In step

[RiverOL]

Worship Him​

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Far away in the East, some men were watching the sky. The people called them Wise Men. They studied the stars that twinkled in the sky at nighttime. They tried to learn all about those stars. One night as the Wise Men were watching, they saw a new star. It was brighter and more beautiful than all the other stars.
“Look!” said one of them. “There is a new and wonderful star in the eastern sky. That means that a King has been born. Let us go and see him.”
The men brought their camels.They placed on each camel its beautiful head trimming of scarlet fringe and silver bells to tinkle as it walked.
“Let us bring gifts for a king,” said another Wise Man. “We can fasten them on the camels’ backs to take with us.”

At night when the bright new star came into the sky, the camels knelt down while the men got into their places.
With long swinging steps the camels hurried along while their silver bells tinkled. The men rode all night long while the bright new star shone. When the morning sun appeared, one of the men said, “We cannot see the star when the sun is in the sky.”
“No, it is time for us to eat and rest, while the sun is hot on the desert sand.” There was not a house or tree to be seen anywhere, only shining white sand all around.

Night after night they traveled across the desert sand, with never a sound except the camels’ feet in the sand and the tinkling of their silver bells.
At last they saw tall buildings in the distance. “This is Jerusalem, where the king lives. Surely it must be here that the baby king is born,” said one of the men.

They stopped their camels and asked, “Where is He that is born to be King, for we have seen His star in the East?”
But the king in Jerusalem had not heard about the light in the sky which the shepherds saw. He had not heard about the angels’ song. He did not know about the baby that was born in the stable and laid in a manger.

He called to him some of the wisest men in his country.
“Where is the child that is born to be King?” he asked.
They said, “It is written in our Bible that Bethlehem is the place.”

When the stars came out again, the men rode their camels toward Bethlehem and there was the same star shining above it. On and on they rode until the star stood still, right over where the young child was.
The camels kneeled. The Wise Men got off. They came into the house and saw the child Jesus with Mary, His mother. They kneeled down before the baby, bowed their faces to the ground, just as people did before a king. They brought their treasures, gifts of shining gold and sweet-smelling perfumes and laid them before Him. These were the kind of gifts that one brought to a king.

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[RiverOL]

Jesus in the Temple​

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One day, when Jesus was a boy, He went on a long journey. Every year Mary, His mother, and Joseph went to visit the big city of Jerusalem. They went to see the beautiful church there. They called the church the Temple. It took several days to make the journey, because they had to walk all the way.
Every year Jesus had wanted to go. All His life He had heard about the beautiful Temple and He wanted so much to see it. But each year His mother had said, “No son, you cannot go this year. It is a long journey and you are not big enough or old enough.” So each time Jesus had stayed home cheerfully with His little brothers and sisters.
But now Jesus was twelve years old. He was a big, strong boy. It was once more time for the journey to Jerusalem. One day His mother said, “This time, Jesus, you may go with us. You are big enough and strong enough for the long walk. You are old enough to visit the beautiful Temple and to understand what the ministers and teachers say.”

Jesus was very happy as they started out. He was strong—so strong that He did not grow tired as He walked along beside Joseph. When Mary became tired she put her hand on Jesus’ shoulder and He helped her.

At last they reached the big city of Jerusalem. Jesus was glad to see everything, but most of all He loved the beautiful Temple. He thought it was the most wonderful place He had ever seen.
Because it was God’s house it made Him feel very close to the heavenly Father. Jesus wanted to spend all His time there, listening to the ministers and teachers, and learning all He could.
At last it was time to go back to their own home. Mary and Joseph had found many friends who were going back with them. Soon they were ready and they started for home. Joseph was walking with the men, and he thought that Jesus was with Mary. Mary was walking with the women, and she thought Jesus was with Joseph or with some of the boys from their home.

But He was not. Jesus was back in the Temple, listening to the teachers. He was so interested that He did not even know it was time to go home. He hoped He could stay a long time in the Temple.
All day long Mary and Joseph walked on. But when evening came Mary went to Joseph. “Where is Jesus?” she asked anxiously. “I thought He was with you, but I do not see Him.”
Joseph looked worried too. “I have not seen Him,” he said. “I thought He was with you.” Anxiously they hunted among all their friends for Jesus. He was nowhere to be found.
“We must have left Him in Jerusalem,” said Mary. “We must go back and see.”
They left their friends, and hurried back to the city. They looked everywhere along the way for Jesus, but they did not find Him.
They reached the city and hurried to the beautiful Temple, for they knew that was where Jesus loved to be.

Sure enough, there He was quietly listening to the teachers. He was so happy and so interested that He had not even missed them.
“Son,” said Mary, “your father and I have looked for you everywhere. Why did you stay here so long? We have been very worried.”
Jesus was surprised when He heard they had started home without Him. He was sorry He had made them worry, for He had not meant to do so.

Jesus would have liked to stay longer in the Temple. But He wanted even more to obey His mother. So He left at once, cheerfully and willingly, and went back with Mary and Joseph to their own home.

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[RiverOL]

God Cares​

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One day Jesus and His friends were out where the flowers grew in the fields. There were birds, too, in the field. Jesus saw the flowers. He saw the birds, too.
But His friends did not notice them. They were thinking of other things. Some of the friends were fishermen. They were wondering whether they could catch enough fish to sell, and whether they would have money enough for all the things they needed.

