Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-25 "I can't believe it's almost Christmas and there's no snow!" Alaina looked out the car window as they drove to church and frowned. "It just doesn't feel like Christmas without snow," she grumbled. For weeks the weather had been just above freezing. Instead of snow, storms of rain and sleet left a wet, muddy mess behind. When they pulled into the church parking lot, Alaina hopped out of the car and landed in a mud puddle. Her church shoes and tights were covered in mud. "Ahhhh!" she cried. "It's freezing, and I'm a mess!" "Come on, honey," said her mom. "Let's run to the bathroom and dry you off before church starts." A few minutes later Alaina was dry and warm, but her legs were still speckled with mud and dirt. Before she could complain, her friend Hadley excitedly ran up to her. "Alaina! Have you seen outside? It just started snowing!" The two ran to the window and saw a few flurries starting to fall. Alaina giggled with excitement and forgot her muddy clothes. "Finally! I've been waiting forever!" After church Alaina ran to the window again. The ground was already covered with a sparkling blanket of fresh snow. Her mom came up behind her. "It does look beautiful. Why do you think fresh snow is so exciting?" "Well, it finally covers up all the gross mud!" Alaina exclaimed, looking at the spots on her legs. Mom nodded. "I think that must have been what the first Christmas felt like." "What do you mean?" Alaina asked. Mom smiled. "Just like the muddy mess outside that covered your clothes today, without Jesus our hearts look like a muddy mess full of sin. But just like you were waiting for the snow to cover up the mess, the world waited and waited in anticipation of the Savior God had promised. Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to hear that Jesus was finally here to make our hearts as white as this snow?" Alaina looked surprised. "Wow, I didn't realize the world had to wait so long for Jesus to come." She looked outside. "Now the snow will remind me just how special Christmas is." –Bethany Den Boer How About You? Do you ever feel impatient waiting for something you really want? Perhaps you couldn't wait for Christmas vacation or opening your presents on Christmas morning. How do you feel when the day finally arrives? The world waited in the same way for a Savior to come. This Christmas, think about that first Christmas when baby Jesus finally arrived and how exciting it is that He came to make our hearts as white as snow. Today's Key Verse: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (NKJV) (Isaiah 1:18 ) Today's Key Thought: Jesus covers our sins

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 "Mom! Dad just drove in," said Millie. "He probably brought a Christmas tree!" But as she opened the door, Dad came in, and he didn't have a tree. "I'm sorry, sweetie," Dad said, giving Millie a hug. "I know how much you wanted a tree, but…" Millie shrugged away and hurried to her room. She didn't feel like celebrating Christmas. As she lay on her bed, the sound of voices drifted down the hall. Millie went to her door and listened. "I wish we could afford a Christmas tree this year," Dad said. He sounded very sad. "Since it's so close to Christmas, I thought they'd be marked down, but the prices were still pretty high. And with all the extra expenses we've had, I didn't think it was a good idea. But I know Millie's disappointed." The hurt in Dad's voice brought tears to Millie's eyes. Then a plan began to form in her mind. Christmas is all about God's gift of Jesus and the joy He came to bring us, she thought. Maybe I can give Dad and Mom a gift of joy too. Millie went out to join her parents. "Mom, can we bring out that little artificial tree we used in Grandma's hospital room last year?" she asked. "Sure," said Mom, and she got the tree. Millie pretended to be thrilled with it. "Help me decorate it!" As they worked, Millie continued her cheerful act. "I remember when you and I went shopping and bought this ornament, Dad," she said as she hung a wooden bird on the tree. "We had so much fun." The angel they had used in years past seemed too big for the tiny tree, but they put it on the top anyway. "Mom and I bought this angel for your first Christmas," Dad reminded Millie--just like he did every year. By the time they finished, Dad's spirits had lifted, and Millie was surprised to find that she no longer had to pretend to be happy. Her joy was real, and she looked forward to Christmas morning. She didn't expect to get many presents, but it didn't matter anymore. She had already received a wonderful gift--the joy of making another person happy. –Esther M. Bailey How About You? Is there something you can do to make someone's Christmas more joyful? Maybe you won't be getting all the presents you hoped for, but bringing joy to someone else beats anything you'll find under the tree. God brought joy into the world when He gave us the greatest gift of all--His Son, Jesus. Remember that wonderful gift this Christmas as you look for ways to bring joy to others. Today's Key Verse: Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (NKJV) (Acts 20:35) Today's Key Thought: Giving brings joy

