Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-5; 8:24-28 "It's such a nice day," Adrianna said. "Look at the sunshine, Mom! Nate, don't you wish we could go to the waterpark today?" Nate looked at his little sister. "It would be fun, but I'm sure Mom and Dad have other plans for the day." "I'm not sure what our plans are," Mom said, taking a sip from her mug of coffee. "And it does look like a nice day." "Can I ask Daddy if we can go to the waterpark?" Adrianna asked, carrying her cereal bowl to the sink. "You can ask," Mom said. "I'm not sure what he's thinking for today though." "Yay!" Adrianna skipped out of the kitchen. "The waterpark! The waterpark!" she sang. Mom smiled at Nate. "She's sure abounding in hope, huh?" "What?" Nate's forehead wrinkled. "What do you mean?" "In the Bible, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome encouraging them to abound in hope," Mom said. "To abound in hope means to be filled with it." "What kind of hope?" Nate asked. "Hope in what?" "Hope in God," Mom said. "Paul reminds them that those who trust Jesus as their Savior have peace and joy and can be filled with hope because of His promises. It's a little like how Adrianna has hope your dad will say yes to a waterpark trip--she knows he loves her and enjoys doing good things for her." "And we can have hope God will do good things for us?" Nate asked. Mom nodded. "That doesn't mean He'll give us everything we ask for, but we can abound in hope knowing that He saved us, gave us His Spirit to be with us, and promises to do good things in our lives." "Do you think Dad will say yes to the waterpark?" asked Nate. Before Mom had a chance to respond, Adrianna bounded back into the room. "We're going to the waterpark!" she shouted. Mom grinned. "Your sister's hope did not disappoint," she told Nate. "Just like God does not disappoint us when we hope in Him." "The waterpark--yay!" Nate pumped a fist in the air. "And a God we can hope in." He glanced at his mom. "I'm happy for that too." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever hoped for something? Did it work out the way you wanted, or were you disappointed? The Bible says that if you trust in Jesus, you can abound in hope knowing that He will never let you down. He saved you from sin and gave you eternal life, and He promises to always be with you. Let the joy, peace, and hope of knowing Him fill your life as you trust Him to do good things. Today's Key Verse: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV) (Romans 15:13) Today's Key Thought: Have hope in God

Bible Reading: Psalms 26:1-3; 139:23-24 "What's wrong with the car, Daddy?" asked five-year-old Lydia as the family drove to their country home after a church service in the village. "It's jerking." "It's sure running rough," said Dad. "It's been doing that lately, but it's never been this bad before." "Are we going to make it home?" Lydia peered through the window at the trees lining the steep drop at the side of the road. "Sure, we'll make it," said Lydia's older brother, Barrett. "We always do." The car slowly climbed a long, steep hill. Dad pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor, but the car refused to speed up. Dad frowned. "I must say, I'm annoyed with myself for not checking this out sooner," he said. "I should have taken the car to the mechanic when I first noticed it wasn't running smoothly." "I think it's getting worse," said Barrett. He wasn't so sure they'd make it home after all. Mom sighed. "Well, at least we're close enough to home that we can walk the rest of the way if we have to, but we'd have a long uphill hike." "I guess the car needs regular checkups just like we do," said Barrett. "Like Pastor Kim said in his sermon this morning--have a checkup every day, and if you see a trouble spot, take care of the problem before it gets worse." "Our car needs a checkup every day?" Lydia asked, puzzled. Barrett laughed. "No, we do! As we pray, read the Bible, and go to church, we need to be on the lookout for any trouble spots of sin that God may be pointing out to us. If we see any, we need to confess them to Him right away. Jesus will forgive us and help us fix them so we can run smoothly again." To the relief of the whole family, the car kept going and they finally reached their driveway. "Well," said Dad, "I hope you'll remember this lesson about doing regular checkups in your life, because I don't intend to let this car teach us that lesson again. Tomorrow it goes to the mechanic to be fixed!" –Emilia D. Nichols How About You? Do you do regular checkups in your life? Do you spend time with the Lord in prayer, in His Word, and at church? When you do that, you may see trouble spots of sin in your life that don't match up to how He wants you to live. If so, confess them to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. Trust Him to help you turn away from sin. Then keep doing checkups to make sure you're living in a way that shows others His love. Today's Key Verse: Search me, O God…see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NKJV) (Psalm 139:23-24) Today's Key Thought: Examine your life daily

