Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:23-25 "My class is going on a field trip to see Mount Vernon, George Washington's home," Anissa told her parents. "We've been learning about him, and I need to get books from the library and write a report on his life." "That's great," said Mom. "I'm sure learning about him before the trip will make it more enjoyable." So Anissa got to work, reading books about George Washington and writing her report. When Anissa arrived home after the field trip, she told her parents about the good time she'd had. "It was so much fun to see the things and places I'd read about. I even knew some things the guide didn't mention." After eating breakfast on Sunday, Dad stood up to help Anissa clear the table. "Okay, Anissa. Let's hear your memory verse before we leave for church," he said. "Um, well, I don't know it yet," Anissa confessed. "I was too busy this week. I'll go study it right now." She hurried off before Dad could reply. Learning the verse took longer than Anissa expected, and she had to hurry to get ready for church. When it was time to leave, her hair wasn't quite dry and she couldn't find her Bible. After hunting a few minutes, she finally shrugged and ran out to the car without it. After church, Anissa sighed as she got into the car. "I haven't been getting much out of church lately," she said. "Anissa," said Mom, "why did you do a lot of reading and write a report about Mount Vernon before going on your trip there?" "My teacher said I had to. But I'm glad, because learning about it ahead of time made it more special!" "Why don't you do the same for church?" suggested Mom. "Prepare for it by setting aside some time the night or morning before to read your Bible, learn your verse for Sunday school, and ask God to prepare your heart to worship Him and listen to what He has to say to you." "Good idea," said Dad. "But don't forget that we go to church to worship Jesus and learn more about Him with other believers. He is present there with us, helping us grow in our relationship with Him--whether we feel it or not." –Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Do you enjoy going to church? Have you tried preparing for it ahead of time? You can do that by giving yourself time beforehand to read your Bible and pray that God will use the church service to speak to you and others. Church is a special event where we get to be in God's presence with other believers. Prepare your heart so you'll be ready to worship and hear what He has to say to you. Today's Key Verse: I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." (NKJV) (Psalm 122:1) Today's Key Thought: Prepare for church

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:7-13 Emery looked at the tall buildings surrounding her new home. A big lump formed in her throat as she thought about the stormy divorce that had taken her father away from her. She tried to tell her mother how lonely she was, but she felt like Mom didn't really listen. I know Mom's nervous about starting her new job today, thought Emery. But I wish she'd think a little more about me and how I'm feeling on my first day at a new school! Emery felt nervous as she walked into her new school, but the principal was kind and led Emery to her classroom to introduce her to the class. When the bell rang for lunch, Sara, the girl sitting in front of Emery, turned around. "Want to eat lunch with me?" she asked. Emery breathed a huge sigh of relief as she went with her new friend to the cafeteria. "What do your parents do?" asked Sara as she and Emery ate. "My mom is starting a new job at the hospital today, and my dad…" Emery had hoped no one would ask about her dad. "He's a salesman," she said vaguely. "How about your parents? What do they do?" "My mom's an engineer, and I never knew my dad." Emery didn't answer right away. "My parents are divorced," she finally said in a small voice. She felt tears rising to her eyes and fought them back. "And Mom just thinks about her own problems and doesn't even listen when I talk about mine." "I know what you mean," said Sara. "I was really lonely until I met my heavenly Father." "Your what?" asked Emery. Sara smiled. "My heavenly Father--God. He always listens. I can talk to Him about anything, and He helps me not feel so lonely." "Must be nice," said Emery wistfully. Sara leaned forward in her chair. "Why don't you come to church with me and learn about Him? He can be your heavenly Father too!" "You mean He'll listen to me too?" asked Emery. "And help me not feel lonely?" "Definitely," said Sara. "He loves us and sent us His Son, Jesus, because He wants us to be His children." She got up. "Ready to go outside?" "Yes," Emery said, "but tell me more about your heavenly Father!" –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How About You? Do you know God as your heavenly Father? Even if you have a dad in your life, you need a relationship with God. You can know Him because of what Jesus did for you when He died on the cross for your sins and rose again. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) He loves you and is always ready to listen to what you have to say. Why not go to Him right now? Today's Key Verse: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. (NKJV) (Psalm 34:15) Today's Key Thought: God always listens

Bible Reading: Mark 14:3-9 "Our youth group is helping out at a preschool program at church next week," Charlotte told her mother as she helped weed the flower beds. "Bria has a great voice, so she's going to teach the kids songs, and Eduardo's a lot of fun, so he's in charge of games." Charlotte sighed. "I'm just helping with check-in." "Well, that's an important part of the program too," Mom said. "They need to make sure all the kids are accounted for and direct them where to go." Charlotte shrugged. "I really want to help out and serve the Lord--I just wish I had more to offer." "Charlotte, that's not--" Mom was interrupted by a squeal from little Billy, who was hurrying across the lawn toward them. "I make present for Mommy!" he called. Clutched in his soil-stained little hands was a small pot half-filled with dirt. Billy had stuck a dandelion into the dirt. Charlotte grinned as Billy ran toward them with a huge smile on his face. Mom turned to Charlotte. "It's a dumb present, isn't it?" she asked quietly. "That old pot he used is cracked and dirty. And that's just a weed! He should have brought me roses from the florist." Charlotte looked horrified. "Mom! How would he get them? He's only three! You're not going to tell him that, are you?" When Billy reached them, Mom bent down and took the flower pot he offered. "Thank you, Billy Boy! I'll put this right in the middle of our dining room table." She gave him a hug and then turned back to Charlotte as Billy ran off. "Actually, I love Billy's gift, even if it's not perfect. I know he brought it to me because he loves me. And when we offer gifts to God, with real love in our hearts, don't you think He's pleased and accepts them too--no matter how big or small they seem?" "You're talking about me helping with check-in next week, aren't you?" asked Charlotte. Mom nodded. "I'm glad Billy brought me the gift he was able to give me. That's what God wants us to do too. He wants us to do what we can to serve Him out of love and gratitude for all He's done for us." –Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Do you give gifts of your time, money, or talents to God? Don't compare what you can do with what others do or spend time wishing you had talents God gave to someone else. He wants you to serve Him with the abilities He gave you. If your heart is filled with love for God and gratitude for everything Jesus has done for you, He accepts your gifts with great joy. Today's Key Verse: We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (NIV) (Romans 12:6 ) Today's Key Thought: God loves your gifts to Him

