Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Hide and Seek

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. Psalm 139:11-12 (NLT)

Whenever I see a tin can like this one, it brings back memories of my childhood days when we played a game called "Kick the Can." Actually, it was just a way to add some excitement to the old game of "Hide and Seek." This is how the game is played: The person who is "it" stands beside the tin can, closes his eyes, and counts to fifty while everyone else hides. Then, the person who is "it" goes searching and tries to find everybody. Whenever a person is found, he races back to the home base and tries to kick the can before the one who is "it" tags them. Doesn't that sound like fun? Even if you have never played "Kick the Can," I am sure you have played "Hide and Seek."

Do you think anyone ever tries to play "Hide and Seek" with God? Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve? After they had eaten the fruit that God had told them not to eat, they heard God walking in the garden. They were ashamed of what they had done and didn't want God to find them. What did they do? They ran and hid among the trees. Did God find them? Sure he did. You can't hide from God.

Do you remember the story of Jonah? God told him to go to Nineveh and tell the people there to repent of their sin. What did Jonah do? He ran from God and tried to hide. Did God find him? He sure did! And you will remember that Jonah found himself... in the belly of a great fish!

The Bible tells us that God chose David to be the king of Israel because he was "a man after God's own heart." (Acts 13:22) But even David did things that did not please God. There were probably times when David wished he could hide from God, but he knew it was impossible. Listen to the words of David. (Psalm 139:1-12 - NLT)

    O Lord, you have examined my heart
          and know everything about me.
    You know when I sit down or stand up.
          You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
    You see me when I travel
          and when I rest at home.
          You know everything I do.
    You know what I am going to say
          even before I say it, Lord.
    You go before me and follow me.
          You place your hand of blessing on my head.
    Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
          too great for me to understand!

    I can never escape from your Spirit!
          I can never get away from your presence!
    If I go up to heaven, you are there;
          if I go down to the grave, you are there.
    If I ride the wings of the morning,
          if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
    even there your hand will guide me,
          and your strength will support me.
    I could ask the darkness to hide me
          and the light around me to become night—
          but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
    To you the night shines as bright as day.
          Darkness and light are the same to you.

We can't hide from God. He knows all about us. He knows what we are going to say before we say it and what we are going to do before we do it. It is foolish to play "Hide and Seek" with God. Besides, the reason God comes seeking is because he loves us and wants to bless us. Why would we want to hide from his blessing?

Father, we are thankful that even though you know everything about us, you love us anyway. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Teaching through Trials

"Hold still, Tippy," commanded Kurt. "I know you don't like this, but you have to be on a leash when we take a walk." The impatient little dog wriggled and squirmed, and at last Kurt said, "Okay, you're ready. Let's go."

As they walked along, Tippy kept pulling on his leash, wanting to dash off after a butterfly or to investigate a rustling in the bushes. He tried to run over to a neighbor who was working in his yard. "Hi, Mr. Bob," called Kurt.

"Hi, Kurt," said Mr. Bob. "How are things going? You've got a lively dog there."

"I know," agreed Kurt. He walked over to talk with Mr. Bob. "Grandma's sick again," Kurt told him with a sigh, "and last night my bike was stolen. It seems like everything is going wrong for me." He paused, then added, "I sometimes wonder if God even cares."

As Kurt spoke, Tippy tugged hard on his leash. Kurt picked up his dog and held him in his arms. "Tippy doesn't like that leash, does he?" asked Mr. Bob. "Why don't you just let him roam free?"

Kurt gave the puppy a squeeze. "If he ran free, he might get run over by a car or be attacked by a big dog or something," he said. "You know that."

"That's true," agreed Mr. Bob, "so you keep him on a leash whether he likes it or not. Oh, well. At least he likes all the other things you do, doesn't he? Like giving him a bath or taking him to the vet for shots? Or how about when you scold him? Does he like that?" Kurt managed a little smile and shook his head. "Tippy might think you're being mean to him," continued Mr. Bob "but you really do those things because you love him, right?"

"Sure," agreed Kurt. "I do them to keep him safe and to train him."

"That's why God allows trials in your life," said Mr. Bob. "He loves you far more than you love Tippy, and He knows what's best for you. Learn from the experiences you go through, and trust the Lord, knowing He cares for you."

