Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-10 Malachi waited in the hallway, tapping his foot on the floor. "Almost time…" He didn't have to wait long. The door to his dad's office opened, and his dad appeared with his glasses pushed up on the top of his head. "Hi, bud," Dad said. Malachi grinned and started for the kitchen. He knew his dad would follow him. An hour later, Malachi positioned himself in the hallway again. This time his dad wouldn't just be getting water but also a snack. He was hoping he might share. "Have you been standing out here all morning?" Dad asked as he stepped out of his office. Malachi shook his head with a grin. "What are you having today? Yogurt? A granola bar?" Dad gave him a sheepish smile. "How did you know I was feeling ready for a snack?" Malachi shrugged. Ever since his dad started working from home, he'd been paying attention and learning his routine. Malachi told his grandma about it that evening when she came to the house so his dad could go to a meeting. "I've memorized it all. He does everything at a certain time, even going outside to get a little fresh air." Grandma smiled. "It shows you care a lot about him for you to memorize his routine so you can see him when he takes little breaks from his work." Malachi nodded slowly. It did show that, didn't it? He wanted all the time he could get with his dad. Malachi frowned. "No one cares enough to memorize my routine. I don't think Dad even knows what time I get up." "Your dad might not, but someone does," Grandma said, scooping a homemade brownie onto a plate. "In Psalm 139, we read that God knows every move we make. Not only did He love us enough to send Jesus to save us from sin, but He cares about us enough to pay attention to our daily routines." "Really?" Malachi asked. "Well, that's cool." Grandma nodded. "Your dad loves and cares about you too, Malachi. If you're feeling lonely, maybe you should talk to him about spending more time together. But when your dad can't be with you, remember that God is. He knows everything about you and cares about your life. You can always talk to Him." –Emily Acker How About You? Do you ever feel like no one really cares about you or pays a lot of attention to the things you do? If so, talk to a trusted adult about it so they can help. But know that God cares about you. He knows every detail of your life and wants to hear about everything you're going through. When it feels like no one cares, tell Him how you feel and trust Him to help you. Today's Key Verse: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. (NKJV) (Psalm 33:18) Today's Key Thought: God cares about you

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 41:10, 13 "Mr. Robinson asked me to give my testimony at our youth group meeting Sunday night," Olivia told her mother as they walked along a path in the woods. "I'm going to tell him I just can't do it! I'm too scared!" She pointed toward a nearby hill. "There's the old fire lookout tower, Mom. Looks like somebody's on duty there today. Do you think they'll let us climb it? I've never done that." "Let's check it out," said Mom. When they walked over to the tower, Olivia hesitated. "I don't know," she said as she looked up at flight after flight of stairs leading to the top of the tower. "It looks scary! I don't really like being up so high." "I'll be behind you to make sure you don't fall," Mom assured her. So after they got permission, Olivia and her mother began climbing. The higher they climbed, the scarier it seemed, but Olivia could feel her mom's presence right behind her. And when they finally reached the top, Olivia was amazed as she looked out over the forest. Brilliant colors from the setting sun clung to clouds on the horizon. It made a spectacular canopy over the trees and hills below. "Wow, this is awesome!" said Olivia. "Was it worth being scared?" Mom asked. "It sure was," said Olivia. "Besides, even though I was scared, I knew you were with me." "You know," said Mom, "if you let fear keep you from giving your testimony, you might miss something as awesome as this view." "What do you mean?" asked Olivia. "It's awesome to see what God does when we share how He's working in our lives with others," replied Mom. "But what if I get so scared I can't even talk?" asked Olivia. "I'm not saying you'll breeze right through it, but just like I was with you and ready to help you on these stairs, God will be with you and help you speak about Jesus and how He's changed your life. Even if you mess up, He'll be there to support you and use what you say to bless others." Olivia hesitated, then nodded. "Okay," she said. "Even though it's scary, I'll trust God to help me." –Katherine R. Adams How About You? Is there something you believe God wants you to do? Someone you should reach out to or talk to about Jesus? If you feel afraid, remember that God will be with you and help you. He is working in your life so that you can point others to Jesus and help them know He loves them and gave His life to save them. Trust Him to help you serve Him and share His love with others in spite of your fear. Today's Key Verse: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (NLT) (2 Timothy 1:7) Today's Key Thought: Don't be afraid to serve God

