Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: 1 John 1:5-10 "Your mom's calling you for lunch?" Josie asked in surprise as she talked on the phone with her cousin Olive. "You mean you haven't eaten lunch yet? It's almost two in the afternoon! We ate a long time ago." "Well, it's only noon here in Colorado, remember?" Olive replied. "We're in different time zones." "Oh, that's right!" said Josie. "Well, I'd better go anyway--have a nice lunch." The girls said goodbye, and Josie hung up. Then she wandered out to the backyard where her dad was working. "Josie, I need you to walk down to Tess's house and pick up your sister," Dad said as he poured fertilizer out of a bag. "It's time for her to come home, and I'm busy with this." "Why can't she just walk home?" asked Josie. "She's too young to walk that far by herself," said Dad. "I'm covered in fertilizer, so I need you to go get her." "No, I don't want to!" said Josie. "I'm sick of always doing everything for her. She's so annoying!" Josie turned and hurried toward the house. When Josie found herself sitting alone in her room a few minutes later, she wished she had obeyed her father, but it was too late now. She knew she deserved to be punished. When Dad came to Josie's room, she looked up sadly. "I wish we were in Colorado," she said. "It's two hours earlier there--just a little after twelve o'clock instead of two o'clock--so the time I got into trouble hasn't happened there yet. When it got to be two o'clock, I would obey you instead of talking back. I wish I hadn't done that." "Things that have happened can't be made to unhappen," Dad said. "We can't go back in time--and even if we could, we'd still sin and make mistakes. But we can be forgiven for the wrong we've done. You don't need to move to another time zone for that. When you confess your sin to Jesus, He'll forgive you--and I will too." Josie jumped up. "I'm sorry, Dad!" she said. "I really am!" Dad smiled. "Good," he said as Josie gave him a hug. "Then you can go get your sister so I can finish with the fertilizer." Josie sighed. "Okay, Dad," she said. "I will." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Have you ever wished you could go back and undo something you've done? You can't do that, but because Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, you can be forgiven. If what you did hurt other people, do your best to make things right with them. Let them know you're sorry, and accept the consequences of your sin. Most importantly, confess your sin to Jesus. He will forgive you and give you a clean start. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) (1 John 1:9) Today's Key Thought: God forgives

Bible Reading: Genesis 50:20; Psalm 66:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-9 "Wow, look at all the flowers!" Kayla stared in awe at the field of flowers. Her family was hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park. To their left was a stunning lake surrounded by mountains and to their right was a forest filled with beautiful pinkish-purple flowers. The trees were all blackened and bare, so the true beauty came from the flowers and the backdrop of mountains. "These flowers are called fireweed," Mom said. "They're called that because they grow after a fire." "Is that why all the trees are burnt?" Kayla asked. "Because of a fire?" "Yes," Dad replied. "Several years ago there was a huge wildfire here. It burned all the trees and plants. Until the rest of the plants grow back, all that's here is the fireweed. The roots of fireweed can survive extremely hot temperatures, so it is one of the first plants to sprout up. The fire can even help it grow." "It's so beautiful how these flowers can grow even after the devastation of a fire," Kayla said. "I think it's a beautiful example of how God works to bring good things out of bad things," Mom said thoughtfully. "Sometimes He allows bad things to happen in our lives so He can use them for good." "Yeah, the fire must've been terrible, but God was nourishing little roots of beauty even then," Kayla said. Mom nodded. "That's so true. Sometimes we can see how God is working in our lives, but often we won't see it right away. When this wildfire was raging through the park, I'm sure people worried that a lot of the park's natural beauty would be destroyed. But after the wildfire died down, these wildflowers sprouted up! And the park is still beautiful, even though there's not as many trees as before. In the same way, God can use our hard times to help us grow in our faith, which is a beautiful thing." "That also reminds me of Jesus's sacrifice," Dad said. "It must've seemed like a terrible thing to Jesus's disciples for Him to be crucified. But God planned it for good--it was the only way we could be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him." Kayla smiled. "I'm so thankful God causes beauty to flourish even after hard times." –Elizabeth Cooper How About You? Do you have a hard time seeing beauty in your life when things are hard? Sometimes it can take a while to see God bring good things out of bad things, and sometimes we won't see how God was working in our lives until we get to heaven. But because of Jesus's sacrifice, we have the hope of an eternal future with God and can trust Him to use even bad things that happen in our lives for good. Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (CSB) (Romans 8:28) Today's Key Thought: God brings good things out of bad things

