aunt Sally. "God says we reap what we sow-we reap the result of good or bad choices. It's very dangerous to choose to sin."

 Uncle George looked at Brandon. "We weren't around the pigs very long today, so when we take a shower and put on fresh clothes, we hope the smell will be gone. But sometimes it's there for a while."

"For how long?" Brandon asked in surprise.

"It may last a few hours," said Aunt Sally, "but the 'smell,' or consequences, of sin could last for days or weeks or months . . . or even years."

"Like when I rode Mom's bike after she told me not to," remembered Brenda. "The seat was too high, and I fell and broke my arm. It hurt for a long time."

"We reap what we sow," repeated Uncle George. "That's something we need to remember any time we're tempted to sin." He smiled. "And remember . . . if we follow and obey Jesus, we'll reap good things. Okay?"

Brandon nodded. "Okay," he said.

"Yeah," agreed Brenda. "That sounds better. I'll remember that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What are you sowing-and reaping? Are you happy because you've made choices that please God? Or are you discouraged because wrong choices brought consequences that seem too hard? Each time you make a choice, you sow something-either good or bad. Remember that what you reap is the result of the choices you make.Trust God to help you make good choices-choices that spread "the fragrance of Christ." Avoid those that leave you with the "smell of sin"!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

[Soldier4Christ]

 Reminders

"Look what my teacher gave me!" exclaimed Luke as he burst into the house, waving a small flag over his head. "We're learning about symbols at school."

"What's a simple?" asked his little sister Natalie.

"The word is 'symbol,'" replied Luke. "A symbol is an object that's a . . . a reminder of something. The flag reminds us of our country and freedom."

Mom looked at Natalie. "Where's your sweater, honey?" asked Mom.

"At school," replied Natalie. "I keep forgetting to bring it home."

Mom frowned. "Tomorrow I'm going to tie a string around your finger to remind you to bring it home," she said.

Natalie giggled. "Are you really?" she asked.

"I really am," Mom assured her.

"Then will I have a symbol?" Natalie wanted to know.

Luke nodded. "Yep," he said with a grin. "The string will be a symbol to you because it will remind you of your sweater."

The next morning, Natalie's mother stopped her at the door. "Hold out your hand," said Mom. She tied a string around the little girl's finger. "How's that?" asked Mom. "Does it feel tight?" Natalie shook her head. "I don't want it to stop the circulation," added Mom, "but I do want you to remember to bring your sweater home."

"Okay," said Natalie. She blew a kiss to her mother. "I won't forget. I promise." And she didn't.

At church on Sunday morning, the congregation took part in a Communion service. "I know what the Communion service is for," announced Luke on the way home. "The juice and the bread are symbols-just like the flag."

"Or like the string on my finger," added Natalie. Then she looked puzzled. "But what do they remind us of?"

"Of Jesus," stated Luke. "Right, Dad?"

"Exactly," agreed Dad. "They remind us of His death on the cross at Calvary."

Mom nodded. "His body and His blood were sacrificed for us," she added. "And each time we take Communion, we're also reminded that Jesus is coming again. Let's be sure to thank Him for what He did-and will do-for us."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know the meaning of the Communion service at your church? The bread is a reminder that Jesus gave His body to suffer and take the punishment you and all people deserve. The juice is a reminder that He gave His lifeblood to pay the penalty for your sin. The next time your church holds a Communion service, don't daydream and let your mind wander. Think about the symbols and their meaning, and thank Jesus for what He did for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
(Jesus said) Do this in remembrance of Me. 1 Corinthians 11:24

[Soldier4Christ]

God's Eye Witness News

 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:32,34 (NIV)

It is important for us to keep up with what is happening in the world, isn't it? One of the best ways to keep up is by watching the news on TV. A typical news broadcast may have several live, on-the-scene reports. The announcer might say something like, "Fire destroyed a downtown business today. Channel 13 Eye Witness News reporter, Marci Brown, is at the scene. Marci?" "Thank you, Bob. I am talking to Caleb Smith who witnessed the fire. Caleb, what can you tell us?" The eye witness will then tell exactly what he saw. It really helps us to understand what happened when we have an eye-witness report, doesn't it?

