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

Read: Psalm 143:8-10; 1 John 4:1-6 “Dad, what are those ropes on the side of the road?” asked six-year-old Arthur as they drove down the highway. “Those are called guardrails,” Dad replied. “Sometimes guardrails are made of wide metal bands, and sometimes they’re heavy wire ropes. They’re to make sure people driving on the highway stay on the road.” “Why would they want to leave the road?” Arthur asked. “They wouldn’t want to leave the road,” said Arthur’s brother, Keaton. “But sometimes people have accidents. Like in winter. If the road gets slippery, cars might run into each other and go off the road.” Dad nodded. “Or drivers may not be paying attention to what they’re doing, or they may get sleepy and swerve off the highway. Then those guardrails would catch their cars before they could roll down the hill at the side of the road. Without the guardrails, the cars would suffer much more serious damage—and the people inside them could have more serious injuries.” “Wow!” Arthur said. “Then I’m glad they’re there. They’re really important!” “Yes, they are.” Dad smiled. “You know, God’s Word can be like a guardrail. Just like guardrails protect us on the highway, reading the Bible can protect us from false teaching.” “What do you mean?” asked Keaton. “The Bible shows us what comes from God and what doesn’t,” said Dad. “It shows us who God is, and if we know Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand His Word and use it to test ideas we come into contact with. The Bible helps us recognize when something is false teaching and not the truth.” “Like what that person was saying on the radio earlier?” asked Keaton. “The one who said all religions lead to God?” “Right. That’s not what the Bible says—it says the only way to have eternal life with God is by trusting Jesus to save us from sin.” Dad sighed. “We hear so much in the world that’s untrue, which is why we need to be careful not to veer off the right path in our spiritual lives. As we read the Bible and learn about it at church, we can trust the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom about what it says so we can guard our hearts against falsehoods.” –Robert Truesdale How about you? Do you read the Bible regularly? Do you check it when you’re not sure about something you’ve heard? As you learn what God says in His Word, the Holy Spirit will use it to give you wisdom and help you recognize Satan’s lies. So keep reading the Bible and studying it, and trust God to use it to help you stay on the right road in your walk with Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. 1 John 4:1 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: God’s Word contains truth

Read: Ephesians 2:4-7 Harvey threw a baseball toward his dad. “What if I do all this practicing and I still don’t make the team?” Dad grinned. “I’ll still love you.” Harvey sighed. “You’ll always love me. You say that all the time.” “God will always love you too.” Dad lifted his arm. “Get ready to swing.” The ball came toward Harvey. He swung hard, but his bat didn’t connect with the ball. “This is what I mean.” Harvey went to get the ball so he could try again. “What if I somehow make the team and then I strike out every time I’m up? My teammates are going to hate me.” “If we keep practicing, I don’t think that will happen,” Dad said. “But even if it does, I will still love you, and God will still love you too.” Harvey threw the ball back to his dad. Dad held on to it as he looked over at him. “God and I will still love you, Harvey, but how will you feel about yourself? Do you feel like you have to do well to be deserving of love? What’s going through your head, bud?” Harvey looked down at the ground. “Ever since Mom left, I find it hard to believe that anyone really loves me. Even you and God. Sometimes I don’t like myself too much either.” He heard footsteps and knew his dad was coming over to him, but he was surprised when Dad knelt on the ground in front of him. “Bud?” His dad looked up into his eyes. “You are so worthy of love. You can’t imagine how much I care about you and how much God loves you. He sent Jesus to die for you so you could be His child! Your mom leaving had nothing to do with you or anything you have or haven’t done.” “But…a mom shouldn’t leave her kid.” Harvey blinked his eyes hard. “No, she shouldn’t.” Dad dropped the baseball and wrapped his arms around Harvey. “But what she did doesn’t change your value in my eyes or God’s eyes, and it shouldn’t change how you think about yourself either. God will always love you, and I will too.” –Emily Acker How about you? Do you let what others think about you affect how you see yourself? You have great value in God’s eyes, and nothing will ever change how He feels about you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could belong to Him forever. He cares about you so much and will never, ever leave you. When others let you down, know that He is with you and that you are loved. Today's Key Verse: As the Father loved Me [Jesus], I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: You are very loved

Read: Luke 16:1-10 Mina pouted as her older sister, Jackie, folded a pastel quilt and placed it on top of a large stack of quilts their mother had made. “Ready to go?” Mom asked as she hurried into the living room. Kitty, Mina and Jackie’s toddler sister, giggled as she bounced on Mom’s hip. “Ready!” Jackie replied, grinning. “Why can’t I go to the craft fair too?” Mina whined. “Dad will take you and Kitty this afternoon,” Mom said. “But babysitting Kitty is boring,” Mina said. “I want to help at the fair!” “Shh, don’t listen to her,” Jackie said teasingly, cupping her hands over Kitty’s ears. Mom passed Kitty to Jackie and led Mina to the couch. “Mina, we’ve talked about this. You are helping me by babysitting.” “But why does Jackie get to work at the booth and I don’t? Do you love Jackie more than me?” Mina wailed. Jackie groaned. “Mina, please. You don’t really believe that. If it means that much to you, I can watch Kitty and you can go with Mom.” “Really?” Mina asked, hopping to her feet. “Yay!” “Hold on,” Mom said. “I appreciate your willingness, Jackie, but I will make the final call. Mina, there’s a reason why I chose Jackie, even though I love all three of you equally.” “Why?” Mina asked, slumping back down. “Jackie already spent years babysitting both you and Kitty. Because I can trust her with smaller responsibilities, I can give her bigger responsibilities. Even now, she put your interests before her own.” “Oh,” Mina whispered. “Believe it or not, I’m doing this out of my love for you, based on Jesus’s example,” Mom said. “Jesus loves us and is shaping us to be more like Him, and He offers us opportunities to be faithful and show His love to others. But because He knows us so well, He only gives us challenges we can handle. I want to give you a task you can succeed in to encourage and prepare you for bigger challenges to come.” Mina nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’ll be faithful by taking care of Kitty today.” Mom hugged Mina. “Thank you.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Have you ever been given a task that felt too simple? Maybe you’ve compared yourself to older siblings or friends who were given tasks you wanted instead. Jesus was always willing to do anything God asked of Him, from washing dirty feet to dying on the cross for us. As you experience Jesus’s love, you will realize any task is important when it shows others His love and faithfulness. Today's Key Verse: Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. Luke 16:10 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Even small tasks help us grow

