Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: Proverbs 16:19-24 “Milo, listen to me say this verse,” Joel said as he helped his little brother learn a memory verse for Sunday school. He recited each word slowly. “Okay, now see if you can repeat it.” Milo tried to repeat the verse, but he stumbled over the unfamiliar words. Joel tried to help him, but eventually gave up. “You’re hopeless,” he said. “Go practice on your own. I have to finish my homework.” Milo looked forlorn. “I’ll do better,” he said. Joel rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.” As Milo got up from the table, Joel saw his mom standing in the doorway. She smiled at Milo. “Go work on your verse in your room, and I’ll be in to help you in a few minutes.” After Milo left, Mom turned to Joel. “I’m disappointed in your attitude toward your brother. He struggles to learn things and needs help and encouragement.” “Okay. Sorry,” Joel said, flipping open his math book. Later that day, Joel’s dad put his tablet on the table and scrolled through some pictures. “These were taken before, during, and after the Harrison Hotel construction,” he said. “I need to choose photos to use in my article about the project.” Joel pointed to a picture. “I like this one—it’s a good before shot. You can see the entire old building and the crane.” He looked at the dates in the file names of the pictures. “Wow! They tore the old building down in just a week. Didn’t it take over a year to build the new one?” “Yes, it did,” replied Dad. “Unfortunately, it’s much easier to tear down than to build up—in most areas of life, not just construction.” Mom nodded. “For example, we often find it easier to criticize people for what they do wrong than to praise and encourage them. But none of us is perfect, are we?” She looked at Joel. “That’s why Jesus died to save us. He took the punishment for our sins so we could have freedom and forgiveness in Him, and we need to show His love to others by encouraging them when they’re struggling.” Joel sighed, remembering how impatient he had been with his brother. “I need to go find Milo,” he said, “and help him learn a verse.” –Rose Ross Zediker How about you? Do your words and attitude encourage others? If someone is struggling with something that’s not a problem for you, do you help them? If somebody does something well, do you say so? Trust Jesus to help you be an encourager. Use your words and attitude to show others His love by building them up instead of tearing them down. Today's Key Verse: Encourage each other every day. Hebrews 3:13 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Use encouraging words

Read: Psalm 139:5-12 Tyler sat up in bed. What’s that noise? he wondered. He and his family had moved to a new house, and now he slept in a strange new room. Somehow he didn’t feel safe the way he had back in his old, familiar home. Tyler heard the noise again. I don’t like this room! I don’t want to sleep here! he thought. He jumped out of bed and bolted down the stairs to find his mom. “Tyler!” Mom said when he rushed into the living room. “What’s wrong?” “What’s that noise, Mom?” Tyler asked. Mom listened for a moment. “There’s a bit of thunder in the distance,” she said. “It won’t hurt you.” Tyler knew his mom was right. The noise did sound like thunder, and it wasn’t even close. There was nothing to be afraid of, but he was still scared. “I don’t like my new room,” he said. Mom put her arm around him. “Sometimes it’s hard to get used to a new house.” She pointed to the little dog sitting at her feet. “I think Sprout still feels a little strange here too. Why don’t you take him to your room? He’ll keep you company.” Tyler looked at the puppy. “Okay,” he said. “Come on, Sprout. I’ll take care of you.” Mom went to tuck Tyler back into his bed. “When you feel afraid, remember that we didn’t move away from God,” she said. “Jesus is right here with you, just like He was at our old house—even when it’s dark and there’s a storm outside. You can trust Him to take care of you.” When Tyler heard the sound of thunder again a little later, he pulled the blanket snugly around himself and Sprout. “You aren’t scared when you know I’m close—you know I’ll take care of you and keep you safe, don’t you?” he asked as he stroked the puppy’s head. “I’m not scared either, because I know Jesus is here with me. He’ll take care of me.” Then Tyler and Sprout closed their eyes and went to sleep. –Karen Cogan How about you? Do you have trouble getting to sleep when things seem scary or new? You may move to a new place, but you can never move away from Jesus. If you know Him as your Savior, He is with you everywhere, all the time. Trust Him to be with you when you need Him and to take care of you. Then close your eyes and enjoy the peaceful sleep and rest He has for you. Today's Key Verse: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Sleep well—Jesus is with you

Read: John 15:13-15 Cara took her cookie and a glass of milk into the utility room where Mom was folding laundry. “Mom, can I invite Amber over?” she asked. “She’s my new friend.” Cara dunked the cookie into her milk. Mom added a towel to the stack on the dryer. “And you probably want to invite Jasmine too, right?” Cara shook her head. “No, I don’t want her over. We had a fight. Anyway, Amber is much more popular.” “Oh?” Mom frowned slightly as she handed Cara a stack of towels. “Take these to the bathroom, please.” As Cara set her milk on the dryer, Mom asked, “Are Kenzie and Madison still your friends?” Cara shrugged. “They’re okay, I guess, but Amber’s more fun.” She turned to leave. “Hey, Mom, can I—oops!” Cara’s arm bumped the glass of milk, and it poured down the side of the dryer. “Sorry!” Cara set the stack of towels down and picked up the one on top to wipe up the spilled milk. “Don’t use that clean towel!” Mom said. She quickly pulled paper towels from the roll on the wall. “Here, use these.” Cara sopped up the milk and threw the paper towels into the trash. Mom watched thoughtfully. “Paper towels are pretty handy,” she said. “They’re disposable. Just use them and toss them.” Cara nodded. “That’s what’s good about them.” “Yes, but what’s not good is that you’ve been treating your friends like paper towels,” said Mom. “You seem to think it’s okay to use them and throw them away. What if Jesus treated us like we were disposable? If He threw us out whenever we got smudged with sin? But He’ll never do that because we’re valuable to Him. He loves us and promises to clean us when we get dirty. And He wants you to treat your friends like they’re valuable too.” She pointed to the fluffy yellow towel on top of the stack. “When a friendship gets smudged, clean it with love and forgiveness.” Cara thought about that as she picked up the stack of fresh, clean-smelling towels. “Can I invite Amber and Jasmine and Kenzie and Madison over?” she asked. “All of them?” Mom laughed. “All right. Invite all of them. The more the merrier!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you spend time repairing and maintaining your friendships? Or if a friendship gets smudged, do you just toss it and move on? Friends are among the many blessings God gives us. Friendships are so important that Jesus calls those who trust and obey Him His friends. So value your friends the way Jesus values His. Care for the friends you have, and make new ones too! Today's Key Verse: Never abandon a friend. Proverbs 27:10 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Value your friends

