Keys For Kids Ministries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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