Read: Luke 15:11-24 Brock was sprawled on his bed with a book when Seth, his older brother, came into the room. “Hey, Brock, did you know that Dakota Smith talked with Pastor Briggs after church yesterday and decided to trust Jesus as his Savior?” “Great,” Brock said halfheartedly. “Maybe he’ll stay out of trouble now.” Then he frowned. “But what if he doesn’t? What happens if he sins again? I always wonder about that. Or even you—you’re a Christian. What if you sin again?” “You mean you think I don’t sin?” Seth grinned. “Wow! Go on thinking that!” “But what if you started doing really bad things?” Brock asked. “Well, sometimes Christians do really bad things, Brock. But when I do something wrong, that doesn’t mean I’m not saved anymore. I’m God’s child forever.” “I don’t know,” said Brock doubtfully. “I don’t want to trust in Jesus till I’m sure I can live right.” “Brock, no one can live right—that’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We can only be good in God’s eyes by trusting in Him.” But Brock still wasn’t sure, and Seth couldn’t convince him otherwise. A few days later, an older boy from church crashed his parents’ car while driving it recklessly. “Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are so upset,” Mom said. “But they’re glad Caden’s okay.” After Mom left the room, Seth turned to his brother. “It’s too bad Caden’s not a Peterson anymore, isn’t it?” “What are you talking about?” asked Brock. “Well, Caden took his parents’ car without permission and crashed it into a tree.” “But he’s still a Peterson,” said Brock. “He’s still their son.” “Right,” said Seth. “And just like Caden still belongs to the Peterson family, a Christian who sins still belongs to God’s family. Once you trust in Jesus, you’re God’s child forever. Christians still sin, but when we admit our mistakes to Jesus, He forgives us. If you wait until you’re good enough to trust in Jesus, it’s never going to happen. Only He is good, and once you’re part of His family, He will help you live in a way that shows His goodness to others.” Slowly, Brock nodded. He was beginning to understand. –Agnes Livezey How about you? Have you put off trusting in Jesus because you think you can’t live the way a Christian should? When you know Jesus, He forgives you when you sin and gives you the ability to do what’s right. Once you become part of God’s family, you’re His child forever. Nothing can change that. If you haven’t joined His family, don’t wait any longer. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. John 10:28 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: You are God’s child forever

Read: Matthew 25:31-40; Philippians 2:3-8 “Mom!” Jade called as she ran into the kitchen. “What’s up?” Jade’s mom asked from where she stood kneading bread dough. “I just saw an ad about kids who don’t have enough food to eat or clothes to wear, and I want to help, Mom!” Jade explained in a rush. Mom dusted flour off her hands. “Jade, I’m so glad you want to help and serve others. Why don’t we start with Mr. Barton?” Mom turned to the cabinet and pulled down two cans. “I have this chicken noodle soup that we can drop off to him since he’s sick.” Jade frowned. “But he lives just down the street. I want to help people in a poor country in another part of the world.” “He’s an older man who lives alone,” said Mom. “It’s hard for him to afford groceries or cook, and he can’t drive anymore. We can show kindness to Mr. Barton by helping him out.” “He’s just one person, Mom! I want to help lots and lots of people!” Jade exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. Mom removed her apron. “Jade, remember when you trusted Jesus as your Savior last year?” Jade nodded. “Of course I remember.” “Well,” Mom continued, “when you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins, the Holy Spirit came to live in your heart. He gives you the desire and ability to love and help others so they can know Jesus loves them too.” “Then isn’t it good that I want to help lots of people?” Jade asked. “Of course!” Mom smiled. “Jesus doesn’t want us to forget about people in faraway places. But He wants us to look for opportunities to bless people who are nearby too.” “So serving one person is just as important as helping out lots of people?” Mom nodded. “Jesus said that whenever we serve even one person, we are actually serving Jesus Himself.” “Wow!” Jade’s eyes grew big. “Let’s take Mr. Barton the soup right now. I’ll grab a jug of orange juice from the fridge too. Come on, Mom! We have important helping to do!” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? Has God given you a desire to help people around the world who are struggling? What about people in your hometown or church? Or just one person down the street? When we help others, we show them Christ’s love. You don’t need lots of money or have to go someplace far away to live out His love. Helping a neighbor, friend, sibling, or whoever God places in your life is a wonderful chance to serve Jesus by serving others. Today's Key Verse: The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Serve others near and far

