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Read: Job 1:1-3, 13-21; 3:25; Matthew 6:33-34 Mom found Clare crying in the backyard, watching her dog, Sheba, paw at leaves in the flower bed. “What’s the matter, honey?” “I don’t want Sheba to get sick,” Clare said. “I know the vet took that lump off her leg, but she said it could come back.” “It could, but maybe it won’t,” said Mom. “It may never come back.” “But what if it does?” Clare sniffed. “I don’t want Sheba to die.” “Of course you don’t,” said Mom, giving Clare a hug. “But worrying about that is keeping you from enjoying her. You look just as sad now as you would if she died.” Mom bent down to pet Sheba. “Do you remember what happened to Job?” “Job?” asked Clare. “You mean the man in the Bible?” “Yes,” said Mom. “He had plenty to be happy about—a big family, lots of money. Then he lost everything. After Job’s problems started, he said, ‘What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.’” “That doesn’t make me feel better,” said Clare. “Wait! I have a point.” Mom dried a tear from Clare’s cheek. “All those years, he had his family with him. He had prosperity and success. Do you think his worrying helped him enjoy those things?” “No,” said Clare, petting Sheba’s head. “And did being afraid of losing everything stop it from happening?” asked Mom. Clare hugged Sheba. “No. But what can I do about being sad? It doesn’t have an off button.” “No, but we have a choice when it comes to worrying about sad things that might happen,” said Mom. “We can worry, which doesn’t help anyway, or we can remember that Jesus died for us and will always be with us and thank Him for the good things we have today—like Sheba. We can talk to Him about troubling things and trust Him to work them out. Job did that. He continued to love and believe in God.” Mom picked up a ball and looked at Sheba, who wagged her tail. “I think she needs a playmate,” said Mom, throwing the ball. Clare took off running. “Come on, Sheba! I bet I can get that ball before you do.” Sheba quickly caught up with her, and together they raced across the lawn. –Elise L. Perl How about you? Do you worry about what might happen tomorrow? If worrying keeps you focused on what might go wrong, you can’t enjoy what you have right now. When you start to worry, pray about the problem, and talk to a parent or another adult about it. Then choose to thank Jesus for the many blessings you do have and enjoy them as you trust in Him. Today's Key Verse: Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Enjoy your blessings today

Read: Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 2:40-44 Oliver was passing the kitchen door when he heard his little brother’s voice. “Dad, can I please have those shoes? They’re the kind Daryl Stewart wears.” Oliver grinned and went into the kitchen. “Do you think that since Daryl Stewart is a basketball star those shoes will automatically turn you into a great player?” Jude shrugged. “They might help.” “Jude,” said Dad, “you know it’s effort, not a fancy pair of shoes, that will help make you a good basketball player.” Oliver nodded. “Dad’s right, Jude. If you practice every day, you’ll get better and better, no matter what kind of shoes you wear.” Jude looked a bit disappointed. “Guess I’ll start practicing then,” he said with a sigh and headed for the door. Oliver grinned at his dad. “I was about to head over to Bible study at church, but I think I’ll stay and help Jude with his basketball practice instead.” Dad motioned toward Oliver’s Bible on the kitchen counter. “Grandma gave each of you kids a new Bible for Christmas, didn’t she?” he asked. “Is that it?” Oliver nodded. “Yep. My name’s on the cover. Isn’t that cool?” He smoothed his hand over the embossed name. Dad nodded thoughtfully. “Nice shoes and nice Bibles are great, but just having them doesn’t make you a good player or help you grow spiritually, does it?” It took a moment for Oliver to realize what his dad meant. “You’re saying that just like Jude needs to practice to become a better basketball player, I need to learn from God by spending time in His Word.” Dad nodded. “And one really great way to do that is to study the Bible with other believers. After all, you can’t learn to play basketball all by yourself, can you? You need to practice and learn from the coach as a team. Jesus never meant for us to live the Christian life alone—He puts other believers in our lives so we can learn to walk with Him together and love and support each other along the way. That’s a big way He shows us who He is, and why church and Bible studies are so important.” “Okay, Dad,” Oliver said. “I’ll go to Bible study. I don’t want to miss practice with my spiritual team!” –A. J. Schut How about you? Do you want to get to know Jesus more and more? To improve in sports, you need to learn the game and spend time practicing. To deepen your relationship with God, you need to learn about who He is, and a good way to do that is to spend time in His Word—both by yourself and with other believers. Spend time with other Christians so you can learn about Jesus together and encourage each other in your walk with Him. Today's Key Verse: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Learn with other Christians

