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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading: Luke 12:13-21On the one-hundredth birthday of her town, Evie watched as the mayor unlocked a time capsule on the evening news that had been created and stored a hundred years before. He pulled several papers and mementos out of it and held them up to the camera."Can I make a time capsule for our family?" Evie asked when it was over. "I could put family treasures in it!""Sure," said Mom. "That would be fun."Evie found a box and placed some coins and a dollar bill from her desk drawer inside it. Then she packed in a DVD, a sweatshirt, and a storybook. Next she added an old teddy bear, swimming goggles, a beaded necklace, and a picture she had drawn. "Finding things for this box is fun, and there's still room for more," Evie told her mom. "When people in the future see this stuff, they'll get an idea of what we were like.""I think future family members will find the things you have in there interesting," said Mom. "But if you want to make a statement about our lives, I think you're missing the most important thing of all.""A family photo!" said Evie's little brother, Walden. "So they can see what we look like.""What about a newspaper?" suggested Evie. "That would tell them a lot about the things going on around us.""Or we could write them a letter!" said Walden."Those are all good things to add," said Mom. "But I'm thinking about something that makes life important and worth living, even without any of the other things in the box." "I know!" said Evie after a moment. "A Bible! And maybe a church bulletin too.""And we can tell them about Jesus in the letter we write to them!" said Walden.Mom nodded. "Those are both good ways to show future generations what's really important to us. Any physical items we put in our time capsule will be old and worn by the time our descendants open it. But the hope we have in Jesus, who saved us from sin and gave us eternal life with Him, is treasure that will last forever. Let's add some items to the box that point to the heavenly treasure we value most."–Nance E. Keyes How About You?What do you treasure the most? Money? Clothes? Toys? Good grades? Those are good things God gave you to enjoy, but they don't last forever or bring meaning to your life. The only treasure that lasts is the gift of eternal life with Jesus. Store your treasure in heaven by trusting Him as your Savior and then sharing His love with others. (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:Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (NLT) (Matthew 6:19 )Today's Key Thought:Store your treasure in heaven

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:22-32 Mom had purchased two butterfly kits, one for Millie and one for Logan. They were going to be studying the stages of a butterfly in their homeschool science group."Does everyone have a butterfly kit with a caterpillar?" Mrs. Wilson asked. She walked around the room and helped the students get their kits set up. "Now, it will take about three weeks for your caterpillars to turn into butterflies, and we will be observing and taking notes throughout the metamorphosis process.""What does metamorphosis mean?" Millie asked."That's a good question, Millie. It means to change. The caterpillars will be going through several changes or stages before they turn into butterflies. This is called the process of metamorphosis."After Mrs. Wilson dismissed the class, Millie and Logan talked to their friends while the moms got the lunches together. Everyone was excited--this was definitely going to be a fun science project!"I can't wait to see my butterfly," Millie said on the way home. "We learned what metamorphosis means today. It means to change.""That reminds me of what we read about in our devotions yesterday," said Mom. "You mean about having new life in Jesus?" Logan asked. Mom nodded. "When we trust Jesus as our Savior, we become new--much like how butterflies go through metamorphosis. Second Corinthians 5:17 says that anyone who belongs to Jesus has become a new person. Our old life is gone, and we are given a new life where we have the freedom to love others the way Jesus does.""That's really cool. I'll have to tell that to Mrs. Wilson next week," Logan replied.Over the next three weeks, Millie and Logan watched their caterpillars turn into butterflies. "This is so awesome!" Logan said on the day when all the students had their butterfly kits sitting on the picnic table, ready for release time."Okay, class, time to set the butterflies free," Mrs. Wilson announced.The students released their butterflies into the air. "Fly, butterfly! Enjoy your new life!" Millie called to hers. Everyone cheered as they watched their butterflies fluttering around.–Lisa FullerHow About You?Do you know what it means to become a new person? It doesn't mean physically changing like a caterpillar into a butterfly. It means to be freed from the guilt of our sin and given the Holy Spirit, who works in your heart to make you more like Jesus. As you let the Holy Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes, He will help you throw off your old way of thinking and live a new life of love that points to Jesus.Today's Key Verse:Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:17)Today's Key Thought:Christians have a new life