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14 Hudson was working on his electric train set when Dad joined him in the basement. "How's the train project coming along?" he asked. "Good!" said Hudson. "It's almost ready to run." "All right!" said Dad. "And how was school today?" Hudson frowned. "I got in trouble for coming in late from recess again, and Miss Cooley gave me extra math homework because I didn't do the homework she assigned yesterday." He sighed. "Everyone's always on my case--I wish I could just do whatever I wanted, like you and Mom." "Hmm," said Dad. "Well, Hudson, let's see how your train runs." He reached over and pressed the start button, and the train began moving. "Wait! What are you doing? I don't have all the tracks down yet!" exclaimed Hudson. "It's gonna crash!" As he spoke, the train rounded the turn and rolled off the track, falling on its side. Hudson sighed. "I knew that would happen." "So the train needs the tracks," said Dad. "Otherwise it doesn't get where it's supposed to go, right?" Hudson nodded. "Yeah." "Well, God's path for your life is like those tracks," said Dad. "He sent Jesus to die for you so you could have a relationship with Him for all eternity, and He is patiently building your character and shaping you to be more like Jesus so others can see His love in you. He does that for each one of His children, but when we insist on doing things our own way and disobey the people He puts in our lives to help us learn, we get off track. When that happens, we need to ask Him to forgive us and set us right again." Dad picked up the train and set it back on the track. "It may seem like Mom and I can do whatever we want because we're adults, but that's not true. We're just farther down our life track than you are and have already learned many of the things God is still teaching you--like responsibility. But we still need His guidance and forgiveness just as much as you do." "Okay, Dad," Hudson said as he put another piece of the track in place. "I'll trust God to help me stay on track." –Michael R. Chapman How About You? Do you get tired of people telling you what to do? Do you ever wish you could do whatever you wanted? Remember that God has placed people in your life to teach you what He wants you to learn. As you get older, you'll have more freedom in making choices, but you'll have more responsibilities too. That's why you need to depend on God to help you stay on track. Trust Him to lead you along life's path in the way He wants you to go. Today's Key Verse: That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (NKJV) (Colossians 1:10) Today's Key Thought: Trust God's path for your life

Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34 "Get in there!" said Finley, shoving her beach blanket into her suitcase. "Are you still packing?" asked her older brother, Ian. "We're leaving in ten minutes! Here, let me help you." He jumped on the lid of the suitcase, holding it in place while Finley moved the zipper around the edges. Dad appeared at the door. "I'll take your suitcase to the car," he said, picking it up. "Wow! Why is it so heavy?" "Because she's taking half the things in her room!" said Ian. "Well, they're important," Finley said. "I need my hat, my beach blanket, and three swimsuits in case I can't decide which one to wear. I need my sailboat to play with in the ocean, and I can't build sand castles without my pail and shovel. If it rains, I'll have my raincoat, my boots, and my umbrella. I also packed a puzzle, some games, and bedtime books. And my teddy bear in case I can't fall asleep." "I think you should leave some things behind," said Dad. "But what if I need something and don't have it?" "Finley, I think something else might be weighing your suitcase down," said Dad. "Just like you packed too many things in your suitcase, you can also pack too many worries in your head--and they can make life very heavy." "I thought I was just planning ahead for a good vacation," said Finley. "It's good to be prepared, but there's a difference between planning ahead and trying to control anything that could happen. That's what worrying really is--being afraid of something you can't control. If you unpack your worries, your suitcase will probably be lighter too." "But how do I unpack my worries?" asked Finley. "By surrendering them to Jesus. He loves you so much He died for you, and He promises to take care of you. Instead of worrying about what might happen, you can have peace knowing He's in control. Let Him carry the weight of your worries." Dad unzipped Finley's suitcase. "Why don't we take a moment to pray about some of your worries now? Then we can lighten up that suitcase and start our vacation!" –Elena Dee How About You? Do you feel heavy with worry? Are you afraid of things in your life you can't control? Worries can weigh you down like a heavy suitcase, but it doesn't have to be that way. Jesus wants to carry your worries for you. He died and rose again to save you, and He promises to provide you with everything you need. Pray about what's worrying you, and trust Him to take care of you and give you peace. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. (ERV) (1 Peter 5:7) Today's Key Thought: Give your worries to Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalms 8; 104:24-28 Carson loved visiting the aquarium. There was so much to see there, and he not only liked seeing the bigger fish but also the smaller ones and the other creatures that lived in the ocean. He could spend hours watching the tanks and all the different creatures that lived in them. "Having fun?" Carson's uncle Brett asked. Carson's younger cousins were running back and forth, shouting out the names of everything they saw, but Carson had chosen to stand and quietly observe the tank in front of him. Carson nodded. "This is awesome." "It is. Just think about God's creativity with all of this," Uncle Brett said. "He could have made all the fish look alike, but instead they are different colors, shapes, and sizes." "Yet they all live together in the ocean." Carson shook his head. "It's amazing." They continued on in the aquarium for a while before taking a break for lunch. Carson was disappointed to leave. "There's just so much to see. I want to make sure we get to all of it," he said with a sigh as he followed his family away from the tanks. "We'll see more of it after lunch," Uncle Brett said. "And since you're so interested, maybe we'll have to come back again. Or better yet, maybe you and I could go snorkeling one day." Carson's eyes widened. "Really?" Uncle Brett nodded. "I always love seeing more of God's creation. The ocean is filled with even more amazing creatures than we can find here." "That would be so cool," Carson said. Uncle Brett nudged his shoulder. "The ocean and all that's in it is pretty amazing, but one of God's most special creations is right here." "Huh?" Carson glanced at him. "You!" Uncle Brett said. "God created you and your cousins and me and all people with just as much care as He did all the creatures in the ocean. But He made us in His own image, and when we were separated from Him because of sin, Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. I think that makes us pretty special, don't you?" "Yeah." Carson smiled. "But I'd still love to go snorkeling in the ocean." –Bethany Acker How About You? When you look at the ocean and all the creatures that live in it, does it amaze you? How does it feel to know God made all that and that He made you too? People are God's most special creation, and He loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us so we could live with Him forever. When you look at God's amazing creation, remember how special you are to Him. Today's Key Verse: There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number--living things both large and small. (NIV) (Psalm 104:25) Today's Key Thought: God created the oceans and you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11; Jeremiah 18:6 Tiago held a headless clay animal in his hand. "Mom!" he wailed. "I forgot to put my animal back in the container, and the clay got all hard and dry before I could finish, so now it doesn't have a head!" "I'm sorry, Tiago," said Mom. "But it's too late to do anything about it now. It's time for bed." "But my animal project is due tomorrow, and now all this work was for nothing!" Tiago groaned as he dropped the animal onto his dresser and crawled into bed. Mom glanced at the Bible on Tiago's dresser. "Aren't you going to read a few verses before you go to sleep?" she asked. "I thought you did that every night." Tiago shrugged. "I've been busy lately, and I don't understand it very well anyway." He pulled the covers up to his chin. "I think it'd be better to wait until I'm older so I can understand it." Mom picked up the animal Tiago had made. "Did you know that we're a lot like clay?" "We are?" asked Tiago. Mom nodded. "The Bible compares us to clay that God shapes. When you shaped this, it took time, didn't it? You kept working with it until it looked good. God does that with us. One way He does that is through His Word--the Bible. Even though you don't understand everything, it helps you learn more about Jesus and what He did to save you. As you read and listen to God's truth in the Bible, He works in your heart and helps you learn to trust and obey Him so He can shape your life into something beautiful." Tiago looked at the hardened clay his mom was holding. "He'll probably do a better job shaping me than I did with that animal, huh?" "Yes," said Mom. "You can trust Him to shape you to be more like Jesus--and reading your Bible will help you understand more about what that looks like." Mom set down the animal and picked up Tiago's Bible. "So do you want to read a few verses now? You can let me know if you need help understanding them." "Okay," said Tiago. "But don't go far away. I'll probably need help!" –A.J. Schut How About You? Does the Bible seem too hard for you to understand? Even though you don't understand everything, it helps you learn more about who God is and what He's done for you. So spend time reading it each day, and ask other Christians--like parents, teachers, or pastors--to explain some of the things you find difficult. God will use it to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Today's Key Verse: My word…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire. (NKJV) (Isaiah 55:11) Today's Key Thought: God shapes you through His Word