Read: Genesis 1:26; 2:15; Psalm 128:1-2 “I’m outta here!” Micah dunked an old cleaning rag in the trash can and ran into the house. Calvin looked around at his half of the garage, then at the other half that had been Micah’s responsibility to clean. What a difference! He knew Micah had worked a lot harder than he had. Now Micah was finished and could go to the ball game. Calvin scowled. He hated cleaning the garage! By the time Calvin finished, the game had been going for an hour. “I’m done!” he called to his mother as he entered the house. “Will you take me to school so I can see the rest of the game?” “No, Calvin. You should have been ready when I took Micah. I’m cooking dinner now.” Calvin sighed. “What are you making?” “Chicken tacos and lemon-garlic potatoes,” Mom replied. “Yum!” Calvin’s mouth watered as he thought about biting into a taco. “You make the best food. You must love to cook.” Mom shrugged. “Not always—it can be hard, messy work sometimes. But I do it because I want to provide you and Micah and Dad with healthy food that you enjoy.” Calvin was surprised. “I sure wouldn’t do all that work if I didn’t have to!” “Calvin,” Mom said, “did you know that work is part of God’s loving plan for us?” “No,” Calvin muttered. “I kind of figured work was more like God’s way of punishing us.” Mom shook her head. “Work is a good thing. The first thing God did after He created Adam and Eve was give them work to do. It was the curse of sin that made work difficult, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and satisfaction in our work.” “How do we do that?” asked Calvin. “By remembering that God has done the most important work of all. Jesus saved us by dying for our sins, and God is working in our lives to make us more like Him—and that means the work we do is important. He uses it to help us learn and grow and show others who He is.” “He does?” Calvin smiled. “I guess work isn’t so bad after all.” “I’m glad to hear you say that.” Mom handed him a bowl. “Because I could really use some help peeling potatoes!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do you hate work? Do you complain about it or avoid doing it? God created work to be a good thing, but when sin entered the world, work became difficult. The good news is that because Jesus did the most difficult work of all—dying for our sins—we can find joy in our work. Even when you have to do things that seem boring or unimportant, do them for Jesus, knowing He’ll use your efforts for good. Today's Key Verse: Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Find joy in work

Read: Matthew 10:28-31 “Shall I brush your hair before you go to bed, sweetie?” Grandma asked. Jiya, who was spending the night with her grandparents, nodded and got her hairbrush. Her scalp tingled as Grandma brushed her hair with long, gentle strokes. When she finished, Grandma handed the brush to Jiya. “There, now. Why don’t you clean the hair out of the brush so it’ll be all ready for next time?” Jiya carried the brush to the wastebasket. “When you brush my hair, a lot comes out, Grandma,” she said as she pulled out strands that had twisted around the bristles. “Am I going to be bald like Grandpa?” Grandma chuckled. “No, you don’t have to worry about that, sweetheart. It’s normal to lose up to a hundred hairs a day, but you have many more than that on your head—maybe a hundred thousand.” “Wow!” said Jiya. “That’s a lot! I wonder who counted them.” “Well, God keeps count of every one,” Grandma said. “He does?” “That’s right. The Bible says the hairs on our heads are all numbered. I think that shows He loves us very much, don’t you?” Jiya nodded. “The first verse I ever learned was John 3:16—‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…’” She paused, thinking hard. “God loves me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, and He cares how many hairs I have. That’s awesome!” “Yes, God is awesome,” Grandma said, pulling back the sheets on Jiya’s bed. “He even knows when a hair falls out, and He cares for you and watches over you day and night.” “Even when I’m sleeping,” Jiya said with a yawn. Grandma smiled. “Yes, and I can see that it’s time for you to snuggle into bed. Go tell Grandpa goodnight and then I’ll tuck you in.” “Okay. And I’ll tell him not to worry about his hair,” Jiya said, heading for the bedroom door. “I’ll tell him God cares how many hairs he has and won’t let him lose more than he should.” –Kim Sheard How about you? Are you aware that God knows everything about you—including how many hairs are on your head? He knows when you’re happy and when you’re sad. He watches over you when you’re awake and when you’re sleeping. He loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you, and He cares about every detail of your life. He is truly an awesome God! Today's Key Verse: The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: God cares for you

Read: Job 1:1-3, 13-21; 3:25; Matthew 6:33-34 Mom found Clare crying in the backyard, watching her dog, Sheba, paw at leaves in the flower bed. “What’s the matter, honey?” “I don’t want Sheba to get sick,” Clare said. “I know the vet took that lump off her leg, but she said it could come back.” “It could, but maybe it won’t,” said Mom. “It may never come back.” “But what if it does?” Clare sniffed. “I don’t want Sheba to die.” “Of course you don’t,” said Mom, giving Clare a hug. “But worrying about that is keeping you from enjoying her. You look just as sad now as you would if she died.” Mom bent down to pet Sheba. “Do you remember what happened to Job?” “Job?” asked Clare. “You mean the man in the Bible?” “Yes,” said Mom. “He had plenty to be happy about—a big family, lots of money. Then he lost everything. After Job’s problems started, he said, ‘What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.’” “That doesn’t make me feel better,” said Clare. “Wait! I have a point.” Mom dried a tear from Clare’s cheek. “All those years, he had his family with him. He had prosperity and success. Do you think his worrying helped him enjoy those things?” “No,” said Clare, petting Sheba’s head. “And did being afraid of losing everything stop it from happening?” asked Mom. Clare hugged Sheba. “No. But what can I do about being sad? It doesn’t have an off button.” “No, but we have a choice when it comes to worrying about sad things that might happen,” said Mom. “We can worry, which doesn’t help anyway, or we can remember that Jesus died for us and will always be with us and thank Him for the good things we have today—like Sheba. We can talk to Him about troubling things and trust Him to work them out. Job did that. He continued to love and believe in God.” Mom picked up a ball and looked at Sheba, who wagged her tail. “I think she needs a playmate,” said Mom, throwing the ball. Clare took off running. “Come on, Sheba! I bet I can get that ball before you do.” Sheba quickly caught up with her, and together they raced across the lawn. –Elise L. Perl How about you? Do you worry about what might happen tomorrow? If worrying keeps you focused on what might go wrong, you can’t enjoy what you have right now. When you start to worry, pray about the problem, and talk to a parent or another adult about it. Then choose to thank Jesus for the many blessings you do have and enjoy them as you trust in Him. Today's Key Verse: Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Enjoy your blessings today