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-8 After breakfast, Thatcher sat quietly as his dad read a passage of Scripture. "Well," said Dad as he closed his Bible, "these verses tell us that God is working to help us develop the same character traits Jesus has and become more like Him." Dad looked at his family. "Has anyone noticed ways He's been helping you do that in your life?" No one said anything for a moment. Then Thatcher spoke up. "I don't get in fights as much as I used to, and I don't cheat on spelling tests anymore. And I like church better now too." His brows furrowed. "But I haven't been changing much lately." "Well, we never stop growing as Christians," said Dad. "But often it's hard to pinpoint where the changes are taking place." After they discussed the verses a little more, Dad led them in prayer. Then they all gathered their things for a trip to visit Grandma, who lived several hours away. When they got there, Grandma greeted them eagerly. "You've grown!" she exclaimed as she hugged Isla. "I see you've lost some teeth too!" "Thwee teeth," lisped Isla. "And Thatcher, you must be six inches taller," said Grandma, hugging him. "My! You're a young man now!" Throughout the day, she frequently commented on how much they had changed. As Mom tucked Thatcher into his sleeping bag that night, he said, "I didn't think I had changed much since the last time we saw Grandma, but she couldn't stop talking about how much I've grown." Mom laughed. "I know. I often don't notice how you and Isla grow either--until you grow out of your clothes, that is! I guess I see you too much to notice the gradual changes." She gave Thatcher a hug. "That reminds me of what we were talking about this morning. Maybe we're too close to ourselves to notice gradual changes that make us more like Jesus. But Grandma saw them. She mentioned how you and Isla played together without fighting and were quick to help when asked." "Really?" asked Thatcher. "Really," said Mom. "Trust that God is working in you to make you more and more like Jesus every day." –Hope L. Aderman How About You? Did you know that if you're a Christian, God is helping you grow spiritually? Growth takes time, so you might not see a lot of change from one day to the next. But know that God promises to work in your life and help you develop character traits that show others the love of Jesus. As you continue to learn more about Jesus, trust God to work in your heart so you'll grow to be more and more like Him. Today's Key Verse: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18) Today's Key Thought: Growth takes time

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16; John 3:16-21 Emily licked the icing off her fingers and carefully added another snowflake sprinkle to her Christmas cookie. Christmas parties were the best! She grinned as she looked around the table at her friends. Some of them were already devouring their cookies piled with sweet decorations. "All right, kids! While you finish decorating your cookies, I have a special story to tell you," said Emily's mom. One of the other moms started passing around oranges while Emily's mom answered a question. "No, they aren't to eat just yet. We have to do something with them first! I was looking up different Christmas traditions from other countries and found this really cool one from Germany in the 1700s." The children now each had a candle, four toothpicks, dried fruit, and a red ribbon next to their oranges. "This is what they did," Emily's mom said, holding up an orange. "The orange stands for the world. God loved our world so much that He sent His Son to save us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price of our sins and then rose from the dead so we could have eternal life. That's what the red ribbon stands for--the blood of Jesus. Take your ribbon and glue it around your orange." "What are the toothpicks for?" Emily asked curiously. "We put the four toothpicks in our orange pointing different directions for north, south, east, and west," her mom explained. "Jesus wants us to spread the good news that He saves all over the world! The dried fruit go on the ends to remind us that when Jesus is our Savior we have the fruit of the Spirit. What are they?" Some of the kids murmured, "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." "Is the candle for 'this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine'?" Wyatt sang with his eyes sparkling. "How did you know, Wyatt? Yes, we're all going to place our candle inside the top of our orange and the grown-ups will light them. This thing you created is called a Christingle, and it's a symbol of Christ's light in us. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are the light of the world. Kids, let your light shine for Jesus this Christmas!" –Savannah Coleman How About You? Did you know that the Bible says if you are a child of God, you are the light of the world? Light was made to shine, not be hidden! Share with others the good news of Jesus coming into the world to save us. Trust Him to empower you to show the fruit of the Spirit in the way you treat others. Shine Jesus's light to those around you so they can see His goodness and love in you. Today's Key Verse: You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) (Matthew 5:14, 16) Today's Key Thought: Let Christ's light shine in you

Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42 Jade squeezed her new teddy bear tight as she ran to the living room. She waded through piles of wrapping paper to find the family Bible on the coffee table. "Momma," she said as she walked into the kitchen and found her mother rolling out pie dough on the counter. "We almost forgot to read the Christmas story! We always read it on Christmas after we open our presents." "I didn't forget, Jade. We just don't have time this year," Mom said. "I need to finish making the pecan pie we're taking to Grandma's and shovel the driveway so we can get the car out of the garage, and we need to leave in forty-five minutes or we'll be late." Mom punctuated her list with a sigh. "Maybe we can read it tomorrow instead." Defeated, Jade walked back to the living room. She plopped down in the crumpled wrapping paper and looked at her teddy bear. "What should I name you?" Jade asked the stuffed animal as she touched the pink bow on the bear's head. "I know," she said, "Martha!" Jade furrowed her brow. She thought about the story of Mary and Martha she learned in Sunday school and realized Martha sounded a lot like her mom. Jade returned to the kitchen. "I think you're being Martha," she timidly told her mom as she sat down at the counter. "Martha?" Mom asked. "Who is Martha?" "In the Bible, Jesus visits two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha spent so much time cleaning and cooking that she didn't get to spend any time with Jesus. But Mary decided spending time with Jesus was more important than anything else." Jade looked down at the floor. "I think you're letting Christmas be more important than spending time with Jesus." Mom's face softened. "Thank you, Jade. You're absolutely right. I got caught up in all the work that goes along with the holiday. Even good things, like making a pie for family, can be bad when they keep us from taking time to rest with Jesus so He can refresh our souls and remind us of His love." Mom put down the rolling pin and smiled at Jade. "Come on, little Mary. Let's go read the Christmas story by the tree. Grandma won't mind if we're a little late." –Nicole Kraayenbrink How About You? Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed this Christmas season by all the presents to wrap or family parties to attend? Even good things can be bad when they keep us so busy that we don't have time for God. Don't let this year's holiday festivities keep you from spending time with Jesus. Take a moment each day to rest in His presence and remember that Christmas is all about what He did for you. Today's Key Verse: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV) (Matthew 11:28) Today's Key Thought: Take time to rest in Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Hebrews 4:13 "We're finally going to Seattle!" Mom exclaimed after checking in at the airport. "Attle?" Billy said. "Who's Attle?" Susan gave him a funny look. "We're going to see Grandma." Billy tried but failed to hide his smile. "Mom just said we're going to see Attle." Susan groaned. "Seattle. The city." Billy laughed. As they waited at the security gate, Mom asked, "Billy, are all your toy cars in your backpack?" Billy placed his backpack on the conveyor belt. "Sure are!" All except the Formula One race car in his pocket--his favorite. But nobody would see it. Mom and Susan emptied their pockets into the bin and walked through the metal detector first. When Billy entered, a buzzer blared. He froze. Busted. Immediately a security guard stopped him. "Empty your pockets." Billy handed over his race car. The officer inspected the toy and made Billy walk through the metal detector again, this time with empty pockets. Once he had cleared the checkpoint, Billy walked to where Mom and Susan were waiting for him. He held up both hands. "Sorry." Mom shook her head as they started for their gate. "Billy, you thought if I didn't see the race car, the metal detector would miss it too, is that it?" He shrugged. "I guess I thought I had everyone fooled." "Well, if you're ever tempted to fool me--or anyone else--again, remember you can't hide things from God. He knows what's in our pockets--and in our hearts too." Billy thought for a second. "He even knows what I'm thinking, right?" Mom nodded. "Every thought." Susan grinned. "He even knows when you're not thinking. You really thought you could slip a race car through security?" Billy sighed. "It wasn't my finest moment, I'll admit." "The good news is that even though God knows everything about us, He still loves us and forgives us for our wrongs," said Mom. "We don't ever have to hide anything from Him because Jesus paid the price for all our sins on the cross." Billy stuffed the race car deep in his pocket. Every time he saw that car, he'd remember that he could never hide anything from God. –Matt Shoemaker How About You? Have you ever done something you shouldn't have and tried to hide it? Our human hearts are naturally sinful, and sometimes we try to hide our wrongs. But God sees our sin--He knows everything about us and loves us anyway! And He offers us forgiveness through Jesus, who took the punishment for our sin. If there's a sin that's bothering you, don't try to hide it. Confess it to Jesus, and consider talking to a trusted Christian adult about it too. Today's Key Verse: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. (NIV) (Hebrews 4:13) Today's Key Thought: God sees the unseen

