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

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Religion & Spirituality Podcas

Keys for Kids is a daily storytelling show based on the Keys for Kids children's devotional. Hosted by Zach, this podcast combines Scripture readings with captivating stories that illustrate essential Biblical principles. With Zach's creative voices bringing characters to life, listeners embark on a faith-filled journey. Tune in to discover the keys to growing in faith and understanding God's love. Produced by Keys for Kids Ministries, this podcast is a treasure trove to help young hearts grow closer to God.

Location:

Pasco, WA

Description:

Keys for Kids is a daily storytelling show based on the Keys for Kids children's devotional. Hosted by Zach, this podcast combines Scripture readings with captivating stories that illustrate essential Biblical principles. With Zach's creative voices bringing characters to life, listeners embark on a faith-filled journey. Tune in to discover the keys to growing in faith and understanding God's love. Produced by Keys for Kids Ministries, this podcast is a treasure trove to help young hearts grow closer to God.

Language:

English

Contact:

Keys for Kids Ministries 2060 43rd St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 (616) 647-4500


Episodes

Humpty Dumpty Words

3/28/2024
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:29; James 3:2-10 "I don't want to see you again until you give me my mitt back!" shouted Adrian. "Don't ever come in my room again!" He slammed the door as his brother left the room. "What's all this yelling about?" asked Mom, coming down the hall. "Adrian says I stole his baseball mitt, but I didn't," replied Sawyer angrily. "He's a liar." Mom rapped on Adrian's closed door. "Adrian, come out here. I want both of you to follow me." She led them to the back porch. There, on a bench, lay Adrian's mitt. The boys immediately began yelling, each accusing the other of leaving the mitt there. Mom held up her hands, and the boys got quiet. "Both of you, follow me." This time she headed for the kitchen. She took an egg from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter beside an empty bowl. "Sawyer, crack this egg into the bowl." The boys gave her a puzzled look, but Sawyer obeyed. "Now, Adrian," said Mom, "put that egg back into the shell again--just the way it was." Adrian frowned. "You know I can't do that. You can't fix a broken egg." "Like Humpty Dumpty, right?" said Mom. "Our words are a lot like eggs sitting on a wall--once they've fallen and broken apart, we can't put them back. You both said some ugly things to each other, and taking words back is as impossible as mending an egg. The Bible says the tongue can be like a fire, causing a lot of damage when out of control." Adrian crossed his arms. "Sometimes the words just come out when I get mad. How am I supposed to keep the egg from cracking?" Mom walked the egg shell over to the compost bucket and dropped it in. "God gives believers a Helper--the Holy Spirit. Through Him we have the power to do difficult things, like tame our tongues. We can trust Him to help us when we are struggling to love others." The boys stood and looked at each other for a minute. "I'm sorry for what I said," Sawyer finally mumbled. "Me too," replied Adrian. "That sounds like a great start," said Mom. "I'm going to pray that God will help us all love each other the way Jesus loves us. Now, who wants scrambled eggs?" –Dean A. Fowler How About You? Are you careful about the words you speak, or do they sometimes get away from you before you think? It's good to say you're sorry when that happens, but it doesn't totally undo the damage the words may have done. That's why it's important to trust God to help you speak in a kind, loving way. He will help you control what you say so your words reflect the love of Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. (NIV) (Ephesians 4:29) Today's Key Thought: Think before you speak

Duration:00:04:29

Beginning to Fly

3/27/2024
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:20-24 "Leave my stuff alone!" Elijah shouted at his younger brother. "Get out of my room right now!" Mom hurried to see what was going on. When she got to Elijah's room, five-year-old Lance came running out, his eyes brimming with tears. "Elijah! What's the problem?" asked Mom as she sat on the edge of his bed. Elijah's eyes flashed with anger. "Lance knows he's not supposed to touch anything on my desk, but I caught him holding my clay dinosaur! He could have broken it!" "Calm down," said Mom. "I'll have a talk with Lance." "Well, he'd better not touch anything on my desk ever again!" exclaimed Elijah. Mom listened while Elijah continued to spew his anger. She sat quietly for a moment once he was finished. "Remember that colorful butterfly we saw earlier today?" she asked. "We talked about the big change that takes place while butterflies are in a chrysalis. Do you think they ever try to crawl back into those old things?" "Of course not," said Elijah. "Why are we talking about butterflies?" "I was thinking about how much you've been changing since you trusted in Jesus a few months ago. It's clear He's been working in your heart and helping you follow Him and love others. You may not realize it, but you've become more obedient, more patient, and more respectful," said Mom quietly. Elijah stared at the floor as she continued. "Seeing you change is a little like seeing a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis and begin to fly." Mom paused. "God doesn't want butterflies to return to their old homes, or for you to return to your old ways of behaving." "I guess I haven't been flying very well this afternoon," Elijah admitted. "But Lance is supposed to leave my desk alone!" "That's true," Mom said. "But don't you think there's a better way to teach him that?" Elijah sighed. "You mean without shouting or calling him names?" Mom nodded. "I guess I shouldn't have lost my temper," said Elijah. He paused, and then his face brightened. "I'll go find Lance. And don't worry, Mom. I won't yell at him this time." –Linda Avallone How About You? Did you know that when you trust in Jesus, He changes you? He makes you a new person the moment you trust in Him, and He continues to work in your heart throughout your life. That doesn't mean you'll instantly be totally different or that you'll never do anything wrong, but it does mean that God will help you become more like Jesus each day. The changes may seem slow to you, but those around you should see God working in your life. Don't go back to old, sinful habits--try out your new wings! Today's Key Verse: If anyone is in Christ…old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 5:17) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes you a new person

