Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading: Proverbs 15:1-4; Ephesians 4:31-32 "You're always messing up this room," Hannah said as she pushed her sister's things off the dresser. "You're such a pig!" "You're the pig. And leave my things alone!" yelled Margo. "Then keep your stuff off my side of the dresser!" Hannah shot back. The fighting escalated, and soon Mom appeared at the door. "Girls! I'm tired of the constant bickering between you," she said sternly. "You are sisters, and you should respect each other. Follow me." Hannah and Margo glared at each other as they followed their mother into the back hall and watched as she got out some towels and a bottle of cleaning solution. "Now," said Mom, "you are going to clean the big living room window until it looks like you could walk through it." Hannah and Margo got to work. But the more solution they sprayed on the glass and rubbed with the towels, the streakier the window became. "Mom!" Margo called. "There's something wrong with the spray you gave us." "What's that?" Mom came in from the kitchen. "The solution I gave you isn't working?" "It's just making it worse!" said Hannah. "Well, your solution for solving disagreements isn't working either," said Mom. She came over and took the bottle she had given them. "This is all-purpose cleaner--it doesn't work on windows. And shouting and saying nasty things to each other doesn't work to solve disagreements." The girls started to complain, but Mom cut them off. "God has a much different solution," she said. "Instead of responding in anger, He says to give a soft answer. That means calmly talking through the problem and caring about the other person and what they have to say. Because you trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit to help you respond to others in a gentle, loving way--even when you don't agree with them." Mom went and got another bottle from the back hall. "Here, try this solution on the windows--it will work much better." Hannah and Margo went back to their task and thought about what Mom had said. Finally, Hannah said, "I'm sorry I pushed your stuff off the dresser." "I'm sorry too," said Margo. "I'll try to keep things neater." After a few more wipes, the window was as clear as ever. –Carol Baker How About You? Do you ever get angry at your friends or family? Do you react with harsh words or a mean attitude? By ourselves, it's nearly impossible to respond nicely. That's why Jesus gives us His Spirit to help us respond in a kind, gentle way. The next time you're upset, take a deep breath and ask Him to show you how to use His solution--a soft answer spoken in 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: Solve disagreements God's way

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:4-15, 20-22 "I think I see the scenic lookout we found on the map, Mom!" shouted Orlando. He sighed in relief. The family had been hiking the steep Treetop Trail for two hours, and Orlando was glad to finally collapse on a large, flat rock. As he rested, he gazed at the view below. Orlando's sister Ana plopped down beside him. "Wow!" she said. "This is awesome!" Ana pointed to a house in the distance. "Look over there, Dad. I bet we can see for a thousand miles!" Dad walked over. "I'd say that house is more like twenty miles away--not a thousand," he said with a smile. "Well, it's still awesome!" said Ana. "I agree. It is awesome," said Mom. She sat down beside Ana and Orlando. "You kids use that word a lot. Do you know what it means?" "I guess it's used to describe something that's extra amazing," said Ana. "That's a pretty good definition," said Mom. "I looked it up in the dictionary once, and the original meaning has to do with a feeling of reverence for something majestic or sacred. One definition for awesome is 'a reverent wonder.' I like that one." "I do too," said Dad. "I think awesome is a great word to use to describe God. Psalm 33 says to 'stand in awe of Him.' That means we should love and respect Him and recognize that He is in control of the entire world--and our lives." Dad paused and looked around. "Being on this mountain makes a person feel pretty small, doesn't it?" "You can say that again!" said Orlando. "Okay," said Dad. "Being on this mountain makes a person--" "Daaad!" Orlando rolled his eyes, and they all laughed. "Things in nature are awesome," Dad said. "God made them, and they give us just a glimpse of His greatness. But what's really awesome is that He loves us so much He sent His Son to save us. Jesus was willing to make Himself one of us and come to earth to die on a cross for our sins--and then He rose from the dead. Now that's extra amazing!" The family sipped from their water bottles as they enjoyed the view. "Yes," Mom said quietly, "Jesus is truly awesome!" –Dean Fowler How About You? Do you use the word awesome a lot? It's a word that's probably overused, but if you want to see something truly awesome, look around you at the world God created. His great power and glory is displayed in everything He's made--and in His great love and the sacrifice He made when Jesus gave His life for us. Consider all His wonderful work, and stand in awe of Him! Today's Key Verse: The LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. (NKJV) (Psalm 47:2) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is truly awesome

