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

Read: Psalm 86:12-13; 2 Corinthians 9:12-15; Revelation 5:9-14 Dominic bit his cheek as he sat at his desk and stared up at his teacher. “I’m sorry, Ms. Foreman,” he said. He looked over at his handwriting on the whiteboard that read, Dominic was here. “Thank you for apologizing,” Ms. Foreman said. “But you knew the consequences of writing on the board without permission. I’m going to have to call your parents.” Just then Jamey, one of Dominic’s classmates, returned from the bathroom. He and Dominic hadn’t gone to recess yet. Jamey looked at Dominic, the board, and Ms. Foreman, then said, “Oh, that’s an easy fix.” Jamey went to the whiteboard and quickly erased Dominic’s writing. He turned around and smiled at Ms. Forman, who laughed. “That was an easy fix, Jamey, thank you.” She turned to Dominic. “You’ve been a good student, so let’s call this a warning. I won’t call home, but if I catch you breaking that rule again, I will. Understood?” Dominic nodded, then followed Jamey out to the playground. He couldn’t believe it! Jamey had gotten him out of trouble. “Thank you!” Dominic said to Jamey, but then felt like once wasn’t enough. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” he repeated. “Hey, man, it was nothing. You’re welcome,” Jamey said, smiling and blushing a little. “Sorry, I just—I can’t thank you enough. I would have gotten in so much trouble if Ms. Foreman had called my mom.” “You sound like my mom when she’s talking to Jesus,” Jamey said. “She says she can’t thank Him enough for dying on the cross and saving us from sin so we could live with Him as God’s children forever.” Dominic thought for a moment, then remembered something his dad told him about heaven. “We’re going to thank Him forever, aren’t we? In heaven. My dad says that everyone in heaven will sing praises to Jesus forever because of what He did to save us.” Jamey nodded, thinking. “That’s true,” he said. “I guess, with Jesus, we really can’t thank Him enough!” –Raven Merz How about you? Have you ever felt like you can’t thank Jesus enough for everything He’s done for you? Tell Him what you’re thankful for every day, but know that if you are a child of God, you will be able to thank Jesus and praise Him for all eternity in heaven. It’s okay that you can’t thank Him enough, because you don’t have a limited time to do it! Today's Key Verse: O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You with all my heart. I will bring honor to Your name forever. Psalm 86:12 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: We will thank Jesus forever!

Read: 1 Samuel 16:7; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 3:3-4 Clarissa sat looking at herself in the mirror as Tara’s words spun through her head. You’re just so plain, Tara had said. I don’t think we can be friends. Clarissa had wanted to be friends with Tara, but not anymore. She wore name-brand clothes, had hair that was—well, perfect. And her teeth—flawless! That’s what Clarissa thought anyway. She heaved a loud sigh. “Pretty plain, huh, Snowball?” she said to her kitten. Snowball meowed beside her on the bed. “What’s up?” Mom asked as she walked into the room. “Just talking to Snowball about how plain I am. Tara says I’m plain.” “Who’s Tara?” Mom asked. “Only the most popular girl in school, with the fanciest clothes, hair to die for, and perfect teeth. Everybody wants to be her friend, and I thought I wanted to be her friend too, but today she told me I was too plain.” Mom hugged Clarissa tight. “You are my beautiful daughter—both inside and out.” She opened the Bible app on her phone. “And remember, Clarissa, in First Samuel 16:7, God says, ‘People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” Clarissa thought about that as she looked at herself in the mirror again. “I want God to be pleased when he looks at me.” “He already is, because when He looks at you, He sees Jesus. When you trusted Jesus to be your Savior, you became a child of God, and the Holy Spirit now lives inside of you. Jesus has given you a new heart, which means you can show others His love and kindness—and those traits make you a great friend to people. You are far from plain. You are God’s beloved child, and He created you just how He wanted you to be and has given you a special purpose.” “To be a good friend to people?” Clarissa asked. With a nod, Mom added, “And to love people the way He loves you. Why don’t we ask Him to help you remember that next time you feel insecure?” Clarissa nodded, and she and Mom prayed together while Snowball purred. “Thanks, Mom. I feel better now,” Clarissa said as she gave her mom a hug. –Lisa Fuller How about you? Do you ever compare your appearance to how others look and what they wear? In the Bible, God reminds us that He cares more about our hearts than He does about our hair or clothes. What does your heart look like? Has it been made new and beautiful by Jesus? (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Instead of comparing yourself to others, trust Jesus to help you love them with the beautiful heart He’s given you. Today's Key Verse: You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes your heart beautiful

