Episodes

11m ago

Read: Psalm 51:1-4, 7; Romans 3:23 “It’s still snowing, Grandpa,” said Evan. “We’ll have a white Christmas for sure!” Evan had not seen much snow when he lived in the valley, but now he was staying with his grandpa in the mountains. Grandpa nodded. “It makes the whole world look so clean, doesn’t it? It reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses. Isaiah 1:18 says our sins can be made as white as snow. That happens when we trust Jesus as our Savior.” Evan nodded, even though he wasn’t really sure what that meant. “I like the snow,” he said. “Can I go sledding for a while?” “Sure,” said Grandpa, so Evan bundled up and went out. That evening, Evan enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate while Grandpa read the Christmas story from the Bible. When Grandpa finished, Evan turned to him. “Grandpa, I was thinking about that verse you like—the one about snow. Didn’t you say my dad trusts Jesus as his Savior?” Grandpa nodded. “So does that mean his sins are as white as snow now?” Evan asked. “It sure does,” Grandpa assured him. “Then why is Dad still in jail?” asked Evan. “Well, Evan, your father broke the law, so now he has to face the consequences for what he did—even though He decided to trust in Jesus while he was in jail and asked Him to forgive him for all the bad things he did. Jesus washed all his sin away and made his heart clean, and your dad is a new person and will spend eternity with God. Even though he’s still in jail, God won’t hold the wrong things he did against him. In God’s eyes, your dad’s heart is as clean and white as snow.” Evan thought about that. “I want my heart to be as white as snow too.” “It can be,” said Grandpa. “Shall I pray with you so you can ask Jesus to forgive your sins and make you clean? Then you can have a white Christmas—inside and out.” –Esther M. Bailey How about you? Did you know that you can have a white Christmas anywhere in the world? Even if you don’t get snow where you live, you can have a white Christmas on the inside by asking Jesus to wash away all the wrong you’ve ever done. He died to take the punishment for your sin, and when you trust in Him, He will make your heart as clean and white as snow. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus as your Savior

1d ago

Read: 1 John 4:7-12 Jessie and Grandma clapped as Chloe emerged from backstage long after the audience left. Chloe had spent weeks preparing to audition for the role of Mary in her church’s Christmas musical, but she was instead cast as Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth. “Wonderful job, Chloe,” Grandma said. “You played an excellent Elizabeth.” Chloe sighed. “Thanks, Grandma.” “Do you get to keep the gray wig?” Jessie asked. “Why would I want to keep that ?” Chloe cried. “You could pretend to be Grandma on her birthday and get all her presents.” Grandma poked Jessie playfully on the shoulder. “How about instead of stealing presents, we go get frozen yogurt to celebrate Chloe’s performance?” “Yay!” Jessie exclaimed. Chloe nodded reluctantly. As they stood in line, Grandma went on and on about how wonderful the musical was. Finally, Chloe couldn’t take it anymore. “Can we stop talking about the musical already? It’s not fair that Shelley got to play Mary and I was stuck playing Elizabeth!” Chloe wailed. “When will I get to play the most important role?” Jessie’s eyebrows furrowed. “Chloe, what does Ms. Hill say before every rehearsal?” “There are no small parts, just small actors,” Chloe grumbled. “Right—your attitude matters more than the part you play. Even though you didn’t get the role you wanted, you can encourage Shelley and be happy for her.” “And don’t forget what the Christmas story is all about—Jesus’s birth!” Grandma added. “Jesus plays the most important role—in the Christmas story and in our lives. Without His love and sacrifice on the cross to save us from our sins, we wouldn’t get to look forward to eternity with Him or be able to share His love with others on earth. We all have an important role to play, but none of us are capable of filling Jesus’s lead role.” “You’re right,” Chloe admitted. “Jesus’s role is too big for me.” “Or any of us,” Jessie added. They got their frozen yogurt and sat down. “Maybe we should thank Jesus before we eat,” Chloe said. “Good idea,” Grandma said. “And not just for the yogurt, but for His love too.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Do you compare yourself to others? Maybe your friend connects faster with younger kids than you do, or you don’t have as much money to give at church as your older siblings. The good news is Jesus doesn’t love us based on our works. The best news is Jesus already completed the most important work—dying for our sins and coming back to life! Our job is to love Him and love others. Today's Key Verse: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Only Jesus can save us

2d ago

Read: James 2:1-4 On a bright winter day, Evelyn stopped by her Grandma’s house after school. She found her in the kitchen, pulling a batch of cookies out of the oven. “Hello, sweetheart,” Grandma said. “Grab a cookie. How was school?” “Pretty good,” Evelyn said. “But there’s a new girl in my class. She just moved here. I don’t like her.” “Oh? That doesn’t sound like my kind granddaughter. Why don’t you like her? Is she mean to you?” Evelyn blushed. “I’m sorry, Grandma, I didn’t mean to sound unkind. I haven’t talked to her, but she just looks so grumpy! She never smiles.” Grandma put a hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. “Would you do me a favor, honey? Run upstairs to my bedroom and get the box underneath my bed.” Soon Evelyn was back downstairs with the box. “What is it?” she asked. Grandma opened the box and pulled out a very old violin. It was dirty and missing parts, and all the strings were broken. “Oh, ew!” Evelyn exclaimed. Grandma smiled. “Yes, this old thing has been through some rough times. I haven’t touched it in years. Tell you what—come back in a week and I’ll show it to you again.” The next week, Evelyn was back. “I want to see that violin again,” she reminded her grandma. “Did you clean it up some?” “Yes, I did,” Grandma said. “In fact…” She pulled the violin out of a case and handed it to Evelyn. “It looks like a different instrument.” Evelyn gasped. “Grandma! This is beautiful! I had no idea.” "It just needed some love,” Grandma said. “You know, Evelyn, I showed you this because I thought it might change your mind about the girl from your school. Sometimes people seem mean or grumpy because they’ve been through rough times or are having a bad day. They need love and care, just like my old violin. That’s one reason the Bible says we shouldn’t judge by what we see on the outside. Everyone, no matter what they act like, needs Jesus just like we do, and He wants us to show them His love by caring for them.” Grandma gave Evelyn a wink. “See if you can’t make that girl smile tomorrow.” Evelyn smiled. “Thanks, Grandma. I will!” –Lucy Alessio How about you? Do you know someone who doesn’t seem very likable from a distance? Instead of holding it against them, maybe you need to get to know them. God commands us not to judge people by how they look or act but to treat people equally and show love to everyone. We all need Jesus, and He died for our sins when none of us were very likeable. Follow His example by showing everyone His love. Today's Key Verse: Stop judging by the way things look. Be fair and judge by what is really right. John 7:24 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Love instead of judging

3d ago

Read: John 1:14-17; 3:16-17 Caleb and Vanessa sat in the back seat of the car on the way home from Christmas shopping. They didn’t dare say a word. Mom’s face said it all. They were in big trouble. They had saved up money to buy gifts, but when they got to the store, they pushed and fought over every toy. After a couple warnings, Mom marched them out of the store empty-handed. “I’m sorry, Mom,” Caleb ventured. “I don’t know what happened.” “Are we in big trouble?” Vanessa asked. Mom took a deep breath. “We’ll see when we get home. I’ll talk to your dad.” When they walked through the front door, Dad saw their glum faces. “Uh-oh. What’s going on?” Mom looked at Caleb and Vanessa. “I want you both to go sit on the couch in the living room. We’ll be there in a minute.” They slowly walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch. Soon their parents came in. Dad looked stern. “I’m very disappointed to hear about your behavior today, but after talking it over, Mom and I decided we want you to open an early Christmas present.” Caleb and Vanessa looked startled as Mom handed them a small wrapped box. “Is this for real?” Caleb asked. Mom nodded, and they both tore off the wrapping paper. Caleb pulled out a glass ornament of baby Jesus. Vanessa squealed. “It’s beautiful!” Caleb smiled but still looked a bit suspicious. “What’s the catch?” “Do you think you deserved an early Christmas present today?” Dad asked. Caleb frowned. “No, Dad. We deserve something else. We deserve to be punished.” Mom smiled. “That’s exactly why we wanted to give this to you.” Dad nodded. “We are all full of sin—we all act ugly and do bad things. Because of that sin, we all deserve punishment from God. But instead of punishing us, He sent us the most wonderful, undeserved gift. He sent us a baby to be our Savior.” “I get it!” Vanessa said. “Our little undeserved ornament will remind us that God sent Jesus to save us from sin.” Caleb smiled. “I understand too. Jesus was a gift we didn’t deserve.” –Bethany Den Boer How about you? Do you get lots of gifts at Christmas? Do you feel like you deserve your presents and get angry when you don’t get what you want? We receive gifts at Christmas not because we earned them, but because those who give them to us love us. These gifts remind us God gave us Jesus to be our Savior not because we deserved such a wonderful gift, but because He loves us. Today's Key Verse: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the greatest gift

4d ago

Read: Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 Nate and Peter watched as Dad assembled a miniature model of the human body they had gotten for their homeschool biology class. “I’m amazed at God’s creation,” Dad said, holding up the plastic heart piece. “Did you know that the human heart, which is only about as big as a clenched fist, can pump up to two thousand gallons of blood a day?” “I heard that in our class videos,” said Peter. “We learned about eyes too. They’re set in holes, or sockets, and they’re protected by seven interlocking bones.” “And our eyelashes and eyebrows keep out dust and sweat,” said Nate. “And each time we blink, a special fluid washes over our eyes.” Dad grinned. “Right! And have you noticed that the palms of your hands are sort of skid-proof so you can get a grip on things? And think about your fingers and all they can do. You use them to write, paint, hammer a nail, play the piano—” “Catch a football,” added Nate. Dad nodded. “Just like the Bible says, we’re fearfully and wonderfully made. God created the human body to do amazing things. His great handiwork is nothing to laugh about, is it?” “Laugh about?” asked Peter. “What do you mean?” “Well, sometimes I hear people say things that aren’t respectful about the human body,” said Dad. “They make jokes about things God designed it to do, and sometimes they even mock others whose bodies look different from theirs.” Peter nodded. “Sometimes my friends send me things that make fun of stuff like that—or even specific people.” “That’s not how God wants us to treat the bodies—or people—He created,” said Dad. “He loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us. When we trust in Him, He gives us new hearts—not a physical heart that pumps blood, but a desire to know and follow Him and share His love with others. And one day He’s going to give us new bodies too! Perfect bodies that will be free from sin, sickness, and death.” “Wow,” said Nate. “That sounds amazing!” Dad nodded. “It is amazing. That’s why we need to treat the bodies God gave us—and everyone else—with respect.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Are you ever tempted to make fun of the amazing bodies God created? Maybe you’ve made inappropriate jokes about them or looked at pictures or videos that are disrespectful. Perhaps you’ve even mocked someone for the way their body looks. Ask Jesus to forgive you for the times you didn’t treat people He loves and their bodies with respect. Remember that our bodies are meant to remind us of His amazing love. Today's Key Verse: I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Respect the bodies God created

5d ago

Read: Colossians 4:2-6 Johannah stared out her bedroom window as Mom came into the room and sat down on the bed. “How are you feeling?” Mom asked as she stroked Johannah’s forehead. “I think you still have a fever.” “Why do I have to be sick today?” moaned Johannah. “I wanted to go sing at the hospital with my Sunday school class.” Her lower lip quivered a little. “And it makes you feel bad that you can’t go, doesn’t it?” said Mom. Johannah nodded. “I was really looking forward to going around and singing to people who were sick. Now I can’t.” “I know, honey,” said Mom. “But you can pray and ask Jesus to use your class to bless the people at the hospital with their singing.” Johannah shrugged. “It just doesn’t seem the same,” she said with a sigh. “Maybe not, but…” Mom stood up. “I’ll be right back.” She left the room and returned a few minutes later with a strand of pearls. “See this necklace? Your great-grandmother gave it to me when I was a teenager.” She held it out so Johannah could look at it. “But there’s a very important part of it you can’t see.” Johannah looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” “Well, what do you see when you look at it?” asked Mom. Johannah took the necklace. “The pearls,” she said after examining it. Mom nodded. “That’s what everyone notices, but look.” She carefully pulled two pearls apart to reveal the thin white thread holding them together. “No one notices this plain and simple thread, but without it, my necklace would fall apart.” Still puzzled, Johannah looked at the pearl necklace and then at her mother. “Okay,” she said uncertainly. “Prayer is like this thread,” Mom explained. “We often pray as an afterthought, but really, it’s what holds everything together—nothing we do would make any difference without God working behind the scenes and in people’s hearts. Even though you can’t go with the others to the hospital, you can have a very important part in what they’re doing. You can ask Jesus to use their singing to encourage the people at the hospital and show them how much He loves them and cares for them.” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Do you ever feel like you can’t do anything important for Jesus because you’re too young, too sick, or too shy? That’s not true! There’s at least one thing every Christian can do, and that’s pray. It’s not something everybody notices, but Jesus does. He hears each prayer. Pray and ask Him to work in people’s hearts as you and fellow Christians serve Him and show others His love. Today's Key Verse: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Prayer is important

6d ago

Read: Luke 2:4-18 “Mmm…I love candy canes! They’re my favorite Christmas treat,” Abbie said as she licked her sweet candy. “They are yummy,” said Mom. “But what makes them my favorite Christmas candy is the story they tell.” "Candy canes tell a story?” Abbie asked. “Yes,” Mom said with a gleam of excitement in her eyes. “Flip your candy cane upside down. What letter do you see?” “It’s the letter J,” Abbie replied. “That’s right,” Mom said. “And at Christmas we remember the birth of…?” “Jesus!” said Abbie. “The J stands for Jesus!” “You got it. The candy cane reminds us of Jesus at Christmas, and it also reminds us of two special groups of people who came to visit Jesus after He was born. If you turn your candy cane upright again, what does it look like?” “A shepherd’s staff!” Abbie exclaimed. Mom nodded. “The staff reminds us of the shepherds who came to visit Jesus—and also that Jesus Himself is our Good Shepherd. And as you taste your candy cane, the sweet peppermint flavor tickles your tongue, which can be a reminder of the spices the wise men gave to Jesus.” “This part of the story tastes good,” said Abbie, giving her candy cane another lick. “What do the colors mean?” “The red represents the blood Jesus poured out for us when He died on the cross for our sins, and the white reminds us that when we trust Jesus as our Savior, He washes our sin away and makes us clean.” “I never knew the candy cane told a story before!” Abbie said as she munched on a hard piece of her candy cane. “Every part of the candy cane tells a story. Even the fact that the candy cane is hard points to Jesus being our solid rock.” “Wow, that’s amazing! Would it be okay if I give some candy canes to my friends at school? I want to tell them the story of the candy cane too!” “That’s a wonderful idea,” Mom replied. “Telling others the story of Jesus is one of the best gifts you can give your friends.” “Yeah,” said Abbie. “And it tastes good too!” –Rachel Vruggink How about you? Do you have a friend you could tell the story of the candy cane? Telling others about Jesus’s birth and how He died on the cross for their sins and rose again is a wonderful story to share at Christmastime. The shepherds were so excited when they saw Jesus that they spread the good news! Who can you share the good news of Jesus with this Christmas? Today's Key Verse: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. Luke 2:17 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Share Jesus with others

Dec 15

Read: Isaiah 64:4-6 “Mom, guess what?” said James. “My school is having a snow sculpture contest, and there are prizes!” “What are you going to make?” Mom asked. “A polar bear.” James grinned. “That will be the perfect animal for this cold, snowy weather.” Each day leading up to the contest, James practiced making bears. At the end of the week, a whole family of snow bears stood in front of the house. “It’s a good thing the contest is tomorrow,” Mom said. “You’ve used up almost all the snow in the yard!” The next day, the children started their sculptures. James worked hard, hoping to win the grand prize—a trip to Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth, Michigan. After he finished his bear, James and his mom walked around and looked at the other entries. When the judges announced James as the grand prize winner, he jumped up and down. “I knew my bear was best!” he told his mom. A few weeks later, when James and Mom arrived in Frankenmuth, a snow sculpture contest was underway. James watched the contestants make huge, intricate sculptures. “After seeing these entries, my bear doesn’t seem so good.” “These contestants are professional,” said Mom. “It’s easy to feel humbled after seeing their work.” “That’s for sure.” James stopped to look at a sculpture of a huge polar bear. It was so lifelike, it almost looked real. “This looks nothing like my polar bear. There’s just no comparison!” Mom smiled. “It reminds me of how I used to compare myself to others. Sometimes I thought I was pretty good, and sometimes I didn’t—it all depended on how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ I thought someone else was. Until I read the Bible, I thought God judged people the same way. But He has a higher standard, and none of us can live up to it, no matter how hard we try. There’s only one way to be good enough for him.” “I know what it is!” said James. “We need to trust in Jesus.” “Right,” said Mom. “Jesus is the only one who meets God’s perfect standard, and He died to pay for our sins. When we trust in Him, He makes us good in God’s eyes.” –David J. Belleau How about you? Do you compare yourself to other people to see how good you are? What about Jesus—have you ever compared yourself to Him? He’s God’s perfect standard, and compared to Him, we’re all sinners in need of forgiveness. The only way to be good in God’s eyes is for Jesus to remove your sin and give you His goodness. Trust Him as your Savior today. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes us good

Dec 14

Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16 “Why do we have to take Mrs. Anderson to church with us tomorrow?” asked Miriam. “She’s so boring—all she talks about is her cat. I can’t stand her!” “I don’t like her either,” said Miriam’s little brother Brendon. “Me neither!” said Flynn, the youngest. “That’s enough!” said Mom. “That’s not a kind way to talk about an elderly woman who can’t get out on her own.” A while later, Mom came to Miriam’s room. “Want to go for a ride? I have the dogs hooked up to the sled. Dad will stay here with the boys.” “All right!” Miriam eagerly followed her mom outside. “You put Kodiak on the team today?” she asked as she looked at the dogs. “When we take him, the other dogs don’t run as well!” “He needs more practice,” said Mom. Miriam frowned as she sat down on the sled. Mom hopped on the runners. “Let’s go!” Mom shouted. The dogs took off, and they glided onto the snow-packed road. Miriam yelled out in excitement as they raced to the top of the hill. Then Kodiak spotted a branch sticking out of the snow. He pulled hard toward the side and stopped. For a minute, the other dogs tried to go on, but soon they all stopped and got tangled up in each other’s lines. Mom got off the sled to straighten them out. “I knew this would happen!” said Miriam. “Why did we have to use Kodiak?” “You should be more patient with him. After all, you two are kind of alike.” “What do you mean?” asked Miriam in surprise. “Kodiak sets a bad example for the other dogs, and you’ve been setting a bad example for your brothers. You often say mean things about people, and then they think it’s okay for them to think of people that way too. That’s not how Jesus wants us to treat others.” Miriam sighed. “I know.” Mom finished untangling the lines and got back onto the sled runners. “Jesus loves Mrs. Anderson—He died for her! His example of love is the one we should follow. Ask Him to help you love Mrs. Anderson like He does. Then you can set a good example for your brothers and encourage them to love her too.” –Corrine C. Canavan-Fifield How about you? What kind of example are you setting for your siblings and friends who are Christians? Think about your actions. Do the things you do and say line up with the things Jesus would do and say? Trust Him to help you follow His example so you can encourage other Christians to live that way too. Then you can work together to show others His love! Today's Key Verse: Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Be a good example

Dec 13

Read: James 3:3-10 “Why didn’t you invite Jase to come camping with us?” Dad asked as he and Thatcher sat beside their campfire. Thatcher looked at his dad. “His mother’s in a mental hospital!” “Yes,” Dad said. “She’s getting the help she needs for her mental health.” “I knew she was in a hospital, but I didn’t know it was that kind of hospital until a guy at school told me,” Thatcher said. “The kids at school say Jase must be nuts too, and…well, don’t you think he’s a little weird sometimes?” “No weirder than anyone else,” Dad replied. “Just because Jase’s mother is ill does not mean he has the same problems. And remember, she’s ill, not ‘nuts,’ as you called it.” Thatcher didn’t say anything, but he wasn’t convinced. After swimming in the river the next day, Thatcher let out a yell. “Dad! There’s a yucky worm on my leg! I can’t pull it off!” Dad hurried over. “That’s a leech, Thatcher. They live in the water and sometimes stick to swimmers. Hold still, and I’ll try to get it off.” Dad succeeded in removing the leech, but Thatcher’s leg kept on bleeding. “Leeches give off a substance that keeps blood from clotting,” Dad explained. “We’ll wash and bandage your leg, and I’m sure it will be fine.” Soon Dad had Thatcher all bandaged up. “You know, Thatcher, leeches remind me of gossip. Gossip also sticks tight. Even after people quit talking, those they’ve gossiped about continue to hurt. I’m sure the things kids say about Jase hurt him. All that gossip may be sucking the joy of life right out of him.” “I…I didn’t mean to hurt Jase,” Thatcher replied. “No, but people get hurt by gossip, and it’s a sin. When we gossip, we’re using other people’s problems and shortcomings to get attention and make ourselves look better—and often the things we hear and repeat about others aren’t even true! We need to remember we’re just as flawed as everyone else and that Jesus died to save all of us. We’re not showing others His love when we gossip—either the people listening or the person we’re talking about.” “I’m sorry, Dad,” Thatcher said. “I’ll text Jase and see if he wants to come out here. Then I can tell him I’m sorry too.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Are you guilty of hurting someone by spreading gossip? Don’t sin by hurting others this way. Even if you believe a negative thing you hear about someone is true, think about how you’d feel if someone said a similar thing about you. Then show Jesus’s love by speaking words that help support and encourage others instead of hurting them. Today's Key Verse: I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin. Psalm 39:1 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Gossip is sin

Dec 12

Read: Isaiah 9:6-7; 53:5-6 Lexie dangled her feet off the bunk bed as her sister got ready for their Christmas program rehearsal. “I’m going to mark my script so I don’t miss any of my lines,” Lexie said. She stuck her pen in her princess purse. “Girls! We need to be at church soon!” Mom stuck her head in the door. “What? You’re not even dressed? We should have left already!” Anna poked her head out of the closet. “But I can’t find my shoes.” “Forget your shoes! Just come on!” Mom rushed away to check on the twins. By the time everyone was loaded in the van, Mom was downright angry. “This happens every time we need to go somewhere!” she said. “I’m so sick of being late!” As Mom was about to shut the van door, Anna gasped. “I forgot my shoes!” Mom let out an exasperated groan. “Get your shoes now! And if you’re not back in one minute, I’m leaving!” Five minutes later, Anna climbed into the van, shoes in hand. Mom fussed as they pulled onto the street. “Anna, how could you possibly forget your shoes on a day this cold? And Lexie, that is the last time I want to see you lollygagging when you should be getting ready!” Just then the radio began to play a song that the twins had been singing all week. Their three-year-old voices quickly chimed in with the music. “For unto us a child is bo-own…unto us a Son is gibben…” Mom stopped yelling. Then she let out a big sigh. “I’m sorry, girls,” she said. “I’ve been so focused on blaming you for making us late that I forgot why we’re going to rehearse for the Christmas program in the first place—to tell others about Jesus. The truth is, I wasn’t ready on time either, but I didn’t want to admit that, so I made you feel bad about it instead. Will you forgive me?” Anna and Lexie looked at each other. “Forgive you?” Lexie asked. Mom nodded. “Sometimes parents make mistakes too. Jesus is still working to make me more like Him, just like He is with you.” Anna smiled. “Yes, Mom,” she said. “We forgive you!” –Rebekah Dorris How about you? Have you ever heard your parents say things they later regret? Just like you, parents make mistakes. The good news is that Jesus is still working on all of us, so remember that when your parents fall short. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you, and He wants you to show His love to others by forgiving them—including parents! Today's Key Verse: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Forgive your parents

Dec 11

Read: John 3:14-21 “It’s so pretty!” said five-year-old Julia as she stood at the rope barricade and stared in wonder at the shiny balls, glittering stars, and sparkling snow on a Christmas tree at the mall. “Is the snow on the Christmas tree real?” “No,” said Julia’s older sister, Dakota. “It comes in a spray can, and you just spray it on.” “It looks so real,” said Julia, disappointed. “Who are all the presents under the tree for?” “They’re not real presents,” said Dakota. “They’re empty boxes wrapped to look like presents—just part of the decorations. They’re supposed to get people in the mood to buy Christmas presents.” Julia could hardly believe that the beautifully wrapped boxes were empty. She wanted to reach over the barricade, pick one up, and shake it. Back home, Julia told her mother about the tree. “The snow looked so real, and the presents did too, but Dakota says they’re just empty boxes. Are they really?” “I’m afraid so,” said Mom. “Even though they’re covered in shiny paper and colorful bows, there’s nothing inside.” “That’s sad,” said Julia. “It’s not real at all—it’s a fake Christmas!” “In a way, it is,” said Mom. “And we wouldn’t want to celebrate a fake Christmas, would we? Not at the mall, and not at our house.” “At our house?” Julia giggled. “We don’t wrap empty boxes and put them under the tree!” “No,” said Mom. “But if we’re not careful, the things we do to celebrate Christmas—all the parties and gifts and decorations—can distract us from the real reason we celebrate Christmas—Jesus coming to earth to save us from sin. He’s the true gift of Christmas, and without Him, Christmas is empty, just like one of those empty boxes wrapped in pretty paper.” “So is it bad to do those things, like give each other presents or decorate the house?” Julia asked. “Of course not!” said Mom. “But those things are like the pretty paper we use to wrap the gifts we give each other—it’s not the gift itself. And all the fun things we do at Christmas point us to the real reason we celebrate—God sending His Son to the world to save us and give us eternal life.” –Pauline Youd How about you? Do you celebrate the real reason for Christmas? Or do you just focus on buying gifts or getting presents? At Christmas, we celebrate God giving us the best present ever—Himself. He sent Jesus to save us from sin so we could have eternal life with Him. If you haven’t received that gift, do it today by trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Celebrate the true gift of Christmas

Dec 10

Read: Matthew 2:1-12 “Mrs. Chavez read us a short story today called ‘The Gift of the Magi,’” Jenna announced at dinner. “By O. Henry! I love that story,” exclaimed her mother. “It’s about a young couple who were really, really poor,” Jenna told her older brother, Damon. “They really wanted to buy each other a special Christmas present, but the only valuable thing the guy owned was a gold watch, and the girl had nothing except her beautiful, long hair. So she secretly decided to cut her hair off and sell it so she could buy a chain for the watch her husband was so proud of. Meanwhile, he secretly sold his watch so he could buy expensive combs for the hair she no longer had!” Damon laughed. “What a disaster!” “I know, it sounds awful. But it ended up the best Christmas ever, because it made them realize how much they really loved each other.” “Sappy.” “Damon.” His father shook his head. “Remember the year you spent all your money on a Christmas gift for Mom? You’d been saving forever for a video game, but you sacrificed it to buy a cookbook she wanted.” “Yeah, I remember.” Damon grinned. “It was worth it seeing your expression, Mom, when you opened the box!” “A gift that keeps on giving,” Mom said, pointing to their dessert. “Jenna, I wonder if your story is called “The Gift of the Magi” because the magi—the wise men who visited baby Jesus—brought Him costly gifts? They brought Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which were special because they pointed to how Jesus was King over everything but had come to sacrifice Himself so we could have the gift of eternal life. The couple in the story made sacrifices to show their love for each other, and Jesus showed us His love by making the greatest sacrifice of all.” “Maybe we should all think of ways we can show others God’s love this Christmas,” said Dad. Jenna was quiet for a moment. “Maybe instead of keeping all the clothes I get this year, I could share my new sweaters and stuff with girls I know who don’t have much. What do you think, Mom?” Mom smiled. “I think any gift you give from your heart pleases Jesus and makes His birthday extra special!” –Debbie Meroff How about you? Have you ever sacrificed something valuable in order to give a person you love a particular gift? Or maybe you’ve had a friend or family member make a sacrifice to give you a gift. Jesus broke every record for sacrifices when He gave His life for us! How can you share His love with others this Christmas? Today's Key Verse: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Give joyfully like Jesus

Dec 9

Read: Psalm 139:14-18 When Emmalyn got home from school, she went straight to her room, flopped face-first on her bed, and began to cry. Soon there was a knock at her door. “Emmalyn, it’s Mom. Can I come in?” Emmalyn managed to let out a muffled yes, and Mom came in and sat down on the bed. “What’s wrong?” Mom asked. Emmalyn sniffled. “Judson noticed that I’m the only one with red hair in our class. He made jokes about redheads all day and even got the other kids to call me carrottop!” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Can I dye my hair a different color, Mom? Please?” Mom was silent as she stared at Emmalyn’s bedroom wall. Emmalyn had a very special bedroom wall. Last summer her uncle had come and helped her paint a mural of a tropical scene on it. “Well,” Mom finally said, “I guess we’ll have to go to the store and pick up some hair dye. While we’re at it, we should pick up a gallon of white paint to cover up your mural.” “What?” Emmalyn looked shocked. “Why? Uncle Joe and I worked hard on that, and it turned out really well. It’s a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!” “Well, you want to change your hair so you can be just like your classmates, and I know none of them have a bedroom wall like yours,” said Mom. “So we should get rid of that too.” Emmalyn stared at her mom for a few moments before she finally understood. “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to tell me that I’m a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, just like the mural on my wall.” “That’s exactly right,” said Mom. “God made you the way you are, and He loves you—so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you! And He created you to show His love to others in your own unique way. So don’t try to change yourself just to make other people happy—you’re beautiful just the way you are because you belong to Jesus.” Mom gave Emmalyn a tight hug, and Emmalyn smiled as she looked at the mural on her wall and thought of herself as God’s masterpiece. –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Has anyone ever made fun of you for the way you look? It hurts when that happens, but remember God made you the way you are and He loves you. He made you for a special purpose—to know Jesus and share Him with others in your own unique way. Your beauty doesn’t depend on other people’s opinions about how you look. You’re beautiful because you know Jesus! Today's Key Verse: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: You are God’s masterpiece

Dec 8

Read: Romans 12:3-10 “It’s my idea! I should wrap all the presents!” Libby cried. “But you’re not good at wrapping,” Hattie answered. “It’s a class project to raise money for missionaries our church supports. We are going to work together ,” Miss Coretta intervened. When Miss Coretta had asked their class for ideas to help support missionaries, Libby shared her plan: wrapping Christmas presents at the mall in exchange for donations from shoppers getting their purchases wrapped. Everyone agreed, so Miss Coretta made the arrangements. Libby felt proud of her idea and wanted to carry out the project by herself. When Hattie noticed Libby rushing to wrap each gift the shoppers brought them, she tried talking to Libby. But Libby insisted on handling it alone. “Please get more tape and ribbon from the box I brought,” Miss Coretta asked Libby. Grumpily, Libby yanked the supply box from under the table. Then a man approached. “I had this candle wrapped for my wife’s Christmas present,” he explained. “But the paper fell off on my way out. I was wondering if you could rewrap it.” Libby stood up from her search for ribbon and tape. She remembered wrapping that candle. She now saw how sloppy she’d been. “I’m sorry.” Libby’s face turned red. “Hattie, why don’t you rewrap the candle? I’ll get the shiny paper.” Afterwards, Miss Coretta took Libby aside. “I know that embarrassed you, but I think you can learn something from this mistake.” “I can?” Libby asked. Miss Coretta nodded. “God tells us He gives grace to those who are humble. When we admit we need help, He’ll provide it. Jesus humbled Himself by dying on the cross for our sins because we couldn’t save ourselves, and He’ll help you have the same kind of humble attitude He did. When we’re prideful and try to do His work all on our own, we set ourselves up for failure. But when we humbly work with others to serve Him, people can see His love and grace in us.” “I did fail at wrapping that man’s candle,” Libby replied. Then she smiled. “Hey, Hattie?” Libby called. “Will you show me how you wrap presents? I think I have a lot to learn.” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Are you humbly serving the Lord with other Christians? God gives each of us abilities to use for His purposes. When we work together as God’s people, we bless others and glorify Him. But when we think we have what it takes to do God’s work all by ourselves, our pride leads to failure, and we keep others from doing their part too. As we grow in Jesus, He’ll help us get rid of pride and be humble so the work we do with others can show people who He is. Today's Key Verse: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Be humble

Dec 7

Read: John 13:3-10; 1 John 1:5-9 “Hudson!” Mom’s voice startled him as he stepped into the kitchen. “Look at your shoes!” Hudson looked down at his feet and then at the trail of mud behind him. “How did your shoes get so dirty?” Mom asked. Hudson shrugged. “I was just outside.” “Well, please go back outside and clean off your shoes.” A few minutes later, Hudson came back, and he and Mom wiped up the dirt. “I’m sorry, Mom,” Hudson said. Mom smiled. “No harm done. I know it was an accident. It’s pretty easy to get dirt on your shoes without knowing it, isn’t it?” Hudson nodded. “I still don’t know how they got so dirty.” “Well, at least it was just mud—not sin,” Mom said. Hudson looked puzzled. “Getting your shoes dirty with mud is a little like getting your life dirty with sin,” Mom explained. “We talked about that at church this morning, remember? Sometimes you don’t even think about what you’re doing, and then you suddenly realize that something you’ve done wasn’t right.” “Does that ever happen to you?” asked Hudson. “Yes. When I mess up, it’s like my life has gotten dirty with sin. And do you know what I have to do then? To get clean again?” Hudson thought about it. “Jesus would have to clean up the sin, wouldn’t He?” “That’s right,” Mom replied. “He promises to clean away any sin from our lives when we confess it and ask for forgiveness.” Hudson frowned. “Does that mean every time I sin, I’m not saved anymore until I say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness?” Mom shook her head. “No, Hudson. Because we’ve trusted Jesus to save us, we belong to Him, and nothing we do could ever separate us from Him. We’ll always be His children—just like you’ll always be my child, even when you have dirty shoes. When we realize we’ve been tracking sin around, we need Him to wash it away.” Hudson smiled. “I’m glad Jesus will always forgive me when my life gets dirty with sin—just like you forgave me for tracking mud in the kitchen!” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Have you done something that’s gotten your life dirty with sin? Even though Jesus has already saved you from sin if you trust in Him, you’ll still struggle with it in your daily life until He comes back and gets rid of sin once and for all. When you sin, confess it to Him right away to keep it from getting in the way of living the way He wants you to. He’ll forgive you and make you clean! Today's Key Verse: Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Confess sin and be clean

Dec 5

Read: Matthew 2:9-11 The Ravens were up by one in the championship game of the winter league basketball tournament when the scoreboard buzzed. The game was over! All the guys huddled around their star player, Bryson Phillips, who scored 28 of their 62 points. On the car ride home, Bryson couldn’t stop looking at his Most Valuable Player trophy. “This is the best day of my life!” he told his dad. Suddenly a bird swooped down in front of their car. “Watch it!” yelled Bryson. Dad tried to swerve, but it was too late. The car hit the bird head-on, and it instantly fell to the ground. Dad pulled over. Bryson raced out and knelt beside the bird. “Is it still alive?” “I’m afraid not,” said Dad. As they continued driving, Bryson set his trophy aside and peered out the window. He thought of his friend Alex. It had been over a year since Alex had passed away from cancer. It had taken him and his family by surprise—one day Alex was fine, and then suddenly, he was gone. Just like that bird getting hit by our car , Bryson thought. “Are you okay?” asked Dad. Bryson looked at the trophy in the seat next to him. “All of a sudden this trophy seems kind of worthless,” he said. “I’d give it back in a heartbeat—along with every Raven basketball victory—if it meant getting Alex back.” Dad sighed heavily. “I miss Alex too. Life is precious—more precious than anything we earn or receive on this earth.” “Much more precious than winning basketball championships,” added Bryson. Dad nodded. “Jesus is the giver of life. That’s why He came into the world. He sacrificed His life on the cross so we could have eternal life—a life that goes beyond the years we live on earth. The joy of life with Him is better than anything else. Even when we experience difficult things—like losing Alex—we can be joyful knowing that Jesus walks with us through life’s troubles and promises us a life with Him that lasts forever.” Bryson smiled as he thought of Alex in heaven with Jesus. He picked up his trophy again. “I do like the joy of winning, but it will never come close to the joy Jesus brings.” Dad smiled. “Nothing does.” –Randy Saller How about you? What things in life give you joy? Winning a game? Spending time with family and friends? Having others recognize your accomplishments? God blesses us with many good gifts, but there’s one thing He wants us to treasure above everything else—His Son, Jesus. Only Jesus can give us life that lasts forever and joy that is unlike anything else. Today's Key Verse: When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Matthew 2:10 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Rejoice in Jesus

Dec 4

Read: Matthew 13:18-23 When Penelope got home from school, she found Grandpa on his knees in the garden. “What are you doing?” she asked. “Planting vegetables,” replied Grandpa. He grinned. “Aren’t you glad we live in a climate where we can grow things all year round? Nothing tastes better than vegetables fresh from the garden.” “But didn’t you plant stuff in those same rows last week?” asked Penelope. “I did, but the hard rains washed most of the seeds away.” “Oh.” Penelope picked up a pile of empty seed packets and flipped through them. “You planted radishes before, but you don’t have any now, do you?” Grandpa shook his head. “They haven’t done very well, so I’m trying something else instead. I might try them again next year.” He stood up. “Tell me about your day. You were going to ask Michaela to go to Bible club with you this week. What did she say?” Penelope sighed. “She said she’d rather go shopping with her mom.” “Well, inviting someone to do something with you is kind of like planting seeds,” Grandpa told her. “Sometimes you get good results, and sometimes you don’t.” He looked down at his garden. “In fact, your invitation to Michaela points to a much bigger invitation God offers each one of us.” “It does?” asked Penelope. “What’s that?” “His invitation to trust in His Son, Jesus, and have our sins forgiven. The Bible says telling others about His invitation is like planting seeds in a field. Some of the seeds yield good results—people believing and trusting in Jesus—but some don’t. When you invite your friends to church and Bible club where they can hear about Jesus and what He did for them, you’re planting seeds.” Grandpa smiled at Penelope. “Keep praying for Michaela and planting seeds in her life by spending time with her and sharing what Jesus has done for you. But since she doesn’t want to go to Bible club with you this time, maybe there’s someone else you could invite.” Penelope thought about it. “There’s a new family on our block with a girl my age.” Grandpa nodded. “She may need a friend,” he said. “A friend who can help her understand how much Jesus loves her.” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Do you give up if you tell someone about Jesus or invite them to come to church with you and they aren’t interested? Don’t give up! Keep on praying for them and showing them God’s love—and keep looking for other people you could reach out to who don’t know Jesus. God wants us to help spread the good news of Jesus by planting seeds in people’s hearts, but only He can make them grow. Keep sharing His invitation with others and trust Him with the results. Today's Key Verse: Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Keep on sharing Jesus

Dec 3

Read: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3 “Grandpa’s going to like that birdhouse you’re making for him, Tomás,” said Dad. “It looks great—but I see it’s not quite like the one pictured in your woodworking manual.” “No,” replied Tomás. “I left the perch off and made the hole smaller. This way, starlings won’t move in before the songbirds get a chance.” “Good thinking!” said Dad. “That reminds me of the model plane you made that flew twice as far after you changed the design of the wings.” Tomás grinned. “I like to make things work better. Maybe I’ll be an engineer when I grow up.” “I thought you didn’t like long trips,” said Tomás’s little sister, Liliana. “Wouldn’t you get tired of riding on a train all the time?” Tomás laughed. “I don’t mean the kind of engineer who drives trains. I mean the kind of engineer who designs things, like bridges and buildings. They don’t just get thrown together. Engineers carefully figure out how to build them so they’ll be strong and safe and work the way they’re supposed to. They draw up the plans for skyscrapers and roads and all kinds of things.” “Wow!” said Liliana. “I bet you’ll be the best engineer of all!” Tomás grinned. “Thanks!” “Actually, the best engineer of all made more than buildings and machines,” said Dad. “He designed the whole universe—the forests and the deserts. The canyons and the mountains. All the plants and animals. The sun and the moon and the stars. Even us!” “I know who that is,” said Liliana. “God!” “Right,” said Dad. “God made everything. He knew how much we’d like to watch the birds and animals, and how much we’d love climbing the mountain trails and seeing all the stars at night. He also drew up a plan to save us from sin by sending Jesus to die for us so we could be with Him and enjoy His beautiful creation forever. Aren’t you glad He created so many amazing things and carried out His wonderful plan of salvation?” Tomás nodded. “That’s an engineering job no one could ever match!” –Katherine E. Swarts How about you? Are you impressed by things people make—like big buildings and new technology? God created humans with the ability to do amazing things, but only He could engineer the whole world and all that’s in it. He also drew up a plan to provide salvation—forgiveness of sins and eternal life—by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us. By trusting in Jesus, you can have eternal life and enjoy God and all His wonderful creation forever! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: God created everything through [Jesus], and nothing was created except through him. John 1:3 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God engineered everything

Dec 2

Read: Luke 1:11-19, 26-38; John 20:24-29 Yamen set his pencil down with a sigh. “I can’t concentrate on schoolwork, Mom. All these doubts keep filling my mind.” Mom plopped down next to Yamen. “Like what?” “Like…stuff they taught us in science class when I was going to school last year. They made it sound like we’re just here by chance instead of being created by God. I’ve trusted Jesus as my Savior, and I believe the Bible is true, but sometimes other people sound so sure about what they believe that I doubt.” “We all have times when we doubt,” said Mom. “It’s what we do when we have doubts that matters.” “What do you mean?” asked Yamen. “Remember the story of Thomas in the Bible? After Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared to some of the disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there. When they told him they had seen the Lord, he said he wouldn’t believe until he put his fingers on Jesus’s scars.” “Then Jesus appeared to Thomas and he believed,” said Yamen. “If He appeared to me, it would make believing a whole lot easier.” “But don’t forget what Jesus told Thomas,” said Mom. “He said those who have not seen Him and still believe are blessed.” “Oh yeah, I remember! And there are other stories in the Bible of people doubting—like when an angel told that old dude he would be the father of John the Baptist, but he didn’t believe so the angel said he would be mute until the baby was born.” “Yes, that was Zechariah,” said Mom. “And when the same angel told Mary she was going to give birth to the Son of God, she didn’t understand how it would happen. But unlike Zechariah, she accepted what the angel said. Like Mary, we can still believe and trust God even when our questions are left unanswered.” “So you’re saying there will be things we don’t understand but we can trust that God is with us and for us because He sent His Son to die for us and raised Him from the dead?” Mom laughed. “You’re one smart kid! How about you be the teacher for the day?” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever have doubts about God or His Word? It is human to have questions and doubts, and God understands that. When Thomas doubted, Jesus appeared to him and showed him His scars, and He wants to help you see who He is too. Pray and ask for wisdom in understanding the truth of the Bible, and talk to a trusted adult about your questions. Even if you don’t get the answers you’re looking for, you can trust Jesus to be with you in times of doubt because He died for you. Today's Key Verse: Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Bring your doubts to God

Dec 1

Read: Romans 5:15-17 “Melanie says it doesn’t make sense that Christians give each other presents at Christmas,” Andrew told Mom on the way home from school. “She says we just use Jesus’s birthday as an excuse to be greedy like everybody else. Is she right? What makes us different from people who celebrate Christmas but don’t believe in Jesus?” “Well, tell me this,” said Mom. “Who was Jesus?” Andrew frowned. “Is this a trick question?” Mom shook her head. “Well, Jesus was God’s Son,” said Andrew. “God sent Jesus to save us from sin.” “Absolutely right,” said Mom. “And did we pay anything to receive Jesus?” “No,” said Andrew. “Jesus was a free gift.” “A free what?” “A free gif—aha! Jesus was God’s present,” said Andrew as Mom pulled into the church parking lot. “Hey, why are we at church?” “I had an idea as we were passing by,” said Mom as she opened the car door. Inside stood a giant tree covered with envelopes, each one labeled with a child’s first name and age. “Why don’t you pick three?” said Mom. “These are kids who could use some presents this Christmas.” Andrew picked the envelopes of a boy named Andrew, a girl named Ruby Jane, and then—“Melanie—and she’s my age!” exclaimed Andrew. On the way home, Andrew opened the envelopes and read the lists. “Melanie wants a new hat. When can we go shopping, Mom?” “As soon as you answer your own question. What makes Christians different, Andrew? Now do you know why we give gifts?” “I think so.” Andrew thought for a moment. “Christians give Christmas gifts because God gave us His gift. We give presents to remind each other of the best present—Jesus—and show others His love.” Weeks later at school, Andrew noticed Melanie was wearing a new hat. “I like your hat, Melanie.” “Thanks. It was a Christmas present.” Melanie smiled. “I was wrong, Andrew. I guess some Christians give presents because, well, Jesus was God’s present. At least that’s what the card that came with my hat said.” Andrew smiled. “I want to be a Christian like that.” –Kelly Carlson How about you? Did you know that when you give a Christmas present, you are pointing to Jesus? When we give gifts with generous hearts, we point others to the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. This Christmas, tell a friend or family member why you’re giving them a present. Tell others about Jesus, God’s greatest present to the world. Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the best present

Nov 30

Read: Psalm 119:162-168 “What’s all that material for, Mom?” Serenity asked when she and Charis got home from school. “And what are these little frame things?” “Your grandma needs some hot pads, so I thought maybe you and Charis could make some for her birthday,” Mom replied. “These ‘frame things’ are little hand looms. I’ll show you how to make hot pads with these strips of material.” “Oh, I know how to do that!” said Serenity. “I learned at scout club.” And when they started making hot pads a little later, she insisted that she didn’t need any help, so Mom turned her attention to Charis. Charis watched carefully as Mom showed her what to do. First, she fitted a neat row of red loops between two sides of the loom. Then she used a hook to start blue rows going the opposite way. Charis followed Mom’s directions, checking with her every now and then to make sure she was getting it right. “How are you doing, Serenity?” Mom asked after a while. Serenity sighed. “I thought I knew how to do this, but it isn’t turning out right. I’m going to take this apart and start over.” When Serenity was ready to start again, Mom showed her what she needed to do. That night, Mom suggested they all read a Bible story together before bed. “Oh, Mom,” Serenity said, “Can’t we read something else? I know all those stories already.” “I’m sure you know a lot of them,” said Mom, “but it’s good to hear them over and over. God has new things to teach us every time we read His Word. The more we read it, the more we learn about who Jesus is, what He did to save us, and how to live in a way that shows we belong to Him.” “I guess it’s like the hot pads,” Serenity said. “I learned how to make them before, but I’d forgotten a lot of the details, so I needed you to help me do it.” “Right,” said Mom. “And when we read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit helps us understand what it says and put it into practice.” She picked up Serenity’s Bible. “Let’s read a Bible story together, and then we can read another one of your books before you turn out the lights.” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Do you think you know everything the Bible has to say? It tells us everything we need to know about who God is and what He’s done for us, and there’s always more for us to learn from it—even from verses and stories we’ve heard over and over. So keep reading it, and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you understand it and do what it says. Today's Key Verse: I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Read and obey God’s Word

Nov 29

Read: Psalms 51:7-10; 103:8-14 “Miles, look! It snowed last night!” Talia called to her brother as she looked out the window. “It’s so gorgeous—all clean and white and sparkly! I just love it, don’t you?” “Oh, yes! It’s sooo beee-yew-tiful!” Miles clasped his hands in mock delight. “I just adore the snow. I think it’s simply marvelous, and I—” Miles’ teasing was cut short by the napkin his sister tried to stuff into his mouth. “All right, you two,” Mom said with a smile. “Get ready for school. I don’t want you to miss your bus.” By dinnertime, the snow had begun to melt. “I hope it snows again tonight,” said Talia as they finished eating. “It was so pretty this morning, but now everything is starting to look dirty again. I think we should have a little snow every night—just enough to cover up the old stuff and keep things looking clean.” “I agree with you,” said Mom. “I think that would be nice.” “Indeed! Oh, absolutely!” said Miles. “The snow is just gorg—auwk!” Talia had clapped her hand over his mouth. Dad smirked. “Okay, you two, that’s enough.” He looked toward the window. “What Talia said actually reminds me of a conversation I had with Mr. Carlson today. I was telling him that when I was growing up, I thought I could cover up the bad things I did by doing good things—much like how new snow covers up old, dirty snow.” “But the dirty snow doesn’t go away. It’s still there and shows up again when the snow starts to melt,” said Miles. “And bad things we’ve done don’t just go away either, even when we do something good.” “That’s right,” Dad said, “and I told Mr. Carlson that every time I thought I was making progress, I’d do something wrong and have to start over again. I finally realized that the good things I did didn’t do anything to get rid of the sin I was trying to cover up and hide. The only way to remove it was to trust in Jesus.” “Right,” said Talia. “Because only Jesus can wash away our sin and make us clean and sparkly like snow!” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Do you do good things to try to make up for the bad things you’ve done? Trying to cover up sin by your own efforts doesn’t work—the sin is always hiding underneath. You need Jesus. He’s the only one who can wash your sin away. Put your faith in Him and He will remove your sin and make you as clean and pure as fresh snow. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Let Jesus wash your sin away

Nov 28

Read: Matthew 6:5-13 “Let’s pray,” Mom said, closing the Bible she and Travis had been reading. They were having devotions together, just the two of them, because Dad was out of town. “You pray,” said Travis. “Okay?” “Okay,” said Mom, “but don’t you want to talk to God too?” Travis shook his head. “Not today.” Then he squirmed while Mom prayed aloud, wishing she’d hurry up. God already knows everything, doesn’t He? Travis thought. Why do we have to tell Him all this stuff He already knows? When Travis was playing in his room the next day, he heard Mom’s phone ring. He went on playing until it suddenly occurred to him the phone call might be from his dad. Travis rushed into the kitchen just in time to see Mom put down her phone. “Was that Dad?” he asked. “I want to talk to him. I want to tell him about our ball game and ask him if he’s gotten over his cold.” “He wanted to talk with you too, but there was another call coming in and he had to answer it,” Mom said. “But his cold is much better, and I told him all about the ball game.” “It isn’t the same as me telling him,” Travis said. “And besides, I haven’t talked to him in days. I want to talk to Dad.” “Well, let’s call him back a little later so the two of you can talk,” said Mom. They called Dad that evening, and Travis talked with his father for several minutes. After hanging up, Travis grinned at his mom. “Dad was glad we called back. He said he liked having me tell him about all the stuff I’ve been doing, even though he already knew about it.” “Your father loves to have conversations with you,” said Mom. “And now, let’s have our devotions. After all, our heavenly Father loves to have conversations with us too.” Travis nodded. “I guess He’d like me to tell Him the same stuff I told Dad. He’d like to hear it even though He already knows about it, right?” “He definitely would,” said Mom. “He wants to hear it from you.” –Katherine Adams How about you? When you pray, do you feel like you’re repeating things God already knows? Yes, He does know everything, but He wants you to tell Him about what’s going on in your life. He loves you and wants to be included in your daily routine. You can talk with Him anytime and anywhere throughout your day, but it’s also good to have a special time set aside to pray and listen to what He has to say to you in His Word, the Bible. Today's Key Verse: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God wants to hear from you

Nov 27

Read: Deuteronomy 29:2-6 “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness,” Charlotte read aloud from her dad’s Bible. “Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.” Charlotte looked up. “Those must have been some sandals! My favorite ones only lasted one summer.” “You could have worn them longer,” said Everett. “You just wanted new ones.” “The main point here is that God cares for His people,” Dad said. “He was reminding them to trust Him and be thankful for everything He provided for them—even things they didn’t always notice, like reliable clothing and sandals.” After lunch, Everett took off on his new bike, heading for Liam’s house. Hours later, the two boys wandered into Everett’s kitchen. “Can we have popsicles?” Everett asked. “Okay,” said Dad, “but then it will be time for Liam to get home and for you to put your bike in the garage. It’ll be dark soon.” The boys looked at each other blankly. They’d been tearing around the neighborhood for a while—on foot. “Our bikes!” Everett exclaimed. “We left them at…at…” “At Braden’s house?” asked Liam. “No, I think it was at the park,” said Everett. “Uh-oh,” said Charlotte. “If they’re not locked up, you might not see them again.” “Let’s go!” said Liam, and the boys hurried out to find their bikes. Soon Everett returned. “We found them! Liam rode his home.” “Well, that’s a relief,” said Dad. “Yeah,” said Everett. “It reminds me of the verse we read about God taking care of the Israelites. I think God did the same thing for me and Liam by making sure our bikes didn’t get stolen when we weren’t even thinking about them.” “I think you’re right,” said Dad. “Of course, we need to remember that God taking care of us doesn’t mean difficult things won’t ever happen in our lives—it means that Jesus has saved us from sin and will be with us no matter what happens. But He does provide for us in ways we often don’t notice until later.” “And He wants us to thank Him when we do,” said Everett. “So I’m going to thank Him right now for keeping my bike safe!” –Donna Huisjin How about you? Do you thank God for all He’s done for you? Even things you don’t always think about or notice right away? He provides you with things you need and protects you from things that could go wrong, even when you don’t notice. When you think of something He’s done for you—big or small—thank Him for it! It will help you see even more of His blessings in your life. Today's Key Verse: I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. Deuteronomy 29:5 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Give thanks

Nov 26

Read: Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Titus 2:11-14 “It’s okay, just go ahead and grab them. No one’s looking!” Maggie was at the arcade for Leah’s birthday party. Maggie and all Leah’s friends were running around playing games, winning tickets, and having a great time. That is, until Leah noticed the little door to one of the games was slightly open. One of the arcade employees had opened it to refill the tickets and forgot to close it, leaving the tickets unguarded! Leah came up to her friends with a huge armful of tickets. “Heyyy, look what I got!” she sang happily. “Whoa, no way! How’d you get all those?” one of her friends asked. Leah led the way and pointed to the game with the open ticket door. One by one, her friends ran to grab tickets while the other girls stood guard to make sure no one saw what they were doing. When everyone had gotten tickets, they encouraged Maggie to do the same. “That’s okay,” Maggie said. “I don’t need any. That’s stealing.” “It’s not stealing,” they argued. “The employee should’ve shut the door if he didn’t want us grabbing tickets.” Maggie knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but…everyone else had done it! And she did really want those tickets. So with her friends blocking her from the view of any onlookers, Maggie went and grabbed some tickets from the game. Later, when Maggie’s mom came to pick her up from the party, Mom said, “Wow! You got a lot of prizes there.” “Yeah…” Maggie mumbled as her guilty conscience set in. “But I didn’t really earn them, Mom.” And she told her mom what had happened. “It can be hard to do the right thing, especially when everyone else is doing something you know is wrong,” Mom told her. “But we can trust God to help us do the right thing. I’m really thankful God forgives us for our mistakes when we confess our sins to Him, because we all mess up. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, God forgives all our sins.” Mom put an arm around Maggie. “Let’s go tell the arcade employees what happened. And let’s be thankful for God’s gift of forgiveness and trust Him to help us when we’re tempted to do the wrong thing.” –Elizabeth Cooper How about you? Do you struggle with peer pressure? When others are doing something wrong, are you tempted to do what they’re doing? When you feel tempted to do the wrong thing, pray to God and trust Him to give you strength to do what is right. If you mess up and do the wrong thing, confess your sin to God and know that He always forgives us when we make mistakes. Today's Key Verse: God is faithful…When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God helps us do the right thing

Nov 25

Read: Matthew 5:14-16 “What are you doing, Dad?” asked Elijah. “Mom and I decided we’d like a window here in this wall, so I’m measuring and marking where I need to cut the hole for it.” Dad carefully drew lines where he planned to cut. “Why do you want a window there?” asked Elijah as he helped Dad with the tape measure. “You want to see the garage next door while you eat?” “The view may not be so great, but just wait and see what a difference a window makes,” Dad said as he put the tape measure back into his toolbox. The next day, Dad carefully cut a hole in the wall and fit a new window into place. “Wow!” Elijah said as he came into the room. “I think I like having a window there after all. The view is better than I thought it would be. We can see sky, trees, birds, some of the lawn—and as expected, we also have a really good view of the side of the Wilsons’ garage.” He smiled. “But you know the best thing of all about this new window?” “What’s that?” asked Dad. “It’s so much brighter in here! When it’s sunny outside, I could probably do my homework without turning a light on.” “Quite different, isn’t it?” Dad stood back and admired the window. “Did you know that we should be like this window?” “How do we do that?” asked Elijah. “Well, the window lets light into our house, and we can bring Jesus’s light into the lives of others,” Dad explained. “I can see the light that comes through the window,” said Elijah. “But you can’t really see the light Jesus gives, can you?” “In a way, you can,” said Dad. “Like when you invited Sam over when he first moved here and didn’t know anyone, and he started coming to church with us. Or when you volunteered to walk Mr. Freeman’s dog when he was sick instead of playing with your friends after school.” “You mean I was shining Jesus’s light when I did those things?” Elijah asked. Dad nodded. “When you treat others with the love of Jesus by showing you care about them, that’s a bright light that helps people see who He is.” –Diana M. Martin How about you? How can you share the light of Jesus with others? You can shine His light in a dark and hurting world by telling others about Him and showing them His love. By sharing what He’s done for you and treating others with kindness and care, you can brighten people’s lives and show them who Jesus is and how much He loves them—and help them want to know Him the way you do. Today's Key Verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Share Jesus’s light with others

Nov 24

Read: Acts 10:28, 34-35; Revelation 7:9-10 “What color should I use next in this afghan, Melanie?” Aunt Lizzy asked as she finished knitting with yellow yarn. “Use the purple yarn!” said Melanie. “That’s going to be so pretty when it’s finished. It has so many different colors.” Aunt Lizzy nodded. “Yes, and a lot of different kinds of stitches too.” She began adding the purple yarn. “How’s school going this year, Melanie?” “Pretty good. There are a few new kids in our class this year. Miguel is from Honduras. He’s nice, but he doesn’t know English all that well yet, and some of the kids laugh at him when he says things in Spanish instead. There’s also a new girl from Vietnam—Anh. She brings really interesting food for lunch, but some of the kids make fun of it. And Zahid is new too. He moved here from the Middle East, and he’s been having a hard time making friends.” “Hmm,” said Aunt Lizzy. “It sounds like some of the kids at your school think it’s okay to make fun of people for being different. I wonder if they’ve thought about how different they would seem if they went to the places Miguel, Anh, and Zahid are from.” She paused. “Melanie, if God were making an afghan, do you think He’d use just one color or a bunch of colors?” Melanie looked at her aunt in surprise. “Well, I’m sure it’d be pretty either way, but…” She hesitated. “God used lots of colors in nature, so I think He’d do the same in an afghan. All the colors make it extra pretty and more interesting.” Aunt Lizzy smiled. “I think so too. After all, He used many different colors and patterns when he made plants and animals—and people!” “You mean like those kids at school who get teased?” Melanie asked. “Yes,” said Aunt Lizzy. “God made every person in His image and loves them all—enough to send His Son to die on the cross for their sins. Instead of avoiding or making fun of people from other places or cultures, He wants us to embrace them and point them to Jesus, who gave His life so people from all over the world could worship Him together one day in heaven.” –Teresa M. Beverly How about you? Do you enjoy having friends who are different from you? Or do you avoid or make fun of anyone who doesn’t look, speak, or act like you? Each person in every part of the world is made in God’s image, and He loves them all. Together we display His creativity and point to the great love Jesus showed us all by dying for our sins. When you encounter people who are different from you, appreciate them and show them God’s love. Today's Key Verse: God began by making one man, and from him he made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. Acts 17:26 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Embrace differences in people

Nov 23

Read: Proverbs 3:5-8; John 1:9-14 As Peter, Calvin, and Esther waited for their dad after church, they looked out at the parking lot through the stained glass windows near the back of the sanctuary. “I see our car,” said Calvin. “It’s green.” Esther disagreed. “No, it’s not. It’s yellow.” “You’re both wrong,” said Peter. “It’s blue.” Just then, Dad walked up. “What’s going on?” he asked. “We’re talking about the color of our car,” said Peter. “It’s blue, right?” “No, green!” said Calvin. Esther giggled. “No, yellow!” Dad laughed and looked out another windowpane. “Looks purple to me.” As they went out and got into their white car, Dad said, “Okay, kids, let’s think about something. Why did each of us see our car as a different color even though it was white all along?” “Because we were each looking through a different color glass,” answered Calvin. Dad nodded. “Right. Each of us had a different view of the car, but we were all wrong. And each person has their own worldview, or how they see life and determine what’s true. The thing is, we can’t see anything the right way without God. Anyone looking at the world without the truth of His Word, the Bible, sees it as though they’re looking through sneaky stained-glass windows that don’t show things as they truly are.” “Is that why some of the things people say are true sound like they could be right, even though they don’t match what God says in the Bible?” asked Esther. “Because they’re trying to see the truth, but the way they’re looking at it—their worldview—is wrong?” “Yes,” Dad said as he turned onto their street. “All people are sinners, so our judgments about what is right and wrong are often pretty skewed—like we’re looking through a window that makes everything a different color. But God is outside the window, and He sees things exactly as they are. That’s why the only way we can know what’s true is by trusting in Jesus, who came to save us from sin and open our eyes to God’s truth. Only by putting our faith in Him and using His Word as our window can we have the right view—God’s view—of what’s true.” –Faith Alessio How about you? Do you ever wonder what’s really true? It can be confusing because every person views the world differently. God is the only one who sees everything clearly, and He tells us what’s true in the Bible. He also sent us His Son, Jesus, who came to show us the truth of who God is and how much we need Him to save us. When you trust in Jesus and look at everything through the window of His Word, He will show you what is true. Today's Key Verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus shows us what’s true

Nov 22

Read: John 15:12-15; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Mom, it’s going to be so great having Piper live right across the street!” Ava said as she got ready to go help her best friend’s family move things into their new house. “Now we can sit together on the school bus and go to each other’s houses all the time. And pizza is her favorite food, just like mine!” Mom smiled as she took a pizza out of the oven. “It’s nice that you and Piper have so much in common.” Ava nodded. “We’re going to do everything together.” The next day Ava came storming into the house. “Piper isn’t my best friend anymore,” she said. “I went over to see if she could play and found out she was off playing tennis with Lucy.” “Oh, Ava,” said Mom. “It’s nice that you two are friends, but you need other friends too. Lucy and Piper like tennis, and you don’t.” “I don’t care,” said Ava. “Best friends always stick together!” At dinner that evening, Ava was surprised to see spaghetti on her parents’ plates and pizza from the day before on her own. “Where’s my spaghetti?” she asked. “Since pizza is your favorite food, I decided you could have it for every meal,” Mom told her. Dad nodded. “Mom says you can even have it for breakfast every day. Isn’t that great?” “I don’t want pizza all the time,” Ava said. “I like other things too.” She frowned. “Why are you doing this?” Mom smiled. “Well, I was hoping it would help you see that variety is a good thing—not only in meals but also in friendships. Piper needs the freedom to have more than just one friend, and you do too. The Bible tells us to love our friends, but the way you’re treating Piper isn’t very loving at all—it’s selfish.” “Mom’s right, Ava,” said Dad. “After all, Jesus didn’t spend all His time with just one person—if He had, others wouldn’t have known that He was the Son of God who had come to save them. How can you be like Jesus and reach out to someone who needs a friend?” Ava thought about it. “Maybe I’ll invite Cassie over to watch a movie, if that’s okay.” “That’s fine,” said Mom. “But first you need to eat some spaghetti!” –Ruth McQuilkin How about you? Do you get jealous if your best friend has other friends? It’s good to have a close friend you want to spend time with, but both of you need to spend time with other friends too. The mark of real friendship is love for each other, and love means giving your friend the freedom to form friendships with others. You need other friends too—and they need you! How can you show someone Jesus’s love by being a friend to them? Today's Key Verse: A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Enjoy many friends

Nov 21

Read: Isaiah 53:3-7; Matthew 9:10-13 Ciara cringed as someone started coughing their way down the hall. A moment later, the coughing stopped, but then her younger brother, sitting next to her at the kitchen table as they did their school, began coughing. Ciara scooted away. At least she had gotten over her cold before the others, but still… Mom returned from blowing her nose. “All right, Max, have you gotten those math problems done?” Max shook his head and sniffed loudly. Ciara groaned. “Mom, aren’t we ever going to get over this?” “We’ll get over it.” Mom sighed. “Eventually.” “I think colds are the worst sickness ever!” Lynn declared, banging her books down on the table. “Actually, they probably aren’t. Things like Covid or polio or malaria are worse,” Brennan pointed out. “Oh, and cancer, and…” “You don’t need to list them all,” Mom said. “And I can think of a sickness that’s worse than any you’re likely to list—and we’re all infected with it and affected by it.” “What’s that?” Ciara looked up in alarm. “Sin,” Mom replied. “And it’s the worst kind of sickness, because it separates us from God. It’s anything we think, do, or say that goes against who He is and how He tells us to treat others. That means if we think of ourselves more highly than someone else, we’re sinning. If we ignore our parents when they tell us to do something, we’re sinning. If we speak unkindly to our siblings, we’re sinning. But there is a Physician who has the only cure—and He will give it to us completely free of charge.” Max sneezed. “It’s Jesus, isn’t it?” “It is. And do you know how He cures our sickness?” “He died for us on the cross to take away all our sins.” Ciara smiled. “And because I’ve trusted in Him as my Savior, He’s cleaned my heart of all its sin!” “Exactly.” Mom nodded. “And though we’re still affected by sin in this world and do wrong things, we can go to Him over and over again and confess our sin, knowing He will forgive us because He has washed the guilt of our sin away.” –Ellie Shirk How about you? Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Sin is a spiritual sickness that infects every human heart, and only God has the cure. Jesus’s sacrifice paid the price to save us, but we must receive the free gift He offers in order to be healed. When you trust in Jesus, He cleans your heart of sin and gives you a healthy heart for Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Matthew 9:12 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus can take away your sins

Nov 20

Read: 1 Timothy 4:6-8, 15-16 As Marco walked home from school, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. Turning, he saw his Sunday school teacher. “Hi, Mr. Yoon!” exclaimed Marco, running to meet him. “What are you doing on this street?” “I just came from Jack Myers’ house. He and his parents visited our church last week, and I offered to look at a problem they’re having with their garage door.” “They just moved here,” said Marco. “Jack seems like a nice guy, but I felt pretty bad for him at school today. It was track and field day, and he was last in almost everything. He didn’t seem to be very upset about it though. He kept cheering everyone else on.” “It looks like you did all right.” Mr. Yoon motioned toward the red ribbon and three blue ribbons pinned to Marco’s shirt. “Yeah, I do okay in a lot of the events.” “That’s great,” said Mr. Yoon. “You must have worked hard to train yourself to do those things. Did you know that the apostle Paul mentioned physical training in a letter he wrote to Timothy?” “He did?” said Marco. “What did he say?” “He said that physical training has value, but it’s more important to train yourself to be godly by learning and practicing the things that help you grow as a Christian.” Marco thought about that. “So you don’t think Paul would be very impressed with my ribbons?” “Paul wasn’t putting down physical training. He just wanted Timothy to be even more concerned about growing in his relationship with Jesus and living out his faith.” Mr. Yoon smiled. “You deserve to be congratulated on those ribbons, Marco. But if you hadn’t gotten any ribbons, that would’ve been okay. Godly character is what’s really important. It’s far more important to be like Jesus than to be good in sports.” Marco nodded thoughtfully. “You know what? I think Jack has that. Godly character, I mean.” He paused to look down at the ribbons on his chest. “I think I’ll stop by his house on my way home. I want him to know that even though he didn’t get any ribbons today, I can tell he’s been training in what’s really important.” –Rosalie J. Currier How about you? Do you put a lot of value on physical ability and training? It’s good to train your body, but having a heart like Jesus is much more important. So go ahead—train in the sports you enjoy and do your best in them. But more importantly, train yourself to be godly by growing in your relationship with Jesus and depending on Him to help you follow His example of love in all you do. Today's Key Verse: Train yourself to be godly. 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Godly character is of great value

Nov 19

Read: Isaiah 41:8-16 “Mom, this game is impossible,” Heidi complained as she glared at the computer screen. Mom looked over, then laughed. “I played that when I was younger, and you’re right, it’s very hard. That’s how life was for the people who took the Oregon Trail out west over a hundred years ago.” Heidi frowned. “Really? They had to leave food behind and kept getting holes in their wagon? And they got sick every day?” “I’m not sure how often they got sick, but they didn’t have doctors like we do, and they didn’t always have anything to help with sickness or injuries. Wagons weren’t the best protection from the weather, and I’m sure their wagons got holes sometimes. That was the way of life.” Heidi looked incredulously at the computer. “I like being here, where life is normal. Bad stuff doesn’t happen every day.” “It doesn’t? I thought you said you had a classmate who lost their grandma yesterday. And the day before that you told me there was a kid on the playground whose parents are getting divorced. Aren’t those bad things?” Heidi was quiet. “I guess…but it doesn’t seem the same.” Mom walked over to a shelf and pulled down a photo. She handed it to Heidi. “I was only eight—your age—when my mom died. It was a very, very bad thing that still makes me feel sad sometimes. And you broke your arm last year; wasn’t that hard? It wasn’t life-threatening, but you couldn’t write and had a hard time doing normal things like eating and brushing your teeth.” “Oh yeah. I guess that was really bad when I had the cast.” “There will always be bad things happening in our sinful world, but there’s someone who will be with us through each one of them,” Mom reminded Heidi. Heidi’s eyes lit up. “Jesus! When I believed that He died and rose again to save me and trusted Him as my Savior, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in my heart. I did that right after I broke my arm.” “Exactly,” said Mom. “God is with you no matter what things happen, bad or good. He loves you and promises to be with you always.” –Kimberly Brokish How about you? Have you had bad things happen to you? We live in a sinful world where bad things happen, but we don’t have to go through them alone. Jesus loves us so much He died for us, and He promises to be with us all the time, through both bad things and good. One day He’ll get rid of sin forever and bad things won’t happen anymore; until then, trust Him to help you through life’s difficulties and be with you always. Today's Key Verse: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is with us always

Nov 18

Read: Psalm 119:9-16 Dad’s voice drifted around the corner of the house. “Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty! Ready or not, here I come!” Alexei scrunched sideways into the small opening under the porch and pulled his knees up to his chest. “No!” he said as his little sister tried to wriggle in with him. “Go away! There’s not enough room here, and if Dad sees you, he’ll find me too. Go find your own place.” But it was too late. “Gotcha!” Dad swooped down and swung Nadia off the ground. Alexei slowly crawled out of his hiding place. “No fair! Nadia gave me away.” “You could have let her hide with you instead of pushing her out where I could see her,” Dad said. “There wasn’t enough room,” said Alexei. “That space is so small that if I’m in it, there’s no room for Nadia, and if she’s in it, there’s no room for me. It’s like what we learned in science class—two things can’t be in the exact same space at the exact same time.” Dad smiled. “You know what? That’s kind of like the Bible verse you learned in church last week.” “It is?” Alexei tilted his head, trying to remember the verse. “‘Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.’” Dad nodded. “Let’s think about the space under the porch as being a heart, and you as being God’s Word. And you, Nadia—sorry, honey, but can we let you stand for sin for a moment?” Nadia nodded, and Dad continued. “If God’s Word—that’s you, Alexei—is really hidden in the heart”—Dad motioned toward the small space under the porch—“there won’t be room for sin.” He motioned toward Nadia. “Is that why we memorize verses?” said Alexei. “Yes,” Dad replied. “When we memorize verses, we’re spending time learning about God and how He’s saved us and changed us through His Son, Jesus. Because of our relationship with Him, the verses don’t just stay in our heart. They flow into how we live in every area of our lives through the Holy Spirit’s power. When we trust in Jesus, He gives us the power to obey Him instead of giving in to sin—and memorizing God’s Word is a good way to remember that.” –Jean A. Burns How about you? Do you have Bible verses you call to mind when you’re tempted to sin? If you’re a Christian, Jesus gives you the power to do what’s right and show His love to others—and putting God’s Word in your heart by reading and memorizing it helps you remember that. Take time to put God’s Word in your heart today, and remember that He is always with you and gives you the power to resist sin. Today's Key Verse: Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Learn what God says and obey

Nov 17

Read: Matthew 6:31-33; Philippians 4:4-7 “Hi, Mom,” said Leilana. “Did your dentist find any cavities?” Mom shook her head. “Not one,” she said with a sigh. “There wasn’t anything wrong, but I still have a pretty big bill to pay.” Leilana laughed. “You sound like you’d be happier if you had a mouthful of rotten teeth so you could feel better about paying the bill. Are you worried about paying it?” Mom looked startled. Then she grinned. “I guess I’m worrying for no reason,” she said. “I’m really very thankful I didn’t have any cavities. It makes the bill a lot less!” After dinner that evening, Leilana got out the script for her Thanksgiving play. “Who wants to listen to me say my lines?” she asked. Her brother Wesley groaned. “Nobody,” he told her. “We’re all tired of hearing them. You’ve been saying them perfectly for a week.” “But I’m nervous about performing in front of everybody,” Leilana said. “What if I forget my lines?” “You won’t,” said Wesley. “And I, for one, will be glad when the play is done so we’ll never have to hear them again!” Leilana flipped through the pages of her script. “I wonder if Julian learned his lines. If he misses them, I might miss the cue to start mine. That would be awful!” She turned to another page. “And I hope Tess remembers to bring the apron she said I could borrow. The play won’t be the same without it.” Wesley rolled his eyes. “Well, I sure hope something goes wrong for you. You wouldn’t want to worry for nothing!” Mom turned to Leilana and grinned. “No cavities?” she asked. They both started laughing. “I’m as bad as you, Mom,” said Leilana. “And you actually have a bill to pay! The things I’m worrying about haven’t even happened.” “Worrying doesn’t change anything,” said Mom. “That’s why God tells us to bring our worries to Him. Instead of fretting about things we have no control over, we can trust God to take care of us. He sent His Son to die for us so we could be His children, and He’ll make sure we have what we need. Instead of worrying, we can be thankful we belong to Jesus and feel His peace.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Do you worry—especially about things you can’t control? Usually the things people worry about never happen—and even if they do happen, worrying won’t change anything. God is the one who’s in control, and He promises to be with you and provide for you, no matter what happens. Give your worries to Him so you can feel His peace as you rest in His presence and love. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: Pray instead of worrying

Nov 16

Read: Proverbs 15:13-17 “Guess what happened at Grandma and Grandpa’s,” Taylor said, giggling. She and her brother Elliot had just gotten home after spending the weekend with their grandparents. “Grandma had orange juice in a plastic pitcher, and when she picked it up—” Taylor could no longer talk because she was laughing too hard, so Elliot finished the story. “The handle of the pitcher broke off!” “Oh no!” said Mom. “It must have made a huge mess.” “It did,” Taylor said. “Juice splashed all over the cupboards and onto the floor. And there was juice all over Grandma!” “You should have seen the look on her face,” said Elliot. “She kept holding the handle and staring at it. But then she started to laugh, and we laughed too. We all laughed so hard that Grandpa came in to see what was going on.” “I thought they’d be upset about the big mess, but they weren’t,” Taylor said. “Grandpa got a big grin on his face and said, ‘Well, Arlene, I know you didn’t like that pitcher, but you didn’t have to go this far to get rid of it, did you?’ We all laughed until our stomachs hurt.” Dad chuckled. “That’s how your grandparents are. They can usually take an unfortunate situation and find some humor in it. Grandpa loves to quote the verse from Proverbs that says, ‘A joyful heart is good medicine.’” Taylor nodded. “Cleaning up all that sticky juice didn’t seem so bad while we were laughing.” “Sometimes it’s easy to get upset when something like that happens,” Mom said. “But you know what? Instead of getting frustrated when things don’t go our way, we can look for the good in the situation—and maybe even laugh about it. God is good, and He sent Jesus to save us and promises to always take care of us, even when things don’t go as planned—and that should always fill our hearts with joy.” “I’m going to try to laugh more like Grandma and Grandpa,” said Elliot. “Good,” said Mom. “You can start right now because I have something to tell you. Your gym socks somehow got in with the wrong batch of laundry today and, well—they turned pink!” Elliot looked startled. Then he joined in as the rest of his family burst into laughter. –Linda J. Opp How about you? Do you get upset when unexpected things happen to you? Try to find some humor in the situation. You’ll enjoy life more, and it’s good for your health too! Of course, there are times when more serious things happen that you shouldn’t laugh about, but even then remember that God cares for you and is always with you. So laugh whenever you can and enjoy the life He’s given you! Today's Key Verse: A joyful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Learn to laugh

Nov 15

Read: John 6:5-13; Colossians 3:23-24 “I wish I could help!” Lana said as she watched her older brother and sister get ready for the high school service project. They were going to pass out food at the church’s Thanksgiving food drive. “You did help,” Mom told Lana. “You took cans of food to your Sunday school class—cans you bought yourself by doing extra chores around the house.” Lana frowned. “That’s not a big deal.” “Yes, it is,” said Dad. “If nobody donated food, Isaiah and Natalie wouldn’t have anything to pass out.” Lana rode along when Dad took Isaiah and Natalie to church that afternoon. “Looks like they’re knocking the old Paulson house down,” Dad said as they drove down the street. “I knew someone bought the place and that it needed repair. I wonder why they don’t just fix it up.” “I heard that it was full of termites,” said Isaiah. “I guess it was so bad they couldn’t do anything with it.” “What are termites?” asked Lana. “Termites are insects,” Natalie told her. “They kind of look like ants.” “Ants?” Lana looked at the house as they drove by. “They’re taking down that whole building just because of tiny little ants?” “Termites are about the size of ants, but they eat wood,” Dad explained. “When a lot of them eat at a building for a long time, they ruin the beams that support the building and it becomes unsafe.” “Yeah, and it can cost more to fix it than to tear it down and start over,” said Isaiah. “Wow,” said Lana. “I didn’t know something so small could destroy something so big.” “Yes, small things can make a big difference,” said Dad. “And that applies to good things too—like cans of food.” He smiled at Lana. “I know you don’t think donating cans was a big deal, but it’s a big deal to Jesus. You did it for Him out of the love He’s put in your heart. And when we do something for Jesus—no matter how small—He uses our efforts to do big things. Tiny termites can destroy a house, but the small things we do for Jesus do the opposite. He uses them to build His kingdom and show people how much He loves them.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Do you think the ways you help are so small that they don’t really matter? In today’s Bible passage, five loaves and two fish didn’t sound like much, but a little boy gave them to Jesus anyway—and Jesus used them to do something huge that blessed many people. When you do something for Jesus, He’ll bless what you do for Him. No effort is too small. Today's Key Verse: Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart…You are working for the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: Small efforts matter to Jesus

Nov 14

Read: Ephesians 4:30-32; 1 John 1:9 Mia loved playing foursquare. Every day at recess, she was first to grab the big rubber ball and station herself inside the “king” square of the painted foursquare grid. Thwump! The ball ricocheted out of Tatiana’s square and rolled into the bushes. “You’re out!” called Mia gleefully. “And I’m still in.” Tatiana exited the square. Womp! The ball bounced into Jonah’s square and flew out before he could hit it to another player. Jonah hung his head and walked to the back of the line. “I won again!” sang Mia. A new kid joined the game. Someone Mia didn’t recognize. Mia skillfully palmed the ball and it spun into his square. Would he be able to hit it back? “Oooh! A spinner!” called Emilie. Mia held her breath as she waited. The new boy tapped the ball back to her so gently that she lunged to reach it. She missed and flew forward, scraping both knees. “No fair!” Mia screeched. She grabbed the foursquare ball and threw it as hard as she could. All her friends watched as the ball hit a sharp rock and popped. Tears filled Mia’s eyes, and she ran. The recess monitor, Mrs. Goldspeed, found Mia sitting on the curb, head in her arms. “What happened, honey?” “I…I scraped my knees,” Mia muttered. “Hmm. Does that have anything to do with this broken ball?” Mrs. Goldspeed held up a piece of rubber folded over her arm like a worn-out rag. “Well,” hedged Mia. She sighed. “I got mad, because I didn’t win.” “You know, this deflated ball is like us when we sin,” said Mrs. Goldspeed. “When we are broken, we need God to make us new.” She pulled out a patch and pump. “I can fix this foursquare ball, just like God can fix your heart. Because Jesus died for our sins, we can pray and ask Him to forgive us whenever we need to and He will give us a fresh start.” Mia bowed her head. “Dear God, I’m sorry for losing my temper. Help me to be kind to others.” She felt clean-hearted and brand new. When Mia returned to the foursquare game, she grinned to herself. Thank you, God, for mending me just like this patched-up rubber ball . –Wendy Lynne Smith How about you? Have you ever felt like a deflated rubber ball—broken because of your sin? The good news is that God wants to restore you and fill you up with His love. You can ask for forgiveness when needed and He will make you like new. Then trust Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and empower you to be kind to others. Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God forgives and restores

Nov 13

Read: Romans 3:21-28 “I have a surprise for you today!” Mom said as Carmen walked into the kitchen. “What, Mom?” Carmen sat down to a bowl of cereal. “I know about my birthday dinner tonight with Grandma and Papa. That’s not a surprise.” “This one’s different. I’ll tell you when you get home from school. Hurry with your breakfast so I can walk you to your bus stop on my way to work.” All day Carmen wondered about Mom’s surprise. When she climbed the steps to her apartment after school that afternoon, Mom was waiting for her at the door. She took Carmen’s bookbag and dropped it in the living room. “Let’s go, mija !” As they walked down the street, Carmen chatted about gym class. Then Mom stopped in front of a fancy bakery, one Carmen had wanted to visit. “We’re getting something here?” Carmen asked. “That’s my surprise! I signed you up for their birthday rewards, so today you get a free cupcake.” Carmen laughed. “Really?” Mom nodded. “Let’s go in!” “Oh, Mom, it smells just like I imagined—even better!” Carmen breathed in the aroma of delicious baked goods. After choosing a chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting, she and her mother sat down by the windows. “What a great surprise, Mom! Something so tasty—and it’s free!” Carmen wiped gooey icing from her mouth. “Does it remind you of something we heard at church last week? About receiving something wonderful for free?” Mom asked. “Oh yeah! When we trust Jesus to save us and make us God’s children, we get forgiveness for our sins. We also get eternal life with Him…so much good stuff!” Mom smiled. “Yes, and just like this cupcake, we didn’t have to pay for it. We didn’t have to work to earn God’s love either.” “Just like I didn’t do anything to earn this cupcake,” said Carmen. “Right,” answered Mom. “Jesus paid the price so we could be God’s sons and daughters, mija . He died for our sins and rose from the dead to make us part of His family—that’s how much He loves us. We have a lot to celebrate on your birthday—and every day!” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Have you wondered if you could ever be good enough to receive God’s perfect love? God tells us in the Bible that we don’t need to earn His love or forgiveness—and we could never do that anyway. God loves us so much that He offers us a relationship with Him, along with forgiveness of our sins, as a free gift paid for by Jesus. Receive this free gift today by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God’s love is a free gift

Nov 12

Read: Psalm 37:23-28 Weston shuffled through the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. “Wow, I’ve never tried to do a puzzle with so many pieces before!” “I know it looks hard, but I’m sure you can do it,” said Mom. “Want some help? I could turn the pieces right side up for you.” “Okay,” Weston said. “I’ll work on the barn.” He started to sift through the jumbled pile, looking for red pieces. “Weston, do you know what this jigsaw puzzle reminds me of?” Mom asked as she turned pieces over. “Uh, my room, I guess,” Weston said with a smile. “A big mess!” Mom laughed. “It does look a lot like the clutter I sometimes see in there, but I had something else in mind—our lives. Sometimes life is puzzling to us. It’s confusing and filled with overwhelming problems, and we can’t see how the pieces can possibly fit together. But God has a plan and purpose for everything that happens. He knows all the pieces will fit perfectly, even when we can’t see how.” “You mean like the time I didn’t make the Parkside soccer team?” Weston asked. “Right,” Mom said. “Many of your friends made the team, and you were so disappointed. You didn’t see how that piece of your life fit at all. You even said you might as well give up playing soccer.” “Yeah, but then Mr. Singh called,” Weston said. “He was coaching the Greenwood team and asked if I’d like to play the goalie position.” Mom nodded. “So you joined that team, and you really liked it and had a great time.” “Yeah,” Weston said. “It was so much fun!” “I think God wanted you on Mr. Singh’s team so we could get to know his whole family,” Mom said. “They accepted our invitation to come to a program at church and heard about Jesus.” She glanced at the puzzle pieces Weston was working on. “Hey, that barn’s really coming together!” She handed him another red puzzle piece. “Just like you’re fitting those pieces together into a barn, God fits all the pieces of our lives together into something good that points to Jesus and His love for us.” –Annette S. Bury How about you? Are you going through something difficult or confusing right now? Does your life look like a jumbled mess that will never fit together? We often can’t see or understand how things that are sad or painful could possibly be good. Trust God. He has a purpose for all the things that happen in your life. He promises to fit them together into something good that shows you belong to Jesus. Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: God has a purpose for everything

Nov 11

Read: Colossians 3:14-17 “What do you think of this one?” Sofie asked her older sister. Kara was helping her choose an outfit to wear for her school pictures the next day. “Why don’t you pick something simpler?” Kara suggested. “Remember, Mom said you have to pick clothes without too bold of a pattern so they will look good in the picture.” Sofie slid the shirt on the hanger and hung it back up in her closet. “Okay.” “So, how was Sunday school this morning?” Kara asked as she searched through the clothes hanging in Sofie’s closet. Sofie shrugged. “All right, I guess. I just wish it was more exciting.” Kara frowned. “I thought you enjoyed Sunday school.” “I do. I just wish there was more time for games and playing with my friends. Maybe then we would have more kids come to church!” “I know it can be hard to sit,” Kara said. “And the teachers do their best to make the lessons fun. But sometimes you can get so focused on playing games and seeing your friends that you miss what God wants to teach you.” “What do you mean?” Sofie asked. “Well, it’s like your school pictures. If you wear a shirt with a busy pattern, the people who see the picture will focus on your clothes instead of being focused on your beautiful smile.” “So is playing games with my friends bad?” Kara pulled another shirt, a pale blue one, out of the closet. “No. It just shouldn’t distract you from the real reason we go to church—to worship Jesus with other Christians and learn about what He tells us in the Bible.” She held the shirt up against Sofie, studying it. “See? It’s like this shirt. It brings out the blue in your eyes without distracting people from what they’re supposed to be looking at.” “My face!” Sofie smiled. “I get it. We go to church to worship and learn about Jesus, and I should be focusing on Him.” She took the blue shirt from Kara. “You know what? I think I like this one.” Kara grinned. “Just remember, the most important thing is to wear a smile!” –Jessica Kleeberger How about you? What do you focus on when you go to church? It can be fun to play games, do crafts, and visit with friends, but we shouldn’t let that distract us from the real reason we go to church—to learn about Jesus and worship Him. Praying, singing songs, and reading the Bible are all ways we worship Jesus and learn more about Him together. When you go to church, focus on Him. Today's Key Verse: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus at church

Nov 10

Read: Matthew 6:9-15 “Kayla, could you please pass the corn?” Nate asked. As Kayla picked up the bowl of corn with one hand, she accidentally spilled it all over the table. “Aw, man,” said Nate. “I was really looking forward to some corn!” “I’m sorry, Nate!” Kayla said. “I didn’t mean to spill it—it was an accident!” “I know, Kayla,” Nate replied as he helped her clean up the spilled corn. “I’ve spilled food before too. Next time use both hands. Can you pass the mashed potatoes instead?” This time Kayla grabbed the bowl of mashed potatoes with both of her hands and passed it to her brother without spilling it. “Thank you,” Nate said as he put a spoonful of potatoes on his plate. “So, Nate, Mom tells me you’re working on memorizing the Lord’s Prayer for Sunday school,” Dad said. “How’s that going?” “Well, memorizing it is the easy part. My Sunday school teacher wants me to be able to tell her what it means, and that’s where I’m struggling,” Nate said as he took a bite of his potatoes. “Well, maybe I can help,” said Dad. “Which part do you not understand?” “The part that goes something like, ‘Forgive us our diets as we forgive our dieters.’” Dad chuckled. “I think you mean debts and debtors , not diets and dieters . Our debts are our sins, and our debtors are those who sin against us. God wants us to forgive others just like He forgives us.” “You mean like how Nate forgave me for spilling the corn?” asked Kayla. “Well, spilling the corn wasn’t a sin, Kayla, so it’s not quite the same thing. But it was a mistake, and instead of getting upset about it, Nate remembered that he’s made mistakes like that before too. So yes, in a way, that’s what we need to do when others sin against us by doing something that’s wrong. We forgive them because we’ve been forgiven by Jesus, who died for our sins on the cross.” “That makes a lot more sense now,” Nate said as he pushed his plate aside. “I wondered why God wanted us to forgive dieters!” The entire table began to laugh. –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Has anyone ever told you they were sorry for something they did to you that was wrong? Did you forgive them? We all sin and need to ask Jesus to forgive us, and He always does—and He wants us to do the same for others. The next time someone asks you for forgiveness, remember that Jesus has forgiven you for your sins and trust Him to help you forgive others. Today's Key Verse: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Forgive others

Nov 9

Read: Romans 5:17; Ephesians 1:7-10 “Hurray, we’re getting burritos! We’re getting burritos!” Keira skipped gleefully as she and her mom and older sister, Addi, walked into their favorite Mexican restaurant and got in line. They’d been running errands all morning, and Keira had been in a bad mood and had started several arguments with her sister, so she was surprised when Mom offered to get them burritos instead of taking them straight home. Moving through the bustling serving line from item to item, Keira nodded yes to chicken, then to rice. She added some veggies and gave an enthusiastic “Definitely!” to her favorite condiment, sour cream. With a twinkle in her eye, the server lifted a large serving spoon and dolloped a huge mound of sour cream onto Keira’s burrito bowl. Keira’s eyes lit up, and she beamed. There’s nothing better than sour cream , she thought as she uttered her thanks and found her way to their table. “Mom, take a look at all this sour cream!” Keira said as she sat down. Mom’s eyes grew wide at the mountain-sized scoop in Keira’s bowl. Addi piped up. “You know, I think God’s grace is a lot like Keira’s sour cream.” “What do you mean?” asked Keira. “Well, it reminds me of the verse in Ephesians we read the other day—the one that says God has forgiveness and grace that He lavishes on us. That’s what the server did—she lavished sour cream on Keira’s burrito bowl!” “I think I see what you’re saying,” said Mom. “God has gobs and gobs of grace that He piles on us.” “You mean He isn’t stingy with His forgiveness?” Keira asked. “That’s right!” said Addi. “We don’t have to feel shy about asking for God’s grace and forgiveness. When I sin, God isn’t guarding the grace container like Mom has to guard the sour cream at supper sometimes.” Mom laughed. “Right. Because Jesus died for our sins, He has plenty of grace to go around. He’ll always forgive us for the things we do wrong.” “I’m glad,” said Keira, thinking of how she’d acted that morning. “Now whenever I see sour cream, I’m going to remember that God has gobs and gobs of grace for me.” –Dominique E. Miller How about you? Do you often do things that are wrong? Are you struggling with the same sins over and over? Each time we go to God, He has grace for us. Because Jesus paid for all our sin by dying on the cross, He doesn’t ever run out of grace or get tired of forgiving us. He has loads of grace for you every day, so talk to Him about the sins you’re struggling with and receive gobs and gobs of grace. Today's Key Verse: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God’s grace never runs out

Nov 8

Read: Ephesians 6:10-18 Callie sat at the edge of her bed and put on a pair of white socks. Then she looked up and saw her brother Jackson standing in her doorway wearing one black sock and one white sock. Callie laughed. “Your socks don’t match,” she said. Jackson looked down at his outfit. “They do too. The black one matches my black jeans and the white one matches my white t-shirt.” Jackson smiled a big toothy grin, and Callie rolled her eyes and smirked. Just then Dad came out of his room holding a black sock and a white sock. “Have either of you seen the match to either of these socks?” he asked. “Yeah,” said Callie. “On Jackson’s feet!” Jackson was slightly big for his age, and sometimes he borrowed Dad’s socks. Dad shook his head as Jackson stood on one foot and yanked the black sock off. He handed it to his dad in exchange for the white sock. After breakfast, they met in the living room for their morning devotions. “Time to get dressed for the day,” Dad said. “But we’re already dressed,” said Jackson, looking down at his clothes. “We even have matching socks!” “I’m talking about getting dressed spiritually,” said Dad. “Think of it this way. Why is it important to wear socks?” “Well, socks help keep our feet warm and dry,” Callie said. “And they protect them from getting hurt by rubbing against our shoes,” Jackson added. Dad nodded. “The Bible talks about putting on spiritual clothes called the armor of God that help and protect us. They help us remember God’s promises and protect us from the devil’s attacks. And one of the things we need to put on like socks is the gospel of peace.” “How do we do that?” Callie asked. “By reminding ourselves that Jesus has saved us from sin and won the victory over Satan. That means we don’t have to give in to sin or listen to the devil’s lies. One good way to remember that is to read God’s Word. The Bible reminds us what Jesus has done for us so we can feel His peace in our lives.” Jackson smiled. “Well, let’s get started. I want to make sure I’m wearing matching gospel socks!” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you remember to put on socks every day? What about gospel socks—do you remember to put those on every day too? You do that by remembering what Jesus has done for you and that you belong to Him. Praying, reading the Bible, and spending time with Him are ways you can put on the spiritual clothes you need to stand up against evil and feel God’s peace in your life. Today's Key Verse: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Put on God’s armor

Nov 7

Read: Matthew 7:7-11 Keaton watched a frog as it hopped around the yard. When it stopped, it blended in with the grass. If Keaton looked away, he had a hard time finding it until it started hopping again. When Dad got home, he joined Keaton on the porch. “Hey, Keaton. How was your day?” Keaton shrugged. “I just spent the last half-hour playing hide-and-go-seek with a frog.” He sighed. “Not that he ever tried to find me.” Dad sat down on the step. “Sounds like an interesting game. How about a contest to see who can find the frog first?” Keaton nodded, and the two spent the next several minutes trying to spot the frog. “Thanks for playing with me, Dad,” Keaton said after the frog hopped underneath the porch. “It’s a lot more fun than playing by myself.” He kicked at a stick in the grass. “I’m thankful you got a new job and we got this nice house, but I miss my friends from our old neighborhood.” “I know,” Dad said, patting Keaton on the back. “Have you tried praying about it?” Keaton frowned. “Doesn’t God already know what I’m going through? Why doesn’t He just give me what I need without me having to ask Him for it?” Just then Keaton’s stomach let out a loud grumble, and he and Dad laughed. “It sounds like you’re as hungry as I am,” Dad said. “I’m sure Mom has something for dinner, but she won’t bring it to us out here. We have to go to the table. Sometimes that’s the way Jesus does things too. He always knows what we need, but sometimes He waits for us to bring our worries and problems to Him first.” “Why?” asked Keaton. “To help us look to Him as our Savior and trust Him to provide us with everything we need—even when He doesn’t give us exactly what we ask for.” Keaton’s stomach growled again. “Okay, Dad. I’m ready to go in for dinner. But first can we pray and ask God to help me make some friends?” Dad nodded, and they bowed their heads and prayed together. The next day when Dad got home from work, Keaton was sitting on the porch with two other boys his age, all of them trying to spot the frog. –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you bring your worries and problems to God? Do you ask Him to provide the things you need? He already knows exactly what you need—and sometimes it may be different from what you ask for. But He still wants you to bring your needs to Him so you can learn to trust Him in all of life’s situations. Jesus loves you and gave His life to save you. In Him, you have everything you need. Today's Key Verse: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Bring your needs to God

Nov 6

Read: Psalm 51:7; Philippians 2:1-11 “I’m glad I’m not like Rachel,” Mackenna said as she gazed at the falling snow through the car window. “What do you mean?” Mom asked with a slight frown. “Well, Rachel is kinda—oh, I don’t know—stuck on herself a bit. Whenever we talk, she does most of the talking, and it’s usually about all the things she’s good at.” Mackenna rolled her eyes. “What an ego!” “Rachel is good at a lot of things,” said Mom. “But so are you! You don’t think you have an ego?” She gave Mackenna a sideways glance. “Of course not! Do you ever hear me bragging about what I can do?” “No, but that doesn’t mean your heart is humble. And isn’t your heart what we really should be concerned about?” Mom pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. “Tell you what, why don’t you go get Bumpkin and let her run around outside for a while?” Mackenna gave her mother a confused look, but she went and got her pet bunny. “Before you set her down,” Mom said, “tell me what color Bumpkin is.” Mackenna laughed as they both looked down at the fuzzy bunny. “White, of course!” “Are you sure?” Mom asked. “Put her down in the snow.” Mackenna set her rabbit down at the edge of the snowy yard and stood back. “Ew!” she said. “She looks so dirty!” “Yep,” agreed Mom. “She doesn’t look so white anymore! Snow has a way of making other white objects look gray.” Mom turned to Mackenna. “It’s the same with us. We may think we’re pretty good when we compare ourselves to other people. But when we compare our hearts to Jesus, we see how dirty they really are.” Mackenna nodded sheepishly. “I guess when I compare myself to Jesus, I’m a lot like Rachel after all.” “We all are,” said Mom. “That’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins. When we trust in Him and ask Him to forgive us for the wrong we do, He makes our hearts whiter than snow!” “I guess I need to remember that when I’m around Rachel,” Mackenna said as she watched Bumpkin hop around in the snow. “And ask Jesus to forgive me for comparing myself to her instead of Him.” –Rebecca Thomas How about you? Do you ever compare yourself to others? It may make you feel better about yourself sometimes, but it doesn’t give an accurate picture of what your heart is really like. Jesus is the only perfect standard. When we compare ourselves to Him, it’s easy to see our hearts are dirty with sin—but He can make them whiter than snow. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: They are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Compare yourself to Jesus

