Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

That One's Mine

"Hey, Dad, how many people are there on earth?" asked Mary one evening.

"I've probably heard," replied Dad, "but I don't remember. Billions, I guess. Did you talk about that in school?"

"No," said Mary, "but our Bible club teacher talked about how God loves every person, so some of us kids were wondering how many people that would be."

"Well, I don't know the number, but your teacher is right-God does love each one," replied Dad.

"Since there are so many, you'd think He'd forget who's who," said Mary. "Take me, for example. Lots of girls have brown hair and brown eyes and are named Mary. There are even two in my class! So how does God know which one is me?" She grinned. "The one hoping for a new bike for her birthday."

Dad laughed. "Don't worry, honey," he said. "God knows you're the one who wants a bike-and He knows whether or not it would be good for you to have it."

Mom smiled and nodded as she picked up her sweater. "The cake-baking contest at the school gym is tonight," she said, "and I'm ready to leave. Who wants to come along?"

"We all do," said Dad. "Let's go."

At the gym, cakes on identical glass holders filled several tables. "They're all alike!" exclaimed Mary. "Except some are white and some are chocolate."

"They're being tested strictly for taste, not looks," said Mom, "so the rules said they were to have no decorations. But I know which ones are mine." Her eyes searched each table. "Look!" Mom pointed to the table with chocolate cakes. "The second one from the end-that one's mine. And over there . . . the last cake on that table with the white cakes-that's mine, too."

"Are you sure?" Mary asked. "They look the same as the others to me."

"Not to me," said Mom, "and yes, I'm sure. I made them, and I see little differences. For one thing, I recognize them by the way the frosting is swirled."

Dad smiled at Mary. "Remember what we were talking about at home?" he asked. "God made you, honey, and He sees you as a special person. No two people look the same to Him. Mom knows her cakes, and God knows you. There's not a chance that He'll mix you up with anyone else."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder if God knows you personally? You can be assured that He does! Even if everyone on earth had your name and looked just like you, God would still know you from anybody else. He knows the work of His hands. The Bible says He even knows the number of hairs on your head. (See Matthew 10:30) Knowing that God cares about those little details should assure you that He cares about every part of your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Thus says the Lord, who created you . . . "Fear not . . . I have called you by your name; you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Copycats

Kevin angrily slammed the kitchen door as he entered the room. Startled, Dad looked up from the table where he was reading the newspaper. "Tell Nate to quit copying me," said Kevin, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's always following me around, and he tries to do everything I do." As Dad put down the paper, Nate rushed into the kitchen. He marched over to his brother and promptly crossed his arms, too. "See what I mean?" complained Kevin as Nate stared up at him.

Dad motioned for Nate to come sit beside him. "Okay, Son," said Dad, "you need to leave your brother alone now." Then Dad looked at Kevin. "Nate copies you because he wants to be like you," said Dad. "Take it as a compliment."

Kevin frowned. "I don't like copycats," he grumbled.

"You don't? Well, the Bible verses I read this morning tell me we should all be copycats," said Dad. He reached over, picked up his Bible, and opened it. "Come here." Dad pulled out the chair on the other side of him. Kevin shuffled over to the table and sat down. "Here," said Dad. "Read Ephesians 5:1 out loud for us."

Kevin took the Bible and looked at the verse Dad indicated. "Therefore be imitators of God, as dear children," he read.

"What do imitators do?" Dad asked. Kevin shrugged. Nate shrugged, too. "They copy," said Dad. "We're to copy God." Dad smiled at the boys. "Nate cares for you, Kevin, and he shows it by wanting to do the same things you do. If we love God, we should show that by copying the way Jesus would behave in various situations and by developing attitudes and actions God wants to see in us."

Kevin scratched his head. Giggling, Nate did the same. Then Kevin gave his brother a quick playful punch on the shoulder. Nate punched back. He squealed as Kevin tackled him, and together they fell to the floor, laughing.

