Read: John 1:4-5; 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16 Corey shivered as the lights went out in the restaurant where he and his family were eating. “What’s going on?” The room was completely dark and everyone around them mumbled nervously. He heard babies and little kids whimper and cry, probably scared of the dark like he had been when he was younger. “The storm must have knocked out the power,” Mom said. A moment later, light spilled across the table from her phone’s flashlight. “This isn’t much, but it will help until they get things figured out.” “If you had bought me a phone when I asked, I could help make it lighter in here too,” Corey’s sister said. Mom chuckled. “Right, Leah. I should have done that, huh?” Corey looked around him. Little by little, the room began to light up as people got out their phones. The voices started to sound less nervous, the little kids quieted down, and things didn’t seem quite so scary. The small lights worked together to brighten the room until the power came back on. The next morning Corey listened as his pastor talked at church. “You are lights,” the pastor said. “If you trust in Jesus, His light shines in you, and you can shine His light to others through what you say and do. The Bible calls Jesus the light of the world because He came to rescue us from the darkness of sin and death and give us eternal life. As we shine His light together for others to see, each little light makes a difference.” Leah nudged her brother. “Like the phones yesterday,” she whispered. Corey nodded, remembering how the restaurant had brightened as the little lights came on one by one and everyone calmed down. “You might not feel powerful or capable of doing a lot,” the pastor continued. “But Jesus has given each of us the Holy Spirit so we can shine His light to those around us. The world is a dark place, and people need Jesus. When we do what we can to share His love and hope with others—even just through small things—the Holy Spirit works through us to bring more people out of darkness and into Jesus’s light.” Corey smiled. He knew just what shining a little light could do. –Emily Acker How about you? Has the darkness of the world ever scared you? Jesus came to be the light of life and hope in a world full of sin and death. When we trust in Him, our wrongs are forgiven and we are given life and a relationship with God that lasts forever. He also gives us the Holy Spirit so we can shine the light of His love and hope to others. How can you be a light to someone in your life today? Today's Key Verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) Matthew 5:16 Today's Key Thought: Small lights make a big difference
Read: Psalm 96:1-6; Isaiah 41:9-13 Brook loved to sing. Whenever there was an opportunity to sing at church, she took it. It felt good to be on the stage singing in front of everyone, and she loved singing for God too. She felt close to Him when she sang songs in church. One day when she was up on stage singing a solo, Brook messed up on some of the words. She felt her face flush and was tempted to step away from the microphone, but she somehow carried on. “You did great,” her family said when she finished. Brook shook her head, wanting to run away and hide. A few days later, her mom came into her bedroom. “They’re looking for volunteers to sing next Sunday,” she said. “I didn’t see your name on the list yet.” “I don’t want to sing again.” Brook pulled her knees up to her chest. Her mom’s brows rose. “You’re not going to sing again?” “I messed up last time. It was embarrassing,” Brook said. Mom touched her hand. “It wasn’t so bad, and even if it had been, you can’t give up just because of that. You love singing up there.” “But I let everyone down,” Brook said. Mom shook her head. “You didn’t let anyone down.” “But I always want to do my best for everyone in the audience and especially for God.” “And you did,” Mom said. “Everyone makes mistakes, honey. God knows that, we know that, and no one is disappointed in you. It’s not important that you messed up the lyrics, and it wouldn’t matter if you did again—all that matters is that you want to sing for God. You want to, right?” Brook nodded. “I love singing for Him.” “I know. God has given you that gift so you can use it to worship Him and point others to Jesus and what He did to save us. So, you just need to do it again.” Brook sighed. “It will be scary.” “God can help you do scary things.” Mom squeezed her hand. “And we’ll be rooting for you.” Brook did love singing and would miss it if she quit. “Okay,” she finally agreed. ”I’ll ask God to help me be brave and try again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Have you ever wanted to quit something because you messed up? Everyone makes mistakes, so don’t let them stop you from doing something you believe God wants you to do—mistakes often teach us what we need to learn to do better. When you mess up, remember that Jesus is always with those who trust in Him and promises to help us. Trust Him to help you be brave and try again so you can use your gift for Him. Today's Key Verse: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV) Joshua 1:9 Today's Key Thought: Be brave and try again
Read: Romans 8:14-17; 9:25-26 Sophie sat on the kitchen floor petting her new golden retriever puppy while Mom snapped the stems off green beans. “Mom, you’ll never guess what happened today,” Sophie said. “Mira told our class she’s a real-life princess.” Mom let out a little chuckle, but when she looked at her daughter’s face she could tell Sophie was serious. “Don’t you think that’s a little—foolish?” asked Sophie. “I mean, we’re not little kids anymore.” “Oh, honey, I’m sure she was just kidding,” said Mom. “No, she means it!” Sophie insisted. “She said that since God is her Father that makes her a real princess. She was calling herself Princess Mira!” “Hmm,” said Mom. “You know, it may not be as foolish as it sounds.” Sophie raised her eyebrows and tilted her head down. She couldn’t believe what her mom was saying. “It reminds me of Goldie,” added Mom. “Some people might not accept Goldie as her real name.” “What?” asked Sophie in disbelief. She looked down at the sleeping puppy curled up in her lap and stroked her soft golden fur. “But that’s what we named her!” “Well, when Goldie was rescued by the animal shelter, what did they call her?” asked Mom. Sophie thought a moment. “Molly,” she answered. “Right. Just like Molly’s name changed when we adopted her, our name also changes when we’re adopted into God’s family. In the Bible, God says, ‘Those who were not my people, I will now call my people.’ And do you know what He says next?” Sophie shook her head. “No, what?” “The very next verse says that ‘they will be called children of the living God,’” said Mom. “I think Mira has figured something out—something really special. When she trusted Jesus as her Savior, she was adopted into God’s family. Just like Molly was adopted into ours and—” “And became Goldie!” Sophie gently removed the sleeping dog from her lap. “Well, you and Goldie will have to excuse me—this princess has homework to finish!” –Nichole Gatten How about you? Have you been adopted by God? Have you become part of His family by trusting in Jesus? If so, you are now one of His children. Your heavenly Father has given you a new name and a new life! If you’re not yet one of God’s children, you can be adopted through Jesus, who sacrificed His life to save you and welcome you into His family. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Embrace your new name
Read: 1 Samuel 3:4-11; Psalm 103:13-14 When the school bell rang, Xavier tossed his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. He spotted his older brother, Malik, standing on the sidewalk. “Hey, what’s up?” asked Malik as they headed for home. “Not much.” Xavier kicked a plastic bottle, and it hit a parking meter. “Did you get to shoot some hoops at recess?” asked Malik. Xavier nodded. “Sink any threes?” “Yeah, but…” Xavier looked through the window of a coffee shop at all the people on their computers and cell phones. “There’s a new kid at school named Devon. I saw him when we were playing ball.” “And?” Malik raised his eyebrows. “Well, now I’m thinking he wanted to play. He just stood by the court watching us the whole time.” “But you didn’t ask him to be on your team?” Xavier shook his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it then.” He sighed, breathing in the smells of a Greek restaurant as they passed by. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up over it.” Malik stopped at the crosswalk and turned his head to look down the street. A city bus whizzed by, then the light changed and they stepped into the road. “Do you remember that Bible story about the boy named Samuel? God called to him three separate times, and each time Samuel thought it was the priest calling him.” “Yeah, I remember,” said Xavier. “Well, what happened with the new kid at school today is kind of like that.” Xavier gave his brother a puzzled look. “How?” “Samuel didn’t realize it was God calling him the first three times he heard His voice,” said Malik. “But the fourth time, after the priest told him who it really was, he got it. He knew God was calling him and was able to listen and obey.” Malik waved at a guy with ear buds walking down the other side of the street. “You didn’t realize Devon wanted to play at first, but now you know he did. So now you can do what God is calling you to do.” “You mean I can ask Devon to play ball with us tomorrow,” said Xavier. Malik clapped Xavier on the back. “Exactly.” –Annika Klanderud How about you? Do you ever wish you could go back and take advantage of a missed opportunity to be kind to someone? Jesus knows we’re only human and don’t always recognize ways to show His love to others. He forgives our mistakes and always gives us another chance. Ask Him to show you something you can do to share His love with someone today. Once you know what it is, do it! Today's Key Verse: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (NKJV) Psalm 103:14 Today's Key Thought: Do what you know is right
Read: Luke 19:1-10; Romans 3:23-24 “Hey buddy, what’s wrong?” Dad asked when it was time for Nolan’s bedtime prayers. “It’s Grandpa,” said Nolan. “He doesn’t believe in Jesus. That means he’s not going to heaven.” “He needs to have a relationship with Jesus,” said Dad. “Shall we pray for him?” Nolan nodded, and he and his dad prayed for Nolan’s grandfather. The next morning Dad took Nolan and his sister on a walk in the woods. As they went along, colorful leaves rustled under their feet. “A lot of leaves are still falling,” said Nolan. “They’re gonna get trampled on.” He grinned at his sister. “I bet I can catch more before they hit the ground than you can.” “You’re on!” said Liliana. So as they walked, they tried to catch every falling leaf. “Okay, let’s count them,” Nolan said as they headed back home. “All right.” A few moments later, Liliana grinned. “I’ve got seventeen!” “So do I!” said Nolan. “We rescued a bunch of them, didn’t we?” Dad smiled. “I’m glad you were able to rescue those fallen leaves. It reminds me of what Jesus does—He rescues fallen people.” “Fallen people?” asked Liliana. “I know Jesus found Zacchaeus in a tree, but he didn’t fall from it.” “No, but he was fallen in other ways. Zacchaeus was a lost sinner, but Jesus saved him and changed him. All people are fallen sinners—we all fall short of God’s perfect standards by doing wrong things, so Jesus came to rescue us. And He wants those of us He’s already saved to help bring others to Him so they can be rescued too.” “People like Grandpa,” said Nolan. “I know Jesus can save him, but Grandpa’s already pretty old. We pray for him a lot, but what else can we do to help bring him to Jesus?” Liliana looked at the leaves in her hand. “Let’s press these leaves and put them in different places around the house. We can pray for Grandpa every time we see one of them.” “Okay,” said Nolan. “We could also invite him to the program at church next week.” “And help him rake his yard!” said Liliana. Dad nodded. “Those are good ways to help him know how much Jesus loves him—and how much we love him too.” –Steve Hulet How about you? Do you have family or friends who don’t believe in Jesus? Share His love with them through your words and actions. Jesus came to save people who are fallen and lost, and if you’ve been saved by trusting in Him, He wants you to be part of the process as He rescues others. He loves your family and friends even more than you do, so don’t give up. Keep reaching out to those who need Jesus. Today's Key Verse: For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. (NLT) Luke 19:10 Today's Key Thought: Reach out to those who need Jesus