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:29-31; 25:31-40 The cold winter wind bit at Maryam's nose and ears as she and her mother were shopping downtown. "Can we stop at the pet store and get some birdseed?" asked Maryam. Mom agreed, and they headed for the store. As they passed an alley, they saw a man sleeping there, huddled against a wall. He was shivering in a shabby coat, his hands bare and his toes poking out from his shoes. Maryam grabbed her mother by the hand and quickly pulled her past the alley. "What's wrong?" asked Mom. "That man made me nervous," said Maryam. "Why is he dressed like that? And why is he sleeping on the street on such a cold day?" "He must be homeless," said Mom. "We talked about homeless people at school," Maryam said as they went into the pet store. "But I didn't think there were any in small towns like ours." After buying a bag of birdseed, Maryam and her mother started back to the car. As they passed the alley, they saw that the man was gone. Mom looked sad. "I hope he's okay." When they got home, Maryam filled the family's backyard feeder with birdseed. Then she went inside and rubbed the cold from her tingling fingers. She joined her mother at the window, and they watched birds swoop down to the feeder. "I'm glad we can put out seeds for them," Maryam said. "It's so cold, and it's hard for them to find food. They might die without us." Maryam smiled as she watched the birds flutter around the feeder and peck at the seeds. "You know what? Some verses I read in my Bible this morning said God knows about every sparrow that falls. He cares about birds." "Yes," said Mom. "And He cares about people much more than birds. People are so valuable to Him that Jesus became one of us so we could be saved from sin and live with Him forever." Maryam stared out at the snowy backyard, thinking of the man they'd seen. "We found a way to help the birds through the cold winter. Maybe we could find a way to help homeless people too." "I'm sure we can," Mom said. "Let's come up with some ideas." –Daryl B. Knauer How About You? Do you know of someone who's in need? In today's Key Verse, Jesus tells Christians that doing something for someone in need is the same as doing it for Him. Think about what you could do. Perhaps you could donate food, money, or even your time to your church or another organization that helps people. Ask God to show you how you can share His love by helping those in need. Today's Key Verse: Truly I [Jesus] tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (NIV) (Matthew 25:40) Today's Key Thought: Help those in need

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17 "What are you doing, Thomas?" William stared at his little brother in shock. "Mom, come quick!" Mom came running into the room. "Who got hurt?" she asked, then frowned. "Thomas, why in the world are you standing on a Bible?" Thomas grinned. "We learned about it in Sunday school today. The Bible is God's Word, and we're supposed to stand on it!" He thrust his hand into the air. William began to laugh. "Thomas, you're not supposed to actually stand on the Bible. That's just a fancy way to talk." Now Mom laughed. "You mean a figure of speech?" "Yeah, that," William agreed, eyeing the Bible. "We aren't supposed to stand on the Bible, we're supposed to read it." "Then why do we sing about standing on it?" Thomas stepped onto the floor, looking confused. "Standing on the Bible means standing firm in its truth." Mom picked up the Bible and flipped to Ephesians 6. "Sometimes people explain ideas using things we're familiar with to help us understand. The armor of God is a good example. Is the armor of God actual armor that you need to buckle and fasten?" Thomas shook his head. "No, but that would be cool. I could be like a knight!" "Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord," continued Mom. "The devil tries to get us to doubt God's goodness and His promises in the Bible and give in to sinful temptations. Standing firm means remembering that God is so good that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and that Jesus gives us the strength to resist temptation. It means trusting that Jesus's sacrifice saves us from sin completely and being confident in God's endless love for us. As we learn what the Bible says about Jesus and embrace its truth, it helps us stand firm against the devil's tricks." "So, instead of standing on the Bible, we want the Bible inside us?" asked Thomas. William frowned. "What? You don't eat the Bible either!" "Memorizing means the verses are stuck inside my brain," Thomas explained. "So, if the Bible is stuck inside my brain, then I can stand on its truth!" Thomas threw his fist into the air again, making both Mom and William laugh. –Kimberly Brokish How About You? Are you standing firm in the truth of God's Word? Satan is very tricky, and he wants all of us to sin and doubt God. But the Bible tells us the truth about God's goodness and His love for us. It tells us how we have the power to resist sin through Jesus. By reading God's Word, memorizing it, and learning about it with others, we can equip ourselves to stand firm against the devil's lies by remembering the strength we have in Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. (NIV) (Ephesians 6:13) Today's Key Thought: Stand firm in God's Word