Nov 5

Read: Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:18; 1 John 1:9 “Jia’s mad at me,” Lara told her mother as they drove down a country road toward town. “When she got an A on our spelling test and I got a C, I—well, I said she must have cheated. I know I shouldn’t have said that.” “Why don’t you text her and apologize?” suggested Mom. “Okay, I will, but not right now,” Lara said. “I’ll wait until she’s in a better mood.” As Mom turned down a side road, Lara looked at her in surprise. “Why are we turning here?” “This is a shorter way to town,” said Mom. “I don’t know how good the road will be after all the rain we’ve had, but let’s give it a try.” For a short distance the road was good, but then the pavement ended and the road became very muddy. “I think we should go back,” said Lara. “I think you’re right,” said Mom. “We’ll have to find a place to turn around.” “How about there?” Lara pointed to a narrow path leading into a field. Mom slowed down, but then shook her head. “Those ditches at the side of that path are awfully deep. We need to find a better spot.” A little later, Lara motioned toward a wider spot in the road. “How about here?” But Mom passed by that one too. “That’s not exactly the perfect spot either,” she said. “Mom!” Lara threw her head back against the seat. “If you ask me, the first possible spot is always the perfect spot!” “I’m beginning to think you’re right,” Mom said as she stopped the car and began to back up. After they turned around, Mom spoke. “Waiting for a perfect spot was pretty silly, huh? We made a mistake in coming this way, and the first chance to correct that mistake was the best chance. That’s also true when we make mistakes that hurt others. When we realize what we did was wrong, we need to confess our sin to Jesus so He can forgive us and help us make things right. That includes apologizing to those we’ve hurt right away.” Lara sighed. “Okay, I get what you’re saying. Can I use your phone so I can text Jia?” –Corrine Canavan-Fifield How about you? Do you have a hard time saying you’re sorry when you’ve done something wrong? It’s not easy to admit our mistakes, but putting it off usually makes things worse. Jesus promises to forgive us the moment we confess our sins to Him, and He’ll help us restore our relationships with others. So don’t wait for a better time—apologize and ask for forgiveness right away. Today's Key Verse: First go and be reconciled to them. Matthew 5:24 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Say you’re sorry right away

Nov 4

Read: Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 10:29–31; Hebrews 4:16 As soon as Carolina wiped away one tear, another lousy one slid down. She grew tired of crying over her sinus issues because it only made her throbbing head worse. She sniffled. “I don’t understand how Jesus promises to wipe away every tear. That sounds exhausting!” G-ma kissed Carolina’s forehead. “Darling, crying is okay, especially when we cry out to Jesus. Have you prayed about it?” “Yeah, sure,” Carolina huffed. “During prayer this morning, Jesus said there are bigger problems.” G-ma lifted an eyebrow. “He said that to you, sweetie?” There was silence as Carolina gathered her thoughts. “I mean…I think I just felt guilty praying about my sinus issues when Lily has leukemia.” Carolina pointed to her little sister Lily who was collecting red berries from the bushes. “My pain seems so small compared to hers.” “Look, G-ma!” Lily tossed berries in the air and giggled. “Don’t you eat those!” G-ma turned to look at Carolina as she ran to stop Lily. “Oh, honey, yes, Lily is hurting, but so are you. If Jesus knows how many hairs are on our heads and our every thought, then our small problems are a big deal to Him. That’s why He encourages us to pray about everything.” “Sounds like Jesus really cares,” Carolina replied. “He does. Do you remember earlier when Lily was sad that she couldn’t find any little red berries and you immediately helped her find some?” Carolina nodded. “You cared about her small request because you love her and knew it was important to her,” said G-ma. “How much more would the Lord help us with our problems, big or small? Because of His love for us, Jesus suffered and died for all our sins on the cross. He cares about all our pain because He experienced all kinds of pain too, and He wants to help us and comfort us.” Carolina relaxed her shoulders. “Wow, Jesus really was listening…” “CANNONBALL!” Lily jumped on top of Carolina and squeezed her tightly. They erupted in laughter. G-ma smiled and leaned over to wipe another tear out of Carolina’s eye. “Remember to keep praying. Jesus is always with you, darling.” –Toria Keyes How about you? Are you afraid that the Lord won’t fight your battle because others are dealing with worse problems? We serve a God who knows what it feels like to bump a funny bone or get a paper cut. Whatever your situation is, He wants you to know you are not alone. What are the little red berries in your life—small things that are still really important? Jesus cares about those things and wants to help you with them. Today's Key Verse: Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:30–31 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus cares about small things

Nov 3

Read: Psalm 150 “What’s all the racket about?” Mom came out of her office and stood in the doorway of the living room. “You two have done nothing but fight and complain all afternoon.” Asher and Olivia glared at each other silently. “Praise the Lord!” Mom suddenly shouted. Asher and Olivia jumped in surprise. Mom smiled as the kids looked at her curiously. “You were yelling and complaining in loud voices, so I thought I’d praise the Lord in an equally loud voice.” She raised her voice again. “I’m thankful for the rain, aren’t you? It’s been so dry lately!” “But Mom, when it rains, there’s nothing to do,” Asher said. “I have an idea.” Mom went into her office and came back with paper and pencils. “Why don’t you make a praise list by writing down all the wonderful things God has done for us? Let’s have a praise day instead of a complaining day. Now, I have some work to finish up, but you can show me your lists before dinner tonight.” Asher sighed as Mom went back into her office and shut the door. After a moment, he wrote, God helped me not miss the bus after school . Olivia took a sheet of paper and wrote, God gives us food every day . After working a little while, Asher said, “Hey, let’s tape our pages together to make one long sheet. Let’s see how long a list we can make.” The list was still growing when Dad got home. “How was your day?” Mom asked him as she pulled a chicken pot pie out of the oven. “Terrible,” he said. “First, the rain got my clothes all wet, and then—” “Praise the Lord!” Asher shouted. Dad looked startled, and Asher grinned. “Mom says this should be a praise day.” He held up the list for his father to see. “Come on, Dad,” said Olivia. “Praise the Lord for something. We’ll add it to our list.” Dad grinned. “I praise the Lord for creating your mom,” he said. “I love her, and she teaches us to count our blessings—and blesses us with good food for dinner!” Mom smiled. “And I praise Jesus for the best thing of all—dying on the cross for our sins!” –Carol A. DeCesare How about you? Do you complain when things don’t go your way? Sometimes difficult things happen that you need to talk about with someone, but there’s a big difference between sharing struggles and complaining about every little thing you don’t like. Instead of complaining, think about all the good things God has blessed you with and the people He’s put in your life—and most importantly, how He’s given you eternal life through Jesus! Today's Key Verse: Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God…giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Praise instead of complaining

Nov 2

Read: Galatians 5:22-25 The pocket of Octavia’s red sweater bulged. She didn’t want Miss Allen to notice, so she quickly slipped into her seat. She removed a big orange from her pocket and hid it behind the box of crayons in her desk. The morning dragged by. Usually Octavia liked reading class, but not today. She couldn’t keep her mind on the story. A classmate—Ford—had agreed to give the signal for the special activity the kids had planned. He said they should wait until math time and be ready when Miss Allen turned to the whiteboard. Excitement built up when Miss Allen told the class to take out their math books. Everyone kept looking at Ford. When he put his hand in his desk, Octavia covered her mouth. She didn’t want Miss Allen to see that she was giggling. She reached inside her desk and took hold of the orange. At last Miss Allen turned her back to the class. Octavia drew a deep breath as Ford yelled, “Fruit roll!” In a flash, Octavia’s orange rolled down the aisle with lots of other fruit. The room became noisy, and Miss Allen looked puzzled. “It’s for you,” Ford said, pointing to the fruit. “For your birthday!” “For me?” Miss Allen asked in surprise. “How thoughtful of you! Thanks, kids.” That afternoon Octavia told her mom all about it. “Miss Allen said she’d never heard of a fruit roll, but she liked it! She got oranges, grapefruit, some tangerines, a few lemons, and even a lime.” “I knew she’d enjoy it.” Mom smiled at Octavia. “What about you? Have you gotten any fruit rolled to you lately?” Octavia gave her mom a confused look. “What do you mean?” “I mean the fruit of the Spirit,” Mom said. “Once you trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in your life—the qualities of the new person He wants you to be. It’s quite a list. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—all these make you more like Jesus.” Octavia thought about it. “I guess He is helping me be more patient—and helping me be kind to kids at school I don’t know well.” She smiled. “It’s like I’m getting a fruit roll from Jesus every day!” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Did you know that, if you’re a Christian, you’re getting a fruit roll from Jesus every day? He helps you develop the qualities that make you more like Him. As you grow as a Christian, others will start to see more and more of these qualities in your life. Trust Jesus to help you grow and fill you with the fruit of the Spirit so you become more like Him. Today's Key Verse: May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:11 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God fills your life with fruit

Nov 1

Read: Matthew 6:25-34 “This state park is really nice, isn’t it?” Dad said as he and Henry walked along a wooded path. “Huh? Oh, yeah,” Henry mumbled in response. But he hadn’t really noticed—he’d been too busy wondering if Dad would be able to find a new job. The place where his dad worked was going out of business. “Dad, what if we run out of money for food and stuff?” Dad was about to answer, but then he saw where Henry was walking. “Henry, watch out for that poison ivy! Stay on the path.” But the warning came too late. Henry had already wandered off to the side. He stopped and looked down at the patch of low bushes around his feet. “Poison ivy!” He groaned and quickly returned to the path. “Now I’ll be itching all week!” “Maybe not.” Dad pointed to a tall plant with yellow-spotted horn-shaped flowers. “Here’s something that might help you.” “What’s that?” asked Henry. “It’s called jewelweed, and I’ve used it before when I’ve gotten into poison ivy.” Dad broke off some leaves, crushed them in his hand, and handed them to Henry. “Rub these over your legs. It ought to stop the poison ivy reaction.” “Really?” Henry rubbed the leaves on his bare legs, hoping Dad was right. And as they continued their walk, Henry was careful to avoid further contact with the poisonous weed. When Henry was getting ready to go to bed that night, Dad stopped at his room. “So how are your legs?” he asked. “My legs?” repeated Henry. Then he remembered—the poison ivy! He looked down. “The poison ivy isn’t doing anything!” He grinned at his dad. “The jewelweed really worked. Wow! Medicine for poison ivy in the middle of the woods!” Dad nodded. “God often provides for us in surprising ways. We should always remember that. I know we’ve all been concerned about my job, but if God can provide a poison ivy cure in the middle of the woods, He certainly can provide for our family’s needs as well. He’s already provided for our greatest need of all by sending Jesus to save us from sin. We don’t need to worry. God is with us, and we can trust Him.” –Jane K. Chase How about you? Are you worried about something right now? Maybe a family member is sick or a parent is out of work. No matter what it is, trust God to take care of you. He may not give you everything you want, but you may be surprised by the way He provides for you. When you needed to be saved from sin, He provided His own Son, Jesus, to die for you. Depend on Him to provide what you need. Today's Key Verse: My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Trust God to provide for you

Oct 31

Read: Luke 8:26-36 FLASH! Lightning ripped across the black sky. Instantly every street light went out. “Whoa,” Luke said. “Talk about a spooky night! It looks like a ghost town out there.” Beth peeked out from under her covers. “Don’t say the word ghost.” Mom came into their bedroom with a flashlight. “Hey, Mom.” Luke put bed covers over his head to look like a ghost. “Tell us a ghost story.” “On a night like this?” Beth whipped off the covers. “Are you kidding? How about a Bible story—with a really good ending.” Mom smiled. “I’ll tell a ghost story from the Bible—but it has a happy ending.” “Great,” Luke groaned. “How scary can that be? And I didn’t think the Bible talked much about ghosts.” “Actually, this story is about evil spirits,” Mom said. “Demons.” Now it was Beth’s turn to groan. “That sounds worse!” “One day, Jesus went into a cemetery to visit a man who lived there,” Mom said. “Creepy.” Luke rubbed his hands together. “So far, so good.” “He lived…”—Beth was wide-eyed—“in the graveyard?” “Yes,” Mom said. “The man was filled with many, many evil spirits—and they made him do awful things. And the spirits made him super strong—everybody was afraid of him.” Lightning flashed and lit the room. “I thought this wasn’t going to be scary!” said Beth. “Wasn’t Jesus scared?” Luke asked. “No,” said Mom. “Jesus is the Son of God, and when He talked with the man, He told the evil spirits to leave him.” Luke leaned closer. “Did they?” Mom nodded. “Every single evil spirit left—immediately. Because He had come to defeat Satan through His death and resurrection, Jesus had the power to send them all away.” “Wow,” Luke said. “Those evil spirits were busted—big time!” “And the man who lived in the cemetery was finally free and could go back to his real home again,” Mom said. “The man was so grateful that he became a follower of Jesus.” The lights came back on all over the neighborhood. Beth stood and hugged Mom. “You’re right, this story did have a happy ending!” “Wow,” Luke said. “Jesus is the ultimate ghost tamer!” –Matt Shoemaker How about you? Did you know that Jesus has complete authority over everything in heaven and earth, including demons? Evil powers exist in our world, and they can be scary—but you don’t have to be afraid. If you know Jesus as your Savior, He has freed you from Satan’s power, just like He freed the man in the story. Nothing is more powerful than our God! Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said,] “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus holds all authority

Oct 30

Read: Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 5:7 Tears fell down Leah’s cheeks as she and her parents drove past their old house in the country to see what it looked like now. They had moved to the city to be closer to her dad’s work, but Leah had loved living in the country and really missed her old house. She wished they could have stayed. Leah’s old house looked so different now. The bushes her dad had planted seemed bigger, and the new owners had painted the house a different color. I liked the old color better, Leah thought to herself. When Dad pulled into the driveway of their new home, Leah jumped out of the car and ran to her room. She grabbed her favorite stuffed animal and stared out the window. She used to see trees and fields outside her window; now all she saw were more houses. Mom walked into Leah’s room. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Yeah, I just wish we still lived in the country. Why did things have to change?” “The move was a big change for all of us, but living in the city can be fun too.” Mom came and stood next to Leah at the window. “Life changes are hard sometimes. But knowing that Jesus never changes and is always with us can give us peace and comfort when we’re going through big changes in life. Hebrews 13:8 says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’” The next morning Leah and her mom went for a walk in their new neighborhood. They met their neighbor, Mrs. Franklin, and her daughter, Chelsie. Chelsie was the same age as Leah. Mrs. Franklin invited Leah and her mom into their backyard. While Mom and Mrs. Franklin visited on the patio, Chelsie and Leah ran and played. Chelsie had a cool tree house. “Maybe living in the city won’t be so bad after all,” Leah told her mom on their walk home. “I already found something I like about the city—our neighbors.” Mom smiled. “God is always with us, and He knows exactly what we need.” That night Leah thanked God for her new friend. She was thankful He was always with her and that He cared about her needs. –Lisa Fuller How about you? Is change hard for you? Change can make you feel homesick, lonely, scared, or anxious, but God wants to replace those feelings with His peace. He never changes, and He promises to be with you in every new situation. Next time you’re in a new place or starting a new school, think of it as a great adventure with Jesus by your side! Turn your worries over to Him and He will give you peace and contentment. Today's Key Verse: This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God is with you

Oct 29

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:8-12 Emma tiptoed into her house. The wind howled at her back, and she pulled her scarf tight against her neck. If only she had her coat. Slowly, she closed the door until it clicked shut. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to see her like this. She sighed. It was nice to finally be in her warm living room. “Emma?” Uh-oh. She cringed as she turned to her mother and forced a smile. “Where’s your coat?” “I…um…lost it?” “Lost it? What are you talking about? It isn’t even fifty degrees outside!” Mom grabbed Emma’s hands. “Your hands are freezing.” She took a step back and placed her hands on her hips. “How in the world could you possibly lose that big winter coat?” Emma looked down and kicked at the edge of the carpet. “I gave it away.” “You did what?” “There’s a girl at school named Katy. All she had was a jacket. She said she didn’t own a winter coat. I remembered that I had two others at home, so I gave her the one I was wearing.” Smiling, Mom led her to the couch. “You did a good thing today.” “So you’re not mad at me?” Emma asked as she took a seat beside her mother. “No. What you did for your friend was a lot like what Jesus did for us.” “What do you mean?” asked Emma. “Well, Jesus was rich and comfortable in heaven, but He saw that we were stuck in sin. So He left all His riches and comfort behind in order to save us.” Emma pulled the scarf off her neck. “By coming to earth and dying on the cross.” “Exactly,” said Mom. “He gave up everything so we could experience the riches and joy of having eternal life with Him.” She wrapped a blanket around Emma’s shoulders. “It must’ve been freezing cold walking home without a coat.” “Yeah, but it was only a ten-minute walk.” Mom grinned. “You were a picture of Jesus to Katy today. You became poor for a little while so that she could become rich.” –Annika Klanderud How about you? Have you ever done something good for somebody that left you feeling uncomfortable? Maybe you donated the last of your money or gave away food you really enjoy. By doing that, you made a sacrifice for someone else. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice when He died to save us from sin. When you make sacrifices for others, you’re pointing to the ultimate sacrifice He made for us. Today's Key Verse: Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: We’re rich because Jesus became poor

Oct 28

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Hunter peered ahead through the fog that surrounded them. “Hey, Dad!” he said as he and his father approached the large city they were visiting. “Look!” He pointed toward the distant city skyline that was almost completely hidden by the fog. “You can hardly see those huge buildings today.” “Keep watching them,” Dad said. “As we get closer, the fog will seem to disappear and the buildings will become clearer.” Hunter stared at the hazy outline of the city as they drove in silence for a few minutes. As expected, the closer they got to the buildings, the clearer everything began to look. Hunter grinned at his dad. “Those buildings aren’t so dim anymore.” Dad smiled. “Do you remember the verse in First Corinthians that says, ‘For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known’?” “Yep. I remember that one,” said Hunter. “I had it for a memory verse once. It’s talking about heaven, isn’t it? That’s when we’ll see Jesus face-to-face.” Dad nodded. “From a distance, we had trouble seeing the buildings through the fog. We saw them only dimly. It’s a picture of how we see Jesus now. Sometimes we have a hard time understanding Him and His great love and wisdom.” Dad motioned toward the city. “Now that we’re closer to the buildings, we see them more clearly.” “So we won’t be able to see Jesus clearly until we get to heaven?” asked Hunter. “That’s when we’ll fully know Him, but we can see and understand Him more clearly now by focusing our attention on Him—just like you can see the building through the fog better by focusing your eyes on it.” “How do we do that?” asked Hunter. “By learning more about Him in the Bible, praying, going to church, and trusting Him to help us love others the way He does,” replied Dad. “All these things help us know Him better and understand who He is. And one day we’ll finally see Him face-to-face and know Him perfectly!” Hunter looked out the window as they drove into the city. “Look, Dad!” He pointed to the looming skyline. “We’re almost there!” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Do you know Jesus but find it hard to understand everything about Him? You can get to know Him better by spending time with Him both on your own and with other Christians, but you won’t understand Him fully until you see Him face-to-face. Until then, know that He’s always with you, and remember that one day you’ll be with Him for all eternity. Today's Key Verse: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: We’ll know Jesus fully in heaven

Oct 27

Read: Psalm 119:9-16 Sally shivered as she sat on the park bench. The weather was getting cold. Soon there would be snow, and Grandma wouldn’t want to come to the park once the sidewalks were slippery. Sally reached into the bag Grandma had brought and pulled out another nut. The squirrels around her sat on their hind legs, waiting. “Looks like they’re getting ready for winter too,” Grandma said. Sally tossed out more nuts. “Why are they burying food?” “It’s hard for squirrels to find food when snow covers the ground, so they’re planning ahead. A single squirrel can bury up to three thousand nuts in one season.” “Do the squirrels remember where they bury them?” asked Sally. “Scientists believe they do. Squirrels are really quite smart—some of them even pretend to bury nuts in one place to trick other squirrels that might be watching. Then the squirrel buries the nuts someplace else to protect its stash.” “I’m glad people don’t have to bury food,” Sally said. Grandma nodded. “Me too. But I have other buried treasure.” “You do, Grandma? What is it? Money? Diamonds? Gold?” Grandma laughed. “Something much more precious.” “Is your treasure buried in your backyard?” “No,” said Grandma. “It’s buried in my heart.” Sally frowned. What could be buried in somebody’s heart? “I give up. What’s your treasure, Grandma?” “My treasure is the Word of God. I’ve memorized many Bible verses, and they often come to mind just when I need one.” “How many have you memorized?” “Not as many as I probably could have—some people have memorized whole books! But I’ve memorized some longer passages, like the Twenty-third Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, and Paul’s chapter about love in First Corinthians. Memorizing God’s Word helps me remember that I can trust Him in any situation because Jesus died and rose again to save me and promises to always be with me.” “Maybe we could memorize some verses together,” Sally said. “I’d like that.” Grandma gave Sally a big hug. “Now, let me tell you about my other great treasure—one I appreciate more and more every day.” “What treasure is that?” Grandma pulled Sally closer. “You!” –Carol Raj How about you? Have you memorized any Bible verses? Sometimes the best comfort is a Bible verse that comes to mind just when you need it. When you memorize verses, you are hiding God’s Word in your heart—a treasure worth more than diamonds, silver, or gold. Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word so He can use it to encourage you and comfort you throughout your life. Today's Key Verse: Your teachings are worth more to me than a thousand pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Memorize Bible verses

Oct 26

Read: Psalm 65:1-8; Philippians 2:5-8 “Mittens, you’re driving me crazy!” Li said as she stepped over her cat. “What’s Mittens doing?” Mom asked. “Nothing, but I always have to step over him. I’ve actually stepped on his tail lots of times,” Li said. “I don’t do it on purpose, but he always gets under my feet. Why does he just sit in the middle of the floor where we’re trying to walk?” “I guess he trusts us to know he’s there and to walk around him,” said Mom. “Well, he should watch out and be more careful not to get in our way,” Li said. “We’re a lot bigger than he is!” Mom leaned over and scratched Mittens’ head, making him purr. “It makes me feel good to see how much he trusts us,” she said. “If we were small and he were big, do you think we’d trust him not to hurt us?” "Not me!” said Li. “His claws are sharp. If he were big like a lion or tiger, I think he’d be dangerous!” “I can think of someone bigger than we are that we can always trust,” said Mom. “You mean Dad?” Mom laughed. “Someone much bigger than Dad.” “Who?” asked Li. Then she figured it out. “I know—you mean God! He’s so big He created the whole universe.” “Right,” said Mom. “But even though He’s so much bigger than us, He loves us—just like we love Mittens, even though he gets in the way sometimes. Mittens knows we love him, and that’s why he trusts us. And we can trust God for the same reason—He loves us so much that Jesus became one of us and sacrificed His life to make us part of God’s family. No matter what difficult situations get in our way, we can trust Him knowing that He loves us and is big enough to handle any problem we face.” Li smiled. “I’m glad I’m part of God’s family and can always trust Him.” She bent over to pet her cat. “And I’m glad Mittens is part of our family and trusts us—even though I step on his tail sometimes!” –Diana M. Martin How about you? Do you ever feel afraid of God because He’s so much bigger than you? He doesn’t want you to be afraid of Him—He loves you and wants you to trust Him. Even though He’s God, Jesus became human and died for your sins so you could be part of His family. He cares about everything you go through and promises to help you through it. Trust Him and know He’ll always take care of you. Today's Key Verse: I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. Psalm 13:5 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: You can trust God

Oct 25

Read: Matthew 18:12-14 “Zeke!” called Layla. “There’s a storm coming. We need to get the chickens in!” Zeke followed his sister outside. “Do you think chickens are like sheep?” he asked. Layla stared at Zeke as she opened the gate to the chicken coop. “What? No, chickens are different. They have feathers.” “Jesus talks a lot about sheep in the Bible,” said Zeke. “Do you think Jesus likes sheep more than chickens?” “I dunno.” Layla sighed. “Hurry, let’s get the chickens in.” Zeke counted the chickens as they came into the coop. “One, two, three, four, five. Five? That’s not right.” Zeke counted the chickens again. “Still five. One is missing. Where’s Clara?” Zeke peered around the chicken coop. “Zeke, we’ve got most of them. We’ll find Clara tomorrow.” Layla reached for the latch to shut the door. “No!” said Zeke. “Jesus goes looking for His lost sheep. He said He was like a farmer who had ninety-nine of them but still went looking for the lost one because he cared about the one that was missing. We need to look for our lost one too.” “You’re right, Zeke. Let’s start looking.” They looked for Clara in the hay barn, the stables, the willow tree, and the cornfield. No Clara. “I don’t know where else to look,” Zeke said as he and Layla leaned against the garden fence and swiped at the raindrops that sprinkled their faces. “What if something happens to her?” “We’ll keep looking until we…shhh, do you hear that?” “Cluck.” A faint sound came from under the raspberry bushes. Zeke ducked under the fence and peeked around the bushes’ thorny branches. “Clara! Are you stuck? Don’t worry, I’ll get you out.” Thorns scraped Zeke’s face and hands as he pulled Clara loose from the raspberries. He took off his jacket and wrapped her up. “Stay in the jacket so you don’t get wet.” Layla led the way back to the coop. Zeke placed Clara safely in the coop with the other chickens. “In you go, Clara, with the rest of your chicken friends.” “I’m glad we didn’t stop looking, Zeke. The other five chickens are safe and sound, and now Clara is too.” Zeke grinned. “I think Jesus likes chickens too.” –Nicole Monroe How about you? Do you like chickens or sheep better? Jesus loves you more than chickens or sheep. He calls His people His sheep because He cares for them the way a good farmer takes care of animals. Jesus loves us so much that He will search for those who are lost because He doesn’t want one person to go missing. He cares for you and wants you as part of His family. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Jesus finds the lost

Oct 24

Read: Romans 8:1-9 Jonah sifted through the model airplane parts covering his desk until he found the one he wanted. Almost done! I just have to get this propeller on . His fingers clutched the plane as he tried to attach the propeller. Then he heard a crunch. He had held the plane so tightly that it had cracked above one of the wings. Filled with anger, Jonah cursed and flung the plane against the wall. Then, feeling hot tears of shame fill his eyes, he laid his head on his arms and cried. That evening, Jonah showed the plane to his dad. “I totally ruined it,” he said sadly. “Why do I get so mad about things? Will I ever get over that?” Dad turned the mangled plane in his hands. “Are you familiar with the law of gravity?” Jonah nodded. “Then you know gravity holds everything—including airplanes—to the ground. So how can an airplane ever get up in the air?” “We talked about that in science,” said Jonah. “A greater law called aerodynamics overcomes the law of gravity.” “Right.” Dad moved the plane along the tabletop. “As the plane moves forward, air pressure under the wing pushes upward, creating lift. The faster the plane moves, the greater the lift. When the lift becomes greater than the force of gravity, you have…” “Takeoff,” said Jonah. “But what’s that got to do with me getting mad about stuff?” “Jonah, when you give in to your temper, you’re like an airplane stuck on the ground. The law of gravity can be compared to what the Bible calls the law of sin and death. When you’re controlled by the law of sin, you can’t gain victory over that temper of yours.” “So how can I stop being controlled by sin?” asked Jonah. “You need the power of a higher law—a force greater than the law of sin that pins you down. And because you trust in Jesus, that greater force is available to you! You have the Holy Spirit, who helps you live the new life Jesus gave you. When you feel your temper rising, remember that He gives you the power to fly above your anger and deal with it in a good way. You don’t have to give in to it and sin.” –Christi B. Kehn How about you? Do you have trouble controlling your temper—and hurt yourself and others in the process? Or maybe there’s another sin you often struggle with. Whatever it is, Jesus gives you the power through the Holy Spirit to overcome that sin. He freed you from the law of sin so you could have a new life with Him. Whenever you’re tempted to sin, depend on Him for the power to fly above it and not give in. Today's Key Verse: He [Jesus] who is in you is greater than he [Satan] who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: You can overcome sin through Jesus

Oct 23

Read: John 1:14-18; 8:4-11 Tessie sighed. Time for performing the skit that she and her friends had prepared was running out. Still Candace did not show up. “Where is she?” Tessie whispered to Gus, another student in the group hoping to perform at the homeschool talent show that evening. Gus shrugged. “We worked on this for so long—I don’t think she would miss it without telling us. Something must be wrong.” The next morning, the homeschool group gathered to watch a play performance. Candace waved when she saw Gus and Tessie waiting in the lobby. “So exciting!” Candace cried. “We get to see real actors!” “Candace, we were supposed to be real actors last night. What happened? We couldn’t do the skit because you didn’t show up,” Gus replied. “Oh, I know. I thought about going but then decided I just didn’t want to do it. I told Mom I wasn’t part of the skit anymore.” Candace shrugged. “I’m always responsible. I just needed a chance to be irresponsible this one time.” Gus and Tessie shook their heads in disbelief. Later, the two friends joined Tessie’s mom during lunch. They described what happened with Candace’s decision to abandon them at the talent show. “Well, you could kick Candace out of your group of friends and never create another skit with her. Or act as if it’s no big deal and pretend nothing happened,” Tessie’s mom offered. Gus and Tessie frowned. “I don’t like either of those ideas, Mom,” Tessie said. “There’s another way which I hope you choose. I know you both have trusted Jesus to rescue you from your sins, so I know you also want to follow His ways. Here’s what Jesus did. He came with both grace and truth. That means He showed people love and mercy but still called out their sin.” “So, Jesus wants us to still love Candace but also be honest about how she disappointed us?” Gus asked. Mom nodded. “When friends tell us the truth in a loving way, it gives us a chance to look to Jesus to help us change.” “Let’s go talk to Candace, Tessie,” Gus said. “If Jesus shows us grace and truth, we can try to do the same with Candace.” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Have you ever been let down by a friend or loved one and wondered how to handle it? In His life on earth, Jesus showed us how to be honest when another person hurts us while still showing that person love. As we grow in knowing and following Jesus, we can learn to offer others grace and truth too. Trust Him to help you tell the truth in love. Today's Key Verse: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus gives grace and truth

Oct 22

Read: Luke 21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “What’s wrong?” Dad asked Sylvie after junior youth group. “Did something happen at your meeting?” Sylvie sat down at the table where Dad was cutting vegetables. “It’s Melissa again.” The two girls had known each other for years, but they were not friends. “I got there five minutes late,” Sylvie said. “The only empty chair was in the front row by Melissa. It was fine until the youth leader handed me the red bucket.” “What’s the red bucket for?” Dad asked, rolling his wheelchair to the refrigerator. “That’s how we take the offering. We start a red bucket in the front row and pass it around. Our class also committed to giving extra this fall so that at Christmas we could buy gifts for needy families in the area.” “So what happened with the red bucket?” Dad asked. “Well, when I checked my pocket, all I had was thirty-five cents, so I popped it in the empty bucket and passed it on to Melissa. She saw my few coins and burst out laughing. Then she threw in five dollars and said loudly, ‘We should put Sylvie’s family on the needy list.’” Dad cringed. “Honey, I’m sorry I didn’t have cash to give you your allowance this morning.” “This isn’t your fault, Dad. I know things have been tight since your accident. I’ll give more when I can.” Dad smiled. “That sounds like a story from the Bible. Can you guess which one?” Sylvie shook her head. “It’s the story of the widow’s offering. The widow quietly gave all she had. It was only a few cents, but she gave it gladly. The wealthy Pharisees boasted loudly about their big offerings, though they could’ve given much more. The thing is, God cares about the heart of the giver, not the gift.” “So it’s okay that I only put a little in the offering?” asked Sylvie. Dad nodded. “When Jesus saw the widow give the little she had out of love for God, He said she gave more than anyone else. I’m sorry Melissa embarrassed you, but it’s your heart that matters to God, not how much you give. He loves us so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus, and He wants us to give to Him out of love too.” –Teresa Ambord How about you? Have you ever felt embarrassed because your offering seemed small compared to what others gave? It’s not the amount you give that God is concerned about—it’s your heart. When you give to God out of gratitude for the love He has shown you, you are giving the same way the widow did. So don’t give to impress others; give because God gave His Son out of the love He has for you. Today's Key Verse: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God loves givers more than gifts

Oct 21

Read: Matthew 7:7-11 “Hey, wait up!” Jordyn grabbed her foot and looked at the bottom of her shoe. “Look—the sole of my shoe almost ripped right off!” She glanced around with a red face. “How embarrassing. Right in the middle of the store!” “Let me look at it,” Mom said. “How did that even happen?” “Well, I knew they were starting to fall apart, but I didn’t know it was this bad.” Mom smiled. “You could have asked me for new shoes, you know. You didn’t have to wait until they split right open!” “I know,” Jordyn said. “But I didn’t want to bother you with it.” Mom put a hand on Jordyn’s shoulder. “You know it wouldn’t bother me. I’m your parent—it’s my job to provide for you! Next time just ask, okay?” “Okay, Mom. Well, at least we were in a store when my shoe fell apart!” Mom laughed. “Let’s head over to the shoe section right now.” As Jordyn sat down to try on a new pair of shoes, Mom asked, “How’s Emily?” Emily was Jordyn’s best friend from school. “I don’t know—she’s mad at me right now, and I don’t know how to fix it. She doesn’t even want to talk to me.” Jordyn’s shoulders slumped. “I just don’t know what to do.” “Well,” Mom said, “I think it’s a lot like your shoes.” Jordyn looked up, confused. “What is?” “The Bible says that if you need wisdom, you just have to ask God. You don’t need to worry about bothering Him, and He’s not going to get mad at you for asking. He’s your heavenly Father, and He loves you—just like I love you and want to provide for you.” “Really? That’s great!” said Jordyn. “I’m going to ask God for wisdom about how to fix things with Emily.” “Good,” said Mom. “Though keep in mind that God often provides wisdom through the people He’s put in your life. So after you pray, maybe you should tell me more about what happened with Emily and I’ll see if I can help.” “Okay.” Jordyn stuck out her feet. “What do you think of these shoes?” “Perfect,” said Mom. “Let’s go buy them so we can finish our shopping.” –Lucy Alessio How about you? Is there a situation in your life you don’t know what to do about? Are you unsure how you should deal with it? God wants to guide you through every difficulty you face. He is our loving heavenly Father who provided us with His Son, Jesus, when we needed to be saved, and He provides for our daily needs too. Pray and ask Him about anything, and He will gladly give you the wisdom you need. Today's Key Verse: Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. James 1:5 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Ask God for wisdom

Oct 20

Read: Romans 12:4-8 BLATT! BLATT! BLATT! Brayden was sitting in front of the music stand with his trombone, moving the slide, when Dad walked in holding a baseball and glove. “Hey, Brayden,” Dad said. “How about taking a break to play catch?” In the backyard Dad threw easy tosses to Brayden, who then threw them back. “How’s the trombone going?” Dad asked. Brayden shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” “What does your teacher ‘guess’?” Dad asked as he threw a little to Brayden’s left, making him reach for it. “She guesses I’m not practicing. But I am practicing! It just doesn’t seem to help at all.” “Mom told me that when the furnace man was here yesterday, he thought one of the smoke detectors was malfunctioning.” Dad chuckled, then quickly stifled it and threw the ball way to Brayden’s left. Brayden sprinted and caught the ball in the webbing of his glove. “You’re not going to say I should give up, are you?” “Great catch!” Dad exclaimed. “I never give up! Never!” Brayden threw the ball back. “You taught me that.” “I taught you that so you wouldn’t be a quitter. Every skill takes time to develop, and you need patience to get through the difficult parts of learning. I know you’re not a quitter, Brayden, but that doesn’t mean you should keep doing something just because you don’t want people to think you’re giving up—that can actually be a form of pride.” “So you’re saying I shouldn’t play the trombone?” asked Brayden. “No, I’m not saying that,” said Dad. “I’m saying that God has gifted each of us in unique ways, and sometimes He’ll direct us away from one thing and toward another. We need to be open to His leading and trust Him to help us develop the gifts He wants us to use to help others and point them to Jesus. If we try something and sense Him leading us in a different direction, it’s okay to move on and try other things.” “So if the trombone isn’t one of my gifts, what should I work on instead?” Dad smiled and looked down at the baseball in his hand. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.” He threw the ball high above Brayden’s head, and Brayden jumped up and caught it. –William Grimm How about you? Have you been struggling to get better at something and it just doesn’t seem to be working? It’s important to give yourself time to develop your skills whenever you try something new, but you also need to be willing to move on if God leads you in a different direction. Trust Him to help you develop the gifts He’s given you and use them the way He wants you to. On that, never give up! Today's Key Verse: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:6 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Develop the gifts God’s given you

Oct 19

Read: Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22 Aaliyah rushed outside to see why Grandpa’s dog was barking so loudly. She found Otis jumping up and down, trying to reach a squirrel up in a tree. “I think that squirrel is scolding you, Otis,” she said as the squirrel chattered loudly. She laughed and pulled the dog away. Looking around for Grandpa, Aaliyah headed for the toolshed and saw her cat hiding in the grass, staring at some birds pecking at seeds on the ground. The cat was getting ready to pounce. “Get away from those birds, Bella!” Aaliyah cried. Hearing Aaliyah’s voice, Grandpa came out of the shed with two rakes. “How about helping me clean up the garden?” he asked. Aaliyah took a rake and followed Grandpa as he took long-legged strides across the yard. He paused beneath a tree and pointed at some fur and small bones lying on the ground. “Look here,” he said. “I think there’s been an owl in this tree recently. The fur and bones are probably from some small animal he had for dinner.” Aaliyah frowned. “Some animals are really mean to each other, aren’t they?” Grandpa nodded. “Ever since sin came into the world, animals have suffered right along with people. All of creation suffers. Because of sin, we have illness, hunger, death, thorns, thistles, and weeds.” “You mean the whole world has problems because of sin?” Aaliyah asked. “Not just people?” “That’s right. But even though sin has affected the whole world, God still rules over it and is working to change it.” Grandpa and Aaliyah got to work, carefully raking dead sticks and leaves from the flower bed. Soon they saw tiny green shoots peeking above the ground. “Look, Grandpa,” said Aaliyah. “New life!” Grandpa nodded. “It reminds me that Jesus conquered sin and death when He died and rose again and that He’s making a brand-new world. When He returns, it’s going to be more wonderful than we can imagine. There won’t be any thorns or weeds. Animals won’t be afraid of one another or harm people. And all suffering will end.” He grinned at Aaliyah. “Best of all, Christians will live with Jesus forever in a perfect place free of sin and death.” –Carolyn E. Yost How about you? Do you see the effect sin has had on all of creation? It may make you feel sad, but when you see flowers blooming or new plants springing up, thank God that a day is coming when He will take away all the effects of sin. Animals will get along together—and people will too! If you trust in Jesus, you can look forward to being with Him in a brand-new world forever. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God will make a new world

Oct 18

Read: Psalms 26:2-3; 139:23-24 Eden’s sweater crackled as she pulled it on over her head. She smoothed down her hair and hurried downstairs for breakfast. “What’s so funny?” she asked her brother as she took her seat at the table. “There’s a sock stuck to your back!” said Jonathan. “Oops!” said Mom as she removed the sock from Eden’s sweater. “That’s caused by static electricity. It makes things stick to each other.” “Well, I’m glad Jonathan noticed it,” Eden said. “It would have been embarrassing to go to school with a sock on my back!” After breakfast, Mom picked up her phone. “Let’s read a few Bible verses before you go to school,” she said. “And let’s make sure there isn’t any sin clinging to our lives—kind of like that sock stuck to Eden’s back.” “I don’t have any sin stuck in my life,” Eden said. “What about calling me names when you get mad at me?” asked Jonathan. “You do that a lot.” Eden scowled. “Well, I get mad at you because you take my stuff without asking, even though I’ve told you not to!” Mom sighed. “It’s just like that sock again.” Both Eden and Jonathan gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?” asked Eden. “You couldn’t see the sock stuck to your back, but Jonathan could see it plainly. It took someone other than you to see it. Sin can be like that—plain to see, but we don’t always see it in our own lives. Someone else often does—just like you two did just now.” “You mean because we both pointed out what the other one did wrong?” asked Jonathan. “Exactly. We don’t always realize when we’ve done something hurtful, which is why we need to listen when others point out sin in our lives. We also need to read the Bible and ask God to show us any sin in our hearts. Then we need to confess it to Jesus, knowing that through Him we’re forgiven and can overcome any sin.” Mom smiled. “After all, we don’t want sin we can’t see clinging to us, do we?” Eden shook her head. “That would be even worse than walking around with a sock on your back!” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Do you regularly ask God to examine your heart and reveal any sin in your life? Sometimes He does this by having other people point out sins you’re not able to see. So listen carefully when others point out sin they see clinging to you. Pray and read the Bible to see if what they say is true, and ask God if there are any other static sins in your life. Then confess them to Jesus—and tell anyone else you’ve hurt you’re sorry too. Today's Key Verse: Search me, O God…and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Don’t allow sin to cling

Oct 17

Read: James 1:17 Parker put down his fork and sighed. “Thanks for dinner, Mom. It was great!” Mom smiled. “Well, thank you, Parker. I know lasagna is your favorite, but you seem to have enjoyed it more than usual.” “Yeah, but it wasn’t just the lasagna. This whole day has been great!” Parker sat back and clasped his fingers behind his head. “The weather was perfect—not too cold and not too hot. And since Dad fixed the tire on my bike yesterday, I was able to ride on those new trails at the park. I can’t wait to get back there tomorrow.” The back door opened and Dad walked in. “Hey, Parker. How was the trail ride?” “It was fantastic, Dad.” Mom wiped her hands on a towel. “Ready for dinner?” she asked Dad. “Parker graciously left you a little bit of food.” “He did? Well, that was very generous of you, Parker.” Parker nodded and looked out the window. “Hey, the cardinal is back at the fence,” he said. “The birds really like that birdseed we bought last Saturday.” “I know,” Dad said. “Whenever I put a handful of seed on the fence, within a few hours it’s all gone.” “Dad, do you think the birds ever wonder where the seeds come from?” Parker asked. “I don’t know, Parker. Maybe. But we don’t have to wonder where the good things in our lives come from. We know that every good thing comes from our Father in heaven. He feeds the birds and provides for us and, best of all, saves us from sin through His Son, Jesus. We need to thank Him for giving us so much every day—and thank those who help bring His blessings into our lives.” “Just like you did when you thanked me for the dinner I made,” said Mom. “You’ve been doing that a lot lately.” “Yeah,” said Parker. “I think saying thank you makes me like your food even more than I did before!” “The same thing happens when we say thank you to God,” said Dad. “It helps us see and appreciate all the good things He’s put in our lives.” "Well then,” said Parker, “I’m definitely going to thank Him for the great day I’ve had today!” –Mike Dize How about you? Do you thank God for all He’s given you? All the good things in your life come from Him—good food, warm clothes, kind words, and the people who love and take care of you. And the best thing of all—Jesus dying on the cross for your sins—also comes from Him. Thank Him for everything He gives you each day, and thank the people in your life who show you His love. Today's Key Verse: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Be thankful for every good thing

Oct 16

Read: Romans 12:17-21; Colossians 3:12-14 Alaina ran all the way home from the park and came into the kitchen out of breath. She poured a huge glass of cold water and gulped it down. A few minutes later, her sister walked in. “Why didn’t you wait for me?” Hailey asked. Alaina shrugged. “I saw you talking with Blake, so I decided to go for a run.” Hailey sighed. “Are you still mad at him for what he did last month?” “He tripped me on purpose and made me get a big scratch on my face on picture day!” Alaina exclaimed. “But he apologized,” Hailey reminded her. “He’s having a birthday party at his house this weekend and told me to invite you.” “I’m not going!” Alaina said firmly. “Not after what he did.” Dad walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. “Not going where?” he asked. “To Blake’s birthday party,” said Hailey. “Alaina’s still mad at him for tripping her over a month ago.” Just then a fly landed on the rim of Dad’s glass. “Ew!” said Dad. He poured the rest of the water in the sink. “I’ll teach that fly to try swimming in my water. I’m never drinking water again!” Alaina stared at her dad, puzzled. “Dad, it’s just a little fly! And besides, you have to drink water—your body can’t survive without it.” “So giving up water would hurt me more than the fly?” Dad asked. Alaina rolled her eyes. “Of course it would!” “Well, it sounds to me like you’re trying to get back at Blake for what he did to you, but you’re just going to end up hurting yourself a lot more,” said Dad. “That’s what happens when we hold on to bitterness and anger—we hurt ourselves more than anyone else. I know that what Blake did was wrong, but he said he was sorry. Jesus tells us to forgive others because He forgave us, and He promises to help us do that.” Dad grinned. “Besides, you don’t really want to be stuck at home with me while your sister and friends are having fun at Blake’s party, do you?” Alaina sighed. “Okay, Dad. Maybe it’s time I finally forgive him.” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Are you trying to get back at someone by refusing to forgive them? It’s normal to feel angry when someone hurts you, and sometimes forgiveness takes time. But don’t hold on to feelings that hurt both you and others. If you trust in Jesus, He’s forgiven you for all the wrong things you’ve done, and He wants you to forgive others. Trust Him to help you let go of your bitter, angry feelings and forgive. Today's Key Verse: Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other…Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Let go of bitterness and forgive

Oct 15

Read: Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 8:28-29 “What do you want first, the bad news or the good news?” Mom asked when Morgan got home from school. “The bad news, I guess.” Morgan knew that when Mom played bad news/good news, the news was never terribly bad. “Dad’s job is now transferring to Dalton instead of Briggs,” Mom said. “Dalton? But we already found a nice house in Briggs!” Morgan sighed. “What’s the good news?” “Dalton isn’t as far from here as Briggs, so you and your friends from school can get together more often.” “Well, that is good news, but I still wish we didn’t have to move at all.” Morgan stood up. “I’m going to check on Trixie and her kittens.” Soon Morgan was back. “Mom, Trixie moved her kittens again. She put them back in my room under my bed. I wish they could stay there.” “I know, but that isn’t a good place for them,” said Mom. “It’s too busy with you and your friends coming in and out so often. The kittens are better off in the laundry room.” “Yeah, I guess so. I’ll move them back.” After she moved the kittens, Morgan returned to the kitchen. “I shut the door to my room so Trixie won’t be able to move the kittens there again.” “Good idea,” said Mom. “Did you explain to Trixie that you have a good reason for shutting her out? And that she and her kittens are better off where you put them?” Morgan laughed. “It’s too bad she can’t understand that, right?” “Trixie is just like us,” Mom said. “We thought that the best place for us to live was right here. We expected to stay here a long time, but God has apparently shut the door on that idea.” “And He probably has a good reason too, huh?” said Morgan. Mom nodded. “Even though we don’t understand, we can trust His promise to work everything out for good. He loves us more than we can imagine—so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. We can trust Him to use this move to help us grow in our relationship with Him.” Morgan smiled. “Okay, Mom. Now that the kittens are out of my room, I’m going to do some packing.” –Katherine R. Adams How about you? Have you experienced disappointing changes in your plans? Sometimes change is hard to accept, but God only wants what’s best for you. Trust Him even when things don’t go the way you wish they would. Remember that Jesus loves you so much He died to save you. He will be with you and help you through difficulties you don’t understand. Today's Key Verse: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God knows what’s best

Oct 14

Read: Psalm 51:10-17; Ezekiel 36:26-27 Aunt Dee must be here! Qian thought when he saw a blue mini van parked in their driveway. Maybe she brought Grandma home from the hospital—the doctor said she might come home today. Grandma had been very sick, but she’d had an amazing operation. She’d been given a heart transplant—her diseased heart was removed and a different one was put inside her body. Now she was doing much better. Qian rushed into the house. “Grandma!” he called when he saw her sitting in the living room. She looked pleased to see him. Hugging her gently, Qian asked, “Do you feel better, Grandma?” “Yes, I do, Qian. I was just thanking the Lord for both of my new hearts.” Grandma’s eyes sparkled as they often did when she was happy. “But Grandma,” said Qian, “you just got one new heart.” “I got one new heart in the hospital,” said Grandma. “But I got my first new heart when I was about your age.” “You did? I didn’t know that! Was your heart bad then too?” Grandma smiled. “We often use the word heart to describe our innermost being,” she explained. “And yes, my heart—that innermost part of me—was full of sin. When I asked Jesus to come into my life and take away my sin, it was as if He gave me a new heart—He changed my thoughts, feelings, and desires. After that, I wanted to do things that would help me get to know Jesus better and show others who He is.” Grandma paused, letting Qian think about what she had just said. Then she patted his hand. “I’m thankful for the heart the doctors gave me, but I’m even more thankful to Jesus for saving me from sin and giving me a new spiritual heart.” Qian nodded. “I have a new spiritual heart too, don’t I?” “You do if you trust Jesus as your Savior,” Grandma told him. “Do you?” Qian nodded again. “Yes, I do, Grandma,” he said with a grin. “We both have new hearts.” –Esther M. Bailey How about you? Do you have a new heart? Getting a new heart means that God will change your inner being when you trust Jesus to save you from sin. You’ll start wanting to do what God wants more and more because the Holy Spirit will begin changing your desires. Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Don’t wait. Trust in Him right now! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Get a new heart from Jesus

Oct 13

Read: Hebrews 11:1-3; 1 John 5:4-5 “Look out!” said Benjamin as his sister stumbled over a chair. “You must be blind as a bat if you didn’t see that chair, Eliza!” Eliza huffed as she righted the chair. “Bats aren’t blind!” she said. “Yes, they are,” said Benjamin. “They find their way around by listening to sound waves instead of by seeing things with their eyes.” “Yes, but they can see,” said Eliza. “They just don’t see very well, so they rely on their ears to get around.” “Eliza’s right,” Dad said. “The phrase ‘blind as a bat’ is an expression people use, but bats aren’t actually blind.” “My teacher said they fly at night and make squeaky, high-pitched sounds and then listen for the echoes,” said Benjamin. “The amount of time it takes for the sound waves to bounce off something and echo back tells the bat how far away the object is.” “Very good!” said Dad. “And did you know that, like bats, we should depend on more than just what we can see?” “You mean we should use our ears?” asked Eliza. “Like how a train whistle warns us that a train is nearby?” “Well, yes,” said Dad, “but I was thinking of something even more important than eyes or ears. What we need is faith—faith in Jesus, who’s in control of everything even though we can’t see Him. Some people refer to it as ‘blind faith,’ but it’s not blind at all. It’s faith in a living God who loves us, died for us, and promises to help us and guide us.” Eliza grinned. “Just like bats! Bats aren’t really blind—they just depend on something better than what they can see to guide them.” “Exactly,” said Dad. “Bats depend on their ears to help them fly safely at night, and we need to depend on Jesus to keep us safe—even during the dark times of our lives when we don’t understand why things happen or what God’s plan is. At times like that, we can rest in our faith that Jesus has given us eternal life and will always be with us.” “So I guess we’re like bats because we rely on something better than what we can see,” said Benjamin. “Right,” said Eliza. “We rely on Jesus!” –Tanya Ferdinandusz How about you? Do you have faith in Jesus? The things you can see that make you feel secure—food, shelter, possessions, even friends and family—can only go so far. People make mistakes, and the things you have can’t help you when bad things happen. Only Jesus can give you eternal security. Though you can’t see Him, He cares about you and will always be with you, even in difficult times. Live by faith and trust Him to guide you day by day. Today's Key Verse: We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Live by faith

Oct 12

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 “We can make applesauce, apple dumplings, apple strudel, apple pies, apple butter…” Hannah’s voice trailed off as she lugged a basket of apples into the kitchen. “Sounds like you’ve got big plans for all these apples we picked,” said Aunt Maria. She took some of the apples from Hannah’s basket. “We’ll make a batch or two of applesauce and freeze some of it. Would you like to start peeling apples?” “Okay,” said Hannah. She got out a peeler and some bowls and started working. “How many do we need to do?” she asked after a while. “It will take forever to peel all these and take the cores out.” Aunt Maria laughed. “I don’t think it will take that long.” She looked down at the apple she was peeling. “Have you ever wondered how many apples could come from just one of these seeds?” Hannah shrugged. “Lots and lots, I guess.” She grinned. “Just think, if one seed grew into a tree and produced a crop of apples, and if each seed from each of those apples grew into another tree and each of those trees produced a crop of apples, and each seed from each of those apples grew into a tree and—” Aunt Maria rolled her eyes. “You’re making me tired! That story could go on for a very long time—but that’s an interesting thought. I’m sure the numbers would get beyond what we could count.” She removed the core from an apple and held it up so Hannah could see the seeds. “Here’s another interesting thought. If I plant just one seed for Jesus—if I tell someone about Him or treat them with the same kindness He would show them—who knows what He could do with it? Who knows how many people He might reach through my small effort? It’s easy to forget that all I need to do is plant—God is the one who makes everything grow.” As she was speaking, Uncle Matt walked in. “That’s right,” he said, “and I’m very thankful He made these apples grow!” He grinned. “Now, who will volunteer to make me an apple pie?” Hannah laughed. “Aunt Maria and I will make you one—but only if you help us peel more apples!” –Katherine Chapman How about you? Are you planting seeds for Jesus? Do you tell others about Him and show them His love? God can use any word or deed to make a difference in countless people’s lives—and He wants to work through you! Start planting seeds in other people’s hearts through your words and actions today and trust God to make those seeds grow. Today's Key Verse: I planted the seed in your hearts…but it was God who made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Plant seeds for Jesus

Oct 11

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “This isn’t working!” said Lucas. “Josiah is really good at math, and today he showed me how to do these math problems, but I still can’t figure them out.” Mom walked to the table where Lucas was doing his homework. “Doesn’t your textbook tell you how to do them? Let’s take a look at it to make sure Josiah gave you the right information.” “Okay,” said Lucas. He opened the book and found the chapter they were studying. “All right,” said Mom. “Now try it one more time. Follow these directions step by step.” She pointed to the instructions listed in the textbook. Lucas started again. “Now it’s working!” he said a little later. “Josiah left out a step when he told me how to do these. Thanks for helping me, Mom.” That evening, Dad asked Lucas to read their family devotional out loud. “Read the Bible passage first,” he said, “and then the story.” “But some of the words in the Bible are too hard for me, and I don’t know what a lot of the verses mean anyway,” said Lucas. “Can’t I just read the story?” “The stories help us understand the Bible passage, but they’re not God’s Word,” said Dad. “We need to read the Bible to hear God’s truth and direction for our lives and trust Him to use His Word to make us more like Jesus. Mom and I will help you with any hard words.” Mom nodded. “Lucas, think about what happened when you were doing your homework today. You couldn’t get the correct answer going by Josiah’s directions, could you? They were missing a step, right?” “Right,” said Lucas. “But when I read the book, I got it.” “Exactly,” said Mom. “I’m sure Josiah meant to teach you how to do it the right way, but people make mistakes. That’s why we need to read God’s Word for ourselves.” “That’s right,” said Dad. “It’s important to listen to others who can help us understand what the Bible says, but we also need to read it ourselves to know what they say is true. God speaks to us through His Word, and He doesn’t make mistakes.” Lucas flipped through the Bible’s pages. “Okay, I found the verses for tonight, and I’m ready to read.” –Shelley L. Russwurm How about you? Do you find the Bible hard to read? Are some of the words difficult for you to understand? Keep on reading anyway! As you get older, it will become easier for you to read and understand. You can ask parents, teachers, and pastors to help explain what some of the verses mean. Above all, trust God to help you understand the truth of His Word and use it to make you more like Jesus. Today's Key Verse: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true…It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Read God’s Word

Oct 10

Read: 1 Peter 1:17-21 “Oh no!” said Mei. “I won’t be able to mail this birthday card to Grandma until Monday.” “Why not?” asked Mei’s little sister, Anya. “The mailman hasn’t come yet. I’ll go put it in the mailbox for you.” Mei shook her head. “We’re out of stamps. Without a stamp on the envelope, this won’t go anywhere.” Anya looked thoughtful for a moment and then bounded off to her bedroom. She soon returned with her hands behind her back and a grin on her face. “What are you hiding?” asked Mei. Anya beamed with pride as she held out a roll of dinosaur stickers. “You can use one of my stamps to mail your letter.” Mei smiled at her sister. “That’s very nice of you, Anya, but I’m afraid your stickers won’t work. A letter has to have a postage stamp on it. Your stickers are nice, but letters have to have the real thing.” Anya frowned, and Mei tried to explain. “Postage stamps are a special kind of sticker. You buy them at the post office, and when you stick one on a letter, it shows that you’ve paid for the letter to be delivered. Then the people at the post office make sure it gets where you want it to go.” Mei gave her sister a hug. “Sorry, Anya, but thanks for trying to help.” Anya hesitated, then peeled off a dinosaur sticker and stuck it on the back of Mei’s hand. “You can have a sticker anyway,” she said with a grin. Mom, who was standing nearby, smiled as Anya skipped away. “You know, Mei, your explanation of how payment has to be made for a letter to be delivered reminds me of the payment needed for us to get to heaven. We might try to pay our own way by doing good things, but that’s like using a dinosaur sticker on a letter. To get to heaven, we need the real thing.” “Right,” said Mei. “Jesus!” Mom nodded. “We can’t pay our way to heaven at all—only Jesus can. He died on the cross to make the payment that guarantees our sins are forgiven and we have a place with Him forever. Only He can deliver us from sin into a new life with Him.” –Kelly M. Schaefer How about you? Did you know that the price for you to go to heaven has been paid in full? Jesus gave His life so your sins could be forgiven and you could have eternal life with Him. So don’t try to make that payment yourself! None of the good things you do can pay for the wrong you’ve done—only Jesus can. Accept His payment by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:9 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Accept Jesus’s payment for sin

Oct 9

Read: Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:12-13 Aaron and his mom sat on the floor with one of his dresser drawers beside them. “I want to keep that!” Aaron said as Mom tossed a worn-out toy into a trash bag. Mom was helping him clean out his drawers, and she kept wanting to throw things away. “Why keep all this junk?” Mom asked. “It doesn’t leave any room for all the good things you have.” “It’s not junk!” said Aaron. “These are good things too.” “Good things?” Mom pointed to a pair of broken sunglasses and a small motorcycle with only one wheel. “These don’t look like good things to me. They look like they should be dumped in the trash!” Aaron picked up the motorcycle. “But this was my favorite motorcycle. It would still be good if Reece hadn’t broken it! He always wanted to play with it, and he took it home one day without asking. When he brought it back, a wheel was gone!” Aaron scowled. “It makes me mad when I think about it.” “Aaron, that happened a long time ago,” Mom said gently. “I don’t care,” said Aaron. “It still makes me really mad!” Mom sighed. “I think you may need to put more than this junk in the trash.” “What do you mean?” asked Aaron. “It sounds like you’re hanging on to some anger and resentment. The Bible says to get rid of all bitterness and anger. That’s like dumping it in the trash, and I don’t think you’ve done that yet.” Aaron spun the single wheel of his motorcycle. “I don’t know how.” “To get rid of it, you need to give it to Jesus,” said Mom. “He’s forgiven you for all the wrong things you’ve done, and He wants you to do the same for Reece. I know it’s not easy, but He’ll help you do it—just like I’m helping you clean out the junk from your drawers. Trust Him to help you let go of the bitterness and anger in your heart and replace it with love so you can forgive Reece.” Aaron was quiet for a moment, then slowly placed the broken motorcycle in the trash bag. He took a baseball mitt from the drawer. “Reece asked if he could borrow this.” Aaron smiled at Mom. “I’ll bring it to him tomorrow.” –Pamela J. Kuhn H ow about you? Are you holding a grudge against someone? It hurts when others wrong us, and it can be hard to forgive them. But you don’t have to do it on your own. If you trust in Jesus, He’s forgiven you for all the wrong things you’ve done, and He will help you forgive others. Trust Him to help you dump the junk in your heart and replace it with His love. Today's Key Verse: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger…Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) Today's Key Thought : Don’t hold grudges

Oct 8

Read: James 3:5-10 Milo looked up as his little sister limped into the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” “I need new shoes!” Presley said. She lifted her right foot. “This one hurts me!” Milo smirked. “Because you don’t know how to put shoes on right. You probably have them on the wrong feet.” He laughed. “You’re such a baby!” Presley crossed her arms. “I’m six years old. I know which shoe goes on which foot!” “Let me see,” said Dad, and Presley lifted her foot for him to check. “It’s the tongue of the shoe, honey,” he said, untying it. “It’s twisted and all bunched up. We’ll just straighten it out.” Dad pulled hard on the tongue and retied the shoe. “How does it feel now?” Presley ran around the room and jumped. “That’s better! It’s all fixed!” “Well, you may have gotten your shoe on the right foot, but you didn’t put it on correctly,” said Milo. “Like I said, you’re such a baby.” “Stop it, Milo!” said Presley, close to tears. “Milo, that’s enough,” said Dad. “It was the tongue in Presley’s shoe that was causing a problem, but there’s another one causing a much bigger problem.” Milo looked down at his feet. “My shoes are fine, Dad.” “You may not have a problem with the tongue in your shoe, but what about the one in your mouth?” asked Dad. Milo sighed. “I guess you mean I need to be nicer to Presley.” Dad nodded. “The Bible says the tongue is small but can do a great deal of damage—just like the tongue in Presley’s shoe.” “Yeah,” said Presley. “It didn’t seem like such a little thing could hurt my foot so much.” “Words can hurt people a lot more than shoes can hurt feet,” said Dad. “That’s why we need to be careful with our tongues. Jesus wants us to use our words to help others and show them His love. If we’re using them to hurt others instead, we have a big problem—one only Jesus can fix by straightening out our hearts and helping us love others the way He does.” Milo nodded. “I’m sorry, Presley,” he said. “Here, let me show you how I put my shoes on so you’ll always know how to do it right.” –Mary F. Watkins How about you? Do you have a problem tongue? Do you say things to hurt others and make them upset? Tongues are small things that can cause a lot of damage and pain. If you’re using words to make someone feel bad, talk to Jesus about it and trust Him to help you love that person the way He does. Then use your words to help that person instead of hurting them. Today's Key Verse: I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin. Psalm 39:1 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Watch your words

Oct 7

Read: Matthew 5:10-12, 44; 1 Peter 4:14-16 “I had a terrible day,” Chase told his friends Thomas and Joel. “The guys in gym class laughed at me because I told them to stop making fun of this kid who goes to my church. Then they started making fun of me instead,” he said as his mom set a plate of carrots and dip on the table. “My day wasn’t so great either,” said Joel. “A girl in my class offered to give me the answers for the science homework that’s due tomorrow. I said no, and at lunch I overheard her telling her friends I was a ‘good little Christian’ and laughing about it.” Thomas nodded as he bit into a carrot. “My cousin drove me to the store after school to buy some baseball cards, and the guy at the cash register gave me too much change. My cousin said I was dumb for returning the extra money. I told him I did it because it was what Jesus would do, but he just rolled his eyes.” Thomas sighed. “I don’t get why everyone gives us a hard time for doing the right thing!” “I’m really not surprised to hear that you boys are being mocked for being Christians,” Chase’s mom said. “In fact, that’s good!” The boys looked surprised. “It is?” asked Chase. Mom nodded. “The Bible says we can expect that. Those who follow Jesus have an entirely different way of living, and it sometimes makes other people uncomfortable, so they try to make us uncomfortable too. God says to pray for them and be glad.” She grinned at the boys. “So cheer up!” Joel frowned. “I’m not sure I get it. Why should we be glad when people make fun of us?” “Because people also made fun of Jesus,” Chase’s mom explained. “I know it’s hard to understand, but being mocked for our faith is one way we can show others who He is. So don’t give in to the temptation to get even with those who make fun of you. Instead, pray for them, and thank Jesus for giving you the strength to live the way He wants you to.” “Okay, Mom.” Chase smiled. “I guess it wasn’t such a bad day after all!” –Linda J. Opp How about you? Do you get upset when others mock you for being a Christian? It hurts when others treat you that way, but remember that Jesus was treated that way too. But He didn’t try to get even. Instead, He prayed for those who persecuted Him—and He wants you to do the same. Pray for those who treat you badly for being a Christian, and thank Jesus for using you to show others who He is. Today's Key Verse: It is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 1 Peter 4:16 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Rejoice and pray when persecuted

Oct 6

READ: Romans 10:9-13; Galatians 3:28 “Oh, look, Mom!” Alyssa picked up a pair of gloves in the store. “These would match my new winter jacket perfectly! But I doubt they’ll have my size—they haven’t had my size in anything else I wanted today.” Alyssa and her mother were having a rather unsuccessful shopping trip. “Well, let’s have a look,” said Mom. “We might be able to order your size online if they don’t carry it in the store.” Alyssa looked at the tag. “One size fits all.” She dropped the gloves. “Yeah, right. Those ‘one size’ things never fit me.” “Try one on anyway,” said Mom. “Maybe you’ll be surprised.” With a sigh, Alyssa picked up a glove and slipped her hand into it. “It fits!” she squealed in delight. “How about that?” Mom looked at the price tag. “And the price is right too. Looks like you’ve got some new gloves!” Back home, Alyssa told Dad about the shopping trip. “I never believe those ‘one size fits all’ tags,” she said. “But this time it told the truth!” After Dad read a Bible passage for family devotions that evening, Mom grinned at Alyssa. “The verses Dad just read say that whoever calls on Jesus is saved. Do you know what that makes me think of, Alyssa? It makes me think of your ‘one size fits all’ gloves. These Bible verses assure us that salvation through Jesus Christ fits everybody. Anyone can be saved from sin and have eternal life by trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.” “That’s right,” said Dad. “But you didn’t believe what the tag on the gloves said at first, did you, Alyssa? And some people might not believe what the Bible says about salvation. We might think we’re good enough and don’t need to be saved through Jesus. Or we may believe we’re too bad to ever be forgiven. What does God say?” “He says we all need to trust Jesus as our Savior,” replied Alyssa. “Yes, and He invites all of us to do that,” Dad said. “God offers salvation to everyone in the whole world! Anyone who accepts God’s offer and trusts in Jesus will be saved and spend eternity with Him.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Have you accepted God’s offer of salvation and trusted in Jesus? Maybe you don’t think you need to be saved because you’re a pretty good person already. Or maybe you think you’ve done too many bad things to ever be saved. Neither is true. Each one of us has done wrong and needs to be saved, but no one is out of God’s reach. He will save anyone who trusts in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Salvation fits everybody

Oct 5

Read: Psalm 34:18; Matthew 28:20 Maya watched the windshield wipers sweep away the raindrops as she brushed away her tears. The autumn sky was gray as they drove home from her grandma’s funeral. “Why did God let Grandma die, Mom?” Maya asked. Mom turned around, and Dad looked at her in the rearview mirror with sad eyes. “Cancer kills a lot of people, Maya,” said Mom. “Grandma loved Jesus and had a long and beautiful life.” “But why didn’t God heal her? Where was He?” “I don’t know why God didn’t heal Grandma,” Mom replied. “But I know she’s in heaven with Jesus. I also know that Jesus is right here with us. The Bible says that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and that He never leaves us.” Maya slumped in her seat, and Mom patted her knee. “I’ll show you something that Grandma taught me when we get home.” Dad pulled into the driveway, and Mom kissed his cheek. “Why don’t you make three mugs of hot chocolate while Maya and I take a field trip to the backyard?” Maya followed Mom and watched her gather a handful of colorful leaves. “When I was your age, Grandma taught me why leaves change color in the fall. Leaves are green because of special green stuff inside them called chlorophyll. The chlorophyll takes the sun’s energy and turns it into food for the tree. When the days get shorter in the fall, there’s not enough sunlight for the tree to keep making food, so the chlorophyll gets pulled inside the tree. When the green chlorophyll goes away, the beautiful orange and yellow colors show through.” “So the orange and yellow colors were there all along, you just couldn’t see them because of all the green?” Maya asked. “You got it. Grandma said that just like those orange and yellow colors, Jesus is with us even when we can’t see Him. She helped me press some orange and yellow leaves in the pages of my Bible to remind me that God never ‘leaves’ us.” She handed Maya the leaves she was holding. “I think we should do the same thing with these.” Maya looked down at the leaves in her hand. “Okay,” she said. “But after we’ve had some hot chocolate!” –Jared Hottenstein How about you? Has something painful happened in your life that you don’t understand? Following Jesus doesn’t mean you won’t ever go through difficult experiences. There will be times in your life when it seems like God is far away, but the Bible promises that He’s always close to you, even when it doesn’t feel like it. No matter what you go through or how you feel, He never leaves. Today's Key Verse: The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God never leaves

Oct 4

Read: Psalm 29 Adrian dragged his toe in the dirt as the swing went back and forth, back and forth. He was hardly swinging at all. “Isn’t swinging supposed to put a smile on your face?” Adrian looked up and cracked a grin. It was his neighbor, Mr. Snyder. “I saw you sitting here as I walked by and noticed you seem a bit down,” Mr. Snyder said as he took a vacant swing. “What’s nagging at you?” “Just some stuff I have going on at school.” Adrian kicked at the dirt again. “I can’t seem to stop worrying about it.” “I see,” said Mr. Snyder. “That reminds me of something that happened to me last hunting season.” “What was that?” Adrian asked. “Well,” Mr. Snyder began, “I had tracked a herd of elk to the top of a hill when a thunderstorm came out of nowhere. By the time I reached the top, thunder was crashing and the elk were gone. I crouched behind a rock, wondering what I should do, when suddenly, just a few yards from me, lightning struck the ground!” Adrian’s eyes opened wide. “Whoa! What did you do?” Mr. Snyder laughed. “I ran down the hill like crazy! Never stopped running until I reached my truck and jumped inside. What a storm! But you know what I realized? While I was running down that hill, I was so consumed with the power of the storm that never once did I think of anything else. And that taught me a lesson.” “I need to think about storms and then I won’t worry?” asked Adrian in surprise. Mr. Snyder shook his head. “The more we fill our minds with thoughts about God’s awesome power and greatness and remember He is present with us, the less room we have for worry.” “Oh,” Adrian said. “How do we do that?” “Praying, reading the Bible, and going to church can help us focus our minds on Jesus and His promise to always be with us. He loves you so much He died for you, Adrian, and He wants you to bring your worries to Him. I think you should also talk to your parents about what’s going on so they can help too.” Adrian hopped off the swing. “Thanks, Mr. Snyder! I’m gonna go home and do that right now!” –Rebecca Thomas How about you? Are there things going on at school or home that you’re worried about? Is your mind often filled with what-ifs? Whatever it is, God can handle it. He has power over everything and loves you more than you can imagine. When you’re struggling with worry, focus your mind on Jesus. Lay your worries at His feet and trust Him to help you—and share your worries with an adult who can help too. Today's Key Verse: Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:2 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Fill your mind with God’s greatness

Oct 3

READ: 1 John 4:7-11 “I know the Bible says God loves everybody, but I don’t really see how He could love Gianna,” Quinn told her older sister as they raked leaves in the backyard. “Is she that girl in your class who cuts in the cafeteria line?” Tori asked as she filled a large bag with leaves. “Yes,” said Quinn. “And cheats and steals and says mean things about people.” Tori was about to respond when Quinn’s dog dashed through their pile of leaves and scattered them all over. “Pepper!” Tori yelled. “Bad dog!” Just as Quinn and Tori got the scattered leaves raked into a pile again, Pepper appeared with a dead mouse in his mouth. “Oh, gross!” said Tori, jumping away. “Get that thing out of here!” Pepper ran through the leaf pile again as he dashed away. Pepper returned later when the girls were taking a break and lay down at Quinn’s feet. “Honestly, Quinn,” said Tori, “I don’t see how you can love that creature. Pepper is always getting into trouble and messing things up, and he growls at Grandma every time she comes over.” “But he has a lot of good qualities too.” Quinn wrapped her arms around Pepper. “Even if he didn’t, I’d still love him because he’s mine!” “I know you would.” Tori threw Pepper a stick, and he snatched it up and carried it to the opposite side of the yard. “That’s a lot like how God loves us—He created us, and when our sin separated us from Him, He sent Jesus to die for us so we could be His again. He died for everyone in the whole world—including you and me and Gianna. So He must love her too, just like He loves us, right?” Quinn thought about that. “Yes,” she said at last. Tori got up and began raking leaves again. “God loves us despite all the bad things we do, and He helps us love others like He does.” Tori smiled as Pepper rushed back over to them, happily chomping on his stick. “I don’t think I’d be able to love Pepper on my own, but since my sister loves him, I can love him too. And it’s the same with Gianna. You can love her because Jesus does.” –Ruth McQuilkin H ow about you? Do you wonder how God can love people who do bad things? God does love those people—including you! He loves you despite all the bad things you’ve done. Jesus loves everyone in the world so much that He was willing to die to save us from sin so we could belong to Him. Show others the love He’s shown you by loving them like He does. Today's Key Verse: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Learn to love others

Oct 2

Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16 Aimee reached for her cup of hot chocolate and glanced out the window as a group of kids walked across the neighbor’s lawn on their way home from the bus stop. The mug froze halfway to her mouth when she noticed one of them was her little sister. “Brooklyn, you know Mr. Wilson doesn’t like it when you cut across his lawn!” Aimee said when her sister came through the door. “Why did you do that?” “Well, the other kids said there isn’t anything wrong with taking a shortcut,” Brooklyn replied. “They said Mr. Wilson has to learn not to get so mad. Those kids are older than me, so they would know.” “They’re older and know more than you, so that means they’re always right?” asked Aimee. When Brooklyn shrugged in response, Aimee looked down at her mug. “This hot chocolate is really good,” she said. “Want me to make some for you?” “Yeah!” Brooklyn followed Aimee into the kitchen and watched her spoon some chocolate mix into a cup and then take a pitcher of water from the fridge. “Why are you getting out the ice water, Aimee? I thought you were making hot chocolate. You have to use hot water!” “Says who? I’m older, so if I say pouring ice water over the chocolate mix will make hot chocolate, it will.” Brooklyn stared at her sister. “No, it won’t!” Aimee set down the pitcher of water. “So you see that being older doesn’t make anybody always right?” Brooklyn sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, I get what you’re saying.” “Good,” said Aimee. “Do you remember what Pastor Williams said last Sunday?” Brooklyn tried to remember the sermon. “He said no matter how old or young we are, Christians can do what’s right because Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in following what God says in the Bible.” “Yes, and that includes you!” said Aimee. “And what do you think God says is the right thing to do about Mr. Wilson’s lawn?” Brooklyn sighed. “Be kind by staying off it so he doesn’t get upset.” “I agree.” Aimee smiled. “Now, how about some hot chocolate—with hot water?” Brooklyn nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!” –Melissa J. Montgomery How about you? Do you go along with whatever older kids say is okay to do? Have they told you it’s okay to do something your parents or teachers say you shouldn’t do? What God says in the Bible determines what’s right or wrong—not what anyone else says. And He gives Christians the Holy Spirit so we can obey Him and show His love to others. You may be young, but if you know Jesus, you can do what’s right. Today's Key Verse: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Do the right thing

Oct 1

Read: John 10:30; 14:16-20, 26 “Mom, what does ‘Trinity’ mean?” Kaylee asked one afternoon. “Pastor Banks said that word in his sermon this morning.” “It means that God the Father, God the Son—that’s Jesus—and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, yet they are one God,” explained Mom. “The word ‘Trinity’ isn’t found in the Bible, but the idea of one God in three persons is found in several places. I’ll show you a few of them.” Just then the doorbell rang. It was Mom’s sister, who had come to drop off some tools she had borrowed. Kaylee grabbed a book and read on the couch while Mom and Aunt Laura chatted in the kitchen. Aunt Laura had just left when Dad hurried into the room. “Honey, have you seen my black jacket?” he asked Kaylee’s mother. “I think I saw it in a closet recently,” said Mom. “I’ll go look.” A little while later, Mom came back into the room and reached for her Bible. “Now,” she said, “let’s see if I can find some verses and think of an example to help you understand the Trinity.” Kaylee smiled. “Actually, I already thought of an example—you!” “Me?” said Mom, looking puzzled. Kaylee nodded. “You’re just one person, but you’re Aunt Laura’s sister, Dad’s wife, and my mother—one, two, three! As a sister, wife, and mother, you do different things for all three of us, but you’re still just one you.” Mom laughed. “Well, that’s not quite how it works, but I’m glad to see you’re thinking it through. The Trinity is more than just one person being different things to different people—the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons, yet still one God. It’s hard for us to understand because God is beyond our complete understanding.” “Yeah,” said Kaylee. “It’s hard to understand, all right!” “The important thing for us to remember is that even though we can’t understand everything about God, we can trust Him because of His great love for us,” said Mom. “He loves us so much that God the Father sent God the Son—Jesus—to die for our sins. When we put our faith in Jesus, God the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts as a promise that we will be with God forever.” –Lois A. Teufel How about you? Do you find the Trinity hard to understand? That’s because God is bigger than what our human minds can fully grasp. So don’t worry if you don’t understand God completely. Keep learning all you can, and remember that the most important things the Bible says about Him are things you can understand—that He loves you, died for you, and will always be with those who trust in Him. Today's Key Verse: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is “three-in-one”

Sep 30

Read: Luke 11:9-13 “Matthew, when you’ve finished raking the leaves, come to the shed.” Matthew’s father pushed a wheelbarrow around the back of the house. Uh-oh, what did Dad want now? The last time he called Matthew to the shed, he asked him to pick up sticks that had fallen from the windstorm. Maybe he was going to give him more chores to do. Matthew bagged up the last of the leaves and stared at the little shed behind the house. He didn’t really want to go back there. Maybe Dad was mad at him. Did Mom tell him about the glass serving bowl that he broke yesterday? Dragging the rake behind him, he headed for the shed. As he approached, he slowed his pace. If Dad knew about the glass bowl, he really didn’t want to go in there. But before he could think about it a minute longer, Dad called to him. “Matthew, is that you?” Here goes . He dropped the rake just outside the door and stepped into the shed. To his surprise, a brown and white puppy with long ears greeted him by wagging his tail and jumping up and down. “The Kleins’ dog had puppies, and I told them it’s about time you had a pet of your own.” With a great big smile stretched across his face, Matthew dropped to his knees and scratched behind the little dog’s ears. “Wow, Dad. You’re the best! I thought you were angry or that you were going to give me more chores to do.” His father grinned. “Matthew, you’re my son and I love you. That’s why I enjoy giving you gifts.” “You do?” “Yes, I do.” Matthew’s father knelt down and stroked the puppy’s back. “Just like our Father in heaven.” “What do you mean?” Matthew asked. “A lot of people are afraid of God. They think He wants to punish them or stop them from having fun. But the truth is that God loves to give His children good gifts. And He gives much better gifts than I do.” Matthew smiled as he rubbed under the puppy’s chin. “If that’s true, then I can’t wait to get His gifts!” “You’ve already gotten His best gift of all,” said Dad. “Eternal life through His Son, Jesus.” –Annika Klanderud How about you? How do you view God? Do you see Him as a loving Father who loves to give you gifts? The Bible tells us God loves His children and gives them good gifts. He even gave us His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for our sin so we could receive eternal life. By trusting in Jesus, you receive the best gift of all! (To learn more, go to https://www.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: God is a giver

Sep 29

Read: Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Peter 5:5-6 “My history report is due tomorrow, and I’m going to have the best one in the class!” announced Mateo as he and his dad got ready to play a game of ping-pong. “Most of the kids write the dumbest essays you’ve ever seen! I also got the top score on our spelling tests three weeks in a row. And the math we’re learning is so simple, it’s pathetic.” Dad didn’t look too happy as Mateo bragged about his schoolwork. “Let’s get started,” Mateo said, bouncing the ball on the table. “I’ll soon have you begging for mercy with my alley slam shot!” Dad grinned. “Maybe, but then again, you might find you’ve underestimated your opponent. By the way, I know just the thing you should write about for your next report—the sinking of the Titanic.” “That big ship?” asked Mateo. “I’ve heard about it. It was one of the greatest passenger ships of all time!” Dad nodded. “It was elegant—crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, fine china, even a ballroom with its own orchestra. It was the pride of its era. Everyone thought the ship was unsinkable. Only problem was, it sank.” “Why do you think that’s such a good topic for me?” asked Mateo. Dad twirled his paddle. “Because you remind me of the Titanic, Mateo.” “I do?” Mateo looked pleased. “You mean because it was a great ship and I do great in school and stuff?” Dad shook his head. “No, I mean because you sound very proud when you talk about yourself. Pride can be like the iceberg that tore a hole in the Titanic. Jesus is the source of all your talents and abilities—and He didn’t give them to you so you could put yourself above your peers. He wants you to use your gifts to serve Him and show others who He is. It’s good to be thankful for them and do your best, but when you get puffed up and put others down, you’re using the gifts Jesus gave you for yourself, not Him.” “I guess I see what you mean,” said Mateo. “Jesus probably wants me to use my gifts to help kids in my class who are struggling.” He grinned. “I’ll start tomorrow. Now, about that alley slam shot! Are you ready?” –Christi B. Kehn How about you? Do you try to be the best at everything you do? Do you take credit for every good grade, every victory, every prize you win? It’s good to do your best and recognize your abilities, but never forget that you have no reason to be proud. It’s God—not you—who is the source of all good gifts. Give Him the glory and trust Him to help you use your talents to point others to Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Be humble, not proud

Sep 28

Read: Philippians 2:14-16 Julia was quiet as she walked beside her mom at the mall. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Mom asked. Julia sighed. “Kids at school were saying bad things about Christians today. It’s all Paige’s fault! She claims to be a Christian, but she’s the meanest girl I know. So now the other kids think Christians are mean people who pretend they’re good—she gives all of us a bad name!” Just then, a few women wearing headscarves turned a corner and began walking toward them. Julia gasped and moved closer to Mom. “What’s the matter?” Mom asked. Julia spoke in a low voice. “Uncle Jerry said people like them hate people like us.” When the women came closer, Mom smiled at them and said hello, and they smiled back. “Well,” said Mom, “they don’t seem to hate us.” “Maybe not,” said Julia. “Uncle Jerry may be right about some people, but a lot of the time we think badly of certain groups of people just because a few of them are hateful. We should remember that those few people aren’t necessarily a good representation of their entire culture or religion—and that, even if some of them do hate us, Jesus tells us to show them who He is by loving them in return.” “I guess you’re right,” said Julia. “You know, that reminds me of Paige. She can be a bad representation of Christianity and make people think badly of all Christians.” “We’ve all been guilty of that at times,” said Mom. “That’s why we need to depend on Jesus to help us be a good representation of Him. So many people have never read the Bible or maybe never even heard of Jesus, and we might be the only chance they have to know what He’s like.” “Maybe Paige doesn’t know that,” Julia said. “Her family only started going to church a little while ago.” “She might need you to be an example of Jesus’s love,” said Mom. “He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us when we were His enemies. Remind her what Jesus is like by treating her and everyone else in a loving way—even when they’re not loving in return. That’s how we live up to His good name.” –Katelyn Van Kooten How about you? Are you a good representation of Jesus for other people? Do your actions show others who He is and how much He loves us? Because of the great love Jesus has shown us, we’re able to treat others the way He would—even when it’s not easy. Trust Him to help you show His love to others so they can see what He’s like through you. Today's Key Verse: By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Treat others as Jesus would

Sep 27

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “I wonder why geese always fly in a V formation,” Zion said as he and his dad raked their lawn. Overhead, a flock of geese honked their way southward in the cloudless fall sky. “Do you see how closely they fly together?” asked Dad. “As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following it. That means the bird behind it uses less energy as it flies. By flying in a V formation, the flock can fly about seventy percent farther than if each bird flew alone. The leader—the first one—has to work the hardest, so they take turns being in front.” “Hey, that’s cool!” said Zion. “Smart birds!” They finished raking, and Zion grabbed some large plastic bags from the garage. “Is it okay if I skip church tomorrow?” he asked as they stuffed the leaves into the bags. “Caden got a new game for his birthday and invited me over to play it in the morning.” “You can play Caden’s game another time,” said Dad. “That’s not a good reason to skip church.” “But I’ll do my devotions before I go,” said Zion. “Why can’t I just spend time with Jesus on my own instead of going to church?” “Zion, praying and reading the Bible on your own is very important, and I’m glad you do that,” said Dad. “But it’s not the same as going to church.” “Why not?” asked Zion. “That’s basically what we do at church, just with more people.” “Exactly,” said Dad. “Remember those geese we saw in the V formation? They would never be able to make the long journey south on their own—they need each other. And we need other Christians on our journey with Jesus. They support and encourage us and help us see a bigger picture of how He’s changing people’s hearts and lives. Jesus wants us to spend time with Him on our own, but He also wants us to spend time with Him as a body of believers because He loves all of us and knows how much we need each other.” Zion looked up at the sound of honking. More geese were on their way south. “Okay, Dad,” he said. “I’ll play Caden’s game another time.” –Rosemary C. Wilson How about you? Do you ever wonder why you need to go to church? Would you rather just spend time with Jesus on your own? That’s not how He designed the Christian life to be. He wants you to learn about Him and worship Him with other Christians so you can support and encourage one another. So don’t neglect going to church—we’re all on this journey with Jesus together! Today's Key Verse: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: We need other Christians

Sep 26

Read: Psalm 34:1-8; Revelation 4:11 “Psalm thirty-four verse three. Oh, magify…magify…” Sadie struggled with her memory verse as she and her older sister walked up the driveway to their grandfather’s house. “Hi, Grandpa,” said Bryn as they went into the house. “Hi, girls.” Grandpa folded his newspaper. “I was just reading.” “What’s that, Grandpa?” Sadie pointed to an object on the coffee table. “That’s his magnifying glass,” Bryn answered. “That’s right,” said Grandpa. “These old eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, and that magnifying glass makes the letters look bigger so I can see them. Here.” He motioned for them to come close. “Try it.” “You know what, Grandpa?” Sadie said after looking through the glass. “I’m learning a Bible verse about a magifying glass.” Bryn laughed. “The word is ‘mag-ni-fy,’ not ‘mag-i-fy,’” she informed her little sister. “And the verse isn’t about a magnifying glass. It says, ‘Oh, magnify the Lord with me…’” Bryn paused. “Wait, magnifying something means to make it bigger, but we can’t make God bigger!” Grandpa smiled. “True, but when I use this magnifying glass to read, the letters just look bigger to my eyes. But they’re not really any bigger than they were before, are they?” “No,” said Bryn. “But I still don’t see what it means to magnify the Lord.” “I think one way we magnify God is by focusing on Jesus and remembering the sacrifice He made to save us,” said Grandpa. “Then, in a way, He becomes ‘bigger’—or more important to us. We think more about Him and how great He is. We get to know Him better and look for ways we can show His love to others.” “Look!” Sadie held the magnifying glass over a cartoon in the paper. “Look how big this cat’s whiskers are!” “I think Sadie just pointed out another way we magnify the Lord,” said Grandpa. “She’s the one looking at that cartoon, but even from here we can see some of what she sees. When we magnify the Lord, it helps other people get a glimpse of how great He is too.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? When you think about the greatness of God, what comes to your mind? Do you think about all the wonderful things He’s created? Do you remember all He’s done to save you and recognize Him working in your life? Even in the midst of your busy days, pause to think about how amazing God is and how much He loves you. Then tell others so they can understand how great and good He is too. Today's Key Verse: Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Magnify the Lord

Sep 25

Read: Psalm 118:24-29; Isaiah 43:19-21 Sawyer was kicking the soccer ball around in the front yard when his dad drove up. “Hey, Sawyer-man,” Dad said as he got out of the car. “How’s it going?” Sawyer shrugged. “I don’t think I did well on my spelling test at school today. And it was supposed to be my turn to feed the class hamster, but Jasper said it was his turn. Then I spilled my milk all over the lunch table. And I have tons of homework!” He sighed. “So, not that great.” “I’m sorry you had a rough day,” Dad said. “Wanna talk about it?” Sawyer poked at a mound in the grass with his foot. “Maybe later.” “Well, remember you can talk to God about it too,” said Dad. “He wants to hear about your problems—and even on tough days, He wants to hear you say thank you to Him too.” Sawyer wrinkled his forehead. “He does?” Dad nodded. “Some days you may not feel like it, but that’s when you need to do it the most. Start by telling Him how you’re feeling and why, and then say thank you to Him. Thank Him for loving you and for sending Jesus to save you. Thank Him for the blessings in your life. Even when things are difficult, you can be thankful because of the joy Jesus gives you.” Dad scooped up the soccer ball. “Time for some Super-Sawyer praise!” he exclaimed as he pretended to flex his muscles. “Ready?” He tossed the ball at Sawyer. “I’m thankful you’re my son!” he shouted. Sawyer caught the ball. “I’m thankful I’m your son too!” He tossed the ball back to Dad. “Is that a smile I see?” Dad asked with a grin as he threw the ball to Sawyer. Sawyer knee-bumped the ball back to Dad. “I’m thankful I can play outside.” “I’m thankful we can talk to Jesus anytime,” Dad said, stopping the ball with his foot and then kicking it back to Sawyer. Sawyer and Dad kept the ball going back and forth as they shouted out things they were thankful for. With each toss and kick of the ball and each thank you to God, Sawyer started to feel lighter somehow. He decided he was going to start saying thank you to Jesus a whole lot more. –Kelly Hope How about you? Have you ever had a day when things just didn’t seem to go right? Get out some crayons or markers and start making your own thank-you list. When you’re finished, post the list where you can see it every day. This will help remind you that there’s always something to thank Jesus for. Today's Key Verse: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Praise and thank God

Sep 24

Read: Matthew 10:29-31; Luke 19:1-10 Kevin was lost. The cornstalks were so far above his head that even when he jumped, he couldn’t see any way out. If only he hadn’t insisted on going into the corn maze by himself. His mom and dad had both offered to come with him, but he wanted to go on his own. Now he was lost, alone, and afraid. It was starting to get cold. He put his hands on his upper arms. What if he couldn’t find his way out by nightfall? What if it started to rain? What if he had to use the bathroom? All sorts of possible disasters filled his mind. A couple had passed him a few turns back, but Kevin hadn’t seen anybody since. He should have followed the couple. He should have never come in by himself. So many “should haves” filled his thoughts. He heard footsteps then—the heavy footsteps of a grown man. But the twists and turns of the maze hid the man from his view. What if it was a kidnapper? What if he never saw his family again? The footsteps came closer still. “Dad!” Kevin’s heart soared. “I hope you don’t mind,” Dad said. “I know you wanted to do this all by yourself, but you were taking so long. Your mother and I were worried about you.” Kevin gave his father the biggest hug ever. “I thought you might leave me here.” “Are you kidding me? We would never leave you. Just like God will never leave you. No matter how lost you may seem to be, God is with you. When we were lost in sin with no hope of finding our way out, He sent Jesus to save us. Since you trust in Him, He will always be with you and help you.” Kevin frowned. “He wasn’t helping me find my way out of the maze.” “But He was,” said Dad. “He sent me, didn’t He?" “I didn’t even remember to pray,” said Kevin. “I was too focused on finding my own way.” “God knew the prayers of your heart even if you didn’t speak them to Him. God always knows. And He’ll always be with you. God loves you even more than your mom and I do. And that’s a lot!” –Carol Raj How about you? Have you ever been afraid? Really afraid? Maybe you were lost like Kevin. Maybe you were sick. Maybe you were moving to a new neighborhood and you worried you might never make any friends. God wants to hear your little worries as well as your big ones. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to find you when you were lost. Trust Him to be with you and help you whenever you’re afraid. Today's Key Verse: [God] himself has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Pray when you’re afraid

Sep 23

Read: Romans 8:14-17 Leo sat at the dining room table with his mom, dad, and two older brothers. He had been part of the family for exactly nine years now. They bowed their heads, and Leo’s dad prayed. “Father in heaven, today we celebrate the day You brought Leo to our family. Thank You for letting us adopt him. He has brought us great joy. Bless our son in every way. In Jesus’s name, amen.” When Leo looked up and saw his mother’s smile, he felt warm and wonderful inside. Even though being adopted held mysteries and he’d been asking his parents a lot of questions about it lately, he was glad to be part of his family. After dinner they had family devotions, and Leo listened closely when Dad talked about adoption during Bible times. “Historians tell us that many sons were adopted,” said Dad. “In fact, some people believe Mary’s husband, Joseph, adopted Jesus as his very own son, even though God Himself was Jesus’s real Father.” Mom smiled. “You’re in good company, Leo,” she said, giving him a hug. “In Bible times, a man with no children would adopt a son in order to pass on all that he owned,” Dad continued. “That son took the man’s name and called him ‘Father.’” “Hey! No fair!” Leo’s brother Corbin kicked at him playfully. “We’ll be glad to share the inheritance with you, but you don’t get it all!” “Dad was talking about guys with no children,” said Leo. “Mom and Dad had children when they adopted me.” “Right,” said Dad. “So the three of you will share the inheritance. And there’s an even better inheritance that all of us get to share as God’s adopted children.” “There is?” asked Leo’s other brother, Timothy. “What is it?” “When we trust Jesus as our Savior, we’re adopted into God’s family. Then we can call God ‘Father’ and share in the inheritance of Jesus—an eternal inheritance far greater than our little minds can fathom. The Bible says we’re heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” “Wow,” said Leo. “I’m glad I’m part of God’s family.” He grinned at everyone seated around the table. “And this family too!” –Christi B. Kehn How about you? Did you know that God wants to be your heavenly Father? He paid a great price. He gave Jesus, His only Son, to take the punishment for your sin and give you eternal life. Become His adopted child by trusting Jesus to save you from sin. Then you’ll become part of God’s family and share an inheritance with Jesus that lasts forever! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Christians are God’s children

Sep 22

Read: James 1:19-25 Ryan, Avery, and Mom took off on horseback down the dirt road—Ryan and Avery on Velvet, and Mom on Lady. Ryan glanced back toward the stable. “Look, Dad is feeding Buster his grain.” Buster was an older horse, and when he ate with the others, he often got pushed away from his own grain by Lady, who tried to be the boss of the barnyard. “Oh, good,” said Avery. “I’m glad Dad’s making sure he gets enough to eat—he’s been looking thin lately.” She patted Velvet. “Not you, Velvet. You’re pretty plump!” Mom nodded. “I noticed that too. It’s probably because all Velvet does is eat. She needs to be ridden or exercised every day.” “Avery and I can do that,” said Ryan. “Can we canter? That would be good for Velvet.” Mom agreed, and they were off. As they unsaddled the horses later, the kids told Dad about their ride. “One of us is going to exercise Velvet every day,” Ryan said, and Avery nodded. “Good,” Dad said. “She needs it. And it’ll help remind us that we need to do the same thing.” “You mean not eat too much and remember to exercise?” asked Avery. “Well, yes, but I was thinking of spiritual diet and exercise,” said Dad. “As Christians, we feed our faith by learning about Jesus and spending time with Him. Praying, reading our Bibles, and going to church are spiritual foods that keep us full and help us grow. But we also need to exercise our faith to stay in good spiritual shape.” “How do we do that?” asked Ryan. “By putting our faith in action and doing things that show others the love of Jesus, like telling people about Him, serving those in need, and treating others with kindness.” Mom nodded and patted Buster. “We also need to be careful not to become like this old horse. He gets enough exercise, but he doesn’t always get enough to eat. Christians like him may do many things to serve the Lord but not take time to get spiritual food. That leaves us spiritually hungry and makes it harder for us to live out our faith.” “We need a proper balance between food and exercise,” said Dad. “Both physically and spiritually.” –Tracy J. Ellifrets How about you? Do you feed your faith by reading the Bible, going to church, and spending time with other Christians? That’s great! But are you also exercising your faith by living out what you believe and showing others Jesus’s love? There are lots of ways to put your faith in action, like helping someone in need or telling a friend about Jesus. Feed and exercise your faith to stay healthy spiritually. Today's Key Verse: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Feed and exercise your faith

