Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Sweet but Sinful

Several old picture albums and many loose photographs were scattered over the living room floor. "I'd like to rearrange our albums with captions above the pictures," explained Mom when Ava and Emma asked if they could help her. "You can sort these photographs and see if you can come up with something to write about them."

"Okay," agreed Ava. She grinned and reached for a picture. "'Lifeguard blows whistle at Emma' will be great for this one," she suggested. "This was the time we were at the beach and the lifeguard yelled at you, Emma. Remember?"

"Forget that one!" exclaimed Emma. "But just look at these pictures of our Thanksgiving dinner last year. The food looks yummy!"

"The caption for that could say, 'Give thanks first; then eat,'" said Ava promptly. "I remember that you got scolded for eating before we prayed." She picked up another photo. "Look at this one, Emma. You're pouting in this snapshot," she said with a laugh. We could call it . . ."

"Will you quit bringing up all the bad things I've done!" Emma angrily interrupted her sister. "After all, you're no angel yourself. In fact, you're being a pain!"

"Well, none of these pictures remind you of bad things about me," Ava said smugly.

"That's because you're two-faced," grumbled Emma. "You smile for the camera just to make everybody think you're so sweet and good!"

Mom frowned as she picked up two photos. "In these, I see not one, but two sinful little girls."

"Mom! Those are our baby pictures," objected Ava. "You can't find anything bad about a baby."

Mom smiled. "You look sweet enough," she agreed, "but every single baby is born a sinner-no one is better than anyone else. There's no use arguing about it because the Bible says we're all sinners. "

"Including you, Ava," added Emma. "So there!" She couldn't seem to keep from making that final jab. But then she blushed as she realized her own sinful nature had shown itself again.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever think you aren't as sinful as someone else? Sin is sin, and no sin can enter heaven. But sin can be forgiven through Jesus Christ. Have you admitted your sin and realized that Jesus took the punishment for it? Have you asked for His forgiveness and invited Him into your life? Do so today. (See the ABCs at the end of this book.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
There is none who does good, no, not one. Romans 3:12

[Soldier4Christ]

 How Many Legs on a Sheep?

"Come on, Sam. Try your luck," called Joshua. He and several classmates stood in a group on the playground.

"What are you doing?" asked Sam.

"You have to stand on this chalk mark and throw a nickel as close to that other mark as you can," instructed Joshua. "Whoever gets closest wins all the nickels."

Sam hesitated. That sounded like gambling . . . but it looked like fun. Oh, well. It costs only a nickel, he thought. He shrugged and joined the others. He played three games, losing each time. "I'll win my money back tomorrow," Sam told the other boys. "I'll even get a little more."

Each day the boys played. Sometimes Sam won, but often he lost all he put in. One day he took his lunch money, changed it to nickels, and lost them all.

"I'm starving!" declared Sam when he arrived home. "What can I eat?"

"Why are you so hungry?" asked Mom. "Didn't you eat your lunch?"

"Oh, well, I . . . ah . . . I gave my lunch money to a kid who needed it," said Sam. "I was helping him."

Mom frowned. "Your sister told me you changed your lunch money into nickels at the store this morning. What's going on?" Knowing he couldn't hide much from his mother, Sam reluctantly told her about the game. "That's gambling!" said Mom. "Now you've lied about it, too."

"Not really," protested Sam. "The kids who got the money do need it. It's no big deal. And the game is a game of skill. I'm getting better at it!"

"It may require skill to win, but it's still gambling," said Mom, "and you did lie. Can't you see that, or do you just not want to admit that what you're doing is wrong-that it's sin?" Mom frowned. "Sam, tell me . . . how many legs would a sheep have it you called his tail a leg?"

Sam laughed. "What a funny question, Mom! If you called his tail a leg, a sheep would have five legs."