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12-15 Sierra shut her bedroom door and tossed her backpack onto the bed. She set her cat, Tommy, on the floor. “Stay away from the curtains, Tommy,” she warned. “You know you always get stuck in them.” Sierra flopped onto her bed and opened her backpack. After digging around a moment, she pulled out a book. “What do you think, Tommy? Should I?” Tommy didn’t answer. He was staring at the lace curtain waving in the breeze from the window. Sierra tossed the book onto the bed beside her. “I know Mom told me not to read these kinds of books, but all my friends read them. They can’t be that bad, can they?” She picked the book up again. The cover looked interesting. She flipped it over and read the back for the tenth time. A few pages couldn’t hurt. Sierra opened the book and soon had read several pages. Then a quick movement made her jump. It was only Tommy, she realized with relief. He had pounced on the curtain. His claws were caught in the fabric, and he hung down, his full length stretched out. He was helpless. “Silly cat, leave the curtain alone!” Sierra freed him, and he marched across the room and sat with his back to the curtain. Sierra turned to her book again. She knew she shouldn’t read any more, but soon she was engrossed again. She had finished the first chapter when a sound caught her attention. She looked up and stared in disbelief. Tommy was hanging from the curtain again. The temptation had been too great. Sierra began to laugh. “Tommy, you should know better, after all the times you’ve gotten stuck. Resist the temptation! You should—” Sierra stopped and stared at Tommy and then at the book in her hand. She dropped the book as though it were on fire. I’m acting just like Tommy, she thought. But he can’t resist temptation, and I can, because Jesus gives me the power to say no to sin. She loosened Tommy from the curtain again, then picked up the book and placed it in her backpack. “I’m going to return this book and ask Jesus to forgive me for disobeying Mom,” she told her cat. “I don’t want to become ensnared like you!” –Christa Long How about you? Have you ever given in to temptation and regretted it later? When you give in to sinful desires, it’s easy to get stuck. But there’s good news—Jesus gives us the power to resist temptation. Confess the wrong you’ve done to Him, and He will forgive you and help you do what’s right. Today's Key Verse: God is faithful…When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Resist temptation

Read: Psalm 40:1-5; Ephesians 2:4-7 The waves crashed as Graham sat on the beach. Even though he was vacationing with his friend Omar and his family, his thoughts were dark. Back home, things were anything but a fun day at the beach. No one wants me, Graham thought to himself. Mom and Dad are too busy fighting to notice me. Except when I get bad grades. That’s the only time my teacher notices me too. Graham held back tears as his thoughts ran on. I can’t do anything right. I wish I’d never been born! Just then Omar’s grandfather came over. “Mind if I sit down?” Graham nodded and watched as the elderly man began to chip small bits from an old piece of driftwood. “What are you going to do with that?” Graham asked. “Oh, I have great plans for this old piece of wood,” replied the man. “I’m carving a whale this time. I like to carve sea animals.” He lifted a beautifully carved dolphin from his bag and handed it to Graham. “Here’s one I finished recently.” “Wow!” Graham held up the dolphin, then looked again at the wood the man was carving. “That driftwood you’re working on now is so old and dirty. It looks worthless! How can something as cool as this come from junk like that?” The man smiled. “It takes time, work, and skill to get rid of the dirt and make something beautiful from the wood. I carve it carefully, sand it, and polish it.” He turned the wood over in his hand. “This driftwood is something like me.” “Like you?” asked Graham. “How’s that?” “There was a time when I felt worthless—like all the things I did and said were wrong and I might as well give up. In fact, even though I know better now, I still feel that way sometimes. Ever feel that way yourself?” Graham nodded. “Well, we’re definitely not worthless—not to God,” said the man. “Whenever bad things happen in my life or I feel worthless, I remember that Jesus loves me so much that He died and rose again to make me His. When I trusted Him to save me, He made me into something beautiful. Have you asked Him to do that for you?” Graham shook his head and sat up straighter. He was eager to hear more about how Jesus could make something beautiful out of his life. –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you sometimes feel worthless, as if nothing you do is any good? Everyone does wrong, and there’s a lot of pain and hardship in the world because of it. But you’re special to God. He made you, He loves you, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. When you trust in Jesus, He makes you into something beautiful. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes us beautiful

Read: Matthew 5:14-16; John 1:1-14 “Come on, Dad. We’re ready,” called Lina. They had all gathered for family night. It was storming outside, but in the den, they felt snug and cozy with plenty of games and popcorn. “Coming,” Dad called from the bedroom. Just then the power went out. “Oh no!” said Manuel. “No lights!” “Now what do we do?” Lina asked. “Honey,” Mom called, “bring that big candle from the bedroom, please. There are matches in the drawer there too.” “Okay,” said Dad. “I hope I can find them in the dark—ouch! Stubbed my toe on the dresser!” A moment later they saw a glow in the bedroom as Dad lit a match, and he soon arrived in the den with the flickering candle. “I hope the power won’t be off long,” said Manuel. He was eager to play games and munch on popcorn. “I don’t even care. I like the room with just the candlelight,” Lina said. Before long, they all agreed they could see well enough to play a game. “It’s amazing to see what a difference a small light makes, isn’t it?” said Mom. Lina nodded. “When the lights first went out, the dark seemed kind of scary, but when Dad brought in the candle, it lit up the whole room.” “A dark room may seem scary,” said Dad, “but it’s not nearly as scary as the darkness of sin. Without the light of Jesus, we’d have good reason to live in fear. But because He came into the world to save us and give us His light, we no longer have to go on stumbling in darkness.” “Like you were in the bedroom when you stubbed your toe, Dad?” Manuel asked with a grin. Dad chuckled. “Right. Jesus brings the light of His love into our lives, and we can share that light with others—just like I shared the light of this candle with you by bringing it in here from the bedroom.” “So we have to let our lights shine, just like it said in the verse I learned at church last week,” Lina said. “We need to tell people about Jesus and let them know how much He loves them.” –Robert Truesdale How about you? Are you sharing the light of Jesus’s love with those around you? Don’t hide His light because you’re embarrassed about what others might think or say about you. When we were stumbling in the darkness of sin, Jesus came to save us even though He knew many people would reject Him. If you have His light in your life, share it with those around you. Tell others about Him and show His love in all you do. Today's Key Verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Share the light of Jesus

Read: Psalm 18:31-36 “I knew I’d win a prize. I just knew it!” Jack stroked the shiny blue ribbon he was holding and grinned, remembering how quickly his horse had stood straight and still, with ears flicked forward. “Blaze was the best because he had the best trainer—me!” “You did a good job training your horse,” Dad said. “But remember, you didn’t train him alone.” “Yes, I did,” said Jack. “No one helped me—at least not much. I don’t need help. I know everything about…” He paused as Dad suddenly slowed down and stopped at the side of the road. “Aha!” Dad said. “I thought I saw something odd.” “What?” asked Jack, peering out the window. “Come and see.” Jack got out and followed Dad to a fence that ran beside the road. “Look.” Dad stopped beside one of the thick, round fence posts. A big turtle sat on top of it, sleeping in the sun. Jack was flabbergasted. “How did he climb up there?” “Well, I’d say someone must have put him there,” said Dad. “But he probably never even saw the hands that picked him up!” He lifted the turtle and set him on the ground. “Or the hands that put him down. When he sees his friends again, maybe he’ll tell them—in turtle language, of course—that he got up on that post and back down again all by himself.” Jack had a feeling Dad was talking about more than just the turtle. “Invisible hands,” said Dad softly. “I’d say that’s the help you had in training Blaze—God’s invisible hands.” “You mean God helped me?” asked Jack. “God helped me train a horse?” Dad nodded. “God gave you a brain and arms and legs and the ability to learn how to train Blaze—and people