Duration:00:04:29

Dangerous Lies

3/26/2024
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:8-10 Editor's note: This story's subject matter may not be suitable for young children. Tayla watched her mother in the mirror as she clasped a necklace around Tayla's neck. They were getting ready to go to a funeral. "Mom, you've been really quiet this morning," Tayla pointed out. Mom smiled weakly. "Funerals are always difficult, but this one will be especially hard." Tayla knew what her mother meant. She had been to only one funeral in her life, and it was for her great-grandmother. Today they were going to a funeral for Jessica, a girl from church. Nobody had told Tayla much about what happened to her--all Tayla knew was that Jessica had taken her own life. "I just don't get it, Mom," said Tayla. "I thought Jessica was a Christian. How could she do something like this?" Tayla's eyes started filling with tears. She was friends with Jessica's younger sister Summer, and Jessica used to take the two of them out for ice cream when Tayla went over to their house. She seemed like a nice, normal teenager. Turning Tayla around, Mom hugged her tightly. "Sometimes things happen that we don't understand, but nothing is ever out of God's hands," Mom assured her. After the funeral service ended, Tayla hugged Summer goodbye and then climbed into the car with Mom. "Mom, is Jessica in heaven?" asked Tayla. "I don't know, honey," said Mom. "If she truly trusted Jesus as her Savior, she's in heaven." Tayla was still upset. "I just don't know why she did it." "Sometimes even Christians listen to the wrong voices," said Mom. "The Bible says that the devil is like a lion, looking for those he can devour. He doesn't want us to believe God's promises--he wants us to believe his own lies, and that's always very, very dangerous." Mom squeezed Tayla's hand. "Always remember that God promises to be with you, Tayla, no matter what. Jesus died and rose again to save you from sin and death and to give you eternal life. Because of Him, you always have hope, even when things seem hopeless. Run to Him when you face pain and difficulties, and run away from Satan's lies." –Emily Tenter How About You? Has Satan been telling you lies? The devil wants to hurt people by telling them God won't forgive them for things they've done or that there's no way out of a difficult situation they're facing. Don't believe it! Jesus died for our sins so we could have life, and He promises to be with us in everything we face. Stand firm in God's truth, and if you or someone you know is having trouble fighting Satan's lies, talk to a trusted adult immediately. Today's Key Verse: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) (John 10:10) Today's Key Thought: Run from Satan's lies

Duration:00:04:29

Dig In

3/25/2024
Bible Reading: Hebrews 5:12-14 "Harper sure drinks a lot of milk, doesn't she?" said Layla one day as she watched her baby sister. "You'd think she'd get tired of it." "Maybe she does," replied Mom. "Shall I fix her a peanut butter sandwich or offer her an apple?" "No!" Layla laughed at Mom's joke. "I just think milk all the time sounds boring, but I know Harper can't eat sandwiches or carrots or stuff like that. She isn't big enough yet. She doesn't have any teeth to chew with." "You're absolutely right." Mom smiled. "But before too long she'll be able to have soft foods, like cereal and mashed bananas." "But it'll be a long time before she can have hamburgers, won't it?" asked Layla. "Yes, it will," said Mom. "She's got a lot of growing to do before she'll be big enough for that." Dad held up his roast beef sandwich. "Well, I'm glad I'm big enough to have this," he said with a grin. "But you know what, Layla? Just like human babies slowly grow big enough to eat different things, baby Christians do too." "Baby Christians?" asked Layla, looking puzzled. Dad nodded. "When a person first trusts Jesus as their Savior, they're like an infant. Older Christians have to help them understand the milk of God's Word--the easiest verses and stories. Then, as a new Christian grows spiritually, they need the meat of God's Word--the deeper truths of Scripture that are harder to understand." Layla thought for a moment. "What stage do you think I'm at?" she asked. "I don't think I'm at the milk stage anymore, but I'm probably not quite ready to start chewing the meat of the Bible either. I'm probably at the mashed banana stage, and that sounds pretty gross!" Layla wrinkled her nose. Dad laughed. "It's not gross at all--no matter what stage we're at, we need the spiritual nourishment of God's Word. As you learn more about Jesus and His promises in the Bible, the Holy Spirit will use the truth of God's Word to feed you spiritually and help you grow. So keep digging into God's Word and growing in the Lord." –Cathy L. Garnaat How About You? Do you listen to Bible stories and look for lessons they're teaching? Are you ready to listen to sermons at church and learn from them? Do you read God's Word for yourself? Don't get discouraged when you don't understand everything. As you read and listen to the truth of God's Word, the Holy Spirit will help you understand more and more as you grow in your relationship with Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18) Today's Key Thought: Grow in the knowledge of God

Duration:00:04:29

Kyla Is Ready to Quit

3/24/2024
Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14; Hebrews 12:1-2 Kyla sank down onto the bed, exhausted and upset. "I can't do it." "Patience," her mom said quietly. "You'll get there eventually." Kyle shook her head. "I'm not going to," she said, staring over at the door to her hospital room. "I'm not going to be able to walk, and then I'm not going to be able to leave here. I'll be here forever." "You won't be here forever." The next day, Kyla worked with a therapist again. This time, she walked even less than she had the day before and then was too tired to go on. Tears filled her eyes as she was helped back to her bed. "Sweetheart…" Mom pulled her chair close to the bed. "You just need to be patient and keep trying." Kyla shook her head. "I prayed, Mom. I prayed that God would help me do it this time." "I'm sorry that things didn't work out the way you wanted," Mom said. "I prayed that you would stay safe, yet you're in a hospital bed. I prayed that you would recover quickly, but things are going slowly." She sighed. "I think God is using this situation to work on us. On both of us." Kyla frowned. "Why?" "Maybe to teach us patience," Mom said. "And to help us remember that Jesus is with us and is still at work even when bad things happen." She reached over and ran her fingers through Kyla's hair. "I remember when you were first learning to walk--my baby trying to grow up. You got so frustrated when you fell. And I got frustrated too. I wanted you to get better balance so I wouldn't have to worry about you falling and hurting yourself. It took a lot of tries, but you got better, and I learned to be patient. Eventually, you got it figured out. I believe you'll do the same this time around." "I wish I could just pray and then be done. Be out of here," Kyla said. "I know," Mom said. "But healing takes time. I think we need to keep praying and trust Jesus to help us be patient. He endured death on a cross to give us eternal life, and He'll help us endure every trial we go through." –Emily Acker How About You? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like God was trying to teach you patience? It can be hard to endure difficult things that happen in life, but Jesus promises to help us. He is always at work, even when things aren't going well, and He can use those situations to do good things. Trust Him to be with you in the trials you face in life and to endure them with patience. Today's Key Verse: Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (NIV) (Psalm 27:14) Today's Key Thought: Endure trials with patience