Mom shook her head. "No, he wouldn't. He would still have four legs," she said. "Calling his tail a leg wouldn't make it a leg. And calling gambling by some other name-like skill-or saying that lying is no big deal, doesn't change the facts. You've been wasting money, and lying, too. That is not pleasing to God."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been trying to cover up a wrong action by calling it a mistake, a bad habit, or some other such thing? All wrong-doing is sin. Calling it something else doesn't change the fact. You'll never get victory over it until you acknowledge your sin, confess it to God, and ask Him to help you overcome it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I will confess my transgressions (sin) to the Lord. Psalm 32:5

[Soldier4Christ]

 Not a Dummy

Gina and her mother stopped at the center square in the mall and watched a ventriloquist perform. "That was fun!" Gina said later. "I know that man was really doing the talking for his dummy, but I couldn't see his lips move."

Mom laughed. "It did seem like the dummy was actually talking," she agreed.

That evening, Gina had a big argument with her brother Lyle. She quickly lost her temper and began calling him names. "You're a pig!" Gina shouted at him.

"Gina!" exclaimed Mom. "Watch your tongue! You know we don't tolerate that kind of name calling."

Gina clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she muttered. But before long, the quarrel started up again. And once again, unkind words escaped from Gina's mouth. "You're such an ugly brat," she told her brother angrily. "An ugly beast, in fact! A nasty, sloppy, messy . . ."

"Gina!" Mom interrupted sternly. "Come here right now and sit on this chair for a while." Embarrassed, Gina did as she was told. "Where are those words coming from?" asked Mom after a while. "Have you forgotten that you're a Christian?"

"No," said Gina, "but they just . . . just slip out. I say them without thinking." She sighed. "I know I shouldn't say mean things, but . . ." She hesitated. "Why doesn't God stop me?" she asked. "I don't understand why He lets bad words come out of my mouth."

"Well," said Mom, "God isn't a big ventriloquist in the sky, you know."

"What do you mean?" asked Gina.

"That man we saw at the mall worked his dummy like a puppet and spoke for it. The dummy had no control," explained Mom. "But God gives us the responsibility to move our own mouths and choose the words we speak."

"So I'm not a dummy, right?" murmured Gina.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," said Lyle, who was listening.

"Watch it, Son!" cautioned Mom. "If you were dummies, you wouldn't be free children of God-serving Him out of willing, obedient hearts. Instead of spouting out whatever words you want to say, you both can choose words that are pleasing to God. Ask Him to help you do that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you careful to say only things that are pleasing to God? He has given you a free will so that you can choose what it is you say. When you say unkind words, you're making a poor choice. Remember that God is willing to help you. He wants to do that, but He will not make you say only good things. When you sincerely ask for His help and rely on Him, He'll help you guard your tongue, even when something annoys you. He'll help you choose to say things that please Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good. Ephesians 4:29

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Comforter

As Sarah lay across the bed, sobbing, a tattered pink blanket was shoved up close to her. "Sissy, you can have my blanket." A tiny hand patted Sarah's head, and she turned and looked into the troubled eyes of her little sister, Amy. "My blanket will make you feel all better," added Amy.

Sarah felt the bed sag as her mother sat down beside her. "Missing Lindy?" asked Mom softly.

Sarah nodded. "She was my best friend. I think about her all the time," she said. "Will I ever quit hurting? It's been three months since she died."

Mom handed her a tissue. "It's always hard to lose someone we love," she said, "especially someone as young as Lindy."

Sarah took the tissue and blew her nose. Then she handed the blanket to Amy. "You can have your blanket now, honey. Thanks."

With a contented sigh, Amy hugged her blanket, and Mom pulled the little girl onto her lap. "That's your comforter, isn't it, honey?" she asked.

"No," said Amy, looking puzzled. "It's my blanket."

Sarah smiled and lifted the edge of the comforter that was spread across her bed. "See this, Amy?" she asked. "This is called a comforter."

Mom looked thoughtful as she spoke. "You know, Sarah, God's given us His Holy Spirit to live within us and be our comforter. He wants to comfort you."