Sep 21

Read: 2 Kings 5:1-4, 9-14 The breeze felt cool against Eli’s cheeks as he and Uncle Martín stood quietly on the pier. They were watching ships enter and leave the great harbor. “Look at those little tugboats moving the big ships through the water, Uncle Martín!” said Eli. “It doesn’t seem like boats that small could even move those big ships!” Uncle Martín shook his head. “They’re interesting, aren’t they?” After watching a while longer, he said, “Those little tugboats remind me of you.” Eli turned away from the ships to look at his uncle. “Me?” he asked in surprise. “Why do they remind you of me?” “Well, there’s a Bible verse that says, ‘Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.’” Uncle Martín smiled. “Those great big ships are helped into the harbor by the little tugboats. And grownups can be influenced—and helped—by the actions of kids.” “Kids like me?” asked Eli. “Kids like you,” said Uncle Martín. “Children, as well as adults, can be examples of Jesus to those who don’t know Him. They can show others they have a relationship with Him by the way they live, and they can lead people to Him. Jesus has given each one of us who know Him the Holy Spirit, who helps us share His love with others through our words and deeds—no matter how old we are.” Uncle Martín gestured to another small tugboat passing in front of them as it pulled a ship into the harbor. “You may think other kids are the only ones who would listen to you, but that’s not true. You certainly can influence kids, but adults may also take notice.” Eli watched the tugboats in the harbor as he thought about what Uncle Martín had said. “There may be quite a few teachers at my school who don’t know Jesus,” he told his uncle. “And next week is our family reunion. Some people coming to that might not know Jesus either.” He smiled. “I’m going to ask God to use me to point others to Jesus—both kids and adults.” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Do you think you’re too young to lead someone to Christ? Don’t underestimate what God can do through you. Today’s Bible reading gives one example of a young person who influenced an adult as she served God—and He can use you to influence adults too. Trust Him to help you share the love of Jesus with others, no matter how old they are. Today's Key Verse: Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right. (NKJV) Proverbs 20:11 Today's Key Thought: God can use you

Sep 20

Read: Colossians 3:12-15; 1 John 1:9 Samuel ran into the house and threw his jacket on the table. “Weather report,” he panted. “It’s pouring!” “Ohhhh noooo!” Olivia rushed over. “You threw your wet jacket on my seascape painting for school—it’ll be ruined!” “It’s a picture of ocean waves—all I did was add more water.” Samuel laughed. Olivia lifted Samuel’s jacket. “See? The paint ran! Why didn’t you look first?” “Why’d you leave your painting on the table?” “The paint was drying! Aren’t you even going to apologize?” “Fine,” Samuel said with a shrug. “I’m sorry. Are you happy now?” “That’s it?” Tears filled Olivia’s eyes. “My painting is ruined, and you’re only sorta-sorry? Then I only sorta-forgive you.” Dad walked into the room. “I can hear you down the hall,” he said. “You know, God’s good at forgiveness. Hasn’t He forgiven each of you when you’ve asked Him?” “Yeah, always,” Samuel said. Dad sat at the table. “Because Jesus died to pay for our sin, God promises to forgive. When we tell God we’re sorry for wrong things we’ve done, He completely forgives us—He doesn’t sort-of forgive us. Because God forgives our sin, shouldn’t we forgive others?” Olivia sighed. “Yeah, we should.” Dad looked at Samuel. “You were careless and ruined Olivia’s painting—but you weren’t really sorry, were you? And Olivia, you can’t sort-of forgive. You either forgive—or you don’t. “Olivia,” Samuel said. “Dad’s right. I’m sorry I ruined your painting.” Olivia wiped her tears. “Well, if God can forgive me, I can forgive you.” “You know,” Dad said, “after God forgives us, He does something amazing. He restores our relationship with Him and reminds us of His love and kindness.” Samuel gave Olivia a hug, and an idea flashed in his head. “Leave the room for a minute, would you? But Dad, you stay. I’ll need your help.” Olivia gave him a funny look, but left. Two minutes later Samuel called her back. He’d put fresh paper on the table and had dad pull up a soundtrack of ocean waves on his phone. “There’s still time to paint it over,” Samuel said. “Wanna try?” Olivia smiled. “You turned a weak apology into the best one ever!” –Matt Shoemaker How about you? Have you been forgiven by God? When we confess our sin to God, He forgives us. He also gives us the ability to forgive others when they do wrong to us. Our ability to forgive others always starts with God. Trust Him to help you forgive others the way He has forgiven you through Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT) Ephesians 4:32 Today's Key Thought: Forgiveness starts with God

Sep 19

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 54-57 Landon ducked as a bee buzzed by, barely missing his head. He watched the bee settle on a flower before moving on. “That bee was so close to your head, he almost gave you a buzz cut!” Dad said with a smirk. Landon didn’t laugh. He had something else on his mind. “Dad, can I ask you something?” He hesitated, and Dad waited quietly. “Grandma died months ago, but I’m still sad about it,” Landon said at last. “Is that bad?” “No, it’s natural to feel sad.” Dad put an arm around Landon’s shoulders. “Death is not how it’s supposed to be—it came when sin entered the world. But for Christians, death is not the winner. Even though we’re sad, we can take comfort in knowing that we don’t have to be afraid of death because Jesus defeated it when He rose from the dead.” Dad thought for a moment. “Why were you afraid of that little bee that flew by a minute ago?” he asked. “Because I could have gotten stung!” said Landon. “That hurts!” “Yes, and death hurts too—like how we’re hurting after Grandma died,” said Dad. “But do you have any reason to fear that bee like Ellis would?” Landon shook his head. Ellis, his older brother, was severely allergic to bees. “Ellis could die if he was stung by a bee and didn’t go to the hospital right away,” Landon said. “It would still hurt if I was stung, but I wouldn’t have to worry about dying from it.” “Exactly,” said Dad. “You have no reason to fear bees the way Ellis does, and Christians have no reason to fear death the way the world does. It still hurts when death takes away someone we love, but it can’t take away the eternal life we have in Jesus.” “So it’s okay to feel sad because I miss Grandma?” Landon asked. “Of course,” said Dad. “Even though Grandma is with Jesus and we know we’ll see her again, it still hurts not to have her with us. But one day, Jesus will come back to get rid of sin and death for good, and those who trust in Him will be raised to life and never feel the sting of death ever again.” –A. J. Schut How about you? Do you feel sad because someone you love died? It’s okay to be sad because death stings when it takes away those we love. But even though death hurts, Christians have no reason to be afraid of it. Jesus has conquered death, and one day He will raise everyone who trusts in Him from the dead to live with Him forever! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (NIV) 1 Corinthians 15:55 Today's Key Thought: Jesus has conquered death

Sep 18

Read: Proverbs 4:1-4; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25 “Want to see the ring I got?” Lucy pulled a small box from her dresser drawer and showed her friend Skye the delicate opal ring inside. “It used to be my grandma’s.” “It’s so pretty!” said Skye. “Can I wear it for a while?” Lucy bit her lip. “My mom told me not to take it out or wear it until I’m older. She doesn’t want it getting lost.” “Oh, come on!” said Skye. “I won’t tell her. Please?” Lucy had a bad feeling about letting Skye wear the ring, but she was afraid of what Skye might think if she said no. So she handed over the box. Later, the girls went to the park across the street. They were twirling each other on the swings when Skye’s phone buzzed. “It’s my mom,” Skye said. “I gotta go.” As she took Lucy’s ring off and held it out, she stumbled. The ring fell to the pavement, bounced once, and disappeared down a drain. “My ring!” cried Lucy. The girls peered down the drain, but the ring was gone. When Lucy got home, she tearfully told her mom what had happened. “I had a bad feeling about not listening to you and letting Skye wear the ring, but I was afraid she wouldn’t like me anymore if I said no. Now it’s lost forever!” “I’m afraid you’re right,” said Mom. “I’ll check with the city sewer service, but it’s probably impossible to get it back.” She sighed. “You know, Lucy, that bad feeling you had reminds me of how the Holy Spirit often works in our lives. He guides us in doing what’s right and warns us against things that are wrong and hurtful, but we have a choice in whether we listen to Him or not. You’re going to be a teenager soon, and more and more people will try to get you to do things that are wrong—things that can have very serious and lasting consequences.” “So the Holy Spirit helps me say no to things that are wrong?” asked Lucy. Mom nodded. “He helps you live in a way that points to Jesus, who freed you from sin and made you a new person. Any time you sense Him warning you against something, listen to Him.” –Rosalie J. Currier How about you? Do you listen to the Holy Spirit when you sense Him telling you not to do something? Or do you go along with what others want you to do? It can be hard to say no, but doing wrong things to please others can have very serious consequences. When you sense the Holy Spirit telling you something is wrong, listen to Him. He gives you the strength to say no to sin and do what’s right instead. Today's Key Verse: If sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them. (NLV) Proverbs 1:10 Today's Key Thought: Listen to the Holy Spirit

Sep 17

Read: John 1:4-5; 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16 Corey shivered as the lights went out in the restaurant where he and his family were eating. “What’s going on?” The room was completely dark and everyone around them mumbled nervously. He heard babies and little kids whimper and cry, probably scared of the dark like he had been when he was younger. “The storm must have knocked out the power,” Mom said. A moment later, light spilled across the table from her phone’s flashlight. “This isn’t much, but it will help until they get things figured out.” “If you had bought me a phone when I asked, I could help make it lighter in here too,” Corey’s sister said. Mom chuckled. “Right, Leah. I should have done that, huh?” Corey looked around him. Little by little, the room began to light up as people got out their phones. The voices started to sound less nervous, the little kids quieted down, and things didn’t seem quite so scary. The small lights worked together to brighten the room until the power came back on. The next morning Corey listened as his pastor talked at church. “You are lights,” the pastor said. “If you trust in Jesus, His light shines in you, and you can shine His light to others through what you say and do. The Bible calls Jesus the light of the world because He came to rescue us from the darkness of sin and death and give us eternal life. As we shine His light together for others to see, each little light makes a difference.” Leah nudged her brother. “Like the phones yesterday,” she whispered. Corey nodded, remembering how the restaurant had brightened as the little lights came on one by one and everyone calmed down. “You might not feel powerful or capable of doing a lot,” the pastor continued. “But Jesus has given each of us the Holy Spirit so we can shine His light to those around us. The world is a dark place, and people need Jesus. When we do what we can to share His love and hope with others—even just through small things—the Holy Spirit works through us to bring more people out of darkness and into Jesus’s light.” Corey smiled. He knew just what shining a little light could do. –Emily Acker How about you? Has the darkness of the world ever scared you? Jesus came to be the light of life and hope in a world full of sin and death. When we trust in Him, our wrongs are forgiven and we are given life and a relationship with God that lasts forever. He also gives us the Holy Spirit so we can shine the light of His love and hope to others. How can you be a light to someone in your life today? Today's Key Verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) Matthew 5:16 Today's Key Thought: Small lights make a big difference

Sep 16

Read: Psalm 96:1-6; Isaiah 41:9-13 Brook loved to sing. Whenever there was an opportunity to sing at church, she took it. It felt good to be on the stage singing in front of everyone, and she loved singing for God too. She felt close to Him when she sang songs in church. One day when she was up on stage singing a solo, Brook messed up on some of the words. She felt her face flush and was tempted to step away from the microphone, but she somehow carried on. “You did great,” her family said when she finished. Brook shook her head, wanting to run away and hide. A few days later, her mom came into her bedroom. “They’re looking for volunteers to sing next Sunday,” she said. “I didn’t see your name on the list yet.” “I don’t want to sing again.” Brook pulled her knees up to her chest. Her mom’s brows rose. “You’re not going to sing again?” “I messed up last time. It was embarrassing,” Brook said. Mom touched her hand. “It wasn’t so bad, and even if it had been, you can’t give up just because of that. You love singing up there.” “But I let everyone down,” Brook said. Mom shook her head. “You didn’t let anyone down.” “But I always want to do my best for everyone in the audience and especially for God.” “And you did,” Mom said. “Everyone makes mistakes, honey. God knows that, we know that, and no one is disappointed in you. It’s not important that you messed up the lyrics, and it wouldn’t matter if you did again—all that matters is that you want to sing for God. You want to, right?” Brook nodded. “I love singing for Him.” “I know. God has given you that gift so you can use it to worship Him and point others to Jesus and what He did to save us. So, you just need to do it again.” Brook sighed. “It will be scary.” “God can help you do scary things.” Mom squeezed her hand. “And we’ll be rooting for you.” Brook did love singing and would miss it if she quit. “Okay,” she finally agreed. ”I’ll ask God to help me be brave and try again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Have you ever wanted to quit something because you messed up? Everyone makes mistakes, so don’t let them stop you from doing something you believe God wants you to do—mistakes often teach us what we need to learn to do better. When you mess up, remember that Jesus is always with those who trust in Him and promises to help us. Trust Him to help you be brave and try again so you can use your gift for Him. Today's Key Verse: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV) Joshua 1:9 Today's Key Thought: Be brave and try again

Sep 15

Read: Romans 8:14-17; 9:25-26 Sophie sat on the kitchen floor petting her new golden retriever puppy while Mom snapped the stems off green beans. “Mom, you’ll never guess what happened today,” Sophie said. “Mira told our class she’s a real-life princess.” Mom let out a little chuckle, but when she looked at her daughter’s face she could tell Sophie was serious. “Don’t you think that’s a little—foolish?” asked Sophie. “I mean, we’re not little kids anymore.” “Oh, honey, I’m sure she was just kidding,” said Mom. “No, she means it!” Sophie insisted. “She said that since God is her Father that makes her a real princess. She was calling herself Princess Mira!” “Hmm,” said Mom. “You know, it may not be as foolish as it sounds.” Sophie raised her eyebrows and tilted her head down. She couldn’t believe what her mom was saying. “It reminds me of Goldie,” added Mom. “Some people might not accept Goldie as her real name.” “What?” asked Sophie in disbelief. She looked down at the sleeping puppy curled up in her lap and stroked her soft golden fur. “But that’s what we named her!” “Well, when Goldie was rescued by the animal shelter, what did they call her?” asked Mom. Sophie thought a moment. “Molly,” she answered. “Right. Just like Molly’s name changed when we adopted her, our name also changes when we’re adopted into God’s family. In the Bible, God says, ‘Those who were not my people, I will now call my people.’ And do you know what He says next?” Sophie shook her head. “No, what?” “The very next verse says that ‘they will be called children of the living God,’” said Mom. “I think Mira has figured something out—something really special. When she trusted Jesus as her Savior, she was adopted into God’s family. Just like Molly was adopted into ours and—” “And became Goldie!” Sophie gently removed the sleeping dog from her lap. “Well, you and Goldie will have to excuse me—this princess has homework to finish!” –Nichole Gatten How about you? Have you been adopted by God? Have you become part of His family by trusting in Jesus? If so, you are now one of His children. Your heavenly Father has given you a new name and a new life! If you’re not yet one of God’s children, you can be adopted through Jesus, who sacrificed His life to save you and welcome you into His family. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Embrace your new name

Sep 14

Read: 1 Samuel 3:4-11; Psalm 103:13-14 When the school bell rang, Xavier tossed his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. He spotted his older brother, Malik, standing on the sidewalk. “Hey, what’s up?” asked Malik as they headed for home. “Not much.” Xavier kicked a plastic bottle, and it hit a parking meter. “Did you get to shoot some hoops at recess?” asked Malik. Xavier nodded. “Sink any threes?” “Yeah, but…” Xavier looked through the window of a coffee shop at all the people on their computers and cell phones. “There’s a new kid at school named Devon. I saw him when we were playing ball.” “And?” Malik raised his eyebrows. “Well, now I’m thinking he wanted to play. He just stood by the court watching us the whole time.” “But you didn’t ask him to be on your team?” Xavier shook his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it then.” He sighed, breathing in the smells of a Greek restaurant as they passed by. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up over it.” Malik stopped at the crosswalk and turned his head to look down the street. A city bus whizzed by, then the light changed and they stepped into the road. “Do you remember that Bible story about the boy named Samuel? God called to him three separate times, and each time Samuel thought it was the priest calling him.” “Yeah, I remember,” said Xavier. “Well, what happened with the new kid at school today is kind of like that.” Xavier gave his brother a puzzled look. “How?” “Samuel didn’t realize it was God calling him the first three times he heard His voice,” said Malik. “But the fourth time, after the priest told him who it really was, he got it. He knew God was calling him and was able to listen and obey.” Malik waved at a guy with ear buds walking down the other side of the street. “You didn’t realize Devon wanted to play at first, but now you know he did. So now you can do what God is calling you to do.” “You mean I can ask Devon to play ball with us tomorrow,” said Xavier. Malik clapped Xavier on the back. “Exactly.” –Annika Klanderud How about you? Do you ever wish you could go back and take advantage of a missed opportunity to be kind to someone? Jesus knows we’re only human and don’t always recognize ways to show His love to others. He forgives our mistakes and always gives us another chance. Ask Him to show you something you can do to share His love with someone today. Once you know what it is, do it! Today's Key Verse: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (NKJV) Psalm 103:14 Today's Key Thought: Do what you know is right

Sep 13

Read: Luke 19:1-10; Romans 3:23-24 “Hey buddy, what’s wrong?” Dad asked when it was time for Nolan’s bedtime prayers. “It’s Grandpa,” said Nolan. “He doesn’t believe in Jesus. That means he’s not going to heaven.” “He needs to have a relationship with Jesus,” said Dad. “Shall we pray for him?” Nolan nodded, and he and his dad prayed for Nolan’s grandfather. The next morning Dad took Nolan and his sister on a walk in the woods. As they went along, colorful leaves rustled under their feet. “A lot of leaves are still falling,” said Nolan. “They’re gonna get trampled on.” He grinned at his sister. “I bet I can catch more before they hit the ground than you can.” “You’re on!” said Liliana. So as they walked, they tried to catch every falling leaf. “Okay, let’s count them,” Nolan said as they headed back home. “All right.” A few moments later, Liliana grinned. “I’ve got seventeen!” “So do I!” said Nolan. “We rescued a bunch of them, didn’t we?” Dad smiled. “I’m glad you were able to rescue those fallen leaves. It reminds me of what Jesus does—He rescues fallen people.” “Fallen people?” asked Liliana. “I know Jesus found Zacchaeus in a tree, but he didn’t fall from it.” “No, but he was fallen in other ways. Zacchaeus was a lost sinner, but Jesus saved him and changed him. All people are fallen sinners—we all fall short of God’s perfect standards by doing wrong things, so Jesus came to rescue us. And He wants those of us He’s already saved to help bring others to Him so they can be rescued too.” “People like Grandpa,” said Nolan. “I know Jesus can save him, but Grandpa’s already pretty old. We pray for him a lot, but what else can we do to help bring him to Jesus?” Liliana looked at the leaves in her hand. “Let’s press these leaves and put them in different places around the house. We can pray for Grandpa every time we see one of them.” “Okay,” said Nolan. “We could also invite him to the program at church next week.” “And help him rake his yard!” said Liliana. Dad nodded. “Those are good ways to help him know how much Jesus loves him—and how much we love him too.” –Steve Hulet How about you? Do you have family or friends who don’t believe in Jesus? Share His love with them through your words and actions. Jesus came to save people who are fallen and lost, and if you’ve been saved by trusting in Him, He wants you to be part of the process as He rescues others. He loves your family and friends even more than you do, so don’t give up. Keep reaching out to those who need Jesus. Today's Key Verse: For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. (NLT) Luke 19:10 Today's Key Thought: Reach out to those who need Jesus

Sep 12

Read: Leviticus 19:17-18; Matthew 5:43-48 After school Declan walked to the nearby dentist’s office where his mom worked as a receptionist. “Hi, Mom,” he said as he walked in. He plopped down onto a chair in the waiting room while she got ready to leave. His book bag slid to the floor beside him, and he gave it an angry little kick. Mom noticed. “What’s wrong, Declan?” she asked as they headed for the car. “I don’t like Isaiah,” said Declan. “In fact, after what he did at school today, I hate him!” “Whoa!” said Mom. “Hate is not a word I like to hear. What happened?” “Isaiah threw an eraser and hit Aaliyah in the back of the head. Since I sit right behind her, she thought I did it and told Mrs. Cramer. I told Mrs. Cramer I didn’t do it, but she didn’t believe me, and I had to stay in during recess. After school Isaiah tried to apologize, but it was too late then. He should have admitted he did it right away!” Mom looked at Declan thoughtfully. “Sounds like you need a filling.” “A filling! What does this have to do with teeth? Besides, I just had a filling. My teeth are fine!” “What did the dentist do when you had that cavity?” Mom asked. “Well, first she drilled out the decay, and then she filled the space with a special material,” said Declan. “But why are we talking about fillings? What about Isaiah?” “I was thinking of the problem you’re having with him,” said Mom. “It seems a lot like the problem you had with your tooth. They both need drilling and filling. Isaiah was wrong, but I think you need to drill the decay—the hate—out of your heart and fill the space with forgiveness.” “Drill out the hate?” asked Declan. “How can I do that?” “You need a much more powerful tool than a dentist’s drill,” said Mom. “You need prayer. Only Jesus can help you get rid of the hate and forgive Isaiah.” Declan sighed and didn’t say anything. “Pray about it and trust Jesus to help you love and forgive Isaiah, Declan,” added Mom. “I’ll be praying for both of you.” –Dorothy R. King How about you? Do you find it hard to forgive people who have wronged you? It’s not easy, but with Jesus it can be done. Pray and tell Him how you’re feeling, and trust Him to replace any hate in your heart with love. Remember that He loves you so much that He died for your sins so you could be forgiven. He loves everyone that much—including those who have wronged you. Trust Him to help you show them His love by forgiving them. Today's Key Verse: But I [Jesus] tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. (ERV) Matthew 5:44 Today's Key Thought: Drill out hate with prayer

Sep 11

Read: Matthew 7:7-11 Brecken was doing his homework on the couch when his dog, Winston, brought his toy over and set it at Brecken’s feet. Brecken picked it up and threw it into the kitchen. Winston immediately ran after it and brought it back. This time Brecken threw the toy a little harder, and it landed in the middle of the kitchen table. Winston ran to the table, looked up, and began to whine. He then began to run back and forth between the table and Brecken. “I think he’s trying to ask you to get it down,” Mom said. Brecken got up and grabbed the toy. “Here you go, Winston,” he said as he threw it toward the couch. Winston ran to get it and then took off down the hall, squeaking it loudly. Brecken went back to the couch and pulled out his math book. “Ugh! I don’t get this,” he said a few minutes later. “Do you need some help?” Mom asked. Brecken tossed the math book onto the floor. “It’s no use. My teacher already tried to explain it to me, but I still don’t get it.” “Have you tried praying about it?” asked Mom. “I think God has bigger things to worry about than my math homework,” Brecken said. Mom smiled. “Why did you get Winston’s toy for him earlier?” she asked. Brecken shrugged. “I knew he was upset he couldn’t reach it and was asking me to get it. But what does that have to do with my math homework?” “Well, just like you wanted to help Winston because you care about him, God wants to help us with our problems—no matter how small,” Mom explained. “Because Jesus already took care of our biggest problem of all by dying for our sins, we can go to Him with any problem we have. He cares about the problems you’re having with math and wants you to ask Him for help. That doesn’t mean you won’t still struggle with math, but He can give you the strength you need to keep at it. He wants you to go to Him for help with all your problems.” “Even math problems?” Brecken picked his math book up off the floor and smiled. Then he bowed his head to pray. –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you ask God for help with all your problems? Or only if it’s something really big? Jesus definitely wants to help you with the big problems in your life, but He wants to help you with the small ones too. He loves you so much He died for you, and He cares about everything you’re going through. Ask Him for help with all your problems, big or small. Today's Key Verse: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (NKJV) Matthew 7:7 Today's Key Thought: Pray about all your problems

Sep 10

Read: Luke 6:43-45 Willow slammed the door and threw herself onto her bed sobbing. It wasn’t fair! She had practiced just as hard as Lailani did for the play tryouts at school. While her best friend was chosen for the lead part as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz , Willow was just one of the many Munchkins in Munchkinland who might get to sing about lollipops. Knocking softly on the door, Mom came in and sat down beside Willow. “Your brother told me what happened.” She leaned over and gave Willow a hug. “You know, I think my favorite character in The Wizard of Oz was the Tin Man.” Willow sniffed. “Why?” “Well, he wanted a heart so he could feel things. Can you imagine living life without feeling things?” Willow shook her head. “But my heart doesn’t know how to feel right now.” “That’s why we need to keep close watch over our hearts,” Mom said. “There’s a Bible verse that talks about guarding your heart above all else because every single thing you do flows from it.” “What do you mean?” Willow asked, sitting up and wiping the rest of her tears away. “Your words and actions show what’s really in your heart,” Mom explained. “We all experience difficult feelings in life, but we need to make sure they don’t take control of our hearts and make us act in ways that are wrong. That’s what it means to guard our hearts.” “So what should I do about the play tryouts and Lailani?” Willow asked. “Pray,” Mom said. “Jesus understands your feelings because He experienced human feelings too, but He never sinned by letting them take control. Share your feelings with Him and pray that He would help you guard your heart and know what to do next.” Closing her eyes, Willow prayed and asked Jesus to help her guard her heart and treat others in a loving way even though she felt sad and upset. Then she had an idea. “Can I invite some friends over to watch the Wizard of Oz movie so I can get a head start on being the best Munchkin I can be?” “Lailani too?” Mom asked. Willow smiled and nodded. “Lailani too.” –Kelly Hope How about you? Have you ever felt sad or upset by something? Maybe you worked hard for something but it didn’t turn out the way you wanted, or someone said or did something that hurt your feelings. It’s okay to feel bad about those things, but don’t let your feelings take control of your heart and determine how you treat others. Jesus understands how you feel, and He will help you guard your heart so His love can flow from it into your words and actions. Today's Key Verse: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (NIV) Proverbs 4:23 Today's Key Thought: Guard your heart

Sep 9

Read: Romans 8:18, 28-31 Carson tried to stay out of the movers’ way as they carried furniture into the apartment, so he stood in the corner and frowned. “Why the long face?” asked one of the men who was helping. “I don’t like this apartment,” said Carson. “I miss having my own yard.” He didn’t add that he didn’t know anybody in the neighborhood and would have to go to a new school. The man nodded. “Well, you know what they say—when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” “Lemonade?” asked Carson. The man smiled. “Yeah, you know—make the best of whatever happens. It may seem like a sour lemon, but it can turn into something sweet.” Carson sighed. He sounds like Mom , he thought. She’s always saying God works things out for good . Carson went outside and noticed a boy sitting on the steps. “Hi,” Carson said, and the boy glanced up. He looked like he had been crying. “What’s wrong?” Carson asked. “I don’t like it here,” the boy replied. He had a strong, musical accent. “Bad things happened in my country, so my family left. But everything is different here, and my English is not good.” “Sounds fine to me.” Carson sat down on the step beside his new neighbor. “I haven’t moved as far as you, but I’m new here too. I have to start school on Monday and don’t know anyone.” The boy looked at Carson. “I can walk to school and eat lunch with you,” he said. “Really?” Carson smiled. “And I can help you with English and anything else you have questions about.” A smile spread across the boy’s face. “Want to play ball?” he asked, pulling up a soccer ball from the side of the step. “Sure!” As they kicked the ball around, Carson thought his new home might not be so bad after all. Maybe Mom and the moving guy are right, he thought. Maybe God is making lemonade out of the lemons I got—and the ones my new neighbor got too. I don’t know what God has planned for me, but I’m glad He helped me make a new friend. –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How about you? Is there a lemon in your life—something that’s hard for you? God isn’t allowing that circumstance into your life in order to hurt you. He uses everything we go through to make us more like Jesus so we can know Him better and share His love with others. Trust Him to use hard situations for good so others can see Jesus in your life. Today's Key Verse: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) Romans 8:28 Today's Key Thought: Make the best of circumstances

Sep 8

Read: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20 Hattie stopped in front of the toy shop at the mall. The white tiger in the display had a pink ballerina tutu and little pink toe shoes that laced around its ankles with sparkly pink ribbon. “Mom, look!” called Hattie. But when Hattie looked around, Mom was nowhere in sight. Hattie’s heart dropped and her head got spinny like when she first rode the rollercoaster at the theme park. Taking a couple of steps out into the mall, she looked both ways. No Mom. She was alone. Hattie squeezed back tears and prayed, Dear Jesus, please help me find Mom! Then she remembered the verse they’d read during devotions that morning. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.” Hattie took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She knew she should stay put and not wander off. Mom couldn’t have gone very far and would be looking for her too. She remembered Mom’s words: If you’re ever lost, stay calm and find a trustworthy adult. Hattie scanned the mall. It was very busy, and there were lots of adults walking fast. Mom had told her to look for someone with a security uniform or a worker with a name badge. There were no security people that she could see, so she walked into the toy store and up to the counter. The girl who was ringing up a customer at the register had a nametag on. Hattie spoke up in a loud voice. “Excuse me! Can you please help me? I’m lost.” The worker immediately called mall security, and the customer put her arm around Hattie. “You are so brave! We’ll find your mom right away.” When the security people arrived, Hattie gave them her mom’s cell phone number. She was glad Mom had made her memorize it. Soon Mom rushed into the store to get her. “Oh, Hattie!” Mom cried, scooping her up into a big hug. “I was so worried! All I could think about was you in this big mall all by yourself.” “Don’t worry, Mom!” said Hattie. “I wasn’t alone. Jesus is always with me, and He helped me remember what to do.” –Kelly Hollman How about you? Have you ever been lost? Have there been times when it felt like you were all alone? At times like that, remember that Jesus is always with those who trust in Him. You can go to Him in prayer anytime and receive His peace and strength. He sacrificed His life to save you when you were lost in sin, and He will never leave you. You are never alone. Today's Key Verse: Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. (CSB) Isaiah 41:10 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

Sep 7

Read: Matthew 28:18-20 I’m part of God’s family now , Brock thought happily. Earlier that day he had decided to trust Jesus as his Savior. He smiled, thinking of others he knew who were also part of God’s family—his parents, grandparents, and his friends at church. But then he thought of his two best friends at school. Clay and Miles don’t go to church , he thought. I wonder if they’ll still want to be my friends when they find out I’m a Christian. The three boys had been friends since kindergarten. Clay was a practical joker, and Miles was a storyteller. In fact, they all liked to tell funny stories and make each other laugh—but now Brock was afraid they’d be laughing at him. Maybe I won’t tell Clay and Miles I accepted Jesus , Brock thought when he got to school the next morning. He shuffled to his seat just as the bell rang. Clay waved and pointed to a plastic spider he had put on the chair in front of him. Clay would do anything for a laugh, but today Brock didn’t feel like laughing. “Hey guys, wait till you hear the new story I’ve got!” Miles said as they went out at recess. “You got any new ones you want to tell first?” Brock took a big breath. He suddenly knew this was the right time to tell them he had decided to trust in Jesus. “Yeah.” Brock spoke quickly before he lost his nerve. “You’ll never guess what happened to me yesterday…” When Brock finished telling them his new story, it was quiet for a moment. “Oh. Well, that’s cool,” said Miles. “I don’t really know much about Jesus.” “I can tell you more, and you can come to church with me if you want,” said Brock. “That’s a good place to learn about Him. You can come too, Clay.” Clay shrugged. “I don’t know. I have other stuff to do on the weekends. Hey, let’s go get a ball game started.” “I’ll ask my mom if I can come to church with you,” Miles said as he and Brock followed Clay out to the ball field. “I’d like to hear more about Jesus. It sounds like a really good story.” –Darlene M. Root How about you? Are you afraid to talk to your friends about Jesus? Lots of kids don’t know they need Him to be saved from sin. They need someone to tell them—and Jesus may want you to be that person. Trust Him to help you know what to say, and don’t get discouraged if they don’t respond right away. Keep praying for them and letting them see Jesus in the way you live your life. Today's Key Verse: Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. (NKJV) Mark 5:19 Today's Key Thought: Tell your friends about Jesus

Sep 6

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13; 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Look at Roxy crouching under the bushes,” Lyra said softly. Dad nodded. “I think she sees the doves looking for seeds underneath the bird feeder,” he replied. “She’d like to ambush them.” “That means make a surprise attack from a hiding place, right?” As Lyra spoke, the cat sprang toward the birds, and the doves quickly flew to a tree branch. “I’m glad they got away,” said Lyra. “I think they know there’s a cat in this yard, so they watch out for her when they eat.” “You’re probably right,” said Dad. “We could learn a lesson from them.” He smiled at Lyra’s surprised expression. “That cat reminds me of how Satan likes to hide and then spring out at us when we least expect it. Sometimes we may feel tempted to do something because he’s ambushing us. We need to be alert to when he may be trying to get us to sin.” The next day, Lyra pointed the cat out to her dad again. Dad laughed when he saw Roxy, her tail up, slowly walking across the patio toward the doves. “It looks like she’s pretending to be their friend so they’ll think she won’t hurt them,” he said. “Well, I don’t think it’s going to work,” said Lyra. “But that’s another lesson from Roxy, isn’t it? Satan often pretends he’s our friend too by making what’s wrong look good, but he’s still trying to fool us into disobeying Jesus.” Lyra watched as the birds flew away when the cat got too close. “Roxy didn’t fool the doves at all.” “No, they weren’t fooled,” said Dad. “It almost seems like God gave birds an instinct—a natural ability—to sense danger and escape it.” “It would be nice if we had an instinct to get away from Satan,” said Lyra. “We do!” said Dad. “When Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, He defeated Satan, and He gives us the power to resist the devil. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to warn us of danger and guide us in doing what’s right. We can guard ourselves against Satan’s ambushes by remembering that Jesus has freed us from the power of sin and given us all we need to escape temptation.” –Pauline Youd How about you? Did you know that Satan sometimes tries to get you to do wrong? Not all temptation comes from him, but there are times when he tries to get Christians to sin and believe his lies. You can fight his attacks by remembering that Jesus freed you from Satan’s power when He died for your sin and rose again. Whenever the Holy Spirit makes you uncomfortable about something, don’t shrug off the warning. Resist Satan by standing firm in your faith in Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith. (NIV) 1 Peter 5:9 Today's Key Thought: Don’t let Satan deceive you

Sep 5

Read: John 20:24-29 It was Grandparents’ Day at Finley’s school, and the kids were taking turns introducing their grandparents to the class. When it was Finley’s turn, he went forward and proudly introduced his grandparents. “Grandma and Grandpa Smith are visiting from Arizona,” he said. “They like to travel, and they’re going to take me to the Grand Canyon the next time I visit.” Finley turned to his other grandmother. “Grandma Peters lives here, so I see her a lot. She’s teaching me how to play the piano, and she always makes me laugh.” Then Finley held up a picture for everyone to see. “This is my other grandpa. He’s not here today because he’s in heaven. He went there before I was born, so I never saw him. But I feel like I know him because Dad and Mom and Grandma tell me all about him. He was always helping people, and he was a great baseball pitcher.” Finley smiled and returned to his seat beside his grandparents. That evening Finley told his mom and dad about Grandparents’ Day. “I’m glad you tell me about Grandpa Peters and how he was always kind and loved to help people,” Finley said. “I feel like I love him even though I’ve never seen him.” Dad smiled. “I love someone I’ve never seen too,” he said. “Do you know who that is?” Finley looked uncertain for a moment, then smiled. “I think you mean Jesus,” he said. “I love Jesus too. So do Mom and all my grandparents.” “Yes, we do,” said Mom. “You love Grandpa Peters because we tell you how good and kind he was. Why do you love Jesus?” “Well, the Bible tells me how good He is,” replied Finley. “He loves me too! And He gives me lots of good things—you and Dad and my friends and everything I need. Best of all, He died for me, and He’s always with me—I can talk to Him anytime.” “That’s exactly right, Finley,” said Dad. “We love Jesus even though we’ve never seen Him—but someday we will see Him, won’t we?” “Yep!” Finley grinned. “Just like Grandpa Peters is seeing Him in heaven now!” –Teresa M. Beverly How about you? Do you love Jesus even though you’ve never seen Him? He loves you—so much that He died to take the punishment you deserve so your sins could be forgiven. Love Him in return. Confess your sin and trust Him as your Savior. Then you can look forward to seeing Him face-to-face in heaven someday. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News? ) Today's Key Verse: You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can’t see him now, but you believe in him. (ERV) 1 Peter 1:8 Today's Key Thought: Return Jesus’s love

Sep 4

Read: Matthew 10:16-20; John 14:15-17, 25-27 Joy took a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air. Her older brother paused now and then to examine a tree or check out animal prints. Living near the woods was nice because you could take a nature walk whenever you wanted to. Suddenly, the kids heard a menacing rattle. James flung his arm in front of Joy and stopped her from continuing down the trail. There, just a few feet from where they stood, was a large snake rattling its tail. When it rose to assume a striking position, Joy felt her mouth dry instantly with fear. “Stay still and quiet,” James whispered. A few seconds later, he laughed. “Notice anything about that snake, Joy?” “It’s blue,” Joy whispered, confused. “So, it’s not a rattlesnake?” Michigan had only one kind of venomous snake, the Massasauga rattlesnake. Because of where they lived, Mom ensured they knew all about it. “Nope, I’m pretty sure it’s a blue racer,” said James. “See how there’s no rattle on its tail?” The snake lowered its head and darted down the path away from them. “Whoa, it’s fast!” said Joy. “That’s why they’re called blue racers!” Joy was in awe. “Blue racers are wise to make us think they’re rattlers. The way it shook its tail against the leaves sounded like the sound real rattlesnakes make!” The siblings followed a gentle cooing sound around the next bend. Perched on a high tree branch was a grey bird. “That’s a mourning dove,” Joy noted. “I’d rather see birds than snakes!” “Hey, sis, I just thought of something! Remember that verse in Matthew Mom was talking to us about last week?” “The one about snakes and doves…” Joy gasped. “That verse said, ‘Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’” James nodded. “Jesus wanted His disciples to spread the good news of how He came to save us. He warned them that some people would not want to accept their message, so they had to be wise about how they shared it—in both their words and their actions,” James recalled. “Like them, we need to trust God to help us share His love and truth with wisdom and innocence.” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever worry about what to say to someone who doesn’t know Jesus? Jesus told His disciples that sharing the truth about Him wouldn’t be easy, but He promised they wouldn’t have to do it alone. If you are a child of God, you have His Holy Spirit inside you to help you and guide you. Rely on Him to give you the wisdom you need as you share the truth and love of Jesus with others. Today's Key Verse: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (NIV) Colossians 4:5 Today's Key Thought: Be wise in sharing Jesus

Sep 3

Read: Daniel 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “What beautiful zucchini!” Mom said as she and Alex walked in their garden. “It’s amazing how God makes all kinds of wonderful food grow for us, isn’t it? He’s so good!” Alex smiled and nodded, then looked down as his phone buzzed with a text message. “Nicholas’s sister Joceyln is driving him to that new burger place down the road, and he invited me to go with them,” he said. “Can I go?” Mom agreed, so Alex hurried off to join his friends. When they sat down at the restaurant with their food, Alex remembered his mom’s words. If zucchini was something to be thankful for, burgers were blessings for sure! I want to thank God for the food , Alex thought. He usually prayed before meals, but he hadn’t known Nicholas and Joceyln very long and didn’t know if they were Christians. Will they understand? he wondered. Nicholas took a big bite of his hamburger, then looked at Alex. “Why aren’t you eating?” Alex hesitated as Joceyln came to the table with napkins, then sat down and unwrapped her sandwich. He waited to see if she would bow her head. When she didn’t, Alex decided to ask about it, even though he was a bit nervous. “Um, do you mind if I pray? I just want to thank God for the good food He’s given us.” To Alex’s surprise, Nicholas and Joceyln both looked up from their burgers and smiled. “That would be great!” said Joceyln. “We completely forgot to do that.” Then they all bowed their heads. When they finished, Joceyln grinned at Alex. “I’m glad you reminded us to pray. It’s good to talk to God throughout the day and thank Him for all He’s given us—even burgers!” “You made me think of Daniel in the Bible,” said Nicholas. “He prayed to God even though the king said he’d be thrown into a lion’s den if he did. He prayed during a scary time, but it’s just as important to pray during good times too.” Joceyln nodded. “Jesus wants us to go to Him in all situations—to thank Him in good times and look to Him for help in times of trouble.” She smiled. “And now, here’s something else you can thank Him for—ice cream sundaes on me!” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Did you know you can pray to God anytime? Daniel prayed when people were trying to harm him and he needed strength from the Lord. But we can also pray to thank Him for good things as they’re happening. Jesus gave His life to save you so you could have a relationship with Him. Talk to Him throughout your day, asking Him for help with your problems and thanking Him for blessings in your life. Today's Key Verse: Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. (NKJV) Psalm 55:17 Today's Key Thought: Go to God in prayer

Sep 2

Read: Galatians 6:9-10 Imani plopped down in the grass next to the garden. “I’m never talking to that girl again!” “Who? And why not?” asked Dad without looking up. He was planting a row of carrots. “Natalia—the new girl down the street. I’m tired of trying to be friends with her. I said hi to her three times, and all she did was look down. Then this morning I invited her to play kickball with some of the other neighborhood kids, but she said, ‘No, thanks,’ and quickly walked away. She’s so rude!” Imani spotted the garden hose and remembered her little patch of marigolds near her bedroom window. She began to uncoil the long green hose. “What are you doing with that?” asked Dad. “It’s pretty hot outside, so I’m going to water my flowers,” Imani replied. “Why bother?” said Dad. “The seeds aren’t growing. You planted them ten days ago, but I don’t see anything happening. They must be duds.” He fanned his face with his cap. “You’ve gotta be joking, Dad,” said Imani. “You know it takes time for seeds to grow. Just watch. Any day now flowers will be sticking their little green leaves up out of the ground.” Dad smiled. “You seem to have faith that those marigold seeds you planted will grow. Why don’t you have faith in the friendship seeds you’ve been planting?” “Friendship seeds?” asked Imani in surprise. “That’s right,” said Dad. “Each time you reach out and show kindness to Natalia, you’re planting a seed of friendship. Just like your marigolds, you can’t always see anything growing at first, but I think you should keep watering the seeds you planted. Don’t give up trying to be friends with Natalia. Be patient with her and trust Jesus to make the seeds of friendship you plant grow. Remember that He is always kind and patient with us even when we don’t respond right away, and He’ll help you be that kind of friend too.” Imani dropped the hose and turned off the water. “I’ll take care of this later,” she said. “I’m going to water my friendship seeds instead and see if Natalia wants to come over for ice cream.” –Teresa M. Beverly How about you? Do you get discouraged when your efforts to reach out to others aren’t appreciated or accepted? Do you keep on being friendly? Remember that making friends is a lot like planting seeds—it takes time for friendship to grow. Trust Jesus to help you plant friendship seeds by showing His love to others and to make the seeds you plant grow. Today's Key Verse: So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (NLT) Galatians 6:9 Today's Key Thought: Plant seeds of friendship

Sep 1

Read: Psalm 51:1-10; Matthew 23:25-28 “Wow, Mom! Look at that huge caramel apple!” Zayne exclaimed when he and his mom walked into the grocery store. “Can I get it to take to school tomorrow?” “Well, a regular apple would be better for you, but that one is a beauty,” Mom said. “Okay. You can have it this time.” During class the next morning, Zayne thought about the caramel apple in his lunch bag. His mouth watered as he imagined biting into it. He was glad when lunchtime finally came. Sandwich first , Zayne told himself. Then the carrot sticks . At last he pulled out the apple. He held it up to show his friends, and one of them tried to grab it. Zayne laughed and quickly bit into it. To his great dismay, the inside of the apple was soft and brown, and it tasted horrible! He tried to just eat the caramel on the outside, but he kept getting some of the soft apple with it. When Zayne got home, he opened the refrigerator to find a snack. There in the fruit bin were several shiny red apples. He looked at them, but chose a cheese stick instead. “I don’t trust apples anymore,” he told Mom when she took one out. “The one we bought yesterday was no good. I had to throw it away.” “What a shame,” said Mom, shaking her head. “It was so pretty!” She grinned at Zayne. “But you know, it’s a good reminder of how we can be like that apple.” “We can?” asked Zayne. “How?” “People aren’t always what they appear to be,” Mom explained. “It’s pretty easy for us to hide thoughts and feelings from other people—it’s even possible for us to keep others from seeing sin we’re holding on to in our lives. But we can’t hide anything from God. He isn’t fooled by false outer appearances because He sees our hearts. Even if no one else knows about wrong things we’re doing or thinking about others, He does. And if we confess them to Jesus, He will forgive us and make us clean.” Mom cut into her apple. “You can see the inside of this apple now, and it looks great,” she told Zayne as she handed him a slice. “Have a piece.” –Karen R. Locklear How about you? Have you learned how to hide sin in your life from others? You may be able to fool other people, but you can’t fool God. The Pharisees in today’s Bible reading were able to make themselves look good to people, but Jesus saw what was in their hearts—and He sees what’s in your heart too. If there’s sin in your heart, confess it to Jesus so He can make you clean. Today's Key Verse: You [God] alone know every human heart. (CSB) 1 Kings 8:39 Today's Key Thought: God sees your heart

Aug 31

Read: John 15:8-11 Aunt Jan was brewing herbal tea when Leah was dropped off for a visit one Sunday afternoon. Leah happily sat down in the homey kitchen and sniffed the air. “Mmm, it smells good in here!” “Orange blossom tea—my favorite,” said Aunt Jan with a smile. She pointed to a cake on the counter. “Help yourself.” Leah got a plate from the cupboard and cut a slice of cake. Aunt Jan raised her brows. “Why so quiet today?” she asked. “You usually talk my ears off!” Leah laughed. “I was just thinking,” she said. “Well then, why not let me think with you?” said Aunt Jan. “What are we thinking about?” “The lesson we had in Sunday school today was about growing in the Lord,” Leah said. “Our teacher said we need to grow as Christians in order to become like Jesus, but I’m confused. Didn’t He change us when we put our faith in Him? I guess I don’t quite get it.” “You’re right, Leah,” said Aunt Jan. “Jesus did change us when we trusted Him to save us from sin—we changed from being dead in sin to alive in Christ. But it takes time to grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him.” She took a sip of tea, then looked down at her cup. “It’s a lot like tea,” she said. “Tea?” Leah asked. “Yes, tea,” said Aunt Jan. “The moment a tea bag is put into hot water, it’s no longer water—it’s tea. That’s like what happens to us the moment Jesus comes into our lives. But even though Jesus saves us from sin in an instant, it takes longer for us to learn to live out His truth and love in different areas of our lives and become more like Him—just like tea grows stronger the longer the tea bag is in it. The more we learn about Jesus and depend on Him to work in our hearts, the more we grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him.” Leah grinned. “Thanks, Aunt Jan. I think I get it now!” –Cindy Van Schalkwyk How about you? Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Do you spend time praying to Him and reading His Word, the Bible? Do you go to church to learn more about Him and spend time with other Christians who can encourage and support you in your faith? As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, you’ll become more like Him as He teaches you to trust Him and show His love to others. Today's Key Verse: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) 2 Peter 3:18 Today's Key Thought: Grow to be more like Jesus

Aug 30

Read: Matthew 18:21-35 It was starting to rain. Daisy hated being out in the rain. But she had gotten into a big fight with her older sister before heading outside to walk the dog. They had yelled at each other and called each other names, and she wasn’t ready to go back to the house and face her. Daisy didn’t know what she was going to say when she did. So she kept walking down the sidewalk. Her dog, Oscar, was getting wet too, but he didn’t seem to mind. The further she got from home, the heavier the rain came down. Daisy was getting soaked now and wondered if it had been a good idea to stay out so long. What if she got sick? She’d better turn around and go home. Daisy tugged on Oscar’s leash and got him to jog with her back to the house. “Where were you?” her sister Violet asked as soon as she stepped through the door. Was her sister still angry with her? Daisy bit her bottom lip. “We were walking.” “You’re soaking wet.” Violet frowned. “Go take a bath and warm up. I’ll deal with Oscar.” Daisy handed her the dog’s leash and hurried to do as she was told. After a nice warm shower, Daisy dressed in some dry clothes and made her way to the kitchen, where she could hear her sister moving about. “Here.” Violet set a steaming mug in front of her. “I made you hot chocolate.” “Thanks.” Daisy put her hands around the mug but didn’t sip yet. “You’re not mad anymore?” “No.” Violet sighed. “I’m sorry. We always fight, and then when something happens like you go wandering out in the rain, I regret everything I said.” “I regret everything I said too,” Daisy said. “I hate fighting with you.” Violet nodded. “At least we can say we’re sorry and forgive each other. And God forgives us too.” “No matter how many times we fight,” Daisy said. “Or what we do.” Violet smiled. “We can always forgive each other and count on God’s forgiveness so that we can start over again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Do you often get into fights with your siblings or friends? Do you sometimes worry that things have gone too far? Or do you always come back and forgive each other, time after time? God forgives us again and again for the wrong things we do, and that’s how He wants us to forgive others. When you say unkind things to others, tell them you’re sorry, and trust God to help you forgive them for the hurtful words they said to you. Today's Key Verse: For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (NIV) Matthew 6:14 Today's Key Thought: Forgive again and again

Aug 29

Read: Acts 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Marilyn gazed at her dad as he dozed in the hospital bed. She hated the atrocious yellow hospital gown and the tubes that went into his chest. He was supposed to be strong, but here he just looked tired and weary. “How much longer will he be here?” Marilyn asked Mom hesitantly. She desperately wanted Dad home. A deep sigh came from her mom. She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know, honey. The doctor is unsure.” Marilyn bit her lip. “Doesn’t God want Dad to be healed?” Mom took Marilyn’s hand in her own, and Marilyn leaned into the warm touch in the otherwise cold and bare room. “God loves us and your dad so much, Marilyn—more than we could ever comprehend. He doesn’t want us to be sick or suffer. God is good, and He hates our pain, but He allows it in our lives for reasons we don’t fully understand.” “I hate it too.” Marilyn glanced at Dad again as he slept. Mom squeezed her hand. “Every day I ask God, ‘Why is there sickness?’” Marilyn felt assured knowing Mom asked the same big questions she did. “The world isn’t supposed to be this way,” Mom said. “Even though we humans messed it up with our sin, God is at work every single day to make it whole again. That work is called restoration.” “And He’s doing this now?” Mom nodded. “It started in the first book of the Bible when God promised to bless His people and guide them when they were lost. Then Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so our relationship with God could be restored. Jesus also healed and fed people, giving us a glimpse of God’s plan for eternal restoration. Today I see His restoration in the gifts He’s given people and the ways they use them to help others—like the doctors caring for your dad. And one day, God promises to bring complete and total restoration. There will be no more sickness and no more death forever.” Dad stirred in his bed as Marilyn asked, “But what about today?” “Today I hold on to that hope knowing that God is with me, you, and Dad,” Mom said. Marilyn smiled at Dad as he slowly opened his eyes. Hope. For now, that was enough. –Zoe Brickner How about you? Have you or anyone you know ever stayed in the hospital or suffered from a sickness or disease? Have you asked God why there’s such brokenness on our planet? Take heart. He sees your pain and holds you close. He has been faithful in the past and will one day fulfill His promise to completely heal and restore all that is broken. Then there will be no more sickness, pain, or death. Today's Key Verse: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 4:18 Today's Key Thought: God will restore the world

Aug 28

Read: Psalm 51:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17 Cassian pointed to a row of cars on display at the automobile museum. “Don’t these old cars look funny, Grandpa?” Grandpa smiled. “Well, they look a bit funny to us now, but they were pretty fancy in their day.” He pointed to one of the cars. “My grandfather drove a car like that when he was a young man. It came in any color you wanted, as long as what you wanted was black.” Cassian laughed. “Did you get to ride around in it when you were a kid?” “No,” said Grandpa. “It was long gone by then. I just saw it in a picture.” “Some of these old cars look brand new!” Cassian said, peering through the window of one of them. “This one doesn’t look like it’s ever been out on the road.” “Oh, but it has,” said Grandpa. “It’s very old and must have traveled many miles, but it’s been restored.” “Restored?” asked Cassian. “That means it’s been fixed up so it looks just like it did when it was new, right?” Grandpa nodded. “Worn-out parts have been replaced, and the car’s been repainted with shiny new paint. It’s just like it’s brand new again.” He stooped down to get a closer look at the car’s shiny wheels. “It’s kind of like what Jesus does for us when we confess our sins to Him. He forgives us and makes us clean again. The Bible says He restores our souls. It’s like He refreshes us and makes us brand new.” “When an old car is restored, it must look way different than it did when it was worn out,” said Cassian. “But Jesus doesn’t make us look different.” “Well, I’m not so sure about that,” said Grandpa. “He changes our spirit and soul and attitude, and I think that can make us look different too. We’re able to have a better outlook on life and care deeply for others because we know our sins have been forgiven and we belong to Him. And that often puts a smile on our faces instead of a scowl. Don’t you think?” Cassian thought about it. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess so!” –Sam L. Sullivan How about you? Are you feeling worn out by sin in your life? Do you need to be restored? Even though Jesus saves us and makes us new people the moment we put our faith in Him, we need His ongoing forgiveness and restoration in our lives. When you confess your wrongs to Jesus, He will restore you and leave you feeling brand new! When you feel refreshed and clean again, let it show so others can see what Jesus has done for you. Today's Key Verse: He [God] restores my soul. (NKJV) Psalm 23:3 Today's Key Thought: God forgives sin and restores us

Aug 27

Read: Titus 2:7-8, 11-14 As Jesse and his dad walked through the mall, Jesse talked about how he and some kids from church had collected cans from people around the neighborhood for a fundraising project. “When I knocked on Mr. Martin’s door, he wouldn’t give me any cans to take back to church. He said he didn’t even believe I was a Christian!” “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Dad. “That was an unkind thing for him to say. Have you said or done anything that would make him feel that way?” “I don’t think so,” Jesse answered. But then he remembered something. Maybe Mr. Martin knows I’m the one who knocked a ball through his window, he thought. I was going to tell him, but the other guys said I shouldn’t. They said he’d never know who did it. “Nothing much, anyway,” Jesse added when he noticed Dad frowning at him. Just then they arrived at a sporting goods store. Jesse pointed to a football displayed in the window. “Look! There’s the ball I want. Can we go in and see how much it costs?” “How do you know they sell that kind of football here?” Dad asked. Jesse gave his dad a questioning look. “How do I know? It’s in the window! Everybody knows the stuff you see in the window is sold in the store.” Dad nodded. “It makes sense that what we see out here is what we believe we’ll find inside. That’s how it is with people too. What they see in our actions is what they believe we’re like inside. So for someone to believe we’re Christian, they need to believe we belong to Christ—that’s where the word Christian comes from. They need to see the love He has put in our hearts flow out through our actions. And when we fail to show His love and do something hurtful, we need to admit our mistake and try to make things right.” Dad headed for the store’s entrance. “Well, let’s go inside and see if you can afford that ball.” Jesse hesitated. “Dad, wait!” he said. Then he told him about the broken window. “I’m not going to buy a football now,” Jesse said. “I need to use my money to pay Mr. Martin for that window.” –Mary Rose Pearson How about you? Do your actions show people that you belong to Jesus? Are the things you’ve said and done today things that show the love that Jesus has put in your heart? What you display on the outside should show what’s on the inside—that Jesus is in your life. Show people that you belong to Jesus by treating others the way He would. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin…and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (NLT) Titus 2:14 Today's Key Thought: Let Jesus be seen in you

Aug 26

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:9-13; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “We had so much fun!” Summer said when she got home after spending the afternoon at the beach with a friend. She plopped down in a chair and looked around the room. “Why is it so dark in here?” she wanted to know. Her brother laughed. “Because you’re still wearing your sunglasses,” he told her. Summer laughed too and removed the glasses. Dad smiled. “I just thought of something, Summer.” He reached for a Bible and opened it. “Put those glasses back on and come here a minute. I’d like you to read a verse for me.” Dad pointed to the verse he wanted her to read. Summer looked at the Bible. “You mean with my glasses on?” she asked, and Dad nodded. Summer held the Bible a little closer. The print wasn’t very clear, but she managed to read it. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Summer stopped reading and grinned at her dad. “Seeing through dark glass describes me—it’s like me reading through sunglasses.” “It describes all of us,” said Dad. “For example, it can be hard for us to see why certain things happen in our lives. When your cousin Payson died last year, we were very upset—and even angry—weren’t we?” A sad look crossed Summer’s face, and she nodded her head. “We all had questions,” said Dad. “We wanted to know why it happened, right?” Again, Summer nodded. She still wondered. “In this life, we see the things that happen as if we were wearing dark glasses,” Dad continued. “Many things are unclear, and we wonder why God allows them to happen. But when we see Jesus face-to-face, we won’t have questions like that anymore. We’ll truly understand that His will is perfect and everything happens according to His plan. For now, we just need to remember that Jesus knows our pain because He suffered and died to save us and trust Him to work everything out for good.” Summer took her sunglasses off and looked at them. “I don’t understand why God let Payson die, but I’m glad Jesus knows how we feel and is helping us through it.” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Do you find it hard to trust God when you can’t see how things are going to end or why certain things happen? Jesus knows how you feel, and He promises to help you through any situation you face. You can trust Him to be with you and work everything out for good, even when you don’t understand. Today's Key Verse: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. (KJV) 1 Corinthians 13:12 Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus in hard times

Aug 25

Read: Psalms 104:24-28; 117:1-2 “I’m ahead of you, Mom!” Kenzie called as she paddled down the river in her kayak. “Kenzie, stop and look ahead of you!” Mom called back. Kenzie slowed down her kayak, noticing a bunch of branches ahead of her on the water. “What are those?” Mom moved her kayak beside Kenzie’s. “I think it’s a beaver dam. Let’s sit here for a little bit and see if anything comes out.” “Okay,” Kenzie replied. She kept her eyes on the dam as she took a sip of her water. A couple minutes later, Kenzie noticed some movement. “Look, Mom.” “It’s an otter,” Mom whispered as the pair watched the tiny animal. “Otters sometimes take over abandoned beaver dams.” “It’s so cute.” Kenzie smiled as the otter dove into the water and swam away. “God’s creation is beautiful,” Mom agreed. “I love kayaking. It gives us a chance to admire all the wonderful things God has created.” “We learned about that in Sunday school yesterday!” Kenzie exclaimed. “In Psalms, there’s a verse that says the earth is full of the creatures God made.” Mom nodded. “Another verse in Psalms says, ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.’” She smiled as she looked at the beaver dam. “Both verses are great reminders that God made so many things for us, and we should take the time to admire them. One way to praise God is by admiring His creation.” “A lot of verses in Psalms tell us to praise God, don’t they?” said Kenzie. “Yes,” Mom replied. “We have so many reasons to praise God. Not only did He create the earth and all the creatures in it, He created us in His own image and sent Jesus to save us from sin and give us a relationship with Him that lasts forever. He has done so much for us, and He wants us to praise Him and enjoy the good things He’s given us.” Kenzie grabbed her paddle. “Let’s praise Him right now by admiring His creation as we race on this nice water He made for us!” she called as she began to paddle down the river. –Kimberly Brokish How about you? Do you take time to admire God’s creation? Maybe you take walks, play in the yard, or look through the windows of your bedroom. He has made so many things for us to admire and enjoy. We can see God’s power in creation and praise Him for all the things He made and for the love He has for us. What is your favorite thing that God created? Today's Key Verse: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (NIV) Psalm 150:6 Today's Key Thought: Praise God for His creation

Aug 24

Read: Galatians 5:22-26; Colossians 1:9-14 “This is the prettiest flower garden I’ve ever seen!” said Nia. Grandma looked up from her weeding. “I enjoy it too. When it’s nice outside, I spend time almost every day watering, weeding, or transplanting something. It’s a lot of work, but worth it.” She smiled as she pulled a weed out of the dirt. “It reminds me of my life as a Christian.” “It does?” asked Nia. “Why?” “Well, for one thing, weeds in my life can grow as quickly as weeds in my flower bed,” replied Grandma. “Weeds in your life?” asked Nia. “You mean things like problems? Like when people are nasty or you get sick or somebody you love dies?” “Yes,” said Grandma. “We experience all kinds of difficult and painful situations, and if we’re not careful, they can cause us to become angry, bitter, and unforgiving. Those attitudes are like weeds with very long roots. The weeds in my garden would take over if I let them, and the weeds in my life would too.” “So how do you get rid of them?” asked Nia. “Well, I like to think of the time I spend with Jesus as His weeding and watering time for my life,” replied Grandma. “Praying, reading my Bible, going to church—those are all ways to learn more about Jesus and what He wants for me.” “I try to pray and read my Bible and listen in church,” said Nia. “But sometimes it’s hard.” Grandma nodded. “Sometimes I don’t feel like working in my garden,” she said. “But then I remember how important it is for my flowers and do it anyway, and once I get my hands in the dirt, I often find it to be a pure joy.” “So can you make flowers grow in your life by doing those things like you do in your garden?” asked Nia. “Well, God makes the flowers grow, not me—in both my garden and my life,” said Grandma. “But I can give the flowers in my life—the Bible calls them the fruit of the Spirit—a good place to grow by spending time with Jesus so I have the strength to handle any weedy situations that come along. It’s well worth the effort.” –Rosalie J. Currier How about you? Are there weedy problems in your life? Don’t let them take root and produce sinful actions or unloving attitudes. Jesus wants your life to be like a beautiful garden that produces the fruit of the Spirit. Spend time with Him so He can refresh your soul. Talk to Him about your problems, and let Him encourage you by reading His Word and spending time with other Christians. Today's Key Verse: That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (NKJV) Colossians 1:10 Today's Key Thought: Spend time with Jesus

Aug 23

Read: Genesis 1:2-5; 2:7; Psalm 33:6-9; Ephesians 2:4-10 “Look, Levi, I’m making a snowman!” cried Claire, rolling a white blob of playdough into a ball. But her brother didn’t seem to be listening. Levi was concentrating. He had spent the last ten minutes sculpting the face of a lion out of some yellow playdough. Claire had to admit, Levi’s lion was pretty good. He had used a plastic knife to carve out the lion’s features, and now he was working on a fiery mane. “Looks like you guys are having fun!” said Mom, pausing at the table to view their creations. “I like your snowman, Claire! And that lion’s beginning to look quite lifelike, Levi. I love the way you’ve twisted all those strands together to make his mane. You’re both so creative!” “Creative?” asked Claire. “I thought only God created things.” “Well, the Bible says God made people in His own image,” said Mom, taking a seat at the table. “That’s why we enjoy being creative. Some people like to paint. Some people like to bake. But while humans can only create things using materials that already exist, God created the universe out of nothing.” “Nothing?” asked Claire. “How can you make something out of nothing?” She waved her hands around as though trying to shape a creature out of thin air. “It’s impossible!” Mom laughed. “God created light just by speaking! And Psalm 33 tells us He created the heavenly hosts—all the stars in the sky—by the breath of His mouth.” Claire gasped. “Wow! That’s amazing!” “But when He created Adam,” Mom continued, “God fashioned him with His own hands from the dust of the earth and breathed life into his nose.” Levi finally spoke. “Whoa! This lion I’ve been sculpting is just a model. It will never live or move. But God made a real man!” “That’s right,” said Mom. “Only God can do that! And only God can give people new life. The Bible explains that because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humans are born spiritually dead because of sin. But when we trust Jesus to save us from sin, it’s as though God breathes new, eternal life into an old pile of dust. Jesus makes us alive all over again!” Claire and Levi looked at each other and smiled. “That’s so awesome!” –Angela Jelf How about you? Do you enjoy being creative? Do you like drawing or writing stories? Or perhaps you enjoy building things or making up games. God made us to be creative, but He is the ultimate Creator because He made the universe out of nothing! And He breathes new spiritual life into those who trust in Jesus. Have you received Jesus and the new life He brings? (To learn more, go to https ://www.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV) Genesis 2:7 Today's Key Thought: Only God can create life

Aug 22

Read: 2 Timothy 4:16-18 “Nick, can you come up here and hold this for me?” Mr. Manning asked. Nick’s heart beat faster as he walked to the front of the classroom. He got nervous any time he had to be in front of others. With shaking hands, Nick took the poster his teacher asked him to hold. A minute later, he was sitting on the floor with his teacher in front of him. “Just breathe,” Mr. Manning said. Nick did as he was told and eventually calmed down. When he looked around, he found the classroom empty. “Wait…where did everyone go?” “They went out to recess,” Mr. Manning said. “You can go too.” Nick frowned. Everyone had abandoned him, even his friends. “Hey, are you okay?” A voice came from behind Nick as he headed for the door. Nick turned and saw Alex, a kid he barely knew, using his hands to move his wheelchair up to him. “Why aren’t you at recess?” Alex shrugged. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” “I thought everyone just went out and left me.” Nick sighed. “Thanks for caring.” At church that evening, Pastor John talked about the apostle Paul. “In the book of Second Timothy, Paul writes about a time when everyone abandoned him but God,” Pastor John said. “Have you ever felt like that? All alone? Sometimes we don’t even feel God with us.” Nick thought of how he’d felt at school that day. He had felt completely alone. He hadn’t seen Alex in the corner of the room, and he had felt abandoned. “God is always there,” Pastor John said. “Whether we feel His presence or not, He is always with us.” Nick looked at the stained glass window, the one that showed Jesus hanging out with a group of children. Are you always there, God? he wondered. Even when it feels like everyone has abandoned me? “God never abandons us,” Pastor John said, as if reading Nick’s thoughts. “Jesus died for our sins and rose again so we would never be separated from Him. Even if everyone else abandons us, God is with us and will help us with every problem we face. He also places caring people in our lives—sometimes ones we don’t expect—to remind us we’re not alone.” –Emily Acker How about you? Are there times when you feel alone? Does it ever seem like everyone else has left you behind or doesn’t have time for you? God is there for you, no matter what. Jesus gave His life to save you, and He won’t ever abandon you. He cares about what you’re going through and often shows that care through people He’s put in your life. Trust Him to be with you and help you through everything you face. Today's Key Verse: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV) Deuteronomy 31:8 Today's Key Thought: God never abandons you

Aug 21

Read: Psalm 139:1-5, 13-18; Matthew 10:29-31 “Aunt Vivian, will you help me carry these shells? There are so many I want to take home!” The beauty of the seashells scattered on the beach captivated Gatlin. He had already filled his hands with shells of many colors. Aunt Vivian laughed. “Gatlin, why don’t you pick your favorite shells to take home? We can’t carry them all.” After Gatlin and his aunt strolled back to their beach towels, he dumped the shells in a pile. Together they began sorting out the most interesting ones. “Thanks for taking me on my first trip to the beach, Aunt Vivian,” Gatlin said. Aunt Vivian nodded. “This has been such a fun day. I love being out in God’s wonderful creation.” “I just wish I could take all these shells home. I didn’t know there would be so many!” Gatlin exclaimed. “As many shells as there are, there’s even more sand. And the Bible tells us God’s thoughts toward His children outnumber even the grains of sand,” Aunt Vivian added. “Wow.” Gatlin paused in sifting through the seashells. “God must think about us a lot.” “He sure does. Jesus even told His followers that God knows the number of hairs on our heads!” Gatlin looked out toward the waves and the sun setting over the water. “God must really love us,” he pondered. “I know Jesus came to save us, but I didn’t know He pays that much attention to me.” “He does, Gatlin,” Aunt Vivian answered. “God cares about every single person in this world. He sees everyone and knows their hearts. And as Christians who trust in Jesus, we can have peace knowing that God is always with us and that we matter to Him.” She paused then picked up a peach-colored shell shaped like a heart. “Look at this one!” “Oh!” Gatlin grinned. “I think I’ll keep this one to remember that God knows me and loves me.” “Good.” Aunt Vivian smiled. Then she jumped up from the sandy towel and said, “Race you to the water for one last swim!” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Have you ever wondered if you matter to God? The Bible says you matter to Him so much that He knows the number of hairs on your head. His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand on a beach. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could be His child forever. That’s how much He loves you! When you feel small or unimportant, remember how much God cares for you and thank Him for His love for you. Today's Key Verse: How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! (NIV) Psalm 139:17 Today's Key Thought: You matter to God

Aug 20

Read: Psalm 116:1-7; Philippians 4:4-9 More than an hour after Amelia had gone to bed at her grandparents’ home, she still had not fallen asleep. She tried everything she could think of to relax her mind, but nothing worked. Finally, she slipped out of bed and went to find Grandma. “Grandma, I saw an ad on TV about sleeping pills,” said Amelia. “Do you have any? Can I have some?” “I don’t have any—and I don’t think it would be good for you to take anything like that anyway, Amelia,” said Grandma. Amelia sighed. She thought Grandma might say something like that. “But I just can’t get to sleep,” she said. “You’re probably worried about the divorce hearings tomorrow, aren’t you?” asked Grandma, giving Amelia a hug. Amelia nodded. She felt better just having Grandma close. “It makes me nervous,” she said, wishing she could tell Grandma exactly how she felt. But Amelia couldn’t put her emotions into words. “I’m afraid of what will happen.” “It’s been bothering me too,” Grandma told her. “We need to keep on praying for your mom and dad.” Grandma was silent for a moment, and Amelia guessed their feelings were almost the same. “Sleeping pills might make our bodies go to sleep, but I think there’s an even better medicine for our nerves.” Grandma picked up her Bible and opened it. “I’ll read one of my favorite passages to you. It’s in Philippians, and I think it will help both of us.” As Grandma read out loud, Amelia noticed the Bible verses encouraged her to pray about everything. “Amelia, as your Savior, Jesus promises to be with you in every situation,” Grandma said when she finished reading. “He wants you to trust Him with the things you’re worried about so you can feel His peace—no matter what happens.” Grandma prayed and asked God to quiet their nerves and give them rest. She also prayed for Amelia’s parents. “I think I can go to sleep now,” Amelia said as she hugged Grandma. “Thanks for reading those Bible verses to me. That was good nerve medicine.” Amelia settled back into bed, and even though she was still nervous, she felt better knowing Jesus promised to be with her and give her peace. –Esther M. Bailey How about you? Has something been making you nervous recently? The next time you feel troubled, tell Jesus what’s bothering you. Read some Bible verses that remind you He loves you and is always with you. He gave His life to save you, and you can trust Him to be with you through everything. Ask Him for peace despite the difficulties. If you’re still nervous, talk to a trusted adult about your worries too. Today's Key Verse: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV) Philippians 4:7 Today's Key Thought: Jesus brings you peace

Aug 19

Read: Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Matthew 1:23 “Can I have one of your French fries?” Gavin asked his sister as he snatched one from her plate. “Hey, no! You have your own!” Hailey protested. She put her arm around her plate to defend her food. “But you got the crispier ones!” Gavin held up one of his flimsy French fries. “Our oven hasn’t been cooking evenly. Here, Gavin, I got a few more crispy ones,” Mom said and scraped some of her fries onto Gavin’s plate. “I thought that since we rented this place it meant the landlord had to fix things like that,” Gavin said as he ate another fry. “He does, but he also prioritizes repairs,” Mom explained. “He oversees more than twenty apartments and does most of the repairs himself. Our oven not working is not as important as someone’s broken heater, so we have to wait until the landlord has time to fix it.” Mom got up and put her plate in the sink. She returned with her Bible and took the church prayer list out. Every night they prayed for the people and things on the list together. “God has a lot more people to take care of than our landlord. Is that why we sometimes have to wait for our prayers to be answered?” Hailey asked. “No, that’s not why,” Mom replied. “Unlike our landlord, God is able to immediately do anything we ask. But He doesn’t always answer our prayers right away because His plan is often different from what we think is best. That doesn’t mean He doesn’t hear our prayers. God sees and hears everything because He’s omnipresent.” “Omni-what?” Gavin asked with a puzzled look. “Omnipresent,” Mom repeated. “It means He’s everywhere all the time. Millions of people could pray at the same time, and God would hear them all. But even though He’s everywhere, God is present with Christians in a special way. The Bible calls Jesus ‘Immanuel,’ which means ‘God with us.’ When we put our faith in Jesus, God gives us the Holy Spirit, who will never leave us. Even though God doesn’t always answer our prayers right away or how we want, He promises to be with us through everything.” “I’m thankful God is always with us to help us,” Gavin said. “Let’s pray that He’ll help our landlord fix our oven soon!” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Have you ever wondered how God hears everyone’s prayers all over the world? God isn’t limited to being in one place at one time like we are. He is present everywhere all the time, so He sees, hears, and knows everything. And if you know Jesus as your Savior, you always have God’s presence with you through the Holy Spirit. God hears your prayers, and even if you have to wait for an answer, He is with you. Today's Key Verse: The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. (NKJV) Psalm 145:18 Today's Key Thought: God is with us

Aug 18

Read: Ephesians 1:7-9 Tinkling bells chimed invitingly as the ice cream truck turned onto Cali’s street. Ice cream was one of her favorite treats, but it was just before lunchtime, so she was sure her grandma wouldn’t let her have anything now. But I can still have a little fun with the ice cream truck driver, Cali thought. She yelled loudly to get his attention as he drove by, then ducked behind a bush. The truck stopped, and the man got out expecting to sell something, but no one came to buy. Cali snickered to herself when she saw his puzzled face. “That was unkind,” said Grandma, and Cali jumped in surprise. She had no idea Grandma was watching and had come out. “It was wrong for you to stop that man and make him think he was going to earn some money. Now come with me. You need to apologize.” Grandma led the way to the truck, which had not yet moved on. Under Grandma’s watchful eye, Cali told the driver she was sorry for playing a trick on him. Then Grandma bought an ice cream bar for each of them. Cali felt ashamed when her grandmother held out the treat. “No thanks, Grandma.” “But I bought this for you,” said Grandma. Cali looked at the ground. “I don’t deserve it after what I did.” “That’s true,” said Grandma. “But I want you to have it anyway—it’s a gift from me.” She continued to hold out the ice cream bar. Reluctantly, Cali took the treat and began to eat. It tasted so good and was very refreshing on such a hot day! “Thank you, Grandma,” she said. Grandma smiled. “You’re glad you accepted my gift, aren’t you?” Cali nodded. “I am, even though I don’t deserve it.” “We don’t deserve God’s love and forgiveness either,” said Grandma. “But He offers it to us as a gift—a gift we need to accept. Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin so we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him. But we can’t enjoy that gift until we accept it.” “Just like this ice cream,” said Cali. “I’ve accepted God’s gift, Grandma. I know Jesus has saved me and given me eternal life.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Do you trust Jesus as your Savior? Have you accepted His gift of eternal life? God offers it to everyone, but it has to be received to be enjoyed. You don’t deserve it—no one does. But don’t push it away! Jesus loves you so much that He sacrificed His life to pay for your sins. Accept the undeserved but wonderful gift He offers. (To learn more, go to "Have You Heard the Good News?" ) Today's Key Verse: The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) Romans 6:23 Today's Key Thought: Accept God’s gift

Aug 17

Read: James 3:1-10 “Hey, Dad, do you know what Elise told me?” asked Tenley. Dad put down the book he was reading and smiled. Tenley loved to tell him everything that was going on with her friends at school—even when they were on vacation. “Elise says Aria’s dad was arrested and taken to the police station,” Tenley went on. “He was driving under the influence—that means he was drunk—and he crashed into another car. Elise says he gets drunk every weekend, and he—” “Hold on a minute, Tenley,” said Dad. “How do you know what Elise said is true? And even if it is, should you repeat it? You could hurt Aria’s father badly by saying things like that about him. And I’m sure it would hurt Aria to know you’re telling people about her family’s problems.” “Well, I—” Tenley suddenly stood up and pointed to a nearby campsite. “Dad, look! Over there! Those leaves are on fire!” Dad and Tenley raced over to the campsite, grabbing a couple of wet towels from the line as they went. A hot log had rolled out of an unattended fire, and dry leaves had started to burn. Tenley and Dad stomped and beat the spreading flames until they had the fire out. “That was a close one!” Dad said. “Yeah,” said Tenley. “I wonder where the people are who started the fire.” As they walked back to their own campsite, Dad said, “You know, Tenley, Mom and I love that you like to share ideas and experiences. But when you share information that’s harmful, it’s called gossip. God says the tongue is like a fire, and you saw how fast fire can get out of control. That can happen with words too. What you say can be exaggerated, and it can spread rapidly and hurt others—like Aria and her dad.” Tenley nodded. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’ll be more careful about repeating things I hear.” “Good,” said Dad. “The best way to do that is to trust God to help you speak about others in a loving way. God loves us all so much that He sent Jesus to die for us so we could have eternal life with Him. Trust Him to help you show His love through your words.” –Judith K. Boogaart How about you? Do you speak words that are on fire? Could they get out of control and spread rapidly, causing people to get hurt? If you hear gossip that could burn someone, put it out! Don’t repeat information that may not be true or could embarrass or hurt others. Trust God to help you use the words you say to show love and support for others—even when they’re not there to hear them. Today's Key Verse: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (NIV) Ephesians 4:29 Today's Key Thought: Don’t repeat hurtful words

Aug 16

Read: Psalm 119:9-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “Turn on the radio, Dad,” Kaelyn called from the back of the minivan. “Yeah,” said Brenner. “It’s boring back here. We’ve been driving forever!” Dad glanced at the twins in the rearview mirror. “Sorry, guys,” he said. “I hate to ruin your fun, but I don’t like your music.” Brenner snorted. “What fun? We’re on a three-hour car trip in the middle of nowhere!” “Hey, Brenner,” whispered Kaelyn. “We can be our own radio.” Brenner nodded, and Kaelyn launched into the latest hit. “Hey, you, standing under the lights; come on, we can dance all night…” Brenner joined in the chorus. “Ooooh, it’s a party…” “No thanks,” said Dad. “Okay, how about this?” said Kaelyn. “Money, honey, it’s the thing…” “Fancy cars and diamond rings,” sang Brenner. “Do you two have all the popular songs memorized?” asked Dad. “Yeah,” said Kaelyn. “They run through my head practically all day long.” Dad looked back at the twins. “That reminds me of something I read in the Bible this morning. The apostle Paul tells Timothy how important it is for children to study and memorize the Word of God so you understand all that Jesus has done for you and deepen your faith in Him.” “We study the Bible in church,” said Brenner. “And during family devotions,” added Kaelyn. Dad grinned. “Okay, smarty-pants, how about a quiz? Finish this verse: ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and…’” Kaelyn shot a look at Brenner, and Brenner shrugged. “Try this one,” said Dad. “‘God is our refuge and strength, a…’” Brenner grimaced. “It looks like we’ve got some work to do.” “Reading the Bible and memorizing verses is a great way to keep God’s truth and promises in our thoughts and help us remember who we are in Jesus,” said Dad. “Yeah,” said Kaelyn. “And it’d give me a break from all those pop songs!” Dad smiled. “I know just the verse to start with. ‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.’” Kaelyn and Brenner laughed. “Dad!” –Jennifer Dillard How about you? Have you memorized the lyrics to your favorite song? How about a Bible verse? A memorized Bible verse can remind you that Jesus loves you and is always there to help you. Try memorizing an inspiring Bible verse. When it pops into your head at school, in the car, or during soccer practice, notice how that reminder of Christ’s love improves your whole day. Today's Key Verse: You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. (NLT) 2 Timothy 3:15 Today's Key Thought: Memorize God’s Word

Aug 15

Read: Ephesians 4:1-7; Hebrews 13:15-16 As Dr. Jensen talked about his work as a missionary, Nolan wondered what it would be like to move to a different country to serve God. Dr. Jensen described it as God giving him such a deep love for the people in that country that he had to move there, but Nolan doubted he’d ever be able to make such a big sacrifice, even if God wanted him to. Nolan listened intently as Dr. Jensen told a story about fixing a truck with the help of his sixteen-year-old son, Joel. “We didn’t have the right tools, and Joel came up with one crazy idea after another. Just when we were about to give up, the engine roared to life! We praised God right then and there.” On the way home from church, Nolan brought up the truck story. “It’s too bad they don’t have better tools to work with, isn’t it?” He grinned at his dad. “You should have been there, Dad. You have tools to fix just about anything!” Over the next few days, Nolan often thought about Dr. Jensen’s lack of tools. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to do something to help. I have some money saved up I could use, he thought. But then I won’t have money for a new bike. Nolan tried to forget it, but he couldn’t, so he decided to talk to his dad about it. “Dad, do you think God wants me to buy tools for the missionaries with my bike money? Could I get what they need with the amount I have?” “That’s a great idea, Nolan. I can get tools at discount prices.” Dad beamed. “I think the Holy Spirit is helping you love others like Jesus by putting their needs before your own desires.” Nolan nodded. “Getting a new bike can wait.” As he spoke, Nolan realized he was ready to make a sacrifice to help the missionaries. It’s not as big as moving to a foreign country, he thought. But I think I’m beginning to understand how God can make you care about someone enough that you’re willing to make sacrifices for them. It’s like what Jesus did on the cross for me! He smiled at his dad. “Let’s go pick out some tools!” –Esther M. Bailey How about you? Do you know anyone who’s made a big sacrifice to serve God? Have you ever made a sacrifice to help someone? Jesus loves us so much that He sacrificed His life for us. When we trust in Him, we have the Holy Spirit within us to help us make sacrifices for others out of love. Whether big or small, the sacrifices you make for others show them the love of Jesus. Today's Key Verse: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (NIV) 1 John 3:16 Today's Key Thought: Make sacrifices for others

Aug 14

Read: Psalm 66:1-5; Romans 8:28-29 The Reed family was seated around their picnic table playing a board game when Eliana looked up. “Oh no!” she wailed. “Not again!” Parker groaned. Arthur, their collie, was almost totally covered with cockleburs. “I’m guessing you just had to go chase after a squirrel,” said Parker. “Or was it a rabbit this time?” Eliana sighed. “Dad, why did God create cocklebur plants?” “Well, I don’t know for sure,” said Dad. “But I once heard of another dog that was covered with cockleburs many years ago. While his owner was picking them off, he noticed the small hooks on the burs and how they clung to each other. That gave him an idea that eventually earned him quite a bit of money.” Dad grinned at Eliana. “What holds the strap in place across the top of your sandals?” Eliana pulled one strap loose. “It’s called Velcro.” Dad nodded. “The man who invented it got the idea from those cockleburs. He’s just one of many people who have studied things in nature and then used what they learned to invent or improve things we use in everyday life. God’s wisdom has been discovered in hundreds of the things He created.” Parker slapped at a mosquito. “I’m pretty sure no one has found any use for mosquitoes though,” he said. “Actually, scientists have been studying mosquitoes,” said Mom. “They’ve used what they’ve learned from them to make hypodermic needles less painful.” “Wow, that’s great! I hate getting shots,” said Parker. “And I thought the only good mosquito was a dead one!” “All of creation shows us that we have an awesome God,” Dad said. “Even things like cockleburs and mosquitoes. Those things reflect God’s wisdom too, even if we don’t recognize it at first.” “It’s crazy to me that God gave mosquitoes and cockleburs a purpose,” Eliana said. “It’s the same with things in our lives,” Mom said. “We can always trust God’s wisdom, even with things we don’t understand. He created us and sent Jesus to save us because He has a purpose for us. Even when things happen that don’t make sense to us, we can trust Him.” She looked at Arthur. “All right, let’s get all those burs out of Arthur’s coat before they get tangled in even worse!” –Vera M. Hutchcroft How about you? Do you sometimes wonder why God created things that seem bad? He has a purpose for everything, even when we can’t see what it is. Jesus’s death on the cross seemed awful at first, but it led to the biggest miracle ever—His resurrection! Because of this, we can pray that when we don’t understand God would help us find peace in His wisdom. Today's Key Verse: O Lord, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. (NLV) Psalm 104:24 Today's Key Thought: You have an awesome God

Aug 13

Read: Hebrews 10:19-23 “You can’t trust anyone.” Emma sighed as she walked along the beach with her aunt. “He promised to love my mom forever. And now what? He’s going to leave me and Mom and never see us again?” “I’m sorry,” her aunt said. “I wish things had worked out better.” “He promised he was going to be like a dad to me,” Emma said. “You and your mom have both been hurt twice now,” her aunt said. “It’s terrible, and I’m sorry.” She bent to pick up a shell. “I don’t know what it’s like to have a dad or stepdad leave me, but I know that breakups are difficult. They make it hard to trust.” “I’m never trusting anyone again. Everyone lies. No one stays with you.” Emma’s eyes filled with tears. “How do I even know you’ll stay? How do I trust God anymore?” She kicked at the sand. “You know what? I don’t.” “Emma.” Her aunt dropped the shell and put her arms around her. “Sweetheart…” “I wanted him to stick around!” Emma cried. “Mom was happy when he was with us.” They stood there together, Emma crying and her aunt trying to comfort her, until a loud seagull got their attention and they pulled apart. Emma wiped her eyes. “I don’t know if I can trust God anymore.” Her aunt pointed to the water. “Who made that?” “God,” Emma said. “He made the whole world.” “Right,” her aunt said. “There’s a verse in Psalms that says God made the sea and goes on to say that He is always going to be faithful. Faithful…it’s what a couple promises to be when they get married. But people mess up. God doesn’t ever mess up—He will always be there for you.” “It’s hard to believe that,” Emma said. “I know. But the One who made you and sent His Son to die for you is not going to abandon you. He loves you too much to do that.” Emma bent down and picked up a smooth stone. “I think I’ll keep this to remember what you said—to remember that the God who made the ocean is always going to be faithful.” –Emily Acker How about you? Have the actions of humans such as your parents, teachers, or friends ever caused you to question God? Even if a parent or friend abandons you, God is still going to be with you, no matter what. God created you and loves you, and Jesus died and rose again to save you and give you eternal life with Him. You can trust Him to always be faithful. Today's Key Verse: He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever. (NIV) Psalm 146:6 Today's Key Thought: God is always faithful

Aug 12

Read: John 10:7-10 Ryan lay flat on his back in the cool green grass, watching the fluffy clouds floating across the sky above him. When he glanced over at the tall trellis covered with Grandma’s rambling roses, he noticed it almost reached the small balcony with the slider door that led to the guest bedroom. Ryan scrambled to his feet and darted toward the house. I bet I can climb up to my room, he thought. He put his foot on a low trellis slat, pushed away a few roses, and began to climb. He stretched his arms, caught the balcony railing, and swung himself up. But before he could crawl over the railing, his foot slipped. He screamed, and the big pink roses zipped by as he fell to the ground. “Ryan, can you open your eyes?” asked a faraway voice. “Can you hear me?” Ryan blinked and slowly sat up. “What happened?” he asked. “You had a bad fall,” said Grandpa. “We need to take you to the emergency room to make sure you don’t have a concussion.” After returning from the hospital with a clean bill of health, Ryan felt embarrassed about what he had done. “I wanted to climb onto the balcony to get into my room,” he said. “I thought it would be more fun than just walking in through the door, but it wasn’t fun at all!” After dinner, Grandpa read from the book of John. “Your experience today reminded me of these verses,” he said. “They say Jesus is the door to eternal life. We may think we can get to heaven by going to church, helping neighbors, giving money to charity, taking care of animals—doing all sorts of good things. But just like you couldn’t get into your bedroom by climbing the rose trellis, none of us can get into heaven by doing good things.” “Right,” said Grandma. “We can only get into heaven through Jesus. He is the door. Only He can save us from sin and give us eternal life.” Ryan nodded. “I didn’t use the door when I tried to get into my room today, and that was a disaster. I’m glad I’m going through the door to heaven by trusting in Jesus!” –Lois A. Teufel How about you? Did you know that Jesus is the door—the only way—to heaven? Or are you trying to get there some other way? There is nothing you can do to work your way to heaven. You must simply come through the door. Jesus loves you so much He died to save you from sin so you could spend eternity with Him. Trust Him as your Savior today. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: I am the Door. Anyone who goes in through Me will be saved from the punishment of sin. (NLV) John 10:9 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the door to heaven

Aug 11

Read: Genesis 1:27; 1 Peter 1:18-19 “I don’t get it, Grandpa.” Malik scratched his head as he looked at the painting. “What is it?” “Well, the title is Three Musicians. Try squinting your eyes and tilting your head.” “I think I see a clarinet and a guitar, but the musicians look a little creepy.” “That’s the beauty of art,” said Grandpa. “Everyone sees something different.” Malik and his grandparents were spending the afternoon at an art museum. Malik had never seen so many paintings and sculptures. Hundreds of pieces of artwork hung on walls that stretched on for what seemed like miles. “Which painting is your favorite, Malik?” Grandma asked. “I’m not sure, Grammy. Some of these paintings look like they were painted by a three-year-old. Other paintings look way better than anything I could paint. If I had to pick my favorite, it might be Three Musicians. I like that you have to think about what you’re looking at. How much do you think a painting like that costs?” Grandma shrugged. Grandpa scratched his chin. “I’m sure that painting costs millions of dollars.” “Millions of dollars!” Malik couldn’t believe it. “It doesn’t look that valuable.” Grandpa smiled. “It’s not valuable because of how it looks. It’s valuable because of who made it. Three Musicians was painted by Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest artists of all time. Many people consider it to be one of his masterpieces.” Grandma put her arm around Malik. “Every time I come here I can’t help but think that none of these masterpieces compare to God’s masterpieces.” “God’s masterpieces?” asked Malik. “Where are God’s masterpieces?” Grandma smiled. “Take a look in the mirror.” “Me?” Malik asked. “You got it. The Bible says God made all of us in His image. We’re God’s masterpieces. Our value doesn’t come from how we look, but from who made us.” “That’s right,” Grandpa chimed in. “The Bible also says God paid a high price for us. He sent His Son to die on the cross to save us from sin. Jesus paid for us with His life so we could belong to Him.” Malik took out his phone and snapped a picture of himself with his grandparents. Grandma looked at it and smiled. “Now that’s a masterpiece!” –Jared Hottenstein How about you? Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen something you didn’t like? Maybe you think your nose is too big or your hair is too curly. The next time you find something about your body you wish you could change, remember that God made you, and He doesn’t make mistakes. He made you in His image, and Jesus paid for you with His life. That determines your value—not what you look like. Today's Key Verse: God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body. (ERV) 1 Corinthians 6:20 Today's Key Thought: You are God’s masterpiece

Aug 10

Read: John 15:12-13 “Have you ever heard people use colors to describe their feelings?” Miss Iverson asked her class. Carter waved his hand to make sure she saw it. “Like green with envy?” “How about purple with rage?” Mei said. “Or blue—like when they’re sad.” “All good examples,” Miss Iverson said. “Now, people don’t actually change color, but some animals do. A chameleon, for example, can quickly change its skin color in response to light, temperature, or other things in its environment. Other animals change color to blend in with their surroundings. They do that to defend themselves against enemies.” That evening, Carter told his dad about his day. “People use different colors to describe how they feel, but some animals really do change their color. Isn’t that cool?” “Sure is,” said Dad. “Sounds like you had a good day.” “Pretty good,” replied Carter, but then he frowned. “Hari and I always play together at recess time, but today he acted like he didn’t even know me! He was playing basketball with a bunch of guys when I came up, and he didn’t invite me to play with them or even speak to me. I think he wanted them to think he was cool.” Carter paused. “Hari was a chameleon friend today!” “That’s a good way to describe people who change their behavior toward others depending on the situation,” said Dad. “But I don’t think Hari is the only one who does that. Have you ever done something like that, Carter?” “Well…maybe.” Carter thought of how he treated his little sister differently when his friends came over. “Yeah. I’m not always nice to Layla in front of my friends because I want her to leave us alone.” “Do you remember the verse you learned at church last week?” Dad asked. Carter nodded. “Proverbs 17:17. It says friends should love each other at all times. That kind of friend wouldn’t be like a chameleon.” “No,” said Dad. “That verse describes the kind of friend Jesus is. He shows His love for us all the time, and He wants us to do the same. Trust Him to help you be consistent, loving friend—even when others aren’t.” “Okay.” Carter sighed. “I’ll remember that when I see Hari tomorrow.” –Donna Huisjen How about you? Have you ever had a chameleon friend? Have you been one yourself? It hurts when a friend changes the way they treat you based on where they are or who they’re with. The Bible says a true friend loves at all times. That’s how Jesus loves us, and He wants us to love others the same way. Be a consistent friend and treat others in the same loving way all the time. Today's Key Verse: A friend loves at all times. (NKJV) Proverbs 17:17 Today's Key Thought: Be a consistent friend

Aug 9

Read: Psalm 32:1-5; Matthew 6:9-13 Robin knelt at the foot of her bed and bowed her head to pray. It was hard to focus with her little sister, Jenny, screaming in the bathroom. “No! I don’t want to brush my teeth!” Jenny cried. Mom poked her head into Robin’s room, a tired smile on her face. “Robin, could Jenny and I pray with you? Maybe we can pray that Jenny will want to brush her teeth.” Robin nodded, and her sister raced into the room and sat beside her, suddenly an angel. “Dear Jesus,” Robin said. “Thank You for helping me with my math homework and healing Grandma from her fall. Please bless all my friends and family. Help us have a good night’s sleep. Amen.” “Amen!” Jenny exclaimed. “Robin, did you forget something?” Mom asked. “Oh, right. Jesus, please help Jenny brush her teeth without complaining. Amen.” Mom smiled. “Just one more thing. Do you remember how Jesus taught us how to pray? In addition to thanking God and bringing our needs to Him, we also need to confess our sins.” Robin sighed. “I just don’t see the point in asking Jesus to forgive my sins every single day. I’ll still make mistakes tomorrow.” “Admitting our wrongs is about more than preventing future mistakes,” Mom replied. Jenny tugged on Mom’s sleeve. “Bedtime?” Robin laughed. “Nice try, Jenny. But you have to brush your teeth.” “Why does she need to brush her teeth?” Mom asked Robin. “Because her teeth are dirty and she might get cavities if she waits too long to clean them.” “But her teeth will be dirty again tomorrow,” Mom said. “And every day after that. Maybe the whole thing is pointless.” “It’s still healthier to brush her teeth daily,” Robin said. Then she laughed. “You’re not talking about brushing teeth, are you?” “You caught me,” Mom said. “Confessing our sins reminds us of our need for Jesus and helps us appreciate what He did to save us. Prayer is meant to bring us closer to Jesus in this way.” Robin turned to Jenny. “If I confess my sins to Jesus, will you finally brush your teeth?” Jenny sighed dramatically. “Okay, fine.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Have you ever wondered why you should confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness when you pray? Confessing means to recognize an action or attitude as sin and trust God for forgiveness, knowing that it is because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross that we will be forgiven. Take a moment to confess any sins, trusting that God will forgive you each and every time. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) 1 John 1:9 Today's Key Thought: Confess your sins daily

Aug 8

Read: Psalm 51:1-9 Landon’s eyes widened in horror as his elbow knocked a bottle of paint off the table and it toppled to the floor. Blue paint spread in a growing blob across the kitchen. Landon jumped off his chair and quickly picked up the paint bottle. What am I going to do? he wondered. I’ve got to clean this up before Grandpa and Grandma see it. Landon rushed into the laundry room and grabbed some rags, then ran back to the kitchen and used them to soak up the paint on the floor. A large stain remained behind, so he got a bucket of soapy water and began scrubbing the paint spot. This isn’t going to work! Landon thought frantically. He ran to the sink and began washing his hands. I can’t get the paint off my hands either! He knew he would have to tell his grandparents what had happened. Grandpa frowned when he came in and saw the stain. “Well, I’m glad the floor isn’t carpeted!” he said. “I have some special cleaner in the garage, and I think it will work on this.” Grandpa went to get the cleaner, and soon all trace of the paint was gone. “You know, Landon,” said Grandpa as they washed their hands with the same cleaner they had used on the floor, “maybe we can both learn a good lesson from what just happened.” Landon looked up at him. “Not to fool around with paint in the kitchen, right?” Grandpa smiled. “Well, yes, but I was thinking of an even more important lesson. You couldn’t wash the paint stains away by yourself, could you?” Landon shook his head. “The Bible tells us we’re all stained by sin, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t clean it away ourselves,” Grandpa said as he picked up a towel and dried his hands. “But when Jesus died and rose again, He made it possible for our sins to be washed away.” Landon dried his clean hands too. “I needed you to use your special cleaner on the floor and on my hands,” he said. “And I need Jesus to clean my heart, right?” Grandpa smiled and put his hand on Landon’s shoulder. “That’s exactly right.” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Have your sins been washed away? You can’t clean your heart by being good or doing good things. It won’t work. You need someone to clean it for you—Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make your heart clean and free from the guilt of sin. Ask Him to clean your heart today. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (NKJV) Psalm 51:7 Today's Key Thought: Jesus cleans sin away

