Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading: Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 5:1-5 "Sofia, chore time! Today we're going to--what's wrong?" Aunt Lori set down the buckets she was holding and gently put her hands on Sofia's shoulders. "Aren't you having a nice time on the farm?" Sofia tried to smile. "I just wish Mom and Dad were here with me." Her throat felt tight. She buried her face in her aunt's denim shirt, trying to control her tears. "Oh, honey. I'm so sorry." Aunt Lori hugged her niece tight, remembering when her own parents separated many years before. "Why did God let this happen to me if He's supposed to be good? I don't see anything good in my parents getting a divorce!" Sofia said fiercely. Aunt Lori was silent as she brushed Sofia's hair. After a moment, she said, "Let's go empty the compost." As they emptied the buckets into the compost bin, Sofia grimaced at the smell of the decomposing fruits and vegetables. "Gross," she muttered. Then they walked to the garden to do some weeding. "The plants are gorgeous," Sofia observed. "How do you keep them so healthy?" "I put compost on them. But those haven't been getting much," Aunt Lori said, nodding to some rows of sadder-looking plants. "Let's put some compost on them now." As they worked, Aunt Lori said, "You know, Sofi, I think we're like these plants, and the difficulties we face are like compost." "How?" Sofia asked, puzzled. "Well, God can use the hard things in our lives to help us trust Him more and grow in our faith. He promises to use everything for good. Jesus's death on the cross was horrible, yet that's how God did the greatest good of all and saved us from our sins. And He can bring good from bad things that happen. God hates divorce--it's not good. My parents' divorce was awful, but it helped me see God as my perfect, loving Father. By His grace, I'm not a withered, dying plant because I know He is always with me, giving me strength." Aunt Lori smiled. Sofia had never thought about life that way. She did want to be vibrant and strong like the healthy-looking plants. She would think hard about what Aunt Lori had said. –Rachel Avallone How About You? Have you gone through uncomfortable or painful things in your life? It's natural to become upset and ask God, "Why is this happening to me?" Even though bad things happen, we know God is good. He promises to be with us through the hard things, and He is always at work in our lives. When difficult things happen, trust that God will use them for good. Today's Key Verse: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) (Romans 8:28) Today's Key Thought: God uses everything for our good

Bible Reading: Psalms 27:7-10; 116:1-9 When Maggie stepped into the batter's box, she already had two strikes. One more would put her on the bench. She glanced at the stands. Her foster mom wasn't there. Maggie sighed. Her team chanted, "Two-strike hitter, don't be a quitter!" The pitch came in fast, and Maggie connected, sending the softball past the outfield. Softball took her mind off everything. When she got back home, her social worker was out front holding a bag with all Maggie's belongings. Oh no, I forgot! I'm moving today. She forced her feet to keep walking. Ever since Dad died, it was one foster home after another. After several months in her new house, Maggie saw a Bible lying open on her foster mom's desk. The words "I love the Lord because He hears my voice" jumped out at Maggie. "He doesn't hear my voice," she said out loud. Alice, Maggie's foster mom, came in and asked, "Who doesn't hear you, honey?" "Jesus doesn't. When Mom left, Dad told me to pray. When Dad got sick, I prayed. Now they're both gone." Alice put a soft hand on Maggie's shoulder. "You play softball--I did too. Do you ever cheer, 'Two-strike hitter…'" "'Don't be a quitter!'" Maggie answered. "I'm a quitter at asking God for anything." Alice tapped the Bible. "Look at this psalm--Psalm 116. This man had pain and death all around him. He said he was brought low, but God heard him. Think--when your mom left, who was still with you?" "Dad." Maggie paused. "And Jesus. And when Dad was sick, he told me that because Jesus died for me, I could trust Him even in hard times." Alice nodded. "Psalm 27 says that even if your mother and father are gone, the Lord will care for you. The Lord is taking care of you, Maggie. He sent you here, and we love you. We prayed for you before you came--and we're praying for your mom too. We don't know what she'll do. But we know what Jesus will do." "He'll hear my voice?" "Yes, He always hears you. Praying gives you a deeper friendship with God. When it comes to prayer, be that two-strike hitter, Maggie." Maggie grinned. "I won't be a quitter." –Laura Roesler How About You? Do you ever feel like you're striking out with God when you pray? Don't give up. Even when it seems like God isn't listening, He hears your prayers. He cares about your tears and your worries. He wants to hear what you have to say. Even if other people leave you, Jesus never will. He died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever. Keep praying--He's listening. Today's Key Verse: Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT) (Psalm 116:2) Today's Key Thought: The Lord hears you

