Maxie and the Train of Thought

 

 

Maxie is a little girl with big ideas.

 

Some of Maxie’s ideas are good because they are from God. But some of Maxie’s ideas are big problems because they are not from God. Sometimes Maxie feels like doing something and it is the right thing to do because it is a right idea. But sometimes Maxie feels like doing something and it is the wrong thing to do because it is a wrong idea; it is not from God. Maxie has a special train which helps her decide whether her ideas are from God or not. It is called the Train of Thought. When Maxie loads her ideas on the Train of Thought the bad one’s fall through the trap doors because they do not belong on the Train of Thought. Let us go down to the railroad station with Maxie and look at her train cars. Maybe you can use a Train of Thought to help you have good ideas like Maxie.

 

Car #1 is the “Love God” Car.

 

You show God you love Him by obeying Him. In the bible God tells us how He wants us to live, He wants us to live like His Son Jesus did. We show God we love Him by living like Jesus and for Jesus.

 

Car #2 is the “Don’t Have Idols” Car.

 

God wants to be your favorite thing in the whole wide world. If you make something else your favorite thing it becomes an idol. It is good to like your toys and your games and your friends and your family..but God must be your very favorite thing.

 

Car # 3 is the “Honor God’s Name” Car.

 

God wants us to use a respectful tone when we say His name and when we talk to Him in prayer. Even when we are tired God wants our words to be respectful.

 

Car #4 is the “Honor the Lord’s Day” Car.

 

God wants us to want to be with Him. He wants us to set aside time to worship Him with other people. God gives us lots of fun things to do…but the best thing we can do is spend time talking to, listening to, and thinking about Him.

 

Car #5 is the “Honor your mom and dad” Car.

 

Sometimes mom or dad ask you to do things and you do not feel like doing them. Sometimes mom or dad ask you to do something and it makes you kind of mad. You might think about disobeying, just not doing it, but that is a bad thought. Car #5 says honor your mom and dad, that means even when you do not feel like it. Later you will always be glad you were obedient even if you did not feel like it.

 

Car #6 is the “Don’t kill (or hurt) other people” Car.

 

When you have a hurt, on your knee or in your heart, it hurts. God does not want us to hurt other people, he wants us to help them. As you play with other kids make choices to share and give high five’s instead of grabbing toys away or playing too rough. It will make them feel glad not sad.

 

Car #7 is the “Be faithful to your husband or wife” Car.

 

Car #7 is more for big people than little people because little people are not usually married. Someday you will be bigger. If you get married choose someone God would like you to spend the rest of your life with because God does not want you to ever leave your husband or wife.

 

Car #8 is the “Do not Steal” Car.

 

Stealing is taking something that is not yours, something that is someone else’s. Even if it is something you really want, like a really good piece of candy at a store or your favorite toy at your neighbor’s house, don’t take it! Sometimes the person who owns it may let you borrow it or buy it from them, but you must ask and they must agree. Just because you want something does not make it yours.

 

Car #9 is the “Don’t Lie” Car.

 

A lie is something you say that is not true, like if your mom asks “Who broke this chair?” or “Who ate this cookie?” and you did it but you tell her you did not. Sometimes lying seems like a good way to get out of trouble, but it is not. Other times lying will make you feel important, like when someone ask “Who won the game?” and you want to say “I did”, but really you did not. Even when it seems like a good idea to lie, remember Car #9, God knows everything and later it will make you very unhappy that you made God unhappy.

 

Car #10 is the “Do not covet (or be jealous) Car.

 

To covet or be jealous means you do not think it is fair that someone else has what you want (like a real neat toy or fast running legs). It means you get mad every time you think about it. Car #10 says not to waste time thinking about that, especially when there are many other good things to think about, like all the things God gave you that you are glad to have.

 

 

Your brain is very busy. Every day you will have hundreds or or maybe thousands or maybe even a million thoughts running through it. You can be a little person and have big ideas, that is okay. Just make sure they fit on the right Train of Thought. ☺

 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."   Philippians 4:8 (ESV)