Aug 7

Read: Psalm 139:1-10 Malachi waited in the hallway, tapping his foot on the floor. “Almost time…” He didn’t have to wait long. The door to his dad’s office opened, and his dad appeared with his glasses pushed up on the top of his head. “Hi, bud,” Dad said. Malachi grinned and started for the kitchen. He knew his dad would follow him. An hour later, Malachi positioned himself in the hallway again. This time his dad wouldn’t just be getting water but also a snack. He was hoping he might share. “Have you been standing out here all morning?” Dad asked as he stepped out of his office. Malachi shook his head with a grin. “What are you having today? Yogurt? A granola bar?” Dad gave him a sheepish smile. “How did you know I was feeling ready for a snack?” Malachi shrugged. Ever since his dad started working from home, he’d been paying attention and learning his routine. Malachi told his grandma about it that evening when she came to the house so his dad could go to a meeting. “I’ve memorized it all. He does everything at a certain time, even going outside to get a little fresh air.” Grandma smiled. “It shows you care a lot about him for you to memorize his routine so you can see him when he takes little breaks from his work.” Malachi nodded slowly. It did show that, didn’t it? He wanted all the time he could get with his dad. Malachi frowned. “No one cares enough to memorize my routine. I don’t think Dad even knows what time I get up.” “Your dad might not, but someone does,” Grandma said, scooping a homemade brownie onto a plate. “In Psalm 139, we read that God knows every move we make. Not only did He love us enough to send Jesus to save us from sin, but He cares about us enough to pay attention to our daily routines.” “Really?” Malachi asked. “Well, that’s cool.” Grandma nodded. “Your dad loves and cares about you too, Malachi. If you’re feeling lonely, maybe you should talk to him about spending more time together. But when your dad can’t be with you, remember that God is. He knows everything about you and cares about your life. You can always talk to Him.” –Emily Acker How about you? Do you ever feel like no one really cares about you or pays a lot of attention to the things you do? If so, talk to a trusted adult about it so they can help. But know that God cares about you. He knows every detail of your life and wants to hear about everything you’re going through. When it feels like no one cares, tell Him how you feel and trust Him to help you. Today's Key Verse: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. (NKJV) Psalm 33:18 Today's Key Thought: God cares about you

Aug 6

Read: Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 41:10, 13 “Mr. Robinson asked me to give my testimony at our youth group meeting Sunday night,” Olivia told her mother as they walked along a path in the woods. “I’m going to tell him I just can’t do it! I’m too scared!” She pointed toward a nearby hill. “There’s the old fire lookout tower, Mom. Looks like somebody’s on duty there today. Do you think they’ll let us climb it? I’ve never done that.” “Let’s check it out,” said Mom. When they walked over to the tower, Olivia hesitated. “I don’t know,” she said as she looked up at flight after flight of stairs leading to the top of the tower. “It looks scary! I don’t really like being up so high.” “I’ll be behind you to make sure you don’t fall,” Mom assured her. So after they got permission, Olivia and her mother began climbing. The higher they climbed, the scarier it seemed, but Olivia could feel her mom’s presence right behind her. And when they finally reached the top, Olivia was amazed as she looked out over the forest. Brilliant colors from the setting sun clung to clouds on the horizon. It made a spectacular canopy over the trees and hills below. “Wow, this is awesome!” said Olivia. “Was it worth being scared?” Mom asked. “It sure was,” said Olivia. “Besides, even though I was scared, I knew you were with me.” “You know,” said Mom, “if you let fear keep you from giving your testimony, you might miss something as awesome as this view.” “What do you mean?” asked Olivia. “It’s awesome to see what God does when we share how He’s working in our lives with others,” replied Mom. “But what if I get so scared I can’t even talk?” asked Olivia. “I’m not saying you’ll breeze right through it, but just like I was with you and ready to help you on these stairs, God will be with you and help you speak about Jesus and how He’s changed your life. Even if you mess up, He’ll be there to support you and use what you say to bless others.” Olivia hesitated, then nodded. “Okay,” she said. “Even though it’s scary, I’ll trust God to help me.” –Katherine R. Adams How about you? Is there something you believe God wants you to do? Someone you should reach out to or talk to about Jesus? If you feel afraid, remember that God will be with you and help you. He is working in your life so that you can point others to Jesus and help them know He loves them and gave His life to save them. Trust Him to help you serve Him and share His love with others in spite of your fear. Today's Key Verse: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (NLT) 2 Timothy 1:7 Today's Key Thought: Don’t be afraid to serve God

Aug 5

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Javier looked out the window. Rain rattled on the roof, and thunder jolted his eardrums. “Why is it so loud, Mom?” he asked. “The storm is getting closer,” replied Mom. “The reporter on TV said the basement is the safest place in storms like this, so let’s go.” Mom handed Javier a jug of water and a couple of flashlights. “You can carry these,” she said. “I’ll grab some snacks and our emergency pack.” They hurried down the stairs and huddled in a corner of the basement as the wind shook the house. “The wind is so strong,” said Javier nervously. “Yes,” said Mom, “but we’re sheltered from it. And we have snacks and lights and other supplies to keep us comfortable.” She handed him a granola bar. “Thanks—peanut butter’s my favorite!” Javier bit into the bar and chewed thoughtfully. “It’s good to be prepared for storms like this, isn’t it?” “Yes, it is,” said Mom. “Did you know God wants us to also prepare for storms that may come along in life?” “So we’ll be ready for whatever happens to us?” asked Javier. “Exactly. Can you think of ways we can be ready for whatever happens in our lives here on earth?” “Well, we believed what the weather reporter said and came to the basement, and we also need to believe what God says and trust Jesus to save us from sin,” said Javier. “Good,” said Mom. “That’s most important. What else?” "We brought lights,” said Javier. “And the Bible is called a light, isn’t it?” “Yes,” said Mom. “It shows us our need for Jesus and the sacrifice He made to save us, and it shines on our lives so we can follow the path God wants for us as His children. Any more ideas?” “Uh…we brought food and water,” said Javier. “Is that like the Bible too?” Mom nodded. “As we get to know Jesus through what He says in the Bible, He will nourish us spiritually and remind us to trust Him for strength when life brings hard times.” Javier sat up straight. “Hey, Mom, it’s not blowing so hard anymore! Shouldn’t we pray and thank God for protecting us?” “You bet!” said Mom, and together they bowed their heads. –Jaclyn S. Miller How about you? Are you prepared for life’s storms? Everyone experiences hard times in their lives, but you can be ready for them before they come. Do you trust in Jesus? That’s most important. Jesus promises to always be with those who trust in Him and give us strength in tough times. Talk to Him and let Him encourage you and guide you through the light of His Word. When you face hard times, trust Him to help you weather the storm. Today's Key Verse: Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work. (ERV) 2 Timothy 3:17 Today's Key Thought: Prepare for life’s storms

Aug 4

Read: Matthew 6:25-32 "It’s hard to believe you’re already old enough to be in middle school this year, Mateo,” Mom said as they drove home after shopping for school clothes. “Don’t remind me,” Mateo said miserably. “I wish I could stay at my old school forever.” “Why?” asked Mom. “Last year there weren’t any older kids to pick on us,” replied Mateo. “I liked being one of the oldest kids in the school.” “Sounds like you have the middle school blues before you even get there,” said Mom. “Well, this year my class will be the youngest, so we’ll have to deal with all the older kids,” said Mateo. Mom pointed to a little girl on a tricycle crossing the street with her mother. “Remember your tricycle?” she asked. “Why don’t you ride it anymore?” “Ride my tricycle?” asked Mateo in surprise. “That would look weird!” He grinned at the thought. “I’m too big to ride that thing now.” “Remember how you prayed every night for weeks that you could take the training wheels off your first two-wheel bike?” Mom asked as the traffic light turned green and they went through the busy intersection. Mateo laughed. “I remember that. I didn’t want to be a baby forever.” “It seems like you do now,” said Mom. “At least when it comes to school.” Mateo frowned. “School is different.” “Somewhat different,” Mom said as they turned into their driveway. “But in a way, going from your tricycle to a bike with training wheels to a bike without them is a lot like going from elementary to middle school to high school.” Mateo sighed. “I guess.” “And whenever you fell off your tricycle or bike, Dad and I were there to help,” Mom reminded him. “We’re still here to help you—we’ll support you and pray for you every day. And you should pray too! Give your worries to Jesus, and trust Him to help you deal with new situations. Even though middle school seems scary, He promises to be with you and use this new phase of your life to help you grow in your relationship with Him. Trust Him to help you one day at a time, and enjoy today!” –Ruth McQuilkin How about you? Do you worry about going to a new school or moving to a new place? Do you wonder how things will turn out even further down the road—like finding a job or getting married? It’s good to pray about future events in your life, but don’t worry about them. Trust Jesus to guide you through the years ahead and help you through whatever changes you face. Then enjoy life with Him today! Today's Key Verse: Do not worry about tomorrow. (NKJV) Matthew 6:34 Today's Key Thought: Give worries to Jesus and enjoy today

Aug 3

Read: Proverbs 18:24; Philippians 2:3-8 Luke sat in the pew and stared off into space as his parents talked to some friends nearby. His stomach growled loudly, and he hoped his family would leave soon. “What are you doing sitting here by yourself?” Luke looked up as Mr. Bryant sat down in the pew in front of him. “Nothing,” Luke said with a smile. He liked talking to Mr. Bryant. “Why don’t you go talk to someone?” Mr. Bryant asked. Luke shrugged. “I don’t have any friends here,” he said. “What do you mean you don’t have friends?” Mr. Bryant looked around the church. “I bet the kids over there are your age.” He pointed to someone up front. “And I know he’s your age!” Luke looked and saw that Mr. Bryant was pointing to his grandson standing by the piano. “It’s just—it’s hard to know what to say to other kids,” he told Mr. Bryant. “I don’t mind being by myself.” Mr. Bryant cleared his throat. “Remember when you first started coming to church here with your family? I totally ignored you, and that’s how we became friends, right?” Luke laughed. “No! You were one of the first people to say hello, and we talk all the time now.” Mr. Bryant nodded and leaned his arm on top of the pew. “Listen, Luke. You want friends, don’t you?” Luke nodded. “Well,” Mr. Bryant said, “to have friends, you have to be friendly and take an interest in others. You have to go right up and introduce yourself, like I did when I first met you.” “But it’s hard,” Luke said. “So’s math,” said Mr. Bryant with a grin. “But you don’t have to do it on your own. Jesus is the greatest Friend there is—He became one of us and died to save us so we could be His friends forever! With His help, I think you’ll make one of those friends the Bible talks about—one that sticks closer than a brother.” Luke thought about that and smiled. “I guess that’d be cool.” Mr. Bryant leaned over and gave Luke a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Now you’re talking.” He looked at his watch and got up. “See you later, Luke.” He jerked his thumb toward his grandson. “Now go say hello.” –Katlyn Traxler How about you? Do you need a friend? Trying to make friends can be scary, but it gets easier the more you practice. Trust Jesus to help you be the kind of friend He is—one who cares about others and takes an interest in their lives. Ask Him to give you the courage to reach out to those around you and be friendly. Just saying hello to someone new could be the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Today's Key Verse: A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV) Proverbs 18:24 Today's Key Thought: Be a friend

Aug 2

Read: Psalm 130:5-7 "It felt like forever before it was Daisy’s turn to ride the swinging ship. She watched the line slowly move forward each time a new group got on the ride. Finally, it was her turn! “Ready?” Dad grinned. “More than ready!” Daisy hurried to find a seat. The ride was just as fun as she expected, and she screamed each time it went down. Her stomach flip-flopped a little, but she still loved it. “Can we go again?” Daisy asked as soon as they were finished. Dad pointed toward the line. “It’s still long.” “I don’t mind,” Daisy said. Now that she knew how fun the ride was, she could wait forever. “You’re sure you wouldn’t rather ride something else?” Dad asked, pointing toward a shorter line. Daisy quickly shook her head. Dad smiled and led her to the end of the long line. “Some things are worth waiting for, huh?” “Yeah,” Daisy said. Dad put his hand on her shoulder. “As you get older, you’ll realize other things are worth waiting for too. Sometimes we have to be patient to get something good.” “Like a ride on a swinging ship?” Daisy asked. “And things even better than that,” Dad said as they slowly moved forward in line. “God has good plans for you, Daisy. He loves you so much He sent Jesus to save you from sin and give you eternal life! You can trust Him to bring good things into your life at the right time. Be patient as you wait for Him to show you what they are.” “What kind of things?” asked Daisy. “Well, for example, it took a while for me to figure out God was calling me to be a pastor. Waiting for Him to lead me where He wanted me to go wasn’t easy, but it helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus.” Dad smiled. “You can trust God to lead you in what’s best for your life too.” Daisy nodded. The line didn’t seem so bad when her dad was talking, and she knew how much fun she was going to have at the end. She was glad she could trust God to help her be patient and wait for the good things He had planned for her too. –Bethany Acker How about you? Do you ever get impatient? Think of something you know is worth waiting for—like a fun ride or cookies baking in the oven. The good things God has planned for you are worth the wait too. He loves you so much that Jesus died and rose again to save you, and He has good plans for you. Be patient as you wait for Him to show them to you. Today's Key Verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) Jeremiah 29:11 Today's Key Thought: Wait patiently for God’s plan

Aug 1

Read: Proverbs 6:20-23; 1 John 1:6-7 "Whoo, whoo, whoooo!" Kaylee heard the soft hoot of an owl floating through the still night air as she and her dad walked along a narrow path on their way to see the moon rise over the lake. An owl! she thought. She shined her flashlight toward the treetops, hoping to get a glimpse of the bird, but she couldn’t see anything. As she looked straight up and searched the branches, her foot caught on a root sticking up from the path, and she fell down hard. “Kaylee, are you all right?” Dad hurried to help her up. “What happened?” “I tripped on a root,” said Kaylee, getting up and brushing herself off. “I was pointing my flashlight up at the trees to see if I could find the owl. I guess I should have kept my light on the path.” “Yeah, I guess so,” said Dad with a smile. They continued their walk and soon reached the beach. The lake was calm and glassy, and a beautiful silver path led to the moon hanging low over the dark water. They stood and enjoyed the scene in silence for a while. “Well, we’d better head back,” Dad finally said. “Be sure to keep your light on the path this time.” “I will!” Kaylee assured him. “I’ve learned my lesson. That owl can hoot all he wants—I’m gonna watch where I’m going!” “I’ve been thinking about a verse in Psalms—one that says God’s Word is a light for our path,” Dad said as they started back. “If we forget to shine the light of God’s Word on our lives, it can cause us to trip and fall in our walk with Jesus.” “That would be worse than the fall I took, wouldn’t it?” said Kaylee. Dad nodded. “Jesus is our light in this dark world—He saved us and promises us eternal life with Him. That’s why we need to let His truth light our way and guide us in how we live. And when we trip and fall into sin, the Bible says Jesus will always forgive us when we confess our wrongs.” Kaylee smiled. “I’ll listen to what God says in the Bible so His light will shine on my path—just like this flashlight!” –Judith K. Boogaart How about you? Do you take time to read your Bible? Do you listen when others teach about it and ask them to explain things you don’t understand? As you study God’s Word in your walk with Jesus, it will remind you that you belong to Him and show you how He wants you to turn from sin and love others. Keep reading and listening to what He says in the Bible so His light can shine on the path of your life. Today's Key Verse Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NKJV) Psalm 119:105 Today's Key Thought Let God’s truth light your way

Jul 31

Read: Isaiah 41:8-10; John 14:16-17 Evelyn peeked through the blinds of her bedroom window at the SOLD! sign on her front lawn. She turned back to the sea of boxes surrounding her as a tear slipped from her eye and landed with a wet splat on the cardboard. I can’t decide if I want my butterfly pillow at Mom’s apartment or Dad’s house, she thought. With a big sigh, she threw it into the box marked Mom along with some other toys and books. Evelyn’s mom knocked on her door. “Evelyn, is everything okay in there? You need to be finished packing by lunchtime.” When Evelyn didn’t answer, Mom opened the door and found her silently crying over the open box. “What is it?” Mom asked, wrapping her tightly in a hug. “I can’t decide if I want my butterfly pillow at your apartment or Dad’s house. I need it to fall asleep,” Evelyn said, wiping her eyes. “Why do we have to sell our house and move into two separate places? I want my pillow with me every night! And I want you and Dad with me every night too.” “I’m so sorry our divorce has hurt you so badly, Evelyn,” Mom said, rubbing her arm. “We both love you very much, even when we’re not with you. And the good news is you can take your pillow to Dad’s house and then bring it back to my apartment. Your pillow can go everywhere with you. You never have to leave it behind.” Mom picked up Evelyn’s Bible from the open cardboard box. “Just like God promised us in the Bible that He would never leave us. When you trusted in Jesus, God gave you the Holy Spirit to help you, comfort you, and guide you. He is always with you, Evelyn, even when Dad and I are not.” Mom gently placed Evelyn’s butterfly pillow and Bible into her backpack. “How about we keep these two special things in your bag so they’re easy to take back and forth between my apartment and Dad’s house?” Evelyn glanced out the window again at the sign in her yard. “Okay,” she said. “I guess I can give it a try.” –Nicole Kraayenbrink How about you? Have you experienced the pain and feelings of abandonment that divorce brings? Maybe your own parents are divorced, or an aunt and uncle, or perhaps a friend’s mom and dad. Even when it feels like someone in your life has left you behind, remember that God will never leave you. He cares about you and will always be with you wherever you are. Today's Key Verse The Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. (CSB) Deuteronomy 31:6 Today's Key Thought God will never leave you

Jul 30

Read: Matthew 2:1-2; Luke 2:1-16 Visit our store and enjoy Christmas every day of the year!” Georgia read the billboard out loud as she and her family traveled home from a weeklong vacation. “Cool!” she said. “That’s in the town at the next exit, isn’t it? Can we stop at that store?” Dad shrugged. “Why not? We could use a break from driving. Watch for signs so we’ll know where to turn.” They found the store, and everyone smiled when they heard “Jingle Bells” playing over the loudspeaker as they walked in. The store was filled with all kinds of Christmas decorations—ornaments, trees, twinkling lights, and wreaths. In one corner, a woman was handing out decorated Christmas cookies. As Georgia and her parents ate their cookies, they wandered over to a large manger scene. The animals looked so real, Georgia could almost imagine she was in Bethlehem. As she thought about the events of that night long ago, she imagined Mary putting baby Jesus in a manger with all the sounds and smells of animals around them. She thought about the angels singing, the shepherds running to the stable to see Jesus, and the wise men traveling from far away to worship the new King. “Come on, Georgia,” said Mom, interrupting her daydreams. “Time to be on our way.” Georgia continued thinking about the manger scene on the drive home. “I wish we could celebrate Christmas all year long like they do at that store,” she said. “We can!” said Dad. “What is Christmas, Georgia?” “It’s the time when we remember Jesus being born,” Georgia replied. “Exactly!” said Dad. “The night God sent His Son to earth as one of us so He could save us from sin. Don’t you think that’s something we should celebrate all year long?” “Well, sure,” said Georgia. “We should thank God every day for sending Jesus, shouldn’t we?” She grinned. “So can we put up the Christmas tree when we get home?” Mom laughed and shook her head. “We’ll save that for December,” she said. “We can remember God’s gift of Jesus and the meaning of Christmas without the tree.” –Linda Weddle How about you? Are you thankful every day for God’s amazing gift? He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a human being to take the punishment for your sin so you could have eternal life with Him. There’s no better gift than that! Don’t wait until December to thank God for His great gift. Jesus is the reason to celebrate Christmas all year long! Today's Key Verse Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NKJV) 2 Corinthians 9:15 Today's Key Thought Think of God’s gift all year long

Jul 29

Read: Exodus 20:3-17; Galatians 3:19-22 Graham set a large birthday present on his knees and shut the car door. Mom fastened her seat belt and turned to Graham. “You don’t have your seat belt on.” “I can’t reach it while I’m holding this present,” said Graham. “It’s only two blocks to Cameron’s house, so I don’t need it anyway.” “Oh yes, you do! A lot of accidents happen close to home, and a seat belt could save your life. Here, let me help you.” Mom reached over and buckled his seat belt. “There. Now we can go.” She started the car. “Seat belts were put in cars to protect us. And don’t forget—the law says we have to use them.” “The law,” repeated Graham. “That sounds like something we talked about in church—God’s law. God gave us rules like the Ten Commandments to protect us and help us live good lives, but no one could obey them, so that’s why Jesus had to die for us. Or something like that—I didn’t understand all of it.” Just then a ball bounced into the street in front of them. Mom hit the brakes and the car screeched to a stop—inches away from a little boy who had dashed after the ball. Graham lurched forward, but his seat belt tightened, holding him back. The little boy grabbed the ball and ran back into his yard. “If you hadn’t made me wear my seat belt, I would have smashed right into the dashboard!” said Graham. Mom nodded and started driving again. “Good thing you obeyed the law and had your seat belt on. But were you able to buckle it yourself?” “No,” said Graham. “I was holding Cameron’s present, so you had to buckle it for me.” “And that’s what Jesus does for us,” said Mom. “Sin is like that present you’re holding—it makes us unable to obey God’s law. None of us is good enough to have eternal life with God. That’s why Jesus had to pay for our sin on the cross. When we trust in Him, He buckles His goodness around us like a seat belt and saves us!” “Oh—I get it now!” Graham smiled. “Thanks for buckling my seat belt, Mom—you saved me! And I’m thankful Jesus saved me too.” –Eunice C. Matchett How about you? Do you always wear your seat belt? Seat belts save lives—that’s why a lot of places have laws that require you to use them. Jesus saves lives too. Because of sin, none of us can obey God’s law, so Jesus lived a perfect life and died to take our punishment. Trust Him to save you and give you His goodness so you can live with Him forever. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse Adam did not obey God, and many people become sinners through him. Christ obeyed God and makes many people right with Himself. (NLV) Romans 5:19 Today's Key Thought Jesus saves lives

Jul 28

Read: Psalm 56:3-4, 8-11 Nico grinned as his sister lay back on her inflatable raft. “I’m going to pop your float,” he told her. “You’ll sink.” Maya smiled, unfazed. “My life jacket will hold me up.” “What if I take the life jacket?” Nico asked. Maya shrugged. “It still won’t matter. This is the shallow end, and the water only reaches up to my waist.” “Well then, maybe I’ll just pick you up and dunk you under,” said Nico. Maya grinned and pointed to Mom sitting at the side of the pool. “With Mom there, I’ll be just fine.” A while later, Mom’s phone rang. “Time to go inside, kids,” she said after she hung up. “I need to go pick Dad up from work. He just called to say he feels really sick, so I’m going to take him to the emergency room.” Maya and Nico gave each other worried looks. “Okay, Mom,” Nico said. Mom was gone quite a while, and when she returned home, Dad wasn’t with her. “What’s wrong with Dad?” asked Maya anxiously. “We don’t know for sure yet, but they admitted him as a patient at the hospital,” replied Mom. “Hopefully it’s nothing serious.” Nico felt nervous too. “What if it is really serious?” he asked. “Aren’t you scared, Mom?” “Of course I am,” said Mom. “But I’m thankful to know that God is in control and no matter what happens, Dad—and each of us—will be okay because we’re in God’s hands. We’ll pray for Dad, and we need to trust God to take care of him.” “But what if something’s really wrong with Dad?” asked Nico. “How could that ever be okay?” “Earlier today I heard you teasing your sister in the pool,” Mom told him. “But Maya knew that no matter what you did, she’d be okay because I was there and would take care of her. Well, we can have absolute confidence that no matter what happens, we’ll be okay because Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. He will always be with us and take care of us—even if the worst were to happen. We’re safe in His hands.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Has something happened that makes you feel sad or scared? Is someone you love sick? Has a parent lost a job? Did your parents get divorced? Whatever your troubles are, Jesus knows all about them. He loves you so much that He gave His life to save you, and He’s right there with you. Trust Him to watch over you, no matter what happens. Today's Key Verse Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (NKJV) Psalm 56:3 Today's Key Thought Trust Jesus to care for you

Jul 27

Read: Psalm 32:1-5 "Ouch!” cried Wren as she climbed into the tree house her dad was building. Dad stopped hammering and raised his brow. “I hurt my finger,” Wren said. “Let me take a look.” Dad put his hammer down and studied her finger. “You’ve got a sliver, but don’t worry, I’m an expert sliver remover! Just as soon as I’m finished here, I’ll take it out.” Wren squirmed. “It’s okay. It’s not that big. I’ll just leave it.” “Not a good idea,” said Dad, digging through his toolbox. He frowned. “That’s strange. My tape measure isn’t in here. Well, I can work without it for now.” “Tape measure?” Wren asked, suddenly feeling guilty. And as the afternoon wore on, she felt more and more guilty. She knew what had happened to the tape measure. “Dad, this sliver really hurts,” Wren said that evening. “I think I need help from an expert sliver remover after all.” “Oh, that’s right—I forgot about your sliver!” Dad got out the tweezers. “Slivers don’t go away on their own.” Wren winced as he pricked her skin. “There,” Dad said. “It’s out.” Wren looked at the tiny fleck Dad was holding. “I can’t believe something that small could hurt so bad,” she said. “This little sliver reminds me of what we call ‘little’ sins,” said Dad. “We think they don’t really amount to much and shouldn’t hurt anybody. But if we’re sensitive to how Jesus wants us to love others, they cause us grief until we confess them and get them removed. We could call them sin slivers.” Wren sighed. “Dad, I…” She hesitated. “I need another sliver removed—a sin sliver that’s been bothering me all day. I took your tape measure. I know I’m not supposed to go in your toolbox, but I used it to take measurements for a treasure map, and then I lost it in the woods. I’m sorry. I should have told you right away.” “So that’s where it went!” said Dad. “Well, I’ll have to get another tape measure, but at least I won’t be hunting for that one anymore. I’m glad you told me, and I forgive you. Even better—Jesus promises to forgive the sins we confess too.” –Jody Hedlund How about you? Is there a nagging sin you need to confess? Maybe you fibbed to your parents or bent the rules to win a game. It may not have seemed like a big deal at the time, but any sin, no matter how big or small it seems, hurts both you and others. Don’t wait any longer. Confess your sin to Jesus and to anyone else you’ve sinned against and ask for forgiveness. Today's Key Verse People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (NLT) Proverbs 28:13 Today's Key Thought All sin hurts you—confess it

Jul 26

Read: Ephesians 5:8-20 The girls in Cabin 9 were walking down the path to the campfire at Bible camp when Gabby pointed up at the sky. “Look at the moon tonight! Yesterday there was no moonlight at all in the sky, but today there is a bright sliver of light.” Her counselor, Jami, nodded. “It has started to reflect the sun’s light, and tomorrow it will reflect more light and keep growing until it’s a full moon.” They reached the campfire and found their seats. They sang silly songs and laughed as they roasted marshmallows, then listened as the camp director told them about Jesus. A warm feeling filled Gabby as she listened to the director speak. She suddenly knew that she wanted to trust in Jesus. She moved a little closer to Jami and asked her to pray with her to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins. Jami gave her a hug as they knelt down to pray. Later that night, as they walked back to the cabin, Jami smiled and pointed up at the moon. “Gabby, now that you trust in Jesus, your faith is like that moon. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, our lives reflect the love of Jesus. Yesterday, like the moon, you had no light, but today God’s love and goodness have started to shine through you.” Gabby stared up at the moon. “I’m so excited to have Jesus in my life, but what do I do when I get home?” she asked. “As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, His light will grow inside you,” said Jami. “Just as a crescent moon grows into a bright full moon, you’ll begin to reflect Him more and more. When you get home, keep getting to know Jesus better and learning more about Him. Go to church and spend time with other Christians, and read your Bible and pray every day. As your faith and understanding grow, you’ll become more like Jesus and reflect more of His light, just like that moon.” Gabby pondered Jami’s words. “Wow,” she said. “I can’t wait to get to know Jesus even better! And now that I know Him, I know He’ll be with me and help me shine every day.” –Bethany Den Boer How about you? Have you recently decided to trust in Jesus? Do you wonder what you’re supposed to do now? Now that your sins are forgiven and you belong to Jesus, He will make His light inside you grow. As you grow in your relationship with Him, He will help you follow Him in all you do, and others will be able to see His light shining in your life. Today's Key Verse But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) 2 Peter 3:18 Today's Key Thought Keep growing in your faith

Jul 25

Read: Romans 12:6-8 I heard the kids’ choir at church is holding auditions next week,” Mom said as Milo set the table for dinner. “Why don’t you try out? I know how much you love to sing, and they could sure use you.” Milo shrugged. “I’m sure those kids are way better than me, so why bother? I’ll just stick to singing in the shower.” “I found out more about badgers!” Anna announced when they sat down to dinner. “Have you ever heard of a honey badger?” “No, but I’m guessing it’s called a honey badger because it likes honey,” said Milo. “Right!” said Anna. “The honey badger has a bird friend called a honeyguide. When the honeyguide finds a beehive full of honey, it leads the way to it. Then the honey badger uses its claws to break open the hive and eat the honey.” “Does the honeyguide get some of the honey too?” asked Milo. Anna shook her head. “Well, that doesn’t seem fair!” said Milo. “The honey badger should share the honey.” “But the honeyguide doesn’t want the honey,” said Anna. “It wants the beeswax and the bees’ eggs and larvae in the honeycomb, and that’s what the honey badger leaves behind.” “Interesting,” said Dad. “So each one helps the other, and by helping each other they both benefit.” “You know, we’re supposed to do the same thing as Christians,” said Mom. “Just like the bird is able to locate honey and the honey badger has claws to open the hive, God has blessed us with different talents and abilities. He wants us to use them to help others and point them to Jesus. When we keep our gifts to ourselves instead of sharing them with others, everyone misses out—both us and the people who would have benefited from them.” Milo sighed. “You’re talking about me trying out for the kids’ choir, aren’t you?” He put down his fork. “Okay, maybe I’ll give it a try—I wouldn’t want to keep a gift God gave me all to myself when I could use it to help others. I might make new friends and learn more about music too. That sounds better than just singing in the shower!” –Tanya Ferdinandusz How about you? What special talents, skills, or abilities has God given you? Are you using them to help others and point them to Jesus—or are you keeping them all to yourself? God gave you those gifts so you could use them to bless others—and they have gifts that you’ll benefit from too! Share your gifts so they can help others and bring glory to God. Today's Key Verse Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (NIV) 1 Peter 4:10 Today's Key Thought Use your gifts to help others

Jul 24

Read: Romans 12:9-18 "What are you reading about?” asked Anna as she peered over her brother’s shoulder to see what was on his computer screen. “Oh, look at that little animal! He’s so cute!” “Stop saying everything is cute!” said Milo. “That’s a badger, and badgers are interesting, not cute!” Anna sniffed. “Well, I think that badger is cute. What do you find so interesting about it?” “Well, this article says that when badgers make their homes underground, they dig dens that are interconnected by a whole maze of burrows and passages. I think that’s pretty cool!” “That is cool,” said Anna. “That means they can visit each other without having to go above ground.” Milo nodded. “And it says badgers are nocturnal animals, which means—” “I know what it means,” said Anna. “It means they’re awake at night and sleep during the day.” “Right. And listen to this. ‘If a badger is away from home at daybreak, he may stay and rest with another badger family for a while before heading back to his own den.’ They must be hospitable animals.” “Hospitable? What does that mean?” asked Anna. “You know—making guests feel comfortable and at home,” said Milo. “Oh! Like how we took care of the missionaries who stayed with us last month.” Anna laughed. “Maybe the traveling badgers are missionary badgers!” “Listen to this,” said Milo. “Badgers sometimes even allow a fox to stay in their den!” “Hmm,” said Anna. “I can’t think of anything to compare that to!” “I can,” said Milo. “It might be like inviting someone you don’t know very well to come over and play—like those new kids who just moved in down the street.” Milo glanced out the window thoughtfully. “In my class at church, we talked about how being kind and welcoming to others shows them Jesus’s love. He welcomed us into His family when we were outsiders, and He wants us to welcome others and help them feel at home. We even learned a verse that says to practice hospitality.” “Let’s ask Mom if we can invite the new kids over,” said Anna. She grinned and pointed toward the TV room. “I’m sure we can make them feel at home in our den!” –Tanya Ferdinandusz How about you? Are you hospitable? Do you make others feel welcome—whether they’re your friends or someone you don’t know well? The Bible tells Christians to be hospitable and welcoming to others—even those we don’t know—because Jesus welcomed us when we didn’t know Him. Share His love with others by making everyone feel welcome at your home, school, church, or wherever you are. Today's Key Verse Always be eager to practice hospitality. (NLT) Romans 12:13 Today's Key Thought Practice hospitality

Jul 23

Read: Matthew 14:13-21; Ephesians 2:1-7 When Emma came into the living room, tears were falling from Mom’s eyes onto her lap. Dad sat next to her with a hand on her shoulder. “It’s Grandma,” he told Emma. “She died in the hospital this morning.” Emma stared out the window. With Grandma gone, who’d come visit every month? Who’d cook her favorite foods, or go on bike rides and picnics with her? A few days later Mom, Dad, and Emma made the long drive to the funeral. Emma tried to listen during the service. The pastor said, “Ephesians 2:6-7 tells us that God raises us up with Jesus—He gives us spiritual life as well as the promise of physical resurrection when He comes again—so that we will forever show ‘the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’” After the service Mom didn’t seem as sad while she visited with her sisters. Emma felt like something was missing, and her heart ached. On their drive home, they stopped at a restaurant. Emma saw something strange on the menu. She asked, “What do they mean by ‘bottomless cup of coffee?’ That sounds messy.” Dad laughed a little, and even Mom smiled. “That means they’ll keep filling your cup as long as you want more coffee,” Dad explained. Mom added, “It’s like when Jesus fed the five thousand. He fed people until they were full. Then He gave even more. There’s no end to how much He gives us and does for us.” Dad said, “It’s that way for your grandma now. God will spend all eternity showing kindness to her in heaven.” “But what about us, Dad? I don’t feel full. I feel kind of empty.” “We lost a great treasure in Grandma, and that can make us feel poor instead of rich. But God will never run out of mercy and kindness. He’s rich in both of those—and generous.” Mom nodded. “God gave us the greatest treasure of all when He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save us so we could be with Him now and forever. Jesus promises to be with us when we feel sad and give us comfort and peace.” Emma smiled. “It’s like a bottomless cup of His love.” –Laura Roesler How about you? Do you miss someone who was dear to you? The word dear means valuable, such as treasure or riches. When you lose someone, it can make you feel poor instead of rich. But God is rich in mercy. He knows how to care for those who are dear to us, and He knows how to comfort us whenever we miss them. Trust Him to show you the riches of His kindness and mercy as you grieve. Today's Key Verse The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (NKJV) Romans 10:12 Today's Key Thought God’s mercy and kindness are endless

Jul 22

Read: Matthew 19:26; Luke 6:45; James 3:7-10 "Mom,” said Noah, “Rexy had an accident on the welcome mat again.” Mom made her way to the front door and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what to do with that dog. He chews up everything in the house. He barks at the garbage truck. He digs under the fence. He’s out of control. I don’t think anyone can tame that tiny Chihuahua. Would one of you boys please take Rexy for a walk?” “It’s Noah’s turn.” Micah tossed the leash to his brother. “My turn? I just gave him a bath last night!” “That wasn’t a bath. You just sprayed some of Dad’s cologne on him!” “Well, you should use some of that cologne because you smell worse than the dog!” Mom sighed. “Don’t you boys ever get tired of arguing? I think Rexy acts so crazy because he’s watching how you two act.” “Oh, come on, Mom. We don’t bark at the mailman,” Noah said. “Yeah,” said Micah, “and it’s not like we punch each other or anything.” “You punch each other with words. The way you talk to each other is just as out of control as Rexy. The Bible says people are able to tame all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue.” “So if the Bible is saying we have a better chance of taming Rexy than controlling what we say, why even try?” asked Noah. “Because taming our tongues is important,” said Mom. “They may be small things, but they can cause huge destruction.” Micah laughed. “That sounds a lot like Rexy!” “The Bible also says that the words we speak come from our hearts,” Mom continued. “If we need to change our words, it means our hearts need to change. And we can’t change them ourselves.” Noah thought about that. “You mean Jesus has to help us, right?” “Right,” said Mom. “Only He can change your heart and help you love others the way He does. Taming the tongue is only possible with Him.” Mom walked over to the puddle on the welcome mat and sighed. “At this point, I think God’s the only one who can change Rexy as well.” Micah smiled. “Well, the Bible does say that with God, all things are pawsible!” –Jared Hottenstein How about you? Have you ever been hurt by someone’s words? Have you ever hurt someone by what you said to them? Words are powerful things, and it’s important to use them to build others up, not tear them down. The next time you want to say something hurtful, remember how much Jesus loves that person. Then trust Him to change your heart and help you love them too. Today's Key Verse Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (NIV) James 3:10 Today's Key Thought Jesus changes hearts

Jul 21

Read: Psalm 89:8, 11-13 Journey and Elise ran to the garage where their dad was working. “Mom says we’re going to have a picnic at the park!” said Journey. “Can we go soon?” “We want to have time to play on the swings before we eat!” added Elise. “Okay,” said Dad. “But before we go, I need to wash the car.” “Why bother?” asked Elise. “It’s old.” “You’re right. It is old,” Dad replied. “But it’s the only car we have—and God calls us to take care of everything we’ve been given. You can help. Then it will get done quicker.” The girls reluctantly got busy. Journey mixed soap into a bucket of water while Elise got out sponges and Dad pulled out the hose. They washed and polished the car until it shone brightly. “There!” Dad said. “It looks almost as good as new.” Soon they were on their way. At the park, Dad pushed Journey and Elise on the swings, and the girls also had fun on the slides and other playground equipment. Then Mom called for them to come and eat. “It’s so beautiful here,” Mom said as they ate. “The trees and sky and flowers are so pretty.” When they had finished eating, Journey and Elise carried the trash to a garbage can. “Thanks, girls,” Dad said when they got back. “Though I see some of the stuff fell on the ground when you were walking over and you left it. That’s no way to treat this old planet! Go back and pick it up.” “Old planet?” asked Journey. Dad nodded. “Just like our old car, this old planet is the only one we have to live on, and God wants us to take good care of it. This may be an old planet, but it’s also a wonderful, amazing, beautiful planet—and Jesus promises to make it new again one day when He comes back to get rid of sin forever and restore all creation to the way He intended it to be. Until then, we need to be good stewards and take care of the planet He created for us.” “Okay, Dad,” Elise said, and the girls hurried back to pick up their trash. –Daryl B. Knauer How about you? Do you do all you can to take care of this old planet? God gave you this beautiful world to be your earthly home, and He wants you to do your part in keeping it that way. Caring for things in nature, recycling, and putting trash in garbage cans are all ways you can help take care of the earth. Think of some other simple things you can do to help keep God’s creation clean and beautiful. Today's Key Verse The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (NIV) Psalm 24:1 Today's Key Thought Take care of God’s earth

Jul 20

Read: Galatians 5:22-26 "Just do it,” coaxed Henry. “She’ll never know it was you.” Henry was trying to get his classmate Niam to put a whoopee cushion on their teacher’s chair. “Come on, it will be hilarious!” “Okay,” said Niam. But when Mrs. Mills sat down and her face turned red, it didn’t seem so funny after all. Later that day, Henry talked some classmates into putting petroleum jelly on all the door knobs in the classroom. But when Mrs. Mills couldn’t open the door for recess, she frowned and announced they would be staying inside. At the end of the day, Henry was instructed to go to the principal’s office instead of the bus line. When he arrived, both of his parents were there. They didn’t look happy. No one spoke on the drive home. When they pulled into the driveway, Dad turned off the engine and told Henry to go get a can of white paint. Henry didn’t know what Dad was up to, but he did as he was told. “Let’s open this up and see how much we have,” said Dad. They pried off the rusty lid and peered inside. It looked okay. “We have to stir it,” said Dad. “It’s been sitting a while.” As Henry stirred vigorously, chunks of old, rubbery paint and rust began dotting the surface. The harder he stirred, the worse it got. “All this stirring is making it worse!” Henry exclaimed. “When you stir old paint, it loosens all the impurities in the can,” Dad explained. “Kind of like how you’ve been stirring things up at school.” Henry stopped stirring the paint and sighed. “I was just trying to have some fun.” “Yes, but at the expense of others. When you ask your classmates to do things that embarrass or hurt others, you’re encouraging them to sin. The Bible tells us to stir up love and good works, but you can’t do that by only thinking of yourself—just like you can’t stir up good paint from this old can. You need to depend on Jesus to help you stir up love and encourage others to do good things instead.” “I guess you’re right.” Henry took the stirring stick out of the can. “I’ll be more careful about what I stir up.” –Laura Kuehn How about you? Do you like to stir things up? There’s nothing wrong with having fun, but it can’t be at the cost of upsetting a friend or teacher or getting other people in trouble. If you’re someone who can talk others into doing things, use that gift for good! Encourage those around you to honor God and others through love and good deeds. Today's Key Verse And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. (NKJV) Hebrews 10:24 Today's Key Thought Encourage others to do good

Jul 19

Read: Psalms 3:1-6; 42:8; 63:6 Lara ran so hard it hurt. She glanced over her shoulder. The lion was still chasing her and getting closer. Suddenly, she tripped and fell flat on her face! A huge roar echoed, and she could almost feel the lion’s hot breath on her neck. She screamed—then woke up in her own bed. All the covers were kicked off, and her forehead was sweaty. Lara lay still, trying to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lion chasing her. Finally, she got out of bed and tiptoed to her mom’s room. “Mom,” she whispered, “I had another nightmare, and I’m afraid to go to sleep.” Mom got up, and together they went back to Lara’s room. “I know the dream wasn’t real, Mom, but it was so scary!” Lara said after Mom tucked her back in bed. “How can I get it out of my mind?” Mom switched on the lamp and got Lara’s Bible out of a drawer. “God’s Word can help with your nightmares,” she said as she turned the pages. “The book of Psalms is a good place to find verses of comfort when we feel afraid. Let’s read Psalm 118:6. Here, read it out loud for me.” Taking the Bible, Lara read, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” She gave her mother a little smile. “The last part could say, ‘What can mere nightmares do to me?’ Is it okay to read it like that?” Mom nodded. “That will remind you that your nightmares can’t hurt you, and that Jesus is always there to comfort you.” Lara put a bookmark between the pages to save the place. “I’ll read this whenever I have a nightmare. Then I won’t have to get up and find you.” “Great idea,” said Mom, returning the Bible to the drawer. “It’s short, and you could even memorize it. That way you can repeat it to yourself whenever something scares you.” She smiled. “But you can still come and get me if you feel afraid.” After Mom kissed her goodnight, Lara snuggled down deep into the covers and whispered, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.” –Faith Alessio How about you? Do you have nightmares or find it hard to go to sleep? Remember that if you know Jesus as your Savior, He is with you all the time. Like King David in today’s Bible reading, you can meditate—or think—about God when you’re awake at night. If you think about the presence and power of God, your fears will look much smaller. You can have peace knowing He is with you. Today's Key Verse In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV) Psalm 4:8 Today's Key Thought God is with you

Jul 18

Read: Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 5:1-5 Sofia, chore time! Today we’re going to—what’s wrong?” Aunt Lori set down the buckets she was holding and gently put her hands on Sofia’s shoulders. “Aren’t you having a nice time on the farm?” Sofia tried to smile. “I just wish Mom and Dad were here with me.” Her throat felt tight. She buried her face in her aunt’s denim shirt, trying to control her tears. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” Aunt Lori hugged her niece tight, remembering when her own parents separated many years before. “Why did God let this happen to me if He’s supposed to be good? I don’t see anything good in my parents getting a divorce!” Sofia said fiercely. Aunt Lori was silent as she brushed Sofia’s hair. After a moment, she said, “Let’s go empty the compost.” As they emptied the buckets into the compost bin, Sofia grimaced at the smell of the decomposing fruits and vegetables. “Gross,” she muttered. Then they walked to the garden to do some weeding. “The plants are gorgeous,” Sofia observed. “How do you keep them so healthy?” “I put compost on them. But those haven’t been getting much,” Aunt Lori said, nodding to some rows of sadder-looking plants. “Let’s put some compost on them now.” As they worked, Aunt Lori said, “You know, Sofi, I think we’re like these plants, and the difficulties we face are like compost.” “How?” Sofia asked, puzzled. “Well, God can use the hard things in our lives to help us trust Him more and grow in our faith. He promises to use everything for good. Jesus’s death on the cross was horrible, yet that’s how God did the greatest good of all and saved us from our sins. And He can bring good from bad things that happen. God hates divorce—it’s not good. My parents’ divorce was awful, but it helped me see God as my perfect, loving Father. By His grace, I’m not a withered, dying plant because I know He is always with me, giving me strength.” Aunt Lori smiled. Sofia had never thought about life that way. She did want to be vibrant and strong like the healthy-looking plants. She would think hard about what Aunt Lori had said. –Rachel Avallone How about you? Have you gone through uncomfortable or painful things in your life? It’s natural to become upset and ask God, “Why is this happening to me?” Even though bad things happen, we know God is good. He promises to be with us through the hard things, and He is always at work in our lives. When difficult things happen, trust that God will use them for good. Today's Key Verse We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) Romans 8:28 Today's Key Thought God uses everything for our good

Jul 17

Read: Psalms 27:7-10; 116:1-9 When Maggie stepped into the batter’s box, she already had two strikes. One more would put her on the bench. She glanced at the stands. Her foster mom wasn’t there. Maggie sighed. Her team chanted, “Two-strike hitter, don’t be a quitter!” The pitch came in fast, and Maggie connected, sending the softball past the outfield. Softball took her mind off everything. When she got back home, her social worker was out front holding a bag with all Maggie’s belongings. Oh no, I forgot! I’m moving today. She forced her feet to keep walking. Ever since Dad died, it was one foster home after another. After several months in her new house, Maggie saw a Bible lying open on her foster mom’s desk. The words “I love the Lord because He hears my voice” jumped out at Maggie. “He doesn’t hear my voice,” she said out loud. Alice, Maggie’s foster mom, came in and asked, “Who doesn’t hear you, honey?” “Jesus doesn’t. When Mom left, Dad told me to pray. When Dad got sick, I prayed. Now they’re both gone.” Alice put a soft hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “You play softball—I did too. Do you ever cheer, ‘Two-strike hitter…’” “‘Don’t be a quitter!’” Maggie answered. “I’m a quitter at asking God for anything.” Alice tapped the Bible. “Look at this psalm—Psalm 116. This man had pain and death all around him. He said he was brought low, but God heard him. Think—when your mom left, who was still with you?” “Dad.” Maggie paused. “And Jesus. And when Dad was sick, he told me that because Jesus died for me, I could trust Him even in hard times.” Alice nodded. “Psalm 27 says that even if your mother and father are gone, the Lord will care for you. The Lord is taking care of you, Maggie. He sent you here, and we love you. We prayed for you before you came—and we’re praying for your mom too. We don’t know what she’ll do. But we know what Jesus will do.” “He’ll hear my voice?” “Yes, He always hears you. Praying gives you a deeper friendship with God. When it comes to prayer, be that two-strike hitter, Maggie.” Maggie grinned. “I won’t be a quitter.” –Laura Roesler How about you? Do you ever feel like you’re striking out with God when you pray? Don’t give up. Even when it seems like God isn’t listening, He hears your prayers. He cares about your tears and your worries. He wants to hear what you have to say. Even if other people leave you, Jesus never will. He died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever. Keep praying—He’s listening. Today's Key Verse Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT) Psalm 116:2 Today's Key Thought The Lord hears you

Jul 16

Read: Matthew 7:7-12 "Why does she get to ride when I have to walk?” Caden whined. “It’s not fair!” “Your sister is only two; her legs aren’t as long or as strong as yours,” Mom replied, parking the stroller in front of the two-toed sloth exhibit. Caden continued to pout. “Emma gets all the attention too! You treat her better than you treat me. You must love her more!” “Caden, that’s not true!” Mom sounded hurt. “You know I love you and your brothers and sister with all my heart.” “Then why don’t you treat us the same?” Mom pointed to the exhibit. “Do you see the zookeeper feeding the sloth?” Caden nodded. “What’s she feeding it?” asked Mom. “Looks like fruit.” Mom nodded. “What did the zookeeper at the penguin exhibit fed the penguins?” “Fish, right?” “That’s right. What would happen if this zookeeper tried to feed fish to the sloth?” “Mom, sloths don’t eat fish. They live in trees!” Caden laughed. “Right again.” Mom smiled. “Different animals eat different foods and live in different habitats because they have different needs. Good zookeepers treat all the animals differently because they care for all of them.” Caden glanced at his little sister, who had fallen asleep. “Emma and I aren’t different kinds of animals.” “No,” Mom replied, “but you are different people, and sometimes you have different needs. Emma needs help with things like holding her cup and turning a doorknob, but sometimes you need help with things like math homework and piano practice.” Mom, Caden, and his brothers watched in fascination as the sloth munched languidly on an apple slice. “I think God is kind of like a zookeeper,” Mom said. “He knows exactly what each of His children needs. We may not always get what we ask for when we pray, but He always provides for our needs. He provided for our greatest need of all by sending Jesus to save us from sin, and we can trust Him to provide for each of our specific needs too.” “Hey! Give that back!” Caden’s brother snatched the cap off his head and ran off with it, causing Emma to start crying. “Sometimes I feel like a zookeeper too,” Mom mused as the family moved on to the next exhibit. –Suzanne Felton How about you? Do you think it’s unfair when you’re treated differently than your brothers, sisters, or classmates? Adults who care about you know that different people often have different needs, and it’s because they love you that they treat you differently. God knows us and loves us more than anyone else. Even when He answers His children’s prayers differently, He always gives us what we need. Today's Key Verse And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Philippians 4:19 Today's Key Thought God gives us what we need

Jul 15

Read: Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 6:11-18 Be sure you check your arms and legs for ticks!” Jay’s mother called as he ran into the house. It was tick season, and the insects thrived in the woods where Jay played with friends. He obediently rolled up his sleeves, and sure enough, a tiny black bug had attached itself to his skin. “Ugh. Got one, Mom. Can you take it off with your tweezers?” He went into the kitchen, and his mother pulled out a special tick removal tool from one of the drawers. “Ticks glue themselves to your skin and burrow in,” she said. “That’s why it’s important not to try to brush them off.” Jay nodded. “If the head stays in, it can give you Lyme disease, right? Like our neighbor has.” “Yes, though not all ticks carry Lyme disease. But any tick that’s not fully removed can cause an infection, so we don’t want to take any chances.” Jay’s mom carefully removed the tick, then dropped it into a cup of rubbing alcohol. She smiled at Jay. “You know, sin can be like a tick sometimes—like when a bad habit attaches itself to us and burrows in. The longer it’s there, the easier it can be to ignore—but like not properly removing a tick, ignoring sin is dangerous!” “Because it’s infecting us?” asked Jay. “Sin doesn’t make us sick the way a tick can,” said Mom. “We won’t get Lyme disease. But it can weaken our sense of right and wrong and make us lose our appetite for doing things that show others the love of Jesus. That’s why the Bible warns us about letting sin infect our minds and hearts.” “Too bad there’s no such thing as sin tick removers!” Jay grinned, and his mother laughed. “We have something even better!” Mom replied. “We have Jesus, who sacrificed His life to free us from sin. When we go to Him for help and confess our wrongs, He will forgive us and help us replace bad habits with good ones. The best thing we can do is faithfully check our attitude each day. If we ask Him to remove anything in our lives that shouldn’t be there, He will!” –Deborah Meroff How about you? Have you let sinful habits attach themselves to you? Like a tick imbedded in your skin, they are harmful and need to be removed right away. Check yourself daily, and when you notice a sinful habit in your life, confess it to Jesus. He paid a lot to save you from sin, and He promises to forgive you and help you live in a way that shows you belong to Him. Today's Key Verse Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (NIV) Romans 6:12 Today's Key Thought Don’t ignore sin

Jul 14

Read: Hebrews 11:13-16 Kenzie snapped one last picture of the Eiffel Tower. “It’s so beautiful against the sunset!” She sighed. “I can’t believe this is our last night here.” “I know,” Mom said. “Though I’m actually excited to be going home.” “But this has been the best vacation ever,” said Kenzie’s sister, Aubrey. “I’m going to miss Paris.” “All right, everyone,” Dad said. “It’s getting late. We’d better head back to the hotel to eat our last dinner here in France.” Kenzie turned to follow him and accidentally bumped into a man with a touring cap and backpack. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said. The man glanced at her, said something in French, and moved past them. Kenzie giggled quietly. “You know what I’m looking forward to about going home? Being able to speak the language. I can’t understand what French people say—and they can’t understand me!” “Yeah,” Aubrey said. “We really don’t fit in here, do we?” “I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again,” Mom said. “And not living out of a suitcase anymore,” Dad chimed in. “Sounds like we all agree,” said Aubrey. “Paris is great, but it’s not home.” When they reached their hotel, they got a table at the restaurant downstairs. ”You know what?” Dad said. “Our conversation earlier reminded me of something. Just like we’re visitors here in France, the Bible says that Christians are visitors in the world. Our real citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth.” “That makes sense,” Aubrey said. “We don’t always fit in here on earth because we’re living for a different world,” Dad went on. “We have different values and priorities because we’re citizens of God’s kingdom.” “And someday He’ll bring us there, right?” asked Kenzie. Dad nodded. “When Jesus returns and makes everything new, we’ll live with Him in His heavenly kingdom forever. But we’re also living as citizens of His kingdom now. Jesus saved us from sin and made us His people so we can experience the joy of knowing Him and let others know they can have an eternal home with Him too.” Kenzie nodded. “I’m excited to go home to America, but I’m even more excited for my eternal home!” –Lucy Alessio How about you? Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in here in this world? Do you find the things that other people think are most important are not what bring joy and meaning to your life? The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we’re just travelers here on earth. Our citizenship—our true home—is with Jesus. Don’t be afraid to live differently in this world, knowing that heaven is where you truly belong. Today's Key Verse But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Philippians 3:20 Today's Key Thought Christians are citizens of heaven

Jul 13

Read: Romans 6:5-11 Evan and James were hunting for wild edible mushrooms with their family. “Got one!” Evan yelled. “Wow, that one’s a whopper!” James said. “Just make sure you know it’s the right type,” Dad warned. “You know the rule: One hundred percent sure, then take the treasure.” They mushroom-hunted for a couple hours, driven by the hope of mushroom soup. “My mouth is already watering for mom’s delicious soup!” Evan said. “Yeah!” James replied. “Mom is probably the best cook in town!” “I don’t know about that,” Mom said. “There are lots of good cooks out there.” “Well, you’re still a really good cook!” Evan and James said in unison, making the whole family laugh. After heading home, the two boys stood outside the kitchen, breathing in the wonderful smells. When the soup was done, the boys raced to be the first to the table. After giving thanks, they gulped it down. “This soup could be called new life soup,” Dad said. “The mushrooms in it grow on dead wood. Though the tree has died, the mushrooms come alive by feeding on the nutrients in the wood. They’re an example of death leading to new life.” “Wow!” Evan said. “I didn’t know that mushrooms grow on dead things.” “I know of something else that has new life too,” Mom said. “Can you guys guess what it is?” “A caterpillar turning into a butterfly?” James guessed. “Snakes getting new skin?” Evan added. “Good guesses, but I was thinking of something else,” Mom replied. “Me!” “You?” James asked. “How do you have new life?” “You two can have it too!” said Mom. “It comes from Jesus, our Savior. The Bible says every one of us is a sinner. When we confess our sins and trust Jesus to save us, our old, sinful self dies, and He gives us new life with Him!” “Wow!” James said. “That’s even cooler than mushrooms growing on dead logs.” “Yeah,” Evan agreed. “I want to ask Jesus to give me new life right now!” “Me too!” James said. Mom smiled at them and said, “Let’s read some verses together and pray.” –Elijah Goll How about you? Are you excited when you fix a broken toy? Are you happy when you make an old thing new again? Let God make you new too! Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to give us new life. When we trust Him as our Savior, He frees us from sin and gives us a new life with Him. Begin your new life today by trusting in Him! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) 2 Corinthians 5:17 Today's Key Thought Jesus gives us new life

Jul 12

Read: Isaiah 41:8-10 "Oh no! No, no, no! Get me off this thing! Mom, make them stop!” Carrie squirmed nervously as the seat she was strapped into began to rise higher and higher into the air. Mom laughed and grabbed Carrie’s hand. “Sorry, honey, but I think it’s too late to get off now. Believe me, you’re going to love it! It’s just a little scary right now.” Carrie continued to whimper as the ride climbed higher, and she gave a little shriek as the seats bumped into place high up in the air. “It’s okay,” Mom reassured her. “I’m right here with you. You’re going to be fine.” “Okay,” Carrie said, squeezing Mom’s hand tight. She looked down at the park below them. “Hey, Mom, it’s actually kind of cool to see everything from up here. I can see—aaaaahhhh!” Carrie screamed as the ride suddenly dropped. Mom screamed too, and then they were both laughing as the ride bounced back up and down a few more times before finally settling back down on the ground. “Mom, that was so much fun! Can we go on it again?” Mom laughed. “Are you sure? I thought you wanted to get off before.” “Oh. Yeah, well, I did, but I just held on to your hand and tried not to be scared, and it was still pretty scary at first, but then it was really fun!” Carrie took a deep breath and grinned. “I want to go again.” As they waited in line, Mom said, “You know, Carrie, this ride made me think of you being nervous about starting a new school in a few weeks. It can help remind you that you don’t have to be afraid when you’re facing something scary in life. Jesus is right there with you, and it’s like He’s holding your hand. You don’t have to be afraid—and you might even find out that whatever you’re afraid of is really a great thing for you.” Carrie nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll try to remember that, Mom.” She started walking as the attendant motioned them forward. “I know Jesus is with me, but will you still hold my hand during the ride?” “Sure, honey. No problem.” Mom laughed and gave Carrie’s hand a quick squeeze. –Robyn Mulder How about you? Are you facing something scary in your life right now—something much bigger than a ride at an amusement park? No matter what it is you’re facing, Jesus is right there with you. He loves you so much He gave His life for you, and He promises to always be with those who trust in Him. He’ll be there to help you and comfort you, and He will never leave you. Today's Key Verse Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you. (NIV) Deuteronomy 31:6 Today's Key Thought Jesus is always with you

Jul 11

Read: Romans 12:3-5 "I want to play first base this year, and Coach Nichols won’t let me!” said Quincy. “He says I’ll help the team more if I play right field.” He frowned. “The guys have a saying about right field. They say, ‘right field equals left out,’ because the ball never gets hit to that side of the outfield.” “Now, hold on! That’s just not true!” said Dad. “A good right fielder often makes important plays—and I know you’ll be a good one.” But nothing Dad said could convince Quincy that right field was a good position for him. The next day, Quincy helped his father plant geraniums in the front yard. “Maybe we could get some of those bushes with white flowers we saw when we hiked up Mount Major,” said Quincy. “They’d look nice here with the geraniums.” Dad shook his head. “Those plants grow well in higher elevations, but I don’t think they’d do well down here. God didn’t intend for all plants to thrive in the same location. Each species has its own spot in the plant kingdom. That principle applies to people too. God has blessed every one of us with the talents we need to do the best job in the special spot He’s put us in.” Dad smiled at Quincy. “For example, God gave you one of the strongest throwing arms on your baseball team. That’s important for a right fielder, so give it a chance. Perhaps God has a special lesson He wants you to learn by playing right field on your ball team.” “What lesson could there be in that?” asked Quincy. “Maybe God wants you to see that every person on a team is important,” said Dad. “That’s true for baseball, and it’s also true for another team you’re on—Jesus’s team of all those who trust in Him. God gave every Christian an important part to play in caring for other members of Christ’s team and sharing His love with those who don’t know Him. Without each person’s important role, the whole team suffers—just like your baseball team won’t do as well if you refuse to play right field.” Quincy sighed. “Okay,” he said after a moment. “Right field, here I come!” –Linda M. Magoon How about you? Do you get upset when you don’t get the position you want—whether it’s on a sports team or within Christ’s team of believers? Jesus gave you the gifts and abilities He did so you could fill an important role and serve Him with other Christians. So no matter where He places you, be a team player and use your gifts to help the body of Christ share His love with the world. Today's Key Verse Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 12:22 Today's Key Thought Each team member is important

Jul 10

Read: Luke 15:4-10; Acts 1:8 "Mom, have you seen my other tennis shoe?” Piper ran from room to room with only one shoe on, desperately looking for the other one. She was supposed to be leaving to spend the night at her friend Aryanna’s house. “No, but I can help you look. Do you remember where you saw it last?” Mom asked. Piper shook her head, and the two frantically looked for the missing shoe. They looked under beds, in the closet, in the bathroom, and even in Piper’s brother’s room. “Are you sure you didn’t pack it with your overnight things?” Mom asked. Piper was about to say she would never do anything silly like that, but she knew Mom would just make her look anyway, so she began pulling out everything from her bag. The last thing she pulled out was her missing shoe. “Oops—here it is!” Piper said, a little embarrassed. “Well, I’m glad it’s been found.” “Remember I’m going to pick you up for church tomorrow,” Mom said as they got in the car. “Did you invite Aryanna to come?” Piper shook her head. “Did you know that the Bible talks about Jesus wanting us to help Him find what’s lost?” Mom asked. Piper shot her mom a puzzled look. “What could Jesus have lost that He would need our help finding? He’s God’s Son. He knows everything!” “The Bible says Jesus wants us to help bring lost sinners to Him. We can do that by praying for them and sharing how He’s changed our lives—and even by inviting them to church.” Mom turned to look at Piper. “Do you remember how happy and relieved you felt when you found your missing shoe?” Piper nodded. “Well,” said Mom, “the Bible says all of heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved. That’s how happy God is when one lost person is found. And even though God is the only one who can change a person’s heart, He wants us to play a part by praying for others and pointing them to Him so we can rejoice with Him when they’re found.” “Okay, Mom. I’ll see if Aryanna wants to come to church with us tomorrow,” Piper said as they pulled into Aryanna’s driveway. “And I’ll pray for her too.” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you know people who don’t know Jesus? We can’t change people’s hearts, but we can play a role in bringing others to Jesus by praying for them, telling them what He did for us on the cross, and inviting them to learn more about Him. Trust God to help you point others to Jesus, and when one of them is found, you can rejoice with all of heaven! Today's Key Verse There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (NKJV) Luke 15:10 Today's Key Thought Point others to Jesus

Jul 9

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6 "There goes Old Faithful!” Corbin said as they watched hot water burst from the ground and shoot high into the air. He and his sister Fiona were showing their aunt a video Corbin had made on their vacation to Yellowstone National Park. “The park ranger said the rock deep underground is so hot it heats the spring water,” said Corbin. “And then it reaches its boiling point and boils up and shoots out of the ground,” added Fiona. After their aunt had left, Fiona and Corbin got out a game. “You lose!” Corbin said after they played a little while. “You’re not allowed to make that move!” “I am too!” said Fiona. But Corbin wouldn’t agree, and the two started arguing. Finally, Fiona pushed back her chair. “You make me so mad!” “What did I do?” Corbin asked. “Tons of things!” Fiona’s voice grew louder. “You cheat, you used my bike without asking, you embarrassed me in front of my friends, and you spilled juice on my homework. I hate you!” She ran to her bedroom and slammed the door. Then she opened it and slammed it again. Corbin followed Mom to Fiona’s room. “You know we don’t slam doors,” Mom said. “And that angry outburst was not pretty.” “Yeah,” said Corbin. “You erupted with more force than Old Faithful.” He grinned. “Hey, I know! I’ll call you Old Fiona.” “Corbin, go to your room,” said Mom. “I’ll talk to you later.” When he had left, she turned back to Fiona. “Corbin does have a point.” “But he’s mean!” said Fiona. “He’d make anybody mad!” “We all have feelings of anger at times,” said Mom. “We need to deal with them, not just let them build up and burst out. One way to deal with your anger is to talk to the person who made you angry and explain what’s bothering you. Don’t store up angry feelings and grudges. Make an effort to make peace and be friends.” “I don’t think Corbin would listen, so why even bother?” asked Fiona. “Give him a chance,” said Mom. “And be willing to forgive. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you for all your wrongs and will help you forgive and love others. A loving relationship with anyone is always worth the effort.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? What do you do with your anger? Do you keep it inside and let it build up into bitterness and resentment? Does it erupt in angry words and hurtful actions? Don’t let it do that! Talk with the person who made you angry, and if necessary, tell an adult how you feel. Then trust God to help you deal with your anger and be willing to forgive. Today's Key Verse “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (NIV) Ephesians 4:26 Today's Key Thought Don’t store up angry feelings

Jul 8

Read: Psalm 23; John 10:1-12, 27-28 Evening descended swiftly on the French Alps. Chloe snuggled closer to her dad as the two of them and her dad’s friend Jules huddled around a fire for warmth. “Another good thing about being a sheep is all that wool to keep you warm,” Chloe said. Jules nodded. “It’s almost time to put them in their pen for the night. If I wait until it gets too dark, the wolves come out.” Chloe’s eyes widened. “Have you ever had to fight a wolf, Uncle Jules?” He nodded solemnly. “Fortunately, I was able to save the lamb. The sheep know they are safe when they stay close to me, just like we are safe with Jesus, our shepherd.” “That doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen to us,” Dad interjected. “Everyone goes through darkness and tough times. But our Good Shepherd promises to be with us through every dark valley we encounter.” “So we don’t need to fear, just like David wrote in Psalm Twenty-Three,” Chloe said softly. “Uncle Jules, what about the verse where David talks about God anointing his head with oil? What does that have to do with sheep?” Jules grinned. “Do you think Chloe can handle this, John?” “It’s kind of gross, Chloe,” Dad warned. “I can handle it!” “We have different medicine now, but back in David’s day, shepherds used to pour oil over the sheep’s heads to protect them from bugs,” said Jules. “That’s not so gross—kind of like giving pets flea medicine.” “But these kinds of bugs would eventually make their way into the sheep’s brains and destroy them.” “Ewww!” Chloe shuddered. “Good thing they have a shepherd to protect every part of them—even their brains.” “God does the same thing for us,” Jules noted. “When we listen to the truth of His Word, it transforms and renews our minds and helps keep us from fixating on what might harm us. Instead of worry, we can feel His peace. That’s why reading and memorizing God’s Word is important.” Chloe gazed at the sheep thoughtfully. “Uncle Jules, I’ve learned a lot this week. One thing’s for sure—I’m going to listen to my Good Shepherd.” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you follow Jesus as your shepherd? Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep—trusting Him to save you through His sacrifice on the cross is the only way to have eternal, abundant life. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) As His sheep, we need to listen to Him. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Listen to your Good Shepherd so He can fill your thoughts with His peace. Today's Key Verse My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. (NIV) John 10:27 Today's Key Thought Listen to your Good Shepherd

Jul 7

Read: Psalm 23; Isaiah 53:4-7 Chloe gasped as the car rounded the mountain road and the French Alps were fully displayed. “I’ve never seen anything so majestic!” Dad parked the car next to a rustic cabin. The cabin door opened and a man with dark curly hair and a beard exited with arms outstretched. “John! Come and hug your old friend!” Chloe hung back, watching the happy reunion until the men turned to her. “Chloe, meet my old college friend, Jules! The last time we got together you were just a baby.” “You can call me Uncle Jules if you wish, Chloe. My, you are growing up quickly!” “Do we really get to stay a whole week and help you care for your sheep? Dad says you have over a thousand! I read that shepherding is a difficult job. What’s your favorite part about it?” Jules threw up his hands and laughed. “Whoa! I’m not used to all these questions. The sheep aren’t nearly as chatty.” Jules winked at Chloe. “I’m happy to tell you all about it over a nice cup of coffee.” The next morning, Chloe was bundled and ready for a day of shepherding. After a few hours, she collapsed on the ground dramatically. “How do you not get bored, Uncle Jules?” Jules chuckled. “It takes a certain type of personality to do this day after day, but I actually enjoy all this stillness. I have plenty of time to memorize God’s Word out here and reflect on His goodness.” “Kind of like David did,” said Chloe. “He was a shepherd too. Didn’t he write that famous psalm about sheep?” Jules nodded. “Psalm Twenty-Three.” “David compares us to sheep in the psalm,” Dad pointed out. “And the Lord is our shepherd. When we had wandered away and were lost in sin, Jesus gave His life to save us, and He promises to guide us and take care of us.” Jules pulled a small, worn Bible out of his coat pocket and opened it to Psalm 23. Chloe read it aloud through verse three. “Today we are living out this psalm!” she said. “This morning you put salt out so the sheep could follow the route you wanted them to take. Just like you lead them on safe terrain, God guides us on the right paths.” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Have you ever thought about how much we are like sheep? Just like sheep, we want to go our own way and are prone to getting lost. We need a shepherd to keep us on the right path, and that shepherd is Jesus. He took the punishment for our sins to make us His sheep, and He guides us and provides for us. When we spend time in His presence, He refreshes our souls. How will you choose to follow the Good Shepherd today? Today's Key Verse He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (NIV) Psalm 23:3 Today's Key Thought Jesus is our Good Shepherd

Jul 6

Read: Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 8:28-30 Alfie hoisted himself up onto a ledge of crumbling granite and collapsed on a small patch of mossy grass. “That was quite a climb!” he said as he rubbed his aching legs. “Aren’t you tired, Uncle Don? We’ve hiked a long way.” “We’ll catch our breath for a few minutes before we head back,” said Uncle Don. He took off his backpack and set it down. Alfie picked up some stones. “Look at this!” he said. Uncle Don knelt beside him, and they looked at the stone Alfie held in his hand. It was shaped like a triangle and came to an unmistakable point. “It’s a real arrowhead, isn’t it?” said Alfie. “Sure looks like it to me,” said Uncle Don. Alfie brushed the dirt and dust from the stone and held it up so that the light glinted off its edges. “You know,” said Uncle Don, “the man who made that arrowhead carefully chiseled it, and he knew just how he wanted to use it.” Alfie looked at his uncle. “He would have used it for hunting, wouldn’t he?” Uncle Don nodded. “I imagine so. He would have had a specific purpose for that arrowhead, and I’m quite sure it accomplished its purpose. He probably used it to get food for his family.” Uncle Don smiled. “Can you think of any lesson we can learn from that?” “Hmm—shoot straight when you hunt?” Alfie said with a grin. “Though that’s probably not the kind of lesson you’re talking about.” Uncle Don laughed. “You’re right. I think this arrowhead should remind us that someone made us for a special purpose.” “Yep,” said Alfie. “God did!” “That’s right,” said Uncle Don. “You’re far more important than a simple arrowhead, Alfie, and God has a wonderful plan for your life. He created you with loving care, and He sent His Son to save you from sin and give you eternal life. He’s using all your life experiences to shape you to be more like Jesus so you can serve Him the way He wants you to. Whenever you look at your arrowhead, remember that God has a purpose for your life and will be there to guide you every step of the way.” Alfie put the arrowhead in his pocket. “I will.” –Christi B. Kehn How about you? Did you know that God has a special plan for your life? God made you and sent His Son, Jesus, to save you from sin, and He has plans for you. Talk with Him every day and ask Him for guidance. Read the Bible to learn more about Him and how He wants you to live. Stop and thank Him for something wonderful in your life. Trust Him to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Today's Key Verse “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans…to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) Jeremiah 29:11 Today's Key Thought God has a plan for your life

Jul 5

Read: Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 3:16-19 After Baker and his mom got off the Ferris wheel, they joined a group of people crowding around a man with a painted face acting out various skits. Baker laughed with the crowd as the man pretended to be learning to ride a bike. But he wondered why the man didn’t say anything. “Mom, why doesn’t he talk?” “Because he’s a mime,” Mom replied. “They never talk, but you can tell by their actions what they’re doing.” Next, the mime pretended to wash a window. He acted as though he bumped his head on the pretend ladder. Later, he appeared to be eating an ice cream cone—and shot the crowd a look of dismay when the ice cream fell off. The crowd laughed and applauded as he acted out one scenario after another. The show ended with the mime making a sad face and waving goodbye to the crowd. Baker turned to his mom. “Wow! He never said a thing, but I could figure out everything he was doing.” “Actions say a lot,” said Mom. “Do you remember the story in the Bible about the Good Samaritan?” “Sure,” said Baker. “It’s a story Jesus told about a man who needed help on the side of the road. Two people went by without helping him, and then a Samaritan came along and did all he could to help him.” “Right,” said Mom. “And if the two people who had passed by earlier had said they cared about that man, would you have believed them?” Baker shook his head. “Jesus told that story to show how we should love others,” Mom continued. “Saying you care about someone isn’t enough—you also need to show them you care through your actions.” Baker’s eyes widened. “So the Good Samaritan was really a mime?” Mom laughed. “Well, I’m sure he didn’t paint his face and perform funny skits, but he did communicate his love for others through his actions. Jesus did that too by taking the punishment for our sins on the cross so we could be saved. His sacrifice showed that His words of love for us were true. Let’s let others know we care about them through both our words and our actions.” –Annette S. Bury How about you? How do you let others know you care about them? It’s good to tell people you care, but it’s not enough. In Jesus’s parable, the Good Samaritan showed how much he cared by going to great lengths to help the injured man. Now that’s loud love! That’s the kind of love Jesus showed us when He died for our sins. What can you do to turn up the volume and show others you care? Today's Key Verse Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV) 1 John 3:18 Today's Key Thought Actions speak loudly

Jul 4

Read: Isaiah 48:17-18; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 2:3-6 "Mom, I see the parade! It’s coming!” Millie squealed with excitement and grabbed hold of her little brother’s hand. “James, get ready, because they’re going to throw candy right at us and we can put it in our bags, okay?” James nodded and grinned. Millie looked down the street and hopped up and down in anticipation. “Just be patient, honey,” Mom called from her lawn chair. “It will be here soon.” Millie craned her neck to see down the street. The parade was still far away, but she could make out flags, cars, floats, and even a fire truck. She could faintly hear a drum and knew the band was marching her way. Suddenly, she gave a little shriek of dismay. “It turned! They’re going down a different street. They’re not coming here!” “What?” Dad jumped up and looked down the street, and Millie noticed everyone else getting up and looking around in confusion. “Come on, Millie!” Dad scooped up James, and they ran to the next block just as the parade arrived. Millie forgot about all the confusion until they walked home afterward. “Mom, why didn’t the parade go by where we were sitting at first? Were we in the wrong place?” Mom laughed. “No, we were on the right street. I think the person at the front of the parade got a little confused and made a wrong turn. Good thing we caught up and didn’t miss anything, right?” “Right!” said Millie. “It was so much fun, and I got lots of candy!” “You know, wrong turns like that can happen in our lives,” Dad said. “The people in the parade all trusted that the person in front would go the right way, but they didn’t. We can go the wrong way too by following people—like leaders or friends at school—because what they’re doing seems right but isn’t.” Mom nodded. “There’s only one Person who can lead us the right way. Do you know who that is?” “Jesus!” Millie and James both shouted. “Right,” said Mom. “When we know Him as our Savior, He forgives our wrong turns in life and makes us able to love others the way He does. We need to follow Him as He leads us in His example of love.” –Robyn Mulder How about you? Who do you follow? Friends? Celebrities? Influencers? Looking to other people as examples of how to live will only lead you in the wrong direction, because they are sinners just like you. Only Jesus is perfect. He died and rose again to save you from sin and give you eternal life, and He will lead you in loving others the way He does. Follow His example and trust God to help you be more like Him each day. Today's Key Verse Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children. (NIV) Ephesians 5:1 Today's Key Thought Follow Jesus, not people

Jul 3

Read: Romans 3:22-26; Titus 3:5-7 Rosita wiped sweat from her forehead, then got back to scrubbing the pot in the sink. She was working as hard as she could to clean the kitchen before Mom got home. They’d had a fight that morning, and Rosita was sorry for the things she’d said. She sighed and scrubbed harder. I want this kitchen sparkling clean when Mom gets home from work, she thought. That’ll make up for it. She glanced into the living room where her little brother was watching cartoons. “Hugo, bring your plate and cup here so I can wash them. And I just mopped the floor, so be careful!” But Hugo wasn’t careful. He ran in and slipped when his socks hit the wet floor. His plastic dishes went flying into the air as he went sprawling across the kitchen, milk and crumbs raining down on top of him. Rosita gasped. “Hugo!” Just then the door opened and Mom walked in. “Wow,” she said. “What a mess.” Rosita covered her face with her soapy hands and burst into tears. Mom and Hugo stared at her for a moment before Mom sent him upstairs to wash the milk out of his hair. “Rosita, what’s wrong?” Mom asked. “I—I’ve been working hard to clean the kitchen all afternoon. I wanted everything to be sparkling clean when you got here because I felt bad about what I said this morning. I wanted to make things right.” “Oh, honey.” Mom gave her a hug. “You don’t have to clean the kitchen to make things right with me. You’re my daughter—I love you, and I’ll always forgive you. But I know the feeling. In fact, I used to try to do the same thing with God. I thought I could make up for my wrongs by doing something right. But it wasn’t enough.” “Because the only way to make things right with God is through Jesus, right?” “You got it,” said Mom. “When we trust Him to save us, He forgives our sins and makes us sparkling clean.” Rosita nodded. “I’m sorry for what I said this morning, Mom. Will you forgive me?” “Of course.” Mom grabbed a mop from the closet. “And now I’m going to make this kitchen sparkling clean!” –Courtney Lasater How about you? Are you working hard to make things right with God? Are you trying to do good things so He’ll forgive you for the bad things you’ve done? No matter what you do, it won’t make up for your sin. Only Jesus can make you right with God. He died and rose again so you could be forgiven and have all your sins washed away. Confess your sin and trust in Him, and He will forgive you. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) 1 John 1:9 Today's Key Thought Only Jesus makes things right

Jul 2

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; James 1:2-6 "I’m not sure I can catch this wave,” Caleb yelled to his uncle as the ocean waves roared. The wind was getting stronger, and it was hard to hear. Dark clouds rolled in from above, blocking the sunshine. Caleb gripped the edges of his surfboard. This surfing lesson wasn’t going well. He wanted to do what his uncle taught him and stand up on his board and ride the wave, but it seemed impossible. “Uncle Luke, I’ve slipped three times, and my arms are exhausted from paddling! I don’t think I’m strong enough.” Uncle Luke swam over to Caleb. “Let’s take a break, and then I’ll help you. I know it’s scary, but trust me—I’ve been surfing a long time and know what I’m doing. Can you do that?” Caleb nodded. They bobbed on their boards for a minute before Uncle Luke continued. “You know, Caleb, life is hard sometimes, just like surfing. When scary doubts build up, or the winds blow and it’s hard to hear God’s voice, we can share our fears with Jesus. He wants us to have faith in Him instead of ourselves. He is perfect, and we can always trust Him because He gave His life to save us and promises He will never leave us.” “Thanks for the reminder, Uncle Luke,” Caleb replied with a smile. “Sometimes life makes me feel even weaker and more exhausted than surfing does!” “We all feel that way sometimes,” Uncle Luke said. “But when we look to Jesus to help us through hard times in life, the Holy Spirit strengthens us. Just like when I push you into the waves, hold onto your surfboard and look up, not down. Okay, ready to paddle?” “Yeah!” Caleb replied. This time, he trusted his uncle’s advice and focused on that instead of his doubts. He paddled hard and slowly stood up in the air. He caught a wave! Caleb popped out of the water with a smile, “Hey, Uncle Luke! Thanks for reminding me that I don’t have to doubt. When I’m afraid, I can trust in Jesus.” –Grace Thomas How about you? Do you trust in God when life gets rough? Or does your heart constantly change like the waves of the sea? You may feel discouraged when faced with a challenging situation, and that’s okay. Remember, Jesus understands what you’re going through and promises to be with you wherever you go. You don’t have to be afraid or doubt in the rocky waves of life. Look to Jesus for the help and strength you need. Today's Key Verse But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (NKJV) James 1:6 Today's Key Thought Have faith in Jesus

Jul 1

Read: Matthew 18:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Mom, I’m really worried about Charlotte,” Anna said as she sat down at the table. Charlotte and Anna were best friends and did everything together. “What’s going on?” Mom asked as she added ingredients into the mixer. “Well, she’s been having a lot of headaches lately. I’m worried there might be something seriously wrong with her. What if she has cancer or something?” Mom plopped a scoop of raw cookie dough onto a tray. “It sounds like you’ve been doing a lot of worrying about this.” “It’s all I can think about, Mom! I’m just so afraid something bad is going to happen to Charlotte. I can’t imagine life without her.” Mom brought the tray of cookie dough to the table and sat down. “Have you prayed about it?” she asked. “Um, well—no,” Anna said. Mom sighed. “Well, I’ve been pretty worried too lately. Tomorrow is your school bake sale, and I’m worried these cookies won’t get baked in time!” Anna glanced at the clock. “Mom, you have plenty of time. They don’t take that long to bake—just put them in the oven.” “I guess I could, but I’d rather just sit here and worry about it,” Mom said. Anna gave her mom a puzzled look. “Mom, you’re being silly!” Mom smiled. “You’re right, it’s silly to sit here and worry when there’s something I could do about the problem. But you’re doing the same thing. You’re not helping your friend at all by worrying about her. You can help by doing something about it and praying for her.” Anna knew her mom was right, and the two took a moment to pray for Charlotte. Then Anna helped bake the cookies and bag them up for the sale. The next day Anna came home smiling. “Mom, guess what! Charlotte’s mom took her to the doctor yesterday, and it turns out she’s been having headaches because she needs glasses—not because she’s dying from some disease.” Mom smiled. “So all that worrying for nothing?” Anna nodded. “You were right, Mom. I should have done something about it and prayed for her in the first place.” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? When you or someone you know has a problem, do you worry about it? Why not do something about it instead—pray! God is in control of everything, and He loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. You can bring all your worries and concerns to Him. He’ll always do what’s best and be with you through everything. Today's Key Verse Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (NLT) Philippians 4:6 Today's Key Thought Pray about your worries

Jun 30

Read: Psalm 119:27, 159-160; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 The sun was just poking its head over the treetops when Savannah and her mother left for a walk in the woods near their new home. “I didn’t understand what Dad read in the Bible this morning,” Savannah said. “Why can’t we just skip the parts of the Bible that don’t seem to say anything important?” Mom was about to reply when Savannah spotted some interesting bushes along the path. “Look, Mom. Those are some kind of berry bushes, aren’t they?” Mom stopped and peered at the bushes. “I think they might be, but I don’t see any fruit on them.” Savannah reached out and lifted some of the leaves. “Here! Underneath the leaves.” “You’re right!” said Mom. “Those are wild blackberries! They’d taste great on our cereal—or just as a snack. How about running back to the house and getting a bucket so we can pick some?” Savannah eagerly ran home and returned with a pail, and she and Mom began to gather the ripe, luscious fruit. “I’m glad your sharp eyes noticed these,” said Mom. “I saw the green leaves, but I didn’t see what was hidden underneath them.” She dumped a handful of berries into the bucket. “Maybe that’s the answer to the question you asked a while ago.” “You mean about skipping parts of the Bible?” asked Savannah. Mom nodded. “When we read the Bible, we don’t always understand every important truth right away—just like I didn’t spot those berries. But when we take time to think about what a verse or passage says, it can help us see how it fits into God’s story of how He continues to love us even though we sin. Everything in the Bible points to God’s gift of Jesus, who became human and died and rose again to save us. Every passage can teach us something about Jesus and our need for Him. That’s why we read all the parts of the Bible.” “When we get back home, maybe I should read that Bible passage from this morning again,” said Savannah. “Why don’t we read it together?” suggested Mom. “We can eat fruit from this bucket while we look for spiritual fruit in the Bible!” –Judith K. Boogaart How about you? Are some parts of the Bible hard for you to understand? The Bible is full of poems, stories, and events that all reveal God’s faithful love. Each one is important, but some can be difficult to understand on our own. That’s why it’s important to study the Bible with other Christians and depend on God for help. When you come across something that’s confusing, ask God to give you understanding, and ask a trusted adult to help you too. Today's Key Verse: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (NLT) 2 Timothy 3:16 Today's Key Thought: Learn from all of the Bible

Jun 29

Read: Matthew 11:28-30 Julian cheered in excitement at the tractor pulling contest. One of the contestants—a friend of Julian’s family—revved the engine as his tractor strained to pull the heavy load. It inched along, then gathered speed to the finish line. “He made it!” Julian shouted, and he clapped along with others in the crowd. “The next load he has to pull will be heavier,” Grandpa said. The driver revved the engine again, and it moved slowly forward. The load behind the groaning tractor was dragged at a snail’s pace to the finish line. Julian shot up from his seat and cheered. He grew anxious as he watched the workers add more weights to the next load. The driver powered up the engine, but nothing happened. Again the engine roared, but the load didn’t budge. The driver hunched over the wheel as if to coax the tractor into one last try before time was up. Julian felt like he was in the contest himself, and he yelled encouragement as the tractor began to inch forward. Slowly, slowly it went, until at last it reached the finish line. It had moved a heavier load than any other tractor. The crowd went wild. Over hot dogs and pop, Grandpa and Julian talked about the contest. “It made me think about the struggles we have in life,” said Grandpa. “Sometimes our loads are almost too heavy for us to pull.” Julian nodded, thinking about the hard time he had in reading class at school. He just couldn’t read as well as the other kids. After getting his last report card, Julian had gone to his room and cried. Grandpa smiled at him. “Way back when I was your age, I found out that Jesus wants to help us pull heavy loads—the hardships we face in life. So I ask Him to help me whenever I feel like things are just too much. The problems don’t always disappear, but they seem lighter when I remember that Jesus, who took the burden of my sin by dying on the cross, wants to help me with any struggles that are weighing me down.” Julian smiled back at Grandpa, knowing what he had to do. He would talk to Jesus about his struggle to read. He needed help with his heavy load. –Carolyn E. Yost How about you? Does something in your life seem too heavy to bear? Talk to Jesus about it. He wants to help you with your troubles. Maybe He’ll take the burden away—but maybe not. Perhaps He’ll simply comfort you and make your burden easier to bear as you trust Him with it. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, ask Him for help and trust that He’ll lighten your load. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) 1 Peter 5:7 Today's Key Thought: Jesus lightens loads

Jun 28

Read: Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 40:27-31 Annie leaned her forehead against the cool windowpane of the airport in Sicily. She sighed as she watched yet another large airplane taxi down the runway and fly off into the big blue sky. Her family had been detoured on the way back to the States from Africa where they were missionaries, and it felt like they had been stuck in the airport for weeks instead of days. “Vroom, vroom!” Her younger brother, Bryce, flew past her with his arms extended and accidentally bumped her elbow. “Knock it off, Bryce!” Annie said irritably. “Hey, what’s the problem?” Dad asked, coming over. Annie sighed again. “It feels like we’ve been at the airport forever and God has forgotten about us!” Dad nodded thoughtfully. “I know it feels that way right now, but God is working out just the right flight for us to get on.” He looked out the airport window as another plane took off. “Did you know the Bible talks about wings?” Bryce stopped making airplane noises and looked at Dad. “Like airplane wings?” Dad smiled. “These are a different type of wings. Do you remember the story in the Bible about the people of Israel getting ready to go into the land God had promised them? They had waited a very long time—longer than we’ve waited here! God reminded them of how He had taken care of them before, just like an eagle takes care of its young by carrying them on its wings. And God will always take care of us too. Jesus died and rose from the dead to make us God’s children, and He won’t ever forget about us. He promises to help us in every situation.” “Wow. I never thought of it like that before,” Annie said. “Me neither,” said Bryce. “Speaking of wings,” Dad said, “I think I’ll go make another phone call and see if we’ll be able to get on one of those airplanes today.” As he walked away, Bryce got a silly look on his face. “Hey, Annie, what do you think the eagle said to Dad when the phone rang?” Annie shrugged. “I don’t know. What?” “Wing, wing!” Bryce and Annie’s laughter echoed in the airport as they relaxed, knowing both their dad and their heavenly Father were taking care of them. –Kelly Hope How about you? Have you ever been stuck in a hard situation and wondered if God had forgotten about you? It may feel like that sometimes, but He promises to care for you and work things out for the best. The next time you hear the sound of an airplane or see a bird flying in the sky, remember that God sent His own Son to save you and promises to always take care of you. Today's Key Verse: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (NIV) Exodus 19:4 Today's Key Thought: God takes care of you

Jun 27

Read: Isaiah 43:1-4 Max opened his car window and smelled pine trees. Mom and Dad sang their old camp song about a cowboy and his one-eyed horse. Max usually sang along. But today the lyrics caught in his throat. Mom and Dad’s stories of camp made Max feel like he knew the place even though he’d never been there. He couldn’t wait to come to Bible camp. But now as camp came into view, he wasn’t so sure. “It’s too bad the other boys from church couldn’t come with you,” Mom said. Dad parked the car and patted Max on the shoulder. “You’re going to love it here!” Max felt funny inside as he watched Mom and Dad drive away. Max met his counselor, who showed him around his cabin. “Okay, Mike, here’s your bunk.” He doesn’t even know my name, Max thought. Nobody here does. I don’t belong here. The counselor shouted, “Campers! Time to meet out by the lake. Bring your Bibles. Move out!” In the noisy crowd, everyone seemed to be with friends. No one spoke to Max. At the beach, the camp director blew a whistle and shouted, “Bibles up! First one who turns to Isaiah 43:1, whistle the cowboy song!” A moment later Max and most of the other boys started whistling. The director pointed to Max. “Read the last part of verse one.” Max read, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” The director nodded at Max and said, “Even though I don’t know this camper’s name, God does. And God knows each of your names. He knows all about you because He made you. He sent His Son, Jesus, to save you. This is the theme verse for camp this week, so we’re going to memorize it and talk about it every day. It shows that God loves you and wants you to belong to Him.” Max prayed silently, “God, I know I belong to You—thank you for saving me and always being with me. Please help me feel like I belong here too.” On the way back to the cabin, a boy walked up to Max. “You must be new here,” he said. “I’m Oliver.” Max smiled and said, “My name is Max.” –Laura Roesler How about you? Do you ever feel like an outsider and that people around you don’t really know you? No one knows you better than God. He made you and wants to have a relationship with you because He loves you. Whenever you feel like you don’t belong, remember that God wants you to belong to Him. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Trust Him to be with you when you feel alone and afraid. Today's Key Verse: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. (CSB) Isaiah 43:1 Today's Key Thought: God knows you and wants you

Jun 26

Read: Romans 12:9-13 "Look!” said Rylee, stepping back from the huge saguaro cactus. “There’s something in that hole!” Dad and Easton came over to see. Sure enough, a pair of blinking yellow eyes peered back at them from a hole in the trunk of the cactus. “I think it’s a screech owl,” said Easton. “We learned that woodpeckers peck holes into cactuses when they make their nests. Then after they leave, other birds move into the empty holes and live there.” Dad nodded. “Each time the cactus skin is broken—like when a woodpecker makes a hole—a thick gluey liquid seeps out and forms a waterproof pouch. The liquid hardens, kind of like a scab, to make the pouch permanent. Inside the hole it’s cooler in the day and warmer at night, so it makes an ideal home for desert birds.” Rylee saw big and little holes in the arms of one of the cactuses—they were everywhere. “This saguaro is like a high-rise apartment building!” she said with a laugh. “What a crowded place to live.” Easton grinned. “Just like our house.” Rylee nodded thoughtfully. Grandma had recently moved into their house, and Julia, a single mom who went to their church, was going to be living with them for a while with her two-year-old son, Wilder. Rylee remembered the discussion they’d had about Julia and Wilder coming. “You’re kidding!” Rylee had said. “Where are they going to sleep?” “Well, they will need to move into your room, and you’ll have to share a room with Easton.” Dad patted Rylee’s hand when he saw the look on her face. “It’s only for a while until Julia can get back on her feet. We’ll all have to make some sacrifices, but that’s often necessary when we’re called to love others like Jesus, who sacrificed everything for us. Pray about it, will you?” Rylee had tried, but she hadn’t felt comfortable praying. She knew she was being selfish. But now Rylee looked at the big saguaro that offered a home to any creature who needed it, even if it meant having holes pecked into its walls. I won’t complain, she thought. Even if Wilder pounds holes into our walls too—and knowing him, I’m sure he will! –Trudy Vander Veen How about you? Are you willing to give up some of your comforts or conveniences to help others? Try to put yourself in their shoes and consider how you might feel if you needed help and no one was willing to give it. When we needed to be rescued from sin, Jesus sacrificed His life to save us. Trust Him to help you love others the way He does and be willing to make sacrifices for them. Today's Key Verse: No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 10:24 Today's Key Thought: Make sacrifices for others

Jun 25

Read: Psalm 119:9-16 Rylee leaned back to see the top of the huge saguaro cactus next to her. Its spiny arms reached out and up toward the sky. “With so many big arms, this thing should be holding something. Try sitting on one of its arms, Easton,” Rylee said with a grin. “No way!” said Easton. “I’m not sitting on those prickly things!” “Those arms,” said Dad, “are holding what is probably the most valuable thing in the entire region.” “And I know what it is,” Easton said. “Water! Cactus plants can live in the dry, hot desert by storing water inside their trunk and arms.” “That can’t be right,” said Rylee, looking around at the sand and rocks. They extended as far as she could see. “There’s no water here!” “Easton is right,” said Dad. “Cactus roots don’t go very deep into the earth. Instead, they go down only about three feet and then spread out about a hundred feet in all directions. The spread-out roots draw in every drop of rain, sending it to a hidden storage area in the arms and trunk of the cactus. That inner water supply is what keeps this cactus alive and growing. These big fellas can soak up as much as two hundred gallons of water—enough to last them a whole year!” “Yeah, that’s why they’re pleated like an accordion,” Easton said, eager to show his knowledge. “The pleats expand as the spongy material inside absorbs water.” “That’s incredible!” said Rylee. “Well, Mr. Cactus, I can see you’re a pretty smart guy!” Dad smiled. “One with a good lesson for us about the importance of storing things.” “About storing water?” asked Easton. “I don’t really mind carrying a water bottle—and I like the size of my arms the way they are!” Dad laughed. “I wasn’t thinking of your arms, Easton. Let’s try your heart! I hope both of you will store God’s Word in your heart and mind. Then when things get difficult, you can draw from those words of hope, comfort, and guidance. Knowing God’s Word helps us remember what Jesus has done for us and that He’s always with us. Like water in a dry desert, it will nourish you and help you grow in your relationship with Him.” –Trudy Vander Veen How about you? Have you been growing spiritually? Are you storing God’s Word in your heart by reading the Bible and memorizing verses? Storing God’s Word in your heart will help you understand how much Jesus loves you and who you are in Him. Read and study it so He can use it to guide you in your life, comfort you in hard times, and remind you of His promises. Today's Key Verse: Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (NKJV) Psalm 119:11 Today's Key Thought: Soak up God’s Word

Jun 24

Read: Revelation 7:9-12 “I can’t even understand what they’re saying,” Ezra said as he and his family entered the church building. His family’s car had broken down just over the Canadian border, so they now had to go to church at a place in Quebec, Canada, that his dad had heard about. Everything about the church seemed different to Ezra—the language most of all. When everyone started singing hymns, Ezra’s dad passed him a book that said Cantiques on the front. “It’s a hymnbook,” Dad said. He flipped to the correct page and pointed to a line of words in the song. Ezra tried to follow along with the French song, but none of the words made any sense to him. Later, after church was over, Ezra noticed someone waving to him as he and his family left. He waved back, and his dad asked, “Who’s that?” “Oh, that’s Jacque,” Ezra explained. “I met him in Sunday school. He helped me understand the French on the papers the teacher handed out whenever there wasn’t English underneath it.” “I see,” his dad said. “I suppose it was a bit confusing for you in the church service and in Sunday school.” “You can say that again,” Ezra replied. “Going to church in a different country is an interesting experience, isn’t it?” said Dad. “Though it can be confusing when things are different from what we’re used to or we don’t understand what’s being said, it’s good for us to worship God with Christians from other places in the world. We’re all part of God’s church and are brothers and sisters in Christ, who saved us by dying for our sins. We worship God in the same way, just in different places and languages.” Dad smiled. “In fact, the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation that there will one day be countless people of every nation, tribe, and language worshiping Jesus in heaven.” “Including people from Quebec who speak French?” Ezra asked. “That’s right.” Dad turned to see Jacque and his family leaving. “By the way, au revoir means ‘goodbye’ in French.” “Au revoir, Jacque!” Ezra called. “Au revoir, Ezra!” Jacque called back. “I hope to see you again!” –Ethan Terry How about you? Have you ever attended a church in a different country or where a different language was spoken? Church is not simply a building—God’s church is made up of everyone who trusts in Jesus, and He saves people from all over the world. Though we worship Jesus in different places and languages, we are all part of God’s family, and one day we will worship Him together in heaven. Today's Key Verse: I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. (NLT) Revelation 7:9 Today's Key Thought: Christians live around the world