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:14-29 "Yum, your mangoes are the best, Nenek!" Eyes sparkling, Kira chewed the scrumptious mangoes her Indonesian grandmother had just peeled for her. "You mean Kakek's mangoes," Nenek said, chuckling. "Your grandfather was the one who bought and planted the seeds in our backyard. The tree grew and grew, but no mangoes. Kakek persisted and kept fertilizing it though. It was only after his death that fruit buds bloomed. Too bad he never saw the fruits of his labor." Kira's eyes dimmed as she thought of her grandfather, who died two years ago. "I miss Kakek." "Do you remember how he often took you to church?" said Nenek. "Even when his health started failing, he loved to take you and talk about what you learned afterward." Kira nodded. "I remember he took me to church two weeks before he was hospitalized. I didn't want to go then--I was tired from a basketball tournament on Saturday night, which we lost. But on Sunday morning, Kakek showed up with a huge smile and convinced me to go." "I remember you were really down that night," Nenek said. "You and your team worked so hard for that tournament." "Yeah--I thought of quitting basketball then. But then Kakek took me to church, and the sermon was on the parable of the bags of gold. Two of the servants were faithful with what God gave them and were able to make it grow. After church, Kakek said the parable was about using whatever God has given us--including our talents--to help more people know about Jesus. He told me about the time he lost a tennis match but kept on practicing and eventually won a game. He said his faith in Jesus kept him going and that he was trusting God to help him use his gifts however He wanted him to. It made me realize how much I needed Jesus. I asked Kakek to pray with me, and I became a Christian that day." Kira's face brightened. "I'm so glad I had him in my life, Nenek." She wrapped her arms around her grandmother. Nenek planted a kiss on Kira's forehead. "So in the end, Kakek did see the fruits of his labor--not the mangoes, but you putting your faith in Jesus." –Ruth Setyadi How About You? Have you ever worked at something but failed to see results? Perhaps it was a hard subject at school or a sport. Maybe you prayed for a family member or friend to trust in Jesus, but they continue to reject Him. Don't give up. Be faithful and persistent in the things God has put on your heart to do, and trust Him with the fruits of your labor--whether you see them or not. Today's Key Verse: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV) (Galatians 6:9) Today's Key Thought: Be faithful and persistent

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "I need you to move a little faster, Lincoln. What's taking you so long? This morning could not be going any worse, and you're not helping things at all." Lincoln blinked back tears as his mom snapped at him for being too slow heading out to the van. One of his shoes had been hard to get on, so he was dragging his foot a bit, waiting until he was seated to fix it. "I can't believe I overslept," Mom muttered to herself as they got into the van. "Today of all days, when I have a meeting with my boss…" Lincoln got settled in the van and worked on adjusting his shoe. He had it fixed by the time his mom dropped him off at his grandma's house. A few hours later, Mom returned to pick him up. "I'm sorry I was a little grumpy this morning, Lincoln." She held up a cup of an iced brown liquid. "I needed my morning coffee. I really can't go without that." Lincoln sighed. "You needed it, Mom?" "Yes. You know me and coffee; I can't function without it." Lincoln followed his mom out to the van. "I thought the only thing we were supposed to need was Jesus." "Hmm." Mom settled into the driver's seat. "Well, technically, He is all we need," she said. "But we have some earthly needs too." Lincoln frowned. "Like coffee?" Mom backed out of the driveway and started through town. She was quiet for a few minutes before she glanced back at Lincoln. "Okay, that's not a good excuse," she said. "I'm not a baby, crying because I need my milk at the start of the day. More importantly, Jesus gives me the power to love others the way He does. I should be able to be a loving and kind person without coffee. I'm sorry." "I forgive you," Lincoln said. "And I'm sorry you overslept this morning." "Everything worked out in the end," Mom said. "Right now I just need God's grace, huh? I need Him to forgive me for letting my bad morning and lack of coffee affect my attitude and lead to a case of the grumpies taking over." –Emily Acker How About You? What do you need each day in order to be kind and loving? Do you ever find yourself treating others badly because you're hungry, haven't slept well, or just want more time to yourself? Things like eating and sleeping well are important, but your greatest need of all is for Jesus. Trust Him to forgive your wrongs, meet your daily needs, and give you the power to show His love to others--even when you're tired or hungry. Today's Key Verse: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 4:19) Today's Key Thought: Let Jesus be all you need