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:7-12 "Why does she get to ride when I have to walk?" Caden whined. "It's not fair!" "Your sister is only two; her legs aren't as long or as strong as yours," Mom replied, parking the stroller in front of the two-toed sloth exhibit. Caden continued to pout. "Emma gets all the attention too! You treat her better than you treat me. You must love her more!" "Caden, that's not true!" Mom sounded hurt. "You know I love you and your brothers and sister with all my heart." "Then why don't you treat us the same?" Mom pointed to the exhibit. "Do you see the zookeeper feeding the sloth?" Caden nodded. "What's she feeding it?" asked Mom. "Looks like fruit." Mom nodded. "What did the zookeeper at the penguin exhibit fed the penguins?" "Fish, right?" "That's right. What would happen if this zookeeper tried to feed fish to the sloth?" "Mom, sloths don't eat fish. They live in trees!" Caden laughed. "Right again." Mom smiled. "Different animals eat different foods and live in different habitats because they have different needs. Good zookeepers treat all the animals differently because they care for all of them." Caden glanced at his little sister, who had fallen asleep. "Emma and I aren't different kinds of animals." "No," Mom replied, "but you are different people, and sometimes you have different needs. Emma needs help with things like holding her cup and turning a doorknob, but sometimes you need help with things like math homework and piano practice." Mom, Caden, and his brothers watched in fascination as the sloth munched languidly on an apple slice. "I think God is kind of like a zookeeper," Mom said. "He knows exactly what each of His children needs. We may not always get what we ask for when we pray, but He always provides for our needs. He provided for our greatest need of all by sending Jesus to save us from sin, and we can trust Him to provide for each of our specific needs too." "Hey! Give that back!" Caden's brother snatched the cap off his head and ran off with it, causing Emma to start crying. "Sometimes I feel like a zookeeper too," Mom mused as the family moved on to the next exhibit. –Suzanne Felton How About You? Do you think it's unfair when you're treated differently than your brothers, sisters, or classmates? Adults who care about you know that different people often have different needs, and it's because they love you that they treat you differently. God knows us and loves us more than anyone else. Even when He answers His children's prayers differently, He always gives us what we need. 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: God gives us what we need

Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 6:11-18 "Be sure you check your arms and legs for ticks!" Jay's mother called as he ran into the house. It was tick season, and the insects thrived in the woods where Jay played with friends. He obediently rolled up his sleeves, and sure enough, a tiny black bug had attached itself to his skin. "Ugh. Got one, Mom. Can you take it off with your tweezers?" He went into the kitchen, and his mother pulled out a special tick removal tool from one of the drawers. "Ticks glue themselves to your skin and burrow in," she said. "That's why it's important not to try to brush them off." Jay nodded. "If the head stays in, it can give you Lyme disease, right? Like our neighbor has." "Yes, though not all ticks carry Lyme disease. But any tick that's not fully removed can cause an infection, so we don't want to take any chances." Jay's mom carefully removed the tick, then dropped it into a cup of rubbing alcohol. She smiled at Jay. "You know, sin can be like a tick sometimes--like when a bad habit attaches itself to us and burrows in. The longer it's there, the easier it can be to ignore--but like not properly removing a tick, ignoring sin is dangerous!" "Because it's infecting us?" asked Jay. "Sin doesn't make us sick the way a tick can," said Mom. "We won't get Lyme disease. But it can weaken our sense of right and wrong and make us lose our appetite for doing things that show others the love of Jesus. That's why the Bible warns us about letting sin infect our minds and hearts." "Too bad there's no such thing as sin tick removers!" Jay grinned, and his mother laughed. "We have something even better!" Mom replied. "We have Jesus, who sacrificed His life to free us from sin. When we go to Him for help and confess our wrongs, He will forgive us and help us replace bad habits with good ones. The best thing we can do is faithfully check our attitude each day. If we ask Him to remove anything in our lives that shouldn't be there, He will!" –Deborah Meroff How About You? Have you let sinful habits attach themselves to you? Like a tick imbedded in your skin, they are harmful and need to be removed right away. Check yourself daily, and when you notice a sinful habit in your life, confess it to Jesus. He paid a lot to save you from sin, and He promises to forgive you and help you live in a way that shows you belong to Him. Today's Key Verse: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (NIV) (Romans 6:12) Today's Key Thought: Don't ignore sin