Jun 23

Read: Romans 5:1-5; 8:24-28 “It’s such a nice day,” Adrianna said. “Look at the sunshine, Mom! Nate, don’t you wish we could go to the waterpark today?” Nate looked at his little sister. “It would be fun, but I’m sure Mom and Dad have other plans for the day.” “I’m not sure what our plans are,” Mom said, taking a sip from her mug of coffee. “And it does look like a nice day.” “Can I ask Daddy if we can go to the waterpark?” Adrianna asked, carrying her cereal bowl to the sink. “You can ask,” Mom said. “I’m not sure what he’s thinking for today though.” “Yay!” Adrianna skipped out of the kitchen. “The waterpark! The waterpark!” she sang. Mom smiled at Nate. “She’s sure abounding in hope, huh?” “What?” Nate’s forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?” “In the Bible, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome encouraging them to abound in hope,” Mom said. “To abound in hope means to be filled with it.” “What kind of hope?” Nate asked. “Hope in what?” “Hope in God,” Mom said. “Paul reminds them that those who trust Jesus as their Savior have peace and joy and can be filled with hope because of His promises. It’s a little like how Adrianna has hope your dad will say yes to a waterpark trip—she knows he loves her and enjoys doing good things for her.” “And we can have hope God will do good things for us?” Nate asked. Mom nodded. “That doesn’t mean He’ll give us everything we ask for, but we can abound in hope knowing that He saved us, gave us His Spirit to be with us, and promises to do good things in our lives.” “Do you think Dad will say yes to the waterpark?” asked Nate. Before Mom had a chance to respond, Adrianna bounded back into the room. “We’re going to the waterpark!” she shouted. Mom grinned. “Your sister’s hope did not disappoint,” she told Nate. “Just like God does not disappoint us when we hope in Him.” “The waterpark—yay!” Nate pumped a fist in the air. “And a God we can hope in.” He glanced at his mom. “I’m happy for that too.” –Emily Acker How about you? Have you ever hoped for something? Did it work out the way you wanted, or were you disappointed? The Bible says that if you trust in Jesus, you can abound in hope knowing that He will never let you down. He saved you from sin and gave you eternal life, and He promises to always be with you. Let the joy, peace, and hope of knowing Him fill your life as you trust Him to do good things. Today's Key Verse: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV) Romans 15:13 Today's Key Thought: Have hope in God

Jun 22

Read: Psalms 26:1-3; 139:23-24 “What’s wrong with the car, Daddy?” asked five-year-old Lydia as the family drove to their country home after a church service in the village. “It’s jerking.” “It’s sure running rough,” said Dad. “It’s been doing that lately, but it’s never been this bad before.” “Are we going to make it home?” Lydia peered through the window at the trees lining the steep drop at the side of the road. “Sure, we’ll make it,” said Lydia’s older brother, Barrett. “We always do.” The car slowly climbed a long, steep hill. Dad pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor, but the car refused to speed up. Dad frowned. “I must say, I’m annoyed with myself for not checking this out sooner,” he said. “I should have taken the car to the mechanic when I first noticed it wasn’t running smoothly.” “I think it’s getting worse,” said Barrett. He wasn’t so sure they’d make it home after all. Mom sighed. “Well, at least we’re close enough to home that we can walk the rest of the way if we have to, but we’d have a long uphill hike.” “I guess the car needs regular checkups just like we do,” said Barrett. “Like Pastor Kim said in his sermon this morning—have a checkup every day, and if you see a trouble spot, take care of the problem before it gets worse.” “Our car needs a checkup every day?” Lydia asked, puzzled. Barrett laughed. “No, we do! As we pray, read the Bible, and go to church, we need to be on the lookout for any trouble spots of sin that God may be pointing out to us. If we see any, we need to confess them to Him right away. Jesus will forgive us and help us fix them so we can run smoothly again.” To the relief of the whole family, the car kept going and they finally reached their driveway. “Well,” said Dad, “I hope you’ll remember this lesson about doing regular checkups in your life, because I don’t intend to let this car teach us that lesson again. Tomorrow it goes to the mechanic to be fixed!” –Emilia D. Nichols How about you? Do you do regular checkups in your life? Do you spend time with the Lord in prayer, in His Word, and at church? When you do that, you may see trouble spots of sin in your life that don’t match up to how He wants you to live. If so, confess them to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. Trust Him to help you turn away from sin. Then keep doing checkups to make sure you’re living in a way that shows others His love. Today's Key Verse: Search me, O God…see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NKJV) Psalm 139:23-24 Today's Key Thought: Examine your life daily

Jun 21

Read: Matthew 25:14-29 "Yum, your mangoes are the best, Nenek!” Eyes sparkling, Kira chewed the scrumptious mangoes her Indonesian grandmother had just peeled for her. “You mean Kakek’s mangoes,” Nenek said, chuckling. “Your grandfather was the one who bought and planted the seeds in our backyard. The tree grew and grew, but no mangoes. Kakek persisted and kept fertilizing it though. It was only after his death that fruit buds bloomed. Too bad he never saw the fruits of his labor.” Kira’s eyes dimmed as she thought of her grandfather, who died two years ago. “I miss Kakek.” “Do you remember how he often took you to church?” said Nenek. “Even when his health started failing, he loved to take you and talk about what you learned afterward.” Kira nodded. “I remember he took me to church two weeks before he was hospitalized. I didn’t want to go then—I was tired from a basketball tournament on Saturday night, which we lost. But on Sunday morning, Kakek showed up with a huge smile and convinced me to go.” “I remember you were really down that night,” Nenek said. “You and your team worked so hard for that tournament.” "Yeah—I thought of quitting basketball then. But then Kakek took me to church, and the sermon was on the parable of the bags of gold. Two of the servants were faithful with what God gave them and were able to make it grow. After church, Kakek said the parable was about using whatever God has given us—including our talents—to help more people know about Jesus. He told me about the time he lost a tennis match but kept on practicing and eventually won a game. He said his faith in Jesus kept him going and that he was trusting God to help him use his gifts however He wanted him to. It made me realize how much I needed Jesus. I asked Kakek to pray with me, and I became a Christian that day.” Kira’s face brightened. “I’m so glad I had him in my life, Nenek.” She wrapped her arms around her grandmother. Nenek planted a kiss on Kira’s forehead. “So in the end, Kakek did see the fruits of his labor—not the mangoes, but you putting your faith in Jesus.” –Ruth Setyadi How about you? Have you ever worked at something but failed to see results? Perhaps it was a hard subject at school or a sport. Maybe you prayed for a family member or friend to trust in Jesus, but they continue to reject Him. Don’t give up. Be faithful and persistent in the things God has put on your heart to do, and trust Him with the fruits of your labor—whether you see them or not. Today's Key Verse: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV) Galatians 6:9 Today's Key Thought: Be faithful and persistent

Jun 20

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "I need you to move a little faster, Lincoln. What’s taking you so long? This morning could not be going any worse, and you’re not helping things at all.” Lincoln blinked back tears as his mom snapped at him for being too slow heading out to the van. One of his shoes had been hard to get on, so he was dragging his foot a bit, waiting until he was seated to fix it. “I can’t believe I overslept,” Mom muttered to herself as they got into the van. “Today of all days, when I have a meeting with my boss…” Lincoln got settled in the van and worked on adjusting his shoe. He had it fixed by the time his mom dropped him off at his grandma’s house. A few hours later, Mom returned to pick him up. “I’m sorry I was a little grumpy this morning, Lincoln.” She held up a cup of an iced brown liquid. “I needed my morning coffee. I really can’t go without that.” Lincoln sighed. “You needed it, Mom?” “Yes. You know me and coffee; I can’t function without it.” Lincoln followed his mom out to the van. “I thought the only thing we were supposed to need was Jesus.” “Hmm.” Mom settled into the driver’s seat. “Well, technically, He is all we need,” she said. “But we have some earthly needs too.” Lincoln frowned. “Like coffee?” Mom backed out of the driveway and started through town. She was quiet for a few minutes before she glanced back at Lincoln. “Okay, that’s not a good excuse,” she said. “I’m not a baby, crying because I need my milk at the start of the day. More importantly, Jesus gives me the power to love others the way He does. I should be able to be a loving and kind person without coffee. I’m sorry.” “I forgive you,” Lincoln said. “And I’m sorry you overslept this morning.” “Everything worked out in the end,” Mom said. “Right now I just need God’s grace, huh? I need Him to forgive me for letting my bad morning and lack of coffee affect my attitude and lead to a case of the grumpies taking over.” –Emily Acker How about you? What do you need each day in order to be kind and loving? Do you ever find yourself treating others badly because you’re hungry, haven’t slept well, or just want more time to yourself? Things like eating and sleeping well are important, but your greatest need of all is for Jesus. Trust Him to forgive your wrongs, meet your daily needs, and give you the power to show His love to others—even when you’re tired or hungry. Today's Key Verse: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Philippians 4:19 Today's Key Thought: Let Jesus be all you need

Jun 19

Read: Philippians 3:4-11 "Dad, my glasses broke!” Levi said. “Let me see,” said Dad. “It looks like a screw needs tightening. I think I can fix them.” “I wish I could get new glasses like Justin’s,” Levi said. “The ones he got are really cool. He’s always getting new things, and kids crowd around him to see his new stuff. With glasses like that, I’d be important like Justin.” “Well, let’s see what we can do with these,” said Dad. He set Levi’s glasses on his workbench and reached for his toolbox. “For a job this important, I’ll use my best tools.” Dad lifted out a tray of screwdrivers, all of them in good condition. Dad was a carpenter, and he took good care of his tools. He pushed the tray toward Levi. “Which one should we use?” Levi looked through the tray of short, long, wide, and narrow screwdrivers. None of them was the right size for the tiny screw. “None of these will work,” he said. “Are you sure?” asked Dad. “These are my very best tools.” “But they aren’t the right ones for the job,” said Levi. “You’re right.” Dad pulled a tiny screwdriver out of a drawer and used it to tighten the small screw. “You know, getting new stuff to make us feel important is like using the wrong tool for the job. New stuff gets old and breaks, or someone else gets something better or more exciting than what we have. We might even find that other people just think our stuff is important and not us.” "So if getting new stuff is the wrong way to feel important, what’s the right tool we should use?” asked Levi. “The only way to truly feel loved and important is by receiving Jesus’s gift of eternal life and embracing our identity in Him. He died and rose again to make us God’s children, and that’s a gift that will never break or wear out. Nothing will ever come along that’s better. We’re always loved and important to Him.” Dad handed Levi the repaired glasses, and Levi put them on. “Thanks, Dad,” he said. “I can see much better now—and I see I’m important to Jesus. No new stuff needed.” –Heidi J. Schmidt How about you? Do you wish you had cool stuff so other people would notice you or like you more? Having something that others want may make us feel important for a time, but that feeling only lasts until something new comes along. You don’t need anything new to get God’s attention. Being His child makes you important to Him, and His love and acceptance of you will last forever. Today's Key Verse: Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (NLT) Philippians 3:8 Today's Key Thought: You are important to Jesus

Jun 18

Read: Deuteronomy 31:7-8; Joshua 1:5 "Mae, I’d like you to put Miles down for his nap today,” said Mom. “I need to make an important phone call.” “Okay,” said Mae, smiling at her little brother. “Nap time!” she announced to the energetic little boy. Laughing, Miles toddled away, wanting his sister to chase him. Mae caught him quickly. “Sleepy time, buddy,” she said, taking him to his crib. She hoisted him over the side and laid him down. Little Miles scrambled around on the mattress, ignoring soft toys and stuffed animals. He settled down when Mae patted his back for a few moments. “Sweet dreams,” she whispered, backing out of the room. Just as she was about to shut the door, Miles started crying. “Blankie!” he sobbed. “Blankie!” He pulled himself up and began to shake the railing. Mae frowned. Where did he leave his blanket? She checked the TV room. She dug through the toy box. She searched the hall closet. She looked under the dining room table and on the chair seats. Finally, she found the blanket in a lower cupboard in the kitchen. As soon as Mae handed Miles his blanket, he stopped crying. He clutched the blanket in his arms and dropped to the mattress. After a few shaky breaths, he smiled contentedly at Mae. “Sweet dreams,” she said again as she left. “Miles had to have his ‘blankie’ before he’d go to sleep,” Mae told her mother later. “Good thing I found it or he never would have settled down.” “That blanket is his security,” said Mom. “I guess we all need security—even grown-ups! We need to feel comfortable and cared for and safe. What’s your security, Mae?” “My security?” asked Mae in surprise. She shrugged. “You, I guess. I know you’re here to help me if I need you.” She grinned. “You’re my ‘blankie.’ What’s yours?” “Well, we all find some security in family and friends, but a Christian’s real security is in Jesus and His love and forgiveness. He cares for us, and He’s always available. He saved us and promises to do what’s best for us, even when we go through difficult times.” Mae nodded thoughtfully. “He’s better than a blanket any day.” –Mary M. Ihlenfeldt How about you? What’s your security? People look for security in lots of places—money, possessions, government, and the people in their lives. But none of those things can provide real security—even the people who love you can’t be with you all the time and make mistakes. Only Jesus can bring real security. He cares for you and will always be with you. Depend on Him. Today's Key Verse: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NKJV) Matthew 28:20 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

Jun 17

Read: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11; Romans 8:35-39 Ryan helped his dad straighten the canvas of the tent that lay on the ground. “I love camping,” he said. “Sleeping in a tent is so cool!” Dad smiled. “I think so too. Okay, help me get the pegs through these tent loops. We’ll pound the pegs in about halfway at first and then secure them when they’re all in place.” Dad took one of the pegs and stuck it through a loop on the side of the tent. Ryan pounded it with the hammer. As Dad continued putting each peg in place, Ryan pounded it down. Then they put the poles together and raised the tent. “I can’t wait to go inside and get my sleeping bag rolled out!” said Ryan. “Well, don’t try going in yet,” said Dad. “It could collapse on you. We need to pound the pegs deeper into the ground first, remember?” Ryan nodded, and they got to work. When the tent was finally secured, they put their sleeping bags inside. Then they grabbed their fishing poles and headed for the river. Around midnight, Ryan woke to the sound of distant thunder. He saw that Dad was awake too. “Our tent won’t blow down, will it?” Ryan asked. “Oh, I don’t think so,” said Dad. “The wind is pretty gusty, but I don’t think it will get strong enough tonight to blow the tent away. The pegs will hold it in place.” He was right. The wind soon died down and the storm passed, and Ryan and Dad went back to sleep. “I’m glad we pounded those tent pegs in good and tight,” said Ryan as they enjoyed a campfire breakfast the next morning. “Me too,” said Dad. “They kept our tent in place during the storm.” He smiled at Ryan. “Do you know who holds us steady through the storms of life?” “Jesus does,” said Ryan. “If the wind got strong enough, the tent pegs might have let go, but nothing could ever make Jesus let go of us, could it?” “No way,” said Dad. “He died for our sins and rose again so we could spend eternity with Him. No matter how many difficult things come into our lives, we can always count on Jesus to hold us steady and help us through them.” –Pauline Youd How about you? Has your life been shaken up by something difficult—divorce, a death in the family, crime, or the loss of a friend? Things like that can sometimes make life seem very dark and stormy. That’s when you need to remember that Jesus is still with you. He loves you and promises to help you through all of life’s storms. No matter what difficult circumstances you face, He will never let you go. Today's Key Verse: For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (NLT) Hebrews 13:5 Today's Key Thought: Jesus will always help you

Jun 16

Read: Galatians 5:22-25 "Mom, can we have fruit salad for lunch?” asked Brynlee. “Good idea,” said Mom. “You can help me make it. We have lots of different kinds of fruit we can use today.” As they began putting the fruit together, Mom had an idea. “Maybe we can put nine different kinds of fruit in our salad and pretend we’re putting in the fruit of the Spirit,” she said. “We learned about them in church last week, remember?” “Yeah,” said Brynlee. “I’ll name them as we put them in.” She put orange pieces into a big bowl. “I’ll call these love,” she said. Then she opened a can and added pineapple chunks. “These will be joy. What else do we have?” “I have some fresh peach wedges ready,” said Mom. “And here’s a cantaloupe we can cut up.” Brynlee put in the peaches, calling them peace. She decided on patience for the cantaloupe. “The apples will be kindness, and the pears will be goodness,” she said. “I’ll slice some bananas and call them faithfulness.” “Okay, and you can add some of these grapes,” said Mom. Brynlee called the grapes gentleness. “We still need a fruit for self-control,” said Brynlee. “But we don’t have anything else, do we?” Mom shook her head. “No, I don’t think so,” she said. “Unless…” She opened a cupboard door. “How about some dried cranberries?” “All right!” said Brynlee. “Now we have something for each fruit of the Spirit.” “Good,” said Mom. “You did a great job remembering them. You got them all!” At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed the salad. “Good to the last bite,” said Dad, popping the last piece of pineapple into his mouth. “And now our fruit of the Spirit is all gone,” said Brynlee. “I hope not!” said Mom. “Spiritual fruit will always be a part of our lives as Christians. As we rely on the Holy Spirit to fill us with love and become more like Jesus, others will be able to see the fruit of God’s love in us.” Dad nodded. “I pray that the fruit God produces in our lives will show people we belong to Him.” –Linda Weddle How about you? Can others see the fruit of the Spirit in your life? People aren’t able to see when you’ve had apples or peaches or other kinds of fruit for lunch, but the fruit of the Spirit should be visible in the life of every Christian. Are you letting others see the fruit of the love God has planted in your heart? Trust Him to help you let your words and actions show others you know Jesus. Today's Key Verse: The fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (ERV) Galatians 5:22-23 Today's Key Thought: Display the fruit of the Spirit

Jun 15

Read: Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 64:8; Hosea 11:1-4 "Good job!” Dad shouted to Ellery. He was holding on to her by a towel looped under her armpits as she practiced riding her two-wheel bike. Her tongue stuck out of her mouth in deep concentration as she tried to maintain her balance even with Dad’s support. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, her eyes going wide. She started wobbling, but Dad held her upright as the bike went down to the ground. He hauled Ellery to her feet and smiled down at her. Ellery looked up at Dad and asked, “Again?” Ellery practiced her biking skills for a while longer before they returned to the campsite just in time to grill some burgers over the fire. Meredith, her older sister, and Mom were just finishing up their quiet time when they arrived. Dad helped Ellery assemble her dinner just the way she liked it—two slices of cheese, three squirts of mustard, and four pickles. “I read something interesting in my Bible today,” Meredith said as Ellery dove into her food. Ellery made a strange gurgling sound that resembled the words, “What, what?” “Manners,” both Mom and Dad said in unison. Meredith looked at her sister and shook her head before continuing. “I read that God is our Father. I think it’s cool there are so many different words in the Bible that describe who God is.” “Do you know why God calls Himself our Father?” Mom asked. “Because He made us!” Ellery jumped in, now having swallowed her delicious bite. “You’re right,” Dad said. “And when we trust in Jesus, we become part of God’s family. The Bible also describes what kind of Father God is. He teaches us, encourages us, and is always with us.” “Like how you helped me on my bike today!” “Or how you helped me with my jump shot in basketball,” Meredith added. Dad smiled at them. “Yes, but us human dads aren’t perfect. My dad hurt me a lot when I was younger, and I know I’m not perfect and have messed up too. But God never does that. He is the perfect Father.” “He’s even better than you?” Ellery asked. “Even better than you can imagine,” Dad responded as Ellery leaned her head against his arm. –Zoe Brickner How about you? Do you have a loving dad in your life? If so, Father’s Day is the perfect time to thank God for that wonderful blessing—and tell your dad you’re thankful for him too! If you don’t have a dad in your life, or your relationship with him is difficult, know that God sees you and loves you more than you could ever know. Unlike human dads, God is a perfect Father. He cherishes you and will be with you always. Today's Key Verse: See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. (CSB) 1 John 3:1 Today's Key Thought: God is our Father

Jun 14

Read: Ephesians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19 "Sold!” proclaimed the fast-talking auctioneer, and Logan grinned at his mother. He found auctions fun and interesting, so he hadn’t minded when she wanted to stop and see what was happening at this antique auction. “Another broken piece of junk sold to the highest bidder,” Logan murmured, stifling a laugh. He liked to tease his mom about liking antiques. Mom smiled and nudged him with her elbow. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she told him. Logan shrugged and continued sitting on his hands as the auctioneer began selling an autographed baseball. Logan had learned to avoid lifting his hand during the bidding. Earlier he had started to scratch his head and the auctioneer thought he was bidding on the item being auctioned. As they drove home after the auction, Logan asked his mom why people were so willing to spend their money on other people’s junk. “I can’t believe how much they’ll pay for that stuff,” he said. “I thought a few things they sold at the auction were cool, but people paid less for them than for stuff I wouldn’t want if it were given to me! Who decides how much those things are worth?” “The condition of the piece is important,” said Mom, “and whether the item is rare or not is also a factor. But the bottom line is…well, how much someone is willing to pay for it. That’s really what determines how much an item is worth.” Logan thought for a moment. “That’s kinda like something we talked about in my class at church last week,” he said. “Our teacher explained that God sent His Son to die for us—Jesus paid for our sins with His own life. I guess that makes us worth a lot!” “I like that, Logan,” Mom said. “I think you got a lot from that auction—even though you didn’t buy anything.” Logan had one more question. “Um, Mom, what did I almost buy today when I scratched my head?” “An old record player,” Mom replied. “Oh.” Logan paused. “What’s a record player?” –Mike Dize How about you? Do you know how much you’re worth? Because of what Jesus did for you, you’re worth a lot—He paid a huge price for you! He gave His life to pay the price of your sin. Have you responded to that great love? Have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 6:20 Today's Key Thought: You’re worth what Jesus paid for you

Jun 13

Read: Isaiah 55:8-9 Gunner ran to the garage when he heard his parents drive in. “Is Grandpa okay?” he asked anxiously as they got out of the car. Dad put his hand on Gunner’s shoulder. “Your grandfather isn’t suffering anymore,” he said quietly. “He died this afternoon—he’s in heaven now.” Gunner swallowed hard, forcing back tears that choked his throat. He walked away while Dad was still talking. In his room, Gunner thought about all the things he and Grandpa had planned to do. “It’s not fair!” he muttered. He looked up as Dad came in. “I don’t get it,” Gunner said. “I prayed all day for Grandpa. God can do anything, can’t He? So why didn’t He heal Grandpa?” “Sometimes God’s answer to what we ask is no,” Dad said gently. “I don’t know why He didn’t heal Grandpa, but I know Jesus promises to be with us in our pain and sadness. Grandpa is in heaven with Him now, and someday we’ll see him again.” Gunner turned away. He wasn’t ready to give up his grandfather. “But I wanted Grandpa to stay here with us.” Dad sat down beside him. “When you ask Mom and me for something we don’t think is good for you, we tell you no. You don’t like it when we say no. You might be upset about it—maybe even angry sometimes. But you know we love you and want what’s best for you, right?” Gunner nodded. “We talk about what’s happening and how all of us feel, and we go on loving each other,” continued Dad. “We’re a family even though we disagree. Well, that’s how it is with God too. When we don’t get what we ask Him for, we’re unhappy and sometimes get angry with Him. It’s okay to tell Him how we feel, but we need to remember that God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. He wants what’s best for us—and for Grandpa.” “But I’m going to miss Grandpa so much,” Gunner said, resting his face against his dad’s shoulder. “Me too,” Dad said. “We can cry together.” Gunner slipped his arm around his dad and hung on tight. “But let’s thank Jesus that Grandpa is with Him now,” said Dad. “And let’s trust Him even though we’re hurting.” –Janet Boulter How about you? Has someone you love died? Is someone sick? Tell Jesus about your hurts and fears. You may not always understand why He allows certain things to happen, but He will always be there with you and help you through times of pain and sorrow. Remember that He is good and that He loves and cares for you, even when you don’t understand. Today's Key Verse: As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. (NKJV) Isaiah 55:9 Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus when you’re hurting

Jun 12

Read: James 4:13-17; 1 Peter 4:7-11 Jade stretched and yawned. Then she jumped down from her place on the top bunk and hurried to get dressed. “Let’s go, troops!” yelled a cheery voice from outside. “We have many miles to cover on our morning hike.” “How can Ella be so cheerful at seven o’clock in the morning?” asked Hayley, one of Jade’s cabinmates. “I don’t know,” Jade answered, “but I like it. Her cheerfulness rubs off on me. Let’s go.” Jade and Hayley joined the other campers as they gathered in front of the dining hall. “Good morning!” said Ella, their camp counselor. “Are you ready for our adventure? We’ll fix breakfast a little way down the trail.” A few minutes later, they were off. “Make sure you stay on the trail,” Ella told the group. “There was a heavy mist last night, and everything is damp. The grass is pretty wet, and your feet will be too if you walk on it.” “It’s not misty now,” said Hayley. “Isn’t it funny how mist just disappears?” “Yeah—like a vapor,” said Jade. “I learned a verse at church that says life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” “That’s right,” said Ella. “I know that verse too. It tells us how short life is—like a mist. And what did the mist do while it was here?” “It made things wet,” Hayley replied. “It soaked the grass so much that we don’t want to walk on it.” Ella nodded. “Right. And in a way, we soak our environment too. For example, do you know anyone who soaks you with joy?” Jade spoke up quickly. “You do! You always soak me with your cheerfulness, Ella. You make me feel happy.” Ella was surprised. “Why, thank you! But you know, the only reason I’m able to do that is because Jesus fills me with joy. Our lives may be short, but Jesus gives us the ability to soak other people’s lives with His love. When we trust in Him, He fills our short lives on this earth with great purpose—the purpose of helping others know He loves them and offers them eternal life with Him.” –Kathy A. Brand How about you? What do you soak those around you with? Our time on earth may be short, but with Jesus, you can make a big difference in other people’s lives. When you trust in Him, He fills you with His love and joy so you can point others to Him. Even though life is short, trust Jesus to help you become more like Him so He can use your life for His great purpose. Today's Key Verse: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (NIV) John 13:34 Today's Key Thought: Share Jesus’s love with others

Jun 11

Read: Romans 12:4-10 Cassie sat on the beach with her seagull in a cage at her side. She looked up at her mother, who was standing beside her. “I’m not sure I can let Howard go, Mom,” she said. “He’s just about the only friend I’ve got!” She sighed. “Some kids at school say I’m dumb because I have to go to special classes.” Cassie looked down. “Why can’t I be smart like other kids?” Mom sat down and put her arm around Cassie. “You’re very smart, honey. That word doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Besides, our value isn’t based on what we can do—it’s based on who we are in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. But He did also make each one of us special and give us our own gifts and talents.” Cassie wiped her eyes. “I don’t have any gifts.” “Oh, but you do, Cassie!” Mom said. “I believe you have the wonderful gift of being able to help others.” “I do?” Cassie asked, wide-eyed. Mom nodded. “You’re very helpful to lots of people. When Grandma broke her hip, you went to her house almost every day to help out. You always remember to pray for kids at school who are sick—and look at Howard.” Cassie looked down at the seagull. “Howard was badly injured when you found him,” continued Mom, “and with help from the wildlife refuge, you nursed him back to health.” Mom smiled. “The workers at the refuge said you have such a natural way of handling him that he’s even become your friend. You’ve done such a good job, and now he’s ready to be released. You’re helpful in many ways.” Cassie shrugged. “Anyone would do those things.” Mom shook her head. “I wish that were true, but not everyone is that sensitive to the needs of others.” Cassie looked at Howard. “Well, Howard, how would you like your freedom?” She stood up and opened the cage, and the bird was soon in the air. He floundered a bit, then squawked what must have been a thank you and sailed out over the water. Cassie smiled. She would miss her little friend, but she was eager to see where she could use her special way with animals next. –A.J. Schut How about you? Do you realize that everyone—including you—has special gifts from God? Maybe you think other kids are gifted because they get better grades or have greater athletic ability than you. But you’re gifted too—God may have just given you different gifts than He gave those kids, like perhaps being friendly and encouraging others. Be thankful for the gifts God has given you and use them to help others. Today's Key Verse: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church…gifts. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Today's Key Thought: God gives gifts to everyone

Jun 10

Read: Matthew 7:1-5; James 1:12-15 "I can’t believe it! Andrew says he’s a Christian, but I saw him looking at a bad website on his tablet today,” Zane told his dad. “He must be really weak to look at that kind of stuff.” “So looking at websites like that doesn’t appeal to you at all?” Dad asked. “No way!” said Zane. “I don’t have any problem staying away from that junk.” “I’m glad,” Dad said as he put fishing rods into the trunk of the car. “Did you pack the trout flies?” “Trout flies? I thought we were fishing for northern pike. You won’t hook one of them with a trout fly!” Dad grinned. “I can see you know a lot about fishing bait.” He shut the trunk door. “So, what kind of bait do you need to look out for?” “Me?” asked Zane. Dad nodded. “Just like different fish are caught with different lures, different people are tempted to sin by different things. As you pointed out, Andrew is tempted by things he shouldn’t look at online. So what are you tempted by?” “Um…” Zane hesitated. “I don’t know.” “Well, let’s see. Why were you grounded last week?” asked Dad. Zane’s face grew warm. “I got upset at Macie and smashed one of her toys on the floor.” “And you got in trouble last month for pushing down a boy at school,” said Dad. “So you have to watch out for a different lure than Andrew does—you’re often tempted to hurt others when you feel angry.” Zane sighed. “I guess Andrew and I are a lot alike.” “You and Andrew and every other Christian,” said Dad. “We all struggle with sin, but we’re not all tempted by the same things. So instead of judging other Christians when they’re tempted by certain sins, we need to encourage them and remind them that Jesus has freed us from sin. And if they do give in, we need to show them grace—just like Jesus does for us.” Zane nodded. “I’ll do that next time I see Andrew looking at things he shouldn’t—and ask him to do the same for me when I get angry.” “Good idea.” Dad opened the car door. “Okay, jump in. Let’s go get ’em!” –Karen Ditthardt How about you? What sins do you struggle with? You may not struggle with the same things your friends do, but all Christians struggle with temptation at times. Jesus tells us not to point a finger at others while ignoring our own shortcomings. Instead, we need to remind other Christians who they are in Jesus when they’re tempted to sin—and be on the lookout for the things that tempt us. Today's Key Verse: Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV) James 1:14 Today's Key Thought: Christians struggle with different sins

Jun 9

Read: 1 John 1:5-10 "Your mom’s calling you for lunch?” Josie asked in surprise as she talked on the phone with her cousin Olive. “You mean you haven’t eaten lunch yet? It’s almost two in the afternoon! We ate a long time ago.” “Well, it’s only noon here in Colorado, remember?” Olive replied. “We’re in different time zones.” “Oh, that’s right!” said Josie. “Well, I’d better go anyway—have a nice lunch.” The girls said goodbye, and Josie hung up. Then she wandered out to the backyard where her dad was working. “Josie, I need you to walk down to Tess’s house and pick up your sister,” Dad said as he poured fertilizer out of a bag. “It’s time for her to come home, and I’m busy with this.” “Why can’t she just walk home?” asked Josie. “She’s too young to walk that far by herself,” said Dad. “I’m covered in fertilizer, so I need you to go get her.” “No, I don’t want to!” said Josie. “I’m sick of always doing everything for her. She’s so annoying!” Josie turned and hurried toward the house. When Josie found herself sitting alone in her room a few minutes later, she wished she had obeyed her father, but it was too late now. She knew she deserved to be punished. When Dad came to Josie’s room, she looked up sadly. “I wish we were in Colorado,” she said. “It’s two hours earlier there—just a little after twelve o’clock instead of two o’clock—so the time I got into trouble hasn’t happened there yet. When it got to be two o’clock, I would obey you instead of talking back. I wish I hadn’t done that.” “Things that have happened can’t be made to unhappen,” Dad said. “We can’t go back in time—and even if we could, we’d still sin and make mistakes. But we can be forgiven for the wrong we’ve done. You don’t need to move to another time zone for that. When you confess your sin to Jesus, He’ll forgive you—and I will too.” Josie jumped up. “I’m sorry, Dad!” she said. “I really am!” Dad smiled. “Good,” he said as Josie gave him a hug. “Then you can go get your sister so I can finish with the fertilizer.” Josie sighed. “Okay, Dad,” she said. “I will.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Have you ever wished you could go back and undo something you’ve done? You can’t do that, but because Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, you can be forgiven. If what you did hurt other people, do your best to make things right with them. Let them know you’re sorry, and accept the consequences of your sin. Most importantly, confess your sin to Jesus. He will forgive you and give you a clean start. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) 1 John 1:9 Today's Key Thought: God forgives

Jun 8

Read: Genesis 50:20; Psalm 66:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-9 "Wow, look at all the flowers!” Kayla stared in awe at the field of flowers. Her family was hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park. To their left was a stunning lake surrounded by mountains and to their right was a forest filled with beautiful pinkish-purple flowers. The trees were all blackened and bare, so the true beauty came from the flowers and the backdrop of mountains. “These flowers are called fireweed,” Mom said. “They’re called that because they grow after a fire.” “Is that why all the trees are burnt?” Kayla asked. “Because of a fire?” “Yes,” Dad replied. “Several years ago there was a huge wildfire here. It burned all the trees and plants. Until the rest of the plants grow back, all that’s here is the fireweed. The roots of fireweed can survive extremely hot temperatures, so it is one of the first plants to sprout up. The fire can even help it grow.” “It’s so beautiful how these flowers can grow even after the devastation of a fire,” Kayla said. “I think it’s a beautiful example of how God works to bring good things out of bad things,” Mom said thoughtfully. “Sometimes He allows bad things to happen in our lives so He can use them for good.” “Yeah, the fire must’ve been terrible, but God was nourishing little roots of beauty even then,” Kayla said. Mom nodded. “That’s so true. Sometimes we can see how God is working in our lives, but often we won’t see it right away. When this wildfire was raging through the park, I’m sure people worried that a lot of the park’s natural beauty would be destroyed. But after the wildfire died down, these wildflowers sprouted up! And the park is still beautiful, even though there’s not as many trees as before. In the same way, God can use our hard times to help us grow in our faith, which is a beautiful thing.” “That also reminds me of Jesus’s sacrifice,” Dad said. “It must’ve seemed like a terrible thing to Jesus’s disciples for Him to be crucified. But God planned it for good—it was the only way we could be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him.” Kayla smiled. “I’m so thankful God causes beauty to flourish even after hard times.” –Elizabeth Cooper How about you? Do you have a hard time seeing beauty in your life when things are hard? Sometimes it can take a while to see God bring good things out of bad things, and sometimes we won’t see how God was working in our lives until we get to heaven. But because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we have the hope of an eternal future with God and can trust Him to use even bad things that happen in our lives for good. Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (CSB) Romans 8:28 Today's Key Thought: God brings good things out of bad things

Jun 7

Read: Colossians 1:9-14 Hudson was working on his electric train set when Dad joined him in the basement. “How’s the train project coming along?” he asked. “Good!” said Hudson. “It’s almost ready to run.” "All right!” said Dad. “And how was school today?” Hudson frowned. “I got in trouble for coming in late from recess again, and Miss Cooley gave me extra math homework because I didn’t do the homework she assigned yesterday.” He sighed. “Everyone’s always on my case—I wish I could just do whatever I wanted, like you and Mom.” “Hmm,” said Dad. “Well, Hudson, let’s see how your train runs.” He reached over and pressed the start button, and the train began moving. “Wait! What are you doing? I don’t have all the tracks down yet!” exclaimed Hudson. “It’s gonna crash!” As he spoke, the train rounded the turn and rolled off the track, falling on its side. Hudson sighed. “I knew that would happen.” “So the train needs the tracks,” said Dad. “Otherwise it doesn’t get where it’s supposed to go, right?” Hudson nodded. “Yeah.” “Well, God’s path for your life is like those tracks,” said Dad. “He sent Jesus to die for you so you could have a relationship with Him for all eternity, and He is patiently building your character and shaping you to be more like Jesus so others can see His love in you. He does that for each one of His children, but when we insist on doing things our own way and disobey the people He puts in our lives to help us learn, we get off track. When that happens, we need to ask Him to forgive us and set us right again.” Dad picked up the train and set it back on the track. “It may seem like Mom and I can do whatever we want because we’re adults, but that’s not true. We’re just farther down our life track than you are and have already learned many of the things God is still teaching you—like responsibility. But we still need His guidance and forgiveness just as much as you do.” “Okay, Dad,” Hudson said as he put another piece of the track in place. “I’ll trust God to help me stay on track.” –Michael R. Chapman How about you? Do you get tired of people telling you what to do? Do you ever wish you could do whatever you wanted? Remember that God has placed people in your life to teach you what He wants you to learn. As you get older, you’ll have more freedom in making choices, but you’ll have more responsibilities too. That’s why you need to depend on God to help you stay on track. Trust Him to lead you along life’s path in the way He wants you to go. Today's Key Verse: That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10 Today's Key Thought: Trust God's path for your life

Jun 6

Read: Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34 "Get in there!” said Finley, shoving her beach blanket into her suitcase. “Are you still packing?” asked her older brother, Ian. “We’re leaving in ten minutes! Here, let me help you.” He jumped on the lid of the suitcase, holding it in place while Finley moved the zipper around the edges. Dad appeared at the door. “I’ll take your suitcase to the car,” he said, picking it up. “Wow! Why is it so heavy?” “Because she’s taking half the things in her room!” said Ian. “Well, they’re important,” Finley said. “I need my hat, my beach blanket, and three swimsuits in case I can’t decide which one to wear. I need my sailboat to play with in the ocean, and I can’t build sand castles without my pail and shovel. If it rains, I’ll have my raincoat, my boots, and my umbrella. I also packed a puzzle, some games, and bedtime books. And my teddy bear in case I can’t fall asleep.” “I think you should leave some things behind,” said Dad. “But what if I need something and don’t have it?” “Finley, I think something else might be weighing your suitcase down,” said Dad. “Just like you packed too many things in your suitcase, you can also pack too many worries in your head—and they can make life very heavy.” “I thought I was just planning ahead for a good vacation,” said Finley. “It’s good to be prepared, but there’s a difference between planning ahead and trying to control anything that could happen. That’s what worrying really is—being afraid of something you can’t control. If you unpack your worries, your suitcase will probably be lighter too.” “But how do I unpack my worries?” asked Finley. “By surrendering them to Jesus. He loves you so much He died for you, and He promises to take care of you. Instead of worrying about what might happen, you can have peace knowing He’s in control. Let Him carry the weight of your worries.” Dad unzipped Finley’s suitcase. “Why don’t we take a moment to pray about some of your worries now? Then we can lighten up that suitcase and start our vacation!” –Elena Dee How about you? Do you feel heavy with worry? Are you afraid of things in your life you can’t control? Worries can weigh you down like a heavy suitcase, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus wants to carry your worries for you. He died and rose again to save you, and He promises to provide you with everything you need. Pray about what’s worrying you, and trust Him to take care of you and give you peace. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. (ERV) 1 Peter 5:7 Today's Key Thought: Give your worries to Jesus

Jun 5

Read: Psalms 8; 104:24-28 Carson loved visiting the aquarium. There was so much to see there, and he not only liked seeing the bigger fish but also the smaller ones and the other creatures that lived in the ocean. He could spend hours watching the tanks and all the different creatures that lived in them. “Having fun?” Carson’s uncle Brett asked. Carson’s younger cousins were running back and forth, shouting out the names of everything they saw, but Carson had chosen to stand and quietly observe the tank in front of him. Carson nodded. “This is awesome.” “It is. Just think about God’s creativity with all of this,” Uncle Brett said. “He could have made all the fish look alike, but instead they are different colors, shapes, and sizes.” “Yet they all live together in the ocean.” Carson shook his head. “It’s amazing.” They continued on in the aquarium for a while before taking a break for lunch. Carson was disappointed to leave. “There’s just so much to see. I want to make sure we get to all of it,” he said with a sigh as he followed his family away from the tanks. “We’ll see more of it after lunch,” Uncle Brett said. “And since you’re so interested, maybe we’ll have to come back again. Or better yet, maybe you and I could go snorkeling one day.” Carson’s eyes widened. “Really?” Uncle Brett nodded. “I always love seeing more of God’s creation. The ocean is filled with even more amazing creatures than we can find here.” “That would be so cool,” Carson said. Uncle Brett nudged his shoulder. “The ocean and all that’s in it is pretty amazing, but one of God’s most special creations is right here.” “Huh?” Carson glanced at him. “You!” Uncle Brett said. “God created you and your cousins and me and all people with just as much care as He did all the creatures in the ocean. But He made us in His own image, and when we were separated from Him because of sin, Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. I think that makes us pretty special, don’t you?” “Yeah.” Carson smiled. “But I’d still love to go snorkeling in the ocean.” –Bethany Acker How about you? When you look at the ocean and all the creatures that live in it, does it amaze you? How does it feel to know God made all that and that He made you too? People are God’s most special creation, and He loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us so we could live with Him forever. When you look at God’s amazing creation, remember how special you are to Him. Today's Key Verse: There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small. (NIV) Psalm 104:25 Today's Key Thought: God created the oceans and you

Jun 4

Read: Isaiah 55:10-11; Jeremiah 18:6 Tiago held a headless clay animal in his hand. “Mom!” he wailed. “I forgot to put my animal back in the container, and the clay got all hard and dry before I could finish, so now it doesn’t have a head!” “I’m sorry, Tiago,” said Mom. “But it’s too late to do anything about it now. It’s time for bed.” “But my animal project is due tomorrow, and now all this work was for nothing!” Tiago groaned as he dropped the animal onto his dresser and crawled into bed. Mom glanced at the Bible on Tiago’s dresser. “Aren’t you going to read a few verses before you go to sleep?” she asked. “I thought you did that every night.” Tiago shrugged. “I’ve been busy lately, and I don’t understand it very well anyway.” He pulled the covers up to his chin. “I think it’d be better to wait until I’m older so I can understand it.” Mom picked up the animal Tiago had made. “Did you know that we’re a lot like clay?” “We are?” asked Tiago. Mom nodded. “The Bible compares us to clay that God shapes. When you shaped this, it took time, didn’t it? You kept working with it until it looked good. God does that with us. One way He does that is through His Word—the Bible. Even though you don’t understand everything, it helps you learn more about Jesus and what He did to save you. As you read and listen to God’s truth in the Bible, He works in your heart and helps you learn to trust and obey Him so He can shape your life into something beautiful.” Tiago looked at the hardened clay his mom was holding. “He’ll probably do a better job shaping me than I did with that animal, huh?” “Yes,” said Mom. “You can trust Him to shape you to be more like Jesus—and reading your Bible will help you understand more about what that looks like.” Mom set down the animal and picked up Tiago’s Bible. “So do you want to read a few verses now? You can let me know if you need help understanding them.” “Okay,” said Tiago. “But don’t go far away. I’ll probably need help!” –A.J. Schut How about you? Does the Bible seem too hard for you to understand? Even though you don’t understand everything, it helps you learn more about who God is and what He’s done for you. So spend time reading it each day, and ask other Christians—like parents, teachers, or pastors—to explain some of the things you find difficult. God will use it to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Today's Key Verse: My word…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire. (NKJV) Isaiah 55:11 Today's Key Thought: God shapes you through His Word

Jun 3

Read: Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Trey was excited because today Grandma was finally going to teach him how to make her famous molasses bread. As Dad dropped him off and waved goodbye, Trey could already taste the rich, fluffy bread and the salty crunch of toasted oats on top. Grandma welcomed Trey with a hug and led him into the kitchen. They used sign language to communicate because Trey was deaf. Grandma signed “flour,” “molasses,” “yeast,” and “spoon.” Trey scurried around the kitchen to find the ingredients while Grandma started mixing. As they added more and more ingredients, a dark and gooey dough formed. Grandma placed a towel over the dough bowl before gently setting it in a sunny part of the kitchen. “Why doesn’t the dough look like bread yet?” Trey signed. Grandma smiled. “The dough must rise before it goes in the oven.” That made sense to Trey. After an hour and a half, they checked the dough. It was double the size and very poofy. Grandma punched down the dough before laying it on the pan and putting it in the oven. Trey frowned. The dough still didn’t look like bread. It didn’t look tasty at all. Did Grandma forget something? He asked her this, and she replied, “Just you wait and see.” When Grandma took the tray out of the oven, Trey was nervous. But the bread looked perfect, smelled perfect, and tasted even better than perfect. As they ate, Grandma said, “You know, making bread reminds me of what it’s like to become God’s new creation.” Trey shrugged, confused. Grandma continued. “Before we put our trust in Jesus, we are like raw, scattered ingredients—we don’t have a purpose. We are controlled by our wrong desires and deserve death because of our sin. But Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead so we could have new life and live with Him forever. Jesus gives us a purpose—to love Him and others and become more like Him. Just like the dough needs the oven to become bread, we need Jesus to be saved from sin and be made new.” Trey nodded eagerly and took Grandma’s hand to pray. Somehow this seemed even better than Grandma’s famous molasses bread. –Hannah Chung How about you? Have you ever baked something and wondered, “How do these random ingredients make something so delicious?” Without the oven, the dough would be raw and inedible. Similarly, we can only have true life by trusting in Jesus. When you trust Him to save you, God immediately makes you new! Trust in Jesus today and experience a new life of purpose. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) 2 Corinthians 5:17 Today's Key Thought: Christ alone makes us new

Jun 2

Read: Romans 8:35-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 4:12–14 Alisha ran inside the house. “There’s a butterfly outside!” she exclaimed. “I got a picture on my phone. Do you want to see it?” she asked Devin, her older sister. “Sure.” Devin inspected the photo. “That butterfly is beautiful,” she said as she cut into a mango. Alisha frowned as juice hit her phone. “That mango juice is getting everywhere.” Devin shrugged as a piece of mango flew across the kitchen. “I’m trying to keep it from splashing all over the place, but mangos are messy.” Alisha sat down at the counter and watched her sister. “Why eat mangos then? If they’re messy, you could just not buy them.” Devin popped a piece of mango into her mouth. “Because they taste really good, and I think it’s worth it.” She gave Alisha a smile. “It’s kind of like your school problem.” Alisha blinked. “Your mango is like people being mean to me at school because I believe in Jesus?” she asked doubtfully. “Kind of. Being a follower of Jesus can be messy. The Bible even tells us that—it says others might make fun of us or try to make life harder for us, like the kids at school who are mean to you. But you haven’t stopped trusting in Jesus, have you?” Alisha looked shocked. “Why would I do that? He died for my sins so He could be with me all the time, and someday I’ll be able to spend forever in heaven with Him.” Devin smiled. “See? Knowing Jesus is worth it. Just like the mangos.” She cut into a second mango. Alisha ducked so no juice would hit her. “I don’t care how messy following Jesus is! Just like you don’t care how messy your mango is.” She thought about that for a moment. “I guess that makes sense. Kids at school make fun of me, but I know that Jesus loves me and died to save me, and that’s worth whatever mean stuff people say.” Alisha shrieked as a piece of mango hit her arm. “But those mangos are not worth it at all. I’m getting out of here!” –Kimberly Brokish How about you? Has anyone ever been mean to you because you believe in Jesus?* Maybe they’ve called you names or said Jesus isn’t real. The Bible tells us that being Christians doesn’t protect us from all hardships—in fact, sometimes we will experience difficulties because we follow Jesus. But the Bible does tell us that Jesus will always love us and be with us. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus will be with you no matter what happens. He is worth any difficulties that come with following Him. Today's Key Verse: That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 12:10 Today's Key Thought: Hardships come when we follow Christ *If someone is being mean to you, talk to a trusted adult so they can help

Jun 1

Read: Joshua 1:1-9 The sick feeling in Micah’s stomach got worse as the plane lifted off the ground and lurched into the air. Everything below him was the size of ants. Not only did he feel sick to his stomach, his chest felt tight too. Dad sat next to him and tried to smile encouragingly. It didn’t help. Since his parents’ divorce he’d had to spend most of his time with Mom and went to visit Dad in the summer and over Christmas. Every time he left Mom, Micah felt scared. He wasn’t afraid of his dad—he loved him—just scared of change. Of traveling to new places. Airports. Big cities. The sadness he felt from his parent’s divorce was bad enough, but the fear that came with it made him feel like his life was out of control. The plane leveled off, and Micah began to breathe a little easier. Dad reached over and gave him a hug. “Change is hard, isn’t it? New things and places can be uncomfortable. But I know something that might help you.” Dad pulled out his Bible. “This morning I read about Joshua leading the children of Israel into their new land. There were bad guys to fight, he’d never led anyone into battle before, and change was all around him. But God was with him and brought him through it all.” Dad squeezed Micah’s arm. “I know your mom’s and my divorce has been very difficult for you and how many changes you’ve had to go through. But I also know that because you trust in Jesus, God is with you and will never leave you. Wherever you go, He goes. God was with Joshua just like He promised, and He promises to be with you too. You don’t have to be afraid.” After Micah listened to Dad read some verses from his Bible, he thought about it for a while. He liked the idea of never being alone. Someone would always be with him when new things happened or new people came into his life. And not just anyone, but someone who loved and cared about him. A trusted Friend— Jesus. Micah relaxed back into his seat and smiled. “You know, Dad, I think this is gonna be our best visit ever!” –S.K. Fry How about you? Have you ever been afraid of change? Of being alone? God promises in His Word that He will always be with His children. Jesus gave His life to save you from sin and make you God’s child, and He will be with you in hard times and give you strength and guidance. No matter what happens or where you go, He will always be with you. Today's Key Verse: Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV) Joshua 1:9 Today's Key Thought: God is with you

May 31

Read: Psalm 51:6-10; Luke 11:37-41 "Mom, can we go home now? I’m sooo bored!” Stella slumped against the seat of the car. “Stella, we’re almost done—kids, look! A whole block sale!” Mom pulled the car over to the side of the road. Hayden excitedly pressed his nose against the window. “I love yard sailing!” The family got out of the car. Hayden ran straight to a model airplane. Stella stuck close to her mom as they looked at different mugs. Mom picked up one with a lid just as Hayden came running back. He and Stella both saw it at the same time, and the siblings gasped in unison. “That is the prettiest mug I’ve ever seen!” Stella exclaimed. “Mom, you have to get it!” Hayden said. “All right, fine.” Mom laughed and brought the mug to the cashier. When the family arrived home, Stella asked, “Mom, can I please have the mug?” Mom smiled. “No, but if you clean it, you can be the first to drink out of it!” Stella’s eyes sparkled. “Deal!” She ran excitedly to the sink. She opened the lid of the mug and immediately shut it. “Eww, it’s all gross on the inside!” Mom came over and peered at the mug. “Kids, this is a perfect example of what I read during my devotions today! In the book of Matthew, Jesus told the Pharisees to first clean the inside of the cup, and then the outside will also be clean. What do you think that verse actually means?” Stella wrinkled her nose in thought. “Oh, I know! God wants what we look like on the inside to matter more to us than our outward appearance.” Hayden’s eyes widened. “God wants us to clean our insides?” Stella smirked. “No, silly. God sees our hearts, and that’s what matters to Him.” “Oh, I get it now!” said Hayden. “We need to let Jesus make us clean.” “You got it,” said Mom. “When we trust Jesus as our Savior, He cleans our sin away and pours His love into our hearts. Then our outward actions will make His love visible to others.” She smiled. “Now, who wants some hot chocolate to go in that mug?” –Summer Coleman How about you? Are you more concerned with your outward appearance and how others see you than with God and how He sees your heart? What’s on the inside matters more because when we truly have a clean heart, it shows in the way we act and speak. How do you get a clean heart? By trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) When you have His love in your heart, others will see it in how you treat them. Today's Key Verse: First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean. (NKJV) Matthew 23:26 Today's Key Verse: What’s inside is most important

May 30

Read: Psalm 42:1-4 "It’s still raining,” said Hayley. “Isn’t the sun ever going to shine again?” “We need rain to make the garden grow,” said Mom. She smiled at her daughter. “This might be a good time for you to pray and read your Bible. You haven’t done that yet today, have you?” “No—but I have some other things I want to do first.” Hayley quickly headed for the stairs. “Seems like all we do in this family is go to church and read the Bible and pray,” she mumbled to herself. She blushed when she saw Mom glance her way. Oops! I hope Mom didn’t hear that, she thought. A little while later, Hayley came back downstairs and glanced out the window. “Good!” she said. “The rain stopped. We’ve had enough.” “Come with me to the garden,” said Mom. “I want to show you something.” Outside, Mom plunged a shovel into the dirt and turned it over. The ground was quite wet on top, but a little way down, the dirt was dry. “I thought it’d be muddy a mile below the surface!” said Hayley. “I guess we do need more rain.” Mom nodded. “The ground needs a lot of regular rain or it will dry out,” she said. “It reminds me of us—if we don’t regularly pray, read the Bible, and go to church, we can dry out spiritually.” Hayley sighed. “You heard what I said earlier, didn’t you?” “Yes, I did,” said Mom. “And I know it can be hard to do those things sometimes, but the Bible compares our need for Jesus to thirst. Even after we’ve put our faith in Him, we still need to spend time with Him so He can remind us that He has saved us and help us feel His love and presence in our lives. If we don’t pray, read His Word, and worship Him with other Christians regularly, we can lose sight of how much we need Him and become spiritually dry—just like this ground without rain.” Hayley was silent as they headed back to the house. “I think I’ll go have my quiet time now,” she said once they were inside. “I’m feeling thirsty for God’s Word.” –Cindy Huff How about you? Are you eager to spend time with Jesus and get to know Him better? As a Christian, your soul thirsts for Jesus, and that thirst can only be quenched by spending time in His presence so He can remind you of His love and that you are His. Don’t be a dry Christian. Spend quality time reading God’s Word, talking to Jesus, and learning all you can about Him. Today's Key Verse: I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. (NLT) Psalm 143:6 Today's Key Thought: Don’t be a dry Christian

May 29

Read: Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 14:22-32 Mara climbed up onto the beam Dad had built for her. She was determined to make the school gymnastics team, but after taking a few steps, she wobbled and nearly slipped off. “Focus your eyes on that picture you put up,” Mom said. While staring at the picture on the wall across the room, Mara slowly lifted her foot. But when she glanced back at her mother, she tilted to the left and then swayed to the right. She tried to regain her balance, but had to hop down to keep from toppling off the beam. She climbed back up. “I’m gonna get this,” she said. “I just have to focus.” After dinner that evening, Dad opened his Bible and handed it to Mara. “Why don’t you read a few verses from Proverbs for us?” “Okay.” Mara took the Bible and began to read. When she finished, she looked up. “Proverbs 4:25 sounds like good advice for gymnastics. I need to look straight ahead and keep my eyes from wandering. Every time I lose my focus, I lose my balance.” Mom nodded. “I have trouble with that too.” “You do?” Mara grinned. “Do you get up on the beam and practice when I’m not around?” Mom laughed. “No, but I have trouble in another area. As Christians, we need to keep our focus on Jesus so we don’t get distracted by things in this world and lose our balance in life.” Mara thought about that. “When I practice for gymnastics, I stare at that picture on the wall. But how do we focus on Jesus?” “Good question,” said Dad. “The passage you just read listed some ways to do that. Do you remember what it said we should do?” “I know!” said Mara’s little brother. “It said we should pay attention to what God says.” “And keep it in our hearts and not let it out of our sight,” added Mara. Dad nodded. “Right. That means putting our faith in Jesus and looking to His Word for guidance in our lives. It also means confessing our sins to Jesus and trusting Him for the power to obey Him and show His love to others. Focusing our lives on Him will keep us in perfect balance.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Do you focus on Jesus as you go about each day? Do you remember all He’s done for you and the love and forgiveness you have in Him? Do you trust Him to help you turn from sin and treat others with kindness? There are lots of things that need our daily attention, but don’t let them draw you away from what’s really important. Stay focused on Jesus and depend on Him to help you in every area of life. Today's Key Verse: Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (NIV) Proverbs 4:25 Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus

May 28

Read: Psalm 104:16-24 Dad rowed the boat to the edge of some lily pads. It was the best place in the lake to catch fish. As Alex sat in the boat with his father, he watched his red and white bobber closely and waited for it to go down, signaling a fish had taken the bait. The calm water reflected the sky and trees along the shore. Birds were singing, and a frog hopped off a lily pad and splashed into the lake. The bobber wiggled as the ripples spread under it, but it didn’t go down. “The fish don’t seem to be very hungry today,” Dad said a while later. “But it sure is nice out here with the blue sky and water and the green grass and trees. It’s all so peaceful.” Alex turned to his dad. “We’ve been studying colors in school,” he said. “Some scientists say that blue slows down the rate of the heart and green helps prevent eyestrain. That makes them restful colors.” “Do you suppose that’s why God made so much blue and green in nature?” Dad asked. “Just imagine what it would be like if the sky were bright red and all the leaves were black.” Alex laughed. “We learned that red is supposed to make people more active. Some say it can even cause blood pressure to rise. I don’t think it would make people feel very good to have a red sky all the time.” He paused. “It sure looks pretty when the sun is setting though.” “God is very wise,” said Dad. “We see a great deal of His wisdom in nature—even in the colors He chose. Restful greens and blues most of the time, but pretty reds and oranges and yellows in evening sunsets and fall leaves.” “Right. And lots of colors in flowers and berries and stuff.” Alex looked at his fishing line. “You know what else scientists say? They say orange makes you hungry.” He grinned at his dad. “I wish God had made these bobbers. Instead of making them red and white, He probably would have made them orange to make the fish more hungry. Then maybe they’d take the bait!” –Jane K. Chase How about you? Have you thought about how wonderful God’s creation is? The world is full of things that show His great wisdom and power. There’s something special and different about every season of the year, and every living creature has its own amazing features and abilities. Thank God for creating this beautiful world for you to enjoy—and for creating and loving you! Today's Key Verse: O Lord, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. (NLV) Psalm 104:24 Today's Key Thought: Appreciate God’s creation

May 27

Read: Genesis 3:8-23; Romans 6:23; 8:1 Lila normally loved her and Mom’s monthly post-church café tradition. They sat at their usual window seat, but today Lila nudged ice cubes around with her straw in silence. Unable to bear the silence anymore, Mom asked what was wrong. Sighing, Lila responded, “Well, we learned about sin today at church, and I just don’t understand. Why does sin have to ruin everything, and why does it cause pain and death and heartbreak?” “Now that’s a big question,” Mom said, “but a good one. Let me take a moment and try to think of a good way to answer.” She looked out the window until her eyes landed on something. “Do you see that wasp?” Lila grimaced at the yellow-and-black-winged terror. “Yes.” “Well, sin is kind of like your allergic reactions to wasp stings,” said Mom. “How did you feel when you got stung last week?” Lila rubbed the spot on her arm where a wasp had stung her. It was still slightly red and raised up. “I was dizzy. My whole arm swelled up, and I even had trouble breathing.” “Right. Even though the wasp only stung one tiny part of your body, you still felt its horrible effects everywhere. Like your bee sting, it only took one mistake for everything to become cursed with sin. When Adam and Eve, the first two people, chose their own way instead of God’s, their disobedience broke the perfect relationship they had with God and brought sin and its horrible effects into the world.” “And that’s why Jesus had to come,” said Lila. Mom nodded. “Jesus’s perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave saves us from the punishment of sin and heals our relationship with God. But because sin still exists in the world, we see its effects in our lives—like when wasps sting us and cause us pain. Yet we can be excited about how God will make everything perfect again one day.” Lila glanced at the wasp outside the window. “Yeah, thank You, Jesus, for saving us…and thank You for allergy medicine!” “Praise Jesus, indeed,” Mom said with a smile. Lila grinned as their server set a plate of waffles down in front of her. “Praise Jesus for waffles too.” –Zoe Brickner How about you? Have you ever wondered how sin could cause so much pain and suffering in the world? It’s easy to forget how awful sin truly is and how it effects everything. But God, out of His unexplainable and never-ending love for us, sent Jesus to save us from sin, and He promises to one day make everything perfect again. When we trust in Him, we can look forward to the day when all pain and suffering will end. Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV) Romans 6:23 Today's Key Thought: God will make everything perfect

May 26

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "We’re here!” Joshua and Jonathan tumbled out of the car and ran ahead of their parents through a gate. Then they stopped and looked around, puzzled. “This is a cemetery!” Jonathan said. “I thought we were going to a battlefield!” “Yeah,” said Joshua. “The only soldier around here is that statue in the middle of the graves. My teacher says statues like that are memorials—things to help us remember something.” “That’s right,” Dad said as they moved toward the statue. “Actually, this whole battlefield—which, by the way, extends beyond the cemetery—is a memorial.” Mom nodded. “A memorial can have different forms,” she said. “It can be a statue like the one we’re looking at. Or it can be a holiday—like Memorial Day. Or even a service designed to remind us of someone or something.” “Like how on Memorial Day we remember people who have died,” Jonathan said. “Yes,” said Mom. “On that day, we especially remember those who died while serving their country—men and women like the soldiers buried in this cemetery.” The boys began roaming around, reading the tombstones. “Hey, look!” Jonathan called. “This guy had the same name as me. ‘Jonathan Wright. Born 1760. Died 1778.’ That means he was only…uh…” Jonathan thought for a moment. “Eighteen years old when he died. He wasn’t very old!” “Do you boys know how old Jesus was when He died?” asked Dad. “Thirty-three,” said Joshua. He rolled a pebble on the gravel path under his shoe. “Why don’t we have a memorial day for Jesus?” he asked. “Oh, we do!” said Dad. “We remember His death on Good Friday, but we also have a day when we remember His resurrection. We call it…” “Easter!” the boys said in unison. “Yes,” said Mom, “and we not only have special days to remember and celebrate what Jesus did for us. We also have a memorial service. Every time we have the Lord’s Supper at church—or Communion as it’s also called—we’re reminding ourselves of Jesus’s death and the sacrifice He made to free us from sin.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Have you thanked God for the sacrifices others have made for your freedom? How about the sacrifice Jesus made to free you from sin? Christians celebrate Good Friday, Easter, and Communion to remember that sacrifice. As you remember His death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and the fact that He will come again, give thanks for all Jesus has done for you. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said], “This is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 11:24 Today's Key Thought: Remember Jesus’s sacrifice

May 25

Read: Matthew 6:25-30 "Mom, I’m home!” Alyssa called as she came in after school. “Hi, honey!” said Mom. “How was your day? Did you learn anything interesting?” “We sure did!” said Alyssa. “Mr. Eddleman, our science teacher, poured some really hot water into two glasses. One glass had a spoon in it, and the other one didn’t. The one without the spoon cracked when the hot water was poured in, but the other glass was fine. Mr. Eddleman said the metal spoon helped absorb some of the heat and kept the glass from breaking.” “Well, I hope he had the glass in the sink when it broke!” said Mom. Alyssa laughed. “He did.” Then the smile faded from her face. “Everly wasn’t in school today—her family is having all kinds of problems. Her brother was in a car accident last night and had to be rushed to the hospital.” “Oh no, that’s terrible!” said Mom. “Yeah,” said Alyssa. “And her dad still hasn’t found a job, and her grandma is really sick—she might be dying. I don’t see how they can deal with it all.” “Well, they know Jesus,” said Mom. “And that makes a big difference.” Alyssa shrugged. “I feel like I would crack, like that glass in science class today.” “That science experiment is a pretty good example of how knowing Jesus helps people,” said Mom. “It is?” asked Alyssa in surprise. Mom nodded. “Just like the hot water was poured into the glasses, we all have problems come into our lives. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we feel like we might crack under the pressure. But Jesus is like that spoon—He helps absorb the heat of our trials. His constant love and care keep our spirits from breaking. I really don’t know how anyone can get through tough times without Him.” She smiled at Alyssa. “Let’s ask God to comfort and encourage Everly and her family and help them trust Him to bring them through it all.” Alyssa nodded. “Okay,” she said. “But can’t we do something else too? Like take them a meal or something?” “We sure can,” said Mom. “Let’s start fixing one right now.” –Linda E. Knight How about you? Are you surrounded by problems and difficulties—or do you know someone else who is? Sickness, a parent losing a job, problems at school, death of a loved one—all these and many other things can make you feel like you simply can’t stand it anymore. When you feel like you’re going to crack, remember that Jesus is with you. He cares and promises to give you the strength you need. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) 1 Peter 5:7 Today's Key Thought: Give anxieties to God

May 24

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 As she sat working on her homework alone, Star didn’t feel very loved. It was a holiday weekend, and all her friends had plans. Megan’s parents were taking her to a waterpark. Emma was practicing tennis all weekend with her dad. Mila and her siblings were having fun playing on their new trampoline. Star’s mom was working in her home office. She didn’t have a dad around or any siblings to spend time with. All she had was homework she had saved for the weekend, just to give herself something to do. Star frowned at the paper in front her. Why had her teacher assigned her the word love to write about? She didn’t know anything about love. She picked up her phone and called Mila. She had to convince her friend to take a break from the trampoline so they could talk. “How am I supposed to write about love?” she asked. “No one loves me.” Mila snorted. “No one? What about me? And Emma and Megan?” “That’s…different.” Star hadn’t thought of her friends as she was considering the topic. “What about your mom?” Mila asked. “She loves you.” Star glanced toward her mom’s office. “She doesn’t spend time with me.” “Because she’s busy,” Mila said. “She’s busy because she loves you and needs to work to take care of you.” She sighed. “What about God, Star? Aren’t you forgetting that He loves you?” Star twisted her hair around her finger. Maybe she had forgotten God. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.” “Maybe not,” Mila said. “But He really does, Star. Like we learned at church, His love is bigger than any human love. Jesus died on the cross so you could live with Him forever. What love is bigger than that?” Star nodded slowly. “You’re right.” “You don’t need to go on a trip or get amazing gifts in order to be loved,” Mila said. “But, Star? I really am loving the new trampoline and I would like to get back to it. Since your mom is working, want me to ask my mom to give you a ride over so you can try it out?” Star’s eyes widened. “Really?” “Really,” Mila said. “Because I love you.” She laughed. “Don’t forget how much God loves you too, Star.” –Emily Acker How about you? Have you had times when you felt like you were not loved at all by anyone? God’s love is greater than the love of any human—He loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you so you could spend eternity with Him, and He promises to always love you and take care of you. If you think about all the people He’s put in your life, you’ll probably realize you’re loved by many others too. Today's Key Verse: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (NKJV) John 15:9 Today's Key Thought: God has great love for you!

May 23

Read: Exodus 20:12-15; Ephesians 4:25-32 Alastair walked into the kitchen where his sister Stasia was doing homework. “Emerson got in trouble again,” said Alastair. “I can’t believe he’s going to flunk math over this!” Stasia looked up in surprise. “Over what? What did he do?” “Mr. Hoover caught him looking at somebody’s paper during a test,” Alastair replied. “Emerson said he was just checking one or two answers. That’s all. I think Mr. Hoover just hates Emerson, so he’s making a big deal out of nothing.” “Well, if Emerson was caught cheating, what did he expect?” Stasia asked. “It’s not like he was stealing somebody’s money during gym class,” said Alastair, trying to make his sister understand. “Other kids in school do a lot worse stuff than what Emerson did.” Alastair turned to Mom, who was loading the dishwasher. “Can you hand me a glass, Mom? I’d like some juice.” “Sure,” said Mom, and she handed him a dirty glass. Alastair grimaced. “Yuck! I can’t drink out of this. There’s still dried milk in the bottom of it.” “But it’s cleaner than these others that need to be washed,” Mom said. Alastair didn’t say anything right away. He was pretty sure this had something to do with what they were just talking about, and he was trying to figure out what it was. “After all,” Mom continued, “if cheating is no big deal because it doesn’t seem as bad as what somebody else did, then a little dried milk in a glass shouldn’t be a big deal either, as long as it’s not as dirty as the other glasses.” “Oh, well, I…um…” Alastair didn’t know what to say. “It can be easy for us to excuse the wrongdoing of our friends—and especially our own wrongs—because someone else did something that seems worse,” Mom explained. “But it’s all sin in God’s eyes. After all, cheating is stealing too—it’s stealing the work someone else did and claiming it as your own, which is a sin, and it hurts them just as much as if you were stealing their money.” Alastair nodded. “Sorry, Mom.” He looked at the glass in his hand. “I guess I’ll wait to have some juice, since all the glasses are dirty.” –Mike A. Dize How about you? Do you think it’s okay to do some things because they don’t seem as bad as other things people do? Do you overlook cheating or lying because it’s not as bad as robbery or murder? God says all wrongdoing is sin. No matter what other people think about it, it’s hurtful to others and disobedient to God. Don’t excuse any form of wrongdoing. If you’re the one at fault, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. Today's Key Verse: All wrongdoing is sin. (NIV) 1 John 5:17 Today's Key Thought: All wrongdoing is sin

May 22

Read: Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-39 Micah ran into the house and threw his backpack on the kitchen table. “Mom! Do we have any frozen pizza?” He cocked his head. The house was silent. He looked down and noticed Mom’s phone on the counter. That’s weird, he thought. She usually carries it with her. Micah walked back to his parents’ bedroom and knocked. Mom opened the door. “Oh, hi, honey. I didn’t hear you come in.” “You left your phone in the kitchen, Mom.” “I know, Micah,” said Mom. “I was praying, and I didn’t want to be disturbed.” “Praying? In the middle of the day?” Mom smiled. “I always have prayer time while your sister naps. I’m usually finished before the bus drops you off. I guess I had a lot to tell God today!” “But we pray together—at the dinner table, and at church. Isn’t that enough?” “Praying together is very important, but the Bible says to pray without ceasing—that means continually connecting with Him and seeking His wisdom in our lives. So it’s good to spend time with Him on our own too. I find it helpful to have a place of solitude to do that. Even Jesus needed a quiet space sometimes—he often went onto a mountain to pray.” Micah considered this. “Maybe I should find a place of solitude too!” First Micah tried the living room. He sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and— “Hey, Micah!” His little sister Sophie plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. “Time for my cartoons!” Next Micah tried his bedroom. He shoved the toys off the bed, closed his eyes, and— A big wet tongue gave his cheek a slobbery kiss. “Not now, Puddles!” Micah laughed and scratched the old hound dog behind the ears. “I’m looking for solitude—but this house is too crowded!” A swirl of rustling leaves outside the window caught his eye. “I’ve got it!” he said and ran out of the house. He climbed the strong branches of the oak tree and closed his eyes, feeling the spring breeze brush his face. Jesus climbed a mountain to find solitude, thought Micah. I only have to climb a tree! –Jennifer Dillard How about you? Do you take a break from your everyday activities to spend time with God? If you find it hard to connect with God with everything going on around you, try to find a quiet place to pray. Jesus even had to take a break from those around Him to spend time with God. Take a moment away from the world’s noise and busyness and connect with God. Today's Key Verse: Pray without ceasing. (NKJV) 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Today's Key Thought: Spend time with God

May 21

Read: 1 Chronicles 16:11-13 Isaiah sat at the table ready to eat breakfast. While his mom poured a bowl of cereal, he noticed something about her that felt as familiar as her ears; he noticed the silver chain around her neck with a small dice charm at the end. “Mom, why do you always wear that necklace?” Isaiah asked. Mom slid the bowl of cereal and a spoon across the table. “Good question,” she said as she poured her own bowl of cereal. “Do you remember my grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Anderson?” “Kind of,” Isaiah said. “Didn’t he die when I was really little?” “Yes,” Mom said. “When you were three. I wear this to remember him.” “Doesn’t it just make you sad?” Isaiah asked as he picked up his spoon. “I do feel sad,” Mom answered. “And that’s okay. I miss him so much. When I see this dice charm, I remember the way he loved me no matter what. I remember how he took broken things and restored them, like that classic car that’s still in your great-grandma’s garage. When he bought the car, it was basically a pile of rust. But when he finished his work, the car gleamed and looked new, and he hung fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror. These are things I want to remember, things that remind me not only of my grandpa, but also of Jesus and how He loves us and restores us.” “I’m going to think of that story now when I look at your necklace too,” Isaiah said. As he munched another spoonful of cereal, Mom said, “A lot of the Bible is about remembering—remembering who God is and what He has done, remembering His love and promises. While we’re sad about sin and pain, diseases and death, reading the Bible helps us remember the past and have hope for the future.” “I feel sad when I think about Joel’s little brother having leukemia,” Isaiah said. “Is there a Bible story that can give me and Joel some hope?” “Jesus healed many people when He was on earth, and those healings point to His promise to end pain, sickness, and death forever when He comes again.” Mom reached for her Bible. “I’ll look up some stories and verses we can read together when you get home from school.” –Rachel Lubow How about you? What is your favorite Bible story? How does it show you who God is? How does it give you hope? We all feel sad, confused, afraid, and lonely sometimes. One of the ways God gives us hope is by reminding us that He keeps every promise He makes, which is one of the things we learn about Him in many stories written in the Bible. Read it to remember what God has done and that He is faithful. Today's Key Verse: Remember the wondrous works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced. (CSB) 1 Chronicles 16:12 Today's Key Thought: Remembering God’s work gives us hope

May 20

Read: Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:8-14 Iris pointed to an oak tree along the bike path where she was riding with her dad and her brother, Ethan. “Half the leaves on that tree are green, and half are brown!” she said. Ethan laughed. “I guess it can’t decide whether it’s spring or fall.” Dad stopped his bike under the tree. “Those brown leaves are left over from last year,” he said. “This kind of oak is very unwilling to let its leaves drop in the fall. Even the strong winds and heavy snowfall of winter are often unable to tear them from the branches.” “Well, the tree would look nicer if it would just let those ugly, useless old leaves drop,” said Iris. “Maybe the tree is a lot like us,” said Dad. “Sometimes we cling to ugly things too—like sinful thoughts and actions.” “Like calling people bad names,” said Ethan. “You do that, Iris.” Iris sighed “I know,” she said, “but at least I don’t go around pointing out other people’s faults and ignoring my own.” She frowned at her brother. “Okay, I admit it,” said Ethan. “I don’t know why I always notice the mistakes others make more than the good stuff they do.” As they got back on their bikes, Iris asked, “What makes those brown leaves finally fall? I know they don’t stay on the tree all summer.” “When new leaves grow and cover the tree, they push the old ones off,” replied Dad. “The old ones must give way to the new—and you know what? Our lives as Christians are like that too. The Bible says our old habits and desires are sinful, like dead leaves. But when we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us into new creations and puts His love and desires in our hearts, like fresh leaves in the spring.” “So we want the new leaves in our lives to push off the dead ones?” asked Iris. Dad nodded. “The tree grows new leaves by giving more energy and nutrients to the new growth,” he explained. “And Jesus gives us the power to let go of our old ways and live in a way that shows others the new life we have in Him.” –Trudy Vander Veen How about you? Are there sins or bad habits in your life that you can’t seem to get rid of? We all have “dead leaves” like that, but Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He’s given us the Holy Spirit so we have the power to replace those dead things with words and actions that bring life. Trust Him to help you let go of old habits and live the new life of love He’s given you. Today's Key Verse: Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (NLT) Ephesians 4:24 Today's Key Thought: Live your new life in Jesus

May 19

Read: Genesis 1:31; 2:1-3; Hebrews 12:2-3 Ari smudged a grey blotch in the sky painted on his canvas. “Can’t get this right,” he said to himself. Mom looked in at his bedroom door. “Did you finish your math?” Ari nodded. “Looks like you finished your painting for the art fair,” Mom said. Ari shook his head, and Mom left. Four-year-old Becca ran into the room holding a teapot. “Time for tea!” she yelled over and over while running in circles around Ari’s easel. “Becca! You’re a nuisance! Go away!” he growled. Becca fell silent. She stood still and stared at Ari, then quietly left the room with the teapot hanging down by her side. Ari’s shoulders drooped. He set down his brush and went to Becca’s room. “I’m sorry, Becca. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You’re not a nuisance. I’d like some tea.” Becca skipped over to a little table set for tea. “Oh, goody! That’s your green cup.” After two cups of pretend tea and cake, Ari felt pretend full. “Your tea is good, Becca, but I have to work on my painting now. Okay?” Becca nodded. Later Mom came in to look at Ari’s painting while he fussed with lines on a tree trunk. “I can’t get this right,” he said. “I’ll never finish. It’s a good thing God isn’t like me, or the earth never would’ve gotten created. Just think, Mom, He didn’t have to correct anything. He didn’t make any mistakes.” “And He knew when He was done,” Mom added. “I don’t think I’ll ever be done with this painting.” Ari sighed. “Or with doing things wrong. I yelled at Becca again this morning. I said I was sorry, but I wish I’d be kind to her to begin with.” “Ari, you do wrong things because we’re all still dealing with sin in this world. But you’re like an art project of God’s. Because He’s your Savior and Lord, He’ll finish His project in you the same way He finished making the world. The Bible says God started a good work in you and will complete it perfectly on the day Jesus returns.” Ari smiled and began to clean his brushes. “I can’t make my art perfect, but I’m glad I have a perfect Creator who’s working on me.” –Laura Roesler How about you? Do you ever feel bad about something you said or did? Do you get frustrated because you keep doing wrong things? Even as a Christian, you’ll still struggle with sin in this world, but Jesus promises to forgive you when you admit your sin. God is at work in you, helping you be more loving to others and obedient to Him. You are His work of art, and you can trust Him to finish what He started. Today's Key Verse: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV) Philippians 1:6 Today's Key Thought: God finishes what He starts

May 18

Read: Mark 4:35-41 BOOM! Seven-year-old Carter sat up in bed. Rain spattered against the window, and lightning streaks made his room as bright as day. He could see his favorite teddy bear propped in a corner. BOOM! Another loud crash of thunder. Carter burrowed under his covers, a pillow pressed over his ears. From under the blankets, Carter peeked toward the wall where the rosy glow of a nightlight usually shone, but between flashes of lightning, only blackness filled the room. Cautiously, he poked the button of a little table lamp near his bed, but instead of warm, friendly light, there was nothing. Trembling, he buried himself even deeper in his bed. Rain poured down harder outside, sounding as if someone were hurling tennis balls against the house. Wide awake now, Carter wondered if he dared make a run for his parents’ room. Just then he felt a soft touch through his blanket. “Mom?” he asked in a muffled voice. “I’m here, honey.” Carter looked out from his blanket tent and, as another flash of lightning illuminated the room, saw his mother in her fuzzy green robe standing next to him. Another BOOM shook the house. “Noisy, isn’t it?” said Mom. As she sat down on the edge of Carter’s bed, the power came back on. With Mom there, and with the familiar light filling the room, Carter no longer felt afraid. “Did you remember that Jesus is right here with you, Carter?” asked Mom. “He was watching over you even before I came in. He controls the wind and rain, you know. We don’t have to be afraid because He’s with us.” Carter began to feel sleepy as he listened to his mother’s comforting voice. Her hands closed around his, and he heard her saying, “Thank You, Jesus, for loving Carter and especially for being here with him during the storm.” Outside, the storm rumbled farther away while rain dripped quietly from the roof. Through almost-closed eyes, Carter saw his mom turn the light off and tiptoe from his room. “Thank You, Jesus,” whispered Carter. “I’m so glad You’re always here.” He yawned, snuggled under his covers, and soon fell asleep. –Phyllis I. Klomparens How about you? Are you afraid of thunderstorms? Or maybe there’s something else that scares you, like meeting new people or being alone in the dark. When you’re in a situation that makes you feel scared, remember that Jesus is with you and trust Him to comfort you and help you not be afraid. He loves you so much that He gave His life to save you, and He is always watching over you. Trust Him to take care of you. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (NIV) Mark 4:40 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

May 17

Read: Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:15-16 "Look,” said Adrian, pointing to an insect he and his sister Eva had caught out in the garden. “Maybe it’s praying!” Sure enough, the bug’s forelegs were folded together as if in prayer. “Let’s see if we can find out what it is.” The kids searched online and found a picture of the bug they had caught. “It’s a praying mantis,” said Adrian. “Does it really pray?” asked Eva. Adrian laughed. “Of course not! Bugs don’t pray. I wonder what we should feed it?” He scrolled down the page. “This says they eat other insects and like to eat their prey alive.” “Gross!” said Eva, wrinkling up her nose. “It says here that if you put a small piece of meat on a string and move it in front of a praying mantis, he may think it’s alive and eat it,” said Adrian. “Let’s try it!” Adrian put a tiny piece of hamburger on the end of a string, and sure enough, the mantis lunged for it. “So, did your new pet like the food you gave him?” asked Mom. Adrian nodded. “The website we found said praying mantises are vicious little creatures. It said the female will even eat her husband if she gets hungry enough.” “You little hypocrite,” said Mom, looking at the bug. “You look so faithful and devoted with your forelegs folded like that, but you’re a pretender—you don’t mean it at all.” Eva giggled. “That would be a good name for him.” So Pretender he became. Whenever Adrian looked at Pretender, he felt a bit funny inside. At dinnertime he folded his hands and said “Amen” after his parents, but he never cared to listen to what was being said. I’m just like that bug, he thought. I’m not really praying—I’m just pretending. Adrian knew Jesus loved him, and he pretended he loved Jesus too. But he had never asked Jesus to be his Savior. As Adrian snuggled down into his blankets one night, God seemed to be whispering to him, Haven’t you been a pretender long enough? Suddenly, Adrian tossed off the blankets and got up. I’m going to talk to Mom and Dad! he thought. I want to quit pretending and become a real Christian. –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How about you? Are you just going through the motions so others think you’re a Christian? Are you more focused on fitting in or pleasing your parents than on God and what He thinks? God loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could have eternal life with Him. He wants a real relationship with you, not a pretend one. Become a real Christian by trusting in Jesus today. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (NIV) Matthew 15:8 Today's Key Thought: Don’t be a pretend Christian

May 16

Read: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 45:7; 1 Corinthians 10:10-12 "Hey, Amy! Don’t forget to get the wastebasket from my room,” said Greyson as he opened the door to go out. Amy scowled at him. “I hate taking out the trash.” She turned to her mother. “Greyson always gets the easy stuff to do while I have to tramp around the house collecting smelly old garbage!” “You chose that job for this month,” Mom reminded her. “You said you were tired of dusting and folding laundry and that Greyson always got the easy jobs—like emptying the trash.” Amy muttered to herself as she left to start collecting wastebaskets. A little later, the back door squeaked loudly as Greyson pushed it open and came back in. “That squeaky door is driving me crazy!” Amy said crossly. “Quit going in and out, Greyson.” Her brother grinned and turned back toward the door. “I think I left something outside. I’ll be back in a minute.” He swung the door back and forth. “Mom, make him stop!” Amy whined, covering her ears. “Enough, Greyson,” said Mom. “Quit teasing.” Just then Dad opened the squeaky door. “I guess it’s about time for me to oil these hinges,” he said. “They’re complaining pretty loudly.” He let the door squeak shut behind him as he walked in. “Remember the Bible verses we read for devotions last night—the ones about the Israelites after they left Egypt? They complained a lot—just like this screen door. It needs oil, and I think they needed to apply oil to their lives by remembering God was with them and promised to take care of them. Perhaps that would be what the Bible calls the oil of joy.” “Yeah. Some people around here need some of that oil too,” said Greyson, giving his sister a grin. Amy sighed. “I guess I have been pretty squeaky lately.” “Well, you can apply oil to that squeak by remembering the joy you have in Jesus,” said Dad. “He saved us from sin so we could be filled with the joy of knowing Him for all eternity. We can experience that joy by remembering He loves us and is always with us—even when things don’t go our way.” Amy straightened up. “Okay…sorry for complaining. Now, who has trash they’d like me to get rid of?” –Maria I. Sellers How about you? Do you complain a lot? Are you constantly telling those around you about every little thing that isn’t exactly the way you’d like it? If so, you need to apply some oil of joy to your life. Remember how much Jesus loves you and all that He has done for you. Instead of complaining, praise Him and trust Him to help you learn to be content with what He’s given you. Today's Key Verse: Do everything without complaining or arguing. (ERV) Philippians 2:14 Today's Key Thought: Don’t complain

May 15

Read: John 14:25-27 Ian and Matilda’s new golden retriever puppy gnawed on an old shoe. “Ringo sure played hard today,” Ian said. “He never rests!” “Kids!” Mom called. “It’s time to put Ringo to bed.” Ian and Matilda had promised they would take care of their new puppy. This was Ringo’s first night with the family, and the kids were eager to keep their promise. “Come on, Ringo,” said Matilda. She lifted the puppy and carried him to the soft doggie bed at the end of the hall. “Sleep tight,” said Ian, patting Ringo’s head. The puppy looked at the kids for a moment, then hopped out of the bed. “Maybe he needs a blanket,” said Matilda. Ian found an old quilt, and Matilda tucked it around Ringo. The puppy looked at them with sad eyes. “He’s still not happy,” said Ian. “I heard a ticking clock helps new puppies sleep,” said Matilda. “It sounds like the mama dog’s heartbeat.” She got an alarm clock and buried it in the quilt. Ringo lay in the bed, and his eyes began to close. The kids began tiptoeing down the hall when suddenly the puppy jumped out of bed and scampered after them. “He’s lonely out here,” said Ian. Matilda nodded. “I think we can fix that.” They picked up Ringo’s doggie bed and took it down the hall to their room. Ten minutes later, Ringo was sound asleep in his bed, his face nestled in the thick quilt, his ear pressed against the softly ticking clock. Ian looked down from the top bunk. “Ringo’s finally resting. He looks so peaceful.” Matilda smiled. “It’s kind of like the peace we get from Jesus.” “What do you mean?” asked Ian. “Well, Ringo wasn’t able to rest until we moved him in here—he wasn’t at peace until he felt our presence. And when we feel Jesus’s presence, it gives us peace so we can rest too. And just like the blanket and clock helped Ringo feel loved and not alone, things like prayer, reading the Bible, and worshiping with other Christians help us feel at peace by reminding us that Jesus loves us and is with us.” Ian watched Ringo breathe deeply. “Let’s say our prayers before we go to sleep. I want to feel that peace tonight!” –Jennifer Dillard How about you? What helps you feel the peace of God? Singing songs? Reading the Bible? Praying? When you feel anxious or worried, remember Jesus wants you to rest in Him. If you know Him as your Savior, He has given you the Holy Spirit to bring you peace. Find ways to remind yourself that Jesus loves you and is with you, and His comfort and rest will follow. Today's Key Verse: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (NKJV) John 14:27 Today's Key Thought: Seek peace and comfort in Jesus

May 14

Read: Psalm 23:4; Romans 5:1-5 "It looks like Dad’s getting ready to mow the lawn,” said Evelyn as she and her mother worked in the flower garden. Mom nodded as she looked out across the lawn in front of their house. “It will be the first mowing of the year, and it’s time—just look at all those dandelions!” The yellow flowers had popped up everywhere. Evelyn thought they were pretty, but her parents appreciated their beauty more in the woods behind the house than on the front lawn. Soon the mower roared to life. Evelyn and Mom watched as the dandelions began to disappear. When Dad was finished, the whole lawn looked green. “That looks much better,” said Mom. “For a lawn, I guess it does look better without the dandelions,” said Evelyn. “But I still think they’re pretty.” Mom smiled. “Well, just give them a little time, and they’ll be back again. Dandelions have long, tough roots, and when they’re nourished by sun and rain, the plant simply grows back after the top is cut off.” “I know,” said Evelyn. “I remember pulling all kinds of weeds in the garden last year. Dad said we had to be sure to get the roots so the weeds wouldn’t grow back. I remember wishing they didn’t have such long roots!” “You know,” said Mom, looking at Evelyn, “as I watched Dad mow today, it occurred to me that we as Christians can sometimes feel cut down by things that happen in our lives—things that cause disappointment and sadness.” Evelyn sighed. “You mean like how I feel about Mia moving away?” “I know it’s hard not to be able to see your best friend every day,” Mom said. “But if our roots are deeply planted in Jesus and the truth of His love for us, we’ll receive nourishment and care from God. We can trust Him to be with us through our troubles and help us come out of them even stronger than we were before.” “So sometimes long, deep roots are a good thing.” Evelyn grinned. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m kinda glad the dandelions have them too!” –Dorothy R. King How about you? Do you ever feel cut down by the difficulties in your life? Being a Christian doesn’t mean you won’t ever have any problems, but it does mean you won’t have to face them alone. Root yourself in Jesus. He is always with you, and you can experience His peace when you rest in His presence and love. Praying, reading the Bible, and worshiping Him are a few ways to seek His care when life is difficult. Trust Him to give you strength and help you grow. Today's Key Verse: Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. (NLV) Colossians 2:7 Today's Key Thought: Be rooted in Jesus

May 13

Read: John 11:32-44 Evan held back tears as he sat down on the porch step beside his best friend. “Teddy was the best cat I ever had.” He sniffled. “I’m going to miss him.” Peter nodded. “He was pretty awesome. I’m sorry he died.” He nudged his friend’s shoulder. “It’s okay to cry.” “I’m not crying!” Evan quickly said, his face turning red. He didn’t want his friend to think he was being a baby about this. “It’s okay if you are,” Peter said. “Even Jesus cried.” Evan’s brows knit together. “What?” “Jesus cried when his friend Lazarus died,” Peter said. “My uncle told me about it when my grandma passed away last summer. He said it’s okay for everyone to cry when they’re sad, even us guys.” Evan wasn’t sure he believed his friend, so he asked his dad about it later that evening. “Peter’s right,” Dad said. “Jesus did cry. Look, it’s here in John eleven.” He pointed to a page in his Bible. Evan looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening at the two words. “Jesus wept,” he read. “It’s okay to be sad about your cat, and it’s okay to cry.” Dad got up from his chair and put an arm around Evan. “There are a lot of sad things going on here on earth.” Evan leaned into his dad. “I miss Teddy.” “I know. I’m sorry,” Dad said. “But no matter what happens here on earth, we never have to be sad forever. Do you know why?” “Because of heaven?” Evan asked. Dad smiled. “Exactly. Jesus cried because He experienced pain and sadness just like we do. But after He wept for Lazarus, He raised him from the dead! That’s the hope He gives everyone who trusts in Him—hope of eternal life. Even though all kinds of sad things happen here on earth, Jesus will one day put an end to sin, sadness, and even death itself.” Evan blinked back tears. “We won’t have to be sad anymore?” “Nope.” Dad squeezed his shoulder. “Because everything will be perfect. And I’m sure God will help you feel happy again before then too. But for now, it’s okay to cry about Teddy when you miss him.” –Bethany Acker How about you? When you’re sad, do you let yourself cry? It’s okay to cry when sad things happen—Jesus cried when He was sad too. He understands your pain because He experienced the same feelings we do. But we don’t have to be sad forever, because Jesus came to give us hope. He died for us and then rose from the dead so that one day He could wipe all our tears away. Today's Key Verse: Jesus wept. (NKJV) John 11:35 Today's Key Thought: Jesus cried too

May 12

Read: Colossians 1:9-14 When Jack came into the living room, his dad was watching the news. He heard the end of a report about a man trying to collect a large inheritance. “If that man’s parents died, why can’t he get the money that was left?” asked Jack after Dad turned off the TV. “He ran away from home when he was sixteen years old,” Dad explained. “That was thirty years ago, and he never contacted his family again. They searched and searched for him and found out he’d moved to another state. They wanted to have a relationship with him again and made repeated efforts throughout the years to contact him—including several visits to the city where he lived. But he wouldn’t even speak with them.” Jack frowned. “But he’s back now, so won’t he get at least some of the money?” “Apparently not. His parents gave up trying to get a response from him and didn’t include him in their wills.” “But now, after they’ve both died, he finally shows up and thinks he should have the inheritance?” asked Jack. “Yes, but now it’s too late,” replied Dad. “He contested the will, but the courts upheld it. They said he’s not entitled to any of the money.” “Wow!” said Jack. “I bet he’s sorry he didn’t make up with his parents when he had the chance.” Dad nodded. “He not only lost the inheritance—he missed out on having a relationship with his parents too. He learned a hard lesson—and, sadly, a very common one.” “You mean there are lots of people who leave home and refuse to have a relationship with their parents?” asked Jack in surprise. “That happens often enough,” said Dad. “But I was thinking of the inheritance God offers to everyone through Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we’re cut off from God, so He sent Jesus to restore our relationship with Him. But if we refuse His offer of reconciliation, then we miss out on having a relationship with God. When life ends, we’re going to want the inheritance—eternal life—given to those who are part of God’s family, but it’s going to be too late. That’s why it’s important to accept God’s offer to have a relationship with Him now, while we still can.” –Heather M. Tekavec How about you? Will you be able to claim the inheritance God offers? He’s offering something far better than money—a relationship with Him and life that lasts for all eternity. It’s available to anyone who trusts in Jesus. Someday it will be too late to accept His offer, so don’t put it off. Trust Jesus as your Savior today and become part of God’s family. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God. (NLT) Ephesians 1:11 Today's Key Thought: God offers an inheritance—eternal life

May 11

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 Mariah was glad to finally be back home. Her mom had wanted to get her and her twin brothers away from the house while a landscaper was working in their backyard, and they had spent the whole day just trying to kill time. She was helping her little brother out of their van when she heard her mom let out a shriek. She scooped Reggie into her arms and took off for the backyard. “Are you okay?” Mariah ran to her mom’s side. She was pretty sure she saw tears in her mom’s eyes. “What happened? Did you get stung?” She could hear a bee buzzing. Mom shook her head. “Nothing bad happened. I’m just…I’m really surprised at what I see. Everything is so beautiful.” Mariah looked out at the yard as her brother squirmed out of her arms. There were flowers everywhere, and there were tiny stones on the ground, making paths that the twins seemed excited to try out. Everything did look really nice. “I can’t believe they did all this,” Mom said. “We didn’t have a lot of money to spend, but they seemed to figure out a way to make my dreams come true anyway.” “You’re crying.” Mariah looked up at her mom. “I’m happy,” Mom said. “If I have tears, it’s because I didn’t know I could have a yard this beautiful.” Mariah smiled. “Pastor John was talking about something like this on Sunday. He said God does more than we ask Him to do, surprising us with the way He works and all that He accomplishes.” Mom nodded. “God did more than we could ever imagine when He sent His own Son to save us by dying for our sins, and He blesses us in other ways that go beyond anything we could even think to ask for. The team we had working out here did a good job of showing us what that can look like.” “I’m happy the yard is everything you wanted it to be.” Mariah wrapped her arms around her mom. They had been through some tough times together, and she really wanted her mom to be happy. “And I’m glad God loves us and promises to do great things for us too.” –Emily Acker How about you? Have you ever been surprised by a gift someone gave you? Has someone ever done something so special for you that you just couldn’t believe it? That’s the way God blesses His children. When He promised us a Savior, He fulfilled that promise by sending us His own Son, Jesus. He is working in your life and promises to do big things for you—more than you could ever imagine. Today's Key Verse: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (NIV) Ephesians 3:20 Today's Key Thought: God surprises us with more

May 10

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3 "Savannah, I’m leaving for work,” Mom said. “Be sure to set the house alarm when your bus gets here.” When the bus arrived, Savannah set the alarm and started to dash out the door when…WHOOSH! Her favorite sweater, which had sleeves that were too long and too loose, caught on the door handle, holding her captive. When she finally got free and jumped on the bus, the kids laughed and asked, “What took you so long?” At least I remembered to set the alarm this time, Savannah thought. The alarm had been installed for extra security, and whoever arrived home first had thirty seconds to disable it by entering a secret code, otherwise it would start blaring. It was directly connected to the local police department, and the officers weren’t amused when Savannah accidentally set it off…twice. That day after school, Savannah opened the door and heard the thirty-second warning start. Beep, beep, beep! She rushed to disable the alarm when, BAM! She was knocked flat on her back. It was her sweater again, caught on a chair. Beep, beep, beep! Unable to get free, Savannah wiggled out of the sweater just as the alarm started to blare ferociously. She sheepishly walked out to the porch to wait for the police car. “Hello, Officer Hamlin. I’m sorry,” she said when the policeman arrived. She explained how her sweater had snared her. Later that evening, Mom laughed as Savannah told her about the day’s events. “Savannah, do you remember what verse we talked about at church last Sunday?” “Not really,” Savannah admitted. “Hebrews 12:1. It’s about laying aside the sins that so easily snare us. In other words, we have to deal with those issues that get us into trouble, like bad habits and unkind attitudes.” “This sweater sure has gotten me into trouble,” Savannah said. “Yes, but being snared by your sweater is different from being snared by sin, which holds us back from the life of love and joy that Jesus died to give us. That’s why we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and trust Him to forgive our sins and help us out of their snares.” Mom tugged Savannah’s sleeve. “Now, let’s see if there’s a way to fix this sweater so it doesn’t snare you either!” –Teresa Ambord How about you? Are there sinful habits in your life that keep snaring you and getting you into trouble? It might be watching inappropriate TV shows or looking at things online you know you shouldn’t. Or maybe it’s an angry, unkind attitude you have toward someone. When you need help with sinful habits, look to Jesus. He will forgive you and help you eliminate your snares. Today's Key Verse: Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (NKJV) Hebrews 12:1 Today's Key Thought: Don’t let sin snare you