Read: Zephaniah 3:14-17; Hebrews 13:5-6 Ding dong, chimed the doorbell. “Wyatt!” Mom called. “You have a package!” Wyatt galloped down the stairs. “Who’s it from?” he asked. Mom squinted at the return address on the package. “It looks like it’s from your Uncle Dale in Texas. I think it’s your birthday present,” she said, handing it to Wyatt. “All right!” Wyatt ripped open the package. A few minutes later his bare feet were hidden in genuine cowboy boots. “Very nice. Now all you need is a horse,” Mom said with a grin. “Why don’t you go show them to your brother?” Wyatt clomped down the hallway and into his older brother’s room where Jared was packing for military boot camp. “Hey, Jared,” Wyatt said, pointing to his new footwear. “Check it out—boot camp.” Jared laughed. “Nice. From Uncle Dale?” Wyatt nodded. “Yep,” he said as he climbed up on Jared’s bed and made himself comfortable. “What kinds of things will you do at boot camp?” he asked. “It’s ten weeks of intense military training. They’ll teach us discipline and a new vocabulary. We’ll take orders without asking questions and learn to take care of our team members. I’ll also learn how to get ready to protect our country and keep its citizens safe—even if it means dying for them.” “Wow. Are you scared, Jared?” Wyatt asked, wide-eyed. “I would be.” “I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I wasn’t a little scared,” Jared confessed. “But I’ve been reading about men in the Bible like Joshua and David who depended on God to help them fight battles, and I can depend on God too. I know that because Jesus died to save me, I can trust Him to be with me in every situation—even in death. Remembering that gives me courage, even if my heart is beating like crazy.” Staring at his shiny new boots, Wyatt had an idea. “While you’re gone,” he told Jared, “I’m going to wear my boots every day. And every time I put them on, I’m going to pray for you.” “Thanks, little brother,” Jared said, ruffling Wyatt’s hair. “That means a lot.” He grinned. “Just don’t forget to wash your feet!” –Kelly Hope How about you? Do you ever feel scared or lonely? You may not be leaving home to fight for your country, but there may be something else in your life that’s making you feel alone and afraid—like a new school or a divorce in your family. Remember that Jesus is with you in every situation. Trust Him to give you courage, and pray for others who may be scared and lonely too. Today's Key Verse: Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Don’t be afraid—God is with you

Read: John 20:24-31; 2 Corinthians 5:7; James 2:23 “We’re going to have pen pals for an English project this semester!” Moriah told her parents. “We each got the name of a kid our age in another state, and we’re supposed to exchange letters—real letters, no texts or emails or anything like that. My pen pal’s name is Ryleigh.” Moriah sat down that evening and wrote her first letter to Ryleigh. She told all about herself, her family, and her church. Soon a reply came from Ryleigh. It contained a picture and told about Ryleigh’s big family and their house in the country. Ryleigh also mentioned that her family didn’t go to church. During the next several months, Moriah and Ryleigh wrote many letters. Then one afternoon, Moriah came running into the kitchen, holding a letter in her hand. “Mom! Mom! Ryleigh’s dad is coming here on a business trip, and he said Ryleigh could come too. Can she stay with us that weekend? Please?” Mom laughed. “Sure, honey. That’s fine if it’s okay with her dad.” Ryleigh’s dad dropped her off at Moriah’s house a couple weeks later, and the girls had a great time together. Each night after supper, Dad read a few verses from the Bible. One night, he read a verse that referred to Abraham as a friend of God. “Mr. Davis,” Ryleigh said, “I don’t know who Abraham was, but how could he be God’s friend? We can’t see God or hear Him, so how can anybody be friends with Him?” “Tell me something, Ryleigh,” said Dad. “Before this weekend, you and Moriah never met. Yet you seem to be good friends. How did that happen?” “Well, Moriah told me all about herself in her letters. So by the time I came here to visit, I felt like I already knew her.” Dad nodded. “Well, God has written us a letter too—the Bible. It tells us who He is and how much He loves all of us. It tells the story of Jesus, God’s Son, who died for us and rose again so we could become God’s friends and know Him personally, even though we can’t see Him.” Ryleigh thought about that, then looked at Moriah. “Well, I’m sure glad I got to know Moriah. I think I’d like to know more about Jesus too.” –Jan L. Hansen How about you? Are you a friend of God? Even though you can’t see Him, you can learn about Him by reading the Bible—His letter to you. You can become His friend by trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) You can have faith that He’s given you eternal life and will always be with you. And you can look forward to one day seeing Him face-to-face and living with Him forever! Today's Key Verse: You have never seen [Jesus] but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. 1 Peter 1:8 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: You can know God by faith