Bible Reading: Hebrews 11:13-16 Kenzie snapped one last picture of the Eiffel Tower. "It's so beautiful against the sunset!" She sighed. "I can't believe this is our last night here." "I know," Mom said. "Though I'm actually excited to be going home." "But this has been the best vacation ever," said Kenzie's sister, Aubrey. "I'm going to miss Paris." "All right, everyone," Dad said. "It's getting late. We'd better head back to the hotel to eat our last dinner here in France." Kenzie turned to follow him and accidentally bumped into a man with a touring cap and backpack. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said. The man glanced at her, said something in French, and moved past them. Kenzie giggled quietly. "You know what I'm looking forward to about going home? Being able to speak the language. I can't understand what French people say--and they can't understand me!" "Yeah," Aubrey said. "We really don't fit in here, do we?" "I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again," Mom said. "And not living out of a suitcase anymore," Dad chimed in. "Sounds like we all agree," said Aubrey. "Paris is great, but it's not home." When they reached their hotel, they got a table at the restaurant downstairs. "You know what?" Dad said. "Our conversation earlier reminded me of something. Just like we're visitors here in France, the Bible says that Christians are visitors in the world. Our real citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth." "That makes sense," Aubrey said. "We don't always fit in here on earth because we're living for a different world," Dad went on. "We have different values and priorities because we're citizens of God's kingdom." "And someday He'll bring us there, right?" asked Kenzie. Dad nodded. "When Jesus returns and makes everything new, we'll live with Him in His heavenly kingdom forever. But we're also living as citizens of His kingdom now. Jesus saved us from sin and made us His people so we can experience the joy of knowing Him and let others know they can have an eternal home with Him too." Kenzie nodded. "I'm excited to go home to America, but I'm even more excited for my eternal home!" –Lucy Alessio How About You? Do you ever feel like you don't fit in here in this world? Do you find the things that other people think are most important are not what bring joy and meaning to your life? The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we're just travelers here on earth. Our citizenship--our true home--is with Jesus. Don't be afraid to live differently in this world, knowing that heaven is where you truly belong. Today's Key Verse: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) (Philippians 3:20) Today's Key Thought: Christians are citizens of heaven

Bible Reading: Romans 6:5-11 Evan and James were hunting for wild edible mushrooms with their family. "Got one!" Evan yelled. "Wow, that one's a whopper!" James said. "Just make sure you know it's the right type," Dad warned. "You know the rule: One hundred percent sure, then take the treasure." They mushroom-hunted for a couple hours, driven by the hope of mushroom soup. "My mouth is already watering for mom's delicious soup!" Evan said. "Yeah!" James replied. "Mom is probably the best cook in town!" "I don't know about that," Mom said. "There are lots of good cooks out there." "Well, you're still a really good cook!" Evan and James said in unison, making the whole family laugh. After heading home, the two boys stood outside the kitchen, breathing in the wonderful smells. When the soup was done, the boys raced to be the first to the table. After giving thanks, they gulped it down. "This soup could be called new life soup," Dad said. "The mushrooms in it grow on dead wood. Though the tree has died, the mushrooms come alive by feeding on the nutrients in the wood. They're an example of death leading to new life." "Wow!" Evan said. "I didn't know that mushrooms grow on dead things." "I know of something else that has new life too," Mom said. "Can you guys guess what it is?" "A caterpillar turning into a butterfly?" James guessed. "Snakes getting new skin?" Evan added. "Good guesses, but I was thinking of something else," Mom replied. "Me!" "You?" James asked. "How do you have new life?" "You two can have it too!" said Mom. "It comes from Jesus, our Savior. The Bible says every one of us is a sinner. When we confess our sins and trust Jesus to save us, our old, sinful self dies, and He gives us new life with Him!" "Wow!" James said. "That's even cooler than mushrooms growing on dead logs." "Yeah," Evan agreed. "I want to ask Jesus to give me new life right now!" "Me too!" James said. Mom smiled at them and said, "Let's read some verses together and pray." –Elijah Goll How About You? Are you excited when you fix a broken toy? Are you happy when you make an old thing new again? Let God make you new too! Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to give us new life. When we trust Him as our Savior, He frees us from sin and gives us a new life with Him. Begin your new life today by trusting in Him! (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: Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:17) Today's Key Thought: Jesus gives us new life