Dad laughed, too. "Enough, boys," he said. "And no more copying Kevin right now, Nate. Leave him alone for a while. Let's just all do our best to copy actions Jesus would take so that whatever we do will please Him."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get frustrated when others imitate you? Do younger brothers or sisters-or perhaps classmates or neighbors-repeat what you say, act the way you act, and try to look like you by wearing similar clothes? No doubt they do it because they admire you, so take it as a compliment. If you love Jesus, treat them the way He would. In other words, copy the way you believe Jesus would behave. Let others see Jesus in you by the way you respond to various situations.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Be imitators of God as dear children. Ephesians 5:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Including Ellie

"Hi, Mom!" called Traci as she came in from school.

"Hi, honey," replied Mom. "Ellie called a few minutes ago and asked if you could go over and play at her house when you got home."

"I don't want to go there today," said Traci. "I invited Maggie to come here and play if it's okay with you. Is it?"

"Well, I guess so," said Mom, "but why don't you ask Ellie to come, too? You hardly ever have time to play with her lately, and she really misses you. She doesn't have many friends, you know."

"But, Mom, you know Ellie can't do anything much but play simple games," pleaded Traci. "Maggie and I might want to play some harder ones. We want to play with our dolls, too, and dress up and play house."

"I'm sure Ellie would enjoy that," said Mom. "You know she just likes to be with you." Mom frowned. "You never minded playing with Ellie before," she added. "In fact, you always had a good time together."

"I know," admitted Traci. She hesitated before adding, "It's just that she . . . well, it's just that the kids at school say she's not too smart. They'd probably think I'm not, either, if they knew I played with her." Wanting to change the subject, she added, "Maggie can come, can't she? She's going to bring her new doll, and I'm going to play with one of my old ones-Baby Chrissie."

"You are?" asked Mom. "One of her arms is missing, isn't it? In fact, didn't Maggie point that out to you the last time she was here? If she sees you still play with that old doll, won't she think you're a little odd?"

"Maggie knows Baby Chrissie is my favorite one, so why would she think I'm odd for playing with her?" asked Traci. "Besides, I don't care what Maggie thinks. I still like Baby Chrissie best of all my dolls."

"I see," murmured Mom. "So it's all right to enjoy a 'thing,' even if it doesn't look so good to some people, but if a person is 'different,' it's okay to just ignore her?"

"A person?" asked Traci. Then she blushed. "Oh, you mean Ellie. I . . . I . . ." She was quiet for a moment. "Okay, Mom," she said finally. "I do like Ellie. I'll ask both Maggie and Ellie to come over."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you include kids who look different or are challenged in some way? God created every person, and He loves them all. We don't understand why He made some one way and some another, but all are created in His image. Each one is "fearfully and wonderfully made," and God says to treat all kids-all people-the way you would like to be treated. That's called the Golden Rule, and it's what God expects of His children.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them. Matthew 7:12

[Soldier4Christ]

Behind the Shield

LouAnn stood outside the door to one of the rooms in the aquarium. "I don't want to go in there," she protested. "It's full of sharks."

"Oh, come on, LouAnn," said Jeff. "The sharks are behind thick glass walls."

"It's perfectly safe, honey," Dad assured her. "Jeff is right. Those walls shield you and keep the sharks away from you. There's no way they can get out."

"Well, I won't like it," LouAnn said fearfully, but she joined her family as they entered the room.

On either side of the aisle, glass walls rose from floor to ceiling, and beyond the glass was a magnificent reproduction of life beneath the sea. LouAnn felt like she had sunk to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Hundreds of glittering fish swam about, taking no notice of her. "Oh, look!" she exclaimed. "There's a giant sea turtle!" LouAnn stepped forward and watched with her face close to the glass as the turtle swam away. She did not see a dark shape emerge from the dim shadow at the side of the tank. It grew larger and larger as it swam toward her. "A shark!" screamed LouAnn when she noticed it. She darted back as the creature glided by right in front of her eyes. She knew there was really nothing to be afraid of, but she was glad when they left the area.

That evening there was a lot of excited chatter as the family gathered for their daily devotional time. "I still don't like those sharks," said LouAnn. "I bet they'd like to sink their teeth into us!"

Dad smiled. "Perhaps, but that kind of shark doesn't worry me as much as the 'shark' that preys on our family every day," he said, reaching for his Bible and a devotional book.