Sarah sat up. "I know, Mom," she said. "When I prayed this morning, God seemed to tell me to remember the good times I had with Lindy. I did, and I thought of the time when both of us trusted in Jesus. I remembered that she's with Him now, and I felt better for a while. I was still sad, but God did comfort me." She gave her mother a little smile. "I guess I should think about more of our fun times and thank God for them."

Amy smiled at her sister, then jumped down and left the room, still clinging to her blanket. Mom smiled. "Some day, Amy won't need her security blanket anymore," she said, "but no matter how old we are, we'll always need our Comforter, God's Holy Spirit. He reminds us of God's promises and care, and He's always with us."

Sarah nodded and got up. "I'm okay now," she said. "God is comforting me."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel sad because someone you love has died? Or has a special friend-or perhaps even a parent-moved away? Have you lost a pet? Are you worried about something? In this world, many things can happen to cause sadness in your heart. If you know Jesus as Savior, you have God's Holy Spirit. Let Him comfort you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

[Soldier4Christ]

 The First Computer

Logan watched as his dad wrote an email on his new computer. "A boy in my class says people don't need religion because we're smarter than God," said Logan. "He says if we can invent computers, we can do anything. I told him he's not as smart as he thinks he is. We'll always need God, won't we, Dad?"

"Yes, we will," answered Dad. He looked thoughtful. "Let's see . . ." He pointed to his computer. "This machine can give us a lot of information," he said. "Do you think it can give us the answer to the question you just asked?"

"Well . . . not unless somebody programmed it to answer that question," replied Logan. "The computer can't think for itself."

Dad rubbed his chin. "So the computer can't be any smarter than the person who programs it, right?"

"Right," agreed Logan.

"Did you know that the first computer was built thousands of years ago?" asked Dad. "It was built into a man named Adam, and that first computer was called a 'brain.' Who programmed it?"

"God did," answered Logan promptly.

"Do think the human brain could be smarter than the one who 'programmed' it?" asked Dad.

"No," Logan said, "that isn't possible."

"No, it isn't," said Dad. "When the mechanical computer was first invented, people called it an electronic brain. They were copying God's idea. God thought of it first, and He made it better than man ever will. The human brain is still much more powerful than any electronic computer."

"Well . . . I guess so, but it does seem like a computer can come up with math calculations faster than any human brain could," said Logan.

"It can process information faster, but only after all that information was programmed in by a human being," Dad pointed out. "And there's another thing. A computer can never have any of the qualities that humans have, like the capacity to love, be kind and forgiving, or feel sympathy for others. The ability to feel emotions is something that only a person can have-and that's much more important than how fast you can come up with a math answer. Don't you agree?" Solemnly, Logan nodded.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that you own one of the most powerful computers in the world? It's your brain, and it's more wonderfully designed than anything man can make. People believe they can do anything with computers, but nothing has been done that God hasn't thought of first.  The truth is, people can't do anything without God. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, Almighty God-and He always will be.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Gift of Me!

Fifty cents is all the money I have left, and that won't buy much of a gift for Mrs. Morgan, thought Angela as she skipped along past Mrs. Morgan's house. It was just the kind of day her friend and neighbor liked-cool air and lots of bright sunshine. But Mrs. Morgan was sick and in the hospital. I hope she has a window in her hospital room, thought Angela.

When her dad came home, Angela asked if he had any idea what gift she could get Mrs. Morgan with only a little money. Dad thought about it. "I don't know," he said. "Do you want me to add a little to what you already have?"

"No-o-o-o. Then it wouldn't really be from me," said Angela thoughtfully. "I want to get something for her with my own money."

"Then how about an advance on your allowance?" suggested Dad.

Angela hesitated. "I guess that would be okay," she said. "I had thought maybe I could earn some money, but Mrs. Morgan is the only one who ever hires me to help her." She looked at her father. "Is there anything I could do for you to earn money?" she asked hopefully.