Read: Leviticus 19:17-18; Matthew 5:43-48 After school Declan walked to the nearby dentist’s office where his mom worked as a receptionist. “Hi, Mom,” he said as he walked in. He plopped down onto a chair in the waiting room while she got ready to leave. His book bag slid to the floor beside him, and he gave it an angry little kick. Mom noticed. “What’s wrong, Declan?” she asked as they headed for the car. “I don’t like Isaiah,” said Declan. “In fact, after what he did at school today, I hate him!” “Whoa!” said Mom. “Hate is not a word I like to hear. What happened?” “Isaiah threw an eraser and hit Aaliyah in the back of the head. Since I sit right behind her, she thought I did it and told Mrs. Cramer. I told Mrs. Cramer I didn’t do it, but she didn’t believe me, and I had to stay in during recess. After school Isaiah tried to apologize, but it was too late then. He should have admitted he did it right away!” Mom looked at Declan thoughtfully. “Sounds like you need a filling.” “A filling! What does this have to do with teeth? Besides, I just had a filling. My teeth are fine!” “What did the dentist do when you had that cavity?” Mom asked. “Well, first she drilled out the decay, and then she filled the space with a special material,” said Declan. “But why are we talking about fillings? What about Isaiah?” “I was thinking of the problem you’re having with him,” said Mom. “It seems a lot like the problem you had with your tooth. They both need drilling and filling. Isaiah was wrong, but I think you need to drill the decay—the hate—out of your heart and fill the space with forgiveness.” “Drill out the hate?” asked Declan. “How can I do that?” “You need a much more powerful tool than a dentist’s drill,” said Mom. “You need prayer. Only Jesus can help you get rid of the hate and forgive Isaiah.” Declan sighed and didn’t say anything. “Pray about it and trust Jesus to help you love and forgive Isaiah, Declan,” added Mom. “I’ll be praying for both of you.” –Dorothy R. King How about you? Do you find it hard to forgive people who have wronged you? It’s not easy, but with Jesus it can be done. Pray and tell Him how you’re feeling, and trust Him to replace any hate in your heart with love. Remember that He loves you so much that He died for your sins so you could be forgiven. He loves everyone that much—including those who have wronged you. Trust Him to help you show them His love by forgiving them. Today's Key Verse: But I [Jesus] tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. (ERV) Matthew 5:44 Today's Key Thought: Drill out hate with prayer
Read: Matthew 7:7-11 Brecken was doing his homework on the couch when his dog, Winston, brought his toy over and set it at Brecken’s feet. Brecken picked it up and threw it into the kitchen. Winston immediately ran after it and brought it back. This time Brecken threw the toy a little harder, and it landed in the middle of the kitchen table. Winston ran to the table, looked up, and began to whine. He then began to run back and forth between the table and Brecken. “I think he’s trying to ask you to get it down,” Mom said. Brecken got up and grabbed the toy. “Here you go, Winston,” he said as he threw it toward the couch. Winston ran to get it and then took off down the hall, squeaking it loudly. Brecken went back to the couch and pulled out his math book. “Ugh! I don’t get this,” he said a few minutes later. “Do you need some help?” Mom asked. Brecken tossed the math book onto the floor. “It’s no use. My teacher already tried to explain it to me, but I still don’t get it.” “Have you tried praying about it?” asked Mom. “I think God has bigger things to worry about than my math homework,” Brecken said. Mom smiled. “Why did you get Winston’s toy for him earlier?” she asked. Brecken shrugged. “I knew he was upset he couldn’t reach it and was asking me to get it. But what does that have to do with my math homework?” “Well, just like you wanted to help Winston because you care about him, God wants to help us with our problems—no matter how small,” Mom explained. “Because Jesus already took care of our biggest problem of all by dying for our sins, we can go to Him with any problem we have. He cares about the problems you’re having with math and wants you to ask Him for help. That doesn’t mean you won’t still struggle with math, but He can give you the strength you need to keep at it. He wants you to go to Him for help with all your problems.” “Even math problems?” Brecken picked his math book up off the floor and smiled. Then he bowed his head to pray. –Melissa Yeagle How about you? Do you ask God for help with all your problems? Or only if it’s something really big? Jesus definitely wants to help you with the big problems in your life, but He wants to help you with the small ones too. He loves you so much He died for you, and He cares about everything you’re going through. Ask Him for help with all your problems, big or small. Today's Key Verse: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (NKJV) Matthew 7:7 Today's Key Thought: Pray about all your problems
Read: Luke 6:43-45 Willow slammed the door and threw herself onto her bed sobbing. It wasn’t fair! She had practiced just as hard as Lailani did for the play tryouts at school. While her best friend was chosen for the lead part as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Willow was just one of the many Munchkins in Munchkinland who might get to sing about lollipops. Knocking softly on the door, Mom came in and sat down beside Willow. “Your brother told me what happened.” She leaned over and gave Willow a hug. “You know, I think my favorite character in The Wizard of Oz was the Tin Man.” Willow sniffed. “Why?” “Well, he wanted a heart so he could feel things. Can you imagine living life without feeling things?” Willow shook her head. “But my heart doesn’t know how to feel right now.” “That’s why we need to keep close watch over our hearts,” Mom said. “There’s a Bible verse that talks about guarding your heart above all else because every single thing you do flows from it.” “What do you mean?” Willow asked, sitting up and wiping the rest of her tears away. “Your words and actions show what’s really in your heart,” Mom explained. “We all experience difficult feelings in life, but we need to make sure they don’t take control of our hearts and make us act in ways that are