Bible Reading: Luke 6:31-36; Romans 15:5-7"I guess Lydia's okay, but having a new kid join your class in the middle of the year just messes everything up," Haley complained when her mother picked her up at school. "I mean, we're in the middle of our science projects, and we've already starting rehearsing our skit for parents' night. We had an equal number of people on our teams in gym class too. And now somebody new comes along and we have to make room for her.""I'm sure adding one more person to your group can't be that bad," said Mom as she slowed the car to turn onto the ramp leading to the highway.Haley shrugged. "Well, it's not fun." She braced herself as her mom suddenly sped up to merge onto the highway. "It's nothing personal, it's just that our groups were already all set."Haley frowned as the cars on the highway roared by in the lane next to the ramp. "Hey!" she said when she saw the end of the ramp quickly approaching. "What's with all these drivers today? They're not moving over to let us in. Don't they know they're supposed to let us merge into the lane with them?""They should know," Mom said as she finally darted into the next lane in front of a pickup truck. "I guess they're busy doing their own thing and don't want to bother with anyone new in their lane. They liked it the way it was before other cars started merging onto the highway from the ramp." She glanced at Haley. "I'm sure it's nothing personal."Haley blushed and didn't say anything. "It doesn't feel very good when no one wants to make room for you, does it?" said Mom. "I'm sure Lydia knows how that feels. Imagine how hard it must be for her to start a new school in the middle of the year when everyone already has their own groups and routines." Mom looked over at Haley. "It's not always easy to change things when someone new comes along, but Jesus will help you do it. He always welcomes those who come to Him, and He'll help you show the same kind of love to Lydia."Haley didn't answer immediately. "Maybe I should be the first one to slow down and let Lydia in," she said at last.  -Hazel W. MarettHow About You?Is there a new person in your school or neighborhood? Has anyone else slowed down to let them in? Maybe God wants you to be the one to make room for a newcomer or a lonely person. How can you include them and make them feel welcome? Think about how you would want to be treated if you were new or lonely, and then go do the same for them. Welcome others the way Jesus welcomed you into His family.Today's Key Verse:Welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. (CSB) (Romans 15:7)Today's Key Thought:Help new people feel welcome

Merging Traffic

Bible Reading: John 3:18; 1 John 5:11-13Daniel listened politely as his elderly neighbor chatted with him and his mom in the front yard. "You and my grandson Benjamin would get along so well together," Mrs. Crane was saying. "He really enjoys skateboarding. And did I tell you that he plays basketball?"Daniel nodded. "And that he's in my grade in school, and that he has a baseball card collection."Mrs. Crane smiled and nodded. "I really hope the two of you get a chance to meet sometime."After Mrs. Crane left, Daniel turned to his mom. "Mrs. Crane is always telling me about her grandson. I must know just about everything there is to know about him. He sounds like a nice guy, but I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about him. I wish she'd either introduce us or forget the whole thing."The next Saturday, it happened. The doorbell rang, and there was Mrs. Crane and a boy about Daniel's age. "Hi, Daniel," said Mrs. Crane. "This is Benjamin, my grandson." She smiled at Benjamin. "And this is Daniel."Benjamin was visiting his grandmother for a week, so the boys played together often and had a great time."I'm glad Mrs. Crane finally introduced Benjamin and me," Daniel told his parents one day. "I knew all about him for a long time, but now I actually know him."Mom nodded. "You can 'know about,' or you can 'know.' The elimination of one small word makes a lot of difference, doesn't it?" "It's like that when it comes to Jesus too," Dad said. "Some people know about Him, but they don't know Him personally.""I often think of that at this time of year," said Mom. "Many people have heard the Christmas story over and over. But knowing about Jesus isn't enough. It's as useless as knowing about Benjamin without being able to meet him.""Yeah," said Daniel. "I was really tired of hearing Mrs. Crane talk about him! Knowing somebody personally is so much better than just hearing about them. I'm glad I know Benjamin now, and I'm especially glad I know Jesus."  –Hazel W. MarettHow About You?Do you get bored hearing the same stories about Jesus coming to earth as a baby and dying on the cross for sinners again and again? Maybe that's because you only know about Jesus, but you don't know Him personally. He loves you and wants you to know Him as your Savior and friend. Trust Him as your Savior and start getting to know Him today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:You may know that you have eternal life. (NKJV) (1 John 5:13)Today's Key Thought:You can know Jesus personally

One Small Word

Bible Reading: Psalm 16; John 15:8-17Grace twirled her hair nervously as she walked up to Ms. Evie. Evie looked the same as she did months ago--only now she was in a wheelchair.Evie looked up with a bright smile when she saw Grace. "How is it that you've grown even taller in just a few months?" Evie's green eyes sparkled and she squeezed Grace's hand. "Hi, Ms. Evie. I'm sorry about your car accident. My parents said you won't walk again."Evie nodded. "Unless God performs a miracle, I don't think I will.""But--doesn't that make you angry?" asked Grace. "You're in the middle of going to college and you had so many plans interrupted. But it's weird, you don't seem angry. You look--happy!" Grace clapped her hand over her mouth. "I shouldn't have said all that." Ms. Evie's laughter sounded like tinkling bells. "It's okay, Grace! It's refreshing to hear some honesty. Let me tell you a secret." Evie leaned forward. "I'm not happy." "What?" Grace's eyes widened."I'll explain. I'm not happy about my situation, but I do have joy." "What's the difference? I thought they were kind of the same thing," Grace mused. "Good question! Happiness depends on our circumstances, which can change from day to hour to minute. But true joy comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus joy is my secret weapon."Grace sighed. "It's not always easy to be joyful." Evie shook her head. "It's not. For the first few weeks, I was mad at God, asking Him why this happened. I still feel sad about what I've lost, but I've been thinking about what Hebrews 12:2 says about fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross so we could have the joy of knowing Him. Jesus loved us enough to make the ultimate sacrifice. The joy set before Him was knowing that we would belong to Him forever when we trust Him to save us. Knowing He's always with me and that He promises to give me a new, perfect body one day fills me with joy." "I guess I'd never thought of it like that," said Grace. "I have noticed that spending time with Jesus lifts me up when I'm feeling sad. When I read my Bible and sing praise songs, it just makes me feel more--""Joyful?" Evie interjected. "Yeah!""Sounds like you've got Jesus joy too, girl!"  –Savannah ColemanHow About You?Have you ever thought about the difference between joy and happiness? Is there a person in your life who you could see had the joy of Jesus in them despite tough circumstances they were going through? Do you have the joy of Jesus in you to give you strength when hard times come? God promises that when we belong to Him, His joy will be in us and our joy will be full (John 15:11). Spend time in His presence and soak up the joy He offers you!Today's Key Verse:For the joy set before [Jesus] he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV) (Hebrews 12:2)Today's Key Thought:Jesus gives you genuine joy