Even though there was no TV during the time that Jesus lived, eye-witness reports were still very important. One day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him. He said to the people with him, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one I told you about. I didn't know he was the Messiah, but when I baptized him, I saw the Holy Spirit coming down from the heavens like a dove. It came down and landed right on his shoulder. I saw it with my own two eyes and I tell you, this is the Son of God." When the people heard John's eye-witness report, it helped them to understand and believe that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Most people come to know about Jesus because someone else tells them about him. Perhaps it is their parents, a Sunday School teacher, a pastor, or a good friend. They give an eye-witness account how Jesus came into their heart and changed their life.

God wants all of us to be a part of his "Eye Witness News Team." What would you say about what Jesus means to you? Perhaps you would say, "Since Jesus came into my heart, sadness has turned to joy; doubt has turned to faith; worry has turned to trust; fear has turned to confidence." Whatever Jesus has done for you, tell others so they can know him too.

Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son. Help us to be witnesses so that others will come to know his love as we do. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Dusty Doll

"I want to ask you something, Mom," said Emily hesitantly as her mother tucked her into bed one evening. "I gave my life to Jesus last summer, but it seems like I'm still always doing something wrong-like getting so mad at Jason tonight. When I do stuff like that, I ask God to forgive me, but . . . what if I forget to ask Him-or what if I don't even think about the fact that I've sinned?" She paused. "Then am I still saved?"

Mom sat down on the bed. "Jesus' death paid for all your sins," she said. "God will never disown you if you've put your trust in Him."

"You're sure?" asked Emily.

"I'm sure," said Mom. She pointed to a porcelain doll on Emily's dresser. "I see that you've cleaned up that doll," she said. "Tell me again where it came from."

"You know where I got it, Mom," replied Emily. "Mrs. Knott found it when she was cleaning out her basement last week. She said I could have it-she was just going to throw it away. I cleaned it and dressed it in new clothes." Emily grinned. "It looks great now, don't you think?"

"Yes, it does." Mom nodded. "It's beautiful, so enjoy it while you can. Your room sometimes gets pretty dusty, you know. Before long, your doll will be covered with dust, and then I suppose you'll throw it out."

"Throw it out!" exclaimed Emily. "Are you kidding? It could never look any worse than when I got it! It was all covered with dust and bugs and spider webs then, but I didn't throw it away. And I sure wouldn't ever throw it away after all the work I did to make it look good! I'll just clean it whenever it needs it. I want this doll."

Mom smiled. "I thought you'd say that," she said. "Honey, don't you see that God loves you much more than you love that doll? Your life was full of sin, but Jesus died to save you from it. When you put your trust in Him, He made you part of His family. He's not going to just 'throw you away' now-not after all He's done for you."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin? If you're not sure, won't you trust Him today? God says that if you have received Jesus into your life, nothing can ever separate you from His love. If you're trusting in Him, don't worry about losing your salvation. Believe God's promises and know the peace of forgiveness and the joy of fellowship with Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Neither death nor life . . . things present nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39

[Soldier4Christ]

 No More Weights

"Molly!" Mom's voice was stern. "I told you it's time to eat!"

Molly hurried to the table. She had noticed that her mother wasn't as patient as she used to be before Dad left. And Mom always looked tired and sad. "I'm sorry," apologized Molly as she took her seat. "I'm not very hungry," she added. Her voice trembled as she hurried on. "I'm worried about how we'll live until you find a job . . . and about doing better in school so you'll be happier. I've been trying to clean up after myself so you won't have to yell." Tears slipped down Molly's cheeks. "I worry that Daddy won't come back after the separation."

"I worry, too," Mom admitted. She got up to give Molly a big hug.

"Anybody home?" interrupted a loud, cheerful voice from the kitchen door.

"Uncle John!" exclaimed Molly. She jumped up to greet her favorite uncle-then pointed to his wrists and ankles. "Why are you wearing those things?"

"You mean my weights?" asked Uncle John, holding up his arm for her to see better. "I'm getting in shape for the marathon, so I wear these when I run. It helps me build strength," he explained. "But you can be sure I won't wear them for the race!"

After a short visit, Uncle John left to continue his workout. "Chins up!" he called on his way out.

"I can't imagine weighing myself down like that," Molly told her mother after Uncle John had left. "Running is hard enough without those weights."

"Yes," agreed Mom, "but like Uncle John said, it does help him grow stronger." After a moment, she added, "I think you and I are wearing weights, too-not just in practice, but in the race itself."

"Not me!" protested Molly, lifting her wrists and a leg. "See . . . no weights!" She frowned. "But you don't really mean weights on our arms and legs, do you?"