Bible Reading: Philippians 3:4-11 "Dad, my glasses broke!" Levi said. "Let me see," said Dad. "It looks like a screw needs tightening. I think I can fix them." "I wish I could get new glasses like Justin's," Levi said. "The ones he got are really cool. He's always getting new things, and kids crowd around him to see his new stuff. With glasses like that, I'd be important like Justin." "Well, let's see what we can do with these," said Dad. He set Levi's glasses on his workbench and reached for his toolbox. "For a job this important, I'll use my best tools." Dad lifted out a tray of screwdrivers, all of them in good condition. Dad was a carpenter, and he took good care of his tools. He pushed the tray toward Levi. "Which one should we use?" Levi looked through the tray of short, long, wide, and narrow screwdrivers. None of them was the right size for the tiny screw. "None of these will work," he said. "Are you sure?" asked Dad. "These are my very best tools." "But they aren't the right ones for the job," said Levi. "You're right." Dad pulled a tiny screwdriver out of a drawer and used it to tighten the small screw. "You know, getting new stuff to make us feel important is like using the wrong tool for the job. New stuff gets old and breaks, or someone else gets something better or more exciting than what we have. We might even find that other people just think our stuff is important and not us." "So if getting new stuff is the wrong way to feel important, what's the right tool we should use?" asked Levi. "The only way to truly feel loved and important is by receiving Jesus's gift of eternal life and embracing our identity in Him. He died and rose again to make us God's children, and that's a gift that will never break or wear out. Nothing will ever come along that's better. We're always loved and important to Him." Dad handed Levi the repaired glasses, and Levi put them on. "Thanks, Dad," he said. "I can see much better now--and I see I'm important to Jesus. No new stuff needed." –Heidi J. Schmidt How About You? Do you wish you had cool stuff so other people would notice you or like you more? Having something that others want may make us feel important for a time, but that feeling only lasts until something new comes along. You don't need anything new to get God's attention. Being His child makes you important to Him, and His love and acceptance of you will last forever. Today's Key Verse: Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (NLT) (Philippians 3:8) Today's Key Thought: You are important to Jesus

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 31:7-8; Joshua 1:5 "Mae, I'd like you to put Miles down for his nap today," said Mom. "I need to make an important phone call." "Okay," said Mae, smiling at her little brother. "Nap time!" she announced to the energetic little boy. Laughing, Miles toddled away, wanting his sister to chase him. Mae caught him quickly. "Sleepy time, buddy," she said, taking him to his crib. She hoisted him over the side and laid him down. Little Miles scrambled around on the mattress, ignoring soft toys and stuffed animals. He settled down when Mae patted his back for a few moments. "Sweet dreams," she whispered, backing out of the room. Just as she was about to shut the door, Miles started crying. "Blankie!" he sobbed. "Blankie!" He pulled himself up and began to shake the railing. Mae frowned. Where did he leave his blanket? She checked the TV room. She dug through the toy box. She searched the hall closet. She looked under the dining room table and on the chair seats. Finally, she found the blanket in a lower cupboard in the kitchen. As soon as Mae handed Miles his blanket, he stopped crying. He clutched the blanket in his arms and dropped to the mattress. After a few shaky breaths, he smiled contentedly at Mae. "Sweet dreams," she said again as she left. "Miles had to have his 'blankie' before he'd go to sleep," Mae told her mother later. "Good thing I found it or he never would have settled down." "That blanket is his security," said Mom. "I guess we all need security--even grown-ups! We need to feel comfortable and cared for and safe. What's your security, Mae?" "My security?" asked Mae in surprise. She shrugged. "You, I guess. I know you're here to help me if I need you." She grinned. "You're my 'blankie.' What's yours?" "Well, we all find some security in family and friends, but a Christian's real security is in Jesus and His love and forgiveness. He cares for us, and He's always available. He saved us and promises to do what's best for us, even when we go through difficult times." Mae nodded thoughtfully. "He's better than a blanket any day." –Mary M. Ihlenfeldt How About You? What's your security? People look for security in lots of places--money, possessions, government, and the people in their lives. But none of those things can provide real security--even the people who love you can't be with you all the time and make mistakes. Only Jesus can bring real security. He cares for you and will always be with you. Depend on Him. Today's Key Verse: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NKJV) (Matthew 28:20) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11; Romans 