Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: Romans 10:9-14 “Mom, can I go play at the park with Logan?” asked Michael. Mom laughed. “Logan, Logan, Logan. Ever since you met him, all I hear is ‘Logan.’” “He’s lots of fun,” said Michael. “I think we’re going to be really good friends. It almost feels like he’s the brother I never had.” “Well, he seems like a nice kid,” said Mom. “Why don’t you invite him to come to church with us this week?” “Okay,” said Michael, “I will.” That evening, Michael was excited when he got home. “I invited Logan to church, and he said he’d come!” Later that week, Logan attended church with Michael and his mom. He came the next week too, and then the next, and the next. And then one Sunday, Logan trusted Jesus as his Savior. Several weeks later, Michael came home looking worried. “Logan and I were supposed to meet at the park this morning, but he didn’t show,” he told his mom. “I tried texting him, but he didn’t respond. I’d go to his place to make sure he’s okay, but I don’t know where he lives—he always came here or met me at the park.” “I’ll ask around,” said Mom. “Maybe I can find out what happened.” The next day, Mom had news. “I’m afraid Logan won’t be coming around anymore,” she said. “I found out his dad is wanted by the police. He apparently learned they were on his trail, and he packed up his family and took off. Seems he’s been on the go like that for a couple years.” Michael’s face crumpled as tears filled his eyes. “So I’m never going to see Logan again? But he was like…like…” “I know,” Mom said as she hugged him. “He was like a brother to you. And you know what? Because you both trust in Jesus, you are brothers in Christ. You’ve both been adopted by God. Maybe Logan will be able to get in touch with you someday, but even if you’re never able to reconnect with him in this lifetime, you’ll see him in heaven.” Michael wiped his eyes. “I’m glad I told him about Jesus. I’m going to pray for him, wherever he is.” “Good,” said Mom. “Let’s pray for him right now.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Have you told your friends about Jesus? Do you pray for them? Being someone’s friend involves more than just having fun together. If you truly love them, tell them what Jesus has done for you and pray for them. Ask God to help them understand how they can become a part of His family too. If they already know Jesus as their Savior, pray for them as your brother or sister in Christ. Today’s key verse: How can they put their trust in [Jesus] if they have not heard of Him? Romans 10:14 (NLV) Today’s key thought: Share Jesus with your friends

Read: Job 12:9-13 Alicia tried to peel back her baby sister’s fingers. “Mom left me to watch you for five minutes, and you’re already trying to take something you shouldn’t.” Bella’s hands were in tight fists, and it was hard for Alicia to get back the little ball that belonged with her dollhouse. “You could choke on that. You don’t want it.” Alicia got her toy back and tried to get her sister settled with something safer. She was relieved when Mom came back and took Bella to get ready for their grandma’s birthday party. At the party, Alicia greeted her grandma then sat down to listen as her aunt thanked everyone for coming. “We have a question for you, Mom,” her aunt said. “As you’re turning seventy, do you have any advice for us?” Alicia’s grandma smiled. “Always live your life with open hands.” “What does that mean?” Alicia’s mom asked, moving to her aunt’s side. “Never hold on to anything in your life, thinking you can control it or that it’s yours,” Grandma said. “Always live with open hands, letting God have control. You don’t know what’s best for you, but God does. We can trust Him with our lives because Jesus gave His own life to save us. I am who I am because I’ve been trying to put my life in God’s hands year after year.” Alicia thought of her sister and her tight fists. The things that Bella tried to hold on to weren’t good or safe. She wanted those things, but she didn’t know they could hurt her. “You look deep in thought.” Mom stepped up to Alicia, Bella in her arms. “Mom…” Alicia stood. Her sister’s hands were in tight fists. With her mom’s help, she opened Bella’s hand and took a small stone away from her. “Where did you even get this?” Mom shook her head. “We should know that when she has her hands like that, she’s trying to keep something she shouldn’t have.” “That’s kind of like what Grandma was saying,” said Alicia. “We sometimes want to hold on to things when God knows they’re not good for us.” Mom nodded. “Grandma gave us good advice—to live with open hands and trust God to fill them with good things He wants for us.” –Emily Acker How about you? Do you live with open hands, trusting God to take care of you and direct your life the way He knows is best? Or do you try to control everything and hold on to the things you want, no matter what? We often want things God knows aren’t good for us. Instead of clenching on to what you want, put your life in God’s hands and trust Him to fill it with the things He knows are good for you. Today’s key verse: You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Live with open hands

Read: Psalm 37:23-24; Jeremiah 18:1-6 “I like coming to visit you, Grandma,” Olivia said as she sprayed more cleaner onto her rag. “It’s nice having you here,” said Grandma. “Miss Cindy was glad for your help with the younger children at youth camp. She wondered if you’d be interested in leading the children’s class at church this week.” She picked up a knick-knack to clean and winked. “You might become a great youth leader someday.” Olivia lowered her head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure God can use me for anything. My stubbornness gets me into trouble a lot.” “Hmm.” Grandma gazed down at the picture frame she was holding as she slowly wiped the glass. “Oh, Grandma, look!” Olivia giggled when she showed Grandma her soiled rag. “This shelf was really dusty.” “My goodness!” Grandma chuckled. “I guess it’s been a while since I last cleaned it. It reminds me how God can make great things out of dirt.” “What do you mean?” asked Olivia. “Well, doesn’t the Bible say we were made from the dust of the earth?” Grandma asked. Olivia nodded. “That means we’re made of dirt,” Grandma said. After the last shelf was cleaned and everything was put back, Grandma tapped her chin with her finger. “You know, Olivia, if God can use dirt to make something as beautiful and miraculous as a human being, just think what He can do with our faults and mistakes.” “Like what?” Olivia plopped onto the couch. “God can use them for good. That means not only forgiving our wrongs, which He does, but using them to help others see how Jesus has transformed us,” Grandma said, nestling into her rocker. “For example, He can use mistakes from our past to help us understand what others are going through and show them His love. Or He can take personality traits that sometimes get us into trouble and help us use them in a positive way instead.” She smiled at Olivia. “Like using someone’s stubborn streak to make them a strong spiritual leader who won’t back down when faced with difficulty.” “I never thought of it like that,” said Olivia. She smiled back at Grandma. “Maybe I’ll help Miss Cindy with the smaller children after all!” –Beth Anne Ingram How about you? Do you think God can’t use you because of your bad habits or past failures? Guess what—He can! He doesn’t let anything go to waste, but finds a way to put it to good use. He forgives your sins and uses the traits and experiences you have to develop qualities in you that help you show His love to others. Trust Him to use every part of you for good. Today’s key verse: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus can use our shortcomings

Read: Psalm 134; Colossians 3:17, 23-24 The church building was dark and empty. Mandy’s mom turned on all the lights. Mandy followed her down to the cleaning supply closet in the basement. “I’ll start in the bathrooms,” Mom said. “How about you mop and dust upstairs? And try to finish a little faster this week, okay?” Mandy wandered slowly upstairs with the mop, swinging the bucket and humming. As she dusted music stands on the stage, she looked out at empty seats and imagined them filled with smiling, clapping people who raised their hands in praise. She took her mop handle and, pretending it was a microphone, sang into it. She called to the pretend crowd, “Sing out! Everyone!” She dropped the mop, strummed an imaginary guitar, and jumped off the stage. On her landing, she raised her hands along with the clapping “crowd.” Suddenly she heard real clapping, and she looked up and saw Mom. Mom smiled. “Now I see why it takes you so long to clean.” “I’m sorry, Mom. I just wish I could be up there playing music and singing when real people are here. Mopping all alone doesn’t seem like it matters much to anybody. The singers and guitar players are the ones who really serve God.” “Did you know that God put a psalm in the Bible for people like us?” asked Mom. “They served in the temple at night.” “Really? Did anyone notice what they did?” “I don’t know, and I don’t know if anyone notices what we do, but God notices. He told night workers to lift up their hands and bless the Lord. God told all His servants to worship Him.” “Not just the music leaders?” “When you’re cleaning, you’re serving Him just as much as they are. The Bible tells us it’s not what we do, but how we do it, that matters to Jesus. He served us by leaving heaven and coming to earth to save us from sin, and when we do our work out of thankfulness and love, we’re serving and worshiping Him.” Mom picked up the mop and handed it back to Mandy. “Then I’d better do a good job!” Mandy swished the mop across the floor and made it shine. –Laura Roesler How about you? Do you feel like you’re worshiping when you’re cleaning or doing other chores behind the scenes at home or church? The Bible says to let everything you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). Whatever you do, day or night, can be done out of love for Jesus and others—including work that no one notices. Even if you serve in a way no one sees, Jesus sees you, and you can do it to thank Him for saving you and to honor Him. Today’s key verse: Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Psalm 134:1 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Worship God day and night

Read: Romans 6:11-14 James looked up from his job of pulling dandelions as his friend Alex pedaled his bike up the driveway. “Hey,” called Alex. “Let’s go to the splash pad at the park.” “Can’t,” James replied. “My mom says she’s sick of seeing yellow dandelions instead of green grass, and I have to get rid of them.” He held up the tool he was using. “I work around the plant with this so I can pull out the whole root—and they sure go deep!” He wiped his brow with a dirty hand. “It’s really hot too.” “Yeah,” said Alex. “Too hot to do it that way. Why not just cut the tops off? Here, I’ll help you. Then we can go cool off.” “Okay,” James said. The boys soon finished the job and were off to the park. Several times in the next few weeks, the dandelions sprouted back up and Mom sent James out to pull them again. Each time, he simply cut off the tops. One day Mom came out to talk to him. “I didn’t understand why we kept getting so many dandelions, but now I see the problem. You aren’t pulling them up by the roots the way I showed you.” “Oh,” said James, looking at the weeds in his hand. “I didn’t think it mattered as long as you couldn’t see them.” “But it does matter,” said Mom. “If the roots are still in the ground, the dandelions grow right back. You have to get rid of the whole thing—roots and all.” That evening, Dad heard about the returning dandelions. “That’s a good example of the way we sometimes treat sin in our lives,” he said. “If it isn’t seen by other people, we often think it doesn’t matter. But just because it isn’t visible to everyone else doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful. No matter how much we try to cover it up, it will keep popping back up in our lives, hurting us and others.” Dad looked at James. “Do you know how to root out sin instead of just trying to hide it?” James nodded. “We need Jesus.” “That’s right,” said Dad. “We need to confess any wrongs we’re trying to hide and remember that because Jesus has saved us and given us new life, sin has no power over us.” –A. W. Smith How about you? Is there a sin in your life you’re trying to keep covered so others won’t see it? No matter how you try to hide it, it will keep popping back up. It needs to be pulled up by the roots, and the only way to do that is to stop trying to hide it and remember that through Jesus you have the power to turn from sin. Trust Him to help you let go of sinful habits and live the new life He’s given you. Today’s key verse: Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Root out sin

Read: Psalm 34:15-17; 55:16-17 As Colin sat down to begin his homework, he heard his little sister whining in the kitchen. He began to study, but all the noise his sister was making distracted him. Then Colin heard his mother’s voice. “Kinsley, I want you to stop whining.” Colin returned to his homework, but soon he heard his sister again. Colin got up and went to the kitchen. “What’s wrong with Kinsley?” he asked. “I have tons of homework, and her whining is driving me crazy!” Kinsley made a face and threw a sock at Colin. “She wants someone to put her socks on for her,” Mom said. “But she knows how to do that herself,” said Colin. “Oh, well. I’ll help her just to make her be quiet!” “Hang on, Colin,” Mom said. “Kinsley also knows how to ask nicely for things. So far all she’s done is whine and throw her socks.” “Well, I don’t know if I can stand all the noise she’s making much longer,” Colin said. “I wonder if God ever feels that way,” Mom said thoughtfully. “It seems like we often whine and complain about things instead of praying about them.” Colin frowned. “You mean, instead of complaining, God wants me to pray about stuff like being bothered by the noise Kinsley’s been making?” “I was actually thinking of a problem I’ve been dealing with at work, but yes, God wants us to tell Him what’s bothering us and pray about everything.” Mom smiled. “Why don’t we pray now?” Mom and Colin bowed their heads. “Dear Father,” Mom prayed, “thank You for caring about all the details of our lives, and thank You for sending Jesus to die for us and make us your children so we can come to you in prayer about anything. Right now we ask You to help Kinsley—and all of us—learn to ask for help instead of whining about our problems. Please help each of us remember that You love us and know what’s best for us. Thank You for always listening to us.” After Mom finished praying, Kinsley walked up to her and held up her socks. “P’ease help me put my socks on, Mommy.” As Mom gave her a hug and knelt down to help her with her socks, Colin smiled and went back to his homework. –Dawn Yrene How about you? Do you pray about your problems? Or do you whine and complain instead of asking for help? God cares about you and wants you to talk to Him about what’s going on in your life. He may not always give quick solutions to your problems, but He’ll always help you and do what’s best. Tell Him what’s bothering you, and thank Him for the blessings He’s given you. He loves you and is always listening. Today’s key verse: Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Pray about everything