"Well . . . possibly," replied Dad with a smile. "But you realize, Angela, that there are many ways of giving," he added. "Your gift to Mrs. Morgan doesn't have to be something you buy. The Apostle Paul tells us to 'bear one another's burdens.' What do you think that means?"

Angela thought for a moment. "I think it means we should help others when they're going through hard times," she said.

"Right," agreed Dad. "Maybe your gift to Mrs. Morgan could be something to show her that you're sharing her troubles." He playfully tousled Angela's hair as he went out to the garage. "Think about it."

Bear one another's burdens, Angela said to herself. She could imagine a little of what Mrs. Morgan must be going through. She was a widow with no family living close by. I'll try to go see her every day, decided Angela. And I wonder who will water her house plants and weed her flower garden? As she thought about it, Angela snapped her fingers. I can do those things, too! I think that's the kind of gift Dad meant-a gift of myself. I'll do all I can to help Mrs. Morgan.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know someone who needs help? Maybe you have a friend or neighbor who is sick. Or perhaps you have a grandparent who finds it hard to keep up with the yard work. Maybe you can follow God's instructions to "bear one another's burdens" by raking leaves, shoveling snow, or running errands. Maybe you can take in the mail or take care of the dog for someone. Whatever you do to help will cheer your friend or relative. It will please God, too.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

In God We Trust

But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. Genesis 22:7-8 [NKJV]

Today we are going to play a game. The game is called, "Who do you trust?" I am going to choose one person to stand up here in front of the group. That person will choose someone to come and stand behind him. Then the person in front will close his eyes and fall backward into the arms of the person he has chosen to stand behind him. Now, it is very important for the person who is falling to choose someone that he can trust. You wouldn't want to fall back and find that the person you had trusted to catch you has gone to get a drink, would you? (Depending upon how much time you have, allow one or more children to play the game.)

We have been playing the "Who Do You Trust?" game all of our lives. Don't you remember when you were little and you would jump off the bed into your father's arms? You never worried about whether he would catch you or not. You trusted him completely and knew that he wouldn't let you fall.

The story of Abraham and Isaac is a story about trust. Abraham was Isaac's father. Abraham and his wife Sarah had waited for many years for a son and Abraham loved Isaac more than anything in the world. One day, God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac up on a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. So Abraham took Isaac and they started up the mountain. On the third day, Abraham told Isaac that they were going to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to God.

Isaac said to his father, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the offering?"

Abraham answered Isaac and said, "God will provide the lamb."

They kept walking until they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, then Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac and placed him on the altar. He took a knife and was ready to kill his son when the angel of the Lord called out to him, "Abraham! "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him!" Then Abraham looked and saw a ram caught by his horns in the thicket. So Abraham took the ram and offered it as a sacrifice to God. Abraham had faith in God and trusted in him completely -- and God provided the lamb -- just as Abraham had told Isaac that he would.

When we put our trust in God, He always provides. Who do you trust?

Dear Father, help us, like Abraham, to put our trust in you and have faith that you will provide. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Personal Messages

"Wow! You got a lot of birthday cards, Mom!" exclaimed Cal. He picked up one of them. "There's a note on this one. It says, 'Remember the old shoe and feel young.' What does that mean?"

"That's from my friend Eleanor," said Mom. She chuckled. "It refers to an old joke we have about birthdays."

Before she could explain further, Cal held up another card. "This one says, 'Don't forget to count to three.' I don't get it," he said.

"That's from Uncle Dan and Aunt Betsy," replied Mom, taking the card. "It's another inside joke we share with each other." She looked at a third card. "This one's from my cousin Martha, but . . . the message she wrote doesn't make sense to me. I guess I'll have to call her and ask what it means."

"None of them make any sense to me," said Cal. "I think I'll go outside."

When Mom tucked Cal into bed that evening, she noticed his Bible on the night stand. "What did you learn from your Bible today?" she asked.

"Not much," replied Cal. "I didn't really understand what it was talking about."

 Mom was quiet a moment, thinking.  "Remember the messages people wrote on my birthday cards?" she asked.

