Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:27, 159-160; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 The sun was just poking its head over the treetops when Savannah and her mother left for a walk in the woods near their new home. "I didn't understand what Dad read in the Bible this morning," Savannah said. "Why can't we just skip the parts of the Bible that don't seem to say anything important?" Mom was about to reply when Savannah spotted some interesting bushes along the path. "Look, Mom. Those are some kind of berry bushes, aren't they?" Mom stopped and peered at the bushes. "I think they might be, but I don't see any fruit on them." Savannah reached out and lifted some of the leaves. "Here! Underneath the leaves." "You're right!" said Mom. "Those are wild blackberries! They'd taste great on our cereal--or just as a snack. How about running back to the house and getting a bucket so we can pick some?" Savannah eagerly ran home and returned with a pail, and she and Mom began to gather the ripe, luscious fruit. "I'm glad your sharp eyes noticed these," said Mom. "I saw the green leaves, but I didn't see what was hidden underneath them." She dumped a handful of berries into the bucket. "Maybe that's the answer to the question you asked a while ago." "You mean about skipping parts of the Bible?" asked Savannah. Mom nodded. "When we read the Bible, we don't always understand every important truth right away--just like I didn't spot those berries. But when we take time to think about what a verse or passage says, it can help us see how it fits into God's story of how He continues to love us even though we sin. Everything in the Bible points to God's gift of Jesus, who became human and died and rose again to save us. Every passage can teach us something about Jesus and our need for Him. That's why we read all the parts of the Bible." "When we get back home, maybe I should read that Bible passage from this morning again," said Savannah. "Why don't we read it together?" suggested Mom. "We can eat fruit from this bucket while we look for spiritual fruit in the Bible!" –Judith K. Boogaart How About You? Are some parts of the Bible hard for you to understand? The Bible is full of poems, stories, and events that all reveal God's faithful love. Each one is important, but some can be difficult to understand on our own. That's why it's important to study the Bible with other Christians and depend on God for help. When you come across something that's confusing, ask God to give you understanding, and ask a trusted adult to help you too. Today's Key Verse: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (NLT) (2 Timothy 3:16) Today's Key Thought: Learn from all of the Bible

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 Julian cheered in excitement at the tractor pulling contest. One of the contestants--a friend of Julian's family--revved the engine as his tractor strained to pull the heavy load. It inched along, then gathered speed to the finish line. "He made it!" Julian shouted, and he clapped along with others in the crowd. "The next load he has to pull will be heavier," Grandpa said. The driver revved the engine again, and it moved slowly forward. The load behind the groaning tractor was dragged at a snail's pace to the finish line. Julian shot up from his seat and cheered. He grew anxious as he watched the workers add more weights to the next load. The driver powered up the engine, but nothing happened. Again the engine roared, but the load didn't budge. The driver hunched over the wheel as if to coax the tractor into one last try before time was up. Julian felt like he was in the contest himself, and he yelled encouragement as the tractor began to inch forward. Slowly, slowly it went, until at last it reached the finish line. It had moved a heavier load than any other tractor. The crowd went wild. Over hot dogs and pop, Grandpa and Julian talked about the contest. "It made me think about the struggles we have in life," said Grandpa. "Sometimes our loads are almost too heavy for us to pull." Julian nodded, thinking about the hard time he had in reading class at school. He just couldn't read as well as the other kids. After getting his last report card, Julian had gone to his room and cried. Grandpa smiled at him. "Way back when I was your age, I found out that Jesus wants to help us pull heavy loads--the hardships we face in life. So I ask Him to help me whenever I feel like things are just too much. The problems don't always disappear, but they seem lighter when I remember that Jesus, who took the burden of my sin by dying on the cross, wants to help me with any struggles that are weighing me down." Julian smiled back at Grandpa, knowing what he had to do. He would talk to Jesus about his struggle to read. He needed help with his heavy load. –Carolyn E. Yost How About You? Does something in your life seem too heavy to bear? Talk to Jesus about it. He wants to help you with your troubles. Maybe He'll take the burden away--but maybe not. Perhaps He'll simply comfort you and make your burden easier to bear as you trust Him with it. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, ask Him for help and trust that He'll lighten your load. Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7) Today's Key Thought: Jesus lightens loads