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:8-10 "Oh no! No, no, no! Get me off this thing! Mom, make them stop!" Carrie squirmed nervously as the seat she was strapped into began to rise higher and higher into the air. Mom laughed and grabbed Carrie's hand. "Sorry, honey, but I think it's too late to get off now. Believe me, you're going to love it! It's just a little scary right now." Carrie continued to whimper as the ride climbed higher, and she gave a little shriek as the seats bumped into place high up in the air. "It's okay," Mom reassured her. "I'm right here with you. You're going to be fine." "Okay," Carrie said, squeezing Mom's hand tight. She looked down at the park below them. "Hey, Mom, it's actually kind of cool to see everything from up here. I can see--aaaaahhhh!" Carrie screamed as the ride suddenly dropped. Mom screamed too, and then they were both laughing as the ride bounced back up and down a few more times before finally settling back down on the ground. "Mom, that was so much fun! Can we go on it again?" Mom laughed. "Are you sure? I thought you wanted to get off before." "Oh. Yeah, well, I did, but I just held on to your hand and tried not to be scared, and it was still pretty scary at first, but then it was really fun!" Carrie took a deep breath and grinned. "I want to go again." As they waited in line, Mom said, "You know, Carrie, this ride made me think of you being nervous about starting a new school in a few weeks. It can help remind you that you don't have to be afraid when you're facing something scary in life. Jesus is right there with you, and it's like He's holding your hand. You don't have to be afraid--and you might even find out that whatever you're afraid of is really a great thing for you." Carrie nodded thoughtfully. "I'll try to remember that, Mom." She started walking as the attendant motioned them forward. "I know Jesus is with me, but will you still hold my hand during the ride?" "Sure, honey. No problem." Mom laughed and gave Carrie's hand a quick squeeze. –Robyn Mulder How About You? Are you facing something scary in your life right now--something much bigger than a ride at an amusement park? No matter what it is you're facing, Jesus is right there with you. He loves you so much He gave His life for you, and He promises to always be with those who trust in Him. He'll be there to help you and comfort you, and He will never leave you. Today's Key Verse: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 31:6) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

Bible Reading: Romans 12:3-5 "I want to play first base this year, and Coach Nichols won't let me!" said Quincy. "He says I'll help the team more if I play right field." He frowned. "The guys have a saying about right field. They say, 'right field equals left out,' because the ball never gets hit to that side of the outfield." "Now, hold on! That's just not true!" said Dad. "A good right fielder often makes important plays--and I know you'll be a good one." But nothing Dad said could convince Quincy that right field was a good position for him. The next day, Quincy helped his father plant geraniums in the front yard. "Maybe we could get some of those bushes with white flowers we saw when we hiked up Mount Major," said Quincy. "They'd look nice here with the geraniums." Dad shook his head. "Those plants grow well in higher elevations, but I don't think they'd do well down here. God didn't intend for all plants to thrive in the same location. Each species has its own spot in the plant kingdom. That principle applies to people too. God has blessed every one of us with the talents we need to do the best job in the special spot He's put us in." Dad smiled at Quincy. "For example, God gave you one of the strongest throwing arms on your baseball team. That's important for a right fielder, so give it a chance. Perhaps God has a special lesson He wants you to learn by playing right field on your ball team." "What lesson could there be in that?" asked Quincy. "Maybe God wants you to see that every person on a team is important," said Dad. "That's true for baseball, and it's also true for another team you're on--Jesus's team of all those who trust in Him. God gave every Christian an important part to play in caring for other members of Christ's team and sharing His love with those who don't know Him. Without each person's important role, the whole team suffers--just like your baseball team won't do as well if you refuse to play right field." Quincy sighed. "Okay," he said after a moment. "Right field, here I come!" –Linda M. Magoon How About You? Do you get upset when you don't get the position you want--whether it's on a sports team or within Christ's team of believers? Jesus gave you the gifts and abilities He did so you could fill an important role and serve Him with other Christians. So no matter where He places you, be a team player and use your gifts to help the body of Christ share His love with the world. Today's Key Verse: Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 12:22) Today's Key Thought: Each team member is important

