Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Bandit's Rescue (Cont'd.)

Bandit, Angela's little piglet, lay in a box. Her faint, wheezing breath was the only clue that the tiny animal was still alive. As Angela hung a bulb over the box to give it heat, her cousin Jan came in. She peered at the still form, and Angela explained what had happened. Jan shook her head. "How terrible!" she exclaimed. "It's hopeless, isn't it?" She watched Angela take an eyedropper and trickle warm milk down the piglet's throat. Jan sighed. "It's hopeless," she repeated.

"No! She could get better," insisted Angela, and all day she went to the box every couple of hours. She fed and stroked her pet, looking for signs of improvement. Even her parents began to doubt that the piglet would recover, but Angela refused to give up. She got up several times during the night to take care of Bandit. Dad told her she should prepare for the worst, but Angela kept hoping and praying that Bandit would get well.

The next morning, Jan came over to go to Sunday school with Angela. "Come in," Angela greeted her. "I have a surprise to show you." She led the way to Bandit's box. "Look!" she said.

Jan stared. There stood Bandit, wiggling and squealing for Angela to hurry with some more food. "If I didn't see this myself, I'd never believe it!" exclaimed Jan. "She looked so hopeless yesterday. I thought she was a goner!"

Later that day, Jan and Angela shared jokes and secrets as they played together. "You know Casey, my foster brother," said Jan. "Well, I can hardly stand him anymore. He's so gross!" Jan rolled her eyes. "He chews with his mouth open, and he steals things. He swears a lot, too. He even lied to my dad last night. I wish Mom and Dad would take him back to the social service people. We can't help him; he's hopeless."

"That's what you said about Bandit," said Angela, "but it wasn't true. Maybe it's not true about Casey, either."

Jan was startled. "Well, it . . . it seems like it," she stammered.

"Why don't you try to help Casey and pray for him-and I'll pray for him, too," promised Angela. "After all, I prayed for Bandit, and a little boy is more important than a little pig. Let's not give up on him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know people who seem to be hopeless? Perhaps they not only seem hopeless as far as proper behavior is concerned, but also seem hopelessly lost in sin because they do some really bad things. Don't give up on them. Keep praying and helping them in any way you can. Be sure to share the Gospel with them. God can change a person's heart, and wants them to come to Him. When they do, He will welcome them joyfully.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The Lord is not . . . willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

[Soldier4Christ]

Sea Lion Ears

"Sea Lion Caves," read David. He pointed to a sign at the side of the road along the Oregon coast. "We're there!"

Dad nodded and drove into the parking lot. Soon the family stood in the underground viewing area, close enough to see, smell, and hear the roaring creatures. When a torpedo-shaped body with a whiskered, cat-like face slid through the water and clambered up onto the cave floor, Dad flipped through pages of the guide book he'd bought. "This type of seal is called the Stellar sea lion," he said. "This book says the spots that look like dimples on the side of the seal's head are tiny ears. Most seals just have openings, but the Stellar sea lion is an eared seal. When he dives, those little ear flaps cover the openings; when he surfaces, the ears open up again."

"Wow! That's cool!" exclaimed David.

After watching the sea lions for a while, David and his family returned to their car and went on their way. As they traveled, they talked about the seals. "Why didn't God give me ears that would close?" David asked, chuckling at the thought of his ears flopping down. "I'd like to be able to shut out some things I hear."

"I thought you could do that already," said Mom, pretending to be surprised. "It seems like you're sometimes unable to hear when you're told to clean your room." David grinned. He knew she was teasing, but he suspected she was half serious, too.

"That's a good point," observed Dad. "God didn't give you ear flaps, David, but He did give you the ability to close your ears by not listening, and perhaps by walking away. On the other hand, you can open them by paying attention to what is being said."