Read: Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 2:40-44 Oliver was passing the kitchen door when he heard his little brother’s voice. “Dad, can I please have those shoes? They’re the kind Daryl Stewart wears.” Oliver grinned and went into the kitchen. “Do you think that since Daryl Stewart is a basketball star those shoes will automatically turn you into a great player?” Jude shrugged. “They might help.” “Jude,” said Dad, “you know it’s effort, not a fancy pair of shoes, that will help make you a good basketball player.” Oliver nodded. “Dad’s right, Jude. If you practice every day, you’ll get better and better, no matter what kind of shoes you wear.” Jude looked a bit disappointed. “Guess I’ll start practicing then,” he said with a sigh and headed for the door. Oliver grinned at his dad. “I was about to head over to Bible study at church, but I think I’ll stay and help Jude with his basketball practice instead.” Dad motioned toward Oliver’s Bible on the kitchen counter. “Grandma gave each of you kids a new Bible for Christmas, didn’t she?” he asked. “Is that it?” Oliver nodded. “Yep. My name’s on the cover. Isn’t that cool?” He smoothed his hand over the embossed name. Dad nodded thoughtfully. “Nice shoes and nice Bibles are great, but just having them doesn’t make you a good player or help you grow spiritually, does it?” It took a moment for Oliver to realize what his dad meant. “You’re saying that just like Jude needs to practice to become a better basketball player, I need to learn from God by spending time in His Word.” Dad nodded. “And one really great way to do that is to study the Bible with other believers. After all, you can’t learn to play basketball all by yourself, can you? You need to practice and learn from the coach as a team. Jesus never meant for us to live the Christian life alone—He puts other believers in our lives so we can learn to walk with Him together and love and support each other along the way. That’s a big way He shows us who He is, and why church and Bible studies are so important.” “Okay, Dad,” Oliver said. “I’ll go to Bible study. I don’t want to miss practice with my spiritual team!” –A. J. Schut How about you? Do you want to get to know Jesus more and more? To improve in sports, you need to learn the game and spend time practicing. To deepen your relationship with God, you need to learn about who He is, and a good way to do that is to spend time in His Word—both by yourself and with other believers. Spend time with other Christians so you can learn about Jesus together and encourage each other in your walk with Him. Today's Key Verse: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Learn with other Christians

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12-15 Sierra shut her bedroom door and tossed her backpack onto the bed. She set her cat, Tommy, on the floor. “Stay away from the curtains, Tommy,” she warned. “You know you always get stuck in them.” Sierra flopped onto her bed and opened her backpack. After digging around a moment, she pulled out a book. “What do you think, Tommy? Should I?” Tommy didn’t answer. He was staring at the lace curtain waving in the breeze from the window. Sierra tossed the book onto the bed beside her. “I know Mom told me not to read these kinds of books, but all my friends read them. They can’t be that bad, can they?” She picked the book up again. The cover looked interesting. She flipped it over and read the back for the tenth time. A few pages couldn’t hurt. Sierra opened the book and soon had read several pages. Then a quick movement made her jump. It was only Tommy, she realized with relief. He had pounced on the curtain. His claws were caught in the fabric, and he hung down, his full length stretched out. He was helpless. “Silly cat, leave the curtain alone!” Sierra freed him, and he marched across the room and sat with his back to the curtain. Sierra turned to her book again. She knew she shouldn’t read any more, but soon she was engrossed again. She had finished the first chapter when a sound caught her attention. She looked up and stared in disbelief. Tommy was hanging from the curtain again. The temptation had been too great. Sierra began to laugh. “Tommy, you should know better, after all the times you’ve gotten stuck. Resist the temptation! You should—” Sierra stopped and stared at Tommy and then at the book in her hand. She dropped the book as though it were on fire. I’m acting just like Tommy, she thought. But he can’t resist temptation, and I can, because Jesus gives me the power to say no to sin. She loosened Tommy from the curtain again, then picked up the book and placed it in her backpack. “I’m going to return this book and ask Jesus to forgive me for disobeying Mom,” she told her cat. “I don’t want to become ensnared like you!” –Christa Long How about you? Have you ever given in to temptation and regretted it later? When you give in to sinful desires, it’s easy to get stuck. But there’s good news—Jesus gives us the power to resist temptation. Confess the wrong you’ve done to Him, and He will forgive you and help you do what’s right. Today's Key Verse: God is faithful…When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Resist temptation