Jesus saw their anxious, worried faces. He knew that they were unhappy and worried for fear they might not have enough money for food and clothes and other things. Jesus felt sorry for them.
He looked at the flowers in the field and thought of God’s care. He listened to the birds and thought of God.

“Do not be anxious and worried about what you shall have to eat and drink and wear,” He said. “Look at the birds of the air. They do not plant fields nor gather food into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. If God cares for them how much more will He care for you.”

Jesus’ friends began to think now of the birds which they had not thought about before. They began to listen to their happy songs. They watched some of the birds fly down to eat some seeds growing.

While His friends were beginning to think of God, Jesus said, “Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not work to make clothes, and yet I say unto you that not even the greatest king in his most gorgeous clothes was ever as beautiful as these.”
Then the friends began to look at the little field flowers. They noticed their beautiful colors there in the rich green grass. How much more beautiful they were than any piece of cloth could be. As they looked at the grass, they heard Jesus speak of that, too.
“If God so clothes the grass of the field, how much more shall He care for you,” Jesus was saying. “Your heavenly Father knows all the things you have need of,” He told them.

As the friends looked at the beautiful green grass, the wild flowers in the field, and listened to the happy birds, their worried anxious faces began to change. A happy light came into their eyes. They too, like Jesus, were thinking of the Father’s love and care.
Many times after that as they walked in the wonderful outdoors they looked at the grass, the flowers, the birds, and thanked God for the words of Jesus.
And ever since people have remembered what Jesus said about God’s care of the birds and flowers and have been happy and thankful.

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[RiverOL]

Talking to God​

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When He was a little boy, Jesus began to talk with His Heavenly Father. He knew that He did not need to wait to go to church to talk with God. He could stop in the middle of His playing and speak with Him. He could ask Him to help Him in school, or in His work at home.

He could look out on the fields, and see the trees and flowers, and say “Thank you” to the Heavenly Father for making them. He could watch the birds and bees and butterflies and say, “I am glad the Heavenly Father gave us all these lovely things to enjoy.”
He could tell the Heavenly Father all the things that made Him happy. He could also tell Him the things that made Him sad.

When He grew to be a man, Jesus still loved to talk things over with His Heavenly Father. He felt He could talk best when He was away from people and only God was near. So He often got up very early in the morning and went out to be alone with God. When the sun was just coming up and the birds were just beginning to sing in the treetops, Jesus felt that God was very near.

Often He climbed the mountainside and there, alone with God, He told Him the things that troubled Him. Sometimes, when there was much to say to the Heavenly Father, Jesus stayed up in the mountain all night. As He looked up into the starry sky He thought of God and talked with Him. Even the darkness seemed to make the Heavenly Father near.
Anytime, anywhere, Jesus knew that He could stop and whisper little prayers to God, who was His Father, and God would always hear Him. For He was His loving Father, and He was always near.

Such a loving Friend is ours;
Near us all the day,
Helping us in lesson hours,
Smiling on our play.
Keeping us from doing wrong,
Guarding everywhere,
Listening to each happy song,
And each little prayer!
(F.R.H.)

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[RiverOL]

Blind Made to See​

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A blind man stood along the roadside. He could not see the flowers along the way. He could not see the bright sun in the sky. He could not see how to do work.
Each morning with his stick going tap, tap, tap on the roadside to help him find his way, he came to a place to beg. When he heard footsteps far away he knew someone was coming. How carefully he listened as the steps came nearer. He hoped people would see him and give him some money.

One day Jesus and His friends walked along that road. How sorry Jesus was as He looked at the blind man who as a little boy had never seen even his mother’s face, or bright flowers and birds. He had not been able to run with other children for he could not see where he was going. He had always had to go slowly, feeling his way.
When Jesus stopped, the blind man listened eagerly. Perhaps he thought money would drop into his hand. But the next minute he felt Jesus rubbing clay upon his eyes. Then he heard Jesus say, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.”

He did not know how this would cure his blindness. He did not ask. He did just as Jesus said. Tap, tap, tap went his stick as he felt his way. He found his way to the pool by touching the building with his hands and by tapping his stick on the walk. Then he washed in the pool just as Jesus had told him.

When he came up out of the pool he was not blind any longer. He could see the trees, the blue sky, the water. For the first time he saw the roadside which he had known only by feeling and tapping. He looked and looked at everything, for he had never seen all these things before. How happy he was!
By and by he met some people who used to see him begging. They asked him if he was really that same man. He said, “I am he.”
“How were your eyes opened?” they asked.
The man told them what Jesus had done for him. He wished very much that he might see Jesus again to tell Him of his love and happiness.
Some people even went to find the man’s father and mother to be sure that this was the same man who used to be blind. The father and mother said that he was their son and that he had never been able to see until then.
One day the man found Jesus again. How happy he was to be able to see Jesus and tell Him of his love and thank Him.

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Lovely things the blind man could see when Jesus made his eyes well:

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[RiverOL]

The Hungry are Fed​

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One day Jesus and His friends got into a boat. They were tired. Do you know what Jesus did all the time? He made sick people well, He made unhappy people happy; and He made bad people good. Because He did these things, there were men and women and children crowding about him. He and His friends had hardly time to eat. So He said to them, “Come away to a quiet place and rest a while.”
They had only just started across the water when some people saw the boat. They saw that the men in it were Jesus and His friends. And what do you think they did? Why they ran along the shore, so they could meet Jesus when He landed. Other people saw them running, and when they found that they were going to meet Jesus, these people ran along too. Men and women and children whom they passed said, “Where are you going?”
They answered, “Jesus is in that boat. We are going to meet Him.” Everyone who heard that hurried on with them.
Jesus and His friends came to the shore. They got out of the boat and went up on a mountain. As they sat there they saw many people coming toward them. There would only be a very short time to rest.