"Yes," agreed Mom. "It's a good idea to close your ears to some things being said on TV or on the playground. Be careful in choosing what to listen to and what to shut out. Be sure to open your ears to your parents and teachers-and especially to God."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you close your ears to suggestions to do something wrong? Do you close them to such things as bad language, dirty jokes, or gossip? Do you open them when your parents or teachers ask you to do something? Are they open when you read God's Word or hear it preached? Be sure you listen to God and to those He has provided to help and to teach you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. Job 34:3

[Soldier4Christ]

The Tell-Tale Prints

Tara turned a page in the book and showed the picture of Papa Bear to her little sister, Beth. Their brother Jason looked up as Tara continued to read the story aloud. "'Who's been eating my porridge?' growled Papa Bear."

Jason spoke up. "Papa Bear could have found out who ate it if he had lifted fingerprints from his spoon," he said. "Everybody has a different set of prints. No two are alike-ever. Match the prints and you've got the criminal."

"Yeah, well, that's nice, Jason. Now let us finish this story," said Tara.

But Jason grabbed his magnifying glass and held it above Tara's fingers. "See those ridges?" he asked. "They leave a mark on everything you touch. Police and investigators use special powders to dust for fingerprints. The powder sticks to the invisible ridge marks. The investigator carefully brushes away the dust between the ridges, and then they take a picture of it. The print can be lifted with a print-lifting tape, too." Jason sat back. "I know how to do it," he added, "and I better not catch you messing with any of my stuff or you'll be sorry!"

"Jason! We don't care about fingerprints right now. We just want to read the story," said Tara.

"Well, you just remember-I've been practicing with the detective kit I got for my birthday," grumbled Jason, "so you'd better keep your fingers off my things! Both of you!"

"Don't be rude, Jason," warned Mom, who had come into the room. "I think you need to be more concerned about the kind of 'prints' you're leaving on the lives of others. I hope you'll make sure they're nice-not ugly."

"Prints on people's lives? What does that mean?" asked Jason.

"I'm talking about the impressions we make on others. Like fingerprints, they identify us-not by ridges, of course, but by either the pleasant way we talk and act or by how rude we are," said Mom. "We develop a reputation for ourselves. And of course, it's especially important that our words and actions please God."

"Yeah, Jason," said Tara. "You better remember that, and . . ." She stopped when she saw Mom looking sternly in her direction. " . . . and . . . and I'll remember it, too," finished Tara.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of prints, or impressions, do you make on others? Are the things you do and say hurtful, or are they kind? Do they cause others to want to avoid you, or to spend time with you? Most of all, are the impressions you make pleasing to God? Do they give you a reputation of being helpful, friendly, and patient? Those are the kinds of things He wants to see in you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Proverbs 22:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Under Whose Influence?

Josh grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "Wait a minute, Son!" his mother said firmly. "Where are you going?"

"The mall," mumbled Josh as he opened the door.

"Not so fast," said Mom. "Who are you meeting at the mall?"

Josh shrugged. "Some kids." As he spoke, his sister Audrey came into the room.

"Hi, y'all," Audrey greeted them. "Ah'm needin' some stuff from the basement."

Josh laughed. "Every time you get home from college, your accent is worse than before!" he exclaimed. "We won't be able to understand you after a while."

Audrey giggled. "Mah friends told me Ah'd go home with an accent! Ah didn't believe it, but it kind of crept in!" She turned to leave, and Josh did, too, hoping Mom would forget to ask him about his friends. She didn't.

"Who are you planning to meet at the mall, Josh?" asked Mom.

Josh sighed. "Mom, I know you don't like some of my new friends," he said, "but just because I hang out with them a little doesn't mean I'll be like them."

"Think about Audrey's new accent," said Mom. "How do you think she got it?"

"From the kids at her college," Josh replied. "I guess most everybody there talks that way."

"Right," Mom said. "It's easy to pick up habits from those we spend time with. It just happens-even though we don't plan it." Josh was quiet. "That's why I care so much about the kind of friends you choose," continued Mom. "That accent isn't going to hurt Audrey. But what if she had picked up other habits-bad language, lying, cheating, stealing . . ."

"But she wouldn't do that!" exclaimed Josh.

"If she spent a lot of time with friends who did those things, she might," said Mom.