Duration:00:04:29

No Sneaking In

3/23/2024
Bible Reading: John 10:1-10 "Hey, Taj," whispered Caleb after the two boys had gone to bed. "I forgot the lures Dad gave me to bring along tomorrow. I left them in my room." The boys were going on a fishing trip with their church group early the next morning, and Caleb was spending the night at Taj's, who lived a few houses down from him. "Let's run over to your house and get them," said Taj. "It's too late," replied Caleb. "Everybody will be sleeping." "We'll just sneak in so we don't wake anybody up," said Taj. "If we don't do it now, we might forget in the morning." After thinking it over, Caleb agreed. The boys quietly left the house and hurried to Caleb's home. As expected, the house was dark. "I'll pry the screen off my bedroom window," Caleb whispered. "That way we won't wake anyone up." Caleb carefully removed the screen and started climbing in as quietly as he could. He had one foot through the window when a voice yelled, "Stop!" Caleb froze as he recognized the figure of his father towering in the shadows, holding a baseball bat. "It's me, Dad!" Caleb called out. "Me and Taj!" Dad flicked on the light. "Caleb? Taj? What's going on here? Why are you sneaking in through the window?" Caleb gulped. He knew he and Taj had a lot to explain. The next day, the boys told their church group leader what had happened. "My dad thought we were burglars," said Caleb. "He was pretty upset. I'm definitely never doing that again." "You boys trying to climb in through the window instead of using the door reminds me of our lesson last week," said Mr. Bates. "Do you remember what name we learned for Jesus?" "Um…oh, I know," said Taj. "He's called the door because it's only through Him that anyone can enter heaven." "Right," said Mr. Bates. "You couldn't sneak into your house, Caleb, just like we could never sneak into heaven. It would be impossible, and we've done nothing to deserve spending eternity with God. But Jesus offers us the incredible gift of salvation--He died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven and we could become God's children. He's the door, the only way we can enter into eternal life." –Jan L. Hansen How About You? Are you trying to sneak into heaven--to get there without trusting in Jesus? You can't do it. On earth, a person might be able to sneak into a house and get away with it. But the only way to be saved and enter God's eternal kingdom is through the Door--Jesus Christ. 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: I [Jesus] am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved. (NKJV) (John 10:9) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the door to eternal life

Duration:00:04:29

Teacher’s Pet

3/22/2024
Bible Reading: James 3:13-18 "Are we going to invite Bea to our party Friday night?" Valentina asked her friend Jane as they sat on Valentina's bed, going over their party plans. "No way! We don't want the teacher's pet at our party." Jane looked at the list. "Looks like we're inviting all the girls in our class except Bea." Valentina put a finger to her lips. "If my parents find out, we'll have to invite Bea too. Keep it quiet, will you?" Valentina slipped the list into her desk drawer, and the girls went down to the kitchen. Valentina's dad greeted them with a puppy in his arms. "Look what I've got." "A puppy!" Valentina took the puppy and cuddled him under her chin. "Can we keep him? I'll take care of him--I'll teach him good doggie manners!" Then she thought of their other dog. "Has Roscoe seen him?" Dad smiled. "No, Roscoe hasn't seen him yet, but yes, we can keep him--if Roscoe will let us, that is. Let's go see." When they opened the porch door to go out, a collie came bounding across the yard. Suddenly he stopped and growled deeply. "Come on, Roscoe. Don't act like that," said Valentina. "This puppy wants to be your friend." The puppy whined, but Roscoe growled again. "Stop it, Roscoe!" Valentina frowned. "Why is he being so mean, Dad?" "Because he's jealous. Roscoe doesn't want you to have another pet." As the girls looked at each other, they both suddenly realized they had been acting just like Roscoe because they were jealous of Bea. We need to replace jealousy with love, Valentina thought, remembering a lesson she'd recently heard at church. Jesus loves us so much He gave His own life for us, and because of that, we can love others instead of being jealous of them. "I think the two dogs can learn to be friends," said Dad. "But for now, you'd better take the puppy inside." The girls took the puppy to Valentina's room. "I think I'll name him Shadow," said Valentina. "Here, hold him for me a minute." She handed the puppy to Jane, then pulled out the list for the party and added Bea's name. "Guess what, Shadow?" she said, patting the dog's head. "On Friday you're gonna meet all the girls in our class!" –Barbara J. Westberg How About You? Have you let jealousy creep into your life? Maybe you envy someone who always has the right answers in class or a brother or sister who gets a lot of your parents' attention. If you're jealous of someone, ask God to help you see all the good things He's put in your life. Remember that Jesus died for you, and trust Him to help you replace jealousy with love. Then do something nice for that person. Today's Key Verse: Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. (ERV) (James 3:16) Today's Key Thought: Don't be jealous