Read: Psalm 40:1-5; Ephesians 2:4-7 The waves crashed as Graham sat on the beach. Even though he was vacationing with his friend Omar and his family, his thoughts were dark. Back home, things were anything but a fun day at the beach. No one wants me, Graham thought to himself. Mom and Dad are too busy fighting to notice me. Except when I get bad grades. That’s the only time my teacher notices me too. Graham held back tears as his thoughts ran on. I can’t do anything right. I wish I’d never been born! Just then Omar’s grandfather came over. “Mind if I sit down?” Graham nodded and watched as the elderly man began to chip small bits from an old piece of driftwood. “What are you going to do with that?” Graham asked. “Oh, I have great plans for this old piece of wood,” replied the man. “I’m carving a whale this time. I like to carve sea animals.” He lifted a beautifully carved dolphin from his bag and handed it to Graham. “Here’s one I finished recently.” “Wow!” Graham held up the dolphin, then looked again at the wood the man was carving. “That driftwood you’re working on now is so old and dirty. It looks worthless! How can something as cool as this come from junk like that?” The man smiled. “It takes time, work, and skill to get rid of the dirt and make something beautiful from the wood. I carve it carefully, sand it, and polish it.” He turned the wood over in his hand. “This driftwood is something like me.” “Like you?” asked Graham. “How’s that?” “There was a time when I felt worthless—like all the things I did and said were wrong and I might as well give up. In fact, even though I know better now, I still feel that way sometimes. Ever feel that way yourself?” Graham nodded. “Well, we’re definitely not worthless—not to God,” said the man. “Whenever bad things happen in my life or I feel worthless, I remember that Jesus loves me so much that He died and rose again to make me His. When I trusted Him to save me, He made me into something beautiful. Have you asked Him to do that for you?” Graham shook his head and sat up straighter. He was eager to hear more about how Jesus could make something beautiful out of his life. –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you sometimes feel worthless, as if nothing you do is any good? Everyone does wrong, and there’s a lot of pain and hardship in the world because of it. But you’re special to God. He made you, He loves you, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. When you trust in Jesus, He makes you into something beautiful. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes us beautiful

Read: Matthew 5:14-16; John 1:1-14 “Come on, Dad. We’re ready,” called Lina. They had all gathered for family night. It was storming outside, but in the den, they felt snug and cozy with plenty of games and popcorn. “Coming,” Dad called from the bedroom. Just then the power went out. “Oh no!” said Manuel. “No lights!” “Now what do we do?” Lina asked. “Honey,” Mom called, “bring that big candle from the bedroom, please. There are matches in the drawer there too.” “Okay,” said Dad. “I hope I can find them in the dark—ouch! Stubbed my toe on the dresser!” A moment later they saw a glow in the bedroom as Dad lit a match, and he soon arrived in the den with the flickering candle. “I hope the power won’t be off long,” said Manuel. He was eager to play games and munch on popcorn. “I don’t even care. I like the room with just the candlelight,” Lina said. Before long, they all agreed they could see well enough to play a game. “It’s amazing to see what a difference a small light makes, isn’t it?” said Mom. Lina nodded. “When the lights first went out, the dark seemed kind of scary, but when Dad brought in the candle, it lit up the whole room.” “A dark room may seem scary,” said Dad, “but it’s not nearly as scary as the darkness of sin. Without the light of Jesus, we’d have good reason to live in fear. But because He came into the world to save us and give us His light, we no longer have to go on stumbling in darkness.” “Like you were in the bedroom when you stubbed your toe, Dad?” Manuel asked with a grin. Dad chuckled. “Right. Jesus brings the light of His love into our lives, and we can share that light with others—just like I shared the light of this candle with you by bringing it in here from the bedroom.” “So we have to let our lights shine, just like it said in the verse I learned at church last week,” Lina said. “We need to tell people about Jesus and let them know how much He loves them.” –Robert Truesdale How about you? Are you sharing the light of Jesus’s love with those around you? Don’t hide His light because you’re embarrassed about what others might think or say about you. When we were stumbling in the darkness of sin, Jesus came to save us even though He knew many people would reject Him. If you have His light in your life, share it with those around you. Tell others about Him and show His love in all you do. Today's Key Verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Share the light of Jesus