Cal nodded. "Yeah, but I couldn't understand them very well."

"Right," said Mom, "but I could because I'm very familiar with the people who wrote them. That kind of thing happens with the Bible, too. People who have known the Lord longer than you-like your parents, your Sunday school teacher, and your pastor-can help you understand it."

"You didn't know what the message on one of those cards meant, though," Cal reminded his mother.

"Good point," agreed Mom. "I'll call my cousin and ask what she meant. We also need to ask God to help us understand what He wants us to learn."

"So . . . I should ask God for help," murmured Cal. Then he grinned, sat up in bed, and reached for his Bible. "And I can ask other Christians for help, too, right? Mom, there are some verses here in Hebrews . . ."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever read a Bible passage and then get confused-unsure of what God wants to teach you from it or what it means? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what God is saying. If you still don't understand, ask for help from mature Christians God has placed in your life.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 Imposters

Laura yawned and idly scanned the pages of the hymn book. Isn't Pastor Carlson ever going to end his message? she wondered. Seems like he's been preaching for hours! When the congregation finally bowed their heads for the closing prayer, Laura continued daydreaming as she swung her legs back and forth.

The next day, Laura went out to the garden and picked spinach for a salad. When she helped wash the leaves a little later, her mom held some of them out to her. "Look, Laura," said Mom. "These aren't spinach leaves."

"They must be!" insisted Laura. "I picked them from the row of spinach."

"They look a lot like the spinach," agreed Mom, "but they're weeds."

"Weeds!" exclaimed Laura. "I picked weeds?"

Mom nodded. "I'm afraid so," she said. She grinned. "I guess we have some imposters in the spinach row."

"What does that mean?" asked Laura. "What are imposters?"

"An imposter takes on someone else's identity," said Mom. "He pretends to be someone he's not."

"I get it," said Laura. "It's as though the weeds are pretending to be spinach, so they're imposters."

"Right," agreed Mom, "and you know what? Imposters in the spinach row remind me that there are also imposters in the church row."

"In church?" asked Laura in surprise. "There are imposters in church?"

"Yes," replied Mom. "I'm afraid quite a few people who have never trusted in Jesus claim to be Christians. They go to church regularly, sing with the congregation, bow their heads to pray, and may even serve as Sunday school teachers or choir members. But since they haven't accepted Jesus as Savior, they're really imposters, don't you think?" 

As Laura thought about her mother's words, she realized that she-Laura-was an imposter, herself. She went to church, and acted like she was saved, but she knew she really wasn't. She needed to do something about that.

"Taking up space in the spinach row didn't turn these weeds into spinach," Mom added, "and taking up space in a church row doesn't make anyone a Christian."

"Mom," began Laura hesitantly, "I think I . . . I might be an imposter."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you an imposter? Do you do the things Christians generally do-attend church, give money, pray before you eat, and, in general, be a nice person? That's good, but although you may look like a Christian to other people, none of those actions will get you to heaven. You need to make a personal decision to trust Jesus. Ask Him right now to forgive your sins and be your Savior. He'll do that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 2:8-9)
By grace you have been saved through faith . . . not of works, lest anyone should boast.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Changeable Lizard

Tyler ate a few small bites of his dinner, but mostly he just pushed the food around on his plate. "You're being awfully quiet tonight, Tyler, and you've hardly touched your dinner," said Mom. Tyler didn't reply. "Did something happen at school today?" added Mom.

"Rex Cofield brought a chameleon to class," replied Tyler quietly.

"What's a ka . . . kamillon?" asked Robby, Tyler's little brother.

"A chameleon is a lizard that can change its color," replied Tyler. "Most people think they do that to blend in with their surroundings."

"That's interesting," responded Mom, "but I'd still like to know why you're so quiet. Did anything else happen?"

Tyler kept his eyes on his plate and slowly nodded his head. "Rex took his chameleon out of the cage and handed it to me," he said. "We . . . we were playing with it when we were supposed to be studying. Miss Evans caught us, and now we have to stay after school every day for a week."