Bible Reading: 1 John 4:7-16 "Look! I had just the right amount of string to attach the candy cane message about Jesus to each candy cane!" Loralee declared. "Great! Now we're ready to deliver them," Loralee's mother replied. That afternoon, Loralee and her mother knocked on doors in their neighborhood. As they strolled from house to house in crisp, cool weather, Loralee looked forward to talking with people about how the red-and-white-striped candy told the message of Jesus and the sacrifice He made to forgive people for their sins. Standing on a broad porch, Loralee handed a candy cane to her neighbor Miss Zelda. "I like this candy, but I'm not sure I'll read the little story about Jesus." Miss Zelda smiled and shut the door. As Loralee and her mom turned back to the sidewalk, Loralee sighed. "Mama, I don't know if this is doing any good." "What do you mean?" asked Mama. "Most of our neighbors weren't home, so we just left the candy canes hanging on their doorknobs. And the ones who were home didn't seem to care about Jesus being the real reason for Christmas." "Loralee, you want others to know about Jesus, right?" Mama asked. "Of course! I gave my life to Jesus last year and trusted Him to forgive my sins, and now I want our neighbors to trust in Him too so they can be God's children." "When you began a relationship with God as His child, do you know what He poured into your heart, Loralee?" Loralee scuffed her shoe on some fallen leaves. "I don't know." "His love! The Bible tells us He pours His love into our hearts." Loralee smiled. "If God's love is in my heart, that means I have God's love to give to others." "Exactly!" said Mama. "People may not want to talk about their beliefs or hear about Jesus, but because you have God's love in you, you have something special to share. Just keep sharing God's love with others and trust Him with the rest." Loralee started walking faster. "Let's go, Mama! We have more of God's love to give to our neighbors today!" –Allison Wilson Lee How About You? Do you ever wonder if your acts of obedience to love others really matter? God's Word tells us that when we trust Jesus to forgive our sins and give us new life in Him, He pours His love into our hearts. So when we show love to others, we're sharing God's love with them. That's a very special gift to give! Even when no one seems to care, keep sharing God's love and trust Him to use your gift to do good things. Today's Key Verse: God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (NIV) (Romans 5:5 ) Today's Key Thought: God's love is in His children