Jesus Joy

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:17-22Aries threw her mom's cell phone on the counter and ran to her room as fast she could. She slammed the door and belly flopped onto her bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Soon there was a knock on the door. "Aries, can I come in?" Mom asked. "I guess so," Aries was able to get out between sobs.Mom sat down on the bed. "I'm guessing your dad called to say he's not coming to get you this weekend like he promised," she said as she rubbed Aries' back. Aries nodded. "He said something about having to work early on Monday. That's the third week in a row. What's wrong with me, Mom? Why doesn't he want to spend time with me?" Aries asked as more tears flowed down her cheeks. "Honey, it's not you. I'm not sure what's going on with your dad, but I know it's not your fault," Mom reassured her. "It's just so hard. I was really looking forward to this weekend," Aries said as she turned toward her mother and began sobbing on her shoulder. Mom let her cry for a while before breaking the silence. "Aries, I want you to look at my cell phone." Aries sat up and looked at the phone in her mom's hand. "After you got done talking to your dad, you slammed my phone down pretty hard on the counter, but is it broken?" Mom turned the phone over, and Aries shook her head. "Why not?" Mom asked."Because the case protected it," Aries said. "That's right. People are going to disappoint you in life--I may even let you down sometimes--and it's normal to feel hurt because of it. But remember that since you're a Christian, you will always have the love of God protecting you. Jesus gave His life to save you, and He will never fail you. He is with you when you're hurting and wants to comfort you and help you." Mom kissed the top of Aries' head. "I love you, kid. I'm going to go start dinner. Why don't you come join me when you're ready?"After her mom left, Aries took a deep breath and dried her eyes. "Dear Lord, thank You for loving me. Please help me get through this," she prayed as she headed toward the kitchen to join her mom.  –Melissa YeagleHow About You?Are you going through a rough time right now? Do you feel hurt because someone has let you down? Even those closest to you will fail you sometimes, but God never will. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you so you could be His child, and He promises to always be with you. When you feel hurt or are facing a hard time in life, remember that you are not alone. God loves you and will help you through it, and He'll put people in your life who can remind you of His love too.Today's Key Verse:God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." (NLT) (Hebrews 13:5 )Today's Key Thought:God's love never fails

Encased in Love

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:89-90, 103-106; Matthew 5:6"How much do horses eat?" asked Jared as he and his Uncle Bill walked through the horse barn. "A lot!" Uncle Bill replied. "It's a good thing we can put them out to pasture every day." He grinned. "Did I ever tell you about the no-feed horse?""No. What's a no-feed horse?" asked Jared."Well, I heard about a fella who figured out how to raise a horse that didn't need to eat," Uncle Bill explained. "Just imagine the money he would save!"Jared gave his uncle a confused look. "A horse that doesn't eat? How is that possible?""This guy started out by reducing the horse's feed by an ounce a day," said Uncle Bill. "Then he reduced it by two ounces, and then three ounces, and so on. He did that until the horse was getting by on almost no food at all.""Wow!" said Jared. "Then what happened?""Well, that's the sad part," said Uncle Bill. "One day the horse up and died."For a moment, Jared stared at his uncle, open-mouthed. Then he saw his uncle grin, and he realized Uncle Bill was just teasing. "Uncle Bill! You're kidding me!" Uncle Bill laughed heartily. "Yep, I reckon I am. But I really have known some fellas who were almost as foolish as that rancher. They always tried to get by with feeding their livestock as little as possible. Then they'd wonder why their cattle didn't grow like they should." Uncle Bill tugged on his hat thoughtfully. "I've known some Christians like that too," he added. "I was even like that myself for a time. I started off reading my Bible and praying and going to church regularly. Then I tapered off--I was just so busy with things on the farm, see. It took me a while to realize that my soul wasn't being fed and my spiritual life was suffering. I needed that time with Jesus and His people so He could fill me with His peace and remind me of His presence.""Wow," said Jared. "I never considered going to church or reading my Bible to be just as important as eating food!"Uncle Bill smiled at him. "Don't ever forget that your soul needs to be fed just like your stomach does."  –Sherry L. KuytHow About You?Do you remember to eat every day? Of course you do! But what about feeding your soul? It needs Jesus just like your stomach needs food, and if you don't feed it, your spiritual life will suffer. Spend time in fellowship with other believers listening to what God says in His Word, and pray and read the Bible on your own too. Let Jesus feed your soul by reminding you of His truth, love, and promises.Today's Key Verse:Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (NKJV) (Luke 4:4)Today's Key Thought:Don't neglect your spiritual life