Just then Tippy reached up and nuzzled Kurt's cheek. "You can see Tippy loves you, even though you don't always treat him the way he'd like you to," said Mr. Bob. "Respond to God in the same way-show that you love Him, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder why God has allowed some trial or problem in your life? God doesn't remove all the so-called "bad" things from your life after you trust in Jesus as Savior. You still experience many of life's hardships, just like everyone else does, but He's with you to help you through them. Learn all you can from your troubles, and let them make you a stronger Christian. Thank God for His great love for you and trust Him to help you as He teaches you important lessons in life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me . . . Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7

[Soldier4Christ]

 Stolen Seed

A-choo! Just as Miss Lori began the lesson, Alan sneezed loudly, and the other children in his Sunday school class giggled. Miss Lori paused. When she started to speak once more . . . A-choo! Everyone laughed-even Miss Lori. But then, some kids faked coughs and sneezes, and soon the class was in an uproar.

Miss Lori called the class to order. "It looks like the thief is here today," she said after the kids had settled down. She ignored the questioning glances as she directed them to open their Bibles to the fourth chapter of Mark. Together they read the parable of the sower.

"God's Word is like seed," said Miss Lori. "Our hearts are like soil. Let's think about the first kind of soil described here-the first condition of the heart. It's called the 'wayside.' When the seed of God's Word lands on this kind of soil, what happens to it? Can you tell us, William?"

"Satan quickly steals it before it can grow," William replied.

Miss Lori nodded. "Yes, and he uses many things that, like thieves, snatch the seed away. For example, this morning a thief came disguised as a sneeze. Alan couldn't help it, but his sneezing took our minds off our lesson, and I think maybe Satan hoped to keep our minds occupied with such things," said Miss Lori. "Can any of you think of other thieves Satan might use to steal the seed of God's Word?"

 Kara raised her hand. "In church services, he might use hiccups or crying babies," she suggested.

"Or sleepiness," put in Stephen.

"The thief could be something we've read or seen on TV," suggested Patty. "That might make us think about silly or bad things instead of the lesson or sermon."

"How about when we have devotions at home?" asked Alan. "It seems like we're always interrupted by the phone or doorbell during family devotions."

Miss Lori nodded. "I can see that you're doing some good thinking," she said. "And now that we've been alerted to these kinds of distractions, let's all be on guard so we don't allow ourselves to pay attention to such things and miss what God wants to teach us from His Word."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you try hard to keep your mind on God's Word when it's read or taught? Are you careful to avoid doing things that might keep others from hearing what God has to say? You generally can't help sneezing or coughing, but don't deliberately snicker or whisper or distract those around you. Don't let Satan's thieves steal God's Word from your heart or use you to steal God's Word from others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The thief does not come except to . . . destroy. I have come that they may have life. John 10:10

[Soldier4Christ]

 Not Angels, but Lights

"Mom's calling," said Ruth as she and her sister Sarah played with neighbor kids in the common area of their apartment complex.

Sarah looked at her watch. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "It's suppertime already!" The girls told their friends good-bye and hurried to their apartment.

"Guess what!" said Mom as they talked about their day. "I got a job offer."

Dad smiled. "I bet someone asked you to do day care for their kids," he said.

Mom laughed. "You're right. I was out talking with other moms in our complex today. Melissa, in apartment three, asked if I'd like to watch Tanya and Harley when she goes back to work on Mondays and Fridays."

Ruth looked surprised. "Dad, how did you know that was what someone wanted Mom to do?" she asked.

"Well, it's not the first time that's happened," replied Dad. "The Petersons wanted Mom to take care of their son one weekend when they had to be away, remember? And a few weeks ago, the librarian at your school asked Mom to babysit for a couple of days."

Sarah looked puzzled. "That's so weird. It's not like Mom has a sign up saying 'I'll babysit.' In fact, she doesn't take care of any babies regularly!"

Mom smiled. "No, but they know I'm a stay-at-home mom, so maybe they figure I'd like to earn a little money," she said. "And I think another reason they like to have me is because of you guys."

"Us? I don't get it," said Ruth.