Editor’s note: This story’s subject matter may not be suitable for young children. Read: Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Mom had tears in her eyes as she put down her phone. “Maria, Daniel, I’m so sorry, but Jalen died this morning.” Daniel tried to comfort his younger sister as she began to cry. Jalen was their friend and next-door neighbor, and he had been sick for a long time. “At least he became a Christian at camp last summer,” Daniel said. “That means he’s with Jesus now.” Several weeks later, Maria and Daniel walked home from school with Jalen’s sister, Audra. “Did you know that people who die can still talk to you?” she asked excitedly. “It’s true!” she insisted when she saw Maria frown. “Tomorrow my parents and I are going to a séance. That’s a meeting where there’s a medium—a person who contacts spirits of people who have died. The medium said she might be able to contact Jalen’s spirit so we can talk to him!” Daniel and Maria gave each other worried looks as Audra waved goodbye and walked to her house. When they got home, they told Mom what Audra had said. “I can only imagine the pain she and her parents must be feeling right now,” said Mom. “But the Bible says trying to contact people who have died is wrong. Only God has power over the dead; going to a medium who claims to be able to communicate with people’s spirits is an attempt to take that power for ourselves. The Bible tells us to have nothing to do with those kinds of things. Instead, we need to bring our pain and sadness to Jesus and trust Him to comfort us and give us peace.” “But Audra and her parents aren’t Christians,” said Maria. “They don’t know Jesus or trust in Him.” Mom nodded sadly. “For people who don’t know Jesus, death is a very scary thing. But as Christians, we don’t have to be afraid of death because Jesus freed us from sin and death when he died for us and rose again. When someone we love dies, we need to remember that only Jesus holds power over death and trust Him to be with us in our sadness.” “It does make me feel better to know Jalen is with Jesus now,” Daniel said. “Let’s pray that we can help Audra and her parents know that too.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Has anyone ever tried to get you to do something they say will allow you to communicate with someone who’s died? Don’t believe it. Only God has power over people who have died, and He forbids trying to communicate with them. Instead, tell Jesus what you’re feeling and depend on Him to help you through your pain and sadness. He saved you by defeating death on the cross. Trust only Him. Today's Key Verse: I [Jesus] am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Only God holds power over death

Read: Psalm 19:12-14; Ephesians 4:29 Isabela peeked over her brother’s shoulder at the picture he was drawing. “Hey, that’s pretty good! But you need to color in that bit of sky you missed in the corner or turn it into a cloud.” “You’re so bossy!” Matías shot back. “I don’t care what you think, so stop trying to tell me what to do!” Isabela’s eyes filled with tears, and she left the room. That afternoon, Isabela played at a friend’s house while Matías and Mom went to a greenhouse. “Why don’t you look around while I find the stuff I’m looking for?” Mom said. Matías wandered around, looking at various plants. “Come see our mimosas,” one of the workers said. He pointed to some spiky green plants, and Matías went over to see them. “Blow on one of those,” the man said. Puzzled, Matías blew. He was surprised to see the plant’s leaves suddenly curl up. “Did I hurt it?” he asked in alarm. “No, it will be fine,” the worker assured him. “These plants respond to possible injury by curling their leaves. That keeps them from being harmed by insects or rain. It doesn’t take much to cause them to curl up.” Matías was fascinated by the plants, and he told Mom about them as they drove home. “Those mimosa plants remind me of your sister,” Mom said. “Isabela?” asked Matías. “How?” “They’re very sensitive,” Mom replied. “When you blow on mimosa leaves, they curl up. And when you say harsh, unkind words to Isabela, she’s hurt deep inside and withdraws to avoid being hurt more. We’ve talked about this before, but I’ve noticed that you might have forgotten.” “I’m sorry, Mom,” Matías said quietly. “I’ll tell Isabela I’m sorry too.” “Good,” said Mom. “We may not always realize it, but our words have an effect on people. That’s why we need to depend on Jesus to help us make our words acceptable in His sight. Every word He says to us in the Bible communicates His love for us and what He did to save us so we can grow in our faith. Trust Him to help you speak to others in a way that encourages them and helps them grow too.” –Karen S. Birt How about you? What kind of words have you used today? Did the things you say encourage others and help them grow—or make them shrivel up? Even if you don’t mean to, it’s easy to say things that are hurtful, so pay close attention to your words and how they affect others. Trust Jesus to help you show His love through everything you say and speak words that are acceptable to Him. Today's Key Verse: Let the words of my mouth…be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Use words to help, not hurt

Read: Revelation 21:1-5, 9-11, 18-27 “I’d rather go to school than shovel the snow left behind from the blizzard,” Miguel grumbled. “Oh, it’s not so bad.” Dad pitched a large scoop of snow into the yard before he stopped and looked at their surroundings. “I think a heavy blanket of snow like this is pretty.” Miguel scanned the horizon. The snow twinkled in the sunlight like it was dusted with silver glitter. He squinted against the brightness and harrumphed. “All I see is work.” Miguel flexed his fingers in his cold, stiffened gloves, then he scraped the flat shovel blade across a patch of sidewalk hoping he could push the snow off the cement, rather than lift the heavy precipitation. “Scooping snow is worse than taking out stinky garbage.” Dad laughed. Miguel frowned. He wasn’t joking. He hefted another scoop and flung it into the yard. “I’d rather eat Brussel sprouts than shovel snow.” Now Dad would know he was serious because Miguel disliked Brussel sprouts. A lot. Again, Dad laughed. Miguel stopped. “I’m not joking.” His angry breaths came out in huffs of vapor. Dad stuck his shovel in a deep snow drift. “Shoveling, like any chore, is something that must be done, so you might as well do it with joy. Besides, seeing the ground covered in sparkling snow makes me think God is giving us a little glimpse of heaven’s glory, a reminder to believers of what we will see someday.” Miguel scrunched his brows. “What do you mean?” “Heaven is a beautiful place. The Bible says that when Jesus comes back to make everything new, the heavenly city where we’ll live will sparkle and shine with gold, crystal, and many jewels. Of course, it’s not the sun glistening on the ice crystals that makes heaven sparkle with beauty. It’s the glory of the Lord.” “Oh.” Miguel had learned about heaven’s splendor and God’s promise to believers at church, but he never thought about seeing that beauty on earth. He shielded his eyes with a hand and looked at the yards blanketed in snow. This time he appreciated the beauty around him. He smiled at the thought that it was just a small glimpse of the magnificence he’d see one day when he was in heaven surrounded by God’s light. –Rose Ross Zediker How about you? Do you see little glimpses of God’s light on earth that point to His promise of heaven? A rainbow after a thunderstorm. A sun dog in the bitter cold of winter. The shimmer of morning dew on green grass. A mirrored reflection off a crystal-clear lake. These are small reminders of the beauty that awaits those who trust in Jesus when He creates a bright, beautiful home for us with Him in heaven. Today's Key Verse: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is heaven’s light