wrong. That’s what it means to guard our hearts.” “So what should I do about the play tryouts and Lailani?” Willow asked. “Pray,” Mom said. “Jesus understands your feelings because He experienced human feelings too, but He never sinned by letting them take control. Share your feelings with Him and pray that He would help you guard your heart and know what to do next.” Closing her eyes, Willow prayed and asked Jesus to help her guard her heart and treat others in a loving way even though she felt sad and upset. Then she had an idea. “Can I invite some friends over to watch the Wizard of Oz movie so I can get a head start on being the best Munchkin I can be?” “Lailani too?” Mom asked. Willow smiled and nodded. “Lailani too.” –Kelly Hope How about you? Have you ever felt sad or upset by something? Maybe you worked hard for something but it didn’t turn out the way you wanted, or someone said or did something that hurt your feelings. It’s okay to feel bad about those things, but don’t let your feelings take control of your heart and determine how you treat others. Jesus understands how you feel, and He will help you guard your heart so His love can flow from it into your words and actions. Today's Key Verse: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (NIV) Proverbs 4:23 Today's Key Thought: Guard your heart
Read: Romans 8:18, 28-31 Carson tried to stay out of the movers’ way as they carried furniture into the apartment, so he stood in the corner and frowned. “Why the long face?” asked one of the men who was helping. “I don’t like this apartment,” said Carson. “I miss having my own yard.” He didn’t add that he didn’t know anybody in the neighborhood and would have to go to a new school. The man nodded. “Well, you know what they say—when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” “Lemonade?” asked Carson. The man smiled. “Yeah, you know—make the best of whatever happens. It may seem like a sour lemon, but it can turn into something sweet.” Carson sighed. He sounds like Mom, he thought. She’s always saying God works things out for good. Carson went outside and noticed a boy sitting on the steps. “Hi,” Carson said, and the boy glanced up. He looked like he had been crying. “What’s wrong?” Carson asked. “I don’t like it here,” the boy replied. He had a strong, musical accent. “Bad things happened in my country, so my family left. But everything is different here, and my English is not good.” “Sounds fine to me.” Carson sat down on the step beside his new neighbor. “I haven’t moved as far as you, but I’m new here too. I have to start school on Monday and don’t know anyone.” The boy looked at Carson. “I can walk to school and eat lunch with you,” he said. “Really?” Carson smiled. “And I can help you with English and anything else you have questions about.” A smile spread across the boy’s face. “Want to play ball?” he asked, pulling up a soccer ball from the side of the step. “Sure!” As they kicked the ball around, Carson thought his new home might not be so bad after all. Maybe Mom and the moving guy are right, he thought. Maybe God is making lemonade out of the lemons I got—and the ones my new neighbor got too. I don’t know what God has planned for me, but I’m glad He helped me make a new friend. –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How about you? Is there a lemon in your life—something that’s hard for you? God isn’t allowing that circumstance into your life in order to hurt you. He uses everything we go through to make us more like Jesus so we can know Him better and share His love with others. Trust Him to use hard situations for good so others can see Jesus in your life. Today's Key Verse: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) Romans 8:28 Today's Key Thought: Make the best of circumstances
Read: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20 Hattie stopped in front of the toy shop at the mall. The white tiger in the display had a pink ballerina tutu and little pink toe shoes that laced around its ankles with sparkly pink ribbon. “Mom, look!” called Hattie. But when Hattie looked around, Mom was nowhere in sight. Hattie’s heart dropped and her head got spinny like when she first rode the rollercoaster at the theme park. Taking a couple of steps out into the mall, she looked both ways. No Mom. She was alone. Hattie squeezed back tears and prayed, Dear Jesus, please help me find Mom! Then she remembered the verse they’d read during devotions that morning. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.” Hattie took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She knew she should stay put and not wander off. Mom couldn’t have gone very far and would be looking for her too. She remembered Mom’s words: If you’re ever lost, stay calm and find a trustworthy adult. Hattie scanned the mall. It was very busy, and there were lots of adults walking fast. Mom had told her to look for someone with a security uniform or a worker with a name badge. There were no security people that she could see, so she walked into the toy store and up to the counter. The girl who was ringing up a customer at the register had a nametag on. Hattie spoke up in a loud voice. “Excuse me! Can you please help me? I’m lost.” The worker immediately called mall security, and the customer put her arm around Hattie. “You are so brave! We’ll find your mom right away.” When the security people arrived, Hattie gave them her mom’s cell phone number. She was glad Mom had made her memorize it. Soon Mom rushed into the store to get her. “Oh, Hattie!” Mom cried, scooping her up into a big hug. “I was so worried! All I could think about was you in this big mall all by yourself.” “Don’t worry, Mom!” said Hattie. “I wasn’t alone. Jesus is always with me, and He helped me remember what to do.” –Kelly Hollman How about you? Have you ever been lost? Have there been times when it felt like you were all alone? At times like that, remember that Jesus is always with those who trust in Him. You can go to Him in prayer anytime and receive His peace and strength. He sacrificed His life to save you when you were lost in sin, and He will never leave you. You are never alone. Today's Key Verse: Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. (CSB) Isaiah 41:10 Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you
