Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Under His Wings

In the wake of a disastrous prairie fire which destroyed'Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Ro 10:13 several homesteads, a relief party set out to see what help they could give.

   Riding on horseback through the smoldering remains of a barnyard one of the party observed a burnt hen still sitting upright on the ground. Curiosity led him to dismount and study the bird, which appeared to have been suddenly scorched to death where she sat.

   Struck with the peculiar outstretched position of her blackened wings, he nudged the lifeless form with his foot, turning it over on its side. Instantly out ran several little chickens, unharmed and as active and lively as possible!

   He at once saw that as the fire approached, the brave mother hen having called her little ones to the shelter of her wings, had secured them there from the burning heat while the flames devoured every other living thing.

   Sitting firm as a rock in the face of the consuming blast she had saved the lives of her chicks, though losing her own.

   As we read of the mother love of this dumb creature our minds instinctively turn to the pathetic words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 23:37:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not."

   Reader, as the Saviour looks down upon you does He have to say: "I longed to welcome you to the shelter of My wounded side, and to freely give you the salvation which I gave my life to purchase for you, but you would not?"

   Surely you cannot be content to let this be true, while there is offered to you such-

"A great salvation,
From a great destruction,
For a great sinner,
By a great God,
Through a great Saviour,
At a great end."

   "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Artist and the Gypsy Girl

Many years ago the artist Stenburg stood inFor whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 his Dusseldorf studio. He had just promised to provide a painting of the crufixion for a church building. It was to be a masterpiece,and he would be paid a big price for his work.

    In the weeks that followed, Stenburg searched out all he could of the facts of the death of Jesus. He was talented; he was famous; he was becoming wealthier every year. But Stenburg did not have peace.

    The first brushful of color touched the canvas, then another, and another. One day the cross stood stark and upright on Calvary's hill. Day after day Stenburg's brush caressed the canvas.

    Then suddenly he was tired. "I'll forget this," he declared. "I'll walk out to the country and sketch."

    It was spring and the woods were green. At the edge of the forest Stenburg stopped. There a gypsy girl plaited a straw basket. Blue-black hair reached her waist; her red dress was faded and torn. Her eyes were black, large and restless.

    "What a painting!" thought Stenburg.

    The girl stared up at the artist. She smiled, threw her straw down, sprang up and raised her hands high above her head, twirling and dancing gaily in front of him.

    "Stand," cried Stenburg. The girl dropped her arms. "This week you must come to my studio; I'll paint you."

    "But, Signor," the girl said shyly, "I'm only a poor gypsy girl."

    "Come," he said. And she came, in her red dress, with her hair tucked back with a flower. Stenburg was ready. "Sit!" he commanded.

    Pepita had never been in an artist's studio before. Her questions amused Stenburg. But suddenly her eyes stopped at the painting of the crucifixion. It was almost completed.

    "Who is it?" She asked.

    "The Christ," the artist said carelessly.

    "But what are they doing to Him?"

    "Crucifying Him," he answered.

    "But who are those cruel people?"

    Stenburg threw his brush down. "Now look here," he said. "You stand there.......Still....... and do not move your lips to speak.

    Pepita closed her lips. But her eyes never left the crucifixion.

    Posing for the day was over. At the door, Pepita stopped. "Was He bad?" she asked.

    "No, no; very good," Stenburg said. "Remember! Be here the day after tomorrow."

    Each day that she came, she asked another question. "If He was good, why did they do it?"

    Stenburg tipped his head to one side. "Listen! I will tell you once for all." Hurriedly, he repeated the facts of Christ's death, and as he talked he saw her black eyes fill with tears.

    One day, both paintings were finished - the one of the crucifixion and the gypsy dancing girl. For the last time Pepita came to the studio. When she saw herself on the canvas, she clapped her hands with pleasure. Then she walked over to the other painting and stood silently. She turned to Stenburg.

"You must love Him very much, Signor,
when He has done all that for you;
do you not?"

Then she was gone.

    Stenburg stood looking after her, but the street noises refused to drown out the sound of Pepita's voice: "Love Him very much when He has done so much for you."