8:35-39 Ryan helped his dad straighten the canvas of the tent that lay on the ground. "I love camping," he said. "Sleeping in a tent is so cool!" Dad smiled. "I think so too. Okay, help me get the pegs through these tent loops. We'll pound the pegs in about halfway at first and then secure them when they're all in place." Dad took one of the pegs and stuck it through a loop on the side of the tent. Ryan pounded it with the hammer. As Dad continued putting each peg in place, Ryan pounded it down. Then they put the poles together and raised the tent. "I can't wait to go inside and get my sleeping bag rolled out!" said Ryan. "Well, don't try going in yet," said Dad. "It could collapse on you. We need to pound the pegs deeper into the ground first, remember?" Ryan nodded, and they got to work. When the tent was finally secured, they put their sleeping bags inside. Then they grabbed their fishing poles and headed for the river. Around midnight, Ryan woke to the sound of distant thunder. He saw that Dad was awake too. "Our tent won't blow down, will it?" Ryan asked. "Oh, I don't think so," said Dad. "The wind is pretty gusty, but I don't think it will get strong enough tonight to blow the tent away. The pegs will hold it in place." He was right. The wind soon died down and the storm passed, and Ryan and Dad went back to sleep. "I'm glad we pounded those tent pegs in good and tight," said Ryan as they enjoyed a campfire breakfast the next morning. "Me too," said Dad. "They kept our tent in place during the storm." He smiled at Ryan. "Do you know who holds us steady through the storms of life?" "Jesus does," said Ryan. "If the wind got strong enough, the tent pegs might have let go, but nothing could ever make Jesus let go of us, could it?" "No way," said Dad. "He died for our sins and rose again so we could spend eternity with Him. No matter how many difficult things come into our lives, we can always count on Jesus to hold us steady and help us through them." –Pauline Youd How About You? Has your life been shaken up by something difficult--divorce, a death in the family, crime, or the loss of a friend? Things like that can sometimes make life seem very dark and stormy. That's when you need to remember that Jesus is still with you. He loves you and promises to help you through all of life's storms. No matter what difficult circumstances you face, He will never let you go. Today's Key Verse: For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." (NLT) (Hebrews 13:5) Today's Key Thought: Jesus will always help you

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-25 "Mom, can we have fruit salad for lunch?" asked Brynlee. "Good idea," said Mom. "You can help me make it. We have lots of different kinds of fruit we can use today." As they began putting the fruit together, Mom had an idea. "Maybe we can put nine different kinds of fruit in our salad and pretend we're putting in the fruit of the Spirit," she said. "We learned about them in church last week, remember?" "Yeah," said Brynlee. "I'll name them as we put them in." She put orange pieces into a big bowl. "I'll call these love," she said. Then she opened a can and added pineapple chunks. "These will be joy. What else do we have?" "I have some fresh peach wedges ready," said Mom. "And here's a cantaloupe we can cut up." Brynlee put in the peaches, calling them peace. She decided on patience for the cantaloupe. "The apples will be kindness, and the pears will be goodness," she said. "I'll slice some bananas and call them faithfulness." "Okay, and you can add some of these grapes," said Mom. Brynlee called the grapes gentleness. "We still need a fruit for self-control," said Brynlee. "But we don't have anything else, do we?" Mom shook her head. "No, I don't think so," she said. "Unless…" She opened a cupboard door. "How about some dried cranberries?" "All right!" said Brynlee. "Now we have something for each fruit of the Spirit." "Good," said Mom. "You did a great job remembering them. You got them all!" At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed the salad. "Good to the last bite," said Dad, popping the last piece of pineapple into his mouth. "And now our fruit of the Spirit is all gone," said Brynlee. "I hope not!" said Mom. "Spiritual fruit will always be a part of our lives as Christians. As we rely on the Holy Spirit to fill us with love and become more like Jesus, others will be able to see the fruit of God's love in us." Dad nodded. "I pray that the fruit God produces in our lives will show people we belong to Him." –Linda Weddle How About You? Can others see the fruit of the Spirit in your life? People aren't able to see when you've had apples or peaches or other kinds of fruit for lunch, but the fruit of the Spirit should be visible in the life of every Christian. Are you letting others see the fruit of the love God has planted in your heart? Trust Him to help you let your words and actions show others you know Jesus. Today's Key Verse: The fruit that the Spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (ERV) (Galatians 5:22-23 ) Today's Key Thought: Display the fruit of the Spirit