Jesus loved the people who were needy and followed Him. He felt sorry for them. Some were sick, and He cured them. Some longed to know how to be good, and He taught them. And while He taught and cured, the sun began to go down. Soon it would be night.

The friends of Jesus came to Him and said, “The place is lonely, and the day is nearly over. Send the people away, so that they may go and buy themselves something to eat.”
Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them food.” Philip told Jesus that it would cost a great deal of money to buy bread enough for each person to have only a little.
Jesus could not bear to send these people home hungry. They had come a way out there just to be near Him. Oh, how sorry He felt as He saw how hungry and tired they looked!
He said to His friends, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

Andrew came back and said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes; but what are these among so many?”
Jesus said, “Bring them here to Me.”

The boy gave all the food he had to Jesus—five small, round loaves of bread, like crackers, and two tiny dried fishes. This was his lunch.
Jesus said to His friends, “Make the people sit down.” There was a great deal of green grass in this place. The people sat down on the grass in groups. This made it possible for those who served the food to walk where there were little paths of green grass. The friends of Jesus could walk in the paths to pass the food.

But how much food would there would be to pass—only five small loaves of bread, like round crackers, and two fishes—only one boy’s lunch!

Jesus took the five loaves and the two fishes. When it was quite still He thanked God for them. Then He broke the bread and the fishes in pieces and gave them to His friends, and they went up and down the paths, up and down between the garden beds of people, and gave them pieces of the loaves and fishes.
When they had given all there was in their hands they came to Jesus for more. And there was more. No matter how much they gave the hungry people, Jesus broke off fresh pieces of bread and handed them more fish.
As I told you, there were crowds of people. There were more than you ever saw together. And every man and woman and child had enough to eat. The boy who had given up his lunch had all he wished.

Then Jesus said to His friends, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left, that nothing shall be lost.” They went about and picked up the broken pieces of bread and fish. They put them in baskets. There were twelve baskets filled with the bread and fish that were left.
The people did not look tired and hungry any longer. Jesus had fed them. He had made the boy’s lunch of five loaves of bread and two fishes enough for all.
The sun sank lower. The people were strong enough to go home now. Jesus had taken care of them.

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[RiverOL]

The Lost is Found​

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Once there was a good shepherd. He had one hundred sheep. If you would begin counting, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,” you would count on and on before you came to one hundred. One hundred is quite a lot.

The good shepherd lived with his sheep out in the fields. His face was tanned brown by the sun and the wind. His eyes were bright from watching to see that nothing hurt his sheep. He carried a strong stick. He used it to strike any lion or bear that might try to kill his sheep.

He also carried a stick with a curved end, a crook. If a sheep fell into a hole, he would put the crook about its leg or catch it in the thick wool, and pull it out. If a lamb fell into a river, he would put the crook about its little body and draw it safely to land.

Every morning the good shepherd led his sheep to fields where the grass was green, and watched them eat. Every morning he led them to places where the water was quiet and fresh, and watched them drink.
At night, when the black shadows came creeping up the hillsides, the good shepherd called his sheep to the sheepfold. Each sheep had a name. The good shepherd knew them all. He would call, “Rosebud! Olive Blossom! Palm Tree!” and the sheep would answer his call and come to the sheepfold.

Around the sheepfold was a wide stone wall, with thorns on the top, to keep lions and bears from jumping over. The shepherd stood at the door and held the sheep back, one by one, with his stick. If a sheep had fallen down and hurt itself, he bathed the sore spot with oil. If a little lamb was tired out from playing all day long, he rubbed oil on its head, and gave it water to drink from a big cup with two handles.
One day the good shepherd counted his sheep. He began, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.” He got up to twenty, to thirty, to eighty, to ninety. There were only a few left. “Ninety-one, ninety-two, ninety-three, ninety-four,” he counted, “ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine.”

The next would have been one hundred, but there were no more! One sheep was lost. Oh, how sorry the good shepherd felt!
He left the ninety-nine sheep with another shepherd, and set out at once to hunt for the lost one. Far, far he went, over the hills, through the fields, and along steep, narrow paths. When he passed a hole he looked down into it to see if his lost sheep had fallen in.

Now and then he came across a little footprint, which showed him that his sheep had gone that way. Now and then he found bits of white wool caught on the briers. Every once in a while he would call the sheep’s name and listen, but he would hear no answer. Then he would call again and listen—no answer.
At last he thought he heard a faint bleat, very faint and far away. He hurried on, and the bleating grew louder and nearer, and louder and nearer, till he came to his lost sheep. It was tired and hungry and frightened.

He lifted it gently, and every step of the way he carried it, held close and warm against his shoulder. He would not let his tired sheep walk.
When he reached home he called together his friends and said, “Be glad with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
He was tired, for he had gone far, over the hills, and through the fields, and along the steep, narrow paths, but he did not mind, so long as his sheep was found. He was a good shepherd.

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[RiverOL]

Others Go First​

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One day when Jesus was here on earth He was invited to a dinner at the home of a rich man. There were others invited to the dinner too.