Bible Reading: Psalm 31:1-5 "Hurry! Pull up the drawbridge, Winston!" Mitchell hurried into the cardboard castle in their basement. "The enemy is coming!" Winston pulled up the bridge, and both boys peered through narrow slits in the walls. "Now they won't be able to cross the moat," said Winston. "And even if they do, our strong walls will keep us safe." Just then Dad came down the stairs, followed by the boys' sister, Charis. "I think it's time for a break," he said, holding out a bowl of popcorn. They all sat in the courtyard of the castle, eating popcorn and admiring the corner towers made by big refrigerator boxes. The towers were connected by cardboard walls. "This castle is a lot of fun, Dad," said Mitchell. "Thanks for helping us build it." "This doesn't seem much like a castle to me," said Charis. "I thought castles were big, beautiful palaces with lots of fancy rooms." "This castle is really a fortress, not a palace," Dad said. "Fortresses were used years and years ago to protect people from their enemies." He took a handful of popcorn from the bowl. "Did you know that God is described as a fortress?" "He is?" asked Winston. "How can He be a fortress?" "Well," said Dad, "remember that school shooting we heard about on the news this morning?" Charis nodded. "It scared me." "Me too," said Winston. "What if that happened at our school?" "We live in a sinful world, and bad things happen all around us," said Dad. "But we can find peace by running to our fortress--Jesus, who sacrificed His life to save us from sin and death. We can draw close to Him and trust Him to take care of us." "But we could still get hit by an enemy arrow, even inside our castle," said Mitchell. "That's right," said Dad. "And sometimes even Christians get hurt. But when we take refuge in the Lord, we can have peace knowing we're safe with Him. We can be sure that even if an arrow--some bad thing--strikes us, He will be with us. Even death itself cannot separate us from Jesus, because He conquered death when He rose again. No matter what happens, we can have peace knowing we've been given eternal life in Him." –Jody Hedlund How About You? Have you ever been scared by something you heard in the news? We live in a sinful world where lots of bad things happen, but if you're a Christian, you have a strong fortress where you can run for protection--Jesus! He promises to be with you and give you peace--even if bad things do happen. Tell Him your worries and fears and trust Him to be with you. Today's Key Verse: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:2) Today's Key Thought: God gives peace

Bible Reading: John 9:1-7 Jana looked out the window as a tear slid down her cheek. She watched as the other kids laughed and played in the snow. Her brother Caleb saw her and threw a snowball. She giggled in spite of herself as it softly hit the window. Sighing, she turned away and wheeled herself into the kitchen. "What are you making, Mom?" "Supper," Mom said. Jana raised her eyebrows and looked at the clock. "At nine in the morning?" "Yes," said Mom. "But I think a better question would be what's causing these tears." She wiped away a tear from Jana's cheek. "Oh, Mom," Jana said, "I just don't understand why my illness has lasted so long. Why doesn't God take away my pain and weakness? I know He could heal me!" The last words came out in a little sob. Mom carefully lowered the meat into a slow cooker, covered it, and set it on low. Then she spoke. "We don't always understand God's ways or thoughts, but He uses the things that happen in our lives." She paused, then tapped the top of the slow cooker. "It's like this meat I'm cooking. It's a special cut that requires careful preparation and cooking that other meats don't require. If I cooked it faster on a higher heat, it would be tough and hard to eat. But when I cook it all day on a low temperature, it's tender and delicious." She grinned. "Even Caleb will be able to eat it with his missing teeth!" Jana thought about that. "So you're saying being sick and in this wheelchair for so long may be God's way of making me tender and more like Him?" "Yes!" Mom said. "I don't know why God hasn't healed you more quickly, but I know He's patiently working in your life for good. He can use hard things to make you more like Jesus, who understands your suffering and promises to be with you through it. I pray each day that He will use this long illness to help you know Jesus better and let His love be seen in your life." She poured hot water into a mug. "Now, would you like to come stir Caleb's hot cocoa?" Jana smiled as she rolled to the table to help. –Myrical Barton How About You? Have you been dealing with something for a long time? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers or even cares about what you're going through? He does. God often uses difficult things in our lives to make us more like Jesus, and sometimes those things can last a long time. Remember that Jesus loves you and is with you, and trust Him to use your difficult experience for good. Today's Key Verse: But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (NKJV) (Job 23:10) Today's Key Thought: God uses hardships to shape you

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:7-11 Leighton was excited to spend time with his aunt. Since his new cousin was born, he hadn't seen her much. "Let's get right to the card tricks," said Aunt Ellie. "Where did I put my cards?" There was baby stuff everywhere. Leighton helped his aunt go through it. Finally, they found a deck of cards under a stuffed giraffe. Aunt Ellie was emptying out the card box when they heard crying coming from down the hallway. She stood. "That's River." Leighton shuffled the cards as he waited for his aunt. His sister had a birthday party coming up, and he wanted to surprise her guests with the tricks that his aunt knew. "She needs to eat. Sorry." Aunt Ellie reappeared, sitting down and sticking a bottle into the mouth of the crying bundle in her arms. Leighton waited as his cousin ate and as his aunt held her and patted her back. He waited as Aunt Ellie changed the baby's diaper, and he watched her lay her in a bassinet. "Watch Mommy impress your cousin with card tricks, okay?" Aunt Ellie moved back over to Leighton. She was about to do a card trick when River started to cry again. She dropped the cards. "Maybe she has a burp that's stuck." "She needs help burping?" Leighton watched his aunt pick up the baby and start patting her back again. "I'm never going to learn this trick." "Babies need a lot from us," said Aunt Ellie. "I was talking about that with your grandma. She reminded me that's how we are with God. First, we need Jesus to save us from sin and give us new life in Him." Aunt Ellie sat down. "Then we need His forgiveness when we don't listen to what He says. We need His protection. We need His encouragement. We need His peace and joy and the hope He offers…" "Do you think He gets tired of all our needs?" Leighton asked. His aunt shook her head. "Never." River had quieted in her arms, and she looked at Leighton with a smile. "Know what she needs now? Her cousin." She reached over and placed the baby in Leighton's outstretched arms, and he held her carefully. –Emily Acker How About You? Do you know any babies who are always needing something from you and the adults in your life? Babies can't do anything for themselves--they're dependent on others to take care of them and give them what they need. And we need God to take care of us. He is always patient and never grows tired of helping you with your needs. Bring your problems and worries to Him in prayer and trust Him to take care of you. 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: Trust God with your needs