Mom smiled, "I think they look at you and say to themselves, 'Those are nice kids! I could trust my children to be in that home. I'll see if their mother would like to work for me.'"

Sarah grinned. "We're just such angels," she joked.

Dad laughed. "Not quite. I've seen your halos slip off and hit the floor while you argued or didn't obey right away. You're not angels, but you are lights. The Bible says Christians are to be lights in a dark world. People should be able to notice that we're different, and hopefully they'll be pointed to God."

"So thanks, girls," added Mom, "for being lights in our neighborhood. Our neighbors know us-and they know we're Christians. Let's pray that our lives will make them want to know our God, too!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your actions cause people to notice that you're different-different from the world in general? You may not be an angel, but if you've trusted Jesus as your Savior, your words, your actions, and your attitudes should shine as a light, pointing others to Him. What can you do to be a light in your school and neighborhood?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Philippians 2:14-15)
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may . . . shine as lights in the world.

[Soldier4Christ]

 What's in the Well

"Your turn to pray, Carlos," said Maria when their family sat down to eat.

"Okay," agreed Carlos. He bowed his head. "Thank you, God," he began, "for the good day we've had and for the good food You've given us . . ."

When Carlos looked up a moment later, he groaned. "Oh, no! Not broccoli again!" he exclaimed. "I hate broccoli-and I don't like chicken fixed like that!" But Carlos knew he had to eat some, so he took a small portion from each dish. "This weather is way too hot," he complained between bites.

Dad frowned. "Carlos, do you think God heard your prayer tonight?" he asked.

Carlos looked at Dad in surprise. "Of course," he replied.

"And does He hear your grumbling, too?" asked Dad.

Carlos looked down at his plate. "I guess so," he admitted slowly.

Dad nodded. "I think so, too," he said. "After dinner, we'll go out to the old well. I think it has something to teach you."

When they arrived at the well a short time later, Carlos watched as Dad let down a bucket and hauled up some water. "Are we going to water the garden?" asked Carlos.

Dad shook his head and held out the bucket. "Here . . . have a drink," he invited.

"A drink! Dad, you know the water in this well is filthy," protested Carlos.

"True," said Dad, "but you won't drink the water in the well. You'll drink the water in the bucket."

Carlos made a face. "If the water in the well isn't good, the water in the bucket won't be good, either," he said. "It's the same thing."

Dad nodded. "Right again," he agreed. "What's in the well comes up in the bucket. That's like something Jesus taught. He said, 'Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.' Think about your prayer tonight, Carlos-and about what you said after you prayed. You thanked God and then griped about the very things you thanked Him for. I've noticed that attitude more often lately, so I'm wondering . . . What is it that's really in your heart?"

Carlos looked at the stuff floating on the water in the bucket, and he knew his grumbling attitude was like that rubbish. "I . . . I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'll tell God I'm sorry, too, and ask for His help in doing better."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is in your heart-thankfulness for all you have, or dissatisfaction? Sure, things may happen that you don't like. There are probably some things you wish you could have. But think about the many blessings God has given you. Think about all the good things He does for you each day. Then instead of complaining, thank Him for His goodness to you. An attitude of continual thanksgiving will help you develop a truly thankful heart.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing . . . these things ought not to be so. James 3:10

[Soldier4Christ]

 Twenty-Twenty Vision

"The missionary speaker we had in Sunday school today was so interesting!" Cheryl told her mother as they arrived home from church one Sunday. "I think missionaries have such an exciting life-traveling far away and seeing strange places and different people. And they get to tell the Gospel to people who've never heard it before. That would be special! Maybe I'll be a missionary some day. I hope God calls me to Japan." Mom smiled and went to answer the phone.

After a moment, Mom returned. "Cheryl," she said, holding her hand over the mouthpiece, "Mrs. Fisher would like you to go with her tomorrow afternoon to visit some girls who have just moved into our neighborhood."

"Tomorrow? Do I have to?" asked Cheryl with a frown. "Ella and I want to go roller-blading tomorrow. Besides, I wouldn't know what to say to those kids."

Mom spoke into the phone. "Cheryl will call you later, Mrs. Fisher," she said. After hanging up the phone, she turned to her daughter. "Do you remember what the optometrist said when you had your eye examination a week ago?"