"You mean the devil, don't you?" asked Jeff.

"Yes," said Dad. "Satan would like nothing better than to 'sink his teeth' into us, in a spiritual sense. But God is like the thick glass that kept the shark away from us. He's our shield from Satan's attacks."

Mom nodded. "We stay behind our shield by learning God's Word and obeying it," she added. "If we ignore it, it's as though we step out from behind the shield and become easy prey for the 'shark'-Satan."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you remember that God is a shield for you? Don't forget that He loves you and is watching over you-even when scary things happen. But also be aware that Satan is ready to attack if you step out from behind your shield. Read your Bible to learn what God wants you to do, and obey what He teaches you. Learn to follow God's guidelines for daily living, and you'll save yourself from receiving some nasty "bites" from Satan. You'll enjoy the peace and protection God provides.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You, O Lord, are a shield for me. Psalm 3:3

[Soldier4Christ]

New and Beautiful

"Mom! Mom!" called Todd one morning. "Look what happened!" He was clutching a glass jar with holes punched in the lid and some twigs and leaves on the inside.

Mom and Todd's little sister Emily went to see. Mom took the jar, and they peered through the glass. "Oh, good!" said Mom. "This is great!"

"Great?" wailed Emily. "How can you say that? Fuzzy's dead! He's all closed up in that dead piece of skin. He's not even moving!"

"That's okay, honey," said Mom. "You're going to learn a lesson about nature and a lesson about God, too. It's all about new life."

"Is Jesus going to give Fuzzy new life?" asked Emily.

"In a way, He is," replied Mom. "I know you liked Fuzzy as a caterpillar, but this is all part of God's plan for caterpillars. You knew this would happen. We talked about it, don't you remember?"

"Yeah, Emily. When the time is right, caterpillars weave a chrysalis around themselves, and then they change," said Todd.

"I forgot," said Emily.

"The chrysalis is what you see around Fuzzy now," said Mom. "In a way, he dies as a caterpillar while he's in the chrysalis. But in a few weeks, you'll get to see him as a new creature. He won't be a caterpillar-he'll be a butterfly." Mom smiled. "It reminds me of when a person becomes a Christian," she added. "We're spiritually dead when we're born into this world, but when we place our faith in Jesus, we're born into God's family, and we're changed. We become alive in Him. Fuzzy will be more beautiful when he leaves that chrysalis, and our new life in Christ is much more beautiful and free than the old one was."

Todd grinned. "And we didn't even have to spin a chrysalis!" he said.

Mom laughed. "No, Todd. God does the work in us," she replied.

"When Fuzzy comes out of the chrysalis, all new and beautiful, do you think I should give him a new name?" asked Todd.

"That might be a good idea," said Mom with a smile. "I don't think I've ever seen any 'fuzzy' butterflies."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you aware that without Jesus you're spiritually dead? But the good news is that you can be made alive! Jesus gives new life to those who accept Him as Savior. Sins are washed away, and God says you actually become a new creation. Accept Him today and receive the new life Jesus gives. It's far better in every way than the old sinful life you once knew.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. 2 Corinthians 5:17

[Soldier4Christ]

Excuses! Excuses!

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Matthew 22:1-3

Look what I have. It's an invitation to a party. A friend of mine is having a birthday party and has invited me to come. Look what it says at the bottom of the invitation... it says, "R.S.V.P." Do you know what that means? (The term R.S.V.P. comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please respond".) It means that my friend wants me to reply to the invitation and say whether I will attend the party or not.

Sometimes people who receive an invitation to a party don't want to go, so they make up excuses. Here are some excuses they might use:

    I've had a bad cold and I just can't seem get over it.
    I think we are going to visit my grandmother.
    We are having a test at school and I need to stay home and study.
    I have to go to soccer practice.
    Mom said I have to babysit my little brother.

Making excuses isn't new. Even back in Bible times people made excuses. Jesus once told a story about a king who threw a party, but none of the people he invited showed up for his party. In Jesus' story, the king was going to have a party for his son who was getting married. Since he was a king, and this was his only son, you can imagine that it was going to be quite a celebration and it was a tremendous honor to be invited!