Read: Psalm 78:10-22 "Remi,” said Mom, “will you come and dry these dishes, please?” Remi groaned. “Can’t Dayo do it?” he asked. “I’m sick of drying dishes!” Dayo rolled her eyes. “You’re always sick of one thing or another.” “We seem to get the ‘sick of something’ illness too often around here,” said Dad. “We’re about as bad as the Israelites, who complained constantly in spite of all the good things God did for them.” Mom nodded. “I have an idea for a game we can play to help us learn to stop grumbling and complaining. When one of us is caught saying we’re sick of something, we have to say one thing we’re thankful for about that same thing.” “Okay,” said Dayo. “You won’t catch me!” But all Remi said was, “Huh!” The next day, Dayo walked in from school with a bulging backpack. “I’m so sick of all this homework!” she said. “Oh really?” Remi grinned. “And what about your homework are you thankful for?” “Oh no!” Dayo smiled and shook her head. “I guess I’m thankful it helps me understand more of what we’re learning at school.” A bit later, Dayo bumped into her brother as he was walking to the table with a glass of milk. “Ugh, I’m so sick of you never watching where you’re going!” he said, grabbing a napkin to wipe the milk off his shirt. “I’m sorry, Remi.” Dayo smiled and fluttered her eyelashes. “But what about me are you thankful for?” Remi looked startled for a moment. “Well, I guess I’m thankful you’re not twins.” Dayo sputtered and started after him. “Okay, okay,” Remi said with a laugh, halting their chase around the kitchen table. “I’m thankful you always let me choose which shows we watch when I’m sick.” Dayo smiled. “That’s better.” “You guys seem to be getting the hang of this,” said Mom, who had overheard everything from the living room. “I think this grumbling game is helping you see the blessings God has put in your lives. When we focus on all He’s given us—and all Jesus has done for us—we may soon find there’s really nothing to complain about.” –Vera M. Hutchcroft How about you? Do you have a habit of grumbling and complaining? God was not pleased when the Israelites complained instead of trusting Him to care for them, and He’s not pleased when His children complain today. When you catch yourself grumbling, stop and remember all God has given you—including His own Son to save you from sin and always be with you. Then think of a reason to thank God for the thing you were complaining about. Today's Key Verse: Do everything without complaining or arguing. Philippians 2:14 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Turn complaints into thanks

Read: Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5 Hailey burst into applause as Liam finished saying the alphabet. “Dad, I think he’s finally got it!” “Does this mean you win your race with Jenny?” Dad asked. Hailey was trying to teach her brother the alphabet before her friend taught her dog how to sit and roll over. “Well, I need to prove to Jenny that Liam learned the alphabet first,” Hailey replied. “I’ll see if she can stop over.” When Jenny arrived, Hailey brought her into the kitchen. “Okay, Liam,” she said. “Say your ABCs, just like we practiced.” Liam took one look at Jenny, then giggled and shook his head. “Liam, come on! Please?” But Liam giggled again and covered his eyes, trying to get Jenny to play peek-a-boo. Hailey continued to coax him, but Liam refused to say one letter of the alphabet. “Ugh!” Hailey said after Jenny had left. “Why couldn’t Liam do what he was supposed to? Now Jenny doesn’t believe I taught him the alphabet.” “Well, just because Jenny doesn’t believe something doesn’t mean it’s not true,” said Dad. “I heard Liam say his ABCs.” “Yeah, but I need to prove it to Jenny to win our game.” Hailey sighed. “I wish I could prove more than that to her. As I was walking her out, I answered the question she asked me yesterday about how old God is. I told her God doesn’t have an age—that He always was, is, and will be. But Jenny said she’s not sure God even exists. I wish I could make her believe!” “Well, you can’t make anyone believe in God just by what you say, but maybe you can help Jenny think about it another way.” Dad tickled Liam’s tummy, and Liam giggled. “Would Liam be here if I never existed?” “Of course not. You’re his father, so without you, he wouldn’t exist either.” Dad nodded. “Because he’s my son, Liam points to the fact that I exist. Well, God has a Son too, and He points to the existence of His Father. Jesus came to earth to show us that God is real and that He loves us. By helping Jenny understand who Jesus is, you can help her see that God exists—and that He loves her so much He sent His Son to die for her.” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you wish you could prove God exists? Perhaps you have friends or family members who don’t believe in God—or maybe you struggle to believe yourself. God reveals Himself in many ways, but the most important way is through His Son, Jesus, who came to earth and died for us. You and others can know God exists by knowing Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God exists—and He loves you