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Javier looked out the window. Rain rattled on the roof, and thunder jolted his eardrums. "Why is it so loud, Mom?" he asked. "The storm is getting closer," replied Mom. "The reporter on TV said the basement is the safest place in storms like this, so let's go." Mom handed Javier a jug of water and a couple of flashlights. "You can carry these," she said. "I'll grab some snacks and our emergency pack." They hurried down the stairs and huddled in a corner of the basement as the wind shook the house. "The wind is so strong," said Javier nervously. "Yes," said Mom, "but we're sheltered from it. And we have snacks and lights and other supplies to keep us comfortable." She handed him a granola bar. "Thanks--peanut butter's my favorite!" Javier bit into the bar and chewed thoughtfully. "It's good to be prepared for storms like this, isn't it?" "Yes, it is," said Mom. "Did you know God wants us to also prepare for storms that may come along in life?" "So we'll be ready for whatever happens to us?" asked Javier. "Exactly. Can you think of ways we can be ready for whatever happens in our lives here on earth?" "Well, we believed what the weather reporter said and came to the basement, and we also need to believe what God says and trust Jesus to save us from sin," said Javier. "Good," said Mom. "That's most important. What else?" "We brought lights," said Javier. "And the Bible is called a light, isn't it?" "Yes," said Mom. "It shows us our need for Jesus and the sacrifice He made to save us, and it shines on our lives so we can follow the path God wants for us as His children. Any more ideas?" "Uh…we brought food and water," said Javier. "Is that like the Bible too?" Mom nodded. "As we get to know Jesus through what He says in the Bible, He will nourish us spiritually and remind us to trust Him for strength when life brings hard times." Javier sat up straight. "Hey, Mom, it's not blowing so hard anymore! Shouldn't we pray and thank God for protecting us?" "You bet!" said Mom, and together they bowed their heads. –Jaclyn S. Miller How About You? Are you prepared for life's storms? Everyone experiences hard times in their lives, but you can be ready for them before they come. Do you trust in Jesus? That's most important. Jesus promises to always be with those who trust in Him and give us strength in tough times. Talk to Him and let Him encourage you and guide you through the light of His Word. When you face hard times, trust Him to help you weather the storm. Today's Key Verse: Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work. (ERV) (2 Timothy 3:17) Today's Key Thought: Prepare for life's storms

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-32 "It's hard to believe you're already old enough to be in middle school this year, Mateo," Mom said as they drove home after shopping for school clothes. "Don't remind me," Mateo said miserably. "I wish I could stay at my old school forever." "Why?" asked Mom. "Last year there weren't any older kids to pick on us," replied Mateo. "I liked being one of the oldest kids in the school." "Sounds like you have the middle school blues before you even get there," said Mom. "Well, this year my class will be the youngest, so we'll have to deal with all the older kids," said Mateo. Mom pointed to a little girl on a tricycle crossing the street with her mother. "Remember your tricycle?" she asked. "Why don't you ride it anymore?" "Ride my tricycle?" asked Mateo in surprise. "That would look weird!" He grinned at the thought. "I'm too big to ride that thing now." "Remember how you prayed every night for weeks that you could take the training wheels off your first two-wheel bike?" Mom asked as the traffic light turned green and they went through the busy intersection. Mateo laughed. "I remember that. I didn't want to be a baby forever." "It seems like you do now," said Mom. "At least when it comes to school." Mateo frowned. "School is different." "Somewhat different," Mom said as they turned into their driveway. "But in a way, going from your tricycle to a bike with training wheels to a bike without them is a lot like going from elementary to middle school to high school." Mateo sighed. "I guess." "And whenever you fell off your tricycle or bike, Dad and I were there to help," Mom reminded him. "We're still here to help you--we'll support you and pray for you every day. And you should pray too! Give your worries to Jesus, and trust Him to help you deal with new situations. Even though middle school seems scary, He promises to be with you and use this new phase of your life to help you grow in your relationship with Him. Trust Him to help you one day at a time, and enjoy today!" –Ruth McQuilkin How About You? Do you worry about going to a new school or moving to a new place? Do you wonder how things will turn out even further down the road--like finding a job or getting married? It's good to pray about future events in your life, but don't worry about them. Trust Jesus to guide you through the years ahead and help you through whatever changes you face. Then enjoy life with Him today! Today's Key Verse: Do not worry about tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34) Today's Key Thought: Give worries to Jesus and enjoy today

Bible Reading: Proverbs 18:24; Philippians 2:3-8 Luke sat in the pew and stared off into space as his parents talked to some friends nearby. His stomach growled loudly, and he hoped his family would leave soon. "What are you doing sitting here by yourself?" Luke looked up as Mr. Bryant sat down in the pew in front of him. "Nothing," Luke said with a smile. He liked talking to Mr. Bryant. "Why don't you go talk to someone?" Mr. Bryant asked. Luke shrugged. "I don't have any friends here," he said. "What do you mean you don't have friends?" Mr. Bryant looked around the church. "I bet the kids over there are your age." He pointed to someone up front. "And I know he's your age!" Luke looked and saw that Mr. Bryant was pointing to his grandson standing by the piano. "It's just--it's hard to know what to say to other kids," he told Mr. Bryant. "I don't mind being by myself." Mr. Bryant cleared his throat. "Remember when you first started coming to church here with your family? I totally ignored you, and that's how we became friends, right?" Luke laughed. "No! You were one of the first people to say hello, and we talk all the time now." Mr. Bryant nodded and leaned his arm on top of the pew. "Listen, Luke. You want friends, don't you?" Luke nodded. "Well," Mr. Bryant said, "to have friends, you have to be friendly and take an interest in others. You have to go right up and introduce yourself, like I did when I first met you." "But it's hard," Luke said. "So's math," said Mr. Bryant with a grin. "But you don't have to do it on your own. Jesus is the greatest Friend there is--He became one of us and died to save us so we could be His friends forever! With His help, I think you'll make one of those friends the Bible talks about--one that sticks closer than a brother." Luke thought about that and smiled. "I guess that'd be cool." Mr. Bryant leaned over and gave Luke a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Now you're talking." He looked at his watch and got up. "See you later, Luke." He jerked his thumb toward his grandson. "Now go say hello." –Katlyn Traxler How About You? Do you need a friend? Trying to make friends can be scary, but it gets easier the more you practice. Trust Jesus to help you be the kind of friend He is--one who cares about others and takes an interest in their lives. Ask Him to give you the courage to reach out to those around you and be friendly. Just saying hello to someone new could be the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Today's Key Verse: A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV) (Proverbs 18:24 ) Today's Key Thought: Be a friend