Read: Matthew 28:18-20 I’m part of God’s family now, Brock thought happily. Earlier that day he had decided to trust Jesus as his Savior. He smiled, thinking of others he knew who were also part of God’s family—his parents, grandparents, and his friends at church. But then he thought of his two best friends at school. Clay and Miles don’t go to church, he thought. I wonder if they’ll still want to be my friends when they find out I’m a Christian. The three boys had been friends since kindergarten. Clay was a practical joker, and Miles was a storyteller. In fact, they all liked to tell funny stories and make each other laugh—but now Brock was afraid they’d be laughing at him. Maybe I won’t tell Clay and Miles I accepted Jesus, Brock thought when he got to school the next morning. He shuffled to his seat just as the bell rang. Clay waved and pointed to a plastic spider he had put on the chair in front of him. Clay would do anything for a laugh, but today Brock didn’t feel like laughing. “Hey guys, wait till you hear the new story I’ve got!” Miles said as they went out at recess. “You got any new ones you want to tell first?” Brock took a big breath. He suddenly knew this was the right time to tell them he had decided to trust in Jesus. “Yeah.” Brock spoke quickly before he lost his nerve. “You’ll never guess what happened to me yesterday…” When Brock finished telling them his new story, it was quiet for a moment. “Oh. Well, that’s cool,” said Miles. “I don’t really know much about Jesus.” “I can tell you more, and you can come to church with me if you want,” said Brock. “That’s a good place to learn about Him. You can come too, Clay.” Clay shrugged. “I don’t know. I have other stuff to do on the weekends. Hey, let’s go get a ball game started.” “I’ll ask my mom if I can come to church with you,” Miles said as he and Brock followed Clay out to the ball field. “I’d like to hear more about Jesus. It sounds like a really good story.” –Darlene M. Root How about you? Are you afraid to talk to your friends about Jesus? Lots of kids don’t know they need Him to be saved from sin. They need someone to tell them—and Jesus may want you to be that person. Trust Him to help you know what to say, and don’t get discouraged if they don’t respond right away. Keep praying for them and letting them see Jesus in the way you live your life. Today's Key Verse: Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. (NKJV) Mark 5:19 Today's Key Thought: Tell your friends about Jesus
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13; 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Look at Roxy crouching under the bushes,” Lyra said softly. Dad nodded. “I think she sees the doves looking for seeds underneath the bird feeder,” he replied. “She’d like to ambush them.” “That means make a surprise attack from a hiding place, right?” As Lyra spoke, the cat sprang toward the birds, and the doves quickly flew to a tree branch. “I’m glad they got away,” said Lyra. “I think they know there’s a cat in this yard, so they watch out for her when they eat.” “You’re probably right,” said Dad. “We could learn a lesson from them.” He smiled at Lyra’s surprised expression. “That cat reminds me of how Satan likes to hide and then spring out at us when we least expect it. Sometimes we may feel tempted to do something because he’s ambushing us. We need to be alert to when he may be trying to get us to sin.” The next day, Lyra pointed the cat out to her dad again. Dad laughed when he saw Roxy, her tail up, slowly walking across the patio toward the doves. “It looks like she’s pretending to be their friend so they’ll think she won’t hurt them,” he said. “Well, I don’t think it’s going to work,” said Lyra. “But that’s another lesson from Roxy, isn’t it? Satan often pretends he’s our friend too by making what’s wrong look good, but he’s still trying to fool us into disobeying Jesus.” Lyra watched as the birds flew away when the cat got too close. “Roxy didn’t fool the doves at all.” “No, they weren’t fooled,” said Dad. “It almost seems like God gave birds an instinct—a natural ability—to sense danger and escape it.” “It would be nice if we had an instinct to get away from Satan,” said Lyra. “We do!” said Dad. “When Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, He defeated Satan, and He gives us the power to resist the devil. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to warn us of danger and guide us in doing what’s right. We can guard ourselves against Satan’s ambushes by remembering that Jesus has freed us from the power of sin and given us all we need to escape temptation.” –Pauline Youd How about you? Did you know that Satan sometimes tries to get you to do wrong? Not all temptation comes from him, but there are times when he tries to get Christians to sin and believe his lies. You can fight his attacks by remembering that Jesus freed you from Satan’s power when He died for your sin and rose again. Whenever the Holy Spirit makes you uncomfortable about something, don’t shrug off the warning. Resist Satan by standing firm in your faith in Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith. (NIV) 1 Peter 5:9 Today's Key Thought: Don’t let Satan deceive you
Read: John 20:24-29 It was Grandparents’ Day at Finley’s school, and the kids were taking turns introducing their grandparents to the class. When it was Finley’s turn, he went forward and proudly introduced his grandparents. “Grandma and Grandpa Smith are visiting from Arizona,” he said. “They like to travel, and they’re going to take me to the Grand Canyon the next time I visit.” Finley turned to his other grandmother. “Grandma Peters lives here, so I see her a lot. She’s teaching me how to play the piano, and she always makes me laugh.” Then Finley held up a picture for everyone to see. “This is my other grandpa. He’s not here today because he’s in heaven. He went there before I was born, so I never saw him. But I feel like I know him because Dad and Mom and Grandma tell me all about him. He was always helping people, and he was a great baseball pitcher.” Finley smiled and returned to his seat beside his grandparents. That evening Finley told his mom and dad about Grandparents’ Day. “I’m glad you tell me about Grandpa Peters and how he was always kind and loved to help people,” Finley said. “I feel like I love him even though I’ve never seen him.” Dad smiled. “I love someone I’ve never seen too,” he said. “Do you know who that is?” Finley