Read: Revelation 1:4-8 “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.” Hailey looked at her three-year-old brother. “Okay, Liam, now you try.” Liam looked like he was thinking intensely. “A!” he suddenly shouted, and then, after a pause, “Z!” “Ugh!” Hailey clapped a hand to her forehead in frustration. Dad, who was watching the whole thing, began to laugh. “I’m glad you think this is funny,” Hailey said. “I’ve been working with him for an hour, and he’s just not getting it.” “Why is it so important that he know the alphabet right now anyway?” asked Dad. “Jenny and I are having a race. If I can teach Liam the alphabet before she teaches her dog to sit and roll over, I get to pick the movie we watch this weekend.” Dad chuckled and shook his head. “You guys are silly.” Hailey laughed. “Yeah, I guess.” She sighed. “Yesterday Jenny asked me a question that made me feel really silly. She asked me how old God is. I didn’t know what to say.” Liam walked over to where Dad was sitting, and Dad picked him up and put him in his lap. “Well, Liam just told you the answer.” Hailey gave her dad a confused look. “But all he said was, ‘A, Z.’ That’s not a number.” “In the Bible, Jesus says He’s the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and end. Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, like our A and Z. God is A to Z, just like Liam said. He always was, is, and will be. He doesn’t have an age.” “So God has no beginning or end?” Hailey asked. “That’s right.” Dad’s eyes twinkled. “And yet, He was born—and also died.” “But wait, you just said…” It took Hailey a moment to realize what Dad meant. “Oh, I get it—you’re talking about Jesus! He was born as a baby and died on the cross for us, and then He came back to life.” Dad nodded. “Jesus is God, who is eternal with no beginning or end, but He was willing to become human and die for us so we could have eternal life with Him.” –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Have you ever wondered how old God is? Unlike humans and everything else, God doesn’t have an age—there was never a time when He didn’t exist! But even though He has no beginning or end, Jesus still chose to be born on earth and die on the cross so we could be saved. When you trust in Him, He gives you a new life that will never end. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: God has no beginning or end

Read: 1 Samuel 23:14-18 “I’m quitting basketball,” Tyler announced flatly as his dad entered the room. “Quitting?” asked Dad. “But you could hardly wait to join the team!” Tyler frowned. “I’m just a benchwarmer. Coach Adams hardly ever lets me play.” “Well, no, he hasn’t yet, but he told me you have great potential.” “If I’m so great, why doesn’t he let me play more?” asked Tyler. “Because the older players have more experience, and Coach Adams is naturally going to use his best players when it’s necessary for a win.” “I can play as well as they can,” Tyler said. “At least, I could if I got to play in more games. Basketball is almost over for the year!” “Just be patient,” said Dad. “We all need to wait patiently sometimes.” Tyler crossed his arms. “I’ve waited long enough!” Dad scratched his chin. “Do you remember King David in the Bible? He was a benchwarmer too.” Tyler rolled his eyes. “Dad, King David never played basketball! It didn’t exist back then.” “No, but you could say he was a benchwarmer for a long time. When David was just a young boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king, but he had to wait about twenty years before he actually became king.” “Yeah, but being king is an important thing, and it was something God said would happen,” Tyler said. “I don’t think God really cares if I play basketball or not.” “I think He does,” said Dad. “He gave us our gifts, and He uses them to shape us to be more like Jesus. Learning to play basketball involves more than just dribbling and shooting. A good player also knows when it’s best to take a shot or pass the ball, and that requires skills that take time and patience to develop. I think God is using this experience to teach you to be more patient. Then you’ll be a better basketball player and a more mature Christian.” Tyler nodded thoughtfully, then stood up. “How about a little one-on-one, Dad?” Dad smiled. “You’re not quitting?” “Not me,” said Tyler. “I love basketball, and I want to keep getting better.” He grinned. “I just hope it doesn’t take me twenty years to get into more games!” –Joyce R. Lee How about you? Do you feel like a benchwarmer? Perhaps your coach isn’t letting you play or your parents won’t let you do something you think you’re ready for. When things like that happen, remember that Jesus uses everyday experiences to shape you to be more like Him. Think about what He might be teaching you in the situation you’re dealing with. Then trust Him to give you patience as He helps you learn and grow. Today's Key Verse: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Learn to be patient

Read: Philippians 3:12-16 “I don’t think I did well on that history test today—I should have studied more,” Breonna said as she followed Mom into a store. “And then Shirina got upset when I said her skirt looked like one you used to wear in high school. I meant it as a compliment, but she didn’t take it that way. I tried to explain and say I was sorry, but I still feel bad about it.” Breonna sighed. “What a horrible day!” “Well, don’t dwell on it, honey,” said Mom. “Now you’ll know better next time.” “But I should have known better this time!” Breonna picked a pair of shoes and tried them on. “Hey, these are exactly what I want! Can I get them?” “It’s up to you,” said Mom. “You’re spending your own money. But this is our first stop—you might find something else in another store.” Yet Breonna was so sure she wanted the shoes that she not only bought them but also decided to wear them. In another store, they saw the same shoes again—on sale. Breonna was dismayed. “I should have waited! I could have saved money.” “Well, it’s too late now. You’re already wearing the ones you bought, so you can’t return them.” In store after store, Breonna continued to mope. Finally, Mom took some bills out of her purse and handed them to Breonna. “Here. This covers what you paid for the shoes.” Breonna gaped at the money. “But you told me to wait, and I didn’t listen! Why should you pay for them?” “Because I want you to enjoy your shoes—and I want to help you understand that because of God’s grace, you don’t have to live with regret. Grace is giving someone what they don’t deserve, and Jesus did that for us when He died to take the punishment for our sin. Because of His grace, we can trust that He will bring good out of everything that happens in our lives, even things we mess up. Instead of going over and over what we should have done differently, we can learn from our mistakes and move on. We can enjoy life with Him now instead of reliving the past.” Breonna smiled and put the money in her pocket. “Thanks, Mom.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Do you dwell on past mistakes and what you should have done differently? Maybe you got a bad grade because you didn’t study, or you failed to help someone when you had the chance. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t make them in the future, but then put them behind you. Jesus saved you by dying on the cross, and He wants you to look forward to a life full of peace and joy with Him. Today's Key Verse: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Don’t dwell on past mistakes