Read: John 1:1-9; Romans 8:38-39 Reid came to a stop, panting. He’d been playing tag with his cousins for the last twenty minutes. They were playing outside while they watched the solar eclipse. He took advantage of the pause in play to grab his cardboard glasses, adjust them to cover his eyes, and look up at the sky. The sun was now half-covered by the moon. Reid knew that eventually the moon would completely cover the sun. It was supposed to be dark. Reid really didn’t like the dark. He looked around and felt comforted knowing his cousins were close by. The eclipse continued, and the sky grew steadily darker. As the eclipse approached totality, the time when the moon would completely cover the sun, Reid felt a chill run over his skin and realized the air was suddenly cooler. He felt the familiar fear of the dark, but then his cousins ran up and his aunt came outside, and he remembered he was not alone. He thought of something his Sunday school teacher had said—Jesus was with him in darkness. When his aunt told him the eclipse had reached totality, Reid looked up at the sun. He was surprised by what he saw. The sun was completely blocked by the moon, but a bright ring shone around the moon’s edges. Reid suddenly remembered what his teacher told him the day before—the ring was the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona. The moon wasn’t big enough to block the corona! Reid looked around, realized that there was still enough light to play tag, and took off after his cousins. That night, Reid told his dad about the eclipse. “I was surprised by the brightness of the corona that shone from behind the moon,” he said. Dad looked at him thoughtfully. “It makes me think of the light of Jesus, which shines even in darkness.” Reid smiled. “Dad, I felt Jesus with me today, even in the darkness!” Dad squeezed Reid’s shoulder. “Satan tries his hardest to block out Jesus with the darkness of this world, but he just can’t do it. Like the sun with its corona, Jesus shines so bright that He always overcomes darkness. He came into the world to free us from sin and give us His light, and nothing can ever separate us from His love.” –Chelsea Mohler How about you? Did you know that no darkness in this world can block out Jesus’s light? If you’re facing a frightening situation, Jesus promises to be with you. If you’re struggling with sin and guilt, Jesus offers you forgiveness and gives you the power to turn from sin. If you’re feeling sad, He will comfort you. Remember that He is always with you, shining the light of His love into your life. Today’s key verse: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Nothing can block Jesus’s light

Read: Proverbs 16:16-20 “Has anyone seen my math book?” asked Aria. “I can’t find it anywhere.” But no one had seen it, and Aria finally remembered she had left it at Zoe’s house. My perfect homework record will be ruined! she thought miserably. She always had her homework done at the beginning of class each day. Maybe if I stayed home sick tomorrow, I could make up the lesson. So the next morning, she pretended to have a stomachache and went back to bed while her family got ready for school and work—except for Mom, who insisted on staying home with her. That afternoon, Aria’s sister brought her math book home from school. “Zoe sent this,” she said. “She wondered if you were going to try to come to choir practice tonight. If you can’t, she’ll have to sing that solo part, and she doesn’t know it that well.” Oh no! I forgot all about choir, Aria thought. I really do want to go, and I’m tired of lying in bed. So Aria announced that she felt better. Mom wasn’t convinced. “If you were so sick that you had to miss school, you’d better stay home the rest of the day too.” That evening, Mom found Aria sobbing into her pillow. “What’s wrong, Aria? Do you feel worse?” Aria shook her head. “I wanted to go to choir practice. I’m not sick. I wasn’t sick this morning either,” she said through a sob. “I just didn’t want to ruin my perfect homework record.” Mom sat down on the bed. “You may not be sick, but you sure took a fall. You wanted your homework record to be perfect so everyone would think highly of you, right?” Aria sniffed. “I guess so.” “That’s pride,” said Mom. “Your pride caused you to fall—to tell a lie rather than let others see you as less than perfect. Pride is harmful because it causes us to hide our flaws and our constant need for Jesus’s grace—from both ourselves and others.” Aria hung her head. “I’m sorry, Mom.” Mom gave her a hug. “I forgive you—and Jesus will forgive you too. Trust Him to help you let go of your pride so you can help others see how much we all need Him.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Are you proud? Do you do things just to impress others? It’s okay to want to look your best or do well in school or sports, but when you’re willing to do anything—even something you know is wrong—to keep others from seeing your flaws, that’s pride. Ask Jesus to forgive you and to help you root out pride in your life. Then be honest about your shortcomings and your need for Him. Today’s key verse: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Don’t be proud

Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11 The broom swished across the kitchen floor as Mom worked to gather the crumbs and dirt from under the table. Ethan, Evan, and Everett sat nearby watching. “Wow, Mom,” Everett said. “That’s a lot of crumbs.” Mom laughed. “That’s what happens when three hungry boys live here.” She swept everything into a little pile, then walked over to the wall. With a whoosh, the hidden vacuum inside the wall sucked every last crumb away. “Whoa!” Evan’s eyes went wide. “Where did it all go?” “It’s like a secret vacuum in the wall,” Mom explained. “When we built this house, Dad had it installed. All I have to do is sweep dirt close enough, and it’s gone.” “That’s awesome,” Ethan said. “So…why do you still use the dustpan?” Mom smiled. “Because sometimes I forget about the vacuum. I do all the work, scooping up dirt into the dustpan, when the vacuum is right here, ready to help.” Mom leaned on her broom. “You know,” she continued, “that reminds me of Jesus. He’s always with us, ready to take our sin, worries, and junk. But sometimes, I forget. I try to handle everything on my own, like using the dustpan when the vacuum is right there. Jesus is so much better at handling my mess than I am.” “Do you have to keep asking Him to save you over and over?” Everett asked. “No,” Mom said gently. “When you put your trust in Jesus, He saves you once and for always. But, like floors that keep getting dirty, our hearts pick up things every day—like bad attitudes, selfishness, or worries. I need to keep bringing those things to Him. Some struggles He takes away for good; others I bring to Him again and again. But He never gets tired of helping me, and He always forgives me when I confess my sins to Him.” “So, like the vacuum in our wall, Jesus is always here and always ready to help us, and He’s way better at cleaning than we are,” said Ethan. “Exactly,” Mom said with a grin. “We just have to remember He’s with us and bring Him our mess.” The boys all nodded. “I like that,” Evan said. “And I really like the vacuum.” Mom laughed again. “Me too, bub. Me too.” –LaVerne Vest How about you? Do you try to clean up life’s messes on your own? Or do you bring them to Jesus? Think about one “mess” you’ve carried this week—maybe you got angry with a sibling, struggled with your homework, or had an argument with a friend. Instead of holding it in or working hard to handle it on your own, talk to Jesus. Tell Him about your worries, struggles, and shortcomings. Then trust Him to forgive any wrongs and to help you with difficulties. Today’s key verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Jesus takes your mess

Read: Psalm 139:13-18; Ephesians 2:8-10 After church, Elizabeth and Mom climbed into the car. “I liked my class today,” Elizabeth said. “It was lots of fun.” “Good,” said Mom. “Tell me about it.” “We learned about a Bible story, and we sang some songs.” Elizabeth began to hum one of them. Mom grinned. “I know that song! I think it’s one of the first ones you learned. Let’s sing it.” So together they sang the words: “Jesus loves me, this I know.” Elizabeth stopped singing and looked at her mom. “Does God really love me?” she asked. “Of course He does!” Mom said. “God loves you very much.” “Why?” asked Elizabeth. “Why does He love me?” “Well, think of it this way.” Mom pointed to a picture Elizabeth held in her hand. “I see you have a picture full of flowers and trees and nice green grass. That picture is special to you, isn’t it? Why do you like it so much?” Elizabeth looked at her drawing. “I made it in class today,” she said proudly. Mom smiled and nodded. “It’s something like that with God. He made us, and that’s one reason why we’re very special to Him. It’s one of the reasons He loves us.” “So God loves me the way I love my picture?” Elizabeth asked. “Well, I know your picture is special to you, but you know what? You’re more special to God than that. Much more! He loves you even more than I do.” Elizabeth gazed at her picture. “Whoa,” she said. “That’s a lot, isn’t it, Mom?” “Yes, it is,” said Mom. “God loves us all so much that He sent Jesus, His very own Son, to die for our sins and make us His children. That’s another reason He loves us—because we belong to Him. When we trust in Jesus, He makes us new people and helps us share His love with others. The Bible calls us His handiwork—His masterpiece or artwork.” When they got home, Mom helped Elizabeth put her artwork on her bedroom wall where she could see it every morning when she woke up. And every morning it reminded her that God made her and that she was special to Him. –Karen E. Cogan How about you? Is there something that’s special to you because you made it? Well, God made you, and you’re very special to Him. In fact, God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die so you could be His child. Do you love Him too? Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Don’t wait any longer. Put your trust in the one who made you and loves you. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God made you and loves you

Read: Luke 6:27-36 “Muffie!” yelled two-year-old Reya as she toddled into the living room. She plunked down on the floor next to Muffin, the family dog. Reya reached out a chubby hand and pulled Muffin’s fluffy brown tail. Muffin didn’t bite or even growl. She just moved away as quickly as she could, lying down by the fireplace. Reya followed. She tugged on Muffin’s ear. “Nice doggie,” she cooed. Muffin still didn’t growl or bite. Instead, she licked Reya’s knee with her rough tongue. “Careful, Reya,” said Mom. She walked over, gently loosened the little girl’s hand, and helped her stroke the dog’s head. “Be nice to Muffin.” “Why does Muffin put up with all that torture?” asked Charlotte, who was sitting on the sofa with a book. “No matter how many times Reya pulls her tail or ears, Muffin puts up with it and doesn’t even growl at her.” “Muffin loves Reya, just like she loves the rest of our family,” Mom replied. Charlotte nodded. “Muffin sure is a good dog. I wouldn’t be so nice if I were her!” “We’re blessed to have a faithful dog who is so loving and patient with Reya,” said Mom. She smiled as Reya laid her head down on Muffin’s back. “Muffin is a good example of how we all should treat other people—even those who don’t treat us well.” “Like when people are mean to us?” Charlotte asked. “Yes,” said Mom. “We need to do what the Bible teaches and show them love. Instead of trying to get even, we need to talk with them and resolve our issues in a calm way. Many times, people who hurt us don’t mean to—just like Reya doesn’t mean to hurt Muffin. But even when they’re mean to us on purpose, Jesus wants us to do good to them. He died to save us from sin when we were His enemies, and He wants us to treat others with the same kind of love. It’s not easy, but He promises to help us show His love to everyone.” Charlotte smiled. “Love like Muffin’s?” Mom smiled too. “Love even greater than that. Jesus is the only one who can give us humans the kind of love we need to treat others the way we’d like to be treated ourselves.” –Wanda E. Brunstetter How about you? Do you treat others the way you’d want to be treated? The key verse for today is called the Golden Rule, and it’s one of Jesus’s greatest commands. It can be hard to follow when someone treats you badly, but remember that Jesus was treated badly too. He died on a cross so He could save you! Trust Him to fill your heart with His love so you can treat others the way He would. Today’s key verse: Do for other people what you would like to have them do for you. Luke 6:31 (NLV) Today’s key thought: Love like Jesus

Read: James 5:16-18 “I wish I had a hundred dollars to put in the offering tomorrow!” Isabella told her mom. “The missionaries we’re collecting money for really need it, and I want to help them care for people and tell them about Jesus.” “If you’ll clean the cupboards for me this afternoon, I’ll pay you—not a hundred dollars, but a little,” said Mom. “Have you prayed about the money you’d like to give?” “Prayed for a hundred dollars?” asked Isabella. “No.” “You should,” Mom said. “Trust God to provide whatever amount He wants you to give.” Isabella was cleaning the cupboards when her friend Lillian came over. “I can play as soon as I finish cleaning this cupboard,” Isabella told Lillian. She sat down and looked at the cupboard. “I wish I was done.” “Well, I’ll help you,” said Lillian. “That’ll do more good than wishing.” “I know.” Isabella stood up. “I’m always wishing for things, and Mom keeps telling me that wishing doesn’t help. Praying does. So guess what I’m praying for now? A hundred dollars for the missionary offering!” She got down on her hands and knees to pull out something that was stuck in a corner of the cabinet. “Look,” she said, holding up an old penny. “This must be the start of the answer to my prayers!” The girls laughed at the joke. The next morning, the only offering Isabella had was the old penny and the money Mom had paid her. All together, it was far from a hundred dollars. That afternoon Lillian came over looking excited. “My dad helped count the offering this morning,” she told Isabella, “and he noticed that old penny. He collects coins, and he says it’s valuable—he said it might be worth over a hundred dollars! When I told Dad you were the one who gave it, he said I should tell you and give you a chance to take it back. Otherwise he can sell it and give the money to the missionaries.” She stopped to catch her breath. “So? Do you want it back?” Isabella stared at her in amazement. “Of course I don’t want it back! I’m giving it to the missionary offering, whatever it’s worth.” She grinned. “I prayed for money to give, and God answered my prayer in a way I never expected!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Are there things you wish were different? It doesn’t help to just wish for things. When you stop wishing and start praying, things happen. God works wonders when His people pray. That doesn’t mean He will always answer your prayers the way you want, but He will use your prayers to help you grow in your faith and show His love to those around you. Pray and trust Him to use your prayers for good. Today’s key verse: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Pray and trust God

