Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 As she sat working on her homework alone, Star didn't feel very loved. It was a holiday weekend, and all her friends had plans. Megan's parents were taking her to a waterpark. Emma was practicing tennis all weekend with her dad. Mila and her siblings were having fun playing on their new trampoline. Star's mom was working in her home office. She didn't have a dad around or any siblings to spend time with. All she had was homework she had saved for the weekend, just to give herself something to do. Star frowned at the paper in front her. Why had her teacher assigned her the word love to write about? She didn't know anything about love. She picked up her phone and called Mila. She had to convince her friend to take a break from the trampoline so they could talk. "How am I supposed to write about love?" she asked. "No one loves me." Mila snorted. "No one? What about me? And Emma and Megan?" "That's…different." Star hadn't thought of her friends as she was considering the topic. "What about your mom?" Mila asked. "She loves you." Star glanced toward her mom's office. "She doesn't spend time with me." "Because she's busy," Mila said. "She's busy because she loves you and needs to work to take care of you." She sighed. "What about God, Star? Aren't you forgetting that He loves you?" Star twisted her hair around her finger. Maybe she had forgotten God. "Sometimes it doesn't feel like it." "Maybe not," Mila said. "But He really does, Star. Like we learned at church, His love is bigger than any human love. Jesus died on the cross so you could live with Him forever. What love is bigger than that?" Star nodded slowly. "You're right." "You don't need to go on a trip or get amazing gifts in order to be loved," Mila said. "But, Star? I really am loving the new trampoline and I would like to get back to it. Since your mom is working, want me to ask my mom to give you a ride over so you can try it out?" Star's eyes widened. "Really?" "Really," Mila said. "Because I love you." She laughed. "Don't forget how much God loves you too, Star." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you had times when you felt like you were not loved at all by anyone? God's love is greater than the love of any human--He loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you so you could spend eternity with Him, and He promises to always love you and take care of you. If you think about all the people He's put in your life, you'll probably realize you're loved by many others too. Today's Key Verse: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (NKJV) (John 15:9) Today's Key Thought: God has great love for you!

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:12-15; Ephesians 4:25-32 Alastair walked into the kitchen where his sister Stasia was doing homework. "Emerson got in trouble again," said Alastair. "I can't believe he's going to flunk math over this!" Stasia looked up in surprise. "Over what? What did he do?" "Mr. Hoover caught him looking at somebody's paper during a test," Alastair replied. "Emerson said he was just checking one or two answers. That's all. I think Mr. Hoover just hates Emerson, so he's making a big deal out of nothing." "Well, if Emerson was caught cheating, what did he expect?" Stasia asked. "It's not like he was stealing somebody's money during gym class," said Alastair, trying to make his sister understand. "Other kids in school do a lot worse stuff than what Emerson did." Alastair turned to Mom, who was loading the dishwasher. "Can you hand me a glass, Mom? I'd like some juice." "Sure," said Mom, and she handed him a dirty glass. Alastair grimaced. "Yuck! I can't drink out of this. There's still dried milk in the bottom of it." "But it's cleaner than these others that need to be washed," Mom said. Alastair didn't say anything right away. He was pretty sure this had something to do with what they were just talking about, and he was trying to figure out what it was. "After all," Mom continued, "if cheating is no big deal because it doesn't seem as bad as what somebody else did, then a little dried milk in a glass shouldn't be a big deal either, as long as it's not as dirty as the other glasses." "Oh, well, I…um…" Alastair didn't know what to say. "It can be easy for us to excuse the wrongdoing of our friends--and especially our own wrongs--because someone else did something that seems worse," Mom explained. "But it's all sin in God's eyes. After all, cheating is stealing too--it's stealing the work someone else did and claiming it as your own, which is a sin, and it hurts them just as much as if you were stealing their money." Alastair nodded. "Sorry, Mom." He looked at the glass in his hand. "I guess I'll wait to have some juice, since all the glasses are dirty." –Mike A. Dize How About You? Do you think it's okay to do some things because they don't seem as bad as other things people do? Do you overlook cheating or lying because it's not as bad as robbery or murder? God says all wrongdoing is sin. No matter what other people think about it, it's hurtful to others and disobedient to God. Don't excuse any form of wrongdoing. If you're the one at fault, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. Today's Key Verse: All wrongdoing is sin. (NIV) (1 John 5:17) Today's Key Thought: All wrongdoing is sin

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-39 Micah ran into the house and threw his backpack on the kitchen table. "Mom! Do we have any frozen pizza?" He cocked his head. The house was silent. He looked down and noticed Mom's phone on the counter. That's weird, he thought. She usually carries it with her. Micah walked back to his parents' bedroom and knocked. Mom opened the door. "Oh, hi, honey. I didn't hear you come in." "You left your phone in the kitchen, Mom." "I know, Micah," said Mom. "I was praying, and I didn't want to be disturbed." "Praying? In the middle of the day?" Mom smiled. "I always have prayer time while your sister naps. I'm usually finished before the bus drops you off. I guess I had a lot to tell God today!" "But we pray together--at the dinner table, and at church. Isn't that enough?" "Praying together is very important, but the Bible says to pray without ceasing--that means continually connecting with Him and seeking His wisdom in our lives. So it's good to spend time with Him on our own too. I find it helpful to have a place of solitude to do that. Even Jesus needed a quiet space sometimes--he often went onto a mountain to pray." Micah considered this. "Maybe I should find a place of solitude too!" First Micah tried the living room. He sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and-- "Hey, Micah!" His little sister Sophie plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. "Time for my cartoons!" Next Micah tried his bedroom. He shoved the toys off the bed, closed his eyes, and-- A big wet tongue gave his cheek a slobbery kiss. "Not now, Puddles!" Micah laughed and scratched the old hound dog behind the ears. "I'm looking for solitude--but this house is too crowded!" A swirl of rustling leaves outside the window caught his eye. "I've got it!" he said and ran out of the house. He climbed the strong branches of the oak tree and closed his eyes, feeling the spring breeze brush his face. Jesus climbed a mountain to find solitude, thought Micah. I only have to climb a tree! –Jennifer Dillard How About You? Do you take a break from your everyday activities to spend time with God? If you find it hard to connect with God with everything going on around you, try to find a quiet place to pray. Jesus even had to take a break from those around Him to spend time with God. Take a moment away from the world's noise and busyness and connect with God. Today's Key Verse: Pray without ceasing. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Today's Key Thought: Spend time with God

Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:11-13 Isaiah sat at the table ready to eat breakfast. While his mom poured a bowl of cereal, he noticed something about her that felt as familiar as her ears; he noticed the silver chain around her neck with a small dice charm at the end. "Mom, why do you always wear that necklace?" Isaiah asked. Mom slid the bowl of cereal and a spoon across the table. "Good question," she said as she poured her own bowl of cereal. "Do you remember my grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Anderson?" "Kind of," Isaiah said. "Didn't he die when I was really little?" "Yes," Mom said. "When you were three. I wear this to remember him." "Doesn't it just make you sad?" Isaiah asked as he picked up his spoon. "I do feel sad," Mom answered. "And that's okay. I miss him so much. When I see this dice charm, I remember the way he loved me no matter what. I remember how he took broken things and restored them, like that classic car that's still in your great-grandma's garage. When he bought the car, it was basically a pile of rust. But when he finished his work, the car gleamed and looked new, and he hung fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror. These are things I want to remember, things that remind me not only of my grandpa, but also of Jesus and how He loves us and restores us." "I'm going to think of that story now when I look at your necklace too," Isaiah said. As he munched another spoonful of cereal, Mom said, "A lot of the Bible is about remembering--remembering who God is and what He has done, remembering His love and promises. While we're sad about sin and pain, diseases and death, reading the Bible helps us remember the past and have hope for the future." "I feel sad when I think about Joel's little brother having leukemia," Isaiah said. "Is there a Bible story that can give me and Joel some hope?" "Jesus healed many people when He was on earth, and those healings point to His promise to end pain, sickness, and death forever when He comes again." Mom reached for her Bible. "I'll look up some stories and verses we can read together when you get home from school." –Rachel Lubow How About You? What is your favorite Bible story? How does it show you who God is? How does it give you hope? We all feel sad, confused, afraid, and lonely sometimes. One of the ways God gives us hope is by reminding us that He keeps every promise He makes, which is one of the things we learn about Him in many stories written in the Bible. Read it to remember what God has done and that He is faithful. Today's Key Verse: Remember the wondrous works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced. (CSB) (1 Chronicles 16:12) Today's Key Thought: Remembering God's work gives us hope

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:8-14 Iris pointed to an oak tree along the bike path where she was riding with her dad and her brother, Ethan. "Half the leaves on that tree are green, and half are brown!" she said. Ethan laughed. "I guess it can't decide whether it's spring or fall." Dad stopped his bike under the tree. "Those brown leaves are left over from last year," he said. "This kind of oak is very unwilling to let its leaves drop in the fall. Even the strong winds and heavy snowfall of winter are often unable to tear them from the branches." "Well, the tree would look nicer if it would just let those ugly, useless old leaves drop," said Iris. "Maybe the tree is a lot like us," said Dad. "Sometimes we cling to ugly things too--like sinful thoughts and actions." "Like calling people bad names," said Ethan. "You do that, Iris." Iris sighed "I know," she said, "but at least I don't go around pointing out other people's faults and ignoring my own." She frowned at her brother. "Okay, I admit it," said Ethan. "I don't know why I always notice the mistakes others make more than the good stuff they do." As they got back on their bikes, Iris asked, "What makes those brown leaves finally fall? I know they don't stay on the tree all summer." "When new leaves grow and cover the tree, they push the old ones off," replied Dad. "The old ones must give way to the new--and you know what? Our lives as Christians are like that too. The Bible says our old habits and desires are sinful, like dead leaves. But when we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us into new creations and puts His love and desires in our hearts, like fresh leaves in the spring." "So we want the new leaves in our lives to push off the dead ones?" asked Iris. Dad nodded. "The tree grows new leaves by giving more energy and nutrients to the new growth," he explained. "And Jesus gives us the power to let go of our old ways and live in a way that shows others the new life we have in Him." –Trudy Vander Veen How About You? Are there sins or bad habits in your life that you can't seem to get rid of? We all have "dead leaves" like that, but Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He's given us the Holy Spirit so we have the power to replace those dead things with words and actions that bring life. Trust Him to help you let go of old habits and live the new life of love He's given you. Today's Key Verse: But on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy. (NLT) (Ephesians 4:24) Today's Key Thought: Live your new life in Jesus