Just then Audrey returned. "Y'all talkin' 'bout somethin' special?" she drawled, "or can Ah come in?" Then as she saw Josh and Mom smile at each other, she repeated her question, this time without the accent.

"Okay. I get it, Mom," said Josh. He looked at his sister. "Come in," he added with a grin, "but, Audrey, you need serious help."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Who influences you? As long as you don't copy your friends' behavior, do you think it doesn't matter so much if their language and actions are not really what they should be? The fact is . . . the people with whom you spend a lot of time influence you. It's easy to pick up their habits. So put yourself under the influence of friends who talk and behave in a way that would please your parents-and especially God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 1 Corinthians 15:33

[Soldier4Christ]

Keep On Forgiving

Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!" Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)

Do you like sports? What do you think is the most popular sport in the world? Most articles that I have read seem to agree that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. If you are playing soccer, it is very important to know and follow the rules. How many know what this is? (Hold up the yellow card.) Even if you have never seen a soccer game, you could probably figure out that this is called a yellow card. In a soccer game, the referee holds up a yellow card to warn a player for a dangerous or unsportsmanlike play. For example, if a player tries to kick the ball out of the goalie's hands, that is dangerous. The goalie could be hurt, so the referee shows the player a yellow card as a warning not to do it again. If that player makes another dangerous play, the referee shows him the yellow card again, but then he would show him this card. (Hold up the red card.) Do you know what that means? The player is out of the game! That is pretty rough punishment, isn't it? You get one warning and then you are out! In baseball, the batter gets three strikes before he's out. In basketball, a player gets five or six fouls before he is out. The sport of soccer isn't very forgiving, is it?

How many times do you think a person should be forgiven for doing something wrong? Once? Twice? Three times? If you were to ask Jesus how many times you should forgive someone, what do you think he would say? Well, we don't have to guess, because the Bible gives us the answer.

One day, Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive someone who sins against me? Should I forgive him seven times?" I imagine that Peter thought he was being pretty generous to forgive someone seven times. I don't know about you, but I think I agree with Peter. To forgive someone seven times is be pretty generous. Guess what? Jesus didn't agree.

Jesus answered Peter, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven."

Wow! Seventy times seven! That's four hundred and ninety times. I think that before I got to four hundred and ninety I would lose count. You know, I think that is probably what Jesus was trying to get Peter to understand and he wants us to understand it too. We shouldn't worry about keeping count of how many times we have forgiven someone -- we should just keep on forgiving. Isn't that what God does? He doesn't keep count of how many times he has forgiven us. He just keeps on forgiving.

Some churches have a soccer league for boys and girls in grades K-6 called Upward Soccer. Most of the rules are the same as regular soccer, but there is one rule that is very different. In Upward soccer, there are no yellow cards and no red cards! I like that rule. We all make mistakes and we all do things that we should not do, so let's forgive them -- at least four hundred and ninety times!

[Soldier4Christ]

Things to Remember

Davie's school bus arrived at his home, but he didn't get off. He must have missed his bus, thought his mother, who was watching for him. His mom quickly drove to the school, and when Davie wasn't there, either, she phoned several of his friends. No one knew where he was. His mother was very relieved when a school bus pulled up at the school with one child on it-Davie! "I got on the wrong bus!" he tearfully told his mother. "I forgot my bus number."

When they got home, Davie told his older brother all about it. "I wish I rode the same bus as you do, Drew," said Davie. "Then I wouldn't get lost. I know my address and phone number, but now I need to know my bus number, too." He looked at Drew solemnly. "It's important to remember all kinds of things."

"Right!" agreed Drew as he grabbed his jacket to go out and play.

"Before you go out, you'd better learn your memory verse for Bible club," said Mom.

"I can do it after dinner," replied Drew, helping himself to an apple.

"Dinner!" exclaimed Mom. "Oh, no! I need a couple of things from the store for the meal I was planning for tonight, but in all the excitement, I forgot about dinner."

"It's important to remember to feed your hungry husband-and especially your hungry children," teased Drew in a deep voice like Dad's. "That's something you should never, ever forget!"

