The Tyke and His Trike

The Tyke and His Trike

Saturday, July 27, 2019

GOD COMMANDS KINDNESS BECAUSE GOD VALUES KINDNESS.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Verse of the Day: “We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

Mom sat with her sister at the picnic table in the backyard, watching Evan and his cousin playing in the driveway. Evan’s new red-and-white tricycle gleamed in the sunlight as he rode it around the driveway. His cousin Vincent sat on the low brick wall that lined the driveway, swinging his legs and kicking the wall with his heels.

Finally, Evan stopped riding the tricycle he had gotten for his birthday, trotted across the driveway to the fence, and reached over the fence to pet the family dog for a few moments. As he petted the dog, however, he saw Vincent slowly climb down from his seat on the wall, stroll over to the tricycle, and sit down on it.

“No!” Evan shouted. He forgot all about the dog and ran to his tricycle. “I’m not done riding it,” he said, and waited for Vincent to get off the tricycle seat.

Mom waited a few moments, then walked over to Evan, who was furiously pedaling the tricycle in circles around the drain in the center of the driveway.

“That’s a really nice tricycle, isn’t it?” Mom said.

Evan nodded and stopped pedaling. “I can make it go really fast,” he said.

“You really love it, don’t you?” Mom asked.

Evan nodded again. “It’s the best birthday gift I ever got!”

Mom crouched beside the tricycle and took one of Evan’s hands into her own. “You know how you value this tricycle, how you think it’s really neat?”

Evan nodded.

“Well,” Mom continued, “God values things in much the same way. But you know what he thinks is even neater and better than tricycles?” Evan didn’t move. He looked at Mom with curiosity.

Mom smiled. “God really loves kindness, Evan,” she said. “He thinks being kind to other people is really, really neat—just like you think this tricycle is neat.”

As Mom stood, she mussed Evan’s hair. Then she walked back toward the picnic table where her sister, Vincent’s mom, still sat. Before she reached the table, however, she saw a smile cross her sister’s face. She turned to look back at Evan. She watched as Evan rode his tricycle to the low brick wall where Vincent sat.

“Do you wanna take turns riding my neat tricycle?” Evan asked.

Vincent smiled and jumped off the wall.

TO DO: Post a sheet of paper on the refrigerator. Have everyone in the family list one chore or task that he or she needs help doing. The whole family can model kindness by doing one of the tasks for someone else this week.

TO

PRAY: “God, we know that you command us to be kind because you value kindness. Help us to be kind to each other and to everyone else—even those we find it hard to be kind to—because we know that pleases you.”

Cindy’s Trip

Cindy’s Trip

Monday, August 5, 2019

EVEN YOUR FRIENDS CAN TRIP YOU UP.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Proverbs 13:14-20.

Verse of the Day: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20, NIV).

“I don’t see why you won’t let me hang around with Shannon,” Cindy protested. She folded her arms and stared at her empty dinner plate. “Why do you hate her so much?”

“We don’t hate her at all,” Dad replied calmly. “But Shannon doesn’t always make the wisest decisions.”

“And we don’t want her to influence your decisions,” Mom added.

“She won’t,” Cindy insisted. “I don’t always do everything she says.”

“That’s good,” Dad said, “but we still think the wisest thing is for you not to be around her as much.”

Cindy said nothing for the next few moments. Finally, she asked to be excused from the table. Her parents agreed.

Cindy picked up her dinner plate and silverware from the dining-room table to take them to the kitchen sink. She turned and took several strides toward the kitchen.

Buster, the family dog, roused from his station beside Cindy’s chair when she got up and followed her into the kitchen. At the kitchen door, however, Buster tried to dash ahead and got tangled up in Cindy’s legs. Buster let out a pained yelp. Cindy lost her balance, let out a shocked cry, and tumbled to the floor.

Mom and Dad jumped up from the table and ran to the kitchen door. Cindy lay on the floor next to her scattered silverware and upturned plate. Buster had already sought sanctuary under the kitchen table.

“Cindy!” Mom cried. “Are you all right?”

Cindy rubbed her elbow. She nodded. “I think I just scraped my elbow.”

Dad looked at her arm. He nodded. “Nothing serious. Does it hurt?” he asked.

“No, I’m OK,” Cindy said. “Really. Buster just got between my legs and tripped me up.” She called to Buster, who ran to her arms and licked her face. “He didn’t mean to hurt me.”

Cindy suddenly looked from her dad’s face to her mom’s.

“I guess that’s kinda like me and Shannon, isn’t it?” Cindy said. Mom and Dad listened attentively. “She doesn’t mean to hurt me, but-but I guess even your friends can trip you up sometimes, huh?”

Mom nodded. “That’s why you have to be careful where you walk.”

“And who you walk with,” Dad said. He patted Buster on the head and then helped Cindy get back up on her feet.

TO DISCUSS: Do you have any friends that sometimes “trip you up” by their bad influence? Are you ever a bad influence on your friends? How can you be more careful in the future to avoid tripping up your friends or to avoid letting them trip you up?

TO

PRAY: “Lord, we don’t want to be bad influences on our friends; nor do we want to be ‘tripped up’ by a friend’s bad advice. Help us to make wise choices.”

Victory Over Anxiety

Victory Over Anxiety

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the major weapons that Satan has employed against the church today is the weapon of anxiety.  No matter where I travel, or what church I attend, I find people are in a state of worry, apprehension, nervousness, and concern.  Their lives seem to be filled with anxiety.  How did the church and so many people that God Himself gave His power to become so hoodwinked and deceived?  Have we forgotten the exhortation that speaks to us to not be weary in well doing?  Have we forgotten the exhortation that speaks to us to fear not?  Have we forgotten the exhortation that speaks to us to be strong and of good courage?  Have we forgotten the exhortation that speaks to us to not allow our hearts to be troubled? Somewhere, we must get a hold of God’s word and be content.  Anxiety is not of God.  As Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  (Luke 12:32)  Overcome anxiety with the weapon of the word.  

Sing: He gives strength to me, as I worship Him, as my heart is filled with praise.  Jesus breaks the bands, when I raise my hands. He gives glorious victory.

Thought For Today:  Be content.

Eat Like You Mean It

Eat Like You Mean It

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: When I was a kid, I never saw a buffet or all you can eat restaurant. Other than maybe once a quarter at church potluck dinners. And you never knew what was in those pots. You just prayed and moved on.  I was in line at a church dinner once, and this guy in front of me, not to small, had on a T-Shirt which stated, “I hope you are in front of me in the food line, because when I’m done there will be nothing left.” He was going to eat like he meant it. The Lord said through the Prophet Isaiah, “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Jesus said that they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. If you really want to know more about Jesus Christ, why don’t you get into the bread of life, the Word, and start eating like you mean it.

Sing: Here’s my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, come and quench, this thirsting of my soul; bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, here’s my cup, fill it up, and make me whole.

Thought For Today: Better eat your Wheaties.