Duration:00:04:29

Not Finished Yet

3/21/2024
Bible Reading: Galatians 6:9-10; Philippians 1:4-6, 9-11 "Are we going to tap all the trees today?" asked Soren as he helped Dad drill a hole into the trunk of a maple tree and insert a little pipe. "That will take forever!" "Making maple syrup does take a long time, and it's hard work," said Dad. "But it's worth the effort." Once all the maple trees had buckets hanging from the pipes to collect the sap that would drip out during the week, they returned to the house and Soren slumped into a chair. "In another week or so, we'll have to collect all those buckets of sap," he said. "But we won't have syrup yet! First we'll have to dump the sap into that big container and build a fire under it and boil it for a long time. By the time the water is out of the sap, we'll probably have one little pail of syrup!" He sighed. "All that work for just a little syrup. It'd be a lot easier to just buy syrup instead of making it!" "True," said Mom. "But it wouldn't be nearly as good. We're going for quality. Keep at it and we'll be eating the best pancakes ever!" "Do not grow weary in doing good," said Dad. Soren smiled. "I know that Bible verse, but I don't think it's talking about making syrup." "I don't think so either," said Dad. "But maybe we can learn something if we compare making syrup with growing spiritually. As we patiently keep that fire going under the sap, we get good results--delicious maple syrup. And as God works in our hearts, helping us get to know Jesus better and show His love to others, He brings out good results too." Mom nodded. "As we make maple syrup this year, let's remember that God is doing similar work in us. We can trust Him to use the experiences of our lives to make us more like Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him. He isn't finished with any of us yet--He will patiently continue His work in us until the day we see Jesus face-to-face." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Are you struggling in your Christian walk through life? Do you do the same wrong things over and over or wish you felt closer to God? Being a Christian doesn't mean you'll always feel close to God or won't ever struggle with sin, but Jesus promises to always be with you and forgive you. He died and rose again to save you, and He will continue His work throughout your life. He began a good work in you when you first trusted in Him, and He promises to finish it. Today's Key Verse: He [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 1:6) Today's Key Thought: Trust God for spiritual growth

Duration:00:04:29

Nutcracker Lesson

3/20/2024
Bible Reading: Romans 12:17-21; Ephesians 6:13-18 "Look!" said Mirabel. "A white-breasted nutcracker!" Carmen laughed at her younger sister. "I think you mean a white-breasted nuthatch." "Oh--well, I was close," Mirabel said. Carmen looked out at the bird feeders Mom had helped her hang on the pine trees. She loved the little birds that flocked in their front yard. "Uh-oh," said Mirabel. "There's that tiger cat again. He's crouching under the tree." "Yeah," said Carmen. "He looks like he's ready to pounce! Quick, bang on the window and try to scare him away." They both knocked on the window. The cat looked up, startled, and disappeared into the woods. "I think he belongs to one of the houses on the next street," said Carmen. "Well, we scared him away this time. Mom did too last week. She opened the window and banged on a pan." "And Rollo barked his head off at him the other day," said Mirabel. Carmen laughed. "Well then, I guess we're all prepared for any future attacks." "Yeah," said Mirabel. "We've got pans and dogs and we're ready for war!" "I'm not sure how effective those weapons would be in a real war," said Carmen. "But for us they should work just fine!" She looked at Mirabel. "Mom and I talked about weapons not too long ago when I was telling her about this new girl in my class named Abby who's not very nice. Mom said not to act the same way back to her--she said the Bible tells us our weapons are different, and they're really powerful." "What are they?" asked Mirabel. "Water balloons--or slingshots?" "No, nothing like that. Things like prayer. Mom said to pray for her, and she gave me some verses to memorize to help me remember that Jesus loves Abby and died for her." "Do you really think those weapons are going to work?" asked Mirabel. "They already are!" said Carmen. "I've been praying for Abby, and every day I feel myself becoming more patient with her. And trusting Jesus to help me see her the way He does has helped me treat her well without expecting her to be kind to me in return." "Wow," said Mirabel. "I guess God's weapons really do work." She looked out at a little nuthatch. "Oh look--another nutcracker!" –Sharon Lee Roberts How About You? Did you know that God offers spiritual weapons for you to use in any situation? It's easy to want to deal with difficult people and hard situations the way the world does, but the Bible tells us God's weapons--things like prayer, Scripture, love, and faith--are much more effective. They put the problem in God's hands, and He can do anything--even turn enemies into friends! Today's Key Verse: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. (NKJV) (Romans 12:20) Today's Key Thought: Use God's weapons

Duration:00:04:29

Life-Pictures

3/19/2024
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:32; 5:1-2; Titus 2:11-14 "See my picture!" Little Tatiana proudly showed Eden a page of scribbled lines. Red, blue, green, and yellow streaks crisscrossed the picture of balloons. Eden laughed. "Mom's never going to put that up on the fridge. It's a mess! You don't stay in the lines." Tatiana's lips puckered, and big tear drops crept down her cheeks. "Mommy!" she wailed and ran to find her mother. Eden sighed as she took an orange crayon from the box and began to carefully color the stained glass window in a picture of a church. Now Mom's gonna chew me out for telling Tatiana the truth, she thought. Does she really think her pictures are good enough to put up next to mine? Eden looked at her picture carefully and chose another crayon to use. It was nearly finished when Mom walked into the room, holding Tatiana's hand. "I came to see some pictures," said Mom. "Let me see what you colored today, Tatiana." The little girl found her picture and handed it to her mother. She beamed when Mom complimented her on the colors she had chosen. Then Mom looked at Eden's picture. "This is very nicely done. You stayed in the lines as you colored, and like you told Tatiana, a picture is prettier when you stay inside the lines." Eden smiled and nodded as Mom continued looking at the picture. "You know, I'm so glad that when I struggle to color inside the lines in life, Jesus gives me grace." "What do you mean?" Eden asked. "If living a perfect life is like coloring inside the lines, I mess up a lot! But Jesus always forgives me and is helping me become more like Him. He lived a perfect life because I couldn't and died for my sins, and He helps me show love and grace to others so they can see that my life-picture is beautiful because of Him." Eden was quiet for a moment, thinking about her mother's words and the grace she had received from Jesus too. "I shouldn't have been so tough on Tatiana's coloring," Eden whispered. "What can you do about it?" asked Mom. Eden smiled at her little sister. "I'm sorry, Tatiana. Would you like me to help you color another picture?" Tatiana nodded happily. –Lucinda J. Rollings How About You? What does your life-picture look like? Is it beautifully colored in with love, kindness, and patience? Or is it scribbled over with selfishness and the harsh way you judge or treat others? We all fail to color inside the lines of our life-pictures sometimes, but Jesus gives us grace. He erases our mistakes and helps us love others the way He does. Trust Him to make your life a beautiful work of art that draws others to Him. Today's Key Verse: Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. (NIV) (Ephesians 5:2 ) Today's Key Thought: Show love and grace to others

