Keys For Kids Ministries Podcast

Bible Reading: John 4:7-14 "Hey!" said Zoe. "What's wrong with the water?" She turned the kitchen faucet knob as far as she could, but all she got was a sputtering sound. She groaned. "I'm so thirsty!" "When I got home from work, I found a notice on the door saying the city water department would be working on our street today," said Mom. "If I'd known earlier, I would have filled some containers. There's still some juice in the fridge." Zoe grabbed the juice and poured all of it into a large glass. She chugged it greedily, then smacked her lips. "That was good." "Did you save any for Mikey?" asked Mom, looking up from a pile of mail. Zoe looked at the empty juice container. "Whoops." When Zoe's brother Mikey got home a few minutes later and found out there was nothing to drink, he groaned and staggered to a chair. "Water! Water!" he cried weakly. Zoe laughed. "You don't have to be so dramatic about it." Mom went to answer a knock at the door, and a minute later Molly, their next-door neighbor, walked in with a gallon of water. "I thought you might be needing this," she said. Mikey eagerly poured water into a glass and drank it, then sighed with satisfaction. "Oh, thank you, Molly," he said, clasping his hands together. "You saved my life!" "Oh, brother!" groaned Zoe. "Here we go again!" "Well, a person dying of thirst can be saved by getting a drink of water," said Mikey. "Isn't that why Jesus is called the Living Water? Because He can save people who are dying?" "That's a very good point," said Mom. "People have a spiritual thirst that's even greater than the thirst for water. We have a thirst for love, for joy, for forgiveness-- for God. A drink of water can save us from physical death, and Jesus, the Living Water, can save us from spiritual death. But what if you hadn't taken the water Molly offered you, Mikey?" "I'd still be thirsty," said Mikey. Mom nodded. "The same thing goes for us if we don't take the Living Water that Jesus offers. It's free and brings everlasting life--but only to those who accept it!" –Trudy VanderVeen How About You? Do you ever feel unsatisfied with life, even if you have a lot of good things going for you? Do you have a thirsty soul--a spiritual thirst? Jesus can satisfy that thirst. He can quench your soul's deepest desires and fill your life with peace, hope, and joy. He can save you from spiritual death and give you eternal life. Trust in Him, and He will satisfy your soul. (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: But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (NLT) (John 4:14) Today's Key Thought: Jesus satisfies thirsty souls

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:8-13 "You got an email," Abigail's mom told her. "Looks like it's from Ellie." Abigail, whose family were missionaries in Nigeria, eagerly took Mom's phone and opened the email. "Yesterday Daphne and Ashlyn and I went to an amusement park," Abigail read in Ellie's email. "I wish you could have been with us! We went on a pirate ship ride and on an alpine slide." Abigail sighed. Going on rides with her friends sounded like fun! "But the African safari river ride was the best one of all," the email continued. "It was so much fun! There were robotic elephants that sprayed water at us, and some mechanical monkeys were chattering in the trees. It seemed so real." Abigail laughed out loud when she read that. Ellie should come visit me here, she thought. Then she could see real elephants and monkeys. Just then Benji, Abigail's pet monkey, snuggled up to her. Benji loved being around Abigail and always followed her around the house. Abigail gave him a little squeeze. "You're better than a mechanical monkey," Abigail told him. "You're real." Abigail thought about all her other pets. Freddy, a baby antelope, was a pretty brown color with a black stripe. And a mongoose named Rollo was a family favorite. Abigail smiled as she remembered the time Rollo found a ping-pong ball on the floor. She apparently thought it was an egg--one of her favorite foods. She smacked it hard to break it, then jumped back in surprise when it bounced as high as her head. Of course, Rollo sometimes annoyed them by chirping a lot. But she made up for it by eating cockroaches and other insects. And Abigail knew that when Rollo got bigger, she would also eat snakes! Abigail grinned. Not many kids have pets like mine! she thought. And even though I really miss my friends back home, I have new friends at our church here, and I know God is helping our family tell the people here about Jesus. Even though it's hard sometimes, I know He brought us here and promises to be with us, so this is the best place for me to be. "C'mon, Benji," she said. "Let's go find Rollo and take some pictures to send my friends back home." –Charlie VanderMeer How About You? Do you sometimes wish you could be somewhere else? Or have you learned to be content in the place God has put you for now? In the Bible, the apostle Paul said the secret to being content in any situation is trusting Jesus, who promises to always be with us and help us because we belong to Him. Thank Him for the blessings He's given you and the people He's put in your life, and trust Him to help you be a testimony for Him right where you are. Today's Key Verse: I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. (NKJV) (Philippians 4:11) Today's Key Thought: Be content