Mom frowned. "This is the second time you've gotten into trouble at school this month," she said. "Last time, Rex was involved, too."

"Well, he always dares me to do stuff," said Tyler.

Dad frowned. "Seems to me you're something like a chameleon," he said.

"Can Tyler change color?" asked Robby, wide-eyed.

"No," said Dad. He glanced at Tyler. "But you change your actions, Son," added Dad. "I've noticed that when you're with friends who are polite and respectful, you are, too. When you're with kids who don't behave as well, your language and attitude reflects that. And as Mom pointed out, when you're with Rex you've been getting into trouble lately."

"You're right, Dad," agreed Tyler. "Rex always gets me into trouble."

"No, Son. You get yourself into trouble," corrected Dad. "Rex apparently doesn't influence you for good, so perhaps you should spend more time with other friends and less time with him. But you can't blame him for what you do. The way you behave is your own responsibility."

Mom nodded. "That's right," she agreed. "Accept responsibility for what you do, and ask the Lord to help you say no when temptation comes your way."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you tempted to do the things your friends are doing-whether  right or wrong?  Don't be changeable, like a chameleon, and don't blame others for the way you behave. Ask God to help you do the things that please Him, no matter where you are or who is with you. Then accept the responsibility for your own behavior.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1:1

[Soldier4Christ]

 Give and Get

"What are you going to do with that?" asked Tiffany when she saw her twin sister slip some money into her Bible one Sunday morning.

"We're taking an offering today for our Sunday school class missions project," Tara told her. "Did you forget?"

"Guess I did," replied Tiffany. But Tara's taking a five dollar bill! I'm not giving that much, she told herself. So after her sister left the room, Tiffany opened the drawer where she kept her money and took out some change. She hesitated. This will do, she decided, and she dropped it into a pocket.

When the family returned from church, Mom looked over at the flowers along the back porch. They were bursting with blooms. "Look at my pansies," she said. "Aren't they pretty?"

"They sure are!" exclaimed Tara. "How can there be so many flowers already? Just a couple of days ago, you picked off the ones that didn't look pretty anymore. And you picked some for little bouquets, too, didn't you?"

"Yes, but pansies need to be picked often," said Mom. "The more they give, the more they get."

"That makes me think of our gifts to the Lord," observed Dad. "When we give generously and cheerfully to Him, He gives back to us."

  Tiffany stooped to pick a pansy as she thought about that. "You mean God will send more money to us if we give lots of money to Him?" she asked.

  Dad smiled. "Well, I can't promise you that," he said, "although it does happen sometimes. But the extra blessings God gives us are often in some form other than money. For example . . . maybe He'll keep the car from breaking down or keep our clothes from wearing out so quickly."

Tara grinned. "Oh, but we like getting new clothes," she teased.

Dad laughed. "But you don't like wearing patched ones," he said. "That could happen, too, you know." Getting serious, he added. "I think the greatest blessing is a sense of joy and peace that comes from giving generously to the Lord."

Tiffany thought about Tara who was often generous and happy. Then she thought about the discontentment she often felt, and she made a decision. I'm going to being like the pansies, she thought. I'm going to give more generously.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you give cheerfully and generously to the Lord-or do you grumble and complain? The Lord loves a cheerful giver (see today's Scripture reading). He'll give you more than you give Him. It may not be money, but it will be whatever blessing you need most.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Luke 6:38

[Soldier4Christ]

 Unexpected Fruit

"Mom! Dad!" called Jayden as he raced into the house. "Come quick! I think a watermelon is growing in the back yard!"

"Really?" asked Dad. "That ground out back is so poor and rocky. I wouldn't think a watermelon could grow there."

"There is one, though," insisted Jayden. "Come and see."

"We'll look later," said Dad. "Right now we have to get to the Rescue Mission or we'll be late for chapel time." Jayden's family had agreed to lead the mission's evening chapel service once a month.