The No-Feed Horse

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:16; Colossians 2:2-3The teacher handed out the graded test papers, placing them face down on the desks. Layla was afraid to turn hers over and instead slipped it into her notebook without looking. When the bell rang, she shoved her notebook and jacket into her backpack and headed for home.Halfway to her house, Layla sat on a stack of tires at the corner of an auto repair shop. She pulled out her notebook and then the graded test. Just as she thought--a big red F! She wadded the test paper up and threw it in the trash can next to the mechanic's garage."I hate school!" exclaimed Layla as she walked into the kitchen. "Reading is too hard." Mom looked concerned. "Isn't that special reading class helping you?""Not really." Layla sat in a chair with a sigh. "The teacher is nice and all, but nothing seems to change. I feel so dumb!" Mom smoothed Layla's hair away from her face. "You're not dumb, Layla. I know you want to do better with your reading, and I'm proud of you for working so hard. Reading is an important skill to have in life, and I'm glad you want to learn how to do it well." Mom smiled thoughtfully. "Did you know there's something even more important to have in your life--something you can't learn on your own?"Layla shook her head. "What's that?""Wisdom," answered Mom. "Wisdom lets us know what is true and right and shows us how to apply that truth to our lives.""How do we get wisdom?" asked Layla."I was hoping you'd ask," said Mom with a grin. "The Bible tells us to ask God for wisdom, and He will gladly give it to us." "So, I just need to pray and I'll be smarter?" Layla asked, looking confused."Being wise is more than being smart and knowing information--it's about knowing God's truth and trusting in Him. In order to have wisdom, we need to have faith in Jesus. Then, as He works in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we will grow in wisdom and in our knowledge of Him.""I'm glad God gives us wisdom when we ask for it," said Layla. "I'm going to pray and ask Him to help me with my reading too!" –Bonnie CarrHow About You?Do you wish you were smarter? Do you have questions you can't figure out the answer to? While it's important to study in school and learn new things, you'll never have all the answers. Only God does, and knowing Him is more important than knowing anything else. Ask Him to give you wisdom, and He will help you see how much you need Jesus. When you know Him as your Savior, He will help you grow in wisdom and understanding.Today's Key Verse:If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (NIV)  (James 1:5 )Today's Key Thought:Pray for wisdom

The Way to Be Wise

Bible Reading: John 4:7-14"Hey!" said Zoe. "What's wrong with the water?" She turned the kitchen faucet knob as far as she could, but all she got was a sputtering sound. She groaned. "I'm so thirsty!""When I got home from work, I found a notice on the door saying the city water department would be working on our street today," said Mom. "If I'd known earlier, I would have filled some containers. There's still some juice in the fridge."Zoe grabbed the juice and poured all of it into a large glass. She chugged it greedily, then smacked her lips. "That was good.""Did you save any for Mikey?" asked Mom, looking up from a pile of mail.Zoe looked at the empty juice container. "Whoops."When Zoe's brother Mikey got home a few minutes later and found out there was nothing to drink, he groaned and staggered to a chair. "Water! Water!" he cried weakly.Zoe laughed. "You don't have to be so dramatic about it."Mom went to answer a knock at the door, and a minute later Molly, their next-door neighbor, walked in with a gallon of water. "I thought you might be needing this," she said.Mikey eagerly poured water into a glass and drank it, then sighed with satisfaction. "Oh, thank you, Molly," he said, clasping his hands together. "You saved my life!""Oh, brother!" groaned Zoe. "Here we go again!""Well, a person dying of thirst can be saved by getting a drink of water," said Mikey. "Isn't that why Jesus is called the Living Water? Because He can save people who are dying?""That's a very good point," said Mom. "People have a spiritual thirst that's even greater than the thirst for water. We have a thirst for love, for joy, for forgiveness--for God. A drink of water can save us from physical death, and Jesus, the Living Water, can save us from spiritual death. But what if you hadn't taken the water Molly offered you, Mikey?""I'd still be thirsty," said Mikey.Mom nodded. "The same thing goes for us if we don't take the Living Water that Jesus offers. It's free and brings everlasting life--but only to those who accept it!"  –Trudy VanderVeenHow About You?Do you ever feel unsatisfied with life, even if you have a lot of good things going for you? Do you have a thirsty soul--a spiritual thirst? Jesus can satisfy that thirst. He can quench your soul's deepest desires and fill your life with peace, hope, and joy. He can save you from spiritual death and give you eternal life. Trust in Him, and He will satisfy your soul. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (NLT) (John 4:14)Today's Key Thought:Jesus satisfies thirsty souls