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:1-5 "I don't see why Harper can't come Christmas shopping with us tomorrow," Sienna complained. "She always helps me find the best gifts." "It's not a good idea for your sister to be in a mall right now, Sienna," said Mom. "She needs time to go through counseling and address why she feels the need to steal things." Sienna sighed and put on her boots and coat. "I'm going to see if the ice is hard on the pond." When she reached the pond, she tested the ice with her foot. It was firm at the edge, but when she cautiously moved forward, it cracked. No skating yet. So Sienna headed home, taking the back way. When Sienna reached the house, Mom came out. "Ally was playing out here, but I don't see her anywhere," she said with a worried look. "The pond!" said Sienna. "Maybe she followed me." She looked down and saw a tiny set of footsteps in the snow next to her bigger ones heading toward the pond. She dashed down the hill as fast as she could. As she approached the pond, she saw her little sister step out onto the ice. It held at the edge, and Ally took another step. "No, Ally!" yelled Sienna, and Ally stopped. When Sienna reached her, she took her hand and led her off the ice. Mom met them at the top of the hill. "You know you're not allowed to go to the pond by yourself," she said as she hugged her little daughter. "I thought Sienna was there," said Ally. "I was just following her." Later that day, Sienna again begged her mom to let her older sister come to the mall with them, but Mom said no. "We need to be careful where our footsteps lead," said Mom. "Harper is struggling with an urge to shoplift, and she needs our support. She shouldn't be in an environment where she may be tempted to steal." Sienna was quiet for a moment. "I wouldn't want to lead her into a situation where she'd be tempted," she said finally. "I know," said Mom. "Sometimes we need to make sacrifices to help other Christians in their walk with Jesus, especially when they struggle with things we don't." - Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Do you help other Christians who are struggling with sin? Are you careful where your footsteps might lead them? We all have different struggles in our lives, and even though you may not be tempted by certain things, the same might not be true for someone else. Trust Jesus to help you be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others so you can support and encourage them in their walk with Him. Today's Key Verse: Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (NLT) (Galatians 6:2 ) Today's Key Thought: Help those who struggle

Bible Reading: Romans 6:12-18, 22 "Hi, Mom," said Taden as he came into the house. "Want to see the picture I painted at school today?" He held out a paper with a scene of a lake and trees, with mountains in the background. "This is really good!" exclaimed Mom. "You're a wonderful painter." Taden beamed. "I think I'm going to be an artist when I grow up. I love to paint." He went to a drawer and took out a fresh piece of paper and some paints. "I think that would be great." Mom pointed to the paper Taden had spread out on the kitchen table. "Have you ever looked at your blank paper and wondered what it will look like when you're done painting?" "Of course. I always have something in mind when I start painting." Taden grinned at his mom. "But it doesn't always turn out the way I imagined it. Sometimes I do a good job, but other times I mess it up." Mom nodded. "Our lives are like that blank paper, and our choices are like the brush that applies the colors to the page, making something beautiful--or a mess!" "But the brush doesn't paint by itself," said Taden. "It's the artist who chooses the colors and paints the picture. Whether it turns out good or bad depends on the artist." "That's right," said Mom. "In our life pictures, we can either make ourselves the artists and paint things our own way, or we can trust God to be the artist holding the brush and let Him guide us and shape our lives." Taden looked at the blank page. "I never thought about my life like that," he said thoughtfully. "When we trust Jesus and give Him control of our life picture, He promises to make it beautiful," said Mom. "That doesn't mean our lives will be easy or that we won't still sin and make mistakes--we'll sometimes try to take control of the brush and do things our own way. But when we do, Jesus forgives us and paints over our mistakes. He promises to help us make good choices and love others the way He does. He's the greatest Artist there is, and when we give Him control of our lives, He will make them into masterpieces." - Mary Rose Pearson How About You? Who is painting the picture of your life? No matter how hard you try, you can't paint a good life picture on your own. Everyone has already messed up their picture with sin, but Jesus can paint over your mistakes and make your life beautiful. Trust Him as your Savior today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) Then let Him guide you as you live your life, knowing He'll make it into a masterpiece. Today's Key Verse: Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. (NLT) (Romans 6:13) Today's Key Thought: Give God control of your life

Bible Reading: Hebrews 5:12-14 "Lindy, have you learned your Bible verse for Sunday school?" asked Mom. "No, but I don't like Sunday school anymore," Lindy grumbled. "Why not?" asked Mom, spooning cereal into Gracie's mouth. "We don't sing fun songs with motions anymore, and Mrs. Mac doesn't read from her Bible storybook either," replied Lindy. "Now we have to read right from the Bible and memorize verses and--" She paused as Gracie made a gagging sound. "What's the matter, Gracie?" Lindy asked as she tapped a spoon on the high chair, trying to distract her baby sister. "She's used to milk and juice, and she's just learning to handle solid foods," Mom explained. "Sometimes they're a little hard for her to swallow." "Poor Gracie." Lindy turned to her mother. "Why not just let her have milk then?" "Because she's not a tiny baby anymore. Gracie has to get used to eating solid food to grow big and healthy like you. She already likes it." "Oh," said Lindy. She stroked her sister's cheek. "Eat up, Gracie. Get big soon so we can play together!" Mom put the spoon back up to the baby's mouth. "It seems like you're having the same kind of trouble as Gracie," she said. Lindy looked indignant. "I don't have a problem swallowing my food!" "Not physical food," said Mom. "But what about spiritual food? Like newborn babies, new Christians need milk--spiritual milk. When you were younger, you could only understand simple things about God, and your attention span was short, so you just sang cute little songs and read simple Bible stories. But now you understand more and are ready for something more solid. Studying harder Bible lessons and verses helps you learn more about Jesus and His love for you so you can grow in your faith." Mom spooned some more cereal into Gracie's waiting mouth. "It can be hard to get used to at first, just like solid food makes Gracie gag sometimes. But she already likes her new cereal, and I know you'll soon like your new lessons too. Remember that God wants to use them to feed you spiritually and help you grow." Lindy looked uncertain, but then she nodded. "Okay," she said. "I guess I'll go learn my verse." - Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Are you having trouble with your spiritual diet? Do you think the Bible is too hard to understand or that church isn't as fun as it used to be? Easy, fun things aren't always the things that help you grow spiritually. Take learning about God seriously, and put the things you learn into practice. Trust Him to help you understand more and more about how much He loves you and what Jesus did to save you. Let Him feed you the truth of His Word so you can grow in your faith. Today's Key Verse: Don't think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like full-grown adults. (ERV) (1 Corinthians 14:20) Today's Key Thought: Grow in your spiritual understanding