Bible Reading: Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 64:8; Hosea 11:1-4 "Good job!" Dad shouted to Ellery. He was holding on to her by a towel looped under her armpits as she practiced riding her two-wheel bike. Her tongue stuck out of her mouth in deep concentration as she tried to maintain her balance even with Dad's support. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, her eyes going wide. She started wobbling, but Dad held her upright as the bike went down to the ground. He hauled Ellery to her feet and smiled down at her. Ellery looked up at Dad and asked, "Again?" Ellery practiced her biking skills for a while longer before they returned to the campsite just in time to grill some burgers over the fire. Meredith, her older sister, and Mom were just finishing up their quiet time when they arrived. Dad helped Ellery assemble her dinner just the way she liked it--two slices of cheese, three squirts of mustard, and four pickles. "I read something interesting in my Bible today," Meredith said as Ellery dove into her food. Ellery made a strange gurgling sound that resembled the words, "What, what?" "Manners," both Mom and Dad said in unison. Meredith looked at her sister and shook her head before continuing. "I read that God is our Father. I think it's cool there are so many different words in the Bible that describe who God is." "Do you know why God calls Himself our Father?" Mom asked. "Because He made us!" Ellery jumped in, now having swallowed her delicious bite. "You're right," Dad said. "And when we trust in Jesus, we become part of God's family. The Bible also describes what kind of Father God is. He teaches us, encourages us, and is always with us." "Like how you helped me on my bike today!" "Or how you helped me with my jump shot in basketball," Meredith added. Dad smiled at them. "Yes, but us human dads aren't perfect. My dad hurt me a lot when I was younger, and I know I'm not perfect and have messed up too. But God never does that. He is the perfect Father." "He's even better than you?" Ellery asked. "Even better than you can imagine," Dad responded as Ellery leaned her head against his arm. –Zoe Brickner How About You? Do you have a loving dad in your life? If so, Father's Day is the perfect time to thank God for that wonderful blessing--and tell your dad you're thankful for him too! If you don't have a dad in your life, or your relationship with him is difficult, know that God sees you and loves you more than you could ever know. Unlike human dads, God is a perfect Father. He cherishes you and will be with you always. Today's Key Verse: See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God's children. (CSB) (1 John 3:1) Today's Key Thought: God is our Father

Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19 "Sold!" proclaimed the fast-talking auctioneer, and Logan grinned at his mother. He found auctions fun and interesting, so he hadn't minded when she wanted to stop and see what was happening at this antique auction. "Another broken piece of junk sold to the highest bidder," Logan murmured, stifling a laugh. He liked to tease his mom about liking antiques. Mom smiled and nudged him with her elbow. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," she told him. Logan shrugged and continued sitting on his hands as the auctioneer began selling an autographed baseball. Logan had learned to avoid lifting his hand during the bidding. Earlier he had started to scratch his head and the auctioneer thought he was bidding on the item being auctioned. As they drove home after the auction, Logan asked his mom why people were so willing to spend their money on other people's junk. "I can't believe how much they'll pay for that stuff," he said. "I thought a few things they sold at the auction were cool, but people paid less for them than for stuff I wouldn't want if it were given to me! Who decides how much those things are worth?" "The condition of the piece is important," said Mom, "and whether the item is rare or not is also a factor. But the bottom line is…well, how much someone is willing to pay for it. That's really what determines how much an item is worth." Logan thought for a moment. "That's kinda like something we talked about in my class at church last week," he said. "Our teacher explained that God sent His Son to die for us--Jesus paid for our sins with His own life. I guess that makes us worth a lot!" "I like that, Logan," Mom said. "I think you got a lot from that auction--even though you didn't buy anything." Logan had one more question. "Um, Mom, what did I almost buy today when I scratched my head?" "An old record player," Mom replied. "Oh." Logan paused. "What's a record player?" –Mike Dize How About You? Do you know how much you're worth? Because of what Jesus did for you, you're worth a lot--He paid a huge price for you! He gave His life to pay the price of your sin. Have you responded to that great love? Have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, trust in Him 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: You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 6:20) Today's Key Thought: You're worth what Jesus paid for you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 