Water of Life

Bible Reading:  Philippians 4:8-13"You got an email," Abigail's mom told her. "Looks like it's from Ellie." Abigail, whose family were missionaries in Nigeria, eagerly took Mom's phone and opened the email."Yesterday Daphne and Ashlyn and I went to an amusement park," Abigail read in Ellie's email. "I wish you could have been with us! We went on a pirate ship ride and on an alpine slide." Abigail sighed. Going on rides with her friends sounded like fun!"But the African safari river ride was the best one of all," the email continued. "It was so much fun! There were robotic elephants that sprayed water at us, and some mechanical monkeys were chattering in the trees. It seemed so real." Abigail laughed out loud when she read that. Ellie should come visit me here, she thought. Then she could see real elephants and monkeys.Just then Benji, Abigail's pet monkey, snuggled up to her. Benji loved being around Abigail and always followed her around the house. Abigail gave him a little squeeze. "You're better than a mechanical monkey," Abigail told him. "You're real."Abigail thought about all her other pets. Freddy, a baby antelope, was a pretty brown color with a black stripe. And a mongoose named Rollo was a family favorite.Abigail smiled as she remembered the time Rollo found a ping-pong ball on the floor. She apparently thought it was an egg--one of her favorite foods. She smacked it hard to break it, then jumped back in surprise when it bounced as high as her head.Of course, Rollo sometimes annoyed them by chirping a lot. But she made up for it by eating cockroaches and other insects. And Abigail knew that when Rollo got bigger, she would also eat snakes!Abigail grinned. Not many kids have pets like mine! she thought. And even though I really miss my friends back home, I have new friends at our church here, and I know God is helping our family tell the people here about Jesus. Even though it's hard sometimes, I know He brought us here and promises to be with us, so this is the best place for me to be. "C'mon, Benji," she said. "Let's go find Rollo and take some pictures to send my friends back home."  –Charlie VanderMeerHow About You?Do you sometimes wish you could be somewhere else? Or have you learned to be content in the place God has put you for now? In the Bible, the apostle Paul said the secret to being content in any situation is trusting Jesus, who promises to always be with us and help us because we belong to Him. Thank Him for the blessings He's given you and the people He's put in your life, and trust Him to help you be a testimony for Him right where you are.Today's Key Verse:I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. (NKJV) (Philippians 4:11)Today's Key Thought:Be content

The Best Place to Be

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:1-5"I don't see why Harper can't come Christmas shopping with us tomorrow," Sienna complained. "She always helps me find the best gifts.""It's not a good idea for your sister to be in a mall right now, Sienna," said Mom. "She needs time to go through counseling and address why she feels the need to steal things." Sienna sighed and put on her boots and coat. "I'm going to see if the ice is hard on the pond."When she reached the pond, she tested the ice with her foot. It was firm at the edge, but when she cautiously moved forward, it cracked. No skating yet. So Sienna headed home, taking the back way.When Sienna reached the house, Mom came out. "Ally was playing out here, but I don't see her anywhere," she said with a worried look. "The pond!" said Sienna. "Maybe she followed me." She looked down and saw a tiny set of footsteps in the snow next to her bigger ones heading toward the pond. She dashed down the hill as fast as she could. As she approached the pond, she saw her little sister step out onto the ice. It held at the edge, and Ally took another step. "No, Ally!" yelled Sienna, and Ally stopped. When Sienna reached her, she took her hand and led her off the ice.Mom met them at the top of the hill. "You know you're not allowed to go to the pond by yourself," she said as she hugged her little daughter."I thought Sienna was there," said Ally. "I was just following her."Later that day, Sienna again begged her mom to let her older sister come to the mall with them, but Mom said no. "We need to be careful where our footsteps lead," said Mom. "Harper is struggling with an urge to shoplift, and she needs our support. She shouldn't be in an environment where she may be tempted to steal."Sienna was quiet for a moment. "I wouldn't want to lead her into a situation where she'd be tempted," she said finally. "I know," said Mom. "Sometimes we need to make sacrifices to help other Christians in their walk with Jesus, especially when they struggle with things we don't."  - Mary Rose PearsonHow About You?Do you help other Christians who are struggling with sin? Are you careful where your footsteps might lead them? We all have different struggles in our lives, and even though you may not be tempted by certain things, the same might not be true for someone else. Trust Jesus to help you be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others so you can support and encourage them in their walk with Him.Today's Key Verse:Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (NLT) (Galatians 6:2 )Today's Key Thought:Help those who struggle

Footsteps in the Snow

Bible Reading: Romans 6:12-18, 22"Hi, Mom," said Taden as he came into the house. "Want to see the picture I painted at school today?" He held out a paper with a scene of a lake and trees, with mountains in the background."This is really good!" exclaimed Mom. "You're a wonderful painter."Taden beamed. "I think I'm going to be an artist when I grow up. I love to paint." He went to a drawer and took out a fresh piece of paper and some paints."I think that would be great." Mom pointed to the paper Taden had spread out on the kitchen table. "Have you ever looked at your blank paper and wondered what it will look like when you're done painting?""Of course. I always have something in mind when I start painting." Taden grinned at his mom. "But it doesn't always turn out the way I imagined it. Sometimes I do a good job, but other times I mess it up."Mom nodded. "Our lives are like that blank paper, and our choices are like the brush that applies the colors to the page, making something beautiful--or a mess!""But the brush doesn't paint by itself," said Taden. "It's the artist who chooses the colors and paints the picture. Whether it turns out good or bad depends on the artist.""That's right," said Mom. "In our life pictures, we can either make ourselves the artists and paint things our own way, or we can trust God to be the artist holding the brush and let Him guide us and shape our lives."Taden looked at the blank page. "I never thought about my life like that," he said thoughtfully."When we trust Jesus and give Him control of our life picture, He promises to make it beautiful," said Mom. "That doesn't mean our lives will be easy or that we won't still sin and make mistakes--we'll sometimes try to take control of the brush and do things our own way. But when we do, Jesus forgives us and paints over our mistakes. He promises to help us make good choices and love others the way He does. He's the greatest Artist there is, and when we give Him control of our lives, He will make them into masterpieces."- Mary Rose PearsonHow About You?Who is painting the picture of your life? No matter how hard you try, you can't paint a good life picture on your own. Everyone has already messed up their picture with sin, but Jesus can paint over your mistakes and make your life beautiful. Trust Him as your Savior today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) Then let Him guide you as you live your life, knowing He'll make it into a masterpiece.Today's Key Verse:Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. (NLT) (Romans 6:13)Today's Key Thought:Give God control of your life