All of the plans had been made, the food was prepared, the invitations had been sent. The day of the celebration came, but no one showed up! The king sent his servants to see where the people were and why they had not come to his celebration. The people all began to make excuses about how busy they were.

The king was very upset, so he told his servants to go out into the streets and invite everyone they saw to come to his son's wedding celebration. They did exactly what the king told them to do and the Bible tells us that the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Can you guess who the King was in the story that Jesus told? It was God. I'm sure you know who his Son was in the story. Right, it was Jesus.

Jesus has sent you an invitation. You will find his invitations in here. (Hold up a Bible.) The Bible is full of invitations from Jesus. He says, "Whoever is thirsty, let him come and take the free gift of the water of life." (Rev. 22:17) He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He says, "Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14) Jesus has invited us to come to him, and yet, some people are still making excuses.

Father, thank you for Jesus, your Son. We thank you for his invitation to come and receive the free gift of life which he offers. Without making excuses, we say, "Yes, Lord, Yes!" Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Camouflage

"Why can't I get a camouflage outfit?" asked Lon. "Uncle Max has one. He uses it so he'll blend in with his surroundings when he's hunting. It's so cool!"

"Well, you're not going hunting," said Mom, "and you don't need any new outfits right now." Lon scowled, but he didn't say any more about it.

That day, Lon's teacher introduced a unit on myths. "Myths are stories people have made up, and they're often intended to explain how certain things came to be," explained Mrs. Snowden. "Can anyone give me an example of a myth?"

A girl raised her hand. "The Bible is a book of myths," she said.

Mrs. Snowden nodded. "Some people believe that," she replied. "Others believe the stories in the Bible are true. That's the way it goes with myths."

Lon was startled. The Bible is the true Word of God, he thought to himself-but he didn't say anything.

Mrs. Snowden held up a book. "I'm going to read one of the Greek myths to you today," she said. "Then we'll discuss it and see what you think of it."

After Mrs. Snowden read a myth about how the world was made, one of the boys spoke up. "I can see why people might believe that," he said. "It kinda makes sense." Several other students agreed.

How can they believe that? It's so silly! Lon thought. The Bible account of creation makes much better sense. But when Mrs. Snowden asked how many thought the myth they had just heard was believable, Lon saw hands go up all around him.

When Lon got home from school, he told his mother about the story his teacher had read. "I couldn't believe how many kids thought it sounded like it could be true," he said.

"Did you speak up and tell the class what you know is true?" asked Mom.

"No." Lon shook his head. "I didn't want them to think I was weird."

Mom raised her eyebrows. "I don't know why you want me to buy you a camouflage outfit," she said after a moment. "It seems to me you're wearing one." Lon looked down in surprise at his blue jeans. "You blended in with the nonbelievers today," explained Mom. "I know it's hard to be the only one to stand for the truth, but I hope next time you'll have the courage to do it."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you hide your Christian beliefs in order to blend in with others, like Peter did in today's Scripture reading? As a result he "wept bitterly." Don't share that experience. Take off the "camouflage" and stand up for what God says. If He has redeemed you, He wants you to "say so"-to let others know that you belong to Him and believe what He says in His Word, the Bible.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Psalm 107:2

[Soldier4Christ]

Heavenly Wages

Finally! thought Kristi when she saw her neighbor pull into the driveway. I sure am glad to see her! Kristi, who was babysitting Matt and Stevie Jamison while their mother attended a class, had quickly discovered that caring for the boys was quite a challenge.

As Kristi got ready to go home, Mrs. Jamison thanked her for coming. "I explained to your mother that our budget has been really tight," said Mrs. Jamison hesitantly. "I'm sorry I can't pay you right now, but I should have some extra money next week. Your mom was sure that would be all right with you."

"Sure. That's okay," Kristi heard herself saying, but when she got home, she walked into the house feeling cheated. "Mom, Mrs. Jamison wasn't able to pay me," she complained loudly, "and the boys were terrible!"