"No," said Mom. "Our 'weights' are on the inside. I'm thinking of weights like a mind full of worries."

Molly sighed. "Too bad we can't take those off like Uncle John can," she said.

"Ours can come off, too," Mom assured her. She spoke with new hope. "God tells us to give our cares to Him, so I'm wondering why I've waited so long to do that. Let's pray right now and really trust God to take charge of our situation. If we let Him, He'll carry the weights for us."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What do you worry about? Are there family problems, school problems, or money problems that make your spirit heavy? Does it seem like there's no solution for the problems you face? You need God's help. Go to Him whenever you feel burdened by something that's happening in your life. God cares. Ask Him to carry your burdens-big or small-and depend on Him for strength each day.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 Fully Persuaded

"May I run the food processor to chop the zucchini?" asked Leanne. She was helping her mother make zucchini bread.

"Sure," agreed Mom. "Just be careful."

Leanne got out the food processor, put some zucchini into it, and turned it on. She waited, but it didn't run. "Mom, this thing isn't working!" she complained.

Mom looked at the appliance. "The container has to be placed in exactly the right spot, or the machine won't work," she said. "You can hear it snap into place when you have it on right." She demonstrated what she meant. "Now try it," she added.

Leanne turned the machine on. "Oh, good!" she exclaimed. "It works now!"

After Leanne finished the chopping, she helped gather and mix the rest of the items. Leanne got the pans ready, and Mom poured the batter into them. Then they put the loaves into the oven and began to clean the kitchen. "Picky old food processor," complained Leanne as she washed the container. "It won't go unless it's just so." Leanne laughed. "Hey! I'm a poet and don't know it."

Mom smiled. "Your episode with the food processor made me think of the verses we discussed in my ladies Bible study group."

"It did? Why would it make you think of Bible verses?" asked Leanne.

"Do you remember the story of Paul and King Agrippa?" asked Mom. (See today's Scripture.) Leanne nodded. "Well, that's the account we read and talked about in our group last week." Mom pointed to the food processor. "You had that set up almost right-and when Paul witnessed to King Agrippa, the king was almost persuaded to believe," explained Mom. "Almost right wasn't enough to make the food processor work, and almost persuaded to become a Christian isn't enough for salvation."

"I get it," said Leanne. "The food processor container had to be in exactly the right spot, and we have to believe exactly what Jesus said-that He's the only way to God and to heaven!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you like people who admit that the Bible might possibly be right-or that maybe Jesus is the way to heaven? It's not good enough to almost believe on Jesus. To be almost persuaded to believe is to be lost. You need to be fully persuaded that Jesus is the only way to heaven. You need to fully trust in Him and Him alone.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Jesus said . . . no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Kite and the Breeze

One breezy spring day, Dad took Alena and Travis to the park to try out their new kites. "My kite will fly higher than yours," declared Travis, looking proudly at his bright yellow kite with its dark blue borders and perky red bows.

"We'll see about that!" said Alena, tossing her red and white kite into the air. Travis quickly tossed his kite into the air, too, and soon both of them were aloft.

For a few minutes the kites sailed merrily across the sky, flying higher and higher. "Go, kite! Go!" called Travis, squealing with delight. "Show 'em that you're the best." He grinned and yelled in glee when Alena's kite suddenly plunged to the ground. "See! My kite's the King of Kites!" boasted Travis. But a few moments later, his kite joined his sister's on the ground.

"Some king you have there!" Alena teased her brother. "A fallen king, I guess."

"Aha!" said Dad.

"What do you mean . . . 'aha'?" grumbled Travis as they went to pick up the fallen kites. "What happened? Why isn't my kite flying any more?"

 "You were so proud of your kite that you forgot what makes it fly," said Dad.

"The wind does," said Alena. "The air is very still now-there's almost no breeze at all. That's why our kites won't fly." She grinned at Travis. "You forgot about the breeze, didn't you?"

"I guess so," admitted Travis. "I thought a super-good kite was all I needed, but a super-good breeze is needed, too."

Dad nodded. "Lots of people make the same mistake you did, Travis," he said after a moment.

"They do?" Alena was surprised. "I thought everybody knew you needed wind to fly a kite." She looked at her brother. "Except Travis, of course," she teased.

Dad smiled. "Travis forgot that the wind is needed-actually, that God is needed because only He can make wind," explained Dad. "People often forget that God is needed for everything they do. They forget that He's the one who gives them power for even the simplest things."