"Sure." Cheryl nodded, wondering why Mom was asking about that. "He said I have 20/20 vision, and that means I have perfect eyesight. At twenty feet I can see exactly what our eyes are supposed to see from that distance."

"Right," said Mom, "and I'm glad you have 20/20 vision in your eyes. But when it comes to your 'missionary vision,' it seems to me that you're quite farsighted. A person whose eyes are farsighted can see things in the distance, but they can't see objects up close very well. You're apparently excited at the idea of going far away to tell people about Jesus, but you don't seem to be interested in the girls nearby-right in the next block. If you don't want to witness here, what makes you think you'd want to witness if you went far away?"

Cheryl was startled. "I . . . I . . . You're right," she admitted. "I should go with Mrs. Fisher to see those new kids. I'll call her right now."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you interested in taking the Gospel to a far away place someday? That's great! Are you also concerned about the people nearby-people all around you who are facing an eternity in hell if they don't accept Jesus as Savior? Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see those you should reach here and now. Get a 20/20 missionary vision.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35

[Soldier4Christ]

 Your Achilles' Heel

"Today my teacher started to tell us a Greek myth. It's about a warrior called Achilles," Ryan told his parents, "but the bell rang before Mr. Simpson could finish the story. He said he'd tell us the rest of it tomorrow."

"Tell it to me, Davie," begged little Benji eagerly.

"Okay, Benji, but remember, it's a myth-not a true story," warned Ryan. "According to the myth, Achilles was dipped in a magic river when he was a baby, and he became in-in-in . . ." Ryan faltered, frowned, and thought hard. Then . . . "Invulnerable!" he said triumphantly.

"What does that big word mean?" asked Benji at once.

"It means he couldn't be harmed," explained Ryan. "The magic river was supposed to make Achilles so strong and mighty and powerful that no weapon could ever hurt him." Ryan grinned. "I'd like to be like Achilles," he added, "so no one would ever be able to fight me and win!"

"Ah, but Mr. Simpson didn't finish the story," Dad reminded Ryan. "Achilles wasn't as invulnerable as you seem to think, Son. When his mother dipped him into the river, she had to hold on to him, right? So she grasped him by his heel. Since his heel didn't touch the water, it wasn't invulnerable like the rest of his body. I'm sure Mr. Simpson will tell you that part tomorrow."

"Oh, well," said Ryan, "that wouldn't be so bad. His heel was only a very small spot."

"True," said Dad, "but the story says Achilles died after being shot in the heel by a poisoned arrow. The term 'Achilles' heel' is used now to describe the weak or vulnerable spot in a person's life."

"Wow!" exclaimed Ryan. "Too bad his heel wasn't dipped, too."

"You know, Ryan, it's possible for a Christian to think of himself as a 'spiritual Achilles,'" said Dad. "We may think we're so good and honest that Satan can't touch us. But he always seems to find our weak points-our 'Achilles' heel'-and he attacks us there. We need God's protection and strength in areas where we are weak."

Ryan was thoughtful. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll try to remember that." He glanced at his brother. "You remember it, too, Benji," he added with a grin.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What's your "Achilles' heel"? Is it pride? A tendency to lie? Greed? A hot temper? A desire to be popular? You may pride yourself on being a "good" Christian, but be careful! You also have weaknesses-weak points that Satan loves to take advantage of. Be honest with yourself. Ask God to show you your areas of weakness and to help you guard against temptation in those areas.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Spider Bite

Amy slumped in her chair, a sour look on her face. "Why can't I go see the movie with Amber?" she asked. "Everybody's talking about it, and all my friends say it's really funny." Amy knew the movie she wanted to see was reported to have some very bad language. From the reviews, it was obvious that it made light of some moral issues. But it was also reported to have many very comical lines. "I just don't see what the big deal is," added Amy. "That stuff won't affect me. Besides, I promise I'll close my eyes if the scenes are really bad!"

After a moment of thought, her father began rolling up the sleeve of his shirt, and Amy saw the big, ugly scar close to his elbow. He pointed to it and asked, "Do you remember how I got this?" Amy had heard the story before, but she just shrugged. "It was caused several years ago by a bite from a poisonous spider," continued Dad. "A spider bite is a small thing-so small that I didn't pay attention to it when it happened. After a couple of days, it started to swell, and the flesh around the bite literally rotted and fell away. Now I have this big scar, and you know something else? I don't have any feeling there at all. The spider's poison killed the nerves around the bite."

