The Dark Cloud Story

"Hey ugly cloud; you have destroyed our joy today. Look, we just enjoy the sunny skies and a cool breeze suddenly you came in with the gray color and gloomy! "Shout an angry white cloud.

After that the flock of white clouds leaves the dark cloud alone. The dark cloud was feeling sad. Why are his friends away from him?

"I wonder why my friends away from me?" Complained the clouds in his heart.

A little bird that just passing by approached. "Hi cloud, why do you look glum?"

"Oh, little bird, I'm sad. Look at me, how bad of me, gray and not beautiful. All my friends keep away from me, though I was a beautiful white cloud before I changed. "

"Why have you now changed to a gray, overcast cloud? Asked the little bird.
I do not know my little friend. I've been passing various places and suddenly I became like this. "Said the cloud while he weeping.

"Don’t you cry my friend, I'll try to help." Said the little bird as she watched the clouds carefully.

"Hey my friend, do you feel your body weight? Why do not you see, your body is full of water vapor and strange things. It seems that dust and dirt. Look that are a lot of dust and dirt! Maybe it makes your body seem dark or gloomy. "Said the little bird.

"Really?" Asked the clouds, watching himself.

"Gosh, you're right little bird. I was so dirty and black. No wonder all my friends away from me. And indeed my body feels heavy. "The dark cloud is shocked when he saw himself.

"Maybe you should throw away all dust and dirt in your body, so that you no longer gloomy and overcast." The little bird gives advice.

"Yes, you are absolutely right. why I do not think of it? Okay, I'll throw this entire burden. Hey look there are oceans, I'll throw it over there “

The sea that had been sunny all of a sudden became dark and overcast and then heavy rains come down. Sometime later the rain stopped and the sky brightened.
"O my friend cloud, Look, now you're so white and clean. And what was such a beautiful color? "Cried the little bird.

"This is the rainbow, my friend little bird. Thank you very much because you have to help me. You're right, it turns out I just need to throw away things that are not useful in me and now I become a beautiful white clouds. Let my little bird, we fly together happily. "Said the white clouds with great joy.

Well Asta Kids friends, do you know that everyone is a slave of sin. Sin is like a very heavy burden that makes people loses the joy and peace. Even more terrifying, the sin makes people far from God. God punishes sin in eternal death. Well horror is not it? But Praise the Lord! The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world became a man to atone for our sins. In His condition as human, He is willing to die on the cross as the sin redemption offering, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. And the Lord Jesus has forgiven our sins and throws it away. How lucky the people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in earnest. Therefore, Let us truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ our savior.

Golden Verse
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Test from the King

In a small village, there lived a young man who is very poor. He lived by himself because he did not having family, his parents had died long ago. Although poor, the young man is diligent to work. He was collecting firewood in the forest and sells it to the city. Although often it’s not enough, the young man is always grateful and never complains.

One day this young man went to town to sell firewood. But unfortunately none of the people who want to buy. Then he feels exhausted because carrying heavy firewood, so he stop on the shady side of the road and then he opened his lunch. Although only a piece of bread that is dry but the young man remains grateful; when the young man about to eat his bread, he look across the street there is an old beggar who asked for alms. People who are passing by did not care the old beggar even some of them mocked him and insulted him, seeing that the young man felt sorry for the old beggar. Then he approached.

"Sir, are you hungry?" Said the young man

"Oh, young man all day I have not eaten anything."

"This is for you but only a piece of bread that is dry because this is all I have."

"You're good young man, but how about you?"

“It’s okay Sir, I am young and strong so I’ll be fine, but you need it more. Oh yes there is a well near here, I'll get you water.” The young man hurried away to fetch water.

"This is water for you old man. Oh yes, your cloak full of holes and damaged, this piece of blanket for you. I belief tonight the weather is cold. "

"Young man you're so kind, but aren’t you feeling cold too?"

"You don’t have to be worry this coat is warm enough. Anyway I took the blanket just in case if I have to overnight at here. But it seems I should go home. No one wants to buy my wood. Well maybe the wood is for you so you do not cold tonight. "

“Thank you son, but tell me why you want to help an old beggar like me?"