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:31; 2:1-3; Hebrews 12:2-3 Ari smudged a grey blotch in the sky painted on his canvas. "Can't get this right," he said to himself. Mom looked in at his bedroom door. "Did you finish your math?" Ari nodded. "Looks like you finished your painting for the art fair," Mom said. Ari shook his head, and Mom left. Four-year-old Becca ran into the room holding a teapot. "Time for tea!" she yelled over and over while running in circles around Ari's easel. "Becca! You're a nuisance! Go away!" he growled. Becca fell silent. She stood still and stared at Ari, then quietly left the room with the teapot hanging down by her side. Ari's shoulders drooped. He set down his brush and went to Becca's room. "I'm sorry, Becca. I shouldn't have yelled at you. You're not a nuisance. I'd like some tea." Becca skipped over to a little table set for tea. "Oh, goody! That's your green cup." After two cups of pretend tea and cake, Ari felt pretend full. "Your tea is good, Becca, but I have to work on my painting now. Okay?" Becca nodded. Later Mom came in to look at Ari's painting while he fussed with lines on a tree trunk. "I can't get this right," he said. "I'll never finish. It's a good thing God isn't like me, or the earth never would've gotten created. Just think, Mom, He didn't have to correct anything. He didn't make any mistakes." "And He knew when He was done," Mom added. "I don't think I'll ever be done with this painting." Ari sighed. "Or with doing things wrong. I yelled at Becca again this morning. I said I was sorry, but I wish I'd be kind to her to begin with." "Ari, you do wrong things because we're all still dealing with sin in this world. But you're like an art project of God's. Because He's your Savior and Lord, He'll finish His project in you the same way He finished making the world. The Bible says God started a good work in you and will complete it perfectly on the day Jesus returns." Ari smiled and began to clean his brushes. "I can't make my art perfect, but I'm glad I have a perfect Creator who's working on me." –Laura Roesler How About You? Do you ever feel bad about something you said or did? Do you get frustrated because you keep doing wrong things? Even as a Christian, you'll still struggle with sin in this world, but Jesus promises to forgive you when you admit your sin. God is at work in you, helping you be more loving to others and obedient to Him. You are His work of art, and you can trust Him to finish what He started. Today's Key Verse: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 1:6) Today's Key Thought: God finishes what He starts

Bible Reading: Mark 4:35-41 BOOM! Seven-year-old Carter sat up in bed. Rain spattered against the window, and lightning streaks made his room as bright as day. He could see his favorite teddy bear propped in a corner. BOOM! Another loud crash of thunder. Carter burrowed under his covers, a pillow pressed over his ears. From under the blankets, Carter peeked toward the wall where the rosy glow of a nightlight usually shone, but between flashes of lightning, only blackness filled the room. Cautiously, he poked the button of a little table lamp near his bed, but instead of warm, friendly light, there was nothing. Trembling, he buried himself even deeper in his bed. Rain poured down harder outside, sounding as if someone were hurling tennis balls against the house. Wide awake now, Carter wondered if he dared make a run for his parents' room. Just then he felt a soft touch through his blanket. "Mom?" he asked in a muffled voice. "I'm here, honey." Carter looked out from his blanket tent and, as another flash of lightning illuminated the room, saw his mother in her fuzzy green robe standing next to him. Another BOOM shook the house. "Noisy, isn't it?" said Mom. As she sat down on the edge of Carter's bed, the power came back on. With Mom there, and with the familiar light filling the room, Carter no longer felt afraid. "Did you remember that Jesus is right here with you, Carter?" asked Mom. "He was watching over you even before I came in. He controls the wind and rain, you know. We don't have to be afraid because He's with us." Carter began to feel sleepy as he listened to his mother's comforting voice. Her hands closed around his, and he heard her saying, "Thank You, Jesus, for loving Carter and especially for being here with him during the storm." Outside, the storm rumbled farther away while rain dripped quietly from the roof. Through almost-closed eyes, Carter saw his mom turn the light off and tiptoe from his room. "Thank You, Jesus," whispered Carter. "I'm so glad You're always here." He yawned, snuggled under his covers, and soon fell asleep. –Phyllis I. Klomparens How About You? Are you afraid of thunderstorms? Or maybe there's something else that scares you, like meeting new people or being alone in the dark. When you're in a situation that makes you feel scared, remember that Jesus is with you and trust Him to comfort you and help you not be afraid. He loves you so much that He gave His life to save you, and He is always watching over you. Trust Him to take care of you. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (NIV) (Mark 4:40) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is always with you

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:15-16 "Look," said Adrian, pointing to an insect he and his sister Eva had caught out in the garden. "Maybe it's praying!" Sure enough, the bug's forelegs were folded together as if in prayer. "Let's see if we can find out what it is." The kids searched online and found a picture of the bug they had caught. "It's a praying mantis," said Adrian. "Does it really pray?" asked Eva. Adrian laughed. "Of course not! Bugs don't pray. I wonder what we should feed it?" He scrolled down the page. "This says they eat other insects and like to eat their prey alive." "Gross!" said Eva, wrinkling up her nose. "It says here that if you put a small piece of meat on a string and move it in front of a praying mantis, he may think it's alive and eat it," said Adrian. "Let's try it!" Adrian put a tiny piece of hamburger on the end of a string, and sure enough, the mantis lunged for it. "So, did your new pet like the food you gave him?" asked Mom. Adrian nodded. "The website we found said praying mantises are vicious little creatures. It said the female will even eat her husband if she gets hungry enough." "You little hypocrite," said Mom, looking at the bug. "You look so faithful and devoted with your forelegs folded like that, but you're a pretender--you don't mean it at all." Eva giggled. "That would be a good name for him." So Pretender he became. Whenever Adrian looked at Pretender, he felt a bit funny inside. At dinnertime he folded his hands and said "Amen" after his parents, but he never cared to listen to what was being said. I'm just like that bug, he thought. I'm not really praying--I'm just pretending. Adrian knew Jesus loved him, and he pretended he loved Jesus too. But he had never asked Jesus to be his Savior. As Adrian snuggled down into his blankets one night, God seemed to be whispering to him, Haven't you been a pretender long enough? Suddenly, Adrian tossed off the blankets and got up. I'm going to talk to Mom and Dad! he thought. I want to quit pretending and become a real Christian. –Matilda H. Nordtvedt How About You? Are you just going through the motions so others think you're a Christian? Are you more focused on fitting in or pleasing your parents than on God and what He thinks? God loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could have eternal life with Him. He wants a real relationship with you, not a pretend one. Become a real Christian by trusting in Jesus today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (NIV) (Matthew 15:8) Today's Key Thought: Don't be a pretend Christian