Mom laughed. "Okay," she said. "I'll just change the menu and fix something different for my hungry family. And while I make dinner, you can study your Bible verse. That's something you should never, ever forget."

Drew shrugged. "Why?" he asked. "Why can't I just read verses from my Bible whenever I . . ."

"I know my verse," interrupted Davie. "When I was on the wrong bus, I said it over and over so I wouldn't be scared."

"There's your answer, Drew," said Mom, smiling at the little boy. "Davie didn't have a Bible with him, but the verse in his memory gave him peace of mind in a scary time. Knowing God's Word can help you in all kinds of situations."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder why you're encouraged to learn Bible verses? Have there been times when a Bible memory verse popped into your mind and gave you help or peace about something? That may not have happened to you yet, but it does happen frequently as people go through various situations in life. And remember-the more Scripture verses you know by heart, the more help you will have available in your everyday life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I will meditate on Your statutes. Psalm 119:48

[Soldier4Christ]

The Big Dog

If I don't make any noise when I walk by that house, maybe the dog won't see me, Kevin thought. But the barking, growling dog across the street jumped against the fence around its yard, making a loud bang. Kevin took off. He was out of breath when he got home and slammed the door behind him.

"I always walk on the other side of the road, but that big dog still sees me," Kevin told his mother. "I'm afraid it will go right through the fence sometime."

 "Since you have to pass that house every day to and from school, maybe you should make friends with the dog," suggested Mom.

"Yeah, right," replied Kevin. "I'll just say, 'Hi dog. My name is Kevin. What's your name? Pleased to meet you. Do you think we could be friends?'" He frowned. "That dog would throw me around like a Frisbee before I said two words."

That night, Kevin learned a memory verse for Bible club-"Fear not, for I am with you." He repeated the words several times.

The next day, after saying the Bible verse again, Kevin decided to walk on the dog's side of the road. As he bravely walked to school, the dog came barking and running toward him. Trembling, he prayed. You said You'd be with me and help me, God. He stopped. "All right, dog!" he said loudly, "you can bark all you want, but I'm all done being scared of you! You got that?" The dog backed away. He and Kevin stared at each other. Then the dog whimpered and began to slowly wag its tail.

Kevin heard a voice. "You're making friends with my Snookums! I've been praying he'd find a friend."

Kevin turned around and saw an elderly lady leaning on a cane. "You named this big dog Snookums?" he asked in surprise.

The lady nodded. "My husband used to play with him and take him for walks but he died recently," she said sadly. "You can see I'm not able to do those things."

"So . . . you want me to play with your dog?" Kevin asked slowly.

"That would be so nice," replied the lady. "Why don't we get better acquainted? You'll see that Snookums is a nice dog and could be a good friend."

Kevin hesitantly agreed to ask if he could play with the dog after school. As he continued on his way, he prayed, Thanks, God, for helping me. He grinned as he thought about it. It might be fun having Snookums for a friend. Thanks!


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid of something? Perhaps you're frightened when you're in the dark, scared to go to the doctor for a shot, or afraid of a bully at school. Whenever you feel afraid, remember that God is always with you. He promises to give you the strength to face your fears. Talk to Him and ask for help. Then trust Him to give it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Fear not, for I am with you . . . I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10

[Soldier4Christ]

Redeeming Rosie

"Mom, where's Rosie?" asked Joel as he came in from school. "She's not in the yard." Rosie was their old dog.

"I'm sorry to tell you, honey," replied Mom, "but this morning I found the gate open, and Rosie was gone." Joel groaned, and Mom continued. "I drove all around the neighborhood, but I couldn't find her." Joel felt terrible. "Rosie's name and address are on her license tags," added Mom. "Maybe someone will find her and call us."

Time moved slowly that evening, and Joel couldn't concentrate on his homework. He kept waiting for the phone to ring. He was upstairs when a call finally came. Mom's voice sounded excited, and Joel bounded down the stairs, two at a time. "Did someone find Rosie?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes," answered Mom as she picked up her purse and keys. "She's at the Animal Control Center, and we can go get her." As they drove to the center, Mom explained what had happened. "Somebody saw Rosie running around loose and called the Animal Control Center. They sent a truck to pick her up and take her to the center, so now we have to pay the required fee to get her back."