Bible Reading: Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Trey was excited because today Grandma was finally going to teach him how to make her famous molasses bread. As Dad dropped him off and waved goodbye, Trey could already taste the rich, fluffy bread and the salty crunch of toasted oats on top. Grandma welcomed Trey with a hug and led him into the kitchen. They used sign language to communicate because Trey was deaf. Grandma signed "flour," "molasses," "yeast," and "spoon." Trey scurried around the kitchen to find the ingredients while Grandma started mixing. As they added more and more ingredients, a dark and gooey dough formed. Grandma placed a towel over the dough bowl before gently setting it in a sunny part of the kitchen. "Why doesn't the dough look like bread yet?" Trey signed. Grandma smiled. "The dough must rise before it goes in the oven." That made sense to Trey. After an hour and a half, they checked the dough. It was double the size and very poofy. Grandma punched down the dough before laying it on the pan and putting it in the oven. Trey frowned. The dough still didn't look like bread. It didn't look tasty at all. Did Grandma forget something? He asked her this, and she replied, "Just you wait and see." When Grandma took the tray out of the oven, Trey was nervous. But the bread looked perfect, smelled perfect, and tasted even better than perfect. As they ate, Grandma said, "You know, making bread reminds me of what it's like to become God's new creation." Trey shrugged, confused. Grandma continued. "Before we put our trust in Jesus, we are like raw, scattered ingredients--we don't have a purpose. We are controlled by our wrong desires and deserve death because of our sin. But Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead so we could have new life and live with Him forever. Jesus gives us a purpose--to love Him and others and become more like Him. Just like the dough needs the oven to become bread, we need Jesus to be saved from sin and be made new." Trey nodded eagerly and took Grandma's hand to pray. Somehow this seemed even better than Grandma's famous molasses bread. –Hannah Chung How About You? Have you ever baked something and wondered, "How do these random ingredients make something so delicious?" Without the oven, the dough would be raw and inedible. Similarly, we can only have true life by trusting in Jesus. When you trust Him to save you, God immediately makes you new! Trust in Jesus today and experience a new life of purpose. (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: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 5:17) Today's Key Thought: Christ alone makes us new