Bible Reading: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 45:7; 1 Corinthians 10:10-12 "Hey, Amy! Don't forget to get the wastebasket from my room," said Greyson as he opened the door to go out. Amy scowled at him. "I hate taking out the trash." She turned to her mother. "Greyson always gets the easy stuff to do while I have to tramp around the house collecting smelly old garbage!" "You chose that job for this month," Mom reminded her. "You said you were tired of dusting and folding laundry and that Greyson always got the easy jobs--like emptying the trash." Amy muttered to herself as she left to start collecting wastebaskets. A little later, the back door squeaked loudly as Greyson pushed it open and came back in. "That squeaky door is driving me crazy!" Amy said crossly. "Quit going in and out, Greyson." Her brother grinned and turned back toward the door. "I think I left something outside. I'll be back in a minute." He swung the door back and forth. "Mom, make him stop!" Amy whined, covering her ears. "Enough, Greyson," said Mom. "Quit teasing." Just then Dad opened the squeaky door. "I guess it's about time for me to oil these hinges," he said. "They're complaining pretty loudly." He let the door squeak shut behind him as he walked in. "Remember the Bible verses we read for devotions last night--the ones about the Israelites after they left Egypt? They complained a lot--just like this screen door. It needs oil, and I think they needed to apply oil to their lives by remembering God was with them and promised to take care of them. Perhaps that would be what the Bible calls the oil of joy." "Yeah. Some people around here need some of that oil too," said Greyson, giving his sister a grin. Amy sighed. "I guess I have been pretty squeaky lately." "Well, you can apply oil to that squeak by remembering the joy you have in Jesus," said Dad. "He saved us from sin so we could be filled with the joy of knowing Him for all eternity. We can experience that joy by remembering He loves us and is always with us--even when things don't go our way." Amy straightened up. "Okay…sorry for complaining. Now, who has trash they'd like me to get rid of?" –Maria I. Sellers How About You? Do you complain a lot? Are you constantly telling those around you about every little thing that isn't exactly the way you'd like it? If so, you need to apply some oil of joy to your life. Remember how much Jesus loves you and all that He has done for you. Instead of complaining, praise Him and trust Him to help you learn to be content with what He's given you. Today's Key Verse: Do everything without complaining or arguing. (ERV) (Philippians 2:14 ) Today's Key Thought: Don't complain

Bible Reading: John 14:25-27 Ian and Matilda's new golden retriever puppy gnawed on an old shoe. "Ringo sure played hard today," Ian said. "He never rests!" "Kids!" Mom called. "It's time to put Ringo to bed." Ian and Matilda had promised they would take care of their new puppy. This was Ringo's first night with the family, and the kids were eager to keep their promise. "Come on, Ringo," said Matilda. She lifted the puppy and carried him to the soft doggie bed at the end of the hall. "Sleep tight," said Ian, patting Ringo's head. The puppy looked at the kids for a moment, then hopped out of the bed. "Maybe he needs a blanket," said Matilda. Ian found an old quilt, and Matilda tucked it around Ringo. The puppy looked at them with sad eyes. "He's still not happy," said Ian. "I heard a ticking clock helps new puppies sleep," said Matilda. "It sounds like the mama dog's heartbeat." She got an alarm clock and buried it in the quilt. Ringo lay in the bed, and his eyes began to close. The kids began tiptoeing down the hall when suddenly the puppy jumped out of bed and scampered after them. "He's lonely out here," said Ian. Matilda nodded. "I think we can fix that." They picked up Ringo's doggie bed and took it down the hall to their room. Ten minutes later, Ringo was sound asleep in his bed, his face nestled in the thick quilt, his ear pressed against the softly ticking clock. Ian looked down from the top bunk. "Ringo's finally resting. He looks so peaceful." Matilda smiled. "It's kind of like the peace we get from Jesus." "What do you mean?" asked Ian. "Well, Ringo wasn't able to rest until we moved him in here--he wasn't at peace until he felt our presence. And when we feel Jesus's presence, it gives us peace so we can rest too. And just like the blanket and clock helped Ringo feel loved and not alone, things like prayer, reading the Bible, and worshiping with other Christians help us feel at peace by reminding us that Jesus loves us and is with us." Ian watched Ringo breathe deeply. "Let's say our prayers before we go to sleep. I want to feel that peace tonight!" –Jennifer Dillard How About You? What helps you feel the peace of God? Singing songs? Reading the Bible? Praying? When you feel anxious or worried, remember Jesus wants you to rest in Him. If you know Him as your Savior, He has given you the Holy Spirit to bring you peace. Find ways to remind yourself that Jesus loves you and is with you, and His comfort and rest will follow. Today's Key Verse: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (NKJV) (John 14:27) Today's Key Thought: Seek peace and comfort in Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 23:4; Romans 5:1-5 "It looks like Dad's getting ready to mow the lawn," said Evelyn as she and her mother worked in the flower garden. Mom nodded as she looked out across the lawn in front of their house. "It will be the first mowing of the year, and it's time--just look at all those dandelions!" The yellow flowers had popped up everywhere. Evelyn thought they were pretty, but her parents appreciated their beauty more in the woods behind the house than on the front lawn. Soon the mower roared to life. Evelyn and Mom watched as the dandelions began to disappear. When Dad was finished, the whole lawn looked green. "That looks much better," said Mom. "For a lawn, I guess it does look better without the dandelions," said Evelyn. "But I still think they're pretty." Mom smiled. "Well, just give them a little time, and they'll be back again. Dandelions have long, tough roots, and when they're nourished by sun and rain, the plant simply grows back after the top is cut off." "I know," said Evelyn. "I remember pulling all kinds of weeds in the garden last year. Dad said we had to be sure to get the roots so the weeds wouldn't grow back. I remember wishing they didn't have such long roots!" "You know," said Mom, looking at Evelyn, "as I watched Dad mow today, it occurred to me that we as Christians can sometimes feel cut down by things that happen in our lives--things that cause disappointment and sadness." Evelyn sighed. "You mean like how I feel about Mia moving away?" "I know it's hard not to be able to see your best friend every day," Mom said. "But if our roots are deeply planted in Jesus and the truth of His love for us, we'll receive nourishment and care from God. We can trust Him to be with us through our troubles and help us come out of them even stronger than we were before." "So sometimes long, deep roots are a good thing." Evelyn grinned. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm kinda glad the dandelions have them too!" –Dorothy R. King How About You? Do you ever feel cut down by the difficulties in your life? Being a Christian doesn't mean you won't ever have any problems, but it does mean you won't have to face them alone. Root yourself in Jesus. He is always with you, and you can experience His peace when you rest in His presence and love. Praying, reading the Bible, and worshiping Him are a few ways to seek His care when life is difficult. Trust Him to give you strength and help you grow. Today's Key Verse: Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. (NLV) (Colossians 2:7) Today's Key Thought: Be rooted in Jesus