Bible Reading: Luke 15:4-10; Acts 1:8 "Mom, have you seen my other tennis shoe?" Piper ran from room to room with only one shoe on, desperately looking for the other one. She was supposed to be leaving to spend the night at her friend Aryanna's house. "No, but I can help you look. Do you remember where you saw it last?" Mom asked. Piper shook her head, and the two frantically looked for the missing shoe. They looked under beds, in the closet, in the bathroom, and even in Piper's brother's room. "Are you sure you didn't pack it with your overnight things?" Mom asked. Piper was about to say she would never do anything silly like that, but she knew Mom would just make her look anyway, so she began pulling out everything from her bag. The last thing she pulled out was her missing shoe. "Oops--here it is!" Piper said, a little embarrassed. "Well, I'm glad it's been found." "Remember I'm going to pick you up for church tomorrow," Mom said as they got in the car. "Did you invite Aryanna to come?" Piper shook her head. "Did you know that the Bible talks about Jesus wanting us to help Him find what's lost?" Mom asked. Piper shot her mom a puzzled look. "What could Jesus have lost that He would need our help finding? He's God's Son. He knows everything!" "The Bible says Jesus wants us to help bring lost sinners to Him. We can do that by praying for them and sharing how He's changed our lives--and even by inviting them to church." Mom turned to look at Piper. "Do you remember how happy and relieved you felt when you found your missing shoe?" Piper nodded. "Well," said Mom, "the Bible says all of heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved. That's how happy God is when one lost person is found. And even though God is the only one who can change a person's heart, He wants us to play a part by praying for others and pointing them to Him so we can rejoice with Him when they're found." "Okay, Mom. I'll see if Aryanna wants to come to church with us tomorrow," Piper said as they pulled into Aryanna's driveway. "And I'll pray for her too." –Melissa Yeagle How About You? Do you know people who don't know Jesus? We can't change people's hearts, but we can play a role in bringing others to Jesus by praying for them, telling them what He did for us on the cross, and inviting them to learn more about Him. Trust God to help you point others to Jesus, and when one of them is found, you can rejoice with all of heaven! Today's Key Verse: There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (NKJV) (Luke 15:10) Today's Key Thought: Point others to Jesus

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 "There goes Old Faithful!" Corbin said as they watched hot water burst from the ground and shoot high into the air. He and his sister Fiona were showing their aunt a video Corbin had made on their vacation to Yellowstone National Park. "The park ranger said the rock deep underground is so hot it heats the spring water," said Corbin. "And then it reaches its boiling point and boils up and shoots out of the ground," added Fiona. After their aunt had left, Fiona and Corbin got out a game. "You lose!" Corbin said after they played a little while. "You're not allowed to make that move!" "I am too!" said Fiona. But Corbin wouldn't agree, and the two started arguing. Finally, Fiona pushed back her chair. "You make me so mad!" "What did I do?" Corbin asked. "Tons of things!" Fiona's voice grew louder. "You cheat, you used my bike without asking, you embarrassed me in front of my friends, and you spilled juice on my homework. I hate you!" She ran to her bedroom and slammed the door. Then she opened it and slammed it again. Corbin followed Mom to Fiona's room. "You know we don't slam doors," Mom said. "And that angry outburst was not pretty." "Yeah," said Corbin. "You erupted with more force than Old Faithful." He grinned. "Hey, I know! I'll call you Old Fiona." "Corbin, go to your room," said Mom. "I'll talk to you later." When he had left, she turned back to Fiona. "Corbin does have a point." "But he's mean!" said Fiona. "He'd make anybody mad!" "We all have feelings of anger at times," said Mom. "We need to deal with them, not just let them build up and burst out. One way to deal with your anger is to talk to the person who made you angry and explain what's bothering you. Don't store up angry feelings and grudges. Make an effort to make peace and be friends." "I don't think Corbin would listen, so why even bother?" asked Fiona. "Give him a chance," said Mom. "And be willing to forgive. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you for all your wrongs and will help you forgive and love others. A loving relationship with anyone is always worth the effort." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? What do you do with your anger? Do you keep it inside and let it build up into bitterness and resentment? Does it erupt in angry words and hurtful actions? Don't let it do that! Talk with the person who made you angry, and if necessary, tell an adult how you feel. Then trust God to help you deal with your anger and be willing to forgive. Today's Key Verse: "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (NIV) (Ephesians 4:26) Today's Key Thought: Don't store up angry feelings