    All week he heard the question: "You must love Him very much, do you not?" His restlessness, his dissatisfaction grew. He could stand no more. He tried going to church, and the vicar gave him absolution. "All will be well," he said, but when Stenburg left his heart was still tormented.

    He determined to present his masterpiece to the church at a fraction of its cost. He found the vicar and told him his decision. "For what you have done," said the vicar, "God be with you." But even such a wonderful gift as this brought him no peace. Stenburg knew God was not with him. All that was with him was the question: "You must love Him very much, do you not?"

    He walked night and day up and down the streets of Dusseldorf, trying to shake off his sadness of spirit, but in vain. One night he idly watched a group of people hurrying through a low doorway. It was curious, he thought, that the people who entered looked so happy. One day Stenburg decided to go to the house. He entered and sat down with the happy people. He listened to the preacher, a man who seemed to have found what Stenburg was looking for.

    That night Stenburg found the answer to the restlessness in his life. No church-going, no gift was enough! Jesus Christ had died on the cross for Stenburg; and at last the artist could say, "And how much I love Him!"

    The next morning, he could not keep this joy to himself. "How can I tell others?" he asked himself. "I can paint," he said with decision.

    And soon a great masterpiece was presented to the Dusseldorf gallery for every visitor to see, a sermon for all to hear.

    One day he found in front of his picture a girl, weeping. She turned, and it was Pepita. "It is you, Signor," she cried out.

"Oh, Signor, if He had but loved me so!"

    They both sat in front of the painting and he told her the story of that wondrous death, and the glorious resurrection. "For all men, for gypsies, for everyone-Christ Jesus has suffered and bled on the cross. All this He did for thee, Pepita."

    The gypsy girl was quiet. Then she looked up. "I believe it," she said simply.

    Two years later Pepita died, trusting in Jesus. Her last words were, "All this I did for thee."

"The Son of God, who loved me,
and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

[Soldier4Christ]

Reuben Johnson's Pardon

The following story, told by Dwight L. Moody, points up God's grace  -  and the sinner's incredulity.

When I was in Ohio, I was invited to preach in the State penitentiary. Eleven hundred convicts were brought into the chapel. After I got through preaching, the chaplain said to me:

    "Mr. Moody, I want to tell you of a scene which occurred in this room.

    A few years ago our commissioners went to the Governor of the state and got him to promise that he would pardon five men for good behaviour.

    "The Governor consented, with this proviso: that the record was to be kept secret, and at the end of six months, the five men highest on the roll should receive a pardon, regardless of who or what they were.

    At the end of six months the prisoners were all brought into the chapel. The commissioners came. The president stood on the platform, put his hand in his pocket, and brought out some papers.

    "I hold in my hands," he said, "pardons for five men."

    The chaplain told me he never witnessed anything on earth like it. Every man was still as death. Many were deadly pale.

The suspense was awful;
it seemed as if every heart had ceased to beat.

    The president went on to tell then how they had got the pardon, but the chaplain interrupted him.

    "Before you make that speech," said the chaplain, "read out the names. This suspense is awful."

    "So he read out the first name:

    "Reuben Johnson will come and get his pardon,," he called, and held out the document. But no one came forward.

    "He said to the Warden:

    "Are all the prisoners here?

    "The Warden told him they were all there.

    "Then he said again:

    "Rueben Johnson will come and get his pardon. It is signed and sealed by the Governor. Reuben Johnson is a free man."

    "Not one moved. The chaplain looked right down where Reuben was. He was well known; he had been nineteen years there. Many were looking around to see the fortunate man who had got his pardon. Finally the chaplain caught his eye and said:

    "Reuben, you are the man."

    Reuben turned around and looked behind him. The chaplain said the second time:

    "Reuben, you are the man, and the second time Reuben looked around thinking it must be some other Reuben. He had to say three times, "Reuben, come and get your pardon."

    "At last the truth began to dawn on the old man. He got up and came along down the hall, trembling from head to foot. When he got the pardon, he looked at it and went back to his seat, buried his face in his hands and cried.