55:8-9 Gunner ran to the garage when he heard his parents drive in. "Is Grandpa okay?" he asked anxiously as they got out of the car. Dad put his hand on Gunner's shoulder. "Your grandfather isn't suffering anymore," he said quietly. "He died this afternoon--he's in heaven now." Gunner swallowed hard, forcing back tears that choked his throat. He walked away while Dad was still talking. In his room, Gunner thought about all the things he and Grandpa had planned to do. "It's not fair!" he muttered. He looked up as Dad came in. "I don't get it," Gunner said. "I prayed all day for Grandpa. God can do anything, can't He? So why didn't He heal Grandpa?" "Sometimes God's answer to what we ask is no," Dad said gently. "I don't know why He didn't heal Grandpa, but I know Jesus promises to be with us in our pain and sadness. Grandpa is in heaven with Him now, and someday we'll see him again." Gunner turned away. He wasn't ready to give up his grandfather. "But I wanted Grandpa to stay here with us." Dad sat down beside him. "When you ask Mom and me for something we don't think is good for you, we tell you no. You don't like it when we say no. You might be upset about it--maybe even angry sometimes. But you know we love you and want what's best for you, right?" Gunner nodded. "We talk about what's happening and how all of us feel, and we go on loving each other," continued Dad. "We're a family even though we disagree. Well, that's how it is with God too. When we don't get what we ask Him for, we're unhappy and sometimes get angry with Him. It's okay to tell Him how we feel, but we need to remember that God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. He wants what's best for us--and for Grandpa." "But I'm going to miss Grandpa so much," Gunner said, resting his face against his dad's shoulder. "Me too," Dad said. "We can cry together." Gunner slipped his arm around his dad and hung on tight. "But let's thank Jesus that Grandpa is with Him now," said Dad. "And let's trust Him even though we're hurting." –Janet Boulter How About You? Has someone you love died? Is someone sick? Tell Jesus about your hurts and fears. You may not always understand why He allows certain things to happen, but He will always be there with you and help you through times of pain and sorrow. Remember that He is good and that He loves and cares for you, even when you don't understand. Today's Key Verse: As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. (Isaiah 55:9) Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus when you're hurting

Bible Reading: James 4:13-17; 1 Peter 4:7-11 Jade stretched and yawned. Then she jumped down from her place on the top bunk and hurried to get dressed. "Let's go, troops!" yelled a cheery voice from outside. "We have many miles to cover on our morning hike." "How can Ella be so cheerful at seven o'clock in the morning?" asked Hayley, one of Jade's cabinmates. "I don't know," Jade answered, "but I like it. Her cheerfulness rubs off on me. Let's go." Jade and Hayley joined the other campers as they gathered in front of the dining hall. "Good morning!" said Ella, their camp counselor. "Are you ready for our adventure? We'll fix breakfast a little way down the trail." A few minutes later, they were off. "Make sure you stay on the trail," Ella told the group. "There was a heavy mist last night, and everything is damp. The grass is pretty wet, and your feet will be too if you walk on it." "It's not misty now," said Hayley. "Isn't it funny how mist just disappears?" "Yeah--like a vapor," said Jade. "I learned a verse at church that says life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes." "That's right," said Ella. "I know that verse too. It tells us how short life is--like a mist. And what did the mist do while it was here?" "It made things wet," Hayley replied. "It soaked the grass so much that we don't want to walk on it." Ella nodded. "Right. And in a way, we soak our environment too. For example, do you know anyone who soaks you with joy?" Jade spoke up quickly. "You do! You always soak me with your cheerfulness, Ella. You make me feel happy." Ella was surprised. "Why, thank you! But you know, the only reason I'm able to do that is because Jesus fills me with joy. Our lives may be short, but Jesus gives us the ability to soak other people's lives with His love. When we trust in Him, He fills our short lives on this earth with great purpose--the purpose of helping others know He loves them and offers them eternal life with Him." –Kathy A. Brand How About You? What do you soak those around you with? Our time on earth may be short, but with Jesus, you can make a big difference in other people's lives. When you trust in Him, He fills you with His love and joy so you can point others to Him. Even though life is short, trust Jesus to help you become more like Him so He can use your life for His great purpose. Today's Key Verse: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (NIV) (John 13:34) Today's Key Thought: Share Jesus's love with others