Read: James 4:4-10 “Hey there, Noah,” Mr. Davis called from his yard as Noah passed by his neighbor’s house. “Problems? You don’t look very happy.” Noah walked over to talk with him. “My friends are all mad at me,” he said. “Some of my school friends told some of the kids at church that I said bad things about them.” “And did you?” Mr. Davis asked. “Well, the kids at school are always gossiping about people they know, so I started doing it too.” Noah wiped a hand across his eyes. “I didn’t want them to tease me for not joining in, so I told a few stories about the kids at church. The thing is, I didn’t even like it—I felt bad because they’re my friends and I knew it was wrong—but now they say I’m two-faced, and no one likes me anymore.” Mr. Davis sighed. “Noah, you remind me of a chameleon—a lizard that changes colors. When it’s against the bark of a tree, it turns brown. When it’s against a leaf, it turns green. Now, God intended for chameleons to be that way so they could protect themselves from predators, but He didn’t intend for Christians to be like that. He wants us to show our true Christian colors all the time.” “But it’s hard to be so different from the other kids,” Noah said. “Well, Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him. The Bible tells us that being a Christian often means people will make fun of us for loving Jesus and obeying Him. After all, Jesus was mocked by the very people He set out to save, and sometimes we’ll be treated badly too. That’s why we need to depend on Him for the strength to show our true colors instead of trying to blend in. When you refuse to join in your school friends’ gossip, you’re showing them how Jesus is helping you love others and treat them with kindness.” Noah sighed. “I guess I should apologize to both my school friends and my church friends, huh?” “I think that would be a good place to start,” Mr. Davis said. “And tell Jesus you’re sorry too. He’ll forgive you and help you show your true colors so others will know you belong to Him.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Are you like a chameleon—trying to blend in with those around you? Depending on who you’re with, do you sometimes tell mean jokes and make fun of people, and other times act in a kind, loving way? As a Christian, Jesus wants you to show others His love all the time, not just when it’s convenient. Trust Him to help you let your true colors stand out. Today’s key verse: Do not offer any part of yourself to sin…but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life. Romans 6:13 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Be true to Jesus

Read: Psalm 145:18-19; Romans 8:38-39 “It’s gone!” Abigail exclaimed one morning as she and her older sister walked to the school where they attended day camp. “They just put it up, and now it’s gone!” A huge telescope had recently been installed on a mountain near their town. The girls usually saw it clearly as they walked down their street. Sophia laughed. “In this fog, lots of things are gone. They’re really just hidden by the fog. I’m sure we’ll be able to see the telescope by the time we walk home this afternoon.” Sophia was right. As they walked home, the telescope was visible again, but by then Abigail had something else on her mind. “I don’t want to go to camp tomorrow,” she said. “There’s a girl in my craft class who doesn’t like me, and I’m scared of her. She’s mean!” “Maybe I can stay with you most of the time tomorrow,” Sophia suggested. “But we’re taking different craft classes—and you’re in a different age group,” Abigail replied. “You can’t stay with me all day.” Sophia thought for a minute. “No, I can’t—but you know someone who can!” “I do?” asked Abigail. “Who?” “Think about the Bible verse we read in our family devotions last week—Jesus is always with us,” Sophia replied. Abigail rolled her eyes at her sister. “I know that, but I can’t see Jesus!” Sophia was quiet for a minute. Then she pointed toward the big telescope on the mountain. “We couldn’t see that telescope this morning, but it was there. And even though we can’t see Jesus, He’s there too. He loves us so much that He died for our sins, and He promises to always be with us.” Abigail sighed. “Okay. You can stay with me until we have to split up for craft classes,” she said. Then she smiled. “And then I’ll remember that Jesus is with me the rest of the time—even though I can’t see Him.” Sophia smiled at her sister. “Let’s talk to Mom when we get home. She might have more ideas about what to do about this girl who’s been bothering you.” –Karen R. Locklear How about you? Do you ever wish you could see Jesus? Perhaps when you have a nightmare or get lost in a store? Even when you face scary things, you can breathe a little easier just by thinking of one thing—the fact that even though you can’t see Him, Jesus is right there with you. He promises to always be with those who trust in Him, and He keeps His promises! Today’s key verse: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is always with you

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:1-5 “Hey, kids, how about a camping trip to the mountains this weekend?” Dad asked enthusiastically at the dinner table one night. “I’m in!” yelled Rico. He wanted to get his vote in before his older sister said something negative. Sure enough, Cara frowned. “Dad, remember the last time we went camping? Our tent collapsed in the middle of the night because we didn’t put it up right, and the mosquitos nearly ate us alive.” Rico giggled. “Don’t forget the night we camped on a beach. When the tide came in, water sloshed into our tent. Everything got soaked!” “The scariest experience for me,” said Mom, “was lying in the tent listening to some animal making a racket outside. I was sure it was a bear.” “But it was only a cute little raccoon!” Dad grinned. “Fun memories, huh? Reminds me of something I read in the Bible the other day about tents.” He got up to find his Bible. “Really? The Bible talks about tents?” Rico asked. “Yup. Here it is. Second Corinthians 5:1-5.” Dad read the passage aloud. “You see?” Cara looked triumphant. “Even the Bible says tents are trouble!” Mom laughed. “Except those verses are really comparing our bodies to tents. It’s saying that as long as we’re in our frail human skin, we’re at risk of experiencing all kinds of sicknesses, temptations, and hardships.” “Right,” said Dad. “But don’t forget that it also says our weak bodies are temporary. We’ll only have them for as long as we live on this earth. One day, when Jesus returns, He will provide those who trust in Him with a new home—He’s going to get rid of sin, sickness, and death forever and make the whole world new. And there we will have perfect bodies. Invincible!” “Like Superman!” shouted Rico. “Cool!” “Well, in the meantime,” said Mom, “what do you say we trade the tent for a mountain lodge this weekend, maybe near a lake?” Everyone cheered but Dad, who shrugged good-naturedly. “Okay, okay. I hear you! But we’re not through with camping. We’ve got plenty more adventures out there, just waiting for us!” –Deborah Meroff How about you? Have you ever thought of your body as a kind of tent? A tent is temporary—it’s meant to be used for a short time while you’re away from home. And this world is not our home—as Christians, our home is with Jesus. One day He will come back and make the world new so it can be our home forever, and He’ll give us perfect bodies that will never wear out! Until then, remember He’s with you in the temporary hardships you face. Today’s key verse: For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened. 2 Corinthians 5:4 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Our weak bodies are temporary

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Chan walked into the six-inch-deep stream right behind his friend Oliver. The water filled his shoes and stuck his pants to his ankles. The round stones shifted under his feet as he slogged through the water. Further downstream the rocks became larger and rougher, the ground more uneven, and the water muddy. Chan felt around with one foot before taking each step. Even when he found a good rock, sometimes the surface was slick. Suddenly his foot slipped. He fought for balance, but he fell with a huge splash. Oliver hurried back to him. “Chan, are you okay?” he asked, reaching down to help Chan to his feet. “I’m fine,” Chan said. “I mean, besides being so wet.” He laughed and tried not to cry. His elbow hurt, and he had scraped his knee. He wasn’t sure he wanted to keep walking. He would probably just fall again. “I have an idea,” said Oliver. “Put your arm around my shoulder, and I’ll put my arm around yours. Now let’s try walking in the creek.” Chan and Oliver took a step forward at the same time. Then another. And another. Suddenly Chan slipped again, but this time Oliver held him up. After a couple more steps, Oliver slipped, and Chan caught him. They started walking faster and with more confidence, and whenever one of them slipped, the other caught him so he didn’t fall. “This is fun,” Chan said. “I was scared I’d fall again, but now I feel safe.” “Maybe we can help each other out of the water too,” Oliver said. “You know, like Pastor Evans was talking about in church last week. He said Christians need to hold each other up spiritually when we start to fall. That’s why going to church and having Christian friends is so important.” “How can we hold each other up spiritually?” Chan asked. He thought about it. “I know! We could talk about what we read in the Bible.” “Yeah, and we can share stuff we’re struggling with or worried about and pray for each other,” added Oliver. “That sounds like a great idea,” Chan said, holding on to his friend as he walked across another slippery rock. “We’re stronger together!” –Amy Glendinning How about you? Do you ever feel like the Christian life is too hard? Do you forget to read your Bible or have trouble praying? Maybe you’re discouraged about struggles in your life. Jesus never meant for you to walk with Him alone. Become friends with other Christians and talk often about Jesus and His promises in the Bible so you can encourage and support each other as you walk with Him. Today’s key verse: Two are better than one…For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Christians can help each other

Read: Romans 5:6-11 Oh no! Poor little bird! Aelin thought when she noticed a bird fluttering around in the grass. It’s hurt. I think it has a broken wing. Maybe I can help it. She picked up her butterfly net and tried to catch the bird, moving slowly and quietly toward it. But each time she got close, it flapped its wings and wiggled out of her reach. The bird led her to the front of the house. Just when she thought she could catch it, the bird flew up and perched on a power line high above her. Aelin was surprised. That bird can fly! Why was it acting like its wing was hurt? She ran into the house to ask her mom about it. Mom smiled when she heard Aelin’s story. “There’s a nest with baby birds in the maple tree out back,” she said. “I think that must have been the mother bird, and she wanted to lead you away from her babies.” “But wasn’t she afraid I’d catch her?” Aelin asked. “Maybe, but she’d rather have you come after her than get too close to her family.” Mom smiled at Aelin and gave her a hug. “She’s a good mother, isn’t she? Parents who love their children that much would do almost anything to keep them safe.” “Wow!” Aelin said. “I guess we don’t think about that very often.” “What’s even better is that someone loves us more than parents do,” said Mom. “Someone actually died for us!” Aelin smiled. “You mean Jesus, don’t you?” Mom nodded. “He willingly gave His life for us so we could have our sins forgiven and live with Him forever. We know that, but we don’t often think about how much love it took. It makes me feel good to think someone loves me that much.” “Me too,” said Aelin. When Aelin went back outside to play, she heard baby birds chirping way up in the tree. “Your mother loves you,” she called to them, “but Jesus loves me even more!” –Karen Cogan How about you? Do you realize how much Jesus loves you? He loves you so much that He came down to earth and suffered and died on the cross so that you could be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him. Have you responded to His great love by trusting Him as your Savior? If not, trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. 1 John 3:16 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Jesus loves you

Read: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 4:8-11 “Your friend Mason is really growing in his faith, isn’t he? It’s been fun to see him plug in at church,” Uncle Ken said as Aiden helped him replace the worn-out boards on the porch. “Yeah,” Aiden said. “His solo with the junior choir was great,” Uncle Ken said between creaks and squeaks as he pulled nails. Aiden didn’t answer. As they worked, he was very quiet—too quiet. Uncle Ken put down his hammer. “Aiden, is everything okay?” Aiden sighed. “It’s just that Mason does everything better than I do. I used to sing solos, but now Mason sings most of them. He’s the star student in our class at church too—he brings more visitors and learns more Bible verses than anybody else.” Uncle Ken nodded. “Get the tape measure out of the toolbox, will you, Aiden? Let’s measure and cut the new boards.” He grinned. “What would you think if the hammer got mad when we started using the tape measure? Or what if the tape measure said, ‘You left me in this box for an hour, so I’m not going to measure anything for you’? Or, ‘If you don’t let me pull nails, I won’t work’?” Aiden grinned. “They couldn’t do each other’s jobs! They’re tools. They have to do what they’re made to do.” “Right,” Uncle Ken said. “And Christians are tools in God’s hands—He gives each of us a job to do. It’s not a competition. We serve because we love Jesus and want to share His love with others, not to make ourselves look good.” Aiden frowned. “But why does Mason have to do everything I do—only better?” “How many hammers are in my toolbox, Aiden?” asked Uncle Ken. Aiden checked. “Two,” he said. Uncle Ken nodded. “And I use both of them. It’s like that with Jesus. He uses us in different ways, but like any tool’s purpose is to serve the carpenter, His purpose for all of us is the same—to work in our hearts so that we’ll grow in our relationship with Him and share His love with others. It’s not about what we do or how well we do it—it’s about trusting Him to use us however He pleases to accomplish His greater purpose.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Are you jealous of other Christians? Remember that Jesus uses each of us to do His work and share His love with others in the way He knows is best. We often compare our tasks and abilities to other people’s, but that’s not what God is concerned about—His focus is on our hearts and how to shape them to make us more like Jesus. Trust Him to help you serve Him faithfully as one of the many tools in His toolbox. Today’s key verse: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Christians are God’s tools

Read: Philippians 1:21-26; Revelation 22:3-5 On the way home from church, Joanna noticed her brother staring out the window. “What’s wrong, Derek? You’ve hardly said a word since we got in the car.” Derek sighed. “I was just thinking about what Pastor Kevin said about Jesus coming again.” Joanna frowned. “Don’t you want Him to come?” “Sure…someday,” Derek replied. “Sometimes I wish He’d come right away,” said Joanna. “Like before my math test tomorrow.” “If you’d study, you wouldn’t have to wish that,” Derek pointed out. “Wishing for Him to come soon is a good thing,” said Joanna. “Grandma always ends her prayers with ‘Lord, come quickly,’ remember?” “That’s easy for her to pray—she’s old!” Derek said. “I want a dog first, but if Jesus comes too soon, I’ll never get to have one.” Dad smiled. “Remember the camping trip we took last summer? I promised we’d go, but we couldn’t set an exact date because I didn’t know when I’d be able to get off work. So we got all our camping stuff ready and then went on with our daily lives.” “That’s right,” said Mom. “When Dad finally said he could go, we hopped in the car and took off. Nobody wanted to stay home and miss all the fun of camping, even if it meant not being able to do other things we had planned.” “You’re saying that being with Jesus will be even better than having a dog, aren’t you?” Derek asked. “Better than we can imagine!” Dad said. “He’s always with those who trust in Him, but when He comes back, we’ll be able to see Him face-to-face, and He’ll restore all of creation so there will be no sin, sickness, or death ever again! Until that time comes, He wants us to keep loving others and growing in our relationship with Him. Working, learning, making plans, having fun—those are all important things God wants us to enjoy, but none of them compare to what it will be like when we’re with Jesus.” “I guess you’re right,” said Derek. “But I still hope I get to have a dog while I wait for Jesus to come!” –Bonnie L. Kinne How about you? Have you ever hoped Jesus wouldn’t come back before you had the chance to do certain things? Are there places you want to see, people you want to meet, or activities you’d like to try? It’s good to hope and plan for things like that, but remember that nothing compares to what awaits for those who know Jesus. When He returns, we will live with Him in a new, perfect world, and it will be better than anything you can imagine! Today’s key verse: [Jesus] says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20 (ERV) Today’s key thought: Nothing compares to being with Jesus