Her mother looked up from her sewing. "Oh, I meant to tell you!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Jamison told me she wouldn't have the money till next week, but I forgot to mention it. I'm sorry." A moment later she added, "I know Mrs. Jamison is having a hard time making ends meet since her husband died, honey, and I was just wondering . . ." Mom hesitated. "I wonder if you might like to do the babysitting for Jesus?" she continued. "If you do it for Him, you'll be rewarded in heaven. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Kristi could hardly believe what she heard, and she didn't answer. I guess God probably wants me to do that, she thought, but . . . Kristi sighed as she headed for her room.

When Mrs. Jamison asked Kristi to babysit the following week, Kristi agreed. She figured she was in for an eventful evening, and she was right. This time, Mrs. Jamison held out a check when she got home. "I appreciate your patience in waiting for this," she said.

Kristi shook her head. "There's no charge," she replied. "I just want to do this for you-and for the Lord. I'll come again next week." She could hardly believe she had said that, but she felt really good about it. It was fun to surprise Mrs. Jamison and to know I've helped her tonight, thought Kristi with a smile. I'll babysit as a love gift to them and to Jesus.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you always expect people to pay you when you help them? It's nice to be paid for what you do, but any pay you may receive now cannot compare with what the Lord will give you when you serve Him by serving others. Don't always expect to be paid for being helpful. Be willing to wait for the reward God will give.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18

[Soldier4Christ]

Moving Molecules

Jack and his friend Steven stayed after school to work on their project for the science fair. "We need to think of a way to show that molecules move around," said Jack. "Then our project will have a better chance of winning."

"I think it's good enough the way it is," argued Steven. "After all, a molecule is such a small thing it can't even be seen. They supposedly move and bang into each other, but who knows if they really do move all the time?"

"Scientists say they do, and they should know," insisted Jack. "They've studied them really carefully." After discussing it a bit more, the boys agreed to think about it for a day or two.

At dinner that evening, Jack's dad referred to their friends, the Thompsons, who were facing very difficult problems. "They surely need our prayers," said Dad.

Jack sighed. "Do you really think it helps?" he asked. "It seems like we've prayed for them a million times, and I haven't seen a single change there yet."

"Don't underestimate the power of prayer," advised Dad. "You may not see it, but God is working."

As they ate, Jack told his parents about the project for the science fair. "We've learned that everything is made up of tiny particles, called molecules, and scientists tell us they're always in motion," he said. "But just because we can't actually see them, Steven isn't so sure they're really moving all the time." He frowned. "Steven ought to know that just because you can't see something, it doesn't mean it's not happening."

"That's true-but you shouldn't be too annoyed with him," challenged Mom. "After all, you and Steven seem to think a lot alike."

"Alike!" exclaimed Jack. "How do we think alike?"

"Steven can't see the molecules move, so he's not so sure they do. You can't see God's work in the lives of the Thompsons, so you're not so sure He's working there," explained Mom.

Dad nodded. "Good point," he agreed. "Sometimes changes are taking place that aren't visible to us. We need to pray about things that concern us, and then trust God and believe He's working even when we don't see what's happening."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you confident that God answers prayer-even when you don't see that anything is happening? He often works in quiet ways, but He's always working. God said to pray continually-"without ceasing." Do that. Talk to Him during a daily prayer time. Then, throughout the day, breathe a quiet prayer to God whenever a special need comes to your mind. Trust Him even when you can't see the results you hoped for. Know that He hears your prayer and is at work.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

[Soldier4Christ]

Just Like Spot

"Mom, may I go to Bruce's house Friday night for his after-the-game party?" begged fourteen-year old Kyle. "I'll be home by eleven! I promise! Please?"

Mom shook her head. "I'm not sure its a good idea," she said. "I don't . . ." She was interrupted when Kyle's six-year-old sister burst into the room.

"Mommy!" wailed Josie. "Spot's dead!"

"What happened?" asked Mom and she and Kyle hurriedly followed Josie down the hall to her room. Josie pointed to the small aquarium on a table. A dead fish lay beside the tank. It was Spot. Mom gently scooped up the fish.

"Spot was the the best fishy I ever had," said Josie through her tears, "but I forgot put the lid on his tank this morning, and . . . and . . ." Josie burst into more tears.