who taught you how to do it. Right?” “Well, yeah,” Jack said thoughtfully. “So…” “So maybe He deserves some credit?” suggested Dad. “After all, if Jesus hadn’t died and rose again to save us, none of our accomplishments would mean a thing. But He did save us, and He’s given us the abilities we have so we can use them to point to Him and everything He’s done for us.” Jack sighed. “You’re right, Dad. I owe Him everything. He deserves the credit, not me.” –Jane K. Chase How about you? Do you give God the credit for your accomplishments, like getting good grades or winning at sports? Or do you let others think it’s all you? It’s okay to feel good about things you do well, but don’t forget to thank God for each success—after all, He’s the one who created you, saved you from sin, and blessed you with everything you have and are able to do. Nothing you do compares to what He’s done, so give Him the credit He deserves. Today's Key Verse: If anyone wants to be proud, he should be proud of what the Lord has done. 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NLV) Today's Key Thought: Give God credit for everything

Read: Psalms 95:1-7; 96:11-13 Gannon’s mom plopped the mushy, still-warm mound onto the coffee table for him to enjoy. After locating a recipe for homemade playdough online, Mom and Gannon gathered the ingredients and started creating. He was so excited to see the first batch! Gannon pressed his small hands into the stretchy substance, pulling it this way and that. “It feels perfect, Mommy! I like it!” he exclaimed. “How did you do this?” Gannon asked. “You must be the goodest playdough maker in the world!” Gannon’s mother smiled and settled on the rug beside the coffee table. “As much as you enjoy what I made for you, I’m just as happy about the playdough as you are,” she said. “You are?” Gannon rolled the dough between his hands. “Yep, I love to see how much joy it gives you. To know I made something for you that brings you pleasure is a blessing to me.” Then she picked up a lump of playdough and began pressing it into shape. “I’m not the only one who likes creating things for their children to enjoy,” Mom continued. “I mixed together some items from our pantry to make the playdough—but think about what God created.” “Yeah! Oceans, mountains, flowers…even koalas!” Gannon exclaimed. Mom laughed. “Yes, even koalas. And God created all of that out of nothing.” “Not even stuff from the pantry,” Gannon said. “That’s right. God shows us His glory through His handiwork in the world, and He likes it when we enjoy His creation.” “The world is a neat gift from God.” Gannon twirled his playdough into a bird’s nest. “It is, and when we know God as His children—by trusting in Jesus, who lived a perfect life and then died to take the punishment for our sins—we understand how God loves to show us His love. He gives us good gifts, like the beautiful world we live in, and the gift of Jesus so we could become His children.” “Mommy, we should say thank you to God for the world He made, for Jesus—and for this good playdough!” –Allison Wilson Lee How about you? When you play outside, do you notice the world around you? God created it for you to enjoy—the sun and moon to give you light, grass for you to play on, and animals for you to see and learn about. God not only created a beautiful world because He loves you; He also sent His Son, Jesus, so you could have eternal life. Next time you go outside, let the world God made remind you of His love! Today's Key Verse: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God gives good gifts

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 18-20 “I can’t wait for our youth retreat!” Katie said. “Do you have permission to go yet?” Tammy bit her lip. “Not yet.” If she went, she would have to invite her brother, Clint. Tammy loved Clint, but kids at school whispered behind his back because he didn’t understand when they were joking or when he should stop talking about his obsessions, especially with polar bears. “Promise you’ll ask!” Katie called as Tammy got into Mom’s car. Mom smiled at Tammy as they drove away. “What do you need to ask me?” Tammy sighed. “There’s going to be a youth retreat at the ski lodge.” “That’s awesome!” Mom said. “Of course you can go.” “But if I go, then Clint will want to come. Remember the last time we went skiing? He almost got lost searching for polar bears. It was so embarrassing!” “I see,” Mom said. “I’ll let you decide whether or not you want to invite him.” Tammy was too surprised to respond. Suddenly, Mom pulled into an empty parking lot. Tammy gasped as Mom shut her eyes. “What are you doing?” Tammy cried. “What?” Mom asked. “I thought it would be fun to drive with my eyes closed. I still have my foot to press the gas and my hands to steer the wheel.” “But you