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12; Luke 15:3-10 Zach ran frantically down the stairs. "Has anyone seen Mr. Bunny?" he cried. "I can't find him anywhere!" "I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Zach," said Mom. "Have you looked in your closet?" "Yes," said Zach. "I've looked in my room and closet, and in Hailey's room too. I just don't know where he could be!" "Try checking the living room, and Hailey and I will check the other rooms downstairs," Mom said. Zach sped off to the living room. "But Mom," said Hailey, "Zach is getting too old to be worrying about a raggedy stuffed animal. It's embarrassing that he takes Mr. Bunny to school with him." Mom bent to look under the kitchen table. "Remember, Hailey, that Zach finds comfort in having familiar things around him. He gets anxious about going to school, and just knowing that Mr. Bunny is in his backpack helps calm him down." "I get it, Mom. I'll help look for Mr. Bunny." Hailey headed to the laundry room. "I found him!" Hailey called a minute later. "He was hiding in the laundry basket under some of Zach's clothes." "Oh, thank you!" cried Zach, and he gave Mr. Bunny a big hug. Mom smiled. "I'm so glad we found Mr. Bunny. It's amazing how much joy we feel when we find something important to us that has been lost. Do you remember the stories of the lost sheep and lost coin in the Bible?" "Yeah," said Hailey. "The shepherd looked all over for the lost sheep, and when he found him, he called all his friends and neighbors over for a party to celebrate! And the lady did the same thing when she found her lost coin." "That's right," Mom said. "But the most important part of those stories is that they illustrate how much joy there is in heaven when someone comes to trust in Jesus. And just like Zach didn't give up looking for Mr. Bunny, God will never give up on us. Jesus came to earth to rescue us when we were lost in sin, and when we are found, God rejoices over us." "I'm so happy about that," said Zach. "And I'm so happy I found Mr. Bunny!" - Lori Haynie How About You? Have you ever lost something very special to you? How did you feel when you lost it? Did you keep searching and searching until you found it? Remember that you are very special to God. He loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to save you from being lost. No matter what you've done, He wants you to come to Him. He is seeking you. Trust in Jesus so you can be found. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) Today's Key Verse: For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. (NLT) (Luke 19:10) Today's Key Thought: God seeks and rejoices over us

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:31-32; 17:14-20 Gianna and her cousins were spending the day at Grandpa's house. "Will you measure us, Grandpa?" asked Alex. "I want to see how tall I am." "All right." Grandpa followed them to the wall where he had been measuring them since they were toddlers. He made a mark on the wall for each of them and wrote their name and the date beside it. "I'm the tallest!" exclaimed Alex. "Gianna, you're not even as tall as I was when I was nine, and you're ten!" said Joy. "Gianna is a shortie," said Alex, grinning. Gianna's cheeks grew hot. She hated being teased for her size. "Enough!" said Grandpa. "Come with me." He led the cousins to his garden shed. "Hold out your hands." Grandpa placed a large white seed in Alex's hand, a smaller yellow seed in Joy's hand, and a tiny black seed in Gianna's hand. Of course I get the tiny, unimportant seed, Gianna thought. Just like me. Grandpa pointed to an open gardening book. "Alex, tell us about your seed." "My seed is a lima bean," Alex said, looking at the information in the book. "They grow into plants that are fifteen inches to nine feet tall." Alex looked at the seed in his hand. "This seed is tiny to grow so big!" "Let me see mine," said Joy, pushing Alex aside. "My seed is corn. The plants grow seven to ten feet tall. That's bigger than yours, Alex!" Alex frowned. "But your seed is smaller than mine!" "My seed is a mustard seed," said Gianna. "It grows a tree twenty feet tall. It produces purple fruit, and in some places people use the branches to brush their teeth." "No way!" said Alex. "All that from a tiny seed?" "It isn't how big the seed is that matters," said Grandpa. "What matters is what God created it to do." He smiled at the kids. "That's true for us too. The Bible says those who have faith in Jesus are new creations. He's made us new people and given us the Holy Spirit to help us do the good things He wants us to do." Gianna thought about the tiny seed growing into an amazing tree. It wasn't unimportant after all. "If this seed can grow a tree," she said, smiling, "just imagine what we can do!" - Tracey Eagan How About You? Do you ever feel like you're too small to do anything important? What matters is how big God is and what He's created you to do. If you have faith in Jesus, He has given you the Holy Spirit so you can do great things that show others His love. Just like a tiny seed can grow into a huge tree, God can use you in amazing ways as He builds His kingdom. Be content where God has placed you, and trust Him to show you how you can serve Him. Today's Key Verse: For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT) (Ephesians 2:10) Today's Key Thought: God created you to do great things