A dinner-party in Jesus’ day was not like our dinner parties now. Instead of sitting on chairs, the guests rested on couches pushed up to the table. The couches nearest the host, or the man who was giving the party, were called the highest places or “chief seats.” The most important people were supposed to take these places. Down at the other end of the table were the lowest places. Anyone could sit here.
This day as Jesus watched the people taking their places He was surprised. Not one of them waited for his turn; not one of them was willing to let another go first. They almost quarreled in their hurry to get ahead of everyone else and get the best places. They were all trying to get the chief seats for themselves.

“How unkind and selfish they are toward each other,” thought Jesus. “They cannot be happy when they are all trying to get the best places for themselves.”
When they sat down, Jesus began to talk quietly to them.

“When you are invited to a dinner,” He said, “you should not hurry to get the chief seat yourself. Perhaps that place is being saved for some person more important than you. How ashamed you will feel if your host has to come to you and say, ‘This place is saved for someone else. You must take a lower seat.’”
But, Jesus went on with His talk, “if you quietly go and sit in the lowest seat, perhaps your host may come and say, ‘I want you to come and take a higher place.’ How happy you will feel to think that you waited.”
Lord Jesus, will You show us how
To please You every day?
What can Your little children do
In their small simple way?
We would behave to everyone
As You, Lord, would Yourself have done.

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[RiverOL]

Giving God Honor​

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Jesus wanted all people to honor and love God. He taught ways in which they could do so. One day Jesus told some people a story. The story was to help them know how to honor God when they prayed. And this was Jesus’ story:

Two men went to the Temple to pray. The first man was very proud of himself. He stood where everyone would see that he was praying.
He stood straight and looked upward. He said, “God, I thank thee that I am not like other people. I am glad that I am not a sinner like this man here.”

The second man stood off in a corner. He bowed his head. He knew that he needed God’s help. He prayed, “God, be merciful to me. I am a sinner.”
That was the story Jesus told. The people listened to it. They knew that the second man in the story was the one who honored God.
The first man really had thought about his own goodness rather than about God. He had honored himself instead of God.

Another time, Jesus’ friends asked Him to teach them to pray. The prayer that Jesus taught them began with these words:
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”
If we hallow God’s name we honor it. We do not use it carelessly or thoughtlessly. That is another way in which we can honor God when we speak.
Jesus also taught that we can honor God in other ways that are even more important than what we say.

He repeated the Bible words, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” That had been wrong of them.
Jesus taught that we should do more than honor God with what we say. We also should honor Him by loving Him and by living as He wishes us to live.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.

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[RiverOL]

Zacchaeus Sees Jesus​

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Zacchaeus was rich. He had plenty of money. He lived in a beautiful home. He had fine clothes to wear and the best food to eat.
But Zacchaeus did not have many friends. Few of his own people even liked him. When he went out on the streets some of the people did not want to speak to him.

The reason for this was that Zacchaeus had not been a good friend himself. His work was to collect money for taxes from the people. But often Zacchaeus cheated. He made the people give him more than they were supposed to pay. Then he kept some for himself. That was why so many people did not like him.
One day Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to his town. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He went out to the street.

But the street was crowded with people. Zacchaeus could not see over their heads because he was a short man. Quickly he climbed a tree by the street. He could see Jesus from there.

The people began to shout. Jesus was coming. Now Zacchaeus was up high in the tree. He leaned over to see. Just then Jesus looked up and smiled.
“Zacchaeus,” He said, “hurry and come down. I want to stay at your house today.”
Zacchaeus could hardly believe it. He had a friend at last. And the friend was Jesus. Quickly he came down from the tree and led Jesus to his home.

Some of the people who saw did not like it much. “Jesus is going to stay with that man,” they said. “Why, Zacchaeus is not even honest. He cheats us.”
Zacchaeus was thinking too. Jesus loved people. He was kind and helpful. Zacchaeus wanted to be like Jesus.

All at once he knew what to do. He stood straight before Jesus. “Lord,” he said, “one half of all I own I will give to the poor. And if I have taken anything wrongly from any man, I will give him back four times as much.”
How glad Jesus was. Instead of a man nobody liked, here was a fine generous friend.
“Today is a happy day for this house,” said Jesus.

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[RiverOL]

Two Friends Meet Jesus​

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Two men were walking along the road leading from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. The two friends were talking.
“Jesus died three days ago,” said Cleopas sadly. “Yet some say He is alive. How can this be?”
“Peter visited the empty cave,” said the other, “but he did not see Jesus. I do not understand.”

As the two friends talked, they were joined by another traveler. The three walked along together.
“Tell me, friends,” said the stranger, “what are you talking about?”
“Don't you know about the things that have happened in Jerusalem lately?” asked Cleopas.

“What things?” asked the stranger. He listened while the two friends told Him about Jesus.
“They say He lives again,” said Cleopas, “but we have not seen Him. We do not know what to think.”
Then the stranger began to talk and the two men listened. Never before had they heard such wonderful words. The stranger made everything plain to them.

Before they knew it, they had reached Emmaus where the two friends lived.
“Now, I must leave you,” said the stranger.
“Stay with us tonight,” said Cleopas. “The day is done and night is at hand.”
So the stranger went in. Supper was ready. They sat down to eat. The stranger thanked God for the bread. He broke the thin flat cakes into pieces. He passed the bread to the others.

Then the two friends knew! The stranger was Jesus, but they had not known it. Before they could say a word, Jesus was gone.
“No wonder our hearts were stirred by the stranger’s words,” said Cleopas. “Come, we must go and tell the others the glad news. Jesus is alive! We have seen Him!”
Back along the dark road hurried the two men. Soon they reached Jerusalem and found friends.
“Jesus is living,” they said. “We have seen Him. We have talked with Him. We have come back to tell you the wonderful news. He lives again!"