can’t see where you’re going! What if we hit something?” Mom opened her eyes. “What if I try driving without my feet? Or taking my hands off the wheel?” “No!” Tammy said. “You need your whole body to drive.” Mom nodded. “That’s right. Have you ever heard Christians described as a body?” Tammy shook her head. That sounded weird! “The Bible says we are the body of Christ,” said Mom. “God created each of us with unique gifts so we can show people who Jesus is and help each other grow in our faith. And every single person is needed. We’re all part of the wonderful purpose Jesus has given us as His people.” When they got home, Clint ran to give Tammy a hug. “Clint, I have something important to ask you,” Tammy said. “Do you want to come on a ski retreat with me?” Clint danced down the hallway as Tammy laughed. She already knew what gift Clint had—joy. –Hannah Chung How about you? Do you struggle to include kids who are different from you? Or maybe you’re often left out because of your differences. God created and loves each one of us, and He has given each of His children unique gifts that allow us to show others the love of Jesus. Even if others don’t recognize your gifts, God always sees you, and He will help you see and encourage others in the body of Christ. Today's Key Verse: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Everyone has God-given gifts

Read: Colossians 4:5-6; 1 John 4:7-11 “I love being out in the snow,” said Addison, catching a snowflake on the tip of her tongue. Dad smiled. “I know—you never want to come in! But Mom sent me out to tell you dinner is hot and ready.” So Addison and Dad went in and washed up for dinner. “Did you have a good time playing with the new neighbor girl?” Mom asked as they sat down to eat. “Not really,” said Addison. “She’s from another country, and she’s hard to understand. I don’t think I’m going to play with her again.” “But you don’t even know her very well yet,” said Mom. “Give her a chance.” Addison shrugged. “I don’t know. I think she’s just too different.” She glanced out the window. “Look! It’s snowing again—great big snowflakes! Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? At school we learned that each one is made up of different patterns and designs.” Dad nodded. “Did you know that even though no two snowflakes are alike, all of them have something in common? Each one has six points. That’s like people too.” “How is that like people?” Addison asked. “Well, we know that no two people are exactly the same or have the same experiences, but we often forget that we’re also alike in many ways,” Dad explained. “You mean we all breathe and eat and sleep and grow hair?” Addison asked. “Stuff like that?” “Well, yes, that too,” Dad replied. “But I was thinking about how people from different parts of the world have their own languages and customs, but deep down we all have the same feelings and desires. We all want to feel loved and accepted, and we feel sad and upset when others make quick judgments about us.” Addison sighed. “You’re talking about the new neighbor girl, aren’t you?” Dad nodded. “Another thing all people have in common is that we’re all created in God’s image, and He loves us all so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. As His children, He wants us to share His love with others—even those who seem different—because we all have the same need for Him.” Addison looked out at the falling snow and nodded. –Janice M. Jones How about you? How do you treat kids who are different from you? Do you avoid them—or include them? If they moved from somewhere else, do you do your best to help them? No two people are exactly the same—God created each of us to be unique. But we’re all created in His image, and Jesus died for each one of us. Share His love by reaching out to those who are different from you. Today's Key Verse: If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Show love to everyone

Read: Psalm 119:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “Your Bible’s getting a bit dusty,” Dad remarked one day when he came into George’s room. George shrugged. “I haven’t moved it in a while.” “No?” Dad asked. “I’ve been busy.” George put the finishing piece on the castle he was building. He loved making all kinds of cool buildings with his blocks. “That’s too bad.” Dad stepped over to examine his newest creation. “I know you love a good story.” “Especially about bad guys and good guys and a good fight.” George grinned as he grabbed a toy soldier to defend his block tower. His dad picked up another toy and played with him for a few minutes. Then he walked back over to the bookshelf. “You’re missing out.” George glanced up at him. “What do you mean?” “The Bible has many stories about bravery and strength,” Dad said. George set down the toy soldier. “Like