The Blank Page

Bible Reading: Hebrews 5:12-14"Lindy, have you learned your Bible verse for Sunday school?" asked Mom. "No, but I don't like Sunday school anymore," Lindy grumbled."Why not?" asked Mom, spooning cereal into Gracie's mouth."We don't sing fun songs with motions anymore, and Mrs. Mac doesn't read from her Bible storybook either," replied Lindy. "Now we have to read right from the Bible and memorize verses and--" She paused as Gracie made a gagging sound. "What's the matter, Gracie?" Lindy asked as she tapped a spoon on the high chair, trying to distract her baby sister."She's used to milk and juice, and she's just learning to handle solid foods," Mom explained. "Sometimes they're a little hard for her to swallow.""Poor Gracie." Lindy turned to her mother. "Why not just let her have milk then?""Because she's not a tiny baby anymore. Gracie has to get used to eating solid food to grow big and healthy like you. She already likes it.""Oh," said Lindy. She stroked her sister's cheek. "Eat up, Gracie. Get big soon so we can play together!"Mom put the spoon back up to the baby's mouth. "It seems like you're having the same kind of trouble as Gracie," she said.Lindy looked indignant. "I don't have a problem swallowing my food!""Not physical food," said Mom. "But what about spiritual food? Like newborn babies, new Christians need milk--spiritual milk. When you were younger, you could only understand simple things about God, and your attention span was short, so you just sang cute little songs and read simple Bible stories. But now you understand more and are ready for something more solid. Studying harder Bible lessons and verses helps you learn more about Jesus and His love for you so you can grow in your faith." Mom spooned some more cereal into Gracie's waiting mouth. "It can be hard to get used to at first, just like solid food makes Gracie gag sometimes. But she already likes her new cereal, and I know you'll soon like your new lessons too. Remember that God wants to use them to feed you spiritually and help you grow."Lindy looked uncertain, but then she nodded. "Okay," she said. "I guess I'll go learn my verse."- Tanya FerdinanduszHow About You?Are you having trouble with your spiritual diet? Do you think the Bible is too hard to understand or that church isn't as fun as it used to be? Easy, fun things aren't always the things that help you grow spiritually. Take learning about God seriously, and put the things you learn into practice. Trust Him to help you understand more and more about how much He loves you and what Jesus did to save you. Let Him feed you the truth of His Word so you can grow in your faith.Today's Key Verse:Don't think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like full-grown adults. (ERV) (1 Corinthians 14:20)Today's Key Thought:Grow in your spiritual understanding

Baby Food

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12; Luke 15:3-10Zach ran frantically down the stairs. "Has anyone seen Mr. Bunny?" he cried. "I can't find him anywhere!" "I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Zach," said Mom. "Have you looked in your closet?" "Yes," said Zach. "I've looked in my room and closet, and in Hailey's room too. I just don't know where he could be!" "Try checking the living room, and Hailey and I will check the other rooms downstairs," Mom said. Zach sped off to the living room. "But Mom," said Hailey, "Zach is getting too old to be worrying about a raggedy stuffed animal. It's embarrassing that he takes Mr. Bunny to school with him."Mom bent to look under the kitchen table. "Remember, Hailey, that Zach finds comfort in having familiar things around him. He gets anxious about going to school, and just knowing that Mr. Bunny is in his backpack helps calm him down." "I get it, Mom. I'll help look for Mr. Bunny." Hailey headed to the laundry room. "I found him!" Hailey called a minute later. "He was hiding in the laundry basket under some of Zach's clothes." "Oh, thank you!" cried Zach, and he gave Mr. Bunny a big hug. Mom smiled. "I'm so glad we found Mr. Bunny. It's amazing how much joy we feel when we find something important to us that has been lost. Do you remember the stories of the lost sheep and lost coin in the Bible?" "Yeah," said Hailey. "The shepherd looked all over for the lost sheep, and when he found him, he called all his friends and neighbors over for a party to celebrate! And the lady did the same thing when she found her lost coin.""That's right," Mom said. "But the most important part of those stories is that they illustrate how much joy there is in heaven when someone comes to trust in Jesus. And just like Zach didn't give up looking for Mr. Bunny, God will never give up on us. Jesus came to earth to rescue us when we were lost in sin, and when we are found, God rejoices over us." "I'm so happy about that," said Zach. "And I'm so happy I found Mr. Bunny!"- Lori HaynieHow About You?Have you ever lost something very special to you? How did you feel when you lost it? Did you keep searching and searching until you found it? Remember that you are very special to God. He loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to save you from being lost. No matter what you've done, He wants you to come to Him. He is seeking you. Trust in Jesus so you can be found. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)Today's Key Verse:For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. (NLT) (Luke 19:10)Today's Key Thought:God seeks and rejoices over us