Bible Reading: Romans 5:12-13, 18-21; Colossians 2:13-14 "Dad!" Everett stared at his computer screen in dismay. "Chase just told me there's a virus in the game I downloaded! It could ruin the hard drive." "Oh no!" Dad said. "How much damage has it done?" Everett groaned and covered his eyes. "I don't know yet." "What's a virus?" asked Rachel, climbing onto Dad's knee. "Isn't that what gives you the flu?" "That's right," said Dad. "When a virus gets into your body, it can make you sick. But a different kind of virus can get into a computer, and once it does, it can spread and take control of the programs on your computer so they don't work anymore." "I don't know how to fix this, Dad," said Everett. "Can you help me?" "I'm not sure what to do either," said Dad. "But I have a friend who works with computers--I'll check with him." Dad smiled at Rachel. "We need to get rid of viruses as soon as possible--whether they're on the computer or in our bodies." "Yeah. We have to take medicine to make us all better," said Rachel as Everett turned the computer off. By the following week, the computer had been fixed and a new anti-virus program installed. "I know two kinds of viruses," announced Rachel as Everett was using the computer one evening. "The kind that makes computers sick and the kind that makes people sick." "I know a third kind," said Dad. "Sin is like a virus that made the whole world sick. When the first people God created, Adam and Eve, disobeyed Him, sin came into the world and infected it. It took control of people's minds and hearts and makes us do selfish, wrong things instead of loving and obeying God." "Can we get cleaned up like Everett's computer?" Rachel asked with wide eyes. "We certainly can! We have something even better than an antivirus program. Jesus died and then rose from the dead to save the world from sin. When we trust in Him, He removes our sin and makes us new so our hearts work the way they should--it's like He gives us a new hard drive! Even though we still do wrong things sometimes, we can confess and turn away from our sin, and Jesus will forgive us and make us clean." - Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Did you know sin is like a virus? It does more damage than a virus in your body or on your computer ever could. Sin separates us from God and affects everything we think and do. But when we trust in Jesus, He removes our sin and makes us clean! He gives us new hearts and makes us able to resist temptation and turn away from sin. And when we do give in and do something wrong, we can confess it to Him and He will forgive us. Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Today's Key Thought: Jesus removes sin

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:4-12 "Come on, Mal," called Bailey. "Mom said we could play in the attic. Let's try on some of the old clothes in the trunks up there." The clatter of feet echoed through the halls as Bailey and Mal climbed the steep steps to the attic of the old house. Soon they had the trunks open and began trying on a variety of clothes their grandmother and mother had saved through the years. They laughed at each other as they paraded back and forth in front of a full-length mirror. "Let's go show Mom and Dad our latest fashions," said Mal. Tipping an old hat to the back of her head, Bailey led the way as they trooped downstairs. Their parents laughed when the girls pranced into the living room. "I wore those when I was a teenager," Mom said, pointing to the thick flip-flops on Mal's feet. "And I believe that dress belonged to my grandmother. And Bailey, that old-fashioned hat looks great with that gold purse!" "Those styles were very popular at one time," said Dad. "Everyone wanted them--just like everyone wants certain clothing styles today." Mom nodded. "When it comes to styles and trends, people often want the latest thing. That's fine as long as we make good choices about what we wear and don't let clothes take the place of more important things in our lives. We need to remember that our value doesn't come from what we look like or how others see us--it comes from God creating us in His image and sending His Son to die for us." "Right," said Dad. "And you know what? Trends extend to things other than clothes. Popular books, movies, activities, and even ideas come and go, and they're not always good. We need to remember that the world changes its opinions all the time, but God never changes. He is always the same, and the truth He gives us in the Bible will never go out of style. That's why we need to trust Him to guide us and give us wisdom in how we live our lives. Though the world is constantly changing, His love and promises will always stay the same." The girls nodded in agreement. "Come on, Bailey," said Mal. "Let's see what other things we can find in the attic." - Geri Walcott How About You? Do you like to keep up with the latest fashions? What about trends like what movies or games are popular or even what people believe about certain things? Since the world we live in is always changing, it's important to seek God's wisdom in all you do. What He says in His Word, the Bible, will always be true, and the love He has for you will never change. Though people's thoughts and opinions change all the time, God will always stay the same. Today's Key Verse: The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (NIV) (Psalm 33:11) Today's Key Thought: God never changes

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-21; James 1:19-20 "Bri, I love your new pet! He is so soft and sweet!" Ella stroked her friend's chinchilla, Herman. "A chinchilla's soft fur is one reason why they're such popular pets," said Bri. "They're native to the Andes mountains in Chile where it gets really cold." "Remember two years ago when you kept telling everyone you wanted a porcupine for a pet?" Ella could not contain her giggles. Bri shook her head. "What was I thinking? Chinchillas and porcupines are related, but porcupines are so prickly they don't make good pets." Bri handed Herman a seed and watched him nibble on it while holding it tightly in his tiny front paws. There was a strange sound on the other side of Bri's closed door. "Ella, I think our brothers are up to something," Bri whispered. "Remember what we did to them last time? Evan said they'd get us back." When Bri opened her door, she shrieked in anger. There was so much duct tape she could hardly see through to the hallway. "Mooooom!" Bri yelled over the boys laughing. "That's what you get for starting this war," Evan taunted. "Evan, I'm going to destroy you!" Bri roared. "What is going on?" Mom appeared on the other side of the tape. "Boys, please take this down." After the boys removed the tape, Mom sent Ella to get a snack and came into Bri's room. "Bri, I know you were upset, but I could hear you hollering from outside. You need to chill out." "Mom, I can't! The boys made me so angry!" "I know, and I'm going to have a talk with them. But you can control how you respond when people do things that make you angry. Remember Proverbs 15:1?" "A soft answer turns away wrath," Bri muttered. "Herman's fur is the definition of soft," Mom observed as she stroked the chinchilla. "And it's a soft answer that stops fights and heals relationships. Mean, angry words just make things worse. As Christians, we can rely on God's Spirit to help us respond with love and speak softly, even when we feel angry." "Okay, Mom, I get it. I need to trust God to help me be chill when I want to be pokey." Bri grinned. "Did you know one of the chinchilla's relatives is a porcupine?" Mom laughed. "Now I do! Choose to be a chinchilla, girl!" - Savannah Coleman How About You? Do you ever explode in anger when someone says or does something that makes you upset? If you know Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit's power in you to help you respond to others in loving ways, even when it's hard. Rely on His power, trusting Him to get rid of any anger in your heart and fill it up with His kindness and love. Today's Key Verse: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NKJV) (Proverbs 15:1) Today's Key Thought: With God's help, you can be chill