Read: 1 John 1:5-9 Taya sighed loudly when Mom had to stop because of a roadblock. Workers were repairing the bridge ahead, and traffic was temporarily stopped. “How long will we have to wait?” she asked. “I’m not sure,” Mom replied. “It might be a while.” Taya looked out the window. She saw a red van, a delivery truck, some cars, and a motorcycle. Drivers craned their necks, trying to see if they’d be able to move soon. “Are we going to be late to swim class?” Taya asked. The class at the community pool on the other side of the bridge started at ten. “I don’t know,” Mom said. “But we can’t go anywhere until that roadblock is removed.” Taya sighed impatiently. “I wish they’d work faster!” “Well, it’s out of our control,” said Mom. “We’ll just have to be patient.” They waited another five minutes. Then Taya noticed cars moving ahead. “Look!” she said. “I think the roadblock’s down!” Mom slowly eased the car forward, and soon they were across the bridge. Taya let out a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad we’re going to make it to swim class!” Mom smiled. “Just this morning I was reading about a different kind of roadblock.” “Really?” said Taya. Mom nodded. “The book I was reading referred to sin as a roadblock that keeps us from fully enjoying our relationship with God. But unlike that roadblock on the bridge, we don’t need to wait and wait for Jesus to remove a roadblock of sin in our lives. He does that the moment we confess what we’ve done wrong and trust Him to forgive us.” “Right,” said Taya. “And we never have to wonder if He still loves us or if we’re still saved when we mess up.” Mom nodded. “Jesus died to take the punishment for our sin, and that means He will always forgive us. When we confess our wrongs, He removes those roadblocks so they can’t get in the way of us enjoying our relationship with Him.” Mom swung the car into the pool parking lot and Taya hopped out. “Thanks, Mom,” she said. “If I hurry, I can still make warm-ups.” –Janet Boulter How about you? Is there a roadblock of sin in your life that’s keeping you from fully enjoying your relationship with God? Jesus can remove it! He paid the price of your sin on the cross and forgives the instant you ask Him. Confess your wrong to Him and accept His forgiveness. Then get back to enjoying your relationship with Him! Today's Key Verse: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Confess sin and be forgiven

Read: Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 11:28-30 “Finally, something in science I like learning about!” Marissa loosened the binocular cord around her neck. “I wonder what birds we’ll see on our nature walk?” Mom headed down the boardwalk at their local nature preserve. “Or what birds we’ll hear!” “I’m on it.” Troy pulled up the bird call identification app on his phone. The family didn’t have to walk too far over the wetlands before Marissa pointed above them. “Isn’t that a bald eagle?” They watched the elegant bird turn circle after circle, seemingly effortlessly against the blue sky backdrop. “It’s easy to spot with that bright white head and tail feathers,” Troy noted. “How does it turn circles like that without flapping its wings?” “I’ll look it up.” Mom scrolled on her phone. “I didn’t know this! Eagles find a thermal column and ride it—it’s a column of warmer air that allows them to stay aloft.” “So it’s resting, not working,” Marissa mused. “It reminds me of that verse from Isaiah: ‘Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles…’” “You’re right!” said Mom. “God provided this bird with opportunities to rest by creating the thermal columns. Imagine how tired it would get if it just kept using its wings instead of relying on those wind currents?” “Like how you sometimes do too much and forget to rest, Mom?” Troy poked Mom’s arm. “Ouch, but you’re right. You both have seen how much better I manage my time and how much nicer my attitude is when I take time to rest in Jesus and remember that I’m saved because of what He’s done, not anything I do. After all, if the God who created all this thought it was important to rest on the seventh day, who am I to pretend like I can get by without rest?” Mom shrugged sheepishly. “We all do it.” Marissa sighed. “Sometimes I want to read my favorite book series and I’m resting my body, but if I don’t spend time reading my Bible and talking to Jesus, I can get a little snippy.” “Guess we can learn from the birds and rest in Jesus with both our bodies and our souls.” Troy grinned mischievously. “So, Mom, how about a day off school tomorrow?” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever get tired? We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t! God knows we need time to rest and be refreshed in our bodies and souls. This is so important that He rested after creating the world to show us how we should rest too. Perhaps you can take a walk in God’s creation and practice stillness. Maybe you can read an extra chapter in your Bible and meditate on it. How can you rest in Jesus today? Today's Key Verse: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Resting in Jesus will give you strength