Read: Proverbs 22:1; Isaiah 56:5; 1 John 3:1 Alexis rushed into the house. “Mom! Bree’s mom and new baby sister are home now! She’s so cute, and her name is Arabella. I love that name! How do people decide what to name their babies?” “Well, some are named after a family member or a person the parents admire, and sometimes parents choose a name for its meaning.” Alexis was surprised. “Names have meanings?” “Most do,” said Mom. “For instance, Alexis means ‘helper’ or ‘defender.’ I can show you a website where you can search for names and their meanings if you want.” “Oh, yes please!” So Alexis and Mom looked up several names together. Bree meant “strength,” and Arabella meant “yielding to prayer.” They even looked up Dad’s name—Matthew—which meant “gift of God.” “Did you know the Bible says it’s better to choose a good name than to choose great wealth?” Mom asked as they got up from the computer. “But we don’t choose our own names,” said Alexis. “Parents give them to us.” “You’re right. You didn’t choose the name Dad and I gave you—you received it when you were born into our family. And there’s another name you’ve received that’s even more important.” “There is?” asked Alexis. “What’s that?” “When you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you became part of His family and received His name—Christian, which means ‘little Christ.’ That name means He’s made you a new person and that you have His righteousness, or goodness. Your new name means you belong to Him.” “Really?” Alexis smiled. “I didn’t realize that’s what Christian meant.” Mom nodded. “In the Bible, God even renamed some people when He called them to follow Him. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and Simon became Peter. Their new names had special meanings that told others God had made them new people and was using them to show others who He was.” Mom smiled at Alexis. “He’s doing the same with us as Christians, shaping us to be like Jesus so we can point others toward Him. When we trust Him to help us speak and act in ways that show others who He is, we’re choosing to let people know us by the good name He’s given us.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do you know where your name comes from? Were you named after a special person or given your name because of what it means? We can’t choose our names at birth, but the best name of all is one anyone can have by trusting in Jesus and becoming part of God’s family. The name Christian means that Jesus has saved you and made you a new person. Let others know your new name by showing God’s love in all you say and do. Today's Key Verse: A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Choose to have a good name

Read: Galatians 5:13-14 “Hey, Caleb!” Josh shouted when they got off the bus. “I almost forgot! Tomorrow I’m going to Planet Pizza, and I was wondering if you—” “I’d love to go!” Caleb started running toward his house before Josh could finish his sentence. “I’ll ask my mom!” That night, Caleb asked his mom about going to Planet Pizza with Josh. “Of course you can go,” said Mom. “I just spoke with Josh’s dad, and I’m glad you want to help.” Help? thought Caleb. I’ll always help eat pizza! The next day, a long line of people waited outside Planet Pizza. “Whoa!” said Caleb. “I hope we get a table. I’m starving!” Josh gave Caleb a funny look. “Not like they are,” he said. “Follow me.” They walked to the front of the line. “Hi, Josh!” said the man at the door. “Who’s your friend?” “Hey, Pastor Eric. This is Caleb. He came to help serve lunch.” “Help serve?” Caleb was confused. “I thought we came to eat!” “We will.” Josh handed Caleb a pair of gloves. “After everyone else is served first.” Josh ran to the table of pizzas. “Our church is buying pizza and passing it out as part of our food drive this month. It’s why we’re here!” “You mean we don’t get to eat pizza until after we’re done serving everyone else?” Josh handed Caleb a stack of plates. “I think you’ll make it.” Soon Pastor Eric let in the line of people, and Caleb and Josh helped serve slices of pizza to everyone who came in. “My name’s Tommy,” one boy said. “I’ve never had pizza here before. Is it good?” “Good?” exclaimed Caleb. “It’s the best! Here, sausage is my favorite.” After everyone was served, Pastor Eric prayed for the meal. “Dear God, thank you for this pizza and for every person here, and thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for us. Help us see the ways we can serve those around us and show others Your love. Amen.” Caleb lifted his head just as Tommy took his first bite. “This pizza is the best!” he said. Caleb smiled and slid his own piece of pizza across the table. “Here, Tommy. You can have mine too.” “Really?” asked Tommy. “Really,” said Caleb. “It’s why I’m here.” –Kelly Carlson How about you? Do you serve others? Or do you always put your own needs before everyone else’s? Even though He’s Creator of the universe, Jesus came to earth to serve and give His life for us. Ask Him to help you see the ways you can serve others and show them His love. Today, find at least one person who could use your help and serve them before you serve yourself. Today's Key Verse: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Serve others

Read: Acts 16:19-25 Josiah felt like his head was going to explode. “Get married! You’re going to get married? To Ryan? But what about Dad?” “Josiah, you know that after your dad left, he married someone else. He won’t be back,” Mom said quietly. “I thought you liked Ryan.” “Not for a dad! And I definitely don’t want Brenner and Simon for brothers either.” Josiah stomped to his room, fighting back tears. The next day they went to church, and Josiah, who normally loved going, was sad all morning. After class his teacher, Mr. Park, asked what was wrong. “Mom’s getting married again,” Josiah told him. “The guy she’s marrying already has two sons. I don’t want someone else’s dad! I’ve got to get away.” He sank down into his seat. “I’m going to leave—for good! If they get married, I’ll never be happy here.” “Do you think you’ll find happiness someplace else?” asked Mr. Park. Josiah shrugged. “I sure won’t find it here!” Mr. Park sat down next to him. “You know, Josiah, happiness isn’t something you find. It’s rooted in the joy that comes from trusting in Jesus—from knowing He’s good and rejoicing in all He’s done for you, even through tears. The Bible tells us that Paul and Silas sang even though they were in prison. You know Jesus and have the hope of eternal life with Him, so you can be joyful too, even when things are hard.” Josiah sighed, and Mr. Park patted his shoulder. “I know it will be difficult at first, but I’ll be here if you need someone to talk to. And you can talk to Jesus about it too. Trust Him to give you patience and show your family His love. Your little sister will need her big brother, and your new stepbrothers will need help too—it will be difficult for them as well as for you.” Josiah hesitated. “I guess you’re right,” he murmured. “Give your future stepfather a chance to be part of the family,” said Mr. Park. “He loves the Lord, and I know he loves all of you.” Josiah was quiet a moment, then asked, “Will you pray for me?” Mr. Park smiled. “Of course.” They bowed their heads, and Mr. Park asked God to give Josiah comfort, peace, and joy. –Agnes Livezey How about you? Is something in your life making you unhappy? Are you doing all you can to get away from it? Running away from problems doesn’t bring joy. That only comes from trusting Jesus. Trust Him to be with you and help you through whatever is troubling you. Trust Him to help you show His love to those around you, even in difficult times. Trust Him to fill you with the joy of knowing Him. Today's Key Verse: Those who trust the Lord will be joyful. Proverbs 16:20 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus for joy