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[RiverOL]

Jesus Goes Home​

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One evening Jesus and His friends were talking together. Their faces were very sad. “I am going away soon,” Jesus had said. “I am going back to live with my Heavenly Father.”
“We will go, too,” one of the friends said. For they wanted to be near Jesus all the time.
“No, not now,” Jesus said tenderly. “I am going to prepare a home for you, and when it is ready you may come to live with Me.”

Day after day passed. One day Jesus and His friends went up on a mountain. They sat down. Everything was quiet. Jesus talked to them lovingly and His friends listened closely, for they felt that He would soon leave them.
Then something wonderful happened. Jesus began to rise slowly. Up, up, He went, higher and higher toward heaven. They watched Him until they could see Him no longer, for a cloud hid Him from sight.

They stood looking up into heaven. Their faces were sad. “How lonely we shall be without Him!” they thought.

Then two angels appeared. “Why are you standing here?” they asked. “Why are you so sad? Do you not remember the things Jesus told you?”
The friends remembered how Jesus had told them why He was going to leave them. He was going to prepare a home for each one. Then they were happy again, for they knew that when the home was ready they should go to live with Jesus and the kind Heavenly Father.

Some day all those who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour, by asking Him to forgive them of their sins and to come into their heart, will go to that heavenly home. Jesus is preparing a happy home for each one that belongs to His family. When it is ready we will go into the other room, in the Heavenly Father’s house. Some people call it dying, but we know that it means they have gone to live with Jesus.
As you listened to the beautiful stories about Him, did you not wish that you could have seen Jesus and have put your arms around His neck, or given Him flowers? Did you not wish you could have heard His kind, loving voice? In the heavenly home we shall see Jesus and listen to His stories. We shall show our love to Him. Everyone will be happy there. Nobody will be sick, nobody will cry, nobody will be hungry. Everyone will love and help Jesus and be near Him.
If you have never received Jesus as your Saviour you can do so today by praying a prayer something like this:
Dear Jesus: I know that I am a sinner. I thank You that You love me and that You died for my sins. Please forgive me for all my sins and come to live in my heart. Thank You, too, for the beautiful home You are getting ready for me in Heaven. Amen.

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[RiverOL]

Rebekah's Decision​

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There was once a young girl whose name was Rebekah. Rebekah helped her mother in the home. Near the door of Rebekah’s house there stood a small pitcher or water jar. All the water Rebekah’s family used had to be carried in this pitcher and brought from the well.

Every evening Rebekah would lift the jar to her shoulder. Down the street she would go to the well which was just outside the city. Deep, deep into the well she would dip her pitcher until it was full of water. Then once more she would lift the heavy jar to her shoulder and carry it home.

One evening when Rebekah was getting the water at the well she saw some camels coming. She counted ten of them. On some of the camels men were riding and some camels had bundles tied to their backs. The men and the camels looked very dusty and very tired. As Rebekah stood watching, one of the men came quickly toward her.
“Will you let me have a little water from your pitcher to drink?” he asked.

“Drink sir,” said Rebekah, smiling, for she had been taught to be polite to strangers. She quickly lowered her pitcher so the man could have all he wanted.
As he was drinking, Rebekah looked at the tired and thirsty camels. “I will get some water for your camels too,” she said kindly. Then she filled her pitcher again and emptied it into a trough that stood near.
The thirsty camels crowded around. They stretched out their long necks and drank the water. How good it tasted! Soon it was all gone.

Again Rebekah filled her jar and emptied it for them. Again the camels drank it all. How thirsty they were! Back and forth from the well to the trough went Rebekah with her pitcher until the camels had all they wanted.

The man was pleased with the girl that was so polite to strangers. He opened his bag and took out a gold ring and two gold bracelets. He gave them to Rebekah. Then he said, “Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay tonight?”
“Indeed, yes,” said Rebekah. ”There is room, and there will be straw and food for your camels too.”
Rebekah ran ahead to tell her family company was coming. As soon as she told the news, her brother started out to meet the strangers. He gave them food and straw for the camels. He took the men into the house. There Rebekah and her mother had supper ready for them.

“I will not eat until I tell you why I have come,” said the man who had talked to Rebekah. ”I am the servant of your cousin Abraham who lives far away. Abraham has sent me to find a wife for his son Isaac. At the well I met Rebekah, and she was very polite and so kind to me, a stranger. God spoke in my heart and told me she was the one to become Isaac’s wife. I pray that you will let her go with me, to marry Isaac the son of my master.”
Everyone looked at Rebekah. ”Will you go Rebekah?” they asked.
“I will go,” answered Rebekah.
And the next day Rebekah said good-bye to her mother and brother, and she rode away to her new home, where she was very happy.

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[RiverOL]

A Quarrel is Ended​

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There were once two brothers who lived with their father and mother in a tent-home.

The name of one brother was Esau. Esau was a great hunter. He spent much time in the woods and the fields.
The name of the other brother was Jacob. Jacob stayed at home with his father and mother.
One day Jacob did something wrong. While Esau was hunting, Jacob took something that belonged to his brother.

When Esau came home and learned what Jacob had done he was very angry. He said he would get even with Jacob.
Then Jacob was afraid of his brother. He was so afraid that he ran away from home. He went away to another country where his Uncle Laban lived. Jacob’s uncle gave him the work of looking after the sheep and cows.