Bible Reading: Psalm 23; John 10:1-12, 27-28 Evening descended swiftly on the French Alps. Chloe snuggled closer to her dad as the two of them and her dad's friend Jules huddled around a fire for warmth. "Another good thing about being a sheep is all that wool to keep you warm," Chloe said. Jules nodded. "It's almost time to put them in their pen for the night. If I wait until it gets too dark, the wolves come out." Chloe's eyes widened. "Have you ever had to fight a wolf, Uncle Jules?" He nodded solemnly. "Fortunately, I was able to save the lamb. The sheep know they are safe when they stay close to me, just like we are safe with Jesus, our shepherd." "That doesn't mean bad things won't happen to us," Dad interjected. "Everyone goes through darkness and tough times. But our Good Shepherd promises to be with us through every dark valley we encounter." "So we don't need to fear, just like David wrote in Psalm Twenty-Three," Chloe said softly. "Uncle Jules, what about the verse where David talks about God anointing his head with oil? What does that have to do with sheep?" Jules grinned. "Do you think Chloe can handle this, John?" "It's kind of gross, Chloe," Dad warned. "I can handle it!" "We have different medicine now, but back in David's day, shepherds used to pour oil over the sheep's heads to protect them from bugs," said Jules. "That's not so gross--kind of like giving pets flea medicine." "But these kinds of bugs would eventually make their way into the sheep's brains and destroy them." "Ewww!" Chloe shuddered. "Good thing they have a shepherd to protect every part of them--even their brains." "God does the same thing for us," Jules noted. "When we listen to the truth of His Word, it transforms and renews our minds and helps keep us from fixating on what might harm us. Instead of worry, we can feel His peace. That's why reading and memorizing God's Word is important." Chloe gazed at the sheep thoughtfully. "Uncle Jules, I've learned a lot this week. One thing's for sure--I'm going to listen to my Good Shepherd." –Savannah Coleman How About You? Do you follow Jesus as your shepherd? Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep--trusting Him to save you through His sacrifice on the cross is the only way to have eternal, abundant life. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) As His sheep, we need to listen to Him. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Listen to your Good Shepherd so He can fill your thoughts with His peace. Today's Key Verse: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. (NIV) (John 10:27) Today's Key Thought: Listen to your Good Shepherd

Bible Reading: Psalm 23; Isaiah 53:4-7 Chloe gasped as the car rounded the mountain road and the French Alps were fully displayed. "I've never seen anything so majestic!" Dad parked the car next to a rustic cabin. The cabin door opened and a man with dark curly hair and a beard exited with arms outstretched. "John! Come and hug your old friend!" Chloe hung back, watching the happy reunion until the men turned to her. "Chloe, meet my old college friend, Jules! The last time we got together you were just a baby." "You can call me Uncle Jules if you wish, Chloe. My, you are growing up quickly!" "Do we really get to stay a whole week and help you care for your sheep? Dad says you have over a thousand! I read that shepherding is a difficult job. What's your favorite part about it?" Jules threw up his hands and laughed. "Whoa! I'm not used to all these questions. The sheep aren't nearly as chatty." Jules winked at Chloe. "I'm happy to tell you all about it over a nice cup of coffee." The next morning, Chloe was bundled and ready for a day of shepherding. After a few hours, she collapsed on the ground dramatically. "How do you not get bored, Uncle Jules?" Jules chuckled. "It takes a certain type of personality to do this day after day, but I actually enjoy all this stillness. I have plenty of time to memorize God's Word out here and reflect on His goodness." "Kind of like David did," said Chloe. "He was a shepherd too. Didn't he write that famous psalm about sheep?" Jules nodded. "Psalm Twenty-Three." "David compares us to sheep in the psalm," Dad pointed out. "And the Lord is our shepherd. When we had wandered away and were lost in sin, Jesus gave His life to save us, and He promises to guide us and take care of us." Jules pulled a small, worn Bible out of his coat pocket and opened it to Psalm 23. Chloe read it aloud through verse three. "Today we are living out this psalm!" she said. "This morning you put salt out so the sheep could follow the route you wanted them to take. Just like you lead them on safe terrain, God guides us on the right paths." –Savannah Coleman How About You? Have you ever thought about how much we are like sheep? Just like sheep, we want to go our own way and are prone to getting lost. We need a shepherd to keep us on the right path, and that shepherd is Jesus. He took the punishment for our sins to make us His sheep, and He guides us and provides for us. When we spend time in His presence, He refreshes our souls. How will you choose to follow the Good Shepherd today? Today's Key Verse: He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. (NIV) (Psalm 23:3) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is our Good Shepherd