Read: Matthew 24:35-51 Madelyn picked up the tissues and old drawings off the floor and threw them in the trash can. As she was making her bed, her little sister Aria ran into the room. Madelyn’s dad followed her. “Grandma’s coming!” Aria yelled. She had already told all her friends and teachers at preschool, and she still wanted to tell someone else the good news. “I know, Aria.” Madelyn picked up a toy and set it on her shelf. “That’s why I’m cleaning my room.” Aria bounced up on the bed, wrinkling the neatly spread covers. “Aria,” Madelyn said, frowning as she watched her hard work being destroyed, “why don’t you go watch TV?” The little girl beamed. “I can’t. I have to get ready for Grandma!” “By bouncing on the bed I just made?” Madelyn asked with a sigh. Dad smiled and lifted Aria off the bed. “That reminds me of someone else who’s coming too.” Aria’s eyes grew wide. “Someone else is coming? Who?” “Jesus!” Dad said. “We can be just as excited about His coming as we are about Grandma’s. And just like Madelyn is tidying her room for Grandma’s visit, we have to prepare for Jesus’s return. Like you said, Aria, we can’t just sit around watching TV when a visitor is coming!” “How do we prepare for Jesus’s coming, Dad?” Madelyn asked. “First we need to get our hearts ready. We do that by trusting Jesus to forgive our sin. Then we need to do what Aria’s been doing. We need to tell others about Him and let them know He’s coming again so they can get their hearts ready too.” Aria looked around the room. “Madelyn’s room is ready for Grandma, but I know some of my friends at school aren’t ready for Jesus. I’ll tell them about Him on Monday so they can get ready too!” “Good idea,” Dad said. “He’s the only one who can make our hearts as clean as your sister’s room.” Madelyn smiled and grabbed Aria’s hand. “Come on, Aria. Let’s go watch for Grandma’s car!” –Jessica Kleeberger How about you? What do you do when a friend or family member is coming to visit? Clean your room? Plan fun things to do together? It’s exciting when someone comes to visit—and when Jesus comes again, it will be even more exciting! Will you be prepared for Him? Make sure your heart is ready by trusting Him to make you clean. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then tell others the good news of what Jesus has done for you! Today's Key Verse: Always be ready. You don’t know the day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Be ready for Jesus’s coming

Read: Isaiah 55:10-11; James 1:21-25 “Mom, I can’t get the toaster to work!” called William. Receiving no answer, he went to the small office where his mother was working on her computer. “I want to make some toast, but the toaster’s not working,” he said. “It won’t heat up.” Mom shuffled through papers on her desk. “Is it plugged in?” “Umm…it always is, isn’t it?” William sighed. “I’ll go check.” He went back to the kitchen. “Oops!” he said when he found the cord nestled against the wall. “No wonder it didn’t work.” He plugged in the toaster, put a piece of raisin bread into it, and was soon enjoying perfectly browned, buttered toast. The next morning, William shared his toaster incident with his class at church. Their teacher, Mr. Scott, smiled. “William, your story reminds me of an important truth.” He picked up his Bible. “I’m sure you all know you should read your Bible every day, right?” Heads nodded. “While that’s good to do, did you know that just reading the Bible isn’t enough? What you read needs to be plugged into your life.” “Plugged into my life?” asked Lena. “What do you mean by that? The Bible doesn’t have a cord!” She and some of the other kids giggled. “When something is plugged in, it’s used to make a change,” Mr. Scott replied. “Toasters change bread. Vacuum cleaners change carpet. Phones and other devices change what we see and hear. When we trust in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit, and He changes us. One of the ways He does that is by helping us understand and obey God’s Word.” “So when we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit plugs it into our lives?” William asked. Mr. Scott nodded. “The Holy Spirit uses the truth of God’s Word to change us and make us more like Jesus. As you learn more and more about Jesus by reading the Bible, your thoughts and actions will be affected.” Mr. Scott smiled at the class. “So keep reading your Bible and learning more about what it says at church, but don’t stop there! Trust God to help you plug it into your life so others can see the love of Jesus in all you say and do.” –Janice M. Jones How about you? Is the Bible plugged into your life? It’s good to read it on your own and study it with others at church, but just reading and studying it isn’t enough. What it says needs to affect how you live your life, and that can only happen through the Holy Spirit. As you read and learn about God’s Word, trust Him to plug it into your life so your attitudes and actions reflect Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: The Holy Spirit changes you