looked uncertain for a moment, then smiled. “I think you mean Jesus,” he said. “I love Jesus too. So do Mom and all my grandparents.” “Yes, we do,” said Mom. “You love Grandpa Peters because we tell you how good and kind he was. Why do you love Jesus?” “Well, the Bible tells me how good He is,” replied Finley. “He loves me too! And He gives me lots of good things—you and Dad and my friends and everything I need. Best of all, He died for me, and He’s always with me—I can talk to Him anytime.” “That’s exactly right, Finley,” said Dad. “We love Jesus even though we’ve never seen Him—but someday we will see Him, won’t we?” “Yep!” Finley grinned. “Just like Grandpa Peters is seeing Him in heaven now!” –Teresa M. Beverly How about you? Do you love Jesus even though you’ve never seen Him? He loves you—so much that He died to take the punishment you deserve so your sins could be forgiven. Love Him in return. Confess your sin and trust Him as your Savior. Then you can look forward to seeing Him face-to-face in heaven someday. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can’t see him now, but you believe in him. (ERV) 1 Peter 1:8 Today's Key Thought: Return Jesus’s love
Read: Matthew 10:16-20; John 14:15-17, 25-27 Joy took a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air. Her older brother paused now and then to examine a tree or check out animal prints. Living near the woods was nice because you could take a nature walk whenever you wanted to. Suddenly, the kids heard a menacing rattle. James flung his arm in front of Joy and stopped her from continuing down the trail. There, just a few feet from where they stood, was a large snake rattling its tail. When it rose to assume a striking position, Joy felt her mouth dry instantly with fear. “Stay still and quiet,” James whispered. A few seconds later, he laughed. “Notice anything about that snake, Joy?” “It’s blue,” Joy whispered, confused. “So, it’s not a rattlesnake?” Michigan had only one kind of venomous snake, the Massasauga rattlesnake. Because of where they lived, Mom ensured they knew all about it. “Nope, I’m pretty sure it’s a blue racer,” said James. “See how there’s no rattle on its tail?” The snake lowered its head and darted down the path away from them. “Whoa, it’s fast!” said Joy. “That’s why they’re called blue racers!” Joy was in awe. “Blue racers are wise to make us think they’re rattlers. The way it shook its tail against the leaves sounded like the sound real rattlesnakes make!” The siblings followed a gentle cooing sound around the next bend. Perched on a high tree branch was a grey bird. “That’s a mourning dove,” Joy noted. “I’d rather see birds than snakes!” “Hey, sis, I just thought of something! Remember that verse in Matthew Mom was talking to us about last week?” “The one about snakes and doves…” Joy gasped. “That verse said, ‘Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’” James nodded. “Jesus wanted His disciples to spread the good news of how He came to save us. He warned them that some people would not want to accept their message, so they had to be wise about how they shared it—in both their words and their actions,” James recalled. “Like them, we need to trust God to help us share His love and truth with wisdom and innocence.” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever worry about what to say to someone who doesn’t know Jesus? Jesus told His disciples that sharing the truth about Him wouldn’t be easy, but He promised they wouldn’t have to do it alone. If you are a child of God, you have His Holy Spirit inside you to help you and guide you. Rely on Him to give you the wisdom you need as you share the truth and love of Jesus with others. Today's Key Verse: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (NIV) Colossians 4:5 Today's Key Thought: Be wise in sharing Jesus
Read: Daniel 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “What beautiful zucchini!” Mom said as she and Alex walked in their garden. “It’s amazing how God makes all kinds of wonderful food grow for us, isn’t it? He’s so good!” Alex smiled and nodded, then looked down as his phone buzzed with a text message. “Nicholas’s sister Joceyln is driving him to that new burger place down the road, and he invited me to go with them,” he said. “Can I go?” Mom agreed, so Alex hurried off to join his friends. When they sat down at the restaurant with their food, Alex remembered his mom’s words. If zucchini was something to be thankful for, burgers were blessings for sure! I want to thank God for the food, Alex thought. He usually prayed before meals, but he hadn’t known Nicholas and Joceyln very long and didn’t know if they were Christians. Will they understand? he wondered. Nicholas took a big bite of his hamburger, then looked at Alex. “Why aren’t you eating?” Alex hesitated as Joceyln came to the table with napkins, then sat down and unwrapped her sandwich. He waited to see if she would bow her head. When she didn’t, Alex decided to ask about it, even though he was a bit nervous. “Um, do you mind if I pray? I just want to thank God for the good food He’s given us.” To Alex’s surprise, Nicholas and Joceyln both looked up from their burgers and smiled. “That would be great!” said Joceyln. “We completely forgot to do that.” Then they all bowed their heads. When they finished, Joceyln grinned at Alex. “I’m glad you reminded us to pray. It’s good to talk to God throughout the day and thank Him for all He’s given us—even burgers!” “You made me think of Daniel in the Bible,” said Nicholas. “He prayed to God even though the king said he’d be thrown into a lion’s den if he did. He prayed during a scary time, but it’s just as important to pray during good times too.” Joceyln nodded. “Jesus wants us to go to Him in all situations—to thank Him in good times and look to Him for help in times of trouble.” She smiled. “And now, here’s something else you can thank Him for—ice cream sundaes on me!” –Margaret M. Primrose How about you? Did you know you can pray to God anytime? Daniel prayed when people were trying to harm him and he needed strength from the Lord. But we can also pray to thank Him for good things as they’re happening. Jesus gave His life to save you so you could have a relationship with Him. Talk to Him throughout your day, asking Him for help with your problems and thanking Him for blessings in your life. Today's Key Verse: Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. (NKJV) Psalm 55:17 Today's Key Thought: Go to God in prayer