Read: Psalm 18:31-36 “I knew I’d win a prize. I just knew it!” Jack stroked the shiny blue ribbon he was holding and grinned, remembering how quickly his horse had stood straight and still, with ears flicked forward. “Blaze was the best because he had the best trainer—me!” “You did a good job training your horse,” Dad said. “But remember, you didn’t train him alone.” “Yes, I did,” said Jack. “No one helped me—at least not much. I don’t need help. I know everything about…” He paused as Dad suddenly slowed down and stopped at the side of the road. “Aha!” Dad said. “I thought I saw something odd.” “What?” asked Jack, peering out the window. “Come and see.” Jack got out and followed Dad to a fence that ran beside the road. “Look.” Dad stopped beside one of the thick, round fence posts. A big turtle sat on top of it, sleeping in the sun. Jack was flabbergasted. “How did he climb up there?” “Well, I’d say someone must have put him there,” said Dad. “But he probably never even saw the hands that picked him up!” He lifted the turtle and set him on the ground. “Or the hands that put him down. When he sees his friends again, maybe he’ll tell them—in turtle language, of course—that he got up on that post and back down again all by himself.” Jack had a feeling Dad was talking about more than just the turtle. “Invisible hands,” said Dad softly. “I’d say that’s the help you had in training Blaze—God’s invisible hands.” “You mean God helped me?” asked Jack. “God helped me train a horse?” Dad nodded. “God gave you a brain and arms and legs and the ability to learn how to train Blaze—and people who taught you how to do it. Right?” “Well, yeah,” Jack said thoughtfully. “So…” “So maybe He deserves some credit?” suggested Dad. “After all, if Jesus hadn’t died and rose again to save us, none of our accomplishments would mean a thing. But He did save us, and He’s given us the abilities we have so we can use them to point to Him and everything He’s done for us.” Jack sighed. “You’re right, Dad. I owe Him everything. He deserves the credit, not me.” –Jane K. Chase How about you? Do you give God the credit for your accomplishments, like getting good grades or winning at sports? Or do you let others think it’s all you? It’s okay to feel good about things you do well, but don’t forget to thank God for each success—after all, He’s the one who created you, saved you from sin, and blessed you with everything you have and are able to do. Nothing you do compares to what He’s done, so give Him the credit He deserves. Today's Key Verse: If anyone wants to be proud, he should be proud of what the Lord has done. 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: Give God credit for everything

Read: Psalms 95:1-7; 96:11-13 Gannon’s mom plopped the mushy, still-warm mound onto the coffee table for him to enjoy. After locating a recipe for homemade playdough online, Mom and Gannon gathered the ingredients and started creating. He was so excited to see the first batch! Gannon pressed his small hands into the stretchy substance, pulling it this way and that. “It feels perfect, Mommy! I like it!” he exclaimed. “How did you do this?” Gannon asked. “You must be the goodest playdough maker in the world!” Gannon’s mother smiled and settled on the rug beside the coffee table. “As much as you enjoy what I made for you, I’m just as happy about the playdough as you are,” she said. “You are?” Gannon rolled the dough between his hands. “Yep, I love to see how much joy it gives you. To know I made something for you that brings you pleasure is a blessing to me.” Then she picked up a lump of playdough and began pressing it into shape. “I’m not the only one who likes creating things for their children to enjoy,” Mom continued. “I mixed together some items from our pantry to make the playdough—but think about what God created.” “Yeah! Oceans, mountains, flowers…even koalas!” Gannon exclaimed. Mom laughed. “Yes, even koalas. And God created all of that out of nothing.” “Not even stuff from the pantry,” Gannon said. “That’s right. God shows us His glory through His handiwork in the world, and He likes it when we enjoy His creation.” “The world is a neat gift from God.” Gannon twirled his playdough into a bird’s nest. “It is, and when we know God as His children—by trusting in Jesus, who lived a perfect life and then died to take the punishment for our sins—we understand how God loves to show us His love. He gives us good gifts, like the beautiful world we live in, and the gift of Jesus so we could become His children.” “Mommy, we should say thank you to God for the world He made, for Jesus—and for this good playdough!” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? When you play outside, do you notice the world around you? God created it for you to enjoy—the sun and moon to give you light, grass for you to play on, and animals for you to see and learn about. God not only created a beautiful world because He loves you; He also sent His Son, Jesus, so you could have eternal life. Next time you go outside, let the world God made remind you of His love! Today's Key Verse: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God gives good gifts

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 18-20 “I can’t wait for our youth retreat!” Katie said. “Do you have permission to go yet?” Tammy bit her lip. “Not yet.” If she went, she would have to invite her brother, Clint. Tammy loved Clint, but kids at school whispered behind his back because he didn’t understand when they were joking or when he should stop talking about his obsessions, especially with polar bears. “Promise you’ll ask!” Katie called as Tammy got into Mom’s car. Mom smiled at Tammy as they drove away. “What do you need to ask me?” Tammy sighed. “There’s going to be a youth retreat at the ski lodge.” “That’s awesome!” Mom said. “Of course you can go.” “But if I go, then Clint will want to come. Remember the last time we went skiing? He almost got lost searching for polar bears. It was so embarrassing!” “I see,” Mom said. “I’ll let you decide whether or not you want to invite him.” Tammy was too surprised to respond. Suddenly, Mom pulled into an empty parking lot. Tammy gasped as Mom shut her eyes. “What are you doing?” Tammy cried. “What?” Mom asked. “I thought it would be fun to drive with my eyes closed. I still have my foot to press the gas and my hands to steer the wheel.” “But you can’t see where you’re going! What if we hit something?” Mom opened her eyes. “What if I try driving without my feet? Or taking my hands off the wheel?” “No!” Tammy said. “You need your whole body to drive.” Mom nodded. “That’s right. Have you ever heard Christians described as a body?” Tammy shook her head. That sounded weird! “The Bible says we are the body of Christ,” said Mom. “God created each of us with unique gifts so we can show people who Jesus is and help each other grow in our faith. And every single person is needed. We’re all part of the wonderful purpose Jesus has given us as His people.” When they got home, Clint ran to give Tammy a hug. “Clint, I have something important to ask you,” Tammy said. “Do you want to come on a ski retreat with me?” Clint danced down the hallway as Tammy laughed. She already knew what gift Clint had—joy. –Hannah Chung How about you? Do you struggle to include kids who are different from you? Or maybe you’re often left out because of your differences. God created and loves each one of us, and He has given each of His children unique gifts that allow us to show others the love of Jesus. Even if others don’t recognize your gifts, God always sees you, and He will help you see and encourage others in the body of Christ. Today's Key Verse: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Everyone has God-given gifts