Read: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 9:37; 16:15 Hudson dribbled his basketball up the driveway, aiming for the hoop above the garage. As the ball swished through the net, he glanced next door. The new girl was at the window again. She always seemed to be watching, especially on weekends when his family left for church. One afternoon, Hudson was riding his bike up and down the street when he spotted her kicking a football. As he zoomed past, she gave him a shy wave. Hudson stopped his bike and smiled. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Hudson.” “I’m Sami,” she said shyly. “Do you want to kick the ball with me?” Hudson hesitated, but then nodded. “I’ll ask my mum.” With permission to stay for an hour, he followed Sami into her garden. They kicked the ball back and forth, laughing as they tried trick shots. After a while, Sami tilted her head. “So…why are you always dressed up on the weekends?” she asked. “And why do you and your family carry black books?” Hudson scratched his neck. “Oh…hmm…well…that’s because we go to church. The black book is the Bible.” Sami’s eyes widened. “I’ve never been to a church. What’s it like?” “It’s nice.” Hudson relaxed. “We sing songs, read the Bible, and learn about Jesus.” Sami kicked the ball gently. “Jesus…what’s so special about Him?” Hudson thought for a moment. “Well, He’s God’s Son, and He loves us. He came to earth and died and then rose from the dead to save us. That’s why we want to know Him more.” Sami nodded slowly. “Sounds interesting. Can I ask my mum if I can go with you one day?” Hudson’s heart thumped with excitement. “Yeah! That’d be cool.” A few days later, Sami peeked over the fence. “Hey, Hudson!” she called. “Mum said I can go with you to church!” When Sunday morning arrived, a knock on the door startled Hudson. He opened it to find Sami standing there in a bright yellow dress, beaming. “Ready?” she asked. Hudson grinned. “Yep! Let’s go.” As they drove to church, he felt a warm feeling inside. He was glad he hadn’t been too embarrassed to talk about Jesus. Maybe this was the beginning of Sami giving her heart to God. –Esther Espinoza How about you? Have you ever felt shy talking about Jesus? Don’t be embarrassed to talk about Him. You never know whose heart you might touch. Jesus wants us to share His love and truth with others so more people can know about Him and live in heaven with Him one day. Sharing your faith is a powerful way to show God’s love to the world. Trust Him to help you tell others about Jesus. Today’s key verse: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Sharing Jesus brings joy and hope

Read: Galatians 4:4-7 Morgan never got tired of hearing what happened when her parents took her home from the adoption agency. “You were only six weeks old,” her dad told her one evening when she begged to hear the story again. “I’ll never forget when the agency called to say they had a baby for us. I was at work, and I was so excited I forgot to ask if it was a boy or a girl.” Everyone laughed as they recalled the happy event. Mom continued the story. “The ride home was a long one, and they sent a bottle along with us so we could feed you on the way home. But you kept falling asleep when you were supposed to be drinking your bottle.” Morgan giggled. “So Dad kept blowing the horn to try to keep me awake, right?” “Yes, I did,” Dad said with a grin. “I guess that was kind of silly.” “And so you adopted me,” said Morgan. “What does the word adopt mean again?” “It means to take something as one’s own,” said Mom. “In the case of parents and children, it means to voluntarily take a child of other parents as one’s own child.” Mom gave Morgan a hug. “We gladly took you as our own. We’re so thankful the Lord brought us together.” “I am too,” said Morgan. “You know, Morgan,” Dad said, “the Bible talks about adoption. God wants to adopt us into His family. The Bible says that when we trust in God’s Son, Jesus, God accepts us as His own children.” “That’s right, and being adopted into God’s family is even more wonderful than being adopted into our family,” said Mom. “We become God’s children and heirs—we inherit the gift of eternal life that Jesus earned for us by dying for our sins.” “Then I’ve been adopted twice,” Morgan said. “I was adopted into your family when I was a baby, and I was adopted into God’s family when I trusted in Jesus. Now I belong to you, and I belong to God.” She grinned. “I love being adopted!” –Charles VanderMeer How about you? Have you been adopted into God’s family? Even if you have a wonderful family here on earth, God wants you to become part of His family too. You can only become a child and heir of God by trusting Jesus as your Savior. What could be more wonderful than that? Become God’s child today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 (NLT) Today’s key thought: God wants to adopt you

Read: Psalm 46:1-7 “I miss our old house,” said Tomás. He sighed as he thought about why they had moved into a trailer on Grandpa’s farm. First his little brother, Felix, was seriously injured in a car accident. Then the company Dad worked for went bankrupt, and it had taken him quite a while to find a new job. Tomás knew living in the trailer on the farm saved a lot of money. “But it’s kinda nice to be living near Grandpa,” he said. “I like that too,” replied Mom. “It’s one of the blessings that has come along with our troubles.” She glanced out the window. “It’s terribly windy today, and I think we’re in for quite a storm. Let’s get over to Grandpa’s house. We’ll be safer there.” Mom picked up Felix and they hurried over to the farmhouse. “I think we’d better get downstairs,” Grandpa said soon after they got there. “I don’t like this wind.” So they went down and huddled together in the basement. Even there, they could hear the storm raging outside. “Let’s pray,” Grandpa said. He prayed out loud, thanking God for the rain. I can’t believe Grandpa didn’t even ask God to stop the storm! Tomás thought. When the storm finally did stop, they hurried out to look things over. “It’s still raining a little,” said Mom, “but look at the beautiful rainbow the storm brought us!” “Grandpa, when you prayed, why didn’t you ask God to stop the storm?” Tomás asked. “Well, the storm was really a blessing. It brought the rain we needed so badly.” Grandpa smiled at Tomás. “You know, sometimes it takes storms in our lives to bring special blessings too. When everything goes the way we’d like, we often forget how much we need Jesus. But when we go through difficult times, we learn how much He loves us as He takes care of us and walks with us through our struggles.” Mom nodded. “I’ve learned that when God allows storms to come into my life, He can use them to help me know Him more deeply and trust Him to see me through them.” “Right!” said Grandpa. “Having faith in Jesus and trusting Him to give us strength will help us brave any storm that comes our way.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Are there storms in your life right now? Is someone you love sick? Are you having trouble with friends or siblings? Is money tight at your house? You may never know the reason for the storms in your life, but you can trust Jesus to be with you and help you through them. Remember how much He loves you and be thankful for the blessings He brings through the storms. Today’s key verse: Count it all joy…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Trust Jesus in life’s storms

Read: Job 12:7-10; Psalm 96:11-13; 2 Peter 1:16-21 “Why are we lying on the trampoline?” Penny asked her dad as she looked up at the sky. “All I see is a couple clouds. And it’s so creepy and quiet.” “There are clouds, you’ve got that part right. But I don’t think the silence is creepy. Let’s listen for a few moments and see what specific sounds you can hear.” Dad shifted on the trampoline as he spoke. Penny sighed, but did what her dad said. She watched as one of the clouds floated across the sky. She heard the soft tweeting of birds from somewhere in the yard and noticed the rustling sound the leaves made when the wind hit them. “I hear wind and birds,” she told her dad. “Great! I hear the little tip-tapping of a woodpecker on a tree, and the swish of the grass moving. Who gave us all those sounds?” Penny sat up, frowning. “Gave us sounds? I don’t know.” “God did,” Dad explained. “I know that life has been moving really fast and is probably pretty scary for you with your mom and me getting divorced. A lot is happening, and a lot is changing.” Dad looked around the yard. “Sometimes we just need to stop and listen for a little bit. God is right here with us. You can hear the wind He made in the trees. You can hear the birds He created singing to Him.” Penny frowned. “But mom’s apartment doesn’t have an outside. There’s no trampoline to listen on.” Dad smiled. “You don’t have to be in a certain place—you don’t even have to be outside. God is everywhere—there’s nowhere you can go where you won’t hear Him. Even when everything is crazy and confusing, God is always there. You can open a window and hear nature singing His praises.” Penny clapped her hands together. “And I can open my Bible too! That’s another way to hear God.” “That’s right!” said Dad. “The sounds of nature point us to God, but He speaks directly to us in His Word. The Bible tells us about the hope and promises we have in Jesus and reminds us that He is always with those who trust in Him.” Penny smiled. “I’m glad He’s always with me and I won’t ever be alone.” –Kimberly Brokish How about you? Do you ever feel like life is moving really fast? Sometimes we forget to take a break and listen to God. We can hear Him everywhere, like out in nature, where all of creation sings His praises. Most importantly, we can hear Him speak to us in the Bible, where He promises to always be with us and invites us to come to Him anytime. Where can you go to take a break and listen to God? Today’s key verse: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) Today’s key thought: You can hear God everywhere

Read: Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 Hailey knew she should ask for help before trying out her new manicure set, but she couldn’t wait. She needed something to take her mind off the bad day she’d had. She spilled the glittery nails onto her desk, and without bothering to read the directions, she grabbed the glue and unscrewed it. “What’s wrong with this glue?” she muttered as the watery liquid squirted out of the tiny spout. She shook it, wondering why it wasn’t thick like school glue. Shrugging, she held it against her fingernail and squeezed out a generous amount. She pressed one of the nails onto the glue, which seeped out the edges and down her finger. Moments later, Mom walked in. “Oh! You’re already trying those out? Be careful with that glue!” Hailey smiled, then frowned as she tried to pull her hand away from the table. “Help! My hand is stuck!” Mom groaned and rushed over to inspect. “I wished you’d asked me for help! This glue sticks really tight.” Hailey gulped back a sob. “It does? I think I used a lot!” Soon Hailey’s hand was free, but some of her fingers had lost patches of skin. She held up her bandaged fingers. “Mom, you know what this reminds me of?” “What’s that?” Mom asked. “The bad news I heard from Megan today,” Hailey said sadly. “Her parents are getting a divorce, and that’s a lot like getting my fingers unstuck from that table, only worse. Ungluing hurts!” “I’m sorry to hear about Megan’s parents,” Mom said as she sat down. “You’re right, divorce hurts much worse than trying to get that strong glue off your fingers. God created marriage as a picture of Christ and His church—the unity and love between a husband and wife is meant to show how much Jesus loves us. But divorce is a result of living in a world full of sin and broken relationships, and it hurts.” Hailey nodded. “Megan’s really upset, and both her parents are too.” “Maybe you can help Megan by reminding her how much Jesus loves her,” Mom said. “When broken relationships hurt us, He promises to comfort us and never leave us. Show her what that looks like by sticking by her as a friend.” Hailey looked at her bandaged fingers and nodded. –Rebekah Love Dorris How about you? Do you know someone who’s gone through the pain of a divorce? Maybe you’ve experienced divorce in your own family. Divorce hurts because it’s not God’s plan for marriage. If you’re experiencing the pain of divorce, remember that Jesus loves you and promises to never leave you. If a friend is dealing with divorce, point them to the love and comfort they can find in Jesus as you walk by their side. Today's Key Verse: Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Divorce hurts

Read: Luke 11:37-39 “Sean, the family shelter downtown needs donations. I’ve collected some items. How about donating some of your toys?” Sean knelt in front of his toy box. “I don’t have any toys I want to give away, Mom.” “What about this car?” Mom asked. “I haven’t seen you playing with it in a while, and I’m sure any little boy would love to have it.” Sean looked at the remote control race car his mom was holding. “It doesn’t work anymore.” “Let’s have dad take a look at it. Maybe he can get it running again. Then would you like to donate it?” “I guess. I do have a lot of toys.” After supper Sean handed his father the race car. “Can you fix this, Dad? It doesn’t work anymore. I’d like to give it to a kid at the shelter.” “Let’s take a look at it.” Dad examined the body of the race car. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t be working. This car looks as good as new.” Sean followed his dad to the garage. After taking the screw out of the lid holding the batteries, Dad held the car out for Sean to see. “I think we’ve found the problem.” “Eww!” Sean said. “What is that?” “It’s corrosion, and the build-up has caused the electrical connection to be broken.” “Can you fix it?” Sean asked. “I think so. But first we’ll need to clean the inside of the battery pack.” Sean’s dad handed him a cloth and a little brush and showed him how to clean the inside. “This is like the story Pastor Tim told on Sunday, isn’t it, Sean? About how Jesus told people they were making the outside of themselves clean but ignoring the nasty stuff on the inside. Do you remember?” Sean nodded. “He said it doesn’t matter how good you look to others. If your heart is dirty, you’re broken and disconnected from God.” “Right. That’s why we need Jesus.” Dad replaced the old batteries with new ones and reattached the lid. “When we trust in Him, He cleans our hearts and makes us run as good as new—just like this car.” “Wow,” Sean said, watching the car zoom across the floor. “It is as good as new!” –Sharon Mowery How about you? Do you try hard to make your life look clean when you’re really broken and dirty on the inside? No matter what good things you do, you can’t be clean until Jesus removes the sin from your heart. He makes you clean and new so your heart can work the way it’s supposed to. Trust Him to give you a clean heart today. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:14 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Jesus cleans our hearts