"Josie, do you want me to help you bury him?" Kyle asked. Josie nodded in response, and the two of them left to carry out their unhappy task.

At the dinner table that night, Kyle repeated the question he had asked earlier. "So, Mom, can I go to Bruce's party?"

"I've been thinking about it," said Mom, and Kyle's eyes lit up with hope. "An example right here in the house explains my hesitancy," continued Mom. "I'm thinking of Spot. He seemed to be happy swimming in his tank, but I imagine him thinking how confining his boundaries were. So when Josie forgot to put the lid on the tank, he simply jumped out to explore his outside world."

"Aw," protested Kyle. "Fish don't think like that!"

Mom smiled. "Maybe not, but he did need the boundaries," she replied. "He broke out of them and suffered the consequences. We all need boundaries, too, and when we break out of our boundaries, we suffer the consequences. Your boundaries are decided by your parents and others in authority." Mom paused for a moment. "I'm not sure Bruce's party is within the confines of your boundaries."

"But . . . couldn't it be, Mom?" asked Kyle. "I still want to go to the party."

"Well, let's find out more about it," said Mom. "I'll call Bruce's parents to make sure they'll be home and to see what activities are planned. Okay?"

"Well, okay," Kyle agreed.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your parents give you boundaries that you don't like? They give them to you because they love you. They're given to protect you, not hurt you. They're all part of God's well-designed plan. He gives boundaries, too-perhaps you've noticed many of them in the Bible. Be willing to obey the boundaries God gives. And remember that one of them is His instruction for children to obey their parents.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
My son, keep your father's command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Proverbs 6:20

[Soldier4Christ]

Night Vision

Tim stretched and yawned, lazily watching the campfire. He was on an outing with his Sunday school class, and he was tired. His head started to nod, and his eyes grew heavy. But suddenly he sat up, wide awake as an eerie sound came from the dark, forbidding woods. "Whooo, hoo-hoo, whooo, whooo." Everyone peered into the deep darkness, and Tim and a few other boys scooted a little closer to the bright, comforting fire.

"That's my friend, Mr. Owl," said their Sunday school teacher. "I guess he's ready to do a little hunting for his dinner. Now . . . let's see what you boys know about owls. What kind of beaks do they have?"

"Hooked beaks!" Tim blurted out quickly.

"Right," replied Mr. Atkins. "What are their claws like?"

Another boy volunteered the answer. "They're sharp!"

"Hey, you guys are pretty good so far," approved Mr. Atkins. "Owls have interesting eyes, too. Who can tell me something about them?"

"They can see in the dark," offered one boy.

"Right! They have night vision," said Mr. Atkins, "so they sleep during the day and hunt at night. Their eyes are very sensitive, and when they fly overhead, they can see even very small animals on the ground."

Again the voice of an owl came from the woods. "Whooo! Whooo!" This time no one seemed afraid. Having talked about the owls made the sound seem friendlier.

"The good news is that owls don't eat boys," added Mr. Atkins with a chuckle in his voice. "And although they have wonderful vision, it's nothing compared to the way God can see. The Bible says the 'eyes of the Lord are in every place.' To be able to see everywhere at the same time-that's great eyesight, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but it's kind of scary, too," said one of the boys.

Mr. Atkins smiled. "Well, it could be," he agreed, "because God sees when we do something wrong. But don't forget-God also sees when we do what's right." Mr. Atkins stood and stretched. "Time to turn in," he announced after a moment. "God will be watching over you all night. Remember that, and sleep well."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you glad God can see over the whole world all at one time-even into the heart of every person? Yes, He sees when you're selfish or angry, but He also sees when your heart swells with love for Him and the desire to please Him. He sees when you do wrong things, and He also sees all your good deeds and acts of obedience. What will He see in your life today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

[Soldier4Christ]

Sammy Squirrel

"Hey, what's with your friend Sam?" asked Brett's brother Adam one evening. "I heard some kids call him 'Sammy Squirrel.' What's that supposed to mean?"