Bible Reading: Psalm 130:5-7 It felt like forever before it was Daisy's turn to ride the swinging ship. She watched the line slowly move forward each time a new group got on the ride. Finally, it was her turn! "Ready?" Dad grinned. "More than ready!" Daisy hurried to find a seat. The ride was just as fun as she expected, and she screamed each time it went down. Her stomach flip-flopped a little, but she still loved it. "Can we go again?" Daisy asked as soon as they were finished. Dad pointed toward the line. "It's still long." "I don't mind," Daisy said. Now that she knew how fun the ride was, she could wait forever. "You're sure you wouldn't rather ride something else?" Dad asked, pointing toward a shorter line. Daisy quickly shook her head. Dad smiled and led her to the end of the long line. "Some things are worth waiting for, huh?" "Yeah," Daisy said. Dad put his hand on her shoulder. "As you get older, you'll realize other things are worth waiting for too. Sometimes we have to be patient to get something good." "Like a ride on a swinging ship?" Daisy asked. "And things even better than that," Dad said as they slowly moved forward in line. "God has good plans for you, Daisy. He loves you so much He sent Jesus to save you from sin and give you eternal life! You can trust Him to bring good things into your life at the right time. Be patient as you wait for Him to show you what they are." "What kind of things?" asked Daisy. "Well, for example, it took a while for me to figure out God was calling me to be a pastor. Waiting for Him to lead me where He wanted me to go wasn't easy, but it helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus." Dad smiled. "You can trust God to lead you in what's best for your life too." Daisy nodded. The line didn't seem so bad when her dad was talking, and she knew how much fun she was going to have at the end. She was glad she could trust God to help her be patient and wait for the good things He had planned for her too. –Bethany Acker How About You? Do you ever get impatient? Think of something you know is worth waiting for--like a fun ride or cookies baking in the oven. The good things God has planned for you are worth the wait too. He loves you so much that Jesus died and rose again to save you, and He has good plans for you. Be patient as you wait for Him to show them to you. Today's Key Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV) (Jeremiah 29:11) Today's Key Thought: Wait patiently for God's plan

Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:20-23; 1 John 1:6-7 "Whoo, whoo, whoooo!" Kaylee heard the soft hoot of an owl floating through the still night air as she and her dad walked along a narrow path on their way to see the moon rise over the lake. An owl! she thought. She shined her flashlight toward the treetops, hoping to get a glimpse of the bird, but she couldn't see anything. As she looked straight up and searched the branches, her foot caught on a root sticking up from the path, and she fell down hard. "Kaylee, are you all right?" Dad hurried to help her up. "What happened?" "I tripped on a root," said Kaylee, getting up and brushing herself off. "I was pointing my flashlight up at the trees to see if I could find the owl. I guess I should have kept my light on the path." "Yeah, I guess so," said Dad with a smile. They continued their walk and soon reached the beach. The lake was calm and glassy, and a beautiful silver path led to the moon hanging low over the dark water. They stood and enjoyed the scene in silence for a while. "Well, we'd better head back," Dad finally said. "Be sure to keep your light on the path this time." "I will!" Kaylee assured him. "I've learned my lesson. That owl can hoot all he wants--I'm gonna watch where I'm going!" "I've been thinking about a verse in Psalms--one that says God's Word is a light for our path," Dad said as they started back. "If we forget to shine the light of God's Word on our lives, it can cause us to trip and fall in our walk with Jesus." "That would be worse than the fall I took, wouldn't it?" said Kaylee. Dad nodded. "Jesus is our light in this dark world--He saved us and promises us eternal life with Him. That's why we need to let His truth light our way and guide us in how we live. And when we trip and fall into sin, the Bible says Jesus will always forgive us when we confess our wrongs." Kaylee smiled. "I'll listen to what God says in the Bible so His light will shine on my path--just like this flashlight!" –Judith K. Boogaart How About You? Do you take time to read your Bible? Do you listen when others teach about it and ask them to explain things you don't understand? As you study God's Word in your walk with Jesus, it will remind you that you belong to Him and show you how He wants you to turn from sin and love others. Keep reading and listening to what He says in the Bible so His light can shine on the path of your life. Today's Key Verse: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NKJV) (Psalm 119:105) Today's Key Thought: Let God's truth light your way