Joel frowned. "We have to pay money?" he asked. Mom nodded. "But she belongs to us," protested Joel. "We'd be buying our own dog back."

Mom smiled at Joel's look of disbelief. "We have to redeem her," she told him."The word 'redeem' means 'to buy back,' and buying our own dog back is a good picture of what God did for us. He made us, so in that sense, we belong to Him. But our sin separated us from God, so He had to redeem us-to buy us back to Himself by paying for our sin."

Joel nodded. "I learned a verse about that," he said. "God didn't redeem us with money. He redeemed us with the blood of Jesus."

"Yes," agreed Mom. "Because Jesus died and paid the penalty for our sin, we can be forgiven and truly belong to God."

Soon they arrived at the center, picked up Rosie, and were on their way home. Rosie was so excited, she could hardly sit still. "Rosie's glad to be redeemed," observed Joel, "and you know something else? I am, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been redeemed? Jesus paid a big redemption fee-His own precious blood-so that your sins could be forgiven. Won't you accept Him as Savior today?



TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:18-19)
You were not redeemed with . . . silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Like It or Not

"Can we get some fries, Mom?" asked Kyla as she and her mother passed the food court at the mall. Mom agreed, so Kyla went to get the fries, and they sat down to eat them. Kyla fingered her new cross pendant. "Mom," she said, "at school today, Carli asked me why I was wearing a cross."

"And what did you say?" asked Mom.

"I told her I thought it was pretty and I liked it," replied Kyla. She frowned slightly and added, "I said something about it reminding me of Jesus and what He did on the cross, but I'm not sure I should have said anything about that. She said I was just strict and narrow-minded like all Christians."

Suddenly, a cross-sounding voice startled Kyla. She looked up and saw an angry lady scolding the young man behind the hamburger counter. "What do you mean, my coupons have expired?" the lady demanded with a scowl. "Just close your eyes and bend the rules a bit!"

The young man answered calmly. "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but I can't do that. We were given stern warnings about accepting expired coupons." The lady continued to complain loudly, but the clerk remained firm. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you," he said. "These coupons are not valid."

When the lady finally left, Mom turned to Kyla. "That young man must seem pretty strict and narrow-minded to that lady," she said. "Do you think he should have bent the rules for her and given her the discount of the coupons?"

"Of course not," said Kyla. "He has to follow the rules whether the customers like it or not."

Mom nodded. "That's right," she said. "He shouldn't feel bad about having done the right thing." Mom smiled at Kyla. "When you tell your friend about Jesus and she gives you a hard time, it's natural to feel bad because she doesn't understand. However, you shouldn't feel bad that you told her. Even though people don't like to accept it, they need to know that faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven."

"That's God's rule, isn't it," said Kyla, "whether people like it or not. So I should tell my friends about Jesus even if they think I'm being strict and narrow-minded."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you felt bad for speaking the truth about Jesus and salvation? Have you been called narrow-minded-or some other unpleasant name? Unfortunately, like the council members and high priest in today's Scripture, many people won't accept God's truths. The next time someone is hard on you for speaking the truth, remind him that you're not giving your own opinion. Instead, you're simply saying what God has already said, and you need to obey God, not people.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

[Soldier4Christ]

Bad or Good Aroma?

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Mom when she heard the wail from upstairs.

"I bet Diane broke something again," said Timothy at once. "She's always dropping things!"

"Diane," Mom called, "what's the problem?" There was no reply, so Mom headed up the stairs with Timothy following along behind. As they reached the top step, Diane appeared at Mom's bedroom door.

Timothy wrinkled his nose. "What's that nasty smell?" he asked.

Diane's eyes filled with tears. "I was dusting your room like you asked me to, Mom. When I was moving things on the dresser, I accidentally knocked over your perfume-that bottle Aunt Carol gave you," she explained. "It didn't break, but I guess it wasn't shut tight, and some spilled out. I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to do it."