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 4:12–14 Alisha ran inside the house. "There's a butterfly outside!" she exclaimed. "I got a picture on my phone. Do you want to see it?" she asked Devin, her older sister. "Sure." Devin inspected the photo. "That butterfly is beautiful," she said as she cut into a mango. Alisha frowned as juice hit her phone. "That mango juice is getting everywhere." Devin shrugged as a piece of mango flew across the kitchen. "I'm trying to keep it from splashing all over the place, but mangos are messy." Alisha sat down at the counter and watched her sister. "Why eat mangos then? If they're messy, you could just not buy them." Devin popped a piece of mango into her mouth. "Because they taste really good, and I think it's worth it." She gave Alisha a smile. "It's kind of like your school problem." Alisha blinked. "Your mango is like people being mean to me at school because I believe in Jesus?" she asked doubtfully. "Kind of. Being a follower of Jesus can be messy. The Bible even tells us that--it says others might make fun of us or try to make life harder for us, like the kids at school who are mean to you. But you haven't stopped trusting in Jesus, have you?" Alisha looked shocked. "Why would I do that? He died for my sins so He could be with me all the time, and someday I'll be able to spend forever in heaven with Him." Devin smiled. "See? Knowing Jesus is worth it. Just like the mangos." She cut into a second mango. Alisha ducked so no juice would hit her. "I don't care how messy following Jesus is! Just like you don't care how messy your mango is." She thought about that for a moment. "I guess that makes sense. Kids at school make fun of me, but I know that Jesus loves me and died to save me, and that's worth whatever mean stuff people say." Alisha shrieked as a piece of mango hit her arm. "But those mangos are not worth it at all. I'm getting out of here!" –Kimberly Brokish How About You? Has anyone ever been mean to you because you believe in Jesus?* Maybe they've called you names or said Jesus isn't real. The Bible tells us that being Christians doesn't protect us from all hardships--in fact, sometimes we will experience difficulties because we follow Jesus. But the Bible does tell us that Jesus will always love us and be with us. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus will be with you no matter what happens. He is worth any difficulties that come with following Him. *If someone is being mean to you, talk to a trusted adult so they can help. Today's Key Verse: That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 12:10) Today's Key Thought: Hardships come when we follow Christ

Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-9 The sick feeling in Micah's stomach got worse as the plane lifted off the ground and lurched into the air. Everything below him was the size of ants. Not only did he feel sick to his stomach, his chest felt tight too. Dad sat next to him and tried to smile encouragingly. It didn't help. Since his parents' divorce he'd had to spend most of his time with Mom and went to visit Dad in the summer and over Christmas. Every time he left Mom, Micah felt scared. He wasn't afraid of his dad--he loved him--just scared of change. Of traveling to new places. Airports. Big cities. The sadness he felt from his parent's divorce was bad enough, but the fear that came with it made him feel like his life was out of control. The plane leveled off, and Micah began to breathe a little easier. Dad reached over and gave him a hug. "Change is hard, isn't it? New things and places can be uncomfortable. But I know something that might help you." Dad pulled out his Bible. "This morning I read about Joshua leading the children of Israel into their new land. There were bad guys to fight, he'd never led anyone into battle before, and change was all around him. But God was with him and brought him through it all." Dad squeezed Micah's arm. "I know your mom's and my divorce has been very difficult for you and how many changes you've had to go through. But I also know that because you trust in Jesus, God is with you and will never leave you. Wherever you go, He goes. God was with Joshua just like He promised, and He promises to be with you too. You don't have to be afraid." After Micah listened to Dad read some verses from his Bible, he thought about it for a while. He liked the idea of never being alone. Someone would always be with him when new things happened or new people came into his life. And not just anyone, but someone who loved and cared about him. A trusted Friend--Jesus. Micah relaxed back into his seat and smiled. "You know, Dad, I think this is gonna be our best visit ever!" –S.K. Fry How About You? Have you ever been afraid of change? Of being alone? God promises in His Word that He will always be with His children. Jesus gave His life to save you from sin and make you God's child, and He will be with you in hard times and give you strength and guidance. No matter what happens or where you go, He will always be with you. Today's Key Verse: Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV) (Joshua 1:9) Today's Key Thought: God is with you

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:6-10; Luke 11:37-41 "Mom, can we go home now? I'm sooo bored!" Stella slumped against the seat of the car. "Stella, we're almost done--kids, look! A whole block sale!" Mom pulled the car over to the side of the road. Hayden excitedly pressed his nose against the window. "I love yard sailing!" The family got out of the car. Hayden ran straight to a model airplane. Stella stuck close to her mom as they looked at different mugs. Mom picked up one with a lid just as Hayden came running back. He and Stella both saw it at the same time, and the siblings gasped in unison. "That is the prettiest mug I've ever seen!" Stella exclaimed. "Mom, you have to get it!" Hayden said. "All right, fine." Mom laughed and brought the mug to the cashier. When the family arrived home, Stella asked, "Mom, can I please have the mug?" Mom smiled. "No, but if you clean it, you can be the first to drink out of it!" Stella's eyes sparkled. "Deal!" She ran excitedly to the sink. She opened the lid of the mug and immediately shut it. "Eww, it's all gross on the inside!" Mom came over and peered at the mug. "Kids, this is a perfect example of what I read during my devotions today! In the book of Matthew, Jesus told the Pharisees to first clean the inside of the cup, and then the outside will also be clean. What do you think that verse actually means?" Stella wrinkled her nose in thought. "Oh, I know! God wants what we look like on the inside to matter more to us than our outward appearance." Hayden's eyes widened. "God wants us to clean our insides?" Stella smirked. "No, silly. God sees our hearts, and that's what matters to Him." "Oh, I get it now!" said Hayden. "We need to let Jesus make us clean." "You got it," said Mom. "When we trust Jesus as our Savior, He cleans our sin away and pours His love into our hearts. Then our outward actions will make His love visible to others." She smiled. "Now, who wants some hot chocolate to go in that mug?" –Summer Coleman How About You? Are you more concerned with your outward appearance and how others see you than with God and how He sees your heart? What's on the inside matters more because when we truly have a clean heart, it shows in the way we act and speak. How do you get a clean heart? By trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) When you have His love in your heart, others will see it in how you treat them. Today's Key Verse: First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean. (NKJV) (Matthew 23:26) Today's Key Thought: What's inside is most important