Read: Psalm 55:16-18 “Pick up, Dad.” Harlow held her mom’s phone. “I need to talk to you.” She heard her dad’s voice and smiled, then she realized it was just his voicemail. “We’ll try again later,” Mom said. “He must be busy with work.” Harlow sighed. Ever since her dad had gotten remarried, he was always too busy for her and her sister. Either he was working or he was hanging out with his new wife and her kids. He didn’t have time for them anymore. After dinner that evening, Harlow watched as Haven typed a text to their dad. “Call me,” her little sister said, her fingers moving over their mom’s phone. “Tell him I have to talk to him about school,” Harlow said. Haven wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know how to spell that.” Mom looked between them with a sad smile. “Just tell him to call, and if he doesn’t call before bedtime, you can try calling him.” Bedtime came without a response from Dad, and Harlow sank down onto the floor outside the bathroom as Mom combed her sister’s hair after her bath. “Let’s try again.” Mom grabbed her phone after braiding Haven’s hair. Harlow waited as her mom tried to get in touch with Dad. She knew he wouldn’t answer. Mom lowered the phone from her ear. “You know what, girls? This makes me think of something I was reading in my Bible earlier. Your dad has been busy a lot lately, but do you know who’s never too busy for you?” “God?” Haven asked. Mom nodded. “The Bible says we can talk with Him anytime—morning, noon, and night. He’s there when we get up, when we eat lunch, and when we’re lying in bed and can’t sleep. He’s never too busy for us.” “Do you think He knows how much we miss talking to Dad?” Harlow asked. “I do. Jesus became human to save us, which means He understands everything we feel. And I think He hurts for you.” Harlow blinked her eyes, feeling like she might cry. “I’m glad we have God,” she said. “And I’m really glad that He doesn’t get too busy to listen to us.” –Emily Acker How about you? Have you ever wanted to talk to someone only to have them be too busy to pay attention to you? It hurts, doesn’t it? Jesus understands how you feel, and He has all the time in the world for you. He loves you so much that He died for your sins so you could have a relationship with Him. You can talk to Him anytime. He’s never too busy to hear what you have to say. Today's Key Verse: The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is always listening

Read: John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 Stretching sleepily, Camden wondered why he had a strange, empty feeling in his stomach. Then it all came back to him. He glanced over at the empty bed on the other side of the room. It really was true—his brother Aaron was gone. It had been almost a month since Aaron had left for school in the morning and had not come back. Tears rolled down Camden’s cheeks as he remembered. There was an accident, and Aaron had been killed. The door to Camden’s room opened and Mom came in. “Morning, honey. I see you’re already awake.” Noticing his tears, she sat beside him on the bed. “You’re thinking of Aaron, aren’t you? Dad and I miss him too.” Mom sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Death is a sad thing, and it hurts to lose someone we love. But we know we’ll see Aaron again someday.” “But Mom, how do you know?” asked Camden. “I know because Aaron trusted Jesus as his Savior,” Mom answered. “The Bible says that those who trust in Jesus go to be with Him when they die.” “But…” Camden stifled a sob. “But he was right there in the casket! And then he was put in the ground at the cemetery.” Camden covered his face with his hands. Mom leaned over and gave Camden a hug. “Aaron’s body is in the grave, but his soul is with Jesus,” she said. “His soul?” Camden looked at his hands. “So my hands and feet, and my head and ears and eyes—they’re not really me?” “Of course they’re you!” said Mom. “Just like your soul is. But because we live in a sinful world, our bodies die. When that happens, our souls go to be with Jesus. But one day, when He returns to earth and makes everything new, He will bring our bodies back to life. Then our souls will be reunited with our resurrected bodies—and they’ll be free of sin and won’t ever get sick or die again!” Camden wiped his eyes. “I still wish I could see Aaron every day.” Mom squeezed Camden’s shoulder. “I know. And you will. Because we know Jesus, we can look forward to seeing Aaron again someday. Then we’ll all be together forever with Jesus!” –A. W. Smith How about you? Did you know that, if you’re a Christian, your soul will go to be with Jesus after your body dies? Nothing can separate Him from those He’s saved—not even death. But it doesn’t end there! One day He’ll bring your body back to life, and you and every other Christian will live with Him forever! If you’re not a Christian, trust in Jesus today so you can look forward to eternal life with Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Bodies die, but souls don’t

Read: Psalm 27:4; Luke 24:44-49 “And now, I would like to present the class of 2026!” Kendis squinted to see her sister, Derica, in the crowd of high school graduates donned in robes of black and maroon. She stood next to her mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and grandma, all of whom were cheering and clapping and stomping in response to her sister’s graduation. At dinner, Derica talked excitedly about all the things she was looking forward to. “I can’t wait to find a church and other students at college who also love Jesus. We could start a Bible study. We could learn and grow together!” Grandma put her hand over her heart and squeezed Derica’s shoulder, brushing her coily hair to the side. “Does that mean you’re going to move on from the things you learned at church here?” Kendis asked. Her family looked at her, trying to determine what she meant. “Well,” Kendis went on, “we’ve learned about the gospel—how Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead, and promises to be with us forever.” “And how the Holy Spirit lives in us,” Derica added. “But people always say there’s so much to learn about God and you can never understand it all. I guess I just meant you’ll be done learning about Jesus and His life and move onto other things…like the Old Testament.” At Kendis’s comment, both Derica and Grandma laughed. “Well, it’s true!” said Kendis. “There’s so much of the Bible left to read!” “Yes, yes, Kendis,” Grandma said. “But the whole Bible is about Jesus. It’s one story of how God always loves His people, even when we mess up, and how He fulfills His promise of a Savior. The whole Bible tells the story of the gospel, the good news that Jesus came to save us.” “I always thought of the Old and New Testaments as two separate things,” Kendis said thoughtfully. “Think about it this way,” Derica said. “I took math and English classes in high school, and I’ll still keep taking them in college. But they’ll be more advanced, building on what I already know. I want my faith to be like that. I still need to learn about Jesus because without Him, nothing else matters. Everything else I hope to learn simply points to Him.” Kendis grinned. “I guess you’ll never graduate from the gospel!” –Zoe Sherman How about you? Have you ever thought about how much there is to learn about God and the Bible? Does that overwhelm you—or make you excited? You can learn new things about God and experience His presence every single day of your life, and you’ll still never know everything. Isn’t that amazing? But no matter what you learn or how old you get, never forget how much Jesus loves you. Today's Key Verse: Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. Colossians 2:6-7 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: You never graduate from the gospel