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 A delicious aroma drifted through the door as Audrey walked into the house. She inhaled deeply, wondering for a minute what it was. I know—apple pie! Maybe Mom will let me have a piece before supper. Her stomach growled as she went into the kitchen. No Mom. No apple pies either. Audrey found her mother in the living room. “I was just reading an email from your teacher,” Mom said, grinning. “I think you’ll be pleased to hear what she has to say.” Mom turned to her computer and read the email out loud. “It’s such a delight to have Audrey as one of my students. She often gives up her free time to help her classmates and has befriended the new girl from Indonesia. She is like a breath of fresh air in our class. By the way, she invited me to visit your church sometime, and I’d like to do that.” The email was from Mrs. Hollis, Audrey’s teacher at school. Mom beamed and gave Audrey a big hug. “I’m so proud of you, honey!” Audrey looked pleased. “Hey, where’s the apple pie?” she asked. “I know you made one—I can smell it. Can I have a piece?” Mom furrowed her brows. “Apple pie? I didn’t make any…oh, it’s the candle.” She pointed to the candle burning on the mantle. “It’s an apple pie spice candle.” “Oh.” Audrey was disappointed. “It made me hungry for apple pie.” Mom smiled. “You know what? I think your life is like that candle. It made you hungry for apple pie because it smells so good, and I believe your actions and attitude at school have made your teacher hungry for what you have—I think that’s why she wants to come to church.” “I made her hungry for church?” Audrey asked, confused. “Not church, exactly—Jesus,” said Mom. “Your teacher doesn’t realize she’s really hungry for a relationship with Jesus, but she sees something in your life that appeals to her. I think that seeing you display Jesus’s love in the way you treat others is making her want the real thing—Him.” Mom grabbed her keys. “Come on. That candle is making me hungry for apple pie too, so let’s run to the store and pick one up!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do your actions and attitude make people want to be around you? Does seeing how you treat others make them want to know more about Jesus? As you show others love, kindness, patience, and helpfulness, they get a taste of who Jesus is and what knowing Him is like. As people interact with you, they may become hungry for what you have—hungry to know Jesus. Today’s key verse: We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Make others hungry for Jesus

Read: Psalm 34:1-3; Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Hey, Joel!” shouted Micah from the other side of the parking lot at school. “What’s up?” Joel asked as the two of them began to walk toward the school building together. “I was wondering if you’d like to come to my house after school,” Micah said. “I got a new bike for my birthday, so maybe you could bring yours.” “Sure, I’ll come over,” said Joel. “My dad bought me a girl’s bike, and we had to paint over the flowers! We worked really hard on it.” After school they went to Joel’s house and got his bike. Then they went to Micah’s house. “I present to you, the fastest bike the world has ever known!” Micah said with a flourish. He looked at Joel’s bike and giggled. “Umm…I can still see the flowers you painted over,” he said. “My bike is new, and I bet it’s faster than yours.” Joel looked down at the ground as he put his helmet on, looking hurt. Just then Micah’s mom came out of the house. “Micah,” she said, “I’d like to speak with you for a minute. Please come inside.” “Wait a minute, Joel!” Micah said as he quickly ran inside. He sat down on the couch beside his mom. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “How do you think you were treating Joel out there?” Mom asked. Micah didn’t answer. “You were boasting about your bike, weren’t you?” “I’m sorry, Mom,” Micah answered. “I’ll tell Joel I’m sorry too, but…I thought you said we could boast about…” Micah’s voice trailed off. Mom laughed. “You mean we can boast about God. That’s much different than what you were doing. God tells us not to boast about ourselves because everything we have comes from Him, and putting down Joel’s bike and bragging about your own hurt him. But boasting about God and the wonderful things He’s done for us helps us share His love with others. What are some things God has done that we can boast about?” “Well,” said Micah, “we can boast about God because He is so good and faithful, and because He sent His Son to die for us.” “Very good,” said Mom. “How about you go apologize to Joel and compliment his bike?” “Sure,” said Micah. “And no more bad boasting!” –Emmaline Craymer How about you? Have you ever boasted about something you own or something you can do? You probably have, maybe even without knowing it. If others have bragged about themselves in front of you, you know how much it hurts. When you put yourself above somebody else, it hurts them. But when you boast about God and the wonderful things He’s done for all of us, you praise Him and reflect His love and kindness to others. Today’s key verse: My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Psalm 34:2 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Boast about God

Read: 1 Peter 1:23-25 “I can’t believe Grandma gave me a Bible for my birthday!” Ethan said as he and his older brother Sam walked home from the library. “What am I gonna do with that?” “Well, you could read it,” Sam said. Ethan laughed. “How could an old book written thousands of years ago have anything to say to us today? Dad is always saying the Bible is old-fashioned and outdated. Maybe he’ll let me return it and get something else.” He pointed down the street. “Hey, let’s stop and see the house Uncle Andrew is building. It’s only a couple blocks away.” Sam agreed, so the brothers stopped at the new house. “Looks nice,” Sam said when he saw it. “Is that a solar panel on the roof?” Ethan nodded. “Most of the power for heating and cooling will come from the sun. Uncle Andrew says more and more people are using solar energy now. It’s cheaper and better for the environment.” Sam glanced up at the sky and shrugged. “I don’t see what the big deal is. The sun is just an old star. How could it be useful?” “What are you talking about?” asked Ethan. “The sun gives us the light and energy we need to survive. There wouldn’t be any life on earth without it!” Sam smirked. “Yeah, but it’s older than the Bible, so it can’t be any good to us today, right?” “Oh, I see what you’re doing,” Ethan said, rolling his eyes. “You know it’s not the same thing.” “Actually, it kind of is,” said Sam. “The sun gives us the light we need to live on earth, but the Bible shows us the light of a different Son—Jesus, the Son of God. It tells us how we can have eternal life by trusting in Him. And just like sunlight, the light the Bible shines on our lives is just as powerful today as it was thousands of years ago. It’s the light of God’s truth, and He never changes.” Ethan was quiet as they started heading home. “I guess I’ll give my new Bible a try,” he finally said. “I’ll give you some verses to start with if you want,” Sam said. “Then maybe we can talk about them.” Ethan smiled. “That would be great!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you think the Bible is outdated because it’s been around for a long time? It may be old, but it shines the light of God’s truth on our lives, and His truth never changes. It tells us how God’s Son, Jesus, died for us and rose again so we could have eternal life. Even though it was written thousands of years ago, its light is still shining today. Read it and ask God to help you see and understand its truth. Today’s key verse: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:31 (NIV) Today’s key thought: The Bible is for today

Read: Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23; 1 John 5:9-12 After enjoying a picnic lunch, Uncle Don pointed toward the paths around the picnic area. “Do you remember which path we took to get here?” “It was the one by the swings,” Kennedy said. Elliot disagreed. “It was the one by that flowering bush over there.” “Nuh-uh! I remember seeing the swings right away,” Kennedy insisted. “But I remember seeing a bird’s nest on the other side of that bush!” Elliot shot back. “Let’s try an experiment,” said Uncle Don. “You each sincerely believe you’re right, don’t you?” “Yes!” shouted both of the children. “All right. How about you each try your path and we’ll see who’s right. I’ll walk with Elliot, and Aunt Sue can walk with Kennedy. Whoever finds the car can text the other group. If no one finds the car, meet back here in fifteen minutes.” The kids agreed, and off they went. Fifteen minutes later, they were back at the picnic spot. “I can’t believe neither of us found the car!” Kennedy said. “Uncle Don, do you know where it is?” Uncle Don smiled. “Follow me.” They followed Uncle Don down a path near some wildflowers, and after a few minutes, they saw he was right. “There’s the car!” yelled Elliot. “How did you know, Uncle Don?” Kennedy asked. Uncle Don held up his phone. “I have an app that tells me where my car is parked. It showed me which path to take.” “That’s kind of like what we were talking about earlier—about how the Bible shows us the only path to heaven,” Elliot said. Uncle Don nodded. “You both were very sincere in believing that the path you chose would lead to the car, but your sincerity didn’t help you. You can also be very sincere about the path you choose to try to get to heaven, but unless you choose the right one, your sincerity won’t help you get there either. My phone showed me the truth about where the car was parked, and God’s Word shows us the truth about how to get to heaven. There’s no other way to have eternal life except through Jesus. He’s the one and only way to heaven.” –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you know the way to heaven? Do you think the way to get there is by going to church, saying prayers, or doing good things? The Bible says nothing you do will ever get you to heaven. It says Jesus is the only way—only He can give you life that lasts forever. Choose the right path by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is the way to heaven

Read: John 14:6; Acts 17:10-12 “It’s so pretty here!” Kennedy told her aunt and uncle as she gazed around the picnic area. She turned to her brother. “Don’t you wish we could live in the Rockies, Elliot?” “It sure is nice,” Elliot said. “Look—I guess everybody likes this spot. There are paths coming here from all directions. It’s just like the city of Rome.” “How is this like Rome?” Aunt Sue asked. “Last week our pastor said that in the days of the Roman Empire, you could follow any road and it would lead you to Rome,” Elliot explained. “He said that’s like going to heaven. No matter what religion we follow, it will lead us to heaven if we’re sincere and do our best.” Uncle Don frowned. “Perhaps all roads did lead to Rome, but all religions certainly don’t lead to heaven. The Bible has something to say about that.” “That’s right,” said Aunt Sue. “If we want to know what’s true and what’s not, we can’t accept the word of any person—unless what they say agrees with what we read in the Bible. And in the book of John, Jesus says He is the way to heaven. We can only be saved from sin and have eternal life by trusting in Him.” Kennedy looked doubtful. “I never heard our minister say that. Wouldn’t he know?” “Yeah,” said Elliot. “He’s had lots of training, and he’s a really cool guy!” “It doesn’t matter who he is or how nice he is,” Uncle Don said. “What matters is whether he teaches what God says in His Word. The book of Acts talks about the apostle Paul going to a city called Berea. When he preached to the people there, they checked the Scriptures to see if what he said was correct. That’s what we need to do too.” “I never thought about that,” Elliot said. “I always thought whatever our pastor said was true, but I guess he could be wrong.” Uncle Don nodded. “People can be wrong, but what God says in His Word is always right.” He pulled out his phone. “How about I show you some more Bible verses that talk about how Jesus is the only way to have eternal life?” Elliot and Kennedy nodded and scooched closer. –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you go to church to learn about God? Do you read books, watch videos, or listen to programs that talk about God? That’s great, but make sure what you’re learning agrees with God’s Word. If you’re not sure whether something is true, ask a parent or teacher to help you find it in the Bible. Follow the example of early Christians and study the Bible so you know what it says. Today’s key verse: They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Study the Bible

Read: 1 Corinthians 13 “Keira, let me help you with that.” Alexis reached for a pile of laundry needing to be folded. “It will earn me points for my youth group contest. I want to get the most points so I can win!” One of the ways kids in the youth group could earn points was by helping the members of their family. Keira frowned and batted her sister’s hands away. “I’m not signing any paper saying you helped me with anything. Just leave me and my things alone!” The other members of Alexis’s family were delighted with her behavior. They could hardly believe how helpful she had suddenly become—she did dishes, made beds, offered to help with her brother’s homework, babysat, and even carried out the trash! Keira was the only one who refused her help. Alexis did well in the contest, but she didn’t win. Yet to everyone’s surprise, her helpful ways continued. One day, Keira asked Alexis to help her fold the laundry. Alexis was puzzled. “Why do you let me do things for you now?” she asked. “When we were having the contest, you wouldn’t let me do anything for you.” “Well, now you really want to help me,” Keira replied. “Before, you just did it for points.” Alexis thought about that. “I guess that’s true. I wanted to win the prize for getting the most points.” “Why do you want to help now?” Keira asked. “Well, on the day the contest ended, Miss Wilson talked about a Bible passage that says no matter how much good we do, without love, our good deeds are worthless in God’s sight. She said that’s why she came up with the contest in the first place—to show how often we might think we’re earning points with God when we do good things, but if we don’t have the love of Jesus in our hearts, our good deeds mean nothing. She said we need to trust in Jesus and depend on Him to help us do things for others out of love, and I realized she was right.” Alexis grinned at her sister. “I’m glad you can tell the difference.” “I can.” Keira laughed. “But now I’m sorry I didn’t help you win the contest!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do you do nice things for other people? Why? Is it so you’ll win points with them and make them like you? Or do you think doing good deeds wins you points with God? He says that all the good things you do mean nothing if they’re not done out of genuine love—the kind of love Jesus has for you. Trust Him to fill your heart with His love so you can let it overflow to others. They can tell the difference! Today’s key verse: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Love one another