Read: Luke 14:12-24 Connor stood beside his dad on the cracked, uneven sidewalk of Nairobi, Kenya, and watched in fascination at the hustle and bustle of city life around him. Horns blared, the sounds of people speaking other languages filled his ears, and the sour smell of diesel fumes from passing cars and buses made him want to hold his nose. “Hey, Dad!” he called over the noise. “What do they call minibuses in Africa again? I forgot.” “They’re called matatus.” Dad pronounced the word again slowly. “Muh-TAH-too.” Just then a brightly colored matatu with writing and pictures on it sped around the corner and came to a screeching halt in front of them. Connor and his dad climbed in, and four more people crammed in behind them. A lady with a live chicken squeezed in and held it on her lap like she was giving it a big hug. Just as they were about to drive off, three more men hopped on and held on tight as the matatu sped up and started zigzagging from one lane to another. The ride was bumpy and fast. “That was awesome!” Connor said after Dad paid the matatu driver and they climbed off. Dad looked a little dazed. “Dad, why did more people keep getting on when we were running out of room?” Connor asked. “Well, Nairobi is a big city, and it’s the cheapest way to get around if you have to get somewhere fast,” Dad explained. “A famous saying about matatus is ‘there’s always room for one more.’” “That’s kind of like the Bible verse you read during family devotions last night,” Connor remarked. “The one that talks about God’s house being full.” Dad nodded. “Good memory. Luke 14:23—‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in so that my house will be full.’ Jesus longs for each of us to have a relationship with Him and wants us to share that good news with others so we can all live with Him in heaven one day. He wants His house to be full.” “But He’ll never run out of room or turn anyone away.” Connor grinned. “Sort of like a matatu.” “Right,” Dad said with a smile. “Because in heaven, there’s always room for one more.” –Kelly Hope How about you? Do you tell others about Jesus? God’s love is so big that He sent His Son to die not just for you but for the whole world! He welcomes anyone who comes to Him, and He wants you to let others know they can live with Him forever. Pray for people who haven’t heard about Jesus—both where you live and around the world—and trust God to use you to help fill His house by telling others the good news. Today's Key Verse: Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. Luke 14:23 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Tell others about Jesus

Read: Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32; James 1:19-20 “Mom!” Jessica cried. “Cassi hit me!” “Because you pushed me!” cried her little sister. Mom sighed. “Can’t we ever drive to school without you two fighting?” Jessica felt her face flush with anger at her sister. She tried to ignore her by picking a book out of her bag to read, but before she even finished a sentence, she felt Cassi’s elbow in her side. She pushed back, and before long the girls were hitting each other again. “Honestly, you two!” Mom brought the car to a stop in front of the school. “No more fighting!” The girls got out of the car and headed their separate ways without saying goodbye to each other. Jessica held her lunch bag tightly in her hands as she walked to her first class, still fuming at her sister. At lunchtime Jessica saw her sister sitting alone, looking troubled. “What’s wrong?” Jessica asked coolly as she came up to the table. “I forgot my lunch,” Cassi said. Jessica’s hands tightened around her lunch bag. “Too bad. Maybe if you spent less time fighting with me and more time getting ready for school, that wouldn’t have happened.” Cassi looked down at the empty table sadly. Jessica turned to walk away, but Mrs. Gregory stood in her way. The teacher looked down at her and smiled. “You’re holding on to your lunch bag very tightly,” she noted. “Are you afraid love and forgiveness might spill out?” Jessica looked down at the bag in her hands, confused. “Sometimes when we’re angry about something, we want to hold on to our anger like you’re holding on to that bag,” Mrs. Gregory said, pulling out chairs for herself and Jessica. “But the Bible tells us to let go of our anger and forgive others, just like Jesus has forgiven our sin and doesn’t hold it against us.” She smiled at Jessica. “Maybe it’s time to loosen your grip.” Jessica looked over at her sister and then down at her lunch bag. She slowly opened her bag and took out part of her sandwich and a small bag of crackers. “Here,” she said, placing them in front of Cassi. Cassi looked up and smiled. “Thanks, Jessica.” Jessica smiled back. “You’re welcome.” –Chandra Philip How about you? Do you often find yourself fighting with your siblings or friends? Everyone gets angry sometimes, but the Bible warns against holding on to anger tightly and refusing to let go. Instead, remember the love and forgiveness Jesus shows you and trust Him to help you do the same for others. Then let go of your anger and act in love. Today's Key Verse: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Don’t hold on to anger