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:8-10; John 14:16-17 Evelyn peeked through the blinds of her bedroom window at the SOLD! sign on her front lawn. She turned back to the sea of boxes surrounding her as a tear slipped from her eye and landed with a wet splat on the cardboard. I can't decide if I want my butterfly pillow at Mom's apartment or Dad's house, she thought. With a big sigh, she threw it into the box marked Mom along with some other toys and books. Evelyn's mom knocked on her door. "Evelyn, is everything okay in there? You need to be finished packing by lunchtime." When Evelyn didn't answer, Mom opened the door and found her silently crying over the open box. "What is it?" Mom asked, wrapping her tightly in a hug. "I can't decide if I want my butterfly pillow at your apartment or Dad's house. I need it to fall asleep," Evelyn said, wiping her eyes. "Why do we have to sell our house and move into two separate places? I want my pillow with me every night! And I want you and Dad with me every night too." "I'm so sorry our divorce has hurt you so badly, Evelyn," Mom said, rubbing her arm. "We both love you very much, even when we're not with you. And the good news is you can take your pillow to Dad's house and then bring it back to my apartment. Your pillow can go everywhere with you. You never have to leave it behind." Mom picked up Evelyn's Bible from the open cardboard box. "Just like God promised us in the Bible that He would never leave us. When you trusted in Jesus, God gave you the Holy Spirit to help you, comfort you, and guide you. He is always with you, Evelyn, even when Dad and I are not." Mom gently placed Evelyn's butterfly pillow and Bible into her backpack. "How about we keep these two special things in your bag so they're easy to take back and forth between my apartment and Dad's house?" Evelyn glanced out the window again at the sign in her yard. "Okay," she said. "I guess I can give it a try." –Nicole Kraayenbrink How About You? Have you experienced the pain and feelings of abandonment that divorce brings? Maybe your own parents are divorced, or an aunt and uncle, or perhaps a friend's mom and dad. Even when it feels like someone in your life has left you behind, remember that God will never leave you. He cares about you and will always be with you wherever you are. Today's Key Verse: The Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. (CSB) (Deuteronomy 31:6) Today's Key Thought: God will never leave you

Bible Reading: Matthew 2:1-2; Luke 2:1-16 "Visit our store and enjoy Christmas every day of the year!" Georgia read the billboard out loud as she and her family traveled home from a weeklong vacation. "Cool!" she said. "That's in the town at the next exit, isn't it? Can we stop at that store?" Dad shrugged. "Why not? We could use a break from driving. Watch for signs so we'll know where to turn." They found the store, and everyone smiled when they heard "Jingle Bells" playing over the loudspeaker as they walked in. The store was filled with all kinds of Christmas decorations--ornaments, trees, twinkling lights, and wreaths. In one corner, a woman was handing out decorated Christmas cookies. As Georgia and her parents ate their cookies, they wandered over to a large manger scene. The animals looked so real, Georgia could almost imagine she was in Bethlehem. As she thought about the events of that night long ago, she imagined Mary putting baby Jesus in a manger with all the sounds and smells of animals around them. She thought about the angels singing, the shepherds running to the stable to see Jesus, and the wise men traveling from far away to worship the new King. "Come on, Georgia," said Mom, interrupting her daydreams. "Time to be on our way." Georgia continued thinking about the manger scene on the drive home. "I wish we could celebrate Christmas all year long like they do at that store," she said. "We can!" said Dad. "What is Christmas, Georgia?" "It's the time when we remember Jesus being born," Georgia replied. "Exactly!" said Dad. "The night God sent His Son to earth as one of us so He could save us from sin. Don't you think that's something we should celebrate all year long?" "Well, sure," said Georgia. "We should thank God every day for sending Jesus, shouldn't we?" She grinned. "So can we put up the Christmas tree when we get home?" Mom laughed and shook her head. "We'll save that for December," she said. "We can remember God's gift of Jesus and the meaning of Christmas without the tree." –Linda Weddle How About You? Are you thankful every day for God's amazing gift? He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a human being to take the punishment for your sin so you could have eternal life with Him. There's no better gift than that! Don't wait until December to thank God for His great gift. Jesus is the reason to celebrate Christmas all year long! Today's Key Verse: Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 9:15) Today's Key Thought: Think of God's gift all year long

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:3-17; Galatians 3:19-22 Graham set a large birthday present on his knees and shut the car door. Mom fastened her seat belt and turned to Graham. "You don't have your seat belt on." "I can't reach it while I'm holding this present," said Graham. "It's only two blocks to Cameron's house, so I don't need it anyway." "Oh yes, you do! A lot of accidents happen close to home, and a seat belt could save your life. Here, let me help you." Mom reached over and buckled his seat belt. "There. Now we can go." She started the car. "Seat belts were put in cars to protect us. And don't forget--the law says we have to use them." "The law," repeated Graham. "That sounds like something we talked about in church--God's law. God gave us rules like the Ten Commandments to protect us and help us live good lives, but no one could obey them, so that's why Jesus had to die for us. Or something like that--I didn't understand all of it." Just then a ball bounced into the street in front of them. Mom hit the brakes and the car screeched to a stop--inches away from a little boy who had dashed after the ball. Graham lurched forward, but his seat belt tightened, holding him back. The little boy grabbed the ball and ran back into his yard. "If you hadn't made me wear my seat belt, I would have smashed right into the dashboard!" said Graham. Mom nodded and started driving again. "Good thing you obeyed the law and had your seat belt on. But were you able to buckle it yourself?" "No," said Graham. "I was holding Cameron's present, so you had to buckle it for me." "And that's what Jesus does for us," said Mom. "Sin is like that present you're holding--it makes us unable to obey God's law. None of us is good enough to have eternal life with God. That's why Jesus had to pay for our sin on the cross. When we trust in Him, He buckles His goodness around us like a seat belt and saves us!" "Oh--I get it now!" Graham smiled. "Thanks for buckling my seat belt, Mom--you saved me! And I'm thankful Jesus saved me too." –Eunice C. Matchett How About You? Do you always wear your seat belt? Seat belts save lives--that's why a lot of places have laws that require you to use them. Jesus saves lives too. Because of sin, none of us can obey God's law, so Jesus lived a perfect life and died to take our punishment. Trust Him to save you and give you His goodness so you can live with Him forever. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: Adam did not obey God, and many people become sinners through him. Christ obeyed God and makes many people right with Himself. (NLV) (Romans 5:19) Today's Key Thought: Jesus saves lives