Read: Galatians 6:9-10 Imani plopped down in the grass next to the garden. “I’m never talking to that girl again!” “Who? And why not?” asked Dad without looking up. He was planting a row of carrots. “Natalia—the new girl down the street. I’m tired of trying to be friends with her. I said hi to her three times, and all she did was look down. Then this morning I invited her to play kickball with some of the other neighborhood kids, but she said, ‘No, thanks,’ and quickly walked away. She’s so rude!” Imani spotted the garden hose and remembered her little patch of marigolds near her bedroom window. She began to uncoil the long green hose. “What are you doing with that?” asked Dad. “It’s pretty hot outside, so I’m going to water my flowers,” Imani replied. “Why bother?” said Dad. “The seeds aren’t growing. You planted them ten days ago, but I don’t see anything happening. They must be duds.” He fanned his face with his cap. “You’ve gotta be joking, Dad,” said Imani. “You know it takes time for seeds to grow. Just watch. Any day now flowers will be sticking their little green leaves up out of the ground.” Dad smiled. “You seem to have faith that those marigold seeds you planted will grow. Why don’t you have faith in the friendship seeds you’ve been planting?” “Friendship seeds?” asked Imani in surprise. “That’s right,” said Dad. “Each time you reach out and show kindness to Natalia, you’re planting a seed of friendship. Just like your marigolds, you can’t always see anything growing at first, but I think you should keep watering the seeds you planted. Don’t give up trying to be friends with Natalia. Be patient with her and trust Jesus to make the seeds of friendship you plant grow. Remember that He is always kind and patient with us even when we don’t respond right away, and He’ll help you be that kind of friend too.” Imani dropped the hose and turned off the water. “I’ll take care of this later,” she said. “I’m going to water my friendship seeds instead and see if Natalia wants to come over for ice cream.” –Teresa M. Beverly How about you? Do you get discouraged when your efforts to reach out to others aren’t appreciated or accepted? Do you keep on being friendly? Remember that making friends is a lot like planting seeds—it takes time for friendship to grow. Trust Jesus to help you plant friendship seeds by showing His love to others and to make the seeds you plant grow. Today's Key Verse: So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (NLT) Galatians 6:9 Today's Key Thought: Plant seeds of friendship
Read: Psalm 51:1-10; Matthew 23:25-28 “Wow, Mom! Look at that huge caramel apple!” Zayne exclaimed when he and his mom walked into the grocery store. “Can I get it to take to school tomorrow?” “Well, a regular apple would be better for you, but that one is a beauty,” Mom said. “Okay. You can have it this time.” During class the next morning, Zayne thought about the caramel apple in his lunch bag. His mouth watered as he imagined biting into it. He was glad when lunchtime finally came. Sandwich first, Zayne told himself. Then the carrot sticks. At last he pulled out the apple. He held it up to show his friends, and one of them tried to grab it. Zayne laughed and quickly bit into it. To his great dismay, the inside of the apple was soft and brown, and it tasted horrible! He tried to just eat the caramel on the outside, but he kept getting some of the soft apple with it. When Zayne got home, he opened the refrigerator to find a snack. There in the fruit bin were several shiny red apples. He looked at them, but chose a cheese stick instead. “I don’t trust apples anymore,” he told Mom when she took one out. “The one we bought yesterday was no good. I had to throw it away.” “What a shame,” said Mom, shaking her head. “It was so pretty!” She grinned at Zayne. “But you know, it’s a good reminder of how we can be like that apple.” “We can?” asked Zayne. “How?” “People aren’t always what they appear to be,” Mom explained. “It’s pretty easy for us to hide thoughts and feelings from other people—it’s even possible for us to keep others from seeing sin we’re holding on to in our lives. But we can’t hide anything from God. He isn’t fooled by false outer appearances because He sees our hearts. Even if no one else knows about wrong things we’re doing or thinking about others, He does. And if we confess them to Jesus, He will forgive us and make us clean.” Mom cut into her apple. “You can see the inside of this apple now, and it looks great,” she told Zayne as she handed him a slice. “Have a piece.” –Karen R. Locklear How about you? Have you learned how to hide sin in your life from others? You may be able to fool other people, but you can’t fool God. The Pharisees in today’s Bible reading were able to make themselves look good to people, but Jesus saw what was in their hearts—and He sees what’s in your heart too. If there’s sin in your heart, confess it to Jesus so He can make you clean. Today's Key Verse: You [God] alone know every human heart. (CSB) 1 Kings 8:39 Today's Key Thought: God sees your heart
Read: John 15:8-11 Aunt Jan was brewing herbal tea when Leah was dropped off for a visit one Sunday afternoon. Leah happily sat down in the homey kitchen and sniffed the air. “Mmm, it smells good in here!” “Orange blossom tea—my favorite,” said Aunt Jan with a smile. She pointed to a cake on the counter. “Help yourself.” Leah got a plate from the cupboard and cut a slice of cake. Aunt Jan raised her brows. “Why so quiet today?” she asked. “You usually talk my ears off!” Leah laughed. “I was just thinking,” she said. “Well then, why not let me think with you?” said Aunt Jan. “What are we thinking about?” “The lesson we had in Sunday school today was about growing in the Lord,” Leah said. “Our teacher said we need to grow as Christians in order to become like Jesus, but I’m confused. Didn’t He change us when we put our faith in Him? I guess I don’t quite get it.” “You’re right, Leah,” said Aunt Jan. “Jesus did change us when we trusted Him to save us from sin—we changed from being dead in sin to alive in Christ. But it takes time to grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him.” She took a sip of tea, then looked down at her cup. “It’s a lot like tea,” she said. “Tea?” Leah asked. “Yes, tea,” said Aunt Jan. “The moment a tea bag is put into hot water, it’s no longer water—it’s tea. That’s like what happens to us the moment Jesus comes into our lives. But even though Jesus saves us from sin in an instant, it takes longer for us to learn to live out His truth and love in different areas of our lives and become more like Him—just like tea grows stronger the longer the tea bag is in it. The more we learn about Jesus and depend on Him to work in our hearts, the more we grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him.” Leah grinned. “Thanks, Aunt Jan. I think I get it now!” –Cindy Van Schalkwyk How about you? Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Do you spend time praying to Him and reading His Word, the Bible? Do you go to church to learn more about Him and spend time with other Christians who can encourage and support you in your faith? As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, you’ll become more like Him as He teaches you to trust Him and show His love to others. Today's Key Verse: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) 2 Peter 3:18 Today's Key Thought: Grow to be more like Jesus
Read: Matthew 18:21-35 It was starting to rain. Daisy hated being out in the rain. But she had gotten into a big fight with her older sister before heading outside to walk the dog. They had yelled at each other and called each other names, and she wasn’t ready to go back to the house and face her. Daisy didn’t know what she was going to say when she did. So she kept walking down the sidewalk. Her dog, Oscar, was getting wet too, but he didn’t seem to mind. The further she got from home, the heavier the rain came down. Daisy was getting soaked now and wondered if it had been a good idea to stay out so long. What if she got sick? She’d better turn around and go home. Daisy tugged on Oscar’s leash and got him to jog with her back to the house. “Where were you?” her sister Violet asked as soon as she stepped through the door. Was her sister still angry with her? Daisy bit her bottom lip. “We were walking.” “You’re soaking wet.” Violet frowned. “Go take a bath and warm up. I’ll deal with Oscar.” Daisy handed her the dog’s leash and hurried to do as she was told. After a nice warm shower, Daisy dressed in some dry clothes and made her way to the kitchen, where she could hear her sister moving about. “Here.” Violet set a steaming mug in front of her. “I made you hot chocolate.” “Thanks.” Daisy put her hands around the mug but didn’t sip yet. “You’re not mad anymore?” “No.” Violet sighed. “I’m sorry. We always fight, and then when something happens like you go wandering out in the rain, I regret everything I said.” “I regret everything I said too,” Daisy said. “I hate fighting with you.” Violet nodded. “At least we can say we’re sorry and forgive each other. And God forgives us too.” “No matter how many times we fight,” Daisy said. “Or what we do.” Violet smiled. “We can always forgive each other and count on God’s forgiveness so that we can start over again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Do you often get into fights with your siblings or friends? Do you sometimes worry that things have gone too far? Or do you always come back and forgive each other, time after time? God forgives us again and again for the wrong things we do, and that’s how He wants us to forgive others. When you say unkind things to others, tell them you’re sorry, and trust God to help you forgive them for the hurtful words they said to you. Today's Key Verse: For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (NIV) Matthew 6:14 Today's Key Thought: Forgive again and again
Read: Acts 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Marilyn gazed at her dad as he dozed in the hospital bed. She hated the atrocious yellow hospital gown and the tubes that went into his chest. He was supposed to be strong, but here he just looked tired and weary. “How much longer will he be here?” Marilyn asked Mom hesitantly. She desperately wanted Dad home. A deep sigh came from her mom. She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know, honey. The doctor is unsure.” Marilyn bit her lip. “Doesn’t God want Dad to be healed?” Mom took Marilyn’s hand in her own, and Marilyn leaned into the warm touch in the otherwise cold and bare room. “God loves us and your dad so much, Marilyn—more than we could ever comprehend. He doesn’t want us to be sick or suffer. God is good, and He hates our pain, but He allows it in our lives for reasons we don’t fully understand.” “I hate it too.” Marilyn glanced at Dad again as he slept. Mom squeezed her hand. “Every day I ask God, ‘Why is there sickness?’” Marilyn felt assured knowing Mom asked the same big questions she did. “The world isn’t supposed to be this way,” Mom said. “Even though we humans messed it up with our sin, God is at work every single day to make it whole again. That work is called restoration.” “And He’s doing this now?” Mom nodded. “It started in the first book of the Bible when God promised to bless His people and guide them when they were lost. Then Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so our relationship with God could be restored. Jesus also healed and fed people, giving us a glimpse of God’s plan for eternal restoration. Today I see His restoration in the gifts He’s given people and the ways they use them to help others—like the doctors caring for your dad. And one day, God promises to bring complete and total restoration. There will be no more sickness and no more death forever.” Dad stirred in his bed as Marilyn asked, “But what about today?” “Today I hold on to that hope knowing that God is with me, you, and Dad,” Mom said. Marilyn smiled at Dad as he slowly opened his eyes. Hope. For now, that was enough. –Zoe Brickner How about you? Have you or anyone you know ever stayed in the hospital or suffered from a sickness or disease? Have you asked God why there’s such brokenness on our planet? Take heart. He sees your pain and holds you close. He has been faithful in the past and will one day fulfill His promise to completely heal and restore all that is broken. Then there will be no more sickness, pain, or death. Today's Key Verse: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 4:18 Today's Key Thought: God will restore the world
Karl Besser
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