Duration:00:04:29

The Way God Made It

3/18/2024
Bible Reading: Philippians 4:4-7; 1 John 5:14-15 "A-vee-air-ee," read Logan, looking at the sign above the door of one of the buildings at the zoo. He was visiting the zoo with his Uncle Mike. "What does that mean?" asked Logan. "An aviary is a place where birds are kept. Let's see what kinds they have here." They opened the door and heard a lot of chirping and squawking, and as they walked through the building, they saw many different kinds of birds. "Look over there." Uncle Mike pointed toward a flamingo standing on one leg. "That one is asleep." "What a funny way to sleep!" said Logan. "How can that one skinny leg hold up such a big bird?" "Well, all I can tell you is that's the way God made it," said Uncle Mike. "It's amazing, isn't it?" Logan grinned and nodded. After leaving the aviary, Uncle Mike bought them each a snack. As they sat on a bench and munched their chips, Logan was very quiet. "Thinking about your parents again?" asked Uncle Mike. "Yeah," said Logan. "I just know they're going to get a divorce." "Now, you don't know that for sure, Logan. The reason you're here with me this weekend is so they could go to that marriage seminar. I think they're going to try to work things out." "Well, maybe," said Logan. "I know that's what they talked about, but I wish I could do something to help them." "You can pray," said Uncle Mike. "I already do that," said Logan. "I pray all the time! But that's just a little thing." "That's what you said about the flamingo's leg," Uncle Mike reminded him. "But that little leg held the whole bird up, didn't it? And though our prayers may seem small, God uses them to do great things. Even when things don't turn out the way we want, we can have peace knowing that He hears us when we pray and promises to work through our prayers to do good things and show people His love." Uncle Mike smiled. "That's the way God made it." –Sara L. Nelson How About You? Do you have problems that are totally out of your control, and the only thing you can do about them is pray? That's actually the best thing you can do for any of your problems, because your prayers are going to a very powerful God who loves you very much! If you know Jesus, you are God's child, and He promises to use your prayers for good, even when He doesn't answer them the way you ask. Pray about your problems, and then trust God to answer in His own special way. Today's Key Verse: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (NIV) (James 5:16) Today's Key Thought: Prayer goes a long way

Duration:00:04:29

Clover and the Cone

3/17/2024
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Hebrews 4:14-16 When Alyce got home from school and saw her dog wearing a plastic cone around her head, she rushed over and plopped down next to her on the floor. As Clover stared up at her with sad brown eyes, Alyce felt like her heart might burst. "Mom!" she called, her voice catching. "What happened to Clover?" Mom came in from the other room. "I'm sorry, Alyce, I was going to text you and forgot. Clover is fine, but she stepped on a splintered piece of wood in the yard today and injured her paw. The vet bandaged it up, but she has to wear a cone so she won't lick it and cause the wound to become infected." "But what about walking in the St. Patrick's Day parade tomorrow?" asked Alyce. Mom shook her head. "I'm afraid she can't put much weight on that foot." Alyce's eyes filled with tears. "But she loves walking in the parade! And we even bought a bandana with green clovers on it for her to wear." Alyce buried her face in her dog's soft fur. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Clover." Mom knelt down and rubbed Alyce's back. "Clover will be okay, Alyce, but I'm sure it helps her to know you love her and want to comfort her." Alyce sniffed. "I know she hates wearing this cone, and her paw probably hurts too. Seeing her sad and in pain makes me feel that way too." Mom nodded. "It reminds me of something I read in my Bible this morning about Jesus's compassion for us. Sometimes when we're going through hard things, it can seem like God is distant and uncaring, but nothing is farther from the truth. Jesus promises to always be with those who trust in Him, and He is with us when we're hurting. He knows how we feel because He experienced pain, sadness, and hardship too when He came to earth to die for our sins, and He comforts us in our troubles." Alyce smiled down at her dog. "Just like I want to comfort Clover." Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey, Mom, instead of having Clover walk in the parade, could we pull her in the green wagon? I think that would cheer her up." Mom grinned. "That's a great idea!" –Courtney Lasater How About You? Are you facing difficult circumstances in your life? We may not always understand why God allows hard things to happen, but we know that Jesus understands our pain and promises to be with us in our struggles. He knows exactly what you're going through and how you feel, and He wants to comfort you and encourage you. Share your pain and sadness with Him, knowing He cares about you. Today's Key Verse: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ) Today's Key Thought: Jesus hurts with us