May 9

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:13-18; 1 Peter 4:10-11 "Put the blue block here, Mae,” Atlas said as he helped his four-year-old sister build a tower with blocks. When the structure was almost finished, Mae pulled out a green block near the bottom. The tower wobbled, then toppled over. “Mae, you ruined it!” exclaimed Atlas. “Why did you do that?” “I want this pretty green one at the top so I can see it,” Mae replied. Just then Mom’s phone dinged. “Atlas, it’s for you,” Mom said and showed him the text. “Your youth group leader wants you to call him.” Atlas took her phone and stepped into the hall. A few minutes later, he came back to the family room. “He wants me to come to a rehearsal for that skit they’re doing,” Atlas said. “There aren’t any parts left in the skit, but they need somebody to help move props between scenes.” He frowned. “I’m not good enough to be in the skit, but I’m good enough to move the props! Well, I don’t feel like going just to move stuff around. Anyone can do that!” “But the production won’t be nearly as effective if the props aren’t in the right place,” said Mom. “Moving them may not seem as glamorous as acting in the play, but it’s a very important job.” She paused, then added, “It’s like the block Mae took out of the tower you were building.” “What do you mean?” asked Atlas. “Mae just took out one block that didn’t show very much,” said Mom. “So why did the whole tower tumble down?” “Because the blocks on the bottom support the rest of the tower,” Atlas replied. “Well, it’s the same when people work together for the Lord,” Mom said. “Each worker is equally important in God’s eyes. God values everything we do out of love for Him, whether we’re on stage or behind the scenes, and we can trust Him to use our work to point others to Jesus and His love for us.” “You make it sound like moving furniture for a skit is sharing Jesus with people,” Atlas said. Mom shrugged. “Jesus says that whatever we do, we do for Him.” After a moment, Atlas nodded. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll help move the props.” –Tanya K. Marshall How about you? Have you ever done something to help out and wondered if it made a difference? What matters most is that you do whatever work God gives you for Him, not for recognition by others. When we do everything out of love for God, He uses our faithful service to point people to Jesus, who came to earth to serve us by dying for our sins. Know that God values your work, even if it’s behind the scenes. Today's Key Verse: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (NIV) Colossians 3:23 Today's Key Thought: God values everything you do for Him

May 8

Read: Psalm 32:2-10 Lexie twirled around her room in her new dress. She couldn’t wait to wear it to her cousin’s wedding on Saturday! Mom stood smiling at the door. “That’s a beautiful dress, Lexie, but you need to take it off now before you spill something on it. I’m off to the store—Dad is outside gardening if you need him.” Once Mom was gone, Lexie rushed downstairs. She swished about in her dress as she got a bottle from the fridge and poured a glass of chocolate milk. I won’t spill it—I’m not a baby! she thought, flicking on the television. Glued to her favorite TV show, Lexie accidentally tilted her glass. She gasped as a cold trickle of chocolate milk landed in her lap. Frantically, she tried dabbing at the stain with a napkin, but that only seemed to make it spread. I have to get rid of this stain before Mom sees it! Lexie thought. Then she heard a car. Mom was back! Lexie knew she had a choice—run upstairs and pretend nothing had happened, or tell the horrible truth. A story she’d heard in Sunday school about King David suddenly came to her mind, and how bad he felt when he tried to cover up his sin. Lexie took a deep breath as Mom’s key turned in the lock. “Mom, I’m so sorry, I didn’t listen!” Lexie blurted out as Mom walked in. “I kept wearing my dress even though you told me not to, and I spilled chocolate milk on it. Now it’s ruined!” “Oh, Lexie!” Mom sighed. “Let me see.” Lexie nervously moved her hand away from the soggy stain. Mom tilted the fabric toward the light. “I’m disappointed you didn’t obey me, Lexie, but I’m glad you told me the truth.” “I almost didn’t tell you,” Lexie confessed. “But then I remembered a story Mrs. Summers told us in church about bringing things into the light.” Mom smiled. “Mrs. Summers is right. Admitting we’ve messed up is never easy. But if we cover it up, it just makes a bigger mess in the end. That’s why we need to be honest about our wrongs—not just to others, but to Jesus, who forgives our sins and makes us clean. Now, let’s get that dress in the wash!” –Angela Jelf How about you? Have you ever been scared to admit when you’ve done something wrong? Have you ever told a lie to cover up a mistake you made? It can be difficult to confess our sins, but the Bible tells us that when we try to hide our mistakes, we only end up causing ourselves and others more pain. The next time you mess up, admit it—Jesus is always ready to forgive your sin and wash you clean. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) 1 John 1:9 Today's Key Thought: Confess your sins

May 7

Read: Romans 3:23-24; Colossians 1:22 Laura sat in bed with math papers strewn all over the place. “Six times eight is forty-eight, seven times eight is fifty-six, eight times eight is—” “Sixty-four!” Mom answered as she walked in. “Are you still studying, Laura? You should be asleep!” Laura sighed. “I know. I’m just so nervous about my test tomorrow. What if I fail? I’m so hopeless at multiplication!” Anxious tears welled up in Laura’s eyes. “I don’t want to let Mr. Finch down—or you and Dad.” Mom sat down and pulled Laura close. “Let us down? No way! You’ve worked so hard for this test. You’ve done your best, and that’s good enough for us.” Laura smiled. Mom’s reassuring words made her feel slightly better. “Why do we have to take tests, anyway?” she asked. “Hmm,” said Mom. “Good question. Tests can help measure how much we’ve learned or how far we’ve come. And they show us areas where we still need to improve and grow.” Laura nodded. “God helps us grow, doesn’t He?” “He certainly does,” replied Mom. “But the greatest thing of all is that we can come to God just as we are. He doesn’t require us to meet a certain standard before we come to Him, because Jesus has already reached the mark for us!” “When He died on the cross?” asked Laura. “Exactly,” said Mom. “Jesus met God’s standard for us because we couldn’t—He lived a perfect life and then died for our sins and rose again.” Laura grinned. “He took the test so we don’t have to!” “Yep!” said Mom. “And He passed it—one hundred percent!” Laura sighed. “I wish I didn’t have to take this math test tomorrow. Studying is hard!” “I know,” said Mom. “Life is full of all kinds of tests—sometimes we’re tested by difficulties or temptations. But even when we fail time and time again, Jesus always forgives us. The point isn’t to do everything perfectly, but to trust Him to help us persevere and grow. He won’t take your math test for you tomorrow, but you can pray that He’ll give you the focus and perseverance you need.” Laura smiled. “I think I’ll pray about it right now.” –Angela Jelf How about you? Have you ever been nervous about failing an important test? The Bible says none of us could ever meet the mark when it comes to God’s holy standard. Only Jesus, God’s Son, can pass that test—and He did! He lived a perfect life and then died to take the punishment for our sins. Because of that great act of love, God sees us as perfect and blameless when we trust Jesus as our Savior. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God. (ERV) 2 Corinthians 5:21 Today's Key Thought: Only Jesus meets God’s standards

May 6

Read: Read: Luke 12:6-7 In the attic’s dim light, Andrew could see many interesting things—boxes of Christmas ornaments, piles of photo albums, and trunks filled with camping equipment. He and Dad were hunting for Dad’s old train set from when he was Andrew’s age. “What’s this?” asked Andrew, stumbling across a large wooden crate with dozens of items wrapped in newspaper. Wondering what was inside, he began to unravel one. He was disappointed to discover an old-fashioned teacup painted with rambling roses. “Be careful with that!” said Dad. “That looks like Grandma Joan’s teacup collection. It’s very precious to your mom.” Andrew was puzzled. “What’s so precious about a box full of teacups?” he asked. “Didn’t Mom tell you the story? Grandma Joan collected teacups from every place she ever visited. She had teacups from all over the world!” Andrew’s eyes grew wide. Perhaps the teacups weren’t so boring after all. “They’re not everybody’s ‘cup of tea,’” continued Dad, obviously pleased with his awful joke, “but this collection was Grandma Joan’s treasured possession!” “What do you mean?” asked Andrew. “Like, her very favorite thing?” “Exactly!” said Dad. “Over the years, those teacups became very valuable. She could have sold them at a high price, but she wouldn’t think of it. They held a lot of memories.” Andrew smiled—now he understood. The teacups reminded her of all the places she’d visited. “Do you know there’s a verse in the Bible about God’s treasured possession?” asked Dad. Andrew was intrigued. “God has a treasured possession? What is it?” “Well,” said Dad, “it’s you and me, and all of God’s people all over the earth. We’re so valuable to Him that He was willing to pay a high price so we could be His. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could have a relationship with Him.” Dad blew away years of dust from a large rectangular box. “And speaking of favorite things—this was definitely mine when I was your age!” He opened the box. “Here she is! The Red Rocket!” Andrew hurried over to have a look at the red locomotive. “Wow, it’s so awesome! Can we set it up today, Dad? Please?” “Okay,” said Dad. “Let’s go!” –Angela Jelf How about you? Do you have a treasured possession? Is it valuable? You can tell how valuable something is by the price someone is willing to pay for it. God’s people are His treasured possession. He paid the highest price—the life of His Son, Jesus—to make you one of His children. That’s how much He loves you. You are very valuable to Him! Today's Key Verse: The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (NIV) Deuteronomy 7:6 Today's Key Thought: You are valuable to God

May 5

Read: Psalm 51:1-2; Romans 5:6-9 Leo watched his ball roll under the shed, then he dropped his bat and crawled in after it. As he scooted under the edge, he spotted a pair of glowing eyes. A cat, thought Leo. He crawled closer. “Here, kitty,” he called. The animal turned. Oh no! thought Leo. A skunk! Before he could scramble out of range, the skunk sprayed, and Leo was covered with an awful smell. “Mom!” he yelled. He hurried to the outdoor faucet, turned on the water, and tried to wash away the dreadful odor with the hose. Mom came out of the house and put her hand up to her nose. “We need to get those clothes in the washer right away, and you need a shower with lots of strong soap,” she said. “And your hair! Wait here.” She hurried back into the house and returned with a can of tomato juice. “Put your head under the hose,” she said. Leo looked at the can of tomato juice. “What are you going to do with that?” “Tomato juice is supposed to help cover the smell,” Mom explained. “I’ll see what else I can find, but for now this is the best I can do.” When Dad heard the story, the skunk smell still lingered. “I thought it was a cat,” said Leo. “I was going to pet it.” Dad laughed. “Not funny!” said Leo, but he grinned too. “Skunks leave a bad odor, but do you know what smells even worse?” asked Dad. Leo shook his head. “Sin,” said Dad. “You could say sin stinks.” Leo nodded. “I tried to wash off the skunk smell, but I needed help. We need help getting rid of the sin smell too, don’t we? Something better than tomato juice!” “Yes, we do,” said Dad. “The Bible says only the blood of Jesus can get rid of our sin. He died for us and rose again so we could be forgiven and have a relationship with God. When we trust in Him, He removes the stench of our sin and makes us clean.” “That’s right. Just like that,” Mom said, snapping her fingers. She sighed. “I wish we could do as good a job getting rid of that skunk smell,” she added, wrinkling her nose. “Let’s go wash your hair one more time!” –Angela Jenkins How about you? Have you ever smelled a skunk before? It’s awful! But sin is much worse, and no matter what we do, we can’t get rid of the stench ourselves. The Bible says everyone has sinned, and it stinks up our lives with selfishness and hurt and separates us from God. Only Jesus can wash our sins away. Trust in Him and He will make you clean and right with God. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. (NLT) Romans 5:9 Today's Key Thought: Jesus removes our sin

May 4

Read: Proverbs 15:1-4; Ephesians 4:31-32 "You’re always messing up this room,” Hannah said as she pushed her sister’s things off the dresser. “You’re such a pig!” “You’re the pig. And leave my things alone!” yelled Margo. “Then keep your stuff off my side of the dresser!” Hannah shot back. The fighting escalated, and soon Mom appeared at the door. “Girls! I’m tired of the constant bickering between you,” she said sternly. “You are sisters, and you should respect each other. Follow me.” Hannah and Margo glared at each other as they followed their mother into the back hall and watched as she got out some towels and a bottle of cleaning solution. “Now,” said Mom, “you are going to clean the big living room window until it looks like you could walk through it.” Hannah and Margo got to work. But the more solution they sprayed on the glass and rubbed with the towels, the streakier the window became. “Mom!” Margo called. “There’s something wrong with the spray you gave us.” “What’s that?” Mom came in from the kitchen. “The solution I gave you isn’t working?” “It’s just making it worse!” said Hannah. “Well, your solution for solving disagreements isn’t working either,” said Mom. She came over and took the bottle she had given them. “This is all-purpose cleaner—it doesn’t work on windows. And shouting and saying nasty things to each other doesn’t work to solve disagreements.” The girls started to complain, but Mom cut them off. "God has a much different solution,” she said. “Instead of responding in anger, He says to give a soft answer. That means calmly talking through the problem and caring about the other person and what they have to say. Because you trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit to help you respond to others in a gentle, loving way—even when you don’t agree with them.” Mom went and got another bottle from the back hall. “Here, try this solution on the windows—it will work much better.” Hannah and Margo went back to their task and thought about what Mom had said. Finally, Hannah said, “I’m sorry I pushed your stuff off the dresser.” “I’m sorry too,” said Margo. “I’ll try to keep things neater.” After a few more wipes, the window was as clear as ever. –Carol Baker How about you? Do you ever get angry at your friends or family? Do you react with harsh words or a mean attitude? By ourselves, it’s nearly impossible to respond nicely. That’s why Jesus gives us His Spirit to help us respond in a kind, gentle way. The next time you’re upset, take a deep breath and ask Him to show you how to use His solution—a soft answer spoken in love. Today's Key Verse: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NKJV) Proverbs 15:1 Today's Key Thought: Solve disagreements God’s way

May 3

Read: Psalm 33:4-15, 20-22 "I think I see the scenic lookout we found on the map, Mom!” shouted Orlando. He sighed in relief. The family had been hiking the steep Treetop Trail for two hours, and Orlando was glad to finally collapse on a large, flat rock. As he rested, he gazed at the view below. Orlando’s sister Ana plopped down beside him. “Wow!” she said. “This is awesome!” Ana pointed to a house in the distance. “Look over there, Dad. I bet we can see for a thousand miles!” Dad walked over. “I’d say that house is more like twenty miles away—not a thousand,” he said with a smile. “Well, it’s still awesome!” said Ana. “I agree. It is awesome,” said Mom. She sat down beside Ana and Orlando. “You kids use that word a lot. Do you know what it means?” “I guess it’s used to describe something that’s extra amazing,” said Ana. “That’s a pretty good definition,” said Mom. “I looked it up in the dictionary once, and the original meaning has to do with a feeling of reverence for something majestic or sacred. One definition for awesome is ‘a reverent wonder.’ I like that one.” “I do too,” said Dad. “I think awesome is a great word to use to describe God. Psalm 33 says to ‘stand in awe of Him.’ That means we should love and respect Him and recognize that He is in control of the entire world—and our lives.” Dad paused and looked around. “Being on this mountain makes a person feel pretty small, doesn’t it?” “You can say that again!” said Orlando. “Okay,” said Dad. “Being on this mountain makes a person—” “Daaad!” Orlando rolled his eyes, and they all laughed. “Things in nature are awesome,” Dad said. “God made them, and they give us just a glimpse of His greatness. But what’s really awesome is that He loves us so much He sent His Son to save us. Jesus was willing to make Himself one of us and come to earth to die on a cross for our sins—and then He rose from the dead. Now that’s extra amazing!” The family sipped from their water bottles as they enjoyed the view. “Yes,” Mom said quietly, “Jesus is truly awesome!” –Dean Fowler How about you? Do you use the word awesome a lot? It’s a word that’s probably overused, but if you want to see something truly awesome, look around you at the world God created. His great power and glory is displayed in everything He’s made—and in His great love and the sacrifice He made when Jesus gave His life for us. Consider all His wonderful work, and stand in awe of Him! Today's Key Verse: The LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. (NKJV) Psalm 47:2 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is truly awesome

May 2

Read: Romans 12:3-10 On their way to the park one Saturday morning, Maisie and her parents decided to stop at an estate sale. Maisie enjoyed seeing all the things the owners of the place were selling. When they walked into a room that looked like a library, Maisie gasped in delight. “Look! A harp! My music teacher at school has one. She said there aren’t many people who know how to play them.” Maisie turned to her dad. “Can we buy it? I’d love to learn how to play.” Dad pointed to a sign. “See that? It’s not for sale.” Just then a woman who was supervising the sale walked in. She smiled at Maisie. “I see you like this harp,” she said. “Did you notice the different kinds of strings? Some are really thin and others are thick and strong. Some are spiraled and some are grooved, but others are smooth.” “They’re not all the same color either,” said Maisie. “Some are bright red, and others are black or silver or gold.” “That’s right,” said the woman. “This harp belonged to my mother. Now I’m going to take it home so my daughter can learn to play.” The next day at church, Maisie looked around at all the different people singing in the sanctuary. “Being in church reminded me of the harp we saw yesterday,” she told her parents after the service. “Really?” asked Dad. “How’s that?” “Well, I noticed when we were singing how many different people there were—people of all ages and races and personalities—but they all worshiped God in harmony together, just like all the different strings on a harp play one beautiful song.” “That’s a good way to look at it, Maisie,” said Mom. “A harp is made up of many strings, and God’s church is made up of many people.” Dad nodded. “And every string is different—each is designed to sound its own individual note. Yet when each string is in tune with the others, the harp makes beautiful, harmonious music! It’s that way with God’s church too. The members are all different, but the Holy Spirit unites us through our faith in Jesus. As we show His love to one another and serve and worship God together, we make music that’s sweet to God’s ears.” –Trudy Vander Veen How about you? Do you enjoy the fact that each member of God’s church is different? Not everyone will think or act just like you, but that’s okay. The important thing is for all of us to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. That means relying on Him to help us work together and get along, even when we disagree on things. Stay in harmony with other Christians by following the Master Musician—Jesus—as you show others His love. Today's Key Verse: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (NIV) Psalm 133:1 Today's Key Thought: Christians should live in harmony

May 1

Read: Psalm 62:5-8 Natalie glanced at her phone. Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes to change and eat something before she had to leave for dance. Gotta move. She grabbed some mac and cheese and popped it into the microwave. As she bounded up the stairs, she passed her little brother Jacob sitting in time-out. Minutes later, the microwave dinged. Natalie tugged her leotard into place and pushed one more bobby pin into her bun. She rushed downstairs and retrieved her food. Stirring her mac and cheese, she glanced at Jacob sitting on the bottom step with his elbows on his knees, fists digging into his chubby cheeks. “What did you do this time, sport?” Natalie plopped beside her brother. “Yelled at Mommy.” Jacob sighed. “I hate time-out.” Natalie patted his back. “Mom doesn’t stick you here just because you’re in trouble. It’s to help you settle down and get under control. Are you still mad?” “No.” Jacob paused. “Nat? Does sitting help you too?” Natalie paused mid-chew. Sitting still didn’t happen much. Rushing to school and dance left her feeling anything but in control. “I’m too big for time-outs now,” she said. “You’re never home.” Jacob’s eyes were sad. “I miss you.” Natalie licked the cheese from her spoon. She loved dance company, though it meant she practically lived at the studio. What happened to family time? What happened to time with God? She looked at the shelf in the kitchen where she put her Bible. Maybe I need a time-out too. Natalie glanced at her phone. Five minutes. She squeezed Jacob, then walked over and picked up her Bible. A highlighted verse caught her attention: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Rest. Sounds great, God. Natalie remembered learning that this verse meant those who trusted in Jesus didn’t have to strive to earn God’s favor, because Jesus earned it for them. I need to stop and remember that more often. Remember He’s in control. She took a deep breath and continued to read. Soon Mom was calling. Time for dance. Natalie checked her phone. Her five minutes were gone. Somehow God had stretched them, and she sensed His peace. She grinned and grabbed her brother’s hand. “Race you to the car!” –Gayle Veitenheimer How about you? Is your life overscheduled and busy? You need a spiritual time-out. Not because you’re in trouble, but to build your relationship with God and get strength and wisdom to navigate the road ahead. Make sure you leave time in your busy schedule to pray, read your Bible, and worship with other Christians. Stop the frenzy for a moment and take a time-out with Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NV) Matthew 11:28 Today's Key Thought: Take a time-out with God

Apr 30

Read: Isaiah 64:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-10 "All right!” Oliver exclaimed as his mom presented him with a pair of bright new sneakers. “They’re just what I wanted!” “I’m glad you like them,” said Mom. “But let’s try to keep them clean. Save them for school or when you’re out with your friends. You have plenty of old shoes to wear when you’re in the yard or playing basketball at the park.” “Okay, Mom,” Oliver said as he put on the new shoes. He did remember to be careful with them for a while, but one day when he came into the house, he left a trail of muddy tracks through the kitchen. “Stop right there, Oliver! Oh, your new sneakers—they’re a mess!” Mom pointed to his mud-caked shoes. “I’m sorry, Mom,” said Oliver. “I forgot I had them on. Mrs. Alberts needed help in her garden, and I guess I went a little bonkers with the garden hose.” Mom sighed, shaking her head. “It was nice of you to help her, Oliver, but in spite of your good deed, your shoes are still dirty.” “Yeah.” Oliver looked down at his feet and sighed. “They look pretty bad.” Then he smiled. “It’s kinda like the verse we learned at church last week. My teacher said it’s easy to think that the good things we do can cover up the wrong things we’ve done. But the verse we learned says our good deeds are like dirty rags—or in this case, dirty sneakers. They can’t make us clean.” “That’s right,” Mom said. “Nothing we do can ever clean up the sin in our lives. That’s why we need Jesus.” She bent over to help Oliver pull off his dirty shoes. “Jesus promises that when we confess our sins to Him, He will forgive us and wash us white as snow.” “Can you forgive me too, Mom?” Mom smiled. “Of course I’ll forgive you, Oliver.” “I’ll try to be more careful.” Oliver looked at his muddy shoes. “Will you make my sneakers clean again?” “Not as clean as Jesus can make your heart,” said Mom. “But I’ll do my best. Bring them over to the sink and I’ll check the cleaning supply cabinet.” –Nathan Runyon How about you? Do you ever feel like your life resembles a pair of dirty sneakers? Do you think if you do enough good things you can make up for the stuff you do wrong? The Bible says that good deeds are never enough. Only Jesus can cleanse your heart and replace your wrongs with His right. Confess your sin to Him today and be forgiven. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. (NLT) Isaiah 64:6 Today's Key Thought: Good deeds won’t cover up sin

Apr 29

Read: Luke 6:27-37 After their bikes were stolen, Ryder and Zach asked all their friends and neighbors to be on the lookout. They prayed about it too—and Dad even prayed for the person who had taken the bikes. As they were praying together a few days later, Ryder’s thoughts wandered. I wish I could get my hands on whoever took my bike, he thought. He’d have a black eye and a bloody nose and— Ryder opened his eyes just then and noticed the words on a plaque hanging on the wall: “Forgive one another as the Lord forgave you.” He struggled with his thoughts and feelings. He felt like getting back at the person who had taken his bike, but he knew Jesus wanted him to forgive. Later that week, Ryder looked out the window to see Bryn, a girl from his class at school, standing outside with a man next to her. What’s Bryn doing here? he thought. Then he noticed she was holding on to a red bicycle. “My daughter has something to say to you,” the man said when Dad and Ryder came to the door. “I think this is your bike,” said Bryn. “I saw a man putting a blue bike in his truck in front of your house. This one was standing there too, but when I came along, he took off. I meant to just borrow it and bring it right back, but then I scratched it and was worried you’d call the police. I’m sorry. I’ll pay for it.” “You’re the person who stole my bike?” Ryder felt a rush of anger as he looked at the long scratch on his new bike, but then he remembered how he’d once made fun of Bryn at school and made her cry. He’d later apologized, and she’d forgiven him. I need to forgive her, he thought, because she forgave me—and because Jesus forgave me too. “It’s okay, Bryn,” Ryder said. “I forgive you.” As Bryn and her dad walked away, Ryder happily pushed his bike into the garage. As he did, the long scratch caught his eye once more—but this time it didn’t make him angry. Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving me for all the wrong things I’ve done, he prayed, and for helping me forgive Bryn. –Evelyn J. Behrens How about you? Do you find it difficult to forgive someone who has wronged you? It isn’t easy, but it’s so much better to let go of your anger instead of letting it take over your thoughts. Jesus tells us to forgive others for the wrong things they’ve done to us because He’s forgiven us for all the wrong we’ve ever done. Trust Him to help you let go of your anger and forgive. Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT) Ephesians 4:32 Today's Key Thought: Forgive others

Apr 28

Read: Psalm 19:7-11 As Ryder and Zach set plates and forks on the table for lunch, a dog started barking outside. “There goes Sarge again,” said Ryder. “He’s always barking.” “This bark sounds different than usual,” said Mom. “Maybe one of you boys should go check it out.” “Aw, Mom, we’re busy,” said Zach. “Besides, Sarge barks at everything—squirrels, people, cars. You name it, he barks at it.” Since Mom didn’t insist, no one checked to see why Sarge was barking. When Zach and Ryder went out to ride their bikes later that afternoon, they stopped and stared at the empty garage. “Where are our bikes?” asked Zach. “I don’t believe it!” cried Ryder. “They’re gone! Who would have the nerve to come into our garage in broad daylight and take our bikes right out from under our noses?” “After all the work we did mowing lawns to buy those bikes,” said Zach. “Now this!” The boys rushed into the house. “Our new bikes are gone! Someone stole them!” Everyone hurried out to see for themselves. Dad returned to the house to call the police department and report the loss. When he came back outside, he stopped to pet Sarge. “Didn’t we hear Sarge barking a couple hours ago?” he asked. “He was trying to warn us, and we didn’t listen to him.” That evening Dad read aloud from Psalm 19. “Warnings are important,” he said after he finished reading. “Today Mom warned you boys not to ignore Sarge’s barking, but you did. Sarge was warning us about the bikes getting stolen, but we didn’t listen. In this psalm, we see that God speaks through His Word not only to teach us about who He is and how much He loves us, but also to warn us about sin.” “You mean how sin separates us from God, and only Jesus can free us from sin and give us eternal life?” asked Zach. Dad nodded. “Yes, the Bible definitely warns us about sin in that way. But it also warns those who already trust in Jesus about the consequences of sin and how disobeying God can create huge messes in our lives. Let’s be sure to listen, knowing that Jesus will always forgive our wrongs and help us obey Him.” –Evelyn J. Behrens How about you? Do you take warnings seriously? God warns Christians about the dangers of sin in the Bible. Listen to Him and obey His commands. Is God warning you about something today? If you think He is, pray and ask God to help you know what action to take, and get advice from an adult you trust. God’s warnings are one of the ways He helps you and guides you through life. Today's Key Verse: His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them. (ERV) Psalm 19:11 Today's Key Thought: Pay attention to God’s warnings

Apr 27

Read: Proverbs 3:1-8 My stomach hurts, Mom,” said Kaylee, burying her head in her pillow. “Don’t make me go to school today.” Mom put her hand on Kaylee’s forehead. “You felt okay at dinner last night—you ate half a pizza! Is something wrong?” Kaylee glanced at her tablet lying on her bedside table. “Not really. It’s just—I posted something last night that I probably shouldn’t have. I just know Lucy’s going to be totally mad at me.” “Oh, Kaylee,” said Mom. “Get dressed and let’s talk about it during breakfast.” As Kaylee stirred her cereal, her tablet pinged with a new message. She didn’t reach to answer it. “So, what’s the matter?” asked Mom, sipping her coffee. Kaylee groaned. “I sent a message to Chris last night. About Lucy. I said she wants him to sit with her at the school play next week.” “Does she?” asked Mom. “No,” muttered Kaylee. “And the worst part is, Chris posted my message on his page, so now everyone thinks Lucy likes him. And it’s all my fault!” Mom sighed and shook her head. “Why’d you do that, honey?” “I don’t know,” said Kaylee. “It just seemed like a funny thing to say.” “Kaylee, you know written words are just as hurtful as spoken words.” Kaylee’s tablet pinged again. She looked at the message and sighed. “It’s Lucy,” she said. “What am I going to do?” “What do you think you should do?” Kaylee looked at Mom, fighting back tears. “Tell the truth?” “That would be the loving thing to do.” Mom smiled. “In fact, the Bible even tells us to write love on tablets.” “It does?” asked Kaylee, her eyes widening. Mom nodded. “God tells us to write love on the tablets of our hearts. That means showing others His love through our words and actions. When we trusted in Jesus, He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could love others the way He does. We show others love by telling the truth and treating them with kindness—both in person and online.” Kaylee looked at her tablet on the table. “I guess that means I need to write love on this tablet too.” –Jennifer Dillard How about you? Have you ever told a lie on the internet? Or wrote something mean about someone so others would think you were funny or cool? Words can spread quickly online, and they can hurt you and your relationships. Show love from your heart by sharing words that are true and kind—both in person and online. Today's Key Verse: You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 3:3 Today's Key Thought: Be truthful and kind online

Apr 26

Read: Psalms 16:11; 37:3-7; Matthew 18:2-4 "Look, Daddy!” exclaimed four-year-old Beck as he peered out the airplane window. “Look! There’s snow down there!” Beck’s older brother Micah laughed. “That’s not snow. Those are clouds. They just look like snow.” Dad smiled and nodded. “They look solid, don’t they? Like you could walk right out on them.” “Yes, but they wouldn’t hold you up!” Micah replied. “If you stepped out on one of those clouds, it would be a giant step down to earth.” “Maybe the clouds are made of snow!” Beck said. Micah shook his head. “No. Clouds are just water vapor,” he said in his best big brother tone. “I learned that in science class. They can’t hold anything up.” “Ohhh,” murmured Beck. Then he had another question. “Why does the plane stay up in the air?” “The plane is built just right for flying,” said Dad, “and the pilot goes to school to learn how to make it stay up.” Beck seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned back toward the window. Micah watched his little brother for a moment. “You know what, Dad?” he asked quietly. “Beck believes everything we tell him.” “That’s because he trusts us to tell him the truth,” said Dad. “It’s too bad, but as we grow older we find there are some people we can’t trust. Many people are trustworthy, but even people we trust may sometimes disappoint us.” Micah looked out at the clouds moving past the plane. “Last week Pastor Carter said there was someone who would never fail us. He was talking about God.” Dad nodded. “God has proven Himself to be trustworthy by keeping every promise He has ever made.” “Like how He promised to send a Savior, and He sent Jesus to die for our sins,” Micah added. “Exactly,” Dad said. “He’s as solid as a rock and completely trustworthy. Notice how I’m the first person Beck asks when he has a question. Since God is our Father, He wants us to seek His wisdom before anything else.” “Daddy! What’s that?” Beck pointed at something else outside the window, and Dad and Micah exchanged smiles. –Ruth Andrews How about you? Who are some trustworthy people in your life? People you go to with questions and trust to tell you the truth? People like that are a blessing from God, but even those we trust can sometimes disappoint us. But God is always trustworthy. He always tells us the truth and keeps His promises. His truth and promises are in the Bible, and that’s where we can go to seek His wisdom and guidance. Trust Him to help you and guide you. Today's Key Verse: O LORD my God, in You I put my trust. (NKJV) Psalm 7:1 Today's Key Thought: God is trustworthy

Apr 25

Read: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:6-8 Max strung out a long piece of cheese and took a bite of his pepperoni pizza. He loved this restaurant—it had tons of fun games. This would’ve been the best day ever except for the mean kid. “Mom, see that tall kid over there with red hair? When I was shooting hoops, he shoved me and stole my tickets out of the game.” His mother frowned. “That wasn’t very nice.” “I know.” Max picked at his food. “I feel like punching him in the face.” “Now, Max, you know that’s not how we treat people,” said Mom. “The Bible tells us to love our enemies.” “But he’s mean!” said Max. “Do you realize that people were mean to Jesus too?” asked Mom. “The Bible says we were all enemies of God at one time, but Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins so we could be forgiven and become God’s friends.” Max took a bite of his pizza and glanced at the boy. “I think I’m gonna play some games with the rest of my tokens.” “Okay, but you don’t have much time. We need to leave in ten minutes to pick up Grandma from the airport.” Max headed for the race car game where he ran into a friend from school. “Hey, Jacob. What are you doing here?” “I’m gonna play this racing game.” Jacob jumped in the seat and slid a token into the slot. “I bet I can beat you.” “No way.” Max smiled as he took a seat behind the wheel. After a couple rounds with Jacob, Mom called to him. “Max, it’s time to go!” He looked down at the coins in his hand. He still had five left. For a moment he considered giving them to Jacob. Then he remembered what his mother had said. “I gotta go,” he told Jacob. He jogged over to the guitar game where the red-haired boy stood in front of the screen. “Here.” Max held out his coins. “These are for you.” The boy’s mouth dropped open as Max handed over the tokens. “Why would you give me these?” he asked. Max shrugged. “I thought you could use them.” Then he smiled and went to find his mom. –Annika Klanderud How about you? Is it hard for you to be kind to mean people? If somebody teases you, do you hope they get in trouble? People often describe Jesus as kind, merciful, and forgiving. But the amazing thing is, He’s kind to bullies, cheaters, and people who break all the rules. While dying on the cross, He even asked His Father to forgive His murderers. Now that’s an exceptional love—and He wants you to show that love to others. Today's Key Verse: Love your enemies! Do good to them…for [God] is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. (NLT) Luke 6:35 Today's Key Thought: Love others like Jesus

Apr 24

Read: Psalms 33:13-15; 139:7-12 Graham held very still when his mom came outside, hoping she wouldn’t see him. He loved to hide in the old apple tree. When he peeked through the leaves and branches, he could see Mom in the yard below. He could see Tabby, Mrs. Underwood’s cat, creeping through the grass next door. He could see Brie playing with her friend across the street. But no one on the ground could see him. “Graham! Brie!” Mom called. “Lunch will be ready soon—you have about five minutes left to play.” She went back into the house. Graham didn’t feel like coming down just yet. He lay on a branch, stretched out flat on his stomach. He watched a blue jay land by the fence. He watched Mrs. Underwood come out onto her back porch and call Tabby. He watched a red pickup truck drive down the street. When Mom came out a little later, Graham was still in the tree. “Kids!” Mom called. “Lunch is ready! Time to come in!” Graham swung down and dropped to the ground as Brie came running home. “Surprise, Mom!” Graham said as he entered the kitchen. “I saw you when you came outside, but you couldn’t see me! I saw you too, Brie. I could see everybody!” He grinned. “Kind of like how God watches us from up in heaven.” “Nah,” said Brie. “God watches everybody in the whole wide world, all at once, all the time!” She grinned at her brother. “He was watching you while you were hiding and watching us.” “But that’s not all,” said Mom. “Unlike you in the tree, God doesn’t hide from us, and He’s never far away. He doesn’t watch from a distance but is right here in this room! Because we trust Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is always with us, caring for us and watching over us.” “I guess we can say God is here, there, and everywhere,” Brie said. “He always knows where we are and what we’re doing. He knows everything about us.” “Then He must know I’m hungry!” Graham said as he sat down at the table. “What’s for lunch?” –Katherine E. Swarts How about you? Do you like to hide from people? If you’re way up high, you might be able to see a lot from far away, but that’s nothing compared to what God sees. He sees the whole world and knows everything about each one of us. He even knows what you’re thinking and feeling! He watches over you every minute of every day and is always right beside you. Thank Him for caring for you, and remember He’s always with you. Today's Key Verse: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV) Proverbs 15:3 Today's Key Thought: God sees everything

Apr 23

Read: Psalm 133 "You chose last time!” yelled Jill. “I did not!” said Kelsey. “You did!” “I guess I remember better than you.” Jill stomped over to the back porch and sat down. She and Kelsey were cousins, but they didn’t always get along very well. Jill’s brother Theo came out and sat down next to her. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Another argument?” “Kelsey is so bossy,” said Jill. “She never wants to do what I want to do.” She frowned as she glanced at Kelsey, who was walking toward the swing set. Just then a line of wild geese, honking loudly, flew high overhead. “I wonder what their problem is. They sound terrible!” said Theo. “Maybe one of them wanted to be the boss and butted its way to the front of the line.” “Don’t they take turns being the leader?” asked Jill. “They’re supposed to,” said Theo. “But maybe one of them was counting the number of times he had been the leader and decided he wasn’t getting his fair share of turns. So he tried to make them do things his way, and now all the other geese are honking at him.” He grinned at his sister. “Silly goose.” They watched as the long line of geese separated into four lines, then merged into two. The honking became a bit quieter, and finally the two lines formed into one long V. “I wonder which one got them to stop honking and work together peacefully,” said Theo. “It takes a real leader to get others to work well together. And it’s not about always doing things your way, but putting others before yourself. That’s the kind of leader Jesus was. Even though He’s King over everything, He became a servant and died for our sins—because that’s the only way we could have peace with God.” Jill looked over to where Kelsey was swinging. That’s what I want to be—a leader, she thought. Not a silly goose. She jumped up and walked over to the swing set. “Okay, Kelsey,” she said. “You can decide this time.” She smiled at her cousin. “Let’s stop honking at each other.” –Lois A. Witmer How about you? Do you always want others to do things your way? Do you try to take charge by fighting and forcing everybody else to do what you want? That’s not the kind of leader Jesus was. He put others ahead of Himself by sacrificing His life to bring us peace, and He wants us to live in peace with each other. Help others live in peace by doing what’s best for everyone, not just yourself. That’s the mark of a true leader. Today's Key Verse: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV) Ephesians 4:3 Today's Key Thought: Learn to get along with others

Apr 22

Read: Genesis 1:28-31; Colossians 1:15-20 Gabe turned his nose away from the fast-food scraps and held them at arm’s length. “I think my nose is more sensitive than most. This is disgusting.” The sun beat down, and a soft breeze sent wafts of rotten smells up his nostrils. His friend Cassi just shook her head and urged him on. Their church had partnered with the city to orchestrate a park cleanup across the street from their chapel. It’s about time, Gabe had thought. He was tired of stepping over litter at the playground. Volunteers spread across the grassy opening armed with gloves and rolls of trash bags; only the lucky ones got plastic reach extenders to jab at the waste. After a couple hours of picking up trash, Gabe looked around at the huge park and wondered if it even made a difference. “Good work, guys!” Gabe and Cassi turned to see the pastor’s eldest son, Brent, wheeling a wagon over their way. “Want a bottle of water?” he asked. They nodded vigorously and Brent handed them each a bottle. Gabe guzzled his down in seconds, flattened the bottle, and tossed it into the recycling bag. He groaned. “It smells out here.” “Do you know why we’re doing this park cleanup?” Brent asked them. Gabe had no idea. With a shrug, Cassie said, “To do something nice for the community, I guess.” “Yes, and we’re doing it because God gave us this earth as a gift,” Brent explained. “God’s given us everything out of love for us—including His own Son to save us so we can have a relationship with Him. The earth is a blessing from God; He provides food, water, shelter, clothing, and medicines through its resources. The things of this earth are meant to be a blessing for everyone, so one way we can show others the love of Jesus, who is King over all God’s creation, is by making sure the earth is taken care of.” Cassi nudged Gabe’s shoulder and smiled. “Like making sure the playground is clean for everyone to use.” Gabe looked over the playground and imagined how nice it would be for the community if it were all cleaned up. “I guess it would be a good way to love our neighbors.” –Zoe Brickner How about you? Do you enjoy being outside in God’s beautiful creation? What are some things you have benefited from that come from nature? God made this world for us as an overflow of His endless love—love so great that He gave us His Son, Jesus, who reigns over the earth. One way we can thank God for His gifts and love our neighbors at the same time is by caring for the earth so everyone can enjoy it. Today's Key Verse: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (NIV) Psalm 24:1 Today's Key Thought: Take care of the earth

Apr 21

Read: Psalm 23:1-6 Madison’s dog nuzzled up against her hand, whining anxiously. Madison closed her history textbook and looked down. “What’s wrong, Buddy?” she asked, even though she knew Buddy couldn’t answer. Then she heard thunder booming in the distance. Buddy perked up his ears, then whined again. Madison looked out the window at the dark clouds piling high as rain began hitting the glass. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Madison bent down to stroke Buddy’s head. “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s just a storm. You’re safe inside.” Buddy whined some more. Madison sighed. She needed to study for her big test tomorrow. Her heart beat faster just thinking about it. “Come on, Buddy, you’re fine.” Madison picked up her book again, feeling sick to her stomach. She always had trouble remembering all the dates and places, then she’d panic, which made it even harder to think. She hoped she wouldn’t forget everything she studied. Mom walked into the room. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Madison sighed again. “Buddy’s scared of the storm, but I need to finish my homework.” Mom nodded. “Buddy’s always been scared of storms.” She thought for a minute. “What are some things that scare you, Madison?” Madison looked up, surprised. “I’m scared of heights. Remember when Dad wanted me to go down that big water slide, but I couldn’t even make it up the stairs?” She paused. “And sometimes I’m scared to take tests. I worry I won’t remember everything and will get a bad grade.” “So who do you go to for help?” asked Mom. “Well, sometimes you and Dad. You help me study.” “And that’s good. But there’s someone else you can also go to.” Mom reached down and patted Buddy’s head. “Isn’t it interesting that Buddy knows to come to you for comfort? That’s how Jesus wants us to think about Him. He wants to be our first option for peace and comfort. When we come to Him with our fears, He comforts us and reminds us that He’s in control and will always love us and be with us no matter what happens.” “So, since I’m worried about my test, I should pray about it?” Madison asked. Mom nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.” –Abigail Singrey How about you? What scares you? Is it spiders, the dark, or meeting new kids at church or school? Maybe you freeze up with fear, or maybe you get a funny feeling in your stomach. Whatever worries you have, you can bring them to Jesus. He won’t think they’re silly. When we pray to God about whatever is troubling us, He will calm our worries and let us know He’s with us. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you. (NLV) 1 Peter 5:7 Today's Key Thought: Pray about your problems

Apr 20

Read: John 19:28-30 Evan breathed deeply through his nose as he walked into the kitchen. “Yum!” he said, walking over to where his older sister was working. “Lemon pie!” “Oh no, you don’t!” said Zoe, shooing him away with her spatula. “This is nowhere near finished.” “Okay, but I’ll be waiting for it,” Evan said, then headed upstairs to do homework. When he came back later, Zoe had poured the filling into the pie shell. “Can I have some pie now?” he asked. Zoe shook her head. “It’s still not finished,” she told him. “It’s lemon meringue pie, and it doesn’t have any meringue on it yet.” Evan checked back one more time before dinner. “It’s finished now,” Zoe told him, “but you can’t have any yet. I baked it for dessert tonight.” After dinner, Zoe finally brought the pie to the table. Evan scooped up and swallowed every bit on his plate. “Now the pie’s really finished,” he said, patting his stomach. “It’s all gone.” For devotions that night, Dad read from the Gospel of John. “‘It is finished.’ Those were the last words Jesus said on the cross,” Dad said, closing his Bible. “Sounds a lot like some of the words being said in the kitchen this afternoon. A couple of times I overheard Zoe tell Evan that the lemon pie wasn’t finished yet. Finally, she said it was finished, but even then it didn’t do Evan any good. Why not?” “Because I didn’t eat any of it,” replied Evan. “Her fault, not mine!” “I don’t doubt it,” Dad said with a smile. “Well, Jesus came to earth to take the punishment for our sin. On the cross, He finally said, ‘It is finished.’ His work was done. But a lot of people are missing the full benefit of His finished work. Why?” “Because they haven’t trusted Him as their Savior,” Zoe said after a moment. “Right,” said Dad. “To enjoy the finished pie, we had to take it for ourselves and eat it. And to enjoy the benefit of Jesus’s finished work—the joy and peace of having a relationship with God that lasts for eternity—we have to receive it for ourselves. We have to believe in Jesus and trust Him to save us to become a child of God.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Have you received the benefit of what Jesus did for you on the cross? Are you trusting Him to save you from sin and give you eternal life? He finished the work of purchasing your salvation, and He offers it to you right now. Receive it for yourself by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (NIV) John 1:12 Today's Key Thought: Accept Jesus's finished work

Apr 19

Read: Read: John 10:2-5, 14 "Ah, look!” Amelia said as her mother parked the car at Grandpa’s farm. “I see Grandpa’s new sheep! Let’s go pet them.” The children climbed out of the car and raced toward the sheep, but the animals darted to the far corner of the pen. “Oops! We scared them,” said Josiah. “Let’s try again. Let’s pull some grass for them, and this time let’s walk, not run.” Amelia agreed, and they each pulled a handful of grass and slowly carried it toward the corner where the sheep huddled. But as they approached, the flock spun around and dashed away. Amelia dropped her grass. “I give up.” “Me too,” said Josiah, throwing his grass on the ground. A moment later, the children saw their grandfather coming. They ran to give him a hug. “Grandpa, why do you have those baby bottles?” Amelia asked. “Two of my lambs need these,” replied Grandpa. “I feed them because their mother died.” “I wish I could feed one of them,” said Amelia, “but your sheep don’t like us. They run away.” Grandpa smiled. “Watch,” he said as he led the children to a small pen beside the barn. They saw that it held two little lambs. “Here, Fluffy. Here, Snowball,” Grandpa called as he opened the pen. The lambs scampered out and followed him as he crisscrossed the lawn. Josiah laughed. “They’re playing follow the leader!” Grandpa handed each of the kids a bottle. “Here,” he said. “You can hold these for them.” “Cool!” said Amelia, offering her bottle to one of the lambs. She giggled in delight as the lamb eagerly took it. “This one dances while he eats!” Amelia looked at Grandpa. “But why wouldn’t your other sheep eat the grass we pulled for them?” “Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him. They tend to run away from strangers,” Grandpa explained. “It reminds me that we are like sheep. We follow our Shepherd—Jesus—by obeying Him and trusting Him to guide us and take care of us. We don’t let anything or anyone lead us away from Him because we’ve heard His voice and know that He is the Good Shepherd who calls us to eternal life with Him.” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Are you following Jesus, the Good Shepherd? You may not have wool and four legs, but the Bible often refers to Christians as sheep who hear and follow Jesus’s voice. He’s the one who loves us so much that He gave His life to save us and promises to guide us, care for us, and supply our needs. If you trust in Jesus, you are following Him. Today's Key Verse: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (NKJV) John 10:27 Today's Key Thought: Follow your Shepard

Apr 18

Read: 1 Peter 2:19-25 Anissa leaned out the car window to watch a line of people walking along the side of the road. Accompanied by a police escort, a large number of children and adults followed a man who was dressed to look the way Jesus did in pictures. The man was wearing what looked like a crown of thorns, and he was carrying a large cross on his back. “One of the local churches must be reenacting what happened on Good Friday many years ago,” Mom said as she slowed the car at the policeman’s signal. Anissa looked away. She didn’t want to think about what really happened—how Jesus had suffered when He went to the cross to die for sinners. But she looked back when she heard the loud voice of a man in another car. “Hey!” the man hollered. “You’re nuts!” He honked his horn and then hollered some more. The man portraying Jesus didn’t even look up. He and the crowd of followers continued their solemn journey. “That guy wasn’t very nice!” Anissa remarked. “No, but that kind of thing—and much worse—happened when Jesus was crucified,” said Mom. “People mocked Him, but Jesus kept on going too. He was committed to doing the will of His Father.” “That must have been hard,” said Anissa. “Yes,” said Mom. “Christians today might get teased and mocked for following Jesus. When that happens, we need to look to Him for the strength to keep going and do God’s will, just like He did.” “I know.” Anissa sighed. “Sometimes I want to go along with other kids and do things even when I know they’re wrong. But being left out or putting up with mean things they say is nothing compared to what Jesus went through for me!” Mom nodded. “Jesus took up His cross, and He tells each of us to do the same. That means being willing to give up whatever is necessary to live the way He wants us to—from what others think of us to our very lives. The good news is that He is with us and will help each of us carry our cross the way He did so others can see His love in our lives.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Are you ever teased or rejected because of what you believe? Jesus understands. He suffered that kind of rejection too. He was scorned and mocked and even spit on. He suffered real, deep pain when He took the punishment for sin you deserve. He loves you that much, and He will help you follow Him and show His love to others, no matter what anyone else says or does. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said,] “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” (NLT) Luke 9:23 Today's Key Thought: Take up your cross

Apr 17

Read: Matthew 25:14-21 Hunter and his dad chose a spot in the backyard to set up the rain gauge Hunter had made at school. He was proud of the hollow tube and its funnel-like top. “This is the best school project ever,” he said. “I hope it rains soon!” “Hunter,” Mom said when he came inside, “Mr. Blake isn’t feeling well, and he’s afraid his garbage cans might roll out into the street if they stay in his driveway. Would you go bring in his trash cans?” “Okay,” said Hunter, and he headed out the door. He returned a few minutes later and sighed heavily. “What’s wrong?” asked Mom. “Mr. Blake seems to be sick a lot,” said Hunter. “And I know he’s sad about losing his wife. I wish I could do something more to help him. When I brought his trash cans in, I noticed paint peeling off his house. I wish I could paint his house for him!” A timer beeped, and Mom pulled brownies from the oven. “Well, you may not be able to paint his house, but you can run some of these over to Mr. Blake. That’ll cheer him up.” “Okay. But it’d be cool to do something big instead of just this little stuff.” Mom smiled at him. “I know it may not seem like much, but remember the Bible says that we serve Jesus by serving others. By helping Mr. Blake—even in small ways—you’re showing him the love of Jesus.” Later that day, it began to sprinkle, so Hunter and his parents went to check his rain gauge. “It’s collecting water!” Hunter said. “Good,” said Dad. “But this is a very light rainfall. It will take a lot more rain than this to really measure water in your gauge.” “Maybe,” said Hunter. “But look! A little water is running into it—and every drop counts! The water will build up over time.” “You’re right,” Mom said. “Every little bit does count, and you know what? Every little thing you do for Jesus counts too. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem.” “You mean like the stuff I do to help Mr. Blake?” asked Hunter. “Yes,” said Mom. “Jesus can use it to show him a big picture of God’s love.” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Do you think the small things you do for others don’t amount to much? Do you wish you could do something big? The Bible tells us Jesus came down from heaven to serve us by dying for our sins, and He wants us to serve others—even when it doesn’t seem like much to us. He uses the small things we say and do to show people how much He loves them. Serve Jesus by serving others. Today's Key Verse: The Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve. (NKJV) Mark 10:45 Today's Key Thought: Serving others shows them God's love

Apr 16

Read: Hebrews 9:11-15; 1 John 1:7-9 Cole followed his grandpa across his new backyard. “I want to see inside!” Grandpa stopped at the door of a big shed. “Ready?” Cole nodded. Grandpa pulled the door open, and Cole jumped back. The smell coming from inside was terrible. He moved to a place where he could take deep breaths of fresh air and looked over to see Grandpa laughing at him. “We’re going to need to take care of that.” Grandpa held up a handkerchief. “Until then, I have this.” “You knew it was going to smell like that and you’re still going in there to clean it?” Cole couldn’t believe it. “Your grandma needs a place to work on her pottery.” Grandpa shrugged. “I love her, so I’m going to clean that place out and get it ready for her.” “Speaking of Grandma…” Cole backed toward the house. Grandpa laughed again. “You go inside and spend time with her. I don’t expect you to work with me.” Cole didn’t go back to the shed until weeks later when Grandpa convinced him he had to see inside. “I don’t want to smell it.” Cole dragged his feet as they made their way across the yard. “It doesn’t smell anymore.” Grandpa pulled the shed door open. Cole’s eyes widened. Gone was all of the mess that had been in the place before. And the smell coming from the shed was one of fresh paint and stain. He saw shiny wood floors and perfect white walls. “It’s amazing.” Grandpa grinned. “It’s really different, isn’t it?” Cole dropped to his knees on the clean floor. “This reminds me of something.” “Yeah?” Grandpa asked. “You know how Jesus loves us even though we’re sinners?” Cole asked. “He’s willing to step into the dirty, the gross, and make things better. He loves us enough to deal with the smelly stuff, just like you loved Grandma enough to do that. And now…now the shed has been made clean! Some people might have said it’d be best to just burn it down or something, but you made it new.” Grandpa squeezed Cole’s shoulder. “I like that.” –Emily Acker How about you? Do smelly things bother you? How much love would it take for you to step into a smelly, messy place to make it better for someone you love? Because of His great love for us, Jesus came into our messy world and died for our sins. When we trust in Him, He cleans us and makes us new. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) No matter how many times we mess up, He will always forgive us. Today's Key Verse: But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJV) 1 John 1:7 Today's Key Thought: Jesus cleans you because of His love

Apr 15

Read: Psalm 62:5-8 For as long as they could remember, Isla and Parker had lived a block away from the beach. Now they were at the water’s edge saying goodbye to their favorite spot. Isla pushed her bare feet into the sand while Parker threw rocks out into the water. Tears trickled down Isla’s cheeks as she thought of the moving van parked in front of their house—only it wasn’t their house anymore. Isla would always remember the last day of school before spring vacation a few weeks ago. She and Parker had bolted off the school bus, excited about heading to the beach. They’d burst through the front door. “Mom, we’re home!” Isla called. The house was silent. “Mom?” called Parker. They went into the living room and found Mom and Dad sitting there. Mom looked like she’d been crying. “What’s wrong?” asked Isla. That’s when her world fell apart. “You’ve probably noticed that your mother and I haven’t been able to agree on many things lately,” said Dad. “We’ve decided that it will be better for all of us to live apart.” It just kept getting worse. Not only was Dad leaving, but Isla and Parker were moving with their mom to Grandma’s. They’d have to find a new school and make all new friends. And there was no beach nearby. Isla stared at the waves crashing against a huge boulder out in the water. “God, this isn’t fair,” she whispered. As the waves sprayed over the boulder, she remembered a verse she’d learned in church. The Lord is my Rock , she thought. He’s always solid and never changes, and He’ll always be with me and care for me. Parker finished throwing rocks and came and sat beside Isla. “Don’t worry, Isla. Everything will be okay,” he said half-heartedly. “I know,” replied Isla. “I just remembered that Jesus is a solid, steady Rock to stand on. We may feel like those waves out there being tossed all over the place, but Jesus is like that big boulder. Even if everything else is changing, He’s still the same. He cares about what’s happening to us and will always be with us. We have to trust Him.” –Betty Yeider How about you? Are you going through a difficult time in your life? A time when you feel hurt and alone and life doesn’t seem fair? Remember that Jesus is a close friend, one who is always there for you. He loves you so much He died for you, and He cares about what is happening. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, He is solid and unchanging—a Rock you can trust. Today's Key Verse: Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (NIV) Psalm 62:8 Today's Key Thought: Always trust God

Apr 14

Read: Romans 3:21-26 "Can I crack the eggs?” Penelope asked as her mom started blending the butter and sugar. “Sure,” Mom said, and as each egg was added, she beat it into the cookie dough. “Now we need to add flour, baking soda, and salt.” “I can do that,” said Penelope. She carefully measured the flour into a bowl, then added the baking soda and salt. She looked down at the bowl in surprise. “I thought flour was supposed to be white.” “It looks white to me,” said Mom. “But look,” said Penelope. “The baking soda and salt are on top of the flour, and they’re really white. They make the flour look almost gray.” “That’s true,” Mom said as she stirred the ingredients together. “Penny,” she said after a moment, “if I said the flour is like us and the baking soda is like God, what do you think I’d mean?” Penelope thought for a moment. “I’d think you weren’t making any sense,” she said with a grin. Mom smiled. “When I saw those ingredients together and the difference in color, it occurred to me that we often think we’re decently good people. But compared to what God says, we don’t look so good.” “I think I get it,” said Penelope. “Compared to the baking soda, the flour isn’t very white. And compared to how the Bible says we should live, we’re not very good at all.” “That’s right,” Mom said as she dropped spoonfuls of dough onto the cookie sheet. “The only person to ever live up to the Bible’s standards was Jesus, the Son of God. He lived a perfect life, then died to take the punishment for our wrongs. When we trust in Him, He replaces our sin with His righteousness—His goodness—and makes us pure in God’s eyes. If this baking soda could turn all the flour in this bowl pure white, that would be like what Jesus does for us.” “These cookies will remind me of that,” said Penelope, putting a tray in the oven. “So I should eat lots of them, right?” Mom laughed and gave her a playful jab. –Pauline Youd How about you? How does your life compare to God’s standard that He gives us in the Bible? Do you feel like you measure up? Or do you know that your life is like the flour in this story—more gray than white? Only Jesus measures up to God’s standard. When you trust Him as your Savior, He purifies you from sin and makes you good in God’s eyes. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews .) Today's Key Verse: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:21 Today's Key Thought: Only Jesus measures up

Apr 13

Read: Matthew 21:1-11; John 3:16-18 Arlo giggled as his sister Marni raised her palm branch over his head. “Save me! Aunt Lori, Marni is going to rule over me!” Aunt Lori called to the kids from the deck. “Quit playing with those. Come on, let’s eat lunch.” Arlo and Marni groaned. They tossed their palm leaves to the side and trudged up the steps. “Those branches are perfect for sword fighting,” said Marni. “Why can’t we play with them?” “Yeah,” Arlo added. “We got them in church, but all we did was wave them around and lay them on the floor. It was boring.” Uncle Damien brought out plates of sandwiches. “Do you even know why you got them?” he asked as he set the food down. The kids shrugged and said in unison, “Palm Sunday.”’ Uncle Damien nodded. “A week before Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The people laid down their cloaks and palm leaves as He rode through the city to honor Him as the Messiah—the Savior God had promised. Every year on the Sunday before Easter, we celebrate that day by remembering that Jesus is the humble King who came to save us.” Marni thought about the church service earlier. “But why did the pastor have us say ‘hosanna’? What does that mean?” “Actually, it’s kind of like what Arlo exclaimed when you beat him in your game earlier,” said Aunt Lori. “I joked that you had to save me from Marni’s oppressive rule,” said Arlo. “And hosanna means just that,” Aunt Lori said. “It’s a word meaning ‘save us’ in the language Jesus spoke.” Marnie nodded in realization. “So we shout it in church on Palm Sunday to remember that God saves us from our sins.” “And He did just that,” Uncle Damien said. “When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for sin we deserved. Then when He rose from the grave, He conquered death so we could have eternal life with Him. The moment we trust in Him, He frees us from the oppressive rule of sin and death and makes us right with God.” “Wow!” Arlo exclaimed. “We should shout hosanna more often!” –Zoe Brickner How about you? Have you ever gotten a palm branch at church on Palm Sunday? During Jesus’s time, the leaves and cloaks on the ground showed respect to kings. Jesus was a different King than all the others—He’s the King of kings! He is the most powerful King, yet also the humblest. Jesus became human and died on the cross to save us, and that’s a good reason to shout, “Hosanna!” Today's Key Verse: The crowds who went ahead of him [Jesus] and those who followed shouted…‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (CSB) Matthew 21:9 Today's Key Thought: Jesus came to save us

Apr 13

Read: Matthew 21:1-11; John 3:16-18 Arlo giggled as his sister Marni raised her palm branch over his head. “Save me! Aunt Lori, Marni is going to rule over me!” Aunt Lori called to the kids from the deck. “Quit playing with those. Come on, let’s eat lunch.” Arlo and Marni groaned. They tossed their palm leaves to the side and trudged up the steps. “Those branches are perfect for sword fighting,” said Marni. “Why can’t we play with them?” “Yeah,” Arlo added. “We got them in church, but all we did was wave them around and lay them on the floor. It was boring.” Uncle Damien brought out plates of sandwiches. “Do you even know why you got them?” he asked as he set the food down. The kids shrugged and said in unison, “Palm Sunday.”’ Uncle Damien nodded. “A week before Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The people laid down their cloaks and palm leaves as He rode through the city to honor Him as the Messiah—the Savior God had promised. Every year on the Sunday before Easter, we celebrate that day by remembering that Jesus is the humble King who came to save us.” Marni thought about the church service earlier. “But why did the pastor have us say ‘hosanna’? What does that mean?” “Actually, it’s kind of like what Arlo exclaimed when you beat him in your game earlier,” said Aunt Lori. “I joked that you had to save me from Marni’s oppressive rule,” said Arlo. “And hosanna means just that,” Aunt Lori said. “It’s a word meaning ‘save us’ in the language Jesus spoke.” Marnie nodded in realization. “So we shout it in church on Palm Sunday to remember that God saves us from our sins.” “And He did just that,” Uncle Damien said. “When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for sin we deserved. Then when He rose from the grave, He conquered death so we could have eternal life with Him. The moment we trust in Him, He frees us from the oppressive rule of sin and death and makes us right with God.” “Wow!” Arlo exclaimed. “We should shout hosanna more often!” –Zoe Brickner How about you? Have you ever gotten a palm branch at church on Palm Sunday? During Jesus’s time, the leaves and cloaks on the ground showed respect to kings. Jesus was a different King than all the others—He’s the King of kings! He is the most powerful King, yet also the humblest. Jesus became human and died on the cross to save us, and that’s a good reason to shout, “Hosanna!” Today's Key Verse: The crowds who went ahead of him [Jesus] and those who followed shouted…‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (CSB) Matthew 21:9 Today's Key Thought: Jesus came to save us

Apr 12

Read: Psalm 71:15-17 Jade, Leah, and their little sister, Izzy, joined their mother in the backyard one spring day. “Wow, look at all the flowers!” Jade said, walking over to her mother’s garden. “I love the hyacinths. I think they’re my favorite." “Not mine. I like those yellow ones,” said Izzy, pointing to the daffodils. “They’re so pretty. Yellow is my favorite color!” Leah shook her head. “The tulips are the best. They come in lots of colors—they don’t just stick to one!” Jade looked around at the garden. “There are lots more flowers than there were last year. Did you plant more this year, Mom?” Mom shook her head. “No, but over the winter, they multiplied.” “Multiplied?” asked Izzy. “What does that mean?” “That means there are more of them,” said Jade. “That’s because the bulbs in the ground produced more bulbs, so now there are more flowers for you to see. Right, Mom?” “Right.” Mom removed a few dead leaves from the base of a daffodil. “You know, these spring flowers are a good example of what Christians should be like.” “Really?” asked Jade. “How?” “I know!” said Leah. “Because Jesus gives us new life when we trust Him as our Savior, and we should bloom for Him.” “Yes,” said Mom. “He puts His love in our hearts, and as we rely on Him to help us show it to others, our lives bloom with the love and beauty of Jesus. That’s how Christians multiply.” “Oh no!” said Jade, looking at Leah. “You mean there are going to be more Leahs popping up?” Leah laughed. “Or more Jades?” Mom smiled. “You girls know what I’m saying—that we should be sharing God’s love with others and praying He puts seeds of faith in their hearts and makes them grow. It’s not more Leahs or Jades we want popping up, but more people who know Jesus and show His love to the world.” Izzy bent over to look more closely at one of the daffodils. “I hope the whole yard is full of these pretty yellow flowers next year!” “Yeah,” said Jade. “And I hope the whole world is full of people who love Jesus!” –Shelley A. Janofski How about you? Have you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins and give you a new life? Then your life should be like a flower and bloom with the love and beauty of Jesus. Show His love to others and let them know about all the wonderful things He’s done—like coming to earth and giving His life to save us from sin. Ask Jesus to use your life to bring others to Him. Today's Key Verse: O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. (NLT) Psalm 71:17 Today's Key Thought: Show Jesus’s love to others

Apr 11

Read: Ephesians 4:32-5:2 Wyatt called to Mom as he raced down the stairs and toward the back door. “I’m heading out to my garden to weed.” Wyatt had his own garden in the backyard and was looking forward to caring for his plants. Mom stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Can you take William with you, please? He’s been wanting to go outside all day.” Wyatt sighed. Taking William with him would make tending his garden go much slower with all the questions he would ask. Wyatt was tempted to complain, but thought better of it. Mom needed to take care of baby Rose since she was teething and feeling miserable. Besides, William could be cute sometimes. “William,” Wyatt said, “do you want to come with me to the garden?” “Yes!” William shrieked with delight. “Will you help me put on my shoes? Why do we have to go to the garden? What are we going to do there?” Wyatt sighed but smiled as he kneeled down to buckle William’s sandals. “We need to go to the garden to pull weeds and care for the plants.” William paused a moment, but soon thought of more questions. “How do we care for plants? Why do we pull weeds?” Wyatt continued to answer William’s questions as they headed outside. “We care for the plants by checking to see what they need. They may need water or extra support. If we don’t pull the weeds, the plants won’t have room to grow.” He knew there would be many more questions before the day was done. Mom and Dad had told him that asking questions was how William learned and that answering them kindly and carefully helped him grow and showed him God’s love. The kind of love Jesus shows us, Wyatt thought. Love that is always patient as He helps us learn and grow. While William paused to chase a butterfly, Wyatt realized something. Showing patience and kindness to William wasn’t that different from taking care of his plants. He decided he would keep tending William and do what was needed to help him grow. –Myrical Barton How about you? Do you get impatient when younger kids ask lots of questions? Does it annoy you when friends or classmates don’t understand something? Remember that Jesus is patient and loving toward you and that you show His love to others by treating them the same way. Be patient with others and do all you can to help them grow. Today's Key Verse: Be patient, bearing with one another in love. (NIV) Ephesians 4:2 Today's Key Thought: Be patient and help others grow

Apr 10

Read: Psalm 119:65-73 Denver tugged his mother’s hand. “Come on, Mom! I want to find out if my science fair project won a ribbon!” “Okay, but help me keep an eye on Darcy,” Denver’s mom answered as she motioned for his little sister to follow them. When they arrived at the table holding Denver’s project, they spotted a red ribbon attached to the board displaying Denver’s research. “Second place! Cool!” Denver exclaimed. Then he, his mom, and Darcy walked around the gym looking at other projects. Denver congratulated some of his friends on their ribbons too. “Denver, did you give Darcy a piece of gum?” Mom asked. “No, I know Darcy’s too little for gum.” “Well, she’s chewing something.” The three of them sat down on the gym’s bleachers so Mom could ask Darcy about the gum. When they realized Darcy had yanked an old, already-chewed piece of gum from under one of the science fair tables, Denver cried, “Gross!” Darcy began to whimper. “Darcy, it’s okay,” Denver consoled his sister. “Mom, why would she do that?” “She’s little. She saw something that looked good, so she grabbed it. She doesn’t have much experience making wise decisions yet. But she’s not the only one who needs help making good choices.” Mom smiled and shook her head. Then they returned to admiring the science projects set up in the gym. On the ride home, Denver asked, “Mom, what did you mean about how Darcy’s not the only one who needs help making choices?” “Well, we all need help choosing what’s best sometimes,” said Mom. “Because not everything that looks good is actually good for us,” Denver said. “Like Darcy’s gum.” “Exactly,” Mom replied. “Thankfully, we have a place to turn when we need wisdom. Because you and I trust in Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins and then came back to life so we could have a relationship with God, we can go to our heavenly Father with any need we face, and He’ll give us guidance.” “Good to know, Mom. I’m going to ask God for guidance about next year’s science project—and about keeping Darcy away from old chewing gum.” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Have you ever faced a decision and needed help? We all have choices in life to make, and some of them are difficult. But as God’s children, we can ask God for help and trust Him for wisdom in making decisions. As we look to God’s Word, the Bible, for guidance and share our needs with Him, He will help us make wise choices that show others we have a relationship with Jesus. Today's Key Verse: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (NIV) Psalm 32:8 Today's Key Thought: God helps us make wise choices

Apr 9

Read: Deuteronomy 31:4-6 Editor’s note: This story may not be suitable for young children. Asha’s heart was pounding. She walked slowly down the jetway to the plane, clutching her mother’s hand. “It’ll be okay,” Mom told her gently. “I know you’re scared, but everything will be all right.” Asha looked up at Mom with her big round eyes, then snapped them back to the open door of the plane. Just a week ago, a bomb went off at an airport in another country. Asha shuddered as images of wrecked planes on the news flashed into her mind. She definitely didn’t want anything like that to happen to her and Mom! They finally crossed from the jetway to the plane, and the flight attendant greeted them with a warm smile as they began shuffling down the aisle. Mom pointed out their seats. “Row 27, seat F. That’s you, Asha. I’ll be in the seat right in front of you.” Asha’s stomach lurched. “But Mom, I want you right next to me! I can’t ride the whole way by myself. What if I lose you?” “Don’t worry, honey,” Mom said as she slid into her row and pointed to the seat behind her. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here with you the whole way.” Asha climbed into her seat, buckled her belt, and stared out the window as the plane rolled into position on the runway. The engines began to roar, and she felt the pressure of the plane building up. She thought about her mother’s words and remembered a Bible verse she had learned in church. “The Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” She realized that even if flying on a plane seemed really scary to her, Jesus would be there to comfort her, just like Mom was with her on the plane. He would never leave her. Even if something horrible did happen and the plane crashed, He would still be with her, and she’d go to heaven to be with Him there. She smiled as she sat back in the seat, feeling more comfortable. She spoke up so Mom could hear her. “Thanks for being here with me, Mom. I know Jesus will be with both of us too!” –Dylan Kraayenbrink How about you? Do you often see scary things on the news? It’s hard not to worry about the bad things that happen in the world. But remember that if you trust in Jesus, He’ll always be with you to comfort you and carry you through every situation. No matter what happens, Jesus will never leave you. Your future is safe with Him. Key Verse: The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. (CSB) Deuteronomy 31:8 Today's Key Thought: God comforts His children

Apr 8

Read: Proverbs 3:1-6; Hebrews 12:1-2 "Can you quiz me on some review questions for a test, Dad?” Lydia asked one evening. Dad agreed, so Lydia handed him her study sheet. Dad asked Lydia several questions on topics she had studied. “Just a few to go,” Dad said finally. “What’s the name of the famous tower in Italy? And why is it famous?” “The Leaning Tower of Pisa,” Lydia replied. “It was supposed to stand straight, but the ground it was built on was soft and it began to lean during construction.” “Good,” said Dad, closing the book. “I’ll have to make up some harder questions if I’m going to stump you. Let’s see…what’s the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaning on?” Lydia had to think about that one. “Is that a trick question? It doesn’t seem to be leaning on anything.” Looking out the window, Lydia saw her little brother wobbling down the driveway on his bike. “Eli’s leaning on something though. Without those training wheels, he’d fall right over!” She grinned. “Is God holding up the tower? Maybe He’s what’s keeping it from falling over.” “That’s an interesting idea,” said Dad. “Eli, the tower in Pisa, you and me, we all need to have something—or someone—to lean on.” He smiled. “Eventually Eli will learn to ride his bike without leaning on those training wheels. But as Christians, we’ll always need someone to hold us up.” “You mean Jesus, don’t you?” asked Lydia. “That’s right,” said Dad. “If we think we can get through life or be a good person by leaning on our own efforts, we’ll just fall right over. Only by leaning on Jesus—trusting in Him—can we be saved from sin and love others the way God calls us to. It’s impossible for us to do it ourselves.” He paused. “I’m not sure what’s holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Some people think it might fall one day. But our foundation—Jesus—will never let us fall. No matter what happens, He will always hold us up.” Lydia smiled. “So, because I trust in Jesus, I’m Leaning Lydia! I’ll have to remember that.” “Good,” said Dad. “That’s way more important to remember than anything on your study sheet!” –Nance E. Keyes How about you? Are you leaning on Jesus? Or are you trying to hold yourself up? Only Jesus can save us from sin and provide us with all we need to live a life that points to His goodness and love. He wants us to lean on Him, and He puts people in our lives we can lean on too in hard times, like friends and family. You can trust that He will never let you fall. (See “Have You Heard the Good News?” on page 104.) Today's Key Verse Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (NKJV) Proverbs 3:5 Today's Key Thought Lean on Jesus

Apr 7

Read: Acts 9:26-31 That’s enough TV for today, Simon,” Grandma said, turning it off. “Don’t you have homework to do?” Simon shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Grandma.” He reached down and scooped up Tiger, the stray cat Grandma had rescued. “Even if I do it, Mrs. Stevens still won’t like me.” “I thought you enjoyed her class. What happened?” Grandma asked. “I do like it. But I forgot to do my homework a few times, and now she always asks me if I’ve done it.” “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like you, Simon,” Grandma said. “She cares about you and wants to help you be responsible and do your work.” “But she won’t let me go to the puzzle corner during study hall unless my homework’s done. And if I tell her it’s done, she doesn’t believe me! She makes me show her my work.” Simon stroked the fur on Tiger’s back, making him purr. “She doesn’t make anyone else do that.” “I see,” said Grandma. “Simon, do you remember when I first got Tiger?” Simon remembered how skinny Tiger had been. His striped fur was dirty, and one ear was torn. “Tiger hissed and scratched at anyone who came near him,” said Simon. Grandma nodded. “Tiger had been mistreated. It was hard for him to trust people again. I spoke gently to him and offered him his favorite foods for many days. Then one morning Tiger stepped away from his dish and brushed against my legs. More time went by before he trusted me enough to let me pet him.” “But he’s okay now,” Simon said as he gently petted the purring cat. “I guess he figured out we’re not going to hurt him.” “Sometimes when we make mistakes, it takes people a while to trust us again, just like Tiger,” Grandma said. “But that doesn’t mean we should give up. Jesus always forgives our wrongs and gives us the strength to do what’s right. He’ll help us show others we can be trusted again. But it can take time.” “You mean, if I continue to do my homework, eventually Mrs. Stevens won’t need to remind me anymore?” “Not only that, Simon,” said Grandma. “You’ll also show her—and yourself—that because of Jesus, you have the power to change.” –Heidi J. Schmidt How about you? Have you lost someone’s trust because of a mistake you made? Have you felt like giving up showing you’ve changed? Remember that God works through people who make mistakes. The apostle Paul made some big mistakes before Jesus saved him. Depend on Jesus for the strength to do what is right, and ask Him to help others notice the change. Today's Key Verse: If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. (NLT) Luke 16:10 Today's Key Thought: Trust takes time

Apr 6

Bible reading: Matthew 6:19 Story How About You Key Thought Key Verse

Apr 5

Apr 4

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “What are you reading?” asked Dr. Trent as he entered the examination room and saw Alisha with an open book on her lap. “It’s the Bible,” said Alisha. “The Bible? Why are you reading that?” Dr. Trent asked. “With all the exciting books out there, I would think you’d find an old book like that pretty boring.” “Oh no,” Alisha said. “It’s not like that at all. I’m on a Bible quiz team, and our next contest is coming up, so I’ve been studying whenever I get a chance. I think the stories in the Bible are really interesting.” She closed her Bible. “Besides, reading the Bible helps me—well—I don’t know.” Alisha sighed, frustrated she couldn’t express what she was thinking. “I have something for you,” said Dr. Trent. He held up a new pair of glasses. “Oh good,” said Alisha as she removed her old ones. The doctor placed the new glasses on Alisha’s face, checking behind her ears to see how they fit. “Wow!” Alisha said, looking around. Dr. Trent smiled. “You didn’t realize how much you were missing with your old glasses, did you?” “No,” said Alisha. “Everything is so much clearer now.” As she looked around the room, she glanced at her Bible, and suddenly she had an idea. “That’s why I read the Bible, Dr. Trent.” The doctor raised his eyebrows. “Reading the Bible is kind of like getting glasses,” Alisha explained. “It helps me see things more clearly. Actually, it’s even better than glasses because the Bible helps me see things like who God is and how much He loves me—so much that Jesus died for my sins! It shows me how God wants me to live and reminds me that I can always trust Him, no matter what.” “It sounds like the Bible means a lot to you,” said Dr. Trent. Alisha nodded. “It’s changed my life.” She stood up to leave. “You should read it for yourself—it’s better than the best glasses you’ve ever had!” Dr. Trent smiled. “Maybe I’ll give it a try sometime.” “I hope so,” said Alisha. “You might realize how much you’ve been missing!” –Bob Hostetler

Apr 3

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 "I didn’t mean to hurt your oh-so-special skateboard, Grady!” Jared told his brother. “You don’t have to get so mad!” “I told you to leave it alone!” shouted Grady. “Well, a skateboard is meant to jump and ride rails and stuff,” said Jared. “All you do is coast down the street on it. Why don’t you try out this ramp I built?” Just then Dad came out to the garage. “Dad!” said Grady. “Jared scratched up my new skateboard. I told him not to take it on that ramp, but he did anyway, and now it’s a mess!” “I couldn’t help it, Grady—I didn’t fall on purpose.” Jared pointed to his chest. “Besides, look what happened to my shirt when I fell off the board. There are grass stains all over it!” Dad examined the skateboard. “Grady, why don’t you get some of those decals you’ve been collecting and stick them on your skateboard? They should cover most of these scratches, and then the board will look great! I’ll help you with it, okay?” Grady nodded, looking relieved. Then Dad turned to Jared. “Do you want some white paint to put over those stains on your shirt?” “Paint?” Jared shook his head. “Of course not! These stains will have to be washed out—not covered up.” “I agree,” said Dad. “Do you know that the wrong things you do shouldn’t be covered up either? You shouldn’t have used your brother’s skateboard when he told you not to, but instead of accepting responsibility and apologizing for scratching it up, you made excuses. You even complained about what your stunt had done to your shirt. You were trying to cover up the wrong thing you did, weren’t you?” Jared was quiet a moment. “I guess so,” he finally admitted. “I’m sorry, Grady.” “When we do wrong, we need to confess our sin to Jesus,” said Dad. “And if our wrong has hurt someone else, we need to tell that person we’re sorry and ask for forgiveness.” Dad patted Jared’s shoulder. “We’ll do our best with that shirt, but it might never be quite the same again. But when we confess our sin, Jesus is ready and willing to forgive and completely wash it away.” –Lyndel F. Walker

Apr 2

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Casey was sitting on the edge of the deck, shoving a pointy stick into the muddy spring earth, when Grandpa sat down next to him. “Hey, buddy. You’ve been quiet ever since your parents dropped you off to take your little brother to the hospital. Anything you want to talk about?” Grandpa asked. Casey thrust the stick harder into the ground, sending the sticky mud splattering onto his feet. “It’s all my fault. It was my idea to race our bikes down the hill. And I was the one who teased him for not wanting to go faster. He wouldn’t have broken his arm if it wasn’t for me.” Casey leaned into Grandpa’s arm and sniffled. “I’m always doing stuff like that—teasing him and trying to get him to do things I know I shouldn’t. I—I’m a horrible person!” Casey buried his face in Grandpa’s chest and let his tears fall freely. Grandpa put his arm around Casey’s small shoulders. “Casey, I know you feel bad, but that doesn’t mean you are bad.” Casey lifted his head and looked at Grandpa. “What do you mean?” “When we make poor choices, we know it’s sin and that we need forgiveness. But we also have to be careful not to allow shame to sneak in and tell us that we’re bad. Look at that stick you’re holding. It’s got mud on it, but it’s still a stick, right?” “Well, yeah. Of course.” “Well, shame tries to convince the stick that it’s all mud. But it’s not. It just needs someone to clean the mud off.” “So if I’m like the stick, then I just need someone to wash my mud away?” A smile came to Casey’s face. “You mean Jesus, right?” “You got it,” said Grandpa. “Jesus took the guilt and shame of our sin on Himself when He died on the cross. He washes us clean and makes us right with God. Because you trust in Jesus, that’s who you really are—a child of God whose sins have been washed away. Shame has no place in your life. When you feel bad about something, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. He died to take your shame off you so you could enjoy a new life with Him.” –Tannis Oliveri

Apr 1

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Ava yawned as she came into the kitchen. Her brother Jayden glanced at her mischievously, then looked out the window. “Hey, Ava, how’d your bike end up on the roof of the garage?” he asked. “What?” Ava ran to the window to see for herself. “Where?” “April fool!” Jayden laughed in delight. “Gotcha!” Ava grinned and gave her brother a soft punch on the arm as they sat down to eat. At dinner, Ava and Jayden told their dad about the April Fools’ jokes kids played on each other at school. “It’s fun to have a day where everyone plays jokes like that,” said Jayden. “As long as no one takes the jokes too far,” Dad said. “Nobody did,” Ava assured him, “and everyone was expecting it since it was April Fools’ Day.” She paused to take a bite of broccoli. “But then there’s Louise. Today she was all smiles and sweetness to Mrs. Potter during math class but then said mean things about her at recess. Sometimes I don’t know what to make of her. She says she’s a Christian, but there are times when she doesn’t act like one. Like she’s just fooling people.” Dad frowned. “I can think of three people right here who don’t always act like Christians. Let’s keep that in mind. It’s possible for any one of us to fool others.” “But I’ve seen Louise do that stuff too,” said Jayden. “She acts one way around the teachers and another when they’re not looking. It’s hard to trust her.” Ava nodded. “It seems like there’s another side to her that only some of us see.” “Well, if what you say is true, that doesn’t mean she’s not a Christian,” said Dad. “We all struggle to do what’s right in some areas of our lives. But if any one of us is trying to fool people into thinking we’re Christians when we’re not, there’s someone who can never be fooled. God knows exactly what’s in our hearts. We can’t hide anything from Him, and we don’t have to, because Jesus died for us so all our wrongs could be forgiven. Now, let’s pray for Louise and think of ways we can show her love and support instead of talking about her.” –Hazel W. Marett

Mar 31

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “Rose, look what I found in the woods!” Levi approached his sister carrying a cage. Something was moving inside. Rose shrieked. “Get that out of here!” Levi laughed. “It’s only a garden snake,” he said. “It can’t hurt you.” “Daddy!” Rose dashed behind her father, her eyes filled with fear. “Kill it, Daddy!” “Don’t be afraid.” Dad put an arm around Rose. “What Levi says is true; garden snakes aren’t poisonous. We don’t kill something for no good reason.” “Why do people hate snakes?” asked Levi. “I guess because they can look scary, or they remind us of bad things,” replied Dad. “It started long ago when Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve in the garden of Eden and got her and Adam to sin. These days we sometimes hear about snakes killing other animals, like chickens. And some snakes are poisonous. Their bites can cause illness or even death.” “If they’d quit biting people, maybe we’d like them better,” said Rose. “God gives most animals a built-in mechanism for protection from enemies,” Dad explained. “Porcupines have quills, skunks spray, and snakes have venom.” “But most snakes aren’t poisonous, are they?” asked Levi. “No,” Dad said. “Actually, they can be very helpful to people. Snakes eat mice and rats that carry germs. Hundreds of years ago, the Bubonic Plague—caused by infected fleas that lived on rats—killed a fourth of Europe’s population. If there had been more snakes, the epidemic might not have been nearly as bad. And today, scientists are learning how to use snake venom to make medicine!” “See, Rose,” said Levi, “there are lots of good things about snakes.” Dad nodded. “God created everything—even snakes—to be good. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, it messed everything up, but God promises to make it right again one day. When Jesus returns and makes everything new, there will be no more pain, sickness, or death, and we’ll never be afraid of any creature ever again.” Levi and his sister studied their slithering captive in the cage. “Why don’t we measure it,” said Levi. Rose hesitated. “Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll get a tape measure. But I won’t hold its tail!” –Janet E. Rhine

Mar 30

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “This giant oak tree is what gave Oak Park its name,” the tour guide told the kids on their field trip. Elijah listened attentively. He loved history and learning things like this. Back home later that day, Elijah told his mom about the tour. “That big oak tree survived the Civil War, a flood, and six fires,” he said. “Wow!” said Mom. “That’s amazing.” “It kept on growing,” said Elijah, “even though the odds were a hundred to one against it. The oak is one of the slowest-growing trees in the world, but it’s also one of the strongest. It survives things that cause other trees to die.” “Hmm,” said Mom. “You know, Elijah, you’re something like that tree.” Elijah was surprised. “Me? I didn’t survive a war or a flood or even one fire—let alone six!” Mom laughed. “No, but I still think you’re like that tree.” “How?” asked Elijah. “Well,” said Mom, “for one thing, the oak grows slowly, and you—” Elijah interrupted her. “You always say I’m growing up too fast!” Mom smiled. “That’s true—physically. But I was thinking of the way most of us grow spiritually. As Christians, it’s often easy to wonder if we’re making any progress in becoming more like Jesus.” Elijah nodded as he recalled some trouble he’d gotten into recently. “You may grow slowly in Christ,” said Mom, “but like that oak, you do grow steadily. And you survive worse things than war or floods. You survive attacks from Satan and struggles with temptation.” “But I still do wrong things,” Elijah pointed out. Mom nodded. “I know—I do too. All Christians give in to temptation and sin sometimes. But the fact that you feel bad when you sin—and that you don’t want to do it again—shows that you’re continuing to grow.” “Really?” Elijah smiled. “That’s pretty cool.” “Have faith that God is working to make you grow to be more like Jesus,” Mom told him. “Keep working with Him by admitting when you sin and trusting Him to help you change your habits—even when the growing gets tough!” –Nathan Runyon

Mar 29

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Jude was doing his schoolwork at the kitchen table when Dad got home. They talked for a little while, and then Dad had a question for Mom. “Are you getting as much as I am out of that devotional we both decided to use?” he asked her. “Today’s Bible reading helped me make a decision about a problem I had at work.” “That’s great!” said Mom. “What was today’s reading about? I’m afraid I haven’t gotten around to reading it the last couple of days,” she admitted. “I’ve been so busy lately! The hours fly by so fast, and I never get everything done.” “Oh, Martha, Martha,” Dad said lovingly. “Um, Dad? Mom’s name is Jennifer, not Martha,” Jude reminded his father. Mom and Dad both laughed. “Martha is the name we use when one of us gets too busy and starts acting like Martha in the Bible,” Dad explained. “Remember that story? Martha was so busy preparing and serving food when Jesus and His disciples came over that she didn’t have time to sit and learn at Jesus’s feet.” “I have to admit, that’s what’s been happening to me lately,” said Mom. “I’ve allowed things to keep me from what’s really important—spending time with Jesus and letting Him remind me of the peace, hope, and joy I have in Him.” She pointed to the floor. “I could have let this floor stay dirty a little longer instead of mopping it this morning, and I suppose it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I had bought cookies to bring to small group tonight instead of making them.” Dad smiled. “Well, the day isn’t over yet. Why don’t I cook dinner so you can do your Bible reading?” Mom gave Dad a kiss. “That would be wonderful. I’ll just go into the other room and sit at Jesus’s feet for a few minutes.” Just then Kylie came bursting into the kitchen. “Where’s my Bible?” she demanded. “I’m in charge of devotions tonight at youth group and I haven’t had a minute to prepare all week!” “Oh, Martha, Martha,” said Mom. Jude and Dad laughed. “You explain,” Mom told them as she left the kitchen. –Lyndel F. Walker

Mar 29

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Jude was doing his schoolwork at the kitchen table when Dad got home. They talked for a little while, and then Dad had a question for Mom. “Are you getting as much as I am out of that devotional we both decided to use?” he asked her. “Today’s Bible reading helped me make a decision about a problem I had at work.” “That’s great!” said Mom. “What was today’s reading about? I’m afraid I haven’t gotten around to reading it the last couple of days,” she admitted. “I’ve been so busy lately! The hours fly by so fast, and I never get everything done.” “Oh, Martha, Martha,” Dad said lovingly. “Um, Dad? Mom’s name is Jennifer, not Martha,” Jude reminded his father. Mom and Dad both laughed. “Martha is the name we use when one of us gets too busy and starts acting like Martha in the Bible,” Dad explained. “Remember that story? Martha was so busy preparing and serving food when Jesus and His disciples came over that she didn’t have time to sit and learn at Jesus’s feet.” “I have to admit, that’s what’s been happening to me lately,” said Mom. “I’ve allowed things to keep me from what’s really important—spending time with Jesus and letting Him remind me of the peace, hope, and joy I have in Him.” She pointed to the floor. “I could have let this floor stay dirty a little longer instead of mopping it this morning, and I suppose it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I had bought cookies to bring to small group tonight instead of making them.” Dad smiled. “Well, the day isn’t over yet. Why don’t I cook dinner so you can do your Bible reading?” Mom gave Dad a kiss. “That would be wonderful. I’ll just go into the other room and sit at Jesus’s feet for a few minutes.” Just then Kylie came bursting into the kitchen. “Where’s my Bible?” she demanded. “I’m in charge of devotions tonight at youth group and I haven’t had a minute to prepare all week!” “Oh, Martha, Martha,” said Mom. Jude and Dad laughed. “You explain,” Mom told them as she left the kitchen. –Lyndel F. Walker

Mar 28

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “That was a great circus show, wasn’t it, Dad?” Brandon’s eyes were wide with excitement as he and his father made their way to the car. “Especially the high-wire act! I really liked that.” Dad grinned. “That was pretty exciting, but it was kinda scary when that one man was riding on the other’s shoulders.” “Yeah!” said Brandon. “I was surprised they didn’t both get hurt when the one guy carrying the other lost his balance and they both fell. Good thing there was a net there to catch them!” “Yes,” said Dad, starting the car. “Without the net, that could have been a real tragedy.” Brandon nodded. “Those guys sure do have a lot of nerve. I wouldn’t want to ride on anybody’s shoulders way up high off the ground! In fact, I don’t think I’d want to be up on a high wire at all.” Dad laughed. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. But you know what? That high wire act is a little bit like life in general.” “It is?” asked Brandon. “What do you mean?” “Well, the man on the other person’s shoulders was putting all his trust in his partner’s ability to safely walk the rope, right?” Brandon nodded. “Yeah, but that guy couldn’t do it. If the net hadn’t caught them, they might have been killed!” “Well, we’re all something like the man who trusted his partner,” said Dad. “We all put our trust in someone or something. Some people put their trust in money or in their jobs. Some put their trust in other people to help them through tough times. But when those things fail…well, tragedy often follows.” “That’s kinda like what my Sunday school teacher told us in church last week,” Brandon said. “She said we should always trust Jesus to take care of us because He never fails.” “Right,” said Dad. “Everyone faces difficulties and even tragedies in life, but only Jesus can save us from sin and give us eternal life. That’s why we can trust Him to carry us through life’s troubles. When we place our hope and trust in the things of this world or even other people, they will let us down. But Jesus will never fail us.” –Richard S. Maffeo

Mar 27

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “Why does Pastor Evans have to preach such long sermons?” grumbled Jasper on the way home from church. “It’s always so boring!” “I actually wished Pastor Evans hadn’t quit so soon,” said Dad. “He helped me understand some verses that had been hard for me to grasp before.” “Well, my Sunday school class is always really boring too,” added Jasper. “My class isn’t boring,” said his sister Karis. “Today we talked about the Israelites in the wilderness and learned a new song. What was your class about?” Jasper shrugged. “I don’t know—I wasn’t really paying attention.” After lunch, Jasper put some scraps in the cat’s food dish. “Come here, Mac! Look what I’ve got for you.” The cat walked to the dish, sniffed the food, and walked away with his tail held high. Jasper shook his head. “That cat has no idea what’s good,” he muttered. Karis was standing at the window, looking out. “Come see the baby birds in their nest! The mother bird brought food for them, and they all have their mouths wide open!” Jasper went to look. “Well, they’re way smarter than Mac. He wouldn’t even taste the food I offered him.” “I guess he’s not hungry,” said Karis. “Grandma always says he’s just finicky—choosy about his food. I’m sure he’d like what I gave him if he’d try it, but he won’t.” Mom walked up behind them. “That’s probably why you were bored at church today while the rest of us got a lot out of it.” “I was bored because Mac won’t eat?” asked Jasper. “What do you mean?” “What I mean is that, like the baby birds, we were hungry—we had hungry hearts. They were open and eager to hear from Jesus as we listened to see what spiritual food He was offering through our pastor and Sunday school teachers. But like Mac, you wouldn’t even try it. You expected to be bored, so you didn’t even bother listening and thinking about what was being said.” Mom placed a hand on Jasper’s shoulder. “Next time, how about really listening? Think about the lessons and how they apply to your life. Ask God to give you a hungry heart with an appetite for spiritual food.” –Mary Rose Pearson

Mar 26

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 *Editor’s note: This story may not be suitable for young children. Madelyn buried her face in her hands. “I wish I’d been nicer to him.” Callie’s face was red from crying. “I’m mad that he died so young. It’s not fair.” Mrs. Nelson sat down at the empty desk beside them. She wiped her eyes with a crumpled tissue. “Jason’s car accident was a terrible tragedy. He will be missed.” Tommy plunked down in the seat next to Callie. “I wish everyone would stop crying already. Jason was a Christian, so he’s in heaven now. Can we not talk about it anymore?” “Tommy, it’s okay for us to be sad right now,” Mrs. Nelson said softly. “It’s okay to be upset about losing a classmate.” “But there’s nothing we can do about it. He’s gone. Can’t we just cheer up?” “We could,” said Mrs. Nelson. “But we should grieve with those whose hearts are hurting.” “Well, I don’t want to.” Tommy grabbed his book and walked to the reading corner. Mrs. Nelson followed and sat in the bean bag chair next to Tommy. “Are you cold, Tommy?” she asked, pointing to the blanket draped over his legs. “A little, I guess.” He tucked the fleece blanket under his knees. “How would you feel if I took the blanket away?” asked Mrs. Nelson. Tommy glanced up sharply. “Why would you do that?” “I wouldn’t, Tommy. That would be mean. That blanket is giving you warmth and comfort, right?” Tommy shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.” “Well, right now, we’re all sad about Jason passing away. In Proverbs it says that trying to cheer up a sad person is like taking a blanket away from someone who’s cold.” “I wouldn’t do that to anyone,” said Tommy. “I know you wouldn’t. But right now your classmates are hurting, and they need a blanket of comfort. That’s one of the ways we show others the love of Jesus—by comforting and supporting them when they’re sad and sharing their grief, even when we know the person they’re grieving is in heaven.” Tommy thought for a moment, then loosened the blanket and laid it over Mrs. Nelson’s knees. “I’m sorry you’re sad right now.” Mrs. Nelson smiled. “Thanks, Tommy.” –Tannis Oliveri

Mar 25

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “It seems like so many of the guys just want to play basketball all the time,” complained Mason one afternoon. “Clayton and I always did stuff together, but now he spends more time with other kids than with me!” As Mom started to speak, Mason reached into his backpack and changed the subject. “I got an A on my math test!” he announced with a grin. “Since I did so well, can I have an extra half-hour of TV tonight? There’s a quiz show that’s fun to watch.” “All right,” said Mom. “But first do your homework—and your Bible reading too. We all agreed to read and think about a few verses each day, remember?” “Okay, Mom,” said Mason as he hurried off. Soon Mason returned to the family room and turned on the TV. “Is all your work done already?” asked Mom. “Bible reading too?” Mason frowned. “Well, um…I’ll read it later,” he said. Mom turned the TV off. “That wasn’t the agreement.” “But, Mom, reading the Bible is…” Mason hesitated. “It’s kinda boring.” Mom sat on the couch beside Mason. “Are you happy when Clayton goes off to play with other guys instead of spending time with you?” she asked. “No,” said Mason. “Of course not.” “Friends want to spend time together, doing things or just talking. We call that having fellowship with one another,” Mom explained. “We should also have fellowship with Jesus. We should spend time with Him—talking with Him and listening to what He says to us.” “I guess so,” Mason replied. “But won’t Jesus know I’m sort of bored?” Mom smiled. “If Jesus were standing here and wanted to tell you something, would you want to hear it?” Mason nodded. “Well, He has something to say to you, and He speaks through His Word,” said Mom. “The Bible is His story, and reading it is one of the best ways to spend time with Jesus and learn more about Him. Try reading it with that in mind. You might discover it’s not so boring after all.” She glanced at the clock. “Let’s look at our Bible verses together. Then I’ll fix some popcorn for us to munch on while we watch the quiz show.” –Jennifer Dorsey