"But what does that have to do with going to a movie?" asked Amy, still pouting.

"Amy, you already know that movie is not pleasing to God," replied Dad. "We've read that it has bad language. And there are scenes of immoral behavior and other sinful actions. In general, it's dishonoring to God."

"But I wouldn't look at those scenes or pay attention to the language," said Amy. "I'd just close my eyes and my . . ." She stopped, knowing she couldn't close her ears.

"Choosing to expose yourself to those things would be wrong," insisted Dad. "You think you can shut it out so it wouldn't affect you, but you can't. Sin is like a spider's poison. It may not seem like much of anything at first, but in the end it's like a dreadful scar on your life and often destroys your sensitivity toward the things of God. I don't want that to happen to you. Is it what you want, honey?"

Slowly Amy shook her head. She hated to admit it, but she knew her dad was right. "No," she said. "I'd better call Amber and tell her I can't go."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you avoid sinful things? Or do you think you can ignore them so they won't have any long-lasting effect on you? Stop fooling yourself! All sin is dangerous and harmful-so harmful that the only cure for it was the death of the Son of God. If you have been playing with sin, ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you. Ask Him to help you avoid situations that expose you to sinful things. Separate yourself from them as much as possible.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Come out from among themÊand be separate," says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:17

[Soldier4Christ]

The Price Is Right

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" Matthew 13:45-46 [NIV]

There is a television show called "The Price Is Right." Have you ever seen it? It has been on television for more than fifty years! The contestants on the show are shown an item and then they try to guess how much the item costs. The one who guesses closest to the actual price without going over wins the prize. I thought it would be fun to play "The Price Is Right." I brought a package of cookies. Oreo cookies! Yum, yum! On the back of the package there is a tag with the price of the cookies. We will see how close you can come to guessing the price without going over the correct price.

If you think that the price of this package of cookies is MORE than $4.00, raise your hand. No, if you raised your hand, you are out of the game because these cookies do not cost more than $4.00.

If you think the price of this package of cookies is LESS than $2.00, raise your hand. If you raised your hand, you are out of the game because these cookies cost more than $2.00.

If you think the price of these cookies is MORE than $3.00, raise your hand. If you raised your hand, you are still in the game. This package of cookies does cost more than $3.00.

Next, I am going to call out a price, If I call out the price that you think is the right price of the cookies, raise your hand.

$3.39 - No, you're out of the game.

$3.49 - No, you're out of the game.

$3.59 - No! You're out!

$3.69 - Yes! These cookies cost $3.69. If your hand is up, you are a winner! You have won the cookies, but I am sure that you will want to share them with the other children when our Bible story is over.

These cookies are good, but $3.69 is a lot of money for a package of cookies, isn't it? Are they worth it? Perhaps there is another package of cookies that would be just as good for less money. Every day, we have to make choices about the value of things. We ask ourselves, "How much am I willing to pay?"

Jesus once told a story about a man who found a treasure which someone had hidden in a field. He was so happy that he immediately went and sold everything he had and bought the field so that the treasure would be his. (Matthew 13:44)

Jesus told about another man who went in search of fine pearls. When he found a pearl that he thought was the very best, he sold everything that he had so that he could buy the pearl. (Matthew 13:45-46)

These men both found something that they thought was worth giving everything they owned so that they could have it. Do you know what this thing was that Jesus was talking about? He wasn't talking about buried treasure or beautiful pearls, he was talking about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is the greatest treasure one could ever desire. It is more precious than silver, gold, or jewels. That is why Jesus calls us to give up all that we have and follow him. Is that too great a price? I don't think so. In fact, I would say, "The Price Is Right!"

Father, nothing we have can compare to life in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Appointment Book

Miranda hung up the phone with a sigh. "Either I'm getting forgetful, or Jennifer is," she told her mother. "I thought I was supposed to meet her at four o'clock, but she says we agreed on three o'clock. I feel bad-this is the second time I've kept her waiting."