Bible Reading: Psalm 56:3-4, 8-11 Nico grinned as his sister lay back on her inflatable raft. "I'm going to pop your float," he told her. "You'll sink." Maya smiled, unfazed. "My life jacket will hold me up." "What if I take the life jacket?" Nico asked. Maya shrugged. "It still won't matter. This is the shallow end, and the water only reaches up to my waist." "Well then, maybe I'll just pick you up and dunk you under," said Nico. Maya grinned and pointed to Mom sitting at the side of the pool. "With Mom there, I'll be just fine." A while later, Mom's phone rang. "Time to go inside, kids," she said after she hung up. "I need to go pick Dad up from work. He just called to say he feels really sick, so I'm going to take him to the emergency room." Maya and Nico gave each other worried looks. "Okay, Mom," Nico said. Mom was gone quite a while, and when she returned home, Dad wasn't with her. "What's wrong with Dad?" asked Maya anxiously. "We don't know for sure yet, but they admitted him as a patient at the hospital," replied Mom. "Hopefully it's nothing serious." Nico felt nervous too. "What if it is really serious?" he asked. "Aren't you scared, Mom?" "Of course I am," said Mom. "But I'm thankful to know that God is in control and no matter what happens, Dad--and each of us--will be okay because we're in God's hands. We'll pray for Dad, and we need to trust God to take care of him." "But what if something's really wrong with Dad?" asked Nico. "How could that ever be okay?" "Earlier today I heard you teasing your sister in the pool," Mom told him. "But Maya knew that no matter what you did, she'd be okay because I was there and would take care of her. Well, we can have absolute confidence that no matter what happens, we'll be okay because Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. He will always be with us and take care of us--even if the worst were to happen. We're safe in His hands." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Has something happened that makes you feel sad or scared? Is someone you love sick? Has a parent lost a job? Did your parents get divorced? Whatever your troubles are, Jesus knows all about them. He loves you so much that He gave His life to save you, and He's right there with you. Trust Him to watch over you, no matter what happens. Today's Key Verse: Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (NKJV) (Psalm 56:3) Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus to care for you

Bible Reading: Psalm 32:1-5 "Ouch!" cried Wren as she climbed into the tree house her dad was building. Dad stopped hammering and raised his brow. "I hurt my finger," Wren said. "Let me take a look." Dad put his hammer down and studied her finger. "You've got a sliver, but don't worry, I'm an expert sliver remover! Just as soon as I'm finished here, I'll take it out." Wren squirmed. "It's okay. It's not that big. I'll just leave it." "Not a good idea," said Dad, digging through his toolbox. He frowned. "That's strange. My tape measure isn't in here. Well, I can work without it for now." "Tape measure?" Wren asked, suddenly feeling guilty. And as the afternoon wore on, she felt more and more guilty. She knew what had happened to the tape measure. "Dad, this sliver really hurts," Wren said that evening. "I think I need help from an expert sliver remover after all." "Oh, that's right--I forgot about your sliver!" Dad got out the tweezers. "Slivers don't go away on their own." Wren winced as he pricked her skin. "There," Dad said. "It's out." Wren looked at the tiny fleck Dad was holding. "I can't believe something that small could hurt so bad," she said. "This little sliver reminds me of what we call 'little' sins," said Dad. "We think they don't really amount to much and shouldn't hurt anybody. But if we're sensitive to how Jesus wants us to love others, they cause us grief until we confess them and get them removed. We could call them sin slivers." Wren sighed. "Dad, I…" She hesitated. "I need another sliver removed--a sin sliver that's been bothering me all day. I took your tape measure. I know I'm not supposed to go in your toolbox, but I used it to take measurements for a treasure map, and then I lost it in the woods. I'm sorry. I should have told you right away." "So that's where it went!" said Dad. "Well, I'll have to get another tape measure, but at least I won't be hunting for that one anymore. I'm glad you told me, and I forgive you. Even better--Jesus promises to forgive the sins we confess too." –Jody Hedlund How About You? Is there a nagging sin you need to confess? Maybe you fibbed to your parents or bent the rules to win a game. It may not have seemed like a big deal at the time, but any sin, no matter how big or small it seems, hurts both you and others. Don't wait any longer. Confess your sin to Jesus and to anyone else you've sinned against and ask for forgiveness. Today's Key Verse: People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (NLT) (Proverbs 28:13) Today's Key Thought: All sin hurts you--confess it