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7-13 "I'm not going to Topher's birthday party," Declan told his mother as they walked down the grocery aisle. "Not if Walker's there." "That's not very nice," said Mom. "For Topher or Walker." "Yeah, well, they both deserve it! Walker's mean and makes fun of people, and Topher just wants to be friends with him so the other kids will think he's cool." They stopped in front of a display filled with bags of heart-shaped candy, and Declan's younger brother eagerly looked for something to pass out to his kindergarten class with his valentines. "Can I get this kind?" Ben asked, picking up a bag. "Let's see," Mom said, reading the package. "We'll need two bags of these. There are only twenty pieces in each bag, and there are twenty-one kids in your class." "One's enough," said Ben. "I'm not giving one to Steven. He's mean, and he doesn't deserve candy." "Ben," said Mom, "Valentine's Day is all about love, remember? It's not very loving to bring treats for all but one person in your class. As Christians, we need to love others the way Jesus loves us--even those who aren't nice to us. Either we buy enough to share with Steven or we don't buy any at all." Ben scowled. "No! I'm not getting one for Steven," he said, crossing his arms. Mom placed the candy back on the shelf and started walking away. "Wait!" Ben exclaimed, tugging at her coat. "Okay, okay, I'll get one for Steven!" Declan smirked at Ben's sudden change in attitude. "You know," Mom said, eyeing him, "that goes for friendships as well as candy." Declan looked at her and grimaced. "You're talking about Topher's party, aren't you?" Mom nodded. "The truth is, we don't get to decide whether someone deserves to have us show them God's love, because none of us deserve it. Yet God showed His love for us all by sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sins on the cross. As His followers, He calls us to love others--even those we don't get along with." "Like Walker," Declan said. He sighed, then nodded. "I'll tell Topher that I'll go to his party. Maybe I can get some candy to share too." –LeAnn Campbell How About You? Do you find it hard to love people who aren't nice to you? Some people aren't easy to love, but God wants us to love them anyway. He loves us so much that Jesus came to earth, suffered a painful death, and raised Himself back to life to save us from sin. We don't deserve His love, but He gives it to us freely, and He will help us love others--even those who aren't easy to love. Today's Key Verse: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (NKJV) (1 John 4:7 ) Today's Key Thought: Show love to everyone

Bible Reading: John 6:37-40; Romans 6:23 "Mom, Sheba won't come when I call her!" said Adam. "Sometimes she comes toward me, but if I try to touch her, she runs away again. Watch!" Adam called to Sheba, his new puppy. Sure enough, Sheba looked at Adam, and when he kept calling, she ran in circles. Each time, she came close to Adam but always dodged away at the last moment. When she was finally exhausted, Sheba lay down, panting. Adam walked over to her. "You need to learn to obey," he said. "You're right," said Mom. "I know! Try offering her a reward to encourage her to come to you. Try a dog biscuit--and when you call her, ignore her silly antics. When she comes, praise her, pet her, and give her the biscuit. Eventually, she'll get tired of wearing herself out for nothing. She'll learn that she needs to come to you so she can have her reward." "Okay," said Adam. "It's worth a try." Several days later, Adam called to Mom as she walked outside. "Look, Mom! Watch Sheba now!" Mom turned to watch as Adam called to his puppy. "Sheba, come!" The puppy stopped chewing on her dog toy, looked at Adam, and cocked her head. Adam repeated the command. "Come, Sheba!" He held up a dog biscuit. Sheba quickly trotted over to Adam. She stood silently beside him, stared at the biscuit, and remained still. "Good girl, Sheba!" Adam patted her and gave her the biscuit, which she ate eagerly. Adam beamed. "Sheba's really smart!" He knelt down and hugged the happy puppy. Mom smiled. "Yes. She is smart to come to her master." Mom came over and scratched behind Sheba's ears. "Sheba reminds me of the way we must come to our Master." "Come to our Master?" asked Adam. "I guess you mean Jesus, right?" "Right," Mom said, "and Jesus offers a reward too. He offers the greatest reward of all--eternal life with Him. Running in circles trying to make life work on our own doesn't get us anywhere--it just tires us out. But Jesus is patient with us, and He calls us to come to Him for forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. When we answer His call, the reward is ours." –Susanna B. Chenoweth How About You? Have you come to Jesus? Do you hear Him calling? He's offering a great reward--the gift of eternal life with Him. It's wonderful and it's free--but you must come. He promises that when you do, He will accept you; He will never turn anyone away. Will you come to Jesus today? (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: All that the Father gives Me [Jesus] will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (NKJV) (John 6:37) Today's Key Thought: Come to Jesus