"Sounds like you ought to write things down," suggested Mom. "I have something that might help you." She took a small book from a shelf and handed it to Miranda.

"An appointment book-this is perfect!" exclaimed Miranda. After that day, she enjoyed recording her appointments, and she kept every one.

"Pastor's sermon today was kind of scary," said Miranda as they drove home one Sunday. "You know-the things he said about hell? It would be awful to go there!"

"Yes, it would," replied Dad, "but Christians don't have to be afraid, because they won't go there. How about you, honey? Have you trusted Jesus to save you? You've never really told us that you have."

Miranda shrugged. "Well, I'm real young yet," she said. "I have plenty of time."

"How do you know that?" asked Mom. "I was just thinking about your appointment book-how you set appointments, and then you keep them. Do you know that God sets appointments, too?"

"He does?" asked Miranda. "What kind?"

"A verse in the Bible says it's 'appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,'" explained Mom. "For some people, this 'appointment' comes after a long life, but for others it comes early. Even babies die sometimes. The appointment to meet God may come at any moment."

"You're saying I might die young-any day now!" exclaimed Miranda.

"We hope not, but it is possible. Any one of us could die at any time," said Dad. "Of course, our appointment may not come through death. God has also set a time for Jesus to return to earth and take believers to heaven to live with Him forever. Only God knows His time schedule. He says, 'Now is the day of salvation.' He's simply telling us to be ready." Miranda was thoughtful. She knew it was time to make this important decision for Christ.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you ready if this is the day God has set for your appointment to meet Him? That appointment may not be for a long time from now. On the other hand, it could be today-either by death or by Jesus' return. Don't put off your decision to be saved. You need to be ready to meet God at any time.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Auction

"Well, kids, how did you like the auction?" asked Dad as the family headed for home after attending a community auction. It had been a first-time experience for Andy and Erica, and each had been given some money to spend.

"It was fun," replied Andy enthusiastically, "only . . . well, I wish I hadn't spent my money on that sausage stuffer. What will I do with it?"

Dad laughed. "I wondered that myself," he said, "but we had said you could spend your 'auction allowance' any way you wanted to."

"I really wanted the music box," said Erica wistfully, "but after I bought those books, my money was gone."

"One thing we learn at auctions is that we need to think before making a bid," observed Dad, "and I hope you'll apply that lesson to your life in general. Think before you act. Decide what your priorities are and act accordingly."

"Our what?" asked Erica.

"Priorities," said Dad. "The word 'prior' means 'before,' so your priorities are the things you put first in your life."

"If you had decided to make the music box your priority when it came to buying something at the auction, you would have saved your money to buy that," said Mom.

"And I should have made something other than that sausage stuffer my priority," said Andy. "It's not something I really want-I just thought it was interesting. Then when someone else started bidding, I got excited and started bidding, too. I guess I just didn't think."

Dad nodded. "Well, getting involved in the bidding and buying something you don't really want at the auction isn't so serious," he said, "but when we make bad choices in certain other areas of our lives, it can be very serious. Each day we choose between good or bad, better or best, pleasing God or pleasing people. If we listen to the wrong advice or make decisions too hastily, we sometimes make mistakes and then spend years paying for them-not with money, but with unhappiness and guilt."

"Remember that priorities are important," added Mom. "Think about it carefully, kids. What do you put first in life?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What is your priority-what do you want most in your life? Do you want to have a lot of money some day? A big house, speedy car, beautiful clothes, expensive jewelry? How about right now? Do you want to be popular? To have the right kind of clothes and hair cut? The best ipods and video games? To be a good athlete? God tells you what your priority should be-both now and later in life. (See today's verse.) Put Him first. He'll bless you when you do that.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

[Soldier4Christ]

 Really Forgiven

Julia, who was helping Mrs. Burns with her housework, was almost finished. "I need to get to the bank before it closes," Mrs. Burns told her. "Do you think you could finish alone here and then lock the door when you leave?"

"Sure," said Julia. "No problem." So Mrs. Burn said goodbye and left.

