Good News from Pakistan

Bible for Children is soon providing Bible stories for children in Pakistan who speak Brahui.  There are 2.4 million people that speak this language.  This picture from When God Made Everything shows the Brahui text.  Please pray for Pakistan.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer. Ephesians 4:28

One day, Joey pulled an orange out of his pocket. He split it with his younger brother, Danny.

“Where did you get that?” Danny asked.

“From the store. I stole it.” Joey told him.

Danny thought his brother was a real hero. “Was it hard to do?”

“I backed up against a big orange box and put one into my back pocket,” Joey said. “It’s easy. Tomorrow, you can try.”

Next day, the boys went to the same store. Danny backed up to the big box and put an orange into his back pocket. On their way home Danny tore the orange in half and took a bite.

“Yuck. It’s sour,” he shouted.

‘That’s not an orange, Danny! It’s a lemon.” Joey told him. The boys threw away the lemon. When they got home, the storekeeper was at their house, talking to their Dad.

“Tell Dad we didn’t do it,” Joey whispered. “There’s no proof.”

“Come here, boys.” Dad spoke sternly. “Let me smell your hands.” He sniffed at the boys’ hands then gave the storekeeper some coins.

“Lemon. I’m afraid you’re right. I will look after this,” Dad said to the storekeeper. “And I’m sorry that my boys have brought shame on them and on me.”

The boys felt bad.

“I have forgiven you - and paid for what you stole,” Dad told them. “If you tell God you’re sorry, He will forgive you and help you not to steal again.”

Joey and Danny both did what Dad said - and they never stole again.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for helping me not to steal. And thank You for forgiving all my sins. Amen.

(Jake Peters. Winnipeg, Canada.)

Good News from Mozambique

Bible for Children is soon providing Bible stories for children in Mozambique who speak Ndau. There are 1.9 million people that speak this language. This picture from Heaven, God’s Beautiful Home shows the Ndau text. Please pray for Mozambique.

I, Jesus am the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16

Johnny lay on his bed looking out of the window. He could see stars - millions of stars - more stars than he could ever count. In his imagination Johnny heard the God of heaven calling him to come up to travel among the stars.

“I would like to do that, Lord,” Johnny whispered sleepily. “But there’s a lot of darkness up there, too.”

From the blanket of stars above, one star began to shine brighter and brighter. To Johnny, it seemed that this bright star also grew larger and larger and came closer and closer. Soon it was so close and so bright that Johnny had to shut his eyes.

Kitchen sounds woke Johnny. Mom was making breakfast. At the table, he told her about the stars. “Must have been a dream,” he muttered.

“Perhaps,” Mom replied. “But what a nice dream. It reminds me of the Star that led the wise men to Jesus.”

“Yes,” Johnny’s Dad added. “It reminds me of something else.” He reached for the family Bible. “It reminds me of Jesus, the bright and morning star. He came to bring light in the darkness.”

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the light of the world. Amen.

Good News from India

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for children in India who speak Varli. There are .8 million people that speak this language. This picture from Noah and the Great Flood shows the Varli text. Please pray for India.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:1

“Jake! It’s washday. I can’t do it myself.” Mother sounded firm.

“But Mom. We planned to go swimming. The boys are on their way over.” Jake scowled. “I promised.”

“It’s Monday. You should have thought about that before making any other promises.”

Summer on the prairie farm was hot. Too hot to wind the big wooden handle on the outdoor washing machine for fifteen minutes. Too hot to force the wet clothes through the wringer. Too hot for anything - except a nice cool swim in the pond.

“Maybe I’ll just sneak away, and call on the boys instead,” Jake thought. Oh, how he wanted to swim. But Jake knew his Mom couldn’t do the wash without his help. So he trudged to the washing machine and got started.

When the boys came along the road and saw Jake working, they didn’t even come into the yard. As they strolled away, Jake noticed they were munching on some apples.

A few minutes later, as Jim helped Mom hang the wash on the drying line, he heard the wail of a police siren. The town police car appeared, and stopped up the road. The policeman talked to the boys, then bundled them into the car.

“Looks like your friends are in trouble.” Mom said.

Jake didn’t answer. He knew. And as the breeze blew the cool wet bed sheets on to his face, he was glad he had obeyed his mother.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father.

Help me to do what my parents say - for this is right. Amen.

(Jake Peters. Winnipeg, Canada.)

Good News from India

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for children in India who speak Kukna. There are .7 million people that speak this language. This picture from The First Easter shows the Kukna text. Please pray for India.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

Jessica didn’t know what to say. Inside, she felt like crying. As Mom prayed and thanked God that Aunt Rachel wasn’t suffering any more, Jessica thought, “Why did You let her die, God? I will miss her so much.”

Mom said ‘Amen’ and took Jessica’s hand. “I know you’re sad, my dear. She’s gone from us for a time. God has now welcomed Aunt Rachel home to heaven.” Mom picked up a beautiful candle nestled in a fancy gift box.

“She wanted you to have this - to remind you to let the light of God shine in your life, just as she let it shine in hers.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Rachel whispered. “I won’t ever light it. I’ll keep it -”

“Oh, but I think Aunt Rachel would want you to use it.”

“It’ll burn out.”

“Before it does, it will give light to others,” Mom said softly.

“Just like Aunt Rachel did,” Jessica replied. “I think that God is happy because Aunt Rachel is with Him.”

Mother smiled. “It’s precious to God,” she said.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for having a home in heaven for Your people - and that You welcome us there. Amen. 

Good News from Pakistan and India

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for children who speak Punjabi Shahmukhi.  Earlier stories that were defective have been replaced.  The Punjab includes areas in both India and Pakistan.  There are 86 million people that speak this language.  This picture from The Start of Man’s Sadness shows the Punjabi Shahmukhi text.  Please pray for the Punjab.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Psalm 2:11

When I was a little girl, right up until I was about eleven or twelve, I thought we should be afraid of God because it says, ‘serve the Lord with fear’.

In church one Sunday, my minister preached a sermon about ‘fearing God’. He explained that the word ‘fear’ actually means great respect or awe.  “Don’t be afraid of God as if He was a cruel tyrant,” the minister said. “But respect God and be in wonder at the fact that He loves you so much and cares about every part of your life.”

Wow! That is a wonder! God loves me!

The minister quoted the angel Gabriel who appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was born. The very first words Gabriel said were “Fear not! Don’t be afraid!”

Prayer: Dear Lord, I marvel and wonder at Your great love for me. Help me to love You and serve You with great awe. Amen.

(Valerie Cox. Winnipeg, Canada.)