Bible Reading: Psalm 42:1-4 "It's still raining," said Hayley. "Isn't the sun ever going to shine again?" "We need rain to make the garden grow," said Mom. She smiled at her daughter. "This might be a good time for you to pray and read your Bible. You haven't done that yet today, have you?" "No--but I have some other things I want to do first." Hayley quickly headed for the stairs. "Seems like all we do in this family is go to church and read the Bible and pray," she mumbled to herself. She blushed when she saw Mom glance her way. Oops! I hope Mom didn't hear that, she thought. A little while later, Hayley came back downstairs and glanced out the window. "Good!" she said. "The rain stopped. We've had enough." "Come with me to the garden," said Mom. "I want to show you something." Outside, Mom plunged a shovel into the dirt and turned it over. The ground was quite wet on top, but a little way down, the dirt was dry. "I thought it'd be muddy a mile below the surface!" said Hayley. "I guess we do need more rain." Mom nodded. "The ground needs a lot of regular rain or it will dry out," she said. "It reminds me of us--if we don't regularly pray, read the Bible, and go to church, we can dry out spiritually." Hayley sighed. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you?" "Yes, I did," said Mom. "And I know it can be hard to do those things sometimes, but the Bible compares our need for Jesus to thirst. Even after we've put our faith in Him, we still need to spend time with Him so He can remind us that He has saved us and help us feel His love and presence in our lives. If we don't pray, read His Word, and worship Him with other Christians regularly, we can lose sight of how much we need Him and become spiritually dry--just like this ground without rain." Hayley was silent as they headed back to the house. "I think I'll go have my quiet time now," she said once they were inside. "I'm feeling thirsty for God's Word." –Cindy Huff How About You? Are you eager to spend time with Jesus and get to know Him better? As a Christian, your soul thirsts for Jesus, and that thirst can only be quenched by spending time in His presence so He can remind you of His love and that you are His. Don't be a dry Christian. Spend quality time reading God's Word, talking to Jesus, and learning all you can about Him. Today's Key Verse: I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. (NLT) (Psalm 143:6) Today's Key Thought: Don't be a dry Christian

Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 14:22-32 Mara climbed up onto the beam Dad had built for her. She was determined to make the school gymnastics team, but after taking a few steps, she wobbled and nearly slipped off. "Focus your eyes on that picture you put up," Mom said. While staring at the picture on the wall across the room, Mara slowly lifted her foot. But when she glanced back at her mother, she tilted to the left and then swayed to the right. She tried to regain her balance, but had to hop down to keep from toppling off the beam. She climbed back up. "I'm gonna get this," she said. "I just have to focus." After dinner that evening, Dad opened his Bible and handed it to Mara. "Why don't you read a few verses from Proverbs for us?" "Okay." Mara took the Bible and began to read. When she finished, she looked up. "Proverbs 4:25 sounds like good advice for gymnastics. I need to look straight ahead and keep my eyes from wandering. Every time I lose my focus, I lose my balance." Mom nodded. "I have trouble with that too." "You do?" Mara grinned. "Do you get up on the beam and practice when I'm not around?" Mom laughed. "No, but I have trouble in another area. As Christians, we need to keep our focus on Jesus so we don't get distracted by things in this world and lose our balance in life." Mara thought about that. "When I practice for gymnastics, I stare at that picture on the wall. But how do we focus on Jesus?" "Good question," said Dad. "The passage you just read listed some ways to do that. Do you remember what it said we should do?" "I know!" said Mara's little brother. "It said we should pay attention to what God says." "And keep it in our hearts and not let it out of our sight," added Mara. Dad nodded. "Right. That means putting our faith in Jesus and looking to His Word for guidance in our lives. It also means confessing our sins to Jesus and trusting Him for the power to obey Him and show His love to others. Focusing our lives on Him will keep us in perfect balance." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Do you focus on Jesus as you go about each day? Do you remember all He's done for you and the love and forgiveness you have in Him? Do you trust Him to help you turn from sin and treat others with kindness? There are lots of things that need our daily attention, but don't let them draw you away from what's really important. Stay focused on Jesus and depend on Him to help you in every area of life. Today's Key Verse: Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (NIV) (Proverbs 4:25) Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 104:16-24 Dad rowed the boat to the edge of some lily pads. It was the best place in the lake to catch fish. As Alex sat in the boat with his father, he watched his red and white bobber closely and waited for it to go down, signaling a fish had taken the bait. The calm water reflected the sky and trees along the shore. Birds were singing, and a frog hopped off a lily pad and splashed into the lake. The bobber wiggled as the ripples spread under it, but it didn't go down. "The fish don't seem to be very hungry today," Dad said a while later. "But it sure is nice out here with the blue sky and water and the green grass and trees. It's all so peaceful." Alex turned to his dad. "We've been studying colors in school," he said. "Some scientists say that blue slows down the rate of the heart and green helps prevent eyestrain. That makes them restful colors." "Do you suppose that's why God made so much blue and green in nature?" Dad asked. "Just imagine what it would be like if the sky were bright red and all the leaves were black." Alex laughed. "We learned that red is supposed to make people more active. Some say it can even cause blood pressure to rise. I don't think it would make people feel very good to have a red sky all the time." He paused. "It sure looks pretty when the sun is setting though." "God is very wise," said Dad. "We see a great deal of His wisdom in nature--even in the colors He chose. Restful greens and blues most of the time, but pretty reds and oranges and yellows in evening sunsets and fall leaves." "Right. And lots of colors in flowers and berries and stuff." Alex looked at his fishing line. "You know what else scientists say? They say orange makes you hungry." He grinned at his dad. "I wish God had made these bobbers. Instead of making them red and white, He probably would have made them orange to make the fish more hungry. Then maybe they'd take the bait!" –Jane K. Chase How About You? Have you thought about how wonderful God's creation is? The world is full of things that show His great wisdom and power. There's something special and different about every season of the year, and every living creature has its own amazing features and abilities. Thank God for creating this beautiful world for you to enjoy--and for creating and loving you! Today's Key Verse: O LORD, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. (NLV) (Psalm 104:24) Today's Key Thought: Appreciate God's creation