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:2-10 Brenda put down the birthday card she'd gotten from her relatives. "Bobby, when's the last time we saw Aunt Vicky and Uncle Al?" Her brother shrugged. "It's been a long time. They're always too sick." Just then Dad walked into the kitchen, wiping his hands on a rag. "Hey, Dad," Bobby said. "Did you fix the go-cart yet?" "Still working on it. But it's getting cold outside, so I wanted to get a warmer coat." "Dad," Brenda said, "how come we never see Aunt Vicky and Uncle Al anymore?" Dad grabbed a cookie and sat down. "Aunt Vicky has developed severe allergies to many foods, so it's hard to get together for dinner. And perfumes and other odors make her break out in a rash. And her immune system is really weak, so I'm afraid one of us might pass on a virus or something." Bobby frowned. "It seems like trying to visit them is more trouble than it's worth." Brenda gave her brother a surprised look. "I mean, I want to see them and everything," Bobby said. "But it seems like anything we do will just create problems." Dad thought for a moment. "You know how I've spent most of the day working on the go-cart?" Bobby and Brenda nodded. "This job should have taken an hour at the most, but things keep going wrong," said Dad. "I'm tempted to just throw the whole thing over the back fence into the field. I tell myself, 'It's not worth it! I could be playing golf or something.' Then I remember how much fun we had riding that old go-cart, and I figure it's worth all the trouble to fix it. It's kind of like that with visiting your aunt and uncle. It's getting harder and harder, but I know a visit would really encourage them. When we put in some creative effort to show someone we care, we're showing them the same kind of love Jesus shows us." "What about going over to their house and caroling outside?" asked Brenda. "We'd keep far enough away so we wouldn't give Aunt Vicky our germs, but we'd still be able to cheer them up." Dad liked that. "That's being creative, Brenda. I think they'd appreciate that a lot. Some things are worth the extra effort." –Mike Dize How About You? Is there someone you know who is going through a tough time right now? Does a friend or family member need some encouragement? The Bible tells us to love and do good to others, even when it's not easy, so they can see the love of Jesus in us. Think of some creative ways you can show someone going through a hard time that you care about them and want to help. Today's Key Verse: But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. (CSB) (2 Thessalonians 3:13) Today's Key Thought: Find creative ways to help others

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 1:21-23; Philippians 2:5-8 "I don't know what I'm going to do, Seth," Jaden told his big brother. They were playing one of their favorite video games while waiting for Mom's homemade pizza to finish cooking. "You could start by actually playing!" Seth paused a moment, then said, "No, really, what's up?" "Well, you know Brenden, that really awkward new kid in my grade I was telling you about?" asked Jaden. "Yeah, it reminds me of how I felt when we first moved here and I was just starting middle school. That was not fun!" "I know, that's why I've been trying to help him out and sit with him at lunch, but now I almost wish I hadn't. His birthday is coming up, and his mom told him he's only allowed to invite one person over for his party to stay overnight at his house. Guess who that lucky person is?" Jaden said sarcastically. "Me!" "That's not so bad," Seth said. Jaden looked back at him with a very unconvinced frown. "It just happens to be on Friday--the Friday we have our last kid's club at church before Christmas break, the Friday when everyone gets to take a big prize home instead of just hoping they win the prize drawing! If I ride the bus home with Brenden, I'll miss kid's club! I asked him if he could come, but his mom doesn't know anything about it, so he's not allowed to. I'd have to miss it, and miss my chance to get a prize!" When Mom called the boys to dinner, she told them she had overheard them talking about Jaden's problem. "It reminded me of what we read in the Bible this morning about Jesus giving up the glory of heaven to come into this world as a baby to save us," Mom said. "Remember how we talked about looking for ways to show that same kind of love to others this Christmas?" "Yeah." Jaden sighed. "Okay, I'll tell Brenden I'm in. Maybe I can tell his mom more about kid's club and she'll let him come with me. Then neither one of us will miss out on the fun--and Brenden can learn more about Jesus!" –Alicia Albert How About You? Have you heard the Christmas story many times, but never let it really sink in? Think about what Jesus gave up by coming into this world to save us. He left heaven to become a helpless baby so He could one day die for our sins on the cross. When you think about what He gave up for you, you may find it's a little easier to give something up so that you can help change another person's life in an awesome way! Today's Key Verse: I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. (CSB) (John 13:34) Today's Key Thought: Live the Christmas message

Bible Reading: Isaiah 32:17-18; Luke 2:8-16 When she got home from school, Sybil collapsed into a chair so forcefully it scraped across the floor. "Sybil!" said Mom. "Be careful! You're going to leave marks!" She sighed as Sybil's little sister started crying in the other room. "This house is like a war zone," she muttered. Sybil crossed her arms. "Who do you think got the part of Mary in the Christmas play?" she asked sarcastically. "Haeun, of course! She's Mary, and I'm the narrator--again!" Dad looked up. "Isn't Haeun your best friend?" he asked. Sybil made a face. "Was my best friend," she corrected. As four-year-old Emmy helped Mom decorate cookies a little later, she practiced her part for the Christmas program. "Glory to God in…in the highest, and on earth peace, good…goodwill toward men." Then she asked, "Mommy, did Mary get baby clothes for Jesus at the Goodwill store?" Mom smiled. "No, honey. They didn't have Goodwill stores then. The word goodwill in that verse is talking about the love and favor God showed us by sending Jesus to save us from sin." "Mom," said Sybil, "when are Aunt Lynn and Uncle Ben coming?" Mom frowned. "They're not," she replied shortly. "Not coming!" cried Sybil. "Why not? It won't feel like Christmas without them!" Mom didn't reply, and Sybil looked at her suspiciously. "We haven't seen them since Grandma's funeral. Are you still mad at Aunt Lynn about that picture album?" Mom wiped a fleck of frosting off her cheek and sighed. "I'd rather not discuss it." "You're mad at Aunt Lynn," said Emmy, "and Sybil's mad at Haeun. I don't know who I'm mad at." She went back to practicing her lines. "On earth peace, goodwill toward men." "On earth peace, goodwill toward men," Mom repeated softly. "Jesus came into our world so we could have His peace and love in our lives. But we haven't been doing a great job of showing that peace and love, have we?" She picked up her phone. "I'm going to call Aunt Lynn. It's not too late to invite them to come for Christmas." Sybil smiled. "Really?" "Really," said Mom. "And maybe you should do the same with Haeun." Sybil hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Maybe she can come over and help decorate these cookies." –Barbara J. Westberg How About You? Do you have bitter, angry feelings in your heart toward anyone? Is there a hurt relationship you need to make right? Jesus came to bring peace and goodwill on earth. He came to make us right with God so we could have His peace in our hearts and live in peace with others. If there are hard feelings between you and someone else, do what you can to mend the problem and bring peace. Today's Key Verse: Be at peace among yourselves. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:13) Today's Key Thought: Live in peace with others