    "When the prisoners got into the ranks to go back to the cells, Reuben got into the ranks, too, and the chaplain had to call to him:

    "Reuben, get out of the ranks; you are a free man; you are no longer a prisoner."

    "And Reuben stepped out of the ranks. He was free!"

    "That is the way," said Moody, "that men make out pardons; they make them out for good characters or good behaviour. But God pardons men who haven't any characters.

    "He offers a pardon to every repentant sinner on earth who will accept it. I don't care who he is or what he is like. He may be the greatest libertine that ever walked the streets, or the greatest blackguard who ever lived, or the greatest thief or vagabond. Christ commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel to every creature."

"Whosoever will may come."

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Birds and the Lighthouses"



   

"The Birds and the Lighthouses"


   It is estimated that more than one hundred thousand sea birds are killed every year by flying against the lighthouses along the coast. They strike the shining lights, as they flash across the stormy sea, with such force that they instantly drop into the waves and are cast up dead on the shore.

    How strange it is to think of these poor birds losing their lives by running against that which has been set up to save life. Yet such is the case, and it only tells what is being done by sinners every day and every hour.

    The gospel lighthouse has been set up by God to guide lost sinners to the haven of safety, the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of being guided to salvation, however, many are lost because they fly against the light. They reject and oppose the gospel and drop into the dark waters of judgement to be cast up on the shores of a lost eternity.

    Are you sure that you are not flying against God's light? You may know the gospel well. You may have heard it, read it, sung it, and you probably know others who, by believing and receiving it, have been saved. But have you yourself been saved? That is the great question. The light that guides the storm-tossed sailor to the harbor becomes death to the birds that fly against it; the gospel of God, by which believers are saved, becomes death to the rejector.

    "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: for why will ye die?"
Ezekiel 33:11

    Let the Lighthouse of your soul be your salvation. Confess to Him that you are a sinner, and receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour. You don't have to wait, do it now!

    "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
2 Corinthians 6:2

[Soldier4Christ]

Lost for Want
of Water

    An explorer in the Australian Outback was found where he had died of thirst. The party who discovered his body found these words scratched on his empty canteen: "The last thing I remember is pulling the saddle off and letting the horse go. My tongue is sticking to my mouth-lost for want of water-I can say no more-God help me."

    Now, if at that moment someone could have come to that man with water, do you think he would have hesitated to take it until sure he could drink in the right way? Would he have questioned whether he was thirsty enough or wondered if he might be unworthy of receiving it? Would he have tried to clean himself up a bit first?

    No! Enough for him to see the water he so desperately needed, and he would grasp it at once.

    It is so with the thirst of the soul. Whether it is from sin felt or God's wrath feared or your disappointment with this weary world, one thing is sure: Your soul is thirsty and longs for happiness and rest. In this state of things Jesus Christ our Lord meets you with His full salvation. He invites you to come to Himself as water for the thirsty. "In Me," He says. In Him alone you will find your desires met; you will find all that stills the guilty conscience and fills the empty heart. This is the "water of life."

    The Holy Spirit sees and takes care of your act of coming; you do not need at that moment to think or observe it at all. The Holy Spirit is at such a time pressing you to think altogether and simply of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit's way of bringing a soul to Christ is to increase its thirst (that is, the unhappy, unsatisfied feelings of conscience and heart) to the point where the soul cannot take a deep interest in anything but Him who will relieve it by what He is as the Saviour. At such a time you are not intended to think much of what you are feeling and doing; your part is to be thinking of the "water."

"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
(Revelation 22:17)

    Listen to the good news from God Himself, the story that is "as cold water to a thirsty soul," the story of the One who bore our grief's, carried our sorrows and opened the floodgates of divine love. Listen to this good news till your satisfied soul can thank Him for the "water of life" He has provided.

 
"Jesus said ...
'He that believeth on me
shall never thirst.' "
John 6:35

[Soldier4Christ]

"Is There Hope for a Man Like Me?"

Mr. John was holding gospel meetings in the city of Palermo, Italy. One night as he was entering the meeting hall a man came up to him. "Are you Mr. John?" he asked.

    "Yes, I am."