Travis nodded thoughtfully. "Yep. Even breathing in and out," he said. "I'm going to remember that!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you intelligent? Smart? Talented? Do your abilities fill you with self-confidence and give you the feeling that you-all on your own-can accomplish just about anything you set your mind to? Don't ever forget that without the power of the Lord you can accomplish nothing. It's God's breeze that sends a kite sailing across the sky, and it is God who gives the power for your life-even for the simple things that you do each day.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
(Jesus said) Without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

[Soldier4Christ]

 Disobedient Duke

Dawn's new puppy wriggled in her arms. "I'll call him Duke!" she announced.

"Duke has lots of things to learn," commented Dad. "You'll need to reward him when he's good and spank him when he does something bad. That's how he'll learn what he may and may not do."

Dawn frowned. "He won't be bad, Daddy. I'll love him so much that he'll want to be good. You'll see. Duke will be the best dog in the world!"

But Duke was not a good puppy. He dug up the flower bed and chewed on shoes. He didn't come when he was called. Dawn scolded and spanked, but Duke went right on chasing the cat and getting into places he didn't belong. "I scold and scold Duke, and he acts like he's sorry," Dawn said sadly one day, "so then I pet and hug him. But he turns around and does some of the same naughty things all over again. I love him so much, so why does he keep on being bad?"

Dad put down his paper and pulled Dawn onto his lap. "Sometimes it takes a long time to train a puppy," he said. "I'm sure Duke will learn eventually. But you know what? The way Duke responds to you is something like the way we often respond to God."

"What do you mean?" asked Dawn.

"When you got Duke, you said you were going to love him so much that he'd want to be good and please you, remember?" asked Dad. "Instead, he gets into a lot of trouble-and sometimes we're that way with God. He loves us so much that we should want to be good and please Him. Instead, we often want to go our own way and do things we know we shouldn't do."

"So . . . Duke has to learn to obey us, and we have to learn to obey God, right?" asked Dawn.

"Right," agreed Dad. "Remember how bad you feel when Duke disobeys you? Think how bad God must feel when the people He loves keep on ignoring His teaching."

Dawn nodded. "From now on, whenever Duke disobeys me, I'll try to remember how God feels when I disobey," she said solemnly. After a moment, she added, "When Duke does obey me, I feel good, so then I'll remember that it makes God happy when I obey Him!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you an obedient child of God? He loves you so much and wants only the best for you. Do you truly love Him? Show Him that you do by obeying His commandments. Stop hurting Him by disobeying. Read and study His Word. Think about what He is telling you in it, and do what it says. God will be pleased, and you will be happy, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

[Soldier4Christ]

 Sunshine or Storms?

BANG! Hearing Kadie's bedroom door slam, Mom sighed. "It seems like Kadie is angry so often lately," she said. "The house is peaceful until she comes home. In five minutes time, she can have everybody upset-especially Jeremy. Kadie has to learn to control herself."

"I'll go handle it this time," said Dad, folding his newspaper.

As Dad left, five-year-old Jeremy came into the kitchen. "I'm hungry," he said.

Mom smiled. "Dinner's almost ready," she replied. "Would you like to watch for Grandpa Nels? He's coming for dinner. He should be here any minute now."

"Grandpa Nels is coming? Oh, goody!" Jeremy went jumping down the hall.

During dinner, everyone-even Kadie-laughed and talked and listened to the stories and bits of news Grandpa Nels told them. "I'm so glad you're here, Grandpa," said Kadie with a smile. "You make us all feel so good."

"That's 'cause he says funny, happy things," stated Jeremy.

The elderly gentleman winked at the little boy. "Let's have a little quiz. Let's see . . . who knows how God created the world?"

Kadie answered quickly. "God just spoke, and whatever He said should be there was there."

Grandpa Nels nodded. "Right. Hebrews 11:3 says the worlds were formed by the word of God," he said. "Now . . . let's see if you can answer this question. What can we create with our words?"

Kadie frowned. "Nothing!" she said. "Only God can create things."

Grandpa smiled. "Strictly speaking, you're right. We can't create things," he replied, "but in a way, we can create feelings-bright, happy feelings or stormy, gloomy feelings."

"Kadie makes black storms with her words," Jeremy declared, "but you make sunshine, Grandpa. That's why we like to have you come to our house."