Julia hummed as she dusted, but suddenly . . . CRASH! She stared in dismay at the pieces of blue glass on the floor. She had accidentally knocked a vase from a dresser in the guest room. Oh, no! thought Julia as her eyes filled with tears. What will Mrs. Burns think when she gets back and finds out? She sighed as she picked up the pieces of broken glass. Before leaving, she wrote a note, telling Mrs. Burns about the broken vase and saying she would pay for a new one.

"You did the right thing," said her mother when she heard what had happened.

That evening, Mrs. Burns called. "Thanks for leaving the note," she said, "but don't worry about paying for the vase. I'll never miss it!" Julia felt much better, but she still dreaded the time she'd have to actually face Mrs. Burns. Since she goes to our church, I'll see her on Sunday, thought Julia with a sigh.

Sunday arrived, and Julia nervously approached Mrs. Burns. "You're sure I don't owe you anything?" asked Julia. Her voice trembled slightly. "For the vase I broke?" she added.

"The vase?" asked Mrs. Burns absentmindedly. "Oh, yes . . . the vase." She shook her head and smiled at Julia. "I had forgotten about it," she said. "You should forget it, too." She patted Julia's arm. "Can you come and help me next Friday, Julia? I'll be having guests next weekend, and I could use some help."

Back home, Julia told her mother what Mrs. Burns had said. "It took her a minute to realize what I was talking about," said Julia. "I think she really had forgotten all about it. And she wants me to work for her again next Friday!"

Mom smiled. "The vase may have been valuable-who knows? But Mrs. Burns forgave you, and perhaps she made a decision not to remember. So she forgot about it. That's a good example of the way God forgives us. When we confess our sin, He forgives it and forgets it, too! He'll never bring it up again. We should accept His forgiveness and go on serving Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you continue to feel bad about something you did wrong-even after you have confessed it to God and asked Him to forgive you? The Bible says He'll remove your sin and "remember it no more." Instead of going over and over what you did wrong, believe what God says. Accept His forgiveness and thank Him for it. He truly is a wonderful God!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 8:12

[Soldier4Christ]

 Perfect for the Job

Garret and his grandfather fumbled through items on the table at a garage sale. Suddenly, Grandpa whistled and held up a pair of old, worn boots. "Will you look at these beauties!" he exclaimed. "Just what I need!"

Garret frowned. "Those boots sh-should be d-dumped," he said. "They aren't any g-good."

Grandpa smiled. "They're perfect for working in the garden after a rain!" he declared. "I wonder how much they cost." He turned the boots around in his hands, then looked around the garage for assistance. "Young lady, do you know the price of these boots?" he asked a girl who was in a wheelchair near the door.

"Twenty-five cents," replied the girl. The voice sounded familiar to Garret. He turned to look, and he saw that she was the new girl in his class at school. She smiled and raised her hand. Garret quickly waved back.

"Do you know her?" asked Grandpa.

"Th-that's Ginny. Sh-she's new. She must l-live here," replied Garret.

"Where did she move from?" Grandpa asked, inspecting his garage sale find.

"I d-don't know," said Garret. "I haven't t-talked to her. I'm n-no good at t-talking."

"Is that so?" Grandpa asked. He dug deep into his pocket, pulling out a shiny quarter.

"G-Grandpa," said Garret, "g-get new boots for the g-garden. Those old th-things aren't any g-good!"

"Sure they are," said Grandpa. "They're just right." He thought for a moment. "Garret," he said, "that young lady-Ginny-needs someone to be a friend to her at school, and I know who can do it! Just like these boots are perfect for me, you're perfect for that job." Grandpa held up a hand as Garret was about to protest. "Remember Moses? He thought He couldn't talk good, either," said Grandpa, "but God was there to help him. And then there was the Apostle Paul. He said he didn't have 'excellence of speech,' but look how God used him! God often uses what we may consider useless. He wants you to replace your fear with trust. Ask Him to help you."

Garret sighed. "B-but I s-still don't know what to s-say," he murmured.

"Start with simply saying hi," said Grandpa, "and let God take it from there."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a problem? Is there a physical problem that you think would interfere with a friendship or with some task? Or do you just get nervous-afraid you won't be liked? Do you worry about speaking to others because you don't know what to say? Ask God to give you the courage to speak up for Him. Trust Him to help you. He has made you perfect for whatever job He has for you!