    "I wonder if you will do me a favor? When you get through with this meeting tonight will you come with me?"

    "Gladly. Wait for me afterward." John walked inside where some of the men stopped him.

    "What did that man want, Brother John?"

    "He asked me to go somewhere with him."

    "Don't do it! He's a dangerous man!"

    "I'm sorry, but I promised him, and I must keep my promise."

    When the service was over, Mr. John and the man walked three blocks into a side street, down an alley, and stopped. He unlocked a door and said ,"Come in."

    Mr. John walked into the room. The stranger locked the door, reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun. "I don't intend to do you any harm," he said. "I just want to ask you a few questions. Did you mean what you said in your sermon last night?"

    "What did I say?"

    "You said, 'The blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth us from all sin.' "

    "Yes, God says so."

    "Mr. John, you see this gun? It is mine. It has killed four people. Two of them were killed by me and two by my bartender in a brawl in my tavern. Is there hope for a man like me?"

    " 'The blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth us from all sin,' " answered Mr. John.

    The man said, "Mr. John, another question. I have a tavern. We sell every kind of liquor to anybody who comes along. Many times I have taken the last penny out of a man's pocket, letting his family go hungry. Many times women have brought their babies here and pled with me not to sell any more booze to their husbands, but I chased them out and kept on with the whiskey selling. Is there hope for a man like me?

    Mr. John replied,
"God says, 'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin.' "

    Another question: "In back of the partition is a gambling joint and it is as crooked as sin and Satan. There isn't a decent wheel in the whole place. It is all loaded and crooked. A man leaves the bar with some money left in his pocket, and we take his money away from him there. Men have gone out of that back room to commit suicide when their money and, perhaps, trust funds were all gone. Is there any hope for a man like me?"

   
"God says, 'The blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth us from all sin.' "

    "One more question, and I will let you go. I have a wife and an little girl. I have made life a hell on earth for them. I came home one night drunk, mean and miserable. My wife got in my way somehow, and I started beating her. My little girl ran between us. I slapped that child across the face and knocked her against a red-hot stove. Her arm was burned from shoulder to wrist. She is scarred for life. Mr. John, is there hope for a man like me?"

    John took hold of that man's shoulders, shook him, and said, "Oh, what a black story you have to tell! But God says,
'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.' "

The man said, "Thank you; thank you very much. Pray for me! I am coming to your meeting tomorrow night."

    The next morning the man closed the door of his bar behind him and started home. He was dirty and tearstained, shaking and stumbling as he had so often done, but this time totally sober. He left a business in a shambles; every bottle and keg had been smashed and the floor was swimming ankle deep in a mixture of beer, gin, whiskey and wine. The gambling tables were smashed and the cards and dice and chips were floating on the flooded floor. He had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour from sin and wanted no part of his old sinful life.

    Once at home, he staggered up the stairs and sank heavily into the chair in his room. His wife called the little girl: "Margarita, run upstairs and tell daddy breakfast is ready."

    The girl walked slowly up the stairs. Half afraid, she stood in the door and said, "Daddy, Mommy said breakfast is ready."

    "Margarita, darling, Daddy doesn't want any breakfast."

    Margarita ran back down the stairs. "Mommy, Daddy said, 'Margarita, darling,' and he didn't ..."

    "Margarita, you didn't understand; go back upstairs and tell Daddy to come down."

    Margarita went back upstairs, and her mother followed her.

    The man looked up as he heard the child's footsteps. "Margarita, come here."

    Shy and frightened, the little girl walked up to him. He lifted her in his arms and held her tightly but oh, so gently. His wife, standing in the doorway, wondered at him. Catching sight of her he said, "Mary, come here."

    He threw his arms around them both, those two whom he loved, whom he had so fearfully abused, lowered his head between them, and wept. After a few minutes he was able to say, "You needn't be afraid of me anymore! God has brought you a new husband and a new daddy home today."

    That same night his wife and daughter went with him to the gospel meeting, and they also accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

    Will you surrender to Christ now? Read John 3 and then Romans 10:9-10. Thank the Lord Jesus for dying for you, and than read John 5:24. This is all you need do to be saved and to start a new life with Him.