For once, Kadie did not argue. She could think of nothing to say.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What do you "create" with your words? Sunshine or storms? Are people glad to see you come? Or are they glad to see you leave? Sometimes it's necessary to tell people things they don't like to hear, but in general, God wants you to say things that point to Him and His great love-things that make people know they are loved and wanted. Do your words do that? Or do they make people feel sad, useless, or lonely? Words are very powerful. Be sure those you use are "acceptable to God."


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 Beauty or Ashes

"Jason, the ashes from the fire we built last night haven't been emptied out, yet," said Mom. "How about taking care of that right away?" She smiled. "Dress warmly before you go out," she advised. "It's colder than it looks."

Jason quickly filled a bucket with ashes from the fireplace. He set it just outside the back door, then came in and put on his snowmobile suit and boots. Grabbing his mittens, he hurried out the door, picked up the ash bucket, and trudged through the deep snow to the garden. The bright winter sun shining on the newly fallen snow nearly blinded Jason at first. It made him squint until his eyes were almost closed. Standing at the edge of the garden, he tossed the ashes from the bucket and then watched as the wind scattered the dark soot across the sparkling, white snow.

Jason's father came and stood beside him. "Those ashes sure messed up the beautiful snow, didn't they, Jason?" asked Dad. Jason nodded, and they quietly watched as the wind continued to scatter ashes across the garden.

Jason looked up at the sky. "It's starting to snow," he said. "The new snow will cover up those old dirty ashes, and then the garden will be all white and clean again. Mom will like that-she always says it would be nice to have a fresh layer of snow every day to cover the dirt."

"I know," said Dad. After a moment, he added, "Those ashes remind me of what sin does. It leaves dirty marks in our lives. The only way we can have our lives clean again is to repent of our sin."

"We had a lesson about that in Sunday school," said Jason. "When we're truly sorry and confess our sin to God, He'll forgive us, right? A verse we learned says He washes us 'whiter than snow.'"

"Yes," said Dad. "Another verse assures us that when God forgives us, He doesn't remember our sin any more." He pointed to the ashes. "Fresh snow covers up the dirty ashes, but we might remember that they're under that nice, clean snow. And although God forgives our sin, we often remember the blot it has made on our lives. We don't always forget it very easily."

"So it's best if we don't sin in the first place, isn't it, Dad?" murmured Jason.

"That's true," agreed Dad. "That's definitely true."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have your sins been washed away by the blood of Jesus? If so, thank Him for making you "white as snow." Ask Him to help you keep your life free from the mess sin makes. If you do sin, quickly go to God for forgiveness and cleansing. He promises to give it. He always keeps His promises, so believe Him and know that you are cleansed.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

[Soldier4Christ]

 Big Sister

"No-no!" cried Nicole as her little brother pushed the magazines off the coffee table. She sighed and turned to her mother. "What's with Scotty today? He made a mess with his food at breakfast, and he almost drowned my doll in the bathtub!"

"Some people call his age 'The Terrible Twos,'" said Mom, "but I prefer to think of it as 'The Curious Twos.' It's an age when children are learning so much."

Nicole helped rearrange the magazines. "It must be hard having such a naughty little boy after having had a perfect child like me," she said with a mischievous grin.

Mom laughed. "You'll get a chance to see yourself at that age when Aunt Gina comes next week," she said. "She's going to bring a video tape she made the summer we went out to her wedding. You were only two years old back then."

"Oh, good." Nicole smiled. "I'll make sure Scotty watches and sees how a two-year-old should act."

The next week, Nicole and her family gathered in the living room to see the video tape made several years earlier. "Oh, look!" exclaimed Nicole as the screen showed the family seated around a table. "That's me in my high chair, saying grace-how sweet."

"Look again," said Aunt Gina.

"I can't believe it!" gasped Nicole. "I'm pouring milk on the floor." More scenes passed. "Why is the dog under the chair?" asked Nicole.

"You pulled his tail," replied Dad.

Nicole was shocked. "I love dogs," she protested.

"Here you are . . . dressed for the wedding," said Mom. "You did look awfully cute."

Nicole smiled as she saw herself wearing a fancy white dress with blue bows. "I love that dress!" she exclaimed.

A moment later, Nicole again saw herself on the screen-this time the white dress was covered with brown streaks. "Just before we were to leave for the church, you got outside and into a mud puddle," explained Aunt Gina.