Read: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “I hate weeding,” Lynnie huffed, yanking another scraggly weed away from the green beans and throwing it into a pile. Jayson sat on the soft grass, picking blades and throwing them into the air. Lynnie watched the wind blow the grass away. “I don’t want to weed anymore, Mom. I want to go play. Weeding is boring.” Mom knelt in the dirt. “Look at all these weeds. Do you know why we pull them?” “Punishment,” Lynnie muttered. “See these tiny pea shoots? They’re so little. They need water and sunlight to grow. See these weeds? They’re called wisteria.” Jayson poked at the climbing vines and white flowers with a stick. “That doesn’t look like a weed. It has flowers.” Lynnie held one of the white flowers in her hand. “Yeah, these are pretty. They’re not really weeds, are they, Mom?” “They are pretty. But this plant grows long vines that strangle, crush, and ruin any other plants. It will destroy every pea plant in our garden, and then it will move to the green beans until the whole garden is nothing but weeds.” Lynnie dropped the flower on the ground. “Jesus talked about weeds,” said Mom. “He told a story that described people as different kinds of soil. Each group heard the truth of God’s Word, but one group’s soil had thorns, or weeds. A weed can be any anything that distracts us from God and makes it harder for us to hear and obey Him.” “Like how these weeds make it harder for veggies to grow?” Jayson held up a thistle weed by the roots, the spiny leaves dangling from his hand. Mom nodded. “When we get overwhelmed by worries or believe lies that tell us something other than Jesus will give us peace, hope, or joy, it’s like letting this wisteria grow in our garden—it may look like a flower, but it’s a weed. That’s why we need Jesus to weed our hearts. He gives His followers the Holy Spirit to help us focus on Him and understand the truth of His Word. Then good things can grow in our hearts and lives.” “Like these vegetables in our garden.” Lynnie grinned at her brother. “Bet I can pull more weeds than you!” And the race was on. –Nicole Monroe How about you? Do you like to pull weeds? Probably not, but if weeds aren’t pulled, they’ll take over the garden so that nothing can grow. Because we live in a world filled with worries and distractions, our hearts need to be weeded too, and God does that through the Holy Spirit. Trust Him to make your faith grow by reminding you that peace, hope, and joy come only from Jesus. Today's Key Verse: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV) Todays Key Thought: Trust Jesus to weed your heart

Read: Psalm 5:1-3 “Your science project is looking good,” Grandpa said as he looked over Sophia’s shoulder. “Thanks,” said Sophia. “I’m calling it ‘Means of Communication.’ It’s about how the ways people communicate with each other over long distances have developed over time.” She pointed to pictures on her display board showing handwritten letters, telegraphs, telephones, radios, TVs, and computers. “Hundreds of years ago, the only way you could communicate with someone far away was to send them a letter, which could take weeks or even months to get to them. Over time, we invented new ways to communicate that got better and better. Now, with computers, smartphones, and the internet, we can communicate instantly—with just one person or with a million!” “It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Grandpa studied Sophia’s work for a few moments. “But there’s an even more amazing form of communication that’s not on here.” Sophia was startled. “There is? What’s that?” “Communication with God,” Grandpa answered. “I never thought of that,” said Sophia. “In Bible times, God sometimes talked to people through dreams, didn’t He?” “That’s right, and at other times He spoke to people directly,” Grandpa said. “But He has another way of speaking to us now.” “I know,” said Sophia. “He speaks to us through the Bible, right?” Grandpa smiled and nodded. “He uses His Word to shape the thoughts and desires of His children’s minds and hearts. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus came to earth, the Holy Spirit only communicated with some people in specific circumstances. But when Jesus died for our sin and saved us, the long distance between us and God was closed up. The Holy Spirit is now with all Christians, all the time!” “And He tells us how to live, right?” Sophia asked. Grandpa nodded. “He guides us and shapes us to be more like Jesus. And because He lives in our hearts, we can communicate with God anytime through prayer. He always hears the prayers of His children.” Sophia looked at the chart she had made and smiled. “I’m so glad God lives in my heart and I can communicate with Him anytime!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Did you know that if you trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit inside you? There’s no distance between you and God—He is with you every single moment! He speaks to you when you read the Bible and shapes your thoughts and desires to make you more like Jesus. And because He’s always with you, you can communicate with Him anytime through prayer. Talk with God each day and listen as He speaks to you. Today's Key Verse: O God, You are my God; early will I seek You. Psalm 63:1 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Communicate with God