Bible Reading: Romans 12:4-10 Cassie sat on the beach with her seagull in a cage at her side. She looked up at her mother, who was standing beside her. "I'm not sure I can let Howard go, Mom," she said. "He's just about the only friend I've got!" She sighed. "Some kids at school say I'm dumb because I have to go to special classes." Cassie looked down. "Why can't I be smart like other kids?" Mom sat down and put her arm around Cassie. "You're very smart, honey. That word doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. Besides, our value isn't based on what we can do--it's based on who we are in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. But He did also make each one of us special and give us our own gifts and talents." Cassie wiped her eyes. "I don't have any gifts." "Oh, but you do, Cassie!" Mom said. "I believe you have the wonderful gift of being able to help others." "I do?" Cassie asked, wide-eyed. Mom nodded. "You're very helpful to lots of people. When Grandma broke her hip, you went to her house almost every day to help out. You always remember to pray for kids at school who are sick--and look at Howard." Cassie looked down at the seagull. "Howard was badly injured when you found him," continued Mom, "and with help from the wildlife refuge, you nursed him back to health." Mom smiled. "The workers at the refuge said you have such a natural way of handling him that he's even become your friend. You've done such a good job, and now he's ready to be released. You're helpful in many ways." Cassie shrugged. "Anyone would do those things." Mom shook her head. "I wish that were true, but not everyone is that sensitive to the needs of others." Cassie looked at Howard. "Well, Howard, how would you like your freedom?" She stood up and opened the cage, and the bird was soon in the air. He floundered a bit, then squawked what must have been a thank you and sailed out over the water. Cassie smiled. She would miss her little friend, but she was eager to see where she could use her special way with animals next. –A.J. Schut How About You? Do you realize that everyone--including you--has special gifts from God? Maybe you think other kids are gifted because they get better grades or have greater athletic ability than you. But you're gifted too--God may have just given you different gifts than He gave those kids, like perhaps being friendly and encouraging others. Be thankful for the gifts God has given you and use them to help others. Today's Key Verse: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church…gifts. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 12:27-28) Today's Key Thought: God gives gifts to everyone

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-5; James 1:12-15 "I can't believe it! Andrew says he's a Christian, but I saw him looking at a bad website on his tablet today," Zane told his dad. "He must be really weak to look at that kind of stuff." "So looking at websites like that doesn't appeal to you at all?" Dad asked. "No way!" said Zane. "I don't have any problem staying away from that junk." "I'm glad," Dad said as he put fishing rods into the trunk of the car. "Did you pack the trout flies?" "Trout flies? I thought we were fishing for northern pike. You won't hook one of them with a trout fly!" Dad grinned. "I can see you know a lot about fishing bait." He shut the trunk door. "So, what kind of bait do you need to look out for?" "Me?" asked Zane. Dad nodded. "Just like different fish are caught with different lures, different people are tempted to sin by different things. As you pointed out, Andrew is tempted by things he shouldn't look at online. So what are you tempted by?" "Um…" Zane hesitated. "I don't know." "Well, let's see. Why were you grounded last week?" asked Dad. Zane's face grew warm. "I got upset at Macie and smashed one of her toys on the floor." "And you got in trouble last month for pushing down a boy at school," said Dad. "So you have to watch out for a different lure than Andrew does--you're often tempted to hurt others when you feel angry." Zane sighed. "I guess Andrew and I are a lot alike." "You and Andrew and every other Christian," said Dad. "We all struggle with sin, but we're not all tempted by the same things. So instead of judging other Christians when they're tempted by certain sins, we need to encourage them and remind them that Jesus has freed us from sin. And if they do give in, we need to show them grace--just like Jesus does for us." Zane nodded. "I'll do that next time I see Andrew looking at things he shouldn't--and ask him to do the same for me when I get angry." "Good idea." Dad opened the car door. "Okay, jump in. Let's go get 'em!" –Karen Ditthardt How About You? What sins do you struggle with? You may not struggle with the same things your friends do, but all Christians struggle with temptation at times. Jesus tells us not to point a finger at others while ignoring our own shortcomings. Instead, we need to remind other Christians who they are in Jesus when they're tempted to sin--and be on the lookout for the things that tempt us. Today's Key Verse: Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV) (James 1:14) Today's Key Thought: Christians struggle with different sins

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