Bible Reading: Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 40:27-31 Annie leaned her forehead against the cool windowpane of the airport in Sicily. She sighed as she watched yet another large airplane taxi down the runway and fly off into the big blue sky. Her family had been detoured on the way back to the States from Africa where they were missionaries, and it felt like they had been stuck in the airport for weeks instead of days. "Vroom, vroom!" Her younger brother, Bryce, flew past her with his arms extended and accidentally bumped her elbow. "Knock it off, Bryce!" Annie said irritably. "Hey, what's the problem?" Dad asked, coming over. Annie sighed again. "It feels like we've been at the airport forever and God has forgotten about us!" Dad nodded thoughtfully. "I know it feels that way right now, but God is working out just the right flight for us to get on." He looked out the airport window as another plane took off. "Did you know the Bible talks about wings?" Bryce stopped making airplane noises and looked at Dad. "Like airplane wings?" Dad smiled. "These are a different type of wings. Do you remember the story in the Bible about the people of Israel getting ready to go into the land God had promised them? They had waited a very long time--longer than we've waited here! God reminded them of how He had taken care of them before, just like an eagle takes care of its young by carrying them on its wings. And God will always take care of us too. Jesus died and rose from the dead to make us God's children, and He won't ever forget about us. He promises to help us in every situation." "Wow. I never thought of it like that before," Annie said. "Me neither," said Bryce. "Speaking of wings," Dad said, "I think I'll go make another phone call and see if we'll be able to get on one of those airplanes today." As he walked away, Bryce got a silly look on his face. "Hey, Annie, what do you think the eagle said to Dad when the phone rang?" Annie shrugged. "I don't know. What?" "Wing, wing!" Bryce and Annie's laughter echoed in the airport as they relaxed, knowing both their dad and their heavenly Father were taking care of them. –Kelly Hope How About You? Have you ever been stuck in a hard situation and wondered if God had forgotten about you? It may feel like that sometimes, but He promises to care for you and work things out for the best. The next time you hear the sound of an airplane or see a bird flying in the sky, remember that God sent His own Son to save you and promises to always take care of you. Today's Key Verse: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. (NIV) (Exodus 19:4) Today's Key Thought: God takes care of you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:1-4 Max opened his car window and smelled pine trees. Mom and Dad sang their old camp song about a cowboy and his one-eyed horse. Max usually sang along. But today the lyrics caught in his throat. Mom and Dad's stories of camp made Max feel like he knew the place even though he'd never been there. He couldn't wait to come to Bible camp. But now as camp came into view, he wasn't so sure. "It's too bad the other boys from church couldn't come with you," Mom said. Dad parked the car and patted Max on the shoulder. "You're going to love it here!" Max felt funny inside as he watched Mom and Dad drive away. Max met his counselor, who showed him around his cabin. "Okay, Mike, here's your bunk." He doesn't even know my name, Max thought. Nobody here does. I don't belong here. The counselor shouted, "Campers! Time to meet out by the lake. Bring your Bibles. Move out!" In the noisy crowd, everyone seemed to be with friends. No one spoke to Max. At the beach, the camp director blew a whistle and shouted, "Bibles up! First one who turns to Isaiah 43:1, whistle the cowboy song!" A moment later Max and most of the other boys started whistling. The director pointed to Max. "Read the last part of verse one." Max read, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine." The director nodded at Max and said, "Even though I don't know this camper's name, God does. And God knows each of your names. He knows all about you because He made you. He sent His Son, Jesus, to save you. This is the theme verse for camp this week, so we're going to memorize it and talk about it every day. It shows that God loves you and wants you to belong to Him." Max prayed silently, "God, I know I belong to You--thank you for saving me and always being with me. Please help me feel like I belong here too." On the way back to the cabin, a boy walked up to Max. "You must be new here," he said. "I'm Oliver." Max smiled and said, "My name is Max." –Laura Roesler How About You? Do you ever feel like an outsider and that people around you don't really know you? No one knows you better than God. He made you and wants to have a relationship with you because He loves you. Whenever you feel like you don't belong, remember that God wants you to belong to Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Trust Him to be with you when you feel alone and afraid. Today's Key Verse: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. (CSB) (Isaiah 43:1) Today's Key Thought: God knows you and wants you

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-13 "Look!" said Rylee, stepping back from the huge saguaro cactus. "There's something in that hole!" Dad and Easton came over to see. Sure enough, a pair of blinking yellow eyes peered back at them from a hole in the trunk of the cactus. "I think it's a screech owl," said Easton. "We learned that woodpeckers peck holes into cactuses when they make their nests. Then after they leave, other birds move into the empty holes and live there." Dad nodded. "Each time the cactus skin is broken--like when a woodpecker makes a hole--a thick gluey liquid seeps out and forms a waterproof pouch. The liquid hardens, kind of like a scab, to make the pouch permanent. Inside the hole it's cooler in the day and warmer at night, so it makes an ideal home for desert birds." Rylee saw big and little holes in the arms of one of the cactuses--they were everywhere. "This saguaro is like a high-rise apartment building!" she said with a laugh. "What a crowded place to live." Easton grinned. "Just like our house." Rylee nodded thoughtfully. Grandma had recently moved into their house, and Julia, a single mom who went to their church, was going to be living with them for a while with her two-year-old son, Wilder. Rylee remembered the discussion they'd had about Julia and Wilder coming. "You're kidding!" Rylee had said. "Where are they going to sleep?" "Well, they will need to move into your room, and you'll have to share a room with Easton." Dad patted Rylee's hand when he saw the look on her face. "It's only for a while until Julia can get back on her feet. We'll all have to make some sacrifices, but that's often necessary when we're called to love others like Jesus, who sacrificed everything for us. Pray about it, will you?" Rylee had tried, but she hadn't felt comfortable praying. She knew she was being selfish. But now Rylee looked at the big saguaro that offered a home to any creature who needed it, even if it meant having holes pecked into its walls. I won't complain, she thought. Even if Wilder pounds holes into our walls too--and knowing him, I'm sure he will! –Trudy Vander Veen How About You? Are you willing to give up some of your comforts or conveniences to help others? Try to put yourself in their shoes and consider how you might feel if you needed help and no one was willing to give it. When we needed to be rescued from sin, Jesus sacrificed His life to save us. Trust Him to help you love others the way He does and be willing to make sacrifices for them. Today's Key Verse: No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 10:24) Today's Key Thought: Make sacrifices for others