Bible Reading: Psalms 42:4-8; 73:21-26 "Maria!" Dad called. "Your aunt and uncle will be here soon. Can you come down and help with dinner?" Maria sighed and tossed the book she was reading on the floor. The last thing she wanted to do was help with Thanksgiving dinner. It was their first Thanksgiving without Mom, and it wouldn't be the same, no matter how much food they cooked. When Maria shuffled into the kitchen, Dad smiled at her. "Want to learn how to carve a turkey?" he asked. Maria shrugged, which Dad took to mean yes, she did. After Dad explained what to do, Maria began slicing the turkey, but the knife wouldn't go all the way through. "Dad, this isn't cutting right, it's--it's frozen!" Dad took the knife and tried to make a cut, but it wouldn't go any deeper than a few inches. The middle was still frozen solid. Dad groaned. "I must not have let it thaw long enough." "Why are we even trying to cook a turkey anyway?" bellowed Maria. "Mom's gone, and it won't be the same. I don't care if people are coming, I don't want Thanksgiving!" Maria ran to her room and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing. A few minutes later Dad came in and sat down. "Maria, I know it's been hard for you since Mom died. When something terrible like that happens, it can take a long time to get past the anger and sadness. It's okay to feel those things, and it's important to acknowledge our feelings and work through them, because we don't want our hearts to become cold and hard like that turkey." Dad gently brushed a tear from Maria's cheek. "The turkey needed more time to thaw than I realized, but if I'd just left it in the freezer, it never would have thawed at all. Right now your heart needs to thaw, and one way to help it along is to be with your family today. We love you, and Jesus loves you, and He wants to help you heal. One way He brings that healing into your life is through people who can be there for you and share His love with you when you're hurting." Maria lifted her head from the pillow and wiped her eyes. "Okay, Dad. I'll come to Thanksgiving." She smiled. "But we'd better hurry and order some takeout." - Courtney Lasater How About You? Have you experienced something that's caused you a lot of anger and sadness? Maybe your parents divorced or a friend hurt you. Feeling angry and sad is normal, and you should let an adult know how you feel so they can help. It's important to work through those feelings so you can heal. Jesus knows how you feel, and He wants to help you. He often does that by putting people in your life who can offer their love and support. It may take time, but He can help you heal. Today's Key Verse: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV) (Psalm 34:18) Today's Key Thought: Jesus wants to help you heal

Bible Reading: Psalm 100 "I pray today!" Jameson announced as his family sat around the breakfast table. Dad nodded at the little boy, and they all bowed their heads. "Thank you, God, for bacon an' eggs an' milk an' toast an' orange juice," said Jameson. He paused and peeked through his fingers. "An' jam," he added. "Amen." "Thank you, Jameson," said Dad. He shot a look at Elliot and London, who were giggling at their little brother. After breakfast, everyone went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. When it was time for lunch, Mom called them together around the picnic table. "We'll pray first, and then you can all help get the hamburgers off the grill and get the rest of the food on the table." "I pray," announced Jameson again. Once more they all bowed their heads. "Thank you for…" Jameson paused a long moment as he looked at the table. There was no food on it yet. "For plates an' knives an' forks an' spoons an' cups an' napkins an' salt," Jameson said. "Amen." Elliot and London snickered out loud. But Dad smiled at his younger son. "I'm glad you thanked God for all those things today. We usually take them for granted and fail to give thanks for them." "Yes," Mom said as she got up. "While we're getting everything on the table, why don't you think of some other things we don't often remember to thank the Lord for. You go first, Elliot." "Uhh," Elliot murmured as he got busy with the hamburgers, "we should be thankful for…uh… for our grill." "Good," said Dad. "How about it, London?" London was ready. "For pepper--Jameson forgot that." "And for a picnic table," added Elliot quickly. "And picnic benches," said London and Elliot together. "An' food!" shouted Jameson as Mom set a platter of hamburgers and a bowl of fruit salad on the table. "And for a little child to remind us of the many small blessings God has given us in addition to His greatest blessing of all--His Son, Jesus," said Mom with a smile. "Dig in." - Hazel W. Marett How About You? Are you thankful this Thanksgiving season--for everything? Look around you. What things do you take for granted day after day and never thank the Lord for? Take a few moments to thank Him right now. He loves you and has filled your life with blessings that point to the greatest blessing of all--Jesus, who paid the price of our sin so we could have eternal life. Thank God for all the wonderful things He has given you, big and small. Today's Key Verse: Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ERV) (Ephesians 5:20) Today's Key Thought: Give thanks for everything