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 "I've tried to get into the habit of reading my Bible every day," Alanna said as she reached for a piece of pizza, "but I never seem to be able to." Several others in the room nodded in agreement. They were having a pizza party for their Bible study group, and their leader was encouraging them to set aside time for daily devotions. "Bible reading is a bit like eating," said Mr. McRay. "First you take a bite, then you chew it, then you swallow it, and finally you digest it." "How do you take a bite of the Bible?" asked Chloe. "Well, look at this pizza," said Mr. McRay. "It's cut into sections, and the Bible is also divided into sections. You choose one section of pizza, and you can choose one section of the Bible--a book or chapter or even just a verse or two." "So if that's like taking a bite, how do you chew?" asked Marc. "My grandma's always telling me not to bite off more than I can chew!" Mr. McRay laughed. "She says that so you won't choke on your food, but don't worry, you won't choke from reading your Bible. Chewing your bite of Bible just means thinking and praying about the verses you've read." "Okay, but then how do we swallow what we've read?" asked Alanna. "Have you ever heard someone say, 'That story is hard to swallow'? That means it's hard to believe. So swallowing means believing God's Word is true." "So we read a little, think about it, and believe it," said Chloe. "Then what?" "We digest it, remember? And we just studied that in school," said Marc. "Food is changed into something the blood can take to the rest of the body." Mr. McRay nodded. "When we digest food, its nutrients become part of our bodies. And when we digest what we've read in the Bible, its truth becomes part of our lives. We let it make a difference as we listen to what it teaches us about Jesus and who we are as God's children who have been saved from sin." Mr. McRay picked up a piece of pizza. "I think it would be a good idea to eat four meals a day--breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a slice of your Bible." –Sheri Shaw How About You? Are you getting four meals a day? Just like eating is important for a healthy body, reading God's Word is important for a healthy life. If you find it hard to read the Bible, start with small bites. Try reading just a verse or two and think about what God is saying. Then let it make a difference in your life by believing it and doing what it says. Have a bite of Bible every day! Today's Key Verse: People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (NLT) (Matthew 4:4) Today's Key Thought: Feed on God's Word

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-16 Everyone in Daphne's family had blond hair except for her. Her hair was bright red. She stood out in every family picture and too often heard comments about being her parents' "red-headed girl." Some people told Daphne her hair was pretty, and others just looked at her strangely, like she didn't belong. Daphne sat on a camp chair at her little brother's soccer game and tried to cover as much of her hair as possible with her bucket hat. She heard someone sit down beside her and glanced over at her grandpa. "How's my little redhead?" he asked. Daphne sighed. "Do you have to call me that?" Grandpa's gray brow lifted. "No, I don't have to. But what's wrong with it?" "I'm tired of having red hair." Daphne frowned and sat forward, watching as her brother kicked the ball to his teammate. "I don't like being different from everyone in my family. I wish I had blond hair too." "But then you wouldn't stand out," Grandpa said. "Exactly!" Daphne turned to him. "I want to fit in. I want to have blond hair and look like them instead of being the redhead of the family." Grandpa tapped his chin. "I think your grandma felt that way too sometimes." "Grandma?" Daphne asked. "She had red hair like yours before it went gray," Grandpa said. "She's where you get it from." Daphne couldn't remember her grandma well because she had passed away when she was young, and she'd never realized she had red hair. "I think it's a special thing that God passed on to you," Grandpa said. "I love seeing your red hair. And I know God makes no mistakes. If He wanted you to be just like the rest of your family, He would have made you that way." Grandpa smiled at her. "Sometimes it's hard to be different, but it's also good. God made each of us unique in many ways, not just in our looks. It's good to enjoy and embrace that rather than fight it, knowing God created each of us with care because He loves us." "Okay, I'll try," Daphne said. It felt better knowing her grandma had been a redhead too and to be reminded that God had made her that way. –Bethany Acker How About You? Do you embrace the unique qualities God has given you? Or do you feel frustrated because you don't look or act the same way as your family or friends? God made you just as you are, and He loves you so much that Jesus gave His life to save you. Instead of wishing you were different, let Him help you enjoy being the unique person He created you to be. Today's Key Verse: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV) (Psalm 139:14 ) Today's Key Thought: God made you just right