Read: Psalm 23 Owen looked at the frail man on the bed. Grandpa’s getting so weak, he thought. I know he’s going to die soon. “Are you afraid, Grandpa?” he asked. “No, Owen.” Grandpa smiled as he reached for Owen’s hand. “I’m not afraid to die. Jesus is with me. I’m going home to be with Him.” Owen nodded, but he thought he’d be afraid anyway. After all, he couldn’t see Jesus! Later that afternoon, Owen got a text from his friend Kian. “Wanna come over for a while?” Kian asked. “Mom says you can stay for supper.” After checking with his mom, Owen walked across the field to Kian’s house. A few hours later, the boys had just finished a game when Owen glanced out the window. “It’s already dark!” he said, jumping to his feet. “I gotta go!” As Owen started across the field, he could barely make out the path. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, casting weird shadows on the waving grass. Strange sounds came from the trees at the edge of the field. Owen’s heart thumped, and his knees felt weak. Don’t be a baby, he told himself. Shadows can’t hurt anyone. “Owen?” a voice called from the darkness. For a second, Owen’s heart almost stopped, but then he recognized the familiar voice. “Dad! I’m so glad to see you!” Owen said in a wobbly voice. “Or at least, I’m glad to hear you. It’s so dark, I can hardly see anything.” “I know. I came to walk home with you,” Dad said. “I thought you might like some company crossing this dark field.” With Dad beside him, Owen felt like the shadows were friendly, and the sounds were no longer scary. When they got home, Owen went to Grandpa’s room to tell him about the experience. “Once I knew Dad was there, I wasn’t scared anymore,” Owen said, “even though I couldn’t see him. It was almost like I could feel him with me.” He hesitated. “Is that kind of how you’re not afraid to die?” “Exactly,” said Grandpa. “Death is like a dark shadow, and even though I can’t see Jesus, I know He’s there. I feel His presence, and with Him beside me, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Owen nodded, beginning to understand. –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you know someone who is dying? Are you afraid of dying yourself? For a Christian, death is like a shadow. As Psalm 23 says, you don’t have to fear death when Jesus is with you. In fact, the last verse of the Psalm tells what will happen to you if you know Jesus as your Savior. It says you will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus promises to walk with you through everything, even death, and bring you home to heaven with Him. Today’s key verse: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Christians don’t have to fear death

Read: Romans 12:1-2 “Whoa!” Vivian exclaimed when she saw the pile of things her mother had laid out on the table. “Is Gracie getting all of that for her birthday?” Mom nodded. “Grandma brought some of it over. She found a lot of things on sale, so your little niece is probably getting more than she needs. I offered to wrap Grandma’s gifts for her.” Vivian sat down beside her mom. “Can I help?” “You sure can,” Mom replied. Vivian chose a doll in a pink dress. She wrapped it in bright purple paper and tied a silver ribbon around the package. “There! That looks really pretty, doesn’t it? But do you know what I like most about presents?” “What’s that?” Mom asked. “What’s inside them,” said Vivian. “That’s the best part of a present.” “I agree,” said Mom, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “P-r-e-s-e-n-t spells an interesting word. It can be pronounced present, which is another word for gift, or it can be present, which means to give.” Vivian laughed. “So when I give a gift, I present a present.” Mom nodded. “That makes me think of a verse in the Bible—one that tells us to present ourselves to God.” Vivian reached for more wrapping paper. “If we do that, are we making ourselves a present for Him? And if our lives are a present, we should make sure they’re filled with good things, right?” “Well, actually, we have nothing good in ourselves to offer God,” Mom said. “We’re saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus’s goodness, not our own.” “But the Bible tells us to do good things after we’re saved, doesn’t it?” asked Vivian. “Yes,” Mom said. “When we put our faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit so we can show His love to others and serve Him.” Vivian held up the present she had just finished wrapping. “So it’s not enough to just look good on the outside, like we’re wrapped in pretty paper. When we present ourselves to Jesus, He makes us good on the inside. That’s the kind of present God wants.” “That’s right,” said Mom. “It’s what’s inside that counts.” –Eunice C. Matchett How about you? Has Jesus made you good on the inside? Or are you trying to make yourself look good on your own? You have nothing good in yourself, but when you trust Jesus as your Savior, He gives you His goodness and makes you a truly pleasing gift to God. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then you can let others see His love and goodness in the way you live. Today’s key verse: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Romans 12:1 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Jesus makes you good

Read: Matthew 5:14-16 The evening was cool and clear. The earthy smell of the forest filled the air, and stars shone brightly through the trees. A group of boys and their teacher lingered around the dying campfire at their youth group retreat. “Wow!” Joshua said, craning his head back. “The stars are really bright tonight.” Enoch looked up toward the sky. “They just look brighter because there are no other lights around,” he said. “They stand out more against the darkness.” “I see a firefly,” said Joshua. “Look! Over there.” He pointed toward a tree a few feet away from the fire. The light of the firefly flickered in an on-and-off pattern. “Maybe he’s sending a message in Morse code,” Enoch said. “Quick, Josh, figure out what he’s trying to say.” The boys laughed as they watched the firefly blink on and off. Mr. Bardot, their teacher, looked thoughtful. “Fireflies are amazing little creatures,” he said. “And they have a good lesson to teach us as Christians. Can you guess what it might be?” The boys were silent for a moment. “I know!” said Enoch. “That we need to let our lights shine for Jesus.” “Yeah,” said Joshua. “But not the way fireflies do.” “Why not?” asked Mr. Bardot. “Because whenever our lights are shining, they help draw people to Jesus. So we want them to shine all the time, not flicker on and off.” Mr. Bardot nodded. “Good thinking. What things might keep our lights from shining?” “I think our lights flicker when we’re unkind or selfish or do things we know are wrong,” Enoch said quietly. “Like lying to our parents or cheating on a test.” “Or saying something mean to someone,” added Joshua. “You’re right,” said Mr. Bardot. “Doing things like that doesn’t show others Jesus’s light and the love He’s put in our hearts.” “So how can we keep our lights for Jesus from flickering?” asked Enoch. “By depending on Him to help us reflect His love in all we say and do,” said Mr. Bardot. “He loves us so much that He gave His life for us, and He gives us the Holy Spirit so we can shine the light of His love to others. Let’s rely on Him to help us shine brightly as steady lights in the darkness.” –Linda J. Dahlin How about you? Does your light for Jesus shine all the time, or does it flicker on and off? Do you consistently treat others with kindness, or only if they’re your friends or you’re in a good mood? When you put your faith in Jesus, He gave you the Holy Spirit so you can show His love to others in everything you say and do. Let His light shine through you so others can see His love for them. 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: Be a steady light for Jesus

Read: 1 Peter 5:5-11 Whiskers, Lincoln’s kitten, leaped into the air and batted the shoestring Lincoln was swinging back and forth. “I don’t care how nice Todd is, no one can ever take Dad’s place,” Lincoln told Uncle Shawn. “I don’t want a stepfather.” He sighed. His dad had died a few years before, and now his mom was getting remarried. “Todd isn’t trying to take your dad’s place, Lincoln,” said Uncle Shawn. “He’s a good man who loves your mom, and he wants to be there for you too.” “I don’t care,” Lincoln said. “He’s not Dad, so he might as well stop trying to make me like him.” When Whiskers got tired of the shoelace, he jumped up onto Lincoln’s lap and purred. Lincoln smiled and petted the kitten’s head. “How long ago did you lose your first cat?” Uncle Shawn asked. “Snowbunny? A few months ago,” Lincoln replied sadly. “That’s what I thought, so I’m really surprised to see you treating Whiskers the way you do,” Uncle Shawn said. “You’re just as nice to him as you were to Snowbunny.” Lincoln frowned. “So? What’s wrong with that?” “Don’t you miss Snowbunny?” Uncle Shawn asked. “Of course,” said Lincoln. “But Snowbunny is gone, and now I have Whiskers. He’s a different cat, but he’s special in his own way, and I’m glad I have him.” Uncle Shawn nodded. “I understand, and I think it’s a bit similar to your situation with Todd. I don’t think Todd is trying to be the same as your dad. He knows you loved your dad and would never try to take his place. But if you give him a chance, I think you’ll be glad to have him as part of your family. More than that, since he knows Jesus, he’s already part of your Christian family. God puts other Christians in our lives because He loves us and wants us to show His love to one another. I’m sure Todd will do that for you and your mom, and you can show Todd God’s love in return by giving him a chance and respecting him as your stepfather.” Lincoln looked at the kitten purring in his lap. “Okay, Uncle Shawn,” he said. “I guess I can do that.” –Susan Arcand How about you? Do you have a stepparent? Most stepparents try very hard to fill a difficult position. They know they can never replace your mom or dad, but they can be a wonderful presence and help in your life, especially if they know Jesus. Remember that Jesus is with you in all the changes you face in life and trust Him to help you show His love to stepparents. Today’s key verse: Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Respect stepparents

Read: Matthew 5:43-44; Galatians 6:9-10 Nora let the door bang shut just as her brother reached it. “Well, thanks,” Lloyd said sarcastically. “You never hold the door open for me,” said Nora. “You never hold the door open for me,” echoed Lloyd. Nora scowled. “Don’t copy me.” “Don’t copy me.” “Stop it, Lloyd!” yelled Nora. “Stop it, Lloyd!” came the echo. Nora ran to her room and slammed the door. As Nora and her friend Zoe walked home from the bus stop the next day, Zoe’s brother Tracen caught up with them. “How’d you do on the spelling test, Zoe?” he asked. “Great!” Zoe replied. “I got all the words right!” “Awesome!” Tracen started running to catch up with a friend. “I’ll make popcorn when we get home!” he yelled over his shoulder. Zoe grinned and waved as he left. Nora looked at Zoe. “Are you and Tracen always so nice to each other?” “We used to fight a lot,” said Zoe. “But we’ve been learning about Jesus at church and how He loves us so much He died for us and wants us to love others and live in peace. That means caring about other people’s feelings, even when they’re not nice to us. So I tried it, and Tracen did too, and it really made a difference! Sometimes we forget, but we get along a lot better now.” Maybe I should try that with Lloyd, Nora thought. Lloyd arrived home just as Nora ran up the steps, so she held the door open for him. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked. “Nothing,” replied Nora. “Nothing,” Lloyd repeated. Nora just laughed and went to her room. At dinner, Nora handed the potatoes to Lloyd before taking some herself. “How was school?” she asked. “Terrible,” said Lloyd. “I don’t get multiplication.” “I’ll help you tonight if you want,” Nora offered. Lloyd was startled. “Why?” “Because I want to,” Nora replied. Lloyd gave her a strange look, and Nora could hardly believe it when he passed the chicken so she could take a piece first. Thank you, Jesus, she prayed silently. Please help us learn to live in peace. –Janice M. Jones How about you? Are you kind to your brothers and sisters? Or do you tease them or treat them badly—especially when they treat you the same way? It’s not easy to be kind to someone who’s not being kind to you, but Jesus can help you bring peace to your relationships. Trust Him to help you show His love to your brothers and sisters and bring peace to your home. Today’s key verse: Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Be a peacemaker at home

Read: Psalm 145:17-20; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 On Friday, Noah had an invitation to a birthday party and another to a sleepover—and he couldn’t go to both. It was hard choosing between his friends, and he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Then on Sunday, Noah tried contacting his friends to see if anyone wanted to hang out, but they were all busy. “You look bored,” his grandpa said when he came over that evening. Noah sat back on the couch with a sigh. “I thought my friends might want to hang out today, but they all have other plans.” “I see.” Grandpa sat down beside him. “Friends are confusing,” Noah said. “Sometimes everyone wants to hang out with you, and sometimes no one can. Sometimes we all get along, and sometimes we fight.” “Sounds like most relationships,” Grandpa said. “But I’m glad there’s one constant in my life.” “Grandma?” Noah asked. Grandpa smiled. “No. Even we disagree occasionally. But there is someone who never lets me down.” “It’s not me,” Noah said with a knit brow. “I’m pretty sure Dad has let you down before too.” “Any more guesses?” Grandpa asked. Noah shook his head, feeling stumped. “God,” Grandpa said. “He has never let me down.” “God?” Noah asked. Grandpa nodded. “He’s always there for me. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for the rest of eternity. He is never going to change. Even when your friends aren’t available or things get confusing, you can rely on God to be steady and constant in your life.” Noah ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m glad God’s with me, but it’s not exactly the same.” “As having a friend you can play with? Maybe not. But Jesus said that everyone who trusts Him as their Savior is His friend. He is our perfect friend who gave His life to save us and always listens and cares about everything going on in our lives. When you need a friend, you can always talk to Him.” “Thanks, Grandpa.” Noah gave his grandpa a fist bump. “You’re a pretty good friend too.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Are friendships ever confusing for you? Friends are a gift from God, but they can’t always be there when we want them to be and sometimes let us down. But you can have a constant friend who will never fail you. Jesus is available all the time, and He never changes. He loves you and gave His life to be your friend forever. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Go to Him and tell Him what’s on your mind. Today’s key verse: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is a constant friend