Read: Colossians 4:5-6; 1 John 4:7-11 “I love being out in the snow,” said Addison, catching a snowflake on the tip of her tongue. Dad smiled. “I know—you never want to come in! But Mom sent me out to tell you dinner is hot and ready.” So Addison and Dad went in and washed up for dinner. “Did you have a good time playing with the new neighbor girl?” Mom asked as they sat down to eat. “Not really,” said Addison. “She’s from another country, and she’s hard to understand. I don’t think I’m going to play with her again.” “But you don’t even know her very well yet,” said Mom. “Give her a chance.” Addison shrugged. “I don’t know. I think she’s just too different.” She glanced out the window. “Look! It’s snowing again—great big snowflakes! Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? At school we learned that each one is made up of different patterns and designs.” Dad nodded. “Did you know that even though no two snowflakes are alike, all of them have something in common? Each one has six points. That’s like people too.” “How is that like people?” Addison asked. “Well, we know that no two people are exactly the same or have the same experiences, but we often forget that we’re also alike in many ways,” Dad explained. “You mean we all breathe and eat and sleep and grow hair?” Addison asked. “Stuff like that?” “Well, yes, that too,” Dad replied. “But I was thinking about how people from different parts of the world have their own languages and customs, but deep down we all have the same feelings and desires. We all want to feel loved and accepted, and we feel sad and upset when others make quick judgments about us.” Addison sighed. “You’re talking about the new neighbor girl, aren’t you?” Dad nodded. “Another thing all people have in common is that we’re all created in God’s image, and He loves us all so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. As His children, He wants us to share His love with others—even those who seem different—because we all have the same need for Him.” Addison looked out at the falling snow and nodded. –Janice M. Jones How about you? How do you treat kids who are different from you? Do you avoid them—or include them? If they moved from somewhere else, do you do your best to help them? No two people are exactly the same—God created each of us to be unique. But we’re all created in His image, and Jesus died for each one of us. Share His love by reaching out to those who are different from you. Today's Key Verse: If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Show love to everyone

Read: Psalm 119:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “Your Bible’s getting a bit dusty,” Dad remarked one day when he came into George’s room. George shrugged. “I haven’t moved it in a while.” “No?” Dad asked. “I’ve been busy.” George put the finishing piece on the castle he was building. He loved making all kinds of cool buildings with his blocks. “That’s too bad.” Dad stepped over to examine his newest creation. “I know you love a good story.” “Especially about bad guys and good guys and a good fight.” George grinned as he grabbed a toy soldier to defend his block tower. His dad picked up another toy and played with him for a few minutes. Then he walked back over to the bookshelf. “You’re missing out.” George glanced up at him. “What do you mean?” “The Bible has many stories about bravery and strength,” Dad said. George set down the toy soldier. “Like what?” “There’s a story of a young boy killing a giant. Another story of a city falling to the ground after the good guys march around it.” Dad gently wiped the dust from the cover of the Bible. “The Bible is one big story of God’s love for us. Every story points to Jesus—our Savior. He’s the hero because He died and rose again to save us from sin and conquer evil and death.” “Maybe I should read it more.” George had heard some of the Bible stories before, but now his dad made them sound more interesting. “Maybe we can start reading it together,” Dad said. “I think it would be fun—and it will help us learn more about Jesus too.” “Sure,” George said. They sat together on the bed, and Dad read the story of Daniel, who was thrown into a den of starving lions because he trusted and obeyed God. It was an exciting story, and George was amazed to learn how God protected Daniel and saved him from the lions. When his dad had finished reading, George smiled and said, “I don’t want my Bible to get dusty again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? What kinds of stories interest you? Do you like action stories? Or ones about friendship? Or stories where the hero saves the day? The Bible has all kinds of stories in it, but they all point to one big story—the story of God’s love and how Jesus came to rescue us from sin and destroy evil forever. As you read or listen to the stories in the Bible, think about how each one points to Jesus and teaches us to trust and obey Him. Today's Key Verse: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: The Bible is the story of God’s love

Read: John 1:45-46; 4:25-29 Michael stood on a stepstool so he could see over the grille to where his dad was working underneath the hood. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m replacing the spark plugs,” said Dad. “Then it should run a lot better.” “Cool!” said Michael. “Are you going to do anything else?” “After this I’ll replace the brake pads,” Dad said. “I want to watch when you do.” Then Michael thought of his friend down the street who loved cars. “Can Jason come and see too?” “There should be room for both of you to watch,” said Dad. “Why don’t you go ask him while I finish up these spark plugs?” Michael was so excited, he ran the whole way. He didn’t want to miss seeing anything. Dad was ready to start on the brake pads by the time Michael returned with Jason. First, Dad removed a wheel. The boys stepped back to give him room. Then he loosened the nuts that held something called a caliper. The boys moved closer together to get a better view of the action. Dad then took off the brake pads and made sure each of them got a good look. “See how thin it is right here?” he asked, pointing to the thin layer of material on the old brake pad. “It’s worn away from use. It’s dangerous not to replace it when it looks like this.” Then he held up a new one for them to see that was black and much thicker. “Thanks for letting me watch,” Jason said after Dad had put the new brake pads on the wheels. “I’m sure glad Michael came and got me.” Dad smiled at Michael. “You running to get Jason reminds me of the story in the Bible about Philip telling Nathanael to come and see Jesus.” “You learn about Jesus at church, right?” asked Jason. “We don’t go to church.” “Why don’t you come with us sometime?” said Michael. “We learn about Jesus and sing and hear stories from the Bible. Come and see!” “Yeah, maybe I will,” said Jason. “I’ll ask my parents!” After Jason left, Dad patted Michael’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you for inviting Jason to church. I hope he comes and sees how much Jesus loves him!” –Bonnie Clarkson How about you? Do you invite others to come and see Jesus? There are lots of ways you can do that, such as inviting friends to church, telling others what Jesus has done for you, or letting people see His love and kindness in the way you treat them. Not everyone knows who Jesus is or that He died and rose again to save us, and it’s our job to tell them. Invite others to come and see how much Jesus loves them and all He’s done for them. Today's Key Verse: Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! Psalm 66:5 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Invite people to come and see Jesus