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:8-20 The girls in Cabin 9 were walking down the path to the campfire at Bible camp when Gabby pointed up at the sky. "Look at the moon tonight! Yesterday there was no moonlight at all in the sky, but today there is a bright sliver of light." Her counselor, Jami, nodded. "It has started to reflect the sun's light, and tomorrow it will reflect more light and keep growing until it's a full moon." They reached the campfire and found their seats. They sang silly songs and laughed as they roasted marshmallows, then listened as the camp director told them about Jesus. A warm feeling filled Gabby as she listened to the director speak. She suddenly knew that she wanted to trust in Jesus. She moved a little closer to Jami and asked her to pray with her to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins. Jami gave her a hug as they knelt down to pray. Later that night, as they walked back to the cabin, Jami smiled and pointed up at the moon. "Gabby, now that you trust in Jesus, your faith is like that moon. Just as the moon reflects the sun's light, our lives reflect the love of Jesus. Yesterday, like the moon, you had no light, but today God's love and goodness have started to shine through you." Gabby stared up at the moon. "I'm so excited to have Jesus in my life, but what do I do when I get home?" she asked. "As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, His light will grow inside you," said Jami. "Just as a crescent moon grows into a bright full moon, you'll begin to reflect Him more and more. When you get home, keep getting to know Jesus better and learning more about Him. Go to church and spend time with other Christians, and read your Bible and pray every day. As your faith and understanding grow, you'll become more like Jesus and reflect more of His light, just like that moon." Gabby pondered Jami's words. "Wow," she said. "I can't wait to get to know Jesus even better! And now that I know Him, I know He'll be with me and help me shine every day." –Bethany Den Boer How About You? Have you recently decided to trust in Jesus? Do you wonder what you're supposed to do now? Now that your sins are forgiven and you belong to Jesus, He will make His light inside you grow. As you grow in your relationship with Him, He will help you follow Him in all you do, and others will be able to see His light shining in your life. Today's Key Verse: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 ) Today's Key Thought: Keep growing in your faith

Bible Reading: Romans 12:6-8 "I heard the kids' choir at church is holding auditions next week," Mom said as Milo set the table for dinner. "Why don't you try out? I know how much you love to sing, and they could sure use you." Milo shrugged. "I'm sure those kids are way better than me, so why bother? I'll just stick to singing in the shower." "I found out more about badgers!" Anna announced when they sat down to dinner. "Have you ever heard of a honey badger?" "No, but I'm guessing it's called a honey badger because it likes honey," said Milo. "Right!" said Anna. "The honey badger has a bird friend called a honeyguide. When the honeyguide finds a beehive full of honey, it leads the way to it. Then the honey badger uses its claws to break open the hive and eat the honey." "Does the honeyguide get some of the honey too?" asked Milo. Anna shook her head. "Well, that doesn't seem fair!" said Milo. "The honey badger should share the honey." "But the honeyguide doesn't want the honey," said Anna. "It wants the beeswax and the bees' eggs and larvae in the honeycomb, and that's what the honey badger leaves behind." "Interesting," said Dad. "So each one helps the other, and by helping each other they both benefit." "You know, we're supposed to do the same thing as Christians," said Mom. "Just like the bird is able to locate honey and the honey badger has claws to open the hive, God has blessed us with different talents and abilities. He wants us to use them to help others and point them to Jesus. When we keep our gifts to ourselves instead of sharing them with others, everyone misses out--both us and the people who would have benefited from them." Milo sighed. "You're talking about me trying out for the kids' choir, aren't you?" He put down his fork. "Okay, maybe I'll give it a try--I wouldn't want to keep a gift God gave me all to myself when I could use it to help others. I might make new friends and learn more about music too. That sounds better than just singing in the shower!" –Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? What special talents, skills, or abilities has God given you? Are you using them to help others and point them to Jesus--or are you keeping them all to yourself? God gave you those gifts so you could use them to bless others--and they have gifts that you'll benefit from too! Share your gifts so they can help others and bring glory to God. Today's Key Verse: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. (NIV) (1 Peter 4:10) Today's Key Thought: Use your gifts to help others

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-18 "What are you reading about?" asked Anna as she peered over her brother's shoulder to see what was on his computer screen. "Oh, look at that little animal! He's so cute!" "Stop saying everything is cute!" said Milo. "That's a badger, and badgers are interesting, not cute!" Anna sniffed. "Well, I think that badger is cute. What do you find so interesting about it?" "Well, this article says that when badgers make their homes underground, they dig dens that are interconnected by a whole maze of burrows and passages. I think that's pretty cool!" "That is cool," said Anna. "That means they can visit each other without having to go above ground." Milo nodded. "And it says badgers are nocturnal animals, which means--" "I know what it means," said Anna. "It means they're awake at night and sleep during the day." "Right. And listen to this. 'If a badger is away from home at daybreak, he may stay and rest with another badger family for a while before heading back to his own den.' They must be hospitable animals." "Hospitable? What does that mean?" asked Anna. "You know--making guests feel comfortable and at home," said Milo. "Oh! Like how we took care of the missionaries who stayed with us last month." Anna laughed. "Maybe the traveling badgers are missionary badgers!" "Listen to this," said Milo. "Badgers sometimes even allow a fox to stay in their den!" "Hmm," said Anna. "I can't think of anything to compare that to!" "I can," said Milo. "It might be like inviting someone you don't know very well to come over and play--like those new kids who just moved in down the street." Milo glanced out the window thoughtfully. "In my class at church, we talked about how being kind and welcoming to others shows them Jesus's love. He welcomed us into His family when we were outsiders, and He wants us to welcome others and help them feel at home. We even learned a verse that says to practice hospitality." "Let's ask Mom if we can invite the new kids over," said Anna. She grinned and pointed toward the TV room. "I'm sure we can make them feel at home in our den!" –Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Are you hospitable? Do you make others feel welcome--whether they're your friends or someone you don't know well? The Bible tells Christians to be hospitable and welcoming to others--even those we don't know--because Jesus welcomed us when we didn't know Him. Share His love with others by making everyone feel welcome at your home, school, church, or wherever you are. Today's Key Verse: Always be eager to practice hospitality. (NLT) (Romans 12:13) Today's Key Thought: Practice hospitality