Read: Deuteronomy 8:2-5; 29:2-6 “Where are we going, Grandma?” Daisy asked. Grandma opened the gate separating her backyard from the woods behind it. “A place you’ll enjoy,” she replied with a smile. As they walked through the woods, Daisy noticed little chipmunks scurrying up tree trunks, making her giggle. When the wind whistled through the piney limbs, Daisy clung closer to Grandma. “Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Daisy asked. “Do you trust me?” Grandma replied, squeezing Daisy’s hand. Daisy nodded. “It’s just a little further,” said Grandma. The edge of the woods opened onto a farm where sheep and cattle grazed on the grassy hills. A lamb bumbled over and put his hooves against the wooden fence. “My friend owns this farm,” Grandma said. “I thought you would love seeing the animals.” Daisy let the lamb tickle her fingers with his nose. “He’s so cute!” she said. “But why didn’t we just drive here? The path through the woods took forever!” Grandma leaned against the fence. “Do you think there were any benefits to taking the scenic path?” Daisy scrunched up her nose. “Well, we got to spend more time together.” Grandma nodded. “I love spending time with you. What else?” “The forest was more interesting than the main road,” Daisy added. “Oh! And I had to trust that you knew where we were going.” “That’s right,” Grandma said. “Do you remember in the Bible when God led the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years before bringing them to the Promised Land?” “I remember,” Daisy said. “Didn’t God know a faster route?” “Yes, but God wanted them to learn to rely on Him,” Grandma said. “Instead of trusting God, the Israelites complained and disobeyed Him, which is why God kept them in the wilderness for so long. And through their waiting, they got to experience more miracles, such as God sending them food from heaven and keeping their clothes and sandals from wearing out.” “It’s hard for me to wait on God sometimes,” Daisy said. “I know,” Grandma said. “But He’s helping you learn to rely on Him too. As you follow Jesus along the path He has for you, keep your eyes open for the ways He shows you His love and grace on your journey.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Are you waiting for something right now? Do you wonder if God is in control when things don’t happen when you want them to? Remember that God’s timing is perfect, even when you don’t understand it. Look for ways Jesus is showing you His love and grace through waiting periods and trust Him to use scenic routes to help you grow in your faith. Today’s key verse: In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God’s path is best

Read: Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19 Dad closed the trunk of the car. “Okay, everything’s packed. Let’s go!” “Wait!” Mom called. “Aria and Nolan, please empty the trash in the bedrooms and kitchen before we leave.” “I’ll get the bedrooms,” Aria said. Nolan went to the kitchen and glanced at the trash bag. It wasn’t even full. I’ll empty it when we get back, he thought, and ran to claim his spot in the car. A few hours later, they pulled into the hotel parking lot. “It looks like a windstorm tore through here,” Mom said. “Cans are tipped over with trash scattered everywhere.” Dad nodded. “Maybe some racoons had a party.” “Speaking of trash…” Mom looked into the back seat. “Was the garbage emptied?” “Yup,” Aria proudly announced. There was a long silence, and Dad looked at Nolan in the rearview mirror. “How about you?” “It was only half full,” Nolan said. “I thought it could wait.” “Oh no!” said Mom. “I threw out some spoiled food this morning.” She sighed. “I wish you had done what I asked you to, Nolan. In a couple days, the kitchen is going to smell like a garbage dump!” “This reminds me of a true story,” Dad said. “Forty years ago, the city of Philadelphia had a huge garbage problem. The trash collectors went on strike, and trash piled up in the whole city and smelled horrible for twenty days!” “Gross!” Aria wrinkled her nose. “They decided to burn the garbage, load the ash onto a ship, and sail it away. The ship sailed to several different countries, but no one would take the ash.” “Well, at least we don’t have that much trash in our kitchen,” Nolan said. “No, but sin is like garbage we can’t get rid of ourselves,” Dad replied. “But unlike that ship, we know someone who’s always willing to take it away if we ask Him.” The answer was easy. “Jesus,” Nolan said. “We can confess our sin to Him, and He’ll take out the trash and make us clean.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I messed up and didn’t obey you. I’ll take out the trash the minute we get home.” Dad grinned. “By then, you’ll need a fly swatter, mask, and gloves!” –Matt Shoemaker How about you? Is there a stinky sin weighing on your heart? Do you have trash in your life that needs to be taken out? Ask Jesus to remove it. He died and rose again to save you from sin and is always willing to take out your trash. When you confess your sin to Him, He will gladly forgive you and take it far away! 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. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus takes our trash

Read: Romans 12:9-13 Hannah gave herself a quick look in the mirror while Faith twirled around in her new skirt. “Girls!” Mom called. “Our company is almost here!” The sisters giggled and raced down the hall. A few minutes later, Mrs. Kelly arrived with her daughter Brittany, who was about the girls’ age, and Brittany’s little sister, Samantha. The girls brought Brittany to their room to play, and Samantha toddled after them. The first thing little Samantha did when she entered the girls’ room was give Faith’s new stuffed kitty a big squeeze. Faith gasped. “Samantha! No! Please put my kitty down!” She took it from Samantha’s hands and placed it out of her reach. Ten minutes later the girls were having a tea party when Samantha accidently bumped into the table and the carefully placed dishes came crashing down. “Samantha!” Hannah said sternly. “You’re ruining everything!” “I’ll take her back to Mom,” Brittany said quietly. She took her younger sister by the hand and led her out of the room. While Mrs. Kelly changed Samantha’s diaper, Mom came to check on her daughters. “How’s it going in here, girls?” Faith sighed. “Brittany’s nice and all, but her baby sister is messing up all our stuff!” “Yeah!” Hannah chimed in. “She even almost broke my favorite pony!” “Girls, do you remember the verse we learned this morning? First Peter 4:9?” “‘Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,’” the girls mumbled together. Mom nodded. “Jesus sacrificed everything so He could welcome us into His family, and hospitality is one of the ways we show His love to others. Do you think the way you were acting toward Samantha was very hospitable?” The girls looked at the floor and shook their heads. “Well, how can you make this right?” Mom asked. “Wait and see!” Faith said with a grin. When Brittany and Samantha walked in a minute later, the girls knelt down beside Samantha and offered her two of their favorite stuffed animals. “Pet her head, Samantha,” Faith said, holding out her stuffed kitty. “She’s so fluffy.” Samantha pet the kitty’s head and giggled. Mom beamed and headed for the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go share my favorite chocolates with Mrs. Kelly!” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Is it hard for you to share your special toys and treats when others come to visit you? A great way to practice hospitality is to remember two things: 1) People always matter more than things, and 2) God gave us everything we have so we could use it to show others His love. When we open our homes to others, it opens our hearts to them as well. Today’s key verse: Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Practice hospitality

Read: Mark 2:13-15; John 3:36 Reagan peered out the window, wearing her soccer uniform and munching on a sandwich. Dad’s car pulled up and honked. It was Dad’s week to watch her. “Bye, Mom!” Reagan hollered. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran outside. “Dad! I learned something so cool!” Reagan said, plopping her bag at her feet. She balanced her sandwich on one knee while she buckled up. “Oh yeah?” Dad asked. They rolled past the neighbor’s sunflower garden. “What’s that?” “See those sunflowers? Did you know they’re edible from root to petal? They’re used for all kinds of stuff! Like making sunflower oil, for one thing.” Dad nodded. “I use that to cook with sometimes.” “But the coolest thing about them is heliotropism!” Reagan continued. “That’s a fancy word for how a plant grows in response to sunlight. It’s easy to see in a sunflower, ‘cuz they actually follow the sun’s movement—like solar tracking! It helps the plant’s growth rate and use of light. Isn’t that the coolest?” Dad chuckled at Reagan’s enthusiasm. “Sounds like you’re really into sunflowers.” “I am! You know why I think they’re so cool?” Reagan asked as she took another bite of her sandwich. “Brehcuzz—” “Hold on!” Dad said with another chuckle. “Chew your food first. Then you can tell me all about it.” Reagan swallowed. “Sorry. ‘Cuz in church, I learned we’re supposed to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow Him. Well, Jesus is God’s Son, right? So following the Son of God is like sunflowers following the sun in the sky. We can be Son-followers! Jesus gives us life by shining His light on us and making us grow.” Dad pulled the car into the soccer complex and parked. “Hmm. That’s some sermon, Reagan. You know I don’t go to church, but it sure sounds like you’re excited about it.” “I am! Sunflowers are so cheerful—and I want you to have the joy of knowing Jesus like I do. You could be a Son-follower too, Dad.” Reagan looked across the parking lot. “Oh! There’s my coach. Gotta go!” Reagan shoved the rest of her sandwich into her mouth, grabbed her soccer gear, and hopped out of the car. Dad watched her run to catch up with the rest of her team. –Pearl Allard How about you? Have you experienced the joy of knowing Jesus? Like sunflowers following the sun as it moves across the sky, Christians follow the Son of God. He fills us with His light and makes us grow to be more like Him. When others see His light and joy shine through us, they might want to be Son-followers too! You can become a Son-follower today by trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: [Jesus] saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Follow God’s Son, Jesus

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 “Tell me, kids—if something good happened to you, would you keep it to yourself?” Mr. Miller asked his class at church. “No!” came the answer as all the kids shook their heads. “We like to share our good news with our friends, don’t we?” Mr. Miller continued. “Yet when it comes to the greatest news of all—Jesus saving us by dying for our sins and coming back to life—we often keep that a secret. Why do you suppose that is?” This time, no one could answer Mr. Miller’s question. “If we know Jesus, we need to tell others about Him,” said Mr. Miller. “Let’s bow our heads a moment and ask the Lord to give each of us the name of a friend who needs to hear about Him.” The children sat quietly, and a name came to Dominic’s mind. Oh no! he thought. Not Thatcher! He’ll never listen! After class, Dominic talked with Mr. Miller about it. “Look out the window,” Mr. Miller said. “See the tree growing in the middle of those huge rocks on that hillside? How do you think it got there?” Dominic shrugged. “I guess a seed from another tree fell there and took root.” “Do you think the parent tree worried about how hard the rocks looked when it let the seed drop?” Mr. Miller asked. Dominic shook his head. “That’s right,” said Mr. Miller. “The tree just let the seed fall, and God did the rest. That’s what we need to do too. We need to tell others about Jesus so the seed of His good news can fall. Don’t worry about how it takes root. That’s God’s work, and He can handle it.” Dominic still looked uncertain. “Thatcher’s my friend, but I feel like he’s just gonna laugh at me if I try to tell Him about Jesus.” “It can be scary to tell our friends about Jesus when we don’t know how they’ll respond,” Mr. Miller said. “But remember that God loves Thatcher and has the power to save him, and He’ll be with you the whole time. Pray for Thatcher, and ask Jesus to give you an opportunity to let him know what He’s done for him. He’ll help you spread the seed of His good news in Thatcher’s heart.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Are you afraid your friends won’t listen to you if you tell them about Jesus? It can be scary, but trust Jesus to help you spread the seed of His good news. Faithfully pray for friends who don’t know Him, and watch for opportunities to talk about Jesus and what He’s done for you. Leave the rest up to God—He’s the one who makes the seed take root. Today’s key verse: I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Tell friends about Jesus

Read: Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “What a summer this has turned out to be!” said Leah. “When we moved to the country, I thought I’d be riding horses and wading in the creek. But lately it seems like all I’ve been doing is snapping beans, husking corn, shelling peas, and now peeling peaches for canning and freezing.” Mom smiled. “I think you’ve found plenty of time for fun things too, and when winter comes, you’ll be glad we have all this food preserved.” Leah shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m tired of it now!” A few months later, shortly after Christmas, a blizzard began. Soon Leah and her family were snowed in. “Oh, Mom, what are we going to do?” Leah asked as she stared through the window at the swirling snow. “It might be days before we can get out!” Mom smiled. “Well, we’ve got lots of wood for the fire, and the freezer is full of meat. And we’ve got plenty of good home-canned food too.” “That’s true!” said Leah. “There’s no danger we’ll go hungry, is there?” She sighed. “But I’m so bored! It’s too windy and cold to play outside. What can I do that’s fun?” Mom laughed. “You have lots of books and games and puzzles. You could also memorize your verses for church.” “Yeah, but I don’t see why we have to learn so many verses,” said Leah. “We’ve got lots of Bibles—and you and Dad even have Bibles on your phones. Anytime we need a verse, we can just look it up.” “Remember how you complained about all that canning and freezing last summer?” Mom asked. “Now that a storm came along and we’re snowed in and can’t get to the store, we’re glad we have lots of food stored up, right?” “Sure,” Leah said. “Well, in life, you never know when stormy times will come. There may be times when you’ll face temptation or need to remember God’s love for you or have a chance to tell someone about Jesus, and it’s not always possible or convenient to look up verses in the Bible or on a phone. Then you’ll be glad to have those verses stored in your heart so you can feast on God’s Word anytime!” “So I should ‘can’ those verses?” Leah asked with a smile. “Okay, I will!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you memorize God’s Word? Memorizing Bible verses is a great way to help you remember what Jesus has done for you and share Him with others. Verses you’ve learned can be a help, encouragement, and comfort to you. Think about what each verse means as you memorize. Then store it in your heart so you’ll have it whenever you need it. Today’s key verse: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Memorize Bible verses

Read: Psalm 103:11-12; Malachi 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Look, Bianca!” Mom was sitting on the couch with a big book on her lap. “Here’s a lock of your hair from when you were three months old—and look at your footprint from when you were born.” Bianca grinned. “Wow! It’s really tiny! That’s my baby book, isn’t it? It’s been a long time since I’ve looked at it.” “I wrote all these entries in it during your first three years,” Mom said. “It says you walked and talked early. You took your first step at nine months. You said ‘Dada’ at five months—at least, your dad said you did—and you could sing the ABCs by the time you were two and a half. You were a smart little cookie.” “Really?” Bianca sighed. “Well, I’m not smart anymore. I’m always doing dumb things now.” “That’s not true,” said Mom. “Sometimes you just dwell on your mistakes too much.” She pointed to the book. “Why do you think I didn’t write things like, ‘Today Bianca fell down fifteen times trying to walk’?” Bianca laughed. “That wouldn’t sound too good.” “No, but falling down is part of learning to walk,” said Mom. “I don’t remember how many times you fell, but I do remember that first step. I didn’t record the times you cried for what seemed like hours. But you were a sweet baby, and I recorded that. Moms always write good memories in baby books.” She smiled at Bianca. “Did you know that God has a book of remembrance too?” “He does? Does He only write down good things in His book like moms do?” Mom nodded. “He doesn’t keep a record of the wrong things Christians do. When we trust in Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. He only remembers the good things.” “So He doesn’t want us to feel bad about all the wrong things we’ve done?” Mom shook her head. “Sin does have consequences, and when we do something wrong, Jesus wants us to confess our sin to Him. But it will never show up in God’s remembrance book because Jesus took all our sins on Himself when He died. Instead of dwelling on our mistakes, He wants us to show His love to others and joyfully walk with Him.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Did you know that, if you’re a Christian, God doesn’t keep a record of your sins? He only remembers the good things you do out of the love He’s put in your heart. So don’t dwell on your failures and mistakes. When you do something wrong, confess it to Jesus. He promises to forgive you and help you do good things that show the love and joy you have in Him. Today’s key verse: Love is patient, love is kind…it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God remembers good things