Nicole grinned as Scotty climbed up on her lap. "Hey, little brother," she said, "from now on, I won't be quite so critical of the things you do. I'll be more patient. I promise."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you patient with little brothers and sisters? Or do you judge them too harshly? Remember that they're a lot younger than you and need time to learn and grow. So be patient with them. How about your brothers and sisters in the Lord-other Christians? God wants His children to love one another, and love involves patience. So . . . pray for them, help them, grow along with them, and be patient with them.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Love suffers long (is patient) and is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4

[Soldier4Christ]

"You Have a Message"

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

Ah, the telephone... I don't know how we would get along without it. It is so important to us in our day-to-day life. We use it to stay in touch with friends and loved ones; we use it to make appointments; we use it to order pizza. Today's phones are amazing! Most cell phones will do much more than just make a phone call. Some will let you send text messages and email. Some will even let you take a picture and send it to a friend. One important feature of today's phones is that a friend can call and leave a message. When that happens, your phone lets us know by saying, "You have a message." One thing that really bugs me is to call a friend and leave a message and they never return my call! What kind of friend would do that?

You and I have a friend who has left us a message. He has invited us to go fishing with him. Oh boy! I love to go fishing, don't you? I wonder if you can guess who that friend is? That's right! Our friend, Jesus, left us a message that he wants us to go fishing with him. This fishing trip will be quite different. Instead of catching fish, Jesus has invited us to go fishing for people! Jesus didn't leave his message on the phone, he left his message in the Bible.

One day as Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon Peter and Andrew—throwing a net into the water because they fished for a living. Jesus called to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” The Bible tells us that they immediately dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus.

As Jesus, Peter, and Andrew walked along the shore, they saw two other brothers—James and John—sitting in their boat mending nets. They called and invited them to come along too. They dropped their nets, left their boat behind, and followed Jesus.

If you have ever been fishing, you know what a thrill it is to land a big one. Can you imagine what a thrill it is to go fishing for people and to help someone else come to know Jesus and become one of his followers? Even though this story in the Bible is about Jesus calling the first disciples, it is for us too. It is a message from Jesus that he wants us to go and make disciples. Will we return his call? What will our answer be?

Dear Jesus, just like Peter, Andrew, James, and John, we want to join you and go fishing for people. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Surprising Return

"I'll mow it later," said Nick when his mother reminded him that he'd promised to mow Mr. Blake's lawn. Nick stretched out on the couch and flipped through some TV channels.

"You told him you'd have it done when he gets back from his trip, didn't you?" asked Shelley. "He's paying you to mow, right?"

Nick grinned at his sister. "Yep," he said, "and I'll get it done in plenty of time. It's only Wednesday, and he won't be back until Saturday."

Mom took the TV remote control from Nick. "Mr. Blake said he might not be back before Saturday. On the other hand, he might come any day this week," she said, clicking off the TV. "You march outside and mow his lawn right now!"

"Oh, all right," grumbled Nick. He got up and stretched. "I'm going."

As Nick got out the mower, his mother and sister left for the market. Nick watched them drive away. I need some lemonade, he decided. He went in, got the lemonade, and sat down to watch TV while he sipped his drink.

Hearing a knock on the door a little later, Nick opened it and stared in surprise. "Mr. Blake! I didn't think you'd be back so soon!" he mumbled.

"I can see that by looking at my lawn," Mr. Blake replied with his arms crossed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Blake," said Nick as he put on his cap. "I was just going to do it. I'll get right at it-you don't even have to pay me."

Mr. Blake shook his head. "Too late now," he said. "I can take care of it myself."

When Mom came home and heard what had happened, she sighed. "Aren't you glad it was just Mr. Blake and not someone else who came back?" she asked.

"Someone else?" Nick was puzzled. "Who else would it be?"

"Jesus," said Mom. "You weren't ready for Him, either." She held up a hand as Nick opened his mouth to speak. "I know-you've accepted Him as Savior, so in that sense you are ready. But going back on your promise to Mr. Blake-and also disobeying me while I was gone-was not pleasing to God. Mr. Blake's surprising return should remind us all that Jesus could come back at any moment, too. We need to be ready so we won't be ashamed when He comes."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
If Jesus came back today, would He find you faithfully living for Him? Or would He find you uninterested in learning about Him and living in a way that is pleasing to Him? Even more important, would you be among those who go to be with Him when He returns? Have you trusted Him as Savior? (See the ABCs at the end of this book.) Don't put your decision off another moment. Remember . . . Jesus might come today!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Be ready, for the Son of Man (Jesus) is coming at an hour you do not expect. Luke 12:40