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

[Soldier4Christ]

 Color Blind

As Brett waited to see what art project the class would be doing, he looked at the variety of colored cards resting on a ledge at the front of the room. Mrs. Lane, the art teacher, tuned to the class. "Brett, please come up here and take the red card," she said. Brett rose from his seat and slowly walked to the front. He looked at the cards. Then he hesitantly lifted one of them, and everyone laughed. "That's enough, class," said Mrs. Lane. She turned to Brett. "Take the red card, please," she said. "Not the green one."

Brett frowned. "I'm color-blind," he told her. "It's hard for me to tell red from green."

"Oh!" said Mrs. Lane in surprise. "I didn't know that. We'll excuse you then and let someone else help with this demonstration." So Brett returned to his seat.

At recess time, Brett played with Rick, a boy whose nationality was different from Brett's. They were having fun together when another classmate spoke to Brett. "Hey, Brett," he called, "no wonder Rick is your friend. You can't tell that he's a different color."

"Ignore him," Brett told Rick. I don't get it, thought Brett. Why would anybody decide to not like a person just because his skin is a different color?

During science class a little later, the subject of color-blindness came up again. Brett was asked several questions about it. "Does it bother you that lots of times you don't know what color things are?" asked one of the girls.

Brett grinned. "It doesn't matter what color they are," he said. "Red apples taste good and so do yellow ones. Green grapes are good and so are purple or red ones. Color isn't what makes something good or bad." As he spoke, the incident at recess popped into his mind. He took a deep breath. "That's true of people, too," he added. "God made every person, and He made them all the same in value." He looked at the boy who had teased him at recess, and added, "I think everyone should be 'color-blind' when it comes to seeing people."

"Good for you, Brett," approved his teacher. "You're absolutely right."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you develop opinions about others based on skin color? Don't forget that God made everyone special. Outward appearance-a person's size, the kind of clothes he wears, or the color of his skin, hair, or eyes-does not make him any more or less valuable in God's sight, and it shouldn't make him any more or less valuable in your sight, either.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. Acts 17:26

[Soldier4Christ]

 Good-bye Castles

While the rest of her family swam and soaked up the sun at the beach, Courtney molded a huge sand castle, trying to make it like the medieval ones pictured in her history book. She made soaring towers and dug a deep moat all around her castle. When Courtney noticed that the ocean's waves were coming closer and closer, she quickly began to pile sand high up all around the castle walls. "Help, Dad!" exclaimed Courtney after a moment. "The water's going to get my castle!"

Dad shook his head. "It's no use," he said. "The tide is coming in, and the waves will come a lot higher before they go back down."

Courtney didn't want to believe that. She dug a wide trench all around her castle and continued to build a sand barrier to protect it. But water soon crashed over the barrier and filled the trench. The waves splashed against the edge of the castle, pulling it apart with watery fingers. "It took me a long time to build that, and now it's gone in no time," moaned Courtney.

"Well, just be glad it's only sand," said her sister, Danielle. "Sometimes people lose real houses in catastrophes like fires and storms, don't they, Dad?"

Dad nodded. "Actually, all earthly possessions are a little like that sand castle," he said. "Many people work all their lives to get more and more things-things that won't last. It's too bad so many people are more concerned about their present life than their future one. They forget that there's something much more important than earthly things."

"Like doing stuff for God?" asked Courtney. "Grandma has a motto on her wall that says, 'Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.'"

Dad nodded. "That's right. First of all, we need to make sure we possess eternal life through Jesus. And then we need to remember that nobody can keep earthly things forever. Soon they'll all be gone. Instead of worrying so much about them, we should store up treasure in heaven by serving God."

"When we're grown up, right?" suggested Danielle.

Dad smiled. "Yes, and right now, too," he said. "Kids can store treasure in heaven by being kind, helpful, and obedient. I'm sure you'll be able to think of many things you can do."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Where are you storing treasure-on earth or in heaven? Do you keep in mind that the things you can buy and enjoy on this earth won't last? But there's something that will last, and that's treasure stored in heaven. What can you do right now to "lay up treasure in heaven"? Is there someone you can invite to Sunday school? A lawn you can mow or an errand you can run to help somebody? A person to whom you can offer friendship? Think of things you can do to serve the Lord. Then do them!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20