Year after year Jacob stayed in this country. He was afraid to go home. He married and had some children of his own. He had worked so hard that he had many sheep, cows and camels.
But often he thought of his home far away. He thought of his father and his mother, and of his brother Esau. He wondered if Esau was still angry with him.
Jacob was sorry that he had done wrong, but he had never told Esau that he was sorry.
At last Jacob grew so homesick that he could stand it no longer. ”I’m going home,” he said, "I will take my family and my camels, and my sheep and my cattle and go home.”

So Jacob started. Thud, thud, thud,went the feet of the camels and cows. Patter, patter, patter, went the feet of the sheep and the goats. The dust rose in clouds around them. Jacob was going home.
But he was still afraid of his brother Esau. He decided to send Esau a present. Perhaps Esau would understand then that he was sorry. So Jacob called some of his servants. He sent them on ahead with a very fine present for Esau.
By and by Jacob looked and saw a great company of people coming. When they came closer Jacob saw at the head of the company his brother Esau. With him were four hundred men.
Then Jacob was afraid. “Esau is coming to harm me,” he said. “He must still be angry.”

But Jacob went bravely out to meet his brother. He knelt on the ground and bowed low before Esau. He wondered if Esau would be very angry.
But Esau, when he saw his brother, came running to meet him. He put his arms around Jacob and kissed him. He had forgiven him long ago.

“What do you mean by sending me such a fine present?” asked Esau as they talked together.
“I wanted to please you,” said Jacob.
“You do not need to give me a present,” said Esau. “I have enough. I want you to keep what you have.”
But Jacob begged Esau to keep his present. “If you do I will know that you are not angry with me any longer,” said Jacob. So Esau accepted Jacob's gift.
Esau said that he would go back with Jacob. “No,” said Jacob, “I cannot travel with my sheep and cattle as fast as you and your four hundred men. Go ahead and we will follow more slowly.”
Esau offered to leave some of his men to help Jacob. Then the two brothers parted the best of friends. They were both happy because their quarrel was ended.

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[RiverOL]

No Need to Fear​

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It had been a long, long journey. The people were growing tired. They had traveled many miles. They had crossed dry deserts where the sand was hot to their feet. They had waded through slippery streams. On and on they had come for days and days. For God had promised them a home in the new land to which they were coming.
“Will we ever reach our new home?” they had often said to Moses, their leader. For they were tired of traveling, and they wanted to be at home.
At last the new land was in sight. If the people stood on a high hill and looked far away they could see it in the distance. Their journey was nearly over, and they were glad.

“But what will this new land be like?” they said to each other. “There might be robbers and wild animals there. There might not be food to eat. Enemies might be there who would rise up and kill these strangers coming into their land. We must first find out what this place is like,” the people said. So they pitched their tents and waited to find out about the new home that God had promised them.

Moses, their leader, chose men to go ahead. They were to go unseen into the new land and find out what it was like.
“Go and take a look at the land,” said Moses. “Find out what you can about the people. See if they are many or few. Notice if they are weak or strong. Then come back and tell us what you have learned.”

So the men did as Moses had told them. They slipped quietly into the land, for they did not want to be seen. They found out what kind of people were living there. They saw fields of grapes growing.

They cut off one very large bunch of grapes and put it across a stick and two men carried it. They stayed in the land long enough to see everything there was to see.
Then they went back to Moses and the people. For they had much to tell.
“We looked at the land, just as you told us,” they said. “It is a good land. We found plenty there to eat. Here is some of the fruit that grows in the land.” And they showed the big bunch of grapes.
“Good! Good!” cried the people. They were very pleased and glad to know that their new home was such a fine place.

“But,” said the men who had seen the land, “that is not all.” For they felt they must tell the truth about what they had seen. “There are many people in the land. They are strong and fierce. Some of them are so large that they look like giants. They could easily rise up and kill us.”
“Oh no!” cried the people. Now they were not so pleased. Many of them were quite frightened. They did not want to be killed in the new land. They began to be afraid to go there to live.
“Come along, and don’t be afraid,” said Caleb, one of the brave ones among them. “What do we care for fierce men or giants? God is with us. Let us go up into the new land and take it. We do not need to fear.”

But most of the people feared the giants instead of believing God.
Many, many years passed. All the older people died. Only the younger people who were now grown up could go into the land. It became their new home. They lived there all the rest of their lives.
It is important to trust God in all that we do.

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[RiverOL]

Cake for All​

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“One stick, two sticks,” counted the mother, as she lifted them from the ground. “Surely two sticks will make a fire big enough to cook such a little cake as I shall be able to make with just the handful of flour that is left in the barrel. There is hardly enough to make one small cake for my son and myself. When it is eaten, what shall we do? There is nothing to do but to lie down and die, for where, oh, where shall we find more food, now that the rain has ceased to fall and nothing will grow?”
She had no more than ceased speaking to herself when she heard a voice close beside her. What was that? She dropped one of her sticks as she turned quickly to see who was speaking.

It was Elijah, a good man, who had come a long way along the dusty road. He smiled at her, saying, “Bring me, please, a little water in a cup that I may drink.”
“Gladly,” said the woman. “Sit here in the shade while I go and get it.”
But, before she reached the house, Elijah called to her, saying, “Bring me, please, a piece of bread in your hand.”