Brett grinned as he looked up from his book. "Sam's mom packs a lunch for him every day, but he always wants to have something from everybody else's lunch, too," he explained. "The kids say he's never satisfied with what he has. They say he's like a squirrel that steals bird seed from the bird feeders even though it has enough food of its own."

Adam laughed, and Brett's thoughts returned to the library book he'd been reading. It was one he had heard some of the kids talking about. This is wild, he thought as he read another page. These guys do real magic! It would be fun to see it done.

"What are you reading, Son?" asked Dad as he put down the newspaper.

"Just a book," said Brett, feeling a little uneasy. He was quite sure he knew what Dad thought about witches and magic.

Dad had noticed the title. "The Magic of Witchcraft?" he asked. "That doesn't sound like a very good book for you to read. Isn't one 'Sammy Squirrel' enough?"

"What do you mean?" asked Brett.

"Your friend was called 'Sammy Squirrel' because he has all the food he needs, but he still reaches out for more-for things that belong to others," said Dad. "Christians can sometimes be like that. They have everything they need for living-forgiveness of sins through the Lord Jesus, and also the Bible and the Holy Spirit to guide them through life. But sometimes . . ." Dad paused. "Sometimes they get into other supernatural things," he continued. "It's like they're reaching out for more-for things that belong to the devil. I'm afraid the material you find in the book you have there might cause you to do that."

"I just thought I'd take a look," said Brett sheepishly.

"Don't even dabble in it," replied Dad firmly. "Taking a look is opening the door to Satan's territory. For your own good, be content with God's power and work in your life, Brett. Satan's power can only bring about evil."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you avoid witchcraft and fortune telling-or would you like to try them and see if they can tell what will happen in the future? Do you think you can get good advice from horoscopes or from the stars or fortune tellers? Be aware that anything involved with witchcraft or fortune telling is dangerous! Thousands of years ago, God warned the Israelites about this. He calls those kinds of things an "abomination"-He hates them. Avoid them and be content with all that God has provided.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
There shall not be found among you anyone who . . . practices witchcraft. Deuteronomy 9:10

[Soldier4Christ]

A Better Tree for Travis

Because there was so much arguing going on inside the house, no one heard Travis go out the back door. He ran across the yard to his favorite tree. Somehow, sitting in the big old tree made Travis feel better-safe from things like noise and hurt. The tree was his hiding place and escape.

Travis stayed in the tree for a long time. He listened to birds chirp and sing. He watched small, quick squirrels run around the yard. The day looked better from high up in his favorite hiding place. There were no problems there. Still, his heart was very heavy.

"Travis!" called Mom from the back door. "Where are you?" Travis saw that his grandmother was there, too, so he climbed down and walked slowly toward the house. "Grandma wants to know if you'd like to go home with her for a while," said Mom. "Would you like to do that?" Eagerly, Travis nodded.

"That tree you were in must be very special to you," said Grandma as they got into the car. "Your mom says you spend a lot of time there."

"I like it up there," said Travis. "It's away from everything." With a big sigh, he added, "But it's almost winter. Then I won't be able to hide in my tree anymore."

"Sounds like you'll need a new hiding place," said Grandma, "and you know what? There's a better place-let's call it a better 'tree'-where you can take shelter from the things that trouble you."

Travis was surprised. "There is?" he asked. "Where is it?"

"Well," replied Grandma, "it can be most any place you want it to be. You see, honey, it's in the Lord's presence. If you'll go to Him with your problems, He'll help you get through them. You can talk to Him anywhere, at any time. Sometimes it's good to actually get right down on your knees and ask God to hold you safe. As you talk to Him and think about His love and His power, you'll know that you're safe in His care."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Where do you go when you're hurt, sad, afraid, or disappointed? When you need to "get away and hide," remember that God wants to protect you. Think about Him. Ask Him to hold, keep, and comfort you during bad times-and in the good times, too. If you can have a special place to meet with Him-in your room, in a closet, in an attic, or even in a tree-that's good, but it's not necessary. You can silently talk to Him, even in the midst of a crowd. Go to Him and trust Him to help you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence . . . from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

[Soldier4Christ]

Tricky Questions

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21 (NIV)

I have some questions to ask you today. Now, listen carefully, here is the first question. If it takes twenty minutes to hard-boil one egg, how long does it take to hard-boil two eggs? Who knows the answer? The answer is twenty minutes. It doesn't take any longer to hard-boil two eggs than it does to hard-boil one egg. OK, here is another question. A farmer has 15 sheep and all but nine of them die, how many sheep does he have left? Who thinks they know the answer to that question? The answer is nine. I told you all but nine of them died! I tricked some of you on those questions, didn't I?