Bible Reading: Romans 12:3-10 On their way to the park one Saturday morning, Maisie and her parents decided to stop at an estate sale. Maisie enjoyed seeing all the things the owners of the place were selling. When they walked into a room that looked like a library, Maisie gasped in delight. "Look! A harp! My music teacher at school has one. She said there aren't many people who know how to play them." Maisie turned to her dad. "Can we buy it? I'd love to learn how to play." Dad pointed to a sign. "See that? It's not for sale." Just then a woman who was supervising the sale walked in. She smiled at Maisie. "I see you like this harp," she said. "Did you notice the different kinds of strings? Some are really thin and others are thick and strong. Some are spiraled and some are grooved, but others are smooth." "They're not all the same color either," said Maisie. "Some are bright red, and others are black or silver or gold." "That's right," said the woman. "This harp belonged to my mother. Now I'm going to take it home so my daughter can learn to play." The next day at church, Maisie looked around at all the different people singing in the sanctuary. "Being in church reminded me of the harp we saw yesterday," she told her parents after the service. "Really?" asked Dad. "How's that?" "Well, I noticed when we were singing how many different people there were--people of all ages and races and personalities--but they all worshiped God in harmony together, just like all the different strings on a harp play one beautiful song." "That's a good way to look at it, Maisie," said Mom. "A harp is made up of many strings, and God's church is made up of many people." Dad nodded. "And every string is different--each is designed to sound its own individual note. Yet when each string is in tune with the others, the harp makes beautiful, harmonious music! It's that way with God's church too. The members are all different, but the Holy Spirit unites us through our faith in Jesus. As we show His love to one another and serve and worship God together, we make music that's sweet to God's ears." –Trudy Vander Veen How About You? Do you enjoy the fact that each member of God's church is different? Not everyone will think or act just like you, but that's okay. The important thing is for all of us to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. That means relying on Him to help us work together and get along, even when we disagree on things. Stay in harmony with other Christians by following the Master Musician--Jesus--as you show others His love. Today's Key Verse: How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! (NIV) (Psalm 133:1) Today's Key Thought: Christians should live in harmony

Bible Reading: Psalm 62:5-8 Natalie glanced at her phone. Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes to change and eat something before she had to leave for dance. Gotta move. She grabbed some mac and cheese and popped it into the microwave. As she bounded up the stairs, she passed her little brother Jacob sitting in time-out. Minutes later, the microwave dinged. Natalie tugged her leotard into place and pushed one more bobby pin into her bun. She rushed downstairs and retrieved her food. Stirring her mac and cheese, she glanced at Jacob sitting on the bottom step with his elbows on his knees, fists digging into his chubby cheeks. "What did you do this time, sport?" Natalie plopped beside her brother. "Yelled at Mommy." Jacob sighed. "I hate time-out." Natalie patted his back. "Mom doesn't stick you here just because you're in trouble. It's to help you settle down and get under control. Are you still mad?" "No." Jacob paused. "Nat? Does sitting help you too?" Natalie paused mid-chew. Sitting still didn't happen much. Rushing to school and dance left her feeling anything but in control. "I'm too big for time-outs now," she said. "You're never home." Jacob's eyes were sad. "I miss you." Natalie licked the cheese from her spoon. She loved dance company, though it meant she practically lived at the studio. What happened to family time? What happened to time with God? She looked at the shelf in the kitchen where she put her Bible. Maybe I need a time-out too. Natalie glanced at