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 8:28-30 Alfie hoisted himself up onto a ledge of crumbling granite and collapsed on a small patch of mossy grass. "That was quite a climb!" he said as he rubbed his aching legs. "Aren't you tired, Uncle Don? We've hiked a long way." "We'll catch our breath for a few minutes before we head back," said Uncle Don. He took off his backpack and set it down. Alfie picked up some stones. "Look at this!" he said. Uncle Don knelt beside him, and they looked at the stone Alfie held in his hand. It was shaped like a triangle and came to an unmistakable point. "It's a real arrowhead, isn't it?" said Alfie. "Sure looks like it to me," said Uncle Don. Alfie brushed the dirt and dust from the stone and held it up so that the light glinted off its edges. "You know," said Uncle Don, "the man who made that arrowhead carefully chiseled it, and he knew just how he wanted to use it." Alfie looked at his uncle. "He would have used it for hunting, wouldn't he?" Uncle Don nodded. "I imagine so. He would have had a specific purpose for that arrowhead, and I'm quite sure it accomplished its purpose. He probably used it to get food for his family." Uncle Don smiled. "Can you think of any lesson we can learn from that?" "Hmm--shoot straight when you hunt?" Alfie said with a grin. "Though that's probably not the kind of lesson you're talking about." Uncle Don laughed. "You're right. I think this arrowhead should remind us that someone made us for a special purpose." "Yep," said Alfie. "God did!" "That's right," said Uncle Don. "You're far more important than a simple arrowhead, Alfie, and God has a wonderful plan for your life. He created you with loving care, and He sent His Son to save you from sin and give you eternal life. He's using all your life experiences to shape you to be more like Jesus so you can serve Him the way He wants you to. Whenever you look at your arrowhead, remember that God has a purpose for your life and will be there to guide you every step of the way." Alfie put the arrowhead in his pocket. "I will." –Christi B. Kehn How About You? Did you know that God has a special plan for your life? God made you and sent His Son, Jesus, to save you from sin, and He has plans for you. Talk with Him every day and ask Him for guidance. Read the Bible to learn more about Him and how He wants you to live. Stop and thank Him for something wonderful in your life. Trust Him to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Today's Key Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans…to give you hope and a future." (NIV) (Jeremiah 29:11) Today's Key Thought: God has a plan for your life

Bible Reading: Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 3:16-19 After Baker and his mom got off the Ferris wheel, they joined a group of people crowding around a man with a painted face acting out various skits. Baker laughed with the crowd as the man pretended to be learning to ride a bike. But he wondered why the man didn't say anything. "Mom, why doesn't he talk?" "Because he's a mime," Mom replied. "They never talk, but you can tell by their actions what they're doing." Next, the mime pretended to wash a window. He acted as though he bumped his head on the pretend ladder. Later, he appeared to be eating an ice cream cone--and shot the crowd a look of dismay when the ice cream fell off. The crowd laughed and applauded as he acted out one scenario after another. The show ended with the mime making a sad face and waving goodbye to the crowd. Baker turned to his mom. "Wow! He never said a thing, but I could figure out everything he was doing." "Actions say a lot," said Mom. "Do you remember the story in the Bible about the Good Samaritan?" "Sure," said Baker. "It's a story Jesus told about a man who needed help on the side of the road. Two people went by without helping him, and then a Samaritan came along and did all he could to help him." "Right," said Mom. "And if the two people who had passed by earlier had said they cared about that man, would you have believed them?" Baker shook his head. "Jesus told that story to show how we should love others," Mom continued. "Saying you care about someone isn't enough--you also need to show them you care through your actions." Baker's eyes widened. "So the Good Samaritan was really a mime?" Mom laughed. "Well, I'm sure he didn't paint his face and perform funny skits, but he did communicate his love for others through his actions. Jesus did that too by taking the punishment for our sins on the cross so we could be saved. His sacrifice showed that His words of love for us were true. Let's let others know we care about them through both our words and our actions." –Annette S. Bury How About You? How do you let others know you care about them? It's good to tell people you care, but it's not enough. In Jesus's parable, the Good Samaritan showed how much he cared by going to great lengths to help the injured man. Now that's loud love! That's the kind of love Jesus showed us when He died for our sins. What can you do to turn up the volume and show others you care? Today's Key Verse: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV) (1 John 3:18) Today's Key Thought: Actions speak loudly