what?” “There’s a story of a young boy killing a giant. Another story of a city falling to the ground after the good guys march around it.” Dad gently wiped the dust from the cover of the Bible. “The Bible is one big story of God’s love for us. Every story points to Jesus—our Savior. He’s the hero because He died and rose again to save us from sin and conquer evil and death.” “Maybe I should read it more.” George had heard some of the Bible stories before, but now his dad made them sound more interesting. “Maybe we can start reading it together,” Dad said. “I think it would be fun—and it will help us learn more about Jesus too.” “Sure,” George said. They sat together on the bed, and Dad read the story of Daniel, who was thrown into a den of starving lions because he trusted and obeyed God. It was an exciting story, and George was amazed to learn how God protected Daniel and saved him from the lions. When his dad had finished reading, George smiled and said, “I don’t want my Bible to get dusty again.” –Bethany Acker How about you? What kinds of stories interest you? Do you like action stories? Or ones about friendship? Or stories where the hero saves the day? The Bible has all kinds of stories in it, but they all point to one big story—the story of God’s love and how Jesus came to rescue us from sin and destroy evil forever. As you read or listen to the stories in the Bible, think about how each one points to Jesus and teaches us to trust and obey Him. Today's Key Verse: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: The Bible is the story of God’s love

Read: John 1:45-46; 4:25-29 Michael stood on a stepstool so he could see over the grille to where his dad was working underneath the hood. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m replacing the spark plugs,” said Dad. “Then it should run a lot better.” “Cool!” said Michael. “Are you going to do anything else?” “After this I’ll replace the brake pads,” Dad said. “I want to watch when you do.” Then Michael thought of his friend down the street who loved cars. “Can Jason come and see too?” “There should be room for both of you to watch,” said Dad. “Why don’t you go ask him while I finish up these spark plugs?” Michael was so excited, he ran the whole way. He didn’t want to miss seeing anything. Dad was ready to start on the brake pads by the time Michael returned with Jason. First, Dad removed a wheel. The boys stepped back to give him room. Then he loosened the nuts that held something called a caliper. The boys moved closer together to get a better view of the action. Dad then took off the brake pads and made sure each of them got a good look. “See how thin it is right here?” he asked, pointing to the thin layer of material on the old brake pad. “It’s worn away from use. It’s dangerous not to replace it when it looks like this.” Then he held up a new one for them to see that was black and much thicker. “Thanks for letting me watch,” Jason said after Dad had put the new brake pads on the wheels. “I’m sure glad Michael came and got me.” Dad smiled at Michael. “You running to get Jason reminds me of the story in the Bible about Philip telling Nathanael to come and see Jesus.” “You learn about Jesus at church, right?” asked Jason. “We don’t go to church.” “Why don’t you come with us sometime?” said Michael. “We learn about Jesus and sing and hear stories from the Bible. Come and see!” “Yeah, maybe I will,” said Jason. “I’ll ask my parents!” After Jason left, Dad patted Michael’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you for inviting Jason to church. I hope he comes and sees how much Jesus loves him!” –Bonnie Clarkson How about you? Do you invite others to come and see Jesus? There are lots of ways you can do that, such as inviting friends to church, telling others what Jesus has done for you, or letting people see His love and kindness in the way you treat them. Not everyone knows who Jesus is or that He died and rose again to save us, and it’s our job to tell them. Invite others to come and see how much Jesus loves them and all He’s done for them. Today's Key Verse: Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! Psalm 66:5 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Invite people to come and see Jesus