her phone. Five minutes. She squeezed Jacob, then walked over and picked up her Bible. A highlighted verse caught her attention: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Rest. Sounds great, God. Natalie remembered learning that this verse meant those who trusted in Jesus didn't have to strive to earn God's favor, because Jesus earned it for them. I need to stop and remember that more often. Remember He's in control. She took a deep breath and continued to read. Soon Mom was calling. Time for dance. Natalie checked her phone. Her five minutes were gone. Somehow God had stretched them, and she sensed His peace. She grinned and grabbed her brother's hand. "Race you to the car!" –Gayle Veitenheimer How About You? Is your life overscheduled and busy? You need a spiritual time-out. Not because you're in trouble, but to build your relationship with God and get strength and wisdom to navigate the road ahead. Make sure you leave time in your busy schedule to pray, read your Bible, and worship with other Christians. Stop the frenzy for a moment and take a time-out with Jesus. Today's Key Verse: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV) (Matthew 11:28) Today's Key Thought: Take a time-out with God

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-10 "All right!" Oliver exclaimed as his mom presented him with a pair of bright new sneakers. "They're just what I wanted!" "I'm glad you like them," said Mom. "But let's try to keep them clean. Save them for school or when you're out with your friends. You have plenty of old shoes to wear when you're in the yard or playing basketball at the park." "Okay, Mom," Oliver said as he put on the new shoes. He did remember to be careful with them for a while, but one day when he came into the house, he left a trail of muddy tracks through the kitchen. "Stop right there, Oliver! Oh, your new sneakers--they're a mess!" Mom pointed to his mud-caked shoes. "I'm sorry, Mom," said Oliver. "I forgot I had them on. Mrs. Alberts needed help in her garden, and I guess I went a little bonkers with the garden hose." Mom sighed, shaking her head. "It was nice of you to help her, Oliver, but in spite of your good deed, your shoes are still dirty." "Yeah." Oliver looked down at his feet and sighed. "They look pretty bad." Then he smiled. "It's kinda like the verse we learned at church last week. My teacher said it's easy to think that the good things we do can cover up the wrong things we've done. But the verse we learned says our good deeds are like dirty rags--or in this case, dirty sneakers. They can't make us clean." "That's right," Mom said. "Nothing we do can ever clean up the sin in our lives. That's why we need Jesus." She bent over to help Oliver pull off his dirty shoes. "Jesus promises that when we confess our sins to Him, He will forgive us and wash us white as snow." "Can you forgive me too, Mom?" Mom smiled. "Of course I'll forgive you, Oliver." "I'll try to be more careful." Oliver looked at his muddy shoes. "Will you make my sneakers clean again?" "Not as clean as Jesus can make your heart," said Mom. "But I'll do my best. Bring them over to the sink and I'll check the cleaning supply cabinet." –Nathan Runyon How About You? Do you ever feel like your life resembles a pair of dirty sneakers? Do you think if you do enough good things you can make up for the stuff you do wrong? The Bible says that good deeds are never enough. Only Jesus can cleanse your heart and replace your wrongs with His right. Confess your sin to Him today and be forgiven. (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: We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. (NLT) (Isaiah 64:6) Today's Key Thought: Good deeds won't cover up sin

Bible Reading: Luke 6:27-37 After their bikes were stolen, Ryder and Zach asked all their friends and neighbors to be on the lookout. They prayed about it too--and Dad even prayed for the person who had taken the bikes. As they were praying together a few days later, Ryder's thoughts wandered. I wish I could get my hands on whoever took my bike, he thought. He'd have a black eye and a bloody nose and-- Ryder opened his eyes just then and noticed the words on a plaque hanging on the wall: "Forgive one another as the Lord forgave you." He struggled with his thoughts and feelings. He felt like getting back at the person who had taken his bike, but he knew Jesus wanted him to forgive. Later that week, Ryder looked out the window to see Bryn, a girl from his class at school, standing outside with a man next to her. What's Bryn doing here? he thought. Then he noticed she was holding on to a red bicycle. "My daughter has something to say to you," the man said when Dad and Ryder came to the door. "I think this is your bike," said Bryn. "I saw a man putting