Read: Matthew 20:9-16 Bright and early in the morning, Kira flew into Grandma’s kitchen with a grin on her face while her cousins were still sleeping upstairs. Grandma had just finished setting out bags of flour and sugar and loads of cookie cutters. This could only mean one thing—Grandma’s delicious sugar cookies. “Oh, Kira, thank goodness you’re here!” Grandma exclaimed. “We have to make twenty boxes of cookies for the church fundraiser tomorrow. If you help, you can bring a dozen home tonight to enjoy.” “I’m in!” Kira cried. After an hour of working, Sophie came downstairs and spotted the cookies. “Can I help?” she asked. “Join the fun!” Grandma replied. Another hour passed and Jackson ran in with his nose in the air. “I smell cookies!” he cried. “Roll up your sleeves!” Grandma said with a laugh. Finally, just as they were rolling out the last bit of dough, Kevin wandered in yawning. Without even asking, he grabbed a cookie cutter and got to work. When all the cookies were iced and boxed, Grandma gave each grandchild a dozen cookies. But Kira frowned. “Grandma, I worked the longest,” she said. “Kevin barely did anything. Why does he get the same number of cookies as me?” “Be quiet!” Kevin shushed. “Kira, we agreed to a dozen cookies as compensation, right?” Grandma asked, crossing her arms. Kira nodded. “So why are you upset?” “It’s not fair!” Kira cried. “Maybe not,” Grandma said. “But is Jesus’s love based on fairness?” “Ooh, this is like the parable of the workers!” Sophie said. Grandma winked. “Exactly. That parable illustrates how at any stage of life, we have the chance to receive Jesus’s love and forgiveness. That might not seem fair to us who have been saved longer, but we have no right to complain when it wasn’t fair to begin with that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We serve a generous and merciful God.” “I’m glad I have a generous God and a generous grandma,” Kira said with a smile as she bit into a cookie. –Hannah Chung How about you? Has someone’s generosity ever seemed unfair to you? Perhaps your sibling got a present on your birthday or your teacher allowed another student to turn homework in late. Just remember that if you trust in Jesus, you are the recipient of the ultimate act of generosity—His gift of unconditional love and forgiveness. As you recognize His love in your life, consider how you can be generous to others too. Today's Key Verse: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is generous

Read: 1 John 2:15-17; 4:1-6 “C’mon, guys!” Lara jumped into the pool. “Let’s make a whirlpool!” “Ooh! Yeah!” Her brother Jerome pushed his goggles up onto his forehead. “A world pool?” Four-year-old Emelia, the youngest of the seven siblings, hung onto the ladder and scrunched her forehead. “A whirlpool, Lia. It’s where we go around and around until we make a current,” Lara explained. “I’ll piggyback you, okay?” “Okay.” Emelia leapt onto Lara’s back. They all went around and around and around, until Imogene decided she was going to go the other way. “Aaahhh! Help!” She giggled. “I can’t…move!” Lara turned and braced her feet, laughing. “I can’t either!” “Look! I’m swimming in place!” Jerome paddled furiously. “I…can…almost…reach…the wall! There!” Momma, who’d been watching from the deck, stood up. “Who wants a snack?” “Me! Me! Me!” everyone chorused. “All right.” Momma opened the cooler. “Come on out and have a granola bar, and then you can go back in.” They clambered out and dangled their legs in the water while they ate. “You know,” Momma said after a minute, “you kiddos making a whirlpool made me think about how we as Christians have to live.” “I hope we don’t go around in circles.” Lara frowned. “No, I was thinking more about the current you made. It was hard to go against it once you really got it going, wasn’t it?” “Yeah.” Imogene grinned. “I couldn’t get anywhere!” Momma nodded. “The world around us makes a current, and it can be very hard not to go along with it. But we as Christians are called to live another way—we’re called to trust and obey Jesus and follow His way of truth and love in the Bible. If we try to live that way on our own, it’s like you trying to go against the whirlpool—you can’t get anywhere.” Momma smiled. “Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us to swim against the current on our own. He supplies us with His own strength and grace. And if we’re relying on Him as we go against the world’s current, His love will become evident in us.” –Ellie Shirk How about you? Have you ever made a whirlpool? It’s difficult to go against a strong current in the water, and it can be even harder to go against the world’s current. But God will always give us the strength we need to stand against the world’s ways and follow Jesus instead. Trust Him to help you follow the way of Jesus in this world so others can see His truth and love in your life. Today's Key Verse: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Follow Jesus, not the current