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:129-133"What are you reading?" asked Dr. Trent as he entered the examination room and saw Alisha with an open book on her lap."It's the Bible," said Alisha."The Bible? Why are you reading that?" Dr. Trent asked. "With all the exciting books out there, I would think you'd find an old book like that pretty boring.""Oh no," Alisha said. "It's not like that at all. I'm on a Bible quiz team, and our next contest is coming up, so I've been studying whenever I get a chance. I think the stories in the Bible are really interesting." She closed her Bible. "Besides, reading the Bible helps me--well--I don't know." Alisha sighed, frustrated she couldn't express what she was thinking."I have something for you," said Dr. Trent. He held up a new pair of glasses."Oh good," said Alisha as she removed her old ones. The doctor placed the new glasses on Alisha's face, checking behind her ears to see how they fit. "Wow!" Alisha said, looking around. Dr. Trent smiled. "You didn't realize how much you were missing with your old glasses, did you?""No," said Alisha. "Everything is so much clearer now." As she looked around the room, she glanced at her Bible, and suddenly she had an idea. "That's why I read the Bible, Dr. Trent." The doctor raised his eyebrows. "Reading the Bible is kind of like getting glasses," Alisha explained. "It helps me see things more clearly. Actually, it's even better than glasses because the Bible helps me see things like who God is and how much He loves me--so much that Jesus died for my sins! It shows me how God wants me to live and reminds me that I can always trust Him, no matter what.""It sounds like the Bible means a lot to you," said Dr. Trent.Alisha nodded. "It's changed my life." She stood up to leave. "You should read it for yourself--it's better than the best glasses you've ever had!" Dr. Trent smiled. "Maybe I'll give it a try sometime." "I hope so," said Alisha. "You might realize how much you've been missing!"–Bob Hostetler How About You?Did you know that the Bible can help you see everything in your life more clearly? Or did you think it was just an old, boring book? The Bible is alive and life-giving. It's God's message to all people, and it tells how Jesus died and rose again to save us from sin and give us eternal life. It shines the light of His truth and promises into our lives. Read it every day to help you focus on Jesus and the joy He brings to your life. Today's Key Verse:The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. (NIV) (John 6:63)Today's Key Thought:The Bible makes everything clearer

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-19"I didn't mean to hurt your oh-so-special skateboard, Grady!" Jared told his brother. "You don't have to get so mad!" "I told you to leave it alone!" shouted Grady."Well, a skateboard is meant to jump and ride rails and stuff," said Jared. "All you do is coast down the street on it. Why don't you try out this ramp I built?"Just then Dad came out to the garage. "Dad!" said Grady. "Jared scratched up my new skateboard. I told him not to take it on that ramp, but he did anyway, and now it's a mess!""I couldn't help it, Grady--I didn't fall on purpose." Jared pointed to his chest. "Besides, look what happened to my shirt when I fell off the board. There are grass stains all over it!"Dad examined the skateboard. "Grady, why don't you get some of those decals you've been collecting and stick them on your skateboard? They should cover most of these scratches, and then the board will look great! I'll help you with it, okay?" Grady nodded, looking relieved. Then Dad turned to Jared. "Do you want some white paint to put over those stains on your shirt?""Paint?" Jared shook his head. "Of course not! These stains will have to be washed out--not covered up.""I agree," said Dad. "Do you know that the wrong things you do shouldn't be covered up either? You shouldn't have used your brother's skateboard when he told you not to, but instead of accepting responsibility and apologizing for scratching it up, you made excuses. You even complained about what your stunt had done to your shirt. You were trying to cover up the wrong thing you did, weren't you?"Jared was quiet a moment. "I guess so," he finally admitted. "I'm sorry, Grady.""When we do wrong, we need to confess our sin to Jesus," said Dad. "And if our wrong has hurt someone else, we need to tell that person we're sorry and ask for forgiveness." Dad patted Jared's shoulder. "We'll do our best with that shirt, but it might never be quite the same again. But when we confess our sin, Jesus is ready and willing to forgive and completely wash it away."–Lyndel F. Walker How About You?When you've done something wrong, do you accept responsibility? Or do you look for someone else to blame? Learn to say, "It's my fault. I'm sorry." Admit it when you've done something wrong, and ask God and others to forgive you. That's far better than making excuses or blaming others for what you've done. Jesus will always forgive you--and if you're truly sorry, others usually will too.Today's Key Verse:Scrub away my guilt. Wash me clean from my sin. I know I have done wrong. (ERV) (Psalm 51:2-3)Today's Key Thought:Accept responsibility for your actions