Bible Reading: John 10:27-30 Tyler walked into the kitchen where his mom was preparing supper. They were going to a special program at church that night, so they would be eating earlier than usual. Mom looked up and smiled. "Hi, Tyler. What have you been doing?" "I've been reading," Tyler replied. "I'm learning some pretty cool stuff about the United States." "What kind of stuff?" Mom asked as she began mixing up a salad. Tyler reached for the lettuce and started shredding it. "I found out that once a state approves an amendment to its constitution, it can't change it. I guess the state has to be pretty sure that it agrees with the amendment!" "That's interesting," Mom said. "But what's really interesting is that if a state rejects an amendment, it can change its mind later," Tyler added. He sighed. Even though he had been reading all afternoon, he'd been thinking about something else too. "What's wrong?" Mom asked, glancing at him over the salad bowl. Tyler sighed again. "I don't really want to go to church tonight. Speakers at programs like that sometimes make me feel like I'm not saved. I worry that when I sin, I've lost my salvation and have to trust Jesus to save me all over again." "Tyler, it doesn't work that way," Mom said gently. "If you have truly placed your faith in Jesus and believe He died for your sins and rose again, then He has saved you, and you'll always be saved." "Really?" asked Tyler. "Yes. It's like what you were talking about with states amending their constitutions. Before a person is saved, they can reject the good news of Jesus over and over again, but God never gives up on them. That person can always change their mind. Once you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, there's nothing that can change it. You'll still sin, but Jesus promises to forgive you when you confess your sins to Him." Tyler thought about that. "But how can I keep from sinning?" "Once you're saved, the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps you follow Jesus," said Mom. "But you still have to choose to listen and obey what He says. It isn't always easy, but even when you mess up, God will never let you go." - Julia Kicinski How About You? Are you ever afraid that you might lose your salvation? Do you ever think God will give up on you because you sin too much? God loves you and promises never to abandon you. He will always forgive you when you sin and help you obey Him. When you trust Jesus to be your Savior, He will hold you so tightly that you will never be lost again. Today's Key Verse: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (NKJV) (John 10:28) Today's Key Thought: Salvation is forever

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-3, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-2 Dinner was finished, and Liam was just thinking about teasing his sister when she interrupted his plan. "Why did you have to stay in during recess today?" Naomi asked him. "I heard you and a bunch of other kids got caught cheating on a test." Liam swallowed hard, and it suddenly became very quiet in the kitchen. Only Nala, their dog, had anything to say as she yipped for a handout. "Nala, quiet." Dad said. Nala sat down immediately and waited. "It wasn't a big deal," muttered Liam, but the look on Dad's face said otherwise. Liam sighed. "Chandler found the answer key and passed it around, and I kept thinking about honor roll, so…well, I snuck a look." Dad cut a scrap of meat and showed it to Nala. The dog licked her lips hungrily. "Nala, stay," Dad said firmly, then placed the meat on the floor in front of the dog. Nala thumped her tail excitedly, but she stayed where she was. "Liam, do you have any idea why Nala is able to resist the temptation to take the meat?" Liam grinned. "She probably knows Naomi helped make dinner tonight, and…ow!" His sister's elbow had made a direct hit to his ribs. "Look at Nala's eyes," Dad said. "She's looking at me, right?" Liam nodded. "If Nala kept staring at the meat, she'd never be able to resist it," Dad explained. "Instead, she's focusing on her master." He turned toward Liam. "Whenever you're tempted, who should you focus on?" "Jesus," Liam replied. "I know that, Dad. But it's so hard!" "You're right. It's not easy," said Dad. "But God gives us the ability to do it. Because we trust in Jesus, He has set us free from sin and gives us power over temptation--and when we do sin, He offers us forgiveness. When we're tempted to do wrong things, it's important to direct our thoughts back toward Jesus and trust Him for the power to resist." "I was definitely more focused on my grades than I was on Jesus," Liam admitted. Dad picked up the scrap of meat and tossed it into the air. Nala caught and swallowed it, barely taking time to chew. She sat down and licked her lips again. It had been worth the wait. - A. J. Schut How About You? What are some temptations that you've experienced? If you're a Christian, remember that even when you give in to temptation and sin, God has already forgiven all your sins through the death and resurrection of His Son. Because you trust in Jesus, He has freed you from sin and given you the power to resist it. The next time you're tempted to do something wrong, redirect your attention to Jesus and the power you have in Him. Today's Key Verse: Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (NIV) (Hebrews 12:1-2) Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-12 "What are these clothes for?" asked Violet. She was at her friend Olivia Johnson's house, and Mrs. Johnson had the dining room covered with dresses, pants, and some items of clothing Addy didn't even recognize. Olivia laughed. "Mom helps the high school drama department with costumes for their plays. She's going through old costumes to see which ones can be used again." Olivia picked up a red dress. "You want to try some on? Mom will let us, won't you, Mom?" "If you girls are careful," said Mrs. Johnson. For the next hour or so, the girls went from being ladies from the 1700s to aliens from outer space. Their favorites were the animal costumes. Violet was a zebra, and Olivia was a lion. The costumes completely covered them except for air holes and a slit for their eyes. "Mrs. Johnson, my dad is out mowing the lawn. Can we walk past my house in our costumes? He won't know who we are, and I can't wait to see the look on his face!" Mrs. Johnson laughed. "Sure." The girls giggled as they quietly went out the back door and then behind some trees to the sidewalk. They didn't want Violet's dad to see them coming from the Johnson house. They waited until he turned the mower toward the sidewalk, then they hurriedly walked past him. Violet's dad turned off the mower. "Oh no! My daughter has turned into a zebra and her friend is a lion! What shall I do?" Violet removed the zebra head. "Daaad! How did you know it was us?" He laughed. "Your walk, Violet. I knew who you were by the way you were walking." The family had a good laugh about Violet's costume over supper that night. Then Violet had a thought. "This is kind of like what we were talking about last week, Dad, when I was having problems with some friends at school. You said people should know I'm a Christian by the way I live my life--that I needed to walk the Christian walk." "Exactly right," said Dad. "The Bible tells us that others should know we belong to Jesus by the way we walk. Every step we take should point to Him and His love for us." - Linda Weddle How About You? Do others know you're a Christian by the way you walk? That doesn't mean whether you tiptoe or march, but how you live your life. Could someone tell you know Jesus and have His love in your heart by your kindness, patience, and joy? Or do you walk the same as everyone else? Walk in a way that shows others the love of Jesus. Today's Key Verse: The one who says he remains in him [Jesus] should walk just as he walked. (CSB) (1 John 2:6) Today's Key Thought: Walk like a Christian