Lost and Found

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:31-32; 17:14-20Gianna and her cousins were spending the day at Grandpa's house. "Will you measure us, Grandpa?" asked Alex. "I want to see how tall I am.""All right." Grandpa followed them to the wall where he had been measuring them since they were toddlers. He made a mark on the wall for each of them and wrote their name and the date beside it."I'm the tallest!" exclaimed Alex."Gianna, you're not even as tall as I was when I was nine, and you're ten!" said Joy."Gianna is a shortie," said Alex, grinning. Gianna's cheeks grew hot. She hated being teased for her size."Enough!" said Grandpa. "Come with me." He led the cousins to his garden shed. "Hold out your hands."Grandpa placed a large white seed in Alex's hand, a smaller yellow seed in Joy's hand, and a tiny black seed in Gianna's hand.Of course I get the tiny, unimportant seed, Gianna thought. Just like me.Grandpa pointed to an open gardening book. "Alex, tell us about your seed.""My seed is a lima bean," Alex said, looking at the information in the book. "They grow into plants that are fifteen inches to nine feet tall." Alex looked at the seed in his hand. "This seed is tiny to grow so big!""Let me see mine," said Joy, pushing Alex aside. "My seed is corn. The plants grow seven to ten feet tall. That's bigger than yours, Alex!"Alex frowned. "But your seed is smaller than mine!""My seed is a mustard seed," said Gianna. "It grows a tree twenty feet tall. It produces purple fruit, and in some places people use the branches to brush their teeth.""No way!" said Alex. "All that from a tiny seed?""It isn't how big the seed is that matters," said Grandpa. "What matters is what God created it to do." He smiled at the kids. "That's true for us too. The Bible says those who have faith in Jesus are new creations. He's made us new people and given us the Holy Spirit to help us do the good things He wants us to do."Gianna thought about the tiny seed growing into an amazing tree. It wasn't unimportant after all. "If this seed can grow a tree," she said, smiling, "just imagine what we can do!"- Tracey EaganHow About You?Do you ever feel like you're too small to do anything important? What matters is how big God is and what He's created you to do. If you have faith in Jesus, He has given you the Holy Spirit so you can do great things that show others His love. Just like a tiny seed can grow into a huge tree, God can use you in amazing ways as He builds His kingdom. Be content where God has placed you, and trust Him to show you how you can serve Him.Today's Key Verse:For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT) (Ephesians 2:10)Today's Key Thought:God created you to do great things

Tiny Seeds

Bible Reading: Romans 5:12-13, 18-21; Colossians 2:13-14"Dad!" Everett stared at his computer screen in dismay. "Chase just told me there's a virus in the game I downloaded! It could ruin the hard drive.""Oh no!" Dad said. "How much damage has it done?"Everett groaned and covered his eyes. "I don't know yet.""What's a virus?" asked Rachel, climbing onto Dad's knee. "Isn't that what gives you the flu?""That's right," said Dad. "When a virus gets into your body, it can make you sick. But a different kind of virus can get into a computer, and once it does, it can spread and take control of the programs on your computer so they don't work anymore.""I don't know how to fix this, Dad," said Everett. "Can you help me?""I'm not sure what to do either," said Dad. "But I have a friend who works with computers--I'll check with him." Dad smiled at Rachel. "We need to get rid of viruses as soon as possible--whether they're on the computer or in our bodies.""Yeah. We have to take medicine to make us all better," said Rachel as Everett turned the computer off.By the following week, the computer had been fixed and a new anti-virus program installed. "I know two kinds of viruses," announced Rachel as Everett was using the computer one evening. "The kind that makes computers sick and the kind that makes people sick.""I know a third kind," said Dad. "Sin is like a virus that made the whole world sick. When the first people God created, Adam and Eve, disobeyed Him, sin came into the world and infected it. It took control of people's minds and hearts and makes us do selfish, wrong things instead of loving and obeying God." "Can we get cleaned up like Everett's computer?" Rachel asked with wide eyes."We certainly can! We have something even better than an antivirus program. Jesus died and then rose from the dead to save the world from sin. When we trust in Him, He removes our sin and makes us new so our hearts work the way they should--it's like He gives us a new hard drive! Even though we still do wrong things sometimes, we can confess and turn away from our sin, and Jesus will forgive us and make us clean."- Tanya FerdinanduszHow About You?Did you know sin is like a virus? It does more damage than a virus in your body or on your computer ever could. Sin separates us from God and affects everything we think and do. But when we trust in Jesus, He removes our sin and makes us clean! He gives us new hearts and makes us able to resist temptation and turn away from sin. And when we do give in and do something wrong, we can confess it to Him and He will forgive us.Today's Key Verse:If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)Today's Key Thought:Jesus removes sin

The Virus

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:4-12"Come on, Mal," called Bailey. "Mom said we could play in the attic. Let's try on some of the old clothes in the trunks up there."The clatter of feet echoed through the halls as Bailey and Mal climbed the steep steps to the attic of the old house. Soon they had the trunks open and began trying on a variety of clothes their grandmother and mother had saved through the years. They laughed at each other as they paraded back and forth in front of a full-length mirror. "Let's go show Mom and Dad our latest fashions," said Mal.Tipping an old hat to the back of her head, Bailey led the way as they trooped downstairs. Their parents laughed when the girls pranced into the living room."I wore those when I was a teenager," Mom said, pointing to the thick flip-flops on Mal's feet. "And I believe that dress belonged to my grandmother. And Bailey, that old-fashioned hat looks great with that gold purse!""Those styles were very popular at one time," said Dad. "Everyone wanted them--just like everyone wants certain clothing styles today."Mom nodded. "When it comes to styles and trends, people often want the latest thing. That's fine as long as we make good choices about what we wear and don't let clothes take the place of more important things in our lives. We need to remember that our value doesn't come from what we look like or how others see us--it comes from God creating us in His image and sending His Son to die for us.""Right," said Dad. "And you know what? Trends extend to things other than clothes. Popular books, movies, activities, and even ideas come and go, and they're not always good. We need to remember that the world changes its opinions all the time, but God never changes. He is always the same, and the truth He gives us in the Bible will never go out of style. That's why we need to trust Him to guide us and give us wisdom in how we live our lives. Though the world is constantly changing, His love and promises will always stay the same."The girls nodded in agreement. "Come on, Bailey," said Mal. "Let's see what other things we can find in the attic."- Geri WalcottHow About You?Do you like to keep up with the latest fashions? What about trends like what movies or games are popular or even what people believe about certain things? Since the world we live in is always changing, it's important to seek God's wisdom in all you do. What He says in His Word, the Bible, will always be true, and the love He has for you will never change. Though people's thoughts and opinions change all the time, God will always stay the same.Today's Key Verse:The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (NIV) (Psalm 33:11)Today's Key Thought:God never changes