Read: Acts 16:22-26 Gabby’s grandpa was in a lot of pain. His hands were nearly crippled, and he sat in a wheelchair when he was able to get out of bed. Gabby thought she would be miserable if she were in his place, but every time she visited him, he seemed to have a smile on his face. “How are you so happy all the time?” Gabby asked as she sat in his living room with him one afternoon. “God has been good to me,” Grandpa said, humming softly. Gabby’s brows knit. How could he say that when he was in pain? “What are you humming?” Gabby asked. “It’s a song about God being good all the time,” Grandpa said. “We need to trust Him no matter what we face. We need to remember that He is good and has given us eternal life through His Son, Jesus.” “I wish I had faith like you,” Gabby said. Grandpa patted her hand with his gnarly one. “Did you ever read about Paul being put in prison?” “I’m not sure,” said Gabby. “Well, when he was beaten and put in prison, he still sang and praised God. Everyone who heard him was shocked.” Grandpa smiled. “I want to be like that.” “And I want to be like you,” Gabby said. Grandpa went back to humming, and Gabby leaned into his shoulder. She felt bad for him because of his pain, but he was one of the happiest and most content people she knew. She wanted to be like him when she was older rather than a lot of the grown-ups she knew who weren’t nearly as happy or friendly. “God can get us through all kinds of terrible times and the pain we face,” Grandpa said softly. “Because Jesus died and rose again to save us, we can be joyful and praise Him no matter what. We just need to trust Him and know that He’s with us.” Grandpa smiled at Gabby. “Maybe I could teach you the words to the song I’ve been humming?” “Sure,” Gabby said. She was eager to learn as much as she could from her faith-filled grandpa. –Bethany Acker How about you? Do you know someone who is happy even when life isn’t easy? We all go through hard, painful times in life, but we can still be joyful and praise God because of what He’s done for us. If you know Jesus as your Savior, He has given you eternal life and promises to be with you through every difficulty you face. Trust Him and praise Him no matter what life brings. Today's Key Verse: In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:21 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Trust and praise God always

Read: John 14:1-6 Cadence and Izabel listened intently as Dad read the story of Finn, a very poor boy who lived long ago in a faraway country. “Everyone said the king was very kind,” Dad read, “so Finn decided to go see him and ask for help. “When Finn arrived at the palace, he was stopped at the gate. He explained that he wanted to see the king, but he was refused admission. Now what can I do? he wondered. I know! I’ll climb over the wall. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then found a part of the wall surrounded by trees and climbed to the top. Hey! That was easy! he thought, but at that very moment, several fierce-looking dogs in the palace yard rushed up. Finn dropped back to the ground. This won’t work after all, he thought. The only way in is through the gate. Discouraged, he walked back to the gate and sat down at the side of the road. “Soon a carriage drove up, and a young man stepped out. ‘What’s the matter?’ the man asked. Finn explained that he desperately needed help and wanted to see the king. ‘Come with me,’ the young man said. Then he spoke to the gatekeeper, and the gates were opened. They went inside, and Finn could see the dogs out of the corner of his eye. He cringed when he heard them barking. But again the young man gave orders, and the dogs were restrained. “Finn looked at the man wide-eyed. ‘Why does everyone obey you?’ he asked in wonder. “The young man smiled. ‘Because I’m the prince,’ he replied. ‘And now we’ll go see my father—the king.’” Dad stopped reading and closed the book. “Do you know who Finn reminds me of?” “Who?” asked Izabel. “Us,” said Dad. “We all need the King of kings—God—but none of us can reach Him on our own. That’s why He sent His Son to us.” “Jesus!” Cadence and Izabel said together. Smiling, Dad nodded. “We can only be saved through Jesus,” he said. “We can only have eternal life with the King of kings by knowing Him.” –Harry C. Trover How about you? Have you ever heard that it’s not what you know but who you know that matters? That’s often true! It’s certainly true when it comes to entering the kingdom of heaven. You need to know the Son of God—Jesus—as your Savior to be saved from sin and have eternal life. Do you know Him? (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: You need to know Jesus

Read: Acts 17:24-27 Allison sang out the words of a song. “Yesu yana kaunar yara.” “What language is that?” asked her friend Gianna. “Like my grandma always says when she doesn’t understand something, it’s Greek to me!” Allison laughed. “It’s not Greek,” she said. “It’s Hausa—a language spoken in Africa. I learned that song from my Aunt Mary, who’s a missionary in Nigeria.” “What does it mean?” Gianna wanted to know. “It means ‘Jesus, He loves the children,’” Allison explained. “Oh, those sound like the words to a song Mom taught me when I was little,” Gianna said. “It’s called ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children.’ The tune sounded familiar too.” Allison nodded. “Aunt Mary teaches a class of Nigerian girls who are the same age as we are. She says one girl reminds her of me.” “Really?” said Gianna. “My dad always teases me and says I’m one-of-a-kind. How are you and the other girl alike?” “Well, Aunt Mary says one way we’re alike is that we both love Jesus,” replied Allison. “And she says we act alike and are interested in a lot of the same things. We’re going to write to each other, and Aunt Mary will translate for us. It’ll be fun having a Nigerian pen pal!” “Cool! I guess we’re not as different from kids in other countries as we think we are,” said Gianna. Allison shook her head. “Aunt Mary always reminds me that we’re all the same to the Lord. He loves Nigerian children—and all the children in the world—just like He loves us.” “Right,” said Gianna. “Just like your song said. How did that go? Sing it again.” Allison sang the words again, and she laughed as Gianna tried it too. “That’s okay. You can laugh at me,” said Gianna. “I bet the Nigerians would laugh at you!” “You’re probably right,” said Allison. “But that’s okay. God understands—even when we mispronounce all the words. It’s not Greek to Him.” “Let’s make it a duet,” suggested Gianna. So they started singing together. –Linda Weddle How about you? Did you know there are children all over the world who love the Lord? They’re like you in many ways. They read the same Bible and memorize many of the same verses and even sing some of the same songs, but in a different language. Always remember that Jesus loves all the children everywhere just like He loves you. Today's Key Verse: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: God loves you and all children