Read: Matthew 20:9-16 Bright and early in the morning, Kira flew into Grandma’s kitchen with a grin on her face while her cousins were still sleeping upstairs. Grandma had just finished setting out bags of flour and sugar and loads of cookie cutters. This could only mean one thing—Grandma’s delicious sugar cookies. “Oh, Kira, thank goodness you’re here!” Grandma exclaimed. “We have to make twenty boxes of cookies for the church fundraiser tomorrow. If you help, you can bring a dozen home tonight to enjoy.” “I’m in!” Kira cried. After an hour of working, Sophie came downstairs and spotted the cookies. “Can I help?” she asked. “Join the fun!” Grandma replied. Another hour passed and Jackson ran in with his nose in the air. “I smell cookies!” he cried. “Roll up your sleeves!” Grandma said with a laugh. Finally, just as they were rolling out the last bit of dough, Kevin wandered in yawning. Without even asking, he grabbed a cookie cutter and got to work. When all the cookies were iced and boxed, Grandma gave each grandchild a dozen cookies. But Kira frowned. “Grandma, I worked the longest,” she said. “Kevin barely did anything. Why does he get the same number of cookies as me?” “Be quiet!” Kevin shushed. “Kira, we agreed to a dozen cookies as compensation, right?” Grandma asked, crossing her arms. Kira nodded. “So why are you upset?” “It’s not fair!” Kira cried. “Maybe not,” Grandma said. “But is Jesus’s love based on fairness?” “Ooh, this is like the parable of the workers!” Sophie said. Grandma winked. “Exactly. That parable illustrates how at any stage of life, we have the chance to receive Jesus’s love and forgiveness. That might not seem fair to us who have been saved longer, but we have no right to complain when it wasn’t fair to begin with that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We serve a generous and merciful God.” “I’m glad I have a generous God and a generous grandma,” Kira said with a smile as she bit into a cookie. –Hannah Chung How about you? Has someone’s generosity ever seemed unfair to you? Perhaps your sibling got a present on your birthday or your teacher allowed another student to turn homework in late. Just remember that if you trust in Jesus, you are the recipient of the ultimate act of generosity—His gift of unconditional love and forgiveness. As you recognize His love in your life, consider how you can be generous to others too. Today's Key Verse: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: God is generous

Read: 1 John 2:15-17; 4:1-6 “C’mon, guys!” Lara jumped into the pool. “Let’s make a whirlpool!” “Ooh! Yeah!” Her brother Jerome pushed his goggles up onto his forehead. “A world pool?” Four-year-old Emelia, the youngest of the seven siblings, hung onto the ladder and scrunched her forehead. “A whirlpool, Lia. It’s where we go around and around until we make a current,” Lara explained. “I’ll piggyback you, okay?” “Okay.” Emelia leapt onto Lara’s back. They all went around and around and around, until Imogene decided she was going to go the other way. “Aaahhh! Help!” She giggled. “I can’t…move!” Lara turned and braced her feet, laughing. “I can’t either!” “Look! I’m swimming in place!” Jerome paddled furiously. “I…can…almost…reach…the wall! There!” Momma, who’d been watching from the deck, stood up. “Who wants a snack?” “Me! Me! Me!” everyone chorused. “All right.” Momma opened the cooler. “Come on out and have a granola bar, and then you can go back in.” They clambered out and dangled their legs in the water while they ate. “You know,” Momma said after a minute, “you kiddos making a whirlpool made me think about how we as Christians have to live.” “I hope we don’t go around in circles.” Lara frowned. “No, I was thinking more about the current you made. It was hard to go against it once you really got it going, wasn’t it?” “Yeah.” Imogene grinned. “I couldn’t get anywhere!” Momma nodded. “The world around us makes a current, and it can be very hard not to go along with it. But we as Christians are called to live another way—we’re called to trust and obey Jesus and follow His way of truth and love in the Bible. If we try to live that way on our own, it’s like you trying to go against the whirlpool—you can’t get anywhere.” Momma smiled. “Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us to swim against the current on our own. He supplies us with His own strength and grace. And if we’re relying on Him as we go against the world’s current, His love will become evident in us.” –Ellie Shirk How about you? Have you ever made a whirlpool? It’s difficult to go against a strong current in the water, and it can be even harder to go against the world’s current. But God will always give us the strength we need to stand against the world’s ways and follow Jesus instead. Trust Him to help you follow the way of Jesus in this world so others can see His truth and love in your life. Today's Key Verse: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) Today's Key Thought: Follow Jesus, not the current