Attic Adventure

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-21; James 1:19-20"Bri, I love your new pet! He is so soft and sweet!" Ella stroked her friend's chinchilla, Herman. "A chinchilla's soft fur is one reason why they're such popular pets," said Bri. "They're native to the Andes mountains in Chile where it gets really cold." "Remember two years ago when you kept telling everyone you wanted a porcupine for a pet?" Ella could not contain her giggles. Bri shook her head. "What was I thinking? Chinchillas and porcupines are related, but porcupines are so prickly they don't make good pets." Bri handed Herman a seed and watched him nibble on it while holding it tightly in his tiny front paws. There was a strange sound on the other side of Bri's closed door. "Ella, I think our brothers are up to something," Bri whispered. "Remember what we did to them last time? Evan said they'd get us back."When Bri opened her door, she shrieked in anger. There was so much duct tape she could hardly see through to the hallway. "Mooooom!" Bri yelled over the boys laughing."That's what you get for starting this war," Evan taunted. "Evan, I'm going to destroy you!" Bri roared. "What is going on?" Mom appeared on the other side of the tape. "Boys, please take this down."After the boys removed the tape, Mom sent Ella to get a snack and came into Bri's room. "Bri, I know you were upset, but I could hear you hollering from outside. You need to chill out." "Mom, I can't! The boys made me so angry!" "I know, and I'm going to have a talk with them. But you can control how you respond when people do things that make you angry. Remember Proverbs 15:1?" "A soft answer turns away wrath," Bri muttered. "Herman's fur is the definition of soft," Mom observed as she stroked the chinchilla. "And it's a soft answer that stops fights and heals relationships. Mean, angry words just make things worse. As Christians, we can rely on God's Spirit to help us respond with love and speak softly, even when we feel angry.""Okay, Mom, I get it. I need to trust God to help me be chill when I want to be pokey." Bri grinned. "Did you know one of the chinchilla's relatives is a porcupine?"Mom laughed. "Now I do! Choose to be a chinchilla, girl!"- Savannah ColemanHow About You?Do you ever explode in anger when someone says or does something that makes you upset? If you know Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit's power in you to help you respond to others in loving ways, even when it's hard. Rely on His power, trusting Him to get rid of any anger in your heart and fill it up with His kindness and 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:With God's help, you can be chill

Chill Out

Bible Reading: Psalms 42:4-8; 73:21-26"Maria!" Dad called. "Your aunt and uncle will be here soon. Can you come down and help with dinner?"Maria sighed and tossed the book she was reading on the floor. The last thing she wanted to do was help with Thanksgiving dinner. It was their first Thanksgiving without Mom, and it wouldn't be the same, no matter how much food they cooked. When Maria shuffled into the kitchen, Dad smiled at her. "Want to learn how to carve a turkey?" he asked. Maria shrugged, which Dad took to mean yes, she did.After Dad explained what to do, Maria began slicing the turkey, but the knife wouldn't go all the way through. "Dad, this isn't cutting right, it's--it's frozen!" Dad took the knife and tried to make a cut, but it wouldn't go any deeper than a few inches. The middle was still frozen solid. Dad groaned. "I must not have let it thaw long enough.""Why are we even trying to cook a turkey anyway?" bellowed Maria. "Mom's gone, and it won't be the same. I don't care if people are coming, I don't want Thanksgiving!"Maria ran to her room and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing. A few minutes later Dad came in and sat down."Maria, I know it's been hard for you since Mom died. When something terrible like that happens, it can take a long time to get past the anger and sadness. It's okay to feel those things, and it's important to acknowledge our feelings and work through them, because we don't want our hearts to become cold and hard like that turkey." Dad gently brushed a tear from Maria's cheek. "The turkey needed more time to thaw than I realized, but if I'd just left it in the freezer, it never would have thawed at all. Right now your heart needs to thaw, and one way to help it along is to be with your family today. We love you, and Jesus loves you, and He wants to help you heal. One way He brings that healing into your life is through people who can be there for you and share His love with you when you're hurting."Maria lifted her head from the pillow and wiped her eyes. "Okay, Dad. I'll come to Thanksgiving." She smiled. "But we'd better hurry and order some takeout."- Courtney LasaterHow About You?Have you experienced something that's caused you a lot of anger and sadness? Maybe your parents divorced or a friend hurt you. Feeling angry and sad is normal, and you should let an adult know how you feel so they can help. It's important to work through those feelings so you can heal. Jesus knows how you feel, and He wants to help you. He often does that by putting people in your life who can offer their love and support. It may take time, but He can help you heal.Today's Key Verse:The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV) (Psalm 34:18)Today's Key Thought:Jesus wants to help you heal