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:14, 21-28 Brighton watched as Mom tied the sash of Kayleigh’s sparkly new dress and handed her a basket of flower petals. “It’s not fair,” Brighton muttered. She had never gotten to be a flower girl, but her little sister had been picked for that job in Aunt Erin’s wedding. “All I get to do is stand at the door and hand out programs,” Brighton said. Mom frowned. “Brighton, please stop whining.” “I’m not whining,” said Brighton, but she couldn’t make herself smile. It just isn’t fair! she thought again. “Come here and see Aunt Erin’s flowers,” said Mom. Brighton walked over to the beautiful bouquet on the table. There were white roses and pink tulips, fragrant lilies, and dainty violets. “Which flower is the prettiest?” asked Mom. Brighton studied them. “I like all of them,” she said. “It’s hard to pick one.” “I agree,” said Mom. “It takes all the different kinds and colors to make this type of bouquet. Can you imagine the tulip crying because it doesn’t smell like the rose? Or the violet being upset because it’s smaller than the lily? That would be silly, wouldn’t it? Well, like flowers, people are different too. We all have different jobs to do.” Brighton glanced up. “You want me to stop being mad that I can’t be a flower girl, don’t you?” Mom nodded. “If you and Kayleigh were both flower girls, who would greet the guests? As the family of the bride, we need to work together to show Aunt Erin and Uncle Jeff how much we love them and make their guests feel welcome.” Brighton sighed. “I guess you’re right.” “We need to work together as God’s family too,” said Mom. “The Bible compares Christians to a body made up of many parts that function in different ways. We need to recognize that Jesus loves and died for all of us and that He’s given us different things to do so we can serve Him together. The things God has for you to do won’t be the same as those He has for Kayleigh, but whatever He gives you to do is important.” “Like smiling as I greet everyone who comes to the wedding?” asked Brighton. Mom nodded. “Okay,” said Brighton. “Then I will!” –Jennifer Quakenbush How about you? Are you content doing the things God has given you to do? Or do you wish you could do what someone else is doing instead? God gives each Christian in the body of Christ—the church—different roles and tasks in serving Him and others. When you refuse to do your part, others miss out on having you share God’s love with them. Serve Jesus and show others His love by joyfully doing the things He’s given you to do. Today's Key Verse: All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Every job is important

Read: Colossians 3:20-25 Daniel plopped down on the top step and scowled. His sister, Nia, found him there. “Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and we don’t have a gift for Mom yet,” she said. “Let’s go see what we can find.” “I can’t,” Daniel said. “Mom says I can’t go anywhere. I didn’t clean my room right away like she told me to, and then when I did do it, she still wasn’t satisfied. I told her it was my room and it looked fine to me, so I didn’t care what she thought!” Nia gasped. “Daniel!” “I know,” Daniel said. “It was a dumb thing to say. She grounded me and then made me clean my room again anyway.” “Great, now how am I supposed to get her a present?” asked Nia. “Maybe if I ask her, she’ll let you walk into town with me.” Nia went and made her request, but when Mom said no, Nia became angry and talked back. So she got grounded too. After dinner the next day, Daniel and Nia felt bad about not having a gift for their mom. “We wanted to get you something yesterday,” Nia explained to her, “but you wouldn’t let us go to the store.” Dad raised his eyebrows. “So it’s Mom’s fault you don’t have a present for her?” “Well…no,” Daniel replied slowly. “Tell me,” said Dad, “why is it you wanted to give Mom a present in the first place?” “Because it’s Mother’s Day, and we wanted to show that we love her,” said Nia. “And what’s the best way to show your love?” Dad asked. “Well, um…giving presents and stuff is one way,” said Daniel. “And we also show people we love them by the way we act toward them.” Nia sighed. “Yesterday we didn’t act like we loved you, Mom. I’m sorry I talked back to you.” “Me too, Mom,” said Daniel. “And I’m sorry I didn’t obey you right away.” “I forgive you both,” said Mom. “And so will Jesus,” said Dad. “We also disobey Him when we don’t obey our parents, but He will always forgive us and help us show our love for others through our actions.” Mom nodded. “When you obey me, you give Jesus a present too!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do you tell your parents that you love them—not only by saying it or giving them presents, but by obeying them? Or do you whine and complain and sometimes talk back when they ask you to do something? When you obey your parents, it’s like giving them a gift out of love—and you do the same when you obey Jesus. Obey Him by obeying your parents. Today's Key Verse: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Obey your parents

Read: 1 Kings 17:2-9 Ingrid sat slumped on the couch in the empty living room. Her family was next door eating lunch before packing up the moving van. Aunt Kristin burst in holding a plate of brownies. “Nothing will cheer me up,” Ingrid declared, turning her back to her. “Not even my world-famous brownies?” Aunt Kristin cried. Ingrid shook her head. Aunt Kristin plopped down next to her. “I know it’s scary and sad to move,” she said. “I just don’t want to move!” Ingrid exclaimed. “I know it’s because my parents are helping open a new homeless shelter in the city, but I don’t want to make new friends or have a new teacher.” Aunt Kristin gave Ingrid a thoughtful smile. “Have I ever told you about my friend Elijah? He would be thousands of years old today if he were here eating cookies with us.” “Is he one of your Bible friends?” Ingrid asked. “Yes,” Aunt Kristin said. “He witnessed many miracles and got to hear God’s audible voice. But sometimes God told Elijah to do hard things.” “Like what?” “Well, Elijah lived in a land where it hadn’t rained for years,” Aunt Kristin said. “So God led him to a brook and provided him with food. But later on, God allowed the brook to dry up so that He could send Elijah somewhere else.” “I would’ve been scared,” Ingrid said. “Me too,” Aunt Kristin agreed. “But Elijah trusted God, so he knew God would provide for him in the next place. And guess what happened there? God showed Elijah a family who needed his help. Through Elijah, God even raised that family’s son back to life!” “A miracle!” Ingrid exclaimed. “Just think,” Aunt Kristin added, “because your family is following God’s call to a new place, you’ll be able to bless people you never would have met if you stayed here—and they’ll be able to bless you.” “No matter where I move, God will be there,” Ingrid said, smiling. “But can I take a brownie for the road?” Aunt Kristin handed her the whole plate. “Who knows? You might meet someone who needs one too.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Has God ever brought you to a new place? Maybe it was a new school, home, church, or friend group. Even though change can be scary, God will provide for all your needs no matter where you are. As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, He will help you remember that He is with you everywhere you go. Trust Him to help you be brave as He leads you where He wants you to go. Today's Key Verse: And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: God provides where He leads