"Ah, we've got to help each other. Anyway when I saw you, I remembered my parents who have gone. Well sir, I should go home now. See you later "Then the young man left the old beggar.

Sometime later, the young man fixing his roof that is damaged and dilapidated, suddenly a group of soldiers approach.

How shocked and scared young man. "Young man, the king told us to take you to the palace."

"But did I do something wrong my lord? "

"We also do not understand but the King himself who wants to meet you."

Then the young man brought to the palace, He was very frightened and confused, but how shocked the young man because when he was in the palace he was welcomed warmly and treated very well. Then the ministry brought him before the King's throne.

"O young man comes here." The King cried out from above his throne.

“Yes Your Majesty."

"Kneel down! Today I appoint you to be my son. You will be part of the royal family. "

"But.. but.. Your Honor, I am just a low servant and poor ...."

"That is true son, but you have shown me your kindness and generosity so you deserve this gift."

The young man was confused. "But I never do anything for you my King."

"You ever do something for me, son, here's the proof!" The King shows an old blanket. It turned out that an old beggar who had been helped by the young man was the king in disguise. Now the young man become The King son and lived happily in the palace.

Well ASTA KIDS friends, do you like to doing good and help others? Indeed, if we doing good to others then we do it for the Lord Jesus Christ. If we truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ then we must obey and conscientiously perform the Word of God including help other people. The Lord Jesus Christ who sees us from heaven will give eternal reward for His children who is faithful and likes to do kindness. So do not grow weary while doing good! Let's do it for God.

Golden Verse
“The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Mt. 25:40)

Waiting for the Rain

In a small village there lived an old man with his grandson. They are very poor. Their most precious treasure is a little garden which they cultivate every day with vegetables.

At one time the country was hit with drought disaster that is very severe. More than a year, rain never comes. River and wells are almost dry. So many wild animals in the forest are died of thirst. Meanwhile, the famine began. The farmers feel sad and difficult because there is no water to irrigate gardens and their fields. Many of the inhabitants of the land left their homes and go to another country because they see it seems the drought will continue.

But the old man and his grandson did not intend to go, they stay on their property. Patiently, the old man trying to conserve drinking water supplies and their food that are dwindling. But there is one thing that makes the whole village was amazed. Every day the old man and his grandson hoe and clean up their dry fields, making trenches and set seed. If other villagers ask, they replied that they are preparing their fields for waiting for rain. The whole village thought the old man and his grandson had gone mad.

"Hey old man, behold there is no hope anymore, rain will not fall in this country. Why bother you like that? "A villager asks.

"Son, I prepare my field so if the rain come, it is ready to cultivate." the old man answered patiently.

"Come on Grandpa, come along with us went to the neighboring countries, there is fertile and beautiful. Just leave this dry field! "

“I cannot do it my friend, this field is my heritage and I must take care of it.”

"Whatever you say old man!" Said one villager as he walked away. Apparently he left the village to go away to another country.

"Grandpa, is it going to rain?" Said the grandson who looked desperate.

"Of course my grandson, do not stop hoping and praying. God must hear our prayers. "Said the old man comforting his grandchildren.

They waited and waited patiently. Eventually their persistence paid off. One day the sky was dark. Black clouds cover the sky. Not for some time the rain came down so hard. The old man and his grandson were so happy. Their dry fields have been wet with water, trenches filled with water. After the rain subsided, the old man and his grandson began planting the seeds and the next year they harvest lot of crop, vegetables and fruits. The old man and his grandson are very happy and they thankful to The Lord for His blessing.

Now ASTA KIDS friends the Lord Jesus Christ wants His children to grow and bear fruit in the faith. It means to be a child of God that is good, faithful and obedient to the Word of God. But to achieve it is not easy right? We must persevere in righteousness, ardent worship, pray earnestly and diligently meditate on the Word of God. Well, I must confess to you that is difficult to do all that things, but do not give up, in this new year let us ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help us to be more diligent to do His will.

Golden Verse
⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
( 2 Peter 1:5-8)