There is hope!
 
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Isaiah 1:18

[Soldier4Christ]

DOES GOD HEAR?

Gainesville, Georgia:    "Tornado Alley!"    Terrific tornadoes have sometimes swept through there, leaving death and destruction.
One of the worst storms tore a mile-wide path, eight miles long, leaving 227 dead in a few minutes.

    During that storm, two small boys were in the care of a neighbor, Belle, while their parents were at work. At the sound of the tornado (it sounds like a freight train right overhead) Belle exclaimed, "I'm going to pray!" She dropped to her knees and began praying out loud.

    Eddie, the seven-year-old boy, said "Belle, don't you know God can't hear you above all that racket?"

    Belle only said, "Son, God hears everything" - and went right on praying.

    That minute the wind over their house stopped. They looked cautiously out. Their wooden garage was smashed, but the house and the two boys and Belle were all safe.

    Did God hear? Even above the shrieking wind and crashing timbers? Eddie knew that God had heard, and he remembered that moment all his life.

    Of course God heard. He promises that not one sparrow shall fall on the ground without Him and that the "very hairs of your head are all numbered." Nothing in His creation is too small for His notice.

    Nor is anything too large. He "formeth the mountains, and createth the wind." He asks, "Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if thou canst tell?"

    His Son's name - do you know it? It is JESUS, because He shall save His people from their sins. Yes, Jesus only is the Saviour. He says, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." But He also says that "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

    "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12)

[Soldier4Christ]

ALLIGATOR ATTACK!

Bradley was an energetic, fun-loving 10-year-old boy who lived in south Florida. One day Bradley and his parents, along with some other friends, were canoeing down the Loxahatchee River in Jonathan Dickenson State Park. This is a shallow, winding river with a lot of lush, tropical plants and trees lining the banks. People enjoy paddling their canoes and seeing the many birds and animals in their natural surroundings.

People from out of the state specially enjoyed seeing the alligators, and there were many in the river. The park rangers warned visitors about staying out of the water and not feeding them. Alligators have a natural fear of man but can lose their fear if fed by people. However, it was a common practice for canoers to get out of their canoes to push off when they were grounded on a sandbank or stuck on tree roots and to go swimming when they got too hot.

Bradley and his parents and friends were wading the shallow water when swallow.jpg (15015 bytes)his father suddenly missed him. Seeing something white being pulled through the water, his father grabbed at it to find it was Bradley’s T-shirt. Trying to pull his son out of the water, he felt him being tugged back in. To his horror the father discovered that a huge alligator had Bradley in his jaws! He grabbed his son’s leg and held on while others began beating the ‘gator with canoe paddles.

The alligator finally let Bradley go, and his father and the others wrapped the T-shirt tightly around him to try to stop the severe bleeding. Paddling feverishly, they rushed to the nearest place where they could call for help. Soon Bradley was being airlifted by helicopter to the nearest hospital, but he was too badly injured, and it was not long before he died of a fractured skull.

The alligator who killed Bradley was 11-1/2 feet long and weighed between 350 and 400 pounds. When he was later caught and killed, they found his stomach was empty and he had been hungry. He had just quietly slipped through the water and grabbed Bradley. Afterwards he swam over to the other bank and watched, unaffected by the commotion he had caused.

This alligator reminds us of a far worse enemy who is trying to deceive and in the end destroy people. Some think the devil is just a joke, but the Bible, God’s Word, tells us, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Peter 5:.

Satan deceived Eve in the garden of Eden, and he has been trying to deceive mankind ever since. But Jesus defeated the devil at the cross of Calvary where He died for our sins. Someday the devil is going to be cast into the lake of fire forever. But, all those who have believed that Jesus died on the cross for their sins are eternally in Jesus’ hands.

    "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand" (John 10:28-29).

If that had been you instead of Bradley, would you be in heaven now? Jesus is coming soon to take all Christians up to be with Himself in heaven. All people need to be sure that they are ready. Are you?

"We wrestle…against…the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12


 

"God commendeth His love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

[Soldier4Christ]

God’s Bridge

See that light out there flashing in the darkness?