Bible Reading: Isaiah 48:17-18; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 2:3-6 "Mom, I see the parade! It's coming!" Millie squealed with excitement and grabbed hold of her little brother's hand. "James, get ready, because they're going to throw candy right at us and we can put it in our bags, okay?" James nodded and grinned. Millie looked down the street and hopped up and down in anticipation. "Just be patient, honey," Mom called from her lawn chair. "It will be here soon." Millie craned her neck to see down the street. The parade was still far away, but she could make out flags, cars, floats, and even a fire truck. She could faintly hear a drum and knew the band was marching her way. Suddenly, she gave a little shriek of dismay. "It turned! They're going down a different street. They're not coming here!" "What?" Dad jumped up and looked down the street, and Millie noticed everyone else getting up and looking around in confusion. "Come on, Millie!" Dad scooped up James, and they ran to the next block just as the parade arrived. Millie forgot about all the confusion until they walked home afterward. "Mom, why didn't the parade go by where we were sitting at first? Were we in the wrong place?" Mom laughed. "No, we were on the right street. I think the person at the front of the parade got a little confused and made a wrong turn. Good thing we caught up and didn't miss anything, right?" "Right!" said Millie. "It was so much fun, and I got lots of candy!" "You know, wrong turns like that can happen in our lives," Dad said. "The people in the parade all trusted that the person in front would go the right way, but they didn't. We can go the wrong way too by following people--like leaders or friends at school--because what they're doing seems right but isn't." Mom nodded. "There's only one Person who can lead us the right way. Do you know who that is?" "Jesus!" Millie and James both shouted. "Right," said Mom. "When we know Him as our Savior, He forgives our wrong turns in life and makes us able to love others the way He does. We need to follow Him as He leads us in His example of love." –Robyn Mulder How About You? Who do you follow? Friends? Celebrities? Influencers? Looking to other people as examples of how to live will only lead you in the wrong direction, because they are sinners just like you. Only Jesus is perfect. He died and rose again to save you from sin and give you eternal life, and He will lead you in loving others the way He does. Follow His example and trust God to help you be more like Him each day. Today's Key Verse: Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children. (NIV) (Ephesians 5:1) Today's Key Thought: Follow Jesus, not people

Bible Reading: Romans 3:22-26; Titus 3:5-7 Rosita wiped sweat from her forehead, then got back to scrubbing the pot in the sink. She was working as hard as she could to clean the kitchen before Mom got home. They'd had a fight that morning, and Rosita was sorry for the things she'd said. She sighed and scrubbed harder. I want this kitchen sparkling clean when Mom gets home from work, she thought. That'll make up for it. She glanced into the living room where her little brother was watching cartoons. "Hugo, bring your plate and cup here so I can wash them. And I just mopped the floor, so be careful!" But Hugo wasn't careful. He ran in and slipped when his socks hit the wet floor. His plastic dishes went flying into the air as he went sprawling across the kitchen, milk and crumbs raining down on top of him. Rosita gasped. "Hugo!" Just then the door opened and Mom walked in. "Wow," she said. "What a mess." Rosita covered her face with her soapy hands and burst into tears. Mom and Hugo stared at her for a moment before Mom sent him upstairs to wash the milk out of his hair. "Rosita, what's wrong?" Mom asked. "I--I've been working hard to clean the kitchen all afternoon. I wanted everything to be sparkling clean when you got here because I felt bad about what I said this morning. I wanted to make things right." "Oh, honey." Mom gave her a hug. "You don't have to clean the kitchen to make things right with me. You're my daughter--I love you, and I'll always forgive you. But I know the feeling. In fact, I used to try to do the same thing with God. I thought I could make up for my wrongs by doing something right. But it wasn't enough." "Because the only way to make things right with God is through Jesus, right?" "You got it," said Mom. "When we trust Him to save us, He forgives our sins and makes us sparkling clean." Rosita nodded. "I'm sorry for what I said this morning, Mom. Will you forgive me?" "Of course." Mom grabbed a mop from the closet. "And now I'm going to make this kitchen sparkling clean!" –Courtney Lasater How About You? Are you working hard to make things right with God? Are you trying to do good things so He'll forgive you for the bad things you've done? No matter what you do, it won't make up for your sin. Only Jesus can make you right with God. He died and rose again so you could be forgiven and have all your sins washed away. Confess your sin and trust in Him, and He will forgive you. (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: 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: Only Jesus makes things right