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:8-23; Romans 6:23; 8:1 Lila normally loved her and Mom's monthly post-church café tradition. They sat at their usual window seat, but today Lila nudged ice cubes around with her straw in silence. Unable to bear the silence anymore, Mom asked what was wrong. Sighing, Lila responded, "Well, we learned about sin today at church, and I just don't understand. Why does sin have to ruin everything, and why does it cause pain and death and heartbreak?" "Now that's a big question," Mom said, "but a good one. Let me take a moment and try to think of a good way to answer." She looked out the window until her eyes landed on something. "Do you see that wasp?" Lila grimaced at the yellow-and-black-winged terror. "Yes." "Well, sin is kind of like your allergic reactions to wasp stings," said Mom. "How did you feel when you got stung last week?" Lila rubbed the spot on her arm where a wasp had stung her. It was still slightly red and raised up. "I was dizzy. My whole arm swelled up, and I even had trouble breathing." "Right. Even though the wasp only stung one tiny part of your body, you still felt its horrible effects everywhere. Like your bee sting, it only took one mistake for everything to become cursed with sin. When Adam and Eve, the first two people, chose their own way instead of God's, their disobedience broke the perfect relationship they had with God and brought sin and its horrible effects into the world." "And that's why Jesus had to come," said Lila. Mom nodded. "Jesus's perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave saves us from the punishment of sin and heals our relationship with God. But because sin still exists in the world, we see its effects in our lives--like when wasps sting us and cause us pain. Yet we can be excited about how God will make everything perfect again one day." Lila glanced at the wasp outside the window. "Yeah, thank You, Jesus, for saving us…and thank You for allergy medicine!" "Praise Jesus, indeed," Mom said with a smile. Lila grinned as their server set a plate of waffles down in front of her. "Praise Jesus for waffles too." –Zoe Brickner How About You? Have you ever wondered how sin could cause so much pain and suffering in the world? It's easy to forget how awful sin truly is and how it effects everything. But God, out of His unexplainable and never-ending love for us, sent Jesus to save us from sin, and He promises to one day make everything perfect again. When we trust in Him, we can look forward to the day when all pain and suffering will end. Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV) (Romans 6:23) Today's Key Thought: God will make everything perfect

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "We're here!" Joshua and Jonathan tumbled out of the car and ran ahead of their parents through a gate. Then they stopped and looked around, puzzled. "This is a cemetery!" Jonathan said. "I thought we were going to a battlefield!" "Yeah," said Joshua. "The only soldier around here is that statue in the middle of the graves. My teacher says statues like that are memorials--things to help us remember something." "That's right," Dad said as they moved toward the statue. "Actually, this whole battlefield--which, by the way, extends beyond the cemetery--is a memorial." Mom nodded. "A memorial can have different forms," she said. "It can be a statue like the one we're looking at. Or it can be a holiday--like Memorial Day. Or even a service designed to remind us of someone or something." "Like how on Memorial Day we remember people who have died," Jonathan said. "Yes," said Mom. "On that day, we especially remember those who died while serving their country--men and women like the soldiers buried in this cemetery." The boys began roaming around, reading the tombstones. "Hey, look!" Jonathan called. "This guy had the same name as me. 'Jonathan Wright. Born 1760. Died 1778.' That means he was only…uh…" Jonathan thought for a moment. "Eighteen years old when he died. He wasn't very old!" "Do you boys know how old Jesus was when He died?" asked Dad. "Thirty-three," said Joshua. He rolled a pebble on the gravel path under his shoe. "Why don't we have a memorial day for Jesus?" he asked. "Oh, we do!" said Dad. "We remember His death on Good Friday, but we also have a day when we remember His resurrection. We call it…" "Easter!" the boys said in unison. "Yes," said Mom, "and we not only have special days to remember and celebrate what Jesus did for us. We also have a memorial service. Every time we have the Lord's Supper at church--or Communion as it's also called--we're reminding ourselves of Jesus's death and the sacrifice He made to free us from sin." –Barbara J. Westberg How About You? Have you thanked God for the sacrifices others have made for your freedom? How about the sacrifice Jesus made to free you from sin? Christians celebrate Good Friday, Easter, and Communion to remember that sacrifice. As you remember His death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and the fact that He will come again, give thanks for all Jesus has done for you. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said], "This is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 11:24) Today's Key Thought: Remember Jesus's sacrifice