Bible Reading: John 11:32-44 Evan held back tears as he sat down on the porch step beside his best friend. "Teddy was the best cat I ever had." He sniffled. "I'm going to miss him." Peter nodded. "He was pretty awesome. I'm sorry he died." He nudged his friend's shoulder. "It's okay to cry." "I'm not crying!" Evan quickly said, his face turning red. He didn't want his friend to think he was being a baby about this. "It's okay if you are," Peter said. "Even Jesus cried." Evan's brows knit together. "What?" "Jesus cried when his friend Lazurus died," Peter said. "My uncle told me about it when my grandma passed away last summer. He said it's okay for everyone to cry when they're sad, even us guys." Evan wasn't sure he believed his friend, so he asked his dad about it later that evening. "Peter's right," Dad said. "Jesus did cry. Look, it's here in John eleven." He pointed to a page in his Bible. Evan looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening at the two words. "Jesus wept," he read. "It's okay to be sad about your cat, and it's okay to cry." Dad got up from his chair and put an arm around Evan. "There are a lot of sad things going on here on earth." Evan leaned into his dad. "I miss Teddy." "I know. I'm sorry," Dad said. "But no matter what happens here on earth, we never have to be sad forever. Do you know why?" "Because of heaven?" Evan asked. Dad smiled. "Exactly. Jesus cried because He experienced pain and sadness just like we do. But after He wept for Lazarus, He raised him from the dead! That's the hope He gives everyone who trusts in Him--hope of eternal life. Even though all kinds of sad things happen here on earth, Jesus will one day put an end to sin, sadness, and even death itself." Evan blinked back tears. "We won't have to be sad anymore?" "Nope." Dad squeezed his shoulder. "Because everything will be perfect. And I'm sure God will help you feel happy again before then too. But for now, it's okay to cry about Teddy when you miss him." –Bethany Acker How About You? When you're sad, do you let yourself cry? It's okay to cry when sad things happen--Jesus cried when He was sad too. He understands your pain because He experienced the same feelings we do. But we don't have to be sad forever, because Jesus came to give us hope. He died for us and then rose from the dead so that one day He could wipe all our tears away. Today's Key Verse: Jesus wept. (NKJV) (John 11:35) Today's Key Thought: Jesus cried too

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14 When Jack came into the living room, his dad was watching the news. He heard the end of a report about a man trying to collect a large inheritance. "If that man's parents died, why can't he get the money that was left?" asked Jack after Dad turned off the TV. "He ran away from home when he was sixteen years old," Dad explained. "That was thirty years ago, and he never contacted his family again. They searched and searched for him and found out he'd moved to another state. They wanted to have a relationship with him again and made repeated efforts throughout the years to contact him--including several visits to the city where he lived. But he wouldn't even speak with them." Jack frowned. "But he's back now, so won't he get at least some of the money?" "Apparently not. His parents gave up trying to get a response from him and didn't include him in their wills." "But now, after they've both died, he finally shows up and thinks he should have the inheritance?" asked Jack. "Yes, but now it's too late," replied Dad. "He contested the will, but the courts upheld it. They said he's not entitled to any of the money." "Wow!" said Jack. "I bet he's sorry he didn't make up with his parents when he had the chance." Dad nodded. "He not only lost the inheritance--he missed out on having a relationship with his parents too. He learned a hard lesson--and, sadly, a very common one." "You mean there are lots of people who leave home and refuse to have a relationship with their parents?" asked Jack in surprise. "That happens often enough," said Dad. "But I was thinking of the inheritance God offers to everyone through Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we're cut off from God, so He sent Jesus to restore our relationship with Him. But if we refuse His offer of reconciliation, then we miss out on having a relationship with God. When life ends, we're going to want the inheritance--eternal life--given to those who are part of God's family, but it's going to be too late. That's why it's important to accept God's offer to have a relationship with Him now, while we still can." –Heather M. Tekavec How About You? Will you be able to claim the inheritance God offers? He's offering something far better than money--a relationship with Him and life that lasts for all eternity. It's available to anyone who trusts in Jesus. Someday it will be too late to accept His offer, so don't put it off. Trust Jesus as your Savior today and become part of God's family. (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: Because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God. (NLT) (Ephesians 1:11) Today's Key Thought: God offers an inheritance--eternal life