Duration:00:04:29

When the Flag Flies

3/16/2024
Bible Reading: John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-11 Grayson settled down to listen as his Sunday school teacher began to speak. "I read an article this week about traditions in England," said Mr. Jensen. "It mentioned several castles that are available to the king to live in. Sometimes he stays in one, and sometimes in another. Whenever he's in one of his homes, his flag flies over that roof. It lets his subjects know their king is inside." Mr. Jensen paused as he looked at the class. "You know, for those of us who are Christians, the King of Kings lives within us. What are some things we could use as a flag--things that would show that we have Jesus in our lives?" Josh raised his hand. "We could let others know we go to church," he suggested when the teacher called on him. "Good!" Mr. Jensen smiled. "Of course, just because someone goes to church doesn't mean they're a Christian. But for those of you who are, it gives a testimony--sort of like you're flying Christ's flag for others to see. Let your friends know you go to church because you want to learn more about Jesus. Who else can suggest something to use as a flag?" "We should obey our parents," Grayson said. Mr. Jensen nodded. "And why should you obey them?" "Because God tells us to," replied Grayson. "In other words," said Mr. Jensen, "we should obey God, right? We should do what He says--and how do we know what that is?" "It tells us in the Bible," said Emery. "That's where the Ten Commandments are found." "Yes, and they're very important," said Mr. Jensen, holding up his Bible. "But the Bible contains many other commandments as well. In fact, our lesson today talks about a new commandment Jesus gave His disciples--including us. Perhaps it's the best flag we could show others. It's the one Jesus says will show that we belong to Him. He commands us to love others the way He loves us. Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross so we could be saved and have His love in our hearts. When we love others, it shows them that Jesus is our King and that His Spirit lives in us." –Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Are you flying a flag that shows others you're a Christian? Jesus tells us that the most important flag of all is love. He commands us to love others as He loves us. That's a lot of love! If you know Jesus, He's given you the ability to love others the way He does. When you treat others with love, you're flying His flag and showing others that He lives in your heart. 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: Love one another

Duration:00:04:29

Dirty Dishes

3/15/2024
Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 2:19-22; James 1:12 Dinner was ready, and everyone was called to the table. After Dad prayed, Gianna was the first to notice that something was wrong. "These dishes are dirty!" she exclaimed. "Why are they on the table?" Mom gasped as she looked at her plate. "My fault. I told Grandma to use the plates from the dishwasher. I must have forgotten to turn it on last night." "Oh dear!" exclaimed Grandma, who was nearly blind. "They must have been rinsed off and I couldn't see well enough to know they were still dirty. I'm so sorry!" After a good laugh, Gianna and her sister Cosima jumped up to remove the dirty dishes and replace them with clean ones. After reading the passage for family devotions that evening, Dad closed his Bible thoughtfully. "The verses we just read say that we are vessels to be used by God. We all saw how unpleasant it would be to eat out of dirty vessels at dinner tonight, didn't we? We want clean dishes for our food." "That's for sure!" said Cosima. "When God says we need to be clean vessels, do you suppose He means we should take a bath?" asked Dad. "Well, I've heard a saying about how cleanliness is next to godliness," said Gianna. "Is that in the Bible?" asked Cosima. Dad chuckled. "No, it's not. We should keep our bodies clean, of course, but I don't think that's what these verses mean." "I don't think so either," said Mom. "God says we need to have hearts made clean and pure by Jesus and live in a way that shows others His love. I think that's what He's referring to here." Dad nodded. "The apostle Paul told Timothy to flee from evil desires and pursue virtues like faith, love, and peace alongside other believers. We need to do the same thing. As Christians, we need to remind one another to turn from sin and focus on Jesus, who has forgiven our wrongs and washed us clean. As we trust Him to fill us with His peace and love, we become vessels He can use to show others who He is." "We needed clean dishes for dinner tonight," said Grandma. "And the world needs clean vessels to show people the love of Jesus." –Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Are you a clean vessel that's ready to be used? The only way we can be clean and pure is to trust Jesus to forgive our sins. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Then, as He works in our hearts, He helps us turn away from sin and share His love with others in the way we live. Trust Him to make you a vessel He can use to bring others to Him. Today's Key Verse: Be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (NKJV) (2 Timothy 2:21) Today's Key Thought: Be a vessel God can use

Duration:00:04:29

A Real Offering

3/14/2024
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 "Mom, can I have some money to put in the collection plate?" asked Gunnar. "Didn't you bring your own offering?" Mom asked. Gunnar shook his head. Mom frowned, but she reached into her wallet and took out some money. "Just this once," she said as she handed it to Gunnar. That afternoon, Gunnar had a suggestion for his mother. "My birthday is next week, you know. If you can't think of anything to get me, I have some ideas." Mom looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, actually, when Grandpa and Grandma were here last week, they left a birthday present for you. Maybe I'll just give you that." She smiled brightly at Gunnar. "Mom! I'm serious. I'm talking about what you might get for me, not what they're giving me. Like I said, I have some ideas." "What's wrong with my idea?" asked Mom, acting surprised. "I'm sure the package they left has something really nice in it." Gunnar frowned. "You're just kidding, right? I mean, it won't really be from you if you give me something they bought me." "You're absolutely right, Gunnar," said Mom. "I'm not truly giving if I give you something that doesn't belong to me--something I didn't put any thought or effort or money toward. You wouldn't be happy about that, would you?" Gunnar shook his head. "But at church this morning, you were okay with giving God a gift that wasn't really from you," Mom pointed out. "But you used to always give me money for church!" said Gunnar. "When you were too young to have your own money, I gave you some so you'd get in the habit of giving to God. Now that you have an allowance, you should give some of your own money. Then you'll be giving a real offering instead of simply dropping money into the collection plate, right?" Gunnar sighed. "Yeah, I guess so." "The Bible tells us to give to God with a cheerful heart out of love and gratitude for all He's done for us," said Mom. "When we give gifts to God that cost us something, it reminds us of His gift to us that cost Him everything--His Son, Jesus." Gunnar thought about it and nodded. "Next time, I'll bring my own offering." –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Do you put money in the offering plate at church? When we give back to God to thank Him for everything He's done for us and acknowledge that all we have comes from Him, we're giving with a cheerful heart. Perhaps you don't have any money of your own yet, but when you do, offer some of it back to Him out of gratitude for all He's given you. Today's Key Verse: Let each one give…not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 9:7) Today's Key Thought: Give to God