a blue bike in his truck in front of your house. This one was standing there too, but when I came along, he took off. I meant to just borrow it and bring it right back, but then I scratched it and was worried you'd call the police. I'm sorry. I'll pay for it." "You're the person who stole my bike?" Ryder felt a rush of anger as he looked at the long scratch on his new bike, but then he remembered how he'd once made fun of Bryn at school and made her cry. He'd later apologized, and she'd forgiven him. I need to forgive her, he thought, because she forgave me--and because Jesus forgave me too. "It's okay, Bryn," Ryder said. "I forgive you." As Bryn and her dad walked away, Ryder happily pushed his bike into the garage. As he did, the long scratch caught his eye once more--but this time it didn't make him angry. Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving me for all the wrong things I've done, he prayed, and for helping me forgive Bryn. –Evelyn J. Behrens How About You? Do you find it difficult to forgive someone who has wronged you? It isn't easy, but it's so much better to let go of your anger instead of letting it take over your thoughts. Jesus tells us to forgive others for the wrong things they've done to us because He's forgiven us for all the wrong we've ever done. Trust Him to help you let go of your anger and forgive. Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT) (Ephesians 4:32) Today's Key Thought: Forgive others

Bible Reading: Psalm 19:7-11 As Ryder and Zach set plates and forks on the table for lunch, a dog started barking outside. "There goes Sarge again," said Ryder. "He's always barking." "This bark sounds different than usual," said Mom. "Maybe one of you boys should go check it out." "Aw, Mom, we're busy," said Zach. "Besides, Sarge barks at everything--squirrels, people, cars. You name it, he barks at it." Since Mom didn't insist, no one checked to see why Sarge was barking. When Zach and Ryder went out to ride their bikes later that afternoon, they stopped and stared at the empty garage. "Where are our bikes?" asked Zach. "I don't believe it!" cried Ryder. "They're gone! Who would have the nerve to come into our garage in broad daylight and take our bikes right out from under our noses?" "After all the work we did mowing lawns to buy those bikes," said Zach. "Now this!" The boys rushed into the house. "Our new bikes are gone! Someone stole them!" Everyone hurried out to see for themselves. Dad returned to the house to call the police department and report the loss. When he came back outside, he stopped to pet Sarge. "Didn't we hear Sarge barking a couple hours ago?" he asked. "He was trying to warn us, and we didn't listen to him." That evening Dad read aloud from Psalm 19. "Warnings are important," he said after he finished reading. "Today Mom warned you boys not to ignore Sarge's barking, but you did. Sarge was warning us about the bikes getting stolen, but we didn't listen. In this psalm, we see that God speaks through His Word not only to teach us about who He is and how much He loves us, but also to warn us about sin." "You mean how sin separates us from God, and only Jesus can free us from sin and give us eternal life?" asked Zach. Dad nodded. "Yes, the Bible definitely warns us about sin in that way. But it also warns those who already trust in Jesus about the consequences of sin and how disobeying God can create huge messes in our lives. Let's be sure to listen, knowing that Jesus will always forgive our wrongs and help us obey Him." –Evelyn J. Behrens How About You? Do you take warnings seriously? God warns Christians about the dangers of sin in the Bible. Listen to Him and obey His commands. Is God warning you about something today? If you think He is, pray and ask God to help you know what action to take, and get advice from an adult you trust. God's warnings are one of the ways He helps you and guides you through life. Today's Key Verse: His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them. (ERV) (Psalm 19:11) Today's Key Thought: Pay attention to God's warnings