Bible Reading: John 3:16-18 "Can we have a candy cane?" asked Josh as he looked at the striped candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. "Yeah, can we? Please?" echoed his sisters, Adriane and Nicole. "All right," Mom said. "But as you eat them, I want you to think about how they remind us of the reason we celebrate Christmas." Each of the kids quickly selected a red-and-white-striped candy cane from the tree. Nicole held her candy at arm's length and stared at it. "I don't really see what candy canes have to do with Christmas, except that it's the time of year when you always see lots of them. Or maybe it's because there's red on them--Christmas colors are red and green." "Nah. That's not a good enough reason," said Josh. He stared at his candy cane too. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "Part of our Sunday school verse last week said, 'By His stripes we are healed,' so the stripes can remind us of how they whipped Jesus." "That's part of the Easter story," said Adriane. "It doesn't have anything to do with Christmas." "Oh, but it does," said Mom. "It has to do with why Jesus came to earth. He came to suffer and die and take the punishment for our sins so those who trust in Him could be saved." "So maybe the red stripe on the candy cane can stand for the blood Jesus shed for us when He died on the cross," said Nicole. "And the white can stand for having our sins washed away when we trust in Jesus," added Adriane. Josh nodded. "And look," he said, holding his candy cane upside down. "When you hold it this way, it's a J--a J for Josh." He grinned as his sisters started to protest. "Just kidding," he said. "It's a J for Jesus." "Excellent thinking," said Mom. "Those are all great ways candy canes remind us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas--Jesus being born into the world so He could die for us on the cross. I hope these candy canes will help you remember that--not only at Christmas, but all year long." –Jean A. Burns How About You? Do you get excited about Christmas and all the food, parties, and presents that go along with it? Those are all good things, but don't forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas--Jesus being born so He could die to save us from our sin. This Christmas, receive the best gift of all--eternal life with Jesus. (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: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (NKJV) (1 Timothy 1:15) Today's Key Thought: Jesus was born to save you

Bible Reading: Psalm 77:7-14 Tears started to fill Ashley's eyes as she stared at the movie playing on the TV without really watching it, and she brushed them away. Her dad was having heart surgery tomorrow, and she couldn't get him off her mind. She felt her aunt looking over at her. "Want to help me make some popcorn?" Aunt Laurie asked. Ashley got up and left her sisters and cousins to follow her aunt to the kitchen. "Thinking about your dad?" Aunt Laurie asked. Ashley nodded. "I'm trying not to worry, but it's hard." "It's okay to be scared." Aunt Laurie touched her back. "I know I am." Ashley glanced at her aunt. "You are?" Aunt Laurie nodded. "I've been praying and trying to give my worries to Jesus, but it's not always easy. Sometimes I have to remind myself that even the writers of the book of Psalms questioned God and admitted when they were afraid." "They did?" Ashley asked. "Oh yes. Some of the psalmists in the Bible even asked if God would reject them forever." Aunt Laurie pulled a big red bowl from the cupboard. "But they also praised God in the end. They remembered all the amazing things God had done and how He always looked out for them." "And He'll look out for Dad too?" Ashley asked quietly. Her aunt set the bowl down and hugged her. "We need to pray and trust that He will. But even if something bad were to happen, we can still praise God because of the amazing things He has done. Jesus died and rose again to save us, and He promises to get rid of all sin, sickness, and death one day. No matter what happens, we can trust Him because of that." "Will you pray with me right now?" Ashley asked. "Of course." Aunt Laurie bowed her head and led her in a prayer asking for healing for her dad and peace for all of them. Ashley felt a bit better when she was done. "Want to help me with this popcorn now?" Aunt Laurie asked. Ashley quickly nodded. She still felt scared, but was glad she could trust God to take care of her dad, no matter what happened. –Bethany Acker How About You? When you feel sad or scared because of something you're going through, do you admit it? God cares about you and wants you to be honest with Him and others about how you feel. Even the psalmists in the Bible got scared, but they still praised and trusted God. Tell Jesus how you feel, and trust Him to be with you and give you peace as you remember the amazing things He's done for you. Today's Key Verse: You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. (NIV) (Psalm 77:14) Today's Key Thought: Trust God when you feel afraid