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 "I do it!" said Isla insistently. Her balloon was stuck up on a shelf, and her mother had offered to help her get it down. Isla was two, and she liked to do things all by herself. "All right, you do it," said Mom as Madeline came into the room. "How was school, Maddy?" "Okay," said Madeline. "But I don't seem to be making any headway with Kenna." She sighed and set down her backpack. "Ever since she went to church with me a few weeks ago, she's had questions about Jesus. I tried to explain it to her today, but she still seems to think she can be saved because her parents taught her good morals and she hasn't lived a bad life." Madeline glanced down at Isla, who was dragging a kiddie chair across the room. "What's she doing?" "She was bopping her balloon in the air and it got caught on the top shelf. She's trying very hard to get it down. I was going to help her, but she told me very firmly, 'I do it.'" Madeline grinned. "That sounds like her, but she'll never be able to reach it." They watched as Isla found a fairy wand in her toy box. She stood on the chair and reached with the wand, but she couldn't dislodge the balloon. After trying several times, she turned to her mother in defeat. "You do it," she said mournfully. With a smile, Mom reached up, took down the balloon, and handed it to her little daughter, who contentedly ran off with her prize. "Isla just gave me an idea that might help you with Kenna," said Mom. "Tomorrow, you could tell her about Isla's struggle to get the balloon by herself. Explain that just like Isla was too short to reach it--even with all her creative efforts--each of us falls short of God's glory and goodness, regardless of how good we think we may be. We've all sinned by doing wrong things. Just like Isla had to admit she couldn't get her balloon by herself, we need to admit that we can't save ourselves. The only one who can save us from sin is Jesus Christ." Madeline nodded. "Good idea, Mom!" - Shawna Arthurs How About You? Have you admitted that you can't save yourself from sin? Or do you think just being good is enough? Like everyone else, you are a sinner, and all your good deeds fall short of what's required for you to have eternal life with God. But God sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to die for your sin so that you could be saved. You can only have eternal life by trusting in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) Today's Key Verse: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (NKJV) (Romans 3:23) Today's Key Thought: Only Jesus can save you

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10 "Annie's house is huge! Did you see her bedroom?" Rayne asked her sister when they got home after visiting their new friend. "What about her basement?" Lily said. "They had a huge TV with tons of movies and video games." "The yard was awesome too," Rayne said. "I'm so jealous of their pool." "I wish we had a house that cool," said Lily. "I wouldn't ever want to leave!" Rayne nodded and sighed as she looked around their small living room. Their TV wasn't even a quarter the size of the one in Annie's basement. "It's not fair." Lily made a face. "We don't even get our own bedrooms." Their mom came into the room and gave them a quizzical look. "You two don't look too happy. Didn't you have a good time at Annie's?" "It was great." Rayne slouched on the couch. Lily sighed. "But now we're back to reality." Mom lifted a brow. "What does that mean?" "Our house isn't as nice as Annie's. We don't have anything fun to do here," Lily said. "Nothing," Rayne agreed. Mom shook her head. "This morning you two couldn't get enough of the tire swing in the backyard. You have plenty to do here. You just have a case of jealousy, which can be a real downer." Rayne straightened up on the couch. "The Bible tells us not to be jealous." Mom nodded. "It's often easy for us to think we'd be happier with what someone else has, when in reality, jealousy hurts our relationships and makes us forget how much we do have. The Bible warns us against jealousy because God knows the things we own will never satisfy us. There's only one way to have true joy and contentment. Do you know what it is?" "Is it Jesus?" asked Lily. "Yes!" said Mom. "When we look to Him for joy and satisfaction and are thankful for the things He's given us--even though they may be different from what someone else has--we can be content in any situation. The things we own are temporary, but the love, joy, and peace we have in Jesus last forever!" Rayne looked at her sister. "Come on," she said. "Let's go play in the backyard." Lily grinned. "Maybe Annie can come try out our tire swing!" - Bethany Acker How About You? Are you jealous of someone? Do you wish you had something they have? If you know Jesus, you already have the only thing that can make you truly content--eternal life with Him. Material things are nice, and we should be thankful for what God has given us, but lasting blessings are only found in Jesus. When we look to Him for joy instead of looking at what others have, we can feel content instead of jealous. Today's Key Verse: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you." (NIV) (Hebrews 13:5) Today's Key Thought: Be content, not jealous

Bible Reading: Isaiah 46:3-4; 1 Timothy 5:1-4 Jordyn gave her battered old teddy bear a hug before setting him on her pillow. Her brother smirked as he walked by. "Why don't you give that ratty old thing a decent burial--in a garbage can?" "Oh, be quiet, Aaron," said Jordyn, frowning. "You're just mean!" "Let's go, kids!" Mom called down the hall. Jordyn sighed and made a face. They were going to visit Mom's Aunt Dora, who lived in a nursing home. "Do we have to go?" asked Aaron. "We don't like going there. It's boring, and she always asks us the same questions over and over." "Yes, you have to," replied Mom. "Aunt Dora loves to see you." At the nursing home, Aunt Dora smiled when she saw them. "I'm so glad you came! Can you stay for a while?" she asked as she fondly patted Jordyn's hand. "Would you like the kids to draw you pictures while we talk?" asked Mom. Aunt Dora nodded happily, so Jordyn and Aaron got out some paper and crayons. When Jordyn finished her picture, she sketched a silly cartoon of Aunt Dora. She showed it to Aaron, and they both snickered. Mom saw the picture too, but she didn't find it funny at all. "Jordyn, I noticed you didn't like it when Aaron made fun of your teddy bear this morning," Mom said when they were driving home. "I guess you still love it, even though it's old and its fur is rubbed off and one eye is missing, right?" Jordyn nodded emphatically. "Well," said Mom. "I love Aunt Dora even though she's old. She raised me after my parents died, and it hurts me deeply to see the two of you make fun of her." Jordyn hung her head. "I'm sorry." "Me too," said Aaron. "I guess we weren't thinking." "Do you know who else loves Aunt Dora?" asked Mom. "God does. He loves and cares for elderly people, and He wants us to honor and respect them even though their minds and bodies may not be as strong as they once were. They have spent their lives taking care of their families and friends. Now it's our turn to take care of them. Will you both please help me do that?" Jordyn and Aaron both nodded. - Ellen C. Orr How About You? Do you ever make fun of older people? Do you get impatient with elderly family members when they can't move fast or when they tell the same stories over and over? God is never impatient with them--He loves them and cares for them just as much as He always did. He wants you to treat older people with respect. When you grow old, He will continue to love and take care of you too. Today's Key Verse: Even to your old age, I am [your God], and even to gray hairs I will carry you! (NKJV) (Isaiah 46:4) Today's Key Thought: Respect older people

Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:10-12 Jacob rolled a piece of paper into a ball, took aim, and flicked it toward Cody in the row ahead. It hit its mark, but by the time Cody looked around, Jacob was staring straight ahead. Next to him, Mateo snickered. Jacob was glad Mateo had come to church with him today. Usually he declined, saying church stuff didn't make sense to him, but Jacob had convinced him that today's special guest, a missionary from Africa, would be interesting. Something the missionary said caught Jacob's attention--but he didn't understand a word of it. Mr. Mensah spoke in one of Africa's tribal languages. "How many of you understood what I said?" he asked a moment later. When no one raised a hand, Mr. Mensah asked his son to translate as he spoke in the foreign language again. His son repeated his words in English, so this time all the kids understood. "In Africa, we translate the Bible into languages of several different tribes so the people can read and listen to it in their own tongue," said Mr. Mensah. "But people still need to learn what it means, so we translate God's message to them in another way too--through our lives. We not only tell them what it means to know Jesus--we show them by letting His love be seen in everything we do. We help them with their work, treat them fairly, share with them, help them solve problems, and are kind to them." Mr. Mensah looked around the group. "Maybe you have friends who aren't Christians." Out of the corner of his eye, Jacob looked at Mateo. "How can you translate to them what it means to know Jesus?" asked Mr. Mensah. Cody raised his hand. "By sharing our stuff." "By forgiving them when they say something mean," someone else suggested. "By bringing them to church," Jacob said, sitting up a little straighter. But he felt his face go red when he heard someone else say, "By sitting quietly so they can pay attention and hear the message." Mr. Mensah nodded. "Good! Let's ask God to help us all be good translators of His Word so others can know who He is and what He's done for them." - Hazel W. Marett How About You? Are you a Bible translator? Do your actions reflect the message God gives us in His Word--that Jesus loves us and gave His life so our sins could be forgiven? Or do people get a different message? You don't need to learn another language to translate God's Word. When you treat others with love and do what you can to help them hear and understand the good news of Jesus, you're translating God's message. Today's Key Verse: You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…to the ends of the earth. (NLT) (Acts 1:8) Today's Key Thought: Share God's message in how you live

Bible Reading: John 15:9-15 "Amen," whispered Grandma after Aspen knelt at her side and asked Jesus to be her Savior. "Now you'll always have a friend close beside you," said Grandma, giving Aspen a warm hug. "You won't see Him, but He is real and He's right there with you. Talk to Him every day, and read some verses from your Bible each day too. Then ask Him to help you understand what He's saying to you." Aspen nodded. "He'll be with me all the time, right? He'll be my friend?" "He absolutely will," Grandma assured her. Aspen sat thinking to herself for a moment. Then she glanced at her grandmother. "Grandma, do you remember my friend Dayken?" "Dayken!" Grandma exclaimed with a laugh. "You mean the imaginary friend you had when you were five years old?" "Yes." Aspen laughed too. "Back then, Dayken was my best friend, even if she was just pretend. I couldn't see her, but I really felt like there was someone for me to play with all day long. When I had Dayken, I was never lonely." "Did anyone ever laugh at you for having an imaginary friend?" asked Grandma. "Yeah, sometimes. But I didn't care. Dayken was important to me, even though I knew she was make-believe. Of course, after a while I grew out of what Mom called my 'Dayken phase,' and I stopped pretending she was real." She thought for a moment. "But you just said that now I'll have Jesus with me all the time. That will be much better because He's real--not just an imaginary friend, right?" "That's right, and you'll never get too old for your new friend Jesus," Grandma assured her. "People may not always believe in Him, and they might even laugh at you for believing you have a friend no one can see, but He is very real and alive. As you grow older, you'll see Him at work in your life. He'll be the best real friend you'll ever have. And even though you can't see Him now, He's promised that one day you'll see Him face-to-face!" -Phyllis I. Klomparens How About You? Did you ever have an imaginary friend? That can be fun for a while, but it's only make-believe. Jesus is real, and He wants to be your best friend. Trust Him to be your Savior. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) He'll always be there for you, and one day you'll meet Him face-to-face. Today's Key Verse: I have called you friends. (NKJV) (John 15:15) Today's Key Thought: Jesus wants to be your friend

Bible Reading: Psalm 121 Stella nervously clasped her hands together as the plane taxied down the runway. She had been excited when her parents said she and Brayden could fly by themselves to see their grandmother. But now Stella was nervous. She looked at her brother, who was eagerly watching the ground rush by. After they were airborne, Stella still didn't relax. "Do the engines sound funny?" she asked. "Should we be flying so high? What if there's another plane in the clouds?" Brayden tried to assure her that everything was fine. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I think they should try to stay away from the clouds." "Why don't you just go to the cockpit and take over the controls?" Brayden finally asked her. "You seem to think you know more about flying this plane than the pilot does." Stella scowled. "The pilot knows what he's doing," said Brayden, "and I think this is really cool!" "Me too," said Stella, but she was very glad when they were finally back on solid ground. "Did you have a good flight?" asked Grandma when she met them at the airport. Brayden nodded. "I did. But Stella was so nervous she could hardly sit still. I told her she should take over for the pilot." He grinned. "I'm glad she didn't though, because then I would have been the nervous one!" "I guess so!" said Grandma. "I'm afraid we all lack trust in our Pilot from time to time." Stella looked surprised. "Are you afraid of flying too, Grandma?" Grandma shook her head. "I wasn't talking about the pilot of a plane. I meant Jesus, the Pilot of my life. I sometimes feel afraid when things in my life are hard or seem uncertain, but then I remember that Jesus is in control and that He promises to be with me and use my life for good no matter what happens. Trying to make my life work without Him would be like you trying to fly a plane." She gave Stella's shoulders a squeeze. "I think Brayden enjoyed the trip a lot more than you did, Stella, even though you were just as safe as he was. When we trust Jesus to be the Pilot, knowing He has saved us and promises to work everything out for good, our life trips are much better too." -Hazel W. Marett How About You? Are you enjoying your trip through life? Or do you constantly worry about things you have no control over? Remember that Jesus loves you and died to save you so you could live with Him forever. Then trust Him to take you safely through all of life's dark clouds, even when you can't see how things could turn out well. He knows what He's doing and promises to be with you. Trust Him and enjoy the peace He gives you. Today's Key Verse: God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. (ERV) (Isaiah 26:3) Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus with your life