The mother looked at him, “Bread!” she said. “As God lives, I have no bread, but only a handful of flour in the barrel, and a little oil in the jar. See! I am gathering two sticks that I may go in and bake a small cake for my son and myself, and when it is eaten there will be nothing left for us to do but to die. How can I give you food to eat when there is not enough for me and my son?”
Now Elijah was a man who often talked with God. He was sure God would take care of them all, so he said to the poor mother, “Fear not. Go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake and bring it to me, and afterward make for you and your son. God will take care of us. The barrel of flour shall not run out, neither shall the jar become empty, until the day that God sends rain upon the earth.”
What should the woman do? Her little boy was hungry, but the man, Elijah, was hungry, too. She would share the little that she had. She would make a cake for him as he had said.

So she made little cakes for Elijah, and for herself, and for her little boy, and the cakes were as brown and sweet as one could desire. She gave the first ones to Elijah, who ate them gladly.

And the story goes that although Elijah stayed with the mother and the little boy many days, not once did any of them go hungry, for it was even as Elijah had said it would be. There was flour and oil enough to last until the rain fell once more, and the new crops were gathered into the barns.

We could ask ourselves, is this a story about a man of God who selfishly asked for something for himself? Or, is this a story where the man of God knew what God was going to do and wanted to test the faith of the mother? Would she selfishly think only of her needs and therefore not provide for the man of God?
I wonder what we would have done if we were the mother. Isn’t it wonderful the way the story ended? I wonder if this kind of thing could happen today as we put God first in some area of our lives and then find out that doing that caused things to work out so much better than just selfishly thinking about number one all the time.
Let’s think about it.

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[RiverOL]

God's Boy​

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There was once a woman named Hannah. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, loved her dearly. She lived in a beautiful home in the country. But Hannah was not happy. She was lonely. She had no little boy to play around her all day and to call her “mother”. Sometimes Hannah wanted a little boy so badly that she could not help crying.
Every year Elkanah made a journey into the town. He went to the church there and thanked God for taking care of them all through the year. Sometimes Hannah went with him.

One time Elkanah and Hannah went into the town as usual. They went to the church. The church then was a tent-church. The walls were made of wood covered with gold. Heavy curtains of red and blue cloth hung over the walls. The door was another beautiful curtain embroidered in beautiful colors.

Some of the furniture in the tent was made of gold. There was a golden table. There was a golden stand which held seven golden lamps. The lamps burned day and night. It was a beautiful church.

The minister’s name was Eli. Eli was an old man. He could not see very well. He had so much to do that he was often tired. For the curtain-door had to be closed at night and opened in the morning. The lamps had to be filled with oil so that they would burn day and night. The golden furniture had to be rubbed until it shone. The people had to be helped when they came to worship. Eli needed someone to help him.

This day when Hannah and her husband came to the church, Hannah prayed to the heavenly Father. She asked Him to send her a little son. She prayed so earnestly that the tears rolled down her cheeks. “If you will send me a little baby boy,” prayed Hannah, “I will give him back to you as soon as he is old enough. He may live in the church and be your helper.”

After that Hannah and Elkanah went home. And then one day a little baby boy was given to Hannah. How happy she was! For now she had a little son all her own. Hannah named her baby Samuel. And Samuel grew bigger and bigger until he was no longer a baby but a boy.
Hannah did not forget the promise she had made. She told Samuel that soon he would be big enough to go to live in the church and be Eli’s helper. Samuel thought it would be splendid to help take care of the church.

At last the day came when Hannah took Samuel to the tent-church. “I have brought him to be your helper,” she said to Eli.
“I need a helper very much,” said Eli. “I am glad he has come.”
Samuel said “Good-bye” to his mother, and Hannah went home. He missed his mother of course, but he was happy to be helping in the church. There was much that he could do.

In the morning he pushed back the heavy curtain-door and let in the sunlight. At night he closed it again. He rubbed and rubbed the golden furniture until it shone brightly. He filled the seven lamps with oil so that they would burn all day and all night. He ran errands for Eli and helped him all he could.
Sometimes Samuel’s mother came to see him and bring him presents. Then they had a good visit together. Eli told her what a help Samuel was. And Samuel was very happy to think that he could help so much.

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[RiverOL]

Two Friends​

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There was once a prince named Jonathan. Jonathan lived in the king’s house. His father was the king. Jonathan dressed like a prince. He wore a fine robe. His robe was fastened with a beautiful belt or girdle. A fine sword hung at his side. He had a bow and arrow with which to shoot. Jonathan looked like a prince. And he was a good and kind prince. Everybody loved Prince Jonathan.

Every day there came to the house of the king a shepherd boy named David. David came to play his harp and to sing for the king. The king loved to listen to David’s music. No one could play such beautiful music as David. When he was through playing, David would go home again to take care of his sheep.
One day David the shepherd boy did a very brave thing. He saved the king’s soldiers from a tall giant. Everybody talked about how brave David was.

The king was very much pleased with David and had David brought before him. “Whose son are you?” he asked the shepherd boy.
“I am David, the son of Jesse,” answered the boy.
Then the king told David that he wanted him to come and live in the king’s house always.
So David the shepherd boy came to live in the king’s house. But David was not a prince. He did not have a fine robe to wear. He had only his shepherd’s coat. He did not have a prince’s girdle. He did not have a sword to hang at his side. He did not have a bow and arrow.
Prince Jonathan saw all this. He loved David as if he were his own brother. And he wanted David to feel at home and be happy in the king’s house.

“I can do something to make David feel at home,” thought Jonathan. So he came to David and he took him by the hand.
“David,” said Jonathan, “let us be friends always.”
Of course it made David happy to know that Jonathan wanted to be his friend.