"Never mind," said Mom gently. "It was an accident."

Timothy held his nose. "Ugh! Something smells awful!" he exclaimed.

"Does not!" replied Diane.

"Does too!" insisted Timothy. "What is it?"

"Like I said, the perfume spilled-and it's a good smell, not a bad one," replied Diane. She grinned at her brother. "In Bible club last week, my teacher said Christians should always spread a nice, pleasing fragrance. You, too."

Timothy looked horrified. "Not me! I'm not gonna wear stuff like that!" he exclaimed. "No way!"

Mom laughed. "I'm sure Diane's teacher wasn't talking about the aroma of perfume, Timothy," she said. "She was talking about the fragrance of Christ. Right, Diane?"

Timothy looked puzzled, but Diane nodded. "She said Christians should fill the world with the love of Jesus. She said that's like a sweet-smelling fragrance."

"You mean like . . . ah . . . I still don't get it," said Timothy.

"When we're helpful, kind to others, forgiving, loving-in other words, when we live the way Jesus wants us to-we become channels of His love to those around us," explained Mom. "The Bible refers to that as the 'fragrance' of Christ-and that's a kind of 'perfume' even boys should wear. Okay?"

"That kind is okay," agreed Timothy. "I can try to always spread some of that."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of aroma are you spreading-at home, in your school, at the mall, or on the playground? Are you spreading a "sweet-smelling fragrance" by what you do and say? Although some people may criticize and turn away when you witness for Jesus, others may be led to Christ by the "fragrance" of your loving actions as well as the words you speak.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved. 2 Corinthians 2:15

[Soldier4Christ]

Family Traits

Jake laughed heartily when his sister Sara finished telling him a joke she had heard at school that day. "Good one!" he exclaimed.

An elderly man standing in the yard they were passing spoke to them. "Excuse me," he said with a smile, "but I'm wondering if you kids belong to the Jacob Kingston family?"

Surprised, Jake and Sara stopped. "Yes, Sir," replied Jake. "He's our father."

The white-haired man nodded. "I lived next door to your grandpa when your dad was a little boy," he said. "The two of you-with your blond hair, freckles, and turned-up noses-look so much like he did then. And that laugh of yours, young man . . . it sounds just like your dad's did when he was tickled about something. Yep, I just knew you must belong to the Kingstons."

That evening, the children told their father about meeting the old man. "That must have been Mr. Wells," decided Dad. "I'll stop in to see him sometime soon." He smiled. "It pleases me to have you recognized as part of the Kingston clan-most of the time, that is."

"Most of the time?" asked Jake. "Why not all    of the time?"

"Well . . . many of us Kingstons have been known for our bad tempers," answered Dad. "It's a family trait I've had to work on in my own life, and with God's help, I've learned to control it." He looked at Jake. "Like me, you tend to 'fly off the handle' too easily, Son. You need the Lord's help to control your temper, too."

"So it's okay to be just like the Kingstons in the good stuff, but not the bad," said Sara. "I'm glad I don't have a temper like that."

Dad frowned. "Careful," he warned. "Being proud and boastful is a trait of the human family, and that's not good, either. We who know Jesus belong to God's family. We need to ask Him to help us be more like Jesus. He's the example we should follow. "

"Oops! Gotcha, Dad," said Sara. "Jesus loves everybody in the whole, wide world, so when we show by the way we act and talk that we love them, too, they'll be able to see that we belong to God's family, right?"

"Right," agreed Dad. "That's exactly right."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you accepted Jesus as Savior? If so, can people see "family traits" that show them you belong to God's family? Can they tell it by the way you live? By the things you do and say? Keep your actions in line with God's Word, and pattern your life after Jesus. He's the example you should follow. You bring glory to God when people can tell you're a Christian by the way you live.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who says he abides in Him (Jesus) ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6

[Soldier4Christ]

Buckle Up

Cammie and Alex ran to the car and jumped into the back seat. "I'll be buckled up before you!" they both said at the same time.

Mom turned around and looked at them. "I don't think I've ever heard you so excited about buckling your seat belts before," she said.