One - two - three white flashes. It shines from the lighthouse on Morte Rock, a name that means "Death Rock", and it has been a death rock to many even though it is not far from shore.

Years ago a Norwegian vessel, the Odin, was passing the rock bound for Llanelli. It was laden with timber, and commanded by a Christian captain who read his Bible and prayed every day with his crew. During a storm in the dead of night the ship ran upon the rock. There was no lighthouse there then, so the disaster was not surprising.

The doom of the Odin was certain, as it lay alone and uncertain on the rocks. Some of the crew wanted to take to the boats at once, but in that raging sea it would have been impossible for a boat to hold up.

It was certainly a time of trouble. Calls for help were useless, for no human help was near, but they could call to the Lord. He holds the sea in the hollow of His hand, and has said,

Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee,
and thou shalt glorify Me.
(Psalm 50:15.)

So the captain said, "Let us pray unto the good Lord; He can do great things."

All knelt on the slippery, slanting deck, and the captain prayed in simple words to the One who was able to do what they could not do.

"What next?" was the crewmen’s anxious question.

"We will wait and see," was the only answer the captain gave.

Soon their danger became greater than ever: a heavy wave broke over the ship and split it in two. Was God trying their faith, or was their prayer in vain?

The crew kept together as much as possible, still asking, "What, now, Captain?"

Still the same answer was given, "We will wait and see."

Through the hole in its side made by the great wave that broke their ship apart, the timber stored in the hold began to wash out. One by one the planks and logs floated out and were tossed upon the rocks. The watching men soon noticed the amazing thing that was taking place. The waves were tossing the logs in such a way that they were forming a bridge of logs from the wreck to the shore!

"Captain, I believe we can cross to land!" Was this to be their way of deliverance?

The captain looked at what was being done by the waves. "Not yet, men; wait a little longer," was his reply.

They prayed again. Light was dawning, and they could see that there was just one space between the rocks which they could not pass. Then, guided by the Divine hand, another wave swept out some fresh logs and laid them exactly where they were needed. The bridge was now complete – a God-built bridge – and over it the drenched sailors scrambled. By God’s preserving care they reached the shore, and climbed a little path to the fields above.

Those who ought to have been on the lookout for those in trouble on their coast seem to have neglected their duty, for there were none watching to give the shipwrecked men any help, but he Lord led them over the fields into a road. "It leads somewhere," they said. "Let’s follow it."

Drenched and hungry, soon they came into a little town where they found food and warmth. The first thing the captain did was to assemble his men to give thanks to God. They had cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He had brought them out of their distresses. Now they were safe and grateful.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

God has made a bridge from a sinful life to everlasting life for all whose faith rests in the saving power of the shed blood of His Son – Jesus Christ. That bridge is Christ Himself. A wonderful bridge spans the waters of death, even Jesus, the new and living way, and no man can come to the Father but by Him.

Who could have planned God’s way of salvation from the wreck of sin? It is not of man’s work, not by the help of angels, but all by His own wisdom and by His own strong arm. The only hope, the only escape from the wreckage of sin is to trust in the Saviour of sinners. Will you accept Him and His way now?

Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9)

Since the lighthouse has been on the Morte Rock no wreck have taken place on that rock, but what can we say of those who run upon the rocks of sin in spite of the clear rays of God’s lighthouse. Such wrecks are willful, not accidental, but still that bridge of salvation, that one way of escape from destruction, is open to all who will take it. Only turn from the way of death; only turn to God’s way of life – Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life – and you too will prove that He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. Titus 3:5

[Soldier4Christ]

The Unlocked Door

As long as men are given to stealing, safes and locks will be needed. The harder they are to unlock, the better. Yet a strange thing happened a short time ago.

A notorious thief was caught with a bunch of keys, fifty-six of them, trying to unlock a door. How many of the keys he had tried, or how long he had been trying to unlock the door, we do not know. A watchman, however, caught him at it and handed him over to the police. He was fined for malicious trespass.