Mar 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 As Emma and Chloe started home, they ran into Weston—a school bully. “Hey, Chloe, where’d you get this hat?” asked Weston as he grabbed the red cap from her head and tossed it down on the sidewalk. Chloe stared at him. “Stop that!” yelled Emma, darting toward the cap. She returned it to Chloe, then glared at Weston. “You leave her alone.” “Thank you,” said Chloe, smiling as she placed the cap back on her head. Weston laughed and walked away. When the girls reached Chloe’s house, Chloe smiled at Emma. “Wanna walk to school together tomorrow?” she asked. “Sure,” said Emma. Then she hurried on to her own house. “What’s up?” asked Mom when she saw the expression on Emma’s face. “I’m just thinking about Chloe,” said Emma. “She has special needs, and some of the kids tease her.” She sighed and plopped down onto the couch. “Why does God allow some people to have problems like hers? Did He make a mistake when He created them?” “A mistake?” asked Mom. “Well, it doesn’t seem like life can be much fun for Chloe,” said Emma. “She has to work hard to learn even simple things.” “Yes, she does,” said Mom. “And because of that, Chloe’s parents are extremely proud of all she can do. Chloe is the joy of their lives.” “Yes, but…” Emma paused. “What about Chloe? She can’t be having much fun.” “Oh, I think she is,” said Mom. “Her mom tells me how much Chloe looks forward to going to school every day. She loves to learn and always wants to help her classmates when they don’t understand something. Chloe is a happy girl who cares about others—and she often talks about her friend Emma.” “Really?” asked Emma in surprise. Mom nodded. “Always remember that God made and loves each one of us, and He has a purpose for all He does. Although we don’t know all God’s reasons for making Chloe the way He has, we know that people like her bring God glory. God never makes a mistake. Even though we don’t fully understand how, Chloe is glorifying God in her own unique way.” –Michelle Davidson

Mar 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 As Emma and Chloe started home, they ran into Weston—a school bully. “Hey, Chloe, where’d you get this hat?” asked Weston as he grabbed the red cap from her head and tossed it down on the sidewalk. Chloe stared at him. “Stop that!” yelled Emma, darting toward the cap. She returned it to Chloe, then glared at Weston. “You leave her alone.” “Thank you,” said Chloe, smiling as she placed the cap back on her head. Weston laughed and walked away. When the girls reached Chloe’s house, Chloe smiled at Emma. “Wanna walk to school together tomorrow?” she asked. “Sure,” said Emma. Then she hurried on to her own house. “What’s up?” asked Mom when she saw the expression on Emma’s face. “I’m just thinking about Chloe,” said Emma. “She has special needs, and some of the kids tease her.” She sighed and plopped down onto the couch. “Why does God allow some people to have problems like hers? Did He make a mistake when He created them?” “A mistake?” asked Mom. “Well, it doesn’t seem like life can be much fun for Chloe,” said Emma. “She has to work hard to learn even simple things.” “Yes, she does,” said Mom. “And because of that, Chloe’s parents are extremely proud of all she can do. Chloe is the joy of their lives.” “Yes, but…” Emma paused. “What about Chloe? She can’t be having much fun.” “Oh, I think she is,” said Mom. “Her mom tells me how much Chloe looks forward to going to school every day. She loves to learn and always wants to help her classmates when they don’t understand something. Chloe is a happy girl who cares about others—and she often talks about her friend Emma.” “Really?” asked Emma in surprise. Mom nodded. “Always remember that God made and loves each one of us, and He has a purpose for all He does. Although we don’t know all God’s reasons for making Chloe the way He has, we know that people like her bring God glory. God never makes a mistake. Even though we don’t fully understand how, Chloe is glorifying God in her own unique way.” –Michelle Davidson

Mar 23

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Austin sighed as he dropped his backpack to the kitchen floor and sat down at the table. His family had moved recently, and he missed his old school and all the friends he’d left behind. “Did you have a good day?” Mom asked. Austin shook his head. “I know it’s hard for you, Austin,” Mom said. “Adjusting takes time.” “I guess,” said Austin. “But I don’t think I’ll ever like my new teacher as much as I liked Mr. Jackson. And the kids here play games I’ve never heard of!” “Well, give your new school a chance,” said Mom. “You’ve only been there a couple of days. And remember, Jesus is just as close to you here as He was before. Trust Him—He can help you.” She opened the patio door. “Speaking of help, do you want help filling the planters with the flowers I bought today?” “Okay,” said Austin. They got to work, and when the planting was finished, Austin stood and admired the bright petunias and geraniums. When Austin came home from school the next day, the plants were drooping. “Mom, what’s wrong with the flowers we planted?” “Their roots were shocked when we repotted them,” said Mom. “But they’ll be all right. They’ll adjust, and soon they’ll look better than ever.” She smiled at Austin. “How was your day?” “Well…” Austin paused as he recalled things that had happened that day—his teacher saying, “Good job,” when she handed back his math paper, and two boys asking him to play basketball with them at recess. “You know what?” said Austin. “I think I’m kind of like those flowers. Moving here gave me a bit of a shock, but I’m adjusting.” “Good,” said Mom. She smiled. “Think about it this way—we give our flowers everything they need in their new pots because we want them to grow. And God loves you even more than we love our flowers! He gives His children everything we need too—Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us and always be with us. He is with us during this transition. Keep talking to Jesus about it, and trust Him to help you grow.” –Carolyn E. Yost

Mar 22

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Sarah groaned as she hunched over her math textbook. Mom looked up from her computer. “What’s wrong, honey?” she asked. “You seem upset.” “I have a test tomorrow, and I’ve got to make a B to stay on the honor roll. I’ve tried and tried, but I just can’t get these problems!” She threw down her pencil in frustration. “Plus, I messed up at practice this afternoon. There’s no way Coach will let me start at the game next week. And did I mention that I don’t have many friends?” Sarah pressed her face into her hands. “Nothing is going right!” “I’m sorry, honey.” Mom stood from the kitchen table. “Do you want a snack?” “Sure, Mom. Ice cream, maybe? And a soda?” Mom opened the refrigerator. “Have you talked to God about these problems?” Sarah shrugged. “I guess. But it’s like He’s not even listening.” Mom set a glass on the table and unscrewed a bottle of vinegar. She poured vinegar into the glass. Then she cracked a raw egg into a bowl and set it in front of Sarah. “Mom!” cried Sarah. “What are you doing?” Mom smiled and took away the dishes. “I’m your mother, and I love you. So I wouldn’t actually give you vinegar and a raw egg when you asked for a snack, right?” “Right,” said Sarah hesitantly. “Well, God loves you even more than a parent could. When we ask God for something, we should trust that He will give us what’s best. After all, He’s already given us the best gift there is—Jesus!” Mom placed a glass of milk and a granola bar on the table. “Now, here’s your real snack.” Sarah looked at the healthy food. “That’s not what I asked for.” “No, it’s not,” said Mom. “But it’s good for you. And God gives you good things too.” Sarah picked up the granola bar and grinned. “Even if it’s not exactly what I wanted?” “That’s right,” said Mom. “He loves to give us good gifts, but sometimes what we ask for isn’t what’s best for us. But He still gives us good things—like when you didn’t have any friends and He brought you Hailey and Mallory, remember? All you have to do is ask.” –Jennifer Dillard

Mar 21

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “Look at that cute little penguin!” Abby said to her friend Kayla. “Waddle, waddle! Penguins are my favorite animal at the zoo.” “Look at this penguin. He’s flying through the water!” Mom called out. “Wow, they’re fast swimmers,” said Kayla. “Let’s go see the polar bears now!” “Okay. Bye, penguins,” Abby said. She walked with Kayla over to the polar bear exhibit. “Wow, look at his feet! They’re huge!” “And his claws!” said Kayla. “God sure did make polar bears way different from penguins.” Abby giggled. “Yeah, the only thing they have in common is they both love the cold!” By the end of the day, they had seen animals from North America to Africa. Kayla liked the giraffes best, but Abby still loved the penguins. On the way back through the zoo, Abby and Kayla ran inside the penguin exhibit one more time. “I could just sit and watch the penguins all day,” Abby said. Kayla nodded. “Yeah, the penguins are really cool. You know, like awesome-cool. Well, cool-cool too. But I’m freezing!” Kayla and Abby both burst out laughing, then pretended to be penguins and waddled toward the exit. When Abby got home, she showed her dad a penguin plush toy she’d gotten at the zoo gift shop. Then she waddled around like a penguin all evening, carrying her new plush toy in her arms. During devotions that evening, Mom said, “You know, every time I visit the zoo, I come home even more amazed at God’s creation. All those different animals, from penguins to giraffes, are so uniquely made.” “And we’re pretty unique and special too,” Dad added. “Listen to this Bible verse. ‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ God calls us His masterpiece! Out of all the creatures He’s made, we are the most special to Him—so special that Jesus became one of us and died to save us so we could enjoy eternal life with Him.” “Wow,” said Abby. “God calls me His masterpiece? That is so cool!” After they had closed in prayer, Abby held her penguin close and went waddling down the hall to her room. –Lisa Fuller

Mar 20

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Jayce hung up his jacket and walked into the kitchen. “Hi, Mom,” he said. “Hey, buddy,” replied Mom. “Need a glass of milk and a few crackers?” Jayce nodded and plopped down in a chair while his mom poured him some milk. “You’re not going to believe what happened to my project today,” he said, shaking his head. He grabbed a cracker from a plate on the table. “I worked so hard to create that ancient Mayan city.” “Yes, and you did a great job on the temple and palace and all those other buildings,” said Mom. “So what happened?” “After you dropped me off at school, Ford came over and started asking questions about the project. He was carrying a bowl of water to use on his own project. Before I had two words out of my mouth, someone bumped into Ford, and my Mayan city was hit by a tidal wave!” “Oh no!” said Mom. “It washed the ground right out from under the main temple,” continued Jayce. “When I was working on it a few weeks ago, somebody told me I should use plaster instead of sand for the ground. I should have listened.” “Well, I’m sorry your project got messed up,” said Mom. “Me too,” said Jayce. Then he laughed. “But my teacher did say it was the most realistic disaster project she’d ever seen! She told me this should help me remember that things don’t last unless they stand on a strong foundation and that sand doesn’t make a good foundation for building.” Mom nodded. “It reminds me of the Bible passage about the importance of building our lives on Jesus,” she said. “If we trust in anything or anyone other than Jesus, it’s as though we’re building on sand. We need to make Jesus our foundation by trusting Him to save us from sin. Then He will help us build our lives on His truth in the Bible and share His love with others in all we do.” Jayce grinned. “So I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad. I may have chosen the wrong foundation for my project, but I trust in Jesus, so I have the right one for my life.” “Yes,” said Mom. “That’s much more important!” –Jana Weed

Mar 19

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “Hi, Grandma!” said Audrey when she arrived at her grandmother’s house. “I’m glad I get to spend the weekend with you.” “I am too,” said Grandma, giving Audrey a hug. “How is everything at home?” Audrey frowned. “I thought it was great that Dad got married again, but now Monica and I aren’t getting along.” “Oh?” said Grandma. “But, Audrey, Monica is a lovely Christian woman. And the Bible says to honor your parents. That means your stepmother too.” “Well, she doesn’t honor my mother, so I don’t see why I should honor her.” Grandma raised her eyebrows. “What’s the problem?” “She’s changing everything,” said Audrey. “Mom had our house just perfect, but Monica moves the furniture and the pictures all around. And she doesn’t cook the same food Mom did, and she’s even changing some of our house rules! And the worst part is Dad doesn’t seem to mind any of this—he agrees with her!” Audrey sighed. “It’s not fair. I feel like I’m losing Mom all over again.” After dinner, Grandma took Audrey up to the attic. “Before your mother died, she asked me to give you this when you were old enough,” Grandma said, pulling the dust cover off a large object. “Her doll house! Mom told me how she used to play with it all the time.” Audrey bent over to peer into the tiny rooms. “I love it! Can I paint it, Grandma? I want the bedroom to be blue, and the old-fashioned parlor can be a rec room.” “Really?” asked Grandma. “But your mother liked it the way it is. Won’t you be dishonoring her by changing everything?” Audrey looked shocked. “But, I just…I don’t see how…” She paused, then looked at Grandma. “You gave me this doll house today because of Monica, didn’t you?” Grandma nodded. “God blessed you with a wonderful Christian stepmother. He loves her and put her in your life because He loves you too, and He wants you to honor and obey her. She isn’t dishonoring your mother, even though she doesn’t do things exactly the way your mother did.” “I know you’re right, Grandma,” said Audrey with a sigh. “I’ll obey Monica and honor her decisions—just like I did with Mom.” –Ruth McQuilkin

Mar 18

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Jack set the soccer ball on the hash mark and readied himself for the penalty shot. It was his favorite part of soccer practice. When Coach Johnson blew the whistle, Jack kicked a rocket into the top right corner of the net. “GOAAAAAL!” he yelled. He was about to high-five Coach Johnson on his way to the back of the line when he suddenly stopped and began scratching his arm furiously. “What’s wrong, Jack?” Coach Johnson asked. “Let me have a look.” “These bumps won’t stop itching,” Jack groaned. “I got poison ivy last weekend.” “Don’t scratch it,” Coach Johnson said. “I can’t help it!” said Jack. “I have to scratch. It feels so good!” He was about to scratch some more but stopped when he saw Coach Johnson’s raised eyebrow. “It may feel good for the moment, but you’re only making it worse. Look how red it’s getting,” Coach said. “You know, Jack, this reminds me of the sermon my pastor gave at church last week. Your rash is a lot like sin.” “You mean it’s a sin to scratch?” said Jack. Coach Johnson chuckled. “No, it’s not a sin to scratch. What I mean is that our sinful nature often urges us to do wrong like your bumps urge you to scratch them. What happened at last Saturday’s game when that kid tripped you after you blocked his goal?” “I went to push him down from behind, but then I stopped and walked away,” Jack said. Coach nodded. “It would have felt good for two seconds to get him back, but then what?” “I would’ve gotten kicked out.” Jack looked at his coach. “I’m glad I didn’t scratch the itch to get even.” Coach smiled. “Our sinful urges will never fully go away until we get to heaven, but because we trust in Jesus, we don’t have to give in to them. He’s given us the Holy Spirit, who lives inside us and gives us power to follow the desires God puts in our hearts instead—desires to love Him and those around us. We don’t have to scratch the itch to do wrong—and even when we do, Jesus promises to forgive us.” “Okay,” Jack said. “I won’t scratch the itch—whether it’s sin or poison ivy!” –Robert A. Gutierrez

Mar 17

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 “Ow!” yelped Avery. “Quit pinching me, Levi!” “It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and you’re not wearing green,” said Levi. “That means you get pinched!” “I am wearing green!” Avery insisted. “My shirt is green. You just can’t see it because my sweater is covering it up.” She turned to her mother. “Mom, why do people wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?” “It’s because he was from Ireland, the Emerald Isle,” said Levi. “And St. Patrick found a four-leaf clover, which was green, and he drove all the snakes out of Ireland and—” “Hold on, Levi,” said Mom. “Patrick actually grew up in England but was captured by Irish raiders as a teenager. He was a prisoner for several years and became a Christian during that time. When he finally escaped, he returned to England, but eventually went back to Ireland to tell people about Jesus.” “But what about the stories of him finding four-leaf clovers and driving snakes out of Ireland?” asked Levi. “Those are fables, though I’ve read that he used a three-leaf clover to help people understand the Trinity,” said Mom. “Just because you hear people say things doesn’t mean they’re true. The truth often gets covered up by what people want to believe.” “Like how Avery’s sweater is hiding her green shirt?” asked Levi. Mom nodded. “It’s not just St. Patrick’s story that people get wrong. A lot of people believe wrong things about Jesus too. They think He was just a good man who was killed for standing up for what He believed, but that’s not true at all. He was and is God, and He died to take the punishment for our sins and then rose again to give us eternal life. That’s what the Bible tells us, and it’s the truth.” “And that’s what Patrick went to tell the people in Ireland, right?” asked Levi. “Yes,” said Mom. “He didn’t go back to the land where he was held captive to tell people about a good man. He went back to tell them about the loving God who became human and died so they could be forgiven—and who helped Patrick forgive those who wronged him so they could know the truth. That’s the true story of St. Patrick’s day.” –Jennifer Quakenbush

Mar 16

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Ellie and Keely had been friends for a long time. They lived on the same street and went to the same school. But now Keely’s family was moving away. On their last day together, the girls played at Ellie’s house while Keely’s parents packed. “I’m already sad,” said Ellie. “I keep thinking about tomorrow and the day after that. Who will I play with then?” “I wish I didn’t have to go,” said Keely with a sigh. Just then Ellie’s mom called them to the kitchen for lunch. This is our last lunch together, Ellie thought sadly. Then she had an idea. “I know what we can do,” she said, lifting up her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “We both eat a lot of these, right? So whenever we do, let’s think of each other and remember all the fun things we did together.” “Good idea!” said Keely. “We’ll be peanut butter and jelly friends!” Ellie’s mom smiled at the girls. “Your sandwiches will be reminders of your friendship. Does that make you think of anything you heard at church yesterday?” “Um…oh, I remember!” said Ellie. “At our Communion service, Pastor Jim read about Jesus eating the Passover supper with His disciples just before He was crucified. Jesus said the bread and wine were reminders of His body and blood.” “Oh yeah!” Keely said. “He told His disciples that when they got together and ate and drank those things, they should think about Him and what He did. And He said they should remember that He’ll come back again someday.” “That’s right!” said Mom. “Communion is a special time when the church remembers the sacrifice Jesus made when He died on the cross to save us from sin. It’s a time to remember what He did for us and look forward to the day when we’ll celebrate Communion with Him when He returns.” Ellie smiled. “So now whenever I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I’ll remember you, Keely—and look forward to when your family comes back to visit so we can have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together again!” “Right,” said Keely. “And even better than that, one day we’ll have Communion together with Jesus!” –Myrina D. McCullough

Mar 15

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Tyler and his dad were enjoying a quick breakfast at the park before Tyler’s baseball game. Dad had picked up a couple extra ham biscuits to save for later. As Tyler was eating, he noticed a man who appeared to be homeless sitting on a bench on the other side of the park. “Dad, do you see the man sitting over there? I wonder if he’s hungry. Would it be okay if we offered him a biscuit?” “I think that would be a nice thing to do,” Dad answered, and they walked across the park. “Good morning!” Tyler said to the man. “My name is Tyler, and this is my dad. We have some extra ham biscuits. Would you like one?” The man’s eyes lit up. “Thank you!” he said, taking a biscuit. “My name is Chris. Would you like to sit down?” Tyler plopped down next to Chris and Dad sat beside Tyler. “Do you have a game today?” Chris asked, noticing Tyler’s baseball uniform. “Yep, the game starts in an hour. Dad and I like to get here early so I can practice.” “What position do you play?” Chris asked. “Mainly third base.” They sat and talked for a while longer, and just before they left, Tyler asked Chris if he would like him to pray for him. Chris smiled. “That would be nice.” After they finished praying, Chris looked at Tyler, tears streaming down his face, and said, “Thank you for sharing your food with me, and thank you for spending time with me and praying for me.” Tyler smiled. “I hope we see you again. Come watch the game if you want.” “I just might do that,” Chris replied. As they walked away, Dad said, “That was a really thoughtful thing you did. You know, the Bible says that when we do good to others and share with those in need, we’re doing those things for Jesus. They are sacrifices that please Him because they show others the kind of love He showed us when He sacrificed His life to save us. You were the hands and feet of Jesus this morning.” Dad smiled. “Come on, we still have time to practice throwing before the game starts.” –Lisa Fuller

Mar 14

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Maisie had spent most of the evening texting one friend after another. “Can I text Bree real quick?” she asked when Mom told her to get ready for bed. “I want to see if she’s as nervous as I am about tryouts for the play.” Mom shook her head. “You’ve already texted her tonight—and lots of other friends. It’s bedtime.” “Okay, but can I please take two seconds to text Alynn—just to be sure she’ll save me a seat on the bus tomorrow?” Maisie begged. “Bed!” Mom said firmly, holding out her hand for Maisie’s tablet. Maisie sighed and handed her tablet over, then went to get ready. She was crawling into bed when Mom appeared in the doorway. “Want me to turn the light out?” Mom asked. “Have you prayed already?” “Oh, I forgot!” Maisie sat up. “I really don’t have anything to say, except to ask God to take care of everyone, and He already knows that.” Mom sat on the side of Maisie’s bed. “If I handed you your tablet and gave you permission to text Bree, would you have anything to say to her?” “Of course! Can I text her?” asked Maisie eagerly. “Friends tell each other about their interests and feelings, don’t they?” asked Mom. “They share their hopes and dreams and secrets. They talk about what they do for fun and what makes them afraid.” “Yeah!” said Maisie, hoping to get her tablet back. “Friends need time to talk.” “Well, is Jesus your friend?” Mom asked. Maisie nodded. “Then why don’t you have anything to tell Him? Don’t you think He wants to hear about what’s going on in your life too?” She kissed Maisie’s forehead. “Think about it,” she said, then turned out the light and left. Maisie did think about it. She knew Mom was right and decided to talk to a friend she hadn’t been paying much attention to lately. Dear Jesus, she began. Thank You for loving me and for dying on the cross for my sins. Then she shared some of her fears and dreams with the Lord. When I think of You as my friend, Maisie prayed, I really do have lots of things to say. Thanks for listening and caring. Goodnight. –Nance E. Keyes

Mar 13

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 9:10-13; 2 Timothy 1:7 “Great game, Hailey!” said Mom. “Two goals–that’s incredible!” Hailey kicked off her soccer cleats and sat on the sidelines beside Mom’s folding chair. “Sure, I guess.” “What’s wrong?” asked Mom. “You did great.” Hailey’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s Kaylee and Jenna. They said they don’t want to be my friends anymore.” “What?” asked Mom. “How come?” “At halftime they were making fun of Sarah. She’s shy, and she’s…well, she’s not the best player on the team. They called her ‘Slow Sarah’ when a ball got past her and said she should go play with those little kids.” Hailey pointed to another field where some four-year-olds were chasing a ball around. “Oh, that’s terrible!” said Mom. “They kept looking at me like they expected me to make fun of her too. I said they were being mean, so they called me a goody-goody and said they can’t be friends with someone who’s no fun. I just said, ‘Fine,’ and walked away. I didn’t know what to do.” Mom hugged Hailey. “I’m proud of you for standing up for Sarah.” Hailey shrugged. “I thought I was doing what Jesus wanted me to do. Why did He let it turn out so badly?” Mom squeezed Hailey’s shoulder. “You’re right, Jesus does want you to love people because He loves us, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. The Bible is full of people who were rejected by others when they acted out of faith and obedience to God. Even Jesus was rejected for showing love to people everyone else wanted to stay away from. Through the Holy Spirit, He gives us the courage to love others that way too.” “But now I don’t have any friends on the team! Doesn’t He care?” “He cares very much,” Mom assured her. “Your courage may have cost you your friendship with Kaylee and Jenna, but Jesus promises to always be with you.” Mom pointed toward the field where Sarah was waving at them, a shy smile on her face. “Besides, it looks like you may have made a new friend.” Hailey wiped her eyes and motioned for her teammate to join them. –Jennifer Dillard How About You? Have you experienced rejection for following Jesus’s example of love? You are not alone. God’s people have often faced hardship and rejection for standing up in faith and doing what’s right. Jesus Himself was even rejected for loving sinners like us. He understands how you feel, and He promises to give you courage and strength and help you love others. Today’s Key Verse: Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults. (NLT) (Isaiah 51:7) Today’s Key Thought: Stand up for others

Mar 12

Bible Reading: Psalm 12:5-7 “He said he was going to help us.” Sammy frowned. “How could Uncle Riley say that and then change his mind? We need help if we’re going to move!” Mom held a finger to her lips. She nodded to the open window. “Look at our babies getting their first meal.” Sammy peeked out the window. In the branch of the tree right outside, there was a nest with baby birds that had just hatched. A big bird was feeding each of the babies with something out of her beak. It was cool to watch. When the meal was finished, Sammy looked to his mom. “Without money from Uncle Riley, we’re going to be stuck here forever.” “I was excited when he said he was going to help,” Mom said. “But we can figure things out without him. It will just take a little longer. We’re going to be okay.” “How can he make a promise and then change his mind?” Sammy moved to their brown couch and sank down onto it, running his finger along a tear in the fabric. “We were counting on him doing what he said he would do.” “People are like that sometimes,” Mom said. “They make promises and then don’t keep them.” Sammy crossed his arms. “It’s not right.” “No, it’s not.” Mom looked at him. “You know who isn’t like that? God. Every promise He makes, He keeps.” Sammy frowned. “It doesn’t always feel like it.” “It might not,” Mom said. “But it’s true. It’s like those baby birds. I heard them chirping when their mom left them this morning. They were probably worried that she wouldn’t come back. But she did come back, because she knows they depend on her to feed them and take care of them. Our heavenly Father is much more dependable than a mother bird, and He promises to take care of us.” “What if He doesn’t?” Sammy asked. “He will,” Mom said. “The Bible tells us that God keeps His promises. When we were lost in sin, He promised us a Savior, and He fulfilled that promise through Jesus. And Jesus promises that even though life is full of difficulties, He will always be with us and help us. Other people may fail us, but God never will.” –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever had someone make a promise to you and then change their mind? How did that make you feel? Do you keep every promise you make? People don’t always keep their promises, but God does. He kept His promise to send Jesus to save us, and He promises He’s with us through every hardship we face, even when it doesn’t seem like it. You can trust Him to keep His promises. Today’s Key Verse: He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind. (NIV) (1 Samuel 15:29 ) Today’s Key Thought: You can trust God’s promises

Mar 11

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24 Preston jumped from seat to seat in the back of the school bus. He joined in with the boys who were pestering other kids and laughed loudly when rude gestures were made at passing cars. After he and the others ignored several warnings, the bus driver pulled over and wrote down their names. Preston felt ashamed–and he felt even worse when he found out his parents would be contacted. “I heard from your principal today,” Mom said when Preston got home. “We’ll have to talk about it later. Right now go get your homework done.” Preston was relieved when his behavior wasn’t mentioned at dinner. When they finished eating, Dad turned on the news. The screen showed a man who’d been found wandering the streets. He couldn’t remember anything about his past–not even his own name. “Authorities believe this man has amnesia,” said the reporter. “Anyone with information that may help identify him should notify the police.” “He doesn’t know his name?” Preston asked. “That’s hard to believe!” “They think he may have received a very hard blow to his head, or that something shocking happened and the man’s brain reacted by blocking everything out,” explained Mom. “Oh, that’s so sad!” said Preston’s little sister, Mia. “Can a person really forget who he is?” asked Preston. “We wondered the same thing after Mom got a call from your principal today,” said Dad. “It sounded like you might have been suffering from spiritual amnesia on the bus. You seemed to have forgotten who you were.” “Preston has amnesia?” asked Mia, looking at her brother wide-eyed. “Well, he seemed to forget that he is a child of God,” said Dad. “Preston–just like all Christians–has the Holy Spirit inside him. Because of God’s presence in us, we’re able to do what is right and show others the love of Jesus. If we forget that and start acting out of selfishness instead of love, it’s kind of like we have spiritual amnesia–we’ve forgotten who we are in Jesus.” Dad turned to Preston. “Could anyone on the bus this morning have identified you as belonging to Jesus?” “I–I guess not,” said Preston. “I’m sorry.” His parents smiled at him. “We forgive you,” said Dad. “And Jesus will forgive you too.” –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Do you remember who you are? If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior, you’re a child of God, and He has put His love in your heart and given you His Spirit to guide you in doing what’s right. Don’t act like you suffer from spiritual amnesia. Remember who you are in Jesus and show His love in all you do so others can identify you as someone who belongs to Him. Today’s Key Verse: Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy. (NLT) (Ephesians 4:24) Today’s Key Thought: Remember who you are in Jesus

Mar 10

Bible Reading: Acts 4:13-20 Topher brought Mexican jumping beans to school today,” said Tiernan at dinner one evening. “They look like regular beans, but they move all by themselves. Topher wouldn’t say what made them move–he said it was a secret. But I looked it up and found out. I don’t know why Topher didn’t just tell us. It’s no secret!” “So what makes them move?” asked Tiernan’s sister Ariel. “Moths,” said Tiernan. “Mexican jumping beans are three-celled bean pods that house moths. The jumping is caused by the moth larvae moving inside.” “Ew, gross!” Ariel put down her knife and fork. “Well, now I’ve lost my appetite.” When dinner was finished, Dad got out his Bible for family devotions. “Tiernan’s story about the jumping beans made me think of something,” he said. “Like Tiernan said, the reason they move isn’t a secret, but there is something we often keep secret even though we shouldn’t. Just like how the moths in the bean pods makes them jump, we have something in us that makes us choose to do the things we do, but we often don’t tell anyone what it is.” “Well, what is it?” asked Tiernan. “I don’t know either.” Dad smiled. “It’s the love of Jesus in our hearts. For example, I remember when you ate lunch with the new boy at school who didn’t know anyone and your friends later asked why you didn’t sit with them. What reason did you give them?” “Um, well…I just told them I knew him from math class,” replied Tiernan. “And when I was so sick, God gave me a miraculous recovery,” said Dad. “But I wonder how many of us told our friends that God had answered our prayers?” “I didn’t,” admitted Ariel. “It’s almost as though we’re keeping it a secret that we know Jesus,” Dad said, opening his Bible to the fourth chapter of Acts. “Tonight, let’s read about some men who didn’t keep it a secret that they knew Jesus. How about reading it for us, Tiernan? Read verses sixteen to twenty.” After Tiernan finished reading, Dad said, “Peter and John couldn’t keep themselves from telling others about Jesus and how He died and rose again to save them. Let’s join them by telling everyone what He’s done for us too.” –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Do you tell others about Jesus? Don’t keep it a secret that you know Him. Tell other kids when you’re thankful for something God has given you or done for you. Speak up if there’s an opportunity to let others know that Jesus loves us all so much He died for us. They may want to know Him too. What are some other things you could tell them about? Today’s Key Verse: We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (NKJV) (Acts 4:20) Today’s Key Thought: Don’t keep Jesus a secret

Mar 9

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:44-46 Roman stomped into the house and headed for the stairs, not even bothering to say hello to his family. “Hey there, Roman!” Dad called from his place at the counter. Roman mumbled something and then proceeded upstairs and slammed his bedroom door. The house shook. Eva, his sister, entered the house a moment later. Mom finished chopping a potato and gave her a hug. “What’s wrong with Roman?” Mom asked. Eva opened the fridge and dug out an apple. “Well, this kid named Carson Peters keeps bullying and teasing him,” she replied. “Especially on the walk home from school.” Later that evening, Roman was asked to help make his mom’s famous homemade applesauce. As he chopped apples, he remembered some of the things Carson had said to him on the way home from school. Infuriated, Roman slammed the knife into the apple. The apple squished and splattered all over him and the counter. “Oh dear. I suppose that was a rotten apple. I should be more careful when I pick out the bags at the market,” Mom said, wiping the gunk off Roman and the surrounding area. “Why did you slam the knife so hard?” she asked. “You could’ve hurt yourself.” “Well, I–I was just thinking about what this guy Carson said to me earlier. He says a lot of mean things.” “I think how you’re dealing with this is a bit like that rotten apple,” Mom said as she mashed up the good apples. “You’ve been holding all this inside. Allowing angry, bitter feelings like that to stay in your heart can make you rot inside. Eventually, they would’ve overflowed–or in your case, exploded.” Roman sprinkled some cinnamon into the apple mixture. “I guess I thought I could deal with it on my own.” “Sometimes the only way to deal with something–or someone–is to ask for help,” said Mom. “Jesus loves you so much that He died to save you, and He wants you to go to Him with your problems and hard feelings. He also puts people in your life to help you–like your dad and me. Let us help with the situation, and trust God to help you release those feelings and replace them with His love and peace.” –Taylor Carey How About You? Has someone ever been mean to you? Sometimes it’s easier to bottle up hard feelings instead of dealing with them. But God wants us to cast our hardships onto Him, and He gives us people to support us. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with bullies or other difficult situations and tell a trusted adult how you’re feeling. Trust Jesus to comfort you and give you the power to love those who hurt you the way He loves us. Today’s Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7) Today’s Key Thought: Share your hurts with others

Mar 8

Bible Reading: Romans 3:10-26 “Peyton! Avery!” Dad called up the stairs. “Dinner is ready! Please pick up your toys and then come eat.” Peyton quickly put her dolls in a basket, then put the basket high on the shelf and ran downstairs. Avery, who was five years younger, couldn’t quite reach the shelf to put her dolls away or lift the heavy lid to the toy chest. She eventually gave up and went to eat. The next morning at breakfast, Avery began singing “Jesus Loves Me.” Usually Peyton loved listening to Avery sing and would clap along, but today she just quietly listened. “What’s on your mind, kiddo?” Dad asked. Peyton frowned. “Well, I know that Jesus died on the cross to take away sins, but I guess I don’t really understand how that shows He loves me.” Dad thought for a moment. “Yesterday I asked you and Avery to clean the playroom, remember?” Peyton shrugged. “Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?” “Well,” Dad replied, “Avery can’t put her toys away herself, so I want you to pick them up for her.” “But that’s not fair!” said Peyton. “She’s the one who made the mess!” “You’re right, she is the one who made the mess, but no matter how hard she tries, it’s impossible for her to clean it up. She needs help.” Dad paused. “Jesus shows us His love in the same way.” Peyton furrowed her eyebrows. “By picking up our mess?” Dad nodded. “We’re the ones with a huge mess of sin in our lives. Do you think it’s fair for Jesus to clean it up? Jesus didn’t sin. He didn’t make our mess, but He also knew we could never get rid of it ourselves. So, because He loves us, He died and rose again to do what we couldn’t–to take our sins away.” “So you’re saying I can show Avery I love her by picking up her toys because she can’t do it herself–just like Jesus shows me He loves me by taking away my sin because I can’t do it myself?” Dad smiled. “You got it.” As Avery continued to sing, Peyton smiled and began to clap along. –Bethany Den Boer How About You? Have you ever made a mess you couldn’t clean up? The Bible says our lives are like that–we’ve gotten ourselves into a mess of sin, and it’s impossible for us to get out of it ourselves. But Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross to take away our sin. You can only get out of sin’s mess by trusting in Him. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV) (Romans 5:8) Today’s Key Thought: Jesus takes away our sin

Mar 7

Bible Reading: Romans 12:18-21 James was quiet as the plane rolled down the runway. “Nervous?” asked Dad. “No,” said James. “Well, not about the flight. I was thinking about something you said. Are you sure everyone has luggage they carry in their lives? Even bullies?” Dad nodded. “Bullies often have the heaviest life luggage of all. It’s filled with rocks of hurt, sadness, and anger they can’t seem to get rid of.” “But then why is Dylan–I mean, bullies–so mean?” “Remember in the airport when you wanted someone to carry your luggage for you?” asked Dad. “Well, we can get so tired of dragging our life luggage around by ourselves that we try to push our rocks onto others.” “I try to be nice to Dylan, but when I do, he just gets meaner! Yesterday I asked if he wanted some help, and he called me a–well, it wasn’t very nice.” “Some people haven’t been shown how to be kind,” said Dad. “Dylan is probably afraid of looking weak. He probably feels stronger when he acts mean.” James looked down. “Dad, sometimes when Dylan is mean, I just want to get back at him by making him feel bad too.” Dad nodded. “I know a lot of adults who hurt others back instead of learning how to love them better. Two bullies won’t change anything.” Dad squeezed James’s shoulder. “I’ll call the school when we get back and tell them what’s happening with Dylan. In the meantime, you can give your anger and hurt to–” “I know!” James interrupted. “My luggage carrier!” Dad nodded and gave James a high five. “You know, Dad,” said James, “Dylan probably doesn’t know that Jesus wants to be his luggage carrier too.” “You might be right,” Dad said as the plane took off. “He needs someone to tell him–and to pray for him too. He also needs to see God’s love in action–someone who will continue to show him kindness, even though he’s mean in return. Maybe someday, with prayer and persistence, that will change.” Just then, something in the compartment above their heads shifted with a loud THUD! A woman in the row behind them gasped. “What was that?” James tried to swallow his laugh. “Probably the rock from our backyard!” –Kelly Carlson How About You? Do you ever want to hurt someone who is hurting you? It’s natural to want revenge, but that’s not what Jesus wants you to do. If you’re being bullied or hurt by someone, it’s important to tell a trusted adult who can help with the situation. But don’t let your hurt and anger take over–give your burden to Jesus, and trust Him to help you respond to that person with His love. Today’s Key Verse: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (NIV) (Matthew 5:44) Today’s Key Thought: Love those who hurt you

Mar 6

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7 “It’s too heavy!” James dragged his bag through the airport. “Dad, I need a luggage carrier!” Dad chuckled. “What did you pack? Rocks?” “Just one.” Dad stopped walking. “Seriously?” “I didn’t want to forget our backyard!” “Well, come on.” Dad pointed ahead. “It’s just a bit farther to our gate.” After James plopped down hard into a chair, he noticed the many people passing by. One gray-haired woman dragged a suitcase half her size. I wonder what’s in there, thought James. She must have a lot she doesn’t want to forget. Next came a small girl twirling a tiny tote bag. Crayons and candy, James guessed. Not too heavy. “You know,” Dad said as he watched the people go by, “everybody has luggage.” Just then, James spotted a man holding only a phone. “Not him.” “Sure he does. Let’s say your life is a suitcase, James. Every friend, conversation, sports game, or test is like an item in your luggage. We carry the good and bad things with us–but sometimes the bad things become heavy, and it’s hard for us to carry those things around.” “So what happens when life gets too heavy?” asked James with a glance toward his bag. “That’s the best part of all,” said Dad. “Jesus will carry all your burdens so you can rest–like that man carrying nothing but his cell phone.” Just then an announcement came over the loudspeaker. “Group four, please begin boarding.” “That’s us!” James leapt up and reached for his bag, but his arm was still too sore to lift it. “Hey, Dad, can you help me?” “Of course.” Dad grabbed James’s bag, and they boarded the plane. After they were seated and their bags were stowed away, James turned to Dad. “So how does Jesus carry my burdens?” “Well,” said Dad, “He took the biggest burden from us–the punishment for our sin–when He died on the cross. And He wants us to give our worries and regrets to Him in prayer and trust Him to help us with our problems and forgive our wrongs. Instead of trying to handle life’s heavy burdens on our own, He wants to give us peace and rest.” “I get it now,” James said. “Jesus is my luggage carrier!” –Kelly Carlson How About You? Is there something heavy in your life? Sometimes there’s just too much hurt or trouble to carry alone. When life gets heavy, remember that Jesus took the burden of your sin and wants you to come to Him so He can give you rest. Ask Him to carry your load and to direct you to an adult who can help. Today’s Key Verse: Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. (NKJV) (Psalm 55:22) Today’s Key Thought: Jesus carries your burdens

Mar 5

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:6-9 It had not been a good week. First, Allison didn’t get the part she wanted in a skit her class was going to perform. Then she hurt her arm in gym class. To top it off, she discovered that a stain on her favorite shirt hadn’t washed out. “Everything’s going wrong,” Allison told her mother in tears. Mom had just returned from shopping and had placed a big rectangular package, wrapped in paper, on the table. “I’m sorry, honey,” she said, giving Allison a hug. “Sometimes it seems like everything goes wrong all at once, doesn’t it? But don’t forget that Jesus still loves you and is with you. Remember those verses we read about trusting God to work things out for our best?” Allison sighed. “I don’t see how having those things happen can do any good at all, let alone be for my best!” Mom took a pair of scissors and began to cut a small hole in the paper covering the package. “What are you doing?” asked Allison. “What’s in the package?” “I bought a picture to hang in the living room.” Mom held the package up for Allison to see. “What do you think?” “Unwrap it so I can see it,” said Allison. “Look through the hole in the wrapping,” said Mom. Allison frowned, but she squinted and tried to look through the hole. “This little hole is way too small. I can’t see enough of the picture to tell what it looks like!” “You’re right,” Mom said. “But what I really want you to see is that life is like this picture.” “Really?” asked Allison in surprise. “How?” “We can only see a small part of our lives. We see what’s happening now, but not how it fits into God’s overall plan. It’s like we’re looking at it through a small hole. But God can see the whole picture. He knows exactly what we need to experience to shape our lives into the big, beautiful picture of what He has planned. We just have to trust Him, looking forward to the day when Jesus comes again and the whole picture will be unveiled.” Mom smiled at Allison. “Now go ahead and unwrap this picture. I think you’ll agree that it really is beautiful.” –Richard S. Maffeo How About You?Do you wonder how bad things that happen in your life could possibly do any good? Keep in mind that you can only see a very small part of your life, but God sees the whole thing. He sometimes allows you to go through hard things so He can use them to help you grow in your faith. Trust Him in hard times, knowing that Jesus understands what you’re going through and promises to be with you until you see Him face-to-face. Today’s Key Verse:Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (NKJV) (Proverbs 3:5) Today’s Key Thought:God is in control

Mar 4

Bible Reading: Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:9-10 Declan’s dad set the remote control car on a shelf in the garage. “Let’s take a break,” he said. “But aren’t we going to paint it?” asked Declan. They had just finished putting all the pieces together, and Declan couldn’t wait to test it out. “This car’s gonna look awesome in cherry red.” “We can finish up later,” Dad said. “We’ve been putting that car together for two hours, and now it’s time to rest.” “But I want to keep working on it!” said Declan. “You know, Declan,” Dad said as he shut off the lights in the garage, “even God rested after creating the world in six days. That means we should rest too.” Declan crossed his arms. “But I’m not tired.” Dad raised his eyebrows. “That’s an interesting point. Do you think God rested because He was tired?” Declan laughed. “God doesn’t get tired. Does He?” “No,” said Dad, “He doesn’t. But God set the example for us by taking a break after His work was complete. Jesus also told His disciples to rest after they worked, and He even took some time to relax after teaching and healing people.” Declan followed his dad down the hall to the kitchen. “But rest is boring!” “Well, it doesn’t have to be.” Dad set two drinking glasses on the counter. “God gave us rest as a gift. It’s supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable.” Declan sat down in a chair. “Like holidays or when you get a day off work?” “Exactly,” said Dad. “And those days aren’t boring, are they?” “No way! They’re the best because we get to play board games and eat popcorn.” Declan’s dad filled the glasses with ice. “Rest is also a time to reenergize and think about all God has done for us. God commands us to rest so that we remember His work–the work of Jesus and His sacrifice for us on the cross. It’s His work alone that saves us, not our own efforts, and resting reminds us to trust Him in everything we do.” Dad went to the fridge and pulled out a jug. “Now, how does cooling off with some of your mom’s delicious lemonade after all that work on your car sound?” Declan sat up and grabbed a glass. “That sounds great!” –Annika Klanderud How About You? Do you ever get upset when you have to stop what you’re working on to rest? Sometimes it’s hard to take a break, but God knows what’s best for us. Taking time to rest is important so your body and mind can recharge. Best of all, it’s a reminder that our true rest is in Jesus, who completed the most important work of all–dying for our sins so we could be saved and have eternal life with Him. Today’s Key Verse: Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. (NLT) (Psalm 116:7) Today’s Key Thought: Take time to rest

Mar 3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21 “We’re freezing!” Cyrus announced as he and his brothers burst through the door. “The three of you are covered in slush!” said Mom. “Did you see the snowman we made?” Elim asked. “Ranny wanted to eat the carrot nose, but we wouldn’t let him. We had to come inside early because he’s hungry again.” Elim grinned at his two-year-old brother. “Snack?” Ransom squeaked. Mom handed the boys bowls of apple slices. “The bath is ready! I’ll wash Ranny first.” After snacks and baths, Mom hauled a bag to the living room. “What’s in there?” Cyrus asked. “Open it and see.” Mom winked. “Robes!” Elim yelled. The boys wiggled into their cozy robes, then handed Mom hers and Ransom’s. “I love robe season,” said Elim. “I was just reading about robes during Bible time!” Cyrus pulled his Bible off the couch and opened it to the bookmarked page. “It’s from Isaiah 61, verse 10: ‘I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.'” “What does righteousness mean again?” Elim asked. “It means being right with God and free from guilt in His eyes,” Mom answered. “Remember what people had to do in the Old Testament to be righteous before God?” “Make sacrifices,” Elim responded solemnly. “But it wasn’t good enough! All the good things we do are like filthy rags compared to God’s goodness.” Cyrus picked up his soaked-through dirty sock with a wrinkled nose. “Then God sent Jesus to die for us! He sacrificed His own Son to save us. So, that verse in Isaiah I read was talking about God’s promise to be fulfilled in Jesus,” Cyrus mused. “Exactly.” Mom nodded. “Since Jesus is perfect, He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. When we put our trust in Him, He takes our sins away and covers us with His robe of righteousness. What do we become in Jesus?” “A new creation.” Elim flapped his robe sleeves. “Ranny needs his robe, Mom!” Mom laughed as Ransom started running around the living room in circles. “The first one who catches him gets to put his robe on him!” –Savannah Coleman How About You? Has Jesus covered you in His robe of righteousness? The Bible says that all the things we do to try to make ourselves good in God’s eyes are like filthy rags. The only way we can become righteous is through Jesus. When we trust in Him, God no longer sees our sins when He looks at us, but the perfect sacrifice of His Son. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 5:21) Today’s Key Thought: Jesus clothes us in robes of righteousness

Mar 2

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:4-7 “Oh, Nathan, don’t cry,” Sydney told her little brother when he showed her his broken train. “Let’s go see if Grandpa can fix it.” They took the train to Grandpa’s workshop, where he checked it over. “No problem,” he said. “I’ll make it as good as new.” The kids hopped onto the workbench to watch. When Grandpa started bending a wheel on the train, Nathan gasped. “Stop, Grandpa! You’ll make it worse.” “Don’t be silly, Nathan,” said Sydney. “Grandpa’s fixing your train, not making it worse!” Grandpa nodded and continued his work. “You’re not doing it right,” Nathan told Grandpa a moment later. “That piece has to go onto the engine–like this.” He reached for the train. Grandpa set the train down. “Nathan, why don’t you play outside for a while? This is going to take some time.” “But I want my train now!” Nathan grabbed it and headed for the door. Sydney turned to Grandpa and shook her head. “Silly kid! He gave you his train to fix and then took it back without letting you fix it.” “He’ll probably bring it back soon,” Grandpa said. He chuckled. “It makes me think of how we do the same thing with God sometimes.” “We do?” Sydney asked. “How?” “By bringing our problems to Him but then continuing to try to fix them our way,” Grandpa replied. “Last week you told me you were worried your parents might not be able to afford camp this summer. You said you prayed and gave it to God, right?” Sydney looked down. “Yes. But I’ve still been worrying about it.” “I overheard you pestering your mom about it too,” Grandpa said. “So did you leave it with God, or did you take it back?” “I–I guess I took it back,” Sydney admitted. “It’s hard not to worry.” Grandpa nodded. “Worrying means we’re not trusting God to handle things that are out of our control. If you start to worry, why not pause and quietly talk to Jesus? He died on the cross to have a relationship with you, and He cares about your problems. Trust Him to help you and give you His peace.” Just then the door swung open and Nathan came in and handed Grandpa his train. –Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Do you bring your problems, worries, and needs to God in prayer? After you do that, do you start worrying all over again? Once you have brought your problem to God, don’t try to take it back. Ask Him to give you peace and patience as He handles the situation. Trust Him to work things out for His glory and your good–even if it’s in ways you don’t expect. Today’s Key Verse: Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need. (ERV) (Philippians 4:6 ) Today’s Key Thought: Trust God with your problems

Mar 1

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:9-16 “Mom, why is Dad scowling?” asked Jackson as he watched Dad working at the edge of the new concrete patio he had poured. “I think the patio looks great!” “I think so too. But the concrete is setting faster than Dad expected.” “Setting?” asked Jackson. “You mean it’s already getting hard?” “Right,” said Mom. “It’s easy to level and smooth cement when it’s first poured, but once it’s set, you can’t change it. So now he has to work fast to try and get it the way he wants it before it’s too hard.” “Oh. Well, I wish I could help him, but I guess I can’t.” Jackson picked up his baseball mitt. “Is it okay if I go to the park to practice throwing with José for a while?” “That’s fine–if you’ve finished the other things you need to do,” said Mom. “Did you pick up your room and take the trash out? And how about your quiet time? Did you do that?” Jackson nodded. “I knew you’d ask that, so I did all those things right after breakfast.” “Good for you,” said Mom. “I’m glad you’re making it a habit to do your work and to pray and read your Bible before going out to play. It’s important to practice good habits now so you’ll keep doing them when you’re older–and spending time with Jesus is one of the best habits to practice. When we spend time with Him, He reminds us that He loves us and will always forgive our wrongs and be with us, no matter what we face in life.” Jackson watched his father frantically try to smooth the quickly hardening concrete of their patio. “Does that mean habits are like concrete and harden in place?” “That’s a good way to look at it,” said Mom. “Both good and bad habits can become hardened into a person’s life over time.” “And that’s why you want me to set good habits while I’m young,” said Jackson. Mom nodded. “We can start new habits at any age, but the sooner we let go of bad habits and replace them with good ones, the sooner those good habits will be set in place. The best time to start practicing a good habit is today–no matter how old you are.” –Pauline Youd How About You? Are you forming good habits? There are lots of habits that are important in the Christian life, such as praying, reading the Bible, going to church, thanking God for everything He gives us, and confessing our sins and receiving His forgiveness. But forming habits like these takes practice, so start doing them now. As you practice them, they’ll begin to set and soon become a part of your everyday life. Today’s Key Verse: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come. (NKJV) (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Today’s Key Thought: Practice good habits

Feb 28

Bible Reading: John 3:16-18 Seeing the gigantic merry-go-round, Harper and Violet squealed in excitement and ran ahead of Mom and Dad to the entrance. They stood next to the height chart. They were both tall enough. “Whoo-hoo!” Harper clapped her hands in excitement. The merry-go-round came to a stop and the riders got off. Harper and Violet were about to dash through the gate when someone’s arm blocked their way. “Hang on, kids. Not so fast.” It was the ride operator. Harper and Violet gave each other a puzzled look when the operator let other kids go past them and get on the merry-go-round. “Why can’t we ride?” asked Violet. “We’re tall enough!” Just then Mom and Dad walked over. “Finally caught up with you!” Mom said. “Mom,” Harper said, her face full of disappointment. “He wouldn’t let us on. Why?” Dad reached into his pocket and pulled out four small pieces of paper. “Here, you need your tickets.” Harper and Violet each grabbed one and brought it to the ride operator. He opened the gate and let them in. They each picked a horse to ride on, bouncing up and down on them excitedly. Mom and Dad gave their tickets to the operator and got on too. “You know,” Mom said thoughtfully, “this reminds me of something Jesus said. There is no other way to heaven except through Him. Tell me, why couldn’t you ride the merry-go-round at first?” “We didn’t have our tickets,” Violet replied. “And why was that?” asked Mom. “We just thought we needed to be tall enough,” said Harper. “We didn’t know we had to have tickets for it.” “Right,” Dad said. “You couldn’t ride the merry-go-round without a ticket, and you can’t have eternal life without Jesus. It’s a gift you need to receive from Him. There’s nothing you can do to get to heaven on your own. Your only ticket is to trust Jesus as your Savior, who paid your way by dying for your sins and rising from the dead.” Soon the merry-go-round started moving. “I’m glad I have my ticket for the merry-go-round,” Violet said as their horses moved up and down. “But I’m even happier I have Jesus and that one day He’ll take me to heaven!” –Goh Su En and Goh Shao En How About You? Have you ever thought that you could be or do enough to get to heaven on your own? You can’t. There is only one way to be saved from sin and have eternal life, and that is through Jesus. We all mess up, but Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again so we could have eternal life with Him. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV) (John 14:6) Today’s Key Thought: Jesus is the only way to heaven

Feb 27

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 “Did you see that clunky bracelet Megan is wearing?” Vivian whispered to the girls sitting near her on the bus, but Megan overheard. She looked down at the beaded bracelet she and her grandmother had strung together. Spaced between bright round beads were letters spelling J-O-Y. Megan had been excited to wear her new bracelet, but now it seemed silly. She quickly walked past Vivian and her friends as she got off the bus. “Hi, sweetheart,” said Grandma as Megan came in the house. “Do you want a snack before we finish your necklace?” “Grandma, would it be all right if we did something else today?” “Sure, Megan, but you seemed so excited about beading.” “I am. It’s just that Vivian said something to some other girls about my bracelet.” Megan sighed. “She’s supposed to be my friend.” “Well,” said Grandma, “I have something I want to show you. Then if you still don’t want to finish your necklace today, we’ll do something else.” Grandma led the way to her craft room. Jars holding beads of many shapes and colors lined the shelves. Grandma reached for a jar hidden behind the others. “I’ve been saving this for a special project.” She pulled out a large red heart-shaped bead. “Why don’t you add this to your necklace?” Megan looked at the necklace she had begun yesterday. The string was already full–there was only room for the clasp. “Grandma, there’s no more room. I’d have to take off some beads.” “You know, friendship is a bit like stringing beads,” replied Grandma. “You have to decide what to keep and what to put aside. We have both happy and hurtful moments with our friends. But if we hold on to the hurtful moments, we won’t have room for anything else. Forgiving friends when they hurt us makes room for joy.” Grandma carefully eased some beads off the string. She threaded the heart onto the strand and handed Megan the necklace. “When forgiving is hard, we can go to Jesus,” Grandma said. “He’s the Friend who always forgives us, and He’ll help us forgive others.” “I need to forgive Vivian,” Megan said as she slid more beads onto the strand. “Then we’ll have room for more happy moments as friends.” –Heidi J. Schmidt How About You? Are you holding on to something someone did or said that hurt you? It hurts when others do or say mean things, especially a friend. But remember that if you’re a Christian, Jesus has forgiven you for all the hurtful things you’ve said and done. Let your friends know when they hurt you, but then forgive them so you’ll have room for more joyful moments together. Today’s Key Verse: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV) (Colossians 3:13) Today’s Key Thought: Forgive and make room for joy

Feb 26

Bible Reading: Psalm 42:1-2; Matthew 5:6 “Mommy, can I have some juice? Ivy made me thirsty! She gave me potato chips.” Ivy grinned at her little brother. “You didn’t have to eat them, Kylan.” “Yes, I did,” said Kylan. “You made me want them! You said they were so good, and you kept eating them and eating them. That’s why I ate so many, and now I’m thirsty!” “You can have some water,” said Mom. She poured water into a cup and gave it to Kylan, then reached over and took a potato chip from the bowl in front of Ivy. “Did you know that Christians are supposed to be like potato chips?” she asked, holding up the chip in her hand before popping it into her mouth. “What? That’s silly.” Ivy took another chip from the bowl and studied it. “How can anybody be like a potato chip?” Kylan grinned at his big sister. “I’d sure be thirsty if I ate a potato chip as big as you, Ivy. That would be a giant one!” “Yes, it would,” said Mom. “You’d probably have to drink a whole bucket of water!” She gave Kylan a playful jab. “Well, that’s exactly how you’re supposed to be like a potato chip–you should make people thirsty to know Jesus.” Ivy frowned. “How are we supposed to do that?” she asked, taking a few more chips. “Potato chips make you thirsty because they’re so salty, and Jesus calls His followers the salt of the earth,” Mom explained. “If we’re salt, we should make people thirsty for the joy, peace, and hope we have in Jesus.” “I still don’t get how to make them want that though,” said Ivy. “Kylan said you made him want the potato chips by telling him how good they were, right?” said Mom. “He also saw you keep eating them and that you enjoyed them.” “I think I get it!” said Ivy. “We should tell our friends how great it is to know Jesus and let them see how glad we are to have Him in our lives.” “That’s it,” said Mom. “Jesus is always with us, giving us joy, peace, and hope–even in difficult times. You want to make them thirsty and want what you have.” Mom crunched another chip and smiled. –Mary L. DeMott How About You? Are you a salty Christian? Do your friends see the joy Jesus brings to your life and that He is with you in everything you go through? Have you told them about what He’s done for you? As you show your faith in Jesus each day–even though you have struggles and problems–your friends may become thirsty for the peace and comfort He gives you and want Him in their lives too. Today’s Key Verse: You are the salt of the earth. (NKJV) (Matthew 5:13) Today’s Key Thought: Make others thirsty to know Jesus

Feb 25

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39 Eva zigzagged around mud puddles as she walked home in the rain, but her feet were still getting wet. I know Mom and Dad both had to work late today, but I wish they’d asked someone to give me a ride, she thought gloomily. And they know I don’t like being home alone! But when Eva reached the back porch, she was surprised to see her older sister there. “Hi!” said Kate. “I’m home from college for the weekend.” She grinned. “What a beautiful, sunshiny day, don’t you think?” “No, I don’t!” said Eva, wiping water off her face. “Oh, but it is!” insisted Kate. “Even if it doesn’t look like it.” “I think you’ve been studying too hard, Kate. Your brain must be taking the weekend off too.” “So you’re saying the sun isn’t there anymore?” Kate asked, peering up at the heavy clouds. “That it totally disappeared?” “Of course not,” Eva answered. “But it’s sure hidden. I haven’t seen it for days!” “Well, just because we can’t see the sun doesn’t mean it’s not there. Behind those dark clouds, the sun still shines! It just goes to show that we can’t always trust what we see–we need to trust the truth.” When Eva didn’t reply, Kate smiled and added, “Take Jesus, for example.” “Jesus?” asked Eva. “What do you mean?” “Well, when bad things happen, we might feel like we’re all alone, but we’re not,” Kate explained. “Jesus is always with us. The truth is that He’s there, whether we feel like He is or not.” “So the clouds are like our problems,” said Eva. “The clouds keep us from seeing the sunshine, but the sun is still there–and dealing with hard stuff may keep us from feeling like Jesus is with us, but He really is there.” “Right!” said Kate. “Because Jesus died and rose again to defeat sin and death, nothing can separate us from God and His love. That’s His promise in the Bible, and we should trust Him. The sun is always shining, and God’s love is always shining too.” Eva grinned. “Okay. So how about going for a walk?” She laughed when her sister made a face. “Come on, Kate. Don’t let a little rain stop you on this beautiful, sunny day!” –Diane Strawbridge How About You? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Savior? If you have, He promises that He will always be with you and never leave you. You may not always feel like He’s there, but don’t depend on your feelings. Trust the truth of God’s Word, which says He will always be with His children. There is nothing that can separate you from God and His love. Today’s Key Verse: [God] himself has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” (CSB) (Hebrews 13:5) Today’s Key Thought: Trust God, not feelings

Feb 24

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Hannah looked eagerly at the plates of food the waitress set down on the table. She could hardly wait to eat. “Hannah,” said Dad, “why don’t you lead us in giving thanks today?” Hannah glanced around the busy restaurant. “Right now?” she asked. “What if the waitress comes back with the ketchup?” “I’m sure she won’t mind waiting,” said Dad, and they all bowed their heads. Hannah glanced around again, then mumbled a quick prayer. Luke looked up when she finished. “I couldn’t even understand what you said!” “Me neither,” said Phoebe. “You talked too fast.” “I wasn’t praying to you,” said Hannah. “God understood me, and He knows I’m thankful.” “Hannah’s right,” said Dad. “God does know what she prayed–but, Hannah, Luke and Phoebe are right too.” Mom’s eyes met Hannah’s. “Do you find it embarrassing to pray?” she asked. “No, not usually,” said Hannah. “But everybody is watching us here.” “Who is?” asked Luke, looking around. “Well, it feels like everybody is watching us when we all close our eyes,” said Hannah. “Why can’t we pray with our eyes open?” “It isn’t your eyes that God is concerned about–it’s your heart,” said Dad. “We give thanks as a family before each meal because we know God is the one who provides food for us. He provides everything we need–including forgiveness for our sins and eternal life through Jesus. He has given us so much, and we want to thank Him with grateful hearts.” “Exactly,” said Mom. “Whether our eyes are open or closed or our prayer is silent or spoken out loud, the important thing is to remember that God provides us with everything we need and thank Him for it.” Hannah stared down at her plate, thinking about her parents’ words. Then she put down her fork. “Can I pray again?” Mom and Dad nodded. “Dear God,” Hannah began, and from her heart she thanked God for the food. She finished with a hearty “amen,” which was repeated by another “amen” next to the table. Hannah looked up as the waitress smiled and handed her the ketchup. –Heather Tekavec How About You? Do you give thanks before each meal? Even when you’re in public and other people can see you? If you feel embarrassed to close your eyes and pray out loud, remember that’s not what God is concerned about. What matters to Him is your heart. Do you have a thankful heart? If so, pray and thank Him! Before a meal is often a good time to do that, whether silently or out loud, but don’t stop there–give thanks for all the ways God provides for you. Today’s Key Verse: Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT) (Ephesians 5:20) Today’s Key Thought: Thank God for what He provides

Feb 23

Bible Reading: John 15:1-5; Galatians 5:22-23 It was a sunny, warmer-than-normal February afternoon. “It’s a perfect day to prune the muscadines!” Dad announced. Cole and Ella threw on their warm clothes and met Mom and Dad outside. Dad hooked the trailer up to the tractor while Mom got the pruning tools. Then she and the kids climbed into the trailer while Dad took the wheel. As they rode down to the vineyard, Cole asked, “Why do we prune the muscadines every year?” “Yeah,” Ella agreed. “We’re cutting back the vines. Won’t that mean fewer grapes?” “Actually, the old shoots just take food away from the main vine,” Mom explained. “They cause the vines to produce less fruit.” “So we prune them so they’ll produce more muscadines,” said Cole. Dad pulled the tractor up to the first row. He and Mom began snipping away at the old vines while Ella and Cole collected the cuttings to make wreathes later. After a successful day of work, everyone gathered in the living room for devotions. Ella paused her wreath-making as Cole handed Dad the Bible. Dad flipped to a page and read John 15:2. “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” “That’s what we did today!” said Ella. “We pruned the muscadines so they’ll bear more fruit.” Mom nodded. “But the Lord has to prune us sometimes too.” “What do you mean?” Cole asked. “Well, sometimes there are things in our lives that the Lord has to cut away, such as sinful patterns or unhealthy attitudes. This process can be painful, but if we allow the Lord to prune us, we can be certain that it will help us grow in our relationship with Jesus, our Vine. We can’t grow spiritual fruit by ourselves, which is why we need the Holy Spirit to prune us. Then our lives will overflow with spiritual fruit as we shine the love of Jesus to others.” “I want to be like a well-pruned muscadine vine,” said Cole. “Me too!” Ella exclaimed. –Lisa Fuller How About You? Have you ever seen a plant being pruned? Maybe you’ve seen your parents trim bushes or workers cut dead branches off trees. This is what the Holy Spirit does to us. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, God gives us the Holy Spirit to transform our lives and give us the ability to produce spiritual fruit. As He prunes us by helping us turn away from sin, we produce fruit such as love, peace, kindness, gentleness, and other character traits that demonstrate God’s love to others. Today’s Key Verse: He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. (NLT) (John 15:2) Today’s Key Thought: Let God prune you

Feb 22

Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:23-25 “My class is going on a field trip to see Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home,” Anissa told her parents. “We’ve been learning about him, and I need to get books from the library and write a report on his life.” “That’s great,” said Mom. “I’m sure learning about him before the trip will make it more enjoyable.” So Anissa got to work, reading books about George Washington and writing her report. When Anissa arrived home after the field trip, she told her parents about the good time she’d had. “It was so much fun to see the things and places I’d read about. I even knew some things the guide didn’t mention.” After eating breakfast on Sunday, Dad stood up to help Anissa clear the table. “Okay, Anissa. Let’s hear your memory verse before we leave for church,” he said. “Um, well, I don’t know it yet,” Anissa confessed. “I was too busy this week. I’ll go study it right now.” She hurried off before Dad could reply. Learning the verse took longer than Anissa expected, and she had to hurry to get ready for church. When it was time to leave, her hair wasn’t quite dry and she couldn’t find her Bible. After hunting a few minutes, she finally shrugged and ran out to the car without it. After church, Anissa sighed as she got into the car. “I haven’t been getting much out of church lately,” she said. “Anissa,” said Mom, “why did you do a lot of reading and write a report about Mount Vernon before going on your trip there?” “My teacher said I had to. But I’m glad, because learning about it ahead of time made it more special!” “Why don’t you do the same for church?” suggested Mom. “Prepare for it by setting aside some time the night or morning before to read your Bible, learn your verse for Sunday school, and ask God to prepare your heart to worship Him and listen to what He has to say to you.” “Good idea,” said Dad. “But don’t forget that we go to church to worship Jesus and learn more about Him with other believers. He is present there with us, helping us grow in our relationship with Him–whether we feel it or not.” –Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Do you enjoy going to church? Have you tried preparing for it ahead of time? You can do that by giving yourself time beforehand to read your Bible and pray that God will use the church service to speak to you and others. Church is a special event where we get to be in God’s presence with other believers. Prepare your heart so you’ll be ready to worship and hear what He has to say to you. Today’s Key Verse: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (NKJV) (Psalm 122:1) Today’s Key Thought: Prepare for church

Feb 21

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:7-13 Emery looked at the tall buildings surrounding her new home. A big lump formed in her throat as she thought about the stormy divorce that had taken her father away from her. She tried to tell her mother how lonely she was, but she felt like Mom didn’t really listen. I know Mom’s nervous about starting her new job today, thought Emery. But I wish she’d think a little more about me and how I’m feeling on my first day at a new school! Emery felt nervous as she walked into her new school, but the principal was kind and led Emery to her classroom to introduce her to the class. When the bell rang for lunch, Sara, the girl sitting in front of Emery, turned around. “Want to eat lunch with me?” she asked. Emery breathed a huge sigh of relief as she went with her new friend to the cafeteria. “What do your parents do?” asked Sara as she and Emery ate. “My mom is starting a new job at the hospital today, and my dad…” Emery had hoped no one would ask about her dad. “He’s a salesman,” she said vaguely. “How about your parents? What do they do?” “My mom’s an engineer, and I never knew my dad.” Emery didn’t answer right away. “My parents are divorced,” she finally said in a small voice. She felt tears rising to her eyes and fought them back. “And Mom just thinks about her own problems and doesn’t even listen when I talk about mine.” “I know what you mean,” said Sara. “I was really lonely until I met my heavenly Father.” “Your what?” asked Emery. Sara smiled. “My heavenly Father–God. He always listens. I can talk to Him about anything, and He helps me not feel so lonely.” “Must be nice,” said Emery wistfully. Sara leaned forward in her chair. “Why don’t you come to church with me and learn about Him? He can be your heavenly Father too!” “You mean He’ll listen to me too?” asked Emery. “And help me not feel lonely?” “Definitely,” said Sara. “He loves us and sent us His Son, Jesus, because He wants us to be His children.” She got up. “Ready to go outside?” “Yes,” Emery said, “but tell me more about your heavenly Father!” –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How About You? Do you know God as your heavenly Father? Even if you have a dad in your life, you need a relationship with God. You can know Him because of what Jesus did for you when He died on the cross for your sins and rose again. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) He loves you and is always ready to listen to what you have to say. Why not go to Him right now? Today’s Key Verse: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. (NKJV) (Psalm 34:15) Today’s Key Thought: God always listens

Feb 20

Bible Reading: Mark 14:3-9 “Our youth group is helping out at a preschool program at church next week,” Charlotte told her mother as she helped weed the flower beds. “Bria has a great voice, so she’s going to teach the kids songs, and Eduardo’s a lot of fun, so he’s in charge of games.” Charlotte sighed. “I’m just helping with check-in.” “Well, that’s an important part of the program too,” Mom said. “They need to make sure all the kids are accounted for and direct them where to go.” Charlotte shrugged. “I really want to help out and serve the Lord–I just wish I had more to offer.” “Charlotte, that’s not–” Mom was interrupted by a squeal from little Billy, who was hurrying across the lawn toward them. “I make present for Mommy!” he called. Clutched in his soil-stained little hands was a small pot half-filled with dirt. Billy had stuck a dandelion into the dirt. Charlotte grinned as Billy ran toward them with a huge smile on his face. Mom turned to Charlotte. “It’s a dumb present, isn’t it?” she asked quietly. “That old pot he used is cracked and dirty. And that’s just a weed! He should have brought me roses from the florist.” Charlotte looked horrified. “Mom! How would he get them? He’s only three! You’re not going to tell him that, are you?” When Billy reached them, Mom bent down and took the flower pot he offered. “Thank you, Billy Boy! I’ll put this right in the middle of our dining room table.” She gave him a hug and then turned back to Charlotte as Billy ran off. “Actually, I love Billy’s gift, even if it’s not perfect. I know he brought it to me because he loves me. And when we offer gifts to God, with real love in our hearts, don’t you think He’s pleased and accepts them too–no matter how big or small they seem?” “You’re talking about me helping with check-in next week, aren’t you?” asked Charlotte. Mom nodded. “I’m glad Billy brought me the gift he was able to give me. That’s what God wants us to do too. He wants us to do what we can to serve Him out of love and gratitude for all He’s done for us.” –Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Do you give gifts of your time, money, or talents to God? Don’t compare what you can do with what others do or spend time wishing you had talents God gave to someone else. He wants you to serve Him with the abilities He gave you. If your heart is filled with love for God and gratitude for everything Jesus has done for you, He accepts your gifts with great joy. Today’s Key Verse: We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (NIV) (Romans 12:6 ) Today’s Key Thought: God loves your gifts to Him

Feb 19

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:29-31; 25:31-40 The cold winter wind bit at Maryam’s nose and ears as she and her mother were shopping downtown. “Can we stop at the pet store and get some birdseed?” asked Maryam. Mom agreed, and they headed for the store. As they passed an alley, they saw a man sleeping there, huddled against a wall. He was shivering in a shabby coat, his hands bare and his toes poking out from his shoes. Maryam grabbed her mother by the hand and quickly pulled her past the alley. “What’s wrong?” asked Mom. “That man made me nervous,” said Maryam. “Why is he dressed like that? And why is he sleeping on the street on such a cold day?” “He must be homeless,” said Mom. “We talked about homeless people at school,” Maryam said as they went into the pet store. “But I didn’t think there were any in small towns like ours.” After buying a bag of birdseed, Maryam and her mother started back to the car. As they passed the alley, they saw that the man was gone. Mom looked sad. “I hope he’s okay.” When they got home, Maryam filled the family’s backyard feeder with birdseed. Then she went inside and rubbed the cold from her tingling fingers. She joined her mother at the window, and they watched birds swoop down to the feeder. “I’m glad we can put out seeds for them,” Maryam said. “It’s so cold, and it’s hard for them to find food. They might die without us.” Maryam smiled as she watched the birds flutter around the feeder and peck at the seeds. “You know what? Some verses I read in my Bible this morning said God knows about every sparrow that falls. He cares about birds.” “Yes,” said Mom. “And He cares about people much more than birds. People are so valuable to Him that Jesus became one of us so we could be saved from sin and live with Him forever.” Maryam stared out at the snowy backyard, thinking of the man they’d seen. “We found a way to help the birds through the cold winter. Maybe we could find a way to help homeless people too.” “I’m sure we can,” Mom said. “Let’s come up with some ideas.” –Daryl B. Knauer How About You? Do you know of someone who’s in need? In today’s Key Verse, Jesus tells Christians that doing something for someone in need is the same as doing it for Him. Think about what you could do. Perhaps you could donate food, money, or even your time to your church or another organization that helps people. Ask God to show you how you can share His love by helping those in need. Today’s Key Verse: Truly I [Jesus] tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (NIV) (Matthew 25:40) Today’s Key Thought: Help those in need

Feb 18

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17 “What are you doing, Thomas?” William stared at his little brother in shock. “Mom, come quick!” Mom came running into the room. “Who got hurt?” she asked, then frowned. “Thomas, why in the world are you standing on a Bible?” Thomas grinned. “We learned about it in Sunday school today. The Bible is God’s Word, and we’re supposed to stand on it!” He thrust his hand into the air. William began to laugh. “Thomas, you’re not supposed to actually stand on the Bible. That’s just a fancy way to talk.” Now Mom laughed. “You mean a figure of speech?” “Yeah, that,” William agreed, eyeing the Bible. “We aren’t supposed to stand on the Bible, we’re supposed to read it.” “Then why do we sing about standing on it?” Thomas stepped onto the floor, looking confused. “Standing on the Bible means standing firm in its truth.” Mom picked up the Bible and flipped to Ephesians 6. “Sometimes people explain ideas using things we’re familiar with to help us understand. The armor of God is a good example. Is the armor of God actual armor that you need to buckle and fasten?” Thomas shook his head. “No, but that would be cool. I could be like a knight!” “Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord,” continued Mom. “The devil tries to get us to doubt God’s goodness and His promises in the Bible and give in to sinful temptations. Standing firm means remembering that God is so good that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and that Jesus gives us the strength to resist temptation. It means trusting that Jesus’s sacrifice saves us from sin completely and being confident in God’s endless love for us. As we learn what the Bible says about Jesus and embrace its truth, it helps us stand firm against the devil’s tricks.” “So, instead of standing on the Bible, we want the Bible inside us?” asked Thomas. William frowned. “What? You don’t eat the Bible either!” “Memorizing means the verses are stuck inside my brain,” Thomas explained. “So, if the Bible is stuck inside my brain, then I can stand on its truth!” Thomas threw his fist into the air again, making both Mom and William laugh. –Kimberly Brokish How About You? Are you standing firm in the truth of God’s Word? Satan is very tricky, and he wants all of us to sin and doubt God. But the Bible tells us the truth about God’s goodness and His love for us. It tells us how we have the power to resist sin through Jesus. By reading God’s Word, memorizing it, and learning about it with others, we can equip ourselves to stand firm against the devil’s lies by remembering the strength we have in Jesus. Today’s Key Verse: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. (NIV) (Ephesians 6:13) Today’s Key Thought: Stand firm in God’s Word

Feb 17

Bible Reading: Psalm 31:1-5 “Hurry! Pull up the drawbridge, Winston!” Mitchell hurried into the cardboard castle in their basement. “The enemy is coming!” Winston pulled up the bridge, and both boys peered through narrow slits in the walls. “Now they won’t be able to cross the moat,” said Winston. “And even if they do, our strong walls will keep us safe.” Just then Dad came down the stairs, followed by the boys’ sister, Charis. “I think it’s time for a break,” he said, holding out a bowl of popcorn. They all sat in the courtyard of the castle, eating popcorn and admiring the corner towers made by big refrigerator boxes. The towers were connected by cardboard walls. “This castle is a lot of fun, Dad,” said Mitchell. “Thanks for helping us build it.” “This doesn’t seem much like a castle to me,” said Charis. “I thought castles were big, beautiful palaces with lots of fancy rooms.” “This castle is really a fortress, not a palace,” Dad said. “Fortresses were used years and years ago to protect people from their enemies.” He took a handful of popcorn from the bowl. “Did you know that God is described as a fortress?” “He is?” asked Winston. “How can He be a fortress?” “Well,” said Dad, “remember that school shooting we heard about on the news this morning?” Charis nodded. “It scared me.” “Me too,” said Winston. “What if that happened at our school?” “We live in a sinful world, and bad things happen all around us,” said Dad. “But we can find peace by running to our fortress–Jesus, who sacrificed His life to save us from sin and death. We can draw close to Him and trust Him to take care of us.” “But we could still get hit by an enemy arrow, even inside our castle,” said Mitchell. “That’s right,” said Dad. “And sometimes even Christians get hurt. But when we take refuge in the Lord, we can have peace knowing we’re safe with Him. We can be sure that even if an arrow–some bad thing–strikes us, He will be with us. Even death itself cannot separate us from Jesus, because He conquered death when He rose again. No matter what happens, we can have peace knowing we’ve been given eternal life in Him.” –Jody Hedlund How About You? Have you ever been scared by something you heard in the news? We live in a sinful world where lots of bad things happen, but if you’re a Christian, you have a strong fortress where you can run for protection–Jesus! He promises to be with you and give you peace–even if bad things do happen. Tell Him your worries and fears and trust Him to be with you. Today’s Key Verse: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:2) Today’s Key Thought: God gives peace

Feb 16

Bible Reading: John 9:1-7 Jana looked out the window as a tear slid down her cheek. She watched as the other kids laughed and played in the snow. Her brother Caleb saw her and threw a snowball. She giggled in spite of herself as it softly hit the window. Sighing, she turned away and wheeled herself into the kitchen. “What are you making, Mom?” “Supper,” Mom said. Jana raised her eyebrows and looked at the clock. “At nine in the morning?” “Yes,” said Mom. “But I think a better question would be what’s causing these tears.” She wiped away a tear from Jana’s cheek. “Oh, Mom,” Jana said, “I just don’t understand why my illness has lasted so long. Why doesn’t God take away my pain and weakness? I know He could heal me!” The last words came out in a little sob. Mom carefully lowered the meat into a slow cooker, covered it, and set it on low. Then she spoke. “We don’t always understand God’s ways or thoughts, but He uses the things that happen in our lives.” She paused, then tapped the top of the slow cooker. “It’s like this meat I’m cooking. It’s a special cut that requires careful preparation and cooking that other meats don’t require. If I cooked it faster on a higher heat, it would be tough and hard to eat. But when I cook it all day on a low temperature, it’s tender and delicious.” She grinned. “Even Caleb will be able to eat it with his missing teeth!” Jana thought about that. “So you’re saying being sick and in this wheelchair for so long may be God’s way of making me tender and more like Him?” “Yes!” Mom said. “I don’t know why God hasn’t healed you more quickly, but I know He’s patiently working in your life for good. He can use hard things to make you more like Jesus, who understands your suffering and promises to be with you through it. I pray each day that He will use this long illness to help you know Jesus better and let His love be seen in your life.” She poured hot water into a mug. “Now, would you like to come stir Caleb’s hot cocoa?” Jana smiled as she rolled to the table to help. –Myrical Barton How About You? Have you been dealing with something for a long time? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers or even cares about what you’re going through? He does. God often uses difficult things in our lives to make us more like Jesus, and sometimes those things can last a long time. Remember that Jesus loves you and is with you, and trust Him to use your difficult experience for good. Today’s Key Verse: But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (NKJV) (Job 23:10) Today’s Key Thought: God uses hardships to shape you

Feb 15

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:7-11 Leighton was excited to spend time with his aunt. Since his new cousin was born, he hadn’t seen her much. “Let’s get right to the card tricks,” said Aunt Ellie. “Where did I put my cards?” There was baby stuff everywhere. Leighton helped his aunt go through it. Finally, they found a deck of cards under a stuffed giraffe. Aunt Ellie was emptying out the card box when they heard crying coming from down the hallway. She stood. “That’s River.” Leighton shuffled the cards as he waited for his aunt. His sister had a birthday party coming up, and he wanted to surprise her guests with the tricks that his aunt knew. “She needs to eat. Sorry.” Aunt Ellie reappeared, sitting down and sticking a bottle into the mouth of the crying bundle in her arms. Leighton waited as his cousin ate and as his aunt held her and patted her back. He waited as Aunt Ellie changed the baby’s diaper, and he watched her lay her in a bassinet. “Watch Mommy impress your cousin with card tricks, okay?” Aunt Ellie moved back over to Leighton. She was about to do a card trick when River started to cry again. She dropped the cards. “Maybe she has a burp that’s stuck.” “She needs help burping?” Leighton watched his aunt pick up the baby and start patting her back again. “I’m never going to learn this trick.” “Babies need a lot from us,” said Aunt Ellie. “I was talking about that with your grandma. She reminded me that’s how we are with God. First, we need Jesus to save us from sin and give us new life in Him.” Aunt Ellie sat down. “Then we need His forgiveness when we don’t listen to what He says. We need His protection. We need His encouragement. We need His peace and joy and the hope He offers…” “Do you think He gets tired of all our needs?” Leighton asked. His aunt shook her head. “Never.” River had quieted in her arms, and she looked at Leighton with a smile. “Know what she needs now? Her cousin.” She reached over and placed the baby in Leighton’s outstretched arms, and he held her carefully. –Emily Acker How About You? Do you know any babies who are always needing something from you and the adults in your life? Babies can’t do anything for themselves–they’re dependent on others to take care of them and give them what they need. And we need God to take care of us. He is always patient and never grows tired of helping you with your needs. Bring your problems and worries to Him in prayer and trust Him to take care of you. Today’s Key Verse: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 4:19) Today’s Key Thought: Trust God with your needs

Feb 14

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7-13 “I’m not going to Topher’s birthday party,” Declan told his mother as they walked down the grocery aisle. “Not if Walker’s there.” “That’s not very nice,” said Mom. “For Topher or Walker.” “Yeah, well, they both deserve it! Walker’s mean and makes fun of people, and Topher just wants to be friends with him so the other kids will think he’s cool.” They stopped in front of a display filled with bags of heart-shaped candy, and Declan’s younger brother eagerly looked for something to pass out to his kindergarten class with his valentines. “Can I get this kind?” Ben asked, picking up a bag. “Let’s see,” Mom said, reading the package. “We’ll need two bags of these. There are only twenty pieces in each bag, and there are twenty-one kids in your class.” “One’s enough,” said Ben. “I’m not giving one to Steven. He’s mean, and he doesn’t deserve candy.” “Ben,” said Mom, “Valentine’s Day is all about love, remember? It’s not very loving to bring treats for all but one person in your class. As Christians, we need to love others the way Jesus loves us–even those who aren’t nice to us. Either we buy enough to share with Steven or we don’t buy any at all.” Ben scowled. “No! I’m not getting one for Steven,” he said, crossing his arms. Mom placed the candy back on the shelf and started walking away. “Wait!” Ben exclaimed, tugging at her coat. “Okay, okay, I’ll get one for Steven!” Declan smirked at Ben’s sudden change in attitude. “You know,” Mom said, eyeing him, “that goes for friendships as well as candy.” Declan looked at her and grimaced. “You’re talking about Topher’s party, aren’t you?” Mom nodded. “The truth is, we don’t get to decide whether someone deserves to have us show them God’s love, because none of us deserve it. Yet God showed His love for us all by sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sins on the cross. As His followers, He calls us to love others–even those we don’t get along with.” “Like Walker,” Declan said. He sighed, then nodded. “I’ll tell Topher that I’ll go to his party. Maybe I can get some candy to share too.” –LeAnn Campbell How About You? Do you find it hard to love people who aren’t nice to you? Some people aren’t easy to love, but God wants us to love them anyway. He loves us so much that Jesus came to earth, suffered a painful death, and raised Himself back to life to save us from sin. We don’t deserve His love, but He gives it to us freely, and He will help us love others–even those who aren’t easy to love. Today’s Key Verse: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (NKJV) (1 John 4:7 ) Today’s Key Thought: Show love to everyone

Feb 13

Bible Reading: John 6:37-40; Romans 6:23 “Mom, Sheba won’t come when I call her!” said Adam. “Sometimes she comes toward me, but if I try to touch her, she runs away again. Watch!” Adam called to Sheba, his new puppy. Sure enough, Sheba looked at Adam, and when he kept calling, she ran in circles. Each time, she came close to Adam but always dodged away at the last moment. When she was finally exhausted, Sheba lay down, panting. Adam walked over to her. “You need to learn to obey,” he said. “You’re right,” said Mom. “I know! Try offering her a reward to encourage her to come to you. Try a dog biscuit–and when you call her, ignore her silly antics. When she comes, praise her, pet her, and give her the biscuit. Eventually, she’ll get tired of wearing herself out for nothing. She’ll learn that she needs to come to you so she can have her reward.” “Okay,” said Adam. “It’s worth a try.” Several days later, Adam called to Mom as she walked outside. “Look, Mom! Watch Sheba now!” Mom turned to watch as Adam called to his puppy. “Sheba, come!” The puppy stopped chewing on her dog toy, looked at Adam, and cocked her head. Adam repeated the command. “Come, Sheba!” He held up a dog biscuit. Sheba quickly trotted over to Adam. She stood silently beside him, stared at the biscuit, and remained still. “Good girl, Sheba!” Adam patted her and gave her the biscuit, which she ate eagerly. Adam beamed. “Sheba’s really smart!” He knelt down and hugged the happy puppy. Mom smiled. “Yes. She is smart to come to her master.” Mom came over and scratched behind Sheba’s ears. “Sheba reminds me of the way we must come to our Master.” “Come to our Master?” asked Adam. “I guess you mean Jesus, right?” “Right,” Mom said, “and Jesus offers a reward too. He offers the greatest reward of all–eternal life with Him. Running in circles trying to make life work on our own doesn’t get us anywhere–it just tires us out. But Jesus is patient with us, and He calls us to come to Him for forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. When we answer His call, the reward is ours.” –Susanna B. Chenoweth How About You? Have you come to Jesus? Do you hear Him calling? He’s offering a great reward–the gift of eternal life with Him. It’s wonderful and it’s free–but you must come. He promises that when you do, He will accept you; He will never turn anyone away. Will you come to Jesus today? (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: All that the Father gives Me [Jesus] will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (NKJV) (John 6:37) Today’s Key Thought: Come to Jesus

Feb 12

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “I’ve tried to get into the habit of reading my Bible every day,” Alanna said as she reached for a piece of pizza, “but I never seem to be able to.” Several others in the room nodded in agreement. They were having a pizza party for their Bible study group, and their leader was encouraging them to set aside time for daily devotions. “Bible reading is a bit like eating,” said Mr. McRay. “First you take a bite, then you chew it, then you swallow it, and finally you digest it.” “How do you take a bite of the Bible?” asked Chloe. “Well, look at this pizza,” said Mr. McRay. “It’s cut into sections, and the Bible is also divided into sections. You choose one section of pizza, and you can choose one section of the Bible–a book or chapter or even just a verse or two.” “So if that’s like taking a bite, how do you chew?” asked Marc. “My grandma’s always telling me not to bite off more than I can chew!” Mr. McRay laughed. “She says that so you won’t choke on your food, but don’t worry, you won’t choke from reading your Bible. Chewing your bite of Bible just means thinking and praying about the verses you’ve read.” “Okay, but then how do we swallow what we’ve read?” asked Alanna. “Have you ever heard someone say, ‘That story is hard to swallow’? That means it’s hard to believe. So swallowing means believing God’s Word is true.” “So we read a little, think about it, and believe it,” said Chloe. “Then what?” “We digest it, remember? And we just studied that in school,” said Marc. “Food is changed into something the blood can take to the rest of the body.” Mr. McRay nodded. “When we digest food, its nutrients become part of our bodies. And when we digest what we’ve read in the Bible, its truth becomes part of our lives. We let it make a difference as we listen to what it teaches us about Jesus and who we are as God’s children who have been saved from sin.” Mr. McRay picked up a piece of pizza. “I think it would be a good idea to eat four meals a day–breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a slice of your Bible.” –Sheri Shaw How About You? Are you getting four meals a day? Just like eating is important for a healthy body, reading God’s Word is important for a healthy life. If you find it hard to read the Bible, start with small bites. Try reading just a verse or two and think about what God is saying. Then let it make a difference in your life by believing it and doing what it says. Have a bite of Bible every day! Today’s Key Verse: People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (NLT) (Matthew 4:4) Today’s Key Thought: Feed on God’s Word

Feb 11

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-16 Everyone in Daphne’s family had blond hair except for her. Her hair was bright red. She stood out in every family picture and too often heard comments about being her parents’ “red-headed girl.” Some people told Daphne her hair was pretty, and others just looked at her strangely, like she didn’t belong. Daphne sat on a camp chair at her little brother’s soccer game and tried to cover as much of her hair as possible with her bucket hat. She heard someone sit down beside her and glanced over at her grandpa. “How’s my little redhead?” he asked. Daphne sighed. “Do you have to call me that?” Grandpa’s gray brow lifted. “No, I don’t have to. But what’s wrong with it?” “I’m tired of having red hair.” Daphne frowned and sat forward, watching as her brother kicked the ball to his teammate. “I don’t like being different from everyone in my family. I wish I had blond hair too.” “But then you wouldn’t stand out,” Grandpa said. “Exactly!” Daphne turned to him. “I want to fit in. I want to have blond hair and look like them instead of being the redhead of the family.” Grandpa tapped his chin. “I think your grandma felt that way too sometimes.” “Grandma?” Daphne asked. “She had red hair like yours before it went gray,” Grandpa said. “She’s where you get it from.” Daphne couldn’t remember her grandma well because she had passed away when she was young, and she’d never realized she had red hair. “I think it’s a special thing that God passed on to you,” Grandpa said. “I love seeing your red hair. And I know God makes no mistakes. If He wanted you to be just like the rest of your family, He would have made you that way.” Grandpa smiled at her. “Sometimes it’s hard to be different, but it’s also good. God made each of us unique in many ways, not just in our looks. It’s good to enjoy and embrace that rather than fight it, knowing God created each of us with care because He loves us.” “Okay, I’ll try,” Daphne said. It felt better knowing her grandma had been a redhead too and to be reminded that God had made her that way. –Bethany Acker How About You? Do you embrace the unique qualities God has given you? Or do you feel frustrated because you don’t look or act the same way as your family or friends? God made you just as you are, and He loves you so much that Jesus gave His life to save you. Instead of wishing you were different, let Him help you enjoy being the unique person He created you to be. Today’s Key Verse: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV) (Psalm 139:14 ) Today’s Key Thought: God made you just right

Feb 10

Bible Reading: John 10:27-30 Tyler walked into the kitchen where his mom was preparing supper. They were going to a special program at church that night, so they would be eating earlier than usual. Mom looked up and smiled. “Hi, Tyler. What have you been doing?” “I’ve been reading,” Tyler replied. “I’m learning some pretty cool stuff about the United States.” “What kind of stuff?” Mom asked as she began mixing up a salad. Tyler reached for the lettuce and started shredding it. “I found out that once a state approves an amendment to its constitution, it can’t change it. I guess the state has to be pretty sure that it agrees with the amendment!” “That’s interesting,” Mom said. “But what’s really interesting is that if a state rejects an amendment, it can change its mind later,” Tyler added. He sighed. Even though he had been reading all afternoon, he’d been thinking about something else too. “What’s wrong?” Mom asked, glancing at him over the salad bowl. Tyler sighed again. “I don’t really want to go to church tonight. Speakers at programs like that sometimes make me feel like I’m not saved. I worry that when I sin, I’ve lost my salvation and have to trust Jesus to save me all over again.” “Tyler, it doesn’t work that way,” Mom said gently. “If you have truly placed your faith in Jesus and believe He died for your sins and rose again, then He has saved you, and you’ll always be saved.” “Really?” asked Tyler. “Yes. It’s like what you were talking about with states amending their constitutions. Before a person is saved, they can reject the good news of Jesus over and over again, but God never gives up on them. That person can always change their mind. Once you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, there’s nothing that can change it. You’ll still sin, but Jesus promises to forgive you when you confess your sins to Him.” Tyler thought about that. “But how can I keep from sinning?” “Once you’re saved, the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps you follow Jesus,” said Mom. “But you still have to choose to listen and obey what He says. It isn’t always easy, but even when you mess up, God will never let you go.” – Julia Kicinski How About You? Are you ever afraid that you might lose your salvation? Do you ever think God will give up on you because you sin too much? God loves you and promises never to abandon you. He will always forgive you when you sin and help you obey Him. When you trust Jesus to be your Savior, He will hold you so tightly that you will never be lost again. Today’s Key Verse: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (NKJV) (John 10:28) Today’s Key Thought: Salvation is forever

Feb 9

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-3, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-2 Dinner was finished, and Liam was just thinking about teasing his sister when she interrupted his plan. “Why did you have to stay in during recess today?” Naomi asked him. “I heard you and a bunch of other kids got caught cheating on a test.” Liam swallowed hard, and it suddenly became very quiet in the kitchen. Only Nala, their dog, had anything to say as she yipped for a handout. “Nala, quiet.” Dad said. Nala sat down immediately and waited. “It wasn’t a big deal,” muttered Liam, but the look on Dad’s face said otherwise. Liam sighed. “Chandler found the answer key and passed it around, and I kept thinking about honor roll, so…well, I snuck a look.” Dad cut a scrap of meat and showed it to Nala. The dog licked her lips hungrily. “Nala, stay,” Dad said firmly, then placed the meat on the floor in front of the dog. Nala thumped her tail excitedly, but she stayed where she was. “Liam, do you have any idea why Nala is able to resist the temptation to take the meat?” Liam grinned. “She probably knows Naomi helped make dinner tonight, and…ow!” His sister’s elbow had made a direct hit to his ribs. “Look at Nala’s eyes,” Dad said. “She’s looking at me, right?” Liam nodded. “If Nala kept staring at the meat, she’d never be able to resist it,” Dad explained. “Instead, she’s focusing on her master.” He turned toward Liam. “Whenever you’re tempted, who should you focus on?” “Jesus,” Liam replied. “I know that, Dad. But it’s so hard!” “You’re right. It’s not easy,” said Dad. “But God gives us the ability to do it. Because we trust in Jesus, He has set us free from sin and gives us power over temptation–and when we do sin, He offers us forgiveness. When we’re tempted to do wrong things, it’s important to direct our thoughts back toward Jesus and trust Him for the power to resist.” “I was definitely more focused on my grades than I was on Jesus,” Liam admitted. Dad picked up the scrap of meat and tossed it into the air. Nala caught and swallowed it, barely taking time to chew. She sat down and licked her lips again. It had been worth the wait. – A. J. Schut How About You? What are some temptations that you’ve experienced? If you’re a Christian, remember that even when you give in to temptation and sin, God has already forgiven all your sins through the death and resurrection of His Son. Because you trust in Jesus, He has freed you from sin and given you the power to resist it. The next time you’re tempted to do something wrong, redirect your attention to Jesus and the power you have in Him. Today’s Key Verse: Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (NIV) (Hebrews 12:1-2) Today’s Key Thought: Focus on Jesus

Feb 8

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-12 “What are these clothes for?” asked Violet. She was at her friend Olivia Johnson’s house, and Mrs. Johnson had the dining room covered with dresses, pants, and some items of clothing Addy didn’t even recognize. Olivia laughed. “Mom helps the high school drama department with costumes for their plays. She’s going through old costumes to see which ones can be used again.” Olivia picked up a red dress. “You want to try some on? Mom will let us, won’t you, Mom?” “If you girls are careful,” said Mrs. Johnson. For the next hour or so, the girls went from being ladies from the 1700s to aliens from outer space. Their favorites were the animal costumes. Violet was a zebra, and Olivia was a lion. The costumes completely covered them except for air holes and a slit for their eyes. “Mrs. Johnson, my dad is out mowing the lawn. Can we walk past my house in our costumes? He won’t know who we are, and I can’t wait to see the look on his face!” Mrs. Johnson laughed. “Sure.” The girls giggled as they quietly went out the back door and then behind some trees to the sidewalk. They didn’t want Violet’s dad to see them coming from the Johnson house. They waited until he turned the mower toward the sidewalk, then they hurriedly walked past him. Violet’s dad turned off the mower. “Oh no! My daughter has turned into a zebra and her friend is a lion! What shall I do?” Violet removed the zebra head. “Daaad! How did you know it was us?” He laughed. “Your walk, Violet. I knew who you were by the way you were walking.” The family had a good laugh about Violet’s costume over supper that night. Then Violet had a thought. “This is kind of like what we were talking about last week, Dad, when I was having problems with some friends at school. You said people should know I’m a Christian by the way I live my life–that I needed to walk the Christian walk.” “Exactly right,” said Dad. “The Bible tells us that others should know we belong to Jesus by the way we walk. Every step we take should point to Him and His love for us.” – Linda Weddle How About You? Do others know you’re a Christian by the way you walk? That doesn’t mean whether you tiptoe or march, but how you live your life. Could someone tell you know Jesus and have His love in your heart by your kindness, patience, and joy? Or do you walk the same as everyone else? Walk in a way that shows others the love of Jesus. Today’s Key Verse: The one who says he remains in him [Jesus] should walk just as he walked. (CSB) (1 John 2:6) Today’s Key Thought: Walk like a Christian

Feb 7

Bible Reading: Matthew 20:1-16; Ephesians 2:8-9 “How was the pizza party?” Mom asked as Addy climbed into the car and buckled her seatbelt. Addy wasn’t sure how to answer. She had chosen to give up her lunch recess five days in a row to help pick up litter, pull weeds from the cracked pavement, and spread new wood chips under the monkey bars. Being on the clean-up crew was hard work, but she didn’t mind. The playground was looking so much better, and Ms. Chambers, the custodian, had promised the crew a pizza party as a reward. “It was good and bad, I guess,” Addy said. “Good because I got my favorite–pepperoni with extra cheese. Bad because Henry was there.” “Henry was on the clean-up crew?” Mom’s face looked surprised in the rearview mirror. Addy nodded. “But he was late every day and mostly just goofed around. Henry didn’t work nearly as hard as the rest of us. I don’t understand why he got to come to the party.” “That reminds me of a story Jesus told about some workers who were hired to clear a field,” Mom said. “Some of them started at nine in the morning, some at noon, some at three, and some at five. When the workday was over, the owner of the field paid everyone a full day’s wage.” “That’s not fair!” Addy burst out. “The people who started later shouldn’t have gotten the same pay as the ones who worked all day.” “It might not seem fair, but instead of comparing the workers, maybe we can think about how generous the owner of the field was to all of them.” Addy was quiet for a minute. She thought about how Ms. Chambers was always patient and kind to everyone–even the kids who made the biggest messes in the lunchroom. “Ms. Chambers is kind of like the owner of the field, isn’t she? She kept her promise to all of us–even Henry, who did the least work of all.” “Yes, Addy, and the owner of the field is like Jesus, who gives grace and keeps His promises to all of us who trust in Him. The way He works is sometimes hard for us to understand, but we can be grateful that He is always good.” –Susie Crosby How About You? Do you sometimes feel frustrated when someone who didn’t work as hard as you gets the same prize or payment? Sometimes things don’t seem fair, but the good news is that God is generous and kind to everyone. None of us could earn the reward of eternal life with Him, but because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, we are all invited to the party in heaven forever. Today’s Key Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NIV) (Ephesians 2:8-9) Today’s Key Thought: God offers grace to everyone