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 Mariah was glad to finally be back home. Her mom had wanted to get her and her twin brothers away from the house while a landscaper was working in their backyard, and they had spent the whole day just trying to kill time. She was helping her little brother out of their van when she heard her mom let out a shriek. She scooped Reggie into her arms and took off for the backyard. "Are you okay?" Mariah ran to her mom's side. She was pretty sure she saw tears in her mom's eyes. "What happened? Did you get stung?" She could hear a bee buzzing. Mom shook her head. "Nothing bad happened. I'm just…I'm really surprised at what I see. Everything is so beautiful." Mariah looked out at the yard as her brother squirmed out of her arms. There were flowers everywhere, and there were tiny stones on the ground, making paths that the twins seemed excited to try out. Everything did look really nice. "I can't believe they did all this," Mom said. "We didn't have a lot of money to spend, but they seemed to figure out a way to make my dreams come true anyway." "You're crying." Mariah looked up at her mom. "I'm happy," Mom said. "If I have tears, it's because I didn't know I could have a yard this beautiful." Mariah smiled. "Pastor John was talking about something like this on Sunday. He said God does more than we ask Him to do, surprising us with the way He works and all that He accomplishes." Mom nodded. "God did more than we could ever imagine when He sent His own Son to save us by dying for our sins, and He blesses us in other ways that go beyond anything we could even think to ask for. The team we had working out here did a good job of showing us what that can look like." "I'm happy the yard is everything you wanted it to be." Mariah wrapped her arms around her mom. They had been through some tough times together, and she really wanted her mom to be happy. "And I'm glad God loves us and promises to do great things for us too." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever been surprised by a gift someone gave you? Has someone ever done something so special for you that you just couldn't believe it? That's the way God blesses His children. When He promised us a Savior, He fulfilled that promise by sending us His own Son, Jesus. He is working in your life and promises to do big things for you--more than you could ever imagine. Today's Key Verse: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (NIV) (Ephesians 3:20) Today's Key Thought: God surprises us with more

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3 "Savannah, I'm leaving for work," Mom said. "Be sure to set the house alarm when your bus gets here." When the bus arrived, Savannah set the alarm and started to dash out the door when…WHOOSH! Her favorite sweater, which had sleeves that were too long and too loose, caught on the door handle, holding her captive. When she finally got free and jumped on the bus, the kids laughed and asked, "What took you so long?" At least I remembered to set the alarm this time, Savannah thought. The alarm had been installed for extra security, and whoever arrived home first had thirty seconds to disable it by entering a secret code, otherwise it would start blaring. It was directly connected to the local police department, and the officers weren't amused when Savannah accidentally set it off…twice. That day after school, Savannah opened the door and heard the thirty-second warning start. Beep, beep, beep! She rushed to disable the alarm when, BAM! She was knocked flat on her back. It was her sweater again, caught on a chair. Beep, beep, beep! Unable to get free, Savannah wiggled out of the sweater just as the alarm started to blare ferociously. She sheepishly walked out to the porch to wait for the police car. "Hello, Officer Hamlin. I'm sorry," she said when the policeman arrived. She explained how her sweater had snared her. Later that evening, Mom laughed as Savannah told her about the day's events. "Savannah, do you remember what verse we talked about at church last Sunday?" "Not really," Savannah admitted. "Hebrews 12:1. It's about laying aside the sins that so easily snare us. In other words, we have to deal with those issues that get us into trouble, like bad habits and unkind attitudes." "This sweater sure has gotten me into trouble," Savannah said. "Yes, but being snared by your sweater is different from being snared by sin, which holds us back from the life of love and joy that Jesus died to give us. That's why we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and trust Him to forgive our sins and help us out of their snares." Mom tugged Savannah's sleeve. "Now, let's see if there's a way to fix this sweater so it doesn't snare you either!" –Teresa Ambord How About You? Are there sinful habits in your life that keep snaring you and getting you into trouble? It might be watching inappropriate TV shows or looking at things online you know you shouldn't. Or maybe it's an angry, unkind attitude you have toward someone. When you need help with sinful habits, look to Jesus. He will forgive you and help you eliminate your snares. Today's Key Verse: Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (NKJV) (Hebrews 12:1) Today's Key Thought: Don't let sin snare you