Bible Reading: Psalms 34:15-17; 145:17-19 "Why are you watching the football game?" Arcelia asked her older brother. "You said you wanted to watch basketball." "Yeah, but I'm recording the basketball game so I can watch it later," Brody replied as he munched some popcorn. Just then his phone buzzed and Brody picked it up. A moment later he whooped. "Our high school team just scored!" he exclaimed. "They're playing out of town and a friend is texting me updates." "That's a lot of games to keep track of all at once," said Arcelia. But Brody was staring intently at his phone and didn't seem to hear her, so she shrugged and walked away. Before long, it was Arcelia's bedtime. "Don't forget to say your prayers," Dad said when she went to tell him goodnight. "I won't," said Arcelia. But then she frowned. "I always pray before I go to sleep, but aren't a lot of other kids praying at pretty much the same time? It seems like there would be way too many prayers to listen to all at once. Do you think God has a way to record them so He can listen to them later?" Dad laughed. "Sounds like you've been hanging out with Brody. God doesn't have to record prayers and listen to one at a time. He can hear everyone's prayers all at the same time." "It's just hard to imagine that God can hear us all at once," said Arcelia. "How can He do that without switching back and forth between prayers or getting distracted while listening to one person and someone else chimes in?" "God isn't like Brody or any of us," said Dad. "God is God. We can't understand how it's possible, but He hears everything we say and even knows everything we think. We can never fully comprehend how great and powerful He is, but we know He cares about what we're going through because Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins. He loves us so much that He became one of us, and He is always with us and hears us when we pray." "Well, good," said Arcelia, giving her dad a hug. "Goodnight, Dad. I'll go say my prayers." –Ruth McQuilkin How About You? Do you wonder how God can hear your prayers when so many other people are praying too? Do you wonder if He even wants to listen to what you have to pray about? He does! God cares about every detail of your life, and He wants to hear your thoughts, needs, interests, and concerns. Pause a moment and share what's on your heart. He's always listening. Today's Key Verse: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears. (NKJV) (Psalm 34:17) Today's Key Thought: God hears your prayers

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16 "Wow! Look at that!" exclaimed Leah. She and her father were taking their annual Christmas lights tour around the city. Dad pulled to the side of the street so they could get a good look at the house that had won the award for having the best display of lights. As they continued on their way, they agreed that no other place could compare to the house that won the award. The next day was the first day of Christmas vacation for Leah. "I'm glad we won't have school for a little while," she said at breakfast. "I can't do anything right at school. I don't read well, I can't spell, and I'm bad at math." She let out a long sigh. "I'm a failure." "Leah," said Dad, "I know school is hard for you, but…" He paused. "Go get your coat," he said as she finished her breakfast. "I want you to see something." Leah eagerly jumped up and went out to the car with her father. "Where are we going?" she asked as they drove through the city. "You'll see," said Dad. Soon he pulled to the side of the street. "Do you recognize this place?" "That's the house we saw last night--the one that had all the beautiful lights!" Leah said in surprise. "It looks different now. It doesn't look very special at all." "You're right," said Dad. "It's when we see the lights shining in the night that it looks beautiful. I thought about that when you said you couldn't do anything well. You see, we may not feel like we're all that special, especially when we aren't able to do things as well as we'd like--we might think we're as ordinary as that house looks right now. But Jesus loves us no matter what we can or can't do, and because we trust in Him, we have something special--we have the light of His love. People need to see that light--the light of Jesus in us." Dad smiled. "Leah, I want you to know that the love of Jesus shines through you--and that's much more important than getting good grades in school. You're a special light for Jesus shining brightly in the night." –Sara L. Nelson How About You? Do you ever feel like a failure? Does it ever seem like you can't do anything well or that you don't have any special talents or abilities? You are special because God made you and loves you, and if you know Jesus as your Savior, He has given you everything you need to be a light for Him in the world. Use that special ability to shine His light to everyone you meet! Today's Key Verse: You are the light of the world. (NKJV) (Matthew 5:14) Today's Key Thought: Be a light for Jesus

Bible Reading: John 6:5-11 Maria burst into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face. "I'm a terrible dancer!" she cried. "I'll never be a great ballerina. Everyone else in the class can grand jeté, but not me. I'm terrible. I quit!" Mom set a lid on a simmering soup pot. "But you love ballet, and you're performing in the Christmas celebration at church next week." "Not anymore," said Maria. "Trust me, no one wants to see me dance. I'd probably ruin the whole show." Mom turned toward the stove and took the lid off the pot. "Do you see this vegetable stew? I'm taking it to church tomorrow for the weekly lunch for the homeless." Mom shook her head. "The problem of homelessness really bothers me. I'd like to feed all the homeless people in the city. Do you think this stew can do that?" "No way," said Maria. "It's a big pot, but it's not that big." Mom picked up the pot and walked toward the sink. "I can't feed everyone? Then I give up!" She tilted the pot over the sink. "Stop, Mom!" cried Maria. "No one expects you to feed everyone." Mom smiled and set the pot back on the stove. "That's right. This stew is my five loaves and two fish." Maria glanced at the stew. "I thought it was potato and carrot." Mom laughed. "When Jesus fed the five thousand, He used a boy's lunch--five loaves and two fish. When I see myself in that story, I'm not Jesus. I don't perform miracles! Instead, I'm the boy. I have only small gifts to give Jesus, but He can use them to do something great." Maria looked up. "Like my dancing?" "What do you think?" "Well, I do love ballet," Maria admitted. "I've loved to dance since I was little." "God gave you that love for dance," said Mom. "It's a gift you can give back to Him." Maria smiled. "Okay, I'll stick with it. Even if I'm never a famous ballerina, I can still use my dancing to glorify God." She pirouetted around the kitchen table and kissed Mom on the cheek. "I'll trust Jesus to use my loaves and fish to make this a Christmas celebration to remember!" –Jennifer Dillard How About You? Do you ever feel like your gifts aren't good enough? Do you want to do big things but feel like your talents are too small? Remember that God gave each of us the gifts we need to help Him bring about His kingdom on earth. Trust Him to guide you in using your gifts for His purpose, knowing they are good enough for Him. Today's Key Verse: Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. (NLT) (John 6:11) Today's Key Thought: Your gifts are sufficient for God