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 Daisy ran to the left as her sister Mia threw the ball toward her. Daisy bumped into a tall vase as she caught the ball. She yelped as the vase crashed to the ground. The sea-green glass hit the wood floor and splintered into a hundred pieces. Flowers lay on the ground, and water was soaking into the rug. Oh no! Daisy thought. Mom and Dad will be furious! Just then Daisy’s parents came running in. Daisy quickly tossed the ball into the hallway, away from their view. “Daisy, Mia, are you two okay? What happened?” Mom asked, frowning when she saw the hopelessly broken vase. Dad looked at Daisy and Mia with a raised eyebrow. Daisy glanced at Mia, hoping she wouldn’t tell on her. Mia looked down, the floor suddenly seeming to be very interesting. “Um, Mr. McFluffy Pants jumped on the desk and knocked over the vase!” Daisy blurted, pointing at their cat. Daisy’s face turned red as she realized the cat was sleeping. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. Tears streamed down her face. “I was trying to catch the ball when I bumped into it. And then I hid the ball in the hallway,” Daisy said, pointing at the ball. “Mia, Daisy,” Mom said, “you two know better than to play catch indoors.” “Sorry,” Mia said. “Daisy, it’s okay that you broke the vase,” Dad said. “It is?” Daisy said, looking up. “Yes, but it’s not okay to lie,” said Mom. Daisy looked down again. “Especially when Mr. McFluffy Pants is such an honorable member of the family!” Dad joked. “This reminds me of a Bible verse,” he said. “Second Corinthians 8:21 tells us to do what is right in God’s eyes and to make sure people can see we are honorable too—and that means being honest. When we do that, we bring honor to Jesus by letting others see the goodness and love He’s put in our hearts.” Daisy turned red again. “I’m sorry I lied,” she said. “And I’m sorry for blaming Mr. McFluffy Pants too.” Daisy looked back at the orange-and-brown-spotted cat, who had managed to sleep through all the commotion. “At least now I know that Mr. McFluffy Pants isn’t a good cat to blame.” Everyone laughed. –Ira Ool How about you? Have you ever lied to get out of trouble? Lying not only makes things worse, it’s also wrong in God’s eyes and hurtful to others. As Christians, God calls us to be honorable and honest so others can see that we belong to Jesus, who died and rose again to make us God’s children. Trust Him to help you tell the truth and do what is right so others can see His love in your life. Today's Key Verse: We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 2 Corinthians 8:21 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Be honest

Read: Psalm 19:7-11 “My Sunday school teacher said we should read the Bible on our own every day,” Macey said on the way home from church. “I’m going to start doing that today.” “That’s great,” said Mom. “It’s good to spend time with Jesus in His Word each day. He uses it to refresh us spiritually and remind us who we are in Him.” That afternoon—and for the next couple of days—Macey read a whole chapter in her Bible. As time went by, however, she read less and less often. “I’m so mad at myself, Mom,” Macey said with a sigh as they were taking a walk a few weeks later. “When I decided to read the Bible every day, I really intended to do it. But I forget most of the time, or I’m too busy or too tired.” “I used to neglect reading my Bible too,” Mom told her. “But then I made it a habit to read at a certain time every day. For me, mornings are best, and I try not to let anything interfere with my time with Jesus. By doing this, I developed a habit, and I seldom miss it now.” “Maybe I—oh, look!” Macey stopped to look at something at the side of the road. “There’s a huge spiderweb between that post and the telephone cable.” Mom came over to look at the web. “This reminds me of something my grandmother used to say about habits and spiderwebs. Grandma called them cobwebs, and she said, ‘Habits are first like cobwebs, then like cables.’ What do you think that means?” Macey studied the spider’s web. “I think it means that when you first start doing something, it’s easy to forget or just not do it. You’re trying to make it a habit, but it’s easy to break—like spiderwebs are. But if you keep on doing something over and over, the habit you’re working on will become strong and hard to break—like that cable.” “Right!” said Mom. “That’s why it’s good to make reading your Bible a habit.” Macey thought about that as they began walking again. “Hey, Mom? Can you wake me up fifteen minutes earlier tomorrow morning? That might be a good time for me to read my Bible too.” –Mary Rose Pearson How about you? Do you take time to read the Bible each day? Maybe you’ve tried to before but got busy or forgot to keep it up. Starting a new habit can be hard, but reading the Bible regularly can help you get to know Jesus better and grow in your relationship with Him. Think about how you can spend time in His Word each day. Then trust Him to help you make it a habit strong enough to last a lifetime. Today's Key Verse: I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:16 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Read the Bible every day

Read: Colossians 3:1-14 “Hi, Dad,” Kiera said as she sat down at the table for breakfast. “Are you going to have to work late again tonight?” Kiera’s dad was a manager at a large store. “Nope—it’s New Year’s Eve, so we close early today.” Dad sighed. “I’m ready for a night off. We’ve been busy all week with people returning and exchanging things they got for Christmas and with our annual after-Christmas sale.” “Why do you always have a big sale right after Christmas?” Kiera asked. “Well, mostly so we can sell as much as possible before we take inventory next month,” replied Dad. “Inventory?” Kiera repeated. “What’s that?” “It’s when they count everything in the store to see if it lines up with what their computer system says they’re supposed to have,” said Kiera’s brother, Brent. “Some things in the store may have gotten lost or stolen, and they need to see what’s missing so it can be replaced or removed from the computer. Right, Dad?” Dad nodded. “That’s a very good description. We do that once a year.” He paused to take a bite of cereal. “You know, we all need to take inventory of our lives too—and New Year’s Eve is a great time to do that.” “Take inventory of our lives?” Kiera laughed. “You mean we should count how many pairs of shoes and jeans and socks we have?” “Not exactly. I was thinking it would be good to review how we’ve been living and whether it lines up with how God tells us to live in the Bible. We should think about whether there are any sins we need to confess. Then we can ask Jesus to forgive us for those things and show us any changes He wants us to make in our lives.” “So, the changes we should make are like New Year’s resolutions?” asked Kiera. “Well, I guess they could be,” said Dad. “But they aren’t changes we should try to make on our own—and thinking about our actions and confessing sins is something we should do every day, not just once a year. No matter what time of year it is, we need to trust Jesus to help us reflect His love in all we do and grow to be more like Him.” –Hazel W. Marett How about you? Have you taken a spiritual inventory lately? Think about the things that have happened and what you’ve done this past year. How has Jesus helped you grow in your relationship with Him? What are some areas where you didn’t always reflect His love in your thoughts, words, or actions? Ask Him to forgive you for anything you regret. Then depend on Him to help you make any changes you need to and become more and more like Him. Today's Key Verse: Remember that the Lord your God led you all the way. Deuteronomy 8:2 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Review your spiritual life