Read: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:28, 38-39 Kate squeezed sand between her toes as she watched a young mother swing her daughter around and catapult her into the water. The girl giggled and called out for more. Kate looked at her mom and remembered when she was strong and healthy enough to do the same thing with her. Now if Mom wanted to get in the water at the beach, she had to crawl through the sand until she reached the water’s edge. Walking was just too painful most days. Mom patted the blanket, and Kate curled up next to her. “Mom, why do you have this awful sickness? Why can’t the doctors help you? I’ve been praying every day, but it seems like God isn’t listening!” Mom stroked Kate’s silky hair. “I don’t know, sweetie, but I’m so thankful you’re praying for me. Don’t give up! Remember what we read in Romans this morning about God always being with us and using everything in our lives for good?” “I remember,” Kate said. “It’s just that all of this is so bad!” Mom nodded sadly. “It is. But we have to keep trusting that God is working in all this bad and will make something good come out of it.” “Hey!” Kate sat straight up. “That reminds me of the story of Joseph. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown in jail for something he didn’t do. But God used those bad things to place Joseph as second in command over Egypt. When there was a severe famine, Joseph was able to save many people’s lives!” Mom nodded. “Joseph trusted God, even though he didn’t understand why He would allow all those bad things to happen to him. And we need to trust God in our situation. We don’t know why He allowed me to get sick, but perhaps, like Joseph’s hardships, it will help save people’s lives by pointing them to Jesus. He did the greatest good of all by suffering and dying on a cross to save us, and we can trust Him to use everything in our lives for good too.” Kate looked at her mom. “I’ll remind us to keep trusting Him.” Mom smiled. “I’d be thankful for that. And here’s something else to be thankful for—we’re at the beach, not in a stinky jail cell!” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever wonder why God allows people you love to get sick or hurt? This world we live in is full of pain and sorrow, but we are not alone. Jesus knows what it’s like to go through pain and suffering, and He promises to be with us in everything we face and use it for good. He died and rose again so we could have a future free from pain, sickness, and death. We can trust Him. Today’s key verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Romans 8:28 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Trust God in hard times

Read: 1 Peter 1:18-21 “Yum!” Hazel said as her mom set a bowl of bright red strawberries on the table. They had just gotten home from the Fourth of July parade and were enjoying a snack on the patio. “Can we go see the fireworks tonight?” Ollie asked as he popped a strawberry into his mouth. “And can Zane come with us?” “As a matter of fact, we’ve asked Zane’s family to join us for a picnic before the fireworks,” Mom told him. Dad smiled when Ollie let out a whoop. “I’ve been talking to Zane’s dad about Jesus lately,” Dad said. “He’s interested, but he says he can’t believe he doesn’t have to do something to earn his way to heaven—he says nothing is really free. Maybe I’ll get a chance to talk more about it with him tonight.” Mom helped herself to some strawberries. “Did you kids enjoy the parade?” she asked. “Yeah!” said Ollie. “When we were waiting in line to get popsicles, we talked to a man in a wheelchair. He was a veteran, and now we appreciate the freedom we have in this country more than we ever did before.” Hazel nodded. “It never cost us anything, but it cost that man a whole lot.” “And it cost some people even more—it cost them their lives,” Ollie added. “It’s so easy to take our blessings for granted,” said Dad. “We forget that someone paid a big price for them.” He looked at Ollie and smiled. “You’ve given me an idea for helping Zane’s dad understand salvation.” Ollie raised his eyebrows. “I have?” Dad nodded. “Like I said, Zane’s dad thinks salvation can’t be free—he thinks it should cost something. Maybe I can show him that, like the liberties we enjoy in America, salvation is free to us, but someone paid a big price for it. It cost God the life of His only Son, Jesus. We can enjoy freedom from sin and life with God forever because Jesus was willing to pay the price for our salvation.” “Wow!” said Hazel. “I’m so glad He paid the price so I could be free.” “Me too,” said Dad. “Let’s pray that we can help Zane and his family understand that salvation is free for them too.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you realize what salvation cost? Jesus had to leave the glories of heaven and live in this sinful world. He had to take the punishment you deserve and suffer and die on a cross—all to pay the price for you to be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him. Because He paid that price, salvation is free to you. Accept His gift by trusting in Him today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: You were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus paid for salvation

Read: Psalm 139:7-12 Peyton loved her new baby brother, Josiah, but lately it seemed like Mom and Dad didn’t have time for her anymore. She and her mom used to do things together, just the two of them. But now all Mom seemed to be able to do was focus on Josiah. He had some health problems that required much of her parents’ time. When Dad got home from work, he and Peyton went outside to play ball. “I’ve been working on writing a song about Jesus!” Peyton said. “I’ve been practicing it in my head. I hope I don’t forget it.” “That’s great!” said Dad. “Would you like some help writing down the music for it?” “That would be great!” Then Peyton’s smile turned to a frown. “Mom said she didn’t have time to help me with it today. She was really busy with Josiah again.” Dad stopped throwing the ball and thought for a moment. “We’ve been busy with him a lot these days, huh? Your mother and I knew you would have to share us with your little brother, but we never want either of you to think you’re not important to us or that we don’t have time for you.” “I know,” said Peyton. Then she smirked. “I just wish we had a machine that would duplicate you and Mom so you could be there all the time for both of us!” Dad laughed. “You know, even though we can’t do anything like that, our heavenly Father can! He is always there for us, all the time. We can go to Him in prayer whenever we feel lonely or need help with something, knowing that He loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His own Son, to die for us and make us His children.” “That’s a great thought, Dad! So even when you and Mom have to help Josiah, I can have peace knowing God is right there with me.” “That’s right!” said Dad. “But always let Mom or me know when you need some time with us. We want to be there for you too.” Dad tossed the ball to Peyton. “Now, as we finish our game, I want to hear that song you’ve been working on!” –Jonathan Wiles How about you? Have you ever felt like you have to share your mom or dad with your brothers or sisters? Maybe someone in your family has health issues or other problems and needs extra attention. Your parents can’t always give you their help or attention when you want it, but your heavenly Father can. Go to Him whenever you have a problem or feel sad. He always has time for you, no matter what! Today’s key verse: God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God always has time for you

Read: Daniel 12:3; Philippians 2:12-16 The dark sky over Star Mountain Camp rumbled with thunder. “Macaroni and cheese, everybody freeze!” Sam, the camp counselor, called out over the rowdy summer campers. It had been raining all week, and everyone was getting restless. “For this next game, I’ll need volunteers,” Sam announced. Hands shot up all over the rec room. “You and you,” Sam said, pointing to twin brothers Aiden and Connor. Choruses of “No fair!” and “I was first!” rose up from the grumbling campers. “Okay, change of plans,” Sam said. “I think what everyone has is a case of the rumble-grumbles. It’s becoming an epidemic!” “What’s a leopard-demic?” asked one of the younger campers. “Epidemic,” Sam corrected. “It’s something that spreads—like a bad rash.” “Ewwww,” said the campers. “So that’s something we want to fix fast, right?” Sam asked them. Young heads slowly started to nod. “Who remembers our Bible verse for the week?” asked Sam. The twins raised their hands. “You, then you,” Sam said, pointing to each of them. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing,” Connor began. “So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation,” Aiden continued. “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” “I want everyone to follow me,” Sam said, leading the way outside. He pointed at the sky as the group huddled together in the cool night air. “Check out the stars!” Gazing at the sparkling sky far above them, murmurs of “Wow!” and “Awesome!” drifted up from the campers. “That’s how Jesus wants you to shine—here at camp, when you go home, at school, wherever you are,” Sam told them. “How do you think you can do that?” “I guess one way is to remember everything Jesus has done for us instead of grumbling,” Connor suggested. “And that He wants us to love and encourage one another,” Aiden said thoughtfully. “Right,” said Sam. “Remember, if you belong to Jesus, you reflect Him—just like those stars in the night sky.” He paused. All was calm. All was bright. “Hey!” Aiden exclaimed suddenly. “The sky stopped rumbling!” Connor grinned. “And the campers have stopped grumbling.” –Kelly Hope How about you? Do you find it easy to grumble or argue instead of being loving and encouraging to others? Remember that those who trust in Jesus shine like stars that stand out in the night sky. When you feel the rumble-grumbles coming on, remember that you belong to Jesus, who died to save you and fills your life with His love and blessings. Then trust Him to help you reflect His light. Today’s key verse: Do everything without grumbling or arguing…Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Don’t grumble

Read: Jeremiah 18:3-6 “What are you making, Grandpa?” Elena asked, walking over to the porch swing where her grandfather was shaving slivers from a small block of wood. Grandpa held it up to show her. “There’s an eagle trapped in this wood, and I’m setting it free.” Elena looked closely at the block in his hands and then up at Grandpa. “I don’t see anything in there.” Grandpa smiled. “Oh, it’s there all right.” He turned the wood block in his hand. “I’ll show it to you later this evening.” When they all sat down to dinner that evening, Grandpa placed a newly carved eagle beside Elena’s plate. “There you are, young lady,” he said with a wink. “There’s the eagle I set free from the wood.” Elena’s eyes grew wide with amazement. “Wow!” she said. “It’s so pretty!” “I want you to have it,” Grandpa said. “And whenever you look at it, I want you to remember that Jesus has done the same with you.” “Jesus made me like this eagle?” Elena asked. Grandpa nodded. “You couldn’t see the eagle in the block of wood this morning, but I could. I freed it from the wood and carved it into a special creation. It doesn’t look like an old block of wood anymore, does it?” “No,” Elena said, picking up the sculpture. “Now it’s a beautiful eagle!” “Right,” said Grandpa. “And that’s what Jesus does for us. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to save us, and when we put our faith in Him, He sets us free from sin and makes us new people. We’re no longer blocks of wood but new, beautiful creations. But sometimes we lose sight of that when we face difficult circumstances or make bad choices. That’s why I made you this eagle—to help you remember that you’re a beautiful sculpture in God’s hands. You can always trust Him to forgive your mistakes and guide you in His plan for your life.” Elena looked at the eagle again. “Thank you, Grandpa,” she said. “I’m going to put this on my dresser where I’ll see it every day!” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Did you know that, if you trust in Jesus, you’re like a beautiful eagle carved out of wood? You’re no longer stuck in a block of sin—He’s set you free and has made you into something new. The Bible compares God to an artist—a potter—molding you into something beautiful. Trust Him to forgive you when you mess up and to guide your steps as you live your life as a new creation. Today’s key verse: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Jesus makes us beautiful

Read: Psalm 119:129-133 “How about this pair, Mom?” Lizzie asked. She slid the glasses onto her face and peeked in the eye doctor’s mirror. “Those look nice on you.” Mom held up another pair. “But try these frames on first before you decide which ones you want.” “Isn’t it funny,” Lizzie said as she stared at her reflection, “how much we care about how the glasses look when they’re actually just to help me see!” “That reminds me of something I read in my Bible this morning,” Mom said. “Remember what happened when your old glasses broke and you went to school without them?” Lizzie nodded. “I tripped on the steps because I couldn’t see.” “Right. Well, just like glasses, we need God’s Word to help us see clearly. The Bible helps us see how much we need Jesus to save us from sin and shows us how to live as God’s children. But our glasses can’t help us if we don’t wear them.” Lizzie thought of her Bible sitting at home on her nightstand. She left it out because she liked the way her new pink Bible looked with her pink room decorations, but she hadn’t opened it in quite a while. “I guess the Bible won’t do me much good if I don’t read it,” Lizzie said. “I’m going to try to start reading some verses every day.” Mom smiled. “That’s great! As we read God’s Word, He’ll use it to shape our hearts and help us focus on Jesus and the hope we have in Him.” Later that week Mom and Lizzie returned to the doctor’s office to pick up her new glasses. “Wow!” Lizzie said as she looked around. “Having new glasses really makes a difference!” She remembered how earlier that week she had read a verse about showing God’s love to others during her devotions. When she had felt angry at school because of a friend’s mean words, she reminded herself of the verse. It helped her not say something mean back. Mom was right, she thought. God used His Word to help me see what He wanted me to do in that situation. Lizzie smiled and reached up to touch her new frames. Just like glasses. –Jessica Kleeberger How about you? Have you ever needed to get glasses? It’s fun to pick out nice frames, but the true purpose of glasses isn’t to make you look good—it’s to help you see! Our Bibles shouldn’t be decorations either. They are God’s special words that tell us the story of Jesus and how He died and rose again to give us eternal life. Through the Bible, we can clearly see our need for Him and how He wants us to live. Today’s key verse: How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God’s Word helps us see clearly