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2Casey was sitting on the edge of the deck, shoving a pointy stick into the muddy spring earth, when Grandpa sat down next to him."Hey, buddy. You've been quiet ever since your parents dropped you off to take your little brother to the hospital. Anything you want to talk about?" Grandpa asked.Casey thrust the stick harder into the ground, sending the sticky mud splattering onto his feet. "It's all my fault. It was my idea to race our bikes down the hill. And I was the one who teased him for not wanting to go faster. He wouldn't have broken his arm if it wasn't for me." Casey leaned into Grandpa's arm and sniffled. "I'm always doing stuff like that--teasing him and trying to get him to do things I know I shouldn't. I--I'm a horrible person!" Casey buried his face in Grandpa's chest and let his tears fall freely.Grandpa put his arm around Casey's small shoulders. "Casey, I know you feel bad, but that doesn't mean you are bad."Casey lifted his head and looked at Grandpa. "What do you mean?""When we make poor choices, we know it's sin and that we need forgiveness. But we also have to be careful not to allow shame to sneak in and tell us that we're bad. Look at that stick you're holding. It's got mud on it, but it's still a stick, right?""Well, yeah. Of course.""Well, shame tries to convince the stick that it's all mud. But it's not. It just needs someone to clean the mud off.""So if I'm like the stick, then I just need someone to wash my mud away?" A smile came to Casey's face. "You mean Jesus, right?""You got it," said Grandpa. "Jesus took the guilt and shame of our sin on Himself when He died on the cross. He washes us clean and makes us right with God. Because you trust in Jesus, that's who you really are--a child of God whose sins have been washed away. Shame has no place in your life. When you feel bad about something, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. He died to take your shame off you so you could enjoy a new life with Him."–Tannis Oliveri How About You?Do you feel bad about something you did? Is it sticking to your heart like mud, making you feel dirty? Let Jesus wash the sticky mud of shame off you and remind you who you really are. Once you know Him as your Savior, sin and shame no longer have any claim on you. Confess what you did to Him, knowing He will always forgive you. Today's Key Verse:But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 6:11)Today's Key Thought:Jesus took your shame

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:4-10Ava yawned as she came into the kitchen. Her brother Jayden glanced at her mischievously, then looked out the window. "Hey, Ava, how'd your bike end up on the roof of the garage?" he asked."What?" Ava ran to the window to see for herself. "Where?""April fool!" Jayden laughed in delight. "Gotcha!"Ava grinned and gave her brother a soft punch on the arm as they sat down to eat.At dinner, Ava and Jayden told their dad about the April Fools' jokes kids played on each other at school. "It's fun to have a day where everyone plays jokes like that," said Jayden. "As long as no one takes the jokes too far," Dad said."Nobody did," Ava assured him, "and everyone was expecting it since it was April Fools' Day." She paused to take a bite of broccoli. "But then there's Louise. Today she was all smiles and sweetness to Mrs. Potter during math class but then said mean things about her at recess. Sometimes I don't know what to make of her. She says she's a Christian, but there are times when she doesn't act like one. Like she's just fooling people."Dad frowned. "I can think of three people right here who don't always act like Christians. Let's keep that in mind. It's possible for any one of us to fool others.""But I've seen Louise do that stuff too," said Jayden. "She acts one way around the teachers and another when they're not looking. It's hard to trust her."Ava nodded. "It seems like there's another side to her that only some of us see.""Well, if what you say is true, that doesn't mean she's not a Christian," said Dad. "We all struggle to do what's right in some areas of our lives. But if any one of us is trying to fool people into thinking we're Christians when we're not, there's someone who can never be fooled. God knows exactly what's in our hearts. We can't hide anything from Him, and we don't have to, because Jesus died for us so all our wrongs could be forgiven. Now, let's pray for Louise and think of ways we can show her love and support instead of talking about her."–Hazel W. Marett How About You?Are you trying to fool someone into thinking you're a Christian? You may fool your parents, pastor, teachers, or classmates, but you can never fool God. He knows exactly what's in your heart, and He offers you grace and forgiveness. Admit your need for a Savior and trust 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:Do not be fooled. You cannot fool God. (NLV) (Galatians 6:7)Today's Key Thought:It's impossible to fool God