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-9 The long procession of cars moved slowly from the school auditorium to the little country cemetery. When they arrived there, Evelyn stood between her parents, holding a damp, wadded tissue. She struggled to keep her tears from overflowing again as some final words were spoken. "Today we mourn the loss of Allison, our beloved daughter, sister, and friend," said Pastor Drew. Allison's parents and brother huddled closer together beside her grave, and several other people in the group dabbed their eyes. "But in our grief and sadness, we can take comfort knowing that she is in the presence of Jesus," Pastor Drew continued. "Just think of how wonderful it is for her now. The illness that caused her so much suffering is no longer hindering her--her pain and sorrow are gone." For as long as Evelyn could remember, she and Allison had gone to school and church together. They learned about Jesus when they were little and both trusted Him as their Savior. But now Allison was gone, and Evelyn's heart was sad and lonely. The morning sun shone in a clear blue sky, and a breeze scented with pine trees brushed the upturned faces of Allison's mourning classmates. Each carried a brightly colored bottle of bubbles. The minister's quiet words broke into Evelyn's thoughts. "These bubbles are a picture of the freedom Allison's spirit has today. The Bible tells us that the body is laid to rest in the earth, but the spirit of the person who trusts in Jesus goes to be with Him. Allison's spirit is already at home with Jesus. And like all those who belong to Jesus, she is looking forward to the day of resurrection and the new, eternal body she will receive that will be free from sin, sickness, and death. Because of that promise, we have hope knowing we will see her again." The pastor lifted a bubble wand loaded with suds and held it for a moment. "Let's release our bubbles together in celebration of Allison's life and the joy she now has in the presence of Jesus." A moment later, all eyes were raised skyward as a clear, sparkling cloud danced in the autumn breeze. "Goodbye, Allison," Evelyn whispered. She smiled through her tears. "I'll see you again someday." -Phyllis I. Klomparens How About You? Have you known someone your own age who has died? Perhaps you wonder what it would be like to die. It's natural to be afraid of the unknown, but Jesus promises that Christians will never be separated from Him--not even in death. If you trust in Jesus, you don't need to be afraid of dying. When your body dies, you will go to be with Him, and one day He will resurrect all Christians and we will live with Him forever. Today's Key Verse: We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:8) Today's Key Thought: Christians live forever with Jesus

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:4-8; Ephesians 2:10 Cecilia walked beside her mother on the way to an open house at her sister Kaylynn's school. "How will we find Kaylynn?" asked Cecilia. "She said she'd be in her pottery class," answered Mom, "and she gave me directions to get to it." They soon found the place where Kaylynn was working, and they sat down quietly at the back of the room. The class instructor was at his potter's wheel, demonstrating how to make a clay vase. The students watched and then began work on their own projects. "Kaylynn's good, isn't she?" whispered Cecilia, watching her older sister at work. "Yes," said Mom. "The vase she's making will be lovely filled with flowers." Cecilia sighed. "Ben plays baseball, Sienna sings in the choir, and Kaylynn makes pottery. But me, I'm like…" Cecilia gestured toward the instructor's table. "I'm like one of those ugly lumps of clay." "Cecilia," said Mom gently, "the vase Kaylynn is making was a lump of clay like those. And so was the one the instructor is making. Those lumps are the clay the potter uses to make beautiful things." Cecilia looked at the instructor. A tall vase was being shaped by his skillful fingers. "Imagine one of those ugly lumps ending up like that!" "You know, we're all like lumps of clay," said Mom. "On our own, we can do nothing. But God is our potter, and He skillfully molds and shapes us into something useful and beautiful. We just need to be pliable and--" "What does that mean?" asked Cecilia. "Pliable? That means soft and easy to mold," explained Mom. "If the clay is hard, it's also hard to mold it, and if we are stubborn and our hearts are hard--if we insist on doing things our way instead of trusting God--then He needs to soften our hearts before He can shape our lives into something beautiful." She smiled at Cecilia. "You're not an ugly lump of clay. You're a pliable one. You know Jesus, who has softened your heart with His love. Just be patient, and little by little God will begin to show you who He's molding you to be." -Tanya Ferdinandusz How About You? Is your heart pliable? Are you trusting God to guide you in what He wants you to do in your life? Maybe you feel less important when other people can do things you can't, but the important thing is to do what God wants you to do. He created you and loves you, and you can trust Him to shape your life into something beautiful. Let Him mold you into the person He wants you to be. Today's Key Verse: O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter…we are the work of Your hand. (NKJV) (Isaiah 64:8) Today's Key Thought: Let God form you