Feb 6

Bible Reading: Psalm 66:16-20; Jeremiah 33:3 “I wish my grandpa lived nearby,” said Tariq as he and his friend Mason went to visit Mason’s grandfather. “I wanted Grandpa to move here when Grandma died, but he didn’t.” Tariq had always wondered why God hadn’t answered his prayer. Mason’s grandpa was working outside when they arrived. He greeted them, then showed them where he was planting watermelon seeds. “You’ll have to come back in the summer to eat some watermelon,” he said. Just then they heard a door slam. An elderly man who lived next door had come outside. “Get out of here, you nasty critters!” the man hollered at some squirrels in his yard. “He doesn’t sound very happy,” said Tariq. Mason’s grandpa shook his head. “That’s Hank Stone. He lives alone and doesn’t have any family nearby. His only grandchild used to visit him, but he died in a car accident last year. I think the only people Hank sees now are a few old timers like me. He misses his relatives–especially his grandson.” As they walked over to the edge of the lawn, Mr. Stone glared at them. Then his face softened, and he came over and stood in front of Tariq. “I don’t know you,” he said, “but you sure remind me of my grandson.” Tears filled his eyes, and Tariq looked at him uncertainly, not knowing what to say. “My grandson, he–I don’t see him anymore,” the old man said. Tariq gave him a hesitant smile. “I live a couple blocks away–maybe I could come visit you sometimes. I could bring some of my mom’s cookies.” A smile spread across Mr. Stone’s face. When Tariq arrived home, he told his mom about Mr. Stone. “Maybe I could adopt him as an extra grandpa since my own grandpa lives so far away.” Mom smiled at him. “You know, Tariq, I think God may have answered your prayer to have your grandpa live nearby in a special way. Even when He doesn’t give us exactly what we ask for, He still cares for us and provides for us. He cares about Mr. Stone too and knows how hard it is for him not have anybody going to see him.” Tariq grinned. “But now he has me!” –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How About You? Have you been frustrated when you prayed for something but God didn’t answer the way you wanted? God answers prayer, but He answers the way He knows is best–which may not always be the way you want. Keep praying, knowing that He loves you and listens to your prayers. Trust Him to give you the perfect answer, even if it’s not what you expected. Today’s Key Verse: As for God, His way is perfect. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:30) Today’s Key Thought: God’s answers to prayer are perfect

Feb 5

Bible Reading: Psalm 9:7-10; Jude 1:20-22 “Want to come check on a house with me?” Braxton’s dad asked. Braxton didn’t really want to, but he climbed into his dad’s truck. His dad was a building contractor, and Braxton used to love seeing the houses he was building. But after his mom died, he didn’t find it exciting anymore. They made their way to a messy yard. The ground was muddy with a big hole in it. “This doesn’t look like a house,” Braxton said. Dad smiled. “Not yet, but it will. Trust me.” Braxton went with his dad again the next day and there was concrete in the hole. “Is that a basement?” Braxton asked. “Sure is,” Dad said as he walked around the edge of it to inspect the work. A few days later, Braxton was surprised to see the wooden outline of a house set up over the basement. After a while, he started to look forward to his visits. On the day they arrived to see men putting on siding, Braxton grinned. “Every day something new is done, and soon it will be ready to be lived in.” “Pretty cool, right?” Dad said. “As builders, we get to add to a house a little each day. As Christians, we can see our faith be built up like that.” Braxton turned from the house and stared at his dad. “Huh?” “It’s been hard to trust God since your mom passed away, hasn’t it?” Dad asked. “Our lives were messy like this lot before the house was built.” Braxton hugged himself. “Everything changed.” “Little by little, though, we have learned to trust Him again,” Dad said. “God has been taking care of us and building up our faith. That basement was like the first sign of us trusting God again when we remembered that Jesus, who died and rose again to save us, is still here with us and promises to make everything right one day. Each time the house had something added to it was similar to how God continued to show His love to us–like when He sent Grandma to help us and when He showed us it’s okay to be happy again.” “I miss Mom,” Braxton said. “Me too.” Dad hugged him. “But I still want my faith and trust in God to be built up.” –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever had to trust God through an especially hard time, such as the loss of a parent, grandparent, or friend? It can be hard to trust Him at times like that and can even feel like you’re falling away from Him. But God still loves you, and His promises are still true. If Jesus has saved you, nothing can separate you from Him. He will continue to care for you and build your faith in Him. Today’s Key Verse: Build each other up in your most holy faith…and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. (NLT) (Jude 1:20-21) Today’s Key Thought: Trust God to build your faith

Feb 4

Bible Reading: Matthew 8:5-13 Ezra and Louie took their remote control truck out to the driveway while Mom sat on the porch. Their little sister, Ophelia, was hopping around on a pogo stick. “Mom,” Ophelia said, “I wish I had a remote control pogo stick. I could ride it, and you could make it to go up and down, up and down, all by itself. That would be fun!” “Yeah, that would be cool!” Ezra said as he watched his sister. Mom laughed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Maybe you can invent one when you grow up.” “But I want one now!” said Ophelia. “I have an idea,” said Mom. “When I give a command, do whatever I say. If I say to go left, you go left. If I say to go right, you go right. It’s kind of like I’m moving you by remote control! How about that?” Ophelia grinned and nodded. “Ready?” asked Mom. “Okay, go straight ahead…turn left…turn left again…now go right…back up…go forward…stop!” Ophelia bounced around, laughing as she followed her mother’s instructions. The boys joined in too, and soon they were taking turns giving and receiving commands. That night, Mom read a Bible story about a Roman leader who asked Jesus to heal his servant. “The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.'” “Jesus was pleased with that man’s faith,” Mom explained after she finished reading. “The servant was healed the moment Jesus said, ‘So let it be done for you.'” “Just like a remote control!” said Louie. “That’s an interesting way to look at it,” Mom said. “God made this world, and He controls everything in it–but not always like a remote control. He wants us to trust Him and follow His commands–just like Ophelia let me direct where her pogo stick went by following my directions. The man in the story believed Jesus was God and submitted to His authority by asking Jesus to do what he could not, knowing Jesus could do anything. That’s the kind of faith we need to have too.” –Tait E. Powell How About You? Have you put your faith in Jesus? Are you listening to Him and following His commands? Or are you living the way you want? We can fool ourselves into thinking we’re in control of our lives, but God is in control of everything. You can’t save yourself or live a good life on your own–you need Jesus. Trust and follow Him. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. (NKJV) (Psalm 83:18) Today’s Key Thought: Trust and obey Jesus

Feb 3

Bible Reading: Luke 17:11-19 “I sure hope we get remote control race cars for our birthday,” Ezra said as he and his twin brother waited to be picked up from school. “Me too,” said Louie. “But with Dad out of work, you know we won’t get them.” He kicked at a stone on the sidewalk. “Don’t be so sure,” said Ezra. “When Aunt Elizabeth called last week, she asked what we wanted, and I told her we wanted the cars. Who knows! She might get them for us.” When the boys arrived home, there was a large package on the table. It was for them–a package from Aunt Elizabeth. Could it be? It was! A remote control car–well, sort of. “A remote control truck?” asked Louie. “Not a race car? And just one?” Ezra looked at him in disbelief. “You mean we have to share it?” “Looks like you do,” said Mom. The boys sighed, but they took turns playing with the truck and learning to use the remote control. “It’s tricky to back up the truck with that trailer attached,” Louie said after a while. “I didn’t expect it to be like this.” “What did you expect?” asked Mom. “That each of us would get a car,” said Ezra. “I didn’t expect to get a remote control car at all,” said Louie. “I suppose we really should be thankful to have this truck, even if we do have to share it.” “I agree with that,” said Mom. “Tell me–what are some things you like about it?” “Well,” said Ezra, “it does have turbo speed.” “And it came with a trailer,” said Louie. “It’s kind of fun figuring out how to make it back up the right way.” “How about calling Aunt Elizabeth to thank her?” Mom suggested. “Mention all the things you like about the gift and thank her for it.” The boys nodded. “And maybe your new truck can also be a reminder to thank God for everything He’s given you,” Mom added. “He gave you the best gift of all when He sent Jesus to save you, and He always provides and does what’s best for you–even if it’s in ways you don’t expect.” –Tait E. Powell How About You? Do you thank others for the gifts they give you–even when it’s not what you asked for or expected? Don’t be like the nine lepers in today’s Scripture reading who failed to say thank you. Be thankful for the gifts you receive, especially those that come from God. He doesn’t always give us what we ask for, but because He gave us His own Son, we can trust Him to give us exactly what we need. Today’s Key Verse: Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (NKJV) (Psalm 100:4) Today’s Key Thought: Be thankful

Feb 2

Bible Reading: Psalms 95:1-7; 98:1-9 Sam stood silently next to Grandpa and his parents at church. Mom and Dad sang their hearts out. Grandpa tapped his cane to the beat as he sang. But Sam didn’t think he had a good voice, so he didn’t sing. The next morning Grandpa came over for coffee. While Mom cleaned up breakfast, Sam worked on his homeschool nature study guide. He pointed at a picture of a groundhog peeking out of its burrow. “We have one of these in our yard.” “I know,” said Grandpa. “I saw it waddling around this morning.” Sam looked at his book. “Did you know groundhogs dig holes over twenty feet long? They’re also called woodchucks, and their babies are chucklings.” Grandpa grinned. “That makes me want to chuckle.” Sam continued, “They come out of hibernation before the snow melts, but they can’t always predict the end of winter on Groundhog Day like everyone always claims. And listen to this! ‘They are fond of singing.’ Wouldn’t our singing scare them off?” Grandpa stood and motioned for Sam to follow. Outside, Grandpa started singing. A moment later, the groundhog appeared and rose to its hind legs. Grandpa nudged Sam, who cleared his throat and sang along. The groundhog relaxed and began to snuffle in the grass. When they were back inside, Sam said, “It really liked our singing!” “Do you know who else likes your singing?” Grandpa asked. “Probably not the neighbors,” Sam answered. “Think about church yesterday,” Grandpa suggested. “You mean God?” Grandpa nodded. “God tells us to sing His praises because we love Him and want to thank Him for all He’s done for us, like creating us and sending His Son to save us.” Sam looked at Grandpa. “If Jesus could die on the cross to rescue me, I can at least sing a few songs.” “When you sing to God, you’re showing the love and joy He has put in your heart,” said Grandpa. “No matter what your singing sounds like, He loves it when we sing His praises out of gratitude for who He is and what He’s done for us.” Sam grinned. “If God enjoys my singing even more than the groundhog did, then I’ll sing for Him.” –Laura Roesler How About You? Do you sing along in church? Or do you think your voice doesn’t matter? It matters to God. He delights in hearing us express our love by singing and praising Him. Next time you’re in church, think about His love for you and all He’s done for you. Then raise your voice to Him in song, knowing He’s pleased with your praise. Today’s Key Verse: Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (NIV) (Psalm 100:2) Today’s Key Thought: Sing praises to God

Feb 1

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 Adelei skipped down the sidewalk toward her grandparents’ house. It felt strange to be wearing glasses, but she was amazed that she could see things so much better–like individual leaves on the trees and even the letters on the stop sign at the far corner. Adelei laughed in delight. She hurried as she got closer to the house and saw Grandpa working in the yard. A few minutes later, Grandpa led her into the house where Grandma was cooking. “We have one excited girl here,” he said. “Your glasses look great!” Grandma smiled and gave Adelei a hug. “I still remember when I got my first pair of glasses. They make a wonderful difference, don’t they?” “And I remember when I got my spiritual glasses,” said Grandpa. “Spiritual glasses?” Adelei had never heard of such a thing. “What are those?” “Well,” said Grandpa, “before I knew Jesus, the Bible seemed strange to me when I read it, and I couldn’t understand what it was all about. But the Holy Spirit opened my spiritual eyes–sort of like how those glasses help your eyes. As I continued to read the Bible, He showed me that I needed Jesus to rescue me from sin, and I began to see–to understand–what God says in His Word and realize how it applied to my life.” “Spiritual glasses are even more important than regular glasses,” said Grandma. “To understand the things of God is to have the best sight of all.” Grandpa looked at Adelei. “Are you going to leave those glasses on your dresser, or do you plan to wear them every day?” Adelei laughed at the question. “Of course I’ll wear them. What good would they do in my room?” “Exactly,” said Grandpa. “And we should make use of our spiritual glasses. The Holy Spirit is always with everyone who trusts in Jesus, giving us wisdom and insight. As we read the Bible and study it with other Christians at church, He helps us understand what it says so we can see Jesus and His love for all people more clearly.” “Your Grandpa has had that lesson in mind all day,” Grandma said with a wink. Adelei adjusted her glasses and smiled. –Pauline Youd How About You? Do you wear glasses to help you see better? Even if you don’t, we all need spiritual glasses to understand God’s Word clearly. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual sight we need to understand what God says in the Bible. As you read it, study it, and learn more about what it says, He will open your eyes to His truth and love so you can grow in your relationship with Jesus. Today’s Key Verse: Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (NKJV) (Psalm 119:18) Today’s Key Thought: God gives spiritual sight

Jan 31

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Peter 1:3-9 “Twelve paces from the grain bin, face the wall made of tin.” Madison read the clue aloud as Sophie carried two garden trowels. Together the sisters headed for the grain bin to find Grandpa’s next clue. That morning, Grandpa had surprised the girls with a game–clues that would lead them to a treasure. He handed them the first clue after breakfast and the girls had been all around the farm, tracking down clues. Finally, in a little wood, the last one was found. Time to dig! Eyes shining, Madison and Sophie shoveled fresh dirt aside and made guesses about what Grandpa might have hidden. “Pirates’ gold!” said Madison. “Teddy bears!” said Sophie. They unearthed a sturdy cardboard box. Madison pulled off the top to reveal another note, this one covered in crumbs. My dear girls, this cake was too delicious to bury. Please forgive me for eating it. Love, Grandpa. Sophie tossed her trowel on the ground angrily, but Madison reassured her. “You know Grandpa. He didn’t eat the cake, at least not all of it. He’s only teasing.” Suddenly they heard Grandpa’s voice calling them from the porch. Sophie took off running with Madison close behind. On the porch table, a feast was laid: chocolate cake, milk, and oranges. And Grandpa was there, chuckling at his own joke. “I knew you would have treasure for us!” Madison said. “But Sophie was mad when she saw that empty box.” Grandpa got up and hugged Sophie close. “I was just teasing you,” he said. “But I also wanted that box to be a picture for you, a way to see that the treasures of this life are never truly safe. Whatever we value here on earth can be destroyed or lost.” “Or eaten!” added Sophie. Grandpa laughed. “Right. But because you trust in Jesus, your greatest treasure is no longer here on earth. It is kept safe in heaven by God Himself, and no one can take it away.” “What is it?” Sophie asked. “Rubies?” “Something more precious than jewels. God keeps our salvation safe–the promise that our sins have been forgiven and we’ll spend eternity with Him. You are His child, and no one can take you out of His hand.” –Lisa Nagel How About You? Have you ever valued something that was lost, damaged, or taken away? A bike? A favorite stuffed animal? Maybe even good grades? The things we treasure on earth don’t last. Only God remains forever, and us with Him if we trust in Jesus and believe He died and rose again to save us from sin. He promises His children an inheritance in heaven that can never be lost or taken away. Today’s Key Verse: We have a priceless inheritance…that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. (NLT) (1 Peter 1:4 ) Today’s Key Thought: Salvation can never be lost

Jan 30

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-10; Hebrews 9:22 Barrett threw his bag on top of the others in the trunk, then slammed the back door shut. “Ew, gross!” he said, looking at the dirt that covered his hands. “Hey, Dad, I think it’s time to wash the car!” Dad nodded. “It’s pretty dirty. I didn’t notice how bad it had gotten–until now, that is.” He pointed at Barrett’s little sister, Aurora, who was drawing smiley faces on the car’s windows with her finger. “Well, at least our dirty car will bring a smile to other people on the road today.” He grinned at Barrett. “Then you and Aurora can wash it when we get back.” When they got to the campsite, they set up their tent and had lunch. Barrett was looking forward to hiking some of the trails nearby when the sky suddenly grew dark and rain started pouring down. They all scrambled into the tent and zipped up the door. Barrett sighed as he listened to the rain beat against the canvas sides of their tent. “Why did it have to rain today? We’re not going to be able to do any of the stuff we had planned!” “Well, we’ll just have to make the best of it,” said Dad. A while later the rain stopped, and they ventured out of their tent. “My smiley faces are gone!” said Aurora, pointing to the car. “So they are,” said Dad. “I haven’t seen the car that clean in a long time!” He winked at Barrett. “See, that’s one good thing about the rain, right? Now you and Aurora won’t have to wash it when you get home.” Barrett smiled. “I guess that makes up for being stuck in the tent for an hour.” Dad nodded. “It reminds me of a song I sang in church when I was little about Jesus’s blood washing away sin. We lived on a dirt road when I was a kid, so our car was always dirty. But whenever it rained, all the dirt got washed away, and I’d think of that song and Jesus washing all my sins away when He died on the cross.” That night, when Barrett heard more rain pattering against the tent, he remembered that every one of his sins was washed away by Jesus. –Carol Albrecht How About You? Have your sins been washed away? Do you realize what a wonderful thing it is that God is willing to forgive you for all the bad things you’ve done? Jesus willingly took the punishment for your sin and shed His blood on the cross so you could have your sin washed away. Trust in Him, and He will forgive you and make you clean. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJV) (1 John 1:7) Today’s Key Thought: Jesus washes away sin

Jan 29

Bible Reading: Revelation 21:1-4, 18-27 Just as Jaden was about to leave for school, he learned it had been canceled because of a furnace breakdown. “Why don’t you come to work with me today,” said Dad, who was a real estate agent. “I’ve got a couple house tours.” That morning, they met Mr. and Mrs. Pearson, who were moving from another town. “Since our boys couldn’t come along to look at houses, it will be good to have you with us, Jaden,” said Mrs. Pearson. “One of our sons is about your age.” Jaden didn’t like the first house they toured. It was too big and fancy-looking for him. The second house seemed dark inside, and the rooms were small. “Now this is my kind of house,” Jaden said when they reached the third place. “That tree would be perfect for a treehouse!” The inside of the house was even better. “There are lots of hiding places in here,” he said with shining eyes. “I think you just made your first sale, Jaden,” Mr. Pearson said after they looked around. “If you like this house, we’re sure our boys will like it too.” On Sunday, Jaden pulled a piece of paper out of his Bible after church. “You’re not going to believe this, Dad. We had to make a real estate ad for heaven in Sunday school today. Want to see what I wrote?” “Sure do.” Dad took the paper and read it aloud. “A mansion built just for you on a street of gold. No bedrooms, because there is no night. No hospitals nearby, because there is no sickness. The entire city is decorated with fabulous jewels. Cost: Nothing! It has already been paid for by Jesus and is a gift to anyone who trusts in Him. Best of all, Jesus is there!” Dad smiled. “That’s great! But don’t forget that we advertise through our actions and attitude as well as our words. Just like Mr. and Mrs. Pearson saw how excited you were about that house, we can let others see the joy of having Jesus in our lives and the peace of knowing we will spend eternity with Him. And we can show them His love through our actions.” Jaden nodded. “Then hopefully they’ll want to spend eternity in heaven with Him too.” –Linda Weddle How About You? How many advertisements do you see in a day? Ads can make things sound too good to be true. But the good news that Jesus paid for our sins so we could spend eternity with Him is true! The Bible gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like when Jesus gets rid of sin, sickness, and death forever and makes everything new. Let others see His love, joy, and peace in your life and tell them how they can live with Him forever too. Today’s Key Verse: [Jesus] told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (NLT) (Mark 16:15) Today’s Key Thought: Advertise your heavenly home

Jan 28

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Skye sat on her front porch step. The sun shone from a clear blue sky, but deep inside, Skye felt as if a dark cloud hovered overhead. She looked down at Rags, her new brown puppy. She picked him up and hugged him. Just then Dad, who served in the military, got home. "What's wrong, pumpkin?" he asked as he sat down beside her. "You look as if you don't have one friend in the whole wide world." "I--I just wonder what's going to happen," said Skye. "What if…" She hesitated. "Sometimes I almost wish you weren't in the Army. What if you get transferred overseas? I'd be so lonely if you were so far away." "I understand how you feel--I'd be lonely then too," said Dad. "But remember how we prayed and talked about how God cares for us, no matter where we are?" Skye nodded, and Dad gave her a hug. "No matter where I might be sent, Jesus is with me, and He's with you and Mom and the rest of the kids too. He died and rose again to give us eternal life, and we can trust Him to be with us and take care of us, no matter what happens." Skye sighed. "I know." Dad looked at the little dog resting peacefully in Skye's lap. "Think about Rags for a minute," he said. "Do you remember how lonely he was the first few days you had him?" Skye nodded. "He cried for his mother a lot, especially at night when there was nobody to pay attention to him." She buried her face in the puppy's furry neck. "But you gave him so much love that he learned to depend on you, and he's happy to be with us now." Dad reached out to pet the little dog. "If you care so much for your puppy, don't you think the Lord cares even more for us?" Sighing, Skye nodded. "And just like Rags trusts you to take care of him, we can trust God to do the same for us," added Dad. "We may not always like everything that happens, but we can trust Jesus to be with us and give us the strength we need to carry on." –Marilyn J. Senterfitt How About You? Has something happened in your life that's made you feel lonely? Today's Bible reading was written by Paul, and it tells about a time when he was put in prison. He says no one stayed with him or helped him--everybody left him alone. But God didn't leave him! God stayed with him and gave him strength, and He'll do the same for you too. Jesus loves you so much He gave His life to save you, and He will never leave you alone. Today's Key Verse: The Lord stood with me and strengthened me. (NKJV) (2 Timothy 4:17) Today's Key Thought: God is always with you

Jan 28

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Skye sat on her front porch step. The sun shone from a clear blue sky, but deep inside, Skye felt as if a dark cloud hovered overhead. She looked down at Rags, her new brown puppy. She picked him up and hugged him. Just then Dad, who served in the military, got home. “What’s wrong, pumpkin?” he asked as he sat down beside her. “You look as if you don’t have one friend in the whole wide world.” “I–I just wonder what’s going to happen,” said Skye. “What if…” She hesitated. “Sometimes I almost wish you weren’t in the Army. What if you get transferred overseas? I’d be so lonely if you were so far away.” “I understand how you feel–I’d be lonely then too,” said Dad. “But remember how we prayed and talked about how God cares for us, no matter where we are?” Skye nodded, and Dad gave her a hug. “No matter where I might be sent, Jesus is with me, and He’s with you and Mom and the rest of the kids too. He died and rose again to give us eternal life, and we can trust Him to be with us and take care of us, no matter what happens.” Skye sighed. “I know.” Dad looked at the little dog resting peacefully in Skye’s lap. “Think about Rags for a minute,” he said. “Do you remember how lonely he was the first few days you had him?” Skye nodded. “He cried for his mother a lot, especially at night when there was nobody to pay attention to him.” She buried her face in the puppy’s furry neck. “But you gave him so much love that he learned to depend on you, and he’s happy to be with us now.” Dad reached out to pet the little dog. “If you care so much for your puppy, don’t you think the Lord cares even more for us?” Sighing, Skye nodded. “And just like Rags trusts you to take care of him, we can trust God to do the same for us,” added Dad. “We may not always like everything that happens, but we can trust Jesus to be with us and give us the strength we need to carry on.” –Marilyn J. Senterfitt How About You? Has something happened in your life that’s made you feel lonely? Today’s Bible reading was written by Paul, and it tells about a time when he was put in prison. He says no one stayed with him or helped him–everybody left him alone. But God didn’t leave him! God stayed with him and gave him strength, and He’ll do the same for you too. Jesus loves you so much He gave His life to save you, and He will never leave you alone. Today’s Key Verse: The Lord stood with me and strengthened me. (NKJV) (2 Timothy 4:17) Today’s Key Thought: God is always with you

Jan 27

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39 "I miss Buster!" wailed eight-year-old Xander when the family's loyal dog died. "He was a hero! Remember when Finn got lost and Buster found him playing in the woods? And the time I got really sick and Buster stayed in my room every day until I got better?" Xander wiped his eyes. "I wish he was still here with us." "I wish we could have kept Buster longer too," Mom said sadly. "But he was very old, and his body just wore out. Let's try to be thankful for all the years we did have him." "But--" Xander had just begun to ask another hard question when his four-year-old brother burst into the room. "Vroooom!" shouted Finn as he zoomed in a circle and then stopped in front of Mom and Xander. He was wearing a yellow and blue shirt that had the name of his school on the front--except that where the school's emblem should have been, there was only a jumbled mass of colored threads. Xander was not happy about the interruption. "Your shirt's inside out, Finn," he snapped. "Yes, it is, but look closer, Xander," said Mom. "Maybe Finn's shirt can help answer your questions about Buster. These knots and loose threads here on the inside of the shirt are similar to how life's difficulties look to us. When someone we love dies, or when something bad happens, life can look like an ugly mess." Mom helped Finn turn the shirt right side out so the school emblem was visible. "The same threads that looked so bad a moment ago make this side beautiful," she continued. "God does the same thing in our lives. None of the difficult things that happen can separate us from His love. Jesus came into our messy world and died and rose again to save us, and He promises to help us through each disappointment and hardship. He even uses them to form a beautiful design--He works them together for our good." She put an arm around Xander's shoulders. "When you miss Buster, remember that Jesus loves you and understands how you feel. Trust Him to be with you through the hard, painful things and use them for good." –Joyce P. Jentes How About You? Are you going through hard times in your life? Maybe you're feeling sad and lonely because a family member died or your best friend moved away. Those things hurt, but remember that Jesus loves you and understands your pain. Nothing can separate you from Him. Trust Him to be with you through hard times and use them to make something beautiful out of your life. Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. (CSB) (Romans 8:28 ) Today's Key Thought: God works for your good

Jan 27

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39 “I miss Buster!” wailed eight-year-old Xander when the family’s loyal dog died. “He was a hero! Remember when Finn got lost and Buster found him playing in the woods? And the time I got really sick and Buster stayed in my room every day until I got better?” Xander wiped his eyes. “I wish he was still here with us.” “I wish we could have kept Buster longer too,” Mom said sadly. “But he was very old, and his body just wore out. Let’s try to be thankful for all the years we did have him.” “But–” Xander had just begun to ask another hard question when his four-year-old brother burst into the room. “Vroooom!” shouted Finn as he zoomed in a circle and then stopped in front of Mom and Xander. He was wearing a yellow and blue shirt that had the name of his school on the front–except that where the school’s emblem should have been, there was only a jumbled mass of colored threads. Xander was not happy about the interruption. “Your shirt’s inside out, Finn,” he snapped. “Yes, it is, but look closer, Xander,” said Mom. “Maybe Finn’s shirt can help answer your questions about Buster. These knots and loose threads here on the inside of the shirt are similar to how life’s difficulties look to us. When someone we love dies, or when something bad happens, life can look like an ugly mess.” Mom helped Finn turn the shirt right side out so the school emblem was visible. “The same threads that looked so bad a moment ago make this side beautiful,” she continued. “God does the same thing in our lives. None of the difficult things that happen can separate us from His love. Jesus came into our messy world and died and rose again to save us, and He promises to help us through each disappointment and hardship. He even uses them to form a beautiful design–He works them together for our good.” She put an arm around Xander’s shoulders. “When you miss Buster, remember that Jesus loves you and understands how you feel. Trust Him to be with you through the hard, painful things and use them for good.” –Joyce P. Jentes How About You? Are you going through hard times in your life? Maybe you’re feeling sad and lonely because a family member died or your best friend moved away. Those things hurt, but remember that Jesus loves you and understands your pain. Nothing can separate you from Him. Trust Him to be with you through hard times and use them to make something beautiful out of your life. Today’s Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. (CSB) (Romans 8:28 ) Today’s Key Thought: God works for your good

Jan 26

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:3-6 “Look at how bright the stars are tonight!” Dawson’s little brother, Parker, gaped at the sky from his spot on the lawn. “Yeah, and the moon is really bright too,” said Dawson. “Why is it so bright?” asked Parker. “Is it a great big ball of fire?” Dawson laughed and shook his head. “The sun is more like a ball of fire. The moon doesn’t actually have any light at all. It reflects the light of the sun–that’s why it looks bright. I learned about that in my science class.” “Come on in, boys!” called Mom. “It’s time to get to bed.” The boys got up from the grass and headed for the house. Once they were inside, Parker ran over to the window and pointed to the moon. “Guess what, Mom! Dawson told me that the moon isn’t really a big fireball–it just reflects the sun’s light. Did you know that?” Mom smiled. “Yes, I did know that. Now scoot along to bed, or morning will come before you’re ready for it.” After church the following day, Dawson asked his parents a question that had been puzzling him. “My teacher says people are supposed to see Jesus in us. But we aren’t Jesus, so how can they see Him? I don’t get it.” “Well,” said Mom, “remember what you told Parker about the sun and the moon when you were outside last night?” “Sure,” said Dawson. “I said the moon reflects the light of the sun.” “Right,” said Mom. “The moon isn’t the sun, but it reflects it. When people look at the moon, the light they see is really the light of the sun. And we’re not Jesus, but because we belong to Him and have His Spirit in us, we can reflect His light. When people see what we do and how we treat others, they should be seeing Jesus’s character shining through us.” “That’s right,” said Dad. “When we trust the Holy Spirit to help us be kind, patient, truthful, and unselfish, we reflect Jesus and His great love for everyone. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, Christians are able to reflect the love of God’s Son–Jesus.” –Anna E. Baumeister How About You? If you’re a Christian, do others see the love of Jesus reflected in your life? When you show others the same kind of love Jesus showed us by dying for our sins, others will see Him in you. But you can’t do it on your own–Jesus gave you the Holy Spirit so you can shine His light to others. Trust the Spirit to help you and guide you as you reflect Jesus’s love to those around you. Today’s Key Verse: Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (NKJV) (1 Peter 2:21) Today’s Key Thought: Let Jesus be seen in you

Jan 25

Bible Reading: Genesis 22:11-18; Isaiah 7:14 “Mia? Why are you lying on the beach?” Mom asked as she came outside and sat down beside her daughter. “It’s dark out.” Mia turned to look at her mom, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Oh, honey.” Mom hugged her. “Why are you crying?” “D-d-dad promised he would come see me today. But he never came,” Mia sobbed. Mom hugged her again. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m sorry your dad didn’t keep his promise.” “Promises are stupid,” Mia said as she pulled away from Mom and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Mom sighed. “It’s very hard for people to keep promises. We make mistakes. But there is someone who keeps every promise He makes.” “Who is that?” Mia asked. “God. In fact, He made Abraham a promise that I’m reminded of being out here tonight.” Mom picked up a handful of sand. “God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the beach.” “I think I remember that story,” Mia said. “Didn’t he and his wife have a baby when they were really old?” “Yes, that was Abraham. He had to wait a long time for a baby. And after God gave him a son, He asked Abraham to sacrifice that son. Abraham was going to do that, but God stopped him and told him it had been a test to see how much Abraham trusted God.” Mia bit her lip. “God kept His promise?” “Yes, Abraham had many, many descendants. King David was one of them, and the Bible says Jesus Himself is a son of Abraham.” Mom smiled. “Through His promise to bless Abraham with many children, God also kept another promise. He promised to send a Savior to rescue His people.” “Jesus!” Mia exclaimed. “I know that one. Jesus came as a baby and grew up so He could die for our sins.” Mom nodded. “He sent Jesus to die for our sins and then raised Him from the dead. If we trust in Jesus, He promises that He will always be with us and that we will spend forever with Him. And God always keeps His promises.” –Kimberly Brokish How About You? Has anyone ever broken a promise they made to you? Maybe it was a friend, a parent, or a teacher. It doesn’t feel very nice when someone breaks a promise, does it? God will never break a promise. He promises to love us, help us, and always be with us, and He sent us a Savior so we can spend eternity with Him. How great is a promise like that? Today’s Key Verse: All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” (NLT) (2 Corinthians 1:20 ) Today’s Key Thought: God always keeps His promises

Jan 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 94:18-19; John 14:27 BUZZ! Omari jumped as the timer went off. Mrs. Mary collected the tests. Omari’s tummy rumbled, but this time he wasn’t hungry. His mom told him that when he felt the nerve worm he should take deep breaths, so he did. But the wormy feelings returned on the bus ride home. As soon as Omari got home, he started to cry. His mom stopped preparing dinner and walked over to him. “Oh, sweetheart, what’s the matter?” she asked, rubbing his back. “I-it’s t-the worms,” cried Omari. “Did you have another math test?” asked Mom. “Yes, and I forgot a lot of the answers!” Mom continued to rub his back, and she pointed at their puppy. Buddy was chasing his tail. He spun in circles, then tripped and thudded to the floor. Mom giggled. “Oh, Buddy, not again.” Buddy whimpered, and Mom went over to pet him. She raised an eyebrow. “Did you see what Buddy did after he fell?” Omari nodded. “He called out for help.” “Right,” said Mom. “Then I went over to comfort and calm him. Do you know who else notices when we’re in trouble? Jesus. Our situations might cause us to feel scared or anxious, but when we call out, He hears us.” Mom pulled up Isaiah 41:10 on the Bible app on her phone. “He says, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.'” A soft grin appeared on Omari’s face. Then he sighed. “What if I’m still nervous and forget the answers again?” “When Jesus says He will be our help, that doesn’t mean He will snap His fingers and make all our problems disappear. But, just like when I calmed Buddy, God will give us peace and comfort to make it through hard times.” Mom gently squeezed his hand. “And when you take your next test, remember that Jesus loves you so much that He even died on a cross to save you! He won’t leave you when you have the nerve worm.” She tickled his tummy, and they giggled. –Toria Keyes How About You? Do the situations you encounter in life ever make you feel nervous or anxious? Before Jesus died to save us, He promised that He’d leave us with peace. We don’t have to be troubled or afraid because He assures us that He will always be with us. No matter what your worry is, you can call on Him to give you comfort and peace. What are you worried about today? How can you remind yourself that God is there with you? Today’s Key Verse: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (NLT) (Jesus helps us in life’s troubles) Today’s Key Thought: Isaiah 41:10

Jan 23

Bible Reading: Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:1-7; 1 John 4:12-13 “Time for dinner!” At the sound of Dad’s voice, Paisley and Bridger paused the level in their video game and hurried to the kitchen. “What were you guys playing?” Dad asked as he set a bowl of veggies on the table. “It’s an adventure game!” Bridger said. “We win coins by going on quests and completing challenges, and we meet all kinds of interesting characters. We even get to learn sword fighting and protect the realm from darkness!” Paisley poured glasses of water. “Is Mom eating with us?” “Yes, I am!” Mom entered the room. “Thanks for cooking dinner, I appreciate it.” When they sat down to eat, Paisley took a long sip of water and sighed. “My life is boring in reality. I wish the things in that video game were real.” “Or even things in the Bible, like the amazing miracles Jesus did,” Bridger said. “I wish those things still happened now.” “Now hold on,” Mom countered. “Do you really think God doesn’t do amazing miracles today?” Paisley and Bridger looked at each other and shrugged. “Did you know that every person who believes in Jesus has been raised from the dead?” asked Mom. “You mean we will be raised from the dead,” Bridger corrected. “We will, but we’ve already been raised too,” Dad said. “The moment you trusted Jesus as your Savior, He brought you from death to life. Right then and there.” “But that makes no sense,” Bridger said. “The Bible says every single person is dead in our sin,” Mom explained. “That means our souls are dead. But the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the grave so that we could also be raised to life. That’s what salvation means. When we believe, we are given new life–God’s Spirit of life lives inside us. Our souls are raised from the dead, and one day our bodies will be too.” “That is a miracle!” Paisley exclaimed. “And,” Dad said, “God did all that because He loves us and wants us to be a part of His story, which is the most exciting story. Like your video game, there are challenges and lessons to be learned, but in the end, God will defeat darkness and all of evil forever!” Bridger grinned. “And that’s way cooler than our game because it’s real!” –Zoe Brickner How About You? Have you ever wondered if God still does miracles today? God has done spectacular miracles all throughout history, and many of them are recorded in the Bible. The most important miracle of all was when God raised Jesus from the dead so that we could have life! We get to experience this miracle for ourselves when we trust Jesus as our Savior. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. (NKJV) (Galatians 2:20) Today’s Key Thought: Salvation is a miracle

Jan 22

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:6-9; Romans 6:23; 2 Peter 3:11-13 Michael put the last touch of paint on his school project, set the brush down, and stood back to admire it. It had taken weeks of hard work, but he had put together a model farm that he was proud of. It had everything from a cornfield to pigs, cows, and chickens. The farmhouse looked good too, and Michael was excited to show it to his class. “Wow, you did great,” his dad said when he came to inspect it that evening. Dad bent to take a closer look. “I love all the details.” Michael beamed. “Thanks.” He explained various parts of the farm and pointed to the things he liked best about it. Dad smiled as he straightened up. “You should be proud of your work.” “I am,” Michael said. “You love it?” Dad asked. Michael nodded enthusiastically. “I put so much work into it.” “You know, this reminds me of something,” Dad said. “What?” Michael asked. His dad was always making lessons out of things. Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “It reminds me of God’s creation and His love for it–for us. Think about how He so carefully made the earth and everything in it. It’s sort of like how you put effort into the farm.” “The earth is much bigger than my tiny farm,” Michael said. “But it’s something you can relate to.” Dad pointed at the project. “Whenever you wonder if God really loves you, think about how much love and care went into making this. You wouldn’t want anything to destroy it, right?” Michael’s eyes widened. “Of course not.” “God doesn’t want anything to destroy His creation either–the earth or the people He created. But we brought sin into the world, and sin is destructive–the Bible says sin results in death. So God’s Son, Jesus, became one of us and died and rose again to save us from sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Him has eternal life, and one day Jesus will get rid of sin and death forever and make everything new again.” Dad smiled. “That’s how much He loves His creation.” Michael looked at his project again. “It’s pretty cool to think about it like that.” “It is, isn’t it?” Dad winked. –Bethany Acker How About You? Do you realize how much God loves the world He made and everything in it–including you? Jesus gave His life to save you from sin and death. Doesn’t it feel good to know He loves you that much? He put a lot of care into creating everything He made, and He promises to make it new again one day so we can enjoy it with Him forever. Today’s Key Verse: The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (NIV) (Psalm 145:9) Today’s Key Thought: God loves His creation

Jan 21

Bible Reading: Proverbs 17:27-28; 18:13 “Don’t quit yet!” Jill begged her friend, but Elsie sat down and began unlacing her skates, saying she was cold. “It’s not that cold!” said Jill. Elsie didn’t answer, and Jill went back out on the ice. “Hey, Jill!” called Mila as she skated by. “My mom is driving some of us to the coffee shop down the street for hot chocolate. Do you and Elsie want to go?” “I’ll check,” said Jill. She spun around and returned to where Elsie was sitting. “Let’s go with Mila to get some hot chocolate at the coffee shop–it will be nice and warm there!” But Elsie wasn’t interested. Jill sighed. I wish I had come skating with somebody else, she thought. She’s no fun at all today! When Jill got home, her mother was stirring a mixture in a bowl. “Oh, yum!” said Jill. “Cheesecake!” She picked up a spoon her mother had been using and quickly took a lick. “Ew!” she said, making a face. “What is this? I thought it was cream cheese.” Mom laughed. “It’s shortening. You jumped to a conclusion without learning the facts again.” Jill knew she often did that. As Mom continued working, Jill told her about the problem with Elsie. “I think she’s just looking for attention,” said Jill. “Are you sure you haven’t jumped to another wrong conclusion?” asked Mom. “Maybe something is bothering Elsie and she needs a patient, understanding friend to listen to her and see what’s wrong.” Jill just shrugged. “If something’s wrong, why wouldn’t she just tell me?” That evening, Mom came into Jill’s room. “Jill, I talked with Elsie’s mom a few minutes ago. Elsie’s dad left home yesterday.” “He did?” said Jill. “Where did he go?” “They don’t know. Elsie’s mom said he has a problem with alcohol and disappears occasionally. I thought you should know so you can pray for them and be there for Elsie.” “Oh no,” said Jill. “I did jump to conclusions again! No wonder Elsie was quiet today. When I see her tomorrow, I’ll make sure she knows I’m her friend. And I’ll pray for her–and for her dad!” “I will too,” said Mom. “And I’ll pray that Elsie will see the love of Jesus in the way you care for her as your friend.” –Linda Weddle How About You? Do you care when a friend doesn’t seem happy? Are you understanding and patient when someone doesn’t seem interested in what’s going on? Instead of jumping to conclusions, be sensitive and show them that you care. Jesus always listens to us, cares for us, and sits with us in tough times. Trust Him to help you be that kind of friend too. Today’s Key Verse: Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (NIV) (Proverbs 14:29) Today’s Key Thought: Be understanding of others

Jan 20

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:3-8 Tristan beamed as he picked up a shoe from the display table. “This is the kind I want, Mom! All the guys are getting shoes like this. The special soles reduce the pounding you get from the gym floor.” Tristan imagined what his friends would say if he showed up at practice wearing these shoes. He looked at his mother hopefully, but she was moving away. “How about this one?” Mom held up a shoe similar to the one Tristan was holding. Tristan made a face and shook his head. “Nobody buys that brand.” Mom sighed in exasperation. “Tristan, I want to buy shoes you like, but I’m not going to pay a lot of money just so you can have a certain brand.” “But I don’t want any other shoes!” “Then you can get along with your old ones,” Mom said, and she hurried him out of the store. “Who was at the door?” asked Mom later that night as she was cooking dinner. “It was Joey,” Tristan said with a scowl. “He just came to show off his new skateboard. He just got one a few months ago, but he bought another one. He just got it to impress the guys.” Mom looked surprised. “So we shouldn’t buy things just to impress others?” Puzzled, Tristan shook his head. “Of course not.” “But weren’t you wanting to do the same thing with those shoes today?” asked Mom. “Didn’t you want that brand just to impress other kids?” Tristan looked at the floor. “Well…maybe.” Mom sighed. “I understand what it’s like to want nice things, Tristan. But when we want to get things just to impress others, we need to remember where our worth comes from. People’s opinions of us can change from one day to the next–they’re fleeting, just like the things we own, which will eventually wear out or get lost or broken. But God’s opinion of us never changes. Our value comes from the love He showed us by sending Jesus to save us from sin.” Mom put a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Instead of trying to impress people with what you have, let them know you by the way you treat them and show them God’s love. They should know you by your heart, not your shoes.” –Cynthia Y. Powell How About You? Do you want name-brand clothing and other things everybody else seems to have? It’s good to dress your best and look nice, but that shouldn’t be your focus in your interactions with others. Popular items come and go, along with what people think of you for owning them, but the way you treat others will stay in their minds long after. Instead of showing off things you have, show others the love you have in Jesus. Today’s Key Verse: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. (NIV) (Philippians 2:3 ) Today’s Key Thought: Don’t dress to impress

Jan 19

Bible Reading: James 4:4-8; 1 Peter 5:8-10 Braelyn dropped her fishline over the side of the boat and watched the bait sink into the water. “That worm squirming on my hook looks so gross! How could a fish possibly want to eat it?” Dad chuckled. “It doesn’t look very appealing to us, but to a fish, it’s food.” “I’d rather starve!” said Braelyn. Dad smiled. “You might look at it differently if you were a fish.” Braelyn’s brother Judson cast his line across the water. “The fish don’t notice the sharp hook hidden inside the yummy-looking worms. All they think about is how good the worm will taste. They don’t think about what might happen after they bite.” “I guess not,” said Braelyn. “If they knew they’d get hooked, they wouldn’t bite, no matter how juicy the worm looked.” “Maybe not, but they might,” said Dad. “Sometimes we can be like fish.” Braelyn grimaced. “You won’t ever see me biting on a worm!” Dad laughed. “No, not a worm. But what about some other kind of bait? I’m thinking of times when there’s something we really want to do, but we know it’s wrong. You could say that Satan baits a hook with things that tempt us to make bad decisions.” “So it’s like Satan is fishing for us?” asked Judson. “Something like that,” said Dad. “He likes to trick us by tempting us with things that look good. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall for his bait and end up making sinful choices that go against God and who He calls us to be as His children.” A faint tug came from Braelyn’s line, and she gasped. She reeled in a small bluegill and held it up. “Do I have to let it go?” Reaching for the fish’s mouth, Dad said, “Let’s give this fish a second chance.” “Hey, that’s like what Jesus does for us!” Judson exclaimed. “You’re right!” said Dad. “Jesus died on the cross and rose again to free us from the power of sin and Satan. That means we can resist Satan’s bait. And when we do sin, Jesus will always forgive us.” “Next time I’m tempted to do something wrong, I’ll remember these fish,” said Braelyn. “And even if I get hooked, I know that Jesus will give me a second chance!” –Chip Montgomery How About You? Can you think of a time when you got hooked by the bait of sin? Maybe you were tempted by something that seemed good at first but turned out to be a trap that got you to do something wrong. When you give in to temptation, remember that Jesus will always forgive you when you confess your sin to Him. Because He has freed you from sin, and it holds no power over you anymore. Trust Him to help you resist Satan’s bait. Today’s Key Verse: Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NLT) (James 4:7) Today’s Key Thought: Don’t take Satan’s bait

Jan 18

Bible Reading: Psalm 95:1-7; James 1:17 Stella trudged quietly home from the school bus stop. After three weeks of living with Grandma Ruth, Stella still hadn’t made any friends on her new bus. Grandma Ruth kept reminding her that it takes time to build friendships. “I’m home, Grandma Ruth!” Stella called, opening the door to their apartment. “I have something to show you, sweetie!” Stella hung her backpack on a hook and hugged her grandmother. “What do you want me to see?” Stella asked. “Come here!” Grandma Ruth steered Stella to the tiny room they had converted into a bedroom for her. On the bed, Stella glimpsed a surprise. Her most cherished doll, Claudette, lay propped against the pillows wearing a new outfit: purple corduroy overalls and a pink shirt. It complemented the doll’s chocolate-brown hair perfectly. Stella gasped. “Oh, Grandma Ruth! My favorite colors!” She rushed to the bed and cradled Claudette in her arms. Grandma Ruth sat next to Stella. “I’m glad you like it, honey–you outgrew those pants long ago. We’ll buy you some clothes that fit better. But those pants made a great outfit for Claudette! I whipped that up on my sewing machine today.” “Thank you, Grandma Ruth.” Stella looked down, her smile fading. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” “You let me come live with you, and you sewed new clothes for my doll. I don’t have anything for you. All I can do is say thanks.” Grandma Ruth put her arm around Stella. “That’s all you need to say. I love you, and I’m so happy you’re my granddaughter. You’re also God’s child, Stella. When you put your faith in Jesus as your Savior last summer, God forgave your sins and brought you into His family. And just like I’m happy to be your grandma, God is happy to be your Father.” “He is?” “Yes, sweetie. He blesses us because He wants to, and we don’t have to pay Him back for it. In fact, we could never pay God back for all He does for us.” “So, I just say thanks to God?” Stella asked. “That’s right! We can express our gratitude by thanking and praising Him for all He’s done for us.” Stella grinned. “Then let’s say thanks to God right now!” –Allison Wilson Lee How About You? What do you do when saying thank you for a wonderful gift doesn’t feel like enough? Maybe we think we must buy the giver a present to pay them back. But with God, we can trust that He shares His blessings with us because He wants to be good to His children. And the best we can say in response is simply, “Thank you!” Today’s Key Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (NIV) (1 Chronicles 16:34 ) Today’s Key Thought: God loves a grateful heart

Jan 17

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “That doesn’t go there, Jamar,” Aisha chided, taking the jigsaw puzzle piece out of her baby brother’s hand. “Put it here.” She showed Jamar how to use the piece to complete the orange fish. Instead of doing what Aisha told him, however, Jamar put the piece into his mouth. Drool dribbled down his chin. “Stop that!” Aisha exclaimed. “You’ll ruin it.” She snatched back the puzzle piece and jammed it into place. She was beginning to regret agreeing to play with Jamar. Sometimes he could be a real pain. “Be patient, Aisha,” Mom said. She was watching them from the door. “He’s only two, after all.” “But this is taking forever,” Aisha moaned. “I’ll just do it myself.” She picked up two more of the wooden puzzle pieces and began putting the puzzle together alone. Mom came into the room and sat down beside them. “Give him another chance, Aisha,” she urged. Aisha didn’t see the point, but she handed a piece to her brother. “Put this piece over there, Jamar,” she said. At first Jamar held the piece upside down, then backwards. But eventually, he turned it over and put it into place. Aisha clapped her hands excitedly. “Good job, Jamar!” Jamar beamed with pride. Aisha forgot about being frustrated with her baby brother for a moment, and together they finished the puzzle. As soon as they were done, Jamar lost interest and toddled off to play blocks. “You know,” Mom said, “watching you and Jamar reminds me of how I feel with God sometimes.” Aisha frowned. “Really?” “I feel impatient when things in my life don’t change as fast as I want them to,” Mom explained. “It can be hard to wait for His answers instead of trying to force my own way. But we can trust God with the end result.” Mom turned the finished puzzle around. Aisha smiled down at the colorful picture of silly sea life. It was still a little soggy from being in Jamar’s mouth, but it looked much better than the jumbled mess of pieces it was before. “Even though we’re not always patient, God is patient with us,” said Mom. “He is patiently working in our hearts to make us more like Jesus, and we can trust Him to fit all the pieces of our lives together.” –Christa Hogan How About You? Do you have trouble being patient? Even adults have this problem sometimes. But patience is important in life and in our faith. God loves us, and He is always at work, even if we can’t see what He’s doing. He’s patient with us as we grow, and we can trust that the end result will be worth the wait. Today’s Key Verse: The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (NIV) (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Today’s Key Thought: Practice patience

Jan 16

Bible Reading: Romans 1:14-17 Peter raced into the house after another day at his new school. “Mom! Guess what! I made some more friends today–Mateo and Rhett! They both live on the same block as us. Can they come over to play basketball?” “Sure,” said Mom. “What about the boy you were talking to at the bus stop this morning? He lives nearby–maybe he’d want to come over too.” “Oh, that’s Graham,” said Peter. “He’s also one of my friends, but some of the kids make fun of him, so a lot of the others avoid him too. It’s kind of sad.” Mom nodded. “It’s a shame they’d miss out on a friend just because they’re concerned about what others think.” She started slicing some carrots. “By the way, don’t forget that our church program starts tonight. We’ll be having dinner a little early.” “Um, maybe I should skip this week,” Peter said slowly. “Mateo and Rhett will be here, and I don’t want to send them home early and have to explain why.” “Why not?” asked Mom. “Are you afraid they might laugh at you?” Peter shrugged and looked at the floor. Mom sighed. “Okay,” she said, to Peter’s surprise–he wasn’t expecting her to say yes. “You can stay home, but then I don’t want to see you talking to Graham at the bus stop tomorrow morning. Just ignore him.” Peter couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Mom, that’s so mean! Graham’s my friend! Why would I do that?” “Well, isn’t Jesus your friend too? A friend who sacrificed His own life on the cross to save you. Yet you don’t want your new friends to know about Him because they might make fun of you.” Peter was quiet. “I guess you’re right,” he said after a moment. “I want the kids at school to know I’m friends with Graham, and I want them to know I’m friends with Jesus too.” A little later, Mateo and Rhett arrived. “Let’s get a game going, Peter,” said Rhett. “We can’t stay very long–we have church tonight.” “Yeah,” said Mateo. “And our friend Graham is on his way over too. You’ll like him, he’s a lot of fun.” Peter and Mom looked at each other and smiled. –Cynthia Y. Powell How About You? Do your friends know that you’re a Christian? Or do you keep your friendship with Jesus a secret so they won’t laugh? No earthly friend could ever be as important as Jesus. He gave His life for you and will always be with you, no matter what you go through. Never be ashamed to let others know He’s your friend. Today’s Key Verse: I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. (NLT) (Romans 1:16 ) Today’s Key Thought: Let others know Jesus is your friend

Jan 15

Bible Reading: Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 4:8-10 “Daniel, Daniel!” Daniel’s little brother and sister came zooming into the room. “Will you play store with us? Please?” Daniel smiled. “Okay, sure.” Eli and Alessia often begged Daniel to play store with them, but Daniel didn’t mind. Their grandfather owned a hardware store, and the kids loved to visit and see people buy all sorts of interesting things. Customers asked a lot of questions, and Grandpa was always happy to help them. Daniel followed his brother and sister to where they had a make-believe store set up. “Eli and I will be the customers,” Alessia said. She put a toy phone to her ear. “Ring, ring!” Daniel picked up the other end. “Hello, how may I help you?” That was how Grandpa answered the phone. As Daniel was helping Eli and Alessia choose things to buy, Dad came in. “Okay, kids, time to go to the nursing home. Families from church are taking turns visiting, and tonight’s our night.” Daniel frowned. “Couldn’t just you and Mom go?” Dad shook his head. “The people look forward to our visits, and they especially like seeing kids. It brightens their whole day.” “Well, it doesn’t brighten my day,” said Daniel. He expected Dad to scold him, but instead, Dad changed the subject. “Daniel, how does Grandpa answer the phone at the store?” “He says, ‘How may I help you?'” Daniel replied. Dad nodded. “Yes, and I’ve heard you answer the same way when you’re playing store with Eli and Alessia. It’s a good way to show that you’re willing and eager to help someone. Now, is there a way you could ask God that same question that’s used to answer the phone?” “What do you mean?” asked Daniel. “In the Bible we learn that God wants His followers to serve Him and others willingly,” Dad explained. “Jesus eagerly served everyone He encountered–He even sacrificed His own life to save us. And He’s given us the Holy Spirit to help us love others the way He does, which means we can serve others with a willing heart too.” Daniel thought for a minute. “I guess you’re right,” he said. “If I asked God how I could help Him today, He’d want me to go to the nursing home.” –Carolyn E. Yost How About You? What’s your attitude when you serve the Lord? When you’re asked to help out at home or visit someone who’s sick, do you do it willingly? Jesus loves us so much that He became the greatest servant of all by sacrificing Himself for us. When we serve God by helping others, we show other people His love. Take a moment and ask God in prayer, “How may I help you?” Today’s Key Verse: Serve [God] with a loyal heart and with a willing mind. (NKJV) (1 Chronicles 28:9) Today’s Key Thought: Serve God willingly

Jan 14

Bible Reading: Mark 4:9-12; Romans 10:17 “We had a new girl in our class at church today,” Josephine said as she set the table for lunch. “Her name is Lauren, and she’s deaf. She reads lips.” Mom nodded. “I met her mother. Their family moved here recently.” She set a plate of vegetables on the table. “Just last week I read an article that said several million people in our country are either totally deaf or can’t hear as well as they should.” “Nolan doesn’t hear as well as he should.” Josephine smirked at her brother. “He only hears when he wants to. He hears just fine when somebody mentions dessert, but he doesn’t seem to hear when someone mentions chores that need to be done.” Nolan smirked back. “You’re one to talk!” “I guess we’re all guilty of that once in a while,” Dad said. “It’s called selective hearing–only hearing what you want to hear.” He started pouring water into the glasses on the table. “Sadly, some of us who have perfectly good hearing are deaf in another way–we’re spiritually deaf.” “Spiritually deaf?” asked Josephine. “What does that mean?” “It means failing to hear and understand what God has to say,” said Dad. “He invites everyone to trust in Jesus and be saved, but many people don’t seem to hear Him. In the Bible, God speaks of His love for us, the dangers of sin, and how we can have the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Many of us might hear these words with our ears but not understand them with our hearts. It’s as though we’re deaf to what He’s saying.” “Even Christians have trouble listening to God’s words and obeying them,” said Mom. “Though we trust in Jesus, we sometimes don’t want to listen to what He has to say to us through prayer, reading the Bible, and meeting with other Christians. We seem to quit listening–especially if we’re afraid we’ll hear something from God that we don’t like.” “I guess that would be like what Dad said we’re guilty of,” said Nolan. “Selective hearing.” “That’s right,” said Dad. “Thankfully, God is patient with us when we don’t listen and gives each Christian the Holy Spirit to open our ears to His voice.” –Phyllis I. Klomparens How About You? Are you spiritually deaf or hard of hearing? Are you ignoring what God says in the Bible about how you can be saved from sin by trusting in Jesus? If you do trust in Jesus, are you neglecting spiritual habits like prayer and going to church that help you listen to what He wants to say to you about your life? Trust God to help you hear Him better so you can listen, understand, and obey. Today’s Key Verse: I will hear what God the Lord will speak. (NKJV) (Psalm 85:8) Today’s Key Thought: Always listen to God

Jan 13

Bible Reading: John 14:1-6 Adelyn looked around her empty room. She brushed her hand across the mural Dad had painted on the wall one last time, then picked up the last box and brought it out to the truck. When Mom pulled the truck door down with a loud rumble, Adelyn couldn’t help it. She burst into tears. Mom pulled her close. “It’s going to be okay, Adelyn,” she said in a hoarse voice as Adelyn sobbed into her shoulder. Mom was crying too. “I don’t get it,” said Adelyn. “Why do we have to leave our house?” “Because the bank lent us the money to buy the house, but after your dad died, paying back the loan on my own became too hard. So now they’re taking back the house.” She stroked Adelyn’s hair. “I know it’s hard to leave the house you grew up in, especially with all its memories of your dad, but we don’t have a choice. We’ll live with Grandma and Grandpa for a while, then you and I will find a nice apartment.” “But I don’t want to live in an apartment!” said Adelyn, barely able to get the words out through her tears. “I want to live here! This is where you and Dad and I always lived. This is our true home!” “Oh, Adelyn,” said Mom. “This isn’t our true home–it never was. It was a wonderful place to live, but it was never meant to last forever. As Christians, our true home is with Jesus. He is with us now, and when we finally see Him face-to-face in heaven, it will be better than anything we could possibly imagine! And you know what the best part is?” “What?” asked Adelyn, wiping her eyes. “Our eternal home has already been paid for! We could never afford it ourselves, but Jesus gave His life so we could live with Him forever.” Mom led Adelyn to the door of the truck. “I know how hard this is–it’s hard for me too. Jesus said we’d have trouble in this world, and it’s okay to feel sad about it. But don’t lose sight of your true home. Jesus will be with you through all of life’s troubles and promises you a home with Him forever.” –Courtney Lasater How About You? Have you experienced pain or sadness in your life? Maybe you lost someone close to you or had to move away from a place you loved. Whatever it is, you don’t have to go through it alone. If you know Jesus, He promises to always be with you and to one day bring you to your eternal home, where you’ll never feel pain or sadness again. Your true home is with Him. Today’s Key Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV) (John 16:33 ) Today’s Key Thought: Christians have a home with Jesus

Jan 12

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 8:16; John 5:24 “Help! It’s not working! Troooooy!” Troy stepped into the kitchen to see his little sister’s hands covered in purple glue. “Crafting again, Emmy? What are you trying to do?” Emma blew a curl off her forehead in frustration. “I’m trying to make slime! I have glue, water, and baking soda. Look at this, it’s just a sticky mess! Not slimy at all.” “You forgot the activator.” Troy pointed to step four of the recipe. “You need contact lens solution–I’ll get you some of mine.” “What does an activator do?” Emma asked when Troy returned with the missing ingredient. “An activator reacts with the rest of your ingredients and transforms them into something new–in this case, slime! Slime happens when you mix the liquid substance in your glue with the boric acid in an activator. This fun transformation is called cross-linking.” Troy added the activator to his sister’s bowl and watched her stir it in. “It’s so slimy!” Emma held her slime in front of Troy’s face with a grin. “Thanks for helping me!” “No problem, sis. Hey, did you know that you helped me?” “I did?” Emma poked her slime. “How?” “Before you called for help, I was thinking about some friends of mine. They don’t know Jesus and have started doing some stuff that’s not good for them. Instead of talking to them about it, I just stayed away from them. But God used your slime project to remind me that I should do something different.” “What’s that?” Emma asked. “Since I have God’s Spirit in me, I can be an activator to those around me who are in darkness. I have His light, and I need to shine it to others. I don’t have to participate in the wrong things my friends are doing, but I can choose to show them a better way. I can tell my friends about a different kind of cross-linking: Jesus died on the cross and rose again so we could cross over from death to life and be transformed!” Emma raised her slime in the air. “Activators make everything better!” –Savannah Coleman How About You? Are you allowing God to use you as an activator to those He has placed in your life? Jesus said that those who trust in Him are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If we hide the light of Jesus within us, how will those who are lost come to know Him? Trust God for courage to be an activator for Him and shine His light to those around you. Today’s Key Verse: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) (Matthew 5:16) Today’s Key Thought: Be an activator in the world

Jan 11

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 105:42-45; Romans 8:32 “I’m getting mint chocolate chip!” Peyton said as he climbed into the van. “Two scoops!” Ian was right behind him. “I’m getting orange sherbet with sprinkles!” “And I,” said Dad, “am getting the biggest fudge sundae you’ve ever seen.” “Hey!” said Peyton. “You didn’t get a good report card.” “No, but I promised everybody ice cream after a good first half of the school year,” said Dad. “And since I’m driving, that includes me. Now buckle in, we have a few stops to make first.” They watched longingly out the window as Dad drove past the ice cream shop. But after the grocery store, gas station, and library, Peyton and Ian grew worried. When Dad drove by the only other ice cream shop in town, Ian frowned and crossed his arms. “He broke his promise,” he whispered to Peyton. Peyton swallowed. “Um, Dad? Are you mad at us?” Dad met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “What makes you think that?” “Well, because you changed your mind about ice cream. There are no more ice cream shops.” Peyton looked out his window. “Where are we, anyway?” Dad was about to respond when Ian spoke up. “Look, a big sign with a cow on it! Ice cream!” Dad pulled in and parked the car. “Best ice cream for miles. A bit of a drive, but I thought you two deserved something special.” “You didn’t lie to us!” said Ian. “Of course not,” said Dad. “It was just taking so long,” said Peyton. “And we’ve never been this way before.” Dad smiled. “I understand. You know, God also takes us places we’ve never been. When it seems like it’s taking a long time, it’s easy to forget His promises too.” “I did wonder where you were taking us,” said Ian, eyeing a big jar of sprinkles behind the counter. “And we might wonder the same thing about God,” said Dad. “But God never lies. He fulfilled His promise to save us by sending us His own Son, and He will always keep His promise to love and care for us, even when we struggle to trust Him.” Dad led the boys up to the counter. “Now, pick what you want. I promise it’ll be some of the best ice cream you’ve ever had!” –Kelly Carlson How About You? Do you ever feel like God is breaking His promise to take care of you and do what’s best for you? In the Bible, God proved He was faithful in His promise to send Jesus to save us from our sins and restore our relationship with Him. His promise for you today is that He will always be with you. No matter what you’re going through, you can trust that He will never let you down. Today’s Key Verse: He will remember his agreement forever. He will always keep the promises he made to his people. (ERV) (Psalm 105:8 ) Today’s Key Thought: God keeps His promises

Jan 10

Bible Reading: Romans 5:3-5; Galatians 5:22-25 “You take the sword, Leo, and be ready when I storm the castle,” Javier instructed as he slipped on his dragon mask. His little brother nodded, put on his knight helmet, and paced back and forth in front of the tent. Javier ran off and disappeared from Leo’s view, crouching behind a bush. Then he crawled back to the tent and quietly entered it from the back, unnoticed by Knight Leo. “RAAAAAAWR!” Javier bellowed. “This is my castle now! Flames! Run for your life, knight!” He continued to yell as loud as he could as he ran at his brother. Leo threw his helmet down and dropped his sword. “That’s not fair!” he exclaimed. “You came from behind. I wasn’t ready for you!” Javier ripped off his mask. “Oh, come on, Leo! Knights don’t throw their helmets down and whine. I hate playing with you, you always wreck everything!” “Whoa, you are a fiery dragon,” Mom said as she came over at the yelling. “Calm down, Javier. Don’t treat Leo that way.” “But he does this every time! When we played astronauts and the aliens came, he threw a fit. When we played superheroes and the villain caught him, he started crying. Superheroes don’t cry, Mom!” “I know, Javier,” Mom said. “Leo just has some trouble staying in character.” She turned to Leo. “Javier has a point, Leo. When you’re playing pretend, it’s more fun if everyone stays in character.” She turned back to Javier. “But you’re also acting out of character when you talk to Leo like that.” “But he makes me so mad!” said Javier. “All the more reason to stay in character,” said Mom. “It’s easy to be kind when everything goes smoothly. It’s when things don’t go our way that we need to remember who we are as followers of Jesus. He defines our true character. He has freed us from sin and given us the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and is helping us become more like Jesus. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to do something wrong–like lash out at Leo in anger. Jesus wants us to love others the way He loves us.” Javier looked at his brother. “Sorry, Leo,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be such a dragon.” –Kelly Bakshi How About You? Do you ever act out of character? Do you have moments when you treat others poorly or do things you know are wrong? If you’re a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit in you so that you can show other people the good, gentle, and gracious character of Jesus. That’s who you are–a forgiven child of God who is becoming more like Jesus every day. Trust God to help you stay in character and show His love to others. Today’s Key Verse: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV) (Galatians 5:25 ) Today’s Key Thought: Stay true to who you are in Jesus

Jan 9

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 “Well, if that’s the way you’re going to be, I’ll just find someone else to do my science project with!” Will turned and walked away from Torin and Carlos before they had a chance to respond. At dinner, Will was still angry. “Torin and Carlos won’t listen to me,” he told his dad. “They want to change the whole science project. I don’t care what they say. I like the way I planned it.” “Sounds like you’re having trouble flying in formation,” said Dad. “Huh?” Will frowned. “What are you talking about?” “Remember when we saw the Navy’s flying team perform at the air show last week? How far apart were those six jets?” “They were really close!” said Will. “I think the announcer said they sometimes were within three feet of each other.” He remembered the thrill of watching the shiny blue and yellow jets. “When the leader moved in a certain direction, they all moved that way. If they didn’t, they’d be in big trouble.” “Right,” said Dad. “Flying in formation like that takes real teamwork! But doing a good job on any group project requires teamwork–and that includes your science project. You need to work together as a team.” “But they won’t listen to me!” said Will. “Well, they should listen to your ideas,” said Dad. “But you should also listen to theirs. Have you done that? Have you really thought about whose ideas would work the best?” Will sighed. “I guess not. I’ll talk to Carlos and Torin and see if they’ll still let me work with them.” “Good,” said Dad. “You know, this reminds me of how Christians need to fly in formation too. Since you know Jesus, you’re part of His team of believers–the church. As Christians, we need to work together to help more people know about Jesus. But we can’t do that if we’re only thinking of ourselves and what we want.” “We need to be like Jesus, right?” asked Will. “Right,” said Dad. “We need to show one another the kind of love He shows us, and that includes listening to each other’s ideas and being patient and understanding. When we do that, others will see God’s love in us and want to know more about Jesus.” –Diane Hesselberg How About You? Do you have a hard time working as part of a team? Do you get upset when others don’t agree with your ideas? Remember that God wants Christians to work together in unity. Ephesians 4:2 says to be humble, gentle, and patient as we bear with one another in love. Share your ideas, but also listen to other people’s suggestions so you can work as a team in love and unity. Today’s Key Verse: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (NIV) (Psalm 133:1) Today’s Key Thought: Work in unity with others

Jan 8

Bible Reading: Mark 12:41-44 Malia jingled the coins in her pocket. She liked the sound they made. She called it her Sunday song because she often jingled coins before Sunday school started each week. Malia earned her own money for offerings, but lately she hadn’t been able to find many jobs, so the amount she could give had become smaller and smaller. Antonio, the boy sitting next to her, saw her put the coins into the offering plate and snickered. “Is that all you have?” he asked loudly. “Why even bother?” Malia felt her face grow hot. She put her head down and didn’t answer. When Malia got home, she told her mother what Antonio had said. “I guess he was right,” she said with a sigh. “I think my offering was the smallest one anybody had today.” Mom raised her eyebrows. “I think your first mistake was to compare your offering to what the other kids gave. We should never give just to impress others. Tell me–what does Jesus think about what you gave?” Malia shrugged. Mom was quiet for a moment. “Malia, at your birthday party last month, your friends gave you presents. Were the gifts all the same, or were some smaller than others?” “The gifts? They were all different, of course,” said Malia. “Why?” “Well, are the kids who gave you the nicest presents the ones you like best now?” asked Mom. Malia shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what they brought. Izzy’s dad had been sick a long time, so she couldn’t spend much on a present, but who cares? It wouldn’t have mattered if she hadn’t brought anything at all. She’s my best friend!” “I know,” said Mom. “And you’re Jesus’s friend–He loves you so much that He died for your sins and rose from the dead to save you! And He’s pleased with any gift you give Him from your heart out of gratitude for what He’s done for you.” “Just like I’m happy with Izzy’s present,” Malia said, smiling. “Before the party, Izzy said she didn’t know if she should even come. She was afraid of what the other kids would think of her gift. But I told her I would love any gift she brought me because she’s my friend.” –Brenda K. Good How About You? Are you afraid that your gifts to the Lord aren’t good enough? Do they seem small compared to what other people can give? Remember that Jesus sees your heart. Your desire to give to Him out of love and gratitude for what He’s done for you is what matters–whether it’s through giving money or serving in other ways. God knows your circumstances, and He loves any gift you’re able to give Him because you are His friend. Today’s Key Verse: According to their ability, they gave. (NKJV) (Ezra 2:69) Today’s Key Thought: God accepts your gifts

Jan 7

Bible Reading: 1 John 4:7-11 “How about a break?” said Dad. He stopped pedaling, leaned his bike against a tree, and then plopped onto the park bench beside the bike trail. “Good idea!” said James. “I’m tired and thirsty!” He and Dad took water bottles from their bikes. Dad also pulled two granola bars from his bike bag and handed one to James. As James removed the wrapper, a piece of granola fell to the ground. A tiny ant appeared and tried to whisk it away. James watched as the ant tried again and again, but the piece was just too large for it to handle. A moment later, a mass of scurrying ants appeared. They worked together, lifting and dropping the chunk several times until it fell apart. Then each ant seized a small piece, and they all ran off in the same direction. “Did you see that?” asked James. “That ant needed help–and he got it!” “He sure did,” said Dad. “That’s a good example of how we should act as Christians.” James looked at Dad. “You mean we should help each other, right? Like when that big storm ripped shingles off our garage roof last summer and a bunch of guys from church helped repair it. With all their help, it didn’t take very long before it was fixed. A big job became a small one–just like with the ants.” Dad nodded. “I’m sure the guys from church didn’t think about it at the time, but they were demonstrating to our neighbors the love Christians should have for each other.” “But aren’t we supposed to show God’s love by helping people who don’t know Jesus too?” asked James. “Yes,” said Dad. “Helping those who don’t know Jesus can be a powerful way to show them who He is and what He’s like, and helping other Christians can too.” Dad and James got up and put on their helmets. “Mr. Locke next door was so impressed by what our church friends did to help with our roof that he wanted to know more about our church,” added Dad. “I explained that we love one another because Jesus loves us–so much that He died for our sins and rose again. I’m praying that Mr. Locke will soon know Jesus too.” –Eunice C. Matchett How About You? Can people see God’s love in your willingness to help others? By having a kind, helpful attitude, you can show others that you belong to Jesus. When people see you do things like help a neighbor rake their yard or show a new kid around school or church, they see the love that Jesus has put in your heart–and some of them might decide they want Jesus in their lives too. Today’s Key Verse: As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (NKJV) (Galatians 6:10) Today’s Key Thought: Show God’s love

Jan 6

Bible Reading: Psalm 101:1-8 Callie sat on her bed, so engrossed in her new library book that she didn’t even notice her mom enter the room. When Mom sat down next to her, Callie jumped and shoved the book under her, hoping her mom hadn’t seen the title. Mom frowned. “You doing okay? I was just wondering why you were so quiet up here.” She peered around Callie. “What were you reading?” Callie shot her a thin smile. “Oh, nothing. Just a book I got at the library.” She blinked, trying to clear her flustered brain. “So, did Dad finish working on the car?” Mom folded her arms, studying her. “No, he’s still trying to figure it out. The check engine light keeps flashing.” Callie nodded. “Wow. I hope the car’s okay!” “I’m sure it will be fine,” said Mom. “Your Dad always takes the car’s warning lights very seriously, so I’m sure he’ll be able to fix the problem before it causes too much damage.” She cleared her throat and scooted closer to her daughter. “Callie, you’re twelve, and you’re getting to the age when you’ll be making some important decisions.” Callie swallowed and nodded. “I’m not going to make you show me the book you’re hiding. I don’t know what it has in it that makes you feel the need to hide it. All I’m going to say is that your conscience is telling you something without me having to say a word.” Callie studied her fingernails, and Mom sighed. “The embarrassment I see on your face is a God-given warning light, Callie. It’s telling you that something in that book doesn’t line up with who you are as a follower of Jesus. Because He has freed you from sin, it doesn’t belong in your life anymore. When you’re tempted to focus on sinful things, the Holy Spirit uses your conscience to warn you. If you listen to His warning, it can prevent major problems down the road.” Callie squirmed. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew Mom was right. She pulled out the book. “I guess I’ll need a ride to the library so I can return this.” As the weight of the book lifted from her conscience, she smiled. “Let’s go see how Dad’s coming along on the car!” –Rebekah Dorris How About You? Has a twinge of embarrassment or unease ever made you want to hide what you were doing? God has given each of us a conscience to warn us when we’re stepping into danger. When it tells you that what you’re doing isn’t right, stop immediately! Listen to God’s warning and trust Him to help you resist temptation. Today’s Key Verse: Whatever is not from faith is sin. (NKJV) (Romans 14:23) Today’s Key Thought: Listen to God’s warnings

Jan 5

Bible Reading: Psalm 73:13-28; Proverbs 2:1-9 Kahlil closed the book he was reading and sighed. “You don’t look very happy,” said his sister, Anisa. “What are you thinking about?” Kahlil hesitated. “God,” he admitted. “I’ve been wondering if God really hears us when we pray.” “Of course He does!” said Anisa. “And my teacher at church says God is everywhere,” said Kahlil. “How can that be? And how can He have no beginning?” “I can’t believe you’re questioning God!” said Anisa. “Better not let Mom or Dad hear you do that.” “Do what?” asked Dad as he walked in and sat down. Kahlil nervously picked at the corner of his book. “Well, sometimes I don’t understand things about God and what the Bible says about Him. I have lots of questions, and Anisa thinks that’s wrong.” “No, it’s not wrong,” said Dad. “It’s perfectly okay for you to have those kinds of questions.” “It is?” asked Anisa. She and Kahlil looked at each other in surprise. Dad nodded. “You learn by asking questions. For example, you made macaroni and cheese yesterday, right? How did you learn to do that?” Anisa chimed in. “I heard him ask Mom a ton of questions. He asked how much water to use and how high to set the burner. And he asked how long it had to boil.” She turned to her brother. “You’ve seen Mom make it a million times, but you didn’t know anything when you tried to do it yourself.” Kahlil made a face at his sister. “Well, I could do it now!” Dad smiled. “I’m sure you could. Asking questions helped you learn what to do. That’s one reason God welcomes our honest questions–He knows they help us learn.” “You mean God’s not mad?” Anisa asked. Dad shook his head. “The book of Psalms is full of hard questions the writers asked God. Their questions helped them understand more about God and why they could trust Him. So don’t be afraid to ask hard questions. Questions can strengthen your faith as you learn more about who God is and how Jesus came to save you and promises to be with you through life’s difficulties.” Standing up, Dad said, “I’m hungry. Why don’t we ask God some questions together over a bowl of Kahlil’s mac and cheese?” –Sheri Shaw How About You? What are some things about God you don’t understand? It’s okay to ask hard questions–they can help you learn and grow in your relationship with Jesus. Ask your parents, teachers at church, or any Christian adult you feel you can talk to. Look to the Bible for answers too, and ask God to help you understand more about who He is and what He’s done for you. Today’s Key Verse: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. (CSB) (Jeremiah 33:3) Today’s Key Thought: Ask and learn

Jan 4

Bible Reading: Luke 12:16-21 Malachi put down the wood for the campfire and hurried to see why Boomer, his puppy, was barking. The little dog stood at the edge of the stream, looking down into the clear water. “What is it, Boomer?” asked Malachi. He looked down to see what was in the water and began to laugh. “What is Boomer barking at, Malachi?” asked Dad. “Himself! He’s barking at his own reflection in the water.” Malachi shook his head. “Silly dog! Come on, Boomer. I’ll get you a treat.” The magic word was treat–Boomer immediately left the edge of the water and scurried over to the tent. Soon he had his treat and was stretched out near the stream. Dad smiled as he watched Boomer happily chomp on his treat. “This reminds me of an old fable about a dog and a bone,” he said. “As the dog carried his bone across a bridge, he thought he saw another dog in the water below, and he bristled.” “That sounds like Boomer, all right!” said Malachi. “Yes, and this dog wasn’t going to let that other dog get his bone,” continued Dad. “So he began to bark to make the other dog go away. I’m sure you can figure out what happened when he opened his mouth to bark.” Malachi laughed. “His bone fell into the water, right?” “Right, and the greedy dog ended up with nothing.” Dad added another log to the campfire. “Greed makes us want to get things and hold on to them at all costs, but in the end we lose everything we had and more. True riches and fulfillment come from Jesus, not from anything we own. Money and possessions don’t last, but Jesus offers us a gift that lasts forever–forgiveness for our sins and eternal life with Him. To loosen the grip of greed on our hearts, we need to turn to Jesus and trust Him to provide us with everything we need, including joy and contentment.” Just then Boomer ran up, looking for another treat. Malachi smiled and got one out. “Here you go, Boomer,” he said, holding it out for Boomer to take from his hand. “But it won’t last long, so don’t get greedy.” –Marilyn J. Senterfitt How About You? Do you think having the right things will bring you happiness? Are you so focused on getting and keeping those things that you don’t care about anything or anyone else? Lasting joy doesn’t come from having lots of money or cool stuff–it comes from knowing Jesus. Having a relationship with Him brings us true riches that last forever. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today’s Key Verse: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (NIV) (Mark 8:36) Today’s Key Thought: Seek true riches

Jan 3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31 Kaylee softly sang a song as she zipped her suitcase. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…” “Time to go,” called Dad. Reluctantly, Kaylee turned and followed her parents to the car. Usually she loved going to church retreats, but this time Lyra, her best friend, wouldn’t be there. Lyra had died just a few weeks before. A tear trickled down Kaylee’s cheek, and she hastily rubbed it away as she slid into the backseat of the car, closed the door, and fastened her seat belt. “All set?” asked Dad. Kaylee nodded. “I liked the song you were singing,” said Mom. Kaylee bit her lip so she wouldn’t start crying again. “It was one of Lyra’s favorites.” “I remember hearing her sing it,” said Dad, and as he backed out of the driveway, he began singing the song. Mom and Kaylee joined in. “What exactly does it mean to mount up with wings as eagles?” asked Kaylee when they finished singing. “We can’t really fly.” Dad smiled. “The eagle is a unique bird. Other birds try to avoid storms, but eagles fly straight into them. They use the violent winds to lift themselves up high above the storm clouds.” “Does that help them fly better and be safe?” asked Kaylee. “Yes,” Dad said. “With God’s strength, you can be like an eagle. You can fly straight into the storms of life instead of running away from them. Even when you face difficult things–like the grief and loneliness you feel because of Lyra’s death–you don’t have to be afraid, because you know Jesus is with you. He has saved you and given you eternal life, and He can use difficult experiences to help you learn to trust Him and grow in your faith. He is strong, and He promises to give you His strength in life’s storms.” Brushing away tears, Kaylee nodded. “It still hurts, even though I know Lyra’s in heaven, but I want to trust God to give me strength. I want to fly like an eagle.” Mom squeezed her hand. “Let’s sing that song again.” And they all began to sing. –Jean A. Burns How About You? What problems are you facing today? Are you sad because a friend has died or moved away? Because your mom or dad is out of work? Because what’s happening in your life makes it seem like your world is falling apart? Remember that Jesus loves you and wants to help you face your problems. He gave His life to save you and promises to always be with you. Trust Him to give you the strength to face life’s storms. Today’s Key Verse: Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. (NKJV) (Isaiah 40:31) Today’s Key Thought: God gives strength to face problems

Jan 2

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:1-6; John 18:36 “Uh-oh!” said Mom. “That sign says, ‘Detour Ahead.’ The ramp to the freeway is closed.” She drove on down the street. “But we’re going away from the freeway,” Maggie said as she looked out the window. “We just need to follow the orange detour signs,” said Mom. “See if you can find the next one.” After they drove a couple of blocks, Maggie pointed and said, “There! It says to turn right–but we’d have to turn left to go in the direction of the freeway. Someone must have switched the signs!” “Let’s just do what the signs say,” said Mom, turning to the right. The next sign also said to go right, and the next said to go right again. “We’re going in circles,” said Maggie. “This can’t be right!” “Look ahead,” said Mom. “There’s the freeway. The signs were correct even though they seemed wrong.” She turned onto the ramp. “You know what? Someone has given us directions for our lives too, and we have to trust that His directions are right–even if they sometimes seem backwards. Do you know who I mean?” Maggie thought about it. “Dad?” Mom laughed. “He’d be happy to hear that answer, but I was thinking of God. The Bible says, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’ and, ‘A gentle answer turns away wrath.’ Compared to what we want or what others might say, those statements may seem wrong.” “How about, ‘Love your enemies’?” said Maggie. “That was my memory verse last week.” Mom grinned. “Here’s a good one for us today. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.'” “I wish I remembered that verse when I was worried about finding the freeway!” said Maggie. Mom nodded. “God’s directions go against the messages we often hear in the world that say to think of ourselves and do what we want. That’s because, as Christians, we’re called to live like Jesus. He came into our world to save us from sin and bring us into God’s kingdom. When we follow God’s directions, He will lead us to live in a way that shows we belong to Jesus and are part of His kingdom.” –Pauline Youd How About You? Do God’s directions–the instructions He gives in the Bible for how to live–sometimes seem like they don’t make sense? That’s because the heavenly kingdom Jesus brought to us when He came to earth is very different from how our world does things. Instead of putting yourself first, Jesus says to love others–even your enemies–the way He loves us. Trust God to help you walk in His way of love as you follow His directions. Today’s Key Verse: In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV) (Proverbs 3:6) Today’s Key Thought: Trust God’s directions

Jan 1

Bible Reading: Psalm 62:5-8 Landon listened as the woman on TV reported that temperatures had dropped to a record-breaking low with a strong wind. “Can we still go for our breakfast tomorrow?” he asked. For him, the best part of celebrating the new year was having breakfast with his dad on New Year’s Day. Each year, they’d get up at dawn, load backpacks with supplies, and walk through the snow to a nearby lake where they would start a fire and cook their food. “It will be an adventure–a really cold one!” said Dad. “But let’s do it.” Early the next morning, they dressed in several layers of warm clothes and headed for the lake. Wind whipped the snow all around, stinging Landon’s cheeks. When they finally made it to the rocky lakeshore, Landon was freezing. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come,” he yelled to his father over the sound of the wind. “We’ll be okay,” Dad assured him. “Head for those huge boulders over there.” Behind a towering rock, Landon instantly felt warmer. Within minutes, they had a fire going, and he began to warm up even more. “I can hardly feel the wind here,” said Landon. “I know,” said Dad as he turned bacon in the frying pan. “We can hear it blowing all around us, but the rocks protect us from most of its effects.” He cracked some eggs into the pan. “This huge rock is a good picture of what the Bible means when it says God is our Rock. He saved us from sin and gives shelter and protection, and we can trust Him even though there’s chaos all around.” “My teacher at church said something like that,” said Landon. “But I didn’t really know what it meant until now.” Dad put the bacon and eggs on their plates, and Landon poured hot chocolate out of the thermos. “I’m glad we came,” Landon said, “but I’d hate to be out here very long without this rock to shelter us.” “Me too,” said Dad. “And I’d hate to be in this world without God, our Rock, to shelter me. He sent His own Son to die in our place so we could be His children, and when life’s storms are raging, He surrounds us with the protection of His love, hope, and peace.” –Lyndel F. Walker How About You? Have you ever stood behind a big rock to get out of the wind? Rocks can protect you in many ways, and the Bible says God is a Rock for His children. Remember that Jesus gave His life for you and is with you during storms in your life–the difficult experiences you sometimes have to face. Trust Him to help you through them as you take shelter in the peace and comfort of His presence. Today’s Key Verse: He [God] only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. (NKJV) (Psalm 62:6) Today’s Key Thought: God shelters His children

Dec 31, 2024

Bible Reading: Romans 6:18-23 At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Wagner family always walked to ice-covered Pine Lake where they would bring in the New Year under the stars as they tossed glow sticks into the air. But this year Aiden was in a grumpy mood. When his dad told him to do something, Aiden put it off as long as he could. “You’re skating on thin ice, Aiden,” Dad said. He said that whenever Aiden was about to get in big trouble. Now at midnight Aiden dashed onto the frozen lake. “We’re here!” “Stay close,” Dad warned. “The weather has been unusually warm. The area around the dock is especially unstable because of the heat from the underwater plants growing there.” Aiden threw his glow sticks in the air. Immediately the blue one skidded across the ice toward the dock. He knew Dad had warned him about the dock area, but it was so close… Suddenly he heard the ice crack beneath him, and he was in the water. “Help! Help!” Aiden screamed. The water was freezing, and he was sure he was going to drown. “Put your feet down,” Dad commanded. “You should be able to touch bottom.” Aiden did as Dad said and was surprised to discover the water only came to his waist. Soon he was back on solid ground. They ran back to the house, where Mom wrapped him in blankets. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Aiden said once he’d stopped shivering. “If I’d listened to you and not gone on the thin ice…” “You wouldn’t have fallen into the lake,” Dad finished for him. “But you were on thin ice earlier in the day too, remember?” “You mean when I didn’t obey you right away when you told me to do something?” Dad nodded. “Maybe it didn’t seem like a big deal to you at the time, but it was a sin. And sin always leads to trouble.” He put an arm around Aiden. “The good news is that we can stop our sinful behavior and start doing what’s right–much like how you were able to stand up in the water. Because Jesus has saved us from sin, it has no power over us. We can always go to Jesus for forgiveness and trust Him to help us change our ways.” –Linda Weddle How About You? Do you like to skate on thin ice? Do you see how close you can get to doing something wrong without getting in trouble? The Bible tells us if we know what the right thing to do is but don’t do it, we’re sinning–and sin always leads to trouble. Through Jesus we have the power to turn from sin and do what’s right. If you’re skating on thin ice, confess your sin to Jesus and trust Him to help you choose to do what is right. Today’s Key Verse: If you fail to do what you know is right, you are sinning. (ERV) (James 4:17 ) Today’s Key Thought: Stay away from sin

Dec 30, 2024

Bible Reading: Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43-48 “Let’s go get an ice cream cone at the Eskimo Palace, Dad,” said Kinsley. “We can be back before Mom gets home from her meeting.” “Good idea,” said Dad, so they went out to the car. As they drove along, they passed a couple of Kinsley’s classmates playing at the park. “Ugh!” said Kinsley. “I can’t stand that girl with the long braid!” Dad looked at Kinsley in surprise. “Why’s that?” “She’s the one who beat me out of a place on the volleyball team,” said Kinsley. Just as Dad started to reply, there was a loud bang, and the car veered to the right. “Oh no!” groaned Dad. “Flat tire!” He pulled over to the side of the road and got some tools and the spare tire from the trunk. Soon he had the car jacked up, and he and Kinsley chatted as he worked. “Kinsley,” said Dad, “I want to hear more about why you don’t like that girl we saw. The fact that she got the place you wanted on the team is not a reason to dislike her. Didn’t you beat someone out of a spot when you made the soccer team last fall?” Kinsley kicked at a pebble. “I guess.” Dad removed the wheel with the flat tire and replaced it with the spare one. “I’m glad we have this spare to use.” He paused, then asked, “Don’t you think your attitude needs to be changed–like this flat tire needs changing? Maybe it’s time for you to find a spare attitude to replace the grudge you’re holding against your friend.” “She’s not my friend,” said Kinsley. “She’s…she’s an enemy!” “I see,” said Dad, putting the flat tire in the trunk. “Well, do you remember what Jesus said about how we should treat our enemies?” “He said we should love them,” Kinsley murmured. Dad nodded. “We’ve all sinned against Him, yet He loved us enough to die for us so we could be forgiven and have eternal life. And He gives us the power to show that same attitude of love and forgiveness toward others.” Dad closed the trunk. “Shall we see if those girls are still at the park and invite them to join us for some ice cream?” Kinsley hesitated a moment, then slowly nodded. –Vicki L. Reinhardt How About You? Are you holding a grudge against someone? Stand back and take a good look at the entire situation. Think about your attitude. Remember that God loves everyone–even your enemies–and He will help you love them too. Thank God for His love for you, then trust Him to help you show the same attitude of love toward others that He showed you. Today’s Key Verse: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. (NIV) (Romans 15:5) Today’s Key Thought: Don’t hold grudges

Dec 29, 2024

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:33; 13:44-46 “Well, buddy, tomorrow’s your last day of vacation with your grandpa. What would you like to do?” Grandpa asked Everett as they sat on the porch together. Everett patted Grandpa’s dog, Bexley, while he thought. “I know!” he exclaimed. “Let’s get some ice cream. You know, Grandpa–the one with jellybeans in it.” “That’s certainly special,” Grandpa replied. “I haven’t seen that in a long time. But we’ll try to find it.” The next afternoon, after Everett and Grandpa returned from a fishing trip, they set out to search for the special treat. The ice cream shop in town didn’t have it. They asked at a shop in the mall, but it no longer served that dessert. As the two returned to Grandpa’s truck, Everett said, “Grandpa, I really don’t want to give up. Can we please keep trying?” Grandpa smiled. “We’re not quitting, buddy. This is important! We’ll keep on looking.” Finally, Grandpa suggested they check at the grocery store. There in the frozen food aisle, Everett located his favorite flavor of ice cream filled with colorful jellybeans. “We did it!” Everett cried. When they got home, Grandpa served them each a bowl of the sweet treat on the porch while Bexley sat between them. “Our adventure to find this ice cream reminds me of a Bible story,” Grandpa said. “The Bible compares the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure and a fine pearl. In the story Jesus tells, the men searching for these treasures sold all they had to get them.” “Kind of like how we were willing to visit so many places to find special ice cream,” Everett added. Grandpa nodded. “Knowing Jesus and being part of His kingdom is a treasure worth more than anything else. Since you’ve trusted Jesus to forgive your sins, Everett, you have found that treasure. Now you’re on a journey for more than ice cream–a journey of growing to know and love Jesus more and more.” “A journey? Grandpa, I think you mean a treasure hunt! Now, can I please have more ice cream treasure?” Everett asked with a grin. –Allison Wilson Lee How About You? Have you ever searched for something you truly wanted? God wants us to seek Him that way. We can trust Him to provide what we need as we set our hearts on seeking Him first–getting to know Him through prayer, reading His Word, and fellowship with other Christ followers. Knowing Jesus is the best treasure of all, and as we seek to grow in our relationship with Him, He fills our lives with the richness of who He is. Today’s Key Verse: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV) (Matthew 6:33 ) Today’s Key Thought: Search for God’s treasure

Dec 28, 2024

Bible Reading: Luke 11:1-4 “What did you talk about in Sunday school today?” Sienna’s dad asked as the family drove home from church. “We learned that Jesus took time out of his busy day to pray,” replied Sienna. “Yes, He did, and that’s a good thing for all of us to do,” said Dad. “Yeah, I know,” said Sienna with a sigh. “I’m just so busy these days. I have basketball and gymnastics and Bible club, and I have a lot more homework this year too. I just don’t have time to pray very much.” Mom smiled at her. “Sienna, what’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?” Sienna thought about it. “I call Mariana,” she answered. “Unless she calls me first.” “And why do you call Mariana?” asked Mom. “Because she’s my friend,” replied Sienna. “If you’re so busy, how do you find time to talk to her every day?” asked Mom. Sienna shrugged. “I don’t know–I just do. I make the time. I like talking with her–she’s my friend.” “Well, Jesus is our friend too,” said Dad. “He wants to be our very best friend. We should spend time talking with Jesus because we love Him–just like you spend time talking with Mariana because you care about her.” “But I never really know what to say when I pray,” said Sienna. “It seems like the stuff I want to talk about wouldn’t interest God.” “Oh, but it does,” said Dad. “Jesus died and rose again so we could have a relationship with Him, and He cares about all our thoughts and feelings. And you can talk to Him anytime and anyplace.” Mom nodded. “Mariana doesn’t go to your school, so you’re not able to talk to her throughout the day, but Jesus is with you all the time. You can ask Him for help whenever you need it. And He wants to hear about all the ordinary things going on in your life too.” “Cool!” said Sienna. “I never really thought of prayer as talking with a friend.” “God is always available, but don’t forget to also make a special time each day to talk with Him for a few minutes,” said Dad. “He wants to hear all you have to say.” –Anna Somers How About You? Do you like talking with your friends? Did you know that if you’re a Christian, Jesus is your friend too? He’s always right there with you, and He wants you to tell Him whatever’s on your mind–your feelings, problems, questions, joys, and sorrows. Talk to Him throughout the day like you would talk to your best friend, and also set aside a few minutes each day to shut out other things and spend time with Him in prayer. Today’s Key Verse: You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (NKJV) (Jeremiah 29:12) Today’s Key Thought: Prayer is talking with a friend

Dec 27, 2024

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20 “We have to defeat the monsters!” Max shouted, swinging his imaginary sword. “Let’s go get them!” Max and his dad started charging across their backyard toward the imaginary monster lair, swinging their swords and shouting their war cries as they played heroes. “But wait!” Max’s dad stopped short. “We have to put on armor first!” “Oh yes, you’re right. To protect us!” “Yes! What armor do you think we’ll need?” “A helmet!” Max declared. “And a breastplate!” “That’s exactly right! And don’t forget a shield.” Max and his dad started putting on their imaginary armor, making sure their breastplates fit them well and their helmets were securely fastened. “Now we have our full armor on!” Max said when they were ready. “You know,” Dad said, “the Bible talks about putting on the full armor of God.” “What does that mean?” Max asked. “It means we should protect ourselves against the devil. Satan wants to lead us away from God, but the Bible gives us ways to stand against him. It says to put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.” “What about our shields and helmets?” asked Max. “Great point. The Bible talks about taking up the shield of faith, which is faith in Jesus, and putting on the helmet of salvation. Our salvation comes from God when we place our faith in Jesus. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, God forgives our sins and gives us eternal life when we trust Jesus as our Savior, and we receive Jesus’s righteousness–His goodness. The Bible also talks about taking up the sword of the Spirit”–Max’s dad held up his imaginary sword–“which is the Word of God.” “Is that the Bible?” asked Max. “Yes!” said Dad. “Putting on our armor helps us remember the truth and power we have in Jesus so we can stand against the devil’s lies.” “Well, I want to put on the armor of God!” Max said. “Let’s finish defeating these monsters with our pretend swords and then we can go inside and take up the sword of the Spirit by reading the Bible!” “That sounds like a great idea, Max!” Dad smiled as they started charging toward the imaginary monster lair again. –Elizabeth Cooper How About You? Are you wearing the armor of God for protection against the devil? When we place our faith in Jesus, He saves us from sin and Satan and makes us right with God. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Satan has no power over us, but he still tries to get us to stray away from God and His truth. Put on the full armor of God so you can stand firm against Satan’s temptations and lies. Today’s Key Verse: Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. (CSB) (Ephesians 6:11) Today’s Key Thought: Put on the full armor of God