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:9-16 Rylee leaned back to see the top of the huge saguaro cactus next to her. Its spiny arms reached out and up toward the sky. "With so many big arms, this thing should be holding something. Try sitting on one of its arms, Easton," Rylee said with a grin. "No way!" said Easton. "I'm not sitting on those prickly things!" "Those arms," said Dad, "are holding what is probably the most valuable thing in the entire region." "And I know what it is," Easton said. "Water! Cactus plants can live in the dry, hot desert by storing water inside their trunk and arms." "That can't be right," said Rylee, looking around at the sand and rocks. They extended as far as she could see. "There's no water here!" "Easton is right," said Dad. "Cactus roots don't go very deep into the earth. Instead, they go down only about three feet and then spread out about a hundred feet in all directions. The spread-out roots draw in every drop of rain, sending it to a hidden storage area in the arms and trunk of the cactus. That inner water supply is what keeps this cactus alive and growing. These big fellas can soak up as much as two hundred gallons of water--enough to last them a whole year!" "Yeah, that's why they're pleated like an accordion," Easton said, eager to show his knowledge. "The pleats expand as the spongy material inside absorbs water." "That's incredible!" said Rylee. "Well, Mr. Cactus, I can see you're a pretty smart guy!" Dad smiled. "One with a good lesson for us about the importance of storing things." "About storing water?" asked Easton. "I don't really mind carrying a water bottle--and I like the size of my arms the way they are!" Dad laughed. "I wasn't thinking of your arms, Easton. Let's try your heart! I hope both of you will store God's Word in your heart and mind. Then when things get difficult, you can draw from those words of hope, comfort, and guidance. Knowing God's Word helps us remember what Jesus has done for us and that He's always with us. Like water in a dry desert, it will nourish you and help you grow in your relationship with Him." –Trudy Vander Veen How About You? Have you been growing spiritually? Are you storing God's Word in your heart by reading the Bible and memorizing verses? Storing God's Word in your heart will help you understand how much Jesus loves you and who you are in Him. Read and study it so He can use it to guide you in your life, comfort you in hard times, and remind you of His promises. Today's Key Verse: Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (NKJV) (Psalm 119:11) Today's Key Thought: Soak up God's Word

Bible Reading: Revelation 7:9-12 I can't even understand what they're saying," Ezra said as he and his family entered the church building. His family's car had broken down just over the Canadian border, so they now had to go to church at a place in Quebec, Canada, that his dad had heard about. Everything about the church seemed different to Ezra--the language most of all. When everyone started singing hymns, Ezra's dad passed him a book that said Cantiques on the front. "It's a hymnbook," Dad said. He flipped to the correct page and pointed to a line of words in the song. Ezra tried to follow along with the French song, but none of the words made any sense to him. Later, after church was over, Ezra noticed someone waving to him as he and his family left. He waved back, and his dad asked, "Who's that?" "Oh, that's Jacque," Ezra explained. "I met him in Sunday school. He helped me understand the French on the papers the teacher handed out whenever there wasn't English underneath it." "I see," his dad said. "I suppose it was a bit confusing for you in the church service and in Sunday school." "You can say that again," Ezra replied. "Going to church in a different country is an interesting experience, isn't it?" said Dad. "Though it can be confusing when things are different from what we're used to or we don't understand what's being said, it's good for us to worship God with Christians from other places in the world. We're all part of God's church and are brothers and sisters in Christ, who saved us by dying for our sins. We worship God in the same way, just in different places and languages." Dad smiled. "In fact, the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation that there will one day be countless people of every nation, tribe, and language worshiping Jesus in heaven." "Including people from Quebec who speak French?" Ezra asked. "That's right." Dad turned to see Jacque and his family leaving. "By the way, au revoir means 'goodbye' in French." "Au revoir, Jacque!" Ezra called. "Au revoir, Ezra!" Jacque called back. "I hope to see you again!" –Ethan Terry How About You? Have you ever attended a church in a different country or where a different language was spoken? Church is not simply a building--God's church is made up of everyone who trusts in Jesus, and He saves people from all over the world. Though we worship Jesus in different places and languages, we are all part of God's family, and one day we will worship Him together in heaven. Today's Key Verse: I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. (NLT) (Revelation 7:9) Today's Key Thought: Christians live around the world

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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