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:13-18; 1 Peter 4:10-11 "Put the blue block here, Mae," Atlas said as he helped his four-year-old sister build a tower with blocks. When the structure was almost finished, Mae pulled out a green block near the bottom. The tower wobbled, then toppled over. "Mae, you ruined it!" exclaimed Atlas. "Why did you do that?" "I want this pretty green one at the top so I can see it," Mae replied. Just then Mom's phone dinged. "Atlas, it's for you," Mom said and showed him the text. "Your youth group leader wants you to call him." Atlas took her phone and stepped into the hall. A few minutes later, he came back to the family room. "He wants me to come to a rehearsal for that skit they're doing," Atlas said. "There aren't any parts left in the skit, but they need somebody to help move props between scenes." He frowned. "I'm not good enough to be in the skit, but I'm good enough to move the props! Well, I don't feel like going just to move stuff around. Anyone can do that!" "But the production won't be nearly as effective if the props aren't in the right place," said Mom. "Moving them may not seem as glamorous as acting in the play, but it's a very important job." She paused, then added, "It's like the block Mae took out of the tower you were building." "What do you mean?" asked Atlas. "Mae just took out one block that didn't show very much," said Mom. "So why did the whole tower tumble down?" "Because the blocks on the bottom support the rest of the tower," Atlas replied. "Well, it's the same when people work together for the Lord," Mom said. "Each worker is equally important in God's eyes. God values everything we do out of love for Him, whether we're on stage or behind the scenes, and we can trust Him to use our work to point others to Jesus and His love for us." "You make it sound like moving furniture for a skit is sharing Jesus with people," Atlas said. Mom shrugged. "Jesus says that whatever we do, we do for Him." After a moment, Atlas nodded. "Okay," he said. "I'll help move the props." –Tanya K. Marshall How About You? Have you ever done something to help out and wondered if it made a difference? What matters most is that you do whatever work God gives you for Him, not for recognition by others. When we do everything out of love for God, He uses our faithful service to point people to Jesus, who came to earth to serve us by dying for our sins. Know that God values your work, even if it's behind the scenes. Today's Key Verse: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (NIV) (Colossians 3:23) Today's Key Thought: God values everything you do for Him

Bible Reading: Psalm 32:2-10 Lexie twirled around her room in her new dress. She couldn't wait to wear it to her cousin's wedding on Saturday! Mom stood smiling at the door. "That's a beautiful dress, Lexie, but you need to take it off now before you spill something on it. I'm off to the store--Dad is outside gardening if you need him." Once Mom was gone, Lexie rushed downstairs. She swished about in her dress as she got a bottle from the fridge and poured a glass of chocolate milk. I won't spill it--I'm not a baby! she thought, flicking on the television. Glued to her favorite TV show, Lexie accidentally tilted her glass. She gasped as a cold trickle of chocolate milk landed in her lap. Frantically, she tried dabbing at the stain with a napkin, but that only seemed to make it spread. I have to get rid of this stain before Mom sees it! Lexie thought. Then she heard a car. Mom was back! Lexie knew she had a choice--run upstairs and pretend nothing had happened, or tell the horrible truth. A story she'd heard in Sunday school about King David suddenly came to her mind, and how bad he felt when he tried to cover up his sin. Lexie took a deep breath as Mom's key turned in the lock. "Mom, I'm so sorry, I didn't listen!" Lexie blurted out as Mom walked in. "I kept wearing my dress even though you told me not to, and I spilled chocolate milk on it. Now it's ruined!" "Oh, Lexie!" Mom sighed. "Let me see." Lexie nervously moved her hand away from the soggy stain. Mom tilted the fabric toward the light. "I'm disappointed you didn't obey me, Lexie, but I'm glad you told me the truth." "I almost didn't tell you," Lexie confessed. "But then I remembered a story Mrs. Summers told us in church about bringing things into the light." Mom smiled. "Mrs. Summers is right. Admitting we've messed up is never easy. But if we cover it up, it just makes a bigger mess in the end. That's why we need to be honest about our wrongs--not just to others, but to Jesus, who forgives our sins and makes us clean. Now, let's get that dress in the wash!" –Angela Jelf How About You? Have you ever been scared to admit when you've done something wrong? Have you ever told a lie to cover up a mistake you made? It can be difficult to confess our sins, but the Bible tells us that when we try to hide our mistakes, we only end up causing ourselves and others more pain. The next time you mess up, admit it--Jesus is always ready to forgive your sin and wash you clean. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) (1 John 1:9) Today's Key Thought: Confess your sins

Bible Reading: Romans 3:23-24; Colossians 1:22 Laura sat in bed with math papers strewn all over the place. "Six times eight is forty-eight, seven times eight is fifty-six, eight times eight is--" "Sixty-four!" Mom answered as she walked in. "Are you still studying, Laura? You should be asleep!" Laura sighed. "I know. I'm just so nervous about my test tomorrow. What if I fail? I'm so hopeless at multiplication!" Anxious tears welled up in Laura's eyes. "I don't want to let Mr. Finch down--or you and Dad." Mom sat down and pulled Laura close. "Let us down? No way! You've worked so hard for this test. You've done your best, and that's good enough for us." Laura smiled. Mom's reassuring words made her feel slightly better. "Why do we have to take tests, anyway?" she asked. "Hmm," said Mom. "Good question. Tests can help measure how much we've learned or how far we've come. And they show us areas where we still need to improve and grow." Laura nodded. "God helps us grow, doesn't He?" "He certainly does," replied Mom. "But the greatest thing of all is that we can come to God just as we are. He doesn't require us to meet a certain standard before we come to Him, because Jesus has already reached the mark for us!" "When He died on the cross?" asked Laura. "Exactly," said Mom. "Jesus met God's standard for us because we couldn't--He lived a perfect life and then died for our sins and rose again." Laura grinned. "He took the test so we don't have to!" "Yep!" said Mom. "And He passed it--one hundred percent!" Laura sighed. "I wish I didn't have to take this math test tomorrow. Studying is hard!" "I know," said Mom. "Life is full of all kinds of tests--sometimes we're tested by difficulties or temptations. But even when we fail time and time again, Jesus always forgives us. The point isn't to do everything perfectly, but to trust Him to help us persevere and grow. He won't take your math test for you tomorrow, but you can pray that He'll give you the focus and perseverance you need." Laura smiled. "I think I'll pray about it right now." –Angela Jelf How About You? Have you ever been nervous about failing an important test? The Bible says none of us could ever meet the mark when it comes to God's holy standard. Only Jesus, God's Son, can pass that test--and He did! He lived a perfect life and then died to take the punishment for our sins. Because of that great act of love, God sees us as perfect and blameless when we trust Jesus as our Savior. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Today's Key Verse: Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God. (ERV) (2 Corinthians 5:21) Today's Key Thought: Only Jesus meets God's standards