Cammie and Alex looked at each other and started laughing. "What's so funny?" asked Dad, also turning around to look at the kids.

"Well," said Cammie, "we learned about seat belts in church, today."

"In church?" asked Mom.

"Yup," said Alex. "Well, actually, in Sunday school."

"Did you know that trusting Jesus is like using a seat belt?" asked Cammie.

"That's a new one to me," said Dad. "Explain."

"Mr. Perkins said we have seat belts in our cars to keep us safe-especially in case of an accident," said Alex. "And he said that instead of bouncing all over the place when we go over bumpy roads, seat belts help us feel secure-if we're buckled up. But if we don't use our seat belt, it can't help us. He said that's the way it is with trusting Jesus, too."

"Yeah," agreed Cammie. "These seat belts are always here for us, but if we never buckle up, it can really be dangerous and scary! Even if the road looks smooth, we could hit a big bump that we didn't see coming and really get hurt. Jesus is always here for us, too, but if we don't trust Him, we worry and don't feel secure and safe."

"Good lesson," approved Mom. "I've never made or heard that comparison before, but I like it. If we buckle up in the car, we can feel safe whether the road is smooth or bumpy. If we trust Jesus, we can always feel safe, too, both when our journey through life is going smoothly and when we face troubles."

"Mr. Perkins is pretty smart-and so are you two for listening," said Dad as he turned back and started the car. He put it in reverse. "Well, let's go home and have our lunch. Are you all hungry?"

"Um-m-m, Mom and Dad," said Cammie, "I think you forgot something."

"What?" asked Mom.

Cammie and Alex burst out laughing. "To buckle up!" they shouted.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you "buckled up"-do you trust Jesus even when you're going over a bumpy road in your life? Or are you afraid when things don't go well with friends? With schoolmates? With family at home? Does it scare you when something unexpected happens? Do you worry that something bad might happen? You don't have to worry. Whether things are going well or not, trust Jesus and feel safe knowing that He is with you and will care for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

[Soldier4Christ]

What Is It?

When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. Exodus 16:15 (NIV)

I have something under this cover this morning that I think you are going to like. When I take the cover off and you see it, some of you may ask, "What is it?" It might be something you have never seen before. Are you ready to see it? Okay, here it is. (Remove the cover.)

Yum, yum. That sure looks good, but what is it? It's called Monkey Bread. I'm not really sure why it is called Monkey Bread, but I have heard some people say that it is called Monkey Bread because when you eat it, you pull it off and eat it one piece at a time, much the same way that a monkey eats his food. (Demonstrate it) Would you like to try some? It is really good! (Let all of the children eat a piece.)

When I said that some of you might ask, "What is it?" when you saw the Monkey Bread, it reminded me of a story in the Bible about Moses and the Israelites. The Israelites had been held captive in Egypt, and God had chosen Moses to free the people and lead them to a land that he had promised them. The journey to the promised land was not an easy one. The Israelites had been wandering around in the desert for a long time. Often, they had little to eat or drink. The people began to grumble and complain to Moses. "When we were in Egypt, we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out here into the desert to starve us to death." God heard the people complaining and told Moses, "I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you, and each day the people can go out and gather enough bread for that day. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as they need for that day."

The next morning when the people went outside their tents, the ground was covered with a fine, flaky substance. It was unlike anything they had ever seen. When they saw it, they asked, "What is it?" Moses answered, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."

Moses told them that God had said that they were to gather only enough bread for one day. Why do you think he told them that? It is because he wanted to see if the people would obey him and trust him to send the bread that they needed each and every day.

God still provides what we need for each and every day, doesn't he? That is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."

Dear Father, just as you provided daily bread for your children in the time of Moses, you provide all our needs each and every day. For all of your goodness, we give thanks. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

The "Blame Game"

"Maybe I should read this," said Emma as she flipped open a small manual that had come with their new toaster. She started reading. "Some of these warnings are silly! Listen," she said with a chuckle. "Do not put under water. Do not touch hot surfaces. Do not put fingers in slots." Emma set the manual aside, reached for a piece of bread, and put it in the toaster. "Anybody with any sense at all would know those things," she said. "Why do they write such silly instructions?"