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:1-8 "My stomach hurts, Mom," said Kaylee, burying her head in her pillow. "Don't make me go to school today." Mom put her hand on Kaylee's forehead. "You felt okay at dinner last night--you ate half a pizza! Is something wrong?" Kaylee glanced at her tablet lying on her bedside table. "Not really. It's just--I posted something last night that I probably shouldn't have. I just know Lucy's going to be totally mad at me." "Oh, Kaylee," said Mom. "Get dressed and let's talk about it during breakfast." As Kaylee stirred her cereal, her tablet pinged with a new message. She didn't reach to answer it. "So, what's the matter?" asked Mom, sipping her coffee. Kaylee groaned. "I sent a message to Chris last night. About Lucy. I said she wants him to sit with her at the school play next week." "Does she?" asked Mom. "No," muttered Kaylee. "And the worst part is, Chris posted my message on his page, so now everyone thinks Lucy likes him. And it's all my fault!" Mom sighed and shook her head. "Why'd you do that, honey?" "I don't know," said Kaylee. "It just seemed like a funny thing to say." "Kaylee, you know written words are just as hurtful as spoken words." Kaylee's tablet pinged again. She looked at the message and sighed. "It's Lucy," she said. "What am I going to do?" "What do you think you should do?" Kaylee looked at Mom, fighting back tears. "Tell the truth?" "That would be the loving thing to do." Mom smiled. "In fact, the Bible even tells us to write love on tablets." "It does?" asked Kaylee, her eyes widening. Mom nodded. "God tells us to write love on the tablets of our hearts. That means showing others His love through our words and actions. When we trusted in Jesus, He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could love others the way He does. We show others love by telling the truth and treating them with kindness--both in person and online." Kaylee looked at her tablet on the table. "I guess that means I need to write love on this tablet too." –Jennifer Dillard How About You? Have you ever told a lie on the internet? Or wrote something mean about someone so others would think you were funny or cool? Words can spread quickly online, and they can hurt you and your relationships. Show love from your heart by sharing words that are true and kind--both in person and online. Today's Key Verse: You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 3:3) Today's Key Thought: Be truthful and kind online

Bible Reading: Psalms 16:11; 37:3-7; Matthew 18:2-4 "Look, Daddy!" exclaimed four-year-old Beck as he peered out the airplane window. "Look! There's snow down there!" Beck's older brother Micah laughed. "That's not snow. Those are clouds. They just look like snow." Dad smiled and nodded. "They look solid, don't they? Like you could walk right out on them." "Yes, but they wouldn't hold you up!" Micah replied. "If you stepped out on one of those clouds, it would be a giant step down to earth." "Maybe the clouds are made of snow!" Beck said. Micah shook his head. "No. Clouds are just water vapor," he said in his best big brother tone. "I learned that in science class. They can't hold anything up." "Ohhh," murmured Beck. Then he had another question. "Why does the plane stay up in the air?" "The plane is built just right for flying," said Dad, "and the pilot goes to school to learn how to make it stay up." Beck seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned back toward the window. Micah watched his little brother for a moment. "You know what, Dad?" he asked quietly. "Beck believes everything we tell him." "That's because he trusts us to tell him the truth," said Dad. "It's too bad, but as we grow older we find there are some people we can't trust. Many people are trustworthy, but even people we trust may sometimes disappoint us." Micah looked out at the clouds moving past the plane. "Last week Pastor Carter said there was someone who would never fail us. He was talking about God." Dad nodded. "God has proven Himself to be trustworthy by keeping every promise He has ever made." "Like how He promised to send a Savior, and He sent Jesus to die for our sins," Micah added. "Exactly," Dad said. "He's as solid as a rock and completely trustworthy. Notice how I'm the first person Beck asks when he has a question. Since God is our Father, He wants us to seek His wisdom before anything else." "Daddy! What's that?" Beck pointed at something else outside the window, and Dad and Micah exchanged smiles. –Ruth Andrews How About You? Who are some trustworthy people in your life? People you go to with questions and trust to tell you the truth? People like that are a blessing from God, but even those we trust can sometimes disappoint us. But God is always trustworthy. He always tells us the truth and keeps His promises. His truth and promises are in the Bible, and that's where we can go to seek His wisdom and guidance. Trust Him to help you and guide you. Today's Key Verse: O Lord my God, in You I put my trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 7:1) Today's Key Thought: God is trustworthy