Bible Reading: Luke 12:6-7 "In the attic's dim light, Andrew could see many interesting things--boxes of Christmas ornaments, piles of photo albums, and trunks filled with camping equipment. He and Dad were hunting for Dad's old train set from when he was Andrew's age. "What's this?" asked Andrew, stumbling across a large wooden crate with dozens of items wrapped in newspaper. Wondering what was inside, he began to unravel one. He was disappointed to discover an old-fashioned teacup painted with rambling roses. "Be careful with that!" said Dad. "That looks like Grandma Joan's teacup collection. It's very precious to your mom." Andrew was puzzled. "What's so precious about a box full of teacups?" he asked. "Didn't Mom tell you the story? Grandma Joan collected teacups from every place she ever visited. She had teacups from all over the world!" Andrew's eyes grew wide. Perhaps the teacups weren't so boring after all. "They're not everybody's 'cup of tea,'" continued Dad, obviously pleased with his awful joke, "but this collection was Grandma Joan's treasured possession!" "What do you mean?" asked Andrew. "Like, her very favorite thing?" "Exactly!" said Dad. "Over the years, those teacups became very valuable. She could have sold them at a high price, but she wouldn't think of it. They held a lot of memories." Andrew smiled--now he understood. The teacups reminded her of all the places she'd visited. "Do you know there's a verse in the Bible about God's treasured possession?" asked Dad. Andrew was intrigued. "God has a treasured possession? What is it?" "Well," said Dad, "it's you and me, and all of God's people all over the earth. We're so valuable to Him that He was willing to pay a high price so we could be His. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could have a relationship with Him." Dad blew away years of dust from a large rectangular box. "And speaking of favorite things--this was definitely mine when I was your age!" He opened the box. "Here she is! The Red Rocket!" Andrew hurried over to have a look at the red locomotive. "Wow, it's so awesome! Can we set it up today, Dad? Please?" "Okay," said Dad. "Let's go!" –Angela Jelf How About You? Do you have a treasured possession? Is it valuable? You can tell how valuable something is by the price someone is willing to pay for it. God's people are His treasured possession. He paid the highest price--the life of His Son, Jesus--to make you one of His children. That's how much He loves you. You are very valuable to Him! Today's Key Verse: The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 7:6) Today's Key Thought: You are valuable to God

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-2; Romans 5:6-9 Leo watched his ball roll under the shed, then he dropped his bat and crawled in after it. As he scooted under the edge, he spotted a pair of glowing eyes. A cat, thought Leo. He crawled closer. "Here, kitty," he called. The animal turned. Oh no! thought Leo. A skunk! Before he could scramble out of range, the skunk sprayed, and Leo was covered with an awful smell. "Mom!" he yelled. He hurried to the outdoor faucet, turned on the water, and tried to wash away the dreadful odor with the hose. Mom came out of the house and put her hand up to her nose. "We need to get those clothes in the washer right away, and you need a shower with lots of strong soap," she said. "And your hair! Wait here." She hurried back into the house and returned with a can of tomato juice. "Put your head under the hose," she said. Leo looked at the can of tomato juice. "What are you going to do with that?" "Tomato juice is supposed to help cover the smell," Mom explained. "I'll see what else I can find, but for now this is the best I can do." When Dad heard the story, the skunk smell still lingered. "I thought it was a cat," said Leo. "I was going to pet it." Dad laughed. "Not funny!" said Leo, but he grinned too. "Skunks leave a bad odor, but do you know what smells even worse?" asked Dad. Leo shook his head. "Sin," said Dad. "You could say sin stinks." Leo nodded. "I tried to wash off the skunk smell, but I needed help. We need help getting rid of the sin smell too, don't we? Something better than tomato juice!" "Yes, we do," said Dad. "The Bible says only the blood of Jesus can get rid of our sin. He died for us and rose again so we could be forgiven and have a relationship with God. When we trust in Him, He removes the stench of our sin and makes us clean." "That's right. Just like that," Mom said, snapping her fingers. She sighed. "I wish we could do as good a job getting rid of that skunk smell," she added, wrinkling her nose. "Let's go wash your hair one more time!" –Angela Jenkins How About You? Have you ever smelled a skunk before? It's awful! But sin is much worse, and no matter what we do, we can't get rid of the stench ourselves. The Bible says everyone has sinned, and it stinks up our lives with selfishness and hurt and separates us from God. Only Jesus can wash our sins away. Trust in Him and He will make you clean and right with God. (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: Since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. (NLT) (Romans 5:9) Today's Key Thought: Jesus removes our sin