Cold Turkey

Bible Reading: Psalm 100"I pray today!" Jameson announced as his family sat around the breakfast table. Dad nodded at the little boy, and they all bowed their heads. "Thank you, God, for bacon an' eggs an' milk an' toast an' orange juice," said Jameson. He paused and peeked through his fingers. "An' jam," he added. "Amen.""Thank you, Jameson," said Dad. He shot a look at Elliot and London, who were giggling at their little brother.After breakfast, everyone went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. When it was time for lunch, Mom called them together around the picnic table. "We'll pray first, and then you can all help get the hamburgers off the grill and get the rest of the food on the table.""I pray," announced Jameson again. Once more they all bowed their heads. "Thank you for…" Jameson paused a long moment as he looked at the table. There was no food on it yet. "For plates an' knives an' forks an' spoons an' cups an' napkins an' salt," Jameson said. "Amen."Elliot and London snickered out loud. But Dad smiled at his younger son. "I'm glad you thanked God for all those things today. We usually take them for granted and fail to give thanks for them.""Yes," Mom said as she got up. "While we're getting everything on the table, why don't you think of some other things we don't often remember to thank the Lord for. You go first, Elliot.""Uhh," Elliot murmured as he got busy with the hamburgers, "we should be thankful for…uh… for our grill.""Good," said Dad. "How about it, London?"London was ready. "For pepper--Jameson forgot that.""And for a picnic table," added Elliot quickly."And picnic benches," said London and Elliot together."An' food!" shouted Jameson as Mom set a platter of hamburgers and a bowl of fruit salad on the table."And for a little child to remind us of the many small blessings God has given us in addition to His greatest blessing of all--His Son, Jesus," said Mom with a smile. "Dig in."- Hazel W. MarettHow About You?Are you thankful this Thanksgiving season--for everything? Look around you. What things do you take for granted day after day and never thank the Lord for? Take a few moments to thank Him right now. He loves you and has filled your life with blessings that point to the greatest blessing of all--Jesus, who paid the price of our sin so we could have eternal life. Thank God for all the wonderful things He has given you, big and small.Today's Key Verse:Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ERV) (Ephesians 5:20)Today's Key Thought:Give thanks for everything

Thanks for Paper Plates

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10"I do it!" said Isla insistently. Her balloon was stuck up on a shelf, and her mother had offered to help her get it down. Isla was two, and she liked to do things all by herself. "All right, you do it," said Mom as Madeline came into the room. "How was school, Maddy?" "Okay," said Madeline. "But I don't seem to be making any headway with Kenna." She sighed and set down her backpack. "Ever since she went to church with me a few weeks ago, she's had questions about Jesus. I tried to explain it to her today, but she still seems to think she can be saved because her parents taught her good morals and she hasn't lived a bad life." Madeline glanced down at Isla, who was dragging a kiddie chair across the room. "What's she doing?" "She was bopping her balloon in the air and it got caught on the top shelf. She's trying very hard to get it down. I was going to help her, but she told me very firmly, 'I do it.'" Madeline grinned. "That sounds like her, but she'll never be able to reach it."They watched as Isla found a fairy wand in her toy box. She stood on the chair and reached with the wand, but she couldn't dislodge the balloon. After trying several times, she turned to her mother in defeat. "You do it," she said mournfully. With a smile, Mom reached up, took down the balloon, and handed it to her little daughter, who contentedly ran off with her prize. "Isla just gave me an idea that might help you with Kenna," said Mom. "Tomorrow, you could tell her about Isla's struggle to get the balloon by herself. Explain that just like Isla was too short to reach it--even with all her creative efforts--each of us falls short of God's glory and goodness, regardless of how good we think we may be. We've all sinned by doing wrong things. Just like Isla had to admit she couldn't get her balloon by herself, we need to admit that we can't save ourselves. The only one who can save us from sin is Jesus Christ." Madeline nodded. "Good idea, Mom!"- Shawna ArthursHow About You?Have you admitted that you can't save yourself from sin? Or do you think just being good is enough? Like everyone else, you are a sinner, and all your good deeds fall short of what's required for you to have eternal life with God. But God sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to die for your sin so that you could be saved. You can only have eternal life by trusting in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)Today's Key Verse:All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (NKJV) (Romans 3:23)Today's Key Thought:Only Jesus can save you

Too Short

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10"Annie's house is huge! Did you see her bedroom?" Rayne asked her sister when they got home after visiting their new friend."What about her basement?" Lily said. "They had a huge TV with tons of movies and video games.""The yard was awesome too," Rayne said. "I'm so jealous of their pool.""I wish we had a house that cool," said Lily. "I wouldn't ever want to leave!"Rayne nodded and sighed as she looked around their small living room. Their TV wasn't even a quarter the size of the one in Annie's basement. "It's not fair."Lily made a face. "We don't even get our own bedrooms."Their mom came into the room and gave them a quizzical look. "You two don't look too happy. Didn't you have a good time at Annie's?""It was great." Rayne slouched on the couch.Lily sighed. "But now we're back to reality."Mom lifted a brow. "What does that mean?""Our house isn't as nice as Annie's. We don't have anything fun to do here," Lily said."Nothing," Rayne agreed.Mom shook her head. "This morning you two couldn't get enough of the tire swing in the backyard. You have plenty to do here. You just have a case of jealousy, which can be a real downer."Rayne straightened up on the couch. "The Bible tells us not to be jealous."Mom nodded. "It's often easy for us to think we'd be happier with what someone else has, when in reality, jealousy hurts our relationships and makes us forget how much we do have. The Bible warns us against jealousy because God knows the things we own will never satisfy us. There's only one way to have true joy and contentment. Do you know what it is?""Is it Jesus?" asked Lily."Yes!" said Mom. "When we look to Him for joy and satisfaction and are thankful for the things He's given us--even though they may be different from what someone else has--we can be content in any situation. The things we own are temporary, but the love, joy, and peace we have in Jesus last forever!" Rayne looked at her sister. "Come on," she said. "Let's go play in the backyard."Lily grinned. "Maybe Annie can come try out our tire swing!"- Bethany AckerHow About You?Are you jealous of someone? Do you wish you had something they have? If you know Jesus, you already have the only thing that can make you truly content--eternal life with Him. Material things are nice, and we should be thankful for what God has given us, but lasting blessings are only found in Jesus. When we look to Him for joy instead of looking at what others have, we can feel content instead of jealous.Today's Key Verse:Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 
"Never will I leave you." (NIV) (Hebrews 13:5)Today's Key Thought:Be content, not jealous

Get Started

Download the App