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-30 "Mom, I'm home!" Alyssa called as she came in after school. "Hi, honey!" said Mom. "How was your day? Did you learn anything interesting?" "We sure did!" said Alyssa. "Mr. Eddleman, our science teacher, poured some really hot water into two glasses. One glass had a spoon in it, and the other one didn't. The one without the spoon cracked when the hot water was poured in, but the other glass was fine. Mr. Eddleman said the metal spoon helped absorb some of the heat and kept the glass from breaking." "Well, I hope he had the glass in the sink when it broke!" said Mom. Alyssa laughed. "He did." Then the smile faded from her face. "Everly wasn't in school today--her family is having all kinds of problems. Her brother was in a car accident last night and had to be rushed to the hospital." "Oh no, that's terrible!" said Mom. "Yeah," said Alyssa. "And her dad still hasn't found a job, and her grandma is really sick--she might be dying. I don't see how they can deal with it all." "Well, they know Jesus," said Mom. "And that makes a big difference." Alyssa shrugged. "I feel like I would crack, like that glass in science class today." "That science experiment is a pretty good example of how knowing Jesus helps people," said Mom. "It is?" asked Alyssa in surprise. Mom nodded. "Just like the hot water was poured into the glasses, we all have problems come into our lives. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we feel like we might crack under the pressure. But Jesus is like that spoon--He helps absorb the heat of our trials. His constant love and care keep our spirits from breaking. I really don't know how anyone can get through tough times without Him." She smiled at Alyssa. "Let's ask God to comfort and encourage Everly and her family and help them trust Him to bring them through it all." Alyssa nodded. "Okay," she said. "But can't we do something else too? Like take them a meal or something?" "We sure can," said Mom. "Let's start fixing one right now." –Linda E. Knight How About You? Are you surrounded by problems and difficulties--or do you know someone else who is? Sickness, a parent losing a job, problems at school, death of a loved one--all these and many other things can make you feel like you simply can't stand it anymore. When you feel like you're going to crack, remember that Jesus is with you. He cares and promises to give you the strength you need. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7 ) Today's Key Thought: Give anxieties to God

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 As she sat working on her homework alone, Star didn't feel very loved. It was a holiday weekend, and all her friends had plans. Megan's parents were taking her to a waterpark. Emma was practicing tennis all weekend with her dad. Mila and her siblings were having fun playing on their new trampoline. Star's mom was working in her home office. She didn't have a dad around or any siblings to spend time with. All she had was homework she had saved for the weekend, just to give herself something to do. Star frowned at the paper in front her. Why had her teacher assigned her the word love to write about? She didn't know anything about love. She picked up her phone and called Mila. She had to convince her friend to take a break from the trampoline so they could talk. "How am I supposed to write about love?" she asked. "No one loves me." Mila snorted. "No one? What about me? And Emma and Megan?" "That's…different." Star hadn't thought of her friends as she was considering the topic. "What about your mom?" Mila asked. "She loves you." Star glanced toward her mom's office. "She doesn't spend time with me." "Because she's busy," Mila said. "She's busy because she loves you and needs to work to take care of you." She sighed. "What about God, Star? Aren't you forgetting that He loves you?" Star twisted her hair around her finger. Maybe she had forgotten God. "Sometimes it doesn't feel like it." "Maybe not," Mila said. "But He really does, Star. Like we learned at church, His love is bigger than any human love. Jesus died on the cross so you could live with Him forever. What love is bigger than that?" Star nodded slowly. "You're right." "You don't need to go on a trip or get amazing gifts in order to be loved," Mila said. "But, Star? I really am loving the new trampoline and I would like to get back to it. Since your mom is working, want me to ask my mom to give you a ride over so you can try it out?" Star's eyes widened. "Really?" "Really," Mila said. "Because I love you." She laughed. "Don't forget how much God loves you too, Star." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you had times when you felt like you were not loved at all by anyone? God's love is greater than the love of any human--He loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you so you could spend eternity with Him, and He promises to always love you and take care of you. If you think about all the people He's put in your life, you'll probably realize you're loved by many others too. Today's Key Verse: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (NKJV) (John 15:9) Today's Key Thought: God has great love for you!

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:12-15; Ephesians 4:25-32 Alastair walked into the kitchen where his sister Stasia was doing homework. "Emerson got in trouble again," said Alastair. "I can't believe he's going to flunk math over this!" Stasia looked up in surprise. "Over what? What did he do?" "Mr. Hoover caught him looking at somebody's paper during a test," Alastair replied. "Emerson said he was just checking one or two answers. That's all. I think Mr. Hoover just hates Emerson, so he's making a big deal out of nothing." "Well, if Emerson was caught cheating, what did he expect?" Stasia asked. "It's not like he was stealing somebody's money during gym class," said Alastair, trying to make his sister understand. "Other kids in school do a lot worse stuff than what Emerson did." Alastair turned to Mom, who was loading the dishwasher. "Can you hand me a glass, Mom? I'd like some juice." "Sure," said Mom, and she handed him a dirty glass. Alastair grimaced. "Yuck! I can't drink out of this. There's still dried milk in the bottom of it." "But it's cleaner than these others that need to be washed," Mom said. Alastair didn't say anything right away. He was pretty sure this had something to do with what they were just talking about, and he was trying to figure out what it was. "After all," Mom continued, "if cheating is no big deal because it doesn't seem as bad as what somebody else did, then a little dried milk in a glass shouldn't be a big deal either, as long as it's not as dirty as the other glasses." "Oh, well, I…um…" Alastair didn't know what to say. "It can be easy for us to excuse the wrongdoing of our friends--and especially our own wrongs--because someone else did something that seems worse," Mom explained. "But it's all sin in God's eyes. After all, cheating is stealing too--it's stealing the work someone else did and claiming it as your own, which is a sin, and it hurts them just as much as if you were stealing their money." Alastair nodded. "Sorry, Mom." He looked at the glass in his hand. "I guess I'll wait to have some juice, since all the glasses are dirty." –Mike A. Dize How About You? Do you think it's okay to do some things because they don't seem as bad as other things people do? Do you overlook cheating or lying because it's not as bad as robbery or murder? God says all wrongdoing is sin. No matter what other people think about it, it's hurtful to others and disobedient to God. Don't excuse any form of wrongdoing. If you're the one at fault, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. Today's Key Verse: All wrongdoing is sin. (NIV) (1 John 5:17) Today's Key Thought: All wrongdoing is sin