Duration:00:04:29

Always Light

3/13/2024
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-5 "Tre, what are you doing out here?" Granddad asked. Tre sat cross-legged on the balcony of his grandparents' apartment. Honking car horns and screeching city buses filled the night air. Tre scrunched his knees to his chest. "Trying not to think about school," he said, looking down. "Aw, Tre, I know it's been hard." Granddad put his hands on Tre's shoulders and sat down with him. "Hey, look at that!" Granddad pointed. "Tre, what do you see?" "Mr. Frank's Fried Chicken sign?" The neon sign across the street gave a red tint to Tre's face. Granddad chuckled. "Well, yes, that's good too. Real good. But look up even higher." Granddad pointed up into the dark sky. Tre stretched his neck up and gave a half smile when he saw the moon, then looked back down. "You see it, Tre?" "Yeah." Tre twirled his untied shoelace around his finger. Earlier that day, some kids at school had made fun of him for the shoes he wore. Between struggling with math and now kids making fun of him, he didn't even want to think about school. But at the same time, school was all he could think about. He was worried about what would happen the next day and every day after that. Tre looked up again. The moon was so big and so radiant that not even the city lights or Mr. Frank's Fried Chicken sign could drown out its glow. The moonlight brightened his face. "Tre, who made that moon?" "God." Tre smiled. "That's right, and that moon is always there, even if there are clouds or blinding fried chicken signs making it harder for us to see it." Granddad looked up at the moon. "Just like that moon, God is always there too. Even if it's hard to see Him through the stuff you face at school sometimes, Jesus is still there with you, like a light that never goes out. He saved you from the darkness of sin, and He promises to be with you through all the tough stuff." Tre smiled, still looking up at the moon. "So, God's like a light?" Granddad nodded. "A light as bright as Mr. Frank's Fried Chicken sign?" asked Tre. Granddad winked. "Even brighter." –Amanda Gott How About You? What is a tough situation you've faced at school or home? Maybe math or reading or doing homework is hard sometimes. Maybe classmates or siblings have said something hurtful. Whatever your circumstances, God is with you, like a light that never goes out. Jesus promises to always be with those who trust in Him through all life's troubles. Even if it's hard to see Him, He is there--just like the bright moon in the sky. Today's Key Verse: The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV) (Psalm 27:1 ) Today's Key Thought: God is always there with you

Duration:00:04:29

Soaring Eagle

3/12/2024
Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31 Julie loved watching the birds with her grannie. There were so many colorful species to see, and her grannie knew the names of them all. "It would be fun to fly," Julie said as she watched a bright red cardinal take off from the bird feeder. "Can you imagine soaring into the sky like a bird?" Grannie smiled. "It would be fun just to see what it's like, wouldn't it?" "I wonder why God made birds fly and we just have to be boring and walk." Grannie chuckled. "He must have His reasons." Julie watched another bird take off and fly through the sky, and she put her arms out like wings. "You know, the Bible does mention something about us flying," Grannie said. Julie glanced at her. "It does?" "In Isaiah, it says that those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings as if they were eagles," Grannie said. Julie's eyes widened. "Does it really?" "Yes." Grannie smiled. "But I don't think it's meant to be taken literally--it's not saying we'll physically fly. I think it means that when we put our trust in God, it will feel like we're flying because of the strength, hope, and joy He gives us." Julie turned toward the window again as a beautiful orange oriole landed on the feeder. She would love to fly like a bird, but she was glad God had made her a human. A few days later, Julie and Grannie took a walk to look for birds. They saw many beautiful species fly about before her grannie pointed excitedly toward the sky. "Look, an eagle!" Grannie said. Julie's eyes widened as she watched the huge bird soar gracefully through the sky. "Wow. That's what God can help us be like?" Grannie nodded. "Because we trust in Jesus, we can soar like that strong eagle. Jesus gives us strength to face life's difficulties, and one day, when He returns, He will give us new bodies that will never grow tired or weary." "Wow," Julie said again. It was fun to see how much larger and more majestic the eagle looked than the other birds, and it was amazing to know that God could make her soar just like it. –Bethany Acker How About You? Have you ever seen an eagle fly? The Bible says those who trust in the Lord are like powerful eagles that can fly through the air without growing weary. Whenever we feel tired or weak, we can look to Jesus for strength and remember the hope of eternal life we have in Him. Trust Him to give you strength, hope, and joy so that you can soar like an eagle. Today's Key Verse: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV) (Isaiah 40:31) Today's Key Thought: God makes you soar