Do you ever ty to trick someone? Has anyone ever tried to trick you? Sometimes tricks can be mean and sometimes they are meant to get someone else in trouble. Did you know that some people tried to trick Jesus? They asked him questions so that he would get into trouble with one group or another no matter how he answered.

The people in Jesus' day were required to pay taxes to the Roman government. That was not very popular with the people. One day a group of religious leaders came to Jesus and asked him if he thought the people should pay the taxes . They were actually trying to trick Jesus, because they knew if he said, "Yes," the people would be angry. But if he said, "No," he would get into trouble with the Roman authorities.

Jesus saw right through their plan and he did a very wise thing. He asked them for a coin, then he said, "Whose picture is on this coin?"

They answered, "It is Caesar." Caesar was the Roman ruler and all taxes had to be paid to him.

Jesus then said to them, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."

Look at this coin. Whose picture is on it? It is a picture of George Washington, our first president. What does it say right above his picture? It says, "The United States of America." Well, I guess that means that this coin belongs to "George" and we will have to use it to pay our taxes whether we like it or not. (This paragraph will need to be adapted to fit your own situation.)

But what about God? Jesus also said "Give to God what belongs to God." The Bible says that we were created by God and that we were created in the image of God. If we are created by God, and we were created in His image, we must belong to Him. That means we must give ourselves to Him!

Dear Lord God, help us to give you what is yours. Help us to spend our hours in acts of love and our days in doing acts of kindness. May we always obey you and give you the praise that is due. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ornamental Fruit

When Bryan woke one morning, the strangeness of his room surprised him. Then he remembered the plane ride that had brought him to Arizona to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gordon. He hopped out of bed at once. It was his first trip to their new home, and he didn't want to waste time. The sun was streaming through the window and seemed to promise a nice day.

Bryan looked out, and when he saw a tree with oranges hanging from the branches, he knew what he wanted to do first of all. He hurried to the kitchen where he found his grandmother fixing breakfast. "Grandma, may I go out and pick an orange?" he asked after greeting her.

"Sure, Bryan," said Grandma. "You may pick one, but the oranges on that tree aren't good to eat."

Bryan went out and picked the biggest orange he could find. It looked so good that he wondered if Grandma could be mistaken. He took it to the kitchen. "This sure looks like it's good to eat," he said, putting the orange down on the counter.

Grandma smiled. "I'll let you be the judge," she replied. "You can try it." She cut a wedge out of the orange and held it out for Bryan to taste.

As his tongue touched the orange, Bryan made a face. "Ugh! Bitter!" he exclaimed. "How could anything that looks so good taste so bad?"

"It's an ornamental orange tree," explained Grandma. "This one looks pretty, but it produces only poor fruit."

Bryan looked up as his grandfather came in. "Want a piece of orange, Grandpa?" offered Bryan with a grin.

Grandpa glanced at it and laughed. "No thanks," he said. "I know where you got that." After a moment he added, "Those oranges remind me of people."

"People?" Bryan asked.

"Yes-people who try to earn salvation by doing good works. They do things that may look good-like that orange does-but without Christ, their work doesn't mean a thing," explained Grandpa. "It sure can't get them into heaven. Only believing in Christ will do that." Bryan nodded as he thoughtfully looked at the orange he had picked.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trying to be a good person? Are you thoughtful, kind, and helpful? Do you go to church, give some of your money for mission work, and generally act like the Christians you know? That's nice, but all the good you do on your own is like "ornamental fruit." It's actually bitter because it will not earn heaven for you. God sees your heart. He knows whether you've trusted Jesus as Savior. If you haven't done so, wouldn't you like to accept Him now?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself . . . neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4