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 9:23-24 Amy scrolled through the pictures on her tablet as her family began driving back to their hotel. "Wait until my friends see these!" she exclaimed. She and her family were enjoying a winter vacation trip and had gone to see an ice-skating show. After the show, some of the skaters signed autographs and took pictures with members of the audience. Amy's parents had taken pictures of her with several famous Olympic figure skaters. When Amy got home after her first day back at school the next week, she grabbed a few of the apple slices Mom was cutting up and sat down at the table. "I told my friends all about our vacation today," she told her mother. Mom laughed. "I'm sure you did," she said. "What did you tell them? Let's see, maybe I can guess." She pretended to think. "I've got it! By now the whole school probably knows about all the famous figure skaters you met!" Amy nodded. "You should have seen my friends when I showed them my pictures," she said with a giggle. "They could hardly believe I'd met so many famous skaters. Good thing I had the pictures to prove it or they probably wouldn't believe me!" "It was fun meeting them, wasn't it?" said Mom. "And it's exciting to tell other people about it. I told some people at work about the show and meet-and-greet." She thoughtfully sliced into another apple. "It makes me wonder though--do my coworkers know that I've met Jesus? Do your friends know you've met Him?" "I--I don't know," said Amy. "I'm sure some of them do, but some probably don't." "We like to tell others about the important people we meet, but sometimes we're embarrassed to mention the most important person in our lives," said Mom. "Jesus has changed my life more than anyone else--He died for me and then rose from the dead so I could have a new life with Him! Shouldn't I tell others that I know Him so they can meet Him too?" Amy bit into an apple slice and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I think we both should let others know we've met the most important person of all." –Becky Decker How About You? Have you met Jesus and trusted Him as your Savior? If so, do your friends know about it? You probably spend a lot of time talking about celebrities, athletes, and other important people, but Jesus is the most important of all--and you know Him personally! Tell others what He's done for you, and let them know they can meet Him and have Him change their lives too. Today's Key Verse: As for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (CSB) (Galatians 6:14) Today's Key Thought: Tell others you've met Jesus

Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4 Josiah sat in front of the woodstove, soaking up the warmth and staring at the flickering flames. It was very cold outside, and he was happy his grandpa kept the fire going. He and his mom had just made the long trip north from Virginia after his dad left them. Josiah missed his dad, and he missed his friends. "Time to empty the ash pan," Grandpa announced as he came into the den. "What?" asked Josiah, who had been lost in his thoughts. "The ash pan," said Grandpa. "When the wood burns, it leaves behind some ash that collects in a pan at the bottom of the stove. Every few days, I have to empty it." Grandpa put on large gloves and used a special shovel to scoop the ashes from the pan into a bucket. Josiah peered into the bucket. It was filled with light-gray flakes and dust. "That looks messy," he said. "What do you do with all that useless stuff?" "Useless?" Grandpa shook his head. "It's not useless to me. Let me show you something." Grandpa pulled a scrapbook off the shelf and flipped it open. It was filled with photos of roses and blue ribbons. "This is my blue-ribbon rose book," he said proudly. "You won all those?" asked Josiah. "Wow." "Sure did," replied Grandpa. "Do you want to know my secret?" Josiah nodded eagerly. "Ashes," said Grandpa. "No way!" said Josiah in disbelief. Grandpa nodded. "Wood ash contains lots of nutrients that my rosebushes need. Every spring, I spread an inch around the base of each shrub. It helps my plants produce prize-winning blooms." Grandpa looked at Josiah. "You know," he continued, "I know someone else who likes to make beauty from ashes." Grandpa paused and pointed heavenward. "God can take something that seems pretty useless and use it to make something wonderful. I know you miss your dad and aren't thrilled to be here, but Jesus can use even the hard things in our lives for good. He used what seemed like the worst thing of all--His death on a cross--to bring us the wonderful gift of eternal life with Him. If we keep our eyes open, I'm sure we'll see Him make something beautiful from your situation as well." –Laura Kuehn How About You? Does your life seem to be filled with useless ashes right now? Is it hard for you to see how God could make it better? Don't be discouraged. God loves you very much--so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you--and He promises to do good things in your life. Pray and ask Him to help you. Then trust Him to take the difficult situation you're going through and bring something beautiful out of it. Today's Key Verse: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (NIV) (Romans 8:28) Today's Key Thought: God can use hard things for good