BUT- he might have tried all day and all night, and for the rest of his life, to unlock that door. He could never have succeeded in his purpose for the simple reason that it was already UNLOCKED. All he had to do was to turn the handle and walk in.

This reminds us, however, of a mistake made by hundreds of thousands, no- millions- of honest people; a mistake which is absolutely fatal, not only for time but for eternity, not only for the body but for the soul. We refer to the matter of the soul’s salvation. If men only realized the seriousness of sin and their lost estate before God, how anxious they would be to enter the door of salvation! Indeed, many are anxious but they make the serious mistake of thinking the door is locked, and that they must find the key to unlock it.

Many keep scratching at the door of salvation with the key of good works. They think this will unlock the door, and insure their reaching heaven at last. But good works can never earn heaven. The Bible is plain on that point. We read that salvation is "not of good works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:9.

The door is already unlocked. Who unlocked it? The Saviour cried,

"I am the door : BY ME if any man enter in,
he shall be saved." John 10:9.

He did the work of salvation at the cross. He cried, "It is finished." John 19:30. The work is DONE.

Some are trying to open the door of salvation with the key of money. Was that not what Luther fought against when a friar was selling indulgences, and telling the people that at the instant their money clinked at the bottom of his alms-box that the soul of their dead relative would be released from purgatory and ascend to heaven?

Money cannot buy salvation. Not all the money in the world can wipe away one sin, while "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin." 1 John 1:7.

All keys are useless in opening an unlocked door. The door to life eternal swings wide when approached by simple faith in the Saviour. We read that "the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. What can you do with a gift? You cannot buy it, you cannot earn it. Why not do so NOW?

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
2 Cor. 9:15

[Soldier4Christ]

And God Made You Too!


Did you know God made everything? He made the shining sun, the green grass, the playful puppy... everything you can see. God even made a great big animal called the hippopotamus. We call him hippo for short. Doesn't the hippo look silly? He's got short legs, a huge back, and a big smiley mouth. God made the silly hippo--isn't he wonderful?

And God made you too! God says that you're special. Even more important to Him than the hippo. There is nobody exactly like you!

Do you know why you are so special to God? Because He loves you.

God loves you so much that He did the greatest thing possible for you. He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay for all of the bad things that you have ever done. And then, three days later He rose from the grave. And now Jesus is alive!

But the best part is that Jesus wants to live in your heart and give you eternal life so you can live with Him forever. All you have to do is ask Him.

You can ask Him into your heart right now! Just pray something like this:

"Dear Jesus, I am sorry for all of the bad things that I have done. Thank You for dying for me so that I can have eternal life. I want You to come and live in my heart. I want You to be my best friend."

Now remember about all of the wonderful things God has made and that you are more important than all of them! You are very special to God.

If you have asked Jesus into your heart, or want to, please write (or have someone write for you) your name and address below, and send it to us for more information about knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and learning more about Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Birthday Fun Bash


A riddle for you . . .

What is bigger than the biggest birthday present you’ve ever received, but small enough to fit inside your heart?

The letter on each balloon is a clue. Match the numbers under the lines to the numbers on the balloons and fill in the letters to discover the answer.

G O D ’ S     L O V E

How big is it? The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). That means it’s big enough for the whole world! So how do you get it inside your heart? By believing in God’s gift for you.

That’s right. It’s a gift God wants to give you, even if it’s not your birthday. But your sins—the bad things you do—separate you from God. So God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to take away your sins. Three days later Jesus came back to life and now He lives in Heaven.

If you believe that God did these wonderful things for you, you can receive the gift of God’s love inside your heart and become part of God’s family. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Now that’s something to celebrate! You can accept God’s gift right now by saying, “Dear God, I believe that you sent Jesus to take away my sins. I’m sorry for my sins and ask You to forgive me. Please come into my into my life and fill my heart with Your love. Amen.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Dinosaur Fun Park


Did you know that there were over 300 different kinds of dinosaurs? Some could swim, and some could fly. Some had sharp teeth to eat meat. Others had long necks to reach the tops of leafy trees. God made each dinosaur special, with its own shape and size and color. But did you know that God made something even more special than dinosaurs? He made you!