Bible Reading: Matthew 20:1-16; Ephesians 2:8-9 "How was the pizza party?" Mom asked as Addy climbed into the car and buckled her seatbelt. Addy wasn't sure how to answer. She had chosen to give up her lunch recess five days in a row to help pick up litter, pull weeds from the cracked pavement, and spread new wood chips under the monkey bars. Being on the clean-up crew was hard work, but she didn't mind. The playground was looking so much better, and Ms. Chambers, the custodian, had promised the crew a pizza party as a reward. "It was good and bad, I guess," Addy said. "Good because I got my favorite--pepperoni with extra cheese. Bad because Henry was there." "Henry was on the clean-up crew?" Mom's face looked surprised in the rearview mirror. Addy nodded. "But he was late every day and mostly just goofed around. Henry didn't work nearly as hard as the rest of us. I don't understand why he got to come to the party." "That reminds me of a story Jesus told about some workers who were hired to clear a field," Mom said. "Some of them started at nine in the morning, some at noon, some at three, and some at five. When the workday was over, the owner of the field paid everyone a full day's wage." "That's not fair!" Addy burst out. "The people who started later shouldn't have gotten the same pay as the ones who worked all day." "It might not seem fair, but instead of comparing the workers, maybe we can think about how generous the owner of the field was to all of them." Addy was quiet for a minute. She thought about how Ms. Chambers was always patient and kind to everyone--even the kids who made the biggest messes in the lunchroom. "Ms. Chambers is kind of like the owner of the field, isn't she? She kept her promise to all of us--even Henry, who did the least work of all." "Yes, Addy, and the owner of the field is like Jesus, who gives grace and keeps His promises to all of us who trust in Him. The way He works is sometimes hard for us to understand, but we can be grateful that He is always good." –Susie Crosby How About You? Do you sometimes feel frustrated when someone who didn't work as hard as you gets the same prize or payment? Sometimes things don't seem fair, but the good news is that God is generous and kind to everyone. None of us could earn the reward of eternal life with Him, but because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, we are all invited to the party in heaven forever. Today's Key Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NIV) (Ephesians 2:8-9) Today's Key Thought: God offers grace to everyone

Bible Reading: Psalm 66:16-20; Jeremiah 33:3 "I wish my grandpa lived nearby," said Tariq as he and his friend Mason went to visit Mason's grandfather. "I wanted Grandpa to move here when Grandma died, but he didn't." Tariq had always wondered why God hadn't answered his prayer. Mason's grandpa was working outside when they arrived. He greeted them, then showed them where he was planting watermelon seeds. "You'll have to come back in the summer to eat some watermelon," he said. Just then they heard a door slam. An elderly man who lived next door had come outside. "Get out of here, you nasty critters!" the man hollered at some squirrels in his yard. "He doesn't sound very happy," said Tariq. Mason's grandpa shook his head. "That's Hank Stone. He lives alone and doesn't have any family nearby. His only grandchild used to visit him, but he died in a car accident last year. I think the only people Hank sees now are a few old timers like me. He misses his relatives--especially his grandson." As they walked over to the edge of the lawn, Mr. Stone glared at them. Then his face softened, and he came over and stood in front of Tariq. "I don't know you," he said, "but you sure remind me of my grandson." Tears filled his eyes, and Tariq looked at him uncertainly, not knowing what to say. "My grandson, he--I don't see him anymore," the old man said. Tariq gave him a hesitant smile. "I live a couple blocks away--maybe I could come visit you sometimes. I could bring some of my mom's cookies." A smile spread across Mr. Stone's face. When Tariq arrived home, he told his mom about Mr. Stone. "Maybe I could adopt him as an extra grandpa since my own grandpa lives so far away." Mom smiled at him. "You know, Tariq, I think God may have answered your prayer to have your grandpa live nearby in a special way. Even when He doesn't give us exactly what we ask for, He still cares for us and provides for us. He cares about Mr. Stone too and knows how hard it is for him not have anybody going to see him." Tariq grinned. "But now he has me!" –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How About You? Have you been frustrated when you prayed for something but God didn't answer the way you wanted? God answers prayer, but He answers the way He knows is best--which may not always be the way you want. Keep praying, knowing that He loves you and listens to your prayers. Trust Him to give you the perfect answer, even if it's not what you expected. Today's Key Verse: As for God, His way is perfect. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:30) Today's Key Thought: God's answers to prayer are perfect