Bible Reading: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:6-8 Max strung out a long piece of cheese and took a bite of his pepperoni pizza. He loved this restaurant--it had tons of fun games. This would've been the best day ever except for the mean kid. "Mom, see that tall kid over there with red hair? When I was shooting hoops, he shoved me and stole my tickets out of the game." His mother frowned. "That wasn't very nice." "I know." Max picked at his food. "I feel like punching him in the face." "Now, Max, you know that's not how we treat people," said Mom. "The Bible tells us to love our enemies." "But he's mean!" said Max. "Do you realize that people were mean to Jesus too?" asked Mom. "The Bible says we were all enemies of God at one time, but Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins so we could be forgiven and become God's friends." Max took a bite of his pizza and glanced at the boy. "I think I'm gonna play some games with the rest of my tokens." "Okay, but you don't have much time. We need to leave in ten minutes to pick up Grandma from the airport." Max headed for the race car game where he ran into a friend from school. "Hey, Jacob. What are you doing here?" "I'm gonna play this racing game." Jacob jumped in the seat and slid a token into the slot. "I bet I can beat you." "No way." Max smiled as he took a seat behind the wheel. After a couple rounds with Jacob, Mom called to him. "Max, it's time to go!" He looked down at the coins in his hand. He still had five left. For a moment he considered giving them to Jacob. Then he remembered what his mother had said. "I gotta go," he told Jacob. He jogged over to the guitar game where the red-haired boy stood in front of the screen. "Here." Max held out his coins. "These are for you." The boy's mouth dropped open as Max handed over the tokens. "Why would you give me these?" he asked. Max shrugged. "I thought you could use them." Then he smiled and went to find his mom. –Annika Klanderud How About You? Is it hard for you to be kind to mean people? If somebody teases you, do you hope they get in trouble? People often describe Jesus as kind, merciful, and forgiving. But the amazing thing is, He's kind to bullies, cheaters, and people who break all the rules. While dying on the cross, He even asked His Father to forgive His murderers. Now that's an exceptional love--and He wants you to show that love to others. Today's Key Verse: Love your enemies! Do good to them…for [God] is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. (NLT) (Luke 6:35) Today's Key Thought: Love others like Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalms 33:13-15; 139:7-12 Graham held very still when his mom came outside, hoping she wouldn't see him. He loved to hide in the old apple tree. When he peeked through the leaves and branches, he could see Mom in the yard below. He could see Tabby, Mrs. Underwood's cat, creeping through the grass next door. He could see Brie playing with her friend across the street. But no one on the ground could see him. "Graham! Brie!" Mom called. "Lunch will be ready soon--you have about five minutes left to play." She went back into the house. Graham didn't feel like coming down just yet. He lay on a branch, stretched out flat on his stomach. He watched a blue jay land by the fence. He watched Mrs. Underwood come out onto her back porch and call Tabby. He watched a red pickup truck drive down the street. When Mom came out a little later, Graham was still in the tree. "Kids!" Mom called. "Lunch is ready! Time to come in!" Graham swung down and dropped to the ground as Brie came running home. "Surprise, Mom!" Graham said as he entered the kitchen. "I saw you when you came outside, but you couldn't see me! I saw you too, Brie. I could see everybody!" He grinned. "Kind of like how God watches us from up in heaven." "Nah," said Brie. "God watches everybody in the whole wide world, all at once, all the time!" She grinned at her brother. "He was watching you while you were hiding and watching us." "But that's not all," said Mom. "Unlike you in the tree, God doesn't hide from us, and He's never far away. He doesn't watch from a distance but is right here in this room! Because we trust Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is always with us, caring for us and watching over us." "I guess we can say God is here, there, and everywhere," Brie said. "He always knows where we are and what we're doing. He knows everything about us." "Then He must know I'm hungry!" Graham said as he sat down at the table. "What's for lunch?" –Katherine E. Swarts How About You? Do you like to hide from people? If you're way up high, you might be able to see a lot from far away, but that's nothing compared to what God sees. He sees the whole world and knows everything about each one of us. He even knows what you're thinking and feeling! He watches over you every minute of every day and is always right beside you. Thank Him for caring for you, and remember He's always with you. Today's Key Verse: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV) (Proverbs 15:3) Today's Key Thought: God sees everything