Do you know how special you are to God? The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). You are so special that God wants you to live forever with Him in Heaven! But your sins—the bad things you do—separate you from God. So God sent His Son Jesus to take away your sins by dying on a cross. Three days later he rose to life again and now He lives in Heaven.

If you are sorry for your sins and believe what Jesus did for you, just say to Him with all your heart:

Dear God, thank You for loving me and making me so special. I believe that You sent Jesus to earth to take away my sins so that I can live with You forever in Heaven. I’m sorry for the bad things I’ve done. Please come into my life and help me live for You. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Frogs!


Did you know that . . .

FROGS drink through their skin? Instead of swallowing water with their mouths, frogs absorb moisture through their skin. Frogs can also take in oxygen through their skin, which helps them breathe better in the water.

FROGS eat with their eyes closed? The eyes help the frog swallow by lowering into its head and pushing the food down its throat.

FROGS can jump 20 times their own length? That's like a human jumping past four school buses in one leap!

FROGS have sticky tongues? Frogs don't use their hands to catch food . . . they just stick out their tongues! Flies, mosquitoes, and other yummy bugs stick to the tip and get pulled into the frog's mouth for dinner.

SOME FROGS wear camouflage? Stripes and spots help frogs blend into their natural surroundings. Some frogs can even change color depending on their location or the weather.

FROGS recycle? Frogs shed their skin about once a week. Then they eat the old skin to reuse the nutrients stored inside.

FROGS can live to be 40 years old? Most frogs live from 4 to 15 years.

A FROG wasn't always a frog? Every frog starts as a tiny egg that hatches into a tadpole. A tadpole has a round head and a tail and lives in the water like a fish. The tadpole eats a lot as its body changes and grows new parts. After three to four months, the tadpole has four legs and no tail and can live on land-it has become a frog!

AWESOME!

Did you know that you can become a new creature, too? You may not have a tail and live in the water, but God can give you a new life. Do you sometimes do things that make you feel bad inside? Maybe you were mean to someone at school or told a lie to your parents. God calls those bad things sin. Everyone is born knowing how to sin, and everyone who sins must be punished. But God, who loves us, doesn't want us to sin. He wants us to be like Him-loving, kind, and good. Just as a tadpole changes into a frog, God can help you become more like Him. God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to be a human, just like us, except Jesus never sinned. Even so, He chose to die so that He could pay the death penalty for our sins. Three days after He died, God raised Him back to life again!

Do you want to have a clean, new life? Then just believe in what Jesus did for you. Tell God that you are sorry for your sins and thank Him for sending Jesus to save you. The Bible says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God will change you on the inside to make you a totally new creature-just like a tadpole changes into a frog. To do this, you can pray something like this:

Dear God, I am sorry for the bad things I do. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for my sins. Please change me on the inside and help keep me from sin so I can live a clean, new life for You. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

God Knows My Name


God made everything and God knows everything. He even knows my favorite color. What’s your favorite color? Surprise! God already knew it!

God knows my name. He even knows how many hairs are on my head. Can you count how many hairs are on your head? God can count every star up in space. He put every one in its place!

God sees me when I go out to play and when I go to bed. He can watch over me because He never sleeps. When I hide in my favorite hiding place, God can find me! Nothing can hide from God.

When a sparrow falls to the ground or when I fall to the ground, God knows! He always knows how I feel. God understands when I feel sad, glad, mad, or bad. He cares when I feel embarrassed, scared, or excited.

Before God made the world, He knew about me. Before I was born, God knew what would happen every day of my life. God knows my name. And He knows the names of everyone in the whole wide world!*

God knows all about us and He loves us . . . even when we do bad things. He calls these bad things sin. Everyone who sins must be punished, but God loves us so much that He did a wonderful thing. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to be punished in our place! Now we can live with God forever in Heaven if we believe and accept God’s gift of Jesus to us.

If you believe these things in your heart, talk to God right now and say, “Dear God, thank You for loving me so much that You know all about me. I know that I have done bad things and I am sorry. Thank You for sending Jesus to take the punishment for my sin. Please come into my heart and help me love You more every day. Amen.”