Read: Psalm 139:1-3 Ryan and his mom were having boiled eggs for lunch. Ryan watched the eggs impatiently as they rolled around in the saucepan. “How long do they take to boil?” he asked. “I’m so hungry!” “Well, that depends on how you like them,” answered Mom. “Three minutes for a runny egg, and around ten minutes if you prefer them hard-boiled. I like them somewhere in between.” Ryan nodded. “Me too! So how do you know when they’re just right?” “I set a timer for just under eight minutes,” said Mom. “I bet you never knew boiling eggs was so complicated, did you?” “I had no idea!” Ryan said as he buttered the toast. “If only you had X-ray vision so you could see inside the shell.” Mom laughed. “Imagine that? All my food would turn out perfectly every time!” “Yeah, no more burnt turkeys!” Ryan said. People were always teasing Mom about the time she overcooked the Thanksgiving turkey. Just then, the oven timer began to beep. Swiftly, mom spooned the eggs into two egg cups. “Well, here it is. The moment of truth.” She grinned. “Let’s see how they turned out!” Ryan cracked open the shell of his egg and plunged his spoon in. Sticky orange yolk oozed upward from the middle of the egg—not too runny, not too hard. Just perfect for dunking your toast in. “Do you know what’s funny?” asked Mom. “This morning I was reading the story of how God chose David from all of Jesse’s sons.” “I love that story!” said Ryan. “David was the youngest, wasn’t he?” “That’s right,” said Mom. “And he wasn’t even included in the lineup! David was left out in the fields to look after the sheep. But God doesn’t miss a single thing! One by one, all of Jesse’s sons came parading before Samuel—strong and tall and handsome. But not one of them fit the bill. The Bible says God wasn’t looking at their outward appearance—He was looking straight into their hearts!” Ryan gasped. “God has X-ray vision!” “Exactly!” Mom said with a laugh. “God sees beyond our exterior—what we look like on the outside. His eyes see our hearts and whether they’ve been made clean by Jesus.” –Angela Jelf How about you: Do you worry about the way you look? Do you compare yourself to others who seem taller or thinner or have better clothes? We live in a world that places so much value on appearance, but that’s not what matters to God. He’s interested in our hearts. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. Trust Him to remove the sin from your heart and make you clean. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) Todays Key Thought: God searches our hearts

Read: Romans 5:6-8; 2 Timothy 1:9-10 Bax scooped the wet sand with as much care as he could stand, completing the last tower on his masterpiece. Finally, he thought. He sat back and admired his creation, but only long enough for his three-year-old brother Matt to run up from the water’s edge. “Mommy, I found a—” CRASH! Matt tripped over Bax’s bucket and fell headlong into Bax’s castle! “Matt! Look what you did! I’ve been working on my castle the whole time we’ve been here!” Angry, Bax advanced on his brother, wielding his plastic shovel. Matt beat a hasty retreat behind their mother. “I sorry, Bax, I sorry! Accident!” Matt cried. Mom stepped in. “Bax, we don’t hit others. You know that Matt just tripped over your bucket. I think you can show him some grace.” “But Mom, he ruined my sandcastle! If I had wrecked something Matt made, I’d definitely get in trouble,” Bax complained. “Maybe, but remember what we talked about at church this week? We don’t suffer the worst consequences for the bad things we’ve done because Jesus showed us grace. He died for us on the cross and came back to life. Because of that, you can show that same kind of grace by forgiving your brother.” “But that’s not fair!” Bax exclaimed. “No, that’s not fair, but neither is the grace Jesus gives us. It’s not fair that God should treat us like we’ve done no wrong when we’ve certainly lied and cheated and acted selfishly.” Mom looked at him expectantly as Matt snuffled noisily. Bax looked down at his smashed castle, then back at his brother’s red face. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, Matt. I’m sad about my sandcastle, but I know you didn’t do it on purpose. I forgive you. Can you forgive me too?” Matt shuffled back around Mom and said, “I sorry too, Bax. I forgive you.” “Thank you, boys,” Mom said. “And I have an idea. Let’s go up to the snack shop and get some ice cream!” “Yes!” both boys exclaimed, and they started running up the beach, both relieved that they had been shown grace. –Dylan Kraayenbrink How about you? Can you think of a time when you were forgiven even though you had done something wrong? That wasn’t fair, but it was an example of someone showing you grace. God showed us grace by sending Jesus to die for our sins. When you trust in Jesus and accept God’s forgiveness, He gives you the Holy Spirit, who empowers you to give grace to others, even when it’s not fair or you don’t feel like it. Today's Key Verse: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Forgive others