Duration:00:04:29

Wear Your Shoes

3/11/2024
Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:11-17 Lilly and her family lived in Florida out in the country. Her neighbors were horses on one side and cows on the other. Lilly loved it, but her older sister--not so much. Cora preferred the big city nearby. Lilly spent most of her time outdoors. She loved to run around their farm and play in the creek on their property. But one thing she didn't love doing was wearing shoes. It was almost always hot outside, so Lilly really didn't see the need. "Ouch!" Lilly cried out one day. She had stepped on a small cactus again, and a thorn was poking out of her foot. Lilly sat on the ground and carefully pulled it out. After playing in the creek most of the afternoon, she took off back toward the house. Ouch again! This time she stepped on some sand spurs. "Did you have fun down at the creek today?" Mom asked when Lilly got home. "I don't know how you can stand being outside in the heat, playing with who knows what," Cora interrupted. "It's fun. Today I caught some crawdads, minnows, and baby frogs. But I also caught a cactus thorn and some sand spurs in my feet." "I hope you left all your creatures at the creek," Cora said. "I did, and I left the thorn and sand spurs too." "That's why I always tell you to wear your shoes," said Mom. "It helps keep your feet protected." After dinner that evening, Mom said, "Our conversation about wearing shoes made me think of some verses I'd like to read to you." Mom opened her Bible and read some verses from Ephesians that talked about putting on the armor of God. "These verses remind us that the truth and promises of God offer us spiritual protection," said Mom. "When we read the Bible and learn about what it says in church, we are filling our hearts and minds with God's truth. Then when Satan or the world try to throw their lies at us, we are better prepared to fight them off. We can stand firm in the truth that we belong to Jesus and that He is more powerful than evil." Cora nodded thoughtfully. "I understand those verses better now." "Me too." Lilly giggled. "And I understand why you tell me to wear my shoes!" –Lisa Fuller How About You? Did you know there is a spiritual battle going on for your heart and mind? This is why the Bible tells us to prepare ourselves by putting on the armor of God. Spend time with Jesus each day praying and reading His Word and spend time with other Christians learning about His truth and promises in the Bible. Fill your heart and mind with God's truths so that you are better prepared to resist Satan's lies. Today's Key Verse: Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (NLT) (Ephesians 6:11) Today's Key Thought: Stand firm in God's truth

Duration:00:04:29

An Unfair Reward

3/10/2024
Bible Reading: Matthew 20:1-15; Ephesians 2:8-9 Jonathan and Maeve ran next door to show their report cards to their grandma. "Good job!" she exclaimed and gave them each a candy bar. "Grandma gave Maeve the same thing she gave me," Jonathan complained to his mom when he and his sister returned home. "That's not fair! I got better grades than she did, so I should have gotten more." "That decision was up to Grandma," replied Mom. "Maybe the reward is the same because she loves you both and knows you did your best." After dinner, Mom baked some cookies. As she took the last pan out of the oven, Jonathan came to the kitchen to see what was baking. "Anyone who wants to try my cookies has to help clean up first," said Mom, so Jonathan started washing bowls and utensils. When Maeve followed her nose into the kitchen a little later, Mom repeated the message. "Anyone who wants cookies has to help clean the kitchen." There wasn't a lot left to do, but Maeve got busy. "Are the cookies ready?" asked Dad a little later, and Mom repeated the message one more time. Dad looked around, but everything had been washed--even the cookie sheets. Taking a sponge, he wiped the counters. "Thanks for helping," said Mom, and she handed two cookies to each of them. "Two for everybody?" objected Jonathan. "Maeve and Dad didn't do as much work as I did. Why do they get the same number of cookies?" "They responded when I told them I'd give them cookies if they helped, just like you did," said Mom. But Jonathan continued to scowl. "Time for devotions," called Dad a little later. "Would you read this parable in Matthew for us, Jonathan?" Dad handed Jonathan the Bible. When Jonathan had finished reading, Dad said, "Grandma and Mom gave equal rewards today--not for equal work, but for equal kindness and generosity on their part. God is like that too. Even though none of us deserve His kindness because of our sin, He offers us forgiveness through Jesus. When we put our faith in Him, He gives us eternal life and helps us serve Him according to the abilities and opportunities He's given us." Dad smiled at Jonathan. "Aren't you glad God's grace isn't fair?" –Nance E. Keyes How About You? Do you get upset when you think you deserve more than others but they get just as much as you? It might help to remember that God offers us a gift none of us deserve. There's nothing we could do to earn eternal life--Jesus earned it for us by dying for our sins so He could share His reward with us. God's grace isn't fair--it's generous and undeserved, and it's better than any reward you could earn yourself. Today's Key Verse: For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift. (CSB) (Ephesians 2:8) Today's Key Thought: God's grace is generous

Duration:00:04:30

The Immovable Rock

3/9/2024
Bible Reading: Psalms 18:1-3, 31-32; 121:1-3 Lucy closed her book with a THWAP! "I've studied and studied until I can't even see the numbers on the pages anymore, Mom, but I just know I'm going to fail that math test tomorrow." "But you've studied hard, and you've prayed about the test too," said Mom. "Now just do the best you can and trust the Lord to help you." Lucy sighed. "It's just that I keep thinking about how terrible I am at math. I just know I'll do the problems all wrong." "Lucy, do you remember the time we were out on that big rock at the ocean? It was so big, and we just stayed out there, enjoying all the space. We didn't notice the tide coming in, and we got caught out there, remember?" "Yeah," said Lucy. "A storm came up before we could get back to shore, and the winds and waves beat against that rock. That was one of the scariest times of my life!" Mom nodded. "It was scary, all right. Do you remember what Dad said?" "He told me not to be afraid. He said something like, 'We may tremble on the rock, but the rock will never tremble under us.' And he was right--the rock held firm, and we were safe." She paused for a moment. "Dad said God is our Rock and that even when we face difficult times, we can rest on Him and don't need to be afraid." "Right," said Mom. "Jesus died to save us from sin so we could have eternal peace and joy with Him, and He promises to be with us and help us in everything we face--in hard times like when Grandpa died last summer, but also in everyday situations like math tests." "So I didn't even have to study after all?" Lucy said with a grin. Mom smiled. "You know I don't mean that. You still need to study, and you did, so now you can trust God with the outcome. That doesn't mean things always turn out the way we hope they will--you might still fail the test even though you studied. But whatever happens, God is always faithful and will be there for us. We can trust Him to help us and to use our efforts to do good things." –Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Do you pray about your concerns in life? Do you trust God to help you, or do you focus on your own abilities or circumstances? God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, and He cares about everything that troubles you, no matter how big or small it seems. You can trust Him to help you with all your problems, even if it's in a way you don't expect. He's the immovable Rock. Rest on Him! Today's Key Verse: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:2) Today's Key Thought: Trust God in everything

Duration:00:04:29