"Oh, all right," said Jayden. He went to his room and got his trumpet and sheet music for the number he would be playing at the mission.

On the way home a couple of hours later, they discussed the service. "I don't think anyone was paying attention today," said Jayden. "I think it was a waste of time for us to go there."

"Sharing the Gospel is never a waste of time," said Mom. "Someone who doesn't seem interested may actually be ready to accept the Lord."

As soon as they reached home, Jayden persuaded his parents to go with him to look at the watermelon plant. Sure enough, there was a vine with one very small watermelon on it. "This must have grown from some seeds we threw out here last year," said Jayden.

"I think you're right," agreed Mom. "I've thought about planting a garden back here, but I didn't think this soil was good for growing anything. I guess I was wrong. It looks like one of those seeds fell on ground that was just right for watermelons. If it keeps growing, we'll get some fruit we didn't expect."

"We scattered another kind of seed today-the seed of God's Word," said Dad. "Like you said, Jayden, no one at the mission seemed to pay much attention, but we don't know the condition of the hearts of those people. It's possible that the seed we planted there will bring unexpected fruit, too."

"You mean some of those people might still accept Jesus because of what they heard today?" asked Jayden.

"That could happen," answered Dad. "We pray it will."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel as though it's useless to share the Gospel-especially with people who don't seem interested? After telling the parable of the Sower (see today's Scripture), Jesus explains that the seed of God's Word falls on many different kinds of "soil" in people's hearts. You can't see what kind of "heart soil" anyone has. It's your responsibility to simply keep on sharing the Gospel. You may be speaking to someone whose heart is getting ready to accept Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced. Mark 4:8

[Soldier4Christ]

 Against the Current

"Push harder!" called Seth. He and his friends ran through the water, circling around the edge of the family's above-the-ground swimming pool. "The faster we move in this direction the stronger the water will whirl," he added. A few seconds later, he called, "Okay! Turn around!" Quickly the kids faced the opposite direction, but most couldn't move against the current they had created.

"I can't fight it," said Hank with a laugh. He let the water carry him along.

When the current had slowed, Seth looked at his dad. "That's fun," said Seth. "Can we do it again?"

Dad shook his head. "Not today," he replied. "I heard of a pool that split after several whirlpools in one day. I'd rather not take any chances with ours."

After the other boys left, Seth looked thoughtfully at his dad. "This was a lot of fun, and I think I'm glad you didn't let me hang around at the mall today with those other guys from school," said Seth. "I probably would have spent a pocket full of quarters in the game alley. Here, I had fun, and I have my money, too."

"It could have cost more than money to be with those boys," said Dad.

"Oh, Dad," protested Seth defensively, "I wouldn't have done anything bad."

"I'm sure you wouldn't intend to," said Dad, "but if you hang around guys who use filthy language, make rude jokes and comments, spend too much money, or sneak cigarettes, you might find yourself picking up some of their habits just to fit in."

"Aw, Dad," grumbled Seth.

"After circling in the pool in one direction today, what happened when you tried to go the other way?" asked Dad.

"We could hardly move," replied Seth. "The current was too strong."

"That's right," agreed Dad. "It was easier to go with the current than to buck against it, wasn't it? It works that way with friendships, too. If you hang around with boys who do wrong things, it's much easier to let yourself go their way than to turn back and go God's way. It becomes hard to do the right things." Dad put an arm around Seth. "Go God's way, Son," he added. "You'll always be glad you did."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
In what direction are you going-what "current" carries you along? Is it one that's going God's way so that it's okay to "go with the flow" and do the things your companions do? Or do the kids you like to hang with do whatever they want, whether it's right or not? Do you sometimes feel like you should turn back and not join in their activities? Then perhaps you're spending too much time with the wrong crowd. God wants you to walk only in one direction-and that's with Him.


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Reason to Share

Amanda had been very sad ever since the doctor said her little brother's allergies were caused by her kitten. Now they needed to find a new home for Amanda's pet, and she and her family prayed about it often. "I'm worried about Shadow," Amanda told her friends one day. "If we don't find someone to take her soon, Dad says he'll have to take her to the humane society and let them find a home for her."