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-39 Micah ran into the house and threw his backpack on the kitchen table. "Mom! Do we have any frozen pizza?" He cocked his head. The house was silent. He looked down and noticed Mom's phone on the counter. That's weird, he thought. She usually carries it with her. Micah walked back to his parents' bedroom and knocked. Mom opened the door. "Oh, hi, honey. I didn't hear you come in." "You left your phone in the kitchen, Mom." "I know, Micah," said Mom. "I was praying, and I didn't want to be disturbed." "Praying? In the middle of the day?" Mom smiled. "I always have prayer time while your sister naps. I'm usually finished before the bus drops you off. I guess I had a lot to tell God today!" "But we pray together--at the dinner table, and at church. Isn't that enough?" "Praying together is very important, but the Bible says to pray without ceasing--that means continually connecting with Him and seeking His wisdom in our lives. So it's good to spend time with Him on our own too. I find it helpful to have a place of solitude to do that. Even Jesus needed a quiet space sometimes--he often went onto a mountain to pray." Micah considered this. "Maybe I should find a place of solitude too!" First Micah tried the living room. He sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and-- "Hey, Micah!" His little sister Sophie plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. "Time for my cartoons!" Next Micah tried his bedroom. He shoved the toys off the bed, closed his eyes, and-- A big wet tongue gave his cheek a slobbery kiss. "Not now, Puddles!" Micah laughed and scratched the old hound dog behind the ears. "I'm looking for solitude--but this house is too crowded!" A swirl of rustling leaves outside the window caught his eye. "I've got it!" he said and ran out of the house. He climbed the strong branches of the oak tree and closed his eyes, feeling the spring breeze brush his face. Jesus climbed a mountain to find solitude, thought Micah. I only have to climb a tree! –Jennifer Dillard How About You? Do you take a break from your everyday activities to spend time with God? If you find it hard to connect with God with everything going on around you, try to find a quiet place to pray. Jesus even had to take a break from those around Him to spend time with God. Take a moment away from the world's noise and busyness and connect with God. Today's Key Verse: Pray without ceasing. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Today's Key Thought: Spend time with God

Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:11-13 Isaiah sat at the table ready to eat breakfast. While his mom poured a bowl of cereal, he noticed something about her that felt as familiar as her ears; he noticed the silver chain around her neck with a small dice charm at the end. "Mom, why do you always wear that necklace?" Isaiah asked. Mom slid the bowl of cereal and a spoon across the table. "Good question," she said as she poured her own bowl of cereal. "Do you remember my grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Anderson?" "Kind of," Isaiah said. "Didn't he die when I was really little?" "Yes," Mom said. "When you were three. I wear this to remember him." "Doesn't it just make you sad?" Isaiah asked as he picked up his spoon. "I do feel sad," Mom answered. "And that's okay. I miss him so much. When I see this dice charm, I remember the way he loved me no matter what. I remember how he took broken things and restored them, like that classic car that's still in your great-grandma's garage. When he bought the car, it was basically a pile of rust. But when he finished his work, the car gleamed and looked new, and he hung fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror. These are things I want to remember, things that remind me not only of my grandpa, but also of Jesus and how He loves us and restores us." "I'm going to think of that story now when I look at your necklace too," Isaiah said. As he munched another spoonful of cereal, Mom said, "A lot of the Bible is about remembering--remembering who God is and what He has done, remembering His love and promises. While we're sad about sin and pain, diseases and death, reading the Bible helps us remember the past and have hope for the future." "I feel sad when I think about Joel's little brother having leukemia," Isaiah said. "Is there a Bible story that can give me and Joel some hope?" "Jesus healed many people when He was on earth, and those healings point to His promise to end pain, sickness, and death forever when He comes again." Mom reached for her Bible. "I'll look up some stories and verses we can read together when you get home from school." –Rachel Lubow How About You? What is your favorite Bible story? How does it show you who God is? How does it give you hope? We all feel sad, confused, afraid, and lonely sometimes. One of the ways God gives us hope is by reminding us that He keeps every promise He makes, which is one of the things we learn about Him in many stories written in the Bible. Read it to remember what God has done and that He is faithful. Today's Key Verse: Remember the wondrous works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced. (CSB) (1 Chronicles 16:12) Today's Key Thought: Remembering God's work gives us hope