Bible Reading: Psalm 9:7-10; Jude 1:20-22 "Want to come check on a house with me?" Braxton's dad asked. Braxton didn't really want to, but he climbed into his dad's truck. His dad was a building contractor, and Braxton used to love seeing the houses he was building. But after his mom died, he didn't find it exciting anymore. They made their way to a messy yard. The ground was muddy with a big hole in it. "This doesn't look like a house," Braxton said. Dad smiled. "Not yet, but it will. Trust me." Braxton went with his dad again the next day and there was concrete in the hole. "Is that a basement?" Braxton asked. "Sure is," Dad said as he walked around the edge of it to inspect the work. A few days later, Braxton was surprised to see the wooden outline of a house set up over the basement. After a while, he started to look forward to his visits. On the day they arrived to see men putting on siding, Braxton grinned. "Every day something new is done, and soon it will be ready to be lived in." "Pretty cool, right?" Dad said. "As builders, we get to add to a house a little each day. As Christians, we can see our faith be built up like that." Braxton turned from the house and stared at his dad. "Huh?" "It's been hard to trust God since your mom passed away, hasn't it?" Dad asked. "Our lives were messy like this lot before the house was built." Braxton hugged himself. "Everything changed." "Little by little, though, we have learned to trust Him again," Dad said. "God has been taking care of us and building up our faith. That basement was like the first sign of us trusting God again when we remembered that Jesus, who died and rose again to save us, is still here with us and promises to make everything right one day. Each time the house had something added to it was similar to how God continued to show His love to us--like when He sent Grandma to help us and when He showed us it's okay to be happy again." "I miss Mom," Braxton said. "Me too." Dad hugged him. "But I still want my faith and trust in God to be built up." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever had to trust God through an especially hard time, such as the loss of a parent, grandparent, or friend? It can be hard to trust Him at times like that and can even feel like you're falling away from Him. But God still loves you, and His promises are still true. If Jesus has saved you, nothing can separate you from Him. He will continue to care for you and build your faith in Him. Today's Key Verse: Build each other up in your most holy faith…and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. (NLT) (Jude 1:20-21) Today's Key Thought: Trust God to build your faith

Bible Reading: Matthew 8:5-13 Ezra and Louie took their remote control truck out to the driveway while Mom sat on the porch. Their little sister, Ophelia, was hopping around on a pogo stick. "Mom," Ophelia said, "I wish I had a remote control pogo stick. I could ride it, and you could make it to go up and down, up and down, all by itself. That would be fun!" "Yeah, that would be cool!" Ezra said as he watched his sister. Mom laughed. "I've never heard of such a thing. Maybe you can invent one when you grow up." "But I want one now!" said Ophelia. "I have an idea," said Mom. "When I give a command, do whatever I say. If I say to go left, you go left. If I say to go right, you go right. It's kind of like I'm moving you by remote control! How about that?" Ophelia grinned and nodded. "Ready?" asked Mom. "Okay, go straight ahead…turn left…turn left again…now go right…back up…go forward…stop!" Ophelia bounced around, laughing as she followed her mother's instructions. The boys joined in too, and soon they were taking turns giving and receiving commands. That night, Mom read a Bible story about a Roman leader who asked Jesus to heal his servant. "The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.'" "Jesus was pleased with that man's faith," Mom explained after she finished reading. "The servant was healed the moment Jesus said, 'So let it be done for you.'" "Just like a remote control!" said Louie. "That's an interesting way to look at it," Mom said. "God made this world, and He controls everything in it--but not always like a remote control. He wants us to trust Him and follow His commands--just like Ophelia let me direct where her pogo stick went by following my directions. The man in the story believed Jesus was God and submitted to His authority by asking Jesus to do what he could not, knowing Jesus could do anything. That's the kind of faith we need to have too." –Tait E. Powell How About You? Have you put your faith in Jesus? Are you listening to Him and following His commands? Or are you living the way you want? We can fool ourselves into thinking we're in control of our lives, but God is in control of everything. You can't save yourself or live a good life on your own--you need Jesus. Trust and follow 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: You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. (NKJV) (Psalm 83:18) Today's Key Thought: Trust and obey Jesus

Bible Reading: Luke 17:11-19 "I sure hope we get remote control race cars for our birthday," Ezra said as he and his twin brother waited to be picked up from school. "Me too," said Louie. "But with Dad out of work, you know we won't get them." He kicked at a stone on the sidewalk. "Don't be so sure," said Ezra. "When Aunt Elizabeth called last week, she asked what we wanted, and I told her we wanted the cars. Who knows! She might get them for us." When the boys arrived home, there was a large package on the table. It was for them--a package from Aunt Elizabeth. Could it be? It was! A remote control car--well, sort of. "A remote control truck?" asked Louie. "Not a race car? And just one?" Ezra looked at him in disbelief. "You mean we have to share it?" "Looks like you do," said Mom. The boys sighed, but they took turns playing with the truck and learning to use the remote control. "It's tricky to back up the truck with that trailer attached," Louie said after a while. "I didn't expect it to be like this." "What did you expect?" asked Mom. "That each of us would get a car," said Ezra. "I didn't expect to get a remote control car at all," said Louie. "I suppose we really should be thankful to have this truck, even if we do have to share it." "I agree with that," said Mom. "Tell me--what are some things you like about it?" "Well," said Ezra, "it does have turbo speed." "And it came with a trailer," said Louie. "It's kind of fun figuring out how to make it back up the right way." "How about calling Aunt Elizabeth to thank her?" Mom suggested. "Mention all the things you like about the gift and thank her for it." The boys nodded. "And maybe your new truck can also be a reminder to thank God for everything He's given you," Mom added. "He gave you the best gift of all when He sent Jesus to save you, and He always provides and does what's best for you--even if it's in ways you don't expect." –Tait E. Powell How About You? Do you thank others for the gifts they give you--even when it's not what you asked for or expected? Don't be like the nine lepers in today's Scripture reading who failed to say thank you. Be thankful for the gifts you receive, especially those that come from God. He doesn't always give us what we ask for, but because He gave us His own Son, we can trust Him to give us exactly what we need. Today's Key Verse: Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (NKJV) (Psalm 100:4) Today's Key Thought: Be thankful