That afternoon, the elderly lady next door told Amanda's family that she had decided she'd like to take the kitten! "What an answer to prayer!" exclaimed Mom. And in their prayer time that evening, they thanked God for providing a home for Shadow-one where Amanda could see her every day.

The next day, Amanda eagerly told her friends that the kitten had a new home and wouldn't be going to the humane society. "I think my friends were almost as glad about Shadow as I was," she happily told her mother that evening.

"Good! Did you tell them it was an answer to prayer?" asked Mom.

"Well . . . not really," said Amanda.

"Do you remember the testimony Mr. Richards gave at church last Sunday night?" asked Mom thoughtfully.

"Sure," said Amanda. "He said he did a lot of very bad things for a long time before he accepted Jesus as his Savior. He told us how God had really changed his life and turned it around."

"Right," said Mom, "and I was blessed and encouraged by that, weren't you?" Amanda nodded. "I'm sure the entire congregation was blessed by his testimony," continued Mom. "That's an example of why it's good to share the things God does for us. Christians are encouraged when they hear how God works, and it's a good testimony to unbelievers. God is glorified when we tell other people how He has answered prayer."

"Even about little things, like a home for Shadow?" asked Amanda.

"Maybe especially about little things," replied Mom, "because those are the kinds of things we all deal with every day. Let's be sure to thank God for what He does for us, and ask Him to help us share those blessings with our friends."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you tell others of God's answers to your prayers? Or do you just accept the answers He sends and often forget that you've even prayed about those things? Do you keep track of what you've prayed for and of how God answered? Why not try that? Take a little notebook or just a piece of paper and write down special things you're praying for. When you recognize that God has answered your prayer, write that down, too. Then share the answer with someone. Don't hide God's blessings.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. Psalm 9:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Come to Me

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Are you in pretty good shape? Are you pretty strong? Do you exercise regularly? I have decided that I need to get in better shape, so one day last week I went to the gym to work out. There were a lot of others there working out too. Some were riding exercise bicycles and some were lifting weights. As I watched the weightlifters, I noticed that some of them were working in pairs. One of them would lie down on the bench to lift the weights while the other would stand near the lifter's head. I learned that the person standing near the lifter's head is called the spotter.

The spotter stands near the lifter's head just in case the lifter gets in trouble and needs some help. Sometimes, the spotter doesn't do anything at all. Just knowing that the spotter is there is enough to give the lifter the confidence needed to lift the weights.

At other times, the spotter calls out words of encouragement to the lifter. "Come on, you can do it! You can do it! Push! Push!" he calls out. Those words of encouragement are just what the lifter needs to give him the strength to lift the weights.

As more and more weights are added, the bar becomes very heavy and the lifter becomes very tired. When the weight gets to be more than the lifter can handle, the spotter reaches in and helps the lifter lift the weights.

As I watched these weightlifters, it occurred to me that it was a good picture of the way our Heavenly Father helps us to bear the burdens we face in our daily life. There are some days that things seem to be pretty easy. Oh, we may struggle a little bit as we face a few obstacles along the way, but just knowing that God is with us gives us the confidence we need to overcome those obstacles.

There are some days that are more difficult and we may need more encouragement. We find that encouragement in God's Word. "Don't be afraid, I am with you." (Gen.26:24) "I'll give you strength." (Psalm 28:7) "I'm with you in times of trouble." (Psalm 34:6) These words of encouragement are just what we need to face the hard times that may come our way.

Do you ever have a day when the weight is more than you can handle? Of course you do. We all have days like that, don't we? It is good to know that when things are more than we can bear, God is there! Listen to these words that Jesus spoke, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." On those really hard days, Jesus steps in and lifts our burden. With him, our burdens are lighter.

Father, sometimes life is hard. We are thankful that you are always there to help us, to give us strength, to encourage us, and to lighten our load. Amen.