"They do seem pretty silly, but you might be surprised how many people would do some of those things," replied Mom. "Then if the toaster breaks or they get hurt, they might blame the manufacturer if those warnings weren't in the manual. Sometimes people go to court and sue for a lot of money."

"Even though it's their own fault?" asked Emma's brother Logan.

Mom nodded. "It's human nature to blame somebody else," she said. "Both Adam and Eve did it in the Garden of Eden, and people have been doing it ever since. Who do you think gets blamed more than anyone else?"

"I do!" declared Logan.

"You do not," scoffed Emma.

"I'd say it's God," said Mom. "He gave detailed instructions on how to live, but people often ignore them. Then when something goes wrong, they blame God even though they're the ones who didn't follow His instructions."

"Like you, Logan, when you tried to sneak out of the house after you were grounded last year," Emma teased. "Served you right when you fell out your window and broke a leg."

"Hold it!" exclaimed Logan. "I admit I wasn't following Mom and Dad's-or God's-instructions, but I didn't blame either them or Him for my fall. I accepted responsibility, and . . ." Logan paused and grinned at his sister. "And now I'm a model son," he finished. Emma and Mom both laughed.

Mom picked up the toaster manual. "I don't think we'll need this again," she said, "so I'll put it away. But let's be sure we don't leave God's instruction manual in a drawer. Let's all read something from our Bibles every day and do what it says. Then we won't be so tempted to play the 'blame game.'"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you accept responsibility for what you do? Or do you look for someone to blame when something goes wrong? Do you even blame God? When you get into trouble, it may be your own fault for not following the directions God gave in the Bible. Don't let His instructions lay around unread. Learn what they are, and follow them. Don't play the "blame game." Accept responsibility when you fail, and above all, never blame God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

[Soldier4Christ]

Lying, or Not?

Moments before the morning service began, Jane walked down the church aisle and whispered in her mother's ear. "I'm going to the nursery, okay? They need my help again." Mom looked concerned, but nodded.

Jane enjoyed playing with the babies, and time passed quickly. After the service, she was surprised to see her mother at the nursery door. The supervisor went to greet her, and while Jane continued picking up toys, she heard Mrs. Jones say, "We appreciate your daughter's help."

"She likes to help," replied Mom, "but she has missed a lot of services lately." Mrs. Jones and Mom talked quietly as Mom waited for Jane to finished her work. Then Jane and Mom left together.

 "Jane," said Mom as they walked down the hall, "you led me to believe that Mrs. Jones asked you to help in the nursery today. She says she didn't-neither today nor last week."

"Actually, I just said they needed my help," Jane defended herself, "and they did. We all were really busy." Jane knew her argument was weak.

"How would you feel, Jane," replied Mom, "if Mrs. Jones said she'd like to pay you to take care of the babies every week?"

"That would be great! Did she say that?" asked Jane hopefully.

"No, but what if she did and you did the work, but then she didn't pay you?" asked Mom.

"That wouldn't be fair," replied Jane.

"Well, if she didn't promise to pay but simply said she'd like to in order to get you to agree, would that be lying or not?" asked Mom.

"You mean if she tricked me into helping?" asked Jane. "I'd say that's lying."

"So would I, and I'm sure Mrs. Jones wouldn't do that," said Mom, "but you did that to me today. You tricked me into believing something untrue so you could do what you wanted. Is that honest, or would you say it's some kind of lie?"

"I . . . I'm sorry," mumbled Jane.

"Helping others is part of serving the Lord," Mom added, "but learning is important, too, and I think today's sermon was one you needed to hear. It was on honesty. I'll tell you about it on the drive home."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you deceived someone or have you been deceived-tricked into believing something untrue? Lies take many forms. When you twist your words to make them sound like you're saying something you're not, it's a kind of lie-and it's sin. Don't use any form of lying. Ask God to help you be completely honest.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. Leviticus 19:11