Then Jonathan saw that David had no fine robe. Everyone in the king’s house wore fine robes. So Jonathan took off his own robe and put it on David. He fastened it with his prince’s belt. But David had no sword. So Jonathan took his own sword that he loved and fastened it at David’s side. Then he gave David his bow and arrow.
And now David looked like a prince, too. With such a friend as Jonathan, David could not help being happy in the king’s house.
Jonathan and David loved each other very dearly. They had many happy times together. David never forgot Jonathan’s kindness to him when he was a lonely shepherd boy.

You too may feel that you are alone at times, but just remember that you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother and that is Jesus Christ.
Often when young people are lonesome for a friend they will go off and choose someone that is not good for them. They do this because they feel they can’t wait for God to bring along the right person. It is better not to have a friend than to have the wrong one.
The kind of friend you and I need is an unselfish friend like Jonathan was to David. In order for us to find such a friend we will need to learn to be unselfish ourselves. The way to do this is open up our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to show us when we are selfish.
I know if you will wait for God’s timing, He will bring along the right friend for you.

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[RiverOL]

Your Plan or God's?​

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King David sat in his house thinking. It was a beautiful house, as a king’s house ought to be. It was built of cedar wood. No one had so fine a house as David.
Even God’s house, which we would call the church, but which David’s people called the tabernacle, was a tent-house. Of course it was beautiful, but it was not like a strong fine house of cedar wood.
“It’s not right,” said King David to himself. “I live in a fine house of cedar, but God’s house is a tent-house. God’s house shall be the most beautiful of all.”

As he sat thinking King David made a plan. He would build a house of God. It would be called the “Temple.” It would be built of the finest cedar wood that could be found. It would be furnished with the most beautiful furniture that could be made. It would be so large that people in all countries would hear of it and say, “What a fine temple King David has built!”

King David called Nathan, who was God’s messenger, and told him of his plan.
But Nathan shook his head. “Your plan is not God’s plan,” he said. “God does not want you to build his house. His plan is for your son to build the temple.”
Now King David might have said, “I am king. I can do just as I please.” Or he might have said, “Very well, if I cannot have my own way I shall have nothing more to do with the temple.”
But King David did neither of those things. Instead he went himself to talk to God in prayer. He thanked God for all his love and care. He said he would be glad to give up his own way and help carry out God’s plan. He promised to help his son all he could.

And then King David began to get ready for the time when his son should be old enough to build the temple. “He will need stones,” said David. And he had masons make ready fine stones for the building.

“He will need many fine cedar trees, and strong nails,” said King David. And he had his men prepare these things too.
“He will need beautiful vases and plates and bowls of gold and silver and brass to use inside the temple.”

When the time came for his son to begin building the temple, the king called the people together.
“My son is young,” he said, “and God’s house must be very beautiful. I am doing all I can to help make ready for the building. And now you must help him too.”
Not long after that David’s son became king. The people worked to help the new king carry out the plan King David had started, and the temple was built. And in all the country there was no building so fine or so beautiful as the temple, which was the house of God.

King David did what God wanted him to do, in the way God wanted him to do it. Waiting for God’s timing is very important.
Sometimes we want things when it isn’t the right time. What a lesson to learn! "Not my plans but your’s, God."

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[RiverOL]

Your Plan or God's?​

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King David sat in his house thinking. It was a beautiful house, as a king’s house ought to be. It was built of cedar wood. No one had so fine a house as David.
Even God’s house, which we would call the church, but which David’s people called the tabernacle, was a tent-house. Of course it was beautiful, but it was not like a strong fine house of cedar wood.
“It’s not right,” said King David to himself. “I live in a fine house of cedar, but God’s house is a tent-house. God’s house shall be the most beautiful of all.”

As he sat thinking King David made a plan. He would build a house of God. It would be called the “Temple.” It would be built of the finest cedar wood that could be found. It would be furnished with the most beautiful furniture that could be made. It would be so large that people in all countries would hear of it and say, “What a fine temple King David has built!”

King David called Nathan, who was God’s messenger, and told him of his plan.
But Nathan shook his head. “Your plan is not God’s plan,” he said. “God does not want you to build his house. His plan is for your son to build the temple.”
Now King David might have said, “I am king. I can do just as I please.” Or he might have said, “Very well, if I cannot have my own way I shall have nothing more to do with the temple.”
But King David did neither of those things. Instead he went himself to talk to God in prayer. He thanked God for all his love and care. He said he would be glad to give up his own way and help carry out God’s plan. He promised to help his son all he could.

And then King David began to get ready for the time when his son should be old enough to build the temple. “He will need stones,” said David. And he had masons make ready fine stones for the building.

“He will need many fine cedar trees, and strong nails,” said King David. And he had his men prepare these things too.
“He will need beautiful vases and plates and bowls of gold and silver and brass to use inside the temple.”

When the time came for his son to begin building the temple, the king called the people together.
“My son is young,” he said, “and God’s house must be very beautiful. I am doing all I can to help make ready for the building. And now you must help him too.”
Not long after that David’s son became king. The people worked to help the new king carry out the plan King David had started, and the temple was built. And in all the country there was no building so fine or so beautiful as the temple, which was the house of God.

King David did what God wanted him to do, in the way God wanted him to do it. Waiting for God’s timing is very important.
Sometimes we want things when it isn’t the right time. What a lesson to learn! "Not my plans but your’s, God."

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