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3:18"Rose, look what I found in the woods!" Levi approached his sister carrying a cage. Something was moving inside.Rose shrieked. "Get that out of here!" Levi laughed. "It's only a garden snake," he said. "It can't hurt you.""Daddy!" Rose dashed behind her father, her eyes filled with fear. "Kill it, Daddy!""Don't be afraid." Dad put an arm around Rose. "What Levi says is true; garden snakes aren't poisonous. We don't kill something for no good reason.""Why do people hate snakes?" asked Levi."I guess because they can look scary, or they remind us of bad things," replied Dad. "It started long ago when Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve in the garden of Eden and got her and Adam to sin. These days we sometimes hear about snakes killing other animals, like chickens. And some snakes are poisonous. Their bites can cause illness or even death.""If they'd quit biting people, maybe we'd like them better," said Rose. "God gives most animals a built-in mechanism for protection from enemies," Dad explained. "Porcupines have quills, skunks spray, and snakes have venom.""But most snakes aren't poisonous, are they?" asked Levi."No," Dad said. "Actually, they can be very helpful to people. Snakes eat mice and rats that carry germs. Hundreds of years ago, the Bubonic Plague--caused by infected fleas that lived on rats--killed a fourth of Europe's population. If there had been more snakes, the epidemic might not have been nearly as bad. And today, scientists are learning how to use snake venom to make medicine!""See, Rose," said Levi, "there are lots of good things about snakes." Dad nodded. "God created everything--even snakes--to be good. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, it messed everything up, but God promises to make it right again one day. When Jesus returns and makes everything new, there will be no more pain, sickness, or death, and we'll never be afraid of any creature ever again." Levi and his sister studied their slithering captive in the cage. "Why don't we measure it," said Levi.Rose hesitated. "Okay," she finally said. "I'll get a tape measure. But I won't hold its tail!"–Janet E. RhineHow About You?Are there any animals or insects you're afraid of? Remember that God created each creature for a purpose--even the ones that scare you. One day, when Jesus restores creation to the way it's supposed to be, no creature will ever cause us fear or harm again. Until then, we can look for ways all creatures--even scary ones--reveal God's goodness and thank Him for His creation. Today's Key Verse:God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. (NIV) (Genesis 1:31)Today's Key Thought:Every creature serves a purpose

Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11; Colossians 1:9-10"This giant oak tree is what gave Oak Park its name," the tour guide told the kids on their field trip. Elijah listened attentively. He loved history and learning things like this.Back home later that day, Elijah told his mom about the tour. "That big oak tree survived the Civil War, a flood, and six fires," he said. "Wow!" said Mom. "That's amazing.""It kept on growing," said Elijah, "even though the odds were a hundred to one against it. The oak is one of the slowest-growing trees in the world, but it's also one of the strongest. It survives things that cause other trees to die.""Hmm," said Mom. "You know, Elijah, you're something like that tree." Elijah was surprised. "Me? I didn't survive a war or a flood or even one fire--let alone six!"Mom laughed. "No, but I still think you're like that tree.""How?" asked Elijah."Well," said Mom, "for one thing, the oak grows slowly, and you--"Elijah interrupted her. "You always say I'm growing up too fast!" Mom smiled. "That's true--physically. But I was thinking of the way most of us grow spiritually. As Christians, it's often easy to wonder if we're making any progress in becoming more like Jesus." Elijah nodded as he recalled some trouble he'd gotten into recently. "You may grow slowly in Christ," said Mom, "but like that oak, you do grow steadily. And you survive worse things than war or floods. You survive attacks from Satan and struggles with temptation.""But I still do wrong things," Elijah pointed out.Mom nodded. "I know--I do too. All Christians give in to temptation and sin sometimes. But the fact that you feel bad when you sin--and that you don't want to do it again--shows that you're continuing to grow.""Really?" Elijah smiled. "That's pretty cool.""Have faith that God is working to make you grow to be more like Jesus," Mom told him. "Keep working with Him by admitting when you sin and trusting Him to help you change your habits--even when the growing gets tough!" –Nathan RunyonHow About You?Do you ever wonder if you're growing spiritually? If you're a Christian, God is always working in your heart to make you more like Jesus--even when it's hard for you to detect. When you do something wrong, confess your sin and ask God for forgiveness. Then look to Him for the strength you need to resist temptation, and trust Him to help you grow in Him.Today's Key Verse:Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18)Today's Key Thought:Christians grow in Jesus

Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42Jude was doing his schoolwork at the kitchen table when Dad got home. They talked for a little while, and then Dad had a question for Mom. "Are you getting as much as I am out of that devotional we both decided to use?" he asked her. "Today's Bible reading helped me make a decision about a problem I had at work.""That's great!" said Mom. "What was today's reading about? I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to reading it the last couple of days," she admitted. "I've been so busy lately! The hours fly by so fast, and I never get everything done.""Oh, Martha, Martha," Dad said lovingly."Um, Dad? Mom's name is Jennifer, not Martha," Jude reminded his father.Mom and Dad both laughed. "Martha is the name we use when one of us gets too busy and starts acting like Martha in the Bible," Dad explained. "Remember that story? Martha was so busy preparing and serving food when Jesus and His disciples came over that she didn't have time to sit and learn at Jesus's feet.""I have to admit, that's what's been happening to me lately," said Mom. "I've allowed things to keep me from what's really important--spending time with Jesus and letting Him remind me of the peace, hope, and joy I have in Him." She pointed to the floor. "I could have let this floor stay dirty a little longer instead of mopping it this morning, and I suppose it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had bought cookies to bring to small group tonight instead of making them."Dad smiled. "Well, the day isn't over yet. Why don't I cook dinner so you can do your Bible reading?"Mom gave Dad a kiss. "That would be wonderful. I'll just go into the other room and sit at Jesus's feet for a few minutes."Just then Kylie came bursting into the kitchen. "Where's my Bible?" she demanded. "I'm in charge of devotions tonight at youth group and I haven't had a minute to prepare all week!""Oh, Martha, Martha," said Mom. Jude and Dad laughed. "You explain," Mom told them as she left the kitchen.–Lyndel F. Walker How About You?Are all the things going on in your life keeping you from spending time with Jesus? Even if they're good things you should do, nothing is more important than sitting at Jesus's feet. As we read His words in the Bible, pray, and worship Him with other believers, He refreshes our souls. Make time with Him a priority so He can speak to your heart. Today's Key Verse:Be still, and know that I am God. (NKJV) (Psalm 46:10)Today's Key Thought:Make time for Jesus

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31"That was a great circus show, wasn't it, Dad?" Brandon's eyes were wide with excitement as he and his father made their way to the car. "Especially the high-wire act! I really liked that."Dad grinned. "That was pretty exciting, but it was kinda scary when that one man was riding on the other's shoulders.""Yeah!" said Brandon. "I was surprised they didn't both get hurt when the one guy carrying the other lost his balance and they both fell. Good thing there was a net there to catch them!""Yes," said Dad, starting the car. "Without the net, that could have been a real tragedy."Brandon nodded. "Those guys sure do have a lot of nerve. I wouldn't want to ride on anybody's shoulders way up high off the ground! In fact, I don't think I'd want to be up on a high wire at all."Dad laughed. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. But you know what? That high wire act is a little bit like life in general.""It is?" asked Brandon. "What do you mean?""Well, the man on the other person's shoulders was putting all his trust in his partner's ability to safely walk the rope, right?"Brandon nodded. "Yeah, but that guy couldn't do it. If the net hadn't caught them, they might have been killed!""Well, we're all something like the man who trusted his partner," said Dad. "We all put our trust in someone or something. Some people put their trust in money or in their jobs. Some put their trust in other people to help them through tough times. But when those things fail…well, tragedy often follows.""That's kinda like what my Sunday school teacher told us in church last week," Brandon said. "She said we should always trust Jesus to take care of us because He never fails.""Right," said Dad. "Everyone faces difficulties and even tragedies in life, but only Jesus can save us from sin and give us eternal life. That's why we can trust Him to carry us through life's troubles. When we place our hope and trust in the things of this world or even other people, they will let us down. But Jesus will never fail us."–Richard S. MaffeoHow About You?Who or what do you put your trust in? Your family or friends? Money? Doing well in school and getting a job someday? Those things definitely help in life, but none of them can be trusted completely. People make mistakes, and money and jobs can be lost. Jesus is the only one who will never fail--now or for all eternity. Put your trust in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (NKJV) (Psalm 20:7)Today's Key Thought:Jesus can be trusted