Bible Reading: Luke 2:8-20 "Time to leave!" called Mom. "I'm almost done with this level," said Timothy, eyes glued to the computer screen. Mom stepped into his bedroom. "Get dressed now," she said. "We don't want to hold up the pageant rehearsal." She hurried down the hall, calling for Timothy's little sister, Gabby. "I don't see why I have to be in the Christmas pageant," muttered Timothy. "I'm just a dumb shepherd, anyway." He dug a brown robe from a pile of clothes and pulled it over his head. He looked at himself in the mirror. "Boy, I hope no one from school sees me wearing this!" Timothy walked into the kitchen, tugging at the rope wrapped around his waist. "This costume is itchy. Do I have to do this?" Mom was struggling with Gabby's angel costume. "Stand still, honey. These buttons are hard to see." She blew a wisp of hair from her face. "We've made a commitment, Timothy. We can't let everyone down. Besides, you're in the pageant every year." "That's just it," said Timothy. "It's the same old thing, every single Christmas. A bunch of shepherds, a few wise men. It's not like we're telling a new story. It's boring!" Mom stood up. "Come here, Timothy." She held out her arms and hugged him. "I know you don't want to do this. But some things can't wait. Some stories need us to tell them--over and over again, right now!" "But I'm just a shepherd," said Timothy. "They're not interesting. Not like the angels." He pointed at Gabby. His little sister smiled and twirled in her angel costume. Mom straightened Gabby's halo. "The angels' job was to tell the shepherds about Jesus's birth. The shepherds were the first people to learn and spread the word that God had sent Jesus as a Savior to the world!" "That is pretty cool, I guess," said Timothy. "It sure is," said Mom. "And did the shepherds say, 'Let's go to Bethlehem in the morning, when it's light outside'? No. Did they say, 'Let's find someone to watch these sheep, and then we'll go to Bethlehem'? No! They said, 'Let's go to Bethlehem now!'" "Okay, Mom," said Timothy, heading for the door. "I guess we do need to get to church. To tell the story of Jesus--now!" –Jennifer Dillard How About You? How many times have you heard the Christmas story? Twenty times? A hundred times? Even if the story feels familiar, try to experience it the way the shepherds did--as a glorious revelation from God that can change your life right now! Pray that God will help you feel the urgency and power of the story this Christmas season and share it with others. Today's Key Verse: The shepherds said to each other, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see what has happened. The Lord has told us about this." (NLV) (Luke 2:15) Today's Key Thought: Feel the excitement of the Christmas story

Bible Reading: Romans 8:1-9 "Hey, Reece! Did you forget that flying is for birds?" joked Uncle Ryan as he looked at the cast plastered around Reece's ankle. "Your mother tells me you jumped off the garage roof. Good thing you landed in the shrubs or you might have broken both ankles." "It was higher than I thought," replied Reece, embarrassed. "You probably have a new respect for the law of gravity," said Uncle Ryan. He sat down on the couch. "I've come to appreciate all of God's laws." "You mean the Ten Commandments?" asked Reece. "Yes, but those are only part of God's laws," Uncle Ryan said. "When God created the world, He put into place every scientific law there is. He made botanical laws that say certain seeds produce certain fruit, and He made biological laws that say people require food and water to stay alive. Chemical laws say that certain mixtures of gases will create explosions, and there are reproductive laws that say chickens hatch chicks--never ducks. Mathematical laws say two plus two equals four." "And like you said, there's the law of gravity," added Reece with a grin. Uncle Ryan laughed. "Right. God holds the universe together, and His laws never change. It pays to respect God's laws if you want to stay alive." Uncle Ryan picked up a Bible lying on the coffee table and held it up. "And we haven't talked about God's most important laws--His spiritual laws." "You mean like the things Pastor Burton preaches about in his sermons?" asked Reece. "Yes," said Uncle Ryan. "Some people don't believe there are spiritual laws, but they're as real as the physical ones. The Bible tells us about them--it says that our sin separates us from God and that we can only be saved by trusting in Jesus, who died for our wrongs on the cross and then rose from the grave. You either respect these spiritual laws and do what they say, or you go your own way and lose out in the end." "And that's even worse than forgetting the law of gravity and getting a broken ankle," said Reece. –Jonnye R. Griffin How About You? Do you respect God's scientific laws in the world, such as the law of gravity? How about God's spiritual laws? Those laws say that sin separates you from God and that you can only become God's child by trusting in Jesus. Anyone who doesn't will be separated from God forever. Follow God's spiritual laws by trusting in Jesus today. (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: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) (Romans 6:23) Today's Key Thought: Trust in Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalms 121; 139:2-5 Joel was used to the sound of sirens, squealing tires, and people's loud voices all through the night. Living in the city, he heard those things all the time. But he wasn't used to the beeping sound he heard now. Turning onto his side in his bed, Joel saw that it was three in the morning. He frowned. It was three, and he had definitely just heard the microwave. Joel got out of bed and crept out to the small kitchen area in the apartment he shared with his mom, stepdad, and newborn brother. He found his mom at the table holding a mug. Mom grimaced. "Did I wake you?" Joel shrugged. "Is Baby Robby awake?" Mom shook her head, smiling as she looked down at the steaming drink in front of her. "Just me." Joel saw the baby monitor on the table and walked over to look at the screen. His new baby brother was asleep in his crib. "I was like this when I first brought you home too," Mom said. "Too anxious to sleep because I felt like I needed to be awake to listen for you and watch over you." "He'll cry loudly if he needs you." Joel had witnessed his baby brother doing just that. "I know," Mom said. "Deep down, I know that, but I still don't feel comfortable sleeping right now." She stood and put an arm around Joel's shoulders. "It actually makes me think of how God is with us, always watching over us." "He never sleeps," Joel said quietly. "But you need to. Whenever I have trouble sleeping, you tell me that I can rest peacefully because Jesus is with me and I can trust Him to take care of me. You can trust Him to take care of you too--and Baby Robby." Mom chuckled and ruffled Joel's hair. "You're right, sweet boy. I think it's time for us both to get some rest." When Joel returned to his dark bedroom, he stared up toward the ceiling. "You really are like that, aren't You, God? Always up and listening for us?" He smiled. "It feels good to know You're always watching over us." –Emily Acker How About You? Do your problems and worries ever keep you up at night? When you feel anxious, remember that God is always watching over you. He loves you so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to save you from sin, and He promises never to leave you alone. He is always there to listen and care for you the way a loving parent cares for their child. Rest peacefully 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 always watching and listening