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:13-21; Ephesians 2:1-7 When Emma came into the living room, tears were falling from Mom's eyes onto her lap. Dad sat next to her with a hand on her shoulder. "It's Grandma," he told Emma. "She died in the hospital this morning." Emma stared out the window. With Grandma gone, who'd come visit every month? Who'd cook her favorite foods, or go on bike rides and picnics with her? A few days later Mom, Dad, and Emma made the long drive to the funeral. Emma tried to listen during the service. The pastor said, "Ephesians 2:6-7 tells us that God raises us up with Jesus--He gives us spiritual life as well as the promise of physical resurrection when He comes again--so that we will forever show 'the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.'" After the service Mom didn't seem as sad while she visited with her sisters. Emma felt like something was missing, and her heart ached. On their drive home, they stopped at a restaurant. Emma saw something strange on the menu. She asked, "What do they mean by 'bottomless cup of coffee?' That sounds messy." Dad laughed a little, and even Mom smiled. "That means they'll keep filling your cup as long as you want more coffee," Dad explained. Mom added, "It's like when Jesus fed the five thousand. He fed people until they were full. Then He gave even more. There's no end to how much He gives us and does for us." Dad said, "It's that way for your grandma now. God will spend all eternity showing kindness to her in heaven." "But what about us, Dad? I don't feel full. I feel kind of empty." "We lost a great treasure in Grandma, and that can make us feel poor instead of rich. But God will never run out of mercy and kindness. He's rich in both of those--and generous." Mom nodded. "God gave us the greatest treasure of all when He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save us so we could be with Him now and forever. Jesus promises to be with us when we feel sad and give us comfort and peace." Emma smiled. "It's like a bottomless cup of His love." –Laura Roesler How About You? Do you miss someone who was dear to you? The word dear means valuable, such as treasure or riches. When you lose someone, it can make you feel poor instead of rich. But God is rich in mercy. He knows how to care for those who are dear to us, and He knows how to comfort us whenever we miss them. Trust Him to show you the riches of His kindness and mercy as you grieve. Today's Key Verse: The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (NKJV) (Romans 10:12) Today's Key Thought: God's mercy and kindness are endless

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:26; Luke 6:45; James 3:7-10 "Mom," said Noah, "Rexy had an accident on the welcome mat again." Mom made her way to the front door and rubbed her forehead. "I don't know what to do with that dog. He chews up everything in the house. He barks at the garbage truck. He digs under the fence. He's out of control. I don't think anyone can tame that tiny Chihuahua. Would one of you boys please take Rexy for a walk?" "It's Noah's turn." Micah tossed the leash to his brother. "My turn? I just gave him a bath last night!" "That wasn't a bath. You just sprayed some of Dad's cologne on him!" "Well, you should use some of that cologne because you smell worse than the dog!" Mom sighed. "Don't you boys ever get tired of arguing? I think Rexy acts so crazy because he's watching how you two act." "Oh, come on, Mom. We don't bark at the mailman," Noah said. "Yeah," said Micah, "and it's not like we punch each other or anything." "You punch each other with words. The way you talk to each other is just as out of control as Rexy. The Bible says people are able to tame all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue." "So if the Bible is saying we have a better chance of taming Rexy than controlling what we say, why even try?" asked Noah. "Because taming our tongues is important," said Mom. "They may be small things, but they can cause huge destruction." Micah laughed. "That sounds a lot like Rexy!" "The Bible also says that the words we speak come from our hearts," Mom continued. "If we need to change our words, it means our hearts need to change. And we can't change them ourselves." Noah thought about that. "You mean Jesus has to help us, right?" "Right," said Mom. "Only He can change your heart and help you love others the way He does. Taming the tongue is only possible with Him." Mom walked over to the puddle on the welcome mat and sighed. "At this point, I think God's the only one who can change Rexy as well." Micah smiled. "Well, the Bible does say that with God, all things are pawsible!" –Jared Hottenstein How About You? Have you ever been hurt by someone's words? Have you ever hurt someone by what you said to them? Words are powerful things, and it's important to use them to build others up, not tear them down. The next time you want to say something hurtful, remember how much Jesus loves that person. Then trust Him to change your heart and help you love them too. Today's Key Verse: Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (NIV) (James 3:10) Today's Key Thought: Jesus changes hearts

