Memory Text for November 9–15

Key Thought for Lesson 7, "Path to Power"
When we realize our need for a Savior and our utter helplessness to keep from sin, we are ready to open our hearts to victory through the Holy Spirit.

Memory Text:
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24, 25).

Project: Memory
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10, 11).

Those Juniors, Part 23: Three Judges

by Eric B. Hare

Last week: To have the desired effect on a misbehaving child is not hard. You must work by strategy; build them up, identify with them, and gently correct them. Once this is done, they will be compelled by their own desire to be good.

Some time ago I heard a mother say to her small son, “It’s time for you to run off to bed now, dear.” But the little dear shook his head, pouted his lips, and whined, “No.”

Mother continued, “Now, be a good boy and run off to bed.”

And the little boy said, “No! No!” and stamped his foot.

The mother answered, “You are going to bed, my little son. Now run along.”

But her little son lay down on the floor, kicked his legs, and yelled, “No! No! I don’t want to.”

Blushing with embarrassment, the poor mother apologized, “My little boy has such a strong will power.”

No, he didn’t have a strong will power. That little boy had a very stubborn “won’t power.” They are very, very different. Many people are confused in their understanding of the will power. Some even confuse it with “want” power. But “want” power is not will power.

Creative Corner Online: Different Diamanté

Creative Corner Online: Different Diamanté

The diamantés we printed in Young Disciple last week all followed the opposites format: starting with one concept and bridging to its opposite, in the middle of the poem. However, that's not the only way to write a diamanté. Some poets use synonyms for the first and last word of the poem, instead of antonyms. Here's one last diamanté we received, with a different twist. Nice work, Jacob! We love how uplifting this poem is!

Patience

Trustworthy, undaunted

Watching, waiting, believing,

Time, labor, Homeland, peace

Singing, enjoying, praising,

Beautiful, perfect,

Heaven

—Jacob Martin, age 17

In Touch

Dear Young Disciples,

The sun beat down on the dusty trail, and my short legs ached from what seemed like endless hours of hiking. “How far to the car?” I whined. “I’m tired.”

“Fly or die,” my dad reminded. I knew what he meant: If I didn’t want to walk and keep up with the family, I had only two options: either figure out a way to fly (impossible), or sit down by the trail and wait to die (unthinkable). That left me back at square one, trudging onward. Ignoring the beautiful scenes around me, I longed for the sight of our big blue van.

That’s what hiking used to be to me: long, dreary, and meaningless. I couldn’t understand why my family called it fun.

Slowly, over the years, I began to change my mind. Lifting my gaze off my aching feet, I realized I’d been missing miles of beauty. In the untouched wilderness, I could see God’s glory like nowhere else. In the hours of walking, I could think about life and share interesting discussions with my family.

My feet and muscles still got sore, and I still got tired and thirsty—but I enjoyed it anyway. Nothing had changed about hiking. The only change was in me.

We can say the same thing of our heavenward hike. When we try to march onward by the force of willpower, we find ourselves tired, disheartened, and defeated. But with God working in us, we have victory and joy.

Yes, it’s all about surrender—but even that comes from Him!

Hiking heavenward,

Memory Text for November 2–8

Key Thought for Lesson 6, "Impossible Possibilities"
God can work impossible possibilities in our lives—even to setting us free from the sins which make our lives miserable. His strength is available to us when we give Him our absolute surrender.

Memory Text:
“And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Project: Memory
“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him” (Ephesians 6:9).