Read: Psalm 51:2; Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 1:6-9 Press, stamp! Press, stamp! Kaitlyn’s thumb squished into the orange stamp pad, then she squashed it onto paper. Next, she pushed her finger into the yellow stamp pad, and a sunny oval appeared on the page. Soon she had a collection of colorful fingerprints, and she was ready to create designs with her black pen. But her fingers were coated in wet, gooey ink in every color of the rainbow! She couldn’t pick up her pen without leaving bright marks all over it. “Mom,” Kaitlyn called. “Help!” She waved ten inky fingertips in the air. Mom arrived with a warm towel, and as Kaitlyn’s fingers washed clean, the white washcloth became stained with color. “You know,” observed Mom, “this reminds me of something.” “What?” asked Kaitlyn. She picked up her pen with clean fingers and began to doodle on top of the fresh, dry ink. “When we are stained with sin, like your fingers were stained with ink, Jesus is the only one who can make us clean.” Suddenly, Kaitlyn’s elbow was bumped from behind. The black pen in her hand wildly curved across her page. “It’s ruined!” she cried. “Hunter, it’s all your fault!” Her little brother’s shoulders slumped. Immediately, Kaitlyn felt remorseful. She prayed silently. She thought of how the white cloth had just removed ink stains from her hands, and she asked Jesus to forgive her harsh words and wash her clean. Then, taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn said, “I’m sorry I yelled at you, Hunter. It was just an accident.” Hunter moved close for a little hug, then leaned against the table to watch. Kaitlyn turned that wild black line into a swooping antenna. She dotted on black eyes and colored in larger spots to make an orange ladybug. Next, on a green print, she drew curly wool, a little face, and spindly legs to make a sweet lamb. Soon Kaitlyn’s page filled with animals of all kinds. When she was finished, she turned to Hunter. “Would you like me to help you make fingerprint art?” A wide smile was her answer. –Wendy Lynne Smith How about you? Do you need God to wash away the stain of your sin? God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to take your guilt upon Himself. All you need to do is confess your wrongdoings and trust Him to make you clean. Jesus will forgive your sins and give you a clean heart. Today's Key Verse: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus washes away your sin

Read: Luke 15:4-7; 19:10 “Mom!” Nia ran into the kitchen. “My lamb is gone! I’m sure I latched the door after I fed him, but it’s open now and Wooly is gone.” “Oh dear,” said Mom. “We’d better go look for him.” They started off, calling Wooly’s name as they searched the ditch and fields along the road. “Look,” Nia said as they approached a house not far from their own. “Mr. and Mrs. Harris are working in their garden. Let’s ask if they’ve seen Wooly.” Mom nodded, and they headed over to ask their neighbors if they had seen the lamb. “No, we haven’t seen him,” said Mrs. Harris. “But we’ll help you look for him.” So she and her husband joined the search, leaving their work unfinished. Mr. Harris was the one who finally found Wooly behind a neighbor’s barn, and Nia happily took her lamb home. After making sure he couldn’t get out again, she went to thank Mr. and Mrs. Harris for their help. “I’m sorry you had to leave the work you were doing,” Nia said. “Can I help you finish it?” “No, no, we’ll finish it tomorrow,” said Mrs. Harris. “I’m just glad we were able to find your lost sheep.” Mr. Harris nodded. “Nia, do you remember the parable Jesus told about lost sheep? Pastor Roy talked about it at church last week.” “Yeah,” said Nia. “The shepherd left all the sheep that were safe and went out to search for one little lamb that was missing.” "That's right,” said Mr. Harris. “And did you know that people are like lost sheep?” Nia nodded. “And Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He left heaven and gave His life to find us and save us.” “Right again,” said Mr. Harris. “I hope our search for Wooly will help us remember we were all lost sheep once and should never be too busy to hunt for other lost sheep—other people who don’t know Jesus.” Nia thought about that. “I have a new friend at school who doesn’t know Jesus. That means she’s just as lost as Wooly was. I’m going to ask Jesus to help me tell her about Him so she can be found, just like I was!” “Good for you,” said Mrs. Harris. “We’ll be praying for her—and for you.” –Nancy I. Merical How about you? Do you know any lost sheep? The Bible says anyone who doesn’t know Jesus is lost. But there’s good news! Jesus came to find and save the lost. He found you when you put your faith in Him, and He wants you to point other lost sheep to Him so they can be found too. You can do that by praying for them and sharing what Jesus has done for you. Do all you can to help bring others to Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Your Father in heaven does not want any of these little children to be lost. Matthew 18:14 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: Tell others about Jesus