Bible Reading: Psalm 89:8, 11-13 Journey and Elise ran to the garage where their dad was working. "Mom says we're going to have a picnic at the park!" said Journey. "Can we go soon?" "We want to have time to play on the swings before we eat!" added Elise. "Okay," said Dad. "But before we go, I need to wash the car." "Why bother?" asked Elise. "It's old." "You're right. It is old," Dad replied. "But it's the only car we have--and God calls us to take care of everything we've been given. You can help. Then it will get done quicker." The girls reluctantly got busy. Journey mixed soap into a bucket of water while Elise got out sponges and Dad pulled out the hose. They washed and polished the car until it shone brightly. "There!" Dad said. "It looks almost as good as new." Soon they were on their way. At the park, Dad pushed Journey and Elise on the swings, and the girls also had fun on the slides and other playground equipment. Then Mom called for them to come and eat. "It's so beautiful here," Mom said as they ate. "The trees and sky and flowers are so pretty." When they had finished eating, Journey and Elise carried the trash to a garbage can. "Thanks, girls," Dad said when they got back. "Though I see some of the stuff fell on the ground when you were walking over and you left it. That's no way to treat this old planet! Go back and pick it up." "Old planet?" asked Journey. Dad nodded. "Just like our old car, this old planet is the only one we have to live on, and God wants us to take good care of it. This may be an old planet, but it's also a wonderful, amazing, beautiful planet--and Jesus promises to make it new again one day when He comes back to get rid of sin forever and restore all creation to the way He intended it to be. Until then, we need to be good stewards and take care of the planet He created for us." "Okay, Dad," Elise said, and the girls hurried back to pick up their trash. –Daryl B. Knauer How About You? Do you do all you can to take care of this old planet? God gave you this beautiful world to be your earthly home, and He wants you to do your part in keeping it that way. Caring for things in nature, recycling, and putting trash in garbage cans are all ways you can help take care of the earth. Think of some other simple things you can do to help keep God's creation clean and beautiful. Today's Key Verse: The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (NIV) (Psalm 24:1) Today's Key Thought: Take care of God's earth

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-26 "Just do it," coaxed Henry. "She'll never know it was you." Henry was trying to get his classmate Niam to put a whoopee cushion on their teacher's chair. "Come on, it will be hilarious!" "Okay," said Niam. But when Mrs. Mills sat down and her face turned red, it didn't seem so funny after all. Later that day, Henry talked some classmates into putting petroleum jelly on all the door knobs in the classroom. But when Mrs. Mills couldn't open the door for recess, she frowned and announced they would be staying inside. At the end of the day, Henry was instructed to go to the principal's office instead of the bus line. When he arrived, both of his parents were there. They didn't look happy. No one spoke on the drive home. When they pulled into the driveway, Dad turned off the engine and told Henry to go get a can of white paint. Henry didn't know what Dad was up to, but he did as he was told. "Let's open this up and see how much we have," said Dad. They pried off the rusty lid and peered inside. It looked okay. "We have to stir it," said Dad. "It's been sitting a while." As Henry stirred vigorously, chunks of old, rubbery paint and rust began dotting the surface. The harder he stirred, the worse it got. "All this stirring is making it worse!" Henry exclaimed. "When you stir old paint, it loosens all the impurities in the can," Dad explained. "Kind of like how you've been stirring things up at school." Henry stopped stirring the paint and sighed. "I was just trying to have some fun." "Yes, but at the expense of others. When you ask your classmates to do things that embarrass or hurt others, you're encouraging them to sin. The Bible tells us to stir up love and good works, but you can't do that by only thinking of yourself--just like you can't stir up good paint from this old can. You need to depend on Jesus to help you stir up love and encourage others to do good things instead." "I guess you're right." Henry took the stirring stick out of the can. "I'll be more careful about what I stir up." –Laura Kuehn How About You? Do you like to stir things up? There's nothing wrong with having fun, but it can't be at the cost of upsetting a friend or teacher or getting other people in trouble. If you're someone who can talk others into doing things, use that gift for good! Encourage those around you to honor God and others through love and good deeds. Today's Key Verse: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. (NKJV) (Hebrews 10:24) Today's Key Thought: Encourage others to do good

Bible Reading: Psalms 3:1-6; 42:8; 63:6 Lara ran so hard it hurt. She glanced over her shoulder. The lion was still chasing her and getting closer. Suddenly, she tripped and fell flat on her face! A huge roar echoed, and she could almost feel the lion's hot breath on her neck. She screamed--then woke up in her own bed. All the covers were kicked off, and her forehead was sweaty. Lara lay still, trying to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lion chasing her. Finally, she got out of bed and tiptoed to her mom's room. "Mom," she whispered, "I had another nightmare, and I'm afraid to go to sleep." Mom got up, and together they went back to Lara's room. "I know the dream wasn't real, Mom, but it was so scary!" Lara said after Mom tucked her back in bed. "How can I get it out of my mind?" Mom switched on the lamp and got Lara's Bible out of a drawer. "God's Word can help with your nightmares," she said as she turned the pages. "The book of Psalms is a good place to find verses of comfort when we feel afraid. Let's read Psalm 118:6. Here, read it out loud for me." Taking the Bible, Lara read, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" She gave her mother a little smile. "The last part could say, 'What can mere nightmares do to me?' Is it okay to read it like that?" Mom nodded. "That will remind you that your nightmares can't hurt you, and that Jesus is always there to comfort you." Lara put a bookmark between the pages to save the place. "I'll read this whenever I have a nightmare. Then I won't have to get up and find you." "Great idea," said Mom, returning the Bible to the drawer. "It's short, and you could even memorize it. That way you can repeat it to yourself whenever something scares you." She smiled. "But you can still come and get me if you feel afraid." After Mom kissed her goodnight, Lara snuggled down deep into the covers and whispered, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid." –Faith Alessio How About You? Do you have nightmares or find it hard to go to sleep? Remember that if you know Jesus as your Savior, He is with you all the time. Like King David in today's Bible reading, you can meditate--or think--about God when you're awake at night. If you think about the presence and power of God, your fears will look much smaller. You can have peace knowing He is with you. Today's Key Verse: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV) (Psalm 4:8) Today's Key Thought: God is with you