Deuteronomy 11:19-20 says, . . .

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home . . .

. . . and when you walk along the road . . .

. . . when you lie down . . .

. . . when you get up . . .

. . . Write them on the doorframes of your houses . . .

. . . and on your gates . . .

. . . write them on the tablet of your heart . . . (Prov. 7:3)

Malachi 3:16-17 says, "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels;"

If you talk about God, and think about His name, and love Him, God calls you his special jewels. Do you know how diamonds are made? A diamond starts as just an ugly black pile of carbon - the same stuff that is in the lead of your pencil. There is actually a lot of carbon in your body. Pinch yourself. Not too hard. There's carbon in there, too. Well, this black ugly pile of carbon that is deep under the ground gets squished by the weight of all the dirt on top of it, and something awesome happens. That black, ugly, boring, carbon starts to fuse from the heat and pressure of it all, and makes a diamond: the hardest substance on earth. Now, it's not ugly and weak; it's strong and beautiful.

God says, the the ones who respect the Lord and speak about Him to one another: He looks down at those kids and says: "Those guys are my jewels." Even when you feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on you; when you say, "God, this is too hard! There's too much pressure!" God says, "Watch. If you love me, I don't see a scruffy kid; I see someone who is my jewel. Let's sing Diamonds.

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1ARbpB0gA

John said that before Jesus comes into our hearts, we have to repent

John baptized people in the Jordan River. The Jordan River has always represented death. There are many songs about "crossing the river Jordan," and maybe you've heard a grandma say "after I cross Jordan, I'm gonna see Jesus." Crossing Jordan represents dying. The Bible says that we need to be dead to our sins. Do dead people steal things? No. Do dead people tell lies? No. Do dead people punch other people? No. We need to be baptized and ask God to wash away our sins, "calling on the name of the Lord," and then we can be dead to our sins even when we are still alive. Then, Jesus can come into our hearts.

John said that Jesus was coming to baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He did not mean a fire that would hurt us, but he meant that we would have a happy, exciting glow in our hearts that makes us smile and get excited about Jesus. That is what the Holy Ghost does. It makes you hug people! When you get the Holy Ghost, you will speak in a language you haven't learned; that is called "speaking in tongues."

Let's pray at the altar. Everyone come up front, and we will close our eyes. You can raise your hands up, or fold your hands. Let's pray: Jesus we repent of our sins. We ask you to forgive us. Help us to turn away from sin, and start doing good things. If we've stolen something, we are sorry, God. If we have